To Having Fun, Shard it All [Pod/Zen]

[kevna]

Siorreya - Green Amagetith

There had been resolve. And then more resolve. She was Siorreya. The pit she had in her stomach was easy enough to explain now-she wasn’t being herself-that’s all it was. She needed to be herself. Her reaction to Podrell, their fight and then his reappearance, the frantic fear and anger he had inspired, none of it was her. She couldn’t let him affect her. Wouldn’t. Today was about having fun, and fun was all she would have.

The races had been a good start, with the wind in her hair and the exhilaration of competition. She had gone to the stalls next with her friends, Kekoa trailing them serenading them as they giggled and shopped. Then Kekoa had herded them out onto the dance floor. He had given her a few lively dances, keeping her out of breath with his ridiculous compliments and jokes, as well as his dramatic moves. When she had escaped him (or had he escaped her?), she hadn’t had any trouble finding willing partners, and she had passed from partner to dance partner with hardly time to catch her breath.

She was succeeding beautifully, having fun. One of the brownrider’s held her close for a semi-lively dance, spinning her around. The silkiness of her green dress she had worn at her graduation felt magical while she danced, which was more what she was thinking about then her actual partner. She could tell he was hoping for more then a dance, and she was having fun, maybe a little too much fun, toying with him. The greenrider wasn’t willing to end her evening here, not yet at least. She raised an eyebrow at the man holding her as he pulled her from a spin, right into him, and executed a few sharp pivots. He gave her a broad smile, winking at her, his arm tightening around her waist before he twirled her out again. When the song came to an end, she couldn’t help but giggle at the dip he put her in.

She could feel the insistence in the way he pulled her up, and she placed her hand on his chest to keep him from kissing her.

“Ah ah ah, T’elk, I agreed to a dance.” She said with a laugh, shaking her head at him.

“Hmm, well I’m getting hungry, maybe we should go get a snack.” He said with a suggestive grin, giving her a look over. Yeah, it was time for her to make her escape.

[Zen]

Podrell

Podrell had risen early to head to the holder caverns with a morbid sort of curiosity to find out who would end up winning out as the new Lord Holder of Mavros now that he dropped out of contention himself. He wished he hadn’t gone, not that he could have hidden from the truth of the matter for long. The Weyrharper had made the announcement in the morning. Asirikai. Shells. He had made a swift retreat back to the Weyr. The last thing he needed was to see his uncle’s smug face or hear anything he might have had to say to the people of his new Hold. It was the worst possible outcome. He could only hope that getting Mavros in proper order would keep his uncle on the holder side of the island and make him all too easy to avoid. It wasn’t like the new Lord Holder of Mavros would have any business with the Weyr’s candidates, after all. Ugh, it grated to think on. If only it had been literally any other man he would never have had to worry about seeing Asirikai ever again.

It was some time after breakfast that crowds began to gather for the dragon races. The Weyr had their own celebration today with newly graduated weyrlings joining the Wings. The entire island was in a festive sort of mood, which made it easy to ignore the morning’s distaste for a little while and partake in some revelry. He watched the races, curious more than anything, but didn’t feel like he knew enough about dragons, much less the individuals in the races, to make any educated bets. He briefly considered betting on Sio and Ama, but betting based on their tenuous relationship, whatever it was right now, seemed a foolish act, even if he could tease her for losing him marks if she didn’t place. On the flip side if she won she would probably determine that he now owed her something. Safer not to bet, and so he hadn’t, and her placement mattered little.

