Open Sith Life's a Beach

[Altair Din]

Altair watched, slightly baffled, as Pedee smacked the ball right into the net. And then it bounced back as Vahliri watched helplessly and effectively went nowhere. The tiefling grinned as Vahl prepared to serve the ball back over, a fire in his eyes. He immediately forgot about what girl was looking hot in what bikini, his mind focusing solely on the game. Altair was competitive by nature, and it came across in his stance and the way his tail swayed back and forth in excitement.

As the ball came his way, he sprang up and slammed it back with his hand. The force behind the spike, not even enhanced with the Force, was incredibly powerful. It would send the ball over the net and right between Vahl and Pedee, sending it crashing into the sand for a score. Altair smiled widely, jumping up.

“Yeah!” He cheered as he turned to Aadya to highfive her.

Roll: 18/20

@Logan @Mr. Teatime @Altaris @The Good Doctor

 

[Darth Tempest]

Vahliri kept her eyes on the volleyball as it sailed over the net, moving back into reach of both Altair and Aadya. Of course, her honeyed gaze widened visibly as the Tiefling moved in for the ball just as it was within reach - springin up to spike it back down towards the sand. The power behind the spike was such that the half-Annfyn didn’t have time to attempt to intercept and knock it back over the net or towards Pedee - barely moving from her position before the ball slammed down to the ground.

The half-Annfyn glanced back over the net, watching as the Tiefling sprang up and gleefully cheered his goal. She couldn’t help the small grin that tugged at the corner of her lips, though there was a renewed determination in her eyes as well - a bit of competitiveness bleeding in as the game continued.

Vahliri didn’t hesitate to scoop the volleyball back up, serving it back over the next - this time closer to where Aadya was positioned.

@Sreeya @Logan @Mr. Teatime @The Good Doctor @llamallove @LilyNion

 

[Darth Tiamat]

Tiamat was absolutely down for a party, especially when she was told it was at a beach and there would be cake. She figured it was about time for some sun and sand, and to get out of her lab for a while to reboot her own senses. There were two things being celebrated, one of course, was the win of the Red Team from the Huttball game, which was impressive to watch and Tia enjoyed every moment of it. The second was acolyte Altair's birthday, to which Tia remembered to bring him a gift and set it down on the table with the others.

The woman was slow to join the others, the weather was perfect and despite how unfriendly the sun can be against her light skin, she was bathing in its rays. Dress in her red two piece, she made sure to do her hair, giving it curls and pinning some of the locks behind her ear with a large white flower. She wore heels as red as her lipstick and when she reached the sand, she took off the heels to walk easier. She was pointed to where the party had gathered, her gaze following down to the volleyball nets and the game happening between the acolytes, and it looked like Peedee? The redheaded woman grinned seeing the game continue, Vahl sending the ball back over the net.

 

[Cairo Kisufi]

Altair's birthday. What a journey the last year had been. Together, they were Cairo and Altair: the unstoppable duo of dumbasses. But individually, they had begun to blossom. Cairo had seen Altair grow, slowly, into the man that he was becoming. He would soon make a great and powerful Sith, an unstoppable weapon in combat. He had always been strong.

But Altair was more than that, more than pure strength. He was kindness, sensitivity, and love wrapped beneath his cool, gray exterior. He was fiercely loyal to anyone he called a friend, and a no-bulshitter who would slap you silly if you lied to him or to yourself. He was funny. Not just in a dumb, teen pranks kind of way (although those were really funny); he had a rich sense of humor that drew on his deep experiences as a farmer and Matukai practitioner from Bandomeer. These experiences, Cairo always thought, had grounded Altair: His love of family, home, and purpose. He knew who he was, who he could become. It was this that kept Cairo in awe of his friend. In awe during the Huttball matches, hearing recaps of Altair's fights, and, of course, when the boy literally saved his life.

Cairo arrived to the beach in board shorts and a tank top, a joint casually tucked behind his ear. It had been a while since they had seen each other in person. Quietly, Cairo was worried that it had been too much time. He feared that, with Altair's growing fame as HuttBall champion, there would be no room for lil ol' Cairo anymore.

He brushed that fear away. That wasn't the kind of guy Altair was. The closer Cairo got to the party, the more he saw...a volleyball game? Damn, Cairo was a champ at beach volleyball. Time to show these clowns what a real player can do.

He dropped his gaudily-wrapped present in the sand as he sprinted over to the game, picking up speed as his trademark grin appeared to his face. Unfortunately, his trademark luck followed the grin, and his fate was decided. Just as he made it towards the makeshift court, Vahliri's volleyball serve connected squarely with his face, sending the ball flying back into the air. Cairo's face was left red, singing with the slap marks of a leather-bound volleyball. He stumbled, his momentum pushing him into Altair.

As he collided, he pulled Altair into a makeshift hug to stabilize himself. He appraised his surroundings. Scattered acolytes, a quieter party. And was that...no way. Was that the Jedi from that Jedi Party? Did Altair know her, too? Did that mean he knew Zana?

No matter. Cairo could always be counted on for dramatic hijinks. That's what parties were for!

