First Reply Get Up To Get Down

[Alana Calloway]

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Get Up To Get Down​

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Location: Hirsi, Long Weii Down Nightclub​

Tag: Open To Anyone​

Gear: Outfit​

The club was a hole-in-the-wall, tucked into the underbelly on the world of Hirsi. The city here was a labyrinth of aimless cityscape and rain-slick streets, where neon lights bled into puddles and the air always carried the scent of oil and ozone. It was the kind of place where people disappeared—not always because they wanted to. Usually they fell through the poorly developed floors or the several paved over bomb craters from the last dozen wars this planet d been hit by.

Alana Calloway sat at the bar, one boot propped against the rusted footrest, her white hair covering the left side of her face. The bass-heavy music thrummed through her ribs, some synthesized tune layered with distorted vocals that felt more like an assault than a melody; she wasn’t a fan of club music. The people around her were the usual sort—drifters, smugglers, bounty hunters blowing off steam. The kind of crowd that knew better than to ask questions. Her memory might have been a bit fuzzy, but her intuition was still intact.

She swirled the amber liquid in her glass before knocking it back, letting the burn settle in her chest before exhaling through her nose. She wasn't here for a job, or a meet, or anything important. Just a drink, and some time to think. She just wanted a moment to let the weight of the galaxy ease off her shoulders, even if only for a little while. It felt too long since she had such a chance.

A group of Nikto gamblers jeered at a sabacc table in the corner. A Nautolan girl leaned against the DJ booth, head bobbing to the beat, glowing tattoos tracing the lines of her arms. A droid bartender with scuffed plating slid another drink in front of Alana without her even asking.

She sighed, rubbing a thumb over the rim of her glass.

She wasn't sure if that was a comfort or a problem to be wading through echoes of her old life.

It still felt as distant as ever.

 

[Valery Noble]

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Outfit: Dress

The club was a dimly lit sanctuary for the restless, where neon lights pulsed against rain-slick walls, and the air carried the weight of sweat, smoke, and the ever-present hum of conversation. The bass-heavy music rolled through the space like a living thing, reverberating through the floor, seeping into the bones of those who lingered.

And amidst it all, Valery walked in like she belonged.

The slit of her deep crimson dress traced the curve of her leg with each measured step, gold accents catching in the neon haze. Her hair, long and dark, cascaded in soft waves, swept to one side to reveal the curve of her neck. She moved with the kind of confidence that didn’t need to announce itself — the kind that made people glance up, then look away just as quickly, unsure whether they should admire or keep their distance.

She wasn’t here for pleasure.

She was here for a hunt.

A presence had led her to Hirsi — a whisper in the Force, a trail of someone trying too hard to disappear. And while her target wasn’t in sight, she knew better than to rush. Information was currency here, and patience was the price of entry.

Valery made her way to the bar, the soft glow of the counter reflecting in the warm amber of her eyes. With a subtle nod, she ordered a drink — something smooth, something strong. When the glass slid toward her, she caught it effortlessly, swirling the liquid before taking a slow sip.

That was when she noticed her.

Alana sat at the bar, her posture loose but her presence heavy. The white strands of her hair fell across her face, partially obscuring her expression, but Valery didn’t need to see her eyes to recognize the weight in her shoulders, the way she lingered over her drink like it was the only thing keeping her grounded.

She knew that kind of weight.

A smirk played at the edges of Valery’s lips as she leaned just slightly against the bar, tilting her head toward the other woman.

"You look like you’ve got a lot on your mind."

The words were smooth, easy — an observation rather than an intrusion. A conversation starter, if Alana wanted one. Because if there was one thing Valery knew about places like this, it was that everyone was running from something.

And sometimes, talking to a stranger was the closest thing to an escape.

Alana Calloway ​

 

[Alana Calloway]

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Get Up To Get Down​

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Location: Hirsi, Long Weii Down Nightclub​

Tag: Valery Noble​

Gear: Outfit​

Alana barely lifted her gaze from her glass, rolling the amber liquid within as if it held answers she hadn't found yet. The bass from the club thrummed against her ribs, a rhythm she could ignore if she tried hard enough. The voice, though—that was harder. Smooth, measured. The kind that didn't just fill the space but settled in, waiting.

She exhaled through her nose, the faintest hint of a smirk tugging at her lips. Her red eyes settled on the woman, thinking for a moment, before speaking.

"Yeah?" She murmured, voice low, worn at the edges like a well-used credit chip. "Didn't realize I was that easy to read."

She was probably easy as all hell to head, her mind buzzed with the worry of the unknown.

Her fingers tapped absently against the counter before she finally looked up. The neon glow painted Valery in warm reds and golds, casting sharp contrasts against the shadows. Not just some club-goer, that much was obvious. She held herself too well, carried too much presence. The hell was she doing here?

Alana studied her for a beat longer before taking a slow sip of her drink. When she set it down, she forced a smile, something wry and self-aware.

"You offering a distraction, or just looking for a good story?" She asks, shifting about so her back was to the counter, ignoring a passing glance in her direction from a bar patron.