The celebrations of the day might provide a lighter atmosphere for them to interact, or so he hoped after the way things had gone in her weyr. He couldn’t help thinking that he’d been too intense, and concern over her complete mistrust of him lingered. No matter how many times he thought back, he couldn’t understand where all her doubt had come from, why she was so convinced he was lying to her. Today would likely not be the day he found out, however, as he hardly wanted to ruin her fun by bringing it all back up and having some sort of repeat of her running away from him again. But maybe if he kept things light, she wouldn’t feel the need to flee. If all she really did want from their relationship was ‘some fun’ then… well, he may or may not be completely satisfied with that, but it would be preferable to her running from him or trying to push him away again. He had tried to be direct with her but when had she ever been direct with him? He supposed if he wanted to get to the bottom of just how she felt about him, he would have to continue to play her games. But the challenge of her was a big part of what he found so attractive about her, so that was hardly a problem. He was quite determined to win, where Siorreya was concerned.

He had happened to spot her among the craft stalls after the races were over, but when he’d seen that Yva was with her he had made sure to head in the opposite direction before either of them saw him. He had no desire to be trapped in Yvinka’s company anymore than he already was as a fellow candidate. He sincerely hoped they did not Impress from the same clutch. He couldn’t imagine trying to go through weyrling training with that girl constantly clinging to him. If he had less tact he might have asked her if she was a whore before coming to Mavros, as she seemed to be far more concerned with getting him into bed than any of their lessons. It was a small mercy that he was not the only man in the class the girl flirted with… but she seemed far more focused on him than anyone else at the moment. He hoped it was because he was so new, and was desperately wishing a new candidate might be brought in to catch her attention, sooner rather than later. It was growing difficult to remain polite with the girl. It was going to be a long candidacy if she remained fixated on him until one of them Impressed.

When he finally found Siorreya again, she was dancing, and thankfully he did not see Yva anywhere. She was wearing the same green dress from her graduation and he was again struck by how different she looked, dressed almost like a lady for once no matter how much she might insist she looked nothing of the sort. She looked as she should while she danced, carefree, fun-loving, in stark contrast to the way he last remembered seeing her. This was who she was, and it brought a soft smile to his lips to see her in her element, watching her twirl and laugh as he sipped wine, waiting for the song to end so he might cut in for a turn of dancing with her himself. Setting his empty glass aside, he made his way out to her, his gaze narrowing slightly as he caught the way the man she was dancing with was looking at her now that the song had ended.

He cleared his throat upon reaching the two, addressing the brownrider, as his knots revealed, “Pardon the intrusion, but I’m afraid I’ve found myself indebted to Siorreya. I owe her a dance I failed to give her at her graduation.” His hazel gaze shifted to the greenrider, hoping she wouldn’t refuse him, “If she’ll allow me to make up for the failing.” He didn’t want to force his presence on her, not here, not if she truly didn’t want him there. He had no idea how she might react to him after their last encounter. He offered her his hand, hoping she would take it rather than spurn him as the harpers began the first notes of the next song. Part of him expected her to go with the hungry eyed brownrider just to spite him. She had said she had a preference for brownriders, hadn’t she?

kevna

[kevna]

Siorreya – Green Amagetith

Why did she feel off kilter whenever she heard his voice? Her first reaction came thoughtlessly, a stiffening of her frame even as she turned to look at him. She wouldn’t have noticed it if her jaw hadn’t clenched. Silly silly silly. That wasn’t her. There was no reason for anger. She could very well turn both men down and skip away. She took a breath and relaxed, smiling brightly at Podrell and opening her mouth in answer-only for T’elk to override her in his annoying and assumptive way.

“Ah, well we were just about to-“ She cut in smoothly, “Part ways. I’d love another dance, that is if you think you can possibly keep up with me Podrell.” She raised a challenging eyebrow, meeting Pod’s eyes. There was a moment of feeling caught in those hazel eyes-but with a blink she broke the eye contact, grabbing the outstretched hand and dragging her new partner further onto the dance floor; all the while wondering how she had suddenly accepted Pod’s offer instead of going along with her plan to walk away. Probably to annoy T’elk, shard the man. She ignored the dark look the brownrider threw at them, missing whatever he muttered under his breath, completely unconcerned with his petty, hurt feelings. She wasn’t his. Or anybody’s.

