Faction [THP] Among Rebels and Stars

[Reina Daival]

Tag: Phobos
Objective 2

"Not sure about Connel. I don't...see him much."

Reina shrugged her shoulders at Phobos' comment about hearing about the names on the Net. That made sense. They were pretty popular and famous in the grand scheme of things. Maybe that was why they had attracted so many people to the Hidden Path. Either way, she shrugged her shoulders, glancing off towards the direction of the hanger.

"Right now though? Valery's probably off dancing with her husband in there. I'm sure you'll be able to find them easily enough, unless you want to wait for things to die down."

Spoiler: OOC Notes

: Means written/typed communication : < Means Sign Language communication >

 

[Zaiya Ceti]

Outfit: x x x x x | Equipment: x x x x x x | Weapons: x x x | Companion: Domxite
Interacting with: Aris Noble

Oh blast!

He just had to say that! Instantly another hot wave of blood rushed to her face and the ripple of bioluminescence seemed to comically short circuit over her skin.

Sitting there in the dark only made it more obvious.

“Umm. Just… thinking of things.” She admitted, only now that he’d stopped kissing the back of her hand, her arms came up to fingercomb through her hair in a flustered blushing gesture.

“I mean not like you can’t feel it when you were just doing it.” She added, referencing when he was kissing the back of her hand and how that had equally felt good as much as tickled.

Deciding that was such a silly confession she looked up at the stars.

Honestly they were still very pretty.

“This is still nice though.”

 

[Phobos]

Objective II
Tags: Reina Daival

​

"Right now though? Valery's probably off dancing with her husband in there. I'm sure you'll be able to find them easily enough, unless you want to wait for things to die down."

In... there? Oh. Yeah, there was a structure. How had she missed that?

Phobos would surely meet this Valery Noble eventually, right? There wasn't any rush. And it surely wasn't because she didn't want to go bother this important leader person while amidst and intimate moment with their partner. Cause that wouldn't be awkward at all. No, it was better that she waited for whatever this event was to die down.

"I'll wait," Phobos decided. "Yeah..."

She paused for a moment before speaking again.

"You said you... came from somewhere with an ocean?" she recalled. "What is it's name?"

 

[Ines Pen-Ar-Lan]

Among Rebels and Stars
Calyx Sundrift
Objective I - Take the Floor!

Spoiler: Outfit

Her eyes lingered on his throughout the dance. They shimmered brightly and a soft smile rested on her lips. While she may have done an excellent job at making it look good and appear effortless, she still made a few missteps here and there. Each time, her smile faltered a little - but the two always got back on track. She never seemed to find a reason to let her gaze drift. To analyse what else was happening around them.

When their song ended, their dance did too. It was when she forced a smile and thanked him for the dance. Calyx mentioned that she seemed like a natural - and that she should practice, rather than study. A subtle smidge of what might be interpreted as pain briefly surfaced in her eyes. For the first time since they began their dance, her eyes quickly darted away as she looked to the side, letting her hair cover her face from his view. She spoke a hollow "I should" before pressing on. They were bound to separate at some point and Verse was seemingly trying to make it go quickly.

Verse's spirit quickly seemed to be returning to normal as they talked. Curious glances drifted across the ballroom and cheerful little chuckles escaped her as he talked.

"Yeah, there are probably plenty of fun people outside" she agreed with an easy smile before leaning a little closer. "But nobody interesting enough to miss the show you're about to put on, All that talk on Niamos an' tonight? I wanna see you in action."

Calyx mentioned seeing her tomorrow before waving and moving into the crowd. Her amused eyes carried something uncharacteristically heavy as she let out a simple "Yeah, we'll see." The girl's eyes followed him as he walked away. Instinctively, her arms rose to fold into a self-embrace beneath her chest. She'd linger in the same spot for a few moments before eventually turning to move to the bar. Perhaps it was time for a rosé.

[...]

We aren't made for each other. I'm certainly not made for him. But I can't get his voice out of my head - not his words 'cause half the time he's full of shit, but his voice. The feel of my hand in his, the way he moved us with the music-.. the way he pretended not to notice when I slipped up.
This was my first ball, my first (real) dance - and I was so anxious going into it. Y'know? I wanted to be someone who could dance. Someone used to all the social cues of this sort of event. And I simply couldn't be her. Not even after studying and practicing in my room. 'n' even when I messed the dance up, I had Cal there, making me feel like a princess it was all ok.

