Private The Next Step

[Valery Noble]

Outfit | Weapon | Appearance

Outfit | XoXo
Location | Coruscant Temple
Tag | Rakaan Horne

"A place of your past?"

Valery's body twitched a little and her posture straightened, as her eyes shifted away from the sun to meet his blues. She clearly seemed a little surprised by the question, even though she had made a proposal that was bound to raise some. Perhaps she had just expected him to accept it and figure out what it was later when they'd actually travel there.

"Oh uh..." she began almost as if she was nervous, but a confident smile flashed through rather quickly, and she seemed to be herself again. "I'm not sure if you've been to or heard of the New Cov Temple, but it was once my Enclave. It's just... not the only Temple I have a connection to. Before my Master transferred to New Cov, where he trained me, he served another small Enclave on Caamas," Valery explained.

"Something happened there that I'd like to show you. Something that shows that no matter how dark the future might seem, the light can still prevail."

​

 

[Rakaan Horne]

JEDI TEMPLE, CORUSCANT:-
Valery Noble

He was too curious to let it slip by.

Often too curious. His days as a Padawan had seen Master Korvan become the victim of an endless series of probes, of challenged views, and of both mundane and imaginative queries. His own master was never the only one that suffered through them, only with a more keenly measured restraint; a candidness was afforded between himself and Korvan, even if that bred an outspoken sense of self. Along with a myriad of questionable qualities, too.

"I see," the Jedi mused softly, "I'm not familiar with the Jedi Enclaves, but I appreciate it. I'm looking forwards to it."

His features remained muted, almost stoic if not sombre. Rakaan could never match all that Valery offered the Jedi Knight, not for the time being - plagued by visions, by nightmares, all with an uncertain future. It was nothing short of problematic for Rakaan. In time, things could change. Once he could see and understand that lesson to be found on Caamas, whatever that may be. Light could always prevail over the darkness.

Yet still, a slight lift arrived at the corner of his mouth with a flash of joy that twinkled in his eyes. "It's odd to imagine you as anything but a master, let alone a learner."

 

[Valery Noble]

Outfit | Weapon | Appearance

Outfit | XoXo
Location | Coruscant Temple
Tag | Rakaan Horne

Valery dipped her head lightly in return and gave it some more thought — it was hopefully going to be a useful trip for him, but not really one she looked forward to. It had been some time since she visited Caamas, and the particular location they'd be traveling to was one untouched for thousands of years as well.

In part because of her stasis, but even in recent years, she hadn't felt a desire to return and relive.

That more somber tone faded quickly though, as a sparkle of joy ignited in Rakaan's eyes alongside a comment, "Is that a fancy way of calling me old?" she joked with a grin, knowing that he didn't really mean it that way. Ignoring her time in stasis, she wasn't all that old and certainly didn't look old, but compared to most in the NJO, she was definitely a bit more experienced.

"But I can see what you mean. Maybe I'll have to share some stories of my days in training sometime. So people don't forget I was once a troublemaker too," she said, her smile much warmer now than before.

​

 

[Rakaan Horne]

JEDI TEMPLE, CORUSCANT:-
Valery Noble

"I would never be so rude, Master." The Jedi smirked between short-lived laughter, "You are wise and experienced beyond your years. From what my few can tell anyways. Besides, you're nowhere near as old as Masters Korvan and San Tekka."

To Rakaan, Valery Noble was a great many things. Old was not one of them. She was compassionate above all else, kind-hearted and unwavering. All admirable traits, especially when neither hindered her ability to take matters into her own hands. He wondered if that made for a model Jedi, only to acknowledge that Rakaan was not the one to decide that in any case. If she was old though, maybe what those audience devouring holos claimed was true: there was a certain beauty with age.

"But you, a troublemaker?" His eyes widened in disbelief, "I find that hard to believe. I'd pay good credits to see it."

 

[Valery Noble]

Outfit | Weapon | Appearance

Outfit | XoXo
Location | Coruscant Temple
Tag | Rakaan Horne

"Hmmm..." she hummed, as she jokingly took his words into consideration — a true life or death matter. "You're right, so I'll forgive you," she continued with a smirk that made it clear she wasn't being serious. She of course understood where his comment came from, and in a way, she found it difficult to imagine herself in a different position as well. Whether that was because of her role within the Jedi or just her life progressing to where it is now, she wasn't sure.

"But you, a troublemaker?" His eyes widened in disbelief, "I find that hard to believe. I'd pay good credits to see it."

Valery almost snorted and crossed her arms in front of her chest while she looked out through the window again, "Oh yeah, I was a very energetic and difficult to control Padawan. A bit too stubborn and arrogant as well, especially when I was really separating myself from others in terms of combative skills. Rather than using what I learned to do what I was asked, I spent too much time focusing on being competitive with others."

She paused and looked at him, "Until I got this scar, anyway. It was my reality check, and it took me a long time to really move forward from it." In part due to what happened that night, but events that followed the scar contributed to it as well - a story for another time, perhaps.

Another pause followed before her arms dropped down to her sides again, "Unless there's more you'd like to talk about, why don't we get something to eat? Can't train on an empty stomach."

​

 

[Rakaan Horne]

JEDI TEMPLE, CORUSCANT:-
Valery Noble

"Reminds me of a certain someone I know," whether from a time since set behind them or even in the now. Rakaan was fiery, to say the least, despite the sombre tone his return to the Jedi afforded him; the aches would settle with time, of that much he was sure. It was with each day that the pain eased, even with the consistent visions that burdened him in his sleep.

His usual self would return in no time.

Rakaan removed his hands from the interlocked sleeves yet still they remained lost in the fabric, "Just in the refectory, or did you have somewhere else in mind?"

In any case, he motioned towards the door.

 

[Valery Noble]

Outfit | Weapon | Appearance

Outfit | XoXo
Location | Coruscant Temple
Tag | Rakaan Horne

"Reminds me of a certain someone I know,"

"That makes two of us," Valery said, her smirk growing as she searched for his eyes with her own. "But it could always be worse. At least you're driven and always doing your best," she added. Some of the Padawans she was dealing with now really pushed the limits of what could be tolerated. In the old days of the Jedi, many of them would have never even made it to Padawan, and perhaps only been assigned to the Service Corps.

But these days, they needed all the Jedi they could get.

"The food down here is alright, but I know something better nearby — a little rooftop garden with a restaurant. My Padawan told me about it some time ago," Valery said as she began to guide him out of the room. Briana Sal-Soren had always been great at finding these hidden gems, and right now, a solid meal was something they could both use.

So with that plan in mind, they made their way out.

​