Dominion Winter Wonderland | GA Dominion of Zeltros

[Thurion Heavenshield]

BYOO
Valery Noble ​

Thurion gave a cheeky grin. "I'd be lying if I said no," he replied in reference to being surprised to see her such. A vigorous woman in her prime like Valery should partake in every joy young age allowed, pleasures of the bedroom included. It remained one of his greatest regrets that he and Coci did not try for more children when they had the chance, but his fear of losing her the way he'd lost his own mother had taken too great of a hold on him. Valery had proven herself a fantastic mother several times over; she deserved each and every happiness coming her way.

"I am so very happy for you," he added, his palm instinctively sought her belly, sensing the life growing inside her. When asked to join her, he readily accepted with an eager nod, offering his arm for her hold on to.

"I wasn't sure it was going to work," he explained as they started walking. "My ability to stride between stars has ever been dictated by the hands of fate, sending me wherever I'm needed. Lately, however, I've found myself able to influence the time and place. Just now, I was able to bring myself here, to you." The Wellspring had affected each of the trio differently, his own change triggered by his willing sacrifice to release the incarcerated souls of a thousand innocents.

"For my part, I do my best to stay busy. There is always something to do, but... some days are heavier to bear than others, such as today," he admitted, then turned to her with a soft smile. "But finding myself here, by your side, I think I shall manage."

He watched as the little Nobles and the other kids played in the snow, delighting in a climate they perhaps were not that familiar with.

"How are the little ones? Vera, Aris, the triplets? Grandpapa Thurion has missed them very much, you know."

 

[Kara Jade]

Location: City Centre, Zeltros City
Objective: Enjoy the Life Day Festivities
Tags: Aiden Rennek​

Kara heard the voice calling her name, but didn’t recognize it. Years had passed since she had last heard that smooth and confident voice, amidst tangled limbs and spontaneous passion.

“Hmm, yes?” She turned her head to look towards the speaker, only to freeze on the spot. Kara’s eyes widened as she saw Aiden. Her face grew pale, contrasted against the rosy tint across her cheeks, caused by the cold weather. “Aiden.”

Of all the time and places, of all the planets in the galaxy, he was here. Kara knew it was inevitable to some degree, that no matter how much distance she had put between them, that fate would someday have them cross paths. But even now, as she stood staring at him, it shook her to the core.

Kara’s instinctive thoughts almost had her try to ‘hide’ Cass, as daft as the idea was. But in a way, she had been hiding her son for all these years. It had just been in the form of moving half across the galaxy. The blonde glanced around, trying to see if a familiar dark-haired Sal-Soren was anywhere nearby.

It was bad enough Aiden was in front of her, if Briana was around too? Kara felt mortified at the prospect. She felt that sinking feeling in the pit of her stomach again, the exact same as it had when she first learned about the two’s relationship years ago.

“Ye-yeah it has been quite a while.” Kara finally replied, suddenly finding her mouth to be dry. She hadn’t even clued into the fact Cass had turned his attention away from the lights and towards Aiden. His matching green eyes looked at the man with pure curiosity.

"I—uh—I didn't think I'd ever see you again."

Kara was at a loss for words as he spoke, but her thoughts were anything but silent.

Yeah, that was…kind of the point.

It was a thought riddled with guilt.

“Hellooooo.” Cass suddenly piped up, waving a little hand towards Aiden.

 

[Aiden Rennek]

​

Aiden stood frozen, his breath catching in the cold air as Kara turned to face him. He had spoken her name instinctively, but seeing her now — really seeing her — knocked the wind out of him. She looked different and yet somehow exactly the same. The rosy tint on her cheeks, the way her eyes widened with surprise, the strands of blonde hair peeking out from beneath her hat... it hit him all at once.

Stars above, she's beautiful.

Aiden's chest tightened with the thought, and for a moment, he forgot the ache that had been gnawing at him for months. It was like time folded in on itself, and he was standing there as that younger version of himself again — carefree and charming, swept up in one unforgettable night.

But then his gaze flicked down to the boy in her arms, and the present came roaring back. The kid — her kid — was staring at him with a bright-eyed curiosity that made Aiden's heart stutter.

Green eyes. Bright, familiar, his shade of green.

It wasn't a trick of the light or his imagination. It wasn't something he could explain away. The connection punched him square in the chest, sending his thoughts into a tailspin.

