| Logs |
2012 April 19
| Neverneverwhere |
| Realms |
Retired
| Reality Fault |
General Info
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| Realms: Taps Logs |
Dancing With Fire
Rachel's eyes are alight as she moves to dance with Chanti, letting him lead in the unfamiliar dance. She's graceful and excited to be learning something new. Chanticleer is more than happy to show Rachel this dance, letting the evening while away for a time like this. Malachai too is letting Sabrina teach him how to dance to this music. It's a good trick, teaching someone how to lead a dance with which they aren't familiar, but Sabrina has helped to raise more than one little boy.
Suraksha is very curious, glancing around surreptitiously as she dances. She wonders how the townsfolk will react to her now -- as well as how they'll react to Roy. Will the wolf-hearted among them react any differently than the humans? The slight woman grins as she remembers Malachai saying everyone was meeting as humans; does he know he would not be considered human outside of this town? Her curiosity is not so great, however, that she dances any less than her best! She and Roy have been dancing together off and on for well over a decade now, after all, and there's something special about dancing with someone you're head over heels for -- it's that little bit of extra glow, in a way.
Now that he's had some of his constraints lifted, Rattler lets his natural exuberance and sensuality show through. He and 'Chana are nicely matched in many ways and he's not above showing that off a little bit. The dance is full of dips and twirls that allow him to slide his hands over his beloved's body, and he has the trick of letting appreciation for her beauty show in his body language and his gaze. It would be clear to anyone watching them that there is most definitely a bond there. Suraksha brightens at her lovely partner's delicious assiduousness, laughing aloud with pleasure as they swirl and swing through the bouncy steps, and letting her own fingers do some naughty walking of their own! She wonders idly, when she catches a glimpse of the townsfolk while being whirled in wonderfully breathless pirouettes, if all the handful of wolf-hearted townies are present. It's clear to her that the whole town is not participating, after all, even if all the children are.
The musicians don't really pause between songs and the transition is a bit odd. The next song is a tango. From the impish looks on the faces of a couple of musicians, this is something that they planned ahead of time. Suraksha laughs aloud at that, shaking her head in amusement at them -- but then she grins wickedly up at Roy, murmuring, "Shall we show them how we really dance, lovely man?"
Rachel blinks at the music. It feels like the sort of dance called a hunt, but it's not quite. She looks up at Chanti, cheeks flushed from the exertion of the first dance, "How do you do this dance?"
Chanticleer also blinks a bit, surprised the musicians chose a tango. He remembers quite a few lovely dances at the Courts, with the tango being one of the more scandalous dances chosen when someone wanted to make some kind of point in a romantic subplot of whatever machination was going on at the time. He grins to Rachel. "I'll be glad to show you. We should do it slowly, though, since it's more... emotion given movement, rather than any particular sequence."
Roy's eyes are gleaming and he straightens up, chin going up and a devil-may-care grin parting his lips as he pulls 'Chana close against his body and slowly leans over her, supporting her lower back with his hands so she can bend back. The impression is that he's getting ready to kiss her chest. Suraksha tosses her head back languidly, one arm arching gracefully back as she relaxes unworriedly into his hold. She's so deeply arched that her dark mane of hair trails silkily over his arms and brushes the ground. Chanticleer looks to Suraksha and Roy. "Aaaaaand we may not want to follow them exactly! The tango can be... rather intense if the partners want it to be." He glances around briefly. The caravan children he's not concerned about, but conservative townies might be dramatically aghast at the tango!
Rachel glances over at Roy and Suraksha and a blush nearly leaps into her face. The pose, while not exactly scandalous, certainly invokes a certain type of emotion. She nods and takes a deep breath, blue eyes gleaming up at Chanticleer, "It feels like a hunt... like someone should be being stalked..."
Chanticleer arches a brow slowly, and equally slowly smiles. "It can be, certainly. Every tango is different in their own way."
Rattler brushes his free hand along the curve of 'Chana's throat, down the center of her chest and the top of her stomach before sweeping her upright again, pulling her close against his body. Sulochana's smoky gaze is cooly intense as her body nearly swirls back up to meet Roy's, while her arm flows naturally to curl about his neck. One of his hands is still firm at the small of her back, pulling her lower body close against him; the other hand cups the side of her face as he glides forward, leading with a sensual roll of his hips -- he knows 'Chana will follow. The couples' feet move easily in-synch, no chance that they will trip. Her steps are a smooth reflection of his, off-set just enough that her hip is nearly inserted between his thighs. She slowly runs her tongue over her wine-red lips in silent invitation. Their eyes are locked and the expression on the king-in-hiding's face is unmistakably hungry. This is the first act: passion.
