Private Endurance

[Diogo Talon]

JEDI TEMPLE, CORUSCANT
TAG: Valery Noble

Diogo had seen better days. Life had been pretty rough recently—foremost in his mind was the Galactic Alliance’s blood soaked liberation of Iridonia. He couldn’t get the images out of his head. And he couldn’t believe he let himself get captured like that. Barely survived facing down a rogue Sith Lord, too. It was an accomplishment for a Padawan, to be sure, but for Diogo it wasn’t good enough. Not even close.

Then the pirates. Diogo thought he could get away for a bit while recovering, see his mum on Niamos. But Rishi pirates had other plans; they took him and a bunch of Inner Rim vacationers hostage. Barely got out of that in one piece, too.

Now fully recuperated, it was time to hit the training room. Diogo practically marched there, walking fast without full on running, full of vigor and purpose. He stretched his arms and shoulders as he moved. Hopefully he’d find a sparring partner or something. Though he loved a challenge, part of him kinda hoped there would be a less skilled Padawan he could duel with, boost his confidence a little. An easy way to get back in the saddle, so to speak. Yeah, that would be nice.

 

[Valery Noble]

​

Outfit: Jedi Jumpsuit
Weapons: Lightsabers

Valery moved with the precision of a dancer and the grace of a predator, her every motion a blend of control and raw power. The spacious training room echoed with the soft hum of her violet lightsaber, its twin blades spinning through intricate arcs as she practiced a sequence of forms. Each step, each slash, was deliberate and fluid, a testament to years of discipline and mastery.

She wore her signature jumpsuit, a sleek and practical design that hugged her athletic frame while allowing for total freedom of movement. The fabric glinted faintly under the soft lighting of the room, its durable weave stretching and shifting as her body pivoted through a particularly sharp maneuver.

Her long, dark brown ponytail swayed behind her, catching the air as she twisted and turned. It added an almost hypnotic rhythm to her movements, the strands whipping gracefully like a metronome keeping time with her strikes. Stray wisps of hair clung to her temple, evidence of the intensity of her training, but her focus never wavered.

Valery came to a sudden halt, planting her boots firmly on the padded floor. She exhaled slowly, the glow of her lightsaber casting faint shadows across her face as she brought the weapon down into a resting position. Her amber eyes shone with a quiet fire, their gaze distant for a moment as she evaluated her technique in her mind.

The silence that followed was broken by the faint creak of the training room door. Without looking, Valery extinguished her saber and turned slightly, her posture relaxed but her presence commanding as her gaze found the new arrival. A small, welcoming smile played on her lips.

"Looking for a sparring partner?" she asked, her voice smooth and even, carrying just enough warmth to invite without relinquishing an ounce of authority.

Her stance shifted subtly, and the ponytail swayed lightly as she turned to fully face him, the quiet intensity of her presence filling the space between them. "I was just finishing up some solo drills. Care to join me?"

Diogo Talon ​

 

[Diogo Talon]

Valery kriffin' Noble. 'Cus, of course.

Diogo had never met her, but obviously her reputation preceded her—Grandmaster, Battlemaster, Sword of the Jedi. She was as much a battle-hardened warrior as she was a full-figured woman, with her signature jumpsuit, intense amber eyes, athletic build, flowing ponytail, and a voice that was friendly, but commanded respect.

Not exactly the greenhorn he was hoping for. The idea of easing back into things felt like a cosmic joke.

"Oh, hey, didn't expect to run into you here," he said, a slight hesitation in his voice. "But yes, I am. Looking, I mean." He wasn't sure if that came out the right way.

She turned to face him; her presence was intimidating and intense. Diogo felt like the room suddenly narrowed. "Uh, sure. I would never dream of turning you down, master," he replied with a smile. Which was genuine—train with someone like Valery kriffin' Noble and you were gonna learn a thing or two, no matter how bruised and battered you got. Diogo wasn't gonna pass up an opportunity like that.

Valery Noble

 

[Valery Noble]

​

Outfit: Jedi Jumpsuit
Weapons: Lightsabers

Valery's amber eyes lingered on Diogo for a moment longer, her subtle smile deepening as she took in the slight hesitation in his voice. She didn't miss the quick flicker of nervous energy that rolled off him, but there was something endearing about it. Confidence tempered with humility — a promising mix for a Jedi, and one she always appreciated in a sparring partner.

