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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[Kito]

//: Valaine Valentine //:

To Kito's surprise, she didn't know that she could buy skewers for her meals. More often than not, she gathered the best sticks she could, cleaned them, and polished the wood to prevent them from burning or rotting. She would have to ask Valaine, embarrassingly, where to buy these skewers.

It was nice having Valaine on the bike again, especially now that she had cleaned it up and added a few more parts. Kito didn't have the heightened senses unless she was channeling the Force to do so, but she had wanted to push the limits of the bike. The open space between the city and the forest that led towards the mountains was the perfect space for her to really let the bike come to life.

Kito couldn't help the reddening of her cheeks as she felt Valaine's head on her shoulder. She softly bumped the helmets together affectionately as she would if they didn't have them on. Despite safety, Kito wished quietly she could have brushed her cheek against the Sangnir's.

"A few hours travel time, even if I go fast." Kito replied, "Though we are taking the longer route, mostly for the forest."

She felt the grip on her waist loosen. It was good to know that the woman behind her felt comfortable enough to let herself relax on the ride. Kito didn't know much about having someone with her, but it was nice not being alone, especially on the longer ride. Too often, she let herself fall into the spiral of thinking and not enjoying the scenery.

Valaine soon returned against Kito, the warmth welcomed as their speed continued to climb. Her laughter echoed over the comm device that connected the two helmets. She should have expected some jab, but the compliment that followed made the shaper smirk.

"Well, I'd be surprised if you complained about my riding after all this time." Kito retorted a tad smugly. They both knew there was nothing wrong with the way Kito rode.

The road began to curve, and at high speed, the Shaper didn't bother to slow down. "Keep your legs in tight," Kito warned as the bike suddenly took a sharp lean. Kito could nearly feel the road kiss against her knee, but didn't, as they soon became upright after the sharp turn. Several more followed, and the bike weaved back and forth, each time leaning sharply while speed continued to climb.

As they finished the last curve, the flat land that they passed through began to thicken with trees. The sun had started to set, coloring the sky a vibrant lilac and orange. Just on the horizon, a softer glow came into view. Its light revealed the upcoming forest.

"There's a small village there, and we can explore the forest a bit," Kito remembered only a handful of times that she had stopped by. Most of the time had been spent healing wounds she couldn't heal on her own during a mission that had gone wrong. It would be nice to have happier memories of the quaint village.

Kito let the bike begin to slow down, the closer they got, and more of the forest and the village came into view. Small buildings etched into a time and history almost lost to Atrisia materialized. Kito smiled and hoped that Valaine enjoyed the view as much as she did.

 

[Valaine Valentine]

Tags - Kito

At Kito's smug retort the young Sangnir found herself smirking in response, "Mhm, would be, wouldn't it?" she answered with a light chuckle once more. Her tired stormy gaze continued to take in their surroundings as they started to move more towards the forest now, tucking her legs in when instructed so that Kito could make her sharp and sudden turns. Valaine could feel the force of gravity almost trying to rip her off the speederbike and she pondered briefly why one wouldn't just drive a standard speeder given the option; it certainly seemed a lot safer at least. But her arms tightened around the Shaper's waist for those tight corners.

When they entered the forest the ride seemed to relax once more as the Sangnir turned her attention to the trees. She hadn't been in too many forests so far; one was far too dense and more of a jungle than anything, and the other was so dark she couldn't really take a moment to enjoy it. But this one? In the evening? It was pleasant and filled her with a sense of solace amidst the surrounding trees that towered over the pair as they continued along the trail.

"A small village?" asked Valaine, "It's a little strange to me that such like... Small communities of people live out in places like this. Must be so quiet out here with so many less people around..." she commented as the bike gradually started to slow. She could already see the village coming into view as she once more loosened her arms from around Kito's waist as the speed lessened. "Do you come here a lot?" she asked as her gaze peered at the back of the Shaper.