None of the townies seem particularly scandalized by the dance; there is, after all, a very sensual side to their nature. They are watching quite intently, however. Most of them had been told that 'Chana would not be staying because she already had a mate. Most of them had doubted that a bit -- right up until now. Chanticleer starts to dance with Rachel, teasingly and lightly at first, leading her into the mood of the dance. There's a familiar thrill about it brought on when she mentioned hunting -- almost a challenge to it that brings out the mischievous near-daredevil in the rooster sidhe. To dance a tango, with a wolf! Even if she isn't, strictly speaking, a werewolf, she's expressed her joy at the time -- times? -- she's been the wolf to make it well enough for him -- and for her as well, he hopes. He may not know much about hunting outside of the whole Court-in-panoply, trumpets-blaring, hounds-braying, tents pitched for lunch and tea, "noble" way of hunting... but he can feel the thrill of something like hunting, moreso when folded as metaphor into the medium of the dance -- and hopefully incite such a feeling, if she's willing, in Rachel.
Though 'Chana prefers Roy's hair long, the shorter, shaggier cut he's adopted for this trip keeps his hair off his face and his expression is nothing short of smoldering. The message they mean to convey is clear as well: these two have chosen one another. It is a partnership and a meeting of minds and bodies, and it's clear that as much as Roy appears to be stalking 'Chana through the dance, she is just as clearly enticing him forward. But the most intense, the most erotic part of the whole thing is the way their eyes almost never leave one another's faces. Even when he guides her into a move that's half dip and half swoop, Roy doesn't take his eyes off 'Chana. Sulochana's soft lips are invitingly parted as she dances. She takes full advantage of every opportunity Roy gives her to nearly drape herself upon him: her small hands trace fluttering, caressing paths along his face and down his arms, while his arms steady her when she lifts one leg, her knee as high as his waist as her pointed toes trace naughty delicacies down the back of his thigh. She uses her body like an instrument, gently nudging her hips or shoulder or breasts against him with calmly absolute confidence that he will notice and respond to her fierce, heated hunger.
Rachel's eyes are bright and her heart is racing a little -- it makes her a bit giddy to get to play the roles the music seems to suggest. Chanti's teaching melds well with her learning style and Rachel is almost strutting after a moment or two, a self-confidence that is alluring and unlike her normal simple grace. Sabrina and Malachai have moved to the side; the alpha watches 'Chana dance with her Chosen with a still face, following the way they move together with his eyes. Sabrina smiles quietly as she feels the slight tremble in the elder's body. She tips her head slightly toward Malachai and murmurs, "They've learned how to move around one another. It was... rough... at first, though. That young hothead put his foot in his mouth so often I'm surprised he has any toes left." Malachai's lips twitch a little at that. He himself has done much the same thing several times now.
Rattler's fingers trail along the line of 'Chana's thigh and up to support her leg at the knee when she lifts it and half-wraps it around his hip. A couple of the braver townies, including Vashti, have joined in with the dancing, having fun learning the new steps. Roy doesn't actually see any of them, even though he instinctively moves so as not to bump into them as the dance goes on. He accepts every invitation 'Chana makes and shows his appreciation with caresses and embraces, at one point lifting her off the ground so that she's above his head from the waist up. While he's got her up there, Roy nuzzles and kisses the line of bare skin that shows along her stomach. Sulochana laughs aloud at that, arching smoothly back into Roy's grasp. She tosses her head back so she can raise her arms to trail her fingers languidly through her streaming midnight hair, and her slender, pale throat is exposed -- and then, like water flowing back into its streambed, her shoulders sway relaxedly forward again until she's resting her arms about Roy's neck, staring heatedly down directly into his face. The tip of her tongue shows between her soft lips, and her breath is a warm caress against his skin; her legs wrap lithely about his waist, holding them securely close.
