Private Making Friends!

[Vera Noble]

Niv Hani

​

Tag: Mahsa

​

A friend was visiting!

Or, well... she was one of Aris Noble 's friends. But maybe she was a friend of hers now, too? Vera blinked and kept herself glued to the window of her room, watching the path leading up to the front door to await Mahsa's arrival. She was going to be here any moment now, and Vera felt more excited about socializing than she had in quite some time. Maybe they could head into town and go shopping? Maybe visit the big city? Or they could pass through the forest for a visit to the lake?

...maybe not. Last time they were near water, Mahsa nearly drowned.

"Vera?"

Vera blinked again when she heard her mother's voice from downstairs.

"What?!" she yelled back to her Mom, who was used to teenage behavior by now.

"A shuttle just landed. I think your friend is coming." Valery chuckled and walked back into the living room to plop down on the couch with little Eryx in her arms. Kahlil was out of the house with the triplets today, Colette and Aris were on Jedi duty, so it was just her and the littlest Noble. He squeaked and squealed, and couldn't be happier to have time alone with his Mother. Valery felt equally as happy, but especially because her oldest was being herself again.

​

 

[Mahsa]

Niv Hani
Noble Residence

---

The invitation had come unexpectedly and, surprised as she’d been, the Kazelrrian had accepted without thinking too much about it. She began to worry though as the day approached, and had even asked Aris Noble what were some of the things Vera liked.

Sure, there wasn’t a specific rule that stated it, but in plenty of books the girl had read arriving at someone's home with empty hands could be seen as rude. His first response had been ‘animals’, closely followed by ‘plushies’, and when she’d tried to steer him towards edible ideas the word ‘pancakes’ had followed.

Asking Zaiya Ceti had also resulted in some very interesting ideas, such as ‘clothes’, ‘bathing suits’, ‘games’, and even the mention of a ‘holocamera’—before finally focusing on the topic of ‘snacks’ that her roommate suggested. The offer had been made for Mahsa to pick out anything from the usual stash that the Lovalla kept, and she’d even offered to lend the girl some credits if she needed them, though Mahsa gently refused them.

This was the first time she’d been invited to someone's home, and the girl wanted to make a good impression—especially after almost drowning back at the beach in the presence of Aris’ and Vera’s mother. In the end she’d acquired some green grapes in the market. Their price had felt steep when she’d first heard it but, after the seller had been kind enough to let her try one, Mahsa had come to understand why and happily purchased them.

The small container currently rested on her lap as the girl took in the view of the city as they passed by its streets, taking in the wide domes and the large spires that rose all around them. A pleasant shade of yellow had collared the tips of her hair through most of the way, their color deepening into a darker orange shade only when her ride had come to a stop at the Noble residence.

She paid her fare and profusely thanked the driver as she got outside, her free hand smoothing over any noticeable wrinkle in her padawan garments, before starting up the path leading towards the home. "Whoooa..." She couldn’t help but awe in wonder as she took in the structure; the house was impressive and massive—by her standards at the very least.

It’s only when she reached the front door that Mahsa realized she wasn’t sure how to proceed. Was she supposed to knock—would anyone even hear it—or call out for Vera from where she stood…?

---

Vera Noble ​

 

[Vera Noble]

Niv Hani

​

Tag: Mahsa

​

BANG!

The front door of the Noble house was flung open, and Vera stood there with an excited grin, "Mahsa!" she exclaimed, clearly happy to see that she came over. There weren't a ton of plans yet for the day, and she didn't know the other girl amazingly well just yet, but she really hoped to change that. This was her chance to make a friend and Mahsa had seemed really kind. A little shy, maybe? Or perhaps it had just been the circumstances when they met at the training event.

Either way, they'd have plenty of time to get to know each other.

From within the house, a fluffly Racyon appeared and stood next to Vera. Fuzzy was always curious about his best friend, so he wanted to know who was visiting. Walking up to Mahsa, Fuzzy began to sniff her legs and rubbed himself up against her a little while he circled her.

"Don't mind, Fuzzy. He's just curious," Vera said with a giggle. "Do you want to come in? We've got some snacks ready."

​

 

[Mahsa]

Niv Hani
Noble Residence

---

She almost jumped out of her skin from the loud noise as Vera flung the front door open, before her hands scrambled to keep themselves from dropping the container Mahsa had been holding. "V-Vera!" It was easy to tell that, despite the vibrant orange hues coloring the bottom parts of her hair, the smile she wore on her lips was genuine as she looked up at the familiar brunette.

