for_everyone | (no subject)

It's not as though there's ever a good place to be on E Day. It did often make for a good distraction, depending on how much the local governors and ministers had invested in parades or other celebrations. Any major system would be required to put on some kind of ceremony, though especially in minor industrial colonies, watching the annual message from the Emperor might be the most expected of citizens and Imps alike. Regardless, it was a consistent, predictable break in Imperial patterns – which meant that the weeks leading up to Empire Day were always dedicated to coming up with plans to exploit it.

There was a plan for today, but they weren't planning to start until early evening. The quarries on this colony were worked throughout the day, and rather than give the workers additional time off, the message had been scheduled for deep in the night, when no shifts were scheduled, as it was too cold to run the quarries. In the meantime, Kanan and Hera had taken up seats in The Half Moon, a large, open canteen that catered in particular to the largely Twi'lek colonists. There are also groups of humans, and smaller numbers of Rodians, Sullustans, Suertons, but most are Twi'leks, workers and families grabbing meals between their shifts. Even with the long hours, and the shorter rest period they'll get tonight, most of the workers seem happy here, spouses and friends shouting to each other across the room, children running out from under the tables.

And it wasn't common for Hera to come across a place that served the kind of bitter dishes she'd missed off Ryloth. Fortunately for Kanan, those aren't the only options. He'd taken a table near the edge of the room, moving carefully as he did so, while Hera had taken similar, cautions steps toward the long counters at the front. After nearly ten minutes, she returns, carrying two trays and this time moving openly and easily.

She sets down one of the trays in front of Kanan. The dish looks like a hunk of meat, and a pile of pale grains mixed with stewed vegetables.

"It's done."

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Kanan doesn't know the words, really -- if there's a chorus he might be able to pick it up -- but he does look up and meet the occasional pair of eyes, quickly.

They tend to belong to people who look like they want to join Hera. (Or feel like they want to join in.)

He gives them a quick, crooked smile, looking away again very deliberately.

Come on, he thinks, keeping his Force-presence folded in on itself. He's not about to take someone's choices away. They're not the Empire.

Come on.

The girl nearby, delighted, immediately starts to sing again. Her father is too stunned to stop her this time, and quickly, other children take up the song.

"Vrentre nacgal wachatrio -"

A wave passes over the room, as those watching seem to realize that no one is stopping them. The Stormtroopers don't return, no alarm sounds. And then, nearly every head turns as one among them stands. The Twi'lek from before, who with a much fuller voice this time, joins them in the final verse of the chorus -

"Reina reinatre lomptrio."

There's something satisfying about being here for this moment. It's the sort of moment all of this work he and Hera do is in service of. But more than that, it's people being able to have moments like this all the time. Constantly. Whenever they like.

Without worrying about who's watching, or who will be hurt, or whether their children will starve or their planet will burn.

Just this.

And since he's not singing, Kanan starts actually digging into his meal, careful not to chew too loudly. This is a moment for Hera, and her people, and --

Anyway, the food is really good.

Other non-Twi'leks look somewhat bemused by this sudden outbreak, but others stomp or even clap along with the rhythm of the song. The pace grows quicker as those singing start from the beginning, and though most of the adults stay seated, the children begin to run and jump again, or rock along with their parents and one another.

It's the kind of thing Hera hasn't seen in a long time. The spontaneous beauty that erupted as tensions ran high after a Separatist raid, before a planned attack, or when supplies were low.

They continue until they run out of words, and there's a smattering of applause, while some of the children continue to echo the chorus. And then, after a few seconds of quiet murmurs, the conversation in the room picks up again. It's all over even quicker than it had begun, but now, the talk is louder, back to as it had been before the Imperials walked in.

Hera glances back at Kanan, pressing her lips together as though she could possibly hide her smile.

Kanan is grinning right back at her, because he can't even help himself.

Some of it is the moment -- a lot of it is the moment -- but some of it is her, too, her happiness and her satisfaction. It's as if a dislocated joint has, however briefly, slipped back into place.

He can only be glad of it.

"I think I like it here," l he says. Hopefully it conveys all he means, as well.

She nods, reaching to lift her spoon again.

"It's been a pretty good day."

And hopefully, they can keep that up.

"Yeah," Kanan says, still looking at her. "It really has."

It takes some effort to stop watching the curve of her smile, the way it changes the lines of her face and makes her look less exhausted.

It takes even more effort not to think about the fact that he just got to hear her sing.

But this is not the time, it is definitely not the place, and he really should eat to keep his strength up. So Kanan, too, picks up his spoon and resolutely goes back to eating.

Edited 2018-01-18 04:09 (UTC)