Is that…?

Before Aiden could process it further, the kid's little hand shot up in an enthusiastic wave. "Hellooooo," the boy said, his small voice cutting through the thick tension like a blade.

Aiden blinked, startled out of his thoughts, but the gesture broke through the wall of emotions that had started to build. A slow smile tugged at the corner of his lips, his features softening as he instinctively lifted a hand to wave back.

"Well, hey there," he said, his voice quieter now, gentler. "You're a friendly little guy, aren't you?"

His gaze flicked back up to Kara, and something in his expression shifted — softer, but searching. A silent question that, deep down, he already knew the answer to. Is the child his?

He glanced back at the boy, his small hand still clutching Kara's coat, his face lit up with the wonder only a child could carry. Green eyes. My green eyes. Something in his chest twisted, but not in the usual way — this wasn't loss, or anger, or regret. It was something entirely new, and he didn't know what to do with it.

Aiden swallowed hard, his eyes locking back onto Kara's. "You look good," he said softly, the words slipping out before he could stop them. "Better than good, actually." He shifted his stance, his hands finding their way into the pockets of his coat as a faint smile formed. "Life seems to suit you."

Aiden was trying to process it all — her presence, the kid, the realization hitting him like a snowball to the face — but beneath it all was one simple truth: He wasn't walking away this time.

Kara Jade ​

 

[Zaiya Ceti]

A LITTLE THING CALLED LIFE DAY
Indulging in an avid curiosity on Lady Velvet
Interacting with: Open!

Zeltros. Zaiya didn't know much about it, but it seemed every time it was mentioned, there was some sort of inside joke that went over the Lovalla's head. In searching what produced such a reaction, the first few search results through the Jedi holonet access she had said that Zeltros was a world full of parties, great food, and lots of social events for those who would be interested in a vacation free from stress and catered to every need!

Honestly, that sounded like fun, although the Padawan didn't click further to realize just what that meant to be catered to every need. No, what happened was that her attention had been drawn to an ad that popped up in her feed - analytics were strong considering her recent conversations with Iris Arani and Corazona von Ascania regarding someone called Lady Velvet - and a book event popped up to be on display at a Zeltron boutique book store.

In the name of research and avid curiosity, along with a group of other Jedi from the Order visiting the world, Zaiya decided to come along. Her interest was piqued when she remembered that Iris said she had done some book cover artwork for Lady Velvet.

With a warm cup of cocoa in her hands, the Lovalla joyfully followed the holographic map displayed on her cuff. It shouldn't be long now! Perhaps she should get a book that had one of Iris's covers and bring it back? Mahsa seemed to enjoy them, too.

With a shimmering excited swirl of gold and jubilant blues over her rosy golden skin, Zaiya's bright,t opal blue eyes soon caught sight of the bookstore in question.

This should be fun!

 

[Makko Vyres]

M A K K O​

outfit

Corazona von Ascania Zaiya Ceti

"Honestly it seems to take some...determination," Makko said of the Zeltrons. Her observation was, of course, not permission to stare and his gaze was quickly averted.

He would never have guessed that she had recognised the books covers from a distance. They stepped through the warmth of an emergency heater that had been plugged in and aimed at the door.

Makko turned to what he thought was a series of adventure books and picked one up.

"Oh."

Makko smiled. He didn't say Well that would never happen, in a sarcastic tone, but he thought it. Proof that time softened old memories.

Noting the colour in Cora's cheeks he couldn't help but flick to a chapter. He didn't need to read that chapter to understand what would happen. In the first few lines the sith told the protagonist in rather demanding and blunt language what would follow.

Makko placed the book down slowly.

"Well I'm sure they have..."

He spotted a colourful padawan approaching the shop.

"...whatever else they have let's go stand near it!" he hissed.

 

[Corazona von Ascania]

​

Cora's eyes nearly went bloodshot at the speed she'd side eyed Makko paging through one of Lady Velvet's more...controversial works.

She let out a decisive breath as he set the book down without further comment. Her shoulders relaxed, then immediately tensed again as Zaiya was clocked approaching the saucy book shop.

