Private The Sun and the Sea

[Valery Noble]

Dorumaa

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Outfit: Outfit
Appearance: Link
Weapons: None
Tag: Aldric Laurent

With her amazing massage and more secured, Valery was finally willing to move on to new subjects. The loss of her fries was a hard one to accept, but she'd forgive him this time and focus on eating her steak instead.

"Yeah, I... will tell you about it another time, okay?" she asked, now believing it was probably not a good idea that she had already brought it up. The project was quite secretive and some things weren't entirely detailed yet. But this mission involved her risking her life to an entirely new extent as well, so he deserved to know, and she was going to tell him about it. Just not here, and not now. "And I am looking forward to having fewer Padawans to train. I love all of them, but it's demanding and I want to shift my focus more to leading the Jedi as a whole in this war."

She then smirked in return to his, "Some more alone time with you would be nice too." Her hand slowly reached forward, first making it seem like she was about to steal more food, but it settled on his hand again. A simple gesture, but physical touch like this made her feel a rush of warm emotions inside.

On the topic of the SIA, she withdrew her hand again and nodded, "I can introduce you to another agent I worked with a lot back in the day, but getting out there more will help with that too. I probably shouldn't call dibs on you every mission as well, but it's just so hard not to~"

 

[Aldric Laurent]

Aldric blinked, but again didn't press Valery on her 'really big' plans, "...Sure." He understood better than most the need for discretion in work. He was a secret agent, after all. The things they didn't weren't supposed to be topics for idle chit-chat. She would tell him when it was the right time.

"It's no small task. You've already got a lot to deal with. Every little bit helps, right?" One less padawan to have to focus on. One more knight for the Order. She had already taken on more students than some Jedi would in a lifetime.

Aldric hummed in agreement, and when Valery placed her hand over his, he just looked back at her with a warm smile. "I'd like that."

As their talk turned to the SIA, he raised a brow, "Somebody I don't know?" Aldric worked with quite a few folks during his time with the Agency, so he was curious to see who might have slipped under his radar. He chuckled, "It's an easy way to get some extra time together." A wink, as he took another bite of his food.

Valery Noble​

 

[Valery Noble]

Dorumaa

​

Outfit: Outfit
Appearance: Link
Weapons: None
Tag: Aldric Laurent

She knew that he understood that this was not a good time, and definitely not a good place, to talk about confidential missions, so she moved on from the topic without a problem and focused on more appropriate topics for where they were. "Even just knighting Iris has freed up a lot of time, so definitely," she said after swallowing a bite from her steak, which she was devouring at an almost alarming pace.

Aldric probably knew from past missions, but she ate quite a lot to maintain her physique, and she ate fast too. Sometimes like a pig too but around him, she did her best to be very lady-like.

"After this vacation, we'll probably go back into the war again, but once we have a break, let's do some more traveling. I'll make the time for it. For you," she added with a smile before the conversation shifted to the SIA and his place within it. "I don't think you met him. His name is Lyrrin and together with another friend, Kalie, we were quite a team for a while. But that was mostly after you left."

Valery then turned back to her food and took another large bite before she picked up on his wink and smirked, "That's true, and I want all the time we can get. I don't know for sure how this war is going to end, but I do know it's going to demand more and more of my time." She frowned a little at the idea, but it is ultimately what she signed up for. Having someone like Aldric be here for her when he couldn't join her already made her feel much better about it. She had a reason to fight, a reason to stay alive because of him, and of course, because of Vera.

 

[Aldric Laurent]

Aldric watched, almost impressed by how quickly Valery was inhaling her steak. He just shook his head amusedly, and took another bite of his own. It took a lot of calories to maintain a strong physique.

"I'd like that," He said warmly, then joked, "As long as you're not slacking off on your work, that is." She revealed the other agent in question, and Aldric nodded, "Might've heard the name before, but nah, don't think I ever worked with them anyway. I'd be glad to, though. Never hurts to have more people I can trust." And if Valery trusted them, chances are, he would too.

"It's never easy. But if anyone can do it, it's you," He said, staring into her eyes once more. She had led the Jedi this far. The war might not be over yet, but with her at the tip of the spear, Aldric liked to believe it was only a matter of time before the Maw crumbled. "And I'll have your back wherever, and whenever, you need me."

