The group left to attend the Star Festival shortly after, though Radeyah had parted ways to get prepared, herself. While it was arguably odd for her to have shown up merely to play stylist with Shakara, it was understandable. She truly hadn’t attended the festival in nearly seventeen years, and Radeyah had finally managed to convince her to give it another try. Truly, the woman seemed more excited for that reason alone than Shakara, Vivienne, and Royal combined.

Speaking of the children, Shakara had managed to convince Royal and Vivienne to bring weapons just in case something happened to go awry. They were both understandably thrown off by the request, but Royal followed the command without question. Vivienne, stubborn as usual, insisted against it.

"Why?" she had asked. "It's our first time going. We're supposed to be having fun and cutting loose. Not building up unnecessary guards and spending the celebration on edge!"

Shakara had managed to stop the opposition by asserting her power as Matriarch of the Metanoian Faction, a faction the two of them along with Radeyah were contracted under. It wasn't entirely fair of her. She was aware of that, but she couldn't fathom the idea of something happening to either of the pair that could have been easily prevented by one small order; no matter how seemingly ridiculous it was at the time.

Shakara wasn't a hypocrite, though. She'd brought her own dagger just for the sake of it, as well.

The minute the group of them arrived at the festival, Vivienne and Royal split off in search of their friends. It surprised her a bit, as she’d expected them to remain by her side the entire time for comfortability reasons if nothing else. The pair had only been living in Tivonia for no more than two years at that point, so she was undeniably glad they’d managed to make reliable friends so quickly; a process that was no doubt aided by the family-like knit of being a member of a Faction. Still, she had no doubt that part of the reason they— or more specifically, Vivienne— were so keen on leaving had to do with the argument they'd had just before they left out.

But now as a result, Shakara was left alone and wondering what to do to preoccupy her time. After all, if she’d had it her way, she would have never come in the first place. Not without Radeyah’s enthusiastic insistence and the kids’ excitement compelling her to do so, that is.

Although she was hesitant to do so, she ended up seeking out her fellow Faction leaders. She figured it wouldn't kill her to remain in their company until Radeyah arrived. As much as she admittedly liked the dress and the way it shaped her body, it was still so unusual for her and she found herself feeling out of her element. It was a ridiculous and unfounded thought given the fact that practically everyone around her, exactly as Radeyah had promised, was dressed similarly or worse, but she couldn’t push the feeling aside so easily.

The plaza on which the Star Festival was held was of relatively simple layout. The festival ground was composed of dirt roads and tall, lively trees that lined them. There were too many stands to count where people would sell drinks, small snacks like fruit or baked goods, basic accessories, and whatever else people were willing to buy. The roads led off to a number of small areas in which people would preach of Cieon's tender heart and divinity, perform original and traditional songs alike by means of singing or physical instruments, play child-friendly games, or just hangout with family and friends.

It wasn't long before Shakara managed to locate the Faction leaders, or at least a select handful of them, seated under an expanse of trees in a series of rickety chairs arranged in something close to a circle. A number of women she’d never seen before were keeping the group of men company. She figured they were merely strangers who idolized them.

It wasn’t an unprecedented occurrence. 

She weaved throughout a small crowd of people to take a seat in one of the empty seats near the group. Aasir laughed as a woman brought a small shot glass to his lips and sipped its contents gingerly, a hand curled flirtatiously around her waist. It took a moment, but when he noticed her presence, his smile immediately dropped. He stared at her for some seconds as if looking into the eyes of a ghost before sighing and rolling his neck.

“Dammit, woman…”

Shakara cocked an eyebrow, expression otherwise blank.

The entire group’s eyes finally turned in her direction and not even a second passed before Izan, a man of smaller stature who had an evident and near troublesome love of alcohol, was bursting out in laughter.

“I knew it!” His words slurred and his dark eyes appeared glossy. The reason behind his disheveled appearance wasn’t subtle nor unexpected; multiple empty bottles of wine within his vicinity. He pointed to Aasir with a clammy hand. “You owe me fifty!”

“You wish, runt,” Aasir muttered under his breath. He removed his arm from the woman’s waist, placed his elbows on his thighs, and leaned onto his cupped hands. “I make a bet you’ll be a no-show and then you decide to attend? For the first time in… How many years?”

“That was a stupid thing to do.”

Aasir stared thoughtfully for a moment. Then, a devious grin that she recognized instantly spread across his face. “You look nice. Don’t think I’ve ever seen you in a dress before.”

“I never had a reason," she said calmly in response, crossing her legs and folding her hands neatly over her lap. "I have very little to do with my appearance tonight, but thank you."

“I want to say it’s a shame, but it’s kinda fortunate," Aasir continued even as Shakara wished he'd stop.  "If you walked around looking like that all the time I’d never get shit done. Look, I’m willing to do you a favor. I’m sure that seat’s not nearly as comfortable as my lap, hm?”

“Aasir,” Jafari said lowly from where he stood beside Finnegan. He shook him by the shoulders and visibly grew relieved when the man grunted in annoyance and weakly attempted to push his hands away. He handed Finnegan a bottle of water when his eyes cracked open slightly. “Drink.”

The state of her companions instantly made Aasir’s comments escape her mind. 

“How are you guys already this messed up?" she questioned incredulously. "The sun hasn’t even completely fallen yet.”

“That’s Izan and Finn,” Aasir said, putting his hands up defensively. “And are you even surprised?”

“About Izan? No.” She watched as Jafari practically forced water down Finnegan’s throat. “But seeing Finnegan like this is certainly… new.”

“I almost feel bad you didn’t attend last year,” said Aasir with a smirk. “Finnegan put Izan to shame. The entire evening was batshit. Finn got on stage with some of the dancers and started stripping. I would have let him but Jafari had to ruin the fun.”

“If Finn was sober, he’d kill you for bringing that up,” Jafari said quietly. She barely managed to hear it over the music and conversing throughout the area. “It was embarrassing for everyone involved.”

“Wasn’t for me, babe.”

“Where’s Reuben?” she asked curiously.

“With his kids,” Aasir said with a frown as if the mere mention of his name was enough to upset him. Knowing the relationship the two had, it probably was. “Credence is with him. I think so, anyway.”

“Mm.”

“Want something to drink?” Izan slurred, holding out a bottle.

Her eyes flickered over the group of them and then she shook her head.

“Not anymore.”