Private Way Of The Ystervark

[Kahlil Noble]

Actual spacer work was boring.

That much would've been clear very quickly. Drive from point a to point b, shipping wares to the clients as needed. It was just freighter work, and what the Bastion was built really to do. Mix that with the kids, stuck in the small apartment sized vessel, and it wasn't often there was a lot of fun to be had. And yet, Kahlil wouldn't have it any other way. Some time with the family just relaxing between offloading and onloading was what they both needed. Him and Valery.

They'd been too preoccupied with been Jedi otherwise.

But it wasn't all just family time between jobs. When he had the chance, he was writing. Recording his thoughts in a datapad. The idea he'd casually suggested over dinner, it was something he really wanted to think about more. There were other Jedi, obscure really, who'd done the same thing. But now he had a chance to really explore it. And once they settled down on yet another world, one of seemingly unending grass plains, he decided to try it out. With his old blaster now holstered on his hip and his lightsaber opposite, he just flashed a grin to his wife.

"You ready?"

Valery Noble

 

[Valery Noble]

Planet

​

Outfit: Factory Link | Wedding Ring
Appearance: Link
Weapons: Blasters | Lightsaber
Tag: Kahlil Noble

"Asking me if I'm ready? I thought you'd never get away from your desk," She flashed him a smirk and took her sweet time stretching every part of her body. To tease him, of course. She knew he was eager to get started, and showing off a little was her favorite way to mess with his head just a tiny bit. Not that she didn't do that on-board the Bastion — this whole trip, even though they did some work as spacers, was about relaxing a bit as well.

Just being together as couple, and as parents with the kids.

But now that they landed and had some time between jobs, Valery wanted to help him test his new Lightsaber Form, and perhaps get a shooting lesson as well. So even though she stood with just her lightsaber in her hands for now, she already had her own blasters strapped to her hips. Speaking of which...

"What uh, do you think about your new Blaster?" She asked almost timidly before they'd begin. "Feels good or is it too heavy? Too light?" She had clearly put a lot of effort into building it for him, and modifying it with a Force Crystal to make it just perfect for his new Form.

She really hoped he loved it.

 

[Kahlil Noble]

"You took into account my size and the strength Epicanthix naturally have, so it's perfect for me. Might be trouble for you, though." And not just in weilding. Kahlil stood still for a moment, his eyes focused on Valery. For the first time, he silenced their bond. He couldn't feel her, and she couldn't feel him. He'd always won, but only because he was able to clearly see her intentions and trap her.

That wouldn't be a crutch this time.

His saber ignited as he gripped the hilt, holding it to the side in a neutral stance. Away from his center of mass. Slowly he lifted it, almost as if he was going to settle in the typical Soresu stance. But then he drew. The new blaster sprang to life barely half a second after it was pulled from it's holster, three quick shots fired right for her center mass.

Valery Noble

 

[Valery Noble]

Planet

​

Outfit: Factory Link | Wedding Ring
Appearance: Link
Weapons: Blasters | Lightsaber
Tag: Kahlil Noble

It took both of them to deafen their bond, and when she realized that he wanted to do that for training, she agreed. Just a little bit reluctantly. Not being able to feel him so intimately was... weird, but at least he couldn't get in her head and predict every single move she wanted to make, to then perfectly counter it. This time, she'd show him.

Kahlil then expressed his happiness with the blaster, and Valery was all smiles. Her heart melted and began to beat a little faster, only for him to get into his stance and prepare for a fight. She was still trying to regain her combat-focus, and set aside her lovey dovey happiness, when he raised his saber and-

"HEY!"

With an elegant flourish, she gad batted away the three rather powerful bolts from his blaster, and glared at him. "You tried to shoot me!" she called out, and only a few seconds later she realized what she just said and blinked. She wasn't going to admit her silliness, and stubbornly drew her weapon back up, this time to start closing the distance fast. She knew he'd be able to pull the trigger again, but if she was able to get close to him, she'd maybe be able to force him into focusing on his blade.

 

[Kahlil Noble]

"Uh, yeah."

Kahlil laughed as he watched her batter away the shots. It's what he expected from her, of course, but not the complaint. Did she really expect anything less? He kept himself still, watching, waiting. As she closed in, he waited. Then just as she was about to bring her lightsaber around, he fired once more. Point blank, directly for her center mass midswing. All while grinning still, of course.

