Dance Square

[glamourie]

"Interesting is one way to put it," Rawign replied carefully, making sure that his tone did not portray the nervousness he felt at such a topic. Nerat wasn't one of the worst places one could come from but it sure wasn't the best either. As for what it was like there... Well... "Nerat's... well, my father is a fisherman. He's good, too. In that circle he is quite respected. My mother makes amazing stew, too. Everyone who visits Nerat Hold has to try some of it. I grew up going with my father on the ships, fishing. I can't stand eating fish now, it's all I can think about. Um... Nerat's not much different from most places in the north though. My mother and father love each other but she'd never argue with him or dare speak to him in public unless he addressed her first... It's... well, it's in the north. I don't know how else to describe it. It could have been worse. It could have been much, much worse. But it's not like here, not remotely."

What he was trying very hard not to admit was that he'd watched his mother get thrown down by his father in public solely to prove that he wouldn't tolerate backtalk from her. In private they bickered like a normal couple, but Ligna learned fast that she was not permitted to behave that way where anyone else could see it, and his sister wasn't treated much better. He'd gotten into trouble several times for arguing with the hold boys who wanted to use Religna as a punching bag, and ever since he left, the guilt hadn't fully subsided. He wasn't lying, though. His life could have been worse. His father treated him with respect, and he'd never laid a hand on Religna. If he had, Rawign would have left much, much sooner than he did. But he'd never hurt Li, and Rawign could forgive him his stubbornness if only for that fact. Religna was Rawign's best friend. He'd have never tolerated anyone hurting her. But women in the north were so much different than at the Weyr or in the south in general... He still hadn't fully wrapped his mind around that.

"I don't know why the north would intrigue you. Trust me, it's much, much better here. Everything is better here. The food. The people. The scenery. Everyone in the north is either hateful, submissive and broken, or so secretive it hurts. But... the Hall... well, imagine a great big infirmary. It smells like numbweed, redwort and blood constantly. In the north a Healer gets a lot of experience with burns." He shook his head. "The people were nice enough, and tolerant. In fact, going to Healer Hall was one of the best experiences in my life because more people there were open-minded than anywhere I've been. Patient. I wouldn't trade that experience for the world..."

His voice trailed off and his gaze followed Marra. Ilena's words were lost on him for the moment, and he turned to her before he could stop himself, the fury of jealousy taking him over. "Oh, I'm not going to ask her to dance, you're a far better dancer. Besides, I wouldn't call what they're doing dancing at all," he whispered, trying to keep the venom from his voice, though he failed pitifully. He wanted so badly to stomp over and pull them apart, then snipe at Marra for her hypocrisy. He did say something, a little louder, though it was directed at Ilena, "It's funny, she was getting agitated at the Weyrleaders for their antics, but she's no better. They were flirting and... well, I wouldn't call that dancing." The words were definitely loud enough for Marra to hear, though not noticeably yelling. In fact, it was more a normal pitch. He was trying to provoke her, though, in reminding her of her complaints earlier. Ugh, he was so disgusted. He then lowered his voice, whispering for just Ilena to hear, "Why would she want my attention? She hates me. You really don't know her, she's spiteful..."

* * *

Keliris tilted his head. "If...?" Honestly, he didn't consider Lennae normal. She was dancing with him. And talking with him. Therefore, something major had to be wrong with her. No one willingly spent time around him, he wasn't a good person, wasn't even worth the acknowledgment that he was receiving. He knew that to be fact. Some people might have called his mindset "depressed" but he didn't. He was more pessimistic than anything else, and he genuinely believed that the only way anyone would pay attention to him was if they had no other choice or better alternative. Never mind that he'd actually gotten far better about dealing with people in regards to Lennae. He was being almost pleasant, which was very strange for him. But he was trying. It was obvious Lennae wasn't a mean person and while she kept turning the topic onto him (something he didn't appreciate), he got the impression she wasn't as much trying to get to know him as to prevent questions about her. He could deal with that.

Truthfully, Keliris was trying to do the same thing. It was easier to inquire after her history than discuss himself, and he was deliberately changing tactics every chance he got. Questions about what he did turned into answers about things that could be done and less personal. He didn't like talking about himself, at all. He wasn't a curious being by nature, at least not in the way most people were, though he loved picking apart other people to comprehend their motivations for everything. That was the heart of why he hadn't grown bored with Lennae and wandered off yet. She was nice enough, pleasant to talk to, and she was doing an outrageously good job of evading his probing. He liked to analyze. It was just in his nature. And he hated it when people analyzed him.

