Private Of Time & Escape

[Kito]

//: Valaine Valentine //:
//: Komorebi Xam'Chi, Atrisia //:
//: Attire //:

Going home.

It had always been the intention, eventually. Her time away had been longer than usual, but that didn't worry the caretakers of the Lightsworn. Kito was, in their eyes, a nomad — she wandered, never letting her feet settle anywhere for too long. Different places, different homes, but nothing had ever felt quite right.

It wasn't until recently that she understood home as a feeling rather than a place.

In reality, it could be anything or anyone.

Ignoring the philosophical side of it, she focused on the practical reason for her return to Atrisia. This time was different. For the first time, she'd brought someone with her — someone special. It was a foreign thing for Kito to want to share more of herself with another. Even when she was surrounded by her peers at the Enclave, she'd never cared to let them get close.

They were all warriors. And a warrior's life was never a long one.

Knowing that, she'd kept her distance. Sooner or later, either she or they wouldn't come back.

The shuttle landed softly, its hum breaking her thoughts. Kito unbuckled and stepped from the pilot's seat. She was a decent pilot, but nothing special — hopefully she hadn't jostled the landing too much.

Turning to her companion, she offered her hand with that familiar crooked smirk that only to Valaine knew.

"Thank you for flying Air Kito. Please leave all compliments and praise for after disembarking."

The plan was simple: stay here for a while and let Valaine explore. Atrisia was nothing like Malachor V, and remembering what Valaine had said at the Naboo Gala, Kito figured a vacation would do them both good.

The shuttle doors opened to the small port. The view outside was limited until they passed through the check-in area. Kito handled most of it, greeting the staff with a quiet familiarity born from her frequent travels.

They hadn't arrived in the capital city of Jar'Kai, but in Komorebi Xam'Chi — closest to the estate for the shuttle to land. So, they'd still need to travel further to reach the estate.

Grabbing both of their bags and slinging them easily over her tall frame, Kito offered her hand again to Valaine.

"The estate's on the outskirts of the mountain range. But we can spend some time in the city before heading out."

She led them through the port and into the bustle of the secondary city. The streets echoed with movement — food stalls, laughter, vendors calling out their deals to the crowds.

"I keep my speederbike locked up nearby when I'm traveling," Kito said, nodding toward a sleek vehicle parked across the street. It was black, with sharp orange and purple accents, clearly oddly modified since the first time she and Valaine had met.

Her gaze swept the busy cityscape again — the glow of business signs, the chatter of passersby, with the smell of sizzling food and roasted spices hitting her nose. Amidst it all, she caught the familiar hint of espresso and warmth that came with Valaine's presence.

"Anything you want to do first?" she asked, her grin widening. "We could even stay the night in the city if you'd rather explore the whole of the city. I'm not expected home anytime soon."

 

[Valaine Valentine]

Tags - Kito

It was on a whim that Valaine accepted Kito's offer to visit her home. The thought of going somewhere together that wasn't some awful rocky hellscape or abandoned remnants sounded like a pleasant distraction. The young Sangnir was dressed in casual attire, forgoing the black acolyte robes once again for just a favored gray hooded sweater and some form fitting and comfortable pants.

But one thing she hadn't accounted for was the fact Kito knew how to fly a shuttle... They were the same age and so she wondered just what kind of education she was raised on.

"Thank you for flying Air Kito. Please leave all compliments and praise for after disembarking."

"Oh? What makes you think I've got compliments and praise for your flying?" she smirked back at the Shaper in a teasing tone as she brushed a hand through her long dark hair. "Hit that landing any harder and I might've snapped an ankle." she added, but ever in jest as she took the offered hand and disembarked from the shuttle.

The Sangnir had never expected that in her lifetime she'd be able to visit so many different planets; in a way getting arrested on Jutrand gave her more freedom than she ever thought possible. Her world had been so small before that moment, so isolated. Her tired gaze took in her surroundings as they often did whenever she went somewhere new while she let Kito handle the busywork.

She once more accepted the offered hand from the taller woman, tensing her fingers tightly around it with a smile before she followed her lead. "A mountain range...? Sounds kinda odd don't it? Building on top of a mountain... Things would just fall off of it." she commented as they left the port and moved into the city proper. A city was familiar territory to the Sangnir but she could appreciate just how different this one aesthetically was from Jutrand.

"I keep my speederbike locked up nearby when I'm traveling,"

"Mm? Is that the same one?" asked Valaine with a raised brow as her stormy gaze shifted towards the black speeder. "I wouldn't have been able to recognize it at all... Must've been making some good credits to do it up like that hm?" she queried with a smirk. Just how much of an income did Jedi get? Or whatever equivalent of a Jedi Kito was at least...

She hummed at the question of what they should do first as Valaine tilted her head back to look at the sky and ponder. "Well cities are pretty run of the mill of me. I don't mind spending too much time here but you've piqued my curiosity with this mountain home of yours." she answered. "Is there anywhere here you particularly like?"

