Private Hide and Seek

[Colette]

The pitter patter of paws on wood went almost unheard through the Niv Hani homestead. Two dangerous nexu, a mother and her cub, were stalking through the brush of the overgrown Noble estate. It was such a shame that mom and dad were away on the strange and wonderful planet of Duh-8, so needless to say they couldn't save the triplets from the imminent dangers they faced.

Stalking through the hallway was the big bad Colette, and weaving between her feet with a curious but equally engaged hunch was Nibbles, the cat. The quiet giggles that were spread around the area told her all that she needed to know…

Someone was in this room.

When passing by the door of a guest room she would catch a glimpse of the little feetsies of but one prey animal waggle underneath the bed. She approached the other end of the bed, gave a dramatic pause and quickly leaned down to glance under the bed with a "Boo!"

The child gave an excited shriek and quickly scattered out the other end of the bed and rushed out of the room.

The hunt was on yet again. She would track down these pesky little kids and she would FEAST on their skulls!

Valery Noble

 

[Valery Noble]

​

Outfit: Wedding Ring

Valery sat on the couch, her knees comfortably pulled up and a book in her hands. She had a cup of tea sitting on the small coffee table in front of her and some candles were burning — she was in her zone. Still, she couldn't help but overhear the kids squealing and laughing, as they played with their big sister. Like their parents and Vera and Aris, Colette was often busy with Jedi training and assignments as well.

It made them extra happy when they had time to play.

"Aurra, hide!" Adam called out, as he nudged his sister along and opened Vera's closet. They knew hiding in the bedrooms wasn't allowed — and Vera would probably yell at them if she found out — but they had to win this game. The scary monster surely couldn't find them hiding in a closet!

Aeryn was even more bold.

After being separated from the others, she had opened her parent's bedroom and decided to hide inside her Mother's closet, between her clothes and behind a few shoe boxes.

Colette ​

 

[Colette]

Valery Noble

Play was a privilege to Colette too. There were few things that mattered as much to her as the sound of the triplets having a good time. After all, it was their right as children to have a good time before the world eventually began to heap problem after problem on them. In time they'd grow older and remember these times fondly, hopefully.

As she stalked through the hallway it got just a little bit more obvious that the kids had chosen Vera's room to hide in, which… Oh no. That wasn't very good. She cleared her throat and spoke with a gentle sing-song voice.

"Oh boy, I sure hope nobody is hidden in the forbidden sister's room!" She said in an attempt to urge them to leave as she went for Aeryn instead. Kahlil and Valery's room was generally off-limits too, but given that they were mom and dad it made sense to hide in there too. Colette opened the drawer with a woosh and out ran a silly little kid.

A dress managed to get tangled into the kid for a moment and fell from the wardrobe and onto the floor. Colette raised her eyebrow, grabbed the green dress and gave it a once over. It seemed wholly impractical. Deep cut chest, exposed hips and legs? This was part of 'culture' that Colette just didn't understand. She shrugged and hung the dress back in the wardrobe again and proceeded to chase after the little Aeryn shaped prey.

"Ruuun!~" She wailed ever so gently. "I'm coming for youuu!"

 

[Valery Noble]

​

Outfit: Wedding Ring

"We have to help her," Aurra said when she slipped out of Vera's closet and looked at her brother. Adam nodded, hummed in thought, and then pulled his sister along to get something from their room. He had just the perfect idea to save Aeryn from their big sister and her destroyer beast, Nibbles.

Aeryn, meanwhile, rushed out from the closet when she was caught and sprinted back into the hallway. Unable to control her speed, she bumped into the walls, drawing her Mother's gaze up. Perking a brow, Valery was tempted to get up and see what they were up to. But she was enjoying her book and Colette was responsible enough, so she decided against it.

Unknowingly, it gave the little ones their chance for an ambush.

As soon as Colette stepped out of the bedroom, both Aurra and Adam charged her. Aurra with a foam sword, and Adam with an inflatable hammer that squeaked whenever it hit something — a toy he had won at the fair.

