Private Absolutely No Mischief

[Everest Vale]

The soft rustling of leaves carried through the Temple gardens, stirred by the gentle breeze weaving between the trees. The air was fresh with the scent of soil and blooming flora, a quiet contrast to the ever-present hum of Coruscant beyond the Temple walls. It was one of the few places in the city-planet where nature still had space to grow and flourish as it should.

Eve sat on the edge of a stone bench, her fingers idly tracing the lines of its surface as she let the moment settle over her. No training drills. No missions. No duties pressing against the edge of her mind. Just peace, and a good book. She inhaled slowly, feeling the air fill her lungs, feeling the warmth of the sun pressing against her skin. It had been too long since she'd allowed herself to simply be.

There had been so much strife lately. Much had left its mark on her in ways she was still coming to understand. Even now, in the safest place she could be, part of her still felt like she should be doing something. Preparing. Moving. Protecting. But here, in the stillness of the gardens, there was nothing to fight.

A small smile tugged at her lips as she leaned back against the bench, tilting her head toward the sky. The leaves above cast shifting patterns of light and shadow across her face, the branches swaying just slightly with the wind. Somewhere in the distance, she could hear the gentle trickle of the fountains, their steady rhythm grounding her more than any meditation exercise ever could.

For the first time in what felt like forever, she wasn't afraid of what came next. She was just here, savouring the moment, savouring the day.

And for once, this day would be completely free from trouble.

Vera Noble​

 

[Vera Noble]

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Tag: Everest Vale

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The peaceful serenity of the gardens was, unfortunately, short-lived.

Because trouble had just arrived.

The sound of boots against stone broke the quiet, fast and light, carrying an unmistakable energy that didn't quite belong in a place so tranquil. A second later, a familiar voice rang out, casual, confident — far too loud for the setting.

"So, you're Mom's new Padawan, huh?"

Before Everest could even fully process it, Vera Noble had plopped herself right down next to her, completely unbothered by whatever quiet reflection had just been happening. She sat with a casual sprawl, elbows resting on her knees, eyes bright and curious as they flicked over Everest with obvious interest.

"Everest, right?" She smirked, tilting her head. "Or do you prefer Eve?"

It was impossible to tell if she was being serious or just trying to see how much she could push before Everest snapped. Either way, the barely-contained energy rolling off of Vera made it very clear — her day of peace was officially over.

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[Everest Vale]

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So engrossed in the depths of her most fascinating book, Eve almost jumped out of her skin, her breath hitching from the sudden intrusion. Suddenly, that nice, lovely, quiet calm was shattered, as Eve raised her head to the young lady who had decided to land herself next to her.

"Oh!"

The girl was the spitting image of Valery, but it was those eyes in particular that really reminded Eve of her Master. Either way, the sudden intrusion and inquisition into the otherwise delicate peace made the Echani's nerves flare immediately.

"U-um, y-yeah, Eve."

She knew exactly who this was. She had heard stories already, and she wasn't exactly sure she was prepared for such a meeting on a day like this.

Nevertheless, here she was.

It was happening.

Right now.

"You're Vera... right?" Behind that overstimulated energy, Eve managed a warm, genuine smile. "It's nice to meet you." The intonation of her shaken voice almost sounded more like a question.

Vera Noble​