Private Blue-Milk Run Gone Sour

[Elicar Sikcomb]

Location: New Cov
Attire: Shorts, Tank Top
Tags: Valery Noble

He narrowed his eyes at the mention of the Force. She'd given herself a handicap. But he wondered how much that counted for given she was a jedi. What little he knew from rumors varied widely about them. Some using the Force for most everything, others using the Force only in the most dire situations.

Given how she held herself, he wouldn't doubt she was more the latter than the former. A slight nod to his giving up the first move.

"I don't hit first." Admitting to something he'd had drilled in his head from a young age.

The jab breaking up the thought as he felt himself grin. A slight twist of his whole body keeping the jab to striking his forearm. Putting him in the direct path of the cross she leveled at him. Leaning further into the twist, and putting his weight onto his lead leg, he felt the hit graze his arm instead of center mass as he dropped his right arm down to strike back.

But she danced away, keeping her distance with footwork.

"Ah. Yer' a quick one. This'll be fun." Throwing his right arm forward with a twist before doing the same with the left. His arm stung with her strikes, reminding him she had power behind those hits as he stalked after her.

Following the lead of her steps as he softly bobbed back and forth, eyes fixed on her shoulders instead of her arms or hands.

His own shoulders drew in as he sent a jab her way, followed with another jab before sending a left shovel hook to test her reaction. He wasn't exactly holding back, keeping the power behind each punch to a friendly level for the moment.

A careful half step back when the hook finished to give him enough space to lean while remaining close enough to chase.

 

[Valery Noble]

New Cov

​

Outfit: Factory Link | Wedding Ring
Weapons: Lightsabers
Tag: Elicar Sikcomb

"I usually try not to either, but we'd be standing here staring at each other for a while otherwise," Valery said with quite a grin, after she tested the waters with a few simpler strikes. They had their warm-up already, but easing into a spar was never a bad idea either. Especially not with a new sparring partner. She didn't want to accidentally cause injuries, and she figured he was approaching this with the same mindset.

It was training for fun and to learn, not to win.

Elicar then stepped closer to open up with his own attacks, and Valery was quick to respond. With open-handed parries, she took care of the less power-driven strikes, though even though collisions sent a sting through her palm. When the hook came, Valery was quick to slip underneath, and readied herself to move back some more.

"...and you're strong," she said, grin widening.

As Elicar distanced himself as well, Valery found herself out of reach to strike with her fists, but her entire body was a weapon. Her flexibility showed in an instant, as her foot came off the ground, and snapped up towards the side of his head with quite a powerful high-kick. She drew her strength from her legs and core, and hoped to test him just a little more.

Following the kick, she advanced forward, and started throwing punches more freely.

It was time to sweat.

 

[Elicar Sikcomb]

Location: New Cov
Attire: Shorts, Tank Top
Tags: Valery Noble

"For a while?" Brow rising with a chuckle. "Pleasant way to waste time then."

His own strikes blocked, and receiving her measure, he let the grin grow into a broad smile.

"Gotta stay active when your space-bound. I can manage strong. You've got me-" His words catching as her whole body shifted, eyes glinting with a mix of fear and glee. Using his whole body to throw up an arm to defend. A snap reaction that found the sting settling deep in his arm as he took a cautious step back.

Only to be hounded as she chased him with punches.

Open handed swats keeping her fists from reaching him as he kept an eye on her shoulders. Trying to gauge a pattern, finding a tiny break in the punches to step into her swing. Suffering a partial strike to gain ground.

He wasn't putting his all behind his own strikes, but she'd have to put in effort to swat the punches he was putting out aside. Attempting to steal the momentum back from the obviously more studied fighter, stepping into her zone and trying to keep her from dancing outside his reach again.

A bear chasing a fox as he gave up the chase for a moment to steady himself.

 

[Valery Noble]

New Cov

​

Outfit: Factory Link | Wedding Ring
Weapons: Lightsabers
Tag: Elicar Sikcomb

"Pleasant, hm?" Valery teased with a grin. The thought was amusing, especially because they were throwing punches at each other. Sure, there was no intent to cause real harm in any of them, but a good hit to the head, the liver or even just the gut would still hurt quite a bit.