"Hey, man. Happy birthday!" He patted Altair on the back before gesturing to his gift box, sitting gently in the sand. "I gotcha something."

@Sreeya @Altaris @Logan @The Good Doctor @Vicc125 @Mr. Teatime @GABA

 

[Clove Vanhoop]

---

If she said she wasn't relieved that Sharkie (@Mr. Teatime) decided to join her, she'd be lying. Clove was perfectly content on her own, but having someone she could consider somewhat of a friend next to her, was... welcome. Especially since she was stuck staring at Aadya (@Logan), who was on the same team as Altair (@Sreeya). Ugh. And that 'babe'. Gross. There was no way. Anyway, the robot drew her attention back to Sol. "Swimming? Oh! I'd like that" Her lips curled into a genuine smile, and she tilted her head to the right. "In that case, I might go for a swim after they are done."

Swimming was important for her revalidation, and she's developed a slight liking for it ever since. So relaxing in a pool with a floaty sounded genuinely nice.

The half-Annfyn was about to properly relax when a gorgeous woman in the cutest bikini and a white flower walked into the party (@GABA). Clove only gave her a single glance at first. But then something in her head went off, and she gave the woman another look, this time more properly than before. She was sure she'd seen her somewhere before. Clove narrowed her eyes just a smidgeon as the cogs whirled and whirled, desperately trying to place her face. Then, just like Aadya, it all came suddenly snapped together. She resembled the woman Jedi accused of being the Eternal.

No. That's not possible. What were the chances? Then again. What were the chances of running into Aadya? While seated next to a Force Sensitive who knew Force Lightning?

Then Cairo (@Fine Dining Set) rushed through the sand before being slammed in the face by the volleyball, which thankfully shifted her attention away from the rumored Eternal before her staring became impolite. Clove looked at Cairo, puzzled, especially after he began hugging Altair. So, they knew each other? Did that imply Altair knew Zana as well? Clove raised her hand in a small wave towards Cairo, still baffled by the turn of events, before returning her attention to Sharkie.

"Hey, Sol! Everyone here seems to know each other. Are you all friends?"

---

​

Tag - ​

 

[Krinn Nelthar]

The water is cool, a tropical, salt tinged taste that dances over smooth gills. Trestles wave in the tug of the chilled current, marine life darting between frothing waves. There's greenery upon the ocean floor, vibrant shells and crimson corals, pearly sands that fall softly through spread fingers, catching upon the olive hued webbing spread between. This was where Krinn had spent most of the party, because he was never the particularly social sort, but he'd never pass up on the chance for a nice ocean swim, either. Even for one so brooding, taking a break to relax was a near blissful experience. For a time, he could forget the troubles of the galaxy, the strife and endless conquest. He could breath the salty water through his gills, and feel it's weightlessness as he floated within the sparkling depths.

Clawed fingers paw the sandy ocean floor with intent, his vision sharp as he plucks away several intact, colorful shells, insuring that they are empty of life before he finally makes his way back toward the surface.

He emerges slow from the waves, a marine creature of glistening viridian scales, with skin slicked wet in shining water. He's almost entirely bare, other than his black trunks, of course. The nautolan might not enjoy the sensation of clothing, but he knew well enough that he shouldn't walk around popular resorts in the nude.

The heat of the daylight reflects off his muscled frame as he trudges with grace from the white capped waves, the chatter of the beach filling his mind as dark eyes track the efforts of a few volleyball players nearby. There's a bit of blood that dribbles from his fangs, the remnants of a fishy meal that he had snagged while beneath the surface. Nothing tasted better than the fresh thing, plucked straight from the ocean to warm his gut. Krinn doesn't seem to notice the maroon fluid that drips down his chin, though. He's far more focused on the small pile of shells cradled delicately within his wiry arms.

Without a word, his webbed, clawed feet carry him through the crowd, before he finally stops in front of Altair (@Altair Din ). For a moment, there is a contemplative silence, before Krinn promptly shoves the colorful shells toward the acolyte, as if to offer them as a gift. That had been their intended purpose.

"Here." The nautolan grunts, accented vocals flowing past bloodied lips that still tasted of salt and sea life. "Happy birthday." He doesn't even really know the guy, and Krinn isn't entirely sure if the two of them would get along, but he'd might as well make allies among the Empire, rather than enemies. They were all on the same side, after all. In any case, this was intended to be a celebration. He was only contributing to the cheer, no matter how socially awkward he might seem. Of course, he soon realizes that he probably shouldn't be standing in the middle of their volleyball game, unless he wanted to be involved. He didn't.

"Sorry." He offers a brief apology, and then moves away, trudging toward the sandy sidelines with an unreadable expression. His eyes catch briefly upon a woman he does not know (@Clove Vanhoop ), one that feels different from the rest. Suspicion glistens for but a moment before the nautolan looks away. It doesn't matter, really. She had been invited for a reason.

 

[Ashla Ti]

As the party played on, a droid carrying a rather odd looking package looked on from the distance. The droid transmitted a signal from its photoreceptors to a distant receiver, where its owner observed the revelry. A content on the lips, the Togruta nodded and sent a simple command to the droid. With one last look at the display showing her friends, the young Sith looked away and returned to the sounds of conflict behind her.