“You do know how to dance, don’t you?” She whispered co-conspiratorially to Podrell, trying to keep her thoughts in check as she placed herself in his arms. “I can always lead if you need.” She offered with a smirk, though avoiding long eye contact, “I am really good at leading. Leading charges-especially towards bubbly pies-races-well most races-games, you name it. Dancing is a specialty though.” Was she rambling? No. She was just informing. Possibly avoiding. Hardly rambling. She did shut her mouth, smiling at her own silliness. She briefly looking toward his eyes again, only to cast her gaze over his shoulder, then realizing how that probably looked, re-cast her eyes to meet his again. She tilted her chin up stubbornly, trying to look unaffected. She was not affected by him. Well not his eyes anyway-since appreciating his body was in no way a weakness. She wasn’t going to let him win whatever game he thought he was winning-though her last reaction to him probably already had him believing he already was-she had to disprove that now.

[Zen]

Podrell

Pardoning himself to the brownrider had been but a nicety. He hardly needed the man’s permission to spend time with Siorreya. He only needed Siorreya’s, which was who had directed his request at. That the brownrider seemed to be trying to answer for her sent a flash of irritation through him, though he was careful not to let it show, and Siorreya interrupted the man herself. Amusement replaced irritation when it seemed to him she was ignoring the brownrider now, a soft laugh escaping him at her questioning if he could keep up with her. Before he could respond to that, she was grabbing his hand, tugging him after her as she led him away from her previous partner. He was relieved she had accepted, he really hadn’t been sure what to expect, but had been far more prepared for a negative reaction than… this.

He couldn’t quite help the slight roll of his eyes as she asked if he knew how to dance, but as they both fell rather naturally into position for dancing, he was momentarily a bit caught up with having her in his arms. He really had been a complete ass at her graduation. He very well could have enjoyed a dance or two with her then but he’d been so…. The memory of it was rather shameful, and without really meaning to his hand on the small of her back pulled her in just a little closer as she finished her babble about leading. “I’m perfectly capable,” he assured her, watching her face as her gaze darted about. Was she trying not to look at him? Her eyes rarely lingered on him for long, at least at first. Perhaps she still wasn’t comfortable in his presence after their last confrontation.

So he fell back to teasing her, because that was what had been normal for them, up until recently when suddenly everything had gotten so intense and heavy. He had already decided to keep things light today, no matter how much he wished they could just sit down and talk about things. That would be far too easy, so he didn’t know why he had ever thought that an option. Why would Siorreya ever make anything easy for him? She had pushed and prodded, tested and challenged him at every turn. And he didn’t particularly want her to stop. “I’m far more concerned about your ability to follow,” he tossed at her, raising a brow slightly. Maybe she could with other men, but he found it hard to believe she would fall so easily into allowing him of all people to lead. He wondered if even in her dancing she would argue with him. It wouldn’t surprise him in the least.

“You know, you never made a choice,” he latched onto the first line of conversation he could think of that wasn’t about them, “It’s still your turn to choose truth or dare. Though I suppose if you’re determined to forfeit then the game is over at last.” He eyed her briefly and put mild sarcasm into his next words, as if he was glad at the prospect rather than disappointed, “Such a pity.” It was ridiculous that he had come to enjoy this stupid game with her. It was incredibly childish… even if the dares were not. To be honest, he wasn’t at all sure what he might ask or dare her to do regardless of what she chose, seeing that he wanted to keep things light. Otherwise he might have used it to his advantage to have a proper conversation with her. Knowing her, it was far more likely she would choose dare, if she was going to choose anything. Maybe bringing it up would just remind her of how he had tried to corner her with it when last they’d spoken and make her try to flee from him again. He hoped not, but he hadn’t thought about that when he’d brought it up and it was too late now. Shells but she really brought out an impulsiveness in him that he was normally so very good at controlling.

kevna

[kevna]

Siorreya – Green Amagetith

As if the absurdity of her line of thinking of the possibility of rambling, Podrell had to go and do something that stirred nonsensical feelings in her. She felt her breath catch in her throat when he pulled her just a little closer, acutely aware of the pressure of his hand on the small of her back. It was a good thing she hadn’t been looking at him in that moment-shards, she was just too… Podrell was sharding obnoxious was what it was! She let out a forced chuckle at his assurance of his ability, adding on a challenging, “We’ll see about that.” How difficult would it be to sabotage his leading anyway? It’s not like she had ever seen him dance before. She’d let him lead for the moment… Well that was until he had to go an challenge her. He really did ask for it.

