Open [Zeltros] A Day Of Pride

[Jaikus Thorne]

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Jaikus had been characteristically ebullient in the preceding days, and there was little mystery why that was the case. For months, the Axxilan had been looking forward to the upcoming Pride Festival being hosted on Zeltros. It was an event set to celebrate the love and social acceptance of trillions throughout the Galaxy, and he had every intention of attending with Emryc. He had deliberately re-arranged a few other lectures and upcoming meetings on his schedule leading up to the day - ensuring that the pair would have the entire afternoon to themselves even after they had concluded with the planned festivities.

They were both busy men, and the Axxilan relished every second of uninterrupted quality time that he could get with his fiancee.

The Axxilan sat beside his fiancee, enjoying the ride as the droid-driven speeder gradually began to approach the event. The air was lightly scented with his cologne, and he had naturally dressed up for the occasion - wearing a pair of tight-fitting jeans and black hoodie in Pride colors. His dark hair straightened and combed into place and there was a single swatch of paint across his left cheek, while and his outfit was accessorized with a chrono, alongside a string of bracelets and beads s in a rainbow of colors on his other wrist.

As they cut down the highway, Jaikus peaked out the tinted window of their speeder - allowing his gaze to travel across the transformed cityscape of Zeltros' capital. Banners of rainbow colors hung from countless buildings and light poles, while holographic signs framing airways had similar been programmed to display the colors. The main thoroughfares of the capital had been closed to vehicle traffic - allowing room for a string of festival-gowers and repulsor-lifted parade floats to lazily progress down the avenues. The sidewalks were littered with storefronts opened to the public, food-trucks and vendors selling festive merchandise.

Thousands had turned out for the event - lone individuals and couples hand-in-hand alike - most of whom sported some article of clothing in the same rainbow of colors had decorated the rest of the event.

As their speeder finally came to a halt, Jaikus ran a hand through his dark hair - once more setting any loose strands back into place. With that, he stepped outside and rounded to the other side of the vehicle - opening the door and extending a hand towards his fiancee. “Shall we?” He flashed the half-Sephi an affectionate smile, jutting his chin to the festivities beyond.

@Sreeya

Spoiler: OOC NOTE

Open to all regardless of faction. Happy Pride!

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[Emryc Thorne]

Emryc wasn’t exactly a festival going type, but he often obliged things for his fiancee. It was one of the ways Jaikus was different from anyone he had been with before - the fact that the Axxilan could actually get him to agree to things. Always rigid and more reserved in nature, Emryc did not express any excitement or anticipation in either direction leading up to the event. However, he did shuffle around his public appearances and ignored his assistants telling him how positive this was for his image.

What Jaikus may not have expected, perhaps, was that the half Sephi had arranged for something that he planned on revealing the very day. When Jaikus met up with Emryc, he would find the half Sephi wearing the same black hoodie with the rainbow smeared across the chest. Of course, it was custom fitted for his much larger frame, but in effect both men now matched. The half Sephi didn’t look the least bit amused by this, but he knew it would certainly have an impact on his fiancee. His hair was styled and he actually opted to wear more casual clothing in the form of shorts and sneakers instead of his usual formalwear. His left wrist still had an expensive chrono on it, that along with his expensive brand sneakers the little hints that he was in fact a rather powerful man.

“Hm,” He said simply in response as they arrived and he stepped out of the speeder. He stuffed his hands into his hoodie pockets at once as his silver gaze took in sight of the festival. Jaikus would notice right away that he had little aural dampeners in his ears. There would be bodyguards trailing close by behind them but they allowed a measurable distance.

“What do you do at these things?” Emryc asked Jaikus after a moment, pointedly ignoring some very flamboyant men that were catcalling as they passed him.

@Altaris

 

[Jaikus Thorne]

To say that Jaikus was surprised by Emryc’s hoodie-reveal would’ve been the complete understatement of the century. For all the ways that the Axxilan had come to understand his fiancee down to his core, the half-Sephi never failed to know exactly how to surprise and cause him to utterly malfunction when he least expected it. The decision to match attire - while simple at a glance - was far more profound coming from Emryc. It was tender, thoughtful and endearing in ways that Jaikus couldn’t quite vocalize - and true to intention, it was a gesture that had a clear impact on him.

The moment that the Axxilan laid eyes on his fiancee, Emryc would immediately be able to see the way that Jaikus’ expression lit up like a neutron star - emerald eyes seeming to glint just a bit brighter as his lips pulled upwards. It was a smile that tugged wide - teeth and all - to an utterly ridiculous and cheesy degree, and beneath it all, burned with all the love and affection the Axxilan bore without ever needing to mutter a single word. The Axxilan’s hand found Emryc’s own early on during the ride to the festival - his fingers loosely lacing around the half-Sephi’s own and lingering there until they finally arrived.

As they stepped out of the speeder, Jaikus took a moment to properly take in the sights all around him. The steady bump of music from passing parade floats and revelry of nearby festival-goers echoed in his ears, and the Axxilan allowed his emerald eyes to drift across the rainbow-colored decorations that seemed to flutter from every street sign and storefront along the parade route. Beyond his merely social tendencies, there was something about the celebratory atmosphere that only contributed to his cheery demeanor.

Paying little mind to the bodyguards that trailed them, Jaikus fell into step with his fiancee as they strolled down one of the open sidewalks - hooking his arm around the half-Sephi’s own while the man’s hand was stuffed in his hoodie pocket. He glanced up to Emryc when the half-Sephi asked his question, flashing his fiancee a smirk, “Whatever we want,” He said began in response. “Watch the parade as it goes by, try some of the food.. There is usually some dancing and going on during these things too,” It wasn’t until that moment that the Axxilan spotted some of the very flamboyant men whistling and catcalling towards his fiancee - immediately causing the man’s eyes to roll ever-so-slightly. Luckily none of them attempted to approach or get more hands-on with their flirtations, and thus Jaikus pointedly didn't pay them much mind.

The Axxilan glanced ahead once more - allowing his eyes to wander for a moment before spotting a food stall off to the side of the parade route - the cartoon-ized picture of various fruits plastered across the top immediately catching his attention and preliminarily confirming that it was probably Emryc-approved. Without a word, Jaikus turned out of the half-Sephi’s arm - rounding in front of him to walk backwards. He reached forth just then, hooking a finger around the drawstring of the half-Sephi’s hoodie to give it a playful tug.

He jutted his chin in the direction of the stall, “My treat,”

@Sreeya