Dreadlords Dance for all that we've been through

[Caeso Diemut]

No better than Elbion. Quite right. Perhaps it was the inevitable lot of every new generation to compare itself to the glories of the old, but now, in the wake of the Republic, Caeso was certain that this would be the question on every properly-oriented Initiate's mind: will I be as good as my predecessors? The test would have to be more than merely rigorous; it would have to allay these fears, leaving no room for doubt.

A nice gesture, what Trix said of speaking to Proctors and Generals, and one surely meant not to be taken too seriously: she simply did not have that kind of pull, nor was it her jurisdiction.

"Whatever you do," Caeso said, smiling at little for his coming jest, "do not suggest 'fingerpainting.'" He didn't know who, exactly, had started that ridiculous notion in the days prior to last year's Graduation, but somehow the joke was still alive and circulating around to this very night.

The opening song came to a close, and so Caeso came to a steady halt himself. Out of the corner of his eye he could see Carter and Alice elsewhere on the Dance floor similarly coming to a stop; hopefully the brute hadn't mangled her with his leaden feet and troll-sized hands.

"Trix Umbra," said Caeso. "It has been a delight to share a dance with you this eve."

And in parting he offered her another deep nobleman's bow.

Trix

 

[Zinnia]

Zinnia squinted at Zaire for a moment.
"Th-they were good pota--" she cut herself off and shook her head. This was no time to get defensive over dishes. "Never mind. That's n-not important."

One thing she did recall of being...inebriated...at Friendsgiving was the remarkably short attention span that came alongside. This was probably a little more than just the boy's usual case of the goofies, though.

Of course, if Zaire's dodginess about the subject wasn't the biggest tell, it was the longing glance he cast across the room, picking Houri and Silas out without issue among the other dancers. She knew the look well. She'd cast it herself many times, and at someone who, even now, barely registered her as anything more than an inconvenience. Watching someone else do the same was...

"So...you should d-do something about it, y-you know?"
Hypocrite, hypocrite, hypocrite. She certainly wasn't one to talk given how recent events had transpired, but the least she could do for others was help them not fall into her particular flavor of social misgivings.
"We're...we're not going to b-be here at the Ac-cademy forever, Zaire..."

 

[Oryyn Black]

Rowley loved the feeling of other eyes on him, it was exhilarating, like a drug. He especially enjoyed the feeling when he had a beautiful woman in his arms that also happened to be a Proctor. He would be able to brag about this one for a while.

A joyful laugh erupted from him at her threat. Him getting dipped? That would certainly be eye-catching. Almost as eye-catching as Everleigh's sudden decision to lead. He adjusted to it well enough, although the next part was a little more awkward but just as humorous.

Rowley more than happily entered into his commanded spin, although he did have to duck down a bit more than was comfortable.

"It's a shame that not only do I lead better than you, but I also get led better."

Everleigh Ebersol

 

[Livia Quinnick]

Finally Leander uttered something she could be annoyed at. The scowling returned, yet Quinnick refrained from smooshing his foot again. Happily tearing her eyes from his face, she did her best to scan the hall to find the Urhail he mentioned. With the aide of her magic, those olivine eyes fell immediately onto Oraya. Her poise and with Leander's slight warning had her straighten her spine and turn to looking up at her dance partner, composing herself to appear focused.

"You sound like my mother. Idella Quinnick is no compliment, just so that you are aware." She snorted lightly. In public, Idella was a doting mother, and behind closed doors she was at ends with her daughter. Livia never understood her anger, just as her mother did not understand her rage. "And if she were to catch wind of any rumour concerning me, then I will happily find the dearest thing to you, Leander Urahil, and ensure it is lost forevermore. You don't think I can find the perfect hiding place?"

What joy she felt to hear the nearing of the end; the song swelling one last time before it drew to a close. Livia effortlessly followed his lead, almost anticipating his intentions as if they had been dance partners longer than tonight. There was no denying they made a good dancing pair, and perhaps Livia could admit to herself that this did not got too terribly wrong as she imagined.

As the song faded with the last note, Leander had pulled her back in for the last position, but Livia stepped too close and bumped into his chest. On accident, pure and innocent accident, sher lifted her gaze to peer up at him. She was stunned, seeing how remarkably handsome he was this close and no longer moving back and forth, twirling around with each other.

