Private Gamble

[Kiran Arlos]

The lights of Alderaan's carnival spilled across the night like a thousand tiny stars brought down to earth. Lanterns bobbed above winding rows of game booths, while the air carried the scent of fried pastries, candied fruits, and the faint floral breeze that always seemed to cling to the planet. Laughter rose and fell in waves as children darted between stalls, and musicians played lively tunes that mixed with the hum of chatter.

Kiran walked just half a step ahead of Persephone, nervous energy buzzing through him as though he were preparing for a duel rather than a date. He'd picked this place on purpose, public enough to feel casual, but bright and warm in a great way. "See?" he said with a crooked grin, gesturing at the kaleidoscope of lights. "Not deadly. Just… slightly dangerous. Rigged games, overpriced food, and a good chance we get hustled by a booth runner. Practically perfect."

He stopped at one of the stalls where holo-targets zipped across a projected sky, the kind of shooting gallery designed to drain credits fast. With mock-seriousness, he turned to her. "So, first date rules: loser buys the other a candied treat. What do you think?"

Around them, the carnival carried on: Ferris wheels glimmered against the twilight, the crowd shifted in swells, and the night ahead promised as much chaos as sweetness. For the first time since he'd worked up the nerve to ask her out, Kiran felt a little steadier. Even though he had no idea what he was doing right now. He would just smile, act his normal self and be happy he was in her presence once more.

And he had one more surprise for her, but it wouldn't happen until tomorrow. He was sure she would probably enjoy that more than this, so he saved it for last.

Persephone Dashiell

 

[Persephone Dashiell]

ALDERAAN : GINGERBELL BLOSSOM FESTIVAL

Compared to what she had experienced in life, this wasn't slightly dangerous, it was downright placid. Yet she would let Kiran Arlos believe that potential shady carnies was just the right mix of slightly dangerous and fun. While her companion for the evening walked in front of her like an eager kid with pocket money, she was much more reserved.

It may have something to do the fact she was stuffing her face a fried Crunchies cereal hand pie. Someone had thought it to market it as walking 'milk and cereal' and she had fallen for the trap. Either way it was delicious, was already getting comments on her ZikZok holo, and she was plotting on how to possibly make them at home.

"Yeh" Mouth was stuffed full of her fried dessert when he asked. There was powdered sugar at the edges of her mouth and on her pink polished nails.

[ I believe Miss Persephone meant that those terms sound delightful. ]

Persephone rolled her eyes. Zee was always with her, it was literally his programming. Yet the hulking security droid was all but glued to their presence today. If she had to guess her parents had given Zee specific instructions for this outing. It wasn't unusual and the droid didn't even try to hide it anymore - if his optical sensors were dimming and brightening it was a sure sign he was communicating to them. Or to their own droids at least.

Napkin came out of her pocket and Persephone wiped off her mouth and hands now that the treat was gone, finally able to speak on her own.

"Thank you so much for speaking for me during that moment Zee."

[ My pleasure Miss Persephone. ]

Oblivious. Persie looked at Kiran. She had a massive competitive streak. Was he even prepared to handle what he had just unleashed?

"I hope you're ready to lose."

 

[Kiran Arlos]

Kiran glanced over his shoulder at her, catching the powdered sugar still clinging to the corner of her lip before she'd wiped it away. He smirked, not at all hiding his amusement. "Oh, I'm absolutely ready," he said, falling back into stride beside her. "But just so we're clear, if Zee ends up 'accidentally' helping you win, I'm filing an official protest. No way I'm losing to both you and your walking tank."

His tone grew mock-serious, eyes narrowing in a playful challenge. "You think I came all the way down here just to hand you a win?" he tossed back, stepping closer, voice light with a smile on his face. "No chance."

The look he gave her wasn't smug, though, it was daring. A spark of eagerness mixed with the thrill of testing himself against her.

The Booth Runner handed them both their 'weapons' "First to 50 points win the match, and if you happen to hit the asteroid, you win a prize from the top shelf." He pointed to several prizes from the top, stuffed animals, trinkets, at various other things.

The countdown started as Kiran smirked and gave a small glance to Persephone Dashiell

"Don't go easy on me."

 

[Persephone Dashiell]

"Zee would never help me." Too much moral programming in him. Kiran Arlos didn't need to know that though, nor was she going to make an argument as to otherwise. Persephone needed every advantage. "You also forget I am hopped up on confectioners sugar. I already have an advantage going into this."

