Private The Flowers in a bed of Thorns

[Lily Decoria]

Location: Coruscant
Equipment: Cross guard Lightsaber, Hydrangea Moonblade
Outfit: Casual
Tag: Valery Noble

She giggled and nodded her head, "you got me!" Lily scratched the back of her head in a fun innocent nervous manner, "I tend to hate small jobs, and I love to fly so anything that involves shifting cargo off world is the kind of work I really want." Lily admitted with a grin. "Also, they pay so much better and a gal like me has expensive tastes so need the big pay outs!" She giggled deeply.

"Really Vic!" She leaped forward and gave a big hug to him, showing off how thankful and excited she was at the offer. Playing into the fact that Lily was really in need of a job and that something this big would really help her out of the situation she was in. Sitting back down, she listened to what Gregor had to say as well. "I can handle that! Even got a ship perfect for it... But totally, we can find somewhere better to chat about the details." Lily nodded her head as she looked around.

Lily barely connected eyes with Valery but sent a message telepathically to let the Jedi Master know that they might be moving soon.

"Did you wanna head out now to discuss or meet at a later date? Maybe when we're more sober?" Lily mentioned. She let out a drunken giggle, demonstrating that she might not have the best mindset for listening to a serious meeting currently. She didn't want to rush into the next step of the mission without figuring something out with Valery.

Going with these guys blind could be dangerous for Lily.

 

[Valery Noble]

​

Outfit: Jedi Jumpsuit | Wedding Ring
Weapons: Lightsabers

Vic let out a low chuckle as Lily giggled, her enthusiasm spilling over in just the right ways. She played it well — very well. Enough that, for just a moment, he almost forgot to second-guess her sudden reappearance in their lives.

Gregor, however, was always the sharper one. His smirk deepened as he watched her, eyes calculating even as he played along.

"Expensive tastes, huh?" he mused, exchanging a knowing glance with Vic before leaning back in his chair. "Can't blame you there. Good work deserves good credits. And if flying's what you're after…"

Vic barely had time to react before Lily practically launched herself into a hug, and for a moment, he stiffened — caught between surprise and indulgence. Then, with a wide, smug grin, he patted her back. "Damn, Daisy," he laughed. "That eager, huh?" When she pulled back, settling back into her seat, Gregor's gaze lingered on her a little longer.

Her excitement felt real. Her eagerness, her playful nervous energy — it worked. And yet, something in him still itched.

Not enough to say no.

But enough to make a mental note to keep an eye on her.

"Well," he drawled, exhaling as he swirled the last of his drink. "Tomorrow, then. No offense, sweetheart, but I don't make business deals with drunk pilots. Makes me nervous."

Vic smirked. "Yeah, we'll be in touch. Same place, different time. Tomorrow sound good?"

Across the room, Valery remained still.

Her gaze flicked between them, catching the subtle changes in their body language, the little hints of calculation behind their smirks. Good. That meant they were taking the bait. But it also meant Lily had to be careful.

Still, for now, the game was going smoothly.

Lily Decoria ​

 

[Lily Decoria]

Location: Coruscant
Equipment: Cross guard Lightsaber, Hydrangea Moonblade
Outfit: Casual
Tag: Valery Noble

Lily nodded her head when asked about expensive tastes, "these clothes ain't cheap and I gotta look my best to scam those big wigs on the upper levels!" She smirked, using slang words to cut away from the usually posh and refined way of speaking that Lily tended to prefer. She hated it with every fibre of her being but this was definitely something that would be more accepting for the role she was attempting to play.

"Oh sorry! I'm just so thankful! Things were getting a little tight money wise, so this is coming at the perfect opportunity!" Lily looked thrilled that they were able to provide her with a job. Even if the details were going to be discussed at a later point.

Nodding her head, "smart! Means I can get a few more drinks in before tomorrow then! Might hit up the club nearby, see you guys tomorrow." Lily grinned widely. Sliding out of the chair, she gave them both a wink with a somewhat flirtatious grin. Leaving the bar, and importantly, making sure that she left them with the bill for the drinks. Demonstrating she was somewhat of a scammer.