"H-Here, I uuhm... I thought you might like thes—" Her words suddenly morphed into a long and audible gasp of surprise as she caught sight of the furry little creature standing besides the padawan. She’d never seen a Racyon before but, from the way her eyes sparkled and the light pink and yellow shades that replaced the colorful areas of her hair, it wasn’t hard to see she was instantly smitten by the little critter.

"Oooh he’s so cuuute!" Fluffy rubbed against her leg and the Kazelrrian almost melted, and only the crinkles from the thin plastic holding the grapes prevented Mahsa from accidentally squishing them all as she hugged them tightly to her chest.

A light blush crept onto her cheeks upon realizing she’d almost missed Vera’s invitation to come inside, the Kazelrrian nodding before she followed the taller girl. "S-Sorry…" She hadn’t meant to cut off mid sentence, or wrinkle the package holding the grapes as they were finally offered for Vera to take.

---

Vera Noble ​

 

[Vera Noble]

Niv Hani

​

Tag: Mahsa

​

"You can pet him if you'd like!" Vera smiled and nodded to both Mahsa and Fuzzy. The Racyon looked up, and almost like he understood every word that Vera spoke, plopped down on his back and opened his paws to reveal his tummy. He wasn't going to say no to some scratches and attention, after all.

Vera just chuckled, but then turned her multi-colored eyes to the container Mahsa had wanted to show her. Were those grapes? They looked fresh and delicious!

"These look great!" She said as she took the offered container and opened it up. She offered Mahsa a grape first, then plucked out another and tossed it down to Fuzzy. He caught it between two claws and immediately started to nibble on it. Finally, she picked one out for herself and popped it into her mouth.

Juicy!

"Thank you for bringing these, Mahsa. They're tasty." She smiled, then turned to guide the girl inside. Vera wasn't quite aware of it anymore, but the Noble homestead looked as impressive on the inside, as it did on the outside. Furniture had been carefully picked to represent both Epicanthix and Keshian culture. It felt warm and cozy, but most important of all, there were pictures of the happy family everywhere.

"Ah, you must be Vera's new friend?" Valery smiled, as she appeared on the other end of the hallway. "Come inside, I have some snacks in the living room."

Vera grinned and offered an encouraging nod to her friend. "Mom! Look at what Mahsa got me!"

​

 

[Mahsa]

Niv Hani
Noble Residence

---

Golden eyes widened as Vera mentioned it was alright for her to pet Fluffy, the container of grapes taken from her hands as the Noble daughter examined them. "Are you s-sure?" Her question was met by a bushel of grapes as Vera held the opened container for Mahsa, the Kazelrrian accepting the unspoken offer as she plucked one, before her gaze shifted to cute lil’ Fluffy.

She’d seen plenty of pictures of adorable critters in books, had always fawned and cooed over their big eyes and sweet expressions, but unsurprisingly the Cage had been devoid of them—the only living creatures Ayhan and her had seen there were big and dangerous, capable of extinguishing the lives of the children trapped with them.

So when Fluffy plopped onto the floor, belly upright and exposed, Mahsa couldn’t help the delighted squeal that escaped her as she finally crouched down to meet the Racyon.

"He’s so soft…!" Fingers gently curled through his fur as the girl showered Fluffy with attention, mesmerized by the pattern in his pelt. It was clear that Fluffy was used to the attention, and she would’ve been more than happy to pet Fluffy for the rest of the day, before she finally withdrew as Vera dropped a grape for her fuzzy companion to catch and eat.

After all she’d come today to spend time with Vera, it’d be rude to put all of her focus on Fluffy when the brunette had been so nice and invited her over today.

Her mouth shaped into a small ‘o’ of wonder as Mahsa followed Vera further into their home, equally impressed by the spaciousness and the decor inside—though what caught her attention the most were the pictures scattered all over the space.She could easily recognize Aris and Vera in them as well as their mother, but even without names for the other faces it wasn’t hard to assume they were the rest of the family.

And they all looked so very happy—

"Y-Yes!" She hadn’t meant for her voice to rise an octave when Valery appeared, a quick response given as she was startled out of her own head. A polite bow had followed, the behavior one she’d picked up during her short stay in Atrisia a while back, and one her own master had never bothered to correct. "T-Thank you for having me over, Master Noble."

The grin on Vera’s face as she encouraged her to follow allowed the Kazelrrian to relax a bit, the grape she’d picked out finally popped into her mouth as she trailed behind the older girl—watching as Vera excitedly showed her mother the small gift Mahsa had brought for her.