 

[Valery Noble]

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Outfit: Dress

Valery didn’t look away.

If anything, her smirk deepened slightly as Alana finally met her gaze. There was something familiar in that worn-out edge to her voice, in the way she exhaled like she’d been carrying the weight of something too long and wasn’t sure how to set it down.

“I wouldn’t say easy to read,” Valery mused, her voice carrying that same effortless smoothness, warm with amusement. “Just… noticeable. Familiar.”

Slowly, she lifted her drink, taking a sip as she studied Alana in return. Even in the dim, neon-lit haze of the club, the woman carried an intensity that made her stand out — not in the loud, attention-seeking way of most people here, but in a quieter, more compelling way. Something simmered beneath the surface.

And Valery was nothing if not intrigued by that kind of fire.

She lifted a hand, fingers brushing long strands of dark hair over her shoulder, the movement unhurried, deliberate. When Alana shifted to lean against the bar, back to the counter, Valery mirrored her in a way — turning just enough so she could face her fully, allowing the conversation to settle into something comfortably slow, without rush or pretense.

At the question, she smirked.

“Why not both?”

There was something playful in her tone, teasing but measured, like she was testing the waters. “A good distraction and a good story?” She took another sip, letting the thought linger. “Sounds like the best way to spend a night.”

She set her glass down with a quiet clink, her fiery gaze still locked onto Alana’s. “So tell me… you in the mood for a story, or a distraction?”

There was no expectation in her voice, just the invitation of possibility. Because if Alana wanted a way to kill time, Valery could certainly provide.

She was waiting for her target, anyway.

Alana Calloway ​

 

[Alana Calloway]

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Get Up To Get Down​

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Location: Hirsi, Long Weii Down Nightclub​

Tag: Valery Noble​

Gear: Outfit​

Alana huffed a quiet laugh, low and knowing, before taking another slow sip of her drink. The burn was familiar, grounding, even as the weight of Valery's gaze lingered.

"Familiar, huh?" She rolled the word over her tongue like she was testing the taste of it. "That's a hell of a thing to say to a stranger. Sorry, my memory is on the fritz, so….if we dated or something I got no recollection."

Her tone was dry, but there was an edge of something else beneath it—curiosity, maybe. Wariness, definitely. It was the truth though, her memories and dreams just seemed to thread in and out of one another.

She didn't miss the way Valery moved, measured and sure, the way she mirrored her just enough to make it feel intentional. It was the kind of thing people did when they wanted you to feel at ease—like you were the one steering the conversation.

Alana wasn't sure yet if she minded.

At the question, she tilted her head slightly, studying Valery in return. "Depends on what kind of story you think I have," She mused, the corner of her mouth quirking in something that wasn't quite a smirk but wasn't far off either. "And what kind of distraction you think I need."

She let the thought hang for a moment before finally shifting, leaning in just enough to close the space between them—casual, easy, like she wasn't really thinking about it.

Ņ̵̩̀͆̈́̾ô̵͓̠̳̳͛ ̸͇̥̹͖̓̐̾͘o̸̞̝̳̊n̶̫͍̦̲̓́̾̍ͅe̷͓͉̾̔̌ ̴̢̍̃̍ẅ̴̼̤́͗͜a̴̬̼̞̱̬̎̎̕n̷̰̘͔̤͉̓t̴̟̻͑̀͘e̷̘̐̔d̸̦͚͔̽̇͌̑̄͜ͅ ̸͙̼̖̟̀̓h̷̫̪̜̣̀͊e̴̙̔r̸̖̜̣͓͑͆́̕̕,̷̧̛̳͉̙̩̓̾̽ ̷̧͓̖̃d̴̨̖̜́̇a̵͗́̇͘͜͜r̵̰̤͉̿̎̈̿͗l̵̛͙̓͆i̸̭̤̟̗͍̓͗̑n̷̢̰̩̺͆́̑͐͠g̸̦̚̚.̸̫̘̀̕͘͜

The voice scrapped at the back of her mind, Alana faltered, wincing, grabbing at the side of her head.

Then the pain faded. Leaving her looking like an absolute nutcase once again.

She tried to play it off, chuckling to herself, looking to Val, a pained expression on her face, the throbbing sensation slowly fading away. "Isn’t life just….grand?"

 

[Valery Noble]

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Outfit: Dress

Valery smirked as Alana rolled the word over her tongue, testing its weight. Familiar. It wasn't a lie — she had walked into places like this before, seeking the same kind of reprieve, the same kind of distance from whatever weight had been pressing down too hard. She had spent nights staring into the bottom of a glass, feeling the bass shake the ground beneath her feet, letting herself get lost in the noise just enough to forget for a while.

So yeah. It was familiar.

At Alana's dry quip, Valery let out a quiet chuckle, her head tilting slightly. "I think I'd remember if we had," she teased, warmth laced in her tone. "And I don't forget things easily."

She took another slow sip of her drink, letting the warmth settle in her chest as Alana studied her, weighing her answer.