The droid moved away from the beach and towards the nearby hangar, and towards the ship it had identified as the one Altair had arrived aboard. It dropped the box inside the ship, with a simple envelope atop it. Inside the box was a neatly packed, and meticulously restored vintage hallikset, over a hundred years old from what she had learned.

And in the envelope was a simple note, written in a rather untidy hand given her unfamiliarity with actually having to write something.

Sorry I couldn't be there. Happy birthday Altair! - Ash

@Sreeya

 

[Altair Din]

This time around the game wasn’t going in his favor. Vahl served the ball back and it ended up flying into someone else. Altair’s jaw dropped when he realized who it was, and his expression instantly changed to one of delight. He promptly hugged his best friend, his face breaking out into the biggest smile. It was clear that no one else could have the same kind of reaction from Altair as Cairo. The tiefling tightly hugged his brother before stepping back, his tail swaying back and forth happily.

“Thanks man! Where ya been?!” He hadn’t seen Cairo for a while since they had been given offworld missions. He knew Cairo had some work on Hapes with his master. Altair reached into his pocket and pulled out a small vial, discreetly passing it to Cairo and closing his hand over, “It’s for..you know..” He said quietly. Altair’s face would say it all - at long last a cure to curb the withdrawals from wildfire. He had used some of his winnings money to procure some for himself and Cairo.

He looked over at the gift box on the ground, “Please tell me it’s your AMS hand,” Altair snickered before using the Force to coil around it and lift it to place on a surface to open later. For now he wanted to focus on his buddy, “Thanks bro! Great to see ya out here.”

All thoughts of volleyball were instantly forgotten as he walked back towards the water with his buddy. He was about to chat with Cairo when he saw a figure rising up from the sea. Altair gawked as some dude rose slowly from the water like some child of the waves, son of Sopeidon and prince of the oceans. For some reason he even had blood dribbling down his chin as if he gnawed off the leg of some poor tourist that was surfing. Gnarly.

The tiefling could only blink stupidly as he was handed the shells. However, he cleared his throat and smiled at him, “Thanks man!” He said cheerfully, “I’m Altair, this is Cairo,” He gestured to himself and his buddy before clapping the nautolan on the shoulder, “Good to have you. Help yourself to some drinks!” He said before the man walked off. Altair kept a smile on until the Nautolan walked away before he looked over at Cairo.

“Bro, are we trippin’ again?”

Bizarre incidents always took place the moment Cairo arrived. He looked down at the shells, “You know…these are actually pretty legit,” They didn’t look shitty and cracked like the ones found on the beach.

@Fine Dining Set @Nevermourn

 

[Darth Tempest]

Vahliri kept her honeyed eye trained on the volleyball as it sailed over the net once again, that competitive glint burning behind her gaze as she prepared for either Aadya or Altair to send it back. Of course, what Vahliri didn’t anticipate was for someone to walk into the middle of the game and get smacked right in the side of the head with the leather ball.

An audible gasp escaped from the half-Annfyn’s lips as she stared, honeyed gaze fixating onto the side of the mans’ face. Wait a damn minute - she recognized that face. Vahliri blinked a few times before a smile once more worked onto her lips. With the same effectively over at this point, the half-Annfyn ducked beneath the volleyball net and walked up to the pair. Her arrival was timed several seconds after Altair slipped him the vial, giving the Morellian plenty of time to stash it by the time Vahl made her way over.

“Hey Cairo!” She said happily, greeting the Morellian with a small side-hug once he was within reach. “Sorry about that. Didn’t see you walking up.” She said with an apologetic smile. Like Ashla and Altair, Cairo was one of the people that Vahliri had known the longest as a Sith - a member of the Squad - and he was someone the half-Annfyn valued deeply as a friend.

She eyes briefly flicked down to the box that Cairo brought, listening when Altair mentioned it being the Morellian’s lost hand. Knowing the two of them as well as she did, Vahliri was a thousand-percent-sure that there was a pickle jar with Cairo’s hand floating in it, in that box. She

Vahliri flashed Altair one final smile, reaching out to playfully nudge and give his bicep a squeeze. “Good game.” The half-Annfyn said, letting her honeyed gaze linger on the Tiefling for a few seconds before walking back over to her side of the net - letting the two buddies catch up. The half-Annfyn waltzed up to Pedee, wrapping her arms around the droid to hug its metallic torso. “We were awesome.” She said, flashing the droid a warm smile before turning on a heel and walking off from the volleyball net. She pointed didn’t look back at Aadya during the entire exchange.

She caught a glimpse of someone coming up out of the water and interacting with Cairo and Altair, but otherwise didn’t stop to observe. Instead, Vahliri continued to make her way towards the water - spotting Clove. “Hey Clove!” She said, walking up to the fellow half-Annfyn. She glanced over between her and Sol. “Hope I’m not interrupting,” Vahliri looked back to Clove, her grin tugging a bit wider. “‘Cause I’m definitely gonna need the details about this whole Ratchet rivalry, now.” She glanced towards the pool and then to the lounge chairs at the edge - opting to go wherever Clove chose.

