Not Terribly Inappropriate

Writers: Dana, Eimi
Date Posted: 25th February 2006

Characters: Larken, M'tone
Description: M'tone takes Larken up on the thing she'd promised him the month before...
Location: Harper Hall
Date: month 10, day 8 of Turn 3

Larken watched as one of the Journeyman Harpers swung Anacia up and away from their table and onto the dance floor. Shells, but her friend looked gorgeous this evening - it was no wonder why so many men were wanting to dance with her now that the feasting had slowed!

The music was lively, and Larken found that her feet were tapping along with the beat beneath the table. She wanted to dance - and had every intention to do so! - but for now she was content with her wine and good company. She laughed along with the members of the table as one shared a rather funny - if a bit crude - joke, and she vaguely realized that if Ojisan had heard it, he would be appalled. Maybe she should be appalled too. But it was hard to be...

Shells. This wine was good.

"Excuse me, ma'am," a drudge said as she slipped the young woman a small scrap with a note scribbled on it.

Surprised, Larken took it. "Thank you," she murmured as the drudge disappeared into the throng. She glanced up, but no one sitting near her seemed to be paying her much scrutiny, so she looked back down and quickly unfolded the note in her lap.

"I believe you said it would not be inappropriate for me to ask you for a dance, but you seem to be occupied with your friends. Meet me by the snack table when you are free for a turn on the dance floor.

- M'tone"

Her blue eyes widened a bit as she looked up and over towards the direction of the snack table. So he hadn't forgotten! she thought, blushing a little. Was he there now?

He was there, and looking directly at her. His face broke into a large grin when their eyes met. The brownrider lifted up a cookie and shook it temptingly, beckoning her to come over.

Before she knew it, she was grinning back. Murmuring her excuses to the rest of her companions, she slipped out of her chair and headed towards him, weaving in and out of dancing couples and giggling children as they darted about. "I don't think it was quite this crowded at the Harper Hall welcome!" she gasped once she reached his side.

"Now all the candidate's families were here. You best be careful. You could get lost in a crowd like this." Of course, sometimes that wasn't such a bad thing... "Is your husband at the table?"

She shook her head. "He's up there with the rest of the harpers at the moment," she told him, gesturing to the raised platform.

"Oh?" he asked, standing on tip-toe and trying to look over the crowd. "Which one is he?"

"He's...one of the guitarists. Over there, on the far left."

"Huh," M'tone snorted. Shards, he certainly did look much older than her.
"Well, he can sure play guitar."

"That he can," she smiled proudly. "He's better than anyone else I know."

"But I bet he can't dance like me," he grinned as he reached for her hand.
"And you promised me a dance. Perhaps we should wait until the next one though."

"Okay." A slight flush suddenly filled her cheeks as his fingers went around hers, his thumb lightly brushing against the inside of her palm. Embarrassed, she gently bit her lower lip, glancing up at him, torn between wanting to drop it...and wanting to let it stay.

Shells. She was over-thinking this. He was being polite.

And so her fingers tightened just slightly around his - out of acknowledged politeness.

He smiled down at her as they waited for the next dance, not dropping her hand. "Would it be inappropriate of me to tell you that I think you look absolutely stunning in that dress?"

Her blush deepened and she shyly dropped her gaze. "Thank you." Ojisan had told her earlier that the deep blue color of the gown enhanced the shade of her eyes... Larken wasn't a vain person, but she couldn't help but feel that spark of feminine pride at M'tone's compliment. She wondered if it would be too bold to tell him that he looked handsome tonight...

It probably was.

"Ah, here we go," he smiled as he pulled her onto the dancefloor between songs. "Ok, now should we hide here in back so your husband doesn't see us? Or is it ok for you to be dancing with me?"

She lifted her chin. "I'm allowed to dance with men who are not my husband, M'tone."

"Good," he grinned, looking straight into her eyes as his hand wrapped around her and pulled her closer. "I'm not very good at hiding when I dance."

Larken's expression turned quizzical. "What's that mean?"

The brownrider just threw his head back and laughed as he pulled her deeper into the throng of people, whirling and twirling her in time to the music. Like in all other things, it seemed M'tone was not at all shy to show off his dancing skills.

He was quite a superb dancer! And Larken loved to dance. After all, she grew up in the Harper Hall, and no respectable young lady reached maturity without learning how to dance as soon as she could walk. But shells...she'd never danced quite like _this_ before!

Though it was customary for the man to lead, M'tone didn't technically have to have that hand quite so low, nor did he technically have to hold her so close, but the fact that she didn't seem to mind pleased him to no end, and he was quite disappointed when the music finished. "Well," he laughed still out of breath, and his hands still holding her, "did you enjoy that?"

Her blue eyes were bright as gazed up at him. "Oh I did!" Her voice was just as breathless as his - perhaps even more so. Shells...they were so close. She could feel a new heat rise in her cheeks, and she hoped he would mistake it for the wine and the rush of swift dancing taking hold of her. Gingerly she took a small step back, her grip loosening slightly on his shoulders. "Where did you learn to dance like that? Here?"

"Here, and at Gathers. I go to a lot of Gathers. Even a few up north."
He released her waist, but not her hand as he began moving out of the crowd. "How about a drink?"

"Please," she smiled, glancing up at him. "What is the north like?"

"Wonderful. In fact, if it weren't for the nice weather we have down here, I would have asked for a transfer north long ago!" He grabbed two glasses off the table and handed one to her. "To you and your beautiful eyes," the brownrider grinned as he touched his glass to hers.

Blushing, Larken lowered her lashes demurely before taking a sip. Would she _ever_ stop flushing tonight? Her cheeks seemed to be permanently stained red. But not quite as red as this excellent vintage she held in her hands... "Is it really so cold there in the Weyrs?"

"I don't know," he chuckled. "All the Gathers I went to were in the summer and at Holds. But I could tell you that it wasn't nearly as humid there."

She made a face at that. "The weather can get so muggy here sometimes... Makes your clothes stick to you like a second skin..." She took another sip of her wine as if its cool, velvety flavor could rid her of the memories.

M'tone just smiled. "So... Would it be terribly inappropriate of me to ask you for a second dance?"

Her eyes went to his. "No... I don't think it would be terribly inappropriate," she told him, a soft smile hinting at the corners of her mouth.

He grinned as his fingers found hers. "Great. So... shall we have another go at it?"

She nodded, her touch shy, but her smile was no longer as hesitant as it had been. "Okay."

Last updated on the February 25th 2006

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Not Terribly Inappropriate