Out of the ordinary (X'vier, Vellani)

[archenstone]

X'vier stood by a bench off to the side so that he and Ani would be a little ways away from the bustling crowd. He had arrived early, getting two plates of the choicer bits as well as two glasses. He felt a bit uncomfortable, almost like going out on a date....but dating was not on X'vier's mind right now. No....he had something else he was worrying about.

So he continued to stand by the bench, hoping Passion did what he was told and that Vellani would not be freaked out by the formality of the.....invite. As is his habit he dressed nicely with a pair of dark pants and a burgundy shirt. He had also taken time to trim his facial hair, so that the slight beard growing would not be past his jawline.

[Zephyr]

Ani wasn't the best with guys. She knew this. She was usually too shy to talk to any guys...she usually ended up stalking them for a while before she ended up hurting herself. The most interaction she had had with a guy up until now consisted of his mandyr nearly mauling her to death. Said mandyr was now curled around her neck and she was stroking his head nervously as she entered the dining hall. There were a few people she recognized, mostly candidates. For a second, she didn't see X'vier. That was, until she noticed him off to the side, standing near a bench.

All at once, she felt horribly underdressed, and she thought about sneaking back to melt among the crowd, but she knew Passion wouldn't let her, and she didn't want to get mauled again. So, squelching her nervousness, she approached the rider. " Hey." Her voice was soft, almost hesitant, but she smiled broadly at him. After her greeting, the girl's eyes wandered over the spread he had out. " This is nice." She said, her voice gaining strength back. Still, curiosity nagged her at every turn.

[archenstone]

He looked over at her as she said hi. As usual Passion didn't even bother to announce they were coming. Thank's for the heads up Passion. The Mandyr, having achieved his mission, was back to not talking to him in favor of being with a woman. He noticed she seemed nervous and wanted to smack himself for not just finding time to catch up to her and ask casually. He also wondered what Passion, who seemed very happy with himself, had told her.

"Thank you for coming." He said, smiling, hoping to ease her nervousness. He offered her a seat across from from him before taking his own. "I apologize for the sudden notice. I'm sure you've had a long day." The longer Passion ignored him the more he wondered what the silent Mandyr had said. He swallowed, knowing how this probably looked.

[Zephyr]

She looked back and forth from X'vier to his salamandyr (as best she could with the little blue wrapped around her shoulders), and wondered if he ever talked to him. Inwardly shrugging, Vellani continued scratching the mandyr on the head when she turned to face X'vier. Apprehension and a little...excitement, stirred in her stomach. She wondered why she was excited. Maybe it was the butterflies flitting around in there? Whatever the reason, she listened intently to his words, all the while giving Passion the affection the mandyr deserved.

His smile did the job and she fell into the seat he proffered her. A little giggle left her throat when he spoke. He had NO idea how long a day she had. It didn't cross her mind that riders could have life any worse than the poor candidates who were no more than drudges in the eyes of the weyr. Okay. Now that was probably an exaggeration, but that's what Ani did best, honestly. " No problem." She said, giving him a half grin. " What's up?" She didn't want to get right to the point. It was nice talking to him, but the curiosity was gnawing at her. She had to know what he wanted.

[archenstone]

He took a sip of wine, grateful she was at least listening. "I have a problem I'm hoping you can help me with." He paused for a moment, wondering how she would react. "I have a niece who's getting joined. She's....very excited and wants to do something special." He looked up from his plate to her, watching her expression. "She's asked me to help but....I'm going to need a partner." Not many in the Weyr knew his interests outside the Weyr. "I happen to-"

At that moment Passion decided he was going to pounce X'vier's food since X'vier wasn't eating it. Unfortunately as he slightly bounced of Ani (After all he would never be so rude to a Lady as to joustle her roughly) he landed next to X'vier's wine and knocked it onto him. He tried to move, grabbing for a cloth and trying to soak up the mess. His face darkened in embarresment and he was glad the Glows wheren't right next to them. "Passion, really did you have to?" He mumbled trying vainly to move Passion off his plate so he could sop up the rest of the wine.

[Zephyr]

She drank some of what he had poured for her, trying to wash away from of her own nervousness. After all, a good looking man had asked her to come and have dinner with him. She didn't get asked out a lot, so this was new territory for the blonde girl.When he spoke, she was even more confused and she held back the desire to ask him what it was he needed her help with. She was sure he would get around to it eventually, and he did, but not before Passion struck. What she did hear made her grin widely. Did he need her help with joining plans? She wanted to laugh, really she did...but Passion spilled wine all over him.