Typical boy, thinking he could easily best her. Persie wasn't going to trash talk though. She hadn't seen him in action so that would be highly premature on her end. Waiting until they had done one activity was wise then she could gauge where to go and how much to hate on him.

Their 'weapons' were little plastoid blasters that would shoot out small lasers. A child's toy really. Persephone surmised the targets had sensors on them that indicated when they were hit. She had played a similar game where one wore a vest with sensors and ran around a dark room with obstacles on teams. Something silly she had done with her friend group not too long ago.

They both had 'lanes' and Persephone took hers, settling in and focusing. As promised, Zee stood away from the booth but watching, as if he would be keeping score on his own. With both of them in place, the booth attendant started the countdown. The booth came alive and added to the sights and sounds of the Gingerbell Festival.

"3....2....1....Go!"

 

[Kiran Arlos]

The plastoid blaster felt light in Kiran's hands, too light, almost like a toy he might've picked up as a kid and never admitted to owning. But in this moment, with Persephone squared off in her lane and Zee looming like some silent referee, it might as well have been a dueling pistol at dawn.

The countdown ticked, and he stole a glance at her. She was poised, balanced, eyes fixed forward like she'd already mapped out every target in advance. He felt a grin tug at the corners of his mouth.

3…2…1—Go!

The booth exploded into light and sound, targets popping up across the glowing backdrop, sensors flickering as they waited for shots. Kiran reacted instinctively, snapping his wrist to line up the first flashing disc and firing. A small burst of light pinged across the board, hit. He directed himself to another cluster, trying to trust his reflexes more than overthinking each shot.

The crowd's ambient noise faded in his ears as he pushed harder, laser dots striking targets one after another. Powdered sugar and carnival lights, her competitive fire blazing beside him, it all blended into a rush he hadn't expected. For once, it didn't feel like survival. It felt like fun.

Kiran let out a quick laugh as he nailed two targets in succession, tilting his head just enough to throw a cocky look her way. "Careful, Persephone, I think the sugar high's wearing off."

Persephone Dashiell

 

[Persephone Dashiell]

Kiran let out a quick laugh as he nailed two targets in succession, tilting his head just enough to throw a cocky look her way. "Careful, Persephone, I think the sugar high's wearing off."

"Stay focused on your own lane."

Out of the corner of her eye, Persephone could see the he was looking in her direction. Not wise in her opinion but what did she know, he was the one who often had the blaster. She has spent some time in the forest shooting glass bottles before going on an adventure with Drifter but it wasn't quite a carnival game that required accuracy. Her 'training' had been focused in just getting in the general area to hit and target and getting the hell out of danger.

Needless to say, she was horrible at the game. Shooting or shooting like games she was unfamiliar with. The spirit was there and she had every intention of not letting him win, but her accuracy was not the best. The larger targets were less points but much easier to hit, so her strategy was to try to power through them and quickly.

Kiran Arlos ​

 

[Kiran Arlos]

Kiran almost laughed when she snapped at him to stay in his lane. The bite in her voice was sharper than the plastoid bolts flying across the booth. But when he glanced, just for a fraction of a second, he realized something she probably didn't want him to notice: her accuracy wasn't keeping up.

Kiran's grin widened, not in mockery but in something that felt close to admiration. She's stubborn. Even when she knows she's behind, she won't give me the satisfaction of seeing her give up.

He doubled down, adjusting his stance. Years of ducking through alleys, of firing borrowed blasters at anything chasing him, of knowing that a fraction of a second could mean life or death, it all gave him the edge. His shots weren't pretty, but they landed. One by one, the smaller, higher-point targets lit up, the scoreboard creeping higher in his favor.

"Not bad," he called over, squeezing off another pair of hits before ducking his head closer to his sights. "But if that's your sugar high in action, I hate to see what happens when it wears off."

His pulse thrummed in his ears, the scoreboard climbing, the booth alive with neon and sound. And for the first time in longer than he could remember, competition felt like more than survival. It felt… fun.

Persephone Dashiell

 

[Persephone Dashiell]

The buzzer signaling the game was over rang, the 'guns' deactivating as the scores were displayed above the lanes. Hers was much, much lower than Kiran Arlos ', which was no surprise to herself. She placed the gun back on the counter and the booth attendant declared Kiran the winner of the match - as if it wasn't obvious.