She smirked, giving a half shrug. “Well, with a good lead, I’m perfectly capable.” She raised her eyebrows, and stuck her foot out in order to try and trip him, using her hand on his shoulder to try and pull him into it, not thinking at all of the consequences of a larger man falling towards her if she was successful.

(Awkward skip? lol)

Her eyebrows came down in confusion as she tried to understand his change in conversation and felt herself stiffen a little when he named their past game. He wasn’t letting it go, was he? Why did he have to be so sharding obstinate? She forced herself to relax into the dance as best she could, letting out the stiffness, and put on her best bemused smile, shaking her head, stalling for more time. Did she want to start another game with him? How could she avoid it? Did she want to avoid it? She did love a good game… But was that all it was? It had to be. I would be. Just a fun little game. “I believe you have the memory of a dragon. You forfeited first-which means the game ended. Now… if your pride hurts a little, seeing as you lost, then we can start a new game. Give you another chance.” She shrugged or did her best to shrug. “In which case… Dare.”

Dare was safe enough. Truths had a way of confusing the line between fun and… and the strange feelings that could be stirred-the ones that never lasted-those sharding feelings that led to too many complications. Yes, dare would be safe enough.

[Zen]

Podrell

Her smirk followed by her raised brows seemed to indicate that she was planning to do just as he’d suspected she might. A chanced glance downward had him catching the movement of her foot and he laughed as he moved with her, a back step to avoid her, resisting the pressure on his shoulder as she was clearly trying to make him fall and giving back his own direction with his hand on her back to pull her with him instead. “You know, you’re getting a bit predictable, Siorreya. You’d have surprised me more if you simply went along without trying to cause me some issue,” he told her with some amusement, wondering if she would take offense to being called predictable. Shells but he really couldn’t help himself, despite actively trying not to upset her, she brought it out in him just he brought it out in her. How could such an antagonistic relationship be so enjoyable? His thoughts flitted to Asirikai briefly. There was nothing enjoyable about that relationship. Mentally, he shook those thoughts off, not at all wanting to think about his uncle right now.

“Tsk,” he shook his head, refuting her, “You placed no time limit on my completion of the dare. You didn’t tell me I had to do it then and there. And as you had not chosen truth or dare yet yourself, it was still my turn to complete the dare as I pleased.” He shrugged, a small smirk pulling at his lips, “If I had let my time run out to drop out before the vote then my forfeit would have stood. But I completed the dare with time to spare.” Loopholes. “So our game continues, as I see it.” He wondered if she would argue the point further, half looking forward to it. Shells but they had the strangest relationship. Who looked forward to arguing?

He laughed softly, more to himself, as he considered just what he might dare her to do. There were plenty of things he wished he could say, but wouldn’t, not today. He’d dare her to have a proper conversation with him, about what they were, about how they felt, about how they wanted to move forward. He’d dare her to trust him. He wondered if she could, or if that would count as a win for him, and a loss at the same time. But those were topics he was avoiding because he didn’t want to upset her anymore than he already had, didn’t want to chase her away again, and didn’t want to spoil her fun on a gather day. Neither was he comfortable turning toward a more… inappropriate dare, as they had often issued each other. He didn’t know just where they stood currently and he didn’t want her to think that was all he cared about.