To be quite honest, I didn't want it to end. This dance that we had? I could've stayed in his arms for hours. It is a good thing duty and logic finally prevailed - but it was a closer call than I care to admit. Would one more dance really have been that bad?

Maybe I'm not cut out for this. Thinking that Verse should be good at dancing was silly to begin with. Wanting to actually be good at it myself was sillier still. But that's not really the issue here, is it? The issue is that I liked it. That I liked it.

I hope he finds happiness someday. Not the sort you get from a fun night out - but true happiness. The sort of fulfillment and satisfaction you'd get from doing something good - like furthering the cause of the Empire. As for me? Tonight, I'll just rest - try not to think too much about anything, really. After that? Well, one thing is certain: I'll need to steel myself - control my emotions. Shut myself off more. I really can't afford to let this sort of slip-up happen again.

[...]

 

[Aris Noble]

"That's true, I do know."

Was that smugness? Just a little in his voice, in the inflection of his tone, but he didn't want that to linger too much longer. As much as he liked teasing her and seeing the flash of her colors, he cared far more about her feeling valued. His smile softened as he started scanning through the various constellations visible from this world.

"So, Midvinter. Would you want to have a home in the city or in the outskirts? Remote?"

Zaiya Ceti

 

[Katarine Ryiah]

Tags: Connel Vanagor

“I can respect that. I don’t think I had a social life until the war ended and even then it was limited… and a complete disaster.”

Buster seemed to be growing tired of fetch because he sighed. Katarine wondered if he would be laying down to chew the stick soon, like she had seen other animals do.

“I guess you are like me. This type of event doesn’t come natural. Oddly I’m way more open and easy to get to know on an assignment. Or at least I was. Who knows now. Guess I’ll find out if I stick around though.”

 

[Vess Sadragen]

Vess let the silence stretch for a moment, content to let the rhythm carry them while she weighed the question. It wasn't just idle talk she could feel that in the way his voice had dropped a little, the way his gaze lingered not on her but on the room, the people, the impossible thing they were trying to build.

She didn't believe in fairy tales. She didn't believe in clean victories. But she wasn't here by accident either.

Her eyes followed his for a moment, toward Valery, toward the scattered rebels and runaways that had gathered under one name. The Network. The Hidden Path. Whatever they wanted to call it, it was the same thing people who should've stayed scattered, but didn't.

"Dreams are reckless by nature," she said at last, her voice quiet but steady. "Trying to change anything means letting go of what is safe, familiar. But no, I don't think it's just a pipe dream. Not if people keep rallying to the cause.."

A soft smile touched her lips. "Now don't go thinking I'm a true believer or anything, I just think if anybody can pull it off. She can. Not like anybody else is doing anything." she nodded toward Valery

​

TAG: Kain Aldore

 

[Connel Vanagor]

REBELS AND STARS
ODESSEN
OBJ 1

Michael, Gabriel, Azrael, Sariel, Raphael, Jeremiel, Connel, Raguel
[Any text in brackets signifies comm-link usage and not face to face conversation]

Connel listened, and nodded to what she was saying. He was better in a fight, but wasn’t necessarily easier to get to know. That was a big part of the reason why he had Buster around, a friend for him and an easy “in” with others, if he was the type to do that.

So stick around. This path. These people, they could use the help. Not just in a fight, but in moral support I think. Feeling a bit odd saying that, he tried to clarify. Buster likes you. Buster at this point was laying on the ground, catching his breath. Connel wanted to admit he liked having someone who was not Omega Squad to talk to every now and then, but he didn’t know how.

He shrugged.

Besides… who am I going to trade questions with? Okay that sounded super weird, but the sentiment was there.

Katarine Ryiah​

 

[Kain Aldore]

Tags Vess Sadragen

He absorbed her words with the slow pace of their steps. Nothing fancy in his lead, just enough to keep with the music. He understood her view on the alliance, though his biggest concern was that everyone had paused to admire it before seeing the shape of their actions.

He hadn't been part of an organization in years, only the odd crew for a job, or one he'd hired himself. Maybe it was the uncertainty, maybe it was the fact he was surrounded by Jedi, after practically abandoning the Order. His voice broke out much softer than it was before. "I firmly believe, often safety doesn't equate to progress. That sometimes, ya gotta do somethin' dumb, and loud, and out of your comfort zone if ya want to move forward in life."