As she spoke, Vahliri briefly glanced back over her shoulder - honeyed eyes briefly flicking back to settle upon Aadya doing whatever the hell Aadya was doing at that precise moment. Almost the moment she laid eyes on the Firrerreo, Clove would see the way that Vahliri’s expression soured visibly into a glare - her fluted ears flattening down and flicking with not-so-subtle irritation. It was all the signs Clove would need to pick up on the fellow half-Annfyn’s palpable dislike for the Firrerreo.

@Sreeya @Logan @Mr. Teatime @LilyNion @Fine Dining Set @Nevermourn @The Good Doctor [/justify]

 

[Clove Vanhoop]

---

Before Clove and Sharkie (@Mr. Teatime) could start their conversation, the half-Annfyn (@Altaris) who had been teamed up with the droid (@The Good Doctor) walked over and interrupted them. Although, perhaps, that might've been for the best. "Oh, no. I was just wondering if you are all friends!" Clove's large chocolate brown eyes scanned Vahl for a brief moment, a girl who was undeniably pretty.

Then something else rather gorgeous walked by. A Nautolan (@Nevermourn) whose skin was still glistening with saltwater. And. Wow. He'd have been a true Ocean God if it hadn't been for the blood on his chin. Which was a fun contrast to Altair's (@Sreeya) very well-toned fire body and large horns. Fire God and Water God.

Speaking of. There were a lot of pretty and handsome people at the party, weren't there?

Clove shook her head quickly to clear her mind of the thoughts before drooling like a fool. "I can tell you every single detail about the Ratchet rivarly!" For a brief moment, her gaze was drawn to Sol, whom she smiled apologetically at. "Sorry, you'd better tell me how you all met later!"

With a huff, the half-Annfyn began to crawl back to her feet, leaning on the cane for support until she was firmly planted on the ground. Eh, well, firmly. It was more like an attempt at firmly. She noticed Vahl's ears flatten as the girl's gaze lingered on Aadya just as she was about to wander off to the pool. And that was all she needed to know; she'd seen her mother's ears do the same thing numerous times; Vahl was annoyed at Aadya. Just like her.

Keeping that quiet for the time being, Clove began to untie her sarong and instead bundled the fabric together to make a large makeshift scarf. She made a loose bun with her hair and wrapped the scarf around it several times before tying the back together with a ribbon. It wasn't particularly pretty, but it kept her hair and sarong dry. The half-Annfyn carefully stepped down the staircase into the pool, after placing her cane on one of the benches near the pool's edge. While holding on to the railing and the pool's side she made her way towards a more shallow section of the pool, where they could sit on some inbuilt 'benches' while the water came up to their shoulders.

Once seated, the half-Annfyn let out a blissful sigh. "The water is so nice," she mused before returning her gaze to the other half-Annfyn. "OH! The details you wanted to know!" She took in a deep breath, preparing for what was to be an obvious ramble. "So. I met him for the first time in this haunted manor a year or two ago. It was quite literally haunted. It's terrifying! And, long story short, he kept passing out. So I had to drag him around the manor, but in my hurry, I bumped his head against a wall? But it was the only option I had for saving him! And he did nothing but whine! He would've died if I left him there!" The girl rolled her eyes, as if to say, 'ugh, men.' "The next time I saw him was in a shopping mall. And. Vahliri. He threw up in my hair," Clove said as she turned around in the water to face Vahl. "He vomitted right before passing out again, and it landed straight in my hair. Then, seemingly out of nowhere, I noticed him. At the huttball. He looked straight into my eyes. And that's when I realized I needed to go after him!"

Clove came to a stop, before giggling warmly. "That's the entire story! But that's a lot of talking from me. So, how about you? I, uhm... I noticed your ears when we went to the pool. Everything okay?" She didn't want to say she saw her stare at Aadya WHILE noticing her ears because, after all, they were strangers, so she hoped it was subtle enough.

---

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Tag - ​

 

[John Q]

A man wearing greasy mechanic's overalls and knee-tall plumber boots lumbered over to the party. It wasn't clear whether he was smiling or smirking, but an argument could be made for either. He trudged through the sand, leaving deep footprints, and reached the table with cake on it. "Aww," he said to the cake. He grabbed a plate and got a plastic knife. The man cut through the cake in a thick triangle. He removed the piece sloppily and put it on his plate. Then he turned around and admired the ocean. One bite at a time, he forked the cake into his mouth. Eventually, he gave up and just used his fingers. The waves crashed onto the beach. Crumbs fell from his mouth. He finished and put his plate down. Not wanting to insult his host, he wiped his hands off on his overalls. That reminded him of a gift he had brought. He put his hand in his pocket and felt around. The gift was still there.

