Public [Social] Songs for the Fallen, Strength for the Living

[Valery Noble]

​

Outfit: Red dress

Fondor — 902 ABY

The soft hum of conversation settled down as the lights dimmed across the venue. Spotlights slowly rose, casting a warm, golden glow onto the center stage. Silhouettes of ruined buildings — a symbolic backdrop — framed the scene in quiet contrast to the woman now stepping forward. Valery emerged with practiced grace, as the rich red of her dress caught and reflected the lights like flame. The crowd stirred, but no one spoke.

She reached the microphone, hands resting lightly around it, eyes scanning the faces of diplomats, soldiers, civilians and perhaps even other Jedi — all gathered for a cause that went deeper than politics or ceremony. This was about home and healing — a charity event to raise money for a good cause. Even with the Alliance funding a historic effort to rebuild, there was always a need for more aid.

Music swelled behind her, soft at first, a gentle orchestral build, and then she sang. Her voice, gentle and smooth, carried the kind of warmth that slipped past armor and titles. It was neither boastful nor grandiose. It was honest. The kind of sound that spoke to weary hearts. To lost worlds. To the people who had fought and bled and now needed something to hold onto.

Valery closed her eyes as she sang through the last verse, the final note trembling at the edge of silence before it faded.

And then it was over.

No bow, no gesture for applause. Just the Grandmaster standing tall beneath the lights, her chest rising and falling with quiet breath, gaze sweeping the crowd as the silence lingered — reverent, almost sacred — in the moment between melody and memory.

---

OOC: A fun little social thread to raise money for rebuilding the Core after the collapse of the Dark Empire. It's pretty much open to whoever, though please no troublemaking or Jedi vs Sith fighting. This is meant to be more of a social thread.

Come talk to Valery or make some new friends!

Open ​

 

[Xeno]

Fondor
Tags: Open

Luxar | Klocto | Sword​

"...Not bad. She has some chops," Klocto noted.

Uncharacteristically, Xeno was dressed in a nice white suit with a tie, as was Klocto. Luxar, having a large droid body, opted simply to go with a bowtie attached via magnet. The trio that made up the now cult classic rock band 'Sithspit' were not here to perform. Rather they were here to represent a large donation of credits they had made to the cause of reconstruction in the Core. They were, by their nature, Coruscanti. To say that the Core was close to home was an understatement.

Xeno sighed, grabbing a glass of wine from a server. He was trying to look enthusiastic, even if he was failing.

"Not my cup of tea, but I can respect the talent," he noted. "I don't know if a place like this would like our sound..."

The half-Nagai paused, seeming to stare off into space for a moment.

“I appreciate the sentiment,” he began, “but I don’t know if I can do that. I may not even be capable of living a normal life.” The swordsman shrugged, almost sounding the slightest bit regretful. “Not that it matters anyways. I’ll probably end up dying out there eventually.”

"I once thought I'd never experience any of the good things in life, but I was proven wrong. It just took me a long time... much longer than it should have," Valery admitted with a soft smile. "It's possible for you as well, as long as you open your mind to it — it's never too late."

“…Perhaps,” Xeno remarked, frowning under his mask. In truth, he had never really stopped to consider if living his own life was even a viable option. “I need time to think about it…”

"Boss?" Luxar whirred, cutting into his daze. "You good? Went grey-scale on us again..."

"Yeah..." the musician muttered. "I'm fine. You guys have fun... I'm gonna find a quiet place to sit down."

And off he went, awkwardly making his way through the venue to find himself a nice balcony to stand on and brood. He was good at brooding, and Xeno certainly had a great deal of things to ruminate on. That old sword he had used to cut others down... it was gone by now. Lost. Discarded in the wastes of Corellia's scrap yards to be lost to time. The half-Nagai wasn't sure if what he was doing was right, putting down that sword to dedicate his life to music. There was merit to bringing joy to others, but maybe he should still be fighting more than just cleaning up thugs from time to time.

No... picking up a blade was a recipe for disaster. The last thing he needed to do was kill someone, even if they deserved it. That was a life he had put behind him...

Xeno leaned against the rail of the balcony and looked out at the cityscape of Fondor. It was so similar to Coruscant, but the differences were enough to make it feel all the more alien.

