Call me your Cherry or Strawberry tart

[Dancer]

Elise walked across the market of Soceras. It was open, with stalls in the streets marketing fresh fruits, vegetables, baked breads, sweets, refurbished speeder parts, clothes, flowers, jewelry, and even trinkets. The warm sun of Soceras was high in the sky with its usual circuit, lasting 48 hours. Elise wore her trademark blue and red flannel, she had unbuttoned it and tied it around her lower rib cadge, exposing her midriff and cyan belly button piercing. Her lower body was clad in khaki shorts that barely reached her mid-thighs, her body elicited a myriad of gawking from the men and some women in the market place. Her dazzling crimson curls were brushed wildly around her in a happy display of carefreeness. For the first time in her life she was truly happy.

She felt safe, she felt love, she felt happiness. Her Scarlet had taken such good care of her, keeping her from harm, rescuing her, loving her. In turn, she had taken care of Scarlet, patching her up after more than one fire fight, soothed her nightmares and even learned to cook with semi-decency.

It was pure bliss, the best time of her life. Elise was humming a soft tune as she crossed the street to the next passage over. She was more than just strolling along the way, she had a plan. It had been a year since she met Scarlet, a year on this day. She was intent on making a special dinner for her Scarlet, something that would make the night unforgettable for her sweet woman.

[member="Scarlet Ghost"].

 

[Tanith Alde]

Scarlet was back at their aparment, fretting quite a bit about what to do. The Former assassin was dressed in jogging pants, a loose black shirt, and little more than that. It was their anniversary today, and she knew just what she wanted to do.

But how to go about it best? Proposing afterall was no easy thing.

A little giggle escaped her as she ran a hand through her hair, brushing the bangs out of her eyes. "I'm really doing this, aren't i?" She asked of herself, looking at the slim Gold and Platinum ring sitting in it's plush box on the glass table infront of her, gleaming softly in the natural light streaming in through the windows "I wonder how shell react...What shell say....Hopefully yes" The dathomiri murrmurred softly, smiling

@Mystique

 

[Dancer]

Elise made her way with a smile across her face from the market. Her head bobbed slightly to the tune in her head, she hummed along lightly. The journey back was 15 minutes at the most, but Elise was never in a rush these days, she found her mind frequently drifting back to her Scarlet, thinking, planning, or deciding new ways to try and surprise her and treat her right.

Suddenly a ball bounced into her path, breaking Elise's train of thought. A young boy bobbed after it, stopping in her way as he picked it up. He was young, at most eight, with lean features but a baby-like chub still clung to his features. His shy blue eyes looked up at her from behind his blonde hair. She smiled back at him sweetly and he blushed a few shades.

"Sorry, missus," he said from behind his missing teeth.

Elise's smile deepened and she reached down, giving his hair a gentle tousle, 'That's alright."

"Hey, Jim, come on," one of the other kids shouted from the park.

Elise watched him scamper off. Before she would have been too terrified to even speak, let alone look at the boy, but Scarlet had been such a good woman to her, had helped her change that now, she was more confident. The redheaded dancer began her walk once more, thinking about children. The boy had stirred her motherly insticts. Would she and Scarlet be able to have children one day? she wondered. Elise had been born from two lesbian pole dancers, their genes fused in a laboratory. She supposed Scarlet and her could do the same--or adopt if they wanted to. But they had never talked about it, and part of Elise so badly wanted to. She wondered what that meant about their relationship as she stepped onto their small flat.

"Hello, I'm home," she said cheerily, 'Don't come in the kitchen, its a surprise."

[member="Scarlet Ghost"]

 

[Tanith Alde]

@Mystique

Safiriel pouted, closing her eyes she snuck up on Mystique and hugged her from behind, kissing her cheek "I won't peak but, just know I love you okay?" She smiled, turning she slipped away to wait in the living room for Mysitque to be free.

She thought on it most everyday, how the two had met.

Mystique had been her 'teacher' in the arts of seduction, an order by her master. Though neighter was interested in the other physically they had shared a bed. But afterwards, that was when they connected, as Scarlet tried to heal the redhead's wounds

 

[Dancer]

[member="Scarlet Ghost"]

The dancer giggled as she felt her lover's lips on her cheek. The touch was warm as she wiggled in her sweethearts arms.