"That's the end." Her mouth felt dry, averting her gaze now. "Thank you for not being a horrible partner. I... I think I need some refreshments now." She stepped back and slipped her hands away from him, the lack of his body warmth very clear and obvious to her. No, no, no... Livia tucked her right foot behind her left and curstied before him, the first sign of her noble upbringing being displayed all night. "Thank you, again, Leander." She feigned a small smile, turning on the spot and hurried herself away from the dance floor and towards more wine.

 

[Zaire]

Zaire was quiet. Mulling Zinnia’s words over in his head. She wasn’t wrong. Zaire couldn’t agree that she was exactly right either. And when he looked over at Silas and Houri, they looked like they were having so much— Houri looked like she was having so much fun.

“There’s nothing that I can do.” Zaire said finally. “There’s nothing to do. Houri is too good for me. I mean, look at her and then look at me? People would laugh at us if they saw us together. What girl likes a guy shorter than her?”

Zinnia

 

[Everleigh Ebersol]

Everleigh laughed, a lilting melody that pealed about the hall and broke through the music’s waning tempo. There was something extra funny about a young man as big and broad as Rowley spinning and turning underneath Everleigh’s small hand. Seeing him hunch over yet still be smooth on his feet caused a genuine glimmer of ebullience in her dull violet eyes.

It was the perfect way, in Everleigh’s opinion, for them to end their dance. Not having been partners and then Everleigh taking him hostage to then only crash into him and now having him spin.

“Here’s your reward, Rowley,” Everleigh said, removing her hands from his. She gestured with a finger for him to come in closer, a hand going up to cup the side of her mouth so he could hear her whisper as he leaned towards her. “You’re the best dance partner I ever had.” Not a lie. He was also the only one to really dance with her to begin with. “I don’t think you’re going to have any competition tonight.”

And with that, Everleigh’s first and last dance of the night came to an end.

Rowley Stone

 

[Salak]

"Thank the Powers."
Salak muttered.
The dancing was over, for now.

 

[Trix]

Trix curtsied back as the violinist closed the song with the same haunting not with which she opened it, then departed from the floor. She sent a silent prayer that the kids kept dancing lest Proctor Choal come up with more forced fun. Her eyes lit up, however, when she spied who had joined the little group at the punch bowl.

"Oh don't be like that, Salak," Trix chirped as she put an arm about her cousins shoulders and gave his cheek an affectionate squeeze. "Well met little cousin, I would ask how you were but," her eyes travelled down his form. Zana's taskforce was a secret so of course she did not know the truth of his injuries, lest she might have been a little more impressed he hadn't come back in a soup can.

"Did your sister convince you to test one of her inventions on you?" Jiya was brilliant, but some of her inventions were... temperamental.

 

[Evangeline]

Anxious you say. Whatever about if I may ask?

The Pirian Proctor glanced towards Salak for but a moment, her icy gaze hard, intense. She hoped that he could derive the meaning behind her next grave statement.
"I don't know, Ser Salak...and therein lies the problem."

Perhaps thankfully, her vague doomsaying was interrupted by the arrival of the young Master Maseno Luana. Evangeline smiled warmly at his approach, the shift in tone sudden enough to cause whiplash.
"And good evening to you as well, Initiate Luana. I'm pleased to see you made it in spite of your injuries. Are the medical staff treating you well?"

 

[Maseno Luana]

We have not. Salak offered a modestly curt hand gesture in lew of a handshake, partly to spare the young man his hands for his crutches and partly because he did not wish to poison him.
You may call me Proctor Salak. I am a new face here and still finding my way about. Salak had memorized the layout of the Academy within the first 34 hours of being stationed
and I believe you are Master Luana, am I correct?

Maseno would have shook his hand for the offer despite his present situation, but he'd be lying if he claimed ingratitude for the simple gesture instead. It was easy enough to ignore the discomfort of the crutches, but the pain of his injuries would not be forgotten without some very strong medicine or tonics. Most of which he would not have been capable of attending the dance had he used them.

So here he was, gritting his teeth against it and willing himself not to sweat, "A pleasure to meet you, Proctor Salak. Please, call me Maseno. I am Master of nothing and no one."

Then quite suddenly his cousin was at his side, nudging a crutch out of place with a foot, surely on accident, and slinging an arm over his shoulders. Maseno winced and grunted painfully at the additional weight on his broken leg and gave Trix a wider-eye than usual.

