Log:Unity Park Grand Opening
Unity Park Grand Opening
OOC Date: June 7, 2020
Location: Chandrila - Unity Park
Participants: Septima Carnine, Tyrius Bodega, Bizz Bliptettjupp, Sesti Greystorm, Merek, Ambrosia Greystorm, Jax Greystorm, Eedulk, Siggul Fiv, Lozen
Unity Park has been open to the public, but the last few days it's been closed prior to the unveiling of the new gardens that are being taken care of by Senator Septima Carnine. Yes, the Senator is a weirdo that likes plants. Given it's Chandrila, this is probably not a shock to anyone. But the plants are the stars of the show and awaiting to be unveiled.
There is food, drinks and plenty of people to talk to and mingle with until that part of the evening though.
Septima had been told to go change prior to the event, so the woman is at least out of her dirt covered clothes. She is dressed pretty plainly still in black pants, white tunic and beige jacket. Her hair is down and she's wearing the minimal amount of makeup. Mekil is hovering behind her, giving things a wary look as he is want to do. Poor bodyguards never get much of a break, especially with a Senator who wants to do all the things.
Lord Bodega, Representative of Drik, is here mingling about the crowd. His ornate sword on his left hip, hung low off his belt. He wears the colors of his Royal house and a cape that rounds his shoulders just right. He's quiet, sipping from a bottle of water, because older people should stay hydrated.
Dressed as plain as can be, Siggul Fiv finds his way into the park, scenting the air as he comes in, head tilting back and eyes closing. For a long moment he revels in the scent of nature, not moving further into the park. After an uncomfortable statue-like pose, he finally relaxes and moves further in to see what and who there is to see.
Brother Bizz comes ambling in on his uneti-wood walking stick and dressed in holy robes. He is followed by a gaggle of Jedhan orphans attracted by free snacks, including Miriala the little green Mirialan, Blelaila the Twi'lek girl, M'nevvus and Su'nil the Zabrak twins, Lemmy the human boy with his grav-ball, If-Shem the Bith boy, little Padmini in a cardboard Mandalorian helmet, and little Shimsa with her stick and tattered scavenger costume. Bizz goes to the drink table and asks, "One pint please. You do have beer yes?"
Yaaaay plants....
General Greystorm has taken a break from reviewing the latest AAR to follow up with the once-promised garden tour. She's a woman of her word. Usually. Situation pending. Dressed in various shades of brown with black, shiny belt and holster, the Resistance soldier is idly strolling through the growing crowd, skimming faces first, belts/hands second. She is NOT hired security for the evening, but there's no 'off' switch to her guard dog mode. Much to her husband's chagrin, surely. The sight of a gaggle of children swarming after the Ugnaught monk fellow is enough to give her pause.
At least three seconds worth. Also, a furrowing of brow. Two of those girls look familiar....snare fodder in her Klosslands training course. G'dammit, pint-sized trouble. Granny Grump keeps a leery eye on the whole pack while she comes 'round for a refill of her tea.
Still in the light blue that she usually wears to Senate, Sesti has added a slight dash of formality to her usual sleeveless tunic ensemble. This time it's a dress, cut with the similar collar and straight skirt with hidden pleats, but cape sleeves hang from her shoulders to the ground, the same length as her skirt. The cane, a new present from her husband, seems to pull a little blue from her outfit into it's grey sheen, and is topped with a smooth stone of swirled dark purples and blues. She carries in her left hand, but switches it on occasion, sometimes absently twirling it as she walks. She approaches the drink table behind Amber, her eyes also on the gaggle of children. "I have heard the one with the stick has quite an arm..."
Merek makes a way to the opening of the park, while he wears what looks to be a white-black attire with beltcape, looking to the place and nodding to people he knows. The stubble a bit thick while he looks for a little place to settle in and look to see any flowers that might be about.
Dressed in a gray suit suiting the clothing of a politicans spouse, Jax had arrived on his own. He stops to watch the children playing for a moment. He shakes his head. Though seeing two othe rGreystorms wer visiting with each other, It gave him a chance to go through the concession lines to get something to eat and drink.