"Now go, shoo shoo," she prompted playfully as Scarlet made her way away. When she was sure that Scarlet had left, Elise began to carefully unpack her things. She shoved them in a cupboard away from the rest of the food stuff--just in case Scarlet got snackish. She tossed the basket away with a satisfied sigh. Part of her wanted to begin cooking now the other part wanted to go cuddle. She went with the second half.

"The market was good," Elise said bending low and removing her heels. "Not too busy. Well, it was busy but that's what you get I guess at this hour."

Her bare feet touched the cool tile flooring, sending prickles up her spine. She scrunched her nose for a moment as she acclimated. There, that was better, Elise thought before waltzing into the living room. With a playful sigh she plopped on the couch--landing right on Scarlet's lap.

"It was fun," she said in a slightly weary voice, "Fun but a lil exhausting."

 

[Tanith Alde]

@Mystique

"Maybe I can start going with you, can't make you do all the work"

Scarlet's arms wrapped around her dancer's slim body, as her lips moved down to kiss her. "Don't want to ruin those soft lovely hands with manual labor" She said, raising one of them to her lips to kiss it playfully

"Or do you insist on hiding our meals till you've cooked them?" She teased. The former sniper had never been as happy as she was now, and it was showing.

 

[Dancer]

"I'd like that," Elise murmured as she melted into Scarlet's touch.

She giggled, bitting her lip playfully. The crimson haired woman hadn't been much of a cook before she met Scarlet. Her culinary skills had been quite lacking, her masters were intent on her having one set of skills only--skills that revolved around other, baser pleasures. But she wanted so badly to be able to give Scarlet something in return for the love and protection the sniper had given her.

While her girl was out on missions, running through Force-knows where, Elise was practicing baking, cooking, and stewing all manner of foods. There were many burnt dishes, many under-cooked ones. She was grateful they were all at times when Scarlet would have to eat them. Talk about embarrassing. Now, at long last she was becoming something of a culinary artist.

"Well," she said in playful scorn, "If you must know, I do insist. I kinda gotta keep giving you surprises too, ya know?"

She stuck her tongue out slightly, just letting it touch her pink lips past her teeth as her eyes twinkled in playfulness.

[member="Scarlet Ghost"]

 

[Tanith Alde]

"The fact I get to wake up to you each morning, thats more than enough of a gift...."

The Dathomiri woman said softly, gazing deeply into the redhead's eyes as she said it. Reflected in her gaze was that same love she felt for Mystique. "Don't leave me....ever" She said suddenly pulling mystique in tightly, resting her head in the crook of her neck.

"I don't know what I'd do....without you you know?"

Scarlet sounded like she was close to tears. For a woman that had spent most of her life dispassionate and dead inside, only recently rediscovering her emotions, these sudden swings and moods she experieined around Mystique were quite extreme


@Mystique

 

[Dancer]

Elise wrapped her arms around Scarlet, caressing her back, soothingly. Her Zeltron pheramones, weak as they were from the genetic splicing that had created her, eminated in a warm, comforting smell like a flower. She held her there, content. She nuzzled against Scarlet's neck, humming softly. Warmth spread over Elise's body like a blanket. She was never more content than she was now. If you would have asked her a year ago if she could be happy, she would have never said yes. If you would have asked her three months before if she even dreamed of being a free woman, she would have said never. But now Elise had both of the things that most people took for granted. Things that she would never ever look at lightly.

"Goodness, you are just a ball of mess today," Elise consoled her in a soft voice, "I am here, your not going to lose me. Its alright."

Elise gave her Scarlet a playful kiss on the nose, "Now you go get ready and I will cook dinner. It is something super special tonight, so get ready for it."


The crimson haired dancer hopped up to her feet and scurried off to the kitchen excitedly.

[member="Scarlet Ghost"]

 

[Tanith Alde]

@Mystique

Scarlet layed there on the couch and watched her go, a soft smile on her lips. She had never imagined she'd find someone like Mystique, someone that made life worth living, someone that made her -feel- again.

She sighed and closed her eyes, laying back on the couch, drifting off into a blissful sleep to the sound of her lover's humming and the noises of her cooking from the kitchen.