Valery Noble

 

[Valery Noble]

Planet

​

Outfit: Factory Link | Wedding Ring
Appearance: Link
Weapons: Blasters | Lightsaber
Tag: Kahlil Noble

"Don't you laugh at me, babe!" Valery grumbled before she advanced, her blade ready but he wasn't shooting yet. She was, however, too caught up in her embarrassment, and failed to notice his plan as he readied himself. It didn't help that she wasn't used to having to put effort into reading him either, so his shot connected with her chest, and Valery suddenly found herself on her back, looking up at the sky.

"That one doesn't count," she groaned. "I shouldn't have made that gun so powerful."

Valery rolled over onto hands and knees, then got up and drew her weapon again... and then another. A good duelist was hard to shoot, but Jar'kai was especially tricky.

"Sorry..." she then said, a little apologetically. "I'll be serious now."

 

[Kahlil Noble]

She really had let down her guard.

There was some concern in Kahlil's gaze, but it wasn't like the blaster was set to lethal for this. It probably hurt, but she'd be fine. Right? .. Right? Seeing her get back to her feet had him exhale a sigh of relief before the smirk that had been on his face returned in force. He glanced between her two blades before he lifted his saber, holding it lengthwise over his chest, gun holstered once more on his hip.

"About time."

Valery Noble

 

[Valery Noble]

Planet

​

Outfit: Factory Link | Wedding Ring
Appearance: Link
Weapons: Blasters | Lightsaber
Tag: Kahlil Noble

"Let's see how you hold up without the Dyad," Valery said with a brief grin, before her expression turned more serious and she began to advance again. This time more careful than before, and with the lightning speed she was known for. A violet blur or hurricane, but precise in what she targeted.

Her own husband was her target now.

From one instant to another, Valery appeared on his right flank, choosing to be on the opposite side of his blaster to force his entire body to turn if he wanted to shoot. Something that wouldn't be a problem with most targets, but very much could be with the Sword. She then lashed out with both blades, hoping to test his defenses.

<Show me what you got, babe.>

 

[Kahlil Noble]

"Lets."

Kahlil's smirk didn't fade in the slightest, even as Valery's own expression turned serious. He couldn't help himself. This was exciting, thrilling even. Not knowing what she was going to do next, having to utilize a new form he hadn't used more than theory crafting and drills. What were the weaknesses he couldn't see? The strengths? There was only so much he could think up himself, even with simulations.

She came barreling for his right. That made sense. Stay away from the gun, use his larger frame as a barrier for the blaster itself. Charge in. But that's what he wanted to see; how good he could be on the defense. His blade came up to catch one of hers, angling it away with the bare minimum of effort he could spare. She was fast, incredibly fast, but this was his forte. Soresu. But with only one hand on his blade, he could only catch one of hers without risking her overpowering him.

Which is why his blaster went off. Unholstered, behind the back. Two quick shots. One for the blade of her unhindered saber, the other for higher up. All to send her strike off course as he pivoted with the saber still caught by his own to fire a third, clearer shot.

Valery Noble

 

[Valery Noble]

Planet

​

Outfit: Factory Link | Wedding Ring
Appearance: Link
Weapons: Blasters | Lightsaber
Tag: Kahlil Noble

This was exactly what she needed after everything that happened. Most people likely wouldn't even notice, but she wasn't quite as fast and precise as usual, and she even lost some muscle and strength. Kahlil knew though, even without tapping into the Dyad. Both because he was her husband and knew what to expect from her, and because he was a very experienced and skilled Jedi Master. Even the smallest deviations, he'd notice and be able to exploit.

She had to remain focused but, of course, she was enjoying it just as much as he did. Her smirk began to flash through again, and after closing the distance, she finally felt her blade connect with his. Even with just a single hand, his grip was strong, and she couldn't push through in Jar'kai, so instead she sought to overwhelm with her second blade. But what happened next really caught her by surprise.

One shot to block her blade, another to send it up and expose her midsection. She could feel a tremor of danger as his blaster immediately leveled with her exposed body, and she knew she was forced to disengage. Her wrist rotated, bringing the blade that had collided to rotate into the path of his shot to block it, but the impact sent her back another step.