She inclined her head slightly, acknowledging his response with a quiet, graceful motion. "Good," she said, her voice smooth but tinged with a playful undertone. "Then let's see what you've got."

Turning toward the center of the training room, Valery took a few steps, her movements unhurried and fluid. The soft lighting of the room caught on her jumpsuit as it shifted with her body, the faint sheen accentuating her athletic form. Her long ponytail swayed gently, a rhythmic counterpoint to the measured cadence of her steps.

Reaching the middle of the room, she turned back to him, her lightsaber still clipped to her belt. "You make the first move," she said, her tone both inviting and challenging. "Show me how you approach an opponent."

Her stance was relaxed yet purposeful, her weight evenly distributed as her hands slipped around the hilt of her lightsaber. With a quick thumbing of the ignition switch, the violet blade burst into existence, casting shadows across her body.

She stood ready.

Diogo Talon ​

 

[Diogo Talon]

Diogo watched Valery move to the center of the room. Every step and every movement was deliberate, graceful, and poised. His eyes followed her long, thick ponytail, all the way down to where it ended, as it swayed back and forth. He had to shake himself out of staring.

Swallowing hard, he followed her to the training room's center and stood opposite her. His eyes lingered on her waist, hip, then lightsaber as she unclipped it. The violet blade came to life and the mix of shadows and light seemed to highlight her athletic form, soft darkness against her hardened muscles. She seemed so relaxed. He cracked his knuckles and rolled his neck to try to loosen himself and mirror her energy.

The battlefield was a different beast, but the training room was always where he felt most confident. He could do this. "Right, show don't tell," he said, and almost winked before realizing who he was talking to.

Diogo unclipped his lightsaber and thumbed the ignition. His blue blade hummed. The young Padawan began testing her defenses with slower, deliberate movements to see how she would respond. This was his usual modus operandi—almost like a dance, take it easy at first, find the rhythm, and then crank the volume and get lost in it.

Valery Noble

 

[Valery Noble]

​

Outfit: Jedi Jumpsuit
Weapons: Lightsabers

Valery's amber eyes watched Diogo as he stepped into position, the way he rolled his neck and cracked his knuckles betraying both confidence and a hint of nervous energy. She allowed herself a small, knowing smile, noting the strength in his frame. His toned muscles, clearly honed through discipline and training, were a testament to the effort he had put into mastering his craft. It wasn't lost on her, and she admired the balance of power and precision he carried.

The violet glow of her blade reflected faintly against his blue one as he ignited it, the colors dancing together like two opposing forces about to collide. She adjusted her stance slightly, one boot pivoting on the floor as her saber hummed softly in her grasp. Her movements were fluid, each shift of her weight and tilt of her body calculated yet effortlessly graceful.

"Good," she murmured, her voice warm but edged with the authority of someone who knew exactly how to command a fight. "Start slow. Let’s see what you’ve got."

As he approached, Valery's saber moved with a deliberate elegance to meet his strikes. Each motion seemed effortless, her weapon flowing through the air like water. When his blade came toward her left side, she countered with a precise, angled parry that sent his saber off-course. When he tested her right, she twisted her body slightly, the faintest smile tugging at her lips as her violet blade intercepted his.

Her amber gaze never left him, reading every movement in his shoulders and wrists, every slight shift in his stance. "Not bad," she commented, her tone light but tinged with a challenge. "But don’t hold back too much. I won’t break."

Valery let him press forward, her defenses fluid and reactive, until a gap in his rhythm revealed itself. With a quick pivot on her back foot, she slid to the side, ponytail whipping around, as her saber lashed out at him for the first time.

Diogo Talon ​

 

[Diogo Talon]

"Easy for you to say," he teased with his usual playful tone. "I might get in trouble if I hurt you."

Diogo, admittedly a little rusty, was slow on the uptake. He'd expected her to go on the offensive at some point, so he was ready for her counterattack, but he was caught off guard by how precise her movements were. There was no hesitation, just raw strength and refined technique. He caught her violet blade with his blue one, the plasma intensely sizzling, but he stumbled back a foot or two.

