Tabloid DRUMS OF WAR! President Thorne's Fan club plans to besiege Ord Mantell government building

[Lîsabé Hanivel]

DRUMS OF WAR! President Thorne's Fan club plans to besiege Ord Mantell government building

Hello, darlings! Here I'm again bringing you the best news of the Galaxy! The ongoing meeting of the Galactic Senate is is once again causing a stir. At least this time chancellor Ro is not involved!

During his speach, which was considered confusing by many that heard it, Senator Phineas Hawthorne of Ord Mantell was very disrespectful with none other that President Emryc Thorne, the most desired man of the entire Galaxy! The Senator had no respect to the fact that the half-Sephi nearly died when he was kidnapped!

The answer to this comment came fast. Several members of the President's fan club are mobilizing through forums of the Holonet a flight to the planet of Ord Mantell, where they plan to lay siege over the government building in protest against Senator Hawthorne.

Before going there, they are waiting for the approval of their leader, Pootalina Thorne. As you all remember, some members of the fan club also went to Mandalore after Ms. Thorne was stunned by a Mandalorian. Unfortunately, their corvette was attacked, killing everyone that was inside it.

However, this time it seems that all members of the Fan club want to participate of the protest. Those that we interviewed said that the sacred duty of a Pootling is to defend Thorne, even if it kill. A beautiful example of dedication!

While the Pootlings prepare for a massive protest in Ord Mantell. I'll continue there bringing the latest news for you all. Bye-bye, darlings!

 

[The Storyteller]

Holonet was buzzing with reports of the Ord Mantell’s senator’s insensitive remarks. Not only was the fanclub mobilizing, but social media and civilians were expressing outrage. Survivors of attacks and traumas were especially riled up, calling for Senator Hawthorne’s immediate removal from office. The footage of his flippant words about the President’s kidnapping on live Holo with the President sitting right there was played repeatedly as a clip all across the galaxy.

The scene flashed to a journalist currently located on Ord Mantell, a twi’lek that was staring at the camera, “Reporting in from Ord Mantell city, the local public is absolutely outraged at the Senator’s remarks!” The twi’lek said as the camera panned to the scene behind her. It showed countless protesters with signs calling for Hawthorne’s resignation and others that vocalized the importance of respecting survivors. The camera moved back to the reporter, “The Senator’s approval rating is expected to take a severe decline after this not just because of his statements about the ISC President, but also the implications that Ord Mantell is an overly impoverished planet under the thumb of the Black Sun. Clearly the public is incensed at these statements.”

The twi’lek walked over to one of the protesters, an angry Rodian that glared at the camera, “Ord Mantell is my home! Senator Hawthorne, you said we’re lucky to have a spokesperson. We’d rather not have one at all than have you speaking for us. You embarrassed us! You made light of an assault survivor! You have not taken any action to help us! You insulted the planet and its people in front of the entire Galactic Senate and you insulted the efforts of organizations that are doing far more than you ever have. Shame on you, Senator. We the people want you to step down!”

The Rodian’s words had a chorus of chanting agreement behind him, all calling for the Senator to resign. The camera focused back on the twi’lek, “As you can see, the public is furious at how Ord Mantell was represented in the Senate! Now we’ll go to monitor the situation on Onderon!”

Back on Onderon, the cameras panned over the gathering crowds both around the diplomatic building where the session was taking place and also around the hotel where Emryc Thorne was reported to be staying. Dozens of well wishers and supportive individuals came out to stand to greet the President when he returned from the senate session. Hundreds more would follow.

Meanwhile, angry protesters gathered outside the diplomatic building, aiming to shout and yell at Hawthorne the moment he stepped outside. There were also demands that he issue a formal public apology to the ISC President. The weight of Emryc Thorne's popularity among the general public was rapidly becoming apparent.

@Charles @LouJoVi

 

[Jaikus Thorne]

First half of this post is written concurrently with this post.

“I don’t think your Governor’s would let you get away with calling in sick with that proposal.” Jaikus said, grinning up at Emryc. The half-Sephi was very clearly delaying having to leave the hotel room where they’d set up, lingering in the kitchen after breakfast.

The Axxilan had arrived on Onderon a few days prior, completely clearing his schedule so that he could spent a couple days with his partner, in lead up to the monthly meeting of the Galactic Senate. The time prior to the session had been spent sampling the local cuisine of Iziz – something that was far more enjoyable for Jaikus than it was Emryc, given the abundance of exotic spices and food-items that required using one’s hands.

Jaikus was in the process of putting a plate into the kitchen sink when Emryc nudged him against the counter, immediately drawing out a grin from the Axxilan. “Now that you mention it, I like the sound of you staying here all day,” He leaned up, moving in to capture the man’s lips. He paused just then, glancing down as the half-Sephi’s commlink began to beep repeatedly on the man’s wrist. Emerald eyes then flicked towards the HoloScreen, listening to the news about the upcoming senate session – and the proposal that Emryc was meant to present.