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[Kito]

//: Valaine Valentine //:

The slow pace of their journey allowed the pair to admire the large trees that grew without restraint. Their fruit hung heavy, radiating the power they held. Kito remembered eating a few in the past — the way they fueled her body was unlike anything else she'd ever found. She listened quietly, nodding along with the Sangnir's observations.

"Cities are nice. They're very new for me," she said, tilting her head with a thoughtful pause. "But they're loud and lively. It makes me miss home."

She remembered Valaine mentioning how cities didn't impress her much. The thought made Kito chuckle softly — each found beauty in what the other took for granted. Contrasting, but still beautiful.

"It's great how different these little villages are." Kito slowed the bike further as they pulled into a small lot. Older-looking speeders surrounded them, and the town itself looked as though it had been transported from another time period. She climbed off and removed her helmet, giving her head a slight shake so her hair fell easily back into place. Whether it was luck or practice, Kito rarely suffered from helmet hair.

She extended her hand, offering to help Valaine off the speederbike. It was low to the ground now, easier to dismount — but Kito was going to take every opportunity to hold her hand. The constant contact was something she hadn't realized she craved until Valaine was gone.

After checking their belongings one last time, Kito stretched her legs and rolled her shoulders back. Remembering the previous question, she nodded.

"When I was younger," she said, gesturing with her free hand as if to indicate a shorter version of herself, "I was a bit rambunctious. I used to pick fights with anything willing."

Pausing, Kito lifted her dark bangs to reveal a faint scar running through her eyebrow.

"I picked a fight with a young Phillak." She pointed to the scar, her tone sheepish. "I was dared by another youngling to headbutt it, so I did. Split my forehead open and ended up down here for healing." She shrugged with a small laugh and let her bangs fall back into place, ruffling them to hide the mark as best she could.

Night had settled over the village, though the shops were still open and glowing warmly. Spotting one of her favorite snacks being sold nearby, Kito gently tugged Valaine's hand and led her toward the vendor.

"I grew up in a village like this," Kito admitted as they approached the candy and sweets shop.

On display were several colorful balls on sticks, each one glistening under the light with a caramelized syrup drizzle. Kito spoke quickly to the shopkeeper in fluent Atrisian; the two women shared a small laugh before the vendor nodded and handed her a stick.

Guiding Valaine toward an open space where a softly glowing forest tree illuminated them, Kito offered the treat.

"It's one of my favorites," she explained. "It has a chewy texture, and inside is usually fruit jam — sweet on the inside, soft on the outside." She pointed at each colored sphere. "Pink is strawberry, green is matcha, and white is lychee."

Kito held the stick toward Valaine to bite, mirroring the moment the Sangnir had fed her at the Nabooian gala.

 

[Valaine Valentine]

Tags - Kito

As the two finally came to a stop in the village the young Sangnir accepted the hand offered as she stepped off the bike, pulling off her own helmet and shaking out her long dark hair. It had somehow also stayed relatively tidy and neat, as it so often was. She paused to take in the surroundings of the village as her tired gaze glanced about with a gentle hum. "Very quaint. Ah... Is rustic the right word?" she asked as she glanced towards the Shaper.

At the brief story of headbutting a Phillak Valaine huffed in amusement as she shook her head. "Of course you did..." she muttered with a smile, "You sound like you were a pretty dumb kid, I was a lot more ah... Cautious I guess. Lived a dumb lifestyle but I was a pretty sharp girl." she spoke, revealing just a little more of her own past in return. "That could've went really poorly for you, though I can't say I expected anything less."

She happily followed along when the Shaper had spotted a vendor selling some favored snacks, allowing Kito to lead her by her hand as she often liked to do. When they came to the stall the young Sangnir's gaze shifted over the selection as she waited patiently, and then she was offered a bite. Immediately she recalled that very night on Naboo when she had rather teasingly offered both the Shaper and the Ersansyr food in a similar fashion. She couldn't help but smirk at the gesture before she lightly rolled her eyes and leaned forward to accept the offering.