 

[Darth Tempest]

Vahliri pointedly didn’t let her gaze linger on Aadya for more than a few moments - having quite literally zero desire to see the insufferable Champion smile or wave back in her direction. The half-Annfyn’s fluted ears twitched a few more times before she exhaled sharply through her nostrils and returned her attention to Clove. Almost immediately, her expression brightened once more - that sideways smile returning to her lips.“I’m all ears,” She said with a clear voice of intrigue, seeming entirely too eager at the prospect of all the juicy dramatic details.

With that, Vahliri began to make her way down the steps that dropped into the pool - having already removed her sarong and with her wavey black hair already tied up into a braided ponytail. She walked alongside Clove as they made their way over to the benches, sinking down and letting a low hum roll up her throat as the water came up to her shoulders. “It is,” She mused in return. Happily settled in the water, Vahliri turned on the benches to face Clove - bringing an arm to rest on the edge of the pool. There was a clear smile and look of interest on the girl’s face as the fellow half-Annfyn began to ramble and reveal every little detail of the Clove-Darius rivalry.

At multiple points in the story, Vahliri couldn’t keep the surprise off her face - a few additional questions buzzing in her mind. The hell was up with this dude and constantly passing out? The section of the story dedicated to the mall incident was enough to cause some of the color to drain from Vahliri’s face. It was no secret that the half-Annfyn took great pride in her thick locks, and the thought of having to wash vomit chunks out of her scalp was enough to make her skin visibly crawl. By the end of the story, Vahliri couldn’t help but shake her head - processing the multitude of bizarrely disastrous encounters between the two. “Oh yeah - screw that guy. Threw up in your damn hair..” She said almost with a shudder. “He totally had it coming.” She lifted her hand up out of the water to high-five Clove, very clearly approving of the fact that the fellow half-Annfyn had the opportunity to whip some ass after all that.

Vahliri couldn’t help but snicker a bit. She glanced back past the pool, spotting pair of fresh drinks sitting on a tray. The half-Annfyn reached out with the Force, levitating both of the glasses over to the edge of the pool - sliding one over for Clove to sip on as she pleased. She turned her attention back to Clove, blinking a few times when the fellow half-Annfyn called her out on her reaction to Aadya. It didn’t take Vahliri more than a moment to put two-and-two together that Clove had likely picked up on the Acolyte’s expressive ears - perfectly aware that they often moved without her control. As a fellow half-Annfyn, it wasn’t surprising that Clove knew what it meant.

Vahliri huffed. “Yeah, I’m fine,” She shook her head, glancing back over her shoulder to jut a finger over to wherever Aadya was standing. “Just that girl over there - Aadya. She’s a real fuckin’ bitch, and always shows up for these things. ” The half-Annfyn turned back to face Clove, the annoyance still lingering on her expression as she discussed the Firrerreo. “You know at the last one of these parties? Got into it and she fuckin’ lit my dress on fire - brand new, too.” She hissed, shaking her head. “And she is always getting handsy with Altair.” Vahliri picked up the drink she had previously levitated over, taking a drink from it before looking back to Clove.

“How do you know her, though?” She asked. “I heard back there when you mentioned your recovery.” Even if she was focused on the game at the time, Vahliri had briefly overheard the exchange between the two - completely ignorant to the history between them.

@Sreeya @LilyNion @Mr. Teatime @llamallove @Logan @Nevermourn @John Q @Fine Dining Set @The Good Doctor

 

[Clove Vanhoop]

---

"All ears," Clove snorted rather unappealingly before curving her lips into her more usual warm and bright smile.

Clove was flustered when Vahliri raised her hand for a high-five, causing her to stare at her hand for a second before realizing she needed to high-five back. And so she did, as normally as she could. Which, in her defense, genuinely looked like a high-five where she was somewhat in control. And yet, she wasn't in a lot of control. Because she realized she'd never been to a party like this before. Perhaps the potlucks? But no one gave her a high-five. And then there was the beach trip, which, dear Force, did not count. To add to her fluster, the fellow half-Annfyn levitated a glass of what she assumed was alcohol towards her. It looked... fresh? It was bright and colorful, with a red and yellow color scheme.

She took the glass in her hand, then raised her eyes to Vahliri from beneath her lashes. "Thank you very much, and yes, he really had it coming!"

Wait. Hold up. Vahliri levitated the glass with the Force? No, sugar, way. Another Force user? How many Force users could there be at one party just by chance? Clove remained quiet around the subject, with the exception of a small twitch in her ears that indicated nervousness, and instead took a careful sip from the glass. The alcohol was yucky, but she'd heard stories about people who were able to overcome their nervousness with just a little bit of alcohol, and dear Force, she needed it.

Vahliri began to huff and look at Aadya while Clove was casually trying to down a few sips of alcohol; it was the perfect opportunity to shudder before completely recomposing herself without the half-Annfyn seeing. It was just in time as well, because Vahliri shifted her attention back to her and began to describe what a proper donkey Aadya was. Clove nodded in agreement as she listened intently with her large eyes fixed on Vahliri's brown eyes. When she heard about the brand new dress catching fire, her whole body sank in disgust. "How dare she?" Clove huffed and leaned against the pool's edge with her free arm. "And a new dress at that? To be honest, that's just low life level. I knew she was low? But that low?" With a shake of the head, the girl scoffed. "That must've been horrible, I'm sorry you had to go through that. It must've been a gorgeous dress."

