[Day 4 - LA] The Beach Episode (Twin Event?)

[Breela Po]

"Ha ha..." It was only a tad awkwardly that Niall smiled, brushing back his brown hair with one hand. In truth, he wasn't that surprised...

"Fer a festival s'posed t' be about love 'n romance, there's sure a lot of other emotion floating around out there, fer those sensitive 'nuff t' feel it." Garth answers Niallbefore turning to Breela.

"Ah think ah'd be mightily outclassed in yer gym, but if we only undertake what we're good at, then we hardly grow, an' we stagnate."

Looking at Niall she shrugged, "It's the price of fame. Luckily as a Jedi I was expected to remain humble, but I made sure to take it a step further and pin successes on others whenever possible. A small price to pay for anonymity." She grinned. Turning back to Garth, "I couldn't agree more, and it's open to you anytime you want to drop in. I might not be there as events have kept me busy. But typically in the mid-afternoon I'll be around giving lessons or free training. No cost either, I plan to keep it free as long as possible running strictly on donations."

[Brannis Ulgo]

Jocasta was soaking in the sun when a shadow passed over. An Ulgo was introducing himself and she entertained several possible reasons he would be approaching her.

Looking to the side, she saw her own drink had only a thin layer along the bottom of the glass, likely mostly from the melted ice.

"Major Ulgo, I will gladly accept your offering. Would you care to take a seat and enjoy the sun with me? And please, call me Jocasta. I think Prince Gaul might have his bouncers escort us out if he hears too many formalities being observed." She said lightheartedly.

Bran cracks a smile at the light hearted comment and replies in kind: "Honored, Jocasta. There are too many formalities attached to me, so you'll have to just call me Bran to keep me safe from those imposing bouncers." He gestures with one drink toward a droid in an oversized orange beach shirt that almost literally couldn't look less intimidating. He smirks along with the sarcastic tone, then hands Jocasta a drink before taking a seat beside her.

"You're a veteran of the Alderaan Defense Forces, I believe," he prompts, taking a small drink from his glass.

[Count Serenno]

The Count took to swimming.

[Garth Wayne Ulgo]

Turning back to Garth, "I couldn't agree more, and it's open to you anytime you want to drop in. I might not be there as events have kept me busy. But typically in the mid-afternoon I'll be around giving lessons or free training. No cost either, I plan to keep it free as long as possible running strictly on donations."

"Well mosta mah training's in speed rather 'n strength, but ah might pop mah head in. If that huttball match taught me anythin' it's that y' can't neglect yer physical conditioning."

"Us lowly Ensigns don't pull in the creds like th' proper officers though, but ah'll see what ah c'n scrape up."

[Breela Po]

"Well mosta mah training's in speed rather 'n strength, but ah might pop mah head in. If that huttball match taught me anythin' it's that y' can't neglect yer physical conditioning."

"Us lowly Ensigns don't pull in the creds like th' proper officers though, but ah'll see what ah c'n scrape up."

"Only give if you feel comfortable doing so." She smiles, "The House Organa guards and most of the republic specialists are paid for anyways. While others supplement their time and energy by tutoring or just helping out. With that in mind we seem to have more than enough coming in to make room for possible expansion in a month or two."

She sighs, "It's beautiful out today! I'm not used to thinking of Alderaan as having beaches like this. The brochures tend to imply that it's a planet wide ski resort. Oh but I didn't want to interrupt your previous conversation. I was just headed back to my umbrella when I heard Niall's voice." She offers giving them a chance to return to their previous conversation without her.

[Dapper Dog]

Gaul was hyped and ready to play, he finished the drink and then took to the sandy court.

"Just set me up, master Jedi."

[Niall Organa]

"Only give if you feel comfortable doing so." She smiles, "The House Organa guards and most of the republic specialists are paid for anyways. While others supplement their time and energy by tutoring or just helping out. With that in mind we seem to have more than enough coming in to make room for possible expansion in a month or two."

She sighs, "It's beautiful out today! I'm not used to thinking of Alderaan as having beaches like this. The brochures tend to imply that it's a planet wide ski resort. Oh but I didn't want to interrupt your previous conversation. I was just headed back to my umbrella when I heard Niall's voice." She offers giving them a chance to return to their previous conversation without her.

"We have those, too. And a mix, actually. The Organa house has a summer home by a mountain lake. The water is very pleasantly warm during the summer."

He smiled at her. "As you like. But you're welcome to stay and chat. We were just discussing the Festival. And romance... so many couples find themselves here. Or get married, like my wife and me."

He glanced at Breela, then back to Garth.

[Katarzyna Ulgo]

Gaul was hyped and ready to play, he finished the drink and then took to the sandy court.

"Just set me up, master Jedi."

With both teams ready, Kat took the ball to start the game. Only fair that they got the first serve since Riss had had first dibs on team.

Kat served the ball up and the game was on. Maybe the Jedi Order had a special division for sports because she played pretty well.

[Garth Wayne Ulgo]

Snip

"We have those, too. And a mix, actually. The Organa house has a summer home by a mountain lake. The water is very pleasantly warm during the summer."

