Private Flames in Motion

[Valery Noble]

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Outfit: Red Epicanthix Dress

Valery couldn't help but chuckle softly as Zaiya caught herself mid-title correction, the coral tint on her cheeks clear as day. "You're doing great," she teased gently, flashing her an encouraging smile. It wasn't every day that the Grandmaster was just Valery, so she could understand how hard it must feel to adjust.

As she listened to them rattle off their favorite toppings, her gaze briefly flickered to Eryx, who was still watching the interaction like a hawk. His green eyes remained narrowed, though the occasional curious coo betrayed his baby-sized innocense.

"Oh, I like a little bit of everything," Valery finally answered Zaiya, stepping toward the counter to help with assembling. "Cheese, lettuce, tomato — definitely pickles. I like the crunch," she added with a wink, grabbing a jar of pickles and setting it near the toppings. "And I'll admit, Zaiya, a fried nuna egg is amazing too. You might have just convinced me to try that next."

She turned to Aris, who was already chopping away with expert precision. "I should have you helping in the kitchen more often — my little fruit ninja." Oh yes, she was still teasing him about that. Especially now that a friend of his came over.

How embarrassing~

Her teasing tone was lighthearted, but she smiled warmly at her son before glancing at Zaiya again. "At this rate, Eryx and I might have to hire you two to make dinner more often," she added with a smirk as she scooped up some lettuce Zaiya had shredded.

The toddler in the high chair let out a loud, exaggerated hmph, drawing all eyes back to him. His little cheeks were puffed out, his arms crossed like he'd seen adults do when they were annoyed. Valery's laughter bubbled up again.

Turning back to Aris and Zaiya, she winked. "Maybe if you're both lucky, he'll share me a little when we sit down to eat."

With that, Valery started to gather the buns and plates for the burgers, her mood light and content. It wasn't often that the house was this lively, and she wanted to savor it. "Now, who wants the first burger off the grill? Extra cheese?" she asked with a grin, already reaching for the stack of perfectly cooked patties.

Aris Noble Zaiya Ceti ​

 

[Aris Noble]

Slices of avocado and an egg? That wasn't a bad idea at all. He glanced between Valery and Zaiya before smiling softer as he listened to them talk. It made him happy to hear the two of them talking together. Even with Eryx's eventual jealousness. He just smiled at his brother as he set the toppings he did chop up down on the table. Next time, eggs. Right now? He didn't want to upset the little prince any more by asking mom to cook another e-

"I should have you helping in the kitchen more often — my little fruit ninja."

His ears burned a deep red. To his credit, he didn't react to the embarrassing nickname, but there was no hiding the red of his ears as a flustered feeling spread through him.

"I'll take an extra cheese."

Which he did, and quickly made up his burger so he could start eating and not have to answer any questions about fruit ninja Aris.

Zaiya Ceti | Valery Noble

 

[Zaiya Ceti]

Valery Noble Aris Noble

There was such a happy and giddy rush of relief and validation that Valery and Aris also thought her idea of yummy toppings was good. It sent a joyful brush of teal over her faintly glowing cheeks. A hue that only brightened in mischievous amusement when she heard Aris's mom call him a 'little fruit ninja'.

Aris and everyone else would hear the small giggle snort. Even perking Eryx's narrowed gaze for a moment. Zaiya's playful nature radiating as she gave a small giggle, already planning to use Aris's mom's nickname for him as a passing tease later.

"Oh, that wouldn't be bad! I love making food for others!" Zaiya chirped out, her enthusiasm for cooking evident in the broad, wide grin spreading over her colorful face, with tiny flecks of bioscience showing.

"I do that all the time for Mahsa , Ayhan , and Aris. " The Lovalla admitted, finishing up with the lettuce and proactively moving to do what she could next, all while cleaning up to ensure she didn't leave the place a mess. It was evident she was well used to moving about a kitchen, doing what she needed to prep, and then cleaning up.

At the question of who should get the first burger, Zaiya gave a small incline of her head over towards Aris.

"Aris. He tends to get hungry a lot faster than me," she said, and hilariously, he was already making his way to crafting his own burger. Another snort giggle, as she finished cleaning up. Zaiya gratefully accepted a place and also followed suit in building her own.

"Would you like any help with yours?" Zaiya offered after to Valery. She didn't want her to have to clean up after she had been the one to grill them a yummy meal.

 

[Valery Noble]

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Outfit: Red Epicanthix Dress

Valery smiled warmly at both Aris and Zaiya, the energy in the kitchen bright and infectious. Aris's flushed ears didn't go unnoticed, and Valery couldn't help but smile

"Extra cheese, coming right up," she said with a smirk, placing a patty on a bun and sliding it over to him. She gave him a wink, clearly enjoying the small victory in making him blush, though her tone was nothing but affectionate.

She then turned to Zaiya, her glowing cheeks and clear enthusiasm drawing another soft chuckle from Valery. "You're a natural in the kitchen, Zaiya. Mahsa and Ayhan must be spoiled with your cooking skills." Her gaze flicked briefly to the tidied-up counter, impressed by Zaiya's efficiency and care. "If you keep this up, even Eryx might insist we hire you full-time," she added with a playful grin, earning another hmph from the little one.

At Zaiya's offer to help, Valery shook her head gently but appreciatively. "Thank you, but you've done more than enough already. You're a guest here — enjoy your burger. I've got this," she said, her tone warm and inviting. She picked up a plate and began crafting her own burger, this time opting for Zaiya's suggested fried nuna egg to see how it lived up to the hype.