"Now don't go thinking I'm a true believer or anything, I just think if anybody can pull it off. She can. Not like anybody else is doing anything."

"Careful, you're starting to sound like me." He gave her a wink and a short laugh as they danced on. Then, for once, he shut up. The silence stretched while he tried to focus on the more intricate steps, something that felt alien after years. And with it came the dredge of memory, of worry, and, as her words lingered, his own concerns.

He then lifted his arm up, pulling hers along to give a slight twirl as the music swelled, after, he'd pull her in once more. Letting the dance go on, letting his words settle. "Honestly, Val is the reason I'm worried. Well not her in particular, but... everyone? I guess. I sound like a hypocrite." He let a slight chuckle out. "I left the order because it felt too reactive, unwilling. Now here's a bunch of Jedi, I'm somehow teaching to smuggle. And I can't help but get this... off feeling, like I wanna sit everyone down and ask if they're all honestly okay with this." He went over it in his head a million times before, and another hundred within the moment he spoke.

"Rebellion. It's a dark path, and you know what they say about good intentions..." There were people laughing and cheering. The music met the acoustics of the hanger in surprising harmony. But that irreverence Kain was so known for was all but silent now. "I see everyone here so eager to help, so willing to stick it up the emperors rear-end. But I swear, I can only point out a handful of people I know for a fact wouldn't hesitate to take a life without trying to play savior first. I'm worried that's gonna get someone hurt, or worse."

Despite the bleak tone he'd slipped into, their dance continued. Then, like a rubber band snapping back, his armor came back on. A grin crept in. "Right, we're supposed to be dancing. No more Mr. doom and gloom. Next thing you know I'll be writing sad poetry in the corner and quietly asking people if they've heard of the Sith." He tried to fight the smile, but it broke free anyway, spilling into a short, rough chuckle.

"So, you thinking about joining our little group of misfits, or is tonight a one time appearance for ya?"

 

[Jayna Ismet-Thio]

Objective: Visit Dad's new crew
Location: Odessen
Outfit:Travel clothes
Tags: Jax Thio | Vera Noble | Acier Moonbound | Aether Verd | Michael Angellus | Pari Sylune | Zaiya Ceti | Aris Noble

The folks seemed friendly. That wasn't much of a surprise to Jayna. They were her dad's associates. Even if they didn't know for sure who she was yet. They mostly seemed a little young, or Mandalorian, to have worked closely with dad.

One of the boys, Acier, quickly accepted her, another, Michael announced the names of all the young folks. Jayna gave a nod to each of them, mentally tracking their names. Then Vera stated the current focus of their conversation. Even if Jayna didn't understand right away. She was about to question what "flavor" meant before Vera continued and Jayna made a good guess.

"I don't really have a specialty. Getting training mostly from my parents. Don't even have a lightsaber yet and my dad is a blade master," Jayna added. She wasn't ashamed of not having figured out her path yet. Though the lightsaber part hurt. Sometimes she thought dad held her back cause she didn't commit to the Jedi.

"I have combat training though. Good at hand to hand and can shoot a blaster. My mom teaches me more mysterious Force stuff. I am not sure I get it all yet, but I have a feeling that will be a good part of my path in the future."

 

[Zaiya Ceti]

Outfit: x x x x x | Equipment: x x x x x x | Weapons: x x x | Companion: Domxite
Interacting with: Aris Noble

Hmm…

That was a good question to consider, one that certainly allowed the Lovalla Padawan to think past all the new and interesting ways Aris was making her feel and focus instead on a place they’d have together.

Their own nest.

Well, would he consider it a nest? Home? Both?

Now she was over thinking again.

“Maybe not too far from the city. We don’t know if we may need to be close to it just in case. Somewhere in between?” She replied, going back to gently running her fingers through his hair again.

“I’ve never thought of finding a place for myself before, let alone with someone else. “ she considered the costs and all.

She had a little saved up from her parents trust.

“How much do you think that would require to get a place?”

 

[Aris Noble]

Aris nodded along in understanding. Not too far, but not too close. There were valid reasons for all options, so splitting the difference was going to be the best way. Though, his brow did knit together just a bit. "That's a good point, we've not even had our own places before, let alone one to share. Should we live on our own for a bit first? Maybe as neighbors." There was a pause then as he blinked. Then blinked again.