Oh she was loving this.

In retaliation, Valery extended her left arm, and directed a telekinetic blast at him powerful enough to rip up the ground a little. She knew he wasn't easily brought off-balance, so she couldn't hold back too much. Then, in the wake of the blast, Valery lunged forward and lowered herself, as she rapidly extended her leading foot like a fencer. Hoping to exploit her first attack, she thrust forward her right blade at his center mass.

A piercing strike.

 

[Kahlil Noble]

The ground was where a Soresu fighter was at their best. Kahlil had learned that early on as he started utilizing the form. Being in the air meant being unable to dodge accurately or control his movements, reactions, any of it. He'd turned fully to face Valery as the third shot sent her back, already primmed to let loose another shot just as she sent the Force his way. And rather than fight against it, he moved with it.

He spun and flipped through the air, his grin wider still as he caught sight of her thrust. His blade came around, battering with his raw strength to knock the thrust from just hitting him directly while he was still midair.

This close, using the blaster wasn't worth trying. To shoot. No, he spun the blaster in his hand, swinging around the grip to straight up smack Valery. Bait her to block it. The Force thrummed through the device to she wouldn't be able to slash it apart so easily. Just enough so he could land again without her trying to exploit him.

Valery Noble

 

[Valery Noble]

Planet

​

Outfit: Factory Link | Wedding Ring
Appearance: Link
Weapons: Blasters | Lightsaber
Tag: Kahlil Noble

It was amazing how you could know someone for about a decade, be married and have children, and still learn something new about them. That surprise was all over Valery's face when he drifted along the currents of her telekinetic blast and even jumped into the air and spun around. She couldn't remember the last time she watched him intentionally leave the ground in favor of time spent in the air, yet he seemed to have no trouble pulling it off.

The fast whirlwind he found himself in through the spin helped him generate enough momentum to swat away her blade with a lot of force, and bring him around to even strike with his blaster. Under normal circumstances, without her surprise, awe and weakened physical state, she likely would have blocked it as he seemed to expect when he let the Force flow through the pistol. But Valery wasn't sharp enough yet, and drew her head back at the last second.

The hilt clipped her left brow, drawing some blood, and kept her from advancing.

"Stealing my moves now, I see," Valery grinned despite the drops that ran down her face, and acted immediately. First, she tossed her lightsaber into a wide arc around him, while she drew her other lightsaber into both hands. With more strength, she aimed to lash out at his guard, while the second blade came around to strike from the back, carefully controlled by Valery so she could pull off a little trick and alter its path at the last second. Subtle, but meaningful if he tried to block or shoot it.

 

[Kahlil Noble]

Kahlil kept the blaster flipped around in his offhand, his grin still wide even as he watched blood drip from Valery's brow. She wasn't at her best. He knew it, but she wasn't going to get back to her best without being pushed. And he wasn't going to figure out the ins and outs of this little style without doing the same. He was painfully aware of what was coming as she tossed her saber. It was clever. Most people wouldn't be able to follow both her and the blade, unless they had some second sight.

Like he did. Not that it meant he could figure out how to handle both. Runes, probably, would work. But that's not what he wanted to work on. So, a different idea came in mind. As she struck out with both hands, he brought his blade up. Angled it with the purpose of having her strike glance off to the side as he stepped towards her. And bent down. The grip of his blaster made for a great way to hook her leg and drag her around, to put her between him and her spinning blade as he ducked under her strike to spin around her.

Valery Noble

 

[Valery Noble]

Planet

​

Outfit: Factory Link | Wedding Ring
Appearance: Link
Weapons: Blasters | Lightsaber
Tag: Kahlil Noble

Finally, Valery met his grin with one of her own.

That familiar fire burned in her eyes as the excitement of a good fight began to show, and the fact she was already bleeding didn't even matter one bit. Every spar between them ended up with bruises, cuts and injuries that made it look as if they were fighting to kill each other. But she loved every second of it. Not only did it keep her sharp, forced her to adapt and helped make her stronger, but it brought her closer to him as well.

Then came her next little plan.

The Lightsaber was successfully tossed around him and when she closed the distance, he either wasn't ready or wasn't planning to use his blaster to defend himself. Instead, he managed a clever block to deflect her strike, and hooked his blaster around her leg to use his strength and swap places with her. He dodged underneath her strike, and now expected the thrown lightsaber to come around for Valery herself.