 

[Dancer]

Fry that. Chop this. Move that off heat and reduce the simmer down low enough so the blanch wouldn't fail. Juliane this. Fillet that. Careful with the greens so they wouldn't take damage. After all, presentation was as important as flavor, Elise reminded herself. At last she plated the food with the mastery of a woman who had spent hours of practice on the meal. Satisified, Elise prepped the table; a spotless white table cloth, two forks, two spoons, a knife, and a candle stick in the center, all three tall white, tapered candles burning with a soft, beautiful glow.

Elise put a metal tray on top of the dishes. Before they were just a luxury, however these more modern models had heating coils inside to keep the food warm long enough for her to go and slip into her dress.

Elise stepped into the bathroom and closed the door. From the towel closet she retrieved her dress in its hiding spot. The Crimson haired dancer quickly slipped into it. Her hair was next as Elise brushed and unfurrowed it, only to painstakingly brush it into place. Her makeup followed, then her heels. The whole cooking and dressing process had taken hours, but it was worth it. Elise ventured out of the bathroom, feeling wisps of her tentative nature from the past sneak upon her. She had never dressed this nicely, never. And now it felt---Elise didn't know how to feel.

Spoiler

[member="Scarlet Ghost"]

 

[Tanith Alde]

My my, how much time had passed? Scarlet awoke with a luxuriously lazy yawn, to the sound of heels clicking against their apartment's floor...had she missed anything important? She sat up, looking around slightly dazed, the scent of something delicious was coming from the kitchen and.....Wow. Mystique looked amazing she saw, looking the gorgeous redhead up and down. From the top of her hair to the tip of her toes.

She got up and couldn't resist walking over, pulling the slim, beautiful dancer against her body, kissing her gently and whispering how absolutely breathtaking she looked.

Her hand found itself stroking her lover's cheek gently as Scarlet gazed into her eyes, seeing that deep, fathomless love she felt for her reflected right back at her. How she had gotten this lucky to find someone so caring, so special, she would never know.

@Mystique

 

[Dancer]

Elise could feel herself melting at Scarlet's touch. She returned the kiss with a soft, but loving caress from her lips.

"Thank you," she said bashfully, knitting her fingers in a mass of nervousness.

Yes, she was nervous. That's how she felt. She had never worn clothes this fancy, and she had worked so hard to prepare for this. Months, really. Months of test cooking, months of meal planning. Months of practice.

"Come, I made you a gift," she said taking Scarlet's hand and leading her lover to the table. The setting was just right. The food was made just how she had planned. How long had she been envisioning this moment? So long.

The crimson haired dancer pulled out a chair for her sweetheart in the dim candle light. It was intensely romantic, Elise could feel her heart swell with satisfaction. She looked to Scarlet, her hazel eyes glimmering and searching for her lovervs approval, "Here, come sit."

[member="Scarlet Ghost"]

 

[Tanith Alde]

@Mystique

To be honest, Lucidna felt somewhat underdressed in comparison to her beautiful strawberry tart. Wearing just casual, comfortable clothes, it was almost enough to bring a blush to her pale cheeks.

"Thank you, darling" She whispered softly

Caressing her hand along Mystique's arm as she sat down, offering her a gentle smile

"And to what do I owe this gorgeous setting?" She asked softly, her other hand nervously toying with the box she kept in her pocket. This felt so perfect, so right...She just hoped she wouldn't blow it

 

[Dancer]

Elise removed the trays from the dishes revealing the meal of the night. It was a local delicacy known simply as "The Rumble," though the name deceived the dish's complexity to create; seared tenderized nerf steak sliced against the grain from only the most tender cuts of meat pre dominated the plate. On the side was a mixture of five distinct vegitables grown on world native to Alderaan, Dantoowine, Quillura, Endor's forest moon, and Naboo, all merge in a pan fry and topped with a tangy sauce made from Mon Calimari seaweed. Just as important as the meat and the vegitables themselves were the two sauces on the side garnished on the plate in a delicate interwoven spiral. The yellow was a tangy sweet flavor made from the finest Corellian wine. It's crimson companion was made from the steak's drippings in the pan and barq flower.

"I don't suppose there has to be one," Elise said with a twinkle in her eyes. "How is the food? The lady at the market, Gene, said that this meal is supposed to bring good luck to couples who have them and--and that its supposed to be amazing."

[member="Scarlet Ghost"]

 

[Tanith Alde]

@Mystique

"Oh My....it's all simply amazing" She said with a dazzling smile at her. She took her hand, caressing it gently as she ate, or sipped at the wine she was presented with. She was in heaven right now, enjoying dinner with the being she loved more than her own life.

