Faction Heart to Heart: Secret Santa (SJC)

[Aveline Cuiléin]

"I don't think Christmas is necessarily about things.
It's about being good to one another" - Carrie Fisher​

Snow was falling over Commenor. It had been for the past two weeks, on and off. The cities, with all its bustling life and heat did not take to it quite the same way as the countryside did. There it settled wherever the eye could see. No longer just a coat on mountain tops off in the distance, but on trees and houses all around. Truly, it was the most wonderful time of the year.

Away from the big city, on the opposing side of the Munto valley, a conspiracy of love was afoot. Out there on the open plains, by a frozen lake, a select few were gathering. All around snow was falling still, and though it was still early, the lake had been cleared for ice skating. A single, massive pine tree stood alone nearby, and the townsfolk had earlier that week decorated it with lights. Now it cast its beam upon the field, and brightened it up. Underneath there were several wooden benches and a long table.

Closer to the foot of the valley, there was a large cabin made of wood, and heated up by nothing but logs tossed upon a flame. The chimney was blowing smoke up to the skies even now. Accommodations had already been arranged, rented out, and the cabin was theirs for the evening and the coming day should they wish it.

Yet today was about more than just that. Today was about doing a little something extra for someone. It was tenderness for the past, courage for the present and hope for the future. The galaxy had grown weary through the years, but on days such as these it became young again. It was a day that held all time together, and it was here to remind us all that we're here for something else besides ourselves.

It's the one night of the year when we all act a little nicer, we smile a little easier, we cheer a little more. For a couple of hours out of the whole year, we are the people that we always hoped we would be.

| Ura Iolar | Beltran Rarr | Casaana | Takui | Andromeda Malvern | Marakai Al'Orren | Okkeus Dainlei | Subject 73 Red |​

 

[Ura Iolar]

It would probably surprise some people to learn that snow wasn't a new thing for Ura. Yes, she came from an arid world, but deserts got cold at night. It wasn't uncommon to see at least one snowfall every two-to-three years. Either way the Lervon was excited for life day. She'd used the new green crystal mass she had, thanks to Karra Tor 's treatment, and had shifted it into a sweater-like pattern.

She practically seemed to dance around, though she avoided the fireplace. Nope. Not risking it. Ura was happy though. She had brought a present in this "Secret Santa" thing, and had put it where she assumed it should go. She also sang some Lervon folk song, though to anyone else it sounded more like a whispery ghost speaking. She looked around, with a happiness leaching off her.

"This is so exciting!"

Aveline Cuiléin Beltran Rarr Casaana Takui Andromeda Malvern Marakai Al'Orren Okkeus Dainlei Subject 73 Red

 

[Finley Dawson]

Finley had been absent for most winter events, usually abroad with the Pathfinders, but this year he wanted to try to get closer to peers while he was still around. The setting for such a gathering had been perfect, a sleepy little cabin at the edge of a frozen lake. He was excited to give the lake a spin later on sleds after he had finished mingling.

Inside the cabin he found people chatting, singing, and even dancing. Smiling at the scene, he set down a large sack and removed his jacket, the fabric steaming slightly as stubborn snowflakes finally melted away. As was tradition, he had donned his special holiday sweater just for the occasion.

"Evening everyone," he called out to all those present. "I missed the exchange sign up, but you know I wasn't going to miss out on gifting!"

He started going around the room, issuing small care packages from his bag. Each one consisted of a small silver box tied shut with azure ribbons. They were each free to open the boxes now or later. Each box contained an assortment sweet treats, including decorated Woookiee-ookiees baked by his Wookiee friends on Kashyyk, and whimsical inventions created by Finley personally.

"Happy Holidays," Finley called out when he stopped before a dancing Ura. He didn't know the woman personally, but they had served together on a few operations by this time. This was perhaps a good opportunity to get to know each other outside the job.

He wasn't exactly sure if the Lervon could actually eat the ookiees, but he was sure she could find some fun with the friction warping spheres.

Spoiler

Aveline Cuiléin Ura Iolar Beltran Rarr Casaana Takui Andromeda Malvern Marakai Al'Orren Okkeus Dainlei Subject 73 Red

 

[Beltran Rarr]

The Imperialis entered Commenor's atmosphere, about the same time that Beltran stepped into the cockpit. His personal astromech, D07, hovered at the controls of the ancient yacht, expertly bringing the craft in over the capital and then passed the Munto valley. Beltran didn't make it to Commenor very often. His work with the Rangers generally kept him on the borders and his recent leave of absence from that entity had taken him far from the Silver Concord's holdings, deep into Sith and CIS territory.

That he returned on this particular evening was not by chance, however. Nor was it chance that he had ordered his droid to begin landing maneuvers a few hundred meters away from the frozen lake. No, he was here in this place, on this day, for a very specific reason. To give a gift, and perhaps, enjoy a moment of peace.

Beltran was not a sentimental man, by any stretch of the imagination. He was practical, brutally-almost sadistically-practical. Growing up, he had never known love or affection. He had never had a place where he felt safe and that fact had turned him into a cold, brutal warrior. But among the Jedi, for all their sanctimonious self-serving self-righteousness, he had witnessed true compassion and empathy. He had seen actual love and self sacrifice. And he knew that idealism needed to survive, had to survive, if the galaxy was ever to know true peace.

So he'd fought for them. He'd killed for them and been grievously wounded for them. He'd taken the first steps toward the Force, for them, and now he even delved into the darkness for them-doing what he suspected very few of them could do-using and knowing the Dark Side without falling to it. Walking a tightrope, learning what the Sith knew and wielding that knowledge against them.

But even that wasn't the reason he was here today. No, today he was here to give a gift to a friend.

Once the ship had landed, Beltran and D07 ("Dot for short") made their way to the cargo hold. The gift was encased in a shipping crate, approximately the size of an average human adult. Stenciled across it in big black letters were the words "Obsidian Star Technologies" and "R&D Division." The crate had already been pre-loaded onto a grav-jack. Dot zoomed over to the jack's controls and began to move the crate toward the loading ramp, which Beltran lowered.

Once outside, they made their way toward the small group that had already gathered here. Beltran wore his usual black fatigues, combat boots and a leather jacket with thermal lining. It was cold out here, and the Lorrdian suppressed a shiver, dialing the thermal controls of his jacket up a little to keep his body temperature comfortable. Dot lowered the grav-jack and tootled a brief greeting and goodbye to those standing there before going back to the ship. She didn't much care for the cold either.

Looking around, Beltran nodded to the others. The only being he recognized was Ura Iolar . He had sat in on a class or two that she had been a part of back on Kashyyyk. He nodded to the native of Yurb and surprised a sudden feeling of loss, knowing that despite their victory against the Bryn'adul there, the planet had still fallen to their onslaught.

"Jedi Iolar," He said by way of greeting. "A pleasure to see you again."

To the others, he nodded and added. "Captain Beltran Rarr, Antarian Rangers." He said, introducing himself.

Aveline Cuiléin Ura Iolar Beltran Rarr Casaana Takui Andromeda Malvern Marakai Al'Orren Okkeus Dainlei Subject 73 Red