 

[Nir Si]

​

Tag: Valery Noble Taam Moghul Xeno


"Big debut. Charity event, get some eyes on the new songs. You'll do great."

Erika's reassurance always helped. Well, that and a kiss. His bassist, and now girlfriend, always knew how to charm him. Nir took a breath. The Grandmaster opening the show was nerve racking, but nothing he couldn't handle.

The Hurricane.

Up and down, he jumped to get into that zone, shaking his hands. The Hurricane, The Hurricane.

Suddenly, a slap on the back. "Chill mang. We'sa got it down pat. You'sa always so tense, gotta meditate like me."

Avalanche was always the vibe man of the group, then again, Nir tried not to ask him what he smoked in the dressing room. Smelled nice though.

A gutteral call from their guitarist, the 7 foot wookie that wore nothing more than a leather jacket and a pair of torn jeans, signalling the show to start. First out was Avalanche, laying down a jungle beat.

The Hurricane...

Out he went, a smirk painted across his face. Confidence hide the anxiety, but he needed to be more than confident. As he grabbed the mic pole, dipping it like a lover and mimicking the motion of a kiss, letting out a yowl. The song was one of the jungle. One of the wild nature of the the forest, of passionate motions made behind closed doors.

Then came out Wildfire, the massive wookie coming out with a wild riff.

They were H.A.W.K., and they wanted to show the galaxy they were the new sound.

​

 

[Katarine Ryiah]

Location: Fondor
Objective: Socialize & Raise Money
Tags: Alone For Now


Katarine sat at the bar, her gaze drifting toward the Grandmaster as she sang. Was there anything that Valery Noble couldn't do? A familiar pang of jealousy stirred within her, one that always surfaced whenever women like Valery graced the room. But Katarine quickly pushed it down with a sip of blossom wine from Naboo, trying to focus on the present.


Tonight was one of those pivotal social events—critical for The Alliance and The New Jedi Order to attend. It was a chance to raise funds for the rebuilding of the Core worlds, and the galaxy's elite had gathered in full force. Katarine couldn't help but feel a little out of place. Surrounded by women whose jewelry seemed to drip with elegance, she found herself in a simple dress, quietly wondering if she truly belonged among them. As she sipped her wine, Katarine's thoughts inevitably drifted to Dean Walker, as they so often did lately. She was beyond grateful that no one knew the man featured prominently in her dreams. Just the thought of it caused a faint blush to rise to her cheeks. She pushed a strand of her long, two-toned hair behind her ear and let out a quiet sigh. It was strange how, despite being surrounded by so many people, she still felt a deep, unshakable loneliness.

 

[Trayze Tesar]

CURRENT MISSION - Silence the Maw with Song
Immediate Goals -
1: Enact charity
2: Try not to get beaten to death for having the audacity to enact charity (as a Sith)
2.1: For the love of Bogan don't attract the attention of Valery Noble
2.2: Hey this "H.A.W.K." band isn't so bad...

BLUFOR - Allies Unknown

OPFOR - Enemy Unknown

TARGETING ACTION(S) - OPEN FREQUENCY

---

The Core wasn't exactly somewhere that Trayze would willingly frequent, but there were always exceptions - typically revolving around work. But this was the strange line between business and pleasure.

It was business in the sense that someone from the Sith-Imperial Banking Clan, as well as numerous other shares that he quite literally found in the gutters of Nar Shaddaa, would be enacting charity for the rebuilding of the Core worlds from his own pocket. Or at least as close enough to his own, he hadn't decided.

The charity in question, would be an eye-watering number, a cool few million credits from his personal accounts - wealth he had accrued over his time doing multiple full time jobs, but what the rub was whether or not he'd sign his own name, or an alias. There were merits and perils to both, the former being the more pleasurable of the options - the notion of thumbing his nose at the "hated Alliance" and the "monistic morons of Ashlan" was present, but a mere whisper to the plain and painful truth of the Galaxy.

There were people here, they needed help, Trayze had credits to assist the burdens. That was it.

For now, these questions would have to be born as he nodded along to... "Hawk"? An excellent band, reminding him of the raucous barbecues and county fetes from the more rural parts of Besberra, his home. A welcome palette cleanser from the poise of Valery Karking Noble - and the Jedi in the room with him.

