Closed Dancing off the Shell(Lander)

[Coralie]

Not but a few minutes ago had Coralie ordered the Fuzzy Squirrel, that she was smiling into her drink. She was sitting on a chair in a large enough space that was roomed with a small table, another chair on the opposing side. She didn't know why she was sitting there, she hadn't gone with anyone. As a matter of fact, she didn't know why she was there at all.

Perhaps she was just people-watching, perhaps she had gone with secret fantasies for more. As it was, she had no idea of the Weather's freaky crazy schedule and, had just happened upon in on a night that many looked forward to, every Season.

It was the thirty-ith of Spring-- but to the people of the Weather, it was known as Spring Revelry. Coralie had arrived knowing nothing of this, and when asked why she wasn't wearing pastels she had simply said, "I didn't know there was an occasion, to where pastels to." this had been greeted with gasps and fits of giggles, and many female Inartans had taken her to an area a bit off from the dancing floor, where she had been given pastel-colored clothing, and flowers to decorate her hair. In addition, since it was her first time at Inclement Weather, they decorated Coralie's face in flattering bright colors to match the environment.

She didn't have the heart to be her usually stand-offish self and reject the offerings, and sitting there alone, she almost missed the company of the other Inarta. She played with flora in her hair feebly, a feeling in her heart longing for the company that had gone to the dance floor. She found it pathetic, but all the same wanted it. She looked around, wondering if she'd have the guts to dance.

[Lander]

Lander's hips gyrated to the beat of the instruments resonating around the room, grinding against the backside of a woman he was sure was on at least one if not several drugs. She swayed back and forth as if pulled by waves, a slave to the pulsating heartbeat of drums and the press of bodies on the dance floor. Her head rolled back, spilling a tangled mess of red curls onto his bare chest. He felt sweat at the nape of her neck, giving a hint to how long she'd been stuck in the throng of dancers. Everything was cast in a thrilling gloom; full faces were never completely visible. He caught flashes of a pair of painted up eyes here, panting lips there. The list went on in a blur of features all drunk on either alcohol, the sheer mood of the place, or more often both. Someone brushed by and draped a wreath of spring flowers around his sweating shoulders before disappearing into the ever-shifting mass, but he barely noticed. He was too caught up in the give and take of everyone around him; constantly shifting, twirling, and bumping. The woman swaying against him seemed to be lost in an entirely different world, unable to take any notice to his attentions, so he soon gave up and allowed himself to be carried deeper onto the dance floor. A topless Konti brushed by, her eyes lost in some sort of inebriated bliss. Lander himself hadn't yet had a single narcotic, wanting to feel the raw burn of his tired muscles and the fatigue left by dancing for bells on end. Hundreds of flowers bounced across his field of vision, all draped around necks, stuck in hair, or worn in various other ways. Spring Revelry was one of his favorite nights in Inclement Weather, mainly because it meant Summer Revelry, his favorite, wasn't too far away. But a party was a party, and he loved the energy in the club. He plucked a soft yellow bloom from the braid of a passing dancer, tucking it behind his ear as he sashayed through the sweaty mass and out the other side, needing a short breather. Lander made for one of the random alcoves sectioned off from the main room, hoping to sit a moment before rejoining the feverish party. The instruments suddenly dropped into a softer, slower key as he reached an alcove with a table and chairs. A heartbeat before he went to drop into a seat, he stopped, noticing the woman occupying one of the chairs for the first time. She quietly sipped a drink, looking thoughtful and far more sober than most of the others in the club. From the angle he was standing half of Lander's body was cast in warm firelight, while the other was mottled by shadow, wavering and flickering as people passed by the flames set into the walls. A curious smile quirked up the corner of his mouth into a lopsided grin, though it was hard to see in the dim alcove. "Well, hello there. Why would such a fine specimen such as yourself be sitting idly by, watching everyone else have fun?" His voice dripped with sickening sweetness, like too sweet honey. He didn't care if he got shot down instantly. Any woman was fair game to him, especially if they were alone with a drink in their hand in the corner of an energized dance club. It practically screamed "I'm lonely, pick me!"