"Nothing quite so close to home, Beatrix. Simply a ... mission gone afoul." He'd never be too proud to admit his own shortcomings, though he wasn't entirely sure if Zana would have called his present state of being anything but proof of his determination (maybe stupidity?) to get back up when he aught to have stayed down.

"Yes," his eyes shifted back to Proctor D'Amour, a smile trying on his face again, "they have been gracious and attentive. They nearly did not let me attend, but I would be loathe to miss seeing everyone so well-appointed."

Trix had come from the dance floor - so he assumed, "How did your first dance fair, cousin?" He'd not seen who her partner was, but he could only assume it went well enough that she returned with all her toes and dignity intact.

Trix Salak Evangeline

 

[Kristen Pirian]

The song changed, and their dance continued. It would be a little while yet before any slow tunes were played, these the traditional closing notes to any Dance.

"Oh, but you mustn't be so hard on yourself, Alistair," Kristen said. "It is no wild embellishment to say that you were busy surviving for most of your childhood here. Any who would fault you for this 'awkwardness' ought first to fault themselves for their ignorance. You adapted as you needed to adapt, Alistair, and though names readily come to mind at the mere mention of 'broken Initiates,' yours, I shall declare, is not amongst such ignoble company."

She smiled brightly for a clear anticipation of the future, for her forthcoming suggestion. Her cheeks burned hot, as though twin embers smoldered beneath her cheekbones.

"When finally it comes that I am graduated from the Academy, you need not go alone to socials. Merely ask, and..."

Gods, this felt so forward. Excitement and nervousness swirled within her breast like a heady alchemical mixture.

"...I will gladly be by your side."

Alistair Krixus

 

[Salak]

Modesty, especially genuine modesty was rare in this world of magic and wonder. It forced Salak to wonder if Maseno Luana was a cunning aspirant or simply an honest, eager and seriously injured young lad in over his head.

"As you wish Maseno."

This compliance cost him nothing but gained him something. The slightest favour, a hint of acknowledgement that could be used later. Planting such seeds was crucial and when the time came such small kindness would be remembered he had no doubt of it.
It still felt wrong on his tongue to not address anyone properly.
The casual way of Trix was everything that Maseno was not. Effortlessly calm among others, ceaselessly herself. A skill all itself when used properly. She hung low, bending her knees only in effect, not truly putting her weight on her cousins shoulders. Genuine affection in affected laxness, either that or...

"Allow an old man his bitterness."

His smile was a sharp thing in its sheathe as he spoke. No point in hiding his irritation now. To emphasis the point he gestured to his cane.

"Not my area of expertise Miss Umbra."


Proctor D'amours warning had not fallen on deaf ears. He intended to be sure if anything was amiss that he would find it. First if at all possible.

"Kindly excuse me. Master Glaive looks to be having far too much fun. Miss D'Amour, Miss Umbra, Maseno. Enjoy the evening."

Without waiting for protest he began to cut through the loose packs of students towards Zaire Glaive whom he could not help but notice to be acting in a way remarkably similar to one under the effect of Stygian Purple Lotus. Which was not only illegal but against Academy Regulations.
It was time for them to get acquainted.

Evangeline Trix Maseno Luana Zaire

 

[Caeso Diemut]

Alice looked overjoyed to see Caeso approaching. Perhaps it would have been easy enough to ascribe to this the chief cause of her general fear of Dreadlords, but certainly Carter Kline himself, ignoring completely his status as an Initiate, had something to do with it. He was on his best days little more than an overgrown troglodyte.

"Caeso Diemut," she said, smiling and curtsying to him.

He smiled back and offered her first a bow and then his hand, all steps of decorum and propriety being followed. "Alice Crentor. There is no greater joy for me this night than to have your hand in dance. Shall you accept, and make of me the happiest man in this Hall?"

A deep crimson colored her cheeks, and though around them could be seen the interesting sights of Everleigh and Rowley, of Zaire and Zinnia, of Leander and Livia, Alice had only eyes for Caeso, her attention rapt.

"Y-Yes," she said, admirably keeping her level and noble composure but nearly stumbling over her words in her mounting excitement, for her stomach was all aflutter. "I shall."

Their hands were thus joined, and together into the fresh music of the new song they began their dance. Caeso might have to offer Trix a word of gratitude before the night was over, seeing as how she effectively warmed him up and, admittedly, gave him a boost of confidence to bolster his own middling skill.