He wouldn't begrudge the passion present, passion was evident in all beings - and there were a frankly laughable amount of Jedi on Zinder, rather than Sith. Was it a fault of the Blackwall? Perhaps. But what puzzled the Kiffar philosophically, a grim recognition from the far too close calls with death was the Force - the thing that he drew his power from, and that devoured the souls into the vain platitude of "oneness"... why would the Jedi exult life so, and be content with it being invalidated by the very Force they serve to balance.

These questions would have to be nursed through a mocktail, he certainly wasn't going to remain incognito while inebriated.

 

[Iandre Athlea]

Iandre wasn't here to donate but to retrace some steps from her past. Fondor was close to the Inner Core, where the woman was partially familiar. Sitting at the edge of the audience, she quietly observed the singer and the reaction of the other patrons.
Her clothes were probably drab, and the grey was quite grey. They could probably use a good cleaning and tidying up. Still, she wasn't entirely unpresentable.
She was not yet entirely familiar with the ways of the Galaxy and kept her lightsaber hilt hidden. Leaning back in her seat, she closed her eyes and just breathed. Opening them when the song ended, she sat up again, and reality settled in again. She was far from her home and time. It would take a bit of the latter to get her accustomed to now and how things were going.

 

[Gem-in-Trash]

Digs-in-Sands was somewhat new to being asked to represent patrons at events like this. Technically she worked for the Jedi EduCorps, but the Archaeology department dealt with many different donors, most of them governmental or academic, and she had been asked by the Coruscant Archaeological Academy to represent them and help finagle donors. Given that she was active with the Jedi and well respected, she didn't see much harm in doing so. Besides, it gave her the chance to dump Gem-in-Trash on some poor Knight for the evening, and wear something she wouldn't normally have the chance to.

Most of Dig's friends were either colleagues or other Jedi, and she'd been expecting to be meeting new people, and she was rather surprised to see that many of the attendees were from the Order, including the Grandmaster herself, who had opened the evening with a lovely little song. Digs didn't sing, though she couldn't help but chuckle at the thought of Gem getting up there between acts and yowling into the microphone and claiming it was traditional Cathar operatic yodeling or something.

"Something amusing about the act?" asked a donor she had been chatting.

"Hmm?"

"The Cathar rock band, is there some joke I've missed?"

"Oh, no, I was just...They sort of made me think of my daughter. They seem like something she would be into," Digs admitted.

"I didn't know you had a daughter!" the donor said, smiling.

"Yeah, she's a lovely little girl, but more than a handful, that's for sure. She's very...Energetic," she said.

"Oh, aren't they all? My son's Nanny Droid is always having to go in for repairs. Often enough I just bought a second one!"

Digs laughed along with him at his little anecdote, and she thought, Oh, by the Force, someone save me.

It was, sadly, part of her job to be here, and she had to entertain rich patrons like this. Perhaps, though, she could dump a few on some Jedi or another and find someone worth having a conversation with.

"Oh, Mister Baldee, this is Master Yarros! He and I studied the ruins of the Temple on Lothal," Digs gestured for the old Jedi to hobble over and rescue her. Yarros was long winded and didn't mind having a suffering audience. Digs didn't have much of an impression of Mr. Baldee to begin with, so he was unlikely to understand Master Yarros anyway.

"Oh, is that right? I had investments on Lothal!"

"Yes, Lothal is a lovely little world, isn't it, Digs? You remember the-"

"I do, Master Yarros. I need to grab a drink, but Mister Baldee would love to hear all about it," Digs insisted, and she made her departure before Yarros could pull her into the conversation, or give Mr. Baldee a clue that he was being discarded. Digs quickly ordered a mild whiskey to lap while she caroused for a bit. She quickly found a Jedi sitting alone, clearly something on her mind.

"You don't look like you're really here," Digs said to Katarine Ryiah , "Not exactly a serene temple of meditation, is it?"

[Open to all tags]

 

[Everest Vale]

Eve hadn't planned to do this, yet here she was.

Before the event, Valery had gently asked her Padawan if she might want to play something. Something to help the others grieve, to soothe where words might fail. Eve had hesitated. She'd turned the idea over in her hands like a stone; something simple, something personal. She wasn't a performer. She was just a girl with a flute and a heart still learning how to carry loss.