---

Vera Noble ​

 

[Vera Noble]

Niv Hani

​

Tag: Mahsa

​

"Fuzzy really likes you," Vera said with a very bright smile while Fuzzy rolled around and searched for more attention. The little Racyon had been her most trusted friend for a few years now, so it meant a lot to her when others got along with him. It showed her that Mahsa had a kind heart, and that they could easily be good friends! But being friends meant a lot more than spending time with Fuzzy, so with the toss of a grape, Vera got them ready to head inside.

To meet her Mom and see the house.

"It's nice to meet you," Valery told Mahsa after the girl politely bowed. "Vera has been excited to bring you over." She smirked, but Vera squinted a little at her Mom.

Way to go, exposing her like that.

"What would you like to do today. Mahsa? I could take you to the lake in the forest, or we could go shopping in town! Or I can show you the big city, if Mom lets me..." She eyed her Mother, who wasn't really a fan of letting her kids go to the city alone. But with a friend and a few check-ins, perhaps she'd allow it.

"But first, snacks!" The table was full of all sorts of snacks, creating an aroma that traveled through the entire house. It summoned little Nobles like moths to a flame. It began with a series of footsteps rapidly approaching, before three little ones rushed their way inside the living room.

"Snackies!" the triplets chirped in unison.

​

 

[Mahsa]

Niv Hani
Noble Residence

---

It was impossible to not sneak glances at the Racyon while he ate the grape, the fluffy creature adorable in every regard, and the yellow hues in Mahsa’s hair seemed to brighten upon hearing Vera’s words.

Valerys admission had surprised the young Kazelrrian and caused her eyebrows to raise, before a barely audible chuckle that Mahsa tried to mask for a cough escaped her. "I-I’ve been excited to come over, too." It was her first time being invited into the home of one of her peers, and she’d been brimming with energy all week as the day slowly approached.

"Uuhm..." It was clear Vera had given their day a lot of thought as three different plans were presented and, while a part of her was tempted at the mention of a forest, her recent experience with large bodies of water had the Kazelrrian hesitate a bit… the last thing Mahsa wanted was a repeat of the beach on a day meant for them to enjoy and have fun.

Maybe it’d be best to go for one of the other two options?

"The city sounds n-nice…?" There was a lingering caution to her words as her gaze trailed away from Vera and back to Valery, unsure why the brunette’s mom might be opposed to letting them view the city.

After all, she’d never been to Niv Hani before, so the Kazelrrian was curious to see more of the city home to the Noble children. Her master had also advanced Mahsa’s allowance upon hearing of the little get together invitation her padawan had received and, while Mahsa was hesitant to blow through it quickly, perhaps it wouldn’t be bad to spend a handful of credits here or there today…?

A small growl echoed from her stomach just as Vera brought the attention back to snacks, the skin around her cheeks and ears turning a rosy hue from embarrassment, before a trio chirped in unison as the triplets rushed into the room.

"O-Oh…! I didn’t know Aris and you had younger siblings." They were smaller than she’d ever been, and all three were adorable in their own unique way.

---

Vera Noble ​

 

[Vera Noble]

Niv Hani

​

Tag: Mahsa

​

"Then we'll go to the city!" Vera said with an excited grin, "If that's alright, Mom?" Vera added cautiously. The city itself was fairly safe, and the people of Niv Hani were good about protecting each other. But it was also several miles away, so Valery was always a little hesitant to let her teenager go there alone.

But she couldn't shield her from the world forever.

"That's alright. Just send me a text when you get there safely, okay?" Valery asked with that motherly tone Vera knew all too well. "I'll also give you some credits to get lunch. For both of you." She looked at Mahsa and smiled. She was their guest, so Valery didn't want her to spend her own credits on getting food.

She could save those to buy something fun for herself.

"Thanks, Mom! I'll also-" she paused when the triplets rushed into the living room, loud and chaotic as always. They attacked the snacks on the living room coffee table and began to munch on them. Aeryn, the feisty brunette with eyes like her mother was most eager to stuff her face. But Adam, her brother, was right behind.

Only Aurra, the young blonde with striking blue eyes was eating slowly and timidly.

"Mhm! This is Aeryn, Adam and Aurra. But we also have little Eryx." Vera looked over at Valery, who had briefly left and returned with the baby in her arms. Just like Aris, his eyes were emeralds, and he squealed with that familiar Noble joy.