Malachai sighs and laughs wryly as he watches the dancing. Sabrina puts people at their ease and she reminds him somewhat of Vashti. He says, "It aches my heart to see this, but I'm glad I did." Sabrina nods and pats his shoulder quietly. On the dancefloor, Roy laughs and lets 'Chana's body roll backward until her hair brushes the ground, slowly sweeping her body in graceful, rolling half-circles. Each one pauses for an instant when they are literally face-to-face again. The song ends at one of those moments, sudden silence filling the back yard with the lovers eye-to-eye, and Roy holding 'Chana tight against his body. Sulochana holds the pose for a moment... then very, very slowly her tongue slips out to lightly, invitingly caress Roy's lips.
Roy could no more resist that invitation than a drowning man could resist a life preserver. One hand tangles in her hair and the other stays firmly beneath her lovely behind as he pulls her face to his and claims her mouth with a kiss. Both their hearts are racing; she can feel his heart galloping in his chest and other less subtle reactions to her invitations as he holds her close. Sulochana's heated, delighted, ecstatic laughter bubbles up inside her -- but her outside is busy, wrapping herself as eagerly around Roy as a snake, while she does her utmost to raise their temperatures into sizzling!
There is a momentary silence that can best be described as a reverent hush -- and then there are howls and laughter and applause -- from townies and caravaneers alike. After a moment in which his face is utterly naked and shows that his heart is breaking a little, Malachai joins in the applause. Chanticleer applauds with the rest of the crowd; he thoroughly enjoyed the show, as well as the dance with Rachel. Theirs wasn't as... energetic as Sulochana's and Roy's, but it was still quite, quite enjoyable. He hopes Rachel enjoyed it as well. Rachel is holding onto Chanti's hand; she shakes her head slowly, with a low whistle, "That was..." She trails off, not having an appropriate adjective. She peeks up sideways at Chanti and says, "If they play another one of those, will you teach me some more?"
Chanticleer smiles mischievously. "I'll be glad to, Rachel. A big part of the tango is just... letting go. You enjoyed it, I take it."
Rachel turns and goes on the balls of her feet to kiss the left corner of Chanti's mouth, murmuring, "I did. It is... suggestive, but God made physical love pleasurable for a reason."
Chanticleer smiles warmly to Rachel. "It can be very suggestive, yes." He adds wryly, "And also not so much 'suggestive' as outright shouting sometimes." That causes Rachel to giggle!
Sabrina excuses herself and taps 'Chana gently on the shoulder, barely hiding her own grin. The Hetaera doesn't loosen her fiercely hungry hold until they both need to come up for air, and then she leans against Roy, her full breasts reflecting her quick, heaving gasp for breath. She glances over her shoulder at Sabrina, a wicked glint in her slitted golden eyes, "Mmm? Think our audience enjoyed the show?" She giggles, her hands absently tracing Roy's broad, muscled shoulders with appreciation.
Roy is taking deep, slow breaths as well, trying to get himself under control. He's starting to become aware of the surroundings again and he doesn't want to start another fight -- well, not just yet, anyway. He murmurs, "They don't usually applaud for somethin' they di'n't enjoy."
Sulochana laughs, shaking her head and tossing her hair back with luscious abandon before she finally sets her feet on the ground and turns, putting her back to Roy and leaning against him. He can feel her hips still swaying a little with dance memory as she grins impishly at Sabrina, "Let me guess: you want to dance with Roy too?"
Sabrina laughs and pats 'Chana fondly on the cheek, "Me and about three-quarters of the rest of the women here."
Roy grins down at Sabrina from behind 'Chana, "I promise to be just sweet as pie to 'em, too. We wanna make sure ever'body's all cozy."
Sulochana laughs softly, leaning her head back against Roy's chest so she can grin up at him. A bit wistfully she murmurs, "Last dance for me, lover?"
Roy dips his head and kisses the side of 'Chana's neck, then murmurs, "Always, cherie."
Sulochana looks like she's about to melt entirely into Roy's arms again -- but at Sabrina's amused, "ahem!" the Hetaera laughs softly again, stepping forward to give the other woman a quick hug, "Better take him now then, 'Bina, or I'll drag him into s'more vertical sex!" She grins mischievously and blows a kiss over her shoulder to Roy as she sways languidly off the impromptu dance floor... then pauses in front of the musicians. Hands on her hips, she giggles, then says mock-sternly, "Naughty musicians! Bad! I expect you to keep that up!" Not one since face amongst the musicians looks abashed; most of them look positively smug. Vashti moves to intercept 'Chana along with the young strawberry blonde that arrived late. The Hetaera laughs aloud again -- this time with some of the musicians -- then turns and smiles up at Vashti, "Hello again! I'm afraid Sabrina has dibs on Rattler right now, but I imagine he'd be happy to dance the next song with you, if you ask?"