The Shistavanen does not seem to have any agenda or plan in mind as he makes his way around the park, just taking in sights and scents. Siggul seems aware of those others here, though he doesn't seem to be in a group, just on his own. The group of orphans gets a curious glance, best described as a confused dog look, but it lasts but a moment before he continues his perusal of the place.
"Is the beer for you, or the kids?" one of the bartenders asks Bizz, then he gets handed a pint. Because that many kids will drive a guy to drink. None of the kids are given alcohol!
Septima has a bottle of water, but no alcohol in sight. Mekil gives a whisper to her and there's a roll of her eyes to the older man, "Really?" she looks at him. Then there are others moving about and trying to talk to her and she does her Senatorial duties and talks about what's been going on lately on the planet and other places. She does look like she keeps looking at the entrance to see if someone sneaks in though.
"We'll be doing the unveiling of the gardens in just a few moments. And Senator Carnine has a special surprise right after that." one of the aides announces.
Brother Bizz takes the pint and tips it back down his gullet, wetting his pug nose with a frothy bit of foam. "A little bit of beer won't hurt the children, I am sure." Some of the orphan children are grabbing snacks or drinks, while others poke around the gardens, unfamiliar with many plants because of the barren nature of their Winter Moon. He sets his pint back on the improvised bar top. "I suppose I shall take another! No harm in it." Shimsa in her scavenger costume is already whacking the Zabrak twins with her stick for some unknown reason.
"Does she now?" Ambrosia arcs an appraising brow around at Sesti like having 'quite the arm' might be some redeeming quality for the kid. Sipping her herbal dilution with a blank expression that tells nothing of how she finds the taste, Greystorm Sr smirks in response to Sesti's followup comment and rolls a glance over to where her son is helping himself to the vittles. "That's the Corellian in him," she surmises and sidesteps to put distance between self and drink station.
"I knew you would like her," Sesti grins at the curiosity in Ambers voice. The grin turns to a smirk on the Zabrak woman's face as she keeps her eyes on her husband after Amber's response. "Must be," she agrees. Ordering a juicy drink with a little fog rising from it, non-alcoholic, Sesti gives a little nod to her mother in law, and wends her way towards the 'Corellian' in gray.
Wandering to where there are refreshments, Siggul looks things over and in a low, but growling tone requests a water. Very short and simple for the so-called wolfman. He sips the water from the bottle and continues his tour, as far as he can before the unveiling.
Jax looks up as Sesti shows up. "Represenative. How is the General?" He says raising his glass to his mother across the way. "Please tell me she didn't rig up Septima's garden with orphan snares did she?"
Tyrius Bodega continues to mingle in the back, simply drinking from the bottle of water. He isn't seemingly in the mood to mingle with people, something he grumbles about reguarding his :"Damn back again..." If anyone were to ask. HE even goes about slightly stretching it now and again.
Septima gives a smile to the person who does the announcement and then she scuttles over to where there is a barrier set up in front of the main event of the night! "Thank you all for coming out tonight. I know garden parties can be a bit dull for folks, but having good company, food and drinks always helps to make it better." the brunette smiles to that. "Over the past few months, with the help of other Senators and Representatives we've created the Unity Garden." she tells those gathered.
There's a few aids that come out and help moving the barrier that blocks the garden from view and it is HUGE! And it's impressive, ooooo, ahhhhh, yes. All of that. There is a myriad of different plants from planets that are part of the New Republic. There is the Chandrilan Orcanthus, the Irodian Mayt Nivar, Naboo's Millaflower and many many others. The flowers from Mon Cal have their own little water systems and there are many little 'temperate' plants from other parts of the galaxy. All in all it is rather impressive.
Beyond the garden, there is a circular spot that is blocked off and awaiting to be uncovered. But, Septima is letting people enjoy the flowers first.
Clad in a tunic of dark grey with a trim bright silver and the Gath insignia over his right heart. Matching pants, minus the Clan insignia, with the pant legs tucked into the top of calf-high boots; the boots are polished to a deep shine. Eedulk wears a thick belt with a single holster strapped to his right thigh and a blaster pistol (A Kashan design for those who would know) rests there with the safety strap latched. The Zabraki male adjusts the tunic with gloved hands and a faint sigh escaping him, already missing his usual attire.