So what did that leave him? He needed to figure out something… in between. Something lighthearted, something fun, but still with some challenge. He thought about trust again as he twirled her out of his hold and pulled her back to him, watching her dress flare and flutter around her. There was a certain amount of trust between dancing partners, wasn’t there? Under normal circumstances the most harm that would come from trusting the wrong partner was perhaps a few sore toes, so perhaps the risk wasn’t all that great, but then there was the Toss Dance.

There was a reason so few couples ever took part in it, it required either immense trust or recklessness, and few trusted enough, or were brave enough, to risk it. He didn’t doubt that Siorreya was brave and reckless enough to participate in the dance, but would she accept him as her partner? Could she trust him to catch her when she fell? He had only ever danced the Toss Dance with Pollifa, and not in several turns, since she was married. He had practiced with her after watching her sigh wistfully while watching other couples dancing it when they were younger. She had been nervous at first, but she had trusted him, and in time they’d both come to enjoy it. Eventually, it led to her meeting her husband, when she’d taken a chance on a stranger one gather, rather than him. She’d married the man only a few months later and now they were expecting their second child.

“I dare you to dance the Toss Dance with me today,” he said at last, his brow rising in challenge, “If you think you can handle it? I understand if you’re too scared.” The Toss Dance song was quite specific, and it sped up as it went, raising the stakes the longer the dance continued. It was always played at least once at any gather, sometimes twice, but few had the stamina to participate both times. Once had always been enough for his sister. It had been turns, he hoped he wouldn’t prove out of practice, but he was confident in his ability to keep Siorreya from any harm, at least. She was so easy to maneuver, he didn’t doubt his ability to catch her. It was as close to daring her to trust him as he could get, for now.

He wondered if she would consider how much of a spectacle it would make them as well, if that would at all occur to her. At her graduation he hadn’t wanted to be anywhere near her, hadn’t wanted to be caught with her, doing something nonsensical. But the Toss Dance always drew a large crowd of spectators and he didn’t care. It didn’t matter anymore who saw them or what anyone else might think, and it was incredibly freeing. The only opinion he cared about in the matter of him and Siorreya was Siorreya’s.

kevna

[kevna]

Siorreya - Green Amagetith

She wasn’t surprised when her attempt to trip him failed, in fact she was please to see how smoothly he kept his footing, the elegance behind each step as he continued their dance unerringly. His words made her laugh lightly, shaking her head. “I thought you didn’t like unpredictability. Besides, being predictable sometimes can also be unpredictable.” She pointed it out with a grin, looking away from him as her mind caught on to their encounter on the sands the day she had first met Asirikai. He hadn’t liked her meekness at all-he could hardly expect meekness now. He was just so contrary-he couldn't seem to make up his mind. 

It grated ever so much when he sought to jump through the loophole, and she clenched her jaw. He was bringing up unpleasant memories, whether he knew it or not.

“No, I didn’t place a time constraint, but if memory serves, you congratulated me on my win, and told me you were done with my senseless games. So therefore, you ended the game. My game, my rules. There aren’t any loopholes for you to jump through Podrell.” She had lost her temper, her voice sharpening incrementally. Shard it all, she was supposed to be having fun. Keeping it light. How did he drive her into such a tizzy so easily? She huffed out, letting the anger go with the breath, and lightened her tone. “I can’t imagine why you want to start another game,” in fact, it completely blew her mind. He had been so cold, so angry, so dismissive of the last one, his intentions couldn't be good, “but this time it is your game to start. You want this, and I’ll play, but those are my terms. Take it or leave it.” She met his eyes mutinously. She wouldn't budge here. He had to give her this win, because… she was afraid that if she played his game, she would lose, and what absolutely terrified her was the unknown of what she would be losing.