Cora's head whipped around to either side, desperately searching for something less embarrassing to be caught near. In her panic, she settled on grabbing Makko by the wrist and pulling him behind a large cardboard cutout of Lord Grimus Edgemoore, the leading man of The Jedi's Fall for the Sith. Shirtless, with a red lightsaber in one hand, and a rose clenched between his teeth.

In that moment, cowering behind Lord Grimus, she deeply regretted monetizing her past experiences with the Sith.

Makko Vyres Zaiya Ceti

 

[Aris Noble]

"We probably could, yeah. Cooking supplies. Baking supplies. Something for them both to use in the kitchen a lot?" Oven mitts, possibly? Aris tilted his head in thought. He'd never really gotten people gifts before, or at least he hadn't put much thought in it. He was similarly in the snow, idly sculpting ice. It was an interesting challenge for him, using the heat he could melt it with before freezing it again and so on, without melting it too much that he lost the shape.

He was going to have to get gifts for all kinds of people, wasn't he? But he'd need money for that right? His expression turned to a brief frown. He needed to figure out what he could get for people.

He paused his sculpting and thoughts though as Vera spoke up. She was doing something with the runes again. It was odd to him still, how they worked. Logical in the essence they gave orders like a computer code, but the effects were wild. Like this. He stared at the golem and it's mischevious grin. She hadn't created life with it, right? She was the one controlling it, right?

Right?

Aris turned his gaze to what he was sculpting. Hummed. Then held it out. A sword made of pure ice, almost as detailed as Seszil. "Think this works?"

Vera Noble

 

[Valery Noble]

​

Outfit: winter coat | Wedding Ring

Valery's smile widened as Thurion offered his arm, and without hesitation, she looped hers through his. There was a lightness to her step as they began to walk, her presence warm and steady against the snow-dappled backdrop of Zeltros' winter wonderland. She listened intently as he spoke, her amber eyes reflecting both curiosity and understanding. His words about influencing his place and time stirred something deeper within her, and for a brief moment, her gaze softened with wonder.

"I'm glad it brought you here today, Thurion. I think we both needed this."

His quiet admission about Life Day being heavy drew her attention, and without words, she gave his arm a gentle squeeze. Valery knew those heavier days all too well — moments when loved ones were too far away, or the weight of the galaxy's struggles pressed down harder than usual. She didn't press further, though. Sometimes, a friend's silent understanding was enough.

As they walked, his question about her children drew a soft, melodic laugh from her lips. "Oh, Grandpapa Thurion, they'll be so thrilled to hear you're here," she teased lightly, giving him a playful nudge as they stepped around a group of snowball-throwing children. "You'll probably have all of them climbing all over you within minutes when they see you again."

Her amber gaze flickered toward where her children were playing, the faint glow in her eyes shimmering with love and pride. "Vera and Aris are doing well. Vera's been training hard — she's relentless when she puts her mind to something, much like her father." A small smirk tugged at her lips, but the affection in her tone was unmistakable. "Aris is coming into his own, too. He's so kind and thoughtful — more like me in that way," she joked, though it was clear she held her son in high regard.

"And the triplets… stars, they're a handful." She shook her head fondly, a light laugh escaping her. "Aeryn's the bold one, always trying to prove she can do anything her older siblings can. Adam is quieter but sharp as a vibroblade, and then there's Aurra." Her voice softened slightly as she mentioned the youngest triplet. "That girl sees everything. She has this quiet way of observing the world, almost like she's already wiser than the rest of us."

Valery sighed contentedly, her hand briefly brushing over her belly as they continued walking. "And now, we have another little one on the way. I sometimes wonder how we'll keep up with all of them, but I wouldn't change a single moment of it."

She glanced up at Thurion, her smile turning tender. "You've been a part of their lives since they were little, you know. Even if you weren't always here in person, they know you love them. You'll always have a place in our family, Thurion. And… you'll meet this little one soon enough, too," she added, nodding toward her rounded belly.

The festive music of Life Day floated gently on the air, mingling with the laughter of children and the distant hum of the city. Valery turned to him again with a knowing grin. "But enough about me and mine for now. You can't visit us empty-handed, Grandpapa. Let's go find the perfect gifts together — I'll make sure you're properly prepared for when my kids tackle you like the pack of snow beasts they are."

Her tone was playful, but the warmth and affection behind her words were genuine, a reflection of just how much Thurion meant to her and her family. For Valery, Life Day was about cherishing moments like these, and she wasn't about to let it slip away.