Which, ironically, Alice soon commented on, "My! Do you have these galas often here at the Academy? So versed are so many of you in the art of dance, I can only think it to be so!" She had seen Everleigh, Rowley, Livia, these among others, and had been thoroughly impressed. Politely, Carter's name did not come directly to mind for her.

"No. And...yes, I suppose," Caeso said, laughing lightly. "I believe there will be more of these going forward, where before such occasions were unheard of. And allow me to readily admit in all humility that, so far as my ability in dance goes, tonight is an exception."

Almost as if poked by some mischievous god with a masterful sense of timing, Caeso slipped up slightly and stepped on Alice's toes. A mistake of wildly embarrassing proportions.

Now it was Caeso's turn to have cheeks colored crimson. With an uncharacteristic hint of sheepishness he said, "I swear that was an accident."

Alice, with a grace Caeso would have not hesitated to call divine, simply laughed it off and said, "All is well, Caeso, all is well. You did after all manage to preempt your error with a free admission, did you not?"

"I have it on good authority that my timing is immaculate," he said, trying in Alice's example to make light of it and not admonish himself too harshly. Did he...step on Trix's feet at all? He couldn't remember. And he didn't know if his inability to remember was a good thing or a bad thing.

"Mayhap it is," said Alice, not losing pace with their dance, "for mine has been a most miserable week, much like the many weeks that have preceded it, but...but tonight..." her eyes were glittering with a heartfelt joy which one could tell seldom found home there, "...you have in your turn made of me the happiest woman in this Hall."

And so they danced, both with the same novel satisfaction that previously neither had yet felt in the totality of their lives, this tandem blossom within their breasts experienced for the first time each in the other's company.

 

[Oryyn Black]

Rowley had managed to make her laugh, which was a victory in itself compared to the way the beginning of their dance went. While the spin was awkward, he totally pulled that off.

Recognizing that Everleigh was done with the dance, Rowley took a step back and bowed to her. A grin lit up his face at her compliment.

"That is reward enough. The pleasure was all mine."

Rowley moved to take his seat and take a breather. One dance down, many to go.

 

[Silas Artesto]

Silas knew that he was an above-average dancer, but while he imagined Houri could dance, he never expected keeping in step with her to be so easy. When Silas raised their hands above her head to spin her, she knew what to do without any prompt, easing into the seamless rotation before he'd finished stepping back. Very quickly, the chatter and noise around them was fading into the background, even the vibrations seemed to dull as she swayed and tilted with him, the moody lighting of the hall making her almost appear to glow.

Lords, but she was beautiful...

Soon enough, Silas was more than confident enough with his partner to lower the hand that had rested on her shoulder down to her hip, pulling her in closer to his chest before dipping her low enough that his hand was what held her aloft and brought her back to balance.

A small laugh left him as they walked in time with the music. "You're actually really good..." Silas muttered into her ear as he brought both hands to her hips and gently lifted her up off of the ground, raising a leg and spinning on his heel before bringing her back down.

Around them, people began to end their initial dances, moving to find new partners. Artesto didn't even notice. He was beginning to doubt any of them could match up to the way Houri moved, the way she knew what he was going to do before he did it.

Again, she spun before he realized he wished to spin her. This time, he extended his arm outward as she finished and quickly pulled her towards him once more, her back now against his chest. Silas held her there briefly before lifting her up by the hips and allowing her to flip back to her feet in his grip, landing to face him once more.

Why was his face warm? Was he blushing? Gods damn it, he better not be.


"I should have asked you for this a year ago."

 

[Livia Quinnick]

None could fault the young Quinnick for resorting to wine after those moments of being in Leander's presence. Conflicting thoughts and feelings deserved to be forgotten with wine, and with a low sigh, she waited for a glass to be poured for her. Arms folded at her chest, she allows her head to hang forward and strands of her styled hair fell to the front, hiding the grouchy frown that took residence on her face. She mustered a strained smile in thanks as her arms unfurled and took hold of the offered glass and Liv turned to the hall once again.

"Best get me another..." She asked, turning to see the attendant who only raised a brow at her. Livia rolled her olive eyes, "I promise you both are not for me. One is for a... friend." Not taking no for an answer, she held out her other hand expectantly. The attendant tasked with pouring wine all night gave in to the noble lady's demands and handed the second glass with a tight lip. This time she dazzled him with a winning smile. "Appreciate your kind service."