Dark gaze flits about garden and long legs carry him towards Sesti. He moves with the lazy grace of a warrior, hands clad in black gloves are clasped at the small of his back, and he comes up behind Sesti on her right. "Representative." He rumbles in a deep tone with a polite tilt of his head to those nearby.
"Husband," Sesti replies with the exact same tone as he greeted her. "The General is probably /wishing/ she set the orphan snares tonight." She looks over the little gaggle again, and then to the guard at her right. "Eedulk. You are being polite, I almost did not recognize you." There's a slight glint of familiarity in the casual comment. Her chin lifts towards Bizz and his orphans. "Seems we have pinpointed the true threat of the event."
Lozen has been quietly wall-flowering most of the evening. As Septima speaks she drifts through the crowd to hear what is being said easier and to get a better look at what has drawn everyone's attention.
Brother Bizz is enjoying his second or third frosty beer, but the unveiling garners his attention. His ill-behaved (or maybe just excitable after days on a refugee transport) orphans descend on the flowers and plants to look at them. Blelaila the Twi'lek girl is fascinated by a bioluminescent poola flower from Rodia. M'nevvus and Su'nil the Zabrak twins have found sticks of their own and are currently whacking at the tufts of Chandrilan balmgrass. Padmini in the cardboard Mandalorian helmet and Shimsa in the scavenger costume are prodding a sharp splinter fern, whose leaves are sharp enough to be used for acupuncture.
An observant pair of steely greens follow Sesti's walk away, homing in a shape that miiiiight be there, under that dress. Her second grandchild. Ice rattles about when her hand (glass) lifts in turn to Jax. She's slowly made her way toward the gussied-up Drik Representative but only gets about halfway there before Senator Carnine makes her announcement. Obligatory attention is paid, left hand coming up to clap gently against the glass held in right. Ice rattles some more.
"How lovely..." she murmurs without a /great/ deal of enthusiasm in her smile to match the tri-syllabled feminine croon. Flowers are nice when someone else has planted them for you. General Greystorm is not known for having a green thumb. One that can double as a shiv? Possibly.
Siggul approaches when the garden is unveiled, looking about carefully at all the greenery, but not getting terribly close to anyone in particular. He seems to appreciate the view if what is on his face could be called a grin, though who can really say? There is a glance to the covered area as well, but as is with the rest of the polite attendees, he does wait.
Jax can attest to that he remembered the few attempts at gardening. Probably best that isn't revisited. Jax nods to Eedulk, "Hello." He takes a drink of his cup then hands the plate to his wife. He listens quietly to the announcement. Then he looks back to Sesti and her guard, "I'm going to go speak to somebody of great importance. Eedulk, can you keep her out of trouble?"
Jax makes his way over to Shimsa, "Hello Rey. You might be careful with those. They're awefully sharp and as tempting as it is. They are not the proper weapon of a jedi." He says pushing his jacket back to show his saber hanging off his belt and winking.
A faint twitch of lips, the barest hint of teeth of a 'grin' mars Eedulk's rough features for a nanosecond. The moment passes as piercing obsidian gaze flits to Jax for a momenth, a tilt of his head in acknowledgement, and those dark orbs resume their steady search of the gardens. "Of course." He reumbles in answer to Jax as boots scuff against the ground, settling them shoulder-width apart. It seems he takes his new position/job seriously as he stays about three or so steps behind Sesti's right.
Lozen's slate gaze sweeps over the garden with deep interest, distractedly taking a sip from refreshment acquired somwhere along the way. She does not join the throng of children and botany enthusists but rather admires from a respectful distance as if any or all of it could be deadly.