Thurion Heavenshield ​

 

[Zaiya Ceti]

A LITTLE THING CALLED LIFE DAY
Indulging in an avid curiosity on Lady Velvet
Interacting with: Makko Vyres Corazona von Ascania

Zaiya stepped into the Zeltron bookstore with a giddy bounce in her step, the chime of the door ringing faintly behind her. Snowflakes clung to the colorful waves of her hair, but the Lovalla quickly brushed them away with a quick flick of her fingers. Her bioluminescent patterns shimmered in excitement as she glanced around in pastel swirls of teal and gold.

The shop's warm, sweetly spiced air was a stark contrast to the chill outside, and it carried the faintest hint of... pheromones?

Yup, Zeltros. Zaiya had done her research, and it seemed empathic telepathy was a big thing here, and she'd fortified her mental shields before even stepping off the transport. No way was she about to deal with that kind of sensory overload. Apparently, there was also a thing about pheromones, which also concerned Zaiya, but so far, she hasn't seemed to notice them if any were around.

What an odd thing... maybe I'm immune to them?

What Zaiya didn't realize is that it required a specific set of circumstances for them to do, but now and then, she found herself thinking about Aris Noble more and more with a joyful lovey-dovey feeling, wondering what he was up to and the odd wandering thought to cuddle came to mind.

Wait, would he want to cuddle? No, wait, don't think of that now. Zaiya told herself, forcing herself to focus, slightly fanning her flushed cheeks with her hand as the giddy thought passed through her mind. With a happy hum, Zaiya panned her attention throughout the bookshop, her eyes lighting up as they scanned the rows of brightly colored covers and elaborate holographic displays.

"Oh, this is amazing," she whispered to herself, practically vibrating with excitement. Her gaze darted toward a likely corner, where a series of displays boasted banners with swooping gold lettering: The Legendary Lady Velvet!

Before she could dive into the stacks herself, a cheerful attendant with bright coral skin, vivid colorful clothing, purple hair, and such a shiny set of jewelry popped into Zaiya's view. Her aura was practically glowing with hospitality as the chic Zeltron stepped into her path.

"Welcome! How can I help you today?"

Zaiya beamed, her skin awash with the ripple of curious citrines, "Oh, hello! Thank you! I heard you have Lady Velvet's newest releases here?" She practically sang out with excitement, her words tumbling out in a rush as her gaze darted past the attendant toward the displays. Meanwhile, across the shop, behind the cardboard cutout of a scandalously shirtless Lord Grimus Edgemoore, Cora clutched Makko's wrist in a vice grip in a panic, Zaiya completely unaware of the chaos her mere presence had caused.

A quick glance in her direction would reveal Zaiya happily chatting with the attendant as the Zeltron began to gesture and offer to walk the Padawan toward the new release section.

 

[Kara Jade]

Location: City Centre, Zeltros City
Objective: Enjoy the Life Day Festivities
Tags: Aiden Rennek​

While she was still stuck in a shocked silence for the most part, Cass was anything but. He met Aiden’s enthusiastic wave with an equally enthusiastic nod. “Yeeeeep.” He replied, with an added little ‘pop’ at the end. “Mama says that sometimes strangers are friends you haven’t made yet!”

That seemed to snap Kara out of her frozen state, and she looked down at her son. “That’s because someone was already trying to make everyone his friend during his first day of daycare.” She smiled fondly down at Cass, that particular memory was one of her favourites.

She looked back up again, catching Aiden’s look. Time might’ve passed, but she could still see the emotion that was flashing in his eyes. It surprised her, she was expecting him to be upset and angry towards her.

Perhaps he’s just holding it in because Cass is right here.

But Kara caught the silent message he was practically broadcasting through his eyes. Yes, he’s your son.

She opened her mouth to speak, but it quickly snapped shut when Aiden began complimenting her. Kara had only just started getting some colour back into her face, as a full on blush appeared along her cheeks. She looked away, shaking her head but smiling all the same. Aiden certainly hadn’t lost any of his natural charm.