The sweet ball was plucked from the stick by her lips as she sank her teeth into it. With a light hum of delight she chewed, her enjoyment of the treat clear upon her visage as she gave a light nod of approval in response, swallowing down. "Mm~ That's really nice. What're these called? Might have to keep my eye out for more... You got to grow up on this stuff?" she asked, she couldn't help but feel a little envious. Kito's youth, like her own, was marred with trauma but she was happy that at least the other woman had these more comforting memories sprinkled throughout it. Headbutting animals, eating sweet treats under an open sky, she was happy that she had that.

Kito might've caught Valaine gazing at her with her smile in such thoughts, though naturally the Sangnir would realize she was staring a little too silently as she blinked and glanced aside, "Ah... What's your favorite? I have no idea what matcha is." she asked as she glanced back towards the Shaper.

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[Kito]

//: Valaine Valentine //:

Kito smiled sheepishly as Valaine teased her. Her ears perked up as Valaine revealed a little more of her past. It was moments like this that Kito realized she didn't know as much as she wanted to about the Sangnir. She found her to be the most interesting person in the galaxy and wanted to know everything about her. But, she knew, like herself, some blocks and things were unpleasant to talk about.

At least they had each other.

"You're still pretty sharp," Kito slipped in quickly.

Sharing the treat was something she didn't realize she'd enjoy doing with someone. Often, it was a moment of solace for her, just to find that piece that brought her back to what was important. Yet, seeing that Valaine had found the treat just as enjoyable, brought a warmth to the Shaper's heart.

Even though Valaine didn't tease or eat the treats as she did at the gala, her cheeks still brightened softly with a slight tint of pink. There was something about watching her enjoy the shared treat that made her blush; she couldn't pinpoint it, but she wanted to do it again.

The questions caught her off guard, but returned the Shaper's mind back to reality. "Oh," she looked at the treat, and then her mind settled back in and provided the answer.

"Dango, I think a lot of the major city planets would have them… since most would have an Atrisian district, I believe." Kito thought quietly, she remembered Coruscant having one, even Corellia — but she wasn't sure about any Sith-oriented planets.

"But since you like them, I'll remember to bring some whenever I come to see you." An easy promise, maybe she would learn how to make them — since they were food on a stick, it was right in her wheelhouse of culinary expertise.

"I didn't really grow up on it. The other kids were able to afford it, but I didn't have a sponsor or anyone when I came to Lightsworn, so the villagers often took pity on me." She tried to smile through the slight embarrassment.

While everything sounded nice, it wasn't. Often, she was reminded how on her own she was, even with the couple that ran the enclave. She wasn't part of their clan; she wasn't one of their own.

When she finished answering, she looked at Valaine, who was staring at Kito. The Shaper stared back, suddenly very aware of her own heart racing. It was not like she'd never stared at the Sangnir before. They had often shared glances, but right now felt aware.

As soon as Valaine looked away and asked her question, Kito leaned in, trying to steal a quick kiss — convinced that was what the Sangnir had been silently asking for with that long stare.

Pulling back, Kito blinked and realized there was a question.

"Um, the pink one…strawberry" she pointed at the pink ball and cleared her throat. "And matcha is the green one… It's like sweet lettuce or grass, it's not my favorite, but it has a really unique flavor."

 

[Valaine Valentine]

Tags - Kito

A hum of amusement escaped Valaine's lips, "Still live a pretty dumb lifestyle too." she answered coyly in response to the compliment with a light smirk. She noted the blush left on Kito's face and she couldn't help but chuckle lightly at the response; to think that even accepting a treat from her was enough to bring a shade to those cheeks...

She nodded briefly at the explanation of what the treat was called, and where it could be found. "Oh? Please do, but don't like, go out of your way too much you know? Even if you do have a bunch of credits stored up because you're never spending any of it..." she huffed softly in feigned annoyance. "I'm always spending all mine." She muttered in thought, her expenses were often simply materials for her budding career in the more scientific pursuits.

The sudden peck of a kiss had surprised her as stormy grey eyes widened briefly. It seemed like a spur of the moment action from the Shaper, and it also seemed like she was just going to play it off as something that didn't even happen. Valaine smiled back at her sharply; she wouldn't mention or tease her about it if she was so intent to just keep on talking. She didn't doubt that Kito just craved a little attention, and to that effect she clutched her hand in her own to offer it a light squeeze of comfort to provide her with some.