It was something she figured that they would accept a fellow criminal doing to them. Especially one tight on money. But it was the perfect chance for Lily to get away and find an alley to duck into as she used the Force to completely sober herself up. Making sure that she didn't have the alcohol lingering in her body any longer.

Tomorrow, the same time. That would be when she got the details of the mission. Lily messaged Valery telepathically to state where she was so that they could meet up and discuss how this encounter went.

 

[Valery Noble]

​

Outfit: Jedi Jumpsuit | Wedding Ring
Weapons: Lightsabers

The air outside was cooler, a stark contrast to the hazy warmth of the cantina. As Lily slipped into the night, shaking off the lingering effects of the alcohol with the Force, the streets hummed with the usual nightlife — neon lights flickering, speeder engines purring in the distance, the occasional murmur of a quiet deal being made in the shadows.

She had barely rounded the corner of a side alley when a familiar presence brushed against her senses.

Then, from the dimly lit passage, Valery stepped forward.

The Grandmaster's posture was relaxed, arms crossed loosely, but her amber eyes carried a quiet sharpness, watching Lily with the scrutiny of someone who had been doing this for far too long. "Nice touch with the bill," Valery murmured, her lips twitching slightly in amusement. "That'll sell it."

She took a slow step closer, her voice dropping just enough to keep their conversation private. "How do you think it went?"

It wasn't an interrogation — just a simple, measured question. Undercover missions often don't go entirely according to plan, so self-reflection is important in order to make adjustments that would allow a plan to work anyway.

Lily Decoria ​

 

[Lily Decoria]

Location: Coruscant
Equipment: Cross guard Lightsaber, Hydrangea Moonblade
Outfit: Casual
Tag: Valery Noble

By the time Valery arrived, the alcohol had been cleared from Lily's system and she could feel relieved that she was fully sober once again. While she did enjoy tequila and didn't mind getting drunk. Doing so on a mission was something that she never normally would accept. Lily was determined to be sober and focused while on mission, but that had lead to her not making the more subtle approaches to missions and getting into fights that were completely unnecessary.

Nodding her head, "I am glad that you agree with the decision." It was a relief to know that Valery believed similar to herself that it would sell the idea that she was a broke smuggler pilot. Something that she knew she would look into more tonight in preparation for tomorrow. Especially since she was only a decent pilot, she was not an expert in the field at all.

"I think it worked, and I was able to get a meet up tomorrow, which gives us time to prep me for and ensure that I have some sort of listening device to record them tomorrow." Lily mentioned, "however, I do think I made some errors. The hug being a primary one. It was too much and while I was able to recover from it. I do think they were thrown off by it."

Lily thought a bit longer, sober eyes now scanning over her drunken memories and taken in new context and information on things. "I also think they are still super cautious and doubtful of me. I know there is more going on there than they have let on initially." Breathing in deeply, Lily knew that she had not been perfect in her sell but perhaps that had worked in her favour. Being a little messy added to the fact that they would suspect her less than someone who had been perfect in every step.

 

[Valery Noble]

​

Outfit: Jedi Jumpsuit | Wedding Ring
Weapons: Lightsabers

Valery listened with quiet attentiveness, her gaze steady as Lily broke down the mission, picking apart the details with a level of reflection that impressed her. She didn't interrupt — this was part of the process, and Lily was already proving she had the instincts for it.

When she finished, Valery exhaled softly, her arms still loosely crossed. "You're thinking the right way," she said, nodding in approval. "Recognizing where things could have been smoother is important, but don't get caught up in trying to make every little detail perfect. That's not how this works."

She shifted slightly, the neon glow from the streetlights casting warm hues along the edges of her dark clothing. "A plan is necessary, but no plan survives contact with the real thing. People don't follow scripts. They react in ways you don't expect. Maybe you overplayed the hug, maybe they were thrown off by something else entirely — but what matters is that you adapted and stayed in character. That's the difference between a good Shadow and a bad one. Not just making the plan, but knowing how to adjust when things go sideways."

Her smirk returned, just slightly. "And you did that. You played off the hesitation, kept them engaged, and walked away with a meeting set for tomorrow. That's a win, Lily."