As Valery worked, she glanced between the two of them, her gaze softening. "It's not often I get to cook for such a lively kitchen crew. You two make it fun, and it's nice to see Aris so happy with a friend around." Her smile deepened, and there was a faint glimmer of motherly pride in her eyes.

He had come a long way.

Once her burger was assembled, she grabbed her plate and gestured for them all to sit together. "Now let's dig in before Eryx tries to steal someone's food." she said with a wink as she took a seat, clearly enjoying the lighthearted atmosphere they had all created.

Aris Noble Zaiya Ceti ​

 

[Aris Noble]

Aris was very much eating his burger to avoid having to say anything for a bit, but as he listened to his mom and Zaiya talk, he couldn't help but smile more. It was good to see them getting along. It made him happy, really happy. The kind of happy where he stopped eating to just watch their conversation and listen in without the addition of chewing to distract him. Right up until Valery mentioned that they should keep eating. He blinked, glancing first to his burger then to Eryx, who was squinty as can be at Zaiya.

He just chuckled, reaching over to gently ruffle Eryx's hair. "I'm glad at least three of us are happy. Hopefully Eryx's jealous phase will fade sooner than later."

Valery Noble | Zaiya Ceti

 

[Zaiya Ceti]

Valery Noble Aris Noble

Zaiya gave Valery a beaming smile, rosy gold hues shimmering down her arms and cheeks in joy and growing ease. The Grandmaster had a way of making one feel comfortable, and it was more evident within the confines of her own home. Zaiya was glad for that; she had been rather nervous from the get-go that she had made a bad impression the first time she met her.

"Okay!" Zaiya chirped, sliding up to the table and starting to assemble her burger with eager hands. By the time she sat down, her finished burger was towering, and her mouth was practically watered.

Valery's comment about Aris made her grin as she settled into her seat. After all, she was his best friend, and hearing someone else acknowledge that Aris was happy about it was nice to hear.

"Yeah! You should see him with the others too! He's been having so much fun lately," Zaiya said, her legs swinging under the chair as she took an enormous bite of her burger, and she couldn't stop the comical muffled hum of delight that escaped her.

"Mmmph!" she managed, a sheepish laugh bubbling out as she chewed quickly.

"Sorry, this is so-o good!" she declared once she swallowed, a pleased glow rippling through her skin in warm, sunny hues. After chewing, Zaiya's brows rose, and the colors over her mottled spots flickered, soft coral shifting to muted citrines of curiosity as she tilted her head. The mention of Eryx and his jealousy brought a question to her expression.

"So what makes you think he's jealous?"

 

[Valery Noble]

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Outfit: Red Epicanthix Dress

Valery chuckled softly at Zaiya's enthusiasm, her gaze drifting briefly to the towering burger she had assembled. The young woman's energy was infectious, and Valery was happy to see her so comfortable here. It was clear Zaiya brought a lot of positivity into Aris's life, and Valery appreciated the dynamic between them more and more with each passing moment.

At Zaiya's question, Valery's attention shifted to Eryx, who was still watching Zaiya with his signature squinty glare. Her smile turned playful as she ruffled the little one's hair, though he stubbornly huffed in response.

"Oh, he's definitely jealous," Valery said with a knowing smirk. "Eryx is at that age where he thinks I'm his whole world, and he doesn't like to share his Mama's attention with anyone. Not even his dad sometimes." Her eyes softened as she glanced at the toddler. "It's sweet in a way, but I think he'll grow out of it… eventually."

She laughed lightly and turned her gaze to Aris, her expression brightening with a hint of mischief. "Speaking of first impressions," Valery began, her tone teasing, "Aris, do you know how I met Zaiya for the first time?"

Valery glanced at Zaiya, a playful glimmer in her amber eyes. Aris wasn't the only one getting a little bit of teasing thrown at them this evening.

Aris Noble Zaiya Ceti ​

 

[Aris Noble]

They really were good.

Aris munched on his own burger as he listened to the exchange, smiling as ever. What was eating to avoid having to talk was just enjoying a good meal with family and friends now, teasing or not. He was just more open with his smiles as of late. Zaya was right in that regard, how he hung out with other people really had changed him for the better.

"I don't, actually. How?"

Valery Noble | Zaiya Ceti

 

[Zaiya Ceti]

Valery Noble Aris Noble

So Eryx felt jealous because he didn't want to share Valery with others? Hearing that prompted a slight flush of embarrassment at how she had felt back on the day when Aris and Azzie had their spar. It still felt silly, and while she certainly hadn't acted with the childlike jealousy Eryk expressed, it also made the Lovalla a little self-conscious that she might have acted differently.

Emotions, especially new ones she was barely starting to experience for the first time, were hard.

However, her muddled thoughts immediately turned to one of flustered, sheepish alarm when Valery asked Aris if he knew how she had met his mother for the first time. She immediately blushed, coral tinting her mottled spots in a wave of embarrassment and flustered anxiety.

"Oh.. umm... well...,' Zaiya began, half wanting to explain while half wanting to stuff her face with another bite of her burger. Especially since she didn't want to get Aris or any of her other friends in trouble with that story; they had been the ones to help her get into the temple from time to time. It was during the time when they invited her to come and see what it was like to be a Jedi and learn if she really wanted to join.

"It was Shan's knighting ceremony and I wanted to come see so...." Zaiya added, deciding to just say it, "Needless to say, I was caught and brought over to the Grandmaster by the guards...."

It had been so embarrassing! It was not the sort of first impression she wanted to make on Aris's mother back then!