Diogo spun his lightsaber in his hand, and with a two-handed overheard Djem So-esque attack, turned the volume up just a little. He lashed out a little faster, with slightly more strength behind his attacks. Moving on instinct, Diogo let muscle memory and the Force guide him, while his eyes watched her hips, legs, and feet. He was looking for any pattern in her movements—be it a twitch or an involuntary gesture—that he could use to predict her next block or attack. But no luck so far, she was perfect.

Still, it was almost time to bring this dance to its climax. His usual strategy, testing the waters and figuring out his opponent's weaknesses, would turn into a full-fledged assault, using the Force to strengthen him. It was risky, drawing out of his energy so he couldn't last long. Impatient, as always, relying on whatever endurance he could muster.

He tried to picture Niamos, his blue blade crashing into her like the ocean's waves—relentless and, unlike him, without end.

Valery Noble

 

[Valery Noble]

​

Outfit: Jedi Jumpsuit
Weapons: Lightsabers

Valery's smirk widened at Diogo's quip, a playful fire sparking in her amber eyes. "Hurt me? Good luck with that," she teased, her voice smooth but edged with the quiet confidence of someone who had faced challenges far greater than a sparring Padawan.

She met his overhead strike with a powerful upward block, her violet blade hissing against his blue one as the clash filled the room with the sizzle of colliding plasma. Valery shifted her weight slightly, her athletic frame moving with deliberate strength as she transitioned seamlessly into Djem So. Her strikes came stronger now, each movement precise yet forceful, designed to push him just past his comfort zone.

Their sabers clashed again, the vibrations of the impact traveling up her arms. She adjusted quickly, her feet pivoting on the mat with the practiced grace of a seasoned warrior. Diogo was good — his strength was undeniable, and his form solid. But she was testing him, not just in his ability to endure but in his capacity to adapt under pressure.

"Better," she remarked, her tone a mixture of approval and challenge. Her movements were calculated yet fluid, a blend of raw power and artful control. She caught his gaze briefly, her own smoldering with intensity, before meeting his next powerful strike head-on.

As their blades collided once more, she allowed the pressure to build, forcing Diogo into a blade-lock. Sparks crackled between them, illuminating the faint sheen of exertion on her face. She leaned in slightly, her presence commanding and unyielding as her amber eyes locked onto his.

"Careful now," she murmured, her voice low and teasing, as if daring him to push harder.

But just as the tension reached its peak, Valery shifted her weight in a way that defied expectation. Using the Force, she phased through him like a ghost, his blade suddenly meeting nothing but air. The abrupt absence of resistance would hopefully throw him off balance, so that his momentum would make him stumble him forward.

Behind him now, Valery spun gracefully, her ponytail whipping through the air like the crack of a whip. In one fluid motion, she brought her blade down toward his back in a controlled strike.

Diogo Talon ​

 

[Diogo Talon]

"Careful, master," he teased back between breaths. "It's not wise to underestimate your opponent."

Diogo was really concentrating now. She was pushing him past what he'd ever experienced before. Even the rogue Sith Lord he went toe-to-toe with, Varok, wasn't like this. He was ferocious, but he lacked the guile and expertise. Valery probably would've ended that fight in less than a minute, whereas Diogo was on the cusp of certain defeat, were it not for fellow Jedi coming to his rescue.

Their blades collided in a blade-lock. Plasma sizzled and the heat added to the pressure. Diogo could feel beads of sweat roll down his forehead. Her amber eyes were intense, almost sensual, practically daring him to fall into them. Feminine wiles—more effective than mind tricks. He pushed harder.

"What the feth…" he said in complete surprise. He felt an odd sensation in his body as she just… phased through him?

Diogo fell forward. He'd found the Force was a lot like the Niamos oceans. Struggle against the currents and you were more likely to drown. It was better to go with the flow and hope for the best. Trust in the Force, or whatever. So, as he stumbled forward, he let momentum take him. Barely dodging her violet blade, he somersaulted forward.

Diogo popped back up, spinning on his back foot. "That kinda felt like cheating," he said, grinning. "I might have to learn that one."

He was a little shaken as he stared at her, gripping his lightsaber tighter. She was strong, incredibly efficient, and not afraid to play mind games. At least now he knew what to watch out for. Diogo surged the Force into his muscles and charged forward with a flurry of successive slashes. It was time to go full throttle.