Valery Noble​

 

[Valery Noble]

Dorumaa

​

Outfit: Outfit
Appearance: Link
Weapons: None
Tag: Aldric Laurent

While he didn't say anything about the way she devoured her steak, Valery could tell that he picked up on it, and offered a more sheepish smile. She wanted to be proper, so she immediately began to actively restrain herself, and ate slowly. But even then, not all that much remained of her food.

His untouched fries were looking awfully tasty still, though.

"I'm not slacking, I promise." Valery chuckled and took a quick, small bite from her steak again. "I usually fight at the front for a while, and it's so intense I get a decent break too. Usually, I'd fill it up with smaller assignments, but now... I plan to spend more of it with you and Vera."

On the topic of Lyrrin, Valery nodded again, "He's reliable and had my back when it mattered several times. So you can trust him but... he's a little protective of me as well." She remembered when Kahlil proposed, and how Lyrrin was towards him before that. Nothing too bad or serious, but it was interesting, to say the least. "He loves to poke fun and make jokes too but never pushes it too far. Should be a fun time, and if we all work together, we can tackle any problem."

She smiled and began to finish up her steak when he showed strong support for her and what she did. It drew her eyes back up to find him staring directly into them, causing her to blush just a little, "I..." she began before she put down her cutlery and drew in a soft breath. "Can we pay for the food and head back to the beach for a walk? Almost time for sunset and there's something I want to tell you, but not here."

 

[Aldric Laurent]

"Protective?" Aldric smirked, finding it oddly amusing. "Well, if you trust him, then I trust him." He needed to get more familiar with the other agents anyway, if he was going to keep at this job. Might as well be one that Valery knows.

She seemed eager to finish up and leave, to which Aldric just nodded curiously, "Sure. I'm just about finished up." He ate the last of his steak, a bit faster than usual, and waved for the check. While they waited for that, he snacked on a few of his fries, carefully watching for any sudden moves from Val.

Once it came, he would pay, and they would be ready to head off. The sunset was still lowering in the sky, and Aldric extended a hand, "Shall we?"

Valery Noble​

 

[Valery Noble]

Dorumaa

​

Outfit: Outfit
Appearance: Link
Weapons: None
Tag: Aldric Laurent

"Protective, in a friendly way," Valery said. It was hard to explain but she supposed it was almost like he was a brother, looking to protect his sister even if she didn't really need it, or in some cases if she really didn't want it. It was very different from why Aldric was protective, and far less intense as well, but she could appreciate it.

At the suggestion to head back to the beach, Aldric waved over a waitress to ask for the check and began finishing up his fries. But oddly enough, Valery didn't seem interested in stealing them anymore — she had something on her mind, something that made her a little nervous. But when the check was covered and Aldric offered his hand, she finally snapped out of it a little and took the hand with a soft smile. She stood up, and together with him, they began to walk along the beach to enjoy the amazing view.

A slightly cooler breeze now blew against their skin and through their hair, and the heat of the sun from before was only stored in the sand underneath their feet now. The warm light that was left to shine against them did little to provide physical heat, but the romantic feeling it gave Valery helped her feel a very different kind of warmth inside.

"I know I've said it before, but you've really changed my life," Valery began before she stopped and moved in front of him, the ocean and its orange horizon to their side. "You make me feel protected, and cared for, and even just thinking about you makes me really happy and excited to get through my days, just so I can be with you again." She knew she was maybe being a little sappy, but her words were genuine, and once she took his hands, she hoped that he realized how important this was to her.

"But there's one thing I haven't said before because I was nervous, and... scared," she said, clearly struggling to admit all of these things she felt made her seem weak. She gently squeezed his hands and looked up into his eyes, her own a little watery but not because she was sad. She felt like the happiest woman in the Galaxy.

"I love you, Aldric."

 

[Aldric Laurent]

They took their leave of the pier, the lively ambience soon overtaken by the serene crashing of waves against the shore, and the crunch of sand beneath their feet. A gentle ocean breeze passed them by, rustling through Aldric's hair and making him run his free hand across his scalp to fix it. All of it, in combination with the resplendent hues of dusk that painted the sky, made for a perfect ambience. He walked along, with her hand in his, content to just wallow in the pleasant silence.