Although it raised questions in Kara’s mind, in particular towards the lack of Briana. She figured Aiden would’ve been freaking out about finally meeting Cass, unless he was expertly internalising it. No, it felt like something off…

“We should…go find somewhere to sit, to talk. Preferably with some hot cocoa.” Kara smiled slightly, turning around to lead the way. Cass leant into her embrace, leaning his head against her shoulder as he looked towards Aiden.

“My name is Cassius, but mama likes to call me Cass.”

 

[Vera Noble]

Zeltros

​

Tag: Aris Noble

Vera turned her attention away from her newly animated snow golem as Aris held up his creation. Her multi-colored eyes widened, and a delighted grin spread across her face. The ice sword was pristine, intricate, and carried the sort of detail only her brother could pull off. "Whoa, Aris! That's perfect," she exclaimed, her tone brimming with playful trouble.

Back to talking gifts.

She clapped her gloved hands together, bits of snow falling away as she bounced in place with excitement. "Mom's going to love something handmade. She's all about the meaning behind things, you know? It's never just about the gift itself — it's about the thought that went into it. Something that shows love, care, and that you know what really matters to her." Vera's voice softened as she spoke, though the enthusiasm in her eyes never dimmed. "Dad's the same way… but he's also a huge nerd, so if you get him something he can study or tinker with? Oh, he's happy for days."

Her tone shifted back to something lighter, more playful. "The little ones, though? Easy. Toys. You could hand them a noisy little droid or a plush bantha, and they'd lose their minds." She let out a laugh as she turned to the snow golem, who was now staring at them both with that jagged, mischievous grin.

Then Aris's ice sword caught her eye again, and her grin grew full of mischief and undeniable trouble. "You know what this means, right?" She tilted her head toward him, her smile widening into something positively impish. "We're making an army."

Vera planted her hands on her hips, her face lighting up like she was about to cause so much chaos. "You give me weapons, Aris, and I'm unstoppable. We can make a whole battalion of snow golems — one for each of us. Our golems will fight his evil snowman army." She jabbed a thumb toward the crude but charming snow creature she'd already animated, whose toothy grin now looked all the more villainous in this context.

Vera's giggles broke through her grandiose declaration, her mischief contagious as she looked back at Aris with a glint of challenge. "C'mon, Aris, don't tell me you're gonna let the bad guys win."

​

 

[Aiden Rennek]

​

Aiden's lips twitched into a smile as Cass — Cassius — responded with an unfiltered enthusiasm only kids could pull off. The little pop at the end earned a soft chuckle from him, breaking through the lingering tension that had settled in his chest. Strangers are friends you haven't made yet. Aiden couldn't help but glance at Kara as she explained, her fond smile lighting up her face as she looked at her son.

He didn't know what surprised him more — how easily Cass had pulled him into the moment or how natural Kara looked standing there with him. It was like this life, this little boy, had completed something in her that he hadn't seen back then. The blush that dusted her cheeks when he'd complimented her didn't escape his notice either.

Her suggestion pulled him from his thoughts, and he nodded without hesitation. "Yeah, of course." His voice was softer now, more settled, though his heart still hammered in his chest as if it was trying to catch up with his head. "Somewhere warm sounds perfect."

He gestured toward the snow-covered path ahead, stepping into stride beside her as they moved through the crowd. The sound of holiday music and distant laughter surrounded them, but Aiden couldn't focus on anything except Kara and the small boy in her arms who had his green eyes.

"Cassius, huh?" Aiden repeated, his voice gentle but touched with warmth. He offered a faint smile as he looked at him, then at Kara again. "You mind if I get us the cocoa? Maybe grab a little something for this guy too? I know the cold works up an appetite."

"That is… if Mom allows it," he added, his grin taking on a teasing edge as he glanced at Kara.

Once they reached a cozy-looking café tucked away from the busier streets, Aiden stepped ahead to open the door for her. The inside was warm and inviting, the scent of cocoa, pastries, and spices filling the air. Frosted windows let in the soft glow of colorful Life Day lights, and a corner table near the fireplace caught his attention immediately.

"Here, let me," Aiden said as he led them to the table and pulled out a chair for Kara. He wasn't about to let her balance everything alone — not with Cass in her arms. "I'll grab the cocoa and snacks. You two sit tight, alright?"

He gave a quick wink to Cassius, as if sharing a secret, before heading to the counter. As he ordered two steaming cups of cocoa — one with extra whipped cream for her because that's what you do — and a plate of pastries for the table, his mind continued to spin. Cassius. Aiden could still see the kid's bright green eyes, and every time he did, it made his chest tighten in a way he couldn't explain.

