Private Boys are Gross

[Vera Noble]

Coruscant

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Tag: Corazona von Ascania

Vera had never hesitated before walking into a fight. Not against training droids, not against Sith, not against monsters lurking in the darkest corners of the galaxy. But somehow, standing in front of this door, she hesitated. Her fingers hovered over the panel, curled slightly, as if her body was protesting against the very idea of being here. It wasn't too late to turn around. She could not press the chime, pretend she never even considered this, and go back to — what? Ignoring it? Hoping it would go away on its own?

Vera scowled.

With a sharp breath, she pressed the chime before she could overthink it again. The door slid open a second later, revealing Cora behind her desk, the very picture of calm and composure. Perfect posture, polished demeanor, everything in her space neatly arranged. A total contrast to Vera, who had just spent the last ten minutes pacing outside like a caged animal.

Vera exhaled loudly and stepped inside, hands shoved deep into her robes, like if she buried them far enough, she wouldn't have to use them to gesture wildly like she always did when she got flustered. She rocked on her heels for a second, then crossed her arms. Then uncrossed them. Then put them right back into her pockets.

Smooth. Real smooth.

"Hey Cora, I just, uh…" She glanced at the chair in front of Cora's desk but didn't sit down. Instead, she paced, her boots tapping softly against the temple floor. "I wanted to talk. About something. Nothing big, just… y'know. Advice. From you."

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[Corazona von Ascania]

Finally, Cora thought as the chime sounded and the door slid open.

Seated at her desk, she offered Vera a warm smile and did not comment on how long she'd been pacing in front of her office for. The frustrated clopping of her boots had almost been amusing.

"Of course, Vera. My door is always open to you."

Cora took a moment to observe the girl in front of her. Her posture was more rigid than usual as she fidgeted about. Something was troubling her, but what?

"I was about to make myself some tea," she said. Setting her stylus and datapad down on her desk, the Knight rose from her chair and paced over to the counter. An electric burner and kettle of water sat on the smooth formica like stalwart guardians, mainstays in her office. Cora hummed to herself as she opened the top cabinet where the mugs and teabags were stored. "Would you like a cup?"

She wasn't certain if Vera liked tea or not. Either way, she'd leave it up for the Padawan to broach the subject of what was troubling her for now.

Vera Noble

 

[Vera Noble]

Coruscant

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Tag: Corazona von Ascania

Vera froze mid-pace when Cora mentioned tea, like she hadn't quite expected that to be the next step in this whole ordeal. Not that she had any idea what she expected. This was already going way worse than facing down Sith Lords and monster-infested ruins.

"Uh... yeah. Yeah, tea sounds great."

It came out way too fast. Like she was grateful for the excuse to focus on something other than whatever this was. She quickly cleared her throat, trying to seem totally normal, totally casual. Just two Jedi having a normal conversation about totally normal things. Like how Vera was currently standing in the middle of the room, fidgeting like she'd forgotten how to be a person.

As Cora moved to the counter, Vera hovered awkwardly by the chair, rocking on her heels again before finally forcing herself to sit down. Her knee bounced under the desk, her hands shoved back into her pockets as she exhaled sharply.

Then, she opened her mouth.

"So, uh."

Great start. Fantastic. Perfectly natural. Vera scrunched her nose and pressed forward before she could dig herself into a deeper hole. "I, um. I like someone." And then, as if she immediately regretted how that sounded, she leaned forward, hands suddenly out of her pockets and gesturing wildly. "Like, like like."

She groaned, dragging her hands down her face before muttering, "And I have no idea what to do about it."

Her arms flopped onto the desk in defeat. "Help?"

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[Corazona von Ascania]

Cora had her back turned to Vera as she retrieved a pair of mugs. She could feel the teenager's nervous energy behind her.

"Oh?"

She half-turned, just enough for Vera to see the amused little smile that quirked her lips.

Though it had happened nearly a decade ago, Cora had not forgotten how Vera had unknowingly ratted out her secretive relationship with Makko Vyres . Everything had turned out well in the end, but not without a healthy dose of youthful anxiety.

She looked to Vera fondly as the Padawan's arms fell limply on the desk. Cora could vividly recall squirming in her own seat at Valery's table, peering out the window as she contemplated whether the fall would be enough to end her misery.

"Why don't you tell me a little more about them,” she offered. The water in the tea kettle began to roil.

"How did you come to realize that you like like this person?"

Vera Noble

 

[Vera Noble]

Coruscant

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Tag: Corazona von Ascania

Vera squinted immediately at the little smile tugging at Cora's lips, suspicion flickering across her face. "What?" she asked, narrowing her eyes like she could somehow drag out whatever Cora wasn't saying. But then the kettle whistled, and Vera was temporarily distracted by the promise of tea. She gratefully accepted the mug once it was handed to her, wrapping her fingers around the warmth like it was some kind of emotional lifeline. She took a careful sip, then exhaled sharply, finally mustering the courage to actually talk about this.

"His name is Kaelos," she started, shifting in her seat. "He's, uh — he's kinda a nerd. But, like, in a fun way! He's adventurous, and he's really helpful and kind, and he has these cute little quirks, like..." She hesitated, realizing she was starting to ramble, and forced herself to stop before she got too carried away.

Then, she frowned slightly, brow furrowing. "But like, I don't like like him like Mom likes Dad. I don't wanna just lick his face." She made a vague, exasperated gesture with one hand and shuddered at the thought.