"Get her!" Adam called out, and they began to whack away with whatever strength their little arms could muster.

Colette ​

 

[Colette]

Valery Noble

"Oh no!" The nexu growled and got on the floor to let it's cub escape the annoying squeaky sounds of the plastic hammers and swords. "You got me again!"

Letting out a small laugh and extending her hand for a truce she sat back up again and quickly wrapped her arms around the hunters to give them a tight squeeze and a great many kisses on their heads as a reward for their teamwork.

"Good going, kids." She said and gently chuckled. "What was it I said about the key to a successful hunt, hm?"

They'd know the answer, she told them all the time: teamwork.

Meanwhile Nibbles would jump up on the couch and nestle himself in with Valery. His soft paw gently patted at her thigh for attention with the telltale purr of a cat in need of some calm love and affection.

 

[Valery Noble]

​

Outfit: Wedding Ring

This is what Valery loved the most.

She could hear the kids yelling and squealing, and even heard the squeaking of their toy weapons as they assaulted their big sister like a team. They were happy and unbothered, focused on nothing but playing and having fun. It's the life she wanted for all of her children and for all children across the Galaxy.

Valery herself got some company too. Nibbles crawled into her lap, and Valery gently placed a hand atop his head to give him the gentle scratches he was looking for.

"Aren't they adorable, nibbles?" Valery asked the cat with a smile.

"Working together!" Aeryn called out to Colette, "We did it!" Adam added. Aurra just smiled, choosing to stay quiet and enjoy the moment with her siblings.

At least, until her stomach began to growl.

"Hungry?" Adam asked her, and Aurra timidly nodded.

Colette ​

 

[Colette]

Valery Noble

Purring as he went, Nibbles pushed his little head into the palm of Valery's hand before inevitably grabbing her wrist with a claw-free grasp. His teeth just ever so slightly pressed against her skin but didn't go much further than that before he let go and curled up into a ball again with a stupid stare.

"Then it sounds like the hunters need something to eat!" Colette said and pushed to her feet and beckoned for the little hunters to follow. "Sound off, what are the different food groups?"

She smiled back at the kids.

"And which one's the best?"

 

[Valery Noble]

​

Outfit: Wedding Ring

"Sound off, what are the different food groups?"

Uh-oh.

Both Adam and Aeryn turned in unison to look at Aurra — she was the smart one who always remembered these things. But Aurra just timidly looked back and took too long for Aeryn's patience to last. The brunette, with fiery eyes like her Mom, turned back around to look at Colette and spoke proudly.

"Snackies!"

Adam nodded along, clearly liking the answer, but Aurra visibly rolled her eyes. Her siblings didn't see it because Aurra stood behind them, but Colette certainly would.

"I like fruit..." Aurra finally said quietly.

Colette ​

 

[Colette]

Valery Noble

A weak smile set on Colette's lips as she turned around to look at the kids with a gentle shake of her head.

"Snackies is not a group, snackies are all other groups combined in one." She said and ruffled Aeryn's hair. "Fruit could technically be one. The groups are what make a meal good and healthy, and fruit is definitely part of that."

The troupe entered the kitchen and Colette began to pull out a cutboard and knife. She put them on a counter and opened the fridge to pull out many different vegetables and barely ANYTHING sweet.

"A good meal is filling, and vegetables are great for that. A lot of minerals, a lot of vitamins, and it's all of it grown in the ground!" Colette laughed and looked at the triplets. "Broccoli is great, and so are carrots if you want something sweet."

"I will give each of you one ingredient each. What do you want in the salad?"

 

[Valery Noble]

​

Outfit: Wedding Ring

"Not true," Aeryn chirped proudly, "Veggies aren't snackies." She giggled and her siblings — even Aurra — giggled along to Aeryn's antics. But despite it, they did listen to what Colette was trying to explain. Few people in the Galaxy could get the three Nobles to be quiet and have them pay attention, but besides their parents, Colette could manage it easily. They looked up to her, and each of the Triplets wanted their big sister to be proud of them.