She played to win, but Podrell was more then her match. She had only won the last time because he had been so strangely open about what he cared about most. It would be safer to refuse to play altogether… but she didn’t play safe, and she couldn’t seem to walk away from him. He drew her in like a moth to flame, she craved the battle of wills as much as she craved his touch. Even as she feared her lack of knowledge for his intentions, it couldn’t seem to inhibit the craving. Besides… it would be more dangerous to walk away-wasn’t the saying to keep your friends close, and your enemies closer? She had driven him to anger, distraction, frustration… He had dropped out of the race because he couldn’t have won, and that had been her fault. She was sure that was it. She hadn’t meant to, but she had hurt him, and she feared his actions were based on revenge. She couldn’t see it in him. It was so flabbergasting, maybe because G’der was so much easier to read, or a complete deadglow in comparison to Pod. His hazel eyes though. They looked so inviting. So sincere.

She let any lingering anger flitter away with each silent step they took to the beat of the music as he considered a dare for her. She closed her eyes as he twirled her out, letting her head fall back, enjoying the sensation of freedom that the movement gave her. She didn’t open her eyes as he twirled her back in, allowing him to lead her blindly in his dance.

His dare was simple enough, and his taunt utterly ridiculous. Siorreya scoffed at him. “Do you even know me, Podrell? I don’t scare easily…” She considered the dare. She had already promised her normal Toss partner that she would be available… She usually found a partner that she enjoyed and trusted enough to dance it with, and didn’t stray after that. Trust was key in the dance. Did she trust Podrell enough to engage in the toss dance? Did it matter if she did? Because losing the first dare of the game would be embarrassing-she wouldn’t let that force her to lose a bet with Podrell. “Fine then. I’ll have to send my regrets to my normal partner. You have danced the Toss before, right?” She asked, raising her eyebrow. Shards, if he was an amateur…

[Zen]

Podrell

“I thought you didn’t like unpredictability.”

Podrell supposed in her case, a bit of predictability was indeed unpredictable. He shook his head slightly, “Maybe you’ve changed my mind.” There wasn’t much of a maybe about it. Carefully laid plans had dominated his life until Siorreya. Now everything seemed to be up in the air and the restlessness he’d felt for most of his life had subsided. So it seemed a bit of unpredictability was just what he’d needed.

He winced as her tone got heated, realizing his mistake as she threw his cold words from their fight back at him. He really should have known better. He very well could have argued the point further, but clearly that course of action would not lead to their normal enjoyable banter. It was fun to rile her up, but bringing up that argument seemed to make her genuinely upset, which was entirely understandable considering some of the things he’d said. So he shrugged a shoulder dismissively, because it didn’t matter in the end whether one game had ended and another was starting when they were the same game. The only thing it meant is that he would be taking a loss he didn’t think he entirely deserved, but in view of the things he’d said to her, he would take the loss if it meant they could leave it behind them and move forward. The game was not half so important as the person he was playing it with.

“Hm… so if it’s my game, we’re playing by my rules now?” he raised a brow at her, considering she’d said the last game had been hers and therefore she got to set the rules. “That’s fine by me. If you want to give up control, I’ll gladly take it instead,” he grinned, wondering if she’d really thought that through or not. Well it was too late now. She’d already insisted her game was over, and he wasn’t going to argue it any further.

One could almost forget they were having any sort of issue between them when they both lapsed into silence as he contemplated his dare for her. She even seemed to relax into the dance, and there seemed to be at least a small measure of trust as she stopped testing him and simply let him lead, going so far as to close her eyes. It seemed to him a good sign. She seemed so reluctant to trust him… he wished he knew why. He was determined to figure it out, but not tonight.

Her response to his dare seemed to be leading to an agreement, though she didn’t offer it immediately as he might have expected from her reckless nature. Perhaps that was her hesitation to trust him. Eventually she did agree, though the mention of some other partner for it managed to irk him slightly. He couldn’t help but wonder, for a moment, who this partner might be for her to trust him enough that he was her go to for the Toss Dance. But when she asked if he’d danced it before, he laughed, “I have…. What, afraid I’ll drop you? I thought you didn’t scare easily? You’re so small I suppose you could slip through my fingers… slick as they are,” he teased with a smirk. They were her words, not his, even if they had gotten him in trouble before. It wasn’t as overt an innuendo, and it wasn’t in front of her brother either, or he wouldn’t have made the reference.