Then she watched as Kito further tried to distract from the act as she gestured to the dango on the sticks once more, tired eyes turning to look as each was labelled. "Huh... Wait what? Just... Grass?" she asked puzzled as she glanced back at the Shaper, "... People eat grass?". Naturally the only grass Valaine recalled on Jutrand was from small parks in the fancier districts, but she couldn't imagine just taking a fistful of it and... chowing down.

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[Kito]

//: Valaine Valentine //:

Kito smirked. To hear Valaine ask her not to go out of her way for something that brought a smile to the Sangnir's face was silly. That type of request is like asking Kito not to fight with a sword, or something equally ridiculous. But, to prevent any guilt or the like, Kito nodded. She chuckled, though, hearing about the woman's spending habits.

"I promise, but if I can't buy them, I'll just make them for you." She nodded, chewing on a bit of the lychee ball. Kito made a mental note to not let Valaine spend anything while they were on this trip. She would cover the cost of everything if she could get away with it.

The quick kiss came and went in a flash, and Kito raised a brow, surprised that Valaine didn't tease her for it. It made her wonder if the Sangnir was feeling alright after the ride into the forest.

Kito didn't ask, choosing to stay focused on the treat between them for now. Instead, her hand gave a gentle squeeze in return. The Shaper welcomed the comfort and attention she often craved, even as her eyes flicked away from Valaine's sharp smile. She didn't pull back — she simply let herself be a little coy, savoring the quiet, stolen affection.

Kito's eyebrows rose, and she nodded as Valaine asked about eating grass. It was a sudden realization that she didn't explain matcha as well as she should have. Her typical sheepish little smile spread on her face as she tried to chuckle her way out of this. After the small bit of laughter, she shook her head.

"Well, not actual grass — that's my fault." Another bit of laughter as Kito pulled the green ball from the stick. The ball had an odd elasticity like the rest of the sweet bits, but when she drew this one, there was a hint of red in the middle. She caught the second piece as the first piece broke off and held both in the palm of her hand.

Thankfully, she had long fingers and could rotate as best she could with her palm, thumb, and index finger. "Mm, see inside? It's a red bean paste, it's a little sweet, which counters the earthy bitterness of the matcha tea flavor."

Kito mused over the treat; her mother would make something similar with the red bean in the middle. So when she found this stall, it was always her go-to to order at least one stick.

"Try it, if you don't like it, I'll finish it and you can have the extra strawberry dango." Kito smiled as she quickly popped one half into her mouth, then gripped the other awkwardly, and held it in front of Valaine.

"You know, I would eat grass, though, if it tasted like matcha dango." The statement shouldn't come as too much of a surprise from the Shaper; she had her moments, and her curiosity sometimes got the best of her.

 

[Valaine Valentine]

Tags - Kito

A light huff of amusement escaped the Sangnir's lips as she smirked at Kito, "Of course you can make them..." she muttered, the Shaper once more proving just how self-sufficient she was. Her gaze then shifted to the explanation for the matcha dango that she had in her hand, watching as Kito split it in half to reveal the red bean at the center. When it was offered to Valaine she leaned forward to accept it without much care, chewing and humming softly.

At first she had a puzzled look on her face, but when the sweet flavor of the red bean hit she hummed in delight, swallowing it down. "Hm... I don't much care for the green stuff, but that red bean really is pretty good." she nodded with a light smile. "... I'll still take the strawberry one though." she spoke, plucking said strawberry treat from the grasp of her friend.

"But come on, surely you didn't just bring me here to eat some treats right? What else have you got in store?" asked the Sangnir as she glanced around curiously with her hands at her hips. Valaine seemed very at ease, more than she typically was. Perhaps it was the atmosphere of the area they found themselves within, perhaps it was just pleasant and favored company. Regardless she felt that she had little to no concerns in this moment of respite and peace, just an innocent and calm outing to a beautiful planet with a beautiful friend.

