A Family Life Day [Past]

[Josh Dragovalor]

Ooh, cliffhangers. Josh loved things being left on a cliffhanger all cryptic-like. Really bred full trust! Okay that was complete, utter sarcasm but he didn't voice it. It was just best left unsaid for now while they were supposed to be celebrating. Though the raised brow probably at least gave some indication that being cryptic like that probably wasn't the way to go when it came to breeding trust.

Josh would return with some boxes, and set them down. Considering for a moment what to do, he seemed to make a decision from there. "Jason, since Ra is new to Life Day... Why don't we let her open one first?" Josh would suggest to Jason, who while eying his box with a keen interest, seemed to at least understand in some fashion the meaning of what his father was saying. "Yes!" Jason responded, which got a smile from Josh as Jason would try and heft the box to bring it to Ra. "I guess he wants to give it to you himself" Josh joked with a laugh. "Go on, open up."

Inside would be a large book, which explained the strain Jason put in to lift the box itself. It was a large dossier and encyclopedia of planets, their history, creatures and other elements. Complete with pictures. The most recent edition, one that Josh had ensured he knew full well Ra didn't possess already. He had wanted to be sure the first gift she got this holiday was one she'd for sure be happy with... Or so he hoped she would be anyway.

 

[Riamah]

He might have returned with several boxes, she only had the two. Neither of them were wrapped in any fancy paper or anything, but were just placed in the bag she had put them in.

Taking a seat on one of the chairs, she opened the book package and started looking through it. She took great care in how she opened the wrapping and didn't just rip into it.

When she finished with a glance through the contents, she looked up with a smile and small wink.

"Is this a hint you want me to take up gardening or something dealing with nature?"

Nudging the bag she brought down with her to rest between Josh and Jason.

"I did some looking into things, but couldn't think of anything to get for either of you. I decided to make you these instead. Go on. Be a little careful though, some of it is breakable."

 

[Josh Dragovalor]

Josh would blink a few times when Ra would reveal the boxes. "I thought you had forgotten about that aspect of Life Day?" He would inquire. She had not left his sight since she had admitted this, they had just finished dinner and there was no way she could have done this. Unless... Of course. It seemed she had played coy, a ruse. Josh wasn't a fan of deception, and would likely take what Ra said with a bit more caution from here on, as he remembered her role from before... And her role now as a Silver Shadow(?). But for now, he tried not to worry about it too much.

Still, he was happy she seemed to like the book. And he smiled in turn. "You seem to love these kinds of books. This was why I was asking about the issues you had, I wanted to know for sure that I could get you something that you'd like" He would admit. As close as they were, he still felt he didn't know as much about Ra as he perhaps should. He had picked a gift from what he remembered of their conversations, and had talked to her several times since to ensure that he could get her exactly the right gift. She said she liked to look up the planets she went to, their histories, their creatures... An updated volume, he hoped, would suffice for her.

But for now, he would let Jason open his box first, and then Josh would soon follow. Josh opened it a bit more gently than Jason did, as the child was a bit too overeager.

 

[Riamah]

He must not have noticed when she went and excused herself right after he had.

"I had, but remembered there were a few things I had I could gift the of you with. Go on and open them."

The book sat in her lap as she watched them open the presents she had put together for them.

Keeping in mind that Jason was still young, in his package were some smaller books filled with pictures of different locations in the galaxy she had been to. Under each image was a small paragraph detaling where the image was taken. There was also a shirt that said, Galaxy Traveller on it.

"I found that one not too long ago and thought of him for it. Now was the perfect time to give it to him."

She just hoped it fit.

Josh's package had just as much thought to it and had a far deeper meaning. Inside his box was what might be thought of as pieces of junk. However, each one was bagged and tagged. These were little trinkets and parts of different worlds Ra had visited in the course of her job as a merchant.

"I am just sorry I couldn't come up with something better. That's what next year is for."

Giving a small smile, she wanted to know if these were something acceptable. Part of the buried and unadmitted fear she had. To be alone and not accepted for whatever reason.

 

[Josh Dragovalor]

He'd forgotten, what with all the work going into breakfast and set-up and everything else. But the gifts, when opened, he looked them over a moment. Josh flipped through the little bits and bobs, and his lips slowly spread into a smile. Riamah thought that she hadn't done well with it, but he was completely fine with that.