Very pleasant.

Following a kick that must have hurt at least a little, Valery picked up the pace with a barrage of punches and parries. He was using his size to his advantage, she was tapping into her speed, and they likely both understood it meant they weren't going to keep this up without taking hits forever. A partial hit as he moved forward opened her up, and Valery suffered from one strike right into her gut.

She felt the breath knocked out of her a little, but rather than fold over, she countered with an uppercut to his chin and slipped aside to avoid him catching her with the same idea. Her speed then pulsed just beyond what her body should be able to muster, as the Force flowed through her muscles, and a quick kick was aimed to sweep him down to the floor.

This wasn't a boxing match, after all.

 

[Elicar Sikcomb]

Location: New Cov
Attire: Shorts, Tank Top
Tags: Valery Noble

"Aye. Pleasant." The last word halfway growled at the kick she landed. Speed and power beginning to set the tempo. His side singing with the burn of contact as he kept pace.

She was getting serious.

Not that he wasn't as he felt the connection of his own punch. One that she countered with a strike to his chin. Had she been sparring him three years ago, she would have laid him out flat. Even now he felt nerves tingle and go cold as his teeth ground together.

Freezing his nerves as she danced out of range.

An itching feeling at the back of his head as he made to step forward to meet her. Not quite insight and not quite his own gut feeling that had him backpedal. Not fast enough as she caught his other foot, sending him backwards onto the ground. Surprise marring the serious scrunch of his brow as he rolled backward onto his knees.

Smile wide as he surged forward again to close the distance, feint jabs turning into grabs to try and put her into a hold.

This wasn't boxing after all.

 

[Valery Noble]

New Cov

​

Outfit: Factory Link | Wedding Ring
Weapons: Lightsabers
Tag: Elicar Sikcomb

As soon as her leg sweep connected, she watched the much larger figure go down, though with surprising elegance. He didn't just fall flat onto the ground like a sack of potatoes, but rolled into the motion and got back up to his knees. The surprise there caused Valery to miscalculate, and rather than already force them into a lock, she dashed straight into his guard. Pulled down onto the mats, Valery struggled at first, purely because his natural strength was greater than her own.

As muscular as she was, he was much taller and had a clear weight advantage.

But with a sudden burst of the Force through her system, Valery not only closed that gap in strength but made herself much faster. She spun on her side and hip and looked to flip him around while her powerful thighs searched for a lock. The fight wouldn't end without one of them surrendering, so that's what she was aiming for.

His head between her legs, and an arm twisted to force him to tap out.

 

[Elicar Sikcomb]

Location: New Cov
Attire: Shorts, Tank Top
Tags: Valery Noble

His own speed paled in comparison.

A fact he was quickly learning as his hold failed and he found himself locked up. As much strength as he could muster into the locked up arm wasn't enough to break free, and his only option then was something he didn't enjoy doing. Rather than give into the violence that sang in his bones, he tried prying a leg free before his air ran out.

A final gasp of air before the leg secured itself once more, and frustration boiled to a dangerous point. The locked up arm lifting at the shoulder, prepared to slam her against the ground. Eyes darting sideways as he reminded himself this wasn't life or death.

This was a friendly match.

The competitive streak losing to rationale as his other hand slapped the ground three times. Whatever she had done, he couldn't compete against normally. Focused on steadying his breathing and coming down from what had been described as a battle high.

He lay still, chest heaving with a growing smirk before letting his eyes settle on her.

"Full of surprises. You are."

 

[Valery Noble]

New Cov

​

Outfit: Factory Link | Wedding Ring
Weapons: Lightsabers
Tag: Elicar Sikcomb

Every muscle in her body tensed and screamed while she kept him in her lock. He was incredibly strong, so unless she were to continuously use the Force, he likely had the strength to fight back. That dangerous intent even passed through him, and there was a side of her that wanted to provoke it. She loved a good challenge, a good fight, and some harder punches or body slams were a part of that.