"Depends on what kind of story you think I have. And what kind of distraction you think I need."

That was an invitation if she'd ever heard one.

The neon haze flickered in Alana's eyes as she leaned in, slow, unhurried, just enough to close the space between them. Valery felt the shift, the way the air between them grew tense. Her breath hitched. —just slightly, just enough for her to notice, because for a split second, she thought...

But then—

Alana faltered.

The shift was sudden, her expression twisting, a wince breaking through the careful nonchalance. Valery caught the way her hand lifted to the side of her head, the tension in her jaw, the flicker of something deeper beneath the surface.

The moment changed.

Valery didn't hesitate.

She leaned in, not in the way she thought she might have a second ago, but with something else entirely — concern, curiosity, a silent offering of steadiness against whatever had just ripped through Alana's mind.

Her voice was softer now, lower. "Hey," she murmured, searching Alana's face, her own fiery gaze holding steady. "Are you okay?"

Alana Calloway ​

 

[Alana Calloway]

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Get Up To Get Down​

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Location: Hirsi, Long Weii Down Nightclub​

Tag: Valery Noble​

Gear: Outfit​

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Alana's breath hitched, her fingers pressing against her temple like she could physically push away the sudden, sharp static buzzing through her skull. It was quick, usually—just a flicker, an echo. A voice that wasn't hers, a sensation like she was slipping sideways through her own skin.

She just wish she knew why this kept happening.

But as usually it was gone. She tried to relax, her hand falling away.

She exhaled slowly, forcing herself back into the moment, back into the neon-drenched haze of the club, the heat of Valery's gaze steady on her. There was no reason for the sudden disorientation—no spice, no bad drink. Just…something unsettling clawing at the edges of her mind.

She really didn’t need this right now.

Alana dropped her hand, shaking off the tension like it had never been there. "Yeah," she said, voice rougher than she meant it to be. A beat. Then she huffed out a breath, forcing a smirk that didn't quite reach her eyes. "Just a headache. I uhhh, got a condition. Don’t worry."

A lie. One Valery could probably see through. But Alana didn't care.

She turned back to her drink, taking a slow sip, letting the burn settle her again. Then, without looking up, she muttered, "Didn't mean to kill the mood. Nice dress by the way.”

There was an unsettled expression to her face as Alana tried to put on a mask, keep herself calm on the outside.

While she was consumed with worry within.

 

[Valery Noble]

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Outfit: Dress

Valery watched the way Alana's fingers pressed against her temple, the way tension coiled in her shoulders like she was trying to shake something loose. She heard the lie in her voice before the words even fully left her lips — just a headache — but she didn’t call it out. Not yet.

She knew the weight of pretending everything was fine. She wasn’t going to push.

Instead, a quiet smirk tugged at the corners of Valery’s lips as Alana tried to brush past it, redirecting with an easy compliment. Nice dress.

Valery let her gaze flicker over Alana for a brief second before meeting her eyes again, her voice laced with warmth. “Thanks,” she murmured, tilting her head slightly. “You look sharp yourself.”

But she wasn’t going to let the moment just slip away — not entirely.

She could still see it, lingering just beneath the surface of Alana’s smirk, the way her expression didn’t quite match her eyes. Whatever just happened, it had rattled her more than she wanted to admit.

And if Valery knew anything, it was that sometimes, the best way to push through something wasn’t to sit and dwell on it.

So, instead of prying, she let her smirk deepen, a glint of mischief flashing behind her amber eyes. “You know,” she mused, taking another slow sip of her drink before setting it down, “I think a distraction might be the way to start the night."

She straightened slightly, leaning just a little closer. “How about we hit the dance floor?” A playful challenge. An easy out. A way to shift the weight without forcing a conversation Alana wasn’t ready to have. “Might do you some good to let loose a little.”

Valery arched a brow, waiting, watching. The choice was Alana’s.

Alana Calloway ​

 

[Alana Calloway]

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Get Up To Get Down​

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Location: Hirsi, Long Weii Down Nightclub​

Tag: Valery Noble​

Gear: Outfit​

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It was nice to get a compliment. Alana couldn’t recall the last time she had gotten one actually.

She felt her face warm, though she shook it off. Alana froze for a split second, the invitation hanging in the air. Her initial instinct was to turn it down, to keep her distance and hold onto the comfortable wall she'd built around herself; though even that was in the process of becoming a safety hazard for her mental health. There there was something in Valery's tone — in that mischievous glint in her eyes — that made her hesitate.

It had been a long time. A very long time since Alana had danced, since she'd allowed herself to forget her thoughts, her burdens, even if just for a moment. Her foot tapped lightly against the floor, a rhythm she didn't even realize she still had. But the weight of the past always loomed, always in the back of her mind, keeping her tethered to reality.

But there was something freeing in Valery's offer. Something about her confidence, the way she seemed completely at ease with herself, that made Alana feel, for just a moment, like maybe she could leave it all behind.