​

 

[Mahsa]

Niv Hani
Noble Residence

---

The brunette’s excitement was almost palpable as Mahsa agreed with the idea of visiting the city, and Mahsa couldn’t help a faint chuckle when Vera cautiously amended her statement as she looked to her mother for approval. She already knew Master Valery cared about the wellbeing of all the padawans and younglings in the Temple, but she’d always care about her children the most.

Aris and Vera were lucky to have Valery for a mom.

A smile spread to her lips when the approval finally came, golden hues turning to meet the fiery and silver hues of Vera’s gaze as the girl grinned back, before she was taken aback as Valery continued. "A-Aah, that’s ok—" There was an attempt to decline the offer, after all Mahsa already felt they’d done more than enough by inviting her over and allowing her to spend a day in their residence, but it was clear front he woman’s look that she wouldn’t budge on this matter.

"T-Thank you." A small but polite bow accompanied her words, fingers quietly toying with the edges of her sleeves, before the arrival of the triplets cut through the awkwardness Mahsa felt.

They beelined straight for the snacks on the table, a whirlwind of browns, silvers, and yellows as their tiny hands went for the treats of their preference. Despite being triplets there were distinct similarities between each one, both physically and in the way each one acted.

"T-They’re so cute." An out loud thought that had snuck through, before the Kazelrrian waved softly to the trio as Vera introduced them. "It-s nice to m-meet you all, I’m Mahsa."

A soft coo caught her attention then as the girl turned to see Valery return—Wait, when did she left!?—before she caught sight of the tiny little bundle in Master Noble’s arms that had been the source of the sound.

While the triplets had already surprised Mahsa with their small size and cuteness she was absolutely fascinated by the wee baby Valery held close. "He’s so… He’s so tiny...!" She knew what a baby was from books and pictures, but Mahsa had never seen one close before and she found it impossible to look away from that bright emerald gaze Eryx had.

---

Vera Noble ​

 

[Vera Noble]

Niv Hani

​

Tag: Mahsa

​

"Hello Mahsa!" the triplets chirped again in unison. They were as excited to meet someone new as Mahsa was to see them for the first time. Vera and Aris hadn't brought many friends over yet, and Valery and Kahlil kept the little ones close. They were too young to wander off and their youngling classes didn't keep them at the Temple much. Especially not now, when there was so much danger lurking in the shadows.

This was exciting!

Mahsa's attention turned away when Valery entered the room again with Eryx. The youngest Noble had woken from his nap and was making subtle sounds to interact with his Mom and siblings. Valery wiggled a finger in front of him, and he excitedly reached out to grab it and held it close.

Nothing could get between him and Mom.

"Eryx is very attached to Mom and gets jealous even when Dad hugs Mom," Vera explained and chuckled. "But he's very cute and loves everybody, as long as we don't keep him away from Mom for too long."

Valery smirked and rolled her eyes a little, "He doesn't mind being without me for a little bit." To prove it, she turned to Mahsa, who seemed particularly excited about the littlest one.

"Do you want to hold him for a moment?" Valery asked as she held out her baby.

​

 

[Mahsa]

Niv Hani
Noble Residence

---

Their happy little chorus would have melted the coldest of ice, or at least that’s what the Kazelrrian thought as she gazed at the triplets. It was clear the fascination between them went both ways too, the younger ones undoubtedly excited about meeting someone new too.

And then Eryx stole the show.

While the triplets were young they had already reached a certain level of independence, small as it might’ve been, that the youngest Noble wouldn’t have access to for a while longer. He was defenseless in every way, entirely dependent on his mother and the rest of the family for his safety, and yet the baby was so perfectly oblivious to his shortcomings as he wriggled and cooed.

A light chuckle escaped as she listened to Vera’s tale of how possessive her youngest brother could be of their mother, even if she was unable to imagine what sort of expression Kahlil Noble wore whenever this happened. Whatever she might’ve thought to say was lost the moment Valery turned the infant in her direction, offering her a chance to hold the littlest Noble.

"Oh n-no, I couldn’t—!" Vibrant orange hues began to shimmer across the bottom of her hair, but despite her initial protest the girl had been unable to stop herself from automatically reaching for Eryx when Master Noble held him in her direction.

He felt so small—so tiny and frail—as her hands wrapped around him that Mahsa’s first instinct was to bring the little one close to her chest, her shoulders tensed as the all too real fear of accidentally dropping Eryx if she wasn’t careful loomed over her. "W-Where… How should I hold him…?"