But much like him, she realized this was just a friendly spar, and he had only just recovered from some serious injuries. She couldn't at all justify pushing him even further, and so she decided to let go as soon as he tapped out.

Valery fell flat on her back, her own chest heaving as well, while strands of long brunette hair stuck to her face. Her cheeks were red, mostly from exertion, her forehead was glistening from sweat, and her body felt like she has just done a full-body weight-lifting routine.

She loved it.

"Yeah?" She asked with a chuckle. "What was so surprising?" She added with a smirk. Surely, he had expected a Jedi to be able to fight.

"You're good, though. If I didn't know better, I would have thought you were a soldier." She smiled and pushed herself up, so she was sitting on the floor and able to fix her hair up just a little.

 

[Elicar Sikcomb]

Location: New Cov
Attire: Shorts, Tank Top
Tags: Valery Noble

He gave a joyous laugh, ending when his tongue ran across his canine and turned his head toward her. Fixing his eyes on her as he lay flat on the mat. Still chuckling a bit as he spoke.

"I figured you were fast but chit. You. Kept getting faster. And stronger. That was. A blast!" A pleased grin as his arms rose, thumbs up until he let his arms fall back to the mat with a thud. Sweat covered his brow, arms and face red with effort.

Her observation making him look to her again, appreciating the smile she shared before speaking. Eyes watching as her hair was fixed.

"Valgauth Militia," Pushing himself up until fully seated, letting his arms prop him up. "Wouldn't call myself a soldier, but I defended my home."

Leaning forward with a push and stretching his arms forward until he couldn't.

"Would love to spar again before I head back. Really got the blood pumping." Leaning back with a gusty breath out. The slight shimmer of iridescence across his shoulders and face where effort was plain.

 

[Valery Noble]

New Cov

​

Outfit: Factory Link | Wedding Ring
Weapons: Lightsabers
Tag: Elicar Sikcomb

"Why thank you," Valery said with a smile, flattered by the compliments. She was just a little bit proud about her skill as a warrior, so it felt nice to hear it from someone who didn't look at her through the lense of a Jedi. Types like him tended to be brutally honest, and she could appreciate that.

Especially if she got a compliment out of it in the process.

"Well, that about makes you a soldier. Defending our homes should be a soldier's first priority, hm?" She meant that as a compliment - a true soldier was someone she would always respect. Valery then brushed her hair aside and watched him as he got up a little to stretch his arms. It wasn't just the flex of muscle that caught her eye, but the way his skin seemed to reflect light as well.

It was even more peculiar to her Keshian eyes.

"I'd love to spar again," she said with a smirk. "It's a good workout and always fun." She pushed herself up to her feet and offered him a hand up. "I uh, was also wondering..." She paused and looked at him from just a little closer. Until she realized how awkward that was.

"If you don't mind me asking, I noticed your skin almost has this...glow to it?"

 

[Elicar Sikcomb]

Location: New Cov
Attire: Shorts, Tank Top
Tags: Valery Noble

"You are most welcome." He nodded softly before listening to her speak about his time served. Mulling it over with another nod of agreement.

"You aren't wrong. I guess I do count." A small chuckle leaving him at the thought. He hadn't served like others had, but he always kept a line open to the Militia signal. Maybe that made him more than just a ragtag warrior after all.

A smile offered as he took her hand, confusion painting his face when she asked about his skin glowing. Not shimmering, or throwing rainbows. But glowing.

"Do. Ah. You. Erhm. Ha. You see in ultraviolet?" Free hand suddenly fussing with his shirt and shorts. He'd always avoided clubs and the night life, aware he stood out like a neon sign.

 

[Valery Noble]

New Cov

​

Outfit: Factory Link | Wedding Ring
Weapons: Lightsabers
Tag: Elicar Sikcomb

Valery groaned while she pulled him up to his feet - he was much heavier, and she was starting to feel the exhaustion of her muscles. But once he was up, the battle-tension was almost entirely gone, and that intense focus turned into a warm, friendly smile again.

Until she noticed that glow in his face.