It was gross.

Then, she huffed and rubbed at her face before trying again. "I just — he makes me feel all warm and fuzzy, and when I talk to him, I forget how words work. Which, by the way, is horrifying. I don't forget how to talk! Ever!" She threw her free hand up in the air. "But around him? I'm just a mess. And I don't know what that means."

She slumped back in her chair, arms crossed around her mug. "So, yeah," she muttered, staring into her tea like it held all the answers. "That's where I'm at."

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[Corazona von Ascania]

Vera zeroed in on her expression, which made Cora's smile widen a degree. "Oh, nothing. Just remembering the time when a nosy little girl outed my relationship with another Padawan..."

She hummed, content to leave her own amusement at that. The last thing a teenage girl needed when discussing her feelings for a boy was to be teased too much. Cora let her tea steep for a little longer while the Padawan relayed her thoughts and concerns.

"Vera, just because you like someone does not mean that you are obligated to lick their face."

Again, she tried to contain her amusement at the visual, while trying not to imagine said visual too hard. "Kaelos sounds like a lovely young man. Does he know how you feel?"

Cora drew the string of her tea bag upward, letting it bob gently in the hot water so that the dried herbs would diffuse better.

Vera Noble

 

[Vera Noble]

Coruscant

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Tag: Corazona von Ascania

Vera's lips immediately curled into a smug little grin. "Oh, come on," she shot back, waving a hand. "You were licking Makko's face in the middle of the Temple." She leaned forward, eyes gleaming with mischief. "Like... gross." She sipped her tea innocently, as if she had done Cora the biggest favor of her life.

But then Cora's next question hit, and Vera immediately deflated, sinking back in her seat with a groan. "Ugh. I don't know," she grumbled, rubbing her face. "I haven't told him, but, like... maybe he does know?" Her fingers drummed anxiously against her mug. "We spend a lot of time together, and he says things that make me blush sometimes, but I don't know if he's flirting or if he's just, like... nice or oblivious."

She huffed, staring at Cora like she had all the answers. "Like — what do boys even do to flirt? Do they wink a lot? Do they, I dunno, offer to fight a rancor for you?" She threw up her hands. "What's the sign?"

This was a nightmare.

"I should probably tell him, though. And I need to tell Dad."

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[Corazona von Ascania]

A few beads of water rolled down the curved body of the kettle. Cora caught them with two fingers, and flicked the droplets at Vera.

"I do not know which of your parents you've inherited your penchant for exaggeration from." She tsked.

"Everyone flirts differently, I suppose. It's easy to misinterpret things like kindness and affection for romantic feelings. It can be equally hard to relay those romantic feelings, too." Cora took a cursory sip of her tea.

"Did he…offer to fight a rancor for you?" Her curiosity was evident. Mentally, she tried to file through the roster of Padawans who'd checked into the medbay over the past month. Her eyes narrowed as she did so.

"Tell your father?"

Vera Noble

 

[Vera Noble]

Coruscant

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Tag: Corazona von Ascania

Vera yelped as the water droplets hit her, jerking back dramatically as if she had been gravely wounded. She shot Cora an exaggerated glare, clutching her chest like she'd just been struck down in battle. "Your reaction says it all~" she said with a stupid little grin.

But then, Cora's curiosity had her chuckling again.

"Not yet," Vera admitted, her eyes sparkling, "But he totally would. He's, like, always super helpful and nice, and he just—" She hesitated for a second, tapping her fingers against her mug as she tried to find the words. "I dunno. He just makes me feel like I'm... safe? Like I could trip over my own feet or get in trouble again, and he'd be right there, helping me back up."

Her grin softened just slightly, a rare hint of vulnerability slipping through.

But the moment Cora questioned her about her father, Vera perked up again, nodding enthusiastically. "Mhm!" she hummed, setting her mug down as she leaned forward. "I wanna tell Dad because I know how much he cares. He might not always say it, but I think he still kinda... blames himself." She fidgeted, absentmindedly rolling the edge of her sleeve between her fingers. "For not being there. When Mom was raising me. When we thought he was gone."

Her voice softened just slightly, the usual energy dimming — not in sadness, but in understanding.

"And ever since all that happened, and since I got taken by Carnifex... I know he just wants to be there for me. To protect me. And..." She exhaled, offering a small, lopsided smile. "I feel the same way about him. We have a special bond."

She gave a little shrug, trying to shake off the weight of her own words. "So I just think he'd like to know. You know?"

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[Corazona von Ascania]

The teasing light in Cora's eyes softened at Vera's mention of Kahlil. By the time she'd joined the Order, he'd returned to his family. She'd only ever heard of his death and resurrection by way of conversation, but never directly how it had affected his daughter.

"You and your father do seem to have an exceptional connection. He's protective of the younger members in the Order; he even pun-" Cora paused to clear her throat. "He stood up to my own father when I was too scared to."

Kahlil was the quiet steady type, but his love ran deep. He'd been a validating paternal figure to Cora. Idly, she wondered how he'd react to his little girl having a crush - or a potential boyfriend.

She hid that smile behind the rim of her mug as she took another sip of tea.

"I think he would like to know, too," she agreed, perhaps for a different reason. "And I'm glad to hear that Kaelos makes you feel safe - that's exactly how your partner should make you feel."

Another sip, then a thought.

"Not that he's your partner yet. And even then - only if that's what you both agree on.

"Have you given any thought to going on a date together?"

Vera Noble