AU for _deadlydance_, set immediately after "The Price"

[birthrightgreen]

She wasn't nervous. She had nothing to be nervous about. It wasn't like it was a romantic evening. They'd just worked so hard on the case, working to catch the rabid witch who'd been slaughtering innocent males. And they had, with Jaenelle's help. Now Jaenelle and Daemon were back on their honeymoon and she...

She was here in Amdarh, back how she had been, nursing the bruises Falonar had left. So, why, exactly was she changing her dress? The one she had on was perfectly acceptable. She was going out dancing with a friend. She could use a friend right now. What she couldn't use was a male thinking he was just going to sweep in and carry her off.

Not that he was probably thinking that, but she was suspicious.

He was a male, and years of seeing them abused by her own sex still hadn't made her trust them as a gender. Then again, she didn't trust most people.

With a growl at herself, she finally settled on a black dress with enough slink to impress and a enough swirl to make a statement on the dance floor, no matter how elegant and formal. Hair pinned half up, the rest left down. If people stared at her ears, so be it.

She was ready. It was going to be fun. She kept repeating that. Fun. With a friend.

Just a friend. He wasn't expecting anything. He wouldn't be that foolish.

She just wished she knew what he wanted.

Comments

[birthrightgreen.livejournal.com]

"They have to want to see," she said quietly. So far, he was the first one outside of family who'd tried.

And she wasn't sure what he saw. What he wanted. What...

She took a bite of her steak, trying to find her balance again.

"May I have another glass of wine, please?"

[http://users.livejournal.com/_deadlydance_/]

"I know."

Rainier summoned the wine, this time in a new glass. Made from cut crystal it was strong, not delicate. But he liked looking at it.

And it was his silent apology.

[birthrightgreen.livejournal.com]

"Thank you," she said, still very quiet, accpeting the wine and the apology. She took a sip of the wine, welcoming its warmth, then had to put it down when her hands didn't seem to want to stop trembling.

She'd been in terrifying situations and faced them better than she was this, she thought with an inner scowl.

"Are there any good plays running soon? Have you read any reviews?" She looked back up at him with a slight smile on her lips.

[http://users.livejournal.com/_deadlydance_/]

Rainier nodded, and forced himself to momentarily focus on his own food. He welcomed her offer of conversation.

"Actualy, there is a playwrights festival starting soon, so there wil be plenty of variety to choose from. I believe the bill I recieved mentioned a historical piece, a romance, and a farce."

[birthrightgreen.livejournal.com]

She smiled, cutting another piece of her steak. "A festival sounds amusing. I've found they have even more of an excited energy than usual."

[http://users.livejournal.com/_deadlydance_/]

Rainer nodded, easing back into his chair.

"The playwrights are generally excited, and that enrgy feeds the players, and in turn the audience. I believe it is actually to last an entire week?"

[birthrightgreen.livejournal.com]

"Will there be a different play each night, or only the ones you mentioned?" She leaned back as well, sipping at her wine.

[http://users.livejournal.com/_deadlydance_/]

"A different play each of the first six nights, with an encore of the winning play the following evening. Most of the pieces utilize the same house actors throughout. I'm sure it is a lot to learn, but the seem to enjoy it. I've never been dissapointed."

[birthrightgreen.livejournal.com]

"It sounds like a lot of fun," she said with a delighted smile.

[http://users.livejournal.com/_deadlydance_/]

He smiled warmly.

"I will send the schedule over to your home, and whichever nights you would like to attend, I would be pleased to escort you."

[birthrightgreen.livejournal.com]

She fiddled with her wine glass. "Even if I wanted to go every night?"

[http://users.livejournal.com/_deadlydance_/]

Especially.

"Even if you want to go every night."

[birthrightgreen.livejournal.com]

"You might get sick of me rather quicker than that." Especially if she kept snarling at him when he was trying to be nice.

[http://users.livejournal.com/_deadlydance_/]

Something in his eyes warmed slightly, and Rainier tilted his glass slightly towards Surreal.

"I assure you, I will not grow tired of the Lady's company."

[birthrightgreen.livejournal.com]

Her smile was a touch rueful. "All right."

Time would tell.

[http://users.livejournal.com/_deadlydance_/]

His own smile was a touch encouraging.

"All right."

[birthrightgreen.livejournal.com]

She flushed a little, nodded.

[http://users.livejournal.com/_deadlydance_/]

There was a look of concern.

"Is something wrong with your dinner?"

Because if so, he intended to fix it.

[birthrightgreen.livejournal.com]

She glanced up, meeting his eyes with a slow smile.

"Nothing's wrong with my dinner."

[http://users.livejournal.com/_deadlydance_/]

He managed to keep is voice fairly firm.

"Good."

[birthrightgreen.livejournal.com]

"It is." Her smile was warm, before she dropped her gaze back to her wine.

[http://users.livejournal.com/_deadlydance_/]

He focused in on the quiet, and watched her.

[birthrightgreen.livejournal.com]

She finished up her steak, smiling slightly, then sat back, fingers playing over her wine glass.

[http://users.livejournal.com/_deadlydance_/]

Rainier kept his eyes on hers as he summoned himself a new glass of wine.

[birthrightgreen.livejournal.com]

"Dessert?" She tilted her head just a touch, inquiringly.