Two glasses in hand, she moved on to the dressed tables to the side, where one Rowley Stone sat and watched those that continued to dance now that the ice had been broken. "And here I thought you would still be dancing your way to new dance partners. Wine?" A glass would be offered towards him, but if he were to refuse, then there was no real loss as Livia would happily take both glasses. She would place her glass onto the table and sit on the chair beside Rowley, casting her gaze to the dancing couples. Liv wondered how she had looked on the floor, possibly scowling up at Leander, but those thoughts were strained as her brows came together in a furrow.

She cursed lowly, biting her cheeks and clearing her throat. That headache she felt towards the end of her dance had came alive, pressing at a point below her brow bone. Fingers raise to press at that particular spot as her eyes look to the others that had gathered. Quinnick tried to focus on every individual in the room, possibly ignoring anything that Rowley was speaking if he spoke at all; her attention no longer on the acquaintance.

When no face she studied gave any reprieve to the ache, she finally settled her gaze on the male beside her. "This is going to bug me all night, but are you... looking for anything? Have not lost something recently or..." The frown deepened on her face. It was not him either. Something was amiss. "I think I need some fresh air... must be some side effect of enduring the insufferable Urahil." Livia muttered before taking a good swig of her sanguine beverage.

Rowley Stone

 

[Alistair Krixus]

"It's true, there were not many dance instructors when I was young, here." He remembered that one of his sword instructors was actually a very good dancer, but they had taken more pleasure on cutting up Alistair until he was old enough to make him stop.

He smiled warmly down at her. She called and said he wasn't broken. That was so kind. She just didn't realize it because she was still new to the Academy. For the few of them that had been there for years, one of the biggest lessons they learned was how to hide the broken pieces.

Alistair had to focus briefly on the dance at a particularly fast-paced part before zoning back into the conversation.

"I can't wait. Eventually, I may actually learn how to dance."

Kristen Pirian

 

[Oraya Urahil]

Oraya dutifully stirred the punch.

 

[Houri]

"You're actually really good..."

Houri gave a breathless laugh but didn't get time to reply before he lifted her and then they were spinning, and spinning, and spinning... she could have gone on twirling forever but the music bade her stop. Her skin felt almost feverish when she found herself pressed against his torso and they once more paced their way across the dancefloor. This song always reminded her of a quarrel between lovers. Each one wishing to leave but neither being able to bear the thought of doing so for to leave would mean never seeing them again. It was pain, it was love, it was joy and fear. The last dance they might ever have.

The musicians seemed to sense they had a few captive participants and the next song slid seamlessly into the first. Instead of haunting and fearful, this one was sweeter and lighter. It lifted her heart and even if she had wished to stop she was not sure she would have been capable of doing so. The music begged to be danced to to celebrate some unknown event. She just wanted to soar on that feeling.

And there he was, letting her do that.

"I should have asked you for this a year ago."

Houri couldn't remember the last time she had felt this alive and... whole. There were no voices in her mind, no memories of that dank cell. She was just her. A girl who loved to dance like nobody was watching.

"Then let's make up for lost time," it was almost a plea that he not stop and break this precious moment of sanity.

 

[Oryyn Black]

Rowley looked up to see a much-needed drink being handed to him. He graciously accepted before leaning back in his chair and taking a sip, and then smirking at Livia.

"When you put as much passion into dancing as I do, then you have to rest some otherwise, you are doing a disservice to the next partner...I can't imagine how disappointed you would be if you got your turn and I was tired." He winked at the last sentence, recognizing the double meaning that could be read from that.

He straightened up a bit, not wanting to pick at Livia to much. She had been through enough. "How was your...'dance' with our dour behemoth?"

The large man did not look super happy and neither did Livia, so they must not have had a great time. However, it seemed Livia was not to focused on it as she asked him her next question.

"Looking for something? True Love, the meaning of life, a happy ending to the night? Why are you offering?"

Livia Quinnick

 

[Livia Quinnick]

Even with the serious disturbance to her evening, the headache was momentarily forgotten as his cheeky smile elicited her own in kind. Where Leander had been in one of his moods, Rowley's flirtations were rarely dampened. She was used to it by now, often receiving such attentions whenever their paths would cross in classes or within the Academy grounds. It did not mean that she liked rising to his challenges. She quirked a brow, grinning at him from behind the glass of wine that were just shy of her lips. "Not exactly what I was after... and at least I do not need to go fishing far off to find the answers you seek."