He paid for everything, thanked the barista with a nod, and returned to the table. Setting the cocoa down in front of Kara, he offered her a soft smile before placing a small plate of cookies and pastries in front of Cass.

Then his gaze found Kara's again, and for a moment, his easygoing smile softened into something more contemplative. "So…" he began, his voice steady but quieter. "I'm guessing there's a lot we need to talk about."

His eyes flicked to Cass for just a second, his heart squeezing again, before settling back on her. There was no anger, no frustration — just a quiet need for answers. For understanding.

For her.

Kara Jade ​

 

[Makko Vyres]

M A K K O​

outfit

Corazona von Ascania Zaiya Ceti

Makko was ya ked behind the carboard cut out of the sith lover. Lord Grimus had some rather specific instructions at the start of the chapter he had glanced, but he was a silent warden before them.

"You have a secret!" Makko whispered harshly. He unintentionally left that hang in the air long enough to cause even more panic.

"You recognised those covers! You read Lady Velvet!"

He heard the door open, followed by Zaiya's sing-song voice.

"Oh, hello! Thank you! I heard you have Lady Velvet's newest releases here?" She practically sang out with excitement

Makko grimaced at Cora. Suddenly he felt just as uncomfortable as she did.

 

[Caelan Valoren]

ATTIRE: Link
WEAPON: Lightsaber
TAGS: Open

You go for a friendly snowball fight and a battle for your life breaks out. That's typically how snowball fights go, right? Well, usually anyway. He was having a good time with the younger kids, letting them peg him with snowballs because it made them happy and he enjoyed the sound of their laughter. Most of them were quite young and this was a way for them to just be like children in a friendly match with a Jedi. Who wouldn't enjoy that?

Well, until a real battle broke out.

From out of nowhere, an army of snowmen appeared. Like, if they had been making them it would have been kind of cool just how many of them there were, but these guys had weird candy cane swords and were throwing snowballs laced with ice and rocks, which just were not pleasant to be hit with. Those happy laughs turned into pained, frightened cries pretty darn quick, and Caelan found himself in a situation that he had not anticipated: defending children from deranged, killer, monster, snow goons.

"Children stay behind me!"

He'd never seen anything like this before. There weren't supposed to be snow creatures here. Where had they come from and what the heck were they? He enacted a barrier of the Force around himself and the children before calling his lightsaber to his hand. They did appear to be made of snow, and when they moved it looked like they were growing larger as they assimilated the snow they were moving around. That was problematic. But snow was still snow, and a lightsaber was heated plasma. He could melt them, but he needed to keep the kids safe.

"Alright, walk slowly towards the village. Stay near me so I can keep you safe."

What a pickle this was. Day of fun now a day of horror for the little ones.

 

[Aris Noble]

That was quite the list. Aris nodded slowly. It was a good list to have, especially the handmade things. He glanced to the fake blade he'd made before humming in thought. Then, something seemed to click. There was still time. He'd make it work. A little grin even formed as he nodded once. "I'll make something, then. I'll make something for mom, you make something for dad. We'll have enough time to at least do that before life day, right?"

Maybe? Probably? If she didn't already get gifts for them anyway. He did blink as he glanced to the evil looking snowman, then to Vera. She- Made a war? Of snowmen?

"You're really scary sometimes, sis." He spoke calm and leveled, even as he pulled up another piece of ice to start shaping. "We'll have to make sure we win, then."

Vera Noble

 

[Rik Perris]

A LITTLE THING CALLED LIFE DAY
CITY CENTRE, ZELTROS CITY​

The fact that the guy he'd run into had wings was somehow less surprising than the sudden deluge of snow that fell on him when they sprung open.

"Eugh!"

If Rik was speckled with snowflakes before, now he was iced like a cake. Ish.

"Oh... uh... sorry about that."

He eyed the taller man, past the snow that now clung to his own eyebrows, noting a few details: white hair, pointed ears, blue eyes, and obviously... the wings that had unintentionally dumped snow on him.

"Heh, no worries," he began to brush the layer of snow off, but not completely out of his hair. "no worries".