But in the end... she'd said yes, and endeavoured for the weeks leading up to the night wrestling with a new composition. Now, standing in the crowd, fingers brushing the satchel that held her flute, she felt the weight of the decision settle inside her. It wasn't heavy, it didn't make her nervous; rather, it seemed to give a sense of grounding. The moment arrived, the quiet in the air that seemed to call to her. She rose quietly. Her silver dress, bought for her by Valery, moved like a breeze over water, and she felt every eye turn toward her, but they didn't press. They simply watched. She climbed the steps to the small stage, her hands gentle as they retrieved the flute, the grain of its wood smooth against her fingertips.

No words were spoken. She didn't need them.

The flute, carved with delicate precision from a fallen branch of the Jedi Temple's Uneti tree, thrummed with quiet life as Eve lifted it to her lips. She had shaped it herself in the solitude of the Coruscant gardens, imbuing it with the Force in a meditative ritual that made it uniquely hers. Now, as the first breath of music slipped into the air, that connection awakened; not flashy or overwhelming, but subtle and softly radiant. The Light poured from its notes in invisible waves, each tone laced with calm and warmth. To those listening, it felt like stepping into sunlight after a storm. Wounds softened. Breath slowed. It was more than sound, it was peace given form, an offering of the Force itself through Eve's hands and heart.

It started soft, simple, like wind through tall grass, a fragile, almost voiceless tone. But from it grew a melody both tender and aching, a song shaped not by training, but by memory, a mourning for Private Michael Tanners, whose name she had spoken to no one but the candles. A man she'd never known well, but had seen die with bravery, and whose name she had sworn never to forget. Her music told his story; not the tale of how he died, but of how he might have lived. The echo of a laugh, the echo of hope, a rhythm like a heartbeat slowed; like breath exhaled after sorrow.

Each note was a whisper of love, not just for him, but for everyone who had ever been lost. For all the names, spoken and unspoken. The song faded as gently as it began, and when the last note drifted into silence, Eve stood still, the flute lowered in her hands, her silver eyes glimmering beneath the lights. She bowed her head, not to the crowd, but to the fallen. Sheepishly, she wiped the damp from her cheek, and then stepped down as quietly as she had come, returning to the quiet among the living, with the memory of the dead carried in every step.

[open]​

 

[Shan]

Tags: Open
Objective: Charity work
Huh. Valery was better at singing than Shan would have expected. It was a pleasant surprise. Of course it also made sense that there'd be plenty of people here, wanting to show some kind of charity. It was one of the things that gave Shan hope that the Galaxy could be better. It could be rebuilt. A small sigh escaped his lips as he found a place to sit down, crossing one of his legs atop the other. This was one of those times that Shan knew it was better to relax and be social than to worry about his duties. He was off the job. At least...as much as you could take a break from being a Jedi.

He sipped at his glass for a moment, cringing at first from the taste. Shan still wasn't used to drinking but thanks to the time out with Kahlil, Shan was at least trying to do things differently. His eyes gazed along the room, taking in the sights of who were here. Valery he had already noticed. Though Everest was coming out afterwards, and Shan blinked to himself. Huh. He didn't know the girl could play music like that. Maybe music was a hobby Shan should try to pull up. No. Music wasn't exactly something that suited him...but perhaps he could work on something else. Art could be an interesting choice. He rubbed his chin in thought, staring off into the distance

 

[Vitiion Daivik]

It had been a while since she had came out. War was nothing like Vee had been expecting. It had played plenty of havoc on her mind but that's why she was here. For this little charity event. It wasn't like she had much money herself but that didn't mean she couldn't show some kind of support for those taking part. She had decided to wear one of her more formal outfits for the day. Something about dressing casual for the event felt...wrong to her as she leaned against the wall, listening to the music for a moment as she tried to find anyone she recognised.

An eyebrow was raised at the some what similar sight of Klocto and Luxar. She had a few fair encounters with them. It was because of them that the Atoan had found herself being fond of music now. In the past she had just thought it was a bunch of noise people made to forget their issues but there was a beauty to music that they had opened her eyes to. A small smirk crossed her face at that before she blinked to herself. Wait. If they were here...then that should mean...

She caught Xeno at the last moment moving through the crowd. There was a part of the Atoan that thought she should leave her friend alone, but if there was any person Vitiion could truly call a friend in the Galaxy, it was the Nagai who had kept his band-life style a secret from her until the last moment. She sighed to herself and made her way through the venue quite forcefully, pushing her way past various people. Vee wasn't someone for moving politely through crowds. Either they got out of her way, or she'd make them.