She met Valery's gaze, her expression softening just a little. "It's been a while," Alana murmured, the words coming out with an unexpected sincerity. She didn't want to admit it, but the thought of getting lost in the music, in the movement — it did sound tempting.

Another memory burst forth:

It didn't take long before she had emptied the canister, and felt the sensation slam into her shortly after. Her legs felt like rubber for a splitsecond, prompting her to stagger forward, her hands catching herself on the sink. She glanced up to her reflection in the mirror, and immediately the changes became apparent. Colors become a tad more intense, and she felt rather giddy all of the sudden. The pain at the back of her head faded, and she felt a hell of alot lighter. "Well hey there stranger, you come here often?" She muttered, her hand moving to the reflection before she realized she was talking to herself. "Feth on a frag grenade Alana, get a grip."

The pain was nonexistent thankfully, and Alana was left with a sense of shame after the little episode. Still, she managed to steel herself for now.

Taking a slow breath, Alana allowed her lips to curl into a smile, however small. "Alright. But you better not try and outdance me," She teased, her voice carrying that same dry edge it always did.

She stood up, a little wobbly at first, the unfamiliarity of it all almost making her second-guess herself. Was she really that nervous?

But there was a brief moment — a fleeting one — where the weight on her shoulders seemed to lift, just slightly, as she followed Valery to the dance floor.

“Before we….do this….what do I even call you?” She would ask, still following Val’s steps, trying to speak over the crowd.

 

[Valery Noble]

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Outfit: Dress

The hesitation in Alana’s response wasn’t lost on Valery. The weight of past burdens clung to her like a second skin, holding her back even as the music called for something else — freedom, escape, release.

But then, Alana accepted.

Valery’s smirk deepened, warmth flickering in her amber eyes. It was just a dance, just a moment, but sometimes that was enough. Enough to break free, even if only for a little while.

As they stepped toward the dance floor, Alana’s voice reached her through the pulse of the bass-heavy music.

For a second, Valery considered giving a fake name. It wouldn’t have been the first time. Places like this didn’t always mix well with who she was. But as she glanced over at Alana, something made her change her mind.

“Valery,” she said, her voice smooth, carrying just enough weight to cut through the noise. No false names. No pretense.

Just honesty.

Then the music swallowed them. The neon glow bled across the crowd, the deep bass thrumming through the floor, through the pulse of her veins. Valery let herself sink into it, into the rhythm, into the moment. And then — she moved.

Her hips swayed in perfect time with the beat, smooth, fluid, like she was made for this. Every step was effortless, every motion intentional yet free, the sheer confidence in the way she carried herself enough to turn heads. The slit of her dress parted with each step, revealing glimpses of toned, bronzed legs as she twisted and flowed, completely unburdened.

She didn’t dance like someone who tried to be alluring. She just was.

The curves of her body followed the music’s command, arms lifting, fingers trailing through her long, dark waves before slipping down again, rolling her shoulders back in a way that made the movement look almost hypnotic. There was no hesitation in her, no shyness.

Just rhythm. Just confidence.

And then, just for fun, Valery turned to Alana, tilting her head slightly as if to silently ask — Well? Are you keeping up?

A flicker of challenge in her fiery gaze.

Alana Calloway ​

 

[Alana Calloway]

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Get Up To Get Down​

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Location: Hirsi, Long Weii Down Nightclub​

Tag: Valery Noble​

Gear: Outfit​

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Alana's heart hammered against her chest the moment Valery's gaze met hers, the challenge clear in those amber eyes. She swallowed, suddenly aware of how much her own body was reacting to the beat and the presence of the woman before her. She clearly had drunk too much. That was going to be a problem later.

Alana thought she saw Valery's smirk deepened, her expression unreadable for just a beat before she uttered, "Valery." Smooth, effortless—just like the way she moved.

Why the hell couldn’t she be like that….

She forced herself to move, stepping closer just enough for the neon haze to catch in her red eyes. "Alana," she said, voice steady despite the warmth creeping into her face. "Figured you should at least know the name of the person trying to keep up with you."

Then the music swallowed them.

Valery danced like she belonged here, fluid and effortless, her body moving in perfect time with the beat, each motion carrying the kind of confidence that turned heads without even trying. The slit of her dress parted as she twisted, bronzed skin catching the neon glow. It wasn't just the way she moved—it was the way she owned it, like rhythm was something she breathed. It was actually captivating to watch.

And Alana—

Alana knew how to dance. She had done this before, once upon a time, maybe decades ago. But standing this close to Valery, feeling the heat of her presence, the weight of her gaze, it was suddenly a lot harder than she remembered. In fact she was struggling to remember.

She hesitated, shifting her weight in time with the bass, but her steps were stiff, her hands uncertain. She had trained for combat her whole life, but this—this was something else entirely. It didn’t help that she was trying not to make contact with Valery.

She tried to shake it off, rolling her shoulders back and stepping into the rhythm with a bit more confidence. A smirk flickered at the edge of her lips, but it was nervous, uncertain. Perhaps a small part of her didn’t believe this was real, while another part was just happy someone showed her attention. "Never said I was good," She admitted shyly, half-laughing, half-breathing out the tension that was eating her up from the inside.

