Up in here | Mandalorian Clans | Kashyyyk

[Alleycat]

[member="Marcus Lok"]

So this wasn't so bad. It actually was kinda nice. With the Marcus' hands wrapped securely around the small of her back, Mesh'la dared to raise her arms up, then snaked them around the slicer's neck. The petite blonde gazed up with her sapphire gems into the tall Mando's dark eyes. Were they brown or black? She could quite tell in the moonlight with the fire reflecting off of them as well. There was a look upon his shadowed face that made her heart beat just a bit faster. The young medic couldn't tell if it was because she was excited or nervous about it, or both.

Mesh'la closed her eyes and just let her shapely hips sway side to side for the moment to the steady strumming of the guitar in the vod's embrace. With the alcohol in her system and the fresh night air, she was feeling pretty good right about now; all thoughts of past personal strife put aside. The warmth of the fire kept the chill away, or was it the body heat between them?

Baby blues opened again just in time as a shooting star buzzed across the clear night sky. Mesh looked from the sky to Marcus and smiled. "Quick, make a wish!"

 

[Marcus Lok]

Marcus was content to sway with her, finding the company of another to be, as it turned out, just what he needed to shake the thoughts he was having earlier. He had just met her of course, and he hardly knew her despite the few things that had been revealed in the past hour. This didn't have to mean anything of course, and as they swayed in the firelight, he began to wonder if he would ever see her again. He could make the effort to, but the life of the Mando'ade was very unpredictable.

She sure was a beauty though, those sapphire stones reflecting the moonlight and the firelight with equal brilliance. He could only guess that her view of him was partial due to the shadowing effect of the moonlight, but his lips flashed a calm smile as the flicks of the guitar strings continued. Part of the reason he didn't speak was because he was well into the bottle of the Wookiee spirit, and although it made him a bit more confident, he was sure that he might say something so stupid it might get him glassed right then and there.

It was at her indication that he looked up to the heavens. Sure they were dotted with the small sparkling specks that normally met his eyes, but at the sight of the shooting star he drew a blank. Sure... Nothing would come of it, but he might as well make the effort.

"Well... I wish for more nights like this."

[member="Mesh'la Dral"]

 

[Faith Organa]

Umhmm he had done well she couldn't fault him there no not one bit. He did as always keep his promise of keeping her safe and making her feel loved.

The ice cream was beckoning to her she reached over, she knew he wouldn't go for the pickles but ice cream, "Want some ice cream?" She offered with a smile even though she had not budged one foot yet towards going back onto the ship.

"I will take all three that you offer Draco, but in truth there was a report that you were dead." Her face lost emotion she couldn't help but stare at him. He had to know the fear that she had experienced in those moments. "Ana tried to keep it hidden...but...she failed"

Ana had berated herself for a few days and was already figuring out a way to keep that from Faith should it once again happen. She had a feeling with Draco THAT had a likelihood of happening again.

"I think you should tell me Draco. Shielding me from it isn't going to make it go away, it will happen again, and likely again" She crunched the pickle again. "I've just been away from it for so long that my tough outer skin isn't thick enough." She took a breath even though a tightness was there forming into a ball as her thoughts lingered on all thinking of him, gone, dead.

Feth.

The humidity of the jungle world was a bit overwhelming. But she did not really want to look weak to Draco. She was stronger than that.

[member="Draco Vereen"]

 

[Arla Ordo]

Arla led the way back to the celebration, "We are celebrating a victory over the Republic today." Yes they were and they had been hoping for such a thing for some time, this...felt good.

"I guess you could say we party as hard as we make war." she laughed a bit uneasy she didn't get out much as of late and had lost some of that social skill she once had. "You and your sister probably haven't had a lot of reasons to party and we don't make a big habit out of it."

She shook her head, "Well maybe we do." Arla could see the trees now, "I actually got a tree house to sleep in while I"m here, pretty cool and the the walk ways..it's like being a big kid on their first over night."

The food smelled great, they were roasting something and now it wasn't wookies. There were other things to eat, and yeah they brought their own provisions as well. They were on the move and it was necessary.

"Come over here we can get something to eat, and drink" She looked around for anyone she knew, and of course tonight...no they were all...wherever.

[member="Cole Dagos"]

 

[Alleycat]

[member="Marcus Lok"]

"I know what you mean" Mesh smiled up at the dark-haired slicer, who was a good six inches taller than the petite medic, then she carefully turned in his embrace to face the fire and leaned back into his armored chest as they continued to sway; resting her arms upon Marcus' that were around her waist and holding onto them with her hands.