Vashti laughs. The townsfolk do seem to laugh a little more when they're relaxed, but the laughter ends in the close-lipped smiles. The expression doesn't seem strained, usually -- just habitual. "I'll let a few others have a chance at him first. Rufus wanted to come over and speak with you." Sulochana smiles, nodding to Vashti and glancing inquiringly at Rufus. She absently slides one arm under her hair, lifting it off the back of her neck to cool herself down a bit, pulling it forward over her shoulder as she does so and reflexively finger-combing it as she waits for Rufus to speak.
Rufus ducks his head, but he's smiling as he says, "I wanted to say thank you. Vashti explained you wouldn't be staying as our alpha b-... as our alpha, but I wanted to let you know that I really appreciate all you've done for me."
Vashti bumps the young man with her shoulder, eyes affectionate. "Our young man here has never really known his worth."
Sulochana grins teasingly as she finishes Rufus' words, "Alpha bitch, you mean? It's all right, I understand what the word means for canids." She studies Rufus silently for a few heartbeats, then curiously asks, "I'm not sure I follow the rest of what you said, though. What have I done for you?"
Rufus ducks his head again, still smiling shyly, "You treated me well. You and Alg played with me." He realizes how this sounds and rushes on, "I don't get mistreated here, of course. But..." He trails off.
Vashti strokes the back of his neck affectionately, "But he tends to fade into the background."
Sulochana idly plaits her hair as she tilts her head thoughtfully, "Really? Why do that, Rufus? You're good with children, you follow direction well, you're careful and patient... I'd hire you in a minute to help protect the caravan, if I thought you wanted to travel." She grins as she adds, "Alg would be thrilled. So would the children."
Rufus' eyes light up and he dares to raise his head, "That's very nice of you. But... I think I'm going to stay here. I want to maybe try to help Malachai out with the children. I think it might..." He makes a lifting gesture with his hands.
Suraksha smiles as she murmurs wryly, "Raise your status in the pack?"
Rufus smiles and nods, eyes bright. "Yes! Or at least let me do something that I really like." Vashti is still smiling indulgently at the young man. There is something very maternal about the female wolf-hearted townie. Suraksha thinks, but does not say, that Rufus would do better to get out of Friendsville, get his metaphorical feet under him and gain some real self-confidence -- rather than simply staying in the place where he was so good at fading into the background. She knows it's not her business, though, so she says nothing. Considering the weird variations she's seen so far in the wolf-hearted -- incredibly shy or wildly over-aggressive (and where is Meshek tonight, she wonders?) -- the Hetaera is quietly relieved most of the really non-human-looking caravaneers chose to stay at the encampment.
In fact, she feels a bit of a hypocrite, considering she's the only one there not wearing her native form. Ohkwari had calmly declined the invitation, pointing out that very few people party well with bears, and Gajara had declined for the same reason regarding elephants. Del snorted and shook her head in her usual grumpy equine manner, while Fantine had looked like she might faint at the prospect of being stared at in her "native" form by so many strangers. Buddy had growled that he would be busy making dinner for those who were staying at the caravan. Sna'thaid had said nothing, but from her folded arms and thoughtful frown, Suraksha is guessing the sidhe is keeping watch from afar.
However, almost all the extended Sokoloff clan (including Daniel and Little Joe) are present, considering how many children are theirs -- even Oksana Sokoloff is there. Gajara had gently nudged her to go spend time with other humans so the baby would be properly socialized, and both Dominic and the Amazon trio are sticking comfortingly close to her. All the roustabouts (Emmett, Billy-Joe, Franklin, and the rest) are there too; since they don't usually get to participate in parties like this, they're all consequently on their happily awkward best behavior. Suze had been going to decline the invite, but Sabrina jollied her into attending; the sometimes-stern, slightly stout woman looks like she's actually starting to enjoy herself. Suraksha shakes her head slightly, tossing her braid back over her shoulder as she re-focuses on Rufus, and smiles gently, "Well, good for you then, dear. Best wishes." She considers, then adds, "Could I trouble you to get me a drink, dear?" She suspects Rufus has no idea how to smoothly end a conversation, and she doesn't want him to feel awkward.
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