She must be looking like a total fool right now.

 

[Valery Noble]

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Outfit: Dress

Valery caught the hesitation in Alana's movements immediately — the stiffness, the uncertainty, the way she seemed hyperaware of the space between them. Of her. It wasn't nerves, not exactly, but it was something close. A tension wound tight beneath the surface, holding her back from sinking into the rhythm completely. And Valery?

She wasn't having that.

Her smirk deepened, but it wasn't teasing —it was warm, encouraging. She wasn't judging. If anything, the way Alana was trying, the way she was stepping outside of whatever walls she usually kept around herself, made Valery enjoy this even more. Because this wasn't about being good. This was about feeling the music, about letting go.

So, instead of saying anything right away, Valery let her body speak for her. She rolled her shoulders back, slow and fluid, her movements effortlessly falling into sync with the pounding bass, hips swaying with a kind of natural rhythm that didn't require thought — only instinct. The heat of the club pulsed around them, neon lights catching in the curves of her dress, in the soft gleam of her bronzed skin.

Then, she stepped closer. Not too close — just enough. Just enough that Alana could feel the invitation. Just enough that if she wanted, she could follow. A quiet laugh escaped Valery's lips, bright and unbothered, as she caught the self-conscious smirk on Alana's face. "Never said you had to be good," she teased, voice smooth as silk over the music. "Just said you had to have fun."

She tilted her head slightly, her gaze catching Alana's with something softer beneath the challenge. Something that said she wasn't here to test her, to make her feel small — she was here to pull her into the moment.

"Just don't think about it," she murmured, leaning in slightly, close enough for Alana to hear her over the music. "Feel it." To prove her point, Valery let her body guide her again, moving with pure ease, her hands lifting just slightly before trailing down her body. Her movements weren't exaggerated, weren't forced — they were natural, effortless, the kind of grace that didn't demand attention but commanded it all the same.

"Nobody's watching," she added, her voice just low enough to send a shiver down the spine. "And if they are…" A slow, knowing smirk. "They're not judging your skills, and neither am I."

Alana Calloway ​

 

[Alana Calloway]

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Get Up To Get Down​

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Location: Hirsi, Long Weii Down Nightclub​

Tag: Valery Noble​

Gear: Outfit​

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Alana wasn't sure what was worse—the way her body refused to cooperate with the music, or the fact that Valery had definitely noticed. The way she moved, the way she owned every step, was effortlessly captivating. And Alana?

Alana felt like an idiot.

She wasn't a bad dancer. Not exactly. She could move just fine. But here, now, with Valery watching her, it was like every instinct had been replaced with second-guessing. Like her body had suddenly forgotten what rhythm even was.

Then, Valery stepped closer.

Not enough to overwhelm, just enough that Alana felt it—the unspoken invitation. The warmth of her presence. The way her movements flowed like water, smooth and unburdened, as if this was the most natural thing in the world.

"Never said you had to be good."

Alana swallowed, exhaling a sharp breath through her nose, her smirk faltering just slightly. She was trying. Stars, was she trying. But letting go? That was another thing entirely.

"Just don't think about it. Feel it."

Valery's voice was close now, slipping past the bass-heavy pulse of the club, curling against Alana's senses like a warm breeze. She caught the flicker of something softer in those amber eyes—not pity, not judgment. Just… patience. Encouragement.

Alana wasn't used to that.

For a second, she considered backing out, waving it off with some half-hearted joke. But Valery moved again, her body effortlessly following the beat, and Alana realized she wanted to try.

Not to impress. Not to prove anything.

Just to be here. In the moment.

"Nobody's watching,"

Nobody?

"And if they are…"

There it was-

"They're not judging your skills, and neither am I."

Oh.

This wasn’t a test?

No…condition was being asked of her?

Just….feel it….

It felt so alien and yet…new. She wasn’t sure what to think at first.

So, she took a breath, let it fill her lungs, and… let go.

It wasn't perfect. It wasn't nearly as fluid as Valery. But as Alana let her body move, let herself settle into the rhythm without thinking, something shifted. She found the beat, let her hips follow the slow, rolling pulse of the music, let the tension in her shoulders ease—just a little.

And when she glanced back at Valery, her smirk was still there, but it was different now. Less self-conscious.

More real.

"Fine," She muttered, voice just barely audible over the music. "But if I make a fool of myself, I'm blaming you."

 

[Valery Noble]

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Outfit: Dress

The shift was subtle at first — just a breath, a moment of hesitation breaking apart like sand slipping through fingers. But then Alana let go. Not all at once, not completely, but enough. Enough that the stiffness in her shoulders eased, enough that her body started to move with the music instead of against it. And Valery noticed all of it.

The way Alana's hips finally rolled in time with the pulsing beat, the way the neon glow caught against the faint sheen of sweat on her skin, the way her smirk — this time — wasn't just some mask of bravado, but genuine. Real. It wasn't perfect, wasn't as effortlessly fluid as Valery's own rhythm, but that wasn't the point.