"On Mandalore, once you get outside of the city lights of Keldabe, the night sky is pretty nice to admire after the sun goes down. Actually the sunsets are beautiful to take in from the back porch of ner aliit's yaim that sits along the Kelita River. It's a summertime must. And up north in Enerci where my ba'bauire live, in the winter the northern lights dance about. It's spectacular to watch. I love just love being outdoors in nature… like now," she said, then tilted her golden head back and added with a modestly playful wink. "and the company isn't too bad either."

The strong alcohol was definitely making Mesh'la a bit more embolden and yes tipsy as it flowed through her veins with each beat of her heart. It had been a very long time since she'd allowed herself to act this way. Motherhood had certainly made the almost nineteen year old grow up faster than anticipated and take personal responsibility much more seriously.

 

[Kenrath]

Cole cringed.

"A victory over the Republic is a boon in my book." "Don't like them anyway."

He followed Arla to the party. He chuckled.

"A tree house?" "No offense but I feel a lot better with my feet on solid ground."

Cole moved over picking up some meat and taking a bite. It looked at Arla with a smile.

"Looking for your.........................."

He paused.

"Clan people?"

[member="Arla Balor"]

 

[Marcus Lok]

Marcus kept his arms wrapped around her form as she turned towards the fire. The place she described sounded wonderful for someone that was in tune with nature. He had visited the various forests of the capital world with his father many times on hunts, and the nights below the stars that could only be seen away from the city were indeed a sight to behold. It almost made him regret his choice to live on the brightly lit city planet that had provided so much for him in the past few years. His father wouldn't have liked it, and he would have been too fearful of his mother being robbed if she had chosen to come with him when he had left the family enclave just on the outskirts of Keldabe. It was a choice that had been his, and his alone, and although it had helped him immensely, he still missed those nights by the fire with his father. It was all a long gone memory now.

"You never get nights like this on Nar... Too many starships and city lights to tell the difference... It's kind of like the night sky, but it's all noise... You've been there before, you get the point."

The reminder that soon he would be back on Nar Shaddaa, away from the war for a bit of time, however brief, was a bitter sweet. He could certainly see himself staying to aid in the reconstruction of this planet, but in the long run he knew that his work would soon call on him once again. But for now, he was happy to be with this vod and experience the sweet and simple joys of the forest floor.

"Well, I'm glad I could be the company... Do you have to get back to the medical frigate by tonight?"

[member="Mesh'la Dral"]

 

[Arla Ordo]

Arla nodded, "yes we have a few and I wanted to be sure they are ok, eating, drinking, resting" She got some of the meat and tubers a meal meant to stick to your ribs and build you up.

She found a comfortable seat near the fire, she liiked the fire. warm. reds and yellows burning brightly. Someone put a drink in her hand and offered one to Cole, "its an ale dark and a bitter"

"solid ground is good, but well I've never slept in a tree house it could be fun. I was brought up on Tatooine lots of desert, we over dressed to keep in moisture so a jungle world with trees and tree houses. I'm there I have to see it, and experience it"

She looked over, "have you ever been in a tree house"

[member="Cole Dagos"]

 

[Kenrath]

Cole chuckled taking the offered drink.

"The part of Eshan I grew up in doesn't have quite as many trees." "Plus we begin training to fight from a very young age...............didn't leave a lot of time for such things."

He sat by the fire.........by Arla eating and watching the fire kind of zoning out. Cole was not really the talkative type especially in the middle of what used to be a battlefield.

[member="Arla Balor"]

 

[Alleycat]

[member="Marcus Lok"]

"Elek… The vertical city never slept while I was there, lights and noise ongoing day and night. A different lifestyle for sure. I suppose though quite the place for someone with your skill set to thrive in," Mesh answered.

She had never really known anything else other than living on Mandalore except for the short time spent on the Avril with Aden. Could the young medic be happy in a place like that long term? Was there even a tree or patch of grass on the Smugger's Moon? How could one raise a family there? From now on that would Val's well being would always come first. It was the price to pay for having such a joy in her life.

The blonde rested her golden head back against Marcus' shoulder and relaxed more into the slicer's embrace as he held her from behind. It really was a pleasant environment right now. The victory party was still going on, but it had died down from it's peak; the vode mostly sitting around the individual fires enjoying food, drink, and conversation rather than the wild chanting and dancing of earlier.

"Nayc… I'm stationed at the Rimsoo planet side, and not on shift again till morning."

It dawned on Mesh'la that she hadn't even thought about where she was going to bed down for the night when rushing to the celebration as the RMSU was too far away to walk to at night through the forested jungle and not in her inebriated condition, though the initial heady rush of the strong alcohol was beginning to wear off. The medic was getting more sleepy than anything with the warmth of the fire and the gentle rocking back and forth in the secure arms of the dark-haired vod.