 

[Kito]

//: Valaine Valentine //:

Kito enjoyed the teasing. There was something unique to it when it came from Valaine. So the Shaper took any chance to say something playful to elicit a remark from the Sangnir. Her poke at her piloting was something that, while it made the Shaper laugh, also warmed her chest.

Looking at the bike again, as Valaine mentioned the changes, she nodded. "I don't really get good commissions — but when I literally live in a tent and hunt all the time… I saved a lot of money." Kito chuckled, once more realizing she lived pretty much like a homeless nomad. Maybe she should use her money better and invest in places to stay when she's on a mission. A thought that would probably blossom into nothing.

There was something almost comforting for the Shaper to have little to nothing with her. In essence, after her village was destroyed, that's how she lived for several years. Shaking her head, she pulled herself from those memories. They were nothing more than the past to her now. The present was better, warmer, and comforting. Kito gave Valaine a slight squeeze of her hand and shook her head.

"There are flat places on a mountain pass," she pointed out, "So the estate is built in one of those small valleys. It's pretty high up, but Master Ashina has developed a pathway — we can ride my speederbike pretty far up." Kito began to walk towards the bike. More details weren't seen from the distance they had been standing. In particular, a specific name was written in Aurabesh near the tailpiping. It was easy to discern the bike's name.

Kito busied herself with securing their bags to the bike, then looked at Valaine and handed her a helmet. "Here you go," it was newer, which indicated that she had recently purchased it. "Should fit like a glove, I think I have a pretty good guess of the size of your head." Kito laughed as she shoved her own helmet over her head and swung her leg over the body of the speeder. After a few adjustments, she stabilized the bike and patted the seat behind her.

"Climb on and hold on tight; it should be a bit more comfortable than the last time you rode with me." Kito smiled, remembering the last time Valaine had been on the bike was around the time they had initially met. She waited and then paused for a moment, looking back at the Sangnir.

"There is one place I want to stop by, it's a forest that's really beautiful… more so at night, but by the time we get there, it should be closer to dusk."

Her helmeted head turned back to face forward, tilting slightly as she thought quietly. "We can grab dinner there — if I remember right, there are a few stalls that serve ramen and other small bites."

Once Valaine had climbed onto the bike, Kito waited. "Hope you're excited, it goes fast!" The engine roared, vibrating under them as the speeder lifted from the ground and hovered. Kito maneuvered the bike towards the street. It was slow at first, the engine purring softly.

"Hold on tight…" She reminded the woman behind her almost with a laugh. A hand reached down and squeezed Valaine's arm gently for just a moment.

As Kito placed her hand back on the clutch, the bike's engine roared once more to life, and the speeder quickly took off. Tearing through the streets and whipping around each corner. The way the speeder took each turn was as if it were bending time and space to keep together at this speed.

It didn't take long for them to leave the city in the dust. Now the range of the mountains surrounded them. An entire landscape changed from the city's busy hustle. Land stretched as far as either of them could see.

There was a small comm device that chimed on as they left the city, their speed quickly picking up.

"You okay back there?" Kito asked, her smile bleeding through her tone.

 

[Valaine Valentine]

Tags - Kito

Valaine hummed gently, "I guess your expenses are pretty light, yeah. About all you really pay for are fuel and the sticks for your skewers." she paused in her words for a moment, "... Or do you just find random sticks...?" she asked as she felt the squeeze of her hand as the two made their way towards the speederbike. Her tired grey gaze caught the name near the tailpiping as she tilted her head lightly in brief confusion, and then a huff of amusement. "Cute..." she muttered before she turned to accept the helmet from Kito.

The Sangnir chuckled softly as she fitted the helmet over her head. "Oh yeah? Been told I've got a pretty big head you know? Might be too small..." she replied as she strapped the helmet on, it fit just fine, and followed the Shaper's lead as she straddled the seat of the speeder behind her. She wrapped her arms around her waist tightly as she made herself comfortable. She hadn't ridden on Speederbikes very often, the last time just so happened to be with Kito too.

"How far is this mountain of yours anyway?" she asked before the bike took off. She clutched a little more tightly as she felt the wind rushing by them as they accelerated forth. The pale woman rested her chin lightly against one of Kito's shoulders so that she could look out ahead passed the taller woman as they rode. "Hm, a forest huh? Definitely more interesting than the city I bet." she nodded gently against the rider in approval.

The speed that Kito drove at didn't seem to phase the Sangnir much; perhaps because everything she seemed to do was at something of a heightened sense of speed and reflex anyway. As they left the city behind and moved into the outskirts she found herself becoming more confident as a passenger on the bike as she loosened her arms to sit back just a little bit more so that she could freely look around and take in the sights of the nature that now surrounded them.

Despite the fact they were still moving rather swiftly she found the pace to be somewhat more leisurely when outside of the confines of city streets and roads. She smiled lightly at Kito's question as she leaned forward again and once more tightened her arms around her waist. "Mhm, I'm fine. You might not be great at flying, but I sure can't complain about your riding." she huffed in amusement with a grin.

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