She was trying. She was letting herself feel. And that was enough.

Valery's own smirk softened into something warmer, something just as inviting as before, but now tinged with approval. She let her body stay in the rhythm, hips swaying, curves rolling effortlessly with every beat. The slit of her dress parted with each movement, exposing golden-bronzed skin to the flashing lights, her hands lifting slightly before tracing down her body in a way that was too natural to be intentional, yet too mesmerizing not to be.

And then—

Her gaze wandered. Alana might have worried about making a fool of herself, but as Valery's eyes drifted — taking in the way the other woman moved now, the way her body fit the music in all the right ways — she was absolutely not making a fool of herself. If anything, she was damn near captivating. Valery's smirk deepened as she leaned in slightly, enough that her voice curled just beneath the heavy bass.

"Trust me," she murmured, amber eyes flickering as they roamed over Alana's figure just a little too slowly before meeting her gaze again. "You're not making a fool of yourself."

She let that linger. Let the weight of the words sit between them before rolling her shoulders back, letting her hands drift through her dark waves before she turned just enough that her own movements flowed even more seamlessly into the beat. She was still leading, still guiding — but now?

Now, it felt more like they were moving together. A slow, smooth rhythm. A shared pulse. Valery watched Alana closely, keeping that smirk—a silent challenge, but a gentle one. They could talk about things later. About whatever it was Alana kept locked inside, whatever it was she had tried to bury beneath casual indifference.

Right now, she just needed to let go. And Valery had already given up on her previous mission — helping Alana felt like her true cause now.

Alana Calloway ​

 

[Alana Calloway]

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Get Up To Get Down​

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Location: Hirsi, Long Weii Down Nightclub​

Tag: Valery Noble​

Gear: Outfit​

Alana felt the shift like a breath of cool air in a too-warm room—sudden, sharp, and undeniable. The hesitation that had clung to her like an ill-fitting coat slipped from her shoulders, replaced by something looser, something freer.

It wasn't just the music, though that helped. The bass thrummed through her bones, syncing with the steady pulse in her chest. The neon glow caught in the sheen of sweat on her skin, painting everything in color, in movement, in sensation. But it was more than that. It was her.

Valery.

The way she looked at her, the way she saw everything—the initial stiffness, the uncertainty, the exact moment Alana started to let go. It wasn't a challenge, not really. Not anymore. It was an invitation. A quiet, unspoken dare.

And for once, Alana didn't resist.

Why did she talk to her like she did?

Why had she sat down and spoken to her like she had…

These questions didn’t last more than half a heart beat, as she was just glad to actually be enjoying herself for once.

She was…enjoying herself…wasn’t she?

Her movements shifted—not quite effortless, but intentional. Where before she had moved like she was stepping around landmines, now she sank into the rhythm, let it guide her. She rolled her shoulders back, let her hips catch the beat with a little more ease, a little more confidence. It wasn't perfect, wasn't polished, but it was hers.

And stars, it felt good?

How long had it been since they feeling?

She felt as if she was practicing her Echani forms, the flow, the sensation, the familiarity…it was slowly coming back. Her movements became more fluid, less clumsy-she wasn’t fixated on what she wasn’t doing.

A laugh—real, genuine—slipped past her lips, half-disbelieving at herself, half-swept up in the moment. Her heart pounded, but not from nerves. Not anymore. She met Valery's gaze, found warmth there, found something else that sent a slow, curling heat through her veins.

She was starting to doubt it was the drinks. Was she just this desperate to be noticed?

She tried not to think on it.

She didn't have to think. Didn't have to worry about how she looked. She just…felt in tune.

She just had to move.

No, more than that….she just wanted to keep moving.

This was….fun.

 

[Valery Noble]

​

Outfit: Dress

The shift was complete now. Alana wasn't just trying — she was living in the moment. Moving with it. Feeling it. Valery watched as that last bit of hesitation melted away, replaced by something raw, something real. The beat pulsed between them, their bodies moving in rhythm, effortless and free. And for once, neither of them were overthinking it.

Valery's smirk deepened, warmth flickering behind her amber eyes. She matched Alana's energy, rolling her shoulders back, letting her hips sway, keeping their movements in sync but loose, unrestrained. The heat of the club wrapped around them, sweat glistening against her bronzed skin as the neon lights flashed in slow, hypnotic waves.

And then—

The music began to fade.

Not abruptly, but slowly, the heavy bassline softening into the static hum of the club's energy. A brief lull between songs, just enough to shift the moment, to pull them from the rhythm without breaking it completely. Valery let the movement slow, her body gradually stilling until she was standing close — close enough that their breaths were just slightly uneven from the dance. She tilted her head, a small smile playing at her lips as she looked Alana over, searching for the answer before she even asked the question.

"How was that?" she murmured, her voice low and smooth, just audible beneath the club's static hum. "How do you feel now?" Her gaze held steady, patient, but not without a flicker of mischief — like she already knew the answer. New songs started to play, the beat picking back up, but Valery didn't move to start again. Not yet.