But she had a plan of her own.

Right as it was about to make contact, Valery phased through her own weapon, spun without anything able to stop her, and caught her lightsaber right after it had passed through her. A split-second later, she swept both blades at him with strength and speed from up-close, hoping to catch him by surprise for once.

 

[Kahlil Noble]

Kahlil hadn't even turned yet when he felt danger in the Force. He reacted on instinct alone. One of the runes under his shirt flared to life, and another formed between them. A barrier, hastily made, that shattered on her strike. It wasn't enough to halt her in the slightest, so he let out a breath as he was certain the blade wouldn't hit him directly. They both were too well trained for that.

"Looks like it's my loss, huh?"

Valery Noble

 

[Valery Noble]

Planet

​

Outfit: Factory Link | Wedding Ring
Appearance: Link
Weapons: Blasters | Lightsaber
Tag: Kahlil Noble

His loss?

Valery blinked after her blade managed to shatter the barrier, but of course, didn't go through all the way to strike him. It was set to low power but if there was no reason for contact, she'd never hit him. Instead, she met him with a big grin when her surprise faded away. Normally, he'd have seen right through any use of Phase — he knew it was one of her preferred tricks, so it was always just a matter of time when she'd use it.

"I should have made Vera watch, so she could see Mom win for once," Valery said, still with a smug grin. She knew it wouldn't last forever, not if they were to practice shooting or spar again sometime with him tapping into the bond. So she was going to enjoy it while she could.

"I uh, hope it was useful though?"

 

[Kahlil Noble]

Kahlil snickered as he nodded. He was spoiled by their bond. The connection, being able to react based on what he knew for a fact from her. Anyone else and he wouldn't been very different in his reactions. So.. That's what he needed. To treat her like anyone else. He flicked open his pistol, reloading it with a pull of the Force before grinning.

"Very. Wanna go again, or should we fix up that cut on your head first?"

Valery Noble

 

[Valery Noble]

Planet

​

Outfit: Factory Link | Wedding Ring
Appearance: Link
Weapons: Blasters | Lightsaber
Tag: Kahlil Noble

"It's just a scratch," Valery said stubbornly, even though she wasn't too sure how bad it actually was. But it didn't really hurt and blood wasn't running into her eyes, so she could fight. She wasn't going to let him take a look and risk not continuing this bit of fun. She needed this, so she drew her lightsaber back up into a guard, jumped away to start at an appropriate distance, and looked her husband in the eyes.

"Guard up, babe, or I'm dropping you," she challenged smugly, before pausing again. "Hmm, actually, let's mix it up some more." She tossed both her lightsabers up into the air, forced them to levitate, and brought them together through the locking mechanism, so they formed her double-bladed weapon.

Valery then took it into her right hand, extended her arm, and ignited both blades to be parallel to the ground.

"Bring it."

 

[Kahlil Noble]

Kahlil just shook his head with a smile. Of course she was still willing to fight. It's part of why he loved her. So, he lifted his blaster, flashed a grin, and fired. Just a couple of quick shots to test her defenses with that staff she'd decided to activate. Nothing fancy with it, though. The blaster was his offensive, not the saber. Continue to prob her defenses, try to overpower her with well placed shots to off center her grasp.

Valery Noble

 

[Valery Noble]

Planet

​

Outfit: Factory Link | Wedding Ring
Appearance: Link
Weapons: Blasters | Lightsaber
Tag: Kahlil Noble

She caught his little head shake and was about to narrow her eyes, when she noticed him grinning. He then raised his blaster again, signaling that he was fine with going another round already, so she kept quiet and shot a smirk in return. When the first bolts came, Valery spun around her two blades to bat them away, but noticed that he was cleverly placing them in a pattern to make her grip less steady.

She couldn't allow him to create such an advantage, so she acted quickly and began to move forward, weaving through his fire by tapping into the near-future. It wasn't something that worked every time, as he could counteract it, but that's when her blades would help her with the extended cover a double-bladed weapon had.

Finally, with a great leap in his direction and the two blades spinning in front of her, she tried to close the distance and lash out at his defenses, just to probe them for now. "Come on, babe. Fight me~" she teased, knowing that he was often more passive and clever with defense.