Private Sun and Statues

[Rik Perris]

A RESTAURANT
A WARM SUMMER'S DAY
AND A CONVERSATION

Though they could do little to soothe Rik's pain in the moment - only living his life, only time would make those feelings fade - her words of confidence in his chances, and encouragement to not give up reinforced him enough. Giving up was never in the cards.

"I... have no intention of doing that," he gave a weak smile, and his hands curled up, "no matter how long it takes. I know it's... somethin' that can't be," he breathed a heavy sigh, "and shouldn't be rushed."

Even if he knew that to be objectively true, it wasn't usually the most comforting thought... but such haste working out long-term was so uncommon. There was no way he could know someone well enough so fast to make such important decisions about his life. Patience was hard, sometimes.

"In the meantime," he continued, pushing onward despite the unsteadiness, despite the raw and cavernous ache he still felt within, "I can rely on my friends. Do right by them." There was that weak smile again. "Thank you, Val, for listenin' to this fool of a man." Rik glanced down at his hands, then back up at her. "Might be someday I can do the same for you. Anything you need."

Whatever form that took... he would do just about anything for a friend.

Valery Noble​

 

[Valery Noble]

"Good, it'd be a shame if someone special out there missed out on you." She smirked and did her best to brighten the mood with a bit of silly encouragement. Words could not heal heartbreak, but time could heal all wounds. The support of a friend just made that time a lot easier to bear. Getting him out of his own head to grab lunch or do fun activities was another way to distract him and help him heal.

But she was going to be careful about what she'd offer.

"I'm glad I could help. I know it sounds cheesy, but that's what friends are for, right?" She beamed a much warmer smile and took another quick bite from her food. "I also know you'd do the same for me. Just never feel like you owe me anything, alright? The only thing I want from my friends is that they enjoy spending time with me."

Valery leaned back into her seat, having finished her meal, and placed her hands over her stomach. She was feeling quite full, so just sitting and talking was all she could do.

"We should do this more often. Whether it's lunch or something else, I'd love to see you more than once every few months if we can help it."

Rik Perris​

 

[Rik Perris]

A RESTAURANT
A WARM SUMMER'S DAY
AND A CONVERSATION

Rik floated her a smile that was a little warmer than before.

“Alright.”

It wasn’t much of a friendship if it was transactional, but the spirit of his offer was the same he would do for anyone that had his trust. Not that earning it was difficult, but losing it was easier… yet sitting here across from Valery, having taken the leap to let her in on his concerns and found a compassionate listening ear in return, was a good first step as any in rebuilding his faith in the Order that had severely shaken it.

“Between our duties as Jedi,” Rik folded his hands together on the tabletop, “and our duties as Jedi, we’ll manage.” The short way of saying there was a lot to contend with, especially now, but, “I’m not going anywhere, ‘cept where that duty has need of me. Between all that…”

He shrugged. It didn’t need saying. Any Jedi that was Jedi long enough knew how downtime worked, and with conflict springing up seemingly from all directions, that made it less simple.

“So,” he circled back around and pressed onward towards something other than that inevitability, “memorial gala, Queen’s birthday,” it wasn’t that he was asking about it, so much as, “how long ago was the attack, who was responsible?”

He could easily cross off the threats he knew of - the bulwarks of the Darkside used different methods more often than not - but who was resorting to classical acts of terrorism, then?

Valery Noble​

 

[Valery Noble]

"I like that," Valery said, fully understanding the balance they had between Jedi duty and leisure. It wasn't always easy to get it right, especially when duty became incredibly demanding, but they were both adults and had plenty of experience. She was certain they'd be able to make time to meet up more, even if the war kept them away at times. As frustrating as it could be, it also made it even more exciting to meet up with friends again.

As long as it wasn't too long apart.

"We'll stay in touch and I'm sure it'll be fine." She beamed a warm smile and picked up her cup to drink some water. The hot sun burning in her neck was raising her temperature a bit, so she needed to cool off.

Rik then circled back to the topic that started their deeper conversation. It surprised her, but she was glad that he felt comfortable enough to go back to it, "A year? Or was it two already?" Valery blinked. "It was a bombing caused by the New Way, and it interrupted an important Gala on Hapes that kept away a lot of Jedi and politicians."