"Didn't expect to see you here."

Vee's voice came out quietly as she looked out the balcony alongside Xeno, a frown on her face as she rested her arms atop the balcony, looking down all the way to the ground as she let out a small whistle.

"Long way down. Same with Coruscant. You fall there, you don't know how long you'll be in the air for."

Her eyes were kept on the horizon as she spoke. She didn't know what was going on in Xeno's head. He might even tell her to screw off after ruining his whole brooding but...he was her friend. So she cared.

"I prefer Coruscant's view though. It felt more homely. Maybe I'm just saying that since it became my first home after getting kicked off Atoa..."

Tags: Xeno

 

[Reina Daival]

Location: Fondor
Tags: Everest Vale
Lightsaber - Pequod

The Light that radiated off Everest was something that Reina had never expected to see from her...friend. Yes. That was it. Everest was Reina's friend. Perhaps her closest one. It was hard to measure that when you don't have many friends. Technically she had said Serina was her friend...but that wasn't exactly a close friendship and it was more one sided. There was Alana, but she hadn't heard from the woman either. So yeah. Everest was the closest friend Reina had, so there was nothing that was going to stop Reina from supporting her friend.

She was willing to suffer wearing the prosthesis she was given for her leg, to support her friend. Even if it did always feel off to her. Whilst the plans on making her own prosthesis was fresh in her mind, that wasn't what was the most important thing today. Instead it was the music, as Reina let the flute's notes fill her ears, closing her eyes to let herself imagine the story of them. It was a beautiful tune that helped to soften Reina's heart somewhat more than it had already. It even reminded her of the shanties she used to sing when she was young. They had been left unsung for so long...but perhaps that would change soon.

As soon as the tune ended, Reina moved through the crowd carefully, stumbling every so often. Perhaps she could have stood off to the side and waited for Everest to come back but that wasn't a good way to support the Echani in her eyes. Instead she brought herself to Everest as she joined the group of the living once more and Reina offered her friend a hug, if she would take it. It was somewhat out of character for Reina to offer the hug but she was growing. Her empathy was evolving to care about others than just herself.

"The song was beautiful Everest. It's what I, and I'm sure plenty of others needed to hear. Come on. You should sit down. Take a break after that. I don't know much about playing music but...I'm sure that took a lot of energy out of you."​

 

[Caltin Vanagor]

Poetic Justice
FONDOR
STAGE

Quietly they waited.

In the background they stood.

When those who stood up, stepped down, they approached.

She went to Master Noble, and anyone in charge of the event.

He went to the stage.

She was Chrysa Vanagor

Do you really need to ask who he was at this point?

She had not one, but two, very large checks. One was from Guardian Angel Outreach, provided by the opening week profits of the Obelisk Vacation Resort. The other check was on behalf of the Foundation. The group that was allegedly trying to verbally assault the Galactic Alliance failures. Perhaps this was a peace offering? An offer of help?

He walked up to the microphone. This would not be like that night of Karaoke, he did not have a song in his heart. Not today anyway. Pulling the hood from his head and letting it hang over his back, the big man surveyed all he saw.

We stand between the dark and dawn,
Where shadows stretch and hope is drawn.
A line unmarked, a path untold,
A story written firm and bold.

The weight of stars upon our soul,
A duty sworn, a sacred role.
Not kings, nor gods, nor men of greed,
But guardians bound by oath and creed.

The blade we bear is not for war,
Nor for the thirst of blood and more.
It burns instead to carve a way,
To shield the lost, to hold the fray.

When fear ignites and tyrants rise,
When night consumes the helpless cries,
We do not kneel, we do not flee,
We are the ones who set them free.

Not for glory, not for fame,
Not for wealth, nor whispered name.
But for the promise, bright and true—
That light remains, because we do.


Pulling the hood back over his face, he bowed his head and turned to walk off. He had an encore ready if called for.

