Public Zinder's Autumn Festival of Love! (Open to all hopeful couples!)

[Ala Quin]

The squeal was almost instinctive. Ala covered her mouth quickly, feeling rather ridiculous. She had been scooped up by Kaila and was being carried into the other room. Kaila's slender frame did not give indication as to strength to this degree. Ala marvelled at her date's prowess, blushing with the familiarity of the movement.

"Make a habit of saving dead women you only just met?" She said, with an open-mouthed smirk.

She glanced at the door as it locked, and then shot Kaila a glance. What was she doing? Ala's heart raced. A Sith thing? Had this all been a ruse? No. No. Believe in the best of people. Believe in even, a Sith.

She felt the cool, hard surface of the table under her legs, and she started, eyes flicking to Kaila's. What was her intention? Ala sought for intentions in Kaila's actions...and then she understood...completely.

A demure smile crossed Ala's lips.

"You know. I'm starting to enjoy this cheesy game."

Ala's eyes looked Kaila up and down, and then her hand reached forth to caress her cheek, before pulling her down to meet a tender, inviting kiss.

Kaila Irons

 

[Kat Decoria]

Location: Haunted Barn
Outfit: Autumn attire
Tag: Allyson Locke

She smiled seeing Allyson approaching and noted that the Corellian was wearing her usual attire, which made sense, it was a chilly day and she figured that Allyson didn't want anything fancy getting ruined by the stuff going on in the barn. She shook her head, she hadn't been waiting long and even if she had been, she would never tell Allyson she had been. "It's all good. I'm glad that you offered support to someone else in need." Kat was surprised that anyone would get ghosted, it was a strange concept to the Echani since she just usually was upfront and honest about things not working or the vibe not being there anymore.

"Ithorian Rose is a nice gesture, I didn't think of bringing anything in case it was too forward..." Kat admitted, she was always cautious about presuming too much with Allyson since the Jedi Shadow was a difficult woman to understand.

Looking over to the barn, she chuckled, "it is a wild concept but building teamwork, getting to see how someone handles a puzzle, I suppose there is some bonding that can happen in the madness." She shrugged, horror wasn't a huge genre that appealed to Kat but she knew some people found it romantic at times. "That is sweet of you to offer her to join us, hopefully she finds a date but good to know she has a safety net." Kat wasn't thrilled on the idea of a third wheel on what she presumed was a date but it also felt like a casual hang from some of what Allyson was saying.

"Might be easy time for someone with your talents." Kat nudged Allyson as she headed into the barn

 

[Lily Decoria]

Location: Outside the Maze
Outfit: Casual
Tag: Ragos Terrek

She had matched with someone on Zinder once again, it wasn't something she was confident in given that previous attempts on the app were not really great successes. In fact last time, she was ghosted by the guy when she waited for him at the event. So she was hesitant to jump into this new event but attending a horror themed event with a hedge maze seemed a lot of fun. Therefore, she threw caution to the wind and swiped around, eventually matching with a guy called Ragos who seemed intriguing and someone she hadn't encountered before.

Lily made very clear attempts to ignore the fact her aunt was on the app. Lily did not want that trauma in her life.

Arranging to meet outside the maze, Lily was in her plaid skirt, black top and trying to peek around the entrance of the maze to see if she could get a sneaky peek at what would be ahead of them. Clearly she was excited to have a look around the maze and explore what was within the maze. The other side was meant to be a lovely view of a lake that had a picnic to enjoy as well, a chance to sit and chat with Ragos, while it wasn't her ideal way to get to know someone, it was the galactic standard.

All she hoped for really was that this date turned up.

 

[Ragos Terrek]

Objective: Maze
Tags: Lily Decoria
Outfit

Ragos wasn't sure what he was doing here. Chit, Stewjon seemed cool, heck it was pretty damn chilly actually as the planet or at least the part of the planet he was on was in harvest season. Ragos breathed in the autumn air, which he had always thought felt heavier in his lungs than summertime air.

He was a city kid through and through but the chill, the changing foliage turning from green to all sorts of yellows, oranges, reds of different shades made him nostalgic for home. Not Epica where he had been living for a year or so, Epica was just as rustic as Stewjon in places but it wasn't really his home, not Coruscant obviously, sure as chit not Nar Shaddaa, but Haruun Kal. It reminded him of getting up before the sun, working outside with his hands, harvesting from the garden, protecting his family's grassers, a wholly different life.

He wasn't on Stewjon for nothing but his reason for being here still didn't exactly make sense to him. It was just not chit he normally did. He'd signed up Zinder looking to meet new people. Actually Keela had signed him up and found him a match cuz she was tired of him crashing on her couch.

He wondered if any of the other people were here because they baby momma was sick of having them around.

