Public Festival of Fire and Rememberance. (Open/Wild Space Exiles)

[Aithne Charr]

Aithne stood with her eyes running over a festival that felt foreign and alien, even though it came from the home she now no longer had. Many felt that way she was sure, an event based on home now burned down but kept going to keep that faith in their hearts. This was the festival of fire, a counterbalance to the festival of the stars, and one that marked the change over into Summer for Kesh. It was a festival meant to remember and celebrate life, something that she knew these people had a lot to do, and her own hands closed around a small stone that glowed in her hand. Aithne's eyes studied the stone now as she began walking through the Festival being held on Ord Mantell, open to the galaxy, and many peoples coming to experience such a thing.

Foods that could be made, originating not only from Kesh but other worlds in the Wild Space reaches, force users from the Shadow Legion creating marvels of fire that snaked and shot into the air, spinning and creating a sight for child and adult alike. A blue flower, who's glow could not be ended in any normal means, a flower that was functionally immortal grown by those same force users for the people who sought a reminder of those they had lost and Aithne looking at the flower created by her father before sighing and turning her head towards the peoples again.

If she had her way, she would have made sure none of what had happened did so, she would have wiped out the demon-like beings that now forced her home to be scarred and burned. She knew that eventually, time would bury those creatures, just as it did for everyone, but she wished it would happen now. Her brother seemed to be taking things far easier than she was though, having been the one that organized the Festival and she sighed, her hand coming up to brush some of the hair out of her face again before continuing her patrol.

Perhaps there would be something interesting to catch her eye, someone or something happening that would keep her focused on the night rather than the past. This was after all a night for people to celebrate their lost ones, to honor and love them.


OOC - This is an open thread for any and everyone as well as a faction thread for the Wild Space Exiles. Have fun, get creative, and inventive with the idea, and for those who know about the Keshiri Festivals I hosted in the past, this is going to be the first of several over the coming year, so if you are too busy now, do not worry. Bring a partner or tackle someone alone and get into a contest or conversation with them, its a night for celebration and beauty.

 

[Mark Cross]

Mark finally took a moment to stand back and survey the handiwork that he and his small team had been putting in to provide nourishment for the festival guests. The pace had been frenetic from his arrival on Ord Mantell, but he didn't mind. compared to what life had been in recent months, it was a refreshing change of pace, and maybe even presented a chance to lay down roots in a place for an extended period of time.

He was a chef by trade, but as was so often the case, one trade was never enough to sustain you out in the Galaxy. He became an above average pilot, and an even better shot with a blaster. Both were more out of necessity than anything else, but since mercenaries and gunslingers racked up far more in the way of credits than cooking meals ever did, it was the logical choice. In the end, he collected enough to purchase his own modest ship which, with a few modifications, he was able to turn into something a little better than a piece of flying space garbage. It gave him the freedom to move about, and even become his own boss to a point, but it's still boiled to earning credits doing someone else's dirty work, and since only when it was illegal and/or dangerous did it ever yield the big paydays

It felt like there was no escape from the vicious cycle and as he travelled the further reaches of space, the darker and more murky the underworld seemed to become. Even something as simple as working in a bar put him contact with more undesirable characters than he ever could have wished for, and while that created opportunity and profit, it also brought with it a whole stackload of danger

He adapted, and he survived but that was never the life he wanted for himself. Now finally out of something tragic, with the Wild Space Exiles came the opportunity to finally carve out the future for himself that he had dreamed of, but never before had the means to reach.

Food was one of his first loves, and his greatest passion. He surveyed the quantities of it, the fruits of their labour, and once again he felt the sense of pride that always came when the final dishes of the shift went out to their patrons. Now it was finally time for him to break away, take off the metaphorical chef’s hat, and enjoy the party.

 

[Inanna Harth]

Inanna’s long white hair tumbled forward as she leaned in to smell the blooms growing in a flower bed. She wasn’t sure if the glowing blue flowers had a scent or not, but she was curious to find out.

The two men on either side of her weren’t there for the flowers. One of them, a blue-skinned Wroonian, had made several attempts at flirting with her despite her ignoring him.

His companion, a shaggy-haired Human, could take a hint. “C’mon, man,” he hissed, nudging his friend. “She’s not interested. There are plenty of other women here you can try your… charms on.”

The Wroonian pouted. “I got a lot more lines I could try.”

“If nothing has worked so far, I suggest you move on. You’re just harassing her at this point.”

They were speaking quietly to each other, but Inanna was close enough in proximity that she could hear them. Glancing over her shoulder, she locked eyes with the Human. The thin crystal filaments trailing from her dress turned orange as they reflected the light of a burst of flame from the nearby performers.

The Human’s throat bobbed as he swallowed, but then he tore his eyes away, clapped a hand on his friend’s shoulder, and pulled him along, leaving her alone.

She sighed and went back to examining the flowers, cupping one of the blooms in her white hands. Something about them was unusual, made them stand out among other flora. She could feel it...