Eventually, Valery stepped in front of him, and Aldric halted to a stop. He blushed a bit at her unrestrained affection, kind words pouring out that reaffirmed everything they felt, "Val…" Aldric smiled warmly, shaking his head. She then took his hands, pulling his gaze back to her eyes. There was hesitation. Something Valery wanted to say. "You can tell me anything…" Somehow, in the moment, it hadn't even occurred to him what that might really be.

"I love you, Aldric."

Aldric blinked, and stared at her for a few moments. Then he smiled, struggling to hide some emotion of his own. Perhaps deep down it was clear, but to hear the words aloud meant something much more profound. Aldric opened his mouth to speak, then closed it, Then opened it again. A sigh escaped, like he was mustering up the courage to respond, "...I love you too." It was all he could say, but it was also all that mattered. He pulled her in close, leaning down for a kiss.

Valery Noble​

 

[Valery Noble]

Dorumaa

​

Outfit: Outfit
Appearance: Link
Weapons: None
Tag: Aldric Laurent

The second those few words left her lips, Valery felt both immensely relieved and incredibly nervous at the same time. She had been wanting to tell him how she really felt for a while now, even though everything between them had already made it so obvious. So to get it off her chest made her feel like a huge weight had been lifted off of her shoulders, but it wasn't enough to ease her mind entirely.

What if he didn't truly feel the same way? What if he couldn't say it in return?

The brief moment of silence that followed after she said it created these doubts, but they were, of course, ridiculous. Deep down, she knew exactly how he felt about her, but sometimes it was important to express it through words as well. To make sure there was no doubt about it at all. So when his mouth opened again to speak, Valery felt her heart stop for a moment and listened with widened eyes.

"...I love you too."​

She felt herself melting instantly from all the love and emotions that overwhelmed her at this very moment, and she let herself be pulled into a long kiss to convey them all to him. Her hands shifted up to hold his cheeks, and as the sun began to set on the horizon, she finally wrapped her arms around his neck to hold him close for an undetermined amount of time. "I'm so happy to be with you..." she muttered before she pulled back enough to look into his eyes, her lips trembling a little but tugged up into a beautiful smile. "You want to go for a walk back to our place? We can do more fun things out here tomorrow."

 

[Aldric Laurent]

Aldric wrapped his hands around Valery’s back, holding her close as they met in a loving, emotional kiss. Deep down, it was never really in question, but words had meaning. Hearing it aloud only made the fire burn even stronger. It affirmed everything he was feeling about their relationship, and in his eyes, was the start of the next stage.

They pulled away, and he pressed his forehead against hers, “Me too,” with Valery, Aldric felt like the luckiest man in the world. He was stronger because of her. Better. And, of course, happier. To hear that she felt the same was the most beautiful sound to ever strike his ears. “Let’s,” He said, taking her hand again, “We’ll have plenty of time for everything else.” The rest of tonight would just be for them.

The sun had nearly completed its fall beneath the horizon, and the oranges and pinks were fading into the dark purple and black of night. Here, the constellations above were numerous, dotting the sky with distant, ethereal lights. Aldric looked up at the vast canvas of space, mesmerized by what he saw. But even that wasn’t enough to stop him from stealing the occasional glance back at Valery.

Valery Noble​

 

[Valery Noble]

Dorumaa

​

Outfit: Outfit
Appearance: Link
Weapons: None
Tag: Aldric Laurent

Still standing close and with his forehead gently resting against her own, Valery's eyes closed and she took the moment to just process everything that had happened, and everything they had said. From the start of their relationship, they had both been very open with each other about their feelings, but to say those three words the way they just did meant they were ready for the next stage in their lives together.

They really were partners now, building up a relationship meant to last until their final breaths.

"Alright..." she said softly before she quickly stole another kiss by pushing herself up a little on her toes. When she settled back down, she took the offered hand, interlaced fingers, and looked at him with loving eyes before she turned to start walking back along the beach. Now that the sun had settled behind the horizon, and the stars were visible up in the sky as a result, Valery leaned into him for warmth and shelter against the colder breeze.

The moonlit beach, the stars, and the constellations they formed — she couldn't remember the last time she had seen something so beautiful. But no matter how bright those stars burned, their heat paled in comparison to the fire she felt inside from looking at him. "This is a place where I can one day see myself growing old," Valery said while she gently squeezed his hand. "A little house somewhere quiet, but close to the beach. Spend the days relaxed and the evenings looking up at the stars together with you." She chuckled at the idea, as it was still so very far away, but she'd never be afraid to admit that her dream was a peaceful retirement together with someone she loved. To raise a family together and enjoy the freedom they had all fought for without having to worry about anything.