[Coralie]

It took her a moment to realize she was being spoken to, and when she did, her gaze became a mixture of curiousness and cautiousness, an oxymoron of a duo. Her golden eyes rested on a young male, the one who she was sure the voice belonged to. Despite the newly ice-like glare he was retrieving from her, her lips curled up in a smile. The expression was daunting, snarky. It was out of place yet right at home in the Weather.

She twirled her hair around a finger as she took in the view before her. Few inches short of six foot, and she felt flattered to say he was all man. Based on his appearance, she would say he was around the Chiet caste. Once again she felt happier with this presence, and as though she had to remind herself to be grateful, her mind spoke with a joyous undertone. Don't just leave him standing! it said to her, make yourself valuable company. the idea of it made her feel completely out of her mojo, or whatever it was called. But she did sort of lean towards that, more so than just getting ditched. The next kind of smile she placed on her features was like a sly cat, eager to pounce. And maybe that's how she felt. That having been the beginning of her second drink, after that night she wasn't quite sure how she felt, looking back on it.

She stood up, her heart pounding and her senses saying, you're going to regret this, Coralie.

She sipped her drink, and grabbed his hand, pulling him back down to sit across from her. She realized she hadn't spoken yet. She leaned forward, as if she were going to tell him a juicy secret. In fact, she was. "I've never been here before..." coming off her lips to this stranger, felt much more different than telling all those girls. With the females, it was as if they were begging her to say she hadn't been there to make a fuss out of her, and she couldn't say she had been With him, it was as if he were begging her to say, exactly what it was she'd said-- the truth. He looked as though he was so cool, though. Like he'd been there dozens of times and was looking for someone who knew how that felt. And maybe she should have played it all off cool. Maybe she should have just gone and been a pretentious bitch, like she was playing at with her looks. It's not like during the day she wasn't a total bitch anyway-- it was that during the day, she was completely honest. That was, if she even spoke. Here, nobody knew her. Here, nobody didn't know she had no social skills. But with him, it felt like it didn't even matter. It felt like he knew she hadn't been there, even if she hadn't quite said it yet. Then again...

Enough with the fussing on how at home she felt. Let's get to what happened.

She stayed in that leaned-in position, that, 'even though I've never been here I know exactly what I'm doing' position, and continued to speak. "I have no idea what the hell I'm doing here." she grinned. "And it feels great." she let out a breathe she felt like she'd been holding forever. Her hands were still grasped onto his. "I'm Coralie." without asking who he was, or if he wanted to rest a little longer(she realized she had been thinking about how she felt for a long time), she stood up, and led him into the swarm of bodies. Having never danced before, she didn't just feel out of place, she was. But she let her body move freely, and it seemed okay.

She firstly moved to the beat. She remembered watching the hunk Akvin work his drums, and it wasn't hard to place the beat and move to it. Much less was it harder to simply move.

[Lander]

He arched a brow and smiled at the glare he received. This was nothing new. Lander got all kinds of reactions from women, because he chased all kinds of women. But he could tell when she seemed to warm to the idea of his company. They usually did. His smile went from curious to confident in record time, and it seemed his plans for the night were sealed in stone when she stood and took his hand. "I'm shocked you haven't been here. You seem to fit right in. I've been here more than I care to admit." His eyes crinkled with a sly grin, and he let her pull him back toward the dance floor without any resistance. He planned to be putty in her hands, mostly because he hoped to take what was attached to those hands back to his apartment. Lander tended to have one thing in mind when he came to this dance club. Once back on the floor, surrounded by the press of sweating bodies, he felt it was a done deal. Coralie was her name, and she seemed at ease even if it was her first time here. Her body jirated to the beat of drums, while his hips swayed toward hers. Lander learned in close, his lips brushing her ear so that she could hear over the hum of voices laced with music. "My name's Lander. The pleasure is mine." "What made you want to come here? Aside from the good music, of course." An Akalak brushed by, towing an Inartan man behind him. They both looked a little dazed. It wouldn't have been noticeable if they hadn't been holding hands. Not in just a friendly way either. They passed behind Coralie and disappeared into the thicker tangle of crowd. He watched them go, a little amused. Let bygones be bygones. Lander's eyes flicked back to his dance partner's, and he smiled mischievously. "And you're obviously a natural on the dance floor." He wasn't much of a mover and a shaker, but he could get by. Mostly he tried to pass off grinding as good dancing, and sort of bobbing up and down to the beat. Hopefully she'd had multiple drinks, that would make the night go faster. He tilted his head and watched her hips move, imagining several ways to put them to better use. Lander jerked when a hand grasped his shoulder, startling him from his far from chivalrous thoughts. He turned to see another Inartan woman, obviously drunk, sashaying around to his side. "Care if we cut in honey bunnies?" she slurred to the two of them, and her male companion who was just as drunk, snaked up and looped his arm around Coralie's shoulder. He was probably doped up too, by the way his eyes couldn't seem to focus on anything for more than a few heartbeats. Lander raised his eyebrows, looking far less amused than a moment ago. They were interrupting his plans.

