The afternoon sun is bright, and the sky clear for the day's festivities. After the dance floor was set up, several professional dancers performed the traditional dances for the benefit of those unfamiliar with them. Most of the dances seemed to follow a square-dance sort of theme, with a collection of steps and partner changes that repeat, but without a caller and generally keeping the dancers in a circle (save when each couple, in turn, took the center). The slower dances had the cadence of waltzes, but the steps were still more energetic and often involved hopping and slapping one's own shins and thighs in time to the music.
With her face half-painted to resemble a dragon, Redmane studies the dancers until she thinks she has a good grasp of the steps. "Did you ever take the square-dancing classes held in autumn at the church?" she asks Thomas.
"Unfortunately," Thomas grumbles, "I've never heard such whining, either. So I stepped on a lot of feet, it wasn't the end of the world!"
Redmane tucks her feet together and checks to see how sturdy her shoes are at that revelation. "Where you trying to step on people's feet though?" she has to ask.
"Now would I ever do that?" Thomas asks and puts his hand on his heart. Wow, with the feline face paint, his smile looks even more mischievous.
"Hmmm, maybe if you were trying to get out of class," Redmane admits with pursed lips and a raised eyebrow. "One of the couples is heading for the bench already. Should he take their spot?"
"Can we take in on a long journey from here?" Thomas asks and winks. He slips his arm around her waist and draws her in close. "You know you'll have to dance in the center with everyone staring at you, right?"
"I'm not worried yet," Redmane says. "I've got you, and you're always the center of attention, right?" she teases as she's pulled in close. "Now let's dance!"
"You have no idea," Thomas actually purrs in her ear. And never the one to do something simple, he spins Redmane outward, back in, then twirls as a couple right into the open spot in the circle!
Redmane squeaks at the twirl, and then laughs and tries to coordinate with the other dancers. This dance has a lot of clapping in it, and stirs up old memories. Every House seems to have a variation of it - a dance of blessing for the spring planting. Some of the women in the crowd even sing to it.
/Seven apples in a witch's tree.
With seven seeds to plant inside of me.
In springtime I grew a magic song.
Then skipping along, I sang the song to everyone./
"Well, that song is suggestive," Thomas whispers in Redmane's ear as he dances along. For as much as he seems to grouse, he's actually rather coordinated in the whole affair. It's actually rather odd to look him in the eyes; for a brief moment its like looking into the land itself; the wilderness, and such an amazing sense of freedom.
Redmane seems more carefree than usual, and certainly is smiling more than Thomas usually sees. "Well.. planting.. spring.. fertility.. you know," Redmane replies.
/I looked at the world through apple eyes.
And cut myself a slice of sunshine pie.
I danced with the peanut butterflies.
'Till time went and told me to say hello but wave goodbye./
"I've never particularly cared for goodbyes," Thomas comments at that particular verse. Still, it doesn't seem to bother his mood any.
"Don't I know it!" Redmane laughs, and then for a few minutes they switch partners, so that Thomas is dancing with a February maiden dressed all in heart-patterned lace over pink fabric.
/A thousand sugar stars.
Oh, put them in a jar.
And then whistle 'round the world.
Oh whistle 'round the world./
"Given the size of the world, whistling around it would be really tiring. Better have a good supply of beeswax for your lips," Thomas tells his new dance partner and winks to her. And in a fit of being, well, him, he dips the poor maiden back!
The woman squeaks, and then things rotate again - going 'round the world, as it where, until Thomas is paired up with Redmane again.
"Sorry, but your dream must fly away," Thomas tells the departing woman when he meets back up with Redmane. "Well, hello there. Miss me?" he says and waggles his brow, hooks his hand behind her neck, and kisses her briefly.
Redmane blushes in surprise at the kiss, even momentarily alarmed, before she's back to dancing happily. Couples are rotating in and out of the center now. "What brought that on?" Redmane asks with a smile.
/I'm a little hind inside a girl, you say.
And off I'll go from June to May.
Oh, whistling 'round the world.
Let's whistle 'round the world./
"Funny, I've often called you and hind end, and you always got mad," Thomas teases Redmane as they twirl around. As for the kiss, well, he doesn't seem to be explaining that one!
"That part is different for every House," Redmane notes. "Depending on their animal." She is starting to look a little nervous now, as their turn in the center approaches.
"I'm not classifiable as any animal," Thomas claims as he twirls. To make matters worse, as the center gets closer, he gets more animated. Looks like that crack about being the center of attention is about to backfire...
"Now.. when it's our turn.. no sock-hop moves okay?" Redmane requests.
"Now, would I do that? Does a little bit of public staring scare the brave dragon hunter," Thomas teases.
"Yes," Redmane mutters, turning pinker by the moment. "Especially when I'm wearing skirts and pink underpants."