Valery Noble

 

[Valery Noble]

​

Outfit: Jedi Jumpsuit
Weapons: Lightsabers

Valery let out a soft chuckle as she straightened from her previous attack, the violet glow of her blade casting a faint shimmer across her features. "Cheating?" she teased, her tone light but edged with amusement. "All's fair in a spar, Diogo. You've got to be ready for the unexpected."

Her amber eyes glinted with approval as he recovered swiftly, his movements fluid and confident. He was shaken, yes, but not deterred. That was good — resilience was as crucial in combat as strength or skill. Watching him pour his focus into the Force and charge forward with a renewed flurry of attacks brought a faint smirk to her lips.

"Good," she murmured under her breath, almost to herself.

But if Diogo thought she would meet his strength head-on again, he was in for a surprise. As his strikes came at her, Valery shifted seamlessly into Ataru, the Form of agility and speed. Her movements became a blur, her athletic form twisting and spinning with an almost supernatural quickness. She darted around him, her strikes unpredictable and difficult to track.

The hum of her lightsaber filled the room as it lashed out in rapid, precise arcs. Each time his blade moved to intercept hers, she was already gone, her feet carrying her to a new angle of attack. The air around her seemed alive with energy, her ponytail whipping like a banner as she danced across the sparring floor.

"Speed can be just as overwhelming as strength," she said, her voice calm yet carrying a note of challenge as she appeared at his flank and drove her blade toward his side. Before the attack could land, she vaulted over him in a graceful flip, landing behind him with a soft thud of her boots. Another strike came from his opposite side, forcing him to turn again.

The rapid succession of movements left her a blur of motion, her presence as much a test of his awareness as her blade was of his defenses.

Diogo Talon ​

 

[Diogo Talon]

"Cheating?" she teased, her tone light but edged with amusement. "All's fair in a spar, Diogo. You've got to be ready for the unexpected."

"Lesson learned," he said, matching her tone and flashing a grin.

Valery switched seamlessly to Ataru. Diogo was cooked now. He surged the Force through his limbs, stretching out his muscles to make him more flexible and improve his mobility. But she was way too fethin' fast. Too fethin' strong. Too fethin' good.

His lightsaber, which always felt light, like a natural extension of his body, suddenly felt heavy as a rock. His body was slow and cumbersome. Diogo reached out to try and grab her by the ponytail as it flailed around, but she was a blur and he couldn't keep up.

"Speed can be just as overwhelming as strength,"

"Yeah, I'm starting to get that," he said between ragged breaths.

Diogo's center of balance was all over the place and it fully broke when she feinted and flipped behind him. He turned, too late, and his lightsaber crashed into hers, then flew out of his hand as he stumbled backwards and fell on a knee.

Diogo sighed, blowing the air out of his mouth in a dramatic fashion. "Aren't you supposed to be like, really old? How are so fast? How do you have so much endurance?"

Valery Noble

 

[Valery Noble]

​

Outfit: Jedi Jumpsuit
Weapons: Lightsabers

Valery's violet blade dimmed as she deactivated her lightsaber, its hiss fading into the air. She tilted her head slightly, a playful smirk tugging at her lips as she looked down at Diogo. His breathless state, coupled with his dramatic sigh, was enough to make her chuckle softly, but his next words stopped her in her tracks.

"Really old?"

Her amber eyes narrowed, a mock glare settling on her face as she took a slow step toward him. "Do I look old to you?" she asked, her voice laced with feigned offense. As she reached up to smooth back her ponytail, the motion revealed the faint sheen of sweat glistening on her forehead and neck, catching the light just enough to highlight the contours of her face. Stray tendrils of hair framed her cheeks, her cheeks flushed from exertion.

She arched an eyebrow, fixing him with a look that danced on the line between challenge and amusement. "Careful how you answer that, Padawan," she teased, her smirk softening as she extended a hand toward him. "Come on, let's get you back on your feet." Once he took her hand, she pulled him up with ease, the strength in her grip betraying just how much her years of training had honed her body. She stepped back slightly, giving him space to steady himself, and crossed her arms lightly over her chest.

"Speed, strength and endurance come with practice," she explained, her tone shifting to something more instructive. "Years of sparring, dueling, and pushing myself in workouts. If you want to keep up, you're going to have to put in the work."

Her smirk returned, a flicker of her playful energy resurfacing. "And maybe avoid grabbing my ponytail next time. That's just asking for trouble."