Sometimes, that meant listening.

From the couch, Valery watched Colette head into the kitchen with the little ones behind her. She chuckled, scratched Nibbles' head again, and continued reading her book.

In the Kitchen, Adam and Aeryn watched in shock as Colette pulled out more and more vegetables. But when she mentioned it was for a salad, they relaxed. Somewhat.

"Uhm..." Adam began when they were offered to request an ingredient, but for once, Aurra spoke up first, "Shuura!" she called out, referring to a fruit from Naboo that she liked to eat. It was often used in salads too, so it was perfect!

"Hmmm, apple?" Aeryn asked after that. Colette had already grabbed enough vegetables, so she could use her request to add some sweetness to it. A fruit salad was still a salad.

Adam blinked and began to hum in thought, "Celto?" he asked. It was a basic ingredient that could be used in salads, but nothing else came to mind and he was getting nervous, having to choose.

Colette ​

 

[Colette]

Valery Noble

"They can be!" Colette mock scoffed at her siblings and shook her head as she withdrew the triplets' choice of food. Apples, pears, and oregano. How… Interesting. She pulled out a big cutboard and a very small knife. Valery was within earshot, and Colette herself was there.

"Now," She said and finally withdrew her own ingredient: tomato. After which, of course, the spinach came out. Any good salad had a spinach base, this was just fact. "I want you to clean your hands very thoroughly and give some space. You will each get to cut your own piece of the salad."

Actually, something was missing. Colette withdrew a small package of shredded cheese and put it by the other things, as well as a small piece of ham.

"Since you picked a herb, Adam, you will get to cut the tomato, okay?"

Given the ingredients it was fair to assume the salad wouldn't be the tastiest thing in the world, or at least not a 'coherent' taste sensation, but that was just part of learning to cook. She wanted the kids to feel like this salad was their own creation so that they would get curious enough to try and see what combinations of ingredients worked and which did not.

"So. Who wants to go first?"

Colette would guide them through proper knife etiquette. Never leave it where you could knock it down to the floor, always point the sharp edges away from yourself, and fold your fingies to use your knuckles as a means to protect them.

And, of course most importantly, never ever flail or play around with it. A knife was only as sharp as the one who held it, and it'd be a real shame if Adam or Aeryn would be a dull knife, huh?

 

[Valery Noble]

​

Outfit: Wedding Ring

When Colette asked who wanted to go first, Aeryn's eyes lit up excitedly. "Me! Me!" she chirped, hopping on her toes. She eagerly approached the counter, her small hands reaching for the knife after she had cleaned them. Her confidence and eagerness made the others giggle, and even Aurra watched her with a mix of admiration and curiosity.

Sometimes, her siblings were a little overwhelming, but she loved them very much.

"Okay!" she continued, glancing between Colette and the colorful ingredients laid out in front of her. There was a determined focus in her eyes, as she reached for her ingredient.

She loved apples.

After Colette provided instructions, showing her how to keep her fingies safe and steady. Aeryn nodded. She took the guidance seriously for once, as she concentrated on making her first careful cut. With one precise motion, the apple split in half. Aeryn's eyes widened with a proud smile, and she glanced back at her siblings. "See? Easy!" she said, looking up at Colette with a beaming expression.

"You did it!" Aurra applauded and Adam also hopped up and down a little, ready to get to work. But before he could, Aurra unexpectedly chirped up, "Can I go next?!" she asked.

This was fun!

Colette ​

 

[Colette]

Valery Noble

It was hard not to hover over Aeryn in particular as she sliced her vegetables and then deposited the somewhat chunky result in the bowl. The kid had a lot of energy, but then so did most of the triplets — or rather two thirds.

Aurra wanted next and Colette slowly nodded.

"Of course." She said and eased up a little. Aurra was the calmer one but that didn't mean that Colette had to be any less vigilant. She instructed Aurra through the same process as she had with Aeryn. Fingies folded, knuckles to protect, gentle motions with trust in the sharp knife.