Keela was a good woman. Too good for him and so she wasn't with him, she was engaged to some school teacher or some chit, and Rag had been crashing with them and his and Keela's twins. It was a complicated situation and honestly it was better just not to ask about it.

Ragos was feeling a little unenthusiastic about the whole thing. Meeting a stranger in such an arranged inorganic way. He was feeling that way until he was walking to the front of the maze and saw a silver haired chick in a plaid pattern skirt and black tank top.

After seeing her all he felt was warm.

"Hey, lily?" He asked as he approached her, "Ghost," he introduced himself.

"Ready to have some fun?" He asked careful to keep his gaze in respectful places…mostly.

 

[Kaila Irons]

How long had they been like this? Kaila had lost track of time ever since their lips met in a passionate kiss. Perhaps too passionate, certainly for a Jedi, and too caring for a Sith. They shared thoughts and emotions through the force which she had never shared with anyone, nor had a single person seen fit to share with her. Their resulting embrace had been long, and gentle, yet their warmth burned with an intensity the likes of which this young pyromancer had never felt before.

It wasn't... love, or rather, Kaila fought the overwhelming urge to call it that, no matter how much she wanted to be so irresponsible. Obsession, she reluctantly decided to misname it instead.

Darth Anathemous was obsessed with a Jedi.

Ala excited her. Ala her comforted her and made her feel whole, Ala terrified her. Things were moving too quickly, even though they'd spent what felt like hours alone in that room together. Yet each hour felt somehow too short.

When they finally did leave that room, the rest of the haunted barn attraction was a blur. She wouldn't remember the cheesy answers to each puzzle nor the vaguely scary paid actors and their costumes. Just the way their hands met they put the double keys into the next door, the way Ala's smile creased the skin below her pronounced cheekbones, or how her little pointed ears seemed to poke out of her soft, curly hair. No matter how hard she looked for a flaw, whether it be on her person, or in her soul, Kaila swore that there were none, that Ala was the perfect person in every way.

It was almost too good to be true.

No one should feel this strongly for someone so soon, Let alone a Sith. And the overwhelming desire to leave all she knew behind to be with this woman was almost as terrifying as her master.

It was getting darker when they finally emerged from the barn, holding one another by the hand as if they'd been a couple from the very beginning. Yet Kaila fought desperately to hide her anxious eyes, staring sidelong at the the golden fields beyond.

"I uhm..." she began, nervously.

"Thank you, Ala. for a wonderful evening."

Then reluctantly let go.



Ala Quin

 

[Ala Quin]

Pulling away from their embrace had been one of the harder things Ala had had to do in some time. As soon as she did, something changed. Kaila seemed distant, lost in thought. It made sense. They were of Orders in complete opposition. This was not supposed to happen.

The rest of the Escape Room was done more efficiently and with less humour than previously. The flirting was gone. Ala never caught Kaila in one of her deep, meaningful glares. Their embrace had brought them together and seemingly torn them apart.

There is not darkness in light. There is no light in darkness.

Ala felt her heart rate slow, and she felt a cold sweat begin as they stepped out of the Escape Room. It was probably not possible for a Sith and a Jedi to truly be together. Was Ala just so desperate for connection that she would believe, even for the bearest of moments, that it could have been possible? It seems as though that was the case.

That old loneliness crept up on her again, even as she looked into the yellow eyes of a woman she wished she could know more fully. Ala was a fool to believe it could be. But her eyes spoke not of annoyance, but of a deep sadness, a longing unfulfilled.

Twilight was upon them. Neither could stay within the middle ground of light and dark. And so, they would depart.

Ala's lips parted to say farewell. All that escaped was a dejected sigh.

Kaila Irons

 

[Allyson Locke]

//: Kat Decoria //:

Allyson nodded along, listening to Kat. She looked good, happier in a sense. It was a good sign; it meant that she had decided against the endeavor into Sith space. Even though Kat had potentially chosen to go home, it didn't mean that Allyson could trust her with what the Corellian was doing in the Sith. Kat couldn't find out that Allyson was double-crossing the Alliance.

The woman smiled at the comment about the Ithorian Rose. "The color is nice, and from my understanding, blue is a common color in Echani decor. Thought it would be a nice touch." Allyson shrugged as she continued up towards the haunted house. The thought of puzzles made her laugh a little, and she shook her head. "Don't think you're going to get out of doing anything. I'd like to see how you'd do." Allyson reached out and grasped Kat's hand, pulling her along the pathway up to the house. They weren't far, and Allyson stopped just before it and raised an eyebrow.

"Whoever thought this was a good idea, I think, might have lost a few marbles. Don't they know it's usually the couples that get murdered in horror films?" she laughed nervously, looking at the Echani woman. "Tell me again, why are we doing this and not making out in the corner?" She couldn't help it, but despite the climate of her life, this seemed normal in a way. Allyson didn't want to think this could be the last time she saw Kat. The Echani was friendly with the Alliance. While they had their connection, Allyson figured if she became a threat to the Alliance, Kat would be obligated to blow her cover.