Diogo Talon ​

 

[Diogo Talon]

"Really old? Do I look old to you?"

"I mean, a little," Diogo said with a half smile. Challenge accepted. What was she gonna do, kick his ass? She already did. "But not as old as you actually are. Assuming the rumors are true, that is."

Diogo grasped her hand and let himself be pulled effortlessly to his feet. When she crossed her arms, he could see her well-toned muscles, refined with years of intense training, glistening with sweat. He stared, half-listening, until her tone took on a more formal, instructive tone. Then he met her fiery amber eyes with his own. "I can do that. I'll put in the work. What's your routine?"

"And maybe avoid grabbing my ponytail next time. That's just asking for trouble."

"Huh?" Diogo asked innocently, but an uncontrollable smirk broke free. He held his hands up in mock surrender. "Won't happen again. Woulda been kinda sick, though."

Valery Noble

 

[Valery Noble]

​

Outfit: Jedi Jumpsuit
Weapons: Lightsabers

Valery arched an eyebrow at his response, her amber eyes narrowing in playful suspicion as she crossed her arms more tightly over her chest. "A little?" she repeated, her voice carrying a mockingly offended tone. "You really are asking for it, huh?" Despite the words, her smirk widened, and there was a distinct glimmer of amusement in her gaze.

As she caught him staring, her lips curved into a knowing smile, and she tilted her head slightly. She stepped past him, grabbing a towel from the bench and dabbing at the sweat on her forehead. "If you're that curious about how I train, maybe you should join me for a session in the gym." She glanced back over her shoulder, her ponytail swinging with the movement. "I'll show you just how hard I push myself to stay in shape."

Her smirk deepened as she turned back to face him fully, "What do you say?" Sparring and learning Force abilities was fun, but a Jedi needed to do more than that to stay physically fit enough for duty.

At least, the Jedi who were often out defending people.

Diogo Talon ​

 

[Diogo Talon]

"A little?" she repeated, her voice carrying a mockingly offended tone. "You really are asking for it, huh?"

"Maybe," he teased, trying to meet the twinkle of amusement in her amber eyes. "Someone has to keep you on your toes. Maybe one day I'll even get you on a knee, or two... in the training room."

Diogo slowly turned. With eyes fixated, his glance followed her graceful steps. He could see the muscles of her calves, thighs, and other stuff.

"What do you say?"

"This was not how I expected my day to go, but hell yeah. Let's put in the work," he replied with a smirk.

A rabble-rousing green haired Padawan and the fethin' Grandmaster of the Jedi—a couple of regular ol' gym buddies. Was this supposed to be his punishment? 'Cus he was gonna be looking to get into a lot more trouble after this.

Valery Noble

 

[Valery Noble]

​

Outfit: Jedi Jumpsuit
Weapons: Lightsabers

Valery's smirk deepened at Diogo's teasing, her amber eyes narrowing just enough to convey a playful warning. "Oh, careful now," she said, her voice low and smooth as she crossed the distance between them. "You might be biting off more than you can chew with talk like that."

"But let's get going, then."

Turning on her heel, Valery started toward the gym, her steps deliberate and her ponytail swaying behind her with each stride. She didn't glance back but spoke over her shoulder, her tone laced with challenge and just the slightest edge of mischief. "And for the record," she added, "The only way you'll see me on my knees in the training room is to pick you back up."

The faintest chuckle escaped her lips as she pushed open the door to the gym, the scent of leather and metal filling the air. She stopped just inside, one hand resting lightly on her hip, and finally glanced back at him.

"I'm going to get changed and then we'll get to training."

Diogo Talon ​

 

[Diogo Talon]

"Oh I'm just nibbling," he said with a smile, trying to keep things playful and light. "Besides, I think you like it."

Diogo followed as Valery led them to the gym. She obscured his view of the hallway, but he didn't really mind. "Don't speak too soon. You may have a few decades, err... years, on me but I'll get stronger. Might even put you on your back one day."

Strolling into the gym, Diogo got a whiff of leather, metal, and sweat. It was familiar and oddly comforting. But whatever comfort he felt slipped away when she mentioned changing. "Alright," he said, trying to be cool. "I'll just wait here."

Diogo sat on a bench and grabbed a free weight, trying to focus on exercise instead of letting his mind wander.

Valery Noble