"My darling....theres something I've been wanting to ask you about"

She murrmurred gently, looking up into Mystique's beautiful eyes. It never ceased to amaze her, the depths of emotion contained in them, and for just a moment, she lost herself in it

 

[Dancer]

Elise felt a shiver of delight run down her spine. All of the hours of work, practice, preparation, and the cooking burns had all paid off for those words; simply amazing. She began to slowly munch on the meal, reminding herself to follow all those fancy rules she had been reading about; no elbows on the table, keep her wrists delicate, no clanking on the silverware and plateware, use the---


Scarlet's words broke her train of thought like a welcome interuption. She felt so much more at ease with her than she had with anyone else but her anxiety was so hard to let go of. Always on stage. Its so hard to let go of. Scarlet had been so kind to her, always being patient, warming her up slowly despite it all.

The strawberry haired dancer found herself gazing into the eyes of her lover. A soft, warm smile formed on her lips slowly. The candle light warmed Scarlet's face even more, making Elise admire her face's delicate features, "Anything."

[member="Scarlet Ghost"]

 

[Tanith Alde]

@Mystique

The Moment, it all came down to this. Everything in her life had lead her here. She was sitting across from the most beautiful being in the galaxy, both inside and out. She remembered her days as an assasin, cold, dispassionate, level.

Now, her world was crazy with ups and down, love and self hate, romance and friendship. It was certainly so much better than it was, and it was all because of... Her

She did not know how long she sat there staring, before slowly standing up, slipping the little box from her pocket. She took Mystique's hand, and kissed it softly, before kneeling down.

She had planned so many words for this, but now, she found only a few that seemed to truly fit "Mystique, I love you...so much more than I've ever felt possible. You awoke me from a coma i didn't even know I was in. You showed me how to live, and how to love, how to feel and to express myself. You've made me so happy...and I want you in my life forever...So there's only one thing I can really ask to try and keep you like that forever. Will you marry me my darling Elissa?"

Will You Marry me?

The words seemed to echo through the room, Will you marry Elissa? She didn't know how much time passed now either, the moment seemed long, drawn out, still, and perfect.

That was, until the Slugthrower Rifle in the distance offered up a loud cracking report, and the glass of their apartment window shattered as the projectile tore through it, and through Lucidna's slim body, splattering the wall and the floor around her red.

The world tilted slowly as Ghost's body rocked back and hit the ground, almost in slow motion. She looked up at Mystique's horrified face, her vission blurring painfully, before her eyes closed

 

[Dancer]

Elise felt her breath taken away at the sheer love of it all. It was a moment that she had always wanted in her life, to be loved, to love, to be so deeply wanted. Tears of joy began to well in her eyes, she felt the same too. She had no idea what it meant to live before she met Scarlet. Her gentle angel, her protector, her lover, and--most of all her best friend.

"Scarlet--," Elise began, her voice catching in her throat with tears of joy.

Then it ended. As the shattered glass fell across the floor and the blood splattered across the floor, Elise could feel her heart being torn from its chest. The world collapsed around her, burning, screaming, and devouring everything she could see. Her throat ripped with a blood scream, the scream of death as Elise sank to her lover's side. Her arms wrapped around Scarlet, blood staining her dress forever. Her fingers gripped the pale flesh of her love as her last moments ebbed away, "GOD NO, NO, LUCINDA, GOD NO, STAY WITH ME!"

Her voice tore through the air in a howl of loss. Her will to live, to love was gone. The door was slammed down, Elise could see her neighbor sprint across the living room to them, "Senorita Mystique, is--" his words caught in his throat as he saw the duo on the cold hard floor, Elise and her dead lover.

Elise looked up at him, her eyes shimmering with tears. She remembered Carlos. He had helped her so many times, load groceries. He had made sure she was safe when Scarlet was away. So many memories. So many good things gone.

But now--

she didn't care anymore.

Elise's hand gripped the knife on the back of her dead love's belt. It left its sheath with a slow hiss. As it sank into his body, tearing his life away, Mystique felt a moment of relief, a thrill, a single second of relief from the deathly, wrenching pain in her chest. But only a moment.

As his body dropped, the redhead gripped the blade tighter and left.

Her life.

Her love.

Her heart.

Her sanity.

[member="Scarlet Ghost"]