She did laugh then, her giggles coming out quickly. She handed him her napkin, sure he didn't want her to help him sop up the wine. It'd probably embarrass him worse if she had tried to help him like that. At length, when she was able to stop laughing, she offered X'vier a goodhearted grin, eyes sparkling with amusement. " He was just hungry!" With that she took a bit of meat off her plate and offered it to the mandyr.

[archenstone]

He gave up after a minute and sat down in the slightly damp seat. Her laughter chimed with no hint of malic. He couldn't help but start chuckling too. This was, after all, such a strange event. Passion naturally paid attention to Ani and looked up, Thank you Pretty. He left X'vier's ruined plate of food and sat calmly next to her at the table to accept her morsel of food. While those two where busy X'vier got himself situated. Well, it can't get any worse from here on. "I suppose he is." X'vier agreed.

Once Passion was done with her offering X'vier tried once more to tell her. He look at her from across the table, eyes bright with the excitement and mixture of emotions. "As I was saying, I dance on a performance level and Jaina wants me to provide dancing lessons. I'm going to need a partner though, and I'm hoping you would join me." There, it was out. Not so hard right? Only had to face mortal embarrassment courtesy of his own pet.

[Zephyr]

She just didn't want X'vier too angry at Passion for spilling the wine all over him, but she didn't quite understand how anyone could be too angry at Passion. She didn't imagine how anyone could be mad at Passion. He was just the most endearing salamandyr ever. Though, of course she didn't know what it was like to be a male around Passion. Probably pretty different than being her, but that thought didn't cross her mind. Why would it.

At length, he finished talking and she blanched. The girl cleared her throat, offering Passion some more meat before finally talking. " I'm probably not the best person to ask that." Here she would have to tell him about her dirty little secret, probable embarrassing herself too much. " I can't dance to save my life. I'm terribly clumsy. I injure myself on a daily basis." She bit her lip, nervously awaiting his reaction.

[archenstone]

She's going to say no.... He could see it on her face as the blood drained from her cheeks. As she told him her dirty little secret he realized she wasn't saying no to him per se, but to the idea that she could hold her own dancing. Hopeful he could win her over to his cause he flashed an encouraging smile. It reached his eyes, giving him a hopeful and excited look.

"Thats absolutely okay Ani. We have plenty of time so you won't be rushed. I can work around your schedule so that you can learn a couple routines. It's not going to be anything thats high pressure. Everybody there is going to know nothing about dancing and by the time the Joining comes you'll do great. Besides... you already have the perfect figure to be a dancer, not to mention our height makes us perfect dance partners. It'll be great!" At the end he raised his eyebrows making full use of them to give her a puppy dog look. "Please? I'll even help you with chores....." Pause......will she go for it?

Passion finished his second morsel and nudged Ani Passion be with Pretty more yes? He fluttered his frill playfully against her.

[Zephyr]

Vellani was considering his idea. She wasn't completely opposed to it. After all, she could think of a worse way to spend her time...like chores. This might even be an acceptable way to get after her chores. After all, she couldn't be expected to do all of her chores when a dragon rider asks her to help him with something. And she could spend time with Passion. She scratched the mandyr behind the frill, grinning down at him. At length, she lifted her head.

" Alright. I'll help." Her face twisted with amusement. She was blushing slightly because of his comment about her figure, but she continued on. " Just don't expect me to be great or anything...and don't blame me if I step on your toes...a lot."

[archenstone]

X'vier waited for her answer. As she sat across from and thought he wondered if he'd have to go through this again with someone else. He fiddled with the napkin he had given her, using the still damp pants as a way to fidget without too obvious. The relief in his eyes were palpable when she finally said yes.

"Excellent thank you. We'll start tomorrow, nothing too hard or long, just enough to get off on the right foot." He ruefully pushed his demolished plate aside, not wanting to pick through it. Then he noticed her glass was almost empty. "Here, allow me." And he poured from the bottle he had conveniently snitched earlier. "We'll both need to quit after this," He mentioned as he refilled his own glass, "Wouldn't want the wine to go our heads."