Valery Noble • TAGS
[Text in Brackets is spoken on Comm-link] ~Like this is through the Force~​

 

[Rath Nihro]

A W A K E N I N G

Outfit: Attire
Tag: Open

There were so many scents in such a close proximity, some were floral with herbaceous notes, some were sharp, and some were even sweet and pleasant. It was a stark contrast to what Rath had become accustomed to when he was near those who were aligned with the Dark. Much like all things in life, in small doses the aromatic scents would be refreshing, but there came a point where it was simply too much as it gave the man a dull pulse of an ache that lanced through his mind.

”I assume that you don’t drink much, do you?” A man with a weathered face and graying hair spoke as he eyed at the glass of water that had rested not even an inch from Rath’s relaxed hand upon the clothed table. The citrine duets had pulled away from the band that had been playing music to look upon the Master with a raised brow. The dark haired man still couldn’t fathom as to why Leonant had pulled Rath out of the cage to attend an event. If this was supposed to be his execution, then surely there were easier ways of going about it?

”It’s an old habit.” Rath confessed rather dryly. Not because he didn’t wish to slake his thirst or whichever, but events such as this were often the primary targets to eliminate important personnel when the Dark Empire wanted to publicly remove someone from the board so to speak. Some had even gone through the means of splicing the food and drink to the designated person. Though the Empire had fallen, there were still those who didn’t let old allegiances die down. Not easily at any rate.

”Well, consider this your first step of breaking out of that habit. Do not worry, nobody is foolish enough to try anything here.” With that, the veteran downed the last of his drink as Rath hesitantly reached for his drink. There was no hiding his presence from anyone, yet he was still surprised that Leonant was giving him some form of freedom. Little did he know that the reason that the Jedi hadn't executed him was simply because Leonant believed that Rath could be reformed. This was simply Leonant’s way of showing the others of Rath’s true character.

”I’m going to get a refill. Remember that you’re not off the hook yet. Just try to be on your best behavior.” Rath swore that the man was talking to him like the dark one just got adopted by a jedi. It reminded the dark haired man of another who had viewed Rath in a similar way, but the circumstances that led to their predicament were different.

”You’re a strange one…” He sighed as he downed the glass, earning a chuckle from Master Leonant as the older man got up from his seat. Where he patted Rath on the shoulder before retreating to the refreshments. Leaving Rath to be alone with his thoughts. For once, he was able to reach out into the Force, and unlike the previous times where he often foresaw flame and blood. This time he had foreseen a moment of respite, much like a breath of fresh air that bolstered the morale.

 

[Everest Vale]

Her fingers still tingled faintly from the last note, the weight of the flute warm in her palm. The emotions that had coursed through her during the performance hadn't fully faded, and clung to her like dew on morning grass; solemnity, love, quiet sorrow, but also peace. And she would have welcomed the solitude that followed, if that had been what the Force offered her.

But then a presence, familiar, steady, unmistakable. Her silver eyes lifted just in time to see Reina making her way through the crowd, each step measured but determined. The sight struck Eve right in the chest, and for a second, her breath hitched. Not just from surprise, but from how much it meant that she would go out her way to support her.

"Reina..."

She whispered the name, barely audible above the hum of people nearby, but her smile bloomed immediately, and when the hug came, unexpected but deeply welcome, Eve didn't hesitate. Her arms folded tightly around her friend, holding her like something precious.

Ever since Tython, the two had gotten much closer. It was surprising, given their winding history that started so abrasively. But Eve was glad they were they were now, appreciative of what they had come to share. The hug was honest, grounding, real, and reiterated the fact they were both still there, both still going, together. When Reina pulled back to offer her praise, Eve's smile only grew, faint but radiant.

"Thank you," she breathed. She nodded at the suggestion to rest, her cheeks still faintly pink from the rush of being on stage. With a glance around the space, she caught sight of a quieter corner, tucked away just enough to offer a little peace without removing her entirely from the ceremony.

"I'd like that," she said, and signalled in the direction of the spotted space. As they settled, Eve set her flute down beside her and looked out to the quiet crowd. The recognisable faces were aplenty tonight, but she was glad for Reina's company. She offered a soft smile as she got comfortable.

"How're you doing, Reina?" It was a question with depth, spoken quietly, gently, but nevertheless with eyes that understood much, saw into her friend's heart, and glistened with the memories of their time on Tython.

