[Day 6 - LA] Clean Up Aisle Five

[Jameela Panteer]

Jameela and Lana were in the garden with others to help clean up the area, although the droids and gardeners are diligent at handling the plants the increased traffic and guests has brought an influx of litter and refuse that needs seeing to. So here she was having cleaned up after the mud pits doping her part to keep Alderaan clean.

[Lana Beniko]

Lana picked up some refuse and handed it off to a droid to dispose of.

[Layne Hoshin]

Well, she *had* participated in the day's festivities so it was only right that she help out. And also she sneeded to show her padawan that she wasn't just all about looking badass and killing people. Sometimes you had to stay and help clean up. So, here she was. Just. Picking up trash. When she could be out chasing bad guys and leads leading to more bad guys. Or different bad guys. She definitely wasn't feeling anxious about that fact or anything. Not at all.

[Galen Sol]

Galen watched as Navi ascended a trellis to retrieve some sort of wrapper caught in the higher vines. It had likely been blown in by the wind.

[Breela Po]

Breela thoroughly enjoyed tasks like this. It allowed her to turn off her mind and just be there in the moment. She goes about her work diligently, moving as her master had taught her to move during training. One's never to old to go back to the basics.

[Kellen Rist]

The good thing about a clean up operation was that it gave you plenty of time to think. So here he was, Professor Rist, picking up garbage and occasionally tutting about how Alderaanians ought to know better. He did his best to clear up some of the rarer plants that seemed to have been coated in discarded fruit cake.

"Well, I don't think anyone will mind that recipe being lost to the ages."

[Jocasta Teraan]

Jocasta was no stranger to cleaning up after others. She was no maid to her troopers, but she did get in and do the same dirty work as those under her command.

Handing out gloves to the other volunteers and getting to work, she waved to the Princess and to the other one she recognized... the funny man from the soup kitchen whose name she'd never learned.

[Nudimsu]

Well, he had just gotten back and missed out on all the...fun of the mud pit. Somehow he managed to get over it when he was told there was a larger mess to be cleaned up. Taking no pride in what was crafted with meaning already made him a little bit annoyed at those so inconsiderate of art. It certainly did not help his opinion of humans as a whole, much less of droids, having them be in charge of such a simple task, yet having to come in and do it themselves.

Still, after everything that occurred today, some monotony was welcome. The princess and Lana were over in the corner, cleaning. He was mulling over whether it would be appropriate for him to go to speak to them or not after seeing them last night. He had heard about some strange human custom to wait 3 days before speaking to someone you went out with. Seemed rather foolish, and it was a sort of informal gathering, so it wasn't a meeting to potentially meet and mate with someone on a permenant basis. Then again, breaking this tradition could be some sort of cultural taboo and, while he would not personally care about, it would only cause Durasay and Gal some sort of problems in the future.

Had to figure out if those rules applied with this situation. He did look at them and nod politely, though. It did seem rude to not acknowledge them in some way. He then tried to find someone he could actively question about this policy.

~~snip~~

"Excuse me, Alderaanian." Nudimsu said to the human. "Do you have a moment to answer some questions for me?"

[Jocasta Teraan]

Snip

"Excuse me, Alderaan." Nudimsu said to the human. "Do you have a moment to answer some questions for me?"

Standing up from gathering trash, Jocasta noticed a man she had seen around approaching her. He was from a species she couldn't recognize and had been meaning to inquire into his origins.

"Alderaan? My name is Lt. Jocasta Teraan, but Jocasta will do. If you can pick up trash while you talk, then I'll have time to answer while I work." She says offering him some gloves.

[Nudimsu]

"Sorry, Alderaanian. That is your planet." He nodded, clearly rather distraught about it. He looked at her with a nod, remembering the name. Names were incredibly important to get right in Chiss society, as it dictated House and your value in society. Humans maintained some similarities at time, especially in a monarchial planet such as this. "Yes, I Lt Teraan, I needed some human understanding about a few things, and you happened to be the closest human to me." There reached down and started to clean up the area with a nod. "As a human, I assume you are familiar with the nature of human relationships and mating practices of the Core Worlds, correct? Not that any intimate knowledge is necessary for my line of questions, but a general understanding of some of the rules of it would assist me."

[Blai Frayus]

Cleaning duty was not that bad, although it went somewhat slowly when one stopped from time to time to try and figure out which kind of plant this or that broken twig or fallen flower came from.

Even the wolf seemed to get restless after the third or tenth time Blai knelt down to take a good look of one of the things he was supposed to be sweeping. Elur came closer and seemed to push him with her nose, as if stirring him to actually do the work he was supposed to do, which is received with a laugh.

"Ok, ok, dear, sorry! It'll just take a while", he answers grumpily but soon smiling again as he takes another flower on his hands, takes a good look at it, picks a few petals out, then places it along with the rest of the refuse he's sweeping.

[Katarzyna Ulgo]

Kat had been a regular sight at these more humble activities and today was no different. A Jedi's duty was to serve, and sometimes that included taking out the trash.

She at least moved with the tasks with the experience of someone who wasn't unused to such work.

[Jocasta Teraan]

snip

Aww, Jocasta thought, this poor guy has a crush on a local and doesn't know what to do. "I haven't had much time for relationships and mating practices, as you put it, but I may be able to provide your assistance."

[Nudimsu]

Aww, Jocasta thought, this poor guy has a crush on a local and doesn't know what to do. "I haven't had much time for relationships and mating practices, as you put it, but I may be able to provide your assistance."

"Nor should a soldier consider such things while they are on duty." Nudimsu said with a a red stare. "However, I find myself in a position where I cannot continue to do my own duty without first understanding your rules among it. Unfortunately, those I know here are either involved or are male. So, I must rely on a human female I know nothing about to understand. Which, I suppose, gives you the unique ability to offer perspective as a outsider."