Valery paused and leaned back into her chair, "The upcoming Gala is to remember the people who lost their lives and bring some positivity for the future. I've been asked to attend, but going alone isn't exactly that exciting." She pressed her lips together and shifted them over each other from side to side. As if she had more to stay but chose against speaking.

Rik Perris​

 

[Rik Perris]

A RESTAURANT
A WARM SUMMER'S DAY
AND A CONVERSATION

The New Way… he’d park that thought and look into it, later. Malcontents that arose as a symptom of the recurring conflict between the Dark and the Light. He was vaguely aware of their existence, but didn’t know much else. Rik had an idea of what he was opening himself up to when he came back around to this topic, confirmed when Valery brought up the issue of her attendance.

“Your husband isn’t going?” He asked plainly, “That have anything to do with him slugging someone at the last one?”

So many people had seen that, even him. He could only imagine that hurt like hell for someone that wasn’t used to getting smacked around, like he was, nor used to dishing it out in kind. He crossed his arms and settled back into his seat.

“What’s so bad about going alone, anyway?” He needled - he’d been to Hapes before and didn’t spend very long alone at all. “Don’t want Hapan attention?”

Valery Noble​

 

[Valery Noble]

"He's not and... no, it's not that," Valery sighed and furrowed her brows, clearly still upset about that whole situation. On one hand, she appreciated the fact that her husband would protect her honor, but not like that, and not when he wasn't absolutely certain that he was even remotely targeting someone who deserved it. But she didn't want to linger on it any longer and shook her head, that brightness faded from her lips for a moment.

She tried her best to focus on better things again.

His comment about Hapan attention was just what she needed. Valery chuckled and rolled her eyes, "I can handle Hapan attention but I'd just rather go with someone I know. To talk and watch the room, to have drinks, to dance..." She let her voice trail off a little and reached for her drink again.

A quick sip before she continued.

"I'll go alone if nobody I know is coming, though. I did want to ask if you'd like to join me, but I didn't know about everything that happened with her yet." She offered an apologetic smile and shifted a little in her chair.

Rik Perris​

 

[Rik Perris]

A RESTAURANT
A WARM SUMMER'S DAY
AND A CONVERSATION

Rik frowned faintly… and that had everything to do with what he felt was right in this situation, rather than the prospect of getting dragged to another gala. His arms unfolded.

“Look… I don't know what is or isn't going on with you and your husband,” he put up hands, stalling any potential response on that matter, and put some emphasis on his next words, “but that's between you and him.”

His hands dropped, coming to settle on the tabletop, then he leaned in, dropped his elbows on the table and folded his forearms together.

“But if I was in your shoes, I wouldn't want to end up with any regrets. We're in the midst of war on more than one front,” he was reiterating that for the point he was making, with a mild amount of exasperation, “and anything can happen. You know that, Valery. Hell, I know that. You should be doing everything you can to have as much time with him and your family as you can get.”

It was clear he felt strongly about this.

“That's what I would do, anyway.” Rik concluded, settling back a bit, deflating a little. “What you do in the end is up to you.”

Valery Noble​

 

[Valery Noble]

Valery remained quiet for a moment, then smiled, "You're right. I'm worried he might not be able to make it, but..." She knew him long enough to know that he'd make time for it. Especially now, with the Alliance so close to full-scale war. The Gala on Hapes could be the last time anybody was able to kick back and enjoy a night without having to fight or think about fighting. With that realization, Valery sat back into her chair and sighed.

She felt bad for Rik, especially after he told her about Ivy.

"Whether I'm there with him or not, don't be a stranger if you decide to attend, alright?" Valery smiled and leaned forward again, hoping to draw his eyes to her, "But I also understand if you don't. The war is going to demand a lot of our time, but I'm sure we'll be able to make some to get together like this again." Perhaps that was for the best — she'd use the night on Hapes to be with her family, and they'd still have time to meet up as well.

Sitting back, Valery crossed one leg over the other and looked at him, "Do you feel ready for what's coming? The war and everything it'll cause for the Galaxy."