Places cost money.

He opened his mouth, then closed it. Opened then closed again. ".. I've no idea. I- don't actually get money that well. It's all payments and rent and such, but also utilities and the like? .. There's a lot more to this than I thought."

Zaiya Ceti

 

[Reina Daival]

Tag: Phobos
Objective 2

"Ah, no. Small difference. I was raised amongst the ocean. I was found at sea as a kid. A group of fishermen raised me. Took me from planet to planet, but I never really left the ship until I was...sixteen I think?"

It was hard to have known her actual age at the time, being a few months off because of well...none of the fishermen had known her age either. It wasn't something she was worried about though. What was done was done. This is that, and that is this.

"Ended up having to leave them when fishing jobs were drying up. One thing led to another. And then bam, I joined the Jedi. Not entirely been a good one, but I'm a Jedi. Studying. Learning. All that fun stuff."

Yes. Fun stuff. That's what all of this had been. Reina had to fight the urge to roll her eyes. At the end of the day, it was a better life than what she would have had if she continued to just sell fish.

Spoiler: OOC Notes

: Means written/typed communication : < Means Sign Language communication >

 

[Kahlil Noble]

"Are you going to throw your shoe at me?"

He spoke up even before she'd thrown it. He could sense it of course, but by the disbelief in his voice he hadn't expected just that level of competitiveness to emerge from his wife. Or, perhaps, he should've. Quite the laugh escaped him as he half turned, half stumbled to catch the shoe, just in time for Valery to start to pass him by.

Which he'd predicted. It seemed he was all too aware of his wife's hijinks as his grin widened and he caught her right in his arms to lift her from the ground.

"Not so fast!"

Valery Noble

 

[Xian Xiao]

She was happy to have the song end. Being around these new people could have been overwhelming, but Xian thought she was taking it rather well. At his simple request, she nodded. Adjusting slightly as he pulled her closer, she liked feeling the heat of his body against hers.

I don't need to dance more, Caelan.

Even though she liked the feeling of him, the hangar was a bit stuffy and warm. As they got closer to being outside, she felt the cooling air caress her skin. Lifting her chin, she gave it more skin to blow across. This was something she could have done herself, but she didn't think of it.

For the moment, her focus was on the man holding her. If he wanted to talk, she had nothing against that and looked forward to this opportunity. Stealing a little bit of solitude and silence wasn't going to hurt anything. Not quite solitude, but with just Caelan, it would certainly feel that way.

The fresh air will be wonderful.

Wearing a small smile, they walked together comfortably. While there was a good height difference, it didn't seem to make this difficult. His hold was gentle but firm. Returning the gesture, she placed her arm around him as well.

Caelan Valoren

 

[Caelan Valoren]

And just like that they were out of the hangar and off into the woods that surrounded it. Just the two of them wandering off into the brush, down a path here, or a game trail there. He was just trying to lead her away from where everyone else was because he wanted to have some time just for the two of them, now that they had mingled a bit with others and enjoyed a dance together. Besides, the atmosphere out there was just so peaceful.

They walked quietly for a while, just the words she'd said lingering in his mind as they did. It was almost like he could feel from her that she wanted more than just the walking around, holding each others hand, pretending to play the game that everyone else was playing. Not pretending, really, he supposed. This was part and parcel of who he was as a royal, going to galas. For him it was just a routine, and had become so long ago. Though, this time was a bit different. Dancing with the myriad of Jedi and other rebels around was a bit different from his norm.

It was quiet until they found a small hill that lacked trees at the top. He led her up to the top of it and stopped, his eyes turning up towards the stars above them.

"Wasn't sure what this was going to be like," he said, his gaze transfixed. "I was nervous what people would say given what recently transpired. I'm sure there will be some scrutiny to come of it."

It didn't matter, he knew, what others thought, only what he thought and understood. They could say all they wished, and he knew they would because that was the nature of people: gossiping. He would take it in stride, answer any questions, be honest and open about everything, and that should be enough.

"But I'm glad to be here with you."

He turned to look at her, his hand sliding to just above her hip, other hand reaching up to gently touch her cheek.

"It's strange how correct it feels to be here with you."