"You clearly thought it through, with much of your heart. That's what means the most" He spoke softly as he turned to place a peck on her lips while Jason was distracted with looking his gift over. Or well, being engrossed in the pictures. He couldn't read yet though, so it wasn't long before he turned to Ra and began pointing at the pictures.

"What's that?" He asked when he pointed at one, and then asked "What's that?" Again over and over every single time she might have answered them. He'd be able to read the entries one day, but Jason was still learning his reading right now.

 

[Riamah]

She smiled when Josh said the gifts had come from the heart and nodded. Accepting the kiss, she laughed a little when Jason started in on asking about the images in the book he was looking at.

Getting down on the floor to look at the book with Jason, for the moment Josh was left out. At least until Ra looked up at him to invite him to join them.

She didn't want to take any time away from him that he had with his son and they all should share this time together.

When Jason asked a question, she pointed at the image and then read the paragraph under it. This would continue on until they ran out of book, time or Josh called an end to it.

 

[Josh Dragovalor]

Josh appreciated the invitation, indicating that with a smile as he would kneel down to lean against her and see what she was explaining to Jason. This went on for a little while before Josh would indeed call a stop to it. "We'd best keep going for now. You can show Jason the rest later, maybe on the trip to Kashyyyk. But I've still got some more gifts here for you two, and we'd best finish that so we can get everything else done in time for the tree lightings."

Some time passed after that and eventually the two were watching as Jason played with a toy speeder, controlled by an RC controller that Josh was trying to instruct him on how to use it. "We'll get ready to go soon" Josh would remark toward Ra idly, shooting her a smile.

"Not bad for a first Life Day though, aye?"

 

[Josh Dragovalor]

-Double Post-

 

[Riamah]

She had expected the book to be something looked at closer to bed time and maybe turned into a routine for Jason. Nodding when Josh suggested it get put away for now and closed it up to allow the two of them to pass out their other gifts. Next year Ra hoped to have more to offer to the both of them, but the two from her this year were special.

Sitting back on the counch with her feet under her (so they didn't get run over by the speeder), Ra was content and happy. When Josh mentioned they needed to get ready to go soon, she looked up and saw his smile. Giving him a small one back, she wondered what else was planned.

She knew about some of the customs, but not everything. This morning with what was slowly becoming a family was wonderful and in a way, Ra did not want it to end.

"It was great. I hope there are other times where we can do something like this that doesn't revolve around a holiday."

Letting out a sigh, she held her hand out to him to squeeze gently. Leaning against Josh on the couch as they watched Jason play was something she had dreamed about and never expected to happen to her. This really was a dream come true and she would do anything to protect it.

 

[Josh Dragovalor]

Josh smiled in turn. “I don’t see why not” He responded when Ra indicated she wanted more moments like this without need for a holiday. They were ever so slowly becoming a family after all. “Let’s get everything ready to roll and head to the rest in time for the ceremonies.”

With that, the group would finish up and make their way to the ship. Hopefully this would be the first of many family days.

------

After the Life Day festivities had come to an end at the Silver Rest, Josh had called for a family dinner. Gherron was out somewhere so Josh didn’t expect him to show and Madalena had declined. That meant him, Ra and Nick. Nick had been allowed to bring a plus one, though it wouldn’t have been someone Josh had expected.

Josh had laid out a table in his office at the Rest for the time being, that would seat the lot of them. Josh, Ra and Jason were already there and as a knock sounded on the door, Josh would open it to see... Jair?

 

[Riamah]

Jair- Just that morning, she and Nick had been having a conversation. It had lasted through much of the day and long enough they he had invited her to join him and his family for dinner. She was alone and had agreed to the gathering.

Having been given enough to change and wash up, she joined him and they traveled together to meet with Josh. Not they waited for him to open the door and when that happened, she sensed the surprise from Josh.

"Good evening, Master DragonsFlame. Happy Life Day."

Ra- Looking up from where she was sitting when the door opened, her gold eyes fell on the face of Jairdain and she rolled them slightly. They had been crossing paths for a few years now, since before she had even become anybody important. Not that being important was something great or anything, but it gave a timeline to their lives.

"Happy Life Day to the both of you as well."

Not exactly inviting them in since this did belong to Josh, she did stand up and waited for them to join them.

 

[Josh Dragovalor]

Josh couldn’t help but be surprised at the presence of Jair. Looking to the left of her, he noticed his younger brother at her side. So he HAD found a plus one! He was surprised to see Jair with him but at least it was someone they trusted that had become his friend.

