Private Lesson on Denon

[Valery Noble]

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Location: Denon​

Valery: Appearance​

Pregnancy: Start of 3rd trimester​

Tag: Briana Sal-Soren Iris Arani ​

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Shortly after accepting Briana and Iris as her Padawans, Valery found out that she was pregnant. In the first few weeks of their training, this didn't particularly hold her back from spending time training with them. But after some time, she could not physically keep up with it anymore, nor was it a sound idea to go on dangerous assignments whilst carrying a baby. This ultimately led up to Valery moving in with Yula and Dagon, who alongside others offered her protection and a place to lay low.​

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But Valery couldn't just sit still and not help their Padawans in their training. Sure, they could learn from other Jedi and each other, but she was responsible for the two Padawans and felt a burning desire to keep helping them. For this reason, she decided to invite them over to Denon for a lesson that didn't require her to draw a lightsaber or demonstrate a demanding Force ability.​

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They were going to learn a lesson she wanted them to always remember.​

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"Alright, this should be good," Valery said as she plopped down into her chair. She had set up two others for her Padawans and waited patiently for them to arrive at the spaceport. Briana Sal-Soren was given instructions on how to avoid being tracked, while Iris was likely flying them there unless they took more public transport.​

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Until they'd arrive, she would sit waiting for them with her favorite local snack, which she began to crave more and more as time went by.​

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[Briana Sal-Soren]

Briana had agreed to let Iris fly, although by the time they'd reached Denon, she was questioning her own judgment. Not everyone flew like she did, and she tried hard to not be a backseat-er, but her fellow Padawan was greatly testing that. Several times she wanted to lash out and demand that she take the reigns, though she knew that was the wrong way to handle things.

Surprisingly, and for the most part, she'd managed to bite down on her lip, keeping herself from saying anything she might later on regret, though there were obvious grunts and sighs matched with frequent flinches while white knuckling the edge of her seat.

Their descent over Denon continued in line with whatever style of flight Iris had. It was a bit jumpy on the downside as they came in, but smooth on the initial landing.

As soon as they touched down on the landing pad and the hatch opened, Briana fumbled to release the crash webbing and scrambled out from the metal death trap that she'd just spent the last few hours inside.

"Finallly!!!" Briana groaned beneath her breath, her legs still feeling wobbly from the experience. "If I had to sit in there for one more minute..." turning, she noticed Iris descending and scratched the back of her neck. "SOOOO! GREAT JOB landing back there..." overselling it Bri..."You did good, but I'm thinking that when we're done here that I should fly us back."

Iris Arani | Valery Noble ​

 

[Iris Arani]

It was for the best that Briana Sal-Soren didn't voice her concerns. Not because Iris would've been upset, she certainly wouldn't of, but because the Padawan was very much in a world of her own as they soared through the skies. To any Keshian flying meant seeing a world of color few other species could. And for Iris, who could already see a world of color beyond even her own species, it was beautiful.

Much like her paint brush the ship weaved through the sky without a destination or a care. Following the flow of colors until the pair closed in on their destination. There she finally slowed, letting their droid take over the landing sequence so Iris could get up and make sure she had everything she needed. Namely the black glove she slipped onto her left hand to cover the cracked looking skin where her pinky finger used to be. The wound had healed, but the markings from the disruptor that had claimed part of her body wouldn't ever. She flexed the remaining fingers, a soft frown on her lips.

Her gaze lifted as she descended the ramp, blinking. Oh. Bri was.. Complimenting her? Yeah. She nodded and smiled brightly. "Okay." Maybe Bri wanted to practice her own flying then? That was fine with Iris.

Once more her gaze drifted, scanning the world around them. The flow of colors was strong here. It reminded her more of her old home, looking at it. Slummy. She smiled softer, reminiscing on home.

"Do you know where Master Noble lives?"

Valery Noble

 

[Briana Sal-Soren]

She turned to look at Iris, her eyes set on her fellow Padawan as if trying to read her thoughts. With Brandyn, she'd always been able to just look at him and know what he was thinking, what he was feeling. Maybe it was some kind of natural force bond from being a pair of multiples? She wished it was as easy when it came to Iris to decipher her thoughts and feelings, but she was more difficult. Still, Briana tried.

"Great... so it's settled then." Reaching into her supply satchel, Briana removed a communication device and sent out an encrypted message, alerting Valery to their arrival.

"Yup, come on, follow me." Without bothering to wait, Briana set off, expecting that Iris would follow.

She kept a bead on their surroundings leaving the space port, watching to ensure there was nothing amiss, while keeping one eye on Iris in case she wandered off. Overall, it was a brief, quiet trip. Nothing particularly interesting to write home about, unless you counted the putrid brine smell that seemed to permeate in every corner of the city. It was hard to imagine growing up in a place like this, that anyone would be allowed to live like this. Truly, it shone a light on just how good she'd had it growing up on Naboo. How fortunate her family had been.

A wave of pain coursed through her at the thought and she clenched her fist, pushing down the shadow that ever tried to emerge from her subconscious.

"This is it," she lightly cleared her throat, giving a simple nod of her chin before walking towards the building of apartments at a steady gait. "Let's go see our Master, hm?"

Valery Noble | Iris Arani ​

 

[Iris Arani]

Iris almost didn't follow after Briana Sal-Soren . Almost. Another time and it'd be very likely the younger Padawan would've gone off on her own, found a spot to paint, and painted. But she didn't. They were here to see Valery Noble and.. She was nervous. Every time she looked as if she was going to wander off she'd end up gripping the four fingered black glove and sink more into herself. Memories of pain, no matter how brief, took away the desire to paint.

Soon enough they were outside the apartment. Her blue gaze lifted. It did remind her of home. The briefest of smiles played on her lips before that too faded and she walked forward with her fellow Padawan.