Jaikus couldn’t help but groan. He knew the half-Sephi couldn’t linger any longer, no matter how tempting it was. The Axxilan leaned up, briefly capturing the half-Sephi’s lips for a few seconds. He lingered there, forehead pressed to his partner, before begrudgingly shoving the half-Sephi to get a move on.

“You’re going to be late, babe.” He said with a smirk.

Jaikus watched as Emryc proceeded to finish getting dressed, snagging the chrono that the Axxilan so often wore off an end table. “I like it on you,” He commented, flashing a grin as the half-Sephi finished getting dressed. The Axxilan took a moment to simply admire his partner and the winter attire, a smile tugging at his lips. “Dashing as always,” He muttered softly.

He leaned up, pressing a brief kiss to the half-Sephi’s cheek. “Love you too,” He muttered, watching as Emryc finally exited the room.

---
​

A few hours had passed since Emryc had left the hotel room and arrived at the Senate chamber. The monthly sessions were often and all-day affair, and Jaikus knew his partner likely wouldn’t be getting in until late in the evening. In the meantime, Jaikus was perfectly content to relax within the hotel room – watching every minute the Senate proceedings and his partner at work.

The Axxilan was seated on the couch within the hotel suite, still lounging in a pair of sweats and one of Emryc’s oversized hoodies. He hadn’t bothered with his usual contacts aroudn his partner, sporting a pair of large-framed glasses for his naturally poor eyesight. While the half-Sephi had snagged his chrono for the evening, Jaikus idly toyed with the golden bracelet on his wrist, the very same one that Emryc had haggled for back on Tatooine.

For hours, Jaikus had remained plastered to the HoloScreen, intently watching as the Senate session came into full swing, agenda item after agenda item being proposed and voted upon. Naturally, the Axxilan seemed to perk up a bit whenever Emryc made an appearance.

After a few minutes, his attention was eventually drawn to the Senator of Ord Mantell - when the man made his controversial statements, eliciting an almost visceral reaction from the Axxilan. He leaned forward a bit on the couch, a distinct pulse of yellow flashing across his emerald eyes when references were made to Emryc’s kidnapping. Jaikus had vivid memories of the HoloNet on the day Emryc had been kidnapped – sudden memories of the half-Sephi being beaten bloody by pirates coming to the forefront of his mind. Jaikus had been there that day when the compound on was stormed and Emryc had been shot – only narrowly avoiding being paralyzed or worse.

To hear the Senator from Ord Mantell make reference to the event in such a way was enough to make the Axxilan’s blood boil. Jaikus knew his partner wouldn’t address the comments made about his kidnapping, but Jaikus couldn’t help but feel some satisfaction seeing multiple members of the Senate tear into Senator Hawthorne for the tasteless remarks.

After a few minutes, Jaikus gradually flicked his gaze to the datapad in his lap, taking a few moments to scroll through the HoloNet while the senate session still played out on the screen in front of him. With the senate being broadcast in real time, the HoloNet was already buzzing with reactions to Senator Hawthorne’s idiocy. Jaikus continued to scroll until he came upon a live feed from Onderon, tapping the screen to begin playing it.

It was a livestream clearly being broadcast from someone’s datapad, being broadcast from within one of the crowds that had started to gather on Onderon. Jaikus couldn’t help but feel as if the plaza looked eerily familiar, squinting at the livestream as the crowds chanting began to play through the speaker on his datapad. It took the Axxilan a few seconds to register why the area looked so familiar – the realization finally hitting him when he spotted a large hotel building up ahead. The same hotel where he was currently sitting.

Jaikus blinked a few times, a look of genuine surprise plastered across his expression. After a moment of pause, the Axxilan pushed himself up off the ground, gradually making his way over to the hotel window. Sheepishly, Jaikus used his finger to crack open one of the window blinds, peering out towards the plaza several stories below.

“What the..”

Much to the Axxilan’s shock, the livestream did not lie. Within only a few minutes, that crowds had swelled from dozens to over a hundred – citizens of Iziz filling the city plaza congregating at the base of the hotel. Dozens of fan-club banners could be seen as well, mixing with the crowds of general civilians, and the distant chanting was clearly audible from the window. Jaikus squinted a bit, pressing his face a bit closer to the window. Amongst the crowds, the Axxilan spotted an immensely tall wermal with bright-blond hair seemingly leading the charge.

There was a security detail that had been left at the entrance to the hotel, thankfully preventing the adoring fanclub members from actually getting inside the complex. Jaikus couldn’t help but stare out the window for several minutes more, very subtly peeking through the barely-cracked blind.

As he watched, there was an expression of equal parts shock and a bit of genuine concern that played out across his features. Jaikus knew his partner was a popular figure, of course – he had seen their abundance of ‘Get Well Soon’ – among other things – which had been left at Emryc’s bedside. This, however, was the first time the Axxilan had truly seen it all up close.

Through all of their moments together, Jaikus had fallen in love with the half-Sephi as an individual, and hadn't spent nearly as much time with Emryc when the man acted as the ISC President. It was only now - with both men being a bigger part of each others lives - that Jaikus had begun to see this part of his partner's life up close and personal. It was only now that Emryc's true popularity was becoming very apparently.