Little bits of the cold white powder had bound to his hair, crusting on already, with how long he'd been outside.

"It's impressive that you walked into a dude that's seven feet tall actually."

Rik sputtered lightly from a little snow in his mouth, inadvertently inhaled when brushing off his head. "Ya think?" he replied with a single note of humour, while he continued on, brushing off his shoulders, passing his drink from one hand to the other while he did so.

Next, he carefully smoothed the snow out of his eyebrows, watching as the snow continued to fall away and dust down like fresh snowfall around him and to where the Divinarie was examining the remains of his lost drink. "Hmm..."

"This place reeks; I feel like I'm swimming in perfume, but like the kind old people use to mask the smell of their bodies decaying."

Rik glanced up at the Bursantian, "There's a stim for that," he said plainly, then looked back to the winged guy, and the splatter of hot chocolate on his own boots, as well as the hem of his trousers.

"Eh, it's all washable," he uttered to himself. He'd gotten worse stains out of his kit before, on multiple occasions. "Hey, uh--" Rik jacked a thumb behind him. "--lemme get you another one, least I can do."

But then he glanced at his drink, which he barely even had a sip of, given it was much too hot when he got it. He had just about burnt his tongue!

"Unless..." some guys were weird about it, others hardly cared, no way of knowing 'less you ask, "you like cider?" Rik held out the takeout cup, offering it to the seven-foot-tall man. "It was way too hot at first, feels almost the right temp now."

Matthew of Valendale • Roten​

 

[Corazona von Ascania]

As Zaiya engaged the store attendant, Cora peered out from behind the safety of Lord Grimus. It was the leading - almost accusatory! - tone of Makko's whisper that had her visibly stiffen.

Panic surged through her veins. Had…had he figured it out? She always tried to work in private, but there had been a few times, as they laid in bed reading quietly beside one another, where she'd glanced over her manuscripts.

Her own heartbeat was so loud in her ears that it almost drowned out what Makko said next:

"You recognised those covers! You read Lady Velvet!"

Cora turned on her heel, whirling around so fast that she'd accidentally given Grimus a shove. The shirtless Sith Lord gave a stiff wobble before toppling to the floor.

As the couple in hiding was revealed, wide-eyed fear turned into a glare at Makko.

The store attendant giggled, eyeing them from across the store. "Oh, we ask that our patrons wait until they get home for that!”

Makko Vyres Zaiya Ceti

 

[Zaiya Ceti]

A LITTLE THING CALLED LIFE DAY
Indulging in an avid curiosity on Lady Velvet
Interacting with: Makko Vyres Corazona von Ascania

The attendant had managed to bring Zaiya closer to the exhibit, but it was the sudden giggle following the sound of rustling that drew the teenage Lovalla's attention from the book display over to the slightly jostled life side cardboard image of -- oh... OH!

Zaiya's confusion and startled expression shifted to one of the comedic display as the image of the bare-chested human male with the ignited red saber in one hand and a... rose between his teeth.

She had to do a double take because the rose clenched between his teeth immediately reminded Zaiya of another time she had seen that: when Aris Noble 's mother Valery had placed a rose between her teeth while dancing with Master Kahlil back at the Hapes Gala.

Wait... Zaiya paused, the mental cogs slowly turning, only to be pulled out of them by the Zeltron attendant's giggle.

Now the teenager's attention was drawn towards the movement and hushed words coming from behind the cutout -- it didn't do a great job at hiding two bodies. A flash of blonde hair, a taller brunette and then it came toppling down.

Zaiya's eyes went wide in recognition. "Cora?!!" Right beside her was, "Knight Vyres?" Another blink. "What are you..."

The store attendant giggled, eyeing them from across the store. "Oh, we ask that our patrons wait until they get home for that!”

The funny thing was that Zeltron's comment to the pair went over Zaiya's head. Instead, the Lovalla took it that the bookstore had a policy that one had to buy their books and read them at home, not at the bookstore.

"Oh, we can't see which one we would like to try out first," Zaiya asked innocently.

"Oh no, no... while we are quite progressive, acting it out in the open here in the bookstore is a no-no. Could you imagine if we had every couple wanting to reenact a scene here?!" The Zeltron laughed, gesturing around.

Huh. Reinact?

