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]

She smiled, bright and definitely pleased. "It's a nice luxury to have."

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

Rainier drifted some bread through the small plate of oil and herbs.

"I can't deny I'm happy here."

[birthrightgreen.livejournal.com]

"That's good to hear." She glanced around the restaurant, remembering a bit of the last few weeks and wondering if any of the people here were still whispering, speculating. If she'd be or been forgiven. "I hope I'll be content."

She'd never really hoped for happiness.

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

Something flashed in Rainier's eyes.

"Content is not a bad place to be. That is where most of us have to start."

[birthrightgreen.livejournal.com]

"I've managed it once or twice." Her smile was quick, but real. Not as forced as maybe it felt.

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

He considered that for a moment, the raised his glass in a small toast.

"To once or twice."

[birthrightgreen.livejournal.com]

She paused a moment then smiled and clinked her glass against his.

"To once or twice."

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

When she miled like that it was very hard for Rainir to ignore the need to serve, and protect.

"And the townhouse? Does it have everything you need?"

[birthrightgreen.livejournal.com]

"I think so? Saetan saw that it was always well staffed and equipped. I suppose it's expected that I hire a maid, but honestly, that's just more trouble than it's worth. I can dress myself."

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

Rainier stilled an the image of her doing just that creeped into his mind.

"...good."

[birthrightgreen.livejournal.com]

Surreal glanced at him through her lashes again, her lips curving in a purely feminine smile. Nothing might ever be going to happen between them, but that didn't mean she wanted him oblivious to her.

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

"So." Looking at Surreal, he repeated the only words he could find. "No maid."

[birthrightgreen.livejournal.com]

"No. Saetan insisted on it at the Hall, but here..." She shrugged. "Well. I can do more as I please. And if I need help for a more formal function..." She tried to think. "No. I can't think of why I would. Do aristo women really not draw their own baths?"

Now she was just being wicked.

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

Rainier could breathe. He reminded himself of that fact, physically forcing himself to cool down. As long as he breathed, it eased. Because he wondered if taht pleased spark in Surreal's eyes would fade if he actually responded to her flirting. He didn't want that to happen.

Rainier smiled for her.

"I doubt they even know how the water gets there."

[birthrightgreen.livejournal.com]

She snorted. "I'll never be one of them." It was almost a warning. That her mother was a Queen and her....the man who speared her a Warlord Prince didn't matter.

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

Rainier looked puzzled.

"Did I miss the part where I said you had to be?"

[birthrightgreen.livejournal.com]

Her smile was slightly dark. "Aren't I supposed to be? High Lord's niece. Cousin to the Warlord Prince of Dhelman. Don't you think I'm expected to be?"

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

If her smile was dark, his eyes were.

"I think it is more than enough to live up to our own expectations."

[birthrightgreen.livejournal.com]

She paused slightly at that, nodded. "I always thought so, too."

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

"But someone else disagreed with you?"

[birthrightgreen.livejournal.com]

She shrugged slightly. "If they'd just let me come in as 'Surreal'..." She sighed. "But no. They insisted on a surname and...I ended up with an aristo family who keeps insisting I'm one of them." Possibly it was the wine that loosened her tongue, or the flailing need to make him understand. See.

She wasn't like him.

He had to understand that before he started escorting her around town.

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

"Surreal." Rainier tried to keep the smile from his face. "Speaking as someone who has had the benefit of standing back and watching ou with them? They aren't just intisting they are your family. They are your family."

There was the smile.

[birthrightgreen.livejournal.com]

"Maybe they're family. But I'm not like them."

She was sticking to that point.

"I'm not like you."

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

Rainier finished the last of his wine.

"What am I like, then?"

[birthrightgreen.livejournal.com]

"Aristo." No scorn in the word, but something....different. Apart.