---

Vera Noble ​

 

[Vera Noble]

Niv Hani

​

Tag: Mahsa

​

"You're holding him just right," Valery said with a warm smile when Mahsa gently took Eryx into her arms. The girl held the little Noble close to her chest, and he remained mostly still. He only turned his head to look between Mahsa and Mom, but seemed just as happy as when he entered the room with his mother.

"He likes you!" Vera exclaimed, "He doesn't always like it when other people hold him." He much preferred to stay within Valery's embrace, but that's why she remained close.

To make sure the little one knew he wasn't alone.

"Come on, Eryx, wave at Mahsa~" Valery encouraged and with a little fingerwave in his direction, she got him to flail his little arms around. He squealed and cooed happily and even kicked his feet up and down.

Vera chuckled and looked at her friend, "Do you have any siblings? Or family your age?"

​

 

[Mahsa]

Niv Hani
Noble Residence

---

Master Noble offered words of reassurance as she held young Eryx, but it was hard to hear them against the pounding heartbeats that resonated in Mahsa’s ears. A faint smile pulled the edges of her lips though, the delighted coos and squeals of the baby confirmed Vera’s claims, letting Mahsa know she’s doing something right as her grip slowly shifted into a natural hold comfortable for them both.

"H-Hi Eryx," she greeted him at last, a quiet chuckle escaping as he flailed his little arms around with Valery’s encouragement. Her arms wrap just a bit tighter as he kicks though, always cautious and concerned over the baby’s safety.

"I…" Vera’s question is an innocent one, Mahsa knows that much, but she can’t help the pause as the words get caught in her throat. It’s a loaded question even if the Noble daughter is unaware of it, and one Mahsa hadn’t been prepared to respond.

"N-No. Not quite," she finally answered, unaware of the colorful shift in her hair as the sunny yellows are replaced by auburn orange hues. It isn’t exactly a lie, after all none of them truly knew what steps the spindly Kaminoan had taken when creating them—but she’d always suspected there had been multiple DNA strand combinations used in their creation.

They hadn’t been clones of one another after all. Dara had as many differences compared to Mahsa as any of the other Kazelrrians in their batch, and they hadn’t shared the same strength and weaknesses either. She might’ve thought and seen Dara as a younger sister, but the smaller girl had been gone for years now and nothing could change that.

The familiar face of Ayhan flashed in her mind at the mention of family, causing the knot inside her chest to tighten in response. "K-Kinda?" She’d known him the longest, and they had been close while surviving inside the Cage… though his hot-and-cold attitude the last couple of months had left Mahsa wondering if the Firronthix had ever thought of her as such, or if she’d been the only one.

---

Vera Noble ​

 

[Vera Noble]

Niv Hani

​

Tag: Mahsa

​

Eryx felt comfortable in Mahsa's arms. His attention had even shifted away from Mom, as he happily moved his arms and legs around. It was the most adorable thing and Mahsa seemed to feel the same way. But with just one innocent question, Valery noticed a sudden shift in mood. It wasn't the change of hair color or the emotions that rippled through the Force that revealed it — it was her body language that alarmed her.

Over the years, Valery had learned to tell instantly when one of her children was upset, troubled, or needing help. It was a motherly instinct that helped her protect her little ones and it carried over to other kids.

"Well, you handle little Eryx like you've held a thousand little siblings before." Valery crouched down a little and placed a comforting hand on the girl's shoulder. She didn't say anything and wouldn't pry, but with just a motherly smile, she wanted to make the girl feel at ease again.

"I was also thinking, why don't you join the family for dinner tonight? You can have fun with Vera all day, but I'll cook a nice meal and you can even stay the night if that sounds fun. Unless you'd like me to bring you back, of course." She wasn't going to let the girl travel alone if she stayed until after dinner. But she much preferred the idea of her staying the night and traveling in the morning again.

Vera seemed to agree, as she bounced up with excitement, "Yes! That would be fun!" she looked at Mahsa with hope in her eyes, "We can stay up late and watch shows!"

Valery snickered, and finally reached over to gently pull Eryx into her arms, "If you both like the idea, you're more than welcome to stay."

​

 

[Mahsa]

Niv Hani
Noble Residence

---

She continued to hold Eryx close, instinctually seeking to keep the little one safe, and she was thankful for his presence. His weight in her arms was a constant reminder of where she was, and it helped ground the Kazelrrian to the present instead of the myriad of thoughts running inside her head.

Valery’s praise surprised her, buta shy smile still managed to show itself as Mahsa looked down at the baby in her arms. He was calm and content, happy as a clam really, and a small part of her felt relieved that he hadn’t found her existence and inexperience distressing in any way.