"Just remember they would stare more if you weren't wearing underpants," Thomas jokes and proceeds to dip her! Only slightly, at least.
The dip is enough to startle Redmane briefly, especially as the couple in the center rejoin the circle, and it's their turn to go in!
And in Thomas goes. He practically drags Redmane into the circle's center. "You really need to relax," he whispers to her.
"I am relaxed," the blushing girl claims, clinging close to Thomas to avoid flaring her skirts out too much.
Thomas' hand briefly claps Redmane's backside as they twirl and dance in the center. "You feel rather tense to me," he whispers in her ear as his hand returns to a normal position. "Just remember that no one really cares or is even watching."
"Eep!" Redmane squeaks at the grope, and gets a silly lopsided grin. "It doesn't help that I've got.. uh.. never mind!" she says, and then steps back do a spin, even if it does expose her calves.
"Ooo, Redmane has a secret. Just what have you got?" Thomas teases, grinning as he twirls Redmane, twirls himself, then pulls her back in close. She finds herself looking directly in the eye of the feline-painted side. Thomas seems to have decided to embellish it a bit as she's looking into ice-blue feline eye.
"You're using glamor," Redmane whispers. "Trying to impress me, hmm?" she asks.
"Not really, I know you're already impressed by me," Thomas jokes, "And you didn't answer the question."
"Not telling," Redmane says, her cheeks turning truly crimson now. "It's embarrassing."
"Are you going to make me strip-search you?" Thomas teases, "You know I would." Around and around the go in the center. Now and then Thomas can't help but wave to the crowd. He even waggles his fingers to the February maiden he danced with earlier.
The maiden waves back, and even blows a kiss - when Redmane's back is to her, of course. "It's nothing like that," Redmane claims. Since they're the last couple, nobody comes to replace them. Instead, the music segues into something slower and more romantic.
Tom draws Redmane in close, check to cheek. "Did you grow a tail?" he continues to tease in whisper. "Why, I could feel again and no one would be the wiser..."
"Don't be silly," Redmane mutters, and gives Thomas' rear a pinch for even suggesting it. "You'll just have to wait. It'll tell you if you're nice to me."
"Or maybe I should grow a tail," Thomas continues to tease and as they twirl, Thomas briefly has a long, fluffy, snowcat tail. It's gone within seconds, though. "It's my duty to be silly," he claims, "There is too much serious in the world."
Redmane tries not to laugh, and ends up covering her mouth with one hand. "Sometimes it's good to be serious though," she points out, trying not to trip over her skirts.
"Name one time," Thomas challenges as they continue the slower dance. Up close, his eyes ... well, they sure seem to sparkle.
The girl's own eyes go wide at the sparkling - especially when of Tom's eyes is still cat-slitted. "Well.. uhmm.. I can't think of any while dancing.." she mutters.
"Even in a battlefield a little humor can boost many a spirit," Thomas claims, "It's inspiring to smile in the face of danger." He traces his finger along her chin next, adding, "Whether you believe you will, or you won't, you're right. Have faith and enjoy life. Enjoy every moment."
With Tom's finger on her chin like that, Redmane can't help but lean in closer, expecting a kiss. She even closes her eyes.
Thomas' lips ever so slightly touch hers and he whispers, "And anticipation is the fuel that stokes the fire." And the touch is gone as he draws back and resumes the slow dance.
"Tease," Redmane whispers, swaying with the dance. She almost hisses the end of the word, like the dragon she half-resembles.
"Always," Thomas rumbles and grins like the proverbial Cheshire cat. "And don't look now, but the other dancers are watching us," he whispers. The scary part is ... he's right about that; a large number of those present are watching the pair in the center of the floor.
"Why are they watching us?" Redmane whispers, smiling self-consciously.
"Because we're amazing," Thomas claims and twirls Redmane one more time as the slow song finally fades to an end. A graceful coil of his arm and he draws Redmane back into his arms. There, he traces a finger down the side of her face again. "There is a reason for being called legends outside of certain events, Red," he murmurs to her, "We inspire."
"Inspire what though?" Redmane asks with a grin.
The air around the pair shimmers and ripples. This close, Redmane can almost feel the glamour building. It;s like the air itself around them springs to life as a swirl of glamour generated flour petals in beautiful reds and whites swirl and dance. "Hope for better things yet to come," he tells her and finally slips his hands from hers. The cloud of petals rolls out from the pair, engulfing the crowd in a wave of spring. Soon, though, they sparkle and disintegrate into motes of fading light. Maintaining a large-scale glamour does become increasingly difficult he further it is from the source, after all. Thomas steps back, and with a flourish, bows to the audience. "May all of you find renewed life," he tells them," and remember, "The future is always what you make of it. So make it bright!"
