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Posted: Sun Oct 29, 2017 7:01 pm
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Len was paying attention. Mostly. As her eyes skimmed each downward-turned hand of cards she mentally tallied what of them she knew, where the score cards were, the count of each play thus far-
Then, in a scouting glance back around the periphery or what of it she could see, the corner of her lip edged up. There he was. She rolled her shoulders back, an interested and particular glow to her eyes as she turned them back to the table, and watched as each of her opponents unveiled their hands in turn. She drew her card, eyed her hand, exchanged, and:
“The High Priestess and her council,” she announced, laying her cards. “Dafiel’s trump. I’ll take it all, Durok.” The half-outraged squawk she got in answer was satisfaction enough, and she spared a more open glance over her shoulder, ushering Jalase nearer. “Come on c’mon then! Jala, you’re just in time t’ meet one of my closest friends here…”
Durock did not look predisposed to being the ‘closest friend’ of anyone at that moment, but to that, Len paid no mind.
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Posted: Wed Nov 29, 2017 3:19 pm
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Posted: Fri Apr 20, 2018 3:20 pm
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“Just a little game,” Len quipped, flashing a grin up at him. She made quick work of explaining the basics of the rules, and that they were betting. “I think I’ve enough for the moment, though,” she finished. “Unless you’d like to step in a play yourself…I thought I might introduce you t’ one o’ my other friends, though, when you’re ready.”
She notched her head over to where a small cluster of musicians was set up with their instruments, none currently playing, but several tuning or plucking out small portions of tunes.
“Ryvan over there knows a good several bouncin’ tunes. Do you fancy dancing?” Even as she asked it, she pulled at his sleeve, towards the stage table to make an introduction.
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Posted: Sat Apr 21, 2018 9:54 pm
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Posted: Sat Apr 21, 2018 10:50 pm
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“Ryvan!” Len, being the size she was, made an easy squeeze through even a bustling crowd, but with her tow, it was a little more of a process. Still, her voice won her the gaze she was hoping for, and a young man on the stage already armed with a string instrument flashed a warm grin of greeting.
“Len! Long time you ‘aven’t been abouts. Come to cheer me on?”
“Oi, no,” Len said as they pulled up to the stage side. “Well, mayhaps just a bit. Mostly though, I was hopin’ you could play somethin’ fun. I brought a friend along, aye?” She butted her shoulder to Jalase’s as she said it, and Ryvan raised his eyebrows, his smile turning curious.
“A friend is he? A friend or a-”
“Any friend o’ mine’s one you should play your best for I think anyhow,” Len cut in chipperly, and Ryvan snorted out a laugh.
“I can’t argue with that. Well, Friend of Len-”
“Jalase’s his name-”
“Jalase,” Ryvan said with an amused wink in his eye. “What do you fancy dancing to? I insist on playing for your first dance.”
“Oi.” Len squinted. “Whoever said we ain’t-”
“Shhh-shh,” Ryvan tutted. “This is a question for your ‘friend.’”
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Posted: Sat Apr 21, 2018 11:06 pm
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Jalase laughed, a full and harty sound from his throat, at Len and Ryvan’s small amount of banter. When the musician turned his attention to Jal, however, he blinked and tilted his head. The song played would be his choice? He liked music, no doubt about that, but he had no clue what this band could and would play. Jal thought for a moment, glancing to Len. As much as he’d actually like to tug her close first thing, he wasn’t sure how she would react to that. Better to start off light and fun.
“I don’t have a song preference,” he said, stepping closer to Ryvan. “Your favorite, upbeat song will do.” Jal glanced back to Len for a moment before turning back to the artist and lowered his voice. “Maybe after a song or two something slower?”
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Posted: Sat Apr 21, 2018 11:26 pm
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Len watched cautiously as Jalase and Ryvan exchanged words, but relaxed as it became clear Jalase wasn’t immediately intent on anything too pushy. She’d hoped for something lighthearted herself, as it had been some time since she’d gotten to dance—if what she did wasn’t ‘dancing’ in the eyes of some, well that was their opinion. But she’d learned plenty of lively ways to be a part of the music from the locals at joints such as this one.
At Jalase’s latter, quieter question though, she gave a soft huff and shrugged with a bit of a grin. “I s’pose if you get tired by all the fast ones and need t’ lean on me I wouldn’t mind so much.”
With that, she gave a tug, pulling him towards the open space set for anyone brave enough to venture out—and behind them, Ryvan livened his instrument, and dipped right into a lilting tune. To Len, music always felt almost like an invisible string, pulling at something with its notes, whether it be emotions, or the body, or all at once. Ones like this breathed life into a room.
She grinned, and danced, a stamping, whooping beat to an equally lively tune.
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Posted: Sun Apr 22, 2018 11:57 am
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Posted: Sun Apr 22, 2018 8:05 pm
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Len enjoyed dancing.
It was something anyone could do, at any time, without any equipment. A free expression of joy and frivolity open to interpretation. Of course, it was made all the better when there was music and company to share it with, but in those first moments, all Len thought about was herself and the melody. It was only after, as others joined in and Jalase became part of the crowd, that her attention branched out again, and she grinned, pulling him into the fray.
Ryvan gave them the courtesy of several bouncier tunes before the quick melodies came to an end, and he called attention to the dancers, tapping his instrument, before beginning the first, winding note of an evidently slower, more intimate tune.
Len released a breath, flush faced from the more energetic dancing and admittedly the tiniest bit winded herself as she glanced to Jalase. “Well, we could go sit off t’ the side for this one if ya wanted, or…”
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Posted: Sun Apr 22, 2018 8:24 pm
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Posted: Tue Apr 24, 2018 4:53 pm
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In spite of herself, Len felt a pleased flush as Jalase said he’d like to continue and pulled her in. Around them, other pairs were doing similarly, but like Jalase, Len’s focus was narrow and centered on the two of them.
She had never slow danced before.
Unlike livelier numbers, though, it was at least a very simple seeming concept, and as the music drifted on, she found herself relaxing into the motions like a leaf carried along by a gentle tide. It felt comfortable in Jalase’s embrace. Warm. Different. But safe in a way that defied logic—she wasn’t in any danger here to begin with and realistically, Jalase was no more of an ultimate protection than any other man of his relative size and strength.
But no other man was him.
And very privately, Len realized that was what made all the difference.
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Posted: Tue Apr 24, 2018 9:59 pm
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Posted: Mon May 14, 2018 1:10 am
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If she had been uncertain at first, that tension was long gone before the beginning of the second number, and by the time the music wound to its break, Len had lost track of time, and found herself blinking back to awareness as her friend spoke up stage. Around them, though, others were shuffling about, and after a moment, Jalase too took a step back.
At the suggestion short on its heels, however, Len immediately nodded.
She couldn’t pin down the feeling in her chest as they moved, only that it was new and strange, and as excited for the idea of finding some privacy as it was disappointed with the idea of leaving the dance floor. She wondered, with a stray thought like a pebble tossed in unanticipated through a window, what sort of girl Jalase’s parents imagined he would one day bring home. And then, with a crinkle to her nose, she banished the thought.
Certainly not flea-bitten street thieves, and it was too pretty a night to dampen it with nonsense thoughts. As they stepped into the open air, she drew a deep breath, and held it as her luminous eyes tracked skyward.
“Do you think the gods or the stars came first?”
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