[ I would say the ruling is fair, Miss Persephone. ]

Stepping back next to Zee, she chuckled.

"Yeah, I'm not surprised by the result."

 

[Kiran Arlos]

Persephone Dashiell​

Kiran lowered his blaster with a quiet laugh, the lights still flickering in fading rhythm across the board. He'd half expected her to scowl or accuse him of cheating, but instead, there she was, chuckling beside Zee like this was all part of the fun. It caught him off guard in the best way.

"Alright, your turn. You pick the next one. Can't let me go undefeated, can we?"

He meant it, too. It wasn't about the scoreboard anymore, it was about seeing that spark in her eyes again, the one that showed up right before she dove into a challenge.

Kiran gave the droid a quick nod. "Glad to have your official stamp of approval, Zee. I'll try not to let the glory go to my head."

Turning back to Persephone, his grin sharpened, a spark of mischief in his eyes. "Of course, this does mean I've earned bragging rights for the rest of the night. Don't worry, I'll try to use them responsibly. Maybe."

He pushed away from the counter, nodding toward the next row of stalls where neon lights blinked and prizes loomed. Inside, his heart was still thundering, not from the game itself but from the way the night was shaping up, silly, competitive, fun in a way his life rarely allowed. And if it meant matching Persephone step for step, win or lose, he was more than ready.

 

[Persephone Dashiell]

[ I will ensure the thrill of your victory does not overshadow this moment. ] Zee, in typical fashion, thought he was being helpful.

Games, sure those were fine but Persephone was really here for the food. Stuff she couldn't eat at home or on the regular. Gaze was focused on the horizon, looking at the different stalls. She immediately saw her next target but Kiran Arlos was fixated on finding the next game. Two birds, one stone. Persephone was confident they could get to both without much of an issue.

Head tilted in the direction of a funnel cake booth and a type of ring toss. Good enough.

"Pit stop for food then ring toss. I'll need to stop and refuel-slash-drown my sorrows before we play though. I'll grab you something too, I wouldn't want to claim an unfair advantage from greasy fingers."

Growing up the way she did, the games weren't exactly her cup of tea. It was fine to humor Kiran though and see the joy he had in winning. While she was competitive and wanted to win, not doing so wasn't going to ruin her entire night.

 

[Kiran Arlos]

Persephone Dashiell​

Kiran caught the tilt of her head before she even said it. Funnel cakes and ring toss, of course she'd find a way to blend the two. He didn't mind; if anything, he admired the efficiency. Food was part of the festival just as much as the games, and honestly, his stomach was starting to remind him that he hadn't eaten much before showing up tonight.

"Funnel cakes and greasy fingers, huh?" he said, slipping his hands into his pockets as he walked beside her. "That's a dangerous combination. Not sure if it's a fair handicap or a clever trick." His grin widened as he added, "Either way, I'll take whatever fuel you're offering."

His eyes flicked toward Zee, who followed in his steady, looming way. For all the droid's commentary, Kiran couldn't help but feel like Zee was keeping some invisible score of his own. He couldn't help but laugh, and he focused on Persephone's stride, the way she led with quiet certainty. She wasn't humoring him, not really. She was engaged, even if the games weren't her thing, she was here, and that meant more than he could put into words.

As the smell of fried dough and sugar wafted over from the stall, Kiran's stomach growled, loud enough he had to laugh at himself. "Maybe I need this pit stop more than you do."

And beneath the bravado, his pulse quickened. Not from the promise of another game, but from the way this night was unfolding, bright lights, fried sugar, and Persephone by his side. For once, the uncertainty he'd always lived in didn't feel like a threat. It felt like possibility.

 

[Persephone Dashiell]

"Two funnel cakes...make mine with fruit and whatever this guy wants."

Intelichrono was tapped on the payment system at the window before moving into a second window where fried dough coated in sugar would be appearing shortly. If she stood a little straighter she could see the automated work going on behind the scenes as the fryer used a system to pour and flip the funnel cakes with little sentient intervention.

"Sounds like you do need this more than me. Perhaps I should have let you starve first before ring toss so I could have won. Its okay, you need to win more than I do. I recognize the down-and-out despondent kid look in your eyes. I'd hate to crush your spirit even more with my massive victories and prowess at carnival games."