"Most of it is in the knife." Colette said and stopped Aurra for a moment so that she didn't slice unsupervised. "The sharp edge is made to get through soft things like fruit and rope. If it can't do that with ease, you need to ask an adult to sharpen the blade."

"So, always remember, this is a weapon. It is designed to be a tool just as much as it is meant to be a last resort if something has you cornered and you need anything to save your life." Colette said and withdrew the knife she always kept on her belt next to her water canteen. "This one is mine. I got it when I was your age, but my people are very different from the ones out here in the galaxy."

"Okay." She said and attached the holster on her belt again. "Go on, Aurra, and then we'll do Adam."

 

[Valery Noble]

​

Outfit: Wedding Ring

Aurra worked with a proud, gentle smile, her gaze softening at Colette's words. The lessons in knife safety were important, but the way Colette presented them — with respect and understanding of its dual nature as a tool and weapon — showed the depth of her wisdom. It was clear that she wanted the children to understand responsibility and awareness, and Valery was grateful for it, as she relaxed into the couch

Aurra, visibly focused and calm, nodded to all instructions and continued cutting with careful movements, making sure each slice was precise and even. Once she finished, she placed the pieces into the bowl and beamed up at Valery and Colette.

"See? I did it!" she said, a small blush of pride coloring her cheeks.

Which meant it was Adam's turn next.

The young triplet practically bounced on his feet, his eyes sparkling with excitement. Valery shifted slightly, overhearing the excitement, then chuckled and returned to her book.

"I want the knife!" he called out, which pulled Valery's eyes right up again.

Colette ​

 

[Colette]

Valery Noble

"Very good!" Colette said and patted Aurra's back to encourage her before Adam stepped up to the plate, figuratively and literally. "Ah-ah-ah." She said and waggled her finger, raising the knife out of reach from the boy. "It's good that you want to work it, but you have to calm down just a little or you risk cutting yourself."

"Everyone take a deep breath, okay?" Colette instructed the others and led them by taking a breath of her own. "And out."

She exhaled and slowly lowered the knife.

"Now, Adam, keep it calm and steady. You want to make good cuts, not bad ones. Not only is tomato juice able to get everywhere, it HURTS if it gets into any kind of wound, and especially if you cut yourself."

"So, same as with the others. Fingies in, knuckles out, knife against the knuckles as you slice down."

 

[Valery Noble]

​

Outfit: Wedding Ring

Valery leaned back into the couch, her attention still mostly on her book, but her ears were attuned to the lively scene unfolding nearby. She felt the palpable excitement buzzing through the air as Adam eagerly reached for the knife, only to be met with Colette's gentle but firm correction. Valery smirked slightly, amused by the boy's unbridled enthusiasm as Colette effortlessly guided him through the process.

It filled her heart with so much joy, that Colette spent this time with the little ones.

She could hear the calm in Colette's voice, each word dripping with the wisdom of experience as she encouraged Adam to slow down and breathe. The gentle exhale that followed, a collective calm shared between the children, made Valery's smile widen, though her gaze never left the page in front of her.

Adam's little hands now steadied under Colette's guidance, and Valery could hear the faint scrape of the knife meeting the cutting board. She didn't need to look up to know how carefully he was following instructions — the room's energy had settled into a calm focus, and even the smallest slice felt like a victory for the young boy.

As he completed his first careful cut, a wave of pride and excitement rippled through the room, and Valery couldn't help but feel the warmth that came with it. She let out a contented breath, her heart swelling at the peaceful atmosphere of the moment.

"I did it!" Adam chirped, "Look! Did I do good?!"

Colette ​

 

[Colette]

Valery Noble

"Very good, Adam." Colette chuckled and affirmed the boy's excitement. "You will all be excellent cooks one day if you keep this pace up."

She gave the boy a moment to wrap up chopping his vegetables before she moved on to the next part. As he put the knife down she would carefully pick it up and put it away somewhere out of reach again and then turn back to chopping up the rest of the vegetables on the counter herself at a quick but controlled pace.

