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Post by The Producers on May 7, 2020 23:17:56 GMT
A small pinprick of green light lit up and showed them which path they needed to go down. Once they followed it they would reach their first turn. LEFT, RIGHT, or MIDDLE?
Each round going forward will consist of 2 turns. So BOTH of you should pick a direction from the 3 available options. I have a predetermined order of correct turns you need to make in the correct order to get to the end. Good luck!
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Post by River Hughes on May 7, 2020 23:30:20 GMT
LEFT
River squeezed Penn's hand, happy to let him lead the way, but happier just to still be hanging onto him. Once the light turned on, though, and they headed down their path, she found herself trailing her other hand along the wall again. She could tell they'd reached a 3-way split, and she frowned.
"Alright, that's not fair. They were all just two way til now..." she muttered. "Um, let's go left on this one, and you pick the next one."
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34Age
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Post by Hugh Pennington on May 8, 2020 0:25:12 GMT
RIGHT
"Deal." He said as made her left turn. At the next time he paused before deciding to go right.
"Okay, so now that we are not distracted by each other...or not totally," He said with a playful tone. "Tell me all the things. All your favorites. As many as you can think of."
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Post by The Producers on May 8, 2020 0:34:30 GMT
They continued on without any problems and came to another turn. RIGHT, LEFT, or MIDDLE?
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Post by River Hughes on May 8, 2020 0:54:43 GMT
MIDDLE
River randomly chose a direction, too distracted to overthink it. "Mmm, I'm still pretty distracted, but I'll do my best. My favorite color is yellow. My favorite flowers are tiger lilies. My favorite season is Fall, but I love wearing summer dresses. My favorite kind of tea is the Citrus Mint one from Teavana. My favorite person is you. My favorite...umm...my favorite song right now is Garden Song, by Phoebe Bridgers. My favorite thing to do when I'm home alone--besides reading, obviously--is dance in the kitchenette and sing along to my music. And I'm a little sorry about that, because I'm only an okay singer. I am definitely not a professional."
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34Age
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Post by Hugh Pennington on May 8, 2020 0:59:39 GMT
LEFT
"I'm taking all the mental notes right now." he said, with a smile in his tone. "Can I join you in the singing and dancing? I'm definitely not great, but I have can offer plenty of enthusiasm." He said with a chuckle.
"And if, say, I wanted to, you know, glance around at rings..." He said, playfully skirting the subject. "What, perhaps, should I look for?" He asked.
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Post by The Producers on May 8, 2020 1:00:52 GMT
They continued on without any problems and came to another turn. RIGHT, LEFT, or MIDDLE? (lol! you guys are getting lucky!)
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Post by River Hughes on May 8, 2020 1:18:40 GMT
RIGHT
Absolutely! Having fun is the whole point."
The mention of a ring made River stop dead in her tracks, and the tug on his arm would probably make Penn stop too, as she grabbed his forearm with her other hand.
"W-well, um. I hadn't...Ah." She stammered, "Um, I prefer simpler things, generally, and to be honest, I think that the diamond industry is kind of a scam. So um. Something simple, and maybe not a diamond? I wouldn't really want you to blow a bunch of money on something like that. Honestly, whatever you found that made you think of me will make me happy. As long as it's from you..."
She sighed and released his arm so they could start walking again, purposefully bumping against him a little from time to time. "I promise I'm not just deflecting. I really just don't care that much. I don't need a massive ring and I never wanted a massive event wedding."
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34Age
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Post by Hugh Pennington on May 8, 2020 1:24:06 GMT
LEFT
Penn stopped when he felt the tug on his arm as her feet stop. He chuckled gently as she stammered and stole a quick kiss to her forehead before they started walking, grinning as she bumped into him. "I would never consider money I spent on you to be 'blowing' it." he said to her, squeezing her hand.
"Simple is perfect." He said. He didn't speak right away, his mind racing with all of his thoughts about her. After a few moments he sighed, it was a happy sound, a relieved sound. "Wow, I just feel so good right now." He said.
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Post by The Producers on May 8, 2020 1:24:35 GMT
They both hit dead ends. (ran out of luck lolol)
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Post by River Hughes on May 8, 2020 1:40:23 GMT
BACK TO THE MIDDLE!