Soon enough, the two reached their little home, and Valery quickly turned to close the doors behind them. A silence fell almost instantly, as the sounds of nature could no longer reach them, but she was just as quick to turn back around and to him. She didn't say a word and just pushed him back against the wall within the narrow hallway, before pulling him into a much deeper, more passionate kiss than what would have been appropriate at the beach. "I love you so very much..." she whispered against his lips after a moment, and once again, she leaned in close to press her lips against his.

 

[Aldric Laurent]

Aldric smiled as she reached up to give him another kiss, before pulling her close for their walk back to the cabin. They were both enraptured by their scenic surroundings, yet still came back to each other. Valery spoke again, pulling Aldric's attention firmly onto her. He smiled, "I'd like that. A lot." It was a long way off, but already it was hard not to envision in their future. Perhaps one day, that could really come true.

Almost as soon as they stepped back inside their home, the silence made the growing tension seem much louder. Aldric grinned as she pushed him back, holding her tightly, melting into the kiss. He thrummed excitedly, and when she said those magic words again, his smile turned impish, "Prove it." Aldric grabbed Valery, pushing her towards the room as they fell into another kiss…

Valery Noble​

 

[Valery Noble]

Dorumaa

​

Outfit: Outfit
Appearance: Link
Weapons: None
Tag: Aldric Laurent

Even though she pushed him back against the wall, he held onto her and pulled her along to keep her close and within his embrace. They kissed with passion and deep lust for each other, and after it broke and Valery said those magic words again, she could feel what it did to him.

"Prove it."

She bit her lower lip and offered no resistance when he grabbed her shoulders and pushed her through the hallway. Then, with their lips locked in another fiery kiss, they entered their room, where the rest of the night was spent close together...

---

As rays of sunlight began to shine through the windows in the morning, Valery's eyes opened and she began to grumble a little. She still held one of his arms around herself for comfort and was tucked in close against him. Her head shifted, and she looked over her shoulder to check if he was still sleeping.

"Hey babe..." she whispered softly. "Time to get up." She kissed his cheek and tried to snake her way out of his embrace, so she could sit at the edge of the bed and grab some clothing together.

"Did you sleep well?" she asked, knowing she had at least proven that she really loved him over the course of the night. Whether it helped him sleep though... remained to be seen. Her dreams had been great, at least, and now she was looking forward to the day ahead of them.

 

[Aldric Laurent]

Aldric was still in the middle of what was perhaps the most serene sleep he had ever had. The kind of sleep that came to someone who felt whole, content, without worries. Already, this vacation had done that for him. Or more aptly, Valery had.

And though waking up from it was a regrettable inevitability, there was no better sound to pull him free than that of his love's voice. A low, quiet hum rumbled in his chest, as the rest of his senses returned to him. He loosened his embrace to free her, and his eyes fluttered open, greeted by her beauty as she leaned in to peck his cheek.

"Mmmm…" Aldric grumbled, sliding his feet off the edge of the bed, "Don't think I've ever slept better," He said, looking back at her with a tired, yet impish smirk. They had shared passionate nights together before, but this one was different. "What about you?"

Valery Noble​

 

[Valery Noble]

Valery chuckled softly when she heard the low grumbling from having to wake up, but it changed very quickly to a more content hum when she leaned in to kiss his cheek. The night before had been special, not just because of the passionate time spent together, but because of how they had expressed their love for each other. It had been the beginning of their next step together, and that alone made the morning amazing, as it all came back to her.

"I'm glad to hear it, love," Valery said as she put on her shirt again and began to brush her long, and now very messy hair. She then flashed a smirk and let out a soft, happy sigh, "Best sleep I've had in a while, and not just because you really drained me last night." She winked, stood up and pulled the blankets off of him with a teasing grin.

"Come on, I'll make you some coffee and breakfast. Then we can head into town or into nature. Or even back to the beach if you want to go for a swim."

She paused and shamelessly just admired her man for a moment, as he shifted around. "Anything you feel is most fun for today?"