Her stomach churned at the thought that Aadya, the Sith who tried to take her life, was touchy with Altair, the boy who restored her freedom. Her ears fluttered, showing just how uneasy and irritated she was by the concept. She only muttered, "Gross," before taking another, larger sip.

Then Vahliri turned the conversation back to Clove. She paused for a moment, unsure what to say, but before she could finish her thoughts, the truth rolled over her tongue. "Ugh, I barely know her. But we fought twice. I'm a fighter, of sorts? And she decided to step on our territory. She fought like a maniac, honestly. And at the end of the second fight, she severed my spine. And that's the recovery she was referencing. Or mocking, I guess." Even if she tried, she couldn't hide her disgust and annoyance; her ears were flat on her head. "So, needless to say, I agree that she's an..." Clove paused for a moment, trying to recall what Vahliri had said. "Stupid bitch."

Clove returned her gaze to Vahliri before bursting into a bubbly giggle. "That's the first time I'd ever said this aloud. Or ever had alcohol before." Or, in fact, did any of this before. In the Jedi Order, she only had a few lady friends, and she never hung out with them like this.

---

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Tag @Sreeya @Altaris @Mr. Teatime @llamallove @Logan @Nevermourn @John Q @Fine Dining Set @The Good Doctor ​

 

[Altair Din]

Altair grabbed another drink and chugged it down, belching loudly while in mid convo with Cairo. The two had a chance to catch up after a while and the tiefling decided he would take turns socializing with the others there. However, that was when the speakers began to blast a rather catchy song.

“Ayy yoo!” He called out cheerfully, tilting back the bottle in his hand to drink more. He could understand the lyrics and began to sing along with it, swaying side to side to get into the rhythm. Altair was clearly not shy and he began to dance right there on the beach, gyrating his hips and moving to the beat. Every now and then he took a sip of his drink, bobbing his shoulders and undulating his body rhythmically.

After a moment he glanced over towards the others, grinning widely as he jutted his chin for them to join if they wished. The tiefling was certainly confident and comfortable enough to dance by himself if that’s how it ended up. He sang and rapped along to the music while he danced, having a grand old time and being delightfully oblivious to the gossiping going on or some sleemo trying to inhale his cake.

 

[Soleil Altan]

Tiamat showed up! Soleil gave her a friendly wave, more casual in the casuaal setting. He wasn't gonna go off being extra-polite to someone on a beach in a bikini, that'd just be weird. His attention returned to Clove when she asked her question, head tilting slightly in curiosity. "Some people know each other, yeah. Small galaxy, right? That's why we invited you, duh." said RoboCat. He had no clue as to the thoughts that prompted the question.

To Soleil's surprise, Cairo of all people had shown up in the middle of the beach game. Also, in true Cairo fashion, he got smacked by the ball during his entrance. Sol grinned at them and the open joy on their faces at reuniting. He didn't know him too well, but he seemed cool. Sol was glad he'd made it with his busy schedule on Hapes. On top of that, a muscular, green-skinned man emerged from the ocean depths.

Sol's eyebrows shot up, watching the Nautolan trudge up with bloodied lips and hand off the shells to Altair. He stared a little longer than was strictly necessary and totally forgot to wave until Krinn was right up next to him on the sidelines, throwing in a flirtatious and fang-filled grin for good measure. "Find anything cool?" Sol signed toward him, translated by the cat-shaped droid lounging at his feet. Vahl and Clove were off to the pool, while Sol was fine chatting to another aquatic guy.

Besides, since gifts were being handed off directly to Altair, Sol figured it was about time to Initiate Surprise. He stood and wandered casually off toward the covered-up gift and cake tables, thus far an unnoticed mystery to Altair so far as he could tell. Around which point he noticed an older dude in overalls and rubber boots- on a sunny beach? Weird- and went to offer an unsure wave, wondering if he was a resort employee. But then the dude beelined directly for the covered-up birthday cake. And grabbed a plate, previously hidden beneath the covering, covered in machine grease and who knew what else. Oh hell no.

The Wrean acolyte legged it over, a hand reaching out. As the mysterious man went to cut into the cake the Force would wrap firmly around him and drag him several feet back through the sand, away from the cake. That cake was for Altair and everyone -and was meant as a surprise, just like the invites said. Soleil stepped in front of the larger dude, between him and the cake table, and stared him straight in the face, frowning irritably.

"The fuck, dude?" the cat-droid translated for him from his feet. "Covered means 'do not touch'."

@LilyNion @Fine Dining Set @Nevermourn @Taygood

 

[Krinn Nelthar]

Oh, he can feel the eyes that linger upon him, however briefly. Krinn thinks little of it, however. He probably looked weird, strolling out of the ocean like that, slick skin shimmering in the sunlight. Thankfully, the Nautolan doesn't really care about the opinions of others, for the most part, anyways. At least his gift of shells seems gladly accepted by the Acolyte.