ATTIRE: LINK | WEAPON: Lightsaber | COMPANION: BD-F8 | OTHER: Sigil Bead (Necklace), Prosthetic Left Arm

TAGS: Xian Xiao ​

 

[Katarine Ryiah]

Tags: Connel Vanagor

Katarine smiled when he said Buster liked her. She was already in love with Buster because who could resist that cute little face?

His next statement seemed to be his way of saying he liked having her around and that she was welcome here and that also made her smile. Maybe she could start putting the pieces of her life back together.

“Well I guess it’s official then. I can’t leave Buster hanging or you without questions.” She laughed and let her deep green eyes travel up to the stars. The night had turned out pleasant enough, though she was still filled with uncertainties. She guessed she’d cross those when she came to them. One step at a time.

 

[Connel Vanagor]

REBELS AND STARS
ODESSEN
OBJ 1

Michael, Gabriel, Azrael, Sariel, Raphael, Jeremiel, Connel, Raguel
[Any text in brackets signifies comm-link usage and not face to face conversation]

When she said that was a good enough reason to stick around, he found himself smiling. He couldn’t help but feel a sense of warmth at her words, as if they carried a deeper meaning. Her willingness to stay gave him hope, and for the first time, he felt a genuine connection forming with someone that was not a teammate, or a relative. Of course he was not ready to admit that, because well… Buster liked her.

Speaking of his best friend, Buster was doing his happy dance at the mention of his name.

You hear that buddy? She likes you too. Suddenly with a case of the “zoomies”, Buster started running around again and stopping short. That made him happy. Watching the pup burn off more energy, he just shook his head and laughed.

He’s going to sleep tonight.

Katarine Ryiah​

 

[Zaiya Ceti]

Outfit: x x x x x | Equipment: x x x x x x | Weapons: x x x | Companion: Domxite
Interacting with: Aris Noble

Zaiya felt the tug of his confusion ripple through their bond, and it mirrored the swirl of her own thoughts so closely that it almost made her laugh again. They were both stumbling through this, trying to picture a future neither of them had really had before.

She paused in her gentle cafuné, fingers stilled in his crimson hair as a giggle slipped out.

"We've shared rooms in the Cresh," she reminded him with a grin, "Does it really matter that we each have our own place first?"

The truth was... she didn't know. Hadn't he first mentioned all this as something that would come when she was knighted? The thought made her tilt her head, humming softly.

"I think we first have to consider the costs," she admitted, smile softening as her fingers trailed through his hair again. "Then figure out how we'll even pay for it."

So she tossed the question out.

"How do we make an income then?" Now that they were technically no longer subject to the Alliance and doing a more underground route to assist, how were they going to sustain themselves?

 

[Tigris Aphra]

Outfit: Dress
Tag: Everest Vale
Objective: I

The hidden rebel base might have been the least safe place they had been in a long time. The Hidden Path was making many enemies. But in that moment, with the hanger transformed from a functional rebel port to a festive party venue, with so many familiar faces, and Eve so close, Tigris felt more than safe. The horrors behind them, the monumental effort ahead of them, and the dangers they faced in the present, were forgotten for a night, as they all relished enjoying comrades, peers and colleagues in fun and friendship.

And yet, Tigris even found them fading as she and Eve took to the dance floor. It was much different than thier first dance, that night on Naboo. Back then, they were hesitant in their touch, cautious in their footwork. She and Eve found a rythmn that night, the beginning of something life changing.

There, on Odessen, there was no hesitancy. They came together, so close, bodies fitting together, an ease to they way the held one another. The dance steps were almost instinctual between them, as if the Force bond that hummed between them guided their feet in a relaxed choreography. Their dancing came naturally, allowing the couple to focus on other things.

"I'm so happy we get to do this. After everything."

Tigris nodded slightly, her gaze fixing on Eve's glimmering silver eye. "I think we all need it." She replied, before her eyes drifted around them. She saw people dancing she expected together, and some that even surprised her. It brought a small grin to Tigris' lips. She fixed her gaze again on Eve. "I know we need this, you and I."

Falling silent, Tigris held Eve a bit closer, resting her head against her fiance. The Atrisian opened to the moment. The sound of the music, the light banter of others around them, the way Eve smelled. She savored it in every sense, the evening suspended in time.

"You look amazing tonight, Angel." She whispered.