Reina Daival​

 

[Valery Noble]

​

Outfit: Red dress

As the final note faded, the silence lingered like a held breath. Valery stood still for just a heartbeat longer, letting the emotion settle, letting it mean something. Then, without a word, she stepped away from the microphone. Her heels clicked softly against the stage floor as she turned, and the gentle rustle of her red dress trailed her descent. The spotlight dimmed behind her, casting the room back into a warmer, dimmer glow.

At the bottom of the stairs, a figure waited.

Valery offered a small smile as Chrysa Vanagor stepped forward, flanked by calm presence and quiet purpose. She recognized the woman instantly — and didn't need to ask who he was, standing at the stage, already moving into place.

"Chrysa," Valery greeted with soft warmth, her voice still gentle from the song. Then she saw the checks.

Not one, but two.

Her brows rose slightly, surprise giving way to gratitude as she accepted them with both hands. One check bore the insignia of the Guardian Angel Outreach — she'd heard about the Obelisk Vacation Resort's success, and it was no small thing to offer its opening week profits.

The second made her pause. The Foundation? Valery said nothing, but her gaze lifted to meet Chrysa's. A peace offering, perhaps, but Valery didn't feel a need to receive one from Caltin. She had lost hope that the people truly running that group would ever be genuinely satisfied and want peace.

"Thank you," she said simply despite her feelings. Her voice wasn't ceremonial, it wasn't for the crowd. It was for her. "This… will help so many. Truly." She offered a respectful incline of her head, then moved on, quietly slipping away from the spotlight entirely. And as she sat down, she watched others take the sage.

And she'd reach for her comms device — already, she had a message from Kahlil Noble

Hey love, how did it go?

It went great! We've raised a lot of money for the Core!

Seen

Good job, love

Love you <3 See you soon, okay? We've got something to celebrate...

Seen

Open ​

 

[Xeno]

Fondor
Tags: Vitiion Daivik

Luxar | Klocto | Sword​

"Didn't expect to see you here."

"I'm not surprised," Xeno admitted. "We seem to wind up in the same place a lot..."

Perhaps a little too often. Xeno still hadn't gotten a chance to pay Klocto and Luxar back for that Zinder stunt they pulled, signing him up without their permission.

"I know what you mean..." the half-breed sighed. "I've not had anywhere else aside from Coruscant. This place feels... wrong. It's not the planet's fault, I suppose. It's just easy for me to get homesick these days..."

The musician took a sip of his wine as he looked out at the bustling streets of the fortress world. No... it didn't feel right at all. Perhaps it didn't help that he wasn't in a particular happy mood. It was a day to be introspective, one where he couldn't help but wonder if he was even doing the right thing. A tale as old as time, but Xeno couldn't help it. The intrusive thoughts never seemed to leave him alone.

Vee cut through the noise at least. She seemed to tread a little lighter, perhaps not wanting to intrude.

"You aren't unwelcome, you know," he stated. "You're..." Xeno paused for a moment. "You're the one person that has express permission to bother me. If that... means anything, anyways."

The former Sith let out a sigh.

"I guess I'm feeling nostalgic..." he muttered. "For me that's not exactly a good thing... I'm not fond of who I was."

There he was, running his mouth again. Something about Vee turned him into an open book. She was one of the few people who knew he had been Sith, aside from Klocto and Luxar. Maybe it brought some comfort to his wounded soul.

Maybe he was just desperate to have an outlet.

 

[Vitiion Daivik]

"Nothing wrong with feeling homesick from time to time. I still miss Atoa. Even if they tried to make me into some kind of Priestess. It was my home. Where I had spent my childhood. But I try not to dwell on it. It doesn't do me any good."

Her eyes stayed focused on their surroundings, taking in as much detail as she could. It was a habit that she had gotten into that was starting to get old. Everywhere she went, she was starting to pick out places that would be a good nest to set up in. The best routes for escape. It was a habit she didn't necessarily like but it helped put her mind at ease.

"Express permission to bother you, huh? Get ready for me to non-stop bombard you with all of the different songs I've been listening to then."

It was an attempt at humour. But it was also the truth. There had been plenty of new songs she had been listening to in her free time. Most of them were all over the place with the genres though. She shook her head afterwards, finally turning her attention over towards Xeno as he spoke.

"Reflecting on ourselves isn't always a bad thing, I guess. I know things are much...different for your past, but I'm not a fan of mine. I'm not a fan of my present either. But...I know people who are. So I can't be doing everything wrong."
Vee wasn't some kind of secret assassin in her past, but she wasn't the biggest fan of the things she did. Shooting at living people was far different compared to just shooting targets. It was her job now though, and she wasn't necessarily going to quit it.