"Krinn." He had offered in response to the introductions, unresponsive to the hand that claps lightly against his wet shoulder. He hoped Altair didn't mind the damp hand. The mention of drinks, however, is enough to get him moving away, passing the Tiefling one last glance before he heads to the closest bar, salt water still dripping from his skin. At least he finally wipes the blood from his chin with a swipe of his wrist. He's briefly waylaid by another Acolyte, one that signs at him, gestures quickly translated by the other Sith's droid. The Nautolan pauses for a moment, blinking large eyes before he replies.

"Sea shells." He answers simply. "And a fish. I ate it, though." Hence the blood that had been so clearly present upon his lips. Krinn offers a thin smile, an expression that does not quite reach his gaze, before he starts back off toward the bar. The conversations of the party-goers continue at his back, as Krinn orders a bitter wine to sate his desire for a light buzz. A sip of the beverage prompts a grimace, and like fire, the liquid splashes across his tongue and down his throat. It would do, so long as he could will himself to keep sipping at it.

It doesn't take long for him to end up drawn to the reflective depths of the pool. It's nothing like the ocean, but despite Krinn's antisocial tendencies, a part of him did long for the presence of others. Interestingly, he's still a bit off when he catches on to the conversation taking place between two of the women. One had snagged his eye when he had first arrived, and now she was going on about some fellow that she had dragged out of a haunted house. Slowly, one step at a time, Krinn is creeping his way closer to hear the conversation with a bit more clarity, his glass of wine sloshing gently within his grip.

The conversation seems to progress as the Nautolan prowls ever closer, his clawed feet leaving wet prints upon the flooring that surrounded the sparkling pool waters. He doesn't recognize the other girl, knows only that she is Sith, and she seems to have little care for hiding it, given the way two drinks levitate from a tray and toward the two ladies. It made sense though, considering who the party was for. Aadya. Which one was that again? Apparently she was a real fuckin' bitch. Well, Krinn is hooked in on this gossip now. Setting someone's dress on fire at a party? Spicy stuff. As for the other girl, the one that felt different from everyone else. Well, she didn't like Aadya either. She thought Aadya was a stupid bitch.

By this point, Krinn was practically at the edge of the pool. Staring. He raises his wine glass to his lips, giving it a loud sip as he listened in on the juicy gossip.

@Sreeya @LilyNion @Altaris @Mr. Teatime

 

[Darth Tempest]

Vahliri couldn’t mask - and didn’t try to - the irritation that was evident on her features as she talked about Aadya. Her fluted ears flattened against her skull and flicked ever-so-often as she spoke - quite likely mirroring the same movements from Clove. To anyone watching the gossiping from a distance, even if they couldn’t hear what was being said, they would almost certainly see some serious ear movements taking place.

“Right?” She huffed right along with Clove, leaning back against the edge of the pool. The half-Annfyn was still irritated by much of what happened that night - the burns she received and damaged attire from Aadya firmly at the top of the list. “It totally was, too.” She sighed. “Sequin, V-neck, fit great.”

“Should’ve served that volleyball into her face instead of Cairo’s.” She muttered. What was, of course, not for lack of trying.

Vahliri didn’t miss Clove’s visceral reaction to Aadya getting handsy with Altair. The half-Annfyn gripped the base of her glass, gritting her teeth a bit. “Yup.”

She exhaled through her nostrils and fixed her gaze back onto Clove - listening as the fellow half-Annfyn began to tell the story of how she knew Aadya. She didn’t question the details of the story or why she had fought Aadya twice - particularly because Vahliri found it all too easy to want to throw hands with Aadya frequently.

Of course, the half-Annfyn couldn’t keep the surprise off her expression when Clove went on to circumstances of how Aadya had severed her spine. Vahliri’s jaw dropped ever-so-slightly, her ears flattening firmly against her skull. “Are you fucking serious?” She said, jaw tightening. The half-Annfyn glared back over her shoulder, allowing her eyes to linger harshly on the Firrerreo for several long seconds.

Vahliri finally tore her eyes back to Clove, exhaling sharply through her nostrils. “Well fuck her and her mocking.” She stated. “Severed your spine, and you’re still a badass.” The half-Annfyn’s voice was entirely serious and genuine. “And here you are - back on your feet in spite of her.”

She couldn’t help but giggle a bit when Clove did, flashing the fellow half-Annfyn a genuine smile as they chilled in the pool. “Really?” She asked, looking slightly surprised to hear it was the girl’s first time having a drink. Vahliri opened her mouth to speak again, only to catch a whiff of something on the air.

Is that.. Fish?

Whatever. Vahliri brushed it off, going back to what she was previously about to say. “Well here’s to trying new things!” She said with a grin, lifting her glass to take a longer drink from her beverage.

Siiiiiiiiiipp.

Vahliri blinked at the sound. She glanced over her glass and looked at Clove - immediately thinking the sound had come from the fellow half-Annfyn enthusiastically downing her first alcoholic beverage. Nope, that wasn’t it. Vahliri stared at Clove for a moment before very slowly glancing over her shoulder.

And then she saw Krinn. Staring right at them.