This was an annoying thought, one that made her unsure if this was a good idea. Keeping Kat close was selfish.

"So," Allyson laughed, "Who did you pay off to get matched with me?"

 

[Kat Decoria]

Location: Haunted Barn
Outfit: Autumn attire
Tag: Allyson Locke

While Allyson might have worked on stopping Kat's plans short term, long term the Echani was aiming to ensure she was never far from the spy. Kat was probably fool-hearty in trying to demonstrate where her loyalties laid. She couldn't say it aloud, but wherever Allyson found herself, Kat would join her and trusted her judgement completely.

"Blue is a great colour. Common in Eshan since it goes well with white. My niece loves anything cyan." Kat chuckled a little, then looked over to Allyson, "I think tend to go against the grain, green is a favourite colour of mine." Kat smiled.

She felt a blush as Allyson took her hand and started to lead the way, this definitely felt more like a date now. Kat could feel her heart racing more as the nerves of composing herself during the date kicked in. She would never forgive herself if she continued to stumble and fumble words. She wasn't at that age where that was cute anymore, though being around Allyson always made her feel that way.

It always felt as too long had passed but also no time at all.

"That just means we need to be the couple that beats the odds, thought a Corellian like you would love that challenge." Kat smirked, "well, who says we can't do both? Sure that we will have plenty of time to assign to making out in a corner." She winked to Allyson.

When Allyson asked if Kat had paid people off, she gave a fake scoff of indignation, "please, I was sure you scared all my potential suitors away to ensure that my gaze didn't drift away from you." Kat poked her tongue out as she entered the first portion of the puzzle room.

Her eyes scanning around idly, not rushing to complete the maze but certainly not slacking in the work either.

 

[Lily Decoria]

​

Location: Outside the Maze
Outfit: Casual
Tag: Ragos Terrek

"Hi Ghost." She offered a wave, the name was clearly some nickname or code name since Lily very much doubted that he was born with the name Ghost. However, she did not aim to demand an actual name and figured if he was ever comfortable to reveal his actual name then he would. For now, she just accepted the name given without question.

She noted that his gaze was respectful, for the most part, it made her giggle and smile, "hopefully I didn't overdo it with my outfit. I'm from Eshan so the colder weather doesn't tend to bother me too much." Taking a couple steps towards the maze, she looked around and wondered what opportunities would be held within. "Hopefully they didn't make the maze too easy to solve. Would be great if they had so good scares as well." Lily mentioned, clearly a fan of horror and being scared.

It had been something she worked on, refusing to let her anxieties prevent her from enjoying jump scares and other types of horror tropes. "Are you much of a horror or maze fan?" Lily asked, figuring they might as well get to know one another while wandering the maze.

 

[Ragos Terrek]

"Chit, no way. You look amazing," he told her when she suggest doubt on whether she should've worn a different outfit. "I wouldn't change a fething thing."

He wasn't just saying that chit neither, he really did think she looked great. Ragos didn't really have a type, well he didn't think so anyway, but if he did Lily did sort of fall outside it but that wasn't putting him off at all, even if it was a little surprising.

"You're Echanti? No chit?" He asked.

He shouldn't even be a little surprised, hell just look at her! Silver hair, toned, athletic, chit he shoulda guessed it himself but that outfit really had taken most his attention.

"I knew an Echanti kid back in the day…chit, I can't remember his name but dude had mean left hook and he knew how to set that thing up, always had me guessing when he was gonna throw it," Ragos said with a genuine grin as memories of his old training days came back him.

Ragos followed Lily as she started toward the maze entrance talking bout how excited she was and how she hoped whoever put this thing together did it right. This would be Ragos' first scary hedge maze or whatever but he agreed with her, he ain't want no lame chit.

She asked him if he liked mazes and horror as much as she did.

“I ain’t done no chit like this before," he admitted. The closest thing to a maze that he could think of was the set up to one of his credit stash houses on Nar Shaddaa. It was an old community living center or med center or some chit so there were tons of corridors that him and his dudes had blacked out and blocked up in way that would confuse anyone who broke in trying to reach the safe room where the credits were kept. The idea was to keep intruders wandering until they got shot down by the guards.

"I like horror though," he told her "I seent this holoflick, called Blursnday the 28th, this big scarred up muthasucka was stabbing all these teens and chit, it was pretty messed up but like chit that was a good holo. Did you do lots of chit like this back on Eshan? Festivals like this or whatever?" He asked trying to get to know her.

Lily Decoria

 

[Lily Decoria]

​

Location: Outside the Maze
Outfit: Casual
Tag: Ragos Terrek

She smiled and nodded her head. "Guessing you didn't notice the white hair, pale skin and grey eyes?" Lily smirked, with a teasing tone in her voice as she didn't mind if he hadn't realised she was Echani, it was something that wasn't always clear since they were still very human looking and plenty of people could dye their hair or be as pale as an Echani.