 

[Aldric Laurent]

"Glad to hear it," Aldric echoed, reaching down in search of his clothes. After getting dressed, he turned around to catch Valery shamelessly staring, and just grinned.

"I'm game for whatever. Maybe we can head inland for a bit and see what's happening." They'd spent almost all of yesterday at the beach, so it would be a good opportunity to get a sense for the rest of the place. Aldric wasn't worried about time constraints.

He stood up and walked out into the kitchen, which had a nice window view, split evenly between the length of the beach, and a grove of palm trees. "Anything sound good for breakfast?" Valery had offered to make it herself, but he wasn't very well just going to stand around while she did all the work.

Valery Noble​

 

[Valery Noble]

Dorumaa

​

Outfit: Outfit
Appearance: Link
Weapons: None
Tag: Aldric Laurent

"Sounds like a plan to me," Valery said with a loving smile at the suggestion of going inland. They had explored the beach all day yesterday, and she had no clue what the rest of this Island was like, so it seemed like an exciting thing to do. She then left him alone in the bedroom for a moment so he could finish dressing up and headed into the kitchen to start cooking some breakfast. They had plenty of options for what to choose, but she settled on something simple.

"Just making some scrambled eggs, bacon, and fresh juice for alongside the coffee," she told him when he joined her after a moment. Without looking away from the pan, she slid over a cup of hot coffee and continued humming a soft little tune, one had had likely heard her singing before.

It was one of the few things she somehow remembered from her time on Keshi.

"I read about some interesting animals we could find out there, and even a mention of an old archeological excavation site," she said, clearly with that exciting hint of adventure in her tone. "But after our last cave adventure, I'm not entirely sure if it's the best idea," she added as a joke.

"There's also this underwater experience into the depths of the ocean~" she continued, "Maybe we can see one of the leviathans." It was for the best they didn't, but she definitely loved the idea.

 

[Aldric Laurent]

Aldric hummed approvingly, pouring some juice in cups while Valery got to work on the pan. He set out plates and utensils, snatching his coffee as it was offered. "Dig site could be fun," He said, amused, "Surely nothing can go wrong the second time around." He doubted there was much on a curated tropical vacation island that could really get them into trouble, but you never know.

"Leviathans?" Aldric asked, finding the potential concerns of that idea more realistic, "Do they make you sign a waiver first, just in case you get eaten by a giant fish monster?"

Valery Noble​

 

[Valery Noble]

Dorumaa

​

Outfit: Outfit
Appearance: Link
Weapons: None
Tag: Aldric Laurent

"Don't jinx it," Valery said while she threateningly held up a spatula towards him. She then winked and slid over his plate with scrambled eggs and bacon... only after snatching one piece of his bacon first and putting it in her mouth. She kept her own plate by her side and well-protected at the same time to avoid retaliation and grinned in his direction.

Revenge for the fries.

"And no, the leviathans haven't been seen in many years, so nobody has been eaten. Buuuut...." she smirked, "I figured if anybody could find them, it'd be us." The grin on her face made it clear that she wasn't too concerned, but then again, she rarely was until things actually went wrong.

"The excavation site is on an Island that only appears at very low tides, so that's interesting. Just gotta get out before it fills up with water again or you know... becoming leviathan food might not be so strange of an idea." She paused and began to eat some of her food while she watched him closely.

"Last vacation I picked the cave exploration, so I'll let you pick this time. Get lost in nature somewhere on this Island, excavation site, or we can go diving in the ocean and explore there. Or something else if you want a less adventurous day," she said with a soft chuckle.

 

[Aldric Laurent]

Aldric reached for his plate, when Valery suddenly snatched a piece of bacon from it as revenge. He scoffed, and looked back at her with a similar look of betrayal as last night. "Okay," Was all he said, as if she had just openly challenged him. He snatched his plate and held it close, protecting it from any further theft while he ate.

"Sooo you wanna find them and get eaten?" Aldric raised his brow, a piece of bacon sticking out of his mouth. The other options were laid out for him, and he grumbled in thought. He didn't particularly like being the one to choose, much more content to just go wherever she was most interested in visiting. It all was entertaining to him, if Valery was around to share in the experience.

Using that line of judgment, she seemed most excited about the ocean experience, so he went with that option, "How about some diving then? Considering how long we were on the beach yesterday, we never once touched water."

Valery Noble​