He smiled at her. "As you like. But you're welcome to stay and chat. We were just discussing the Festival. And romance... so many couples find themselves here. Or get married, like my wife and me."

He glanced at Breela, then back to Garth.

"The famed Jedi Princess, from the holovid right?" Garth asks, finally putting two and two together. "Ah've seen those shirts around."

He turns to Breela and nods at Niall's words. "Ye don' need t' rush off, there's plenty o' the Major t' go around."

[Breela Po]

He smiled at her. "As you like. But you're welcome to stay and chat. We were just discussing the Festival. And romance... so many couples find themselves here. Or get married, like my wife and me."

"The famed Jedi Princess, from the holovid right?" Garth asks, finally putting two and two together. "Ah've seen those shirts around."

Breela laughs at that, "How you guys managed that one WITH the council's permission is beyond me." She thinks back to the problems she and Khaji ran into, the fight to be welcomed back. "All of those interviews, psychiatric evaluations."

[Niall Organa]

"The famed Jedi Princess, from the holovid right?" Garth asks, finally putting two and two together. "Ah've seen those shirts around."

"Yes." Niall said, then grinned. "Actually, I bought a few myself. Hopefully that won't be too much of a surprise for her."

Breela laughs at that, "How you guys managed that one WITH the council's permission is beyond me." She thinks back to the problems she ran into, the fight to be welcomed back. "All of those interviews, psychiatric evaluations."

"Well, it certainly wasn't easy." Niall said, smiling a bit ruefully. "I went through a number of interviews, but I think she had twice as many."

His smile faded, turning somber. "I think it might have been easier now than it would have been a few years ago. Before the attack..." So many Jedi had been lost when the Temple at Coruscant was destroyed. It made sense that they would want to keep their numbers up.

[Jocasta Teraan]

Bran cracks a smile at the light hearted comment and replies in kind: "Honored, Jocasta. There are too many formalities attached to me, so you'll have to just call me Bran to keep me safe from those imposing bouncers." He gestures with one drink toward a droid in an oversized orange beach shirt that almost literally couldn't look less intimidating. He smirks along with the sarcastic tone, then hands Jocasta a drink before taking a seat beside her.

"You're a veteran of the Alderaan Defense Forces, I believe," he prompts, taking a small drink from his glass.

"Active duty actually. I am on leave for the length of the Festival. I think my CO couldn't get me out of there fast enough after I put in for leave. It's been... years since I took time off voluntarily.

Even outside of war, we still have plenty to do, drill for the next likely invasion, exterminate killik expansions, and it seems we'll have to add suppress protests against the Crown if the events at the Festival are any indicator." She says with a cocked eyebrow and casually takes a drink.

[Garth Wayne Ulgo]

"So many rules, and codes, and guidelines." Garth ticked a list off his fingers.

"Makes me wonder sometimes why anyone 'd bother wi' the order. Whether what freedoms they give up if it's worth it?"

[Breela Po]

"So many rules, and codes, and guidelines." Garth ticked a list off his fingers.

"Makes me wonder sometimes why anyone 'd bother wi' the order. Whether what freedoms they give up if it's worth it?"

~sic~

She sighed bitterly at the memory, and Garth's statement made her thoughtful. "It's a matter of duty. It's an honor to be a Jedi, but honor exacts a toll. And the order gives you something that in your darkest hours you need. You see I had three attachments: My husband Khaji, my son Tor, and my daughter Zan'ja. I lost all three of them on Coruscant. In that time of despair I had the search, and I had the order. Without which I would have fallen like so many others before me." She continues matter of factly. "The order gives you wisdom, but broken attachments take you to a place removed from wisdom. So the order gives you one thing more: rules and a fraternity of people who know where you are coming from."

[Riss]

"It is by no means bad form. We've happened upon each other, that's all," she said, returning the bow. Deep down, she hoped that Captain Alderaan approved of her form.

Cynella began swinging her arms as part of her pre-workout limbering. "Are you saying we need to distract them somehow? I must say, Lady Ulgo is an easy woman to fluster. Not so sure about the men though."

"I'm not sure if they've really crossed us, to begin with...but I like the dramatic intent of it at least." She as she held her hand up to join Riss's in a high-five of sorts. "You have the best team right here!"

"I don't know if we actually need to resort to slinging things to win," she said on a slightly unsure note. However, if they could throw drinks to be caught, she was very sure they would get the upper hand.

Happy to have the support, Riss gets Cynella in to be part of the group bit together. "We don't, by the way, just that we're better in every way," she looks to Cynella with a wink, a soft laugh. Looking between the two of them, dear friends, a nod, "Let's do this then," and then she turned.

As they hit the game Riss was all too happy to give up first serve considering first pick. As they played she gave it her all, even if her all was limited on how long she could go and she would wear down a bit by the end of the game. Riss however was never short on gusto and happily threw herself into the game fully.

[Niall Organa]

"So many rules, and codes, and guidelines." Garth ticked a list off his fingers.

"Makes me wonder sometimes why anyone 'd bother wi' the order. Whether what freedoms they give up if it's worth it?"