“Of course, a Happy Life Day to you two as well.”

 

[Nick Dragovalor]

Nick figured the blonde would be surprised to see him actually bring a plus one to... Whatever this was he had offered them to join. But he had kept his word and brought Jair along all the same despite his own social anxiety. It was as well. It meant that he’d be less of a third wheel around Josh and his family.

“Happy Life Day.”

He shifted uncomfortably, looking, sounding and feeling out of place, waiting for Josh to open up. When he did, he strode in carefully.

 

[Riamah]

Jair-

Taking a small package out from behind her, she held it out to Josh.

"As tradition dictates, I have a small gift for you."

Walking into the room, she stayed next to Nick. Not because she was scared or nervous, but because she figured he would appreciate it more. There was a gentle and friendly support coming from her.

 

[Josh Dragovalor]

“Oh, uh, thank you” Josh responded as he would let Jair in, taking a deep breath now that the initial shock of things was over. Taking the offered gift then, he would lead Nick and Jair to their seats. Jason was already at the table, playing with the little RC speeder he had gotten earlier.

“So how so the two of you know each other?” Josh would ask, making conversation while the food that had been ordered was on it’s way

 

[Riamah]

Jair-

Nodding at the simple thanks she got for the small gift, they followed him to where seats had been set for all of them. Deftly avoiding stepping on the toy on the floor, Jairdain took the seat offered and turned her attention to Josh.

He asked how she and Nick had met. It should have been an expected question and was only natural, but she was almost reluctant to answer it.

"We met when I was sent on a mission by Krest."

If Nick wanted to add in any further detail that would be fine.

Ra-

At the mention of Krest, a small noise would be heard from Ra. It appeared the man had played a role in Jairdain's life. Not knowing any of the details though, she did not know how much of a part he had played.

 

[Nick Dragovalor]

“She was bad at her job” Nick responded almost immediately and it was hard to tell if he was joking or not with how dryly it was delivered. “Too squishy for the kind of Sith she wanted to be. Too content to caw “Pleaz masta, tell me what to do some more!”

The redhead cleared his throat. “Of course then her damn Master showed up when I destroyed her droid. By accident, of course.”

 

[Josh Dragovalor]

Josh would take a seat and let the two talk, though he would blink a few times when they would reveal they had been together on a mission. It sounded like he’d been back with the Sith for a long time, and this took place back when Jair was part of the Sith, before he met her.

That did confirm one thing at least. Nick had retained both sets of memories.

“So...” He trailed off. “What was so important about that droid? My own companion here might not be happy to hear you demolished it” Josh remarked with a small, teasing smile toward Ra.

 

[Riamah]

Jair-

Letting a small grunt at what Nick said, even if was true, Jairdain gave him a slightly dirty look.

"It was a simple drone that Krest made me take everywhere with me. Kept its eyes on him and reported back to him. Beeping almost all the time, Nick got fed up with it and destroyed it. At least, that's how it seemed to me. Accident or not, Krest showed up and my quest ended in failure.

She sighed slightly and fell silent. Not being a fighter may make her weak, but she was strong in mental areas. Krest had been going to make use of them and tried to turn her into his little Dread Master. It had failed and when she returned to the Silvers...that was when she met Josh.

Ra-

Both Nick and Jair got very heated looks when he mentioned he had destroyed a droid. From the way Jair described it though, it really was nothing more than a simple drone. They could never become sentient and be a free droid so the heat left her face and she relaxed.

 

[Nick Dragovalor]

“BEEP BEEP BEEP BEEP BEEP BEEP”

At the end of it, Nick had begun making sounds imitating the droid from before, likely getting looks from all involved. He continued going “BEEP BEEP BEEP BEEP BEEP!” Until Jason started giggling and began imitating it as well. “BEEP BEEP BEEP BEEP BEEP BEEP!” Cried Jason between giggling fits. “It’s annoying, isn’t it?” Nicholas asked to which Josh nodded his head. “It makes me want to bloody smack you upside the head.”

“Me too!” The redhead responded. “So I accidentally took a lightsaber to the blasted thing! Jair didn’t seem to mind... Much. The Krusty Krest did though. Ruined our mission because he couldn’t stand to let his pet go unwatched. I mean, I TOLD him it was an accident! My finger slipped! Honest! It made me slip and it ran into my lightsaber... Ten times!”