Mixed Signals (3): Faking Happy

Writers: Bree, Eimi
Date Posted: 6th November 2006

Characters: D'cal, Nistaja
Description: After D'cal realizes Dyaera is gone, he tries to comfort himself with a dance with Nistaja.
Location: Dolphin Cove Weyr
Date: month 13, day 29 of Turn 3

He couldn't believe it. She had actually _left_! Just up and left and left him all alone in a room full of people. Course it wasn't as if he didn't know anyone, but still, he sure wasn't in the mood to be social. Well, he would be damned to /between/ before he let her ruin his Turns End. There was still plenty of good music, good food, good liquor (which at the moment sounded most appealing), and he wasn't totally devoid of friends. And yet there he stood propping up a pillar, looking like the guy whose girl left him at the party.

Oh shards. There was Nistaja with her bluerider. He caught her eye as she stood about a pace back from the group of people he was talking to. Probably just waiting for him to finish their conversation so she could grab him away for a dance. Well, she had seen him. It would be rude of him not to acknowledge her. Besides, it would get him off that sharding pillar for a while.

"Hi there. Happy Turns End," he said, plastering on as happy a smile as he could fake.

Nistaja's smile looked a lot less convincing than his. "Same to you, D'cal."

"You look very pretty this evening." That at least was sincere.

"I do?" Nistaja looked down at her dress, making a face. "I spent so much time cleaning off the mud, but no one seems to appreciate it."

"Honestly, journeywoman, you look quite lovely." But then again, he had found the smudges quite charming as well. "Thank you," she said, looking back up at him with an attempt at her normal flirtatious smile. "You're looking fine yourself, bluerider. So why are we all dressed up and standing around looking bored?"

"Oh, well, you know," he said with what he hoped looked like a casual shrug, "I was just watching everyone. I like watching people. You notice all kinds of things about them. It's kind of a hobby of mine. I'll probably find someone to dance with in a bit. You?"

J'mar was flirting so loudly with his circle of greenriders that Nistaja _knew_ it was mostly for her benefit. And she was tired of standing around and letting it bother her. "I'm just waiting for you to get around to asking _me_ to dance."

"Oh, well then, I better ask you then shouldn't I." D'cal offered her his arm. "Shall we have a dance, Journeywoman?"

Nistaja smiled and accepted his arm. "Why, D'cal! How sweet of you to ask."

"Such a surprise, wasn't it," the bluerider chuckled as he lead her towards the dance floor.

"I was shocked." Nistaja slid her hand into D'cal's before wrapping the other arm around his neck. "I hope you're a good dancer, D'cal, because I am not! I love to try, but if my partner doesn't know what he's doing, he might end up injured."

"Well, if you call someone who doesn't tread on their partner's feet a good dancer than I am one. Beyond that, I can't say." His arm wrapped around her waist and he gently guided her into a more open spot. "I guess we'll both just have to take our chances."

Nistaja laughed as they spun with the music. "It will be more fun than just standing was, that's for sure!"

"Well, lets see what you have to say _after_ the dance, shall we." A couple even less skilled than they, but far more enthusiastic, nearly tripped straight into them. D'cal pulled her closer before the other man could have a chance to knock her to the ground. "You know, I have a feeling we're not the ones posing the greater danger here."

"At least we're only posing a danger to each other!" Nistaja watched as the couple that had narrowly avoided them crashed into a bluerider and greenrider who had been dancing together. She winced and looked back at D'cal. "I'm glad you've got those quick dragonrider reflexes to save us from disaster!"

"Makes me seem more manly, doesn't it," he said, giving her his cockiest grin. It was nice to forget Dyaera for a while and just have fun. This was how he had hoped to be spending his Turns End.

"Never doubt it! Blueriders are always irresistible." Nistaja returned D'cal's grin and told herself it wasn't just because she'd caught J'mar peeking at her. D'cal _was_ a nice enough boy, who would probably grow into a confident and handsome man. Whatever girl had upset him this evening was a fool. If J'mar mistook her fondness and sympathy for the boy for something else... well, that was J'mar's problem.

"Some would say the same about potter's covered in mud," D'cal grinned. It was his first impression of her. She looked beautiful this evening, all cleaned up and dressed in her finest, but he rather liked her in her natural setting. If he didn't already have enough complications in his life...

Nistaja laughed and gave D'cal an impulsive peck on the cheek. "Now _that_ is the way to sweet-talk the ladies, D'cal! Always tell us we look beautiful covered in dirt!"

The bluerider laughed as he twirled her under his arm. "All right. The next time I think I might fail with a woman I'll pull that out. Thanks for the tip."

When she was facing him again, she grinned. "I'd be careful about what sort of woman you use it on! Make sure she's the type who _likes_ to play in the dirt, first!"

"You mean not all women like to get dirty?" he asked in mock surprise. "But why? Dirty can be really fun."

"Mmmmm, it can be, at that." Nistaja winked at him just before he spun her again. "And I think you're a better dancer then you let on, D'cal!"

"Are you impressed yet?" he grinned as he spun them both around.

"Tremendously," she replied, pleased to see his mood had at least lightened up. It made her want to flirt with him even more outrageously, to see if she could keep him smiling. And maybe to annoy J'mar, who she caught peeking at her again with a frown. The music began to wind down, much to D'cal's annoyance. He was finally enjoying the party! "I don't suppose I could steal you away from your escort for the evening for another dance, could I?"

"Of course you can!" Nistaja nodded to a young woman who was following them both with her eyes, looking a little sad and longing. Perhaps D'cal's mystery lady had finally realized that her bluerider was about to get swept away. "But do you want to talk to your friend, first? She looks like she's waiting for you."

"Zanie?" D'cal couldn't hide his surprise at seeing her at the party. And especially with that look on her face. "I'm sorry, Nisataja. Could I perhaps take that dance a little later?"

Nistaja grinned and released D'cal to his admirer. "Any time, bluerider!
Just come and find me."

Last updated on the November 7th 2006

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Mixed Signals (3): Faking Happy