Because right now, she wasn't asking about the dance. Not really.

She wanted to know if it had helped.

Alana Calloway ​

 

[Alana Calloway]

.​

Get Up To Get Down​

​

Location: Hirsi, Long Weii Down Nightclub​

Tag: Valery Noble​

Gear: Outfit​

Alana was breathless, but not in the way she'd expected. It wasn't from exhaustion or from the nervous flutter she used to feel in situations like this. No, this was different. She was alive, electric, her heart pounding with a thrilling rush she hadn't allowed herself to experience in a long time. The kind of raw freedom that came from letting go, from surrendering to something bigger than yourself. And tonight? Tonight it was the music. The beat. The movement.

It was like everything else had faded into the background. The crowd. The flashing lights. The tension. She wasn't thinking, not anymore, not about her past, her regrets, her fear. She was just feeling—the pull of the rhythm, the heat of the club, the heat of her own body moving in sync with another. And it felt like nothing else mattered but this.

A soft laugh bubbled from her chest, unrestrained and giddy. The exhilaration was still buzzing through her veins, her skin still warm and tingling from the movement. She ran a hand through her damp hair, pushing it out of her face, feeling that radiance that only came when you let go. She could almost taste it, like the air itself had changed, had shifted into something more exciting, more alive.

"That," she said, breathless but smiling wide, her voice full of wonder. "I…I forgot what it was like…"

The grin on her face was unashamed, wide and confident now. For the first time in ages, she felt like she was really living, not just going through the motions. The feeling was intoxicating. She looked at Valery, catching her gaze with that familiar smirk still tugging at her lips, the confidence now fully in place, where before there had been hesitation. She was no longer holding back, no longer trying to be anything she wasn't. This was her. Unfiltered. Alive.

"And you—" She said, her voice light but teasing, a hint of warmth creeping into her tone. There was no question in her mind anymore. "You knew exactly what you were doing, didn't you?"

Her chest still rose and fell with the heavy, uneven rhythm of their earlier dance, and she could feel her skin still warm from the closeness, the heat, from how in sync they had been. She wasn't sure if it was just the music, or the way Valery had moved, pulling her along, or maybe a mix of both—but she felt like she was glowing from the inside out. For the first time in what felt like forever, she was free, no longer fighting against herself or her fears. Just feeling.

It was almost like she was floating. She gave Valery a look—teasing but genuine, a little grateful, too, for the way Valery had brought her here, had made her step outside herself, had made her feel seen.

Alana stretched out her hands slightly, feeling the pulse of the music still underneath her skin. She wanted to keep dancing, to keep moving, to never let that feeling slip away. She knew the song would pick up again soon, but it didn't matter. She didn't want to leave the moment, not yet.

"Honestly," She murmured, her voice softer now, almost a little more vulnerable, but still full of that vibrancy, "I didn't even know I could feel like that…."

For a moment she felt a ping of sadness.

Something as simple as dancing had awoken this….sensation within her.

Was she really that sad?

It fades to the back of her mind swiftly.

She laughed again, a little breathless, a little in awe of the whole thing. "I don't think I've ever had this much fun, just... letting go. You're... you're a natural at this, Valery."

Her grin returned, bright and sincere, her eyes glowing with the aftershock of their shared rhythm. She took a breath, feeling the moment settle around them, but not quite ready to let it go just yet. Not until she had another taste of that freedom.

"I’m guessing you’re…going to leave now?” She added with a raised eyebrow, her voice a touch playful, another touch bittersweet. She wanted more. More of the feeling. More of just...being.

But like most things in her life, it was going to come to an end.

 

[Valery Noble]

​

Outfit: Dress

Valery watched as Alana practically glowed, the exhilaration still buzzing through her veins, her breath uneven but full of something real — something free. It was written all over her, in the way her chest rose and fell with the remnants of their dance, in the way her smirk had shifted into something unguarded, something genuine.

And stars, she looked good like this. For a second, Valery just took her in — the lingering heat on her skin, the neon lights flickering in her wild hair, the raw joy behind her sharp red gaze. It was a sight worth getting lost in. Then—

"You knew exactly what you were doing, didn't you?"

Valery's smirk deepened, slow and knowing, her amber eyes gleaming like embers in the dim haze of the club. She tilted her head slightly, considering the question, before finally murmuring, "Maybe a little." Her voice was smooth, teasing, but warm — because this? This wasn't about proving a point. This was about Alana. About making her feel something she hadn't in a long time.

And judging by that look in her eyes, that breathless laugh, she had.

Valery let a pause settle between them, her gaze never wavering. The music was shifting again, a new rhythm building, calling them back into motion. But when Alana spoke again, her tone softer, something flickered beneath the teasing edge — something vulnerable.

"I didn't even know I could feel like that…"

Valery's smirk softened, something deeper, more thoughtful curling behind it. She knew that feeling — the moment when you realized you'd been holding your breath for too damn long, when something so simple could remind you what it meant to be alive. She had felt it before, in battle, in motion, in moments where she stopped thinking and just was.