All a lie, of course. Persephone never even sat foot at a carnival until roughly three years ago. Even then the food was a larger draw, just like today.

Funnel cake appeared at the window with hers covered in red glazed fruit. Clearly not healthy, especially with the powered sugar dusted on top like a massive snowstorm.

Kiran Arlos ​

 

[Kiran Arlos]

Persephone Dashiell​

Kiran let out a short laugh, the kind that slipped out before he could stop it. "Down-and-out despondent kid, huh? Harsh assessment," he said, leaning an elbow against the counter as the smell of frying dough drifted over them. "Though I'll admit, I've been called worse."

He watched the fryer at work, gears spinning, batter spiraling into hot oil, the machine flipping each golden cake with perfect timing. It was mesmerizing in a strange way. Back home, food didn't look like this. You either made do with whatever rations came your way or scavenged for something close enough to edible. Watching dessert appear from a humming contraption in a polished stall, it felt almost luxurious.

He glanced back at Persephone, who was standing a little straighter, pretending not to be impatient. Her confidence was effortless, like she was born into this kind of ease, but he could hear the teasing note under her words.

"Maybe starving me out would've been the smarter move," he said with a smirk. "Then again, I've worked under worse conditions. You'd be amazed how motivating hunger can be when you're trying to prove someone wrong."

His eyes drifted to her plate as it came down the line, layers of fried dough buried under glazed fruit and powdered sugar that looked like it had been dumped by a snowstorm. "That's… intense," he said, nodding at the confection. "Pretty sure I got a sugar rush just looking at it."

When his own cake slid forward, plain but still steaming, he took it carefully, the warmth seeping through the paper tray. "You know, if you're trying to lull me into complacency with food before round two, it might work," he said, a grin tugging at his mouth. "But don't expect me to go easy on you just because you've weaponized powdered sugar....and fried dough.."

He took his, a grape flavored fruit glaze on top

He took a bite, the crisp sweetness crunching between his teeth. For a fleeting second, he forgot the scoreboards, the teasing, even Zee's silent watchfulness behind them. All he could think was how strange it felt to be here, laughing, eating, having fun just like for once the galaxy had given him a night off.

 

[Persephone Dashiell]

Her funnel cake was topped with glazed wasaka berries, their deep red color running into the fried dough. Persephone moved away from the stall to eat her desert, holding it away from her body so all the powdered sugar didn't interfere with her outfit. It was a complete sugar rush, more so than the cereal fried pie she had just wolfed down before the last game.

"I could have left you hungry but hunger is a strong motivator. That would mean you would be eager to win in order to eat something. This way, right now, you'll become satisfied. Complacent. Slow and weighed down with fried dough. Oh the sugar tries to counteract but it doesn't work, soon you're too full and needing a nap."

Persephone used her free hand to tap her temple, as if to indicate she had already had thought this endeavor out before they even stepped foot inside the carnival grounds. Not that she had known they were headed to a carnival but still, strategy on the fly.

Kiran Arlos​

 

[Kiran Arlos]

Persephone Dashiell​

Kiran couldn't help but laugh, nearly choking on the bite of funnel cake he'd just taken. The way Persephone laid out her "strategy" methodical, playful, with just enough smugness to make it sound like a master plan . She delivered it like a tactical briefing, every point considered, every weakness already accounted for. And honestly? It was impressive.

Whether she was being serious or not, that was another thing all together.

"Wow." he said, eyebrows lifting as he looked at her. "You've really thought this through, haven't you? You sure you don't moonlight as a military strategist when you're not taking down carnival games?"

He dusted his fingers off against the paper tray, though the sugar clung stubbornly. "For the record, I've worked on an empty stomach more times than I can count. You can't throw me off that easy. I've survived worse than fried dough."

Still, her words got to him. He was getting full the sweetness sat heavy, the fried edges leaving that comfortable sort of lethargy that came with street food. And she was right about one thing: it was the kind of contentment that made a person slower, lazier. He typically didn't eat this much, but he was having fun.

He took another bite.... The warmth of the funnel cake, the taste of sugar and fried batter, the glow of the festival lights it all felt almost surreal. Beside him, Persephone looked perfectly composed, not a single speck of sugar on her outfit despite the storm she held in her hands. She'd managed to turn dessert into a calculated advantage, and somehow, that made him grin even wider.