He looked at her and nodded. "Explain to me this purpose of the three days and how and when to apply it."

[Jocasta Teraan]

"Nor should a soldier consider such things while they are on duty." Nudimsu said with a a red stare. "However, I find myself in a position where I cannot continue to do my own duty without first understanding your rules among it. Unfortunately, those I know here are either involved or are male. So, I must rely on a human female I know nothing about to understand. Which, I suppose, gives you the unique ability to offer perspective as a outsider."

He looked at her. "Explain to me this purpose of the three days and how and when to apply it."

As the stranger spoke, Jocasta thought, Wow, this guy must be smitten, he sounds so nervous. Once he asked the question that had him so bothered, Jocasta laughed a little to herself.

"Personally, I don't care for the three day rule. It's just a mind game. People who don't want to seem interested or are afraid of rejection want to see if the other person will reach out first, thus providing confirmation that the other is interested. Or they are insecure and don't want to seem needy."

Satisfied he was following along and had understood her explanation, she continued. "As for when to apply it, aside from never, I would say definitely not during the Festival of a Thousand Flowers. If you wait three days, the Festival is going to be almost over. Whoever you're talking to, if they are at the Festival, then odds are they are looking to practice some human relationship and possibly even mating."

[Nudimsu]

As the stranger spoke, Jocasta thought, Wow, this guy must be smitten, he sounds so nervous. Once he asked the question that had him so bothered, Jocasta laughed a little to herself.

"Personally, I don't care for the three day rule. It's just a mind game. People who don't want to seem interested or are afraid of rejection want to see if the other person will reach out first, thus providing confirmation that the other is interested. Or they are insecure and don't want to seem needy."

Nudimsu nodded and listened along. "Ahh, so it is not a social contract of some sort that must be followed at all times." Well, he did want to go talk to the two of them at some point, but it was good to know that neither Gal or Durasay would not be harmed or embarrassed by him breaching some arbitrary human social norms.

"As for when to apply it, aside from never, I would say definitely not during the Festival of a Thousand Flowers. If you wait three days, the Festival is going to be almost over. Whoever you're talking to, if they are at the Festival, then odds are they are looking to practice some human relationship and possibly even mating."

Wait, what?! His eyes went rather large at the mention of it. Both Jameela and Lana wanted to practice mating with me?! He already knew that humans were rather loose about the whole practice, and did so without simple interest to reproduce (Riss the other day made rather obvious), but it was hard to believe that just by talking to them yesterday they would be interested in going forward to that so quickly. Although, as she did say, The influence of the festival could be in full swing at this point. Six days into it, surrounded by the notions of love and feelings in a society not taught to control them, it could be conceivable that such feelings, without a means to channel them, could cause individuals of weak will to succumb to it. Would that also mean he was now tempting this Jocasta woman just by talking to her? No, that would make no sense.

They were not meeting in a personal level in a intimate setting to talk. A date, as it were. This was not a date. He was safe from having to deal with that. Although the full effects of this romantic festival was not accounted for, people were not in the streets ripping each other's clothes off in a daze of revelry and lust. Just slight altercations to their psychological and emotional senses that made them more susceptible to such ideas.

Still, that did leave the matter of the two women. Princess seemed more focus on Gal than himself, which would mean that she could be his problem to deal with, if she were interested in doing such a thing with him. That, however, did leave Lana to his own, as they did dance together. He just liked dancing. And she was someone on his intellectual level in her reason. And she was pleasing physica--No.

Nudimsu took a deep breath while he processed this. "Yes, I see. That does put things into a different perspective. Based upon what you said, that would mean you are also here to make relations and mate, then." He nodded. "Although, as a soldier I would say you should wait until your duty is finished beforehand. Thinking about such things will not serve you well right now, especially given the recent attacks."

[Jocasta Teraan]

snip

Seeing the man's eyes go wide at the mention of mating, she realized her joking tone might have been missed, something outside his wheelhouse.

"Now don't get me wrong, I'm not saying that everyone's immediate intention is to... mate. I was just making light of how you referred to it. I apologize. Matters like that are best left on a case by case basis, best discussed with the other person before trying anything too rash.

I, for instance, am here for a more long term arrangement rather than a hit it and quit it type of situation."

She hoped that had clarified things for the offworlder and not left any misconceptions in play. "And yes, I am a soldier and always ready to serve, but I happen to be on leave currently, and I assume you are speaking of the protests. That rabble rousing hardly qualifies as attacks, nothing you should be concerned about."

[Galen Sol]

Navi dropped down into Galen's hands. The little creature crawled into a pocket as the hunter continued picking up litter.

[Nudimsu]

~~snip~~

Nudimsu did not like that.

Joking about a such a inquiry. "I see." His face did not change in his expression, but there was some judging going on, and he was already more focused on reading her heat signatures to not miss any other failed attempts at humor.

"Hit it and quit it? What a strange expression. Like doing surgical strikes, but with mating. Well, in any case, the fact you were joking does put me slightly at ease. I would rather not make things too strange if I were to approach the princess and Lana again."

He nodded. "The protesters are likely a distraction to a larger game at play. A game that I have little interest in taking part in, but you are not afforded that luxury. Relax at your own peril."

He noticed Galen and made a wave motion at him in greeting. All he could do was hope his wingman role was a success for him.

[Gil Corren]

Gil was a bit tired, it's been a early morning after a late night, and burnign the candles at both ends was never wise. Still Kellen was out here helping and after the events of the last few days he was uncomfortable letting him out of his sight and out into public.

He stifled a yawn as he picked up a discarded drink can and passed it to one of the droids. Hopefully there wouldn't be any wild water gun parties this evening.