The crowd applauds loudly, and cheers a bit as well! The timing is good, for the band needs to break for a few minutes. Redmane has no choice but to take a bow too, but not too deep of one because of her bodice. "I thought you wanted to keep a low profile here?" she whispers out of the side of her mouth.
"They don't know who I am," Thomas claims to Redmane as he walks from the dance floor. "Besides, you know I love attention. Good or bad!"
"Well, I see some vendors trying to get your attention," Redmane notes, keeping her arm locked with Tom's. "Meat on a stick and wine for dinner?" she asks.
"Beats worm omelets," Thomas quips and heads towards one of the vendors.
After eating, and dancing some more, and then having some dinner and a little more dancing, Thomas and Redmane return to their honeymoon suite. "That was great!" Redmane enthuses, as she flops back onto the bed. "But I'm never doing that in a bodice again. Definitely a limit to how long these things can be worn!"
"Oh, I don't know, it looked rather good on you," Thomas quips as he slips his jacket off. HE does another spin and drapes it on the back of a nearby chair. "Plus it has the added benefit of making it harder for you to chase me in case I annoy you!"
"Hah!" Redmane says, propping herself up on her elbows. "So how come you never danced with Muirenn?" she asks. "Aside from her not actually knowing how to dance, that is?"
"Ooooh, there was always some mission I needed to attend to or matter to deal with," Thomas claims, "Not to mention she had enough to deal with already, since she wasn't fey. She didn't need the black mark of being associated with me."
"Well, I guess that doesn't matter now," Redmane notes, "Since you're an official hero and everything." She rolls off of the bed, and heads for the bathroom, only to pause at the table. "Hey, they brought us a bottle of wine and some bread and cheeses," she says, noticing the additions. "No chocolate though."
"Tell that to Tristan," Thomas comments as he flops down into the chair and puts his feet up on the table in front of himself. "He hates me. And oh, enjoy your bath. I think I'll just relax for a bit."
"So, not going to follow up on your threat to bathe with me?" Redmane teases as she goes to see if the water was preheated or not.
"Nah. I've embarrassed you enough tonight," Thomas teases. Redmane finds, well, the water has not only been preheated, but the bathroom has been filled with dozens of brightly glowing candles. Egad, they even floated flower petals in the tub. A small note rests lightly on the rim.
With one eyebrow arched, Redmane picks up the note and reads it.
The note reads: "I never forgot one of the things Miurenn enjoyed more than anything was a warm bath and a comfortable bed. It was often enough to make her smile for days. I know you're not completely her, nor do I ever expect you to be. All I expect you to do is enjoy yourself. Thank you for being a friend and never giving up on me. ~ Thomas. P.S. The staff promised to not read this when I talked them into setting up the bathroom! If anyone ever asks, I'll deny it ever happened!"
"Deny it, eh?" Redmane says as she looks out of the door back at Thomas. Then she grabs a bath towel and heads back into the room, going to the changing screen. "You can be really sweet at times, Tom," she comments while disrobing behind the privacy screen. "It's scary."
"I don't know what you're talking about," Thomas claims, "And I do ever so love disappearing ink..."
"Very funny," the girl comments, eventually coming out from behind the screen wrapped in the bath towel. "Umm.. do we have to do anything special to wash off the face paint?" she asks.
"Not that I'm aware of. Getting rid of yours already? I was going to leave mine for a bit," Thomas comments as he digs around in his pocket. He pulls out is worn beret and drapes it over his face to help block out light.
"I guess I'll keep mine too, if it doesn't come off," Redmane says from inside the bathroom. She leaves the door opened a bit so they can talk, and Thomas soon hears the sound of her getting into the water. "Ahhh," Redmane says. "Today was really weird."
"Everyday is weird. I attract it. I'm a mystery, wrapped in an enigma, topped with a dollop of oddness," Thomas claims. "How was today weird, specifically?"
There are swirling water sounds from the bathroom, and then Redmane says, "I wasn't Agatha or Muirenn. And.. I felt something neither of them every had."
"You're sounding as obtuse as I usually do. What did you feel?" Thomas asks.
"Butterflies," Redmane finally admits, sounding embarrassed. "In my stomach, you know?"
"Oh that. I blame it on the food. It looked a bit suspect," Thomas says as he waves his hand.
"It was before that," Redmane says sharply. "When you kissed me. I bet that seems really amusing to you."
"Why would that seem amusing to me?" Thomas asks as he lifts up the edge of his hat so he can peek out.
"Because you don't get them," Redmane replies. "Not with me, anyway. I thought you might have felt some around Rachel at first, before you remembered who you were and your heart filled back up with ghosts."
"Who says I don't feel them?" Thomas asks in an unusually serious tone.
"You do, then?" Redmane asks, sounding a little surprised.
There's a long pause. "Normally I would answer that with 'Who says I did?'," Thomas answers, "But ... somehow I don't think that would be a great idea right now. I feel a lot of things, Red. Believe it or not, I like to see you smile as much as I like to see you turn beat red and want to kill me."