 

[Kai and Gerda]

Having left the exotic platinum blonde woman behind, Alyosha swiftly guided Theo Vathek toward the food stands. His stomach was rumbling, and he figured the best consolation he could offer for his friend’s dashed hopes was a decent meal.

While they stood in line, Alyosha tried not to think about anything too serious. Like so many other guests, he’d come to Ord Mantell to forget his worries and enjoy the festival. He didn’t particularly care about the somber undertones of the event, but it was becoming harder to ignore the feelings of the people around him now that he had grown stronger in the Force.

The atmosphere of the festival was tinged with the gray of grief and sorrow, along with shades of white-hot frustration and anger bubbling just beneath the surface. Meanwhile, most of the offworlders were being overly cautious, creeping around on tiptoe among the Keshiri refugees. Word had spread throughout the galaxy of the destruction of Kesh, and the Keshiri had officially been labeled an endangered species nearing extinction. Most of them had resettled here, and the usual conflicts with the natives had already begun, but the tensions didn't seem to be running too high compared to other worlds now populated with refugees...

A shout pulled Alyosha from his thoughts. At the front of the line, a man was angrily berating the server, apparently angry over the price of the food. It was a stupid thing to make a fuss over—Alyosha figured the man had to be intoxicated. His hand went automatically to his Light-Spear, preparing to defend himself and Theo if necessary.

Mark Cross Aithne Charr

 

[Aithne Charr]

Aithne continued her walk, seeking out something interesting to catch her eye and soon the sight of a certain server and man caught her eye. She watched the situation, curious if there was going to be anyone stepping in on this and Aithne found her eyes wandering for a few moments, looking at those in the area and those who she had passed.

First was one of the men who had been working in the area, a person that she had not quite had the time to look into like many here due to the number of people but seemed rather harmless. She did wonder about the person, not even knowing the name but otherwise studying him for a few moments as he finished up doing as he had been. Her right hand reaching up to scratch at her head for a moment before turning her eyes from Mark Cross to Inanna Harth .

This one had white hair and almost the same tone of skin. It was different and reminded her of the Echani and Arkanians. She was absorbed by the flowers that remained before her, looking over the creations of Aithne's father and the remnant he had left behind. The Mourners were interesting things but things that fit her brother rather than her. She preferred the more interesting powers passed on to her family and taught to the shadow legion.

Which in the end brought her back to the situation that had seized her interest in the first place. Her feet settled and she started moving, stepping towards the altercation and passing a man and his friend blinking as something caught her notice as she did. There was a change in the force, her eyes looking at Alyosha Drutin for a moment before smiling at him and continuing towards the rather angry man and speaking up.

"Is there a problem here?" She looked at the man, waving for the server to feel free to go.

 

[Kai and Gerda]

Aithne Charr

The man who had been screaming at the server now found himself face to face with a warrior woman. His expression changed from angry to surprised, then back to angry again. One corner of Alyosha's mouth curled upward. Definitely drunk.

"The prices here are outrageous!" the man complained, his voice slightly slurred. "Thirty credits for a meal is insane! I wouldn't pay that much for this slop anyhow!"

"They list the prices up front," Alyosha said, jerking his thumb in the direction of a painted menu sign. "It isn't like they were trying to trick you into spending money. Or did you just not see the sign?"

The man turned around to face Alyosha, clenching his fists at his sides. Theo grimaced nervously. The Wroonian wasn't Force sensitive, but he was able to transmit with a glance at Alyosha his exact thoughts: Why did you have to open your mouth?

"You mind your own fething business," the man snapped. He didn't seem to care that Alyosha was clearly armed, nor did he regard the woman who had approached them as a serious threat, or else he would have shut his mouth then and there. But he kept talking, and things only got worse.

"The Keshiri are using their endangered status as an excuse to swindle and cheat. But I can see through it - it's just another sob story used to manipulate the stupid masses." Holding out his arms to steady himself, he added, "But I'm not stupid. I think I speak for everyone here when I demand that this establishment lower their prices."

There was at least one murmur of agreement, but most of the other patrons didn't want to get involved and remained silent. A few people who had been waiting to be served quietly slipped away, wisely escaping before the situation deteriorated further.

"Well, it's not my job to deal with troublemakers," Alyosha said with a smirk.

"No it ain't..." Theo muttered under his breath, bouncing on the balls of his feet. As much as he wished they could just leave, if Alyosha was staying he would too, no matter what happened.

"...But for you, I'll make an exception." Glancing at Aithne, he dipped his head in acknowledgment. "Provided no one else wants to take you around the block first."

 

[Talon Aegis]

The festival was filled with lights, sounds and smells. The food looked good and the people sounded friendly, many waved and nodded to the Mandalorian as he walked through the festival. Vendors tried selling him food but it tended not to work on the quiet man. Talon looked around to see if he could find any familiar places but didn't see any.

Walking off to the side he spotted a little café that he walked off to. Talon decided to buy a drink, something to keep him awake. He was at work doing what he could and was tired. A quick rest stop and then he'd go back to the festival.