"lae tearh gafoonu gafoonu ghiethivoow ma thaa?" Sesti wonders as Jax hands her plate. Which she hands over to Eedulk, just to pass on the favor. She takes a few steps forward, and then her cane intercepts two sticks at once as the hit the grass. "yrh eapeadaefa ovi ghiethivoow heazem aedi oorhih," she tells the zabrak twins. "vaga ghevaethie liem fufurh ynis if neawa ok yn. ok, ajaki, neawa ghevaethie wif afed. ghevaethie ef fufurh toogeatheaghaa, if neawa eavi fadewaetoo ghiethivoow gyry. ghiethivoow aedi ghij toogeatheaghaa lej yvafarhit ghiethivoow gyry." She winks to the two of them, and nods her head towards a more open area for them to put her suggestion to good use. Her cane (NOT ACTIVATED) hovers defensively in front of her shins.
Lozen's slate gaze sweeps over the garden with deep interest, distractedly taking a sip from refreshment acquired somwhere along the way. She does not join the throng of children and botany enthusists but rather admires from a respectful distance as if any or all of it could be deadly.
Septima gives a few more glances to the entrance of the park but she decides that unless they are about to hit the gate they aren't showing. Her shoulders slump just a little, but after a breath is taken she perks back up and wanders to the next barrier. She waits for people to come this way before she starts, "I was hoping that General Dameron could be here for this, but, someone will just have to send him the news." she states. "Our next special addition to the park is something that I'm going to be spending a lot of time tending when I'm not in senate meetings. General Dameron was gracious enough to donate a sapling from an Uneti tree that was given to his mother by Luke Skywalker." she states. Uneti? Some folks might know what it is. Mainly those of the Jedi or Force Senstive persuasion.
"This tree is dedicated to his mother, Shara. And I hope that it will grow and prosper with us as we are growing and prospering in our New Republic." she smiles to those in attendance.
And yes, there is even a little placard in front of the tree that is engraved with the name 'Shara'.
A look is offered in the direction of Jax by Siggul and another one of those confused dog looks. When the Senator makes the final unveil, the Shistavanen freezes, water a short span from his lips. The water is lowered and he actually takes step back. Expressions on his race are likely not so easy to read, but he might be wondering what exactly he wandered into.
Brother Bizz is oblivious to his orphans doing mischief. And after all, they are just children. "Oh, an uneti tree! They are strong in the FORCE." M'nevvus and Su'nil, the Zabrak twins, turn from their balmgrass-beating and look at Sesti Greystorm. Perhaps they consider just smacking Sesti with their sticks, but they think better of it, and the boys go to a more open space and start whacking eachother with the sticks. Shimsa and Padmini look up at Jax Greystorm. Shimsa says, "Rey wouldn't be scared of some tree." Padmini says, "I'm a Mangolorian, we aren't afraid of some fern!" Truly wonderful the mind of a child is, or something.
Now THAT...that really is lovely, in sentiment. Ambrosia sweeps another glance through the crowd to confirm that her fellow General is, indeed missing this dedication. She was never familiar with Shara Dameron. But Poe's daddy? There's a fine specimen of 'Spec Ops'. Was, anyway. Maybe he's still kickin around somewhere out there. It's been years.
She tugs the datapad from her belt and begins what will be a quickie memo to the young Dameron, re: tree.
"I actually know Rey. She is not afraid of a tree but she would respect the tree. She grew up on a desert planet where there was no trees." He nods to the miniMando. "I believe you are." He points to the tree in the middle, "Now there's a tree that's important. It's got Brother BIzz's attention."
Lozen lifts up on tippy toes and drops back to her heels and wanders closer, her gaze sweeping towards the crowd and back towards the garden a few times as if trying to identify the items of interest as Septima commends on them.
Septima doesn't realize she was holding her breath until she releases it and Mekil pats her on the shoulder, "Good job, Senator." he tells her quietly. Then she is looking back to the crowd, "Yes, Mister Bizz it is supposed to be strongly connected to the Force. I am planning on doing a lot more research into them as the tree grows. I didn't want to debut it until we were sure it was going to take to the soil here." she admits. "But, there you have it. Our two new additions and jewels of the park. There is a barrier around the tree for the time being given how precious it is. So please be mindful of it." she smiles softly to that.
"Please enjoy the food and the drinks. If you have any plant related questions you can find me and ask." she grins as she steps back to let people take a better look at things.