"How about you… " she asked Marcus in like, tilting her face up at him searching his dark-colored eyes in the firelight. "Does duty call or do you get to enjoy the rest of the night?"

 

[Laira Darkhold]

"No, no, ner runi. I'm not hungry." Draco responded sweetly sliding beside her and wrapping an arm around her waist. "Well, the rumors were highly exaggerated. Exhausted, yes. Dead? Not even a little." He smiled a little wider. "Likely these were just reports the Republic tried to use to reinvigorate what few troops they had. They failed in the end. I'm sure there will be lots of rumors of my demise." Certainly there would be one every battle.

"I know you are stronger of heart than most people cyar'ika. If you ever worry, remember the ring I made for you." He touched it with his hand, his own ring grazing the silver band she wore. "If you concentrate on it, you can feel my presence, just the slightest hint. So long as you can, I'll be fine in the end." Draco worried about her was well. For someone like him, he could use the rings to guide himself to her, to sense danger she was near, to feel her mood and what emotions she was struggling with.

"I saw an opportunity, the battle was going well but needed a push to cleave through the Republic lines. I had the ability to do that without costing hundred of Mandalorian lives. As a leader, I have a responsibility to use my power to the aid of my people. But, as a husband I have a responsibility to make sure I come back to you. Its," He paused and squeezed her hand. "I try to take both of my responsibilities to you, and to my people, seriously. I understand they conflict though." While he didn't seem physically very hurt, he seemed emotional, struggling somewhat. "I think the war is over though, and its time for me to focus on you."

[member="Faith Organa"]

 

[Arla Ordo]

[member="Cole Dagos"]

Arla liked the fire for some reason it was comforting, "I didn't have a lot of time for anything growing up, I." She stopped she didn't share her life with very many people, she looked at Cole he seemed harmless enough.

"I was property and did what I was told. So..now I tend to do a lot of things that I feel like I missed out on. Like sleeping in tree house" She laughed, it felt good to laugh.

"What kind of training? Our children learn from a young age as well they can end up in battle at a young age depending on how well they do, and if they pass the test." Course not everyone had to do the test.

 

[Kenrath]

Cole looked of to Arla

"Well it may sound strange but it starts off as half naked hand to hand."

He paused.

"You see in Echani culture we believe you can only truly know someone by fighting them." "Well I guess in this case sparing would be more accurate." "You see a person can tell you whatever they want you to hear." "But in combat a person's true self is exposed whether they want it to or not."

He smiled.

"It is all rather ceremonial...........with rules and protocols." "As you grow.......not only older but in your abilities more difficult techniques are taught and things like armor and weapons may be used in the circle." The training signifies physical growth just as much as it does mental and emotional growth."

[member="Arla Balor"]

 

[Faith Organa]

"The Republic did not always act in such a way reporting something that is not true. I do not think that [member="Caius Flavian"] would allow such things" She knew him to be honorable he wouldn't allow such things, she just wouldn't allow herself to believe that. But then again the Republic she knew and loved had died long ago it seemed she had just been too blind to see it.

The battle of Kashyyyk it seemed had finally broke it completely and they were gone to well she didn't know where. She looked at Draco, "Yes I remember the ring Draco, how could I forget hmm" No she never took it off she held it up for him to see, "Well perhaps I need to practice that concentration, but you know it is difficult right now my mind is concentrating on many things."

The war was over, "Do you mean the war against the Republic or the crusade that Ra invoked?" She wanted to be clear on this because it meant everything.

[member="Draco Vereen"]

 

[Marcus Lok]

A simple shrug would be Marcus' response to the question. Of course it was possible that a new situation could develop on planet that would require his attention, but for the night, he was more than free. After the battle, he had seen many of the vod up and leave for pursuit of their own affairs, and in that sense, the Mandalorian's force seemed very much like an army of mercenaries, though their loyalties did not lie on a pocket book. For him, this planet would be long gone in his thoughts soon, but the memories of what had occurred would follow him around for a few years, he knew that much.

"I don't think they'll come calling for me anytime soon. I'll be off world by tomorrow, at least i'm guessing..."

Once the guitar music had died down to silence, Marcus drew away from her and sat back down by the log. His mind was becoming less foggy, but the draw of exhaustion from the day had all but drained him by now. A quick gesture to sit by his side would be invitation enough for her to stick around, or so he hoped, and he certainly didn't plan on turning her away if she wanted to stay. His thoughts drifted once again to what might happen after the business on the forest world. Where would Ra's campaign lead them next? The overall assumption would be that they would continue on to the core worlds to rid the inner planets of their Sith and Republic overlords and to draw them into power of the clans. What would come of such conquest? It was anyone's guess, but if fortune would lay on their side, then they would only gain more power.