Keliris glanced back at the couples and smiled, just slightly. "Of course we are," he wiggled his index finger at her, "because we are not a couple, first of all, and second of all, half the fun in coming to these things is getting to sit and laugh at the outrageous behavior of others. You see, when they start filtering off, we can start snickering and whispering about what they're going to end up doing..." His gaze was drawn over to that Harper girl that Rawign spent so much time around and he snorted. "And then there's those who can't be bothered going behind a stall for any kind of privacy. Exhibitionism, gotta love it." He looked back at Lennae and smiled, unable to help himself. "My friend's got a crush on that girl, though he denies it every chance he gets. As for seducing you, if I wanted to do that, I'd be making ends toward the wine, as opposed to on the dance floor... my dancing skills are hardly seductive. Or are they?"

[Administrator]

Oh yes, Shmee was having quite the fun time toying with S’rei’s mind. “Anything!” she replied in a merry sing-song voice, pretending not to notice how well she had ensnared him. Feigning innocence, Shmee carefully lead S’rei, step by step, off to the edge of the dance floor. This was slightly more private, or perhaps an easier getaway if they needed it. Her eyes glancing downward, she pretended she just noticed his bodily interest for the first time. Smirking, she told him softly in suggestive tones, “Tsk, tsk. Naughty boy, thinking dirty thoughts. Maybe if you slowly tell me what’s on your mind, we can, erm, decide just what to do with you.” Winking, she pressed close to him again.

Laughing lightly at his growling, she felt her breathing quicken with excitement as he pulled her closer to him, if that was possible at all. She had him wrapped around her finger, she thought, pleased. However, the odds quickly changed. She had underestimated him, so now it was her time to be the tortured one of the two. He leaned into her ear slowly, and her grip on him tightened. The tables were definitely turning.

His hot breath on her was made the air all the more dense, and it was with desperation that she clung to him with. It was so slow, drawing out the feelings, and Shmee could hardly keep herself under control. It made her want… to do even more things to him, things she certainly couldn’t do here. It only got worse as his mouth lowered, where she let out a low moan as his lips inched down the side of her breast, their bodies still dangerously close. She tried to squirm away, but he had her too tightly-- she was unable to escape from his firm, hungry grasp...

However, Shmee managed to recover herself enough to pout as he started bundling her breasts back up. “No fun,” she muttered. Pausing, she raised a flirtatious eyebrow. “But,” she went on, a mischievous tone in her voice, “would you like to go somewhere where you could enjoy them? With nobody else to watch?” Winking, she edged closer to the edge of the square, dropping the hint that they could easily go and take care of the need that they had been building up all day in one long, enjoyable night.

--

Marra could hear Rawign’s whining. Idiot. It wasn’t as though she could help Metrol’s wandering hand… and tongue? And… it felt like he was getting… firm. Unable to help herself any more (he seemed to be in the process of biting her neck, or something), she wrenched herself away, glaring at him. “This is dancing, not sex, you deadglow!” she spat.

Whirling to look at Rawign, she glared daggers. “And you can just shut your mouth, you ass,” she snapped. “Go bed your older woman and do your own interpretation of dancing. The kind that involves staring at other people when you dance.” Boys were overrated, she thought in disgust. There was the Metrol type, the kind who wanted to get into your pants. Then there was the Rawign type, who was always watching and making cruel comments. Didn’t it ever cross his mind that she didn’t want that attention from Metrol?

Glaring at Metrol, she sharply told him, “I regret ever asking you to dance. I’m going back to Selenitas.” With that, she stalked away from the dance floor, not bothering to give Rawign a second look on the way back. That idiot could just get himself lost between for all she cared.

Which she didn’t. Didn't care about him at all.

[Tashe]

"Really? I blame my early coming blindness on those catty Weyrlings and their test and work papers." Unsure as to whether the giggling was issued because of something he had said or something that was going on in her head, F'rah merely smiled happily down at his date. Despite Laurie's comment on how badly she danced, the Weyrlingmaster believed she was doing rather well, but there were the times he had to steady a stumble or two.

Speaking of stumbling, he helped his dance parter right herself before changing the dance to a slightly simpler one with less steps, though it still held the same beat as the other. "You're not that bad Laurie... yet." Taking his turn in the teasing arena, F'rah listened quietly before speaking again. "Well Styth calls them as he sees them. But you are right, if this tempo does pick up I'm sure that a few couples might just have to leave the dance floor."

Not needing any guidance to know which pair the greenrider was talking about, the wingsecond glanced over in the Weyrleaders general direction. Lauranna was right of course, the pair seemed rather caught up in the moment of lights and laughter. Although as the woman he was with spoke again, F'rah turned his attention back to her, making a face of mock disappointment. "Shoot."

[Requiem]

Flashing a grin at Rah - well, of course she was right! - Lauranna affected not to notice that he'd shifted into a simpler series of movements for her sake. Did she need help dancing? Certainly not. Laurie couldn't keep back the little titter at the thought, though. Really, she'd be just fine if she could concentrate on her feet and nothing else, but when had Lauranna ever been able to employ that sort of tunnel-vision? She just didn't have the patience. Nor had she had the patience when they were teaching her.

