As far as I can tell, there are very few official canon explanations for the variety of paints we see on the various monarchs of Naboo. Hello, highly symbolic and formal explanations (following in the steps of literally every other thing the Naboo do)! I wanted to flesh out what the different styles could mean for background worldbuilding in From Which Stars.
Peacetime – Queen Jamillia
Simple red and white paints, done in honor of Naboo’s bloody history before the Great Time of Peace brought about by King Jofun
Scar of Remembrance on lower lip
Two droplets on either cheek represent balance and clarity
Wartime – Queen Neeyutnee
Red paint has been swapped with a darker purple
Scar of Remembrance left, but top lip remains uncolored
Droplets are replaced with symbolic representations of spearheads
Symbol of the Royal House of Naboo displayed prominently on forehead
Mourning – Queen Apailana
The most detailed of the monarch paints, mourning paint is only worn when high-ranking members of the courts, noble Houses, or government die
Scar of Remembrance, lip color, droplets, and highly stylized tears are now light blue
Tears extend from high on the forehead to the droplets on the cheeks
Translucent jewels pressed into inner corners of the monarch’s eyes to represent the tears of Naboo
Warrior – Queen Soruna
Scar of Remembrance extends past the lip, towards the chin
Top lip is colored in a very dark red
Droplets have been removed altogether; shows the monarch’s dedication to pursuing peace no matter the cost
The Naboo have a penchant for the highly symbol and incredibly formal, all while honoring their past. A monarch’s paints reflect the current socio-political climate of Naboo itself.
Clones don’t get paid. Instead, they get issued credit vouchers to use out on the town. 79′s and a few other establishments accept these.
The medics in each unit work together to give a presentation reminding everyone about protection and consent and sexually-transmitted infections, complete with pictures and species-specific information. If anyone has any questions or “asking for a brother” potential situations, please come ask; we don’t want another situation like Sling over here who sprouted purple spots all over his legs and told us he karking didn’t know how it happened. Thanks, vod.
These quickly devolve into good-natured pandemonium with somepeople trying to embarrass the medics with ridiculous questions (“Hey doc: the condom goes overthe twig and berries, right?”). The medics roll their eyes and take it on the chin, because ridiculousness is better than a silent lecture hall during question-time, but Force help these mir’shebe afterwards.
The water pressure in the showers is literally the greatest thing. No sithspit weak-stream trickle or (thank the Force) the sonic showers the cruisers have. Conversely, the towels are blindingly white, thin, scratchy, and generally unsatisfying.
For many battle-tested clones, the smell of industrial cleaner is associated with safety.
If someone wants a paint job—tattoo or armour—now’s the time to do it.
The more artistically inclined among the troopers do touch-ups on the
LAAT/i noses too.
Some clones from deployed units get heated with the Coruscant Guard because they’re not real troopers, when’s the last time you had to drag your vod away from the heat because his shin’s just not there anymore and he’s screaming like a dying mynock—((take a walk, brother, we’re all on the same side here.))
If you’re not a raging besom, maybe one of the Guardsmen will let you borrow from their Lost-and-Found of civilian clothing. (Some of those may or may not have been pilfered from careless birthborn officers.) These clothes are usually used as costumes or props in talent show competitions held between units or platoons.
Playing Two Truths and A Lie about crazy osik they’ve seen Jedi do
“They threw me off a wall, Cody. No warning, off a fucking wall—I thought I was gonna die.”
Some like the on-base holofilm theater, sitting unbothered in the dark, watching some half-decent romcom so they don’t have to think about that upcoming assignment on Bothawui.
“Why don’t they just talk to her about their feelings?” “I dunno, Resol; you asking me to fuckin’ explain birthborn psychology to you? Buggered if I know.” “No, but couldn’t they both just—” “To the drongos up front: shut up; some of us are trying to watch!”
Shrieks of “Kandosii!!” and “Kote!!” from the meshgeroya / limmie field (the older batches prefer the former term, the younger ones the latter). Matches between pilots and ground-pounders can get…interesting.
Since they have the downtime, units typically do their Remembrances now. Saying (or singing) the names of all their dead vode can take a long time (General Koon’s troopers’ list is currently pushing 7.8 standard hours), so soldiers take half-hour shifts, scrolling past name after name (some, only numbers) on the screen. The room’s acoustics make their voices echo, swirling the dead around and around the living.
No one’s ever really gone; they’re just marching far away.
R&R eventually makes the troopers restless, so they’re glad to leave when a new assignment comes down. When they’re out of atmo, some look back at the glittery planet, wondering if it’s the last time they’ll see Triple Zero.
Clones might not get paid, but they have a preternatural ability to get hold of credits. The quartermaster is a very popular man during R&R for his ability to sell GAR supplies under the table.
Packing up to leave means trying to stash as much contraband as possible for trade or consumption during deployment. ARCs are especially suspect.
Sitting in the windows of tapcafs and people-watching, marveling at all the different species with all the different faces (so many different faces! how do civilians keep track of them all?)
A much annotated and updated list of Free Or Cheap Places To Go That Won’t Throw Us Out, Don’t Fuck It Up For The Rest Of Us.
Wearing armour because it’s easier to hide in your helmet when everyone stares.
Not wearing armour because it’s easier to dance in, even if everyone stares.
wrennette 