Still, he didn’t let it stand for long, moving on before she could consider trying to slap him again, “My sister Pollifa and I used to dance the Toss quite often together, before she was married. I’ve danced it a few times with Dirrexa as well, at more recent events, though I’ve only been a spectator since coming to Mavros.” It occurred to him for the first time that he’d never danced the Toss with a woman who wasn’t his sister. While he enjoyed being their partner, knowing they trusted him fully in the dance, he was rather looking forward to dancing it with Siorreya. Perhaps he could earn a little more trust from her for the effort. And perhaps he could replace her ‘normal’ partner too, whoever he was. He was eager to see if he could surprise her, maybe even impress her a little, not that he imagined she would ever openly admit it. Not unless he tricked another truth out of her.

kevna

[kevna]

Siorreya – Green Amagetith

“Maybe you’ve changed my mind.”

Siorreya merely scoffed at the idea. He wasn’t going to fool her. Though… He had seemed to enjoy their reckless escapades. He had been the one to continue their game of hide and seek when he had so clearly been given an out. He had spontaneously followed Maz’ru to his weyr to be introduced-though that had been in the interest of beating her at her own game-tricking her. The direction of her thoughts, the reminder of being tricked, probably hadn’t helped when she lost her temper.

“Hm… so if it’s my game, we’re playing by my rules now?”

She blinked, realizing that with her temper, she had been thoughtless with her words. Her mouth opened as if to deny it. Shards, but he was good at using every word to his benefit, wasn’t he? There was a mix of awe and irritation at his ingenuity and her own recklessness. “I suppose I walked into that one.” She muttered and scrunched her nose at him, and he prodded her further, which only made her laugh. She liked having control when around Podrell, because when she lost it, they waded into territory that seemed far too dangerous. But most often she didn’t need control, and she very much enjoyed chaos. It made things so much more exciting and unpredictable; so she bobbed her head from side to side, unconcerned, “You would take the control, whether I offered or not.” She said softly, a suggestive hint lacing her words as she remembered quite clearly their beach experience. “Besides, I don’t need control.” Implying heavily that he did with her voice.

And she didn’t, which was why she loved the Toss dance so much. She had little control in such a scenario, which made it thrilling. Her quick and defensive “No,” landed right after his first question, because she wasn’t afraid of being dropped. And her flippant “I don’t,” was inserted after his taunt for scaring. And when he continued, her mouth opened, prepared for another quickhanded remark, and remained open when her mind processed just what he had said. “You-you are so full of yourself.” She stuttered like a fool, and for some reason her cheeks reddened as her mind sought to follow his words. She would not feed that response. Though... she wanted to. Better to squash that desire. “I was merely concerned that you would break my streak of successful and enjoyable Tosses.”

She was immensely grateful when he moved on to tell her his experience was with his sisters. Dirrexa she knew from the glasscraft hall, and Pollifa… “Pollifa is the eldest, right?” She asked on instinct, placing name to the stories he had shared with her. His fondness for the sister had been quite clear, and it made her curious. Then realizing that that kind of talk was dangerous, and kicking herself for the curiosity so unlike herself, she quickly moved to teasing. “Couldn’t find a woman, besides one of your sisters, to dance the Toss with you, could you? Well, have no fear, I will remedy this for you.” She smirked.

There song was coming closer and closer to a close. It was both a disappointment, and a relief (annoyingly enough). She enjoyed being in his arms again-but merely for the touch. That was all. And she was excited for the chance to try the Toss dance with him-he hadn’t disappointed her on any physical front so far, so this would be exciting for her. First, she would have to tell Kraden the change in her plans.. He was the quiet sort, only seemed to come alive while dancing. He could also be mopey, so she would deliver the news fast, ripping the bandage off and darting away with her regrets. Poor guy. He’d survive though. She’d probably allow a couple more dances, and then hydrating and rest before the Toss dance.