"I can see from Infrared, to UV," Valery said, a little confused about his sudden change of demeanor. The glowing cheeks weren't strange to her at all, and even had their charm. But when she glanced down, she blinked and coughed.

His entire body was glowing and mixed with the heat she saw, she understood.

"I uh, oh." She smiled sheepishly and held a hand up towards the door. "It's okay, let's maybe just grab a shower, get changed, and then grab that meal I promised, hm?"

 

[Elicar Sikcomb]

Location: New Cov
Attire: Shorts, Tank Top
Tags: Valery Noble

She helped him up, and he couldn't help but laugh a little. They'd been friendly about the sparring, but that didn't mean they weren't worn from it. Even he was beginning to feel the burn in his muscles.

It wasn't just ultraviolet, and too he realized as she advised a shower before the got some food.

"Yeah. Let's. Cool off. Clean up. Get some food." He agreed, taking the lead without any protest. A good shower would hopefully ease the burning embarrassment alongside achy muscles.

 

[Valery Noble]

New Cov

​

Outfit: Factory Link | Wedding Ring
Weapons: Lightsabers
Tag: Elicar Sikcomb

Realizing his embarrassment, Valery just smiled and let him lead the way out. She probably should have told him about the glowing skin when she had first pulled him out of that crashed ship and noticed it, but...better late than never, she supposed. It just complicated some things, but she wasn't going to make him feel tense.

For now, a shower and grabbing a meal would be a good way to move forward again.

After leaving the training arena, Valery showed him the way to his own room. It had a shower and even a bed if he wanted to get a little bit of rest - Valery would likely take a lot longer to get ready, anyway. But when she finished up, she stepped into the hallway in a more casual outfit.

Perhaps unusual depending on his view of the Jedi, but she wasn't on-duty at the moment.

"Alright, I can cook us some steaks and prepare some veggies. Or do you prefer something else?"

 

[Elicar Sikcomb]

Location: New Cov
Attire: Casual
Tags: Valery Noble

It wasn't often that his appearance bothered him. He was broad shouldered and carried himself as if the world couldn't weigh him down. But encountering someone that could see the other side of his bloodline had pulled the rug out from under him. Night clubs were a nightmare. More for those around him really since he didn't have to stare at his glowing form in the dark.

He was told it wasn't an unpleasant sight given he seemed to give of a lavender hue.

But it had drawn too many eyes each time he'd bothered to visit those dark hour hot spots. Even bright light made him second guess what he was wearing, and finding someone that could see that without the help of outside means made him sigh.

"There's worse things." Resignation sinking in as he found the charred safe box inside the provided room. Delight making him clap his hands together with a hearty laugh.

"Best investment yet!" The door proving troublesome at first given the heat tweaked hinges. The twist handle proving stronger though as the little panel opened with a grating sound. Sending a shiver down his back. Teeth grinding as his eyes crossed. He hated that shrill sound.

But the torture of that little sound provided him with the emergency clothing he'd left inside.

Along with the spare datapad of his shipment details. Another small victory as he towel dried his hair and set it astride the chair. Pacing while going over the details to make sure he had a mental checklist for later. Seemingly comfy as he stalked about the room, sparing a glare at the shorts the medical droids had provided him. They needed some better duds than that. Granted it wasn't everyday someone his size needed help probably. The thought making him check his stomach. Keeping a polite suggestion in mind as well when he finally began to dress. The jeans slipped on, and his hand brushed against the scab that had formed over the wound he'd kept hidden.

Pausing to run his hands along his skin once and hold them out.

Relief painting his features briefly at the reminder of how close he had been to serious trouble. Any deeper and he'd have been looking at a kidney removal instead of just a thorough screening. The other scrapes and gouges equally past the point of worry as the shirt slid on.

Passing his reflection in the shower to give himself a once over before stepping out and finding Valery once more. An impressed grin appearing as he thought back to her previous outfit.

"Learning new things all the time. Outfit looks good on you." He offered with a silent clap before answering her question. "And steak and veggies sounds great!"

Only allowing the air to be still for a few seconds before a thought struck.