There was a solid ten seconds of silent eye-contact as Vahliri stared directly at Krinn, blinking a few times as she gazed into the Nautolans large, dark eyes. “Uh.” She glanced back to Clove, saying nothing but giving the fellow half-Annfyn a look that very clearly read, ‘The fuck?’, ‘You see him too, right?’, and, ‘Do you know this dude?’.

Vahliri looked back to Krinn. “Hi?”

 

[Darth Tiamat]

The volleyball game appeared to be wrapping up when Tiamat had arrived, the serve completed by Vahl found its way into the face of another acolyte. Despite the clearly painful serve, she was more surprised to see who it was, recognizing him as the other acolyte that Altair was hanging with in the men's room with Altair and Veles. She was curious if he too had been victimized by the wildfire incident and hoped he was recovering as Altair. Regardless as her attention turned back to the game, she happened to catch the lingering eye of a yellow-haired girl (@LilyNion) who promptly scurried away with Vahl.

Tiamat spotted Peedee (@The Good Doctor) and gave the droid a wave, surprised to see her around in the sand, she didn't think droids appreciated sand; had something to do with their joints and the thought of something grinding anytime she bent an arm or a leg made the woman shiver. Seeing many have split into their own groups after the game, Tiamat went to get herself a drink and when she heard the music change to something more catchy. She felt herself nod to the beats before she noticed Altair dancing alone on the beach, and quickly she went to join him, delighted in chance she could get to dance.

"Happy birthday, Altair!" (@Sreeya) she said, mirroring some of his moves until she found her own sway working on the off-beats beside him. One hand still holding her drink, the other flipping her red locks back over her shoulder; she was surprised not too many others weren't flocking over, didn't he always have five or six ladies hanging off him at once?

 

[Aadya Rasheer]

The game had ended quickly but Aadya didn't mind, though she did feel bad that Cairo got whacked in the side of the head with the ball. It was good that Cairo had come, Aadya was unsure if he would. She hadn't heard Altair talk about him in awhile and Aadya thought that he might have gotten killed. A small smile creased her lips as she watched Altair get so excited his best friend had showed up. He was so adorable when he was happy.

Leaving the volleyball court, Aadya made her way over to the bar and ordered herself a drink. She had no idea what it was, the bartender returning with a tall glass of honey-amber liquid. All she had asked for was the strongest thing they had that wouldn't put her to sleep.

Turning back to observe the party, Aadya noticed Clove and Vahliri hanging together and she couldn't help but chuckle. Made sense, birds of a feather flock together and all that. For a split second Aadya's mind floated to the idea of how much a shame it was she didn't cut off Clove's head when she had the chance. It would have looked kind of cute mounted on her wall, mouth converted into a bottle opener.

Aadya finished her drink just as the music changed and Altair started dancing, first all alone and then shortly joined by Tiamat. Putting her glass back on the counter, Aadya slid off her seat and headed for the two of them, unable to hide her amusement.

Mind if I join you guys? Aadya said, joining the two in their dancing, sliding to the groove and dancing next to Tia. I don't think we've met, She said to the red-haired woman, Aadya moving in a little closer to her as they danced - if Tia let her. I'm Aadya. she said, flashing a smile. Dang, Tia was kind of cute.

Turning to Altair, Aadya flashed him a smile before asking a question. Got any plans after the party? She asked, a look of mischievousness on her face. If not do you maybeee... wanna come over?

Regardless of Altair's answer, Aadya would be alright. Letting the music guide her movements, she went back to dancing, hoping she would get what she wanted but prepared to be disappointed.

Wouldn't be the first time.

@Sreeya @GABA

 

[Altair Din]

Altair was having a great time dancing, taking swigs from his bottle every now and then. He emptied it soon enough, floating another one to his hand. The tiefling looked over when Tiamat walked to join him. He was slightly nervous at her appearance, but she was clearly having fun instead of being a Sith Lord right now. Altair tilted his shades down over his nose so she could see his eyes, “Daaaamn, you got some moves, m'am! Didn’t think it was your thing,” He said with a grin before flipping his shades back on. He moved closer to her, clinking his drink against hers as he kept dancing.

The tiefling shuffled to the left and right, encouraging Tiamat to join him in a series of steps moving to the beat. He looked up when Aadya came over to join them and he immediately smiled, “Do you even gotta ask?” Altair quipped as she asked if she could join. The party was really going now and the vibe was perfect. Altair swayed side to side, bobbing his shoulders. He paused just for a moment as Aadya asked him to come over, a dorky smiling appearing on his face. It was an almost shy smile instead of the confident ones he had been flashing all day. His face heated up and his tail embarrassing began to wave back and forth eagerly involuntarily, “I’d love to,” He said, looking slightly dazed for a moment before he quickly shook himself out of it.

The music changed then.

“AYYYY!” Altair chugged the rest of his drink and tossed the bottle with the Force into waste before grabbing Aadya by the hand to pull close her to dance. He reached his other hand over and grabbed Tiamat by the hand and pulled her closer as well. The tiefling had every intention of dancing with both ladies.

@Tiamat @Logan