"Is that why you kissed me then?" Redmane asks. "And squeezed my butt?"
"What, to get you to kill me?" Thomas asks.
"Because you wanted a reaction," Redmane clarifies. "Or did you do it because you enjoyed it too?"
"Enjoying it and wanting a reaction aren't mutually exclusive," Thomas answers. "And I predict right anout now you're getting frustrated..."
"I'm just trying to decide how foolish I am," Redmane notes. "Like I side.. I'm not Muirenn or Agatha right now. I'm not sure who I am. But I'm not angry or frustrated."
There's another long pause. "Why do you think you're foolish?" Thomas asks. "And how can you not be either?"
"Foolish because I don't know how you really feel about me, so I shouldn't be following up on butterflies," Redmane says, splashing water a bit. Maybe she's washing her hair? "And I'm not either because... Agatha's younger, Muireen is older... and neither have really been a teenager - or however old we physically are now. It's all unfamiliar."
"You could just ask me how I feel about you," Thomas points out.
"Well.. that's scary too," Redmane points out. "Are you saying you know for sure?"
"I've danced with you, I've tired to make your bath memorable. I've made you smile, I've made you blush. Your face paint was not some simple off the cuff decision," Thomas ticks off. "Red, you're my best friend. I love to see you smile; I'm your shoulder when you need someone to lean on. I love to surprise you, to make you blink. If it came to it, I would die for you. Make of that what you will."
There's silence for a bit, and then, "But I don't give you butterflies, right?"
"I never said that. Sometimes you do," Thomas comments, though its rather quiet.
"Hmmmm." There's more splashing, and a waft of some fragrance - possibly strawberry-scented shampoo or similar. "Well, can you do me a favor then?" Redmane asks.
"That depends," Thomas says, "Is it illegal?"
There's a bark of quick laughter from the bathroom. "I don't think so! I was hoping you could get a fire going in the fireplace," she finally says. "And then I need some help in here, I'm afraid. You were right about the tub being meant for two people: there's no back-scrubber in here."
"I'm sure I can borrow a horse brush from the front desk," Thomas claims as he pushes himself out of his chair and goes to the fireplace. There's a rattle of wood as he stacks the silver log rest.
"Very funny," Redmane replies. "Those don't work very well on skin though. Especially wet skin."
"Sounds like someone tried," Thomas laughs as he stuffs flaked and shredded kindling under the logs. A few well placed strikes, and it lights. He pulls the chain spark guard over the fire and finally heads into the bathroom.
Redmane is in the center of the tub, hugging her knees to her chest so tightly that the muscles of her back are standing out. In the candlelight, her wet hair looks blood-dark, and hangs down to cover her face - save for a few spots where the light catches the painted-gold scales.
Thomas pulls his shirt off to keep it from getting too wet before he goes to sit on the rim of the tub. It takes him a moment to actually locate the fruit-scented soaps so he can lather his hands. "You didn't wash the scales off," he comments.
"My face wasn't sweaty," Redmane notes quietly. "But I can't tell if I didn't get some of it while washing my hair."
Thomas reaches over and lifts Redmane's hair away from her face so he can see. "Doesn't look like it," he notes. A quick rub of his hands later and he's slowly soaping and massaging her back. "And I'm sorry."
"Sorry for what?" the girl asks. She's not loosening up any, although it isn't clear why she's so tense.
"For driving you nuts," Thomas answers simply. "And why is your back so tense. You're like a rock."
"It's hard to relax right now is all," Redmane claims. "I was going to ask you to join me in here, but I got scared."
"Of what?" Thomas asks as his hands work a bit longer. He switches to cupping water in his hands now and using it to rinse off her back.
"I don't know," Redmane admits. "If I was Muirenn right now, I wouldn't be afraid - but you might be. Like I said.. I'm a little confused at the moment."
"Agatha would be splashing you like mad," she then adds with a grin.
Thomas pats Redmane's back. "Well, that means I shouldn't join you," he notes. Of course he does something that probably doesn't help; he leans down and kisses the back of her neck. "In case you change, of course."
"That makes me sound like a werewolf you know," Redmane says, and does seem loosen up a little from the kiss. "But I should let you wash up too. I wasn't the only one sweating," she notes.
"I'm supposed to sweat, it's manly," Thomas claims and tickles the back of her ear, "And you were a werewolf once. I remember chasing your tail." He stands and grabs his shirt. "Finish up and I'll hop in after you," he adds as he heads for the door.
"I'll be a few more minutes," Redmane says. "Make sure the fire is nice and blazing! I want to be dry before I have to come in and do your back."
"That just means I'll have to pull you in the tub to get you all wet again," Thomas quips and slips out the door. It closes behind him.