"This was probably a day off for you, huh? Sorry for making it exciting. Got a decent practice in though for the trouble." Head tilted slightly as he wondered if that had actually been the case. Stealing a glance at her once more to see if he'd guessed correctly.

 

[Valery Noble]

New Cov

​

Outfit: Factory Link | Wedding Ring
Weapons: Lightsabers
Tag: Elicar Sikcomb

"Learning new things, hm?" She chuckled and looked down at the more casual outfit before nodding to him. "Thanks. The Jedi gear feels and looks great, but it feels a little weird if we're just eating." He was also growing on her, and trying to make new friends was a lot easier if you didn't look like you were going into battle.

"Steak and veggies it is. Right this way." Valery was about to guide him down to the mess hall, when he broke a brief moment of silence with a question. She paused, turned to him, and offered a reassuring smile.

"I wouldn't say a day off, or else I would have been at home. More...a quiet day, which is what I like about this Temple." Unlike Coruscant, New Cov actually felt calming to her, and a long time ago, this had been her home.

"You did make the day a lot more exciting though, and that spar was great. We'll do another tomorrow morning." She smirked, readied herself to walk, but this time she stopped.

"Just, don't hold back next time, alright?" She flashed a grin, knowing he had for the sake of a friendly spar. But she loved a real challenge, and she hoped he would be interested in it too, now they weren't complete strangers to each other anymore.

Soon after, they reached the mess hall, and Valery held her hand up to a table close to the kitchen, so he could sit while she cooked up a meal. "Make yourself comfortable."

 

[Elicar Sikcomb]

Location: New Cov
Attire: Casual
Tags: Valery Noble

Scratching his beard as she explained. It was a good look. Unexpected given what little he knew of Jedi. But then again they were people when they weren't doing, well. Whatever it was Jedi did in the galaxy. The media always painted them in strange lights. Switching between hailing them as heroes and villains when you clicked on over to the next broadcast. He didn't have a solid grasp on what they did, so everything was a first hand experience now.

And being saved by a jedi certainly cast them in a positive light.

"That's true. Glad my firebox made it out or I'd be dressed for work myself. I think though," He chuckled at the thought as he let a smile grow wide. "I think the temple has better washer to get stains out than your run of the mill launder-mat."

His question giving her pause while she explained. Eyes lighting up as she spoke with a fondness. His gaze drifting briefly as he tried to figure out the reason without asking. Letting his eyes settle back on her when she let him know his guess had been correct. For making a proper mess of his ship, the spar had made it a bit better. A slight frown at their next spar being tomorrow.

But that was something to look forward to rather than be bitter about.

And he wasn't going to complain with how rusty he was still feeling. Her pause and turn making his face blank. The grin and challenge met with a pleased smirk.

"I won't, since I'm confident you can take it." Shoulder rolling at the memory of lifting her off the floor before he'd tapped out. He'd kept it friendly. More worried about opening a wound than winning a match. She'd dragged his butt from danger and got him here. Last thing he wanted to pay her back with was bleeding out on the sparring room floor. Or get dunked in the tank again.

She led onward, pointing out their table before moving to the kitchen. Stepping close enough to lean over and pull out another chair for her from the table. Sitting down with another glance around as he lobbed a question back to her.

"The way you spoke of it. Was reverent. This place sounds important to you for a quiet day." An arm spread across the back of the chair beside him as he leaned into his seat.

 

[Valery Noble]

New Cov

​

Outfit: Factory Link | Wedding Ring
Weapons: Lightsabers
Tag: Elicar Sikcomb

Valery snickered softly, "I'd be happy to help you with laundry. So if you got dirty clothes, just put them in a bag and I'll help out." What he had been wearing during the crash and sparring might need to be washed up, and she wasn't going to make a guest at her Temple handle that himself. The good company he offered was more than enough.

She then looked over with a smile, and took note of a few changes in demeanor. He seemed happy enough about her experiencing the day the way she had, but she couldn't help but feel like he had hoped for a round 2 of training after dinner.