Rik Perris​

 

[Rik Perris]

A RESTAURANT
A WARM SUMMER'S DAY
AND A CONVERSATION

Rik would be spending time with his family on Corellia, rather than cavorting and rubbing elbows with people he hardly had a thing in common with, aside from the cursory link of citizenship within the Alliance, and the randomised privilege of existing at all. Not even the potential offered by previous experiences he'd had in the Consortium could make him budge.

He could get that anywhere.

"I'm sure," Rik replied, his brows raising, "we’ll find time where we can.”

That was how it worked. Any room to breathe in the midst of conflict was to be made the most of. Maybe not exactly like this; there was no telling when or where the next opportunity would present itself.

“‘Always be ready, be vigilant,’” he started in response to her question, paraphrasing his long-dead master as he sat up straight, “and I do my best to be that. That’s all any of us can be.”

It was part of being a Jedi, a Guardian in particular. A light frown began to pull at the corners of his mouth.

“But these Imperial Sith sit too close to home,” that was the concern at the back of his mind, like an itch, “my folks and other people’s folks lived through what happened the last time Sith set up shop in the core and occupied Corellia. What happened to Corellia, then… It’s part of history class for most kids, and for a lot of us, it’s family history.”

Heck, it was carved into the planet itself, sown back together as it was. He'd sat with his grandfather and listened to his recollections of that period of the past. Corellia didn't need anything close to a repeat; Rik didn’t want to dwell on that what-if, but it was hard not to.

“I hope that kind of darkness remains historical,” but he'd keep his head on straight if it didn't, he had to, "how 'bout you? Think you'd be able to remain objective if the worst thing happens?"

Valery Noble​

 

[Valery Noble]

Valery listened to Rik's words with a deep sense of understanding, her expression softening as she considered the weight he carried. She knew all too well the burden of history and the fear of it repeating. It had been the sole reason for a year of meditation after she had come out of stasis. A feeling that war and suffering were cyclical and that nothing she did would ever break that cycle.

When he mentioned his family and the scars left on Corellia, her heart ached for him, for the people who had suffered and might suffer again. That was the worst of these wars endlessly repeating themselves.

The bonds it broke.

"I hope it remains history too," she said softly, her gaze steady on his. "But no matter what happens next, we'll be ready to face it head-on. I hope the defense of Coruscant allows us to finally drive them back and out of the core, the same way Tython became a turning point against the Maw. But only time will tell." Time and the determination and effort of countless Alliance soldiers, civilians, and Jedi.

They were going to do everything in their power to drive the enemy out.

"As for me..." Valery sighed, "I've lost my home once already when the Maw invaded Empress Teta, lost my husband, and nearly lost my child when Vera was taken by Carnifex. The worst things imaginable to me have already happened, and I'm still here." She smiled weakly and turned her gaze down to the table, "There's no guarantee, but I'd like to think that history has shown that I can do what's right without utterly losing myself."

Rik Perris​

 

[Rik Perris]

A RESTAURANT
A WARM SUMMER'S DAY
AND A CONVERSATION

The end of her answer to his question pulled one side of Rik’s lips up in the vaguest of amused smirks that only just reached his eyes, and he let a few seconds’ pause linger. He grabbed and began to idly play with a toothpick.

“But if you get too lost,” he drawled out, having no intention of letting her in on the joke, “I’ll drag you kicking and screaming back to where you belong.”

The toothpick scratched softly against the surface of the table. Rik looked at her, his brows raising.

“Best you don’t put up that much of a fight, though.”

Valery Noble​

 

[Valery Noble]

Valery's brow furrowed ever so slightly as she considered Rik's words. There was something about his tone — an unexpected intensity that made her pause. His words lingered in her mind, tugging at thoughts she hadn't intended to entertain. Where you belong. Her mind wandered, tracing the implications of that sentiment.

She blinked not to let her mind wander too much.

She looked at him carefully again, studying his expression and how he played with the toothpick, but the man before her was as inscrutable as ever. "Is that so?" she asked softly, a hint of curiosity slipping into her tone. "That's good to know." A faint smile tugged at her lips but was guarded, almost testing.

"I guess that means you're going to have to keep an eye on me, then… and you know I wouldn't put up too much of a fight." She chuckled softly, though there was a glimmer of something else in her gaze.

"And I'll be keeping an eye on you as well~"

Rik Perris​