Her tired eyes shifted back towards Kito, still holding her smile as she ate the rest of her strawberry dango. "You gonna show me this mountain of yours?" she asked.

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[Kito]

//: Valaine Valentine //:

Kito nodded along as she finished the last bit of the macha dango. She figured Valaine would take the strawberry one; it was, in reality, the best flavor of all of them. Carefully, she tossed the skewers into the trash nearby and listened as the Sangnir huffed. It was hard not to smile and laugh at the display. The woman often teased and poked fun at the Shaper, but today she seemed eager for some reason.

It was hard enough to keep her composure.

Sucking the sweetness off her thumb, Kito shrugged, her eyes rolling slightly, acting as if there was nothing planned. Her crooked grin, as usual, gave her away.

Before she gave in to the demands of the Sangnir, Kito eyed a bit of strawberry clinging to the corner of Valaine's lip. It made the Shaper lose her train of thought momentarily as she reached forward to do what made sense. Slowly, her thumb trailed along the corner of the woman's lip, smearing it slightly against her bottom lip. Once more, Kito brought her thumb to her lips and sucked the leftover strawberry from it. She hummed somewhat as her little crooked smile widened.

"Tastes better for some reason." She teased, then wrapped any leftover dango for when they got to the enclave.

"My mountain isn't too far from here, thankfully, just an hour or two ride," Kito reached once more for Valaine's hand and began to lead her through the small village back to where they had parked.

"Didn't think you were that eager to be back on the bike again." She laughed; it felt good to forget that they were from two different worlds. The conversation on Malachor played briefly in the back of her mind. Shaking her head, Kito pushed the memory aside, only focusing on the positives of it.

As they walked, taking the long way toward the parking lot, Kito pointed out several different shops again. Some for more food items, others for tools and clothing. One building stood slightly off the village's main road. Kito pointed towards it and smiled.

"On the way back to the city, we can stop by the hot springs here. I think they're better than what we have at the mountain, but good to try both of them out."

They returned to the bike, and Kito offered the helmet again to Valaine. Climbing on, Kito waited for Valaine to get onto it and hold on. The ride wouldn't be too long now that they had a straight shot to the mountain pass. Kito paused and then tucked Valaine's hands into her jacket pockets the best she could. The innate warmth from the fire Shaper would radiate through the material.

"It's going to get cold quick, as we get closer to the mountain. Just hold on tight if you start to get too cold."

With the instructions given, Kito pulled out of the lot and headed through the village. Once they were out into the open forest, the bike would pick up speed, and the journey to the mountain pass would continue.

 

[Valaine Valentine]

Tags - Kito

Valaine blinked in surprise as Kito's thumb brushed the light bit of strawberry at the corner of her lip, she hadn't noticed it at all and she was certain she was typically a fairly neat eater... Either way she rolled her stormy eyes in amusement towards the Shaper in response to her following action. "Oh yeah? I bet..." she smirked coyly before she accepted her hand into her own as the two started to walk through the village and back towards where the speeder bike had been parked.

The young Sangnir's gaze noted the shops and places of interest that Kito pointed out to her, nodding along with curiosity. "Mm? Hot springs? Sounds... Hot?" chuckled Valaine lightly. "I guess it'll be no different to you just heating up a cold lake, right?" she added as she glanced towards her with a smug grin at the memory. She gave Kito's hand another light squeeze before the two leisurely made their way back towards the speeder.

As before Valaine put her helmet on and got on the bike, wrapping her arms around Kito's waist firmly. "I mean the higher you go the colder things get right? Lucky me, I've got the warmest person in the galaxy right here. I'm sure I'll be fine~." she smiled as the speeder left the small parking lot and was travelling along the road once more.

As before the Sangnir kept her arms wrapped tightly and securely around the Shaper's waist while she watched the trees pass by, no doubt soon becoming more sparse in their appearance as they'd start travelling higher. She felt a comfort while she clung to Kito on the rather peaceful ride; rare was it that the Sangnir seemed to get to enjoy such peace and calm...

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