 

[Silas Westgard]

Location: Zeltros
Objective: Eliminate the snowmen
Tag: Lily Decoria

Silas had been spending the day around Zeltros doing some festive activities, as well as catching up with friends who were also spending time on the planet. There was of course the noble family, although half of the time chatting with Valery Noble was spent dodging snowballs from Vera Noble and Aris Noble before they wandered off to do their own thing. It was always good catching up with them, there always seemed to be something new going on with that family.

Coincidently, on the way back to the cabin Silas bumped into Lily who was doing the same thing. As always, Lily teased him up until Silas offered her to come back to his break for some nice hot chocolate. It was the least he could do, and it would give them more time to catch up on recent events. Without much thought, she accepted.

"Two hot chocolates..." Silas said as he placed the mug next to where she was sitting "And please, grab the handle and don't grab the base. It's definitely something you'd do" the knight teased with a smirk, just before walking to his placed in the living room and sitting in a comfy chair next to the fire.

"What have you been up to then? You have a chance to explore without being pelted by snowballs?"
​

 

[Kara Jade]

Location: City Centre, Zeltros City
Objective: Enjoy the Life Day Festivities
Tags: Aiden Rennek​

Yeah, this isn’t going to stop feeling surreal anytime soon.

That was the thought circulating in Kara’s head as she walked alongside Aiden, with Cassius in her arms. Their child.

Over the past number of years, there had been occasions where she pondered the chances of running into him. Aiden was a marine after all, he travelled a lot as part of the job. Heading into whatever the latest battlefield was. But Kara had moved to a planet that was far enough away within Alliance space, but not so much that there was risk of it being attacked.

It was just her luck that the time she decided to travel outside of it, it finally happened.

Kara couldn’t help but smile as Aiden spoke, she had missed his voice. As brief as their time had been in the larger scheme of things, she found his voice captivating. She caught that grin and her blush deepened. Damn him.

“Cass loves cookies.”

In a weird way it hardly felt like anything had changed since that eventful night. But Kara knew that couldn’t be the furthest from the truth. A lot had changed since then.

Kara let out a content sigh as they finally stepped into some warmth. Despite wearing adequate layers, the cold always managed to sneak its way beneath them. A flash of surprise crossed her face as Aiden pulled a chair out for her. But it was quickly replaced with a warm smile. “Thank you,” she replied.

For several moments, Kara just simply watched as Aiden walked away towards the counter. “Alright Cass, you sit on the chair while mama gets her coat off, okay?” The young boy nodded his head, releasing his hold on her so he could sit down. Within a matter of a seconds he was already turning around, kneeling on it to look around at the cafe's interior.

He was ever the curious child.

Kara removed her gloves first, then made quick work of unzipping her coat, revealing the festive sweater she was wearing underneath. She draped the coat over the back of her chair, and finally removed the woolly hat, taking a moment to tidy her hair.

“Mama, I need help.” Kara looked over to see her son had followed her example. Only instead, Cass had forgotten to remove his gloves. She couldn’t help but chuckle a little, before leaning over to help her son. “Well silly, you need to remove these first.” She replied, easily slipping Cass’ gloves off. His eyes widened with realization, and reminded Kara this was his first time wearing this kind of weather, and dealing wearing this many layers.

With almost practised ease, Kara had her son out of his coat, revealing a matching sweater underneath, only his featured ewoks. She plucked his wooly hat off, and immediately went to ruffle Cass’ hair.

“Muuuuuum, stawp.” He complained adorably, fruitlessly trying to stop her. Kara grinned, before planting a small kiss atop her son’s head.

It was then that Aiden finally returned, hot cocoa and treats in hand. She gave him another brief ‘thank you’ as he placed her cup down. Her eyes followed him as he took his seat, but broke away when she noticed Cass was looking up at her, expressive eyes that spoke words that didn’t need to be spoken.

“Go ahead, but don’t rush, eat one cookie at a time, okay?” She said, grabbing one of the treats and holding it out.

“Okay!” Cass didn’t miss a beat as he took the offered cookie and began eating.

Kara smiled as she watched him, before turning her attention to Aiden. She let out a quiet chuckle in response to his words. “Yeah, that’s an understatement.” Kara knew what she wanted to say, the words were at the tip of her tongue. But something kept her from just diving straight into the deep end. So instead, she went for the next question that was on her mind.

“How have you been?”