And in a mirco-second, Eedulk goes from 'imposing' bodyguard to porter which causes the Zabraki male to frown briefly at the plate of untouched foods he finds in his sudden care. A breath escapes him in a quiet whisper as he moves to offer the plate of food to the Zabrak twins with a sidelong glance towards Sesti; he finds himself continuing to hold the plate of food as said twins move off to the open space. He continues to hold his silence as he carries the plate of food, trailing after the Zabraki repesentative.
Kasia makes her way into the park, late as she almost always is when it comes to these things, but she's here now and that's what counts. Right? Today she sports a lovely light blue dress with darker blue accents, sleeveless, but any threat of chill is warded off by the shawl she has wrapped around her shoulders. Her path takes her through the park toward the gathering, eventually pausing for a few beats to look down at one of the newly planted trees before moving on.
Shimsa the Jedhan orphan gawks at Jax Greystork as he talks about knowing Rey. "You know REY? We grew up on a kind-of desert, too. Brother Bizz says it is a winter desert. Here, give Rey one of these leaves for me!" Shimsa goes to pluck a leaf from the splinter fern because children are impulsive, but it just sticks in her finger. Some blood comes out but the sharp leaf stays in her finger. The scream comes a few seconds later. "EEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE." It must hurt! The splinter fern of Ohma-D'un lives up to its name once again.
Meanwhile Bizz is having a fourth beer and says to Septima, "It is a rare tree indeed. This is a kingly gift!"
Lozen ambles towards where Bizz and Septima stand and she hesitates before tenatively asks, "What is it that makes the tree so special? Beside the auspicious spirit it was given in?
Very carefully, Siggul finishes his water and discards the container properly. While he is not rushing, it is obvious that he intends to be leaving the area and the event. While he doesn't particularly look rattled, he certainly is not so casual and relaxed as when he arrived.
As the twins rush off to battle in true Zabrak style, Sesti grins. They will get a few bruises, but that never killed a kid, and it builds character. She smirks a little at Eedulk as she returns to take the plate from him. Her fingers are just about to curl around the edge when the scream sounds, and, instead of taking the plate, she takes one of the little foods from it, pops it into her mouth and goes over to Shimsa, reaching to hold up the girl's finger. With a little shake of her head she talks in a low voice to the girl as she reaches into a pocket to pull out a little instrument. "It is a good thing I have my special force tweezers with me," she says with a grin. "We will have that out in no time, right? You just need to hold your finger up like..." and then the suction on the little tip of the instrument pulls out the splinter. "Now, let's see..." she flips the instrument, and pushes a button, squirting out a little bacta goo that quickly seals over the prick, stopping the blood. "All better." She stands, looks to her husband and blows him a kiss before she goes back to make another attempt at taking back the plate from Eedulk.
Jax accepts the splinter. "I'm sure she will love it. But you shouldn't hurt yourself to give her a gift. You guys should go look at the tree." He tucks into a pocket. Then he looks at Sesti giving her a wink. Then he stands up and takes a drink of his drink. He goes to inspect the tree.
Septima gives a look to Lozen when she approaches and there was a look to Bizz to see if he'd answer, but, he's heading away, "Uneti trees are supposed to be connected to the force in a strong way." she tells the woman. "More information to come though on that." she adds. "I need to get a few things ready, but please, enjoy things." she smiles to Lozen before she's ushered off by her guards and aide. Because it was hard to move Septima OUT of gardens once they got her in them.
Ugh, there it is. That shrill scream. She knew it. General Greystorm knows trouble when she sees it and that Shimsa...
Is not her problem. Haha. Maybe the woman's cochlear implants are having a technical failure and she doesn't hear? Her daughter-in-law's on it though, so the child is spared a second encounter with the gruff old lady. And the gruff old lady is spared a second encounter with the fussing child. She melds into the crowd, sipping on her tea.
Lozen Ahhhhs and bobs her head to Septima in thanks for the answer, She carefully paces the peremeter of the garden to get a close look at all the flora and curiousities, mindful to keep her distance. Unlike others here she seems to be alone and seems to recognize no one else here but this does not keep her from enjoing the lively crowd or pleasing scenery as she strolls.