What she hadn’t expected however had been the sudden invitation for dinner, curious eyes blinking back to the woman and then Vera as if to confirm that she hadn’t misheard them. "A-Are you sure…?" The brunette responded excitedly, already thinking of which shows they could enjoy late into the night, and a quiet chuckle escaped Mahsa right before she felt Valery take hold of little Eryx once more.

"I’ll have to ask Master f-first," she answered. She wasn’t worried that Ioti would deny the request in any way, after all the Echani had seemed glad to hear Mahsa was interacting more and more with her peers as of late, but the woman would undoubtedly worry if it became late and she still hadn’t heard of her padawan. "But I’d like that… if it’s n-not too much trouble?"

---

Vera Noble ​

 

[Vera Noble]

Niv Hani

​

Tag: Mahsa

​

"It's no bother at all." Valery held Eryx in her arms and gently swayed to keep him calm, "Calling your Master is a good idea, so they know where you're staying and when to expect you back. But we'd love for you to stay the night, and I'll bring you back in the morning. Saves you a trip with public transport." In the Core, it was easy enough to get around with shuttles, but Niv Hani wasn't a common destination.

And if she could make her daughter happy by letting her friend stay, bringing her back home was no big deal at all.

"Great! Thanks, Mom."

Vera smiled at her mother, clearly even more excited than she already was. Mahsa was a new friend but Vera already really liked her and wanted to spend as much time together as they could. It wasn't always easy with their class schedule and going on assignments, so this meant a lot to her.

"Send your Master a message and we'll head to the city. I know a good place for ice cream and there are great shops there, too!"

​

 

[Mahsa]

Niv Hani
Noble Residence

---

Master Noble assured her that it’d be no trouble at all, and the excited look that Vera sported was finally mirrored on the younger girl. She’d never had a sleep over before, but she’d heard about and seen them in some of the shows she’d watched with Zaiya Ceti before.

"O-Okay!" A nod was given before the Kazelrrian stepped away just a bit, deciding to give a proper call to her Master instead of a quick message. It took only a few moments, but the vibrant yellows in Mahsa’s hair and the wide smile she sported were clear indicators it had all gone well.

"Master says it’s fine, but to message her when we’re back from the city." Her eye slit up at the mention of ice cream, it was a sweet and cool treat that didn’t cross her path often but Mahsa greatly enjoyed. "I can’t wait to see it all…!"

---

Vera Noble ​

 

[Vera Noble]

Niv Hani

​

Tag: Mahsa

​

"Great!" Vera exclaimed excitedly. It was her first sleepover too and she couldn't be happier about it. They'd stay up all night, as far as she was concerned, watching shows and talking about anything they liked. But before they'd do that, it was time to head into the city to grab lunch and maybe do some shopping.

Mahsa was going to love Epicanthix fashion!

"You two be safe and please message me when you arrive, Vera."

Vera rolled her eyes but quickly smiled, "Sure, Mom." She had allowed the sleepover and the two of them heading into the city, so if Mom was happy with a message when they arrived, it'd be the least she could do.

"Come on, Mahsa!" Vera nudged her along with quite a grin and took the path to the nearby town. It was much smaller than the big city but it had everything the Nobles needed. Stores, a small hospital and also a public transport stop to head into the city.

"What do you want to do first? Get ice cream or look at some shops?"

​

 

[Mahsa]

The excitement was contagious, displayed in cheerful and vibrant yellows across the snowy strands of hair. She’d been curious about Niv Hani ever since first hearing of it from Aris, and the Kazelrrian couldn’t wait to see all she could of the place the Noble siblings called home.

"We will, M-Master Noble!" Agreeing to Valery’s simple request was more than easy enough to do, a wide smile on her lips as the girl waved goodbye to the triplets and little Eryx before following the brunette out the door.

Her gaze often strayed here or there as the girls made their way on foot to the nearby town, almost as if the Kazelrrian was trying to commit every detail she could observe into memory. "Mmm..." Vera’s question paused her sightseeing as Mahsa turned towards the brunette, brows furrowed in deep thought as she weighed the options.

"I really want ice cream." The cool and sweet treat was like nothing she’d tasted before, but it could definitely get messy if they weren’t careful… and she doubted any of the shop owners would welcome their sticky fingers on their wares. "Let’s look at the shops first. I-It’ll be easier to browse if our hands aren’t already full with food, right?"

---

Vera Noble ​