"Alright, strategist." he said, tone light but eyes bright with challenge. "You've got your sugar high, your battle plan, and your smug confidence. But..." he leaned slightly closer, voice dropping into something playful, "I've got momentum. And maybe a little bit of luck."

"Don't forget about tomorrow, that's a big day too."

 

[Persephone Dashiell]

Persephone shrugged, unconcerned with his strategy or 'momentum' that may be at play. It reminded her of the stories of the quick hare versus a slow turtle. Overconfidence always caused the downfall of such egos. Another piece of fried dough down, nearly finished so they can go to ring toss and decide a victor. It was different than the shooting game, ring toss would require a much more measured hand-eye coordination. Planning. Not just aim and point quickly.

"Ah yes, the mysterious tomorrow."

Finishing up her funnel cake, wrapping went into the trash and she wiped her fingers. Ready to go, she turned to Kiran Arlos and motioned towards the ring toss booth.

"By all means, go first."

 

[Kiran Arlos]

Persephone Dashiell​

Kiran's lips twitched upward into a crooked half-smile as he followed her gaze toward the ring toss booth. The lights there blinked in steady rhythm red, blue, gold reflected in the glint of the glass bottles stacked in neat rows. A chorus of carnival noise carried around them: laughter, the faint rumble of a distant coaster, and the rhythmic ding of bells from nearby games. The air was rich with sugar and grease, the scent of fried dough clinging to his jacket even as the evening breeze tried to carry it away.

"The mysterious tomorrow, huh?" he echoed. "I think you are going to enjoy it." Kiran smiled as he looked over to the game.

His tone was teasing, but there was something curious in his eyes too something that lingered a heartbeat too long before he looked away. With a deliberate breath, he squared his shoulders and stepped toward the booth, his boots crunching faintly against the scattered bits of straw on the ground. The booth attendant, a cheerful vendor with a sun-bleached vest and a box of brightly painted rings, gave Kiran a grin that was both encouraging and predatory.

"Five credits for three tosses." the man said, spinning a ring on his finger. "Hit three bottles in a row and you win the big prize. That one." He nodded toward an oversized plush nexu, its fabric fur rippling slightly in the warm light.

Kiran shot a look back at Persephone, brow arched in mock confidence. "Guess I'll set the bar high, then. Do you have a collection of stuffed animals?"

He handed over the credits and accepted the trio of rings. The first one he spun idly in his fingers, testing its weight, the smooth wood catching the light with each turn. For a moment, his whole world narrowed to the soft hum of the carnival, the shifting shadows of the lanterns, and the faint gleam of the bottle necks waiting before him.

With a small exhale, he threw. The ring sailed in a clean arc and clinked against glass, bouncing once twice before missing by a hair's breadth. He winced but recovered quickly, glancing back at Persephone with a grin that was all charm and bravado.

"Just warming up." he said lightly.

The second toss went truer, sliding neatly over one of the bottles. The attendant clapped once, mock applause, while Kiran turned and gave a half-bow toward Persephone, an almost theatrical gesture.

"See? Strategy and momentum." His grin widened, boyish pride written all over his face. "But I'll admit planning has its place."

He gestured toward her with the last ring, palm open, offering it to her like a challenge and an invitation all at once. "Your turn, Persephone. Let's see if patience beats momentum tonight."

 

[Persephone Dashiell]

"I have enough stuffed animals, I'll be sure to start your collection."

Persephone stood to the side, arms crossed as Kiran Arlos started to work up the nerve to toss the rings. Even the booth attendant seemed to mock the teenager as the throws started. Probably a tactic to throw off those who were looking to win a prize. Smart, really, and it was certainly something she would do if working the carnival. Perhaps rattled, he got two out of the three.

"A stunning show of athleticism."

Taking her turn at the booth, she took the rings. Persephone paused to look at the set up from two different angles. Carnivals were a scam. Her birth parents were scammers - so one could say it was difficult to scam her. Or at least she thought about the potential of being scammed.

"You going to hurry up kid?" Persephone looked up, unconcerned. "I'm sure you get paid by the hour, calm down."

Getting ready, she took position to toss, bent slightly forward. A clean flick of her wrist, the first ring sailed and landed. A change of position, a more gentle toss and onto the next bottle. Persephone paused and shifted once again, double checking her angle and let the last ring fly. All three had landed perfectly fine.

"A nexu for the gentleman, please."