"Yeah."

 

[Valery Noble]

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Location: Denon​

Valery: Appearance​

Pregnancy: Start of 3rd trimester​

Tag: Briana Sal-Soren | Iris Arani ​

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With each minute that passed, waiting for her two Padawans to arrive was getting more difficult. It had been too long since she saw them last, and she had missed them a great deal. The time apart really made her realize even more just how much she cared about them, their training, and their well-being.​

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So when she suddenly felt their presence nearby, and the security systems began to alert her to new arrivals, she immediately got up and began to move towards the door. Even now, she wanted to greet them standing, and not look like some helpless lady stuck in a chair.​

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The second the two arrived at the door, she opened it and looked at them both. For a few seconds, she was quiet — just staring at the two familiar faces with a bright smile. But then finally she stepped in, and whether they liked it or not, she gave them each an individual hug.​

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"It's good to see you again," Valery said as she stepped back with the smile still on her face.​

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"Please, come inside and we'll get comfortable. I can get you tea or water too if you'd like?" Valery stepped back into the apartment with them and gestured at the set-up of chairs she had prepared for the lesson. She was rather excited to catch up and get started.​

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[Briana Sal-Soren]

Seeing Valery again, her smile... it should have made Briana feel happy, but in the moment when she moved forward with that look of wanting to embrace, Briana recoiled, shouldering her way out of it and slipping away, the inner turmoil of the last few months, stirring at her heart.

Briana knew it was not Valery's fault for needing to go into hiding, but she couldn't help feeling like she'd been abandoned by the one person who was supposed to be there for her and Iris - the person who'd instructed her to put her duty as a Jedi above her desire to protect her family, the person to whom she'd listened and then been immediately left behind on Coruscant.

What happened was not Valery's fault and in her mind, she knew that, but the wounds on her heart and soul still felt fresh, they had not finished mending.

Briana stepped with Iris into the apartment and scratched the back of her head. "I thought you weren't supposed to be on your feet," Briana chided, trying to insert a little lightheartedness into her voice after the rejection, following Valery into the kitchen. "Just tell me where things are and I'll get the refreshments...You go sit down so we can get started, lady."

Valery Noble | Iris Arani ​

 

[Iris Arani]

Iris pretty happily returned the hug. She'd missed Valery Noble for sure, and this was already better than being trapped in the apartment like Briana Sal-Soren and her had been. Though, even she realized something was off with Briana. The younger Padawan's gaze lingered on her for a moment longer, but rather than say anything she kept quiet. This wasn't her business, was it?

And did she really even have a leg to stand on with how often she didn't notice things?

Well, at least Bri was willing to go get the drinks? That was good, right? Maybe.

"You're really.. Pregnant." What other term was there for it? Iris's gaze fell to Valery's belly, blinking. Needless to say, Iris hadn't seen someone pregnant before.

 

[Valery Noble]

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Location: Denon​

Valery: Appearance​

Pregnancy: Start of 3rd trimester​

Tag: Briana Sal-Soren Iris Arani ​

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Valery was smiling brightly as she held Iris in a comfortable hug, but the young Padawan would easily be able to see her Master's colors gaining a sad tone when Briana rejected the hug. She understood that Briana was struggling with everything that had happened, and Valery knew she hadn't been able to be that same support pillar she normally was.​

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But it still hurt the woman who cared so much about her Padawans — likely more than she realized.​

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"Right, I'll go sit down. Thank you, Briana." she offered a faint smile and gestured in the direction of the kitchen, so Briana could get them something to drink. "Just some water for me, please."​

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Before Valery could move to sit down, however, her eyes found their way back to Iris... who seemed to be staring at her stomach. Valery blinked at the comment that followed and for a moment, she just slipped into laughter.​

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"That's right. I'm quite far along now, so I won't be trapped here much longer." Valery then lowered herself into her seat but with a frown. It wasn't just that she'd finally be able to freely move around again, but it somewhat applied to her Padawans too.​

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"Hey, before I begin the lesson..." Valery's tone had very abruptly turned more serious but held a somber undertone. "I'm sorry." she paused again. "I'm sorry that so much has changed for you two because of me."​

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[Briana Sal-Soren]

Themes:
Tag: Valery Noble | Iris Arani

The pain in Valery's face was gutting.

A wave of apologizes tried to push out of her, but everything that could have been said to rectify the action became caught in her throat, lips pressed harshly together like a steel-trapped door.

Maybe one day, she wouldn't sob so hard that she thought her body might break and crack open like an egg, wishing that whatever was left of her soul could drift away to some far off place. Maybe one day, that steady and warm presence that belonged to Valery, wouldn't make her feel resentful.

Maybe. Maybe. Maybe.

Maybe, she wasn't angry with Valery at all - and it was her own guilt still eating at her. Briana didn't know how to fix it, to fix any of it. How to make it all right again, it was a restlessness she couldn't quell. Perhaps she couldn't bear a simple act of kindness, because deep down, she did not believe she deserved it.

You could have found a way. You should have found a way.

Why were all of these feelings coming up now? Of all times?

Absent mindedly, Briana looked down to the three cups that she didn't remember filling. Manicured brows furrowed, gathering up the glasses, socked feet walking softly from the kitchen to take them over to her compatriots, handing Val the first glass before distributing out the rest.

"I'm sorry that so much has changed for you two because of me."

Finding a chair, Briana seated herself, draping one slender thigh over the other as her demeanor seemingly began to soften, the expression on her patrician features reflecting the same sentiment, even though the words refused to come out.

"You had to think of your baby," she murmured, eyes falling to Valery's large stomach momentarily before traveling back up. "We knew that."

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