Open || There's a flood that's coming up to my bed

[art_of_war]

WHO: Thrawn and you?
WHERE: Event planet
WHAT: Winter shenanigans
WHEN: catch-all for January
WARNINGS: None anticipated



Village

Thrawn found the dwellings interesting; the substrate alone was remarkable. It even had a scent. He was already wary of eating anything that was on display and when there seemed to be more children among the others than there were before his caution was made practical.

Beings that were endothermic, as most humans are, may have been drawn inside so they could be nearer to the fire. But Thrawn was not. His idea of snow was a hazardous element that could blot out the senses so an unaware traveler could die from exposure half a meter from his shelter because in the driving snow he had not seen it. This softly falling rain of feathery white was new to him. Though he stood amidst the falling snow there was no steam from released breath. He also wore no extra layers in concession to the colder temperature. He simply stood with his hands clasped behind his back and head tilted to watch the silent rain of white.

Nativity Barn

...well this was mysterious. There were decorative packages that were all arranged together next to a mural. But judging from what others found when opening said packages they were made for another species entirely. One with four arms. Frowning at the word 'Thranda' woven into the garment Thrawn thought that the makers of these garments had misspelled his core name. Although why said makers would put his core name on a garment at all was a somewhat disquieting thought.

Comments

[art_of_war]

The feeling of a gentle collision against his knees broke Thrawn's reverie. He looked down and saw the child as he yelped and tried to curl in on himself. It took Thrawn a moment to realize that this was a Chiss child. One that was used to being afraid of older beings. It was therefore likely that this child was used to painful repercussions.

Which meant this boy was a slave.

If that was true Thrawn did not try to crouch or further demean the boy. No pleasant fictions in trying to appear smaller and less threatening. Thrawn simply smiled down at the boy and changed out using Basic for using Cheunh.


"< It is alright. I was not paying attention. >"

[kallig]

He shook his head- showing that either he wasn't listening, or he didn't understand.

"I'm sorry- I'm sorry-"

It was rather a lot of fear, even for one scared of adults. He dared a glance up, as though checking that it really was a Chiss he'd crashed into, then curled in on himself again, when he saw that it was.

It would be easy to come to the conclusion that it was his own species he feared, rather than adults in general.

[art_of_war]

Taking that to mean the boy did not understand him - though that raised the unsettling question of why the boy may not understand the language -- Thrawn was undeterred. He continued to smile and repeated himself in Basic.

"It is alright. I was not paying attention."

[kallig]

That at least, seemed to get through to him, and though he remained in a defensive position, he glanced up again- looking just as terrified still- obviously trying to figure out whether or not he was being lied to, and that it was not, in fact, alright.

"You're not angry...? You're not...?"

That was strange. His family had ever told him that any unfamiliar Chiss would be out to get him. But this one didn't seem- oh. Right. He probably didn't know.

Getting to his feet, he still looked skittish, ready to bolt, but at least not stuck in the same sort of fear as before, "I'm... I'm sorry, sir. I should have been paying attention."

[art_of_war]

Thrawn was often more forgiving of children and the shift in his attitude was noticeable to others who knew what he was usually like. Curious to see a Chiss child though, since that would have to mean this was someone from the population already on Agra-10. Thrawn did know one other that had blue skin, though. If it was the case then Thrawn had found a Force-wielding adult Chiss.

"You need not be so apologetic."

Thrawn looks away and up again.

"I was watching this form of 'snow'. It is beautiful but strangely haunting. I think I actually prefer the snow that is found on Csilla."

[kallig]

The shift of the conversation to snow lowered his guard a little more, and though his eyes remained on Thrawn a moment longer, he eventually did look up at the falling snow. Maybe it was the fact that Thrawn didn't act like adults normally did around a lone kid that made his guard lower. He wasn't sure and had other things to ponder.

The other Chiss was right- It was kind of beautiful. Everything was quiet, peaceful. And maybe that was a little haunting.

"I've never been to Csilla. Think I've heard the name before though."

He was fairly certain it was in the Chiss Ascendancy. He didn't know a lot.

"I'm from Ziost. It's cold and snows there too. Not like this though. The air on Ziost is dry and the cold wind gets into any crack, making heating houses impossible. It's kind of awful. Snow doesn't pile up like this either. Had we been on Ziost the snow would be coming at us at an angle."

He looked back to the other Chiss, then up again, "... Is Csilla pretty?"

TMW I've got nuthin' for backstory so I'm makin' this up as I go

[art_of_war]

"Parts of it, yes."

And in other parts, it looked like the frozen hellscape it was. Since that was the Chiss homeworld and the Ascendancies seat of power it was likely that the boy would be hearing more.

"Have you always lived on Ziost?"

Definitely happens a lot in SW fandom. When canon has nothing, make up something that fits!

[kallig]

"I guess that could be said of any place."

Even Ziost had its charms, maybe. He just wasn't in a place he could see them.

He held his hands out, letting the snowflakes land on his skin. Feeling the slight chill of the snow. Nothing like Ziost, though. Probably nothing like Csilla either. He couldn't even begin to imagine what life in the Ascendancy was like. And honestly, even if he'd had the chance to visit, he'd be way too scared.

"Yeah. I was born there. I grew up there. I'm still... Well. Not really right now, I guess. Slaves tend to get moved around to where they're needed a lot."