Unless either of them needed to lie down after eating an entire steak, perhaps she would offer it. They could take the morning for meditation and yoga, then. If he did anything like that.

"Oh I can," she said rather smugly. "But it does mean that I'll be pushing you more, as well. See if you can handle it~" she teased before she started putting their steaks and veggies on plates. Valery was a good cool, especially after cooking for her family so often, so she knew how to get the steaks just right. Unless he was a heathen who ate his steak rare.

Valery looked back over when he brought up the Temple, and her smile grew brighter. "Ohh, very good observation. But yes, this Temple is where I grew up before I ended up in stasis. I used to lead a lot of Jedi who called it home." She walked over and sat down in the seat he had readied for her, while she offered him his plate.

She had also brought two glasses and a bottle of wine, if he wanted a proper steak dinner.

"We rebuilt it, and now I like to be here when I just want to train alone or have some peace and quiet."

 

[Elicar Sikcomb]

Location: New Cov
Attire: Casual
Tags: Valery Noble

Her offer to help with laundry was met with a solitary blink at the hospitality.

"Ah. Got a few threads to put through it for the holes but. Yeah. Thank you." Fingers drumming the table briefly as he let the calm sink in. It was easy to loose himself in the hustle and bustle of his daily grind. Checklist here. Preventative maintenance there. Maybe share a few tales with the other captains while he waited for cargo. Stuff to pass the time, not unwind.

Letting his gaze settle on a faraway spot before she drew him back. The corners of his mouth drawn up in a tight curl before giving her a slight nod.

"We'll just have to see." Letting a cackle sneak through his grin as she set back to her task. Only letting her gaze wander back at his observation. His eyes alight with the new information. A sense of wonder crossing his face at the idea of stasis.

"No kidding? Oh man. I mean. You're the uh. What is it. Sword Jedi? Sword... Sword of the Jedi now that I think about it. So you, sorta did the same back then, huh?" Interest bringing out the quickly forming questions his mind made. Saving them as he heard her steps come close. Lifting his arms out of the way as plates were set down. Eyeing the bottle of wine appreciatively.

The mixing smell of steak and veggies causing his stomach to grumble.
"Ah. Apparently I uh. I was hungry." Attention given again as she mentioned how she enjoyed the temple now.

"Sounds like you have a hectic lifestyle. The days of rest between far and fewer between, huh? If," Chewing his lip a moment as he squinted a little before posing the question. "If you don't mind my asking, and feel free to decline answerin' but, what were the days like, back then I mean?"

 

[Valery Noble]

New Cov

​

Outfit: Factory Link | Wedding Ring
Weapons: Lightsabers
Tag: Elicar Sikcomb

"Mhmm, we'll see." She smirked and left it there for now, before she found her seat and offered him his meal. But before digging in, she looked back up and dipped her head, "What I do now is essentially the same, but the responsibility is far greater. Back then, we were a small, separate enclave. Now..." The New Jedi Order was by far the largest Order of Jedi in the Galaxy, responsible for protecting the Alliance.

Sometimes, that realization was still a little bit daunting, but she loved what she did and had a lot of good people around her supporting her. From friends to family, and today, it seemed like she had found herself another friend.

She just wanted to learn more about him.

Valery then snickered when she heard his stomach growl and shot him quite a teasing grin, "I can hear that. If you end up wanting more, don't be afraid to ask, alright?" She smiled a warm smile and cut up a piece of steak to start eating. Usually, she wasn't overly careful about the way she ate, but now in good company, she was doing her best to be proper.

"It can be busy, but I'm sure you know just what that is like, right?" She chuckled, then looked up at him when he asked a question about the past. "Well, similar in a lot of ways. We were at war with the Sith, but it felt like a very stagnant conflict. The battles were long and heavy on us all, so it was taxing. But... I never felt like I really lived a life back then." She didn't sound overly sad over it - she had accepted that it was in the past.

"Traditional Jedi were not as open about emotions and allowing themselves to feel, and give into those feelings. Relationships felt very different, and I struggled with that." She blinked, then blushed a little when she realized she was rambling about that.

"I'm uh, much happier now."