Niall smiled. "In some ways, it's not so different in what we give up joining the military, eh? We certainly put in more than we get out, but that's what we want to do."

She sighed bitterly at the memory, and Garth's statement made her thoughtful. "It's a matter of duty. It's an honor to be a Jedi, but honor exacts a toll. And the order gives you something that in your darkest hours you need. You see I had three attachments: My husband Khaji, my son Tor, and my daughter Zan'ja. I lost all three of them on Coruscant. In that time of despair I had the search, and I had the order. Without which I would have fallen like so many others before me." She continues matter of factly. "The order gives you wisdom, but broken attachments take you to a place removed from wisdom. So the order gives you one thing more: rules and a fraternity of people who know where you are coming from."

Niall looked at her, his expression gentle. "I'm sorry for your loss." He said, inclining his head. For a moment, he was respectfully silent. "I'm glad you had something. In dark times, it's more important than ever that we all help each other."

[Layne Hoshin]

Today Layne had:

1. Been caught in an explosion.
2. Been mocked by Delmi's mom as she hung from a precarious ledge on the 760th; or thereabouts; floor of a spacescraper, near the edge of space itself.
3. Fallen from said ledge.
4. Commandeered some random person's speeder in order to not die.
5. Bullied her way into a Hutt-run casino.
6. Found said Hutt dead.
7. Found Delmi's mom responsible.
8. Watched Delmi cause an unknown number of civilian deaths by blowing up another spacescraper's generators and life support.
9. Threatened Delmi's mom.
10. Watched Delmi shoot her own mom.
11. Commandeered another speeder.

And now she was dressed for fun at the beach!

Layne didn't really *do* fun.. Traditionally speaking. Nor the whole dressing for anything other than a fight. But she was wearing a swimsuit that showed actual skin; even though her lightsabers were still around. She might even consider taking an actual swim or throwing a ball around if someone asked.

For now though, mostly she was just interested in lounging around with a drink.

[Brannis Ulgo]

"Active duty actually. I am on leave for the length of the Festival. I think my CO couldn't get me out of there fast enough after I put in for leave. It's been... years since I took time off voluntarily.

Even outside of war, we still have plenty to do, drill for the next likely invasion, exterminate killik expansions, and it seems we'll have to add suppress protests against the Crown if the events at the Festival are any indicator." She says with a cocked eyebrow and casually takes a drink.

Bran nods knowingly. "Yeah, I'm officially still active too, although parliamentary responsibilities mean I'm on extended leave. No rest for the weary as they say," he half smiles at the old soldier's truism. "But I'll do whatever I can to keep protest-suppression from being an ADF responsibility. We didn't demobilize units after the treaty because it's nice -- people need rest, time to heal. Fighting for your home is a lot different thing than fighting on some random planet, and we need to let people absorb that. Can't get ready for the next war when our hearts and minds are stuck in the last one."

He stops to take a drink, and realizes he'd gone on a bit of a tangent. "Ah, sorry. Didn't mean to start giving a speech." He looks genuinely annoyed with himself.

[Jocasta Teraan]

Bran nods knowingly. "Yeah, I'm officially still active too, although parliamentary responsibilities mean I'm on extended leave. No rest for the weary as they say," he half smiles at the old soldier's truism. "But I'll do whatever I can to keep protest-suppression from being an ADF responsibility. We didn't demobilize units after the treaty because it's nice -- people need rest, time to heal. Fighting for your home is a lot different thing than fighting on some random planet, and we need to let people absorb that. Can't get ready for the next war when our hearts and minds are stuck in the last one."

He stops to take a drink, and realizes he'd gone on a bit of a tangent. "Ah, sorry. Didn't mean to start giving a speech." He looks genuinely annoyed with himself.

Jocasta smiled and nodded along with the Major as he spoke. "It must be something in the air, I have found myself predisposed to speeches as well since the Festival began.

For instance, I feel compelled to say that rather than shifting the responsibility from the ADF, I'd much rather see the root cause of the protests addressed. Perhaps certain members of the House of Lords," she looks pointedly at Brannis, "or even better, your Duke, should put out a statement unequivocally denouncing the protests and their message.

As they say, silence is acceptance and the silence from Duke Ulgo recently has been deafening... at least since he stopped openly threatening sedition against our Queen." She finishes with a polite smile.

[Brannis Ulgo]

Jocasta smiled and nodded along with the Major as he spoke. "It must be something in the air, I have found myself predisposed to speeches as well since the Festival began.

For instance, I feel compelled to say that rather than shifting the responsibility from the ADF, I'd much rather see the root cause of the protests addressed. Perhaps certain members of the House of Lords," she looks pointedly at Brannis, "or even better, your Duke, should put out a statement unequivocally denouncing the protests and their message.

As they say, silence is acceptance and the silence from Duke Ulgo recently has been deafening... at least since he stopped openly threatening sedition against our Queen." She finishes with a polite smile.

Bran had started to chuckle about the idea that something was in the air, but as Jocasta moved on, he looked at her with skepticism.

"That's an interesting idea, Jocasta," he says slowly, keeping his tone level. "What would that statement say, if you were writing it?"