Xeno

 

[Reina Daival]

Location: Fondor
Tags: Everest Vale
Lightsaber - Pequod

Hugs were still something Reina was unused to ironically, considering she had been the one to start the hug off. It was somewhat out of her comfort zone but that's what life was about. Moving out of your comfort zone to support the people who were important to you. She made sure to raise her hand to give Everest's shoulder a soft squeeze once Reina had stepped back from the hug. Just a physical reminder that she was there for her. Reina was perhaps still blunt when it came to these kind of things but she was still willing to listen. Her whole tough love shtick wasn't something she planned on using today.

"You don't need to thank me Eve. It's the least I could do. It's not like I can go on stage and do anything the way you do."

She waved her hand in the direction of the stage as she limped towards the corner. How desperately she wished to be able to just jump her way through the crowd to the spot. It was harder for her to move slowly, more painful. It wasn't going to bother her that much though. Reina was getting used to the pain somewhat. It was physical and she could deal with the physical pain. Though as soon as they arrived in the corner, Reina let herself collapse onto a chair, beads of sweat pouring down her face. It took more energy out of her than she'd care to admit.
​

"How're you doing, Reina?"​

That was a question that Reina didn't want to answer. Mostly because she wasn't sure how she was doing herself. Her mind was her own worst enemy funnily enough. It was what had been giving her the biggest issues. It was even giving her issues right now. Because whilst Everest's song was for those who had passed, Reina didn't quite...care. People died. It wasn't something that bothered Reina that much and it was something that had worried her. How could she answer the question?

"I'm...as well as I can be doing Everest. Sore. Tired. But I'm happy to be here with you. How are you doing?"​

 

[Xeno]

Fondor
Tags: Vitiion Daivik

Luxar | Klocto | Sword​

"Reflecting on ourselves isn't always a bad thing, I guess. I know things are much...different for your past, but I'm not a fan of mine. I'm not a fan of my present either. But...I know people who are. So I can't be doing everything wrong."

Xeno wasn't exactly sure what to say at first. The emotions of others were... potent. He felt them, and he could process them, but approaching them was something he struggled with. They always seemed so volatile. Fragile, even, like handling a butterfly. One wrong move and the wings fall off. He did care, surprisingly, and he did want to do something about Vee's self deprecative state.

Maybe if he couldn't figure out how to like himself, he could help other people like themselves.

"I... want to make you a fan of yourself."

The half-Nagai froze immediately after saying that, his pale face uncharacteristically red.

"Chit, that sounded really stupid," he admitted rubbing at his neck. "I was trying to say that in like a supportive way..."

It seemed like he was going to need to work on the whole uplifting thing a lot more if he was even going to get anywhere. Clearly this was a disaster.

 

[Vitiion Daivik]

"I... want to make you a fan of yourself."

A soft laugh escaped her lips at that as Vee shook her head, turning her head to look at Xeno...where she then broke out into a slightly louder laugh at the look of his face. She knew she shouldn't laugh but it was an amusing sight to her as she shook her head, folding her arms along her front as she tilted her head towards Xeno.

"Wow. Men can be such idiots sometimes. You know that right? You don't need to say it in a supportive way. You've already been supporting me"

She waved her hand through the air dismissively, a grin slowly spreading across her face. It was amusing to her really. She thought it was obvious that Xeno had been one of the biggest supporters she had. Technically all the members of his band were.

"You, Klocto and Luxar. Remember. I said there are some people who like the present me. And if you guys like me, I'm obviously not as much of a mess I think I am."

With that, Vee took a few firm steps in Xeno's direction, jabbing him in the shoulder as she looked up at him, keeping the grin on her face.

"And the same goes for you. I know you're feeling nostalgic for the past, but just remember, there are people who like the present you. You make their days better. Imagine where Klocto and Luxar would be without you. You're clearly the brains of the band."

The grin grew wider at that, if it was even possible. Though she took a step back after that, letting her arms fall down to her sides.

"Same goes for me. I'd probably be a miserable wreck who didn't come out of her room and I'd still hate music. You're a good man Xeno . Even if in the past you weren't, you are now. That's what's important."