Ignoring the nagging feeling pawing at her mind, Livia drowned it out with another sip of her wine. "Your charm is very distracting, Rowley. The timing could not be more perfect." There was no sourness or confusion with this particular male. How could anyone fault her for ignoring her headache with some wine and the company of a pretty face?

"Well, I hope you are well rested before I get my dance with you. I may even prolong my stay this evening just to catch you when you are free." Perhaps she will find that distraction enough to ignore her power. It tried to steer her to go outside, but going outside was for young lovers, those retiring early, and trouble.

Rowley Stone

 

[Evangeline]

The Proctor smiled at her student.
"Good. I'm delighted you could attend. Beyond the scope of what the medical staff might be capable of, if you'd like me to try my hand at healing those injuries a little faster, feel free to ask."

As Salak stepped away from the group she cast him a curious look. Hopefully nothing excessive would be necessary in terms of disciplining young Zaire, but Evangeline made no move to stop Salak. Yet.

 

[Oryyn Black]

Rowley downed the remainder of his glass of wine with a sigh before shooting Livia a look. "Oh, not far? I hope the one you find is the last one. That's more helpful in the now."

He chuckled a little, especially when he watched one of the dancing couples flounder a bit. It was always nice when he got to notice that he was better than somebody at something.

"Distracting? That's never been used before. Overwhelming, sure. Invigorating, plenty. Even enrapturing, which personally was a little weird coming from a nun, but I've never heard of distracting. Maybe that means you need to focus on it more."

Rowley flexed a little and then stretched out at her last request. "Well, if we can get me one more drink. Then I will fulfill your desires right now...Of course, I mean dancing, don't go getting a dirty mind on me now Liv."

Livia Quinnick

 

[Zinnia]

"There’s nothing that I can do.” Zaire said finally. “There’s nothing to do. Houri is too good for me. I mean, look at her and then look at me? People would laugh at us if they saw us together. What girl likes a guy shorter than her?”

Zinnia's brows curled in concern and she let out a small sigh. She could empathize well with those feelings. The difference was that Zaire actually stood a chance in his ordeal.

"Th-that isn't true, Zaire. You can tell her how you f-feel," she replied as he continued to lead the dance. "You know Houri is w-way too nice to care about a guy's h-height. Stop beating yourself up, that's m-my thing."

She giggled with the latter statement, if for no other reason than to let him know it was a joke. She sighed afterward.
"Look...you d-don't have to say anything...but you should. The worst that can h-happen if you do is she says 'no.' If you don't s-speak up, though, you m-might spend forever regretting..." she paused as Caeso and his date wandered into her line of sight. They laughed together and smiled at each other, and looked so happy. Zinnia swallowed the lump in her throat.
"...What could have been."

The music began to wind down as the song that played came to a close. Slowly, the duo's dancing died down with it.
"Th-thank you very much for the dance, Zaire. Just...think about what I s-said, okay? And...m-maybe try to pull yourself together a l-little bit. It'll go b-better if you're sober."

With that, she curtsied and walked away. A little punch could probably do her right about now...

 

[Silas Artesto]

"Then let's make up for lost time,"

Silas smiled, almost sheepishly at the suggestion they continued. He wasn't about to refuse her; he was enjoying himself, and though he probably wouldn't admit it, the way she was looking at him right now, the way she sank into his arms whenever the dance brought them close... it was giving him that strange warmth in the pit of his stomach that he'd only ever felt around Vasha before.

"I'd like that, Houri."

While they continued at their own pace, others had shifted, and the music around them had changed as well. The new melody that played off the walls of the hall was slower, more wistful, and harmonic in comparison to the upbeat, rhythmic tunes that they'd been moving to before. Silas only noticed now that there was a lull in their dance, and slowly, as if asking silently for permission, he moved his hand to hold her again by the curve of her hip, and wrapped his other snugly around her own hand, bringing her flush against him.

"D'you... maybe wanna try something slower?"

The dance he fell into next with her didn't have the double function of training as well as fun. This one was purely for him. The gentle, slow swaying as they stepped around one another in slow spins across the floor was simple and easy to perform, but it kept the participants close, and if they were not comfortable with one another, it would show to others. It was a performance of chemistry, not footwork.

Silas held that soft smile, reveling in the moment. Maybe... he'd been wrong to get so hung up over what happened with Drurcius. Maybe he was getting too hung up on 'revenge' for his old man. This... this felt right. He liked this.

There wasn't much of that in his life.