And now Alana had, too. She could feel the pull, the temptation to just keep moving, to keep the high going. But she feared that Valery would have to leave. There was something underneath those words, something bittersweet, like Alana was already bracing for the moment to end. Like she expected it to.

Valery hummed softly, gaze flicking over her, watching the way she lingered in the space between wanting more and expecting nothing. Then, without missing a beat, she leaned in just slightly, close enough that Alana could feel the warmth of her presence, close enough that her voice curled against the space between them like a slow-burning spark.

"Not planning on it," she murmured. Her smirk returned, edged with something playful, something daring. "Unless you want me to leave," she added, knowing damn well that wasn't the case. She let the words hang, let the weight of them settle between them, before tilting her head toward the bar. "We can keep dancing here, perhaps meet some more people," she mused, voice low, inviting. "Or we can grab another drink, sit down, and just… talk." A beat. "Up to you, Alana."

No expectations. No pressure. Just a choice.

Alana Calloway ​

 

[Alana Calloway]

.​

Get Up To Get Down​

​

Location: Hirsi, Long Weii Down Nightclub​

Tag: Valery Noble​

Gear: Outfit​

Alana's heart skipped at the words, the invitation to simply be, and the blush that Valery had drawn out of her still showed across her face, making her feel more alive than she had in a long time. The usually pale woman had a good bit of color to her now.

Her hands, still buzzing from the energy of their dance, tightened at her sides as she hesitated for just a moment. But it was only a moment. She didn't want this to end. Not now. Not when she felt something for the first time in so long—something real, something hers.

She…almost felt like she had found some part of herself just now. Her old self.

"I don't want you to leave," She said, her voice low but earnest, as though the simple words were a confession she hadn't even known she needed to make. She met Valery's eyes, her red gaze sharp but full of something softer, something genuine, as she took in the offer.

Her smirk was still there, but it was different now. It wasn't guarded or half-apologetic. It was bold, excited, like she couldn't quite contain how alive she felt in that moment. "I think," she added, her voice carrying the thrill of the night, "I'd much rather sit down with you... talk."

The weight of the club, the pulsing lights, the pressure to keep moving—everything else could wait. This? This felt like the kind of moment worth holding onto. The kind of connection she hadn't allowed herself to feel in far too long.

She tilted her head, a teasing glint dancing in her eyes. "I’d like to know who exactly has taken time out of their schedule to brighten my night, sure you’re not a spy?” The challenge was there, playful and on display, but it was clear enough that she wasn't running from the moment. Least she hoped not.

She stepped a little closer, leaning just enough into Valery's space to close the distance, but not enough to feel pressure. Just enough to show she was present, here, with her. "Let's take a break," she said softly. "But if you leave suddenly, I may have to hunt you down, and I was a bounty hunter once so…I’ll do it too."

Alana's pulse was still racing, but it was with excitement, not fear. The night had changed. It was no longer just a blur of music and flashing lights. It was a chance. A chance to truly connect, to talk—to be something other than the echoes of the woman she used to be. And that made everything feel just a little bit more real.

 

[Valery Noble]

​

Outfit: Dress

Valery chuckled softly, the sound low and warm as she arched a brow at Alana's playful accusation. A spy? She shook her head, amused. "If I were a spy, I think I'd be doing a terrible job at staying unnoticed," she mused, voice smooth as silk. She smirked, letting the tease linger before nodding toward the bar. "Come on, bounty hunter, pirate, whatever other surprises you've got in store for me —l et's get that drink."

Her steps were easy, unhurried, guiding Alana through the crowd with a natural confidence that made it seem like the sea of people parted just for her. The music pulsed on, but Valery didn't look back toward the dance floor. Not yet. The night still had time, and right now, this moment between them? It was worth slowing down for.

As they reached the bar, Valery leaned against it casually, motioning for the bartender. "Two whiskeys," she said without hesitation, glancing at Alana with a knowing glint in her eye. "Unless you want something softer?" A smirk. She already knew the answer. When the drinks arrived, she took her glass smoothly, fingers curling around it as she led Alana to a quieter corner of the bar. The neon lights still bathed them in their glow, the faint haze of smoke lingering in the air, but here, the noise wasn't so overwhelming. They could talk.

Valery turned to face her, her smirk softening just slightly as she took in the way Alana looked now — flushed from the dance, pulse still quick, but in the best way. Alive. "That's more like it," Valery murmured, tilting her glass toward her with a small, approving nod. "You already look alive — so much more than when I first saw you sitting at that bar."

She took a slow sip, letting the whiskey burn pleasantly down her throat before setting the glass down with a quiet clink. Her amber gaze locked onto Alana's, curiosity sparking behind the warmth.

"So," she mused, leaning forward slightly, elbows resting on the bar as she studied her. "Bounty hunter, huh?" A teasing tilt of her head. "That sounds very interesting. What do you do now?"

Alana Calloway ​