"And what happens when you leave here? Are you heading back to Mandalore?"


[member="Mesh'la Dral"]

 

[Laira Darkhold]

"I doubt Caius had anything to do with it, love. He's the Supreme Chancellor, but you and I both know that doesn't mean the rest of the leaders listen to him. Besides, there was a Republic news team following people around and trying to get themselves killed by running around an active combat zone without body armor or escorts." Draco smiled at her. The Republic, as corrupt as it was when it went belly up, was not all bad people. Mostly, they were honest, hardworking men and women that loved their way of life. But, they weren't the ones making decisions, and it was those poor people that were constantly put in danger by the few corrupt and cruel.

"I think both. Without its influence spread across hundreds of systems, the Republic can't sustain itself, just like the One Sith. They will both die off without a host to feed off to keep themselves alive." Draco smiled and wrapped his arms around his princess. "But that is a good thing. Gives opportunity for others to take their place. Lets me focus on you and the twins. And Alderaan." She was his wife that he didn't have to leave anymore, they were his children he would get to stay home with, and Alderaan was where his home was. Not a building on a rock flying through space, but where Faith lived, where she called home.

[member="Faith Organa"]

 

[Arla Ordo]

"half naked, interesting. And different, we wear our armor and you wear nothing. Even for the passing rites into adulthood I am told they wore armor." She had to think about what he said about how fighting someone got you to know them.

In battle weaknesses could show, as well as some personality but Arla was one person in battle was she different outside of battle. Did she hesitate when in armor as opposed to..wait when was she out of armor again?

She looked up at him. "I am not sure how I would do in such a fight, half naked and without my armor. I guess I will have to practice if ever I am to get to know you. That is if you decide to stay around longer than a meal."

She smiled, she wasn't exactly flirting she was just stating what was on her mind.

"I wonder how some of my family would do. I can't picture buir [member="Ordo"] at his age doing that..though" She laughed, "it would be fun to watch"

[member="Cole Dagos"]

 

[Faith Organa]

[member="Draco Vereen"]

"Draco, there were many good people within the Republic and I think that if we have a place for them on Alderaan within our military, or within the government, or for the family we should find them homes and jobs on Alderaan. I would feel remiss in my duties if I did not offer this to them, so.."

Before she said anything more, she knew she had to ask him the question, "What do you think of that idea?"

She was not going to be really distracted by all that he was doing, she was concerned about the actions he had taken, had he not thought that by exhausting himself to the point of being unable to move that someone could have come up and killed him, right where he lay.

She knew his warrior heart probably didn't think of that...but...she had, one too many times.

 

[Kenrath]

Cole laughed giving her a wink.

"Well good at it or not any time you want to try it out allow me to volunteer." "I promise to try and focus on the fight if you do."

He took a sip of drink.

"It would be rude of me to eat your food and not repay your hospitality." "Besides you offered to teach me about your people."

Cole chuckled.

"I would image that most of your older..................warriors............would quickly pass the no armor/no weapons stage fairly quickly." "I haven't been in one of that level for a few years now..................well half my life."

[member="Arla Balor"]

 

[Alleycat]

[member="Marcus Lok"]

"Well that's good though, having at least tonight for yourself like me. Means we both get to relax a little before duty calls again. It's good for the attitude," she replied.

Mesh'la knew in her case though it was bittersweet. When the young medic did have time to herself to do what she pleased whether work or pleasure, the blonde felt guilty and relieved as it usually meant time away from her son. But the one thing that made it manageable for Mesh was the knowledge Val was with people who loved him very much and would take good care of him for her no matter what may happen.

It seemed the night was winding down as the music became less and less as well as the gaiety of the party. When Marcus let go and stepped over to the log, Mesh'la immediately felt the loss of the comforting warmth of his body. It didn't take long for the golden blonde to follow the slicer over and sit down next to him where he indicated her to do so. That is if she cared to, which Mesh did.

"My understanding is the Medical Corps will leave an active Rimsoo set up here for now to aid the Wookiees during their recovery, though I will be returning with our wounded on the medical frigate to Mandalore probably within 24 to 48 hours depending. I'm based out of there, and well it's where my home is as well."

Mesh'la tried to kill a yawn that was trying to form upon her lips, but it slipped past her defenses and a petite hand came up to cover her mouth.

"Sorry… It's not you, I promise! I've enjoyed your company very much," Mesh smiled sheepishly, then her blue gaze looked deeply into his brown that had the fire reflecting in them; wondering, considering.

"Just a long day, you know? I, um... should probably say goodnight hmm, and let you get some rest..."