It all went into the bowl. The shuura and the apple and the celto, the tomato and the ham and the cheese, it didn't make for the biggest salad but it was most likely enough to keep them going for a little while longer.

"So." Colette said and began to take down five bowls as well as a whole bunch of other food utensils. "Aeryn, you get to set the table with bowls. Aurra, you get the knives and forks, and Adam - you get the glasses."

"Hey Valery!" Colette called out. "We made salad for you."

 

[Valery Noble]

​

Outfit: Wedding Ring

Valery glanced up from her book as Colette called out, a warm smile already forming on her lips. She could feel the excitement buzzing in the air, and it made the peaceful atmosphere of the room even more delightful. Setting the book aside, she turned fully toward the kids, her gaze shifting between each of them as they eagerly completed their tasks.

"A salad, huh?" Valery asked, her tone playful and appreciative as she rose from the couch. "I can't wait to try it."

Her eyes landed on Colette, giving her an affectionate nod of approval before focusing on the children. They were bouncing up and down — even Aurra — and couldn't wait to show off what they made, "Look Mommy!" they chirped in unison. A sound that Valery would never grow tired of.

"You all did an amazing job helping with this. Setting the table, cutting vegetables… I'm really proud of each of you."

As she approached the table where the kids were finishing up, she gave Adam a playful wink. "Looks like you're getting pretty good with that knife, huh? Keep this up, and I'll have to ask you to cook dinner one of these days."That got him to blush, and his happiness showed through his smile.

With the table nearly set, Valery turned her attention back to Colette, clearly impressed by her patience and leadership with the little ones. "Thank you," she said softly, the gratitude clear in her eyes. "You always know how to bring out the best in them."

She pulled out a chair and sat down, glancing between the bowls and the kids' proud faces. "Alright, let's see what you've made!"

Colette ​

 

[Colette]

Valery Noble

A warm smile spread on Colette's lips twice. Once in acknowledgement of Valery's approving nod, and another as she was complimented on how well she handled the kids.

"Nahhh," Colette said and shook her head. "Most people just underestimate them. Kids have energy, you know?"

She carried a bowl over and held it in her hands to look at the kids. They were excited and very proud of their teamwork and beamed particularly when Colette put it down on the table in front of Valery. The cutting work wasn't exactly stellar, but that was hardly the fault of a bunch of kids who had only just taken their first step into cutting vegetables properly.

"They got an ingredient each, and they were very good with handling the knife." Colette chuckled as she took her own seat at the table and grinned at the triplets. "If they keep this up, my clan would practically consider them adult in a year or so."

"I'm sure they would be VERY excited to learn how to grill, huh?" She asked with a mischievous grin at Valery. Fire? These triplets? Perfect combo.

 

[Valery Noble]

​

Outfit: Wedding Ring

Valery's smile grew warmer as she glanced between Colette and the children, appreciating the pride beaming from each of them. "You're absolutely right," she replied, her voice soft but filled with affection for Colette's insight. "My kids just have a little more energy than most."

As Colette set the bowl down in front of her, Valery leaned in to inspect the salad. The cuts on the vegetables were uneven, but it only made her heart swell with pride. These weren't professional cuts, but they were full of effort and excitement, and that made them perfect in her eyes.

She looked back at the triplets, her eyes twinkling. "You all did an amazing job," she said sincerely, her tone filled with admiration. "I might just have to hand over the kitchen duties to you sooner than I thought." Adam's blush deepened, while Aurra and Aeryn giggled in delight.

At Colette's mention of grilling, Valery laughed softly. "Grilling, huh? Oh, they would absolutely love that," she said, glancing mischievously at the triplets. "But isn't that a bit too much? I'm not sure I'm ready for the chaos of three little grillmasters just yet."

She then took a bite of the salad, nodding approvingly. "This is delicious!" Valery declared with a smile, her words making the kids beam even brighter. "You've all earned a special treat for this one. And Colette," she added, looking at her oldest with a knowing smile, "Thanks again. I really appreciate this."

Colette ​