"Shoot?" she echoed, a brow rising, before Lauranna backhanded him lightly across the bicep. "Men." She wrinkled her nose teasingly. "They've only ever got one thing on the mind. Now behave yourself, or I'll sic Zephyr on you." Mention of the green flit's name was enough to conjure her, the firedragon popping out of between right over the two's heads. She chattered questioningly, before diving to bury herself in F'rah's hair. Zephyr always loved hair. She was rather strange. Lauranna pretended not to notice what the little green was up to, instead concentrating on her feet for a moment while she tried not to laugh.

When her head finally did come back up, her expression was schooled admirably. "So the weyrlings are giving you a run for your money? Not surprising. What with all those flitter flights and feline attacks, I'm surprised you still have any control over what's happening at all." Laurie smirked, remembering her own weyrling days. The only thing worse than having Laurie and Reysalth or S'rei and Salenth in a class was having both pairs at once. They'd tortured the poor man mercilessly.

Speaking of S'rei...it seemed that Zephyr's interest had shifted...

***

The Weyrleader couldn't hide the triumphant grin that spread across his face. She'd given in first. Now he could do what he'd wanted to all sharding day. Not that he was going to just dash off with her right away. That would be admitting what she already knew - therefore not making it really that important if he admitted it or not - and... Goodness, he never knew where he was going with half the thoughts that popped into his head. At least when Shmee was torturing him.

Trying to look and sound as stern as possible, S'rei shook his head. "You're one naughty woman, Shmee. You seemed more than willing to share yourself with everyone...why don't we put on a show?" The Weyrleader pushed her toward the center of the dance floor, past several dancing couples, then smirked down at her. "What? No striptease? Come now, Shmee. Don't be shy." Salenth, annoyed at being called away from his clutch, popped out of between exactly overhead, spoiling S'rei's ruse.

His hands dropped to his sides as the man glared at his bonded. You're no fun. Salenth shifted restlessly. Are you coming or not? Sure. Just let me collect my prize. Without so much as a warning, the Weyrleader bent, arms encircling Shmee's thighs as, with a sharp movement, he tossed her over a shoulder and began walking toward the waiting bronze. One hand disappeared up her skirt irreverently, creeping up her leg. Let her squirm for a bit. If everyone had to know how she was affecting him, they could also know what he was doing to her. Or at least guess.

S'rei managed a remarkably graceful mount one-handed, cinching her to the riding straps, though he had her in front of him now, the two facing each other. He could still see where Salenth was going over her head. Not that the bronze really needed any guidance; he knew where Selenitas was. As Salenth leapt into the air, the Weyrleader claimed his weyrmate's mouth, determined to keep the passion simmering until they could act on it. She'd be melting by the time they got to the weyr.

That was when a light weight settled on his head. Pulling back, he gave Shmee a wearied look. "It's that blasted green again, isn't it?" Zephyr trilled happily as she burrowed down into his short curls.

[lennae]

“If…you know, you knew how folk in the North lived. Especially way up north where there’s snow and the like. It’s just very different.” The words sounded contrived, even to her ears and she had genuinely been hoping that they would sound honest, not like some bit of nonsense meant to cover up something else. Maybe one day she would tell him, perhaps when her position was more secure here, perhaps when he might come to trust her more, but for now, she would fight tooth and nail to keep it hidden.

She only wished that he would desist in his attempts to find out more about her. While she knew that his questions came from simple curiosity rather than any secret attempts to sniff out bad guys, it still made her wary and at times frustrated, for he seemed exceptionally good at turning the topic from him back onto her. Briefly, a voice in her head whispered to tell him, that the result couldn’t possibly be that bad, but she shoved it away. That kind of thinking would get her thrown out or worse, killed, and she certainly didn’t want that to happen.

Glancing around at his statements concerning the hormone-filled couples, she smiled when she spied a few sneaking away. Catching a glimpse of Marra and another men, she cracked a smile at Keliris’s accompanying dialogue. “Well, at least we’re learning something. Think of how much more experienced you’ll be when you bed someone, and it’s all thanks to the dancing at Gathers.” The idea of actually doing any of the things she was currently watching lit up her cheeks with a bright red. She had never really had time to think of men as anything more than an accomplice, or occasionally an enemy.

Keliris’s last comment merely deepened the blush. She hadn’t really thought of it that way before. Still, she managed to regain her composure to quip “It’ll take more than a man with a pretty tongue and light feet to seduce me, I fear. Though, the wine might work well. I’ve never been one to drink much,” it muddled with her head, and she usually needed it clear in her former profession. “I suppose it’s effects would be quite potent. Do you drink?”