"Being able to anticipate and keep an opponent on edge is important in a fight." Lily grinned, she loved talking about fighting, there was plenty to explore and learn about a person from how they sparred. Gave her an idea of the type of person she was interacting with. She continued to led the way, doing what she had been taught was an effective method of solving a maze like this. Stick to one direction, even if it is a dead end.

Listening to Ghost describe his favourite horror flick, Lily wondered if chit was his favourite word since he was using it an awful lot. Lily never judged someone for using swearing or crass language like that, but it seemed to be used a lot and that intrigued Lily as to why. Though she was heavily aware it would be too rude to bluntly ask, she had done that before with someone and got told off by her mother for being so bluntly rude.

"I think I have to say more psychological horrors get me excited than a straight slasher, gore fest. I really enjoyed the film Ghost Activity, the sequels were okay but the first one was really lightning in a bottle moment. Low budget but doesn't look it." Lily stated, "similar to Dxun Witch Project, found footage films can be a lot of fun to watch."

As they turned around a corner, a ghost jumped out of the shadows and shrieked before disappearing back into the hedges. The startle caused Lily to jump reflexively and let out a startled outburst before she giggled to herself about the jump scare.

 

[Allyson Locke]

//: Kat Decoria //:

Allyson laughed. She couldn't help it; Kat assumed that Allyson would push people away from Kat - keeping her single. It couldn't be farther from the truth. Despite Allyson enjoying the pair's escapades, she wanted Kat to find someone. Better to be someone stable and able to give everything they could to her. Maybe it was Kat being delusional about the entire matter. Maybe Allyson was leading her on without truly realizing it. Her situation with Kat was a battle with herself. Wanting to let go and not wanting to let go, there was never the right answer. As long as Kat wasn't complaining, Allyson would do her best not to think about it anymore.

"You're a fool," Allyson laughed as they approached the barn door. The wood panels creaked under their feet, and she stopped. She offered Kat an arm for support.

"You know, if you found anyone that could give you what you deserved." Allyson pushed open the barn door and slipped in with Kat in tow. "I'd literally push you into their arms. Like I always say, I want you to be happy." Allyson continued forward into the barn. She could smell the mildew of the wood clinging to the air. "Watch your head." She nodded towards the ceiling. It seemed whoever created this place really wanted to make it scary. The barn walls seemed like a maze, and Allyson was silently suffering. As brave as the Corellian was, places like this and horror movies terrified her and gave her nightmares.

"So, um," Allyson turned to face Kat as she kept the nearest wall behind her to ensure nothing jumped and scared them. "You sure I can't convince you to go back to town, rent a room, and just do what we do?" Grinning, Allyson tried to flirt her way out of the situation. But as she leaned forward to place a hand against Kat's cheek, something fell from the ceiling and squirmed between them.

Allyson's face went whiter than Echani's hair, and she screamed in terror.

 

[Kat Decoria]

Location: Haunted Barn
Outfit: Autumn attire
Tag: Allyson Locke

The laugh from Allyson caused Kat to chew on her inner cheek, she hated the idea that Allyson didn't see how much she wanted to be with the Shadow and how much it meant that the Shadow wanted to be with her. However, she couldn't force the feelings to be shared and she refused to be someone who would shove herself in Allyson's way.

Kat slipped her arm into Allyson's and walked in sync with the other woman, enjoying the time together and getting across the wooden panels, knowing her robotic legs would make the wood creak more than normal organic limbs. "You know you say that and then look at me, being the most beautiful woman I know, and I can't want anyone but you." Kat gave a small smile, it was a bold statement from her but since Allyson decided to broach the topic, Kat was going to answer her earnestly. "I have tried moving from you when you disappeared for years at a time or committed to others. But then I see you again, we interact and I fall for you all over again."

She could sense the discomfort about this trip in Allyson, it was clear that the Shadow was not a fan of horror which was ironic given that the things they saw in general made these horror depictions mediocre in Kat's mind. Kat didn't stop the seduction attempt from Allyson though, she always had to admire when the other woman turned on the charms. The ways she moved her body, the levels of confidence she held herself in. Allyson's attempts were little to do the words and mostly to do with how she held herself, at least for Kat that was how it felt. The words were a pleasant addition.

Then something fell to the ground and started squirming. The screaming from Allyson was akin to the scream queens in horror flicks that Lily made Kat watch with her when Lily was younger. Kat had jumped in surprise, partly from the incident but mostly from Allyson's scream. "Okay, not a fan of horror it seems. We can leave and head to the stalls if you rather?" Kat offered, with a sympathetic gaze in her face as she reached to offer Allyson a hug and comfort.