Light-Footed, Silver-Tongued

Writers: Avery, Yvonne
Date Posted: 15th August 2014

Characters: Kapera, J'nus
Description: J'nus asks Kapera for a dance, and it ends up being a little more than either of them expected
Location: Dolphin Cove Weyr
Date: month 8, day 12 of Turn 7

Kapera

The air was humming with a different sort of music-- strings, instead of
dragonsong. After the feast the tables were pushed aside and the Harpers took centre
stage, accompanied by clapping hands, stomping feet and lusty, slightly off-key
renditions of popular songs. Skirts swung, jewels flashed, and the dragonriders
celebrated a successful Hatching.

J'nus wasn't immune to the music. Something about drums made his blood
surge in his veins and his limbs itch to move. The current dance ended and he sent the
greenrider he'd partnered with off with a kiss on the cheek and a smack on the bottom
before looking for his next partner. A familiar laugh caught his attention, and
he spotted Kapera through the crowd. A familiar face, and a familiar dance partner--
he was crossing the room to intercept her before he'd decided to ask.

As soon as he was close enough he tapped the goldrider on the shoulder.
"May I cut in?" he asked when she turned.

Kapera loved Hatchings for the food, the dancing, and the general
effervescent joy that permeated the atmosphere. Now that the formal work she'd had to
suddenly do was over, she was enjoying herself with the dancing and letting it bleed out
the last of the nerves.

She was so glad for the outfit she'd chosen. Her long gown of a soft
silken material was in her favorite shade of deep green and it felt wonderfully cool in
the heat of this Weyr. It was held up by halter straps of silver fabric crossing
behind her neck and had long slits up both sides, exposing her legs. Her hair was up in
braids and tied by silver clasps, though there were strands beginning to slip free.

She'd just finished dancing with a handsome bluerider when she encountered
the familiar face.

"Of course you can." Why wouldn't she want to dance with J'nus? She looked
him up and down and gave him a smile. "You look good."

He spread his arms wide and twisted one way, then the other. It wasn't
often he could drag out his Gather finery. His tunic was in the Trader's style, a
dusky red without a collar, but with wide, embroidered cuffs. He'd paired it with
loose, soft trousers and black sandals. "I knew all the young bronzeriders would be
wearing their best, and I didn't want to be left out. You also look ravishing--
but you always do."

"Thank you," she said, a little flush on her cheeks as she stepped against
him as the music for the next dance began. Two Turns since they'd danced, was it,
and yet it felt familiar and natural. It was easy to let the fingers on the hand
against his shoulder curl a little tightly.

J'nus leaned in close. "I hope you caught your breath."

"I can keep up with you," she promised, a glint in her eyes. She hoped her
long braid was pinned well enough.

"Good." The bronzerider grinned, then flung her into the music. The dance
floor had cleared off a little as the Harpers launched into a toss dance, although
they were far from the only couple up for the challenge that the music posed. Kapera
was an excellent partner-- quick on her feet and snappy when he spun her, her
green skirt flaring to show acres of tanned leg. The music swelled into the first lift
and he caught her easily by her waist and threw her into the air.

No one at Windswept had done this dance with her. A little laugh escaped
her as she went into the air. The breathless moment of suspension felt like flying on
Riyanth, only it was just her in the air without her dragon to catch her. But there
was no fear, because below her J'nus, who caught her as easily as she knew he would.

She caught from the corner of her eye glimpses of others looking at them
from the sidelines. She wondered what the long-time weyr residents thought of them,
the new metallic riders who were putting up such a strong show of dancing. Well,
they'd better be impressed!

It was good to see her laughing. The thought was fleeting, but nearly
enough to make him forget where his feet were supposed to be. His breath was coming fast
and he'd probably be sore in the morning, but this was _fun_. And it wasn't as if
he'd be nursing a hangover, so why not. The music swelled again and he sent Kapera
skyward.

Another moment of breathlessness and joy, then a landing. These shoes
weren't her usual and she had a slight stumble when her foot touched the ground, but
she moved with it and let herself lean back in a dip.

"Are you all right?" J'nus asked as he pulled her back upright.

"I think I picked the wrong shoes. But we still look good." Another couple
had already dropped out after a spill. "We'll just have to ace the last one."

J'nus grinned in reply. He was tiring; the toss dance was hard on the arms
and taxing when it came to stamina, and Kapera wasn't a small, dainty thing.
It didn't matter though. He was enjoying himself, and Kapera appeared to be too. He
spun her twice, and they stepped lightly through the pattern of the dance as the
music began to swell, leading up to the last toss. "Ready?"

"Of course I am." She had just a moment to catch her breath and then she
became airborne again. She spun a little and landed properly this time. When the
dance was over, those watching it applauded, and she basked in the appreciation even
though it of course wasn't all directed at them.

"Shall we get a drink?" She knew she needed something cool.

"If we can." J'nus held his arm out to his dance partner, well aware of
the eyes that followed them. "I'll bet you that you won't make it all the way to
the drinks table before someone whisks you off for another dance. Not after that.
Well done, by the way."

"I need water before I can dance again," she demurred. "You know, we'll
have to do even better at _my_ Hatching. And really, I couldn't have done it without
you."

He smiled. "I don't know. I heard a rumor that you can jump pretty high."

She narrowed her eyes at another bronzerider coming their way, and then
they were by the tables. She selected a glass of juice for herself and waited for J'nus
to pick something.

"Tales of my athleticism might be exaggerated."

"I doubt that." J'nus thought for a moment, then picked up a glass of
water with a few leaves of mint floating amid the ice cubes. Ice-- what a luxury in a
Weyr with no power. He turned back to the goldrider and held his glass up in a
salute. "I heard you can lift up your dragon with one arm and your flamethrower's
reach is better than a bronze dragon's breath. Don't tell me _those_ are lies."

Now a little more color crept into her cheeks, and she wished for alcohol.
She remembered he didn't drink, and had tried to be polite, but...

"Riyanth was a lot smaller when she was down." Or so she'd seemed. And
that was a thought that she didn't want to dwell on when everything was so nice. "But
I still would have needed two," she added quickly.

"And what do they say about you, hmm?"

He arched his eyebrows at her over the rim of his water glass. "I wouldn't
know. I don't listen to rumors."

She raised an eyebrow, but was interrupted from what she wanted to say
when someone else brushed past them. Looking at him, she slipped off into a smaller
alcove, trusting he'd follow.

"That's probably safer for you. On the other hand, rumors can be
exciting." She gave him a long look, wishing for boldness.

He leaned against the wall, grateful for the small rest and the cool glass
in his hand. "That depends on the rumors."

"I'm kind of in the mood to start some tongues wagging." Not that their
dancing probably hadn't already.

J'nus' gaze sharpened, brushing across the curve of her neck, the arch of
her cheek, the wing of her collarbone. And no further. Not without something tangible
to hold him there. "What did you have in mind?"

**Come back to my weyr,** hovered on the tip of her tongue. But it was too
bold, too fast - she didn't know how he felt.

"We've got them started with the toss dance," she began. "You think we
could impress them with a few slower ones?"

She wanted those. Dances with someone who would want to dance with her
because he liked her - or so she was hoping it was still true - and not someone who
wanted her as a status symbol it was just what she needed after earlier.

Disappointment put a spike through his heart, but J'nus didn't let it
show. He'd thought... but no. And not likely, not with all the other, younger
bronzeriders around. "If you'd like," he said. "Let me finish my water, first. I'm
older than you."

"Not a problem," she said with a genuine smile.

Last updated on the September 7th 2014

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Light-Footed, Silver-Tongued