She let that sink in for a moment before pushing off the wall, her expression shifting to something more thoughtful. "Now that we have this opportunity, we'll want to use it well. We'll get you set up with a listening device, but information isn't just about what they say — it's about what they don't say, what they hesitate on, what they dance around. Watch for that."

Lily Decoria ​

 

[Lily Decoria]

Location: Coruscant
Equipment: Cross guard Lightsaber, Hydrangea Moonblade
Outfit: Casual
Tag: Valery Noble

Nodding her head, Lily knew she was good at assessing herself in missions and where improvements were needed. While she was never shy about what her skills were and some saw that as boastful, Lily was also very humble about where she needed to improve and what weaknesses she held. There was no chance she could be a successful fighter and one of the best Jedi warriors if she was unwilling to know how she needed to improve or what weaknesses she needed to cover. And seeing that her encounters with several powerful Sith Lords recently had demonstrated her abilities currently were lacking. Acknowledging those flaws were more necessary now than they had ever been before.

"Yeah, I hate when plans don't work out..." If she had made a plan with something, she was very stubborn in following that plan to the letter. However, she knew that was not practical in missions such as these and she wasn't sure that there could ever be a plan that would cover everything is needed. "I just need to have a more fluid mindset, finding the best path to the end goal than focusing on a step plan. Right?" Lily looked up to Valery, hoping that she was demonstrating the fluidity in thinking that she needed for missions like this.

Nodding her head, "being charming with men tends to be pretty easy. At least, it has been something I noticed as being easy, especially in more recent years." Lily stated with a grin. Knowing there was a reason for that but not stating it aloud. She was sure that Valery had a similar experience.

Listening to Valery, Lily found herself lost in thoughts as she tried to take in everything. "Should I use my Echani training then? Read their body language and figure out what else is going on?" While no one spoke as fluently as an Echani in body language, Lily had found that she could interpret people easier and discern what they were saying was truth or a lie much easier than others. Though she also found it easier with humans and near humans since they were similar in physique to herself.

 

[Valery Noble]

​

Outfit: Jedi Jumpsuit | Wedding Ring
Weapons: Lightsabers

Valery smirked slightly at Lily's response. Stubbornness was a hard thing to shake, and she understood the frustration of watching a well-laid plan unravel in real time. It was one of the first things she had to learn as a Shadow — adapt or fail.

"You've got the right idea," she said, nodding approvingly. "A plan is important, but the goal is what matters most. Everything in between? That's flexible. If you get too attached to one way of doing things, you'll miss the better options when they appear." Her fiery gaze held Lily's for a moment, making sure the words settled. "Being fluid doesn't mean acting without direction —it means knowing when to change direction."

At Lily's next words, Valery chuckled knowingly. "Yeah, I'm familiar with that advantage," she mused, shaking her head slightly. "Charm can go a long way in this kind of work, but it's never a guaranteed solution. People have different tells, different blind spots. What works on one might make another immediately suspicious."

She paused, considering Lily's next question.

Her Echani training. That was an edge, a real one.

"You should absolutely use it," Valery said, her expression sharpening. "Reading body language, catching the little tells in their stance, their breathing—those things will tell you more than words ever could. But always be aware of who you're dealing with. Not everyone communicates the same way. Some people are trained to control their reactions, to mask the truth in ways most wouldn't even consider."

She tilted her head slightly. "That's where you adapt. Use your instincts, but don't rely on just one method. Layer your approach. The more tools you have, the harder it is for someone to fool you."

Then, she exhaled softly and glanced toward the city beyond the alleyway.

"For now, though, we've got a long day ahead of us tomorrow," she said, looking back at Lily with an arched brow. "You want to rest, or are you planning on overthinking this until sunrise?" The smirk on her lips was teasing, but the offer was genuine — Lily had already proven she was ready for this. Now, she just had to trust it.