River laughed as they hit another dead end. "I guess we're more wrapped up in each other than I thought--we keep getting lost!"
His happy sigh drew one of her own before she realized it, and she squeezed his hand. "It's a little cheesy, but I'm glad you're feeling so much better. I was worried about you. This hasn't been easy on any of us, trying to figure ourselves out."
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34Age
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Software Developer
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Post by Hugh Pennington on May 8, 2020 1:47:31 GMT
RIGHT
"We were doing so good at first." He said, laughing.
"It's definitely a lot more challenging than I expected." He admitted. "Sorry I worried you." He said with a smile in his tone and intentionally bumped into her shoulder again.
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Post by The Producers on May 8, 2020 1:50:04 GMT
After the last turn they would find themselves in a bit of a large space again, though not quite as large as the center of the maze.
The automated voice rang out again. "Congratulations! You have reached the end of the maze! Please follow the green lights and exit on opposite sides of the room." There were tiny green lighted arrows on the floor, some led left and the others led right and would lead to doors.
One you go through the door a soft light will turn on (so as not to blind you) before you'd exit the maze entirely and head back to the suites.
You made it! Say your goodbyes and exit separately. Thanks for playing!
You are free to set up any further dates in the 'additional dates' board!
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Post by River Hughes on May 8, 2020 2:09:24 GMT
River's grip on Penn's hand tightened to what was probably a painful degree. Her heart clenched as she looked at the separate doors they were being guided to, and she felt her anxiety kick in full force.
She took a deep breath in through her nose, exhaled slowly through her mouth...then gave up trying to be calm on her own and pulled Penn into a tight hug. "The rest of this day is going to be hell," she explained, partly for his sake and partly for hers, "But I'm gonna get through it. And I'll see you again soon. And it'll be worth it. So, so worth it. And you're real, and I'll get you back." She took a shaky breath and sighed. "Which is kind of unbelievable. It feels like a dream."
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34Age
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Post by Hugh Pennington on May 8, 2020 2:33:53 GMT
As she clenched his hand he immediately went to move towards her to wrap her in a hug just as she moved in to do the same. He stroked her back calmingly as he placed a kiss on her head.
“You can do this.” He told her. “You’re right, it’s going to suck but then we’ll be back together. You can trust me on that. I want you to remember that you can always count on me, okay.” He kissed her temple as he hugged her.
“River, I just want you to be happy. And if something unexpected happens today then that’s okay. Let’s take the night okay? Just sleep on it, let your mind settle from the emotional overwhelm of this crazy day, and I’ll plan to meet you tomorrow, maybe late morning, in the pods...for the last time. And if you don’t show up then I’ll know you need more time and I’ll wait for your word either way okay. You need to do what’s right for you.”
His voice started to crack at the end and hugged her a little tighter, kissing her head again and breathing in her scent like he never wanted to forget it.
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Post by River Hughes on May 8, 2020 2:47:42 GMT
River laughed, although it came out a little strained. "Believe me, I'll be there. That's the only thing that's gonna get me through the rest of it. I know exactly what's best for me--seeing you again as soon as humanly possible."
She lifted her head, letting his lips trail down her cheek as she moved so she could tell where his mouth was in the dark. She kissed him, lightly at first, then almost desperately, before she made herself let go, trailing her hands down his arms until she was holding both his hands as she stepped backward towards one of the exits.
"We can handle one night, right? I'll see you again soon." She paused, and a hint of mischief was in her next comment. "We'll both have sweeter dreams tonight, I think. And then we'll be on that balcony before you know it."
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34Age
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Post by Hugh Pennington on May 8, 2020 2:55:15 GMT
His body seemed to relax at her words, relief with the knowledge that she’d be there. He trusted her to.
Her kiss instantly overwhelmed his senses, one of his hands moved into her hair to hold onto the moment for as long as he possibly could. By the time she released him his breath had quickened with longing.
As she stepped away he held onto her hands for as long as he could, fighting the urge to pull her back in.
“Before we know it.” He agreed.
He waited until he heard the door close behind her before he even moved. He let out a quiet laugh of amazement and joy and then spun around in a brief circle before exiting himself.
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