Lily Decoria ​

 

[Lily Decoria]

Location: Coruscant
Equipment: Cross guard Lightsaber, Hydrangea Moonblade
Outfit: Casual
Tag: Valery Noble

Taking in the advice, Lily was realising quickly how much she appreciated this opportunity to study from Valery. It was helping her understand what she wish to gain in terms of insight in how to approach missions in general but also what she could do to be more versatile in her approaches to missions. Not everything needed to be solved with a fight and learning how to assess new opportunities, it was something that Lily was keen on exploring.

"Knowing when to adapt and change direction. Okay. I think I can try that." Lily stated, there wasn't a ton of confidence in her voice but she was deep in thought as she was processing this. Making sure that she committed to memory that she needed to adapt and adjust.

Nodding her head, "I understand that completely. It isn't a guarantee to work but does help to have a little advantage in life." Lily grinned widely, not ashamed of her beautiful or figure, she worked hard to look the way she did and she refused to be put down for that. And she knew it was easy to distract men's focus at times.

When learning that her Echani was a real edge, that was a relief and it was something she could lean into more. Lily was never sure when to use the training as a Jedi outside of combat, and that felt too restrictive since her people were more than fighters. And Lily wanted to celebrate that fact. "I know. Some have been more difficult to read than others while being at the Jedi Order. But I am slowly learning the differences in other races." It helped that there was such diversity within the Order so she could interact with others who communicated uniquely and did not share the near human traditional body language ticks.

Knowing that she needed as many tools as she could possibly get under her belt, Lily nodded her head and started to think about the various tools that she could be implementing for tomorrow.

"Oh, but you made the latter option sound so tempting!" Lily mentioned with a smirk on her lips when Valery called her out on being someone who would spend the night overthinking everything. Analysing every detail as much as she could. "However, it is best I get rested up. I can't afford to be actually sleep deprived when meeting them. Better to act that way than be it." Lily stated, her mind was very mission first priority. She would do what she could to help the mission go smoothly.

 

[Valery Noble]

​

Outfit: Jedi Jumpsuit | Wedding Ring
Weapons: Lightsabers

Valery chuckled softly at Lily's remark, shaking her head as the younger woman smirked. "Oh, trust me, I know the temptation," she mused. "But overthinking will only make you second-guess yourself when it matters. And we both know you don't need that." There was confidence in her voice, an assurance that Lily had already proven she was capable. Now, she just had to trust herself.

She pushed off the wall, stretching slightly as she exhaled. "Alright, let's get out of here," she said, glancing back toward the street before leading the way. "Tomorrow's the real test, and you're going to need all the focus you can get."

---

The next day came quickly.

Valery stood by the window of their small rented room, her gaze fixed on the city beyond. The early morning glow cast long shadows through the towering skyline, the streets already alive with movement below. It was a different kind of quiet now — one filled with anticipation, with the weight of what was coming.

She turned, her arms loosely crossed as she watched Lily finish getting ready. There was no need for playful teasing now, no need to needle at her nerves. This was the moment she had been preparing for.

"You ready?" Valery asked, her voice steady, but not unkind. "This is the big moment."

Lily Decoria ​

 

[Lily Decoria]

Location: Coruscant
Equipment: Cross guard Lightsaber, Hydrangea Moonblade
Outfit: Casual
Tag: Valery Noble

Lily had taken Valery's advice and guidance to heart. She had ensured that she kept up with her evening routine and was appropriately in bed at the time that she usually aimed to be. However, the Padawan did not find sleep to be super easy that night. It had been a similar story ever since she had been cursed by one Adeline Noctua . Sleep was rarely something she had a lot of nor was it pleasant dreams when she did have it. However, Lily had gotten used to the ordeal and accepted the sleep that she did have.

Once it was time to meet up later in the day. She stifled a yawn and shook off an slight tiredness she felt from the rough sleeping just before meeting Valery. Instead she entered the room with a stoic expression of determination and readiness. Lily was focused on the mission ahead and she wasn't going to let anything distract from that fact.

Double checking the listening devices were secure and hidden, Lily looked up to Valery and gave a nod of her head. "More than ready, lets get these guys and put an end to this operation."

She figured wearing a similar outfit to the day before worked and it was the only attire she had that was not so blatantly high society attire.