[Coralie]

She was trying her hardest to have fun, as the concept was a foreign concept to her. She felt too observant; she was hoping that she was wrong, or have had too many drinks. But it seemed that as soon as she'd warmed up to him, he was comfortable. As if this was a routine that always happened, and she was just playing along. The thought bugged her as they danced.

As he introduced himself-- Lander, she liked that name-- he went on to ask why she was there. She wanted to give him some amazingly cool reason, like, she wanted to save herself for a time she felt she would have the best time, but that would be a complete lie. She looked at him as she moved.

"I came here, just out of what I think was a coincidence to meet you." she winked, and right as this took place and she received her compliment, returned with her blush, a couple broke their vibe. Whatever that was, with them.

Her top lip raised in almost a growling motion, but her face settled as soon as it had flared. She didn't like the touch on her shoulders, and she didn't like the touch on his, either. Though she'd just met him, she felt like protecting her new acquaintance from other another woman's touch. She forced a grin at them. She had seen the way his face had dropped at their intrusion.

"Well that's awfully unfortunate it had to be so late into the game that you came along, I was actually having quite fun getting into it with this one." she began to put on an act, and winked at the woman. She took Lander's hand and squeezed in affectionately, looking into his eyes dreamily. She shrugged off the man from her shoulders, and wrapped Lander's hands around her waist.

"Now if you would be so kind to excuse us to some... seclusion, my friends, if I ever see you again I'll be sure to give you the dance I that I now owe!" she said this as she weaved her and Lander through the crowd. She grinned at him when they were most definitely out of earshot. She started to dance closer to him, more open since her acting scene. They seemed to out of it to keep up with what she was saying, much less stop her.

She leaned her head on his shoulder, and then that set it off.

She started laughing. Uncontrollably. So hard there were tears coming out of her eyes, and she was groping her straining sides.

"I have never never ever done anything like that before, ever! she laughed, hysterically. Her hands were now gripping his shoulders and she leaned against him as if her life depended on it. "That was the most normal I've ever felt in my life. Is that how most people are?" she grinned so hard her face hurt. "Do some people actually act like that?" she settled down, and the pain from laughing finally set into her stomach.

"I think I just got abs."

[Lander]

It was more than interesting to see how Coralie handled the inebriated pair. At first he honestly thought she'd strike out against them. The moment the man's arm went round her shoulder, he'd have thought someone had thrown an old dead eel on her for the way her face changed. Lander didn't even try to hide the grin that gave him. His smile grew even wider when she grabbed his hand and took on the air of polite contriteness. "I'm afraid I have to agree with my lady here. So sorry. Next time, for sure," he lied easily, giving them a less than believable regretful frown. Lander squeezed Coralie's bare waist, brushing his thumb across the smooth skin of the side of her belly. She was soft and feminine, but he couldn't deny that muscle was there. He liked women like that. Then they were off again. She led him deeper into the crowd until they were well away from the interrupting couple. Which really wasn't all that far, because Lander doubted those two would notice a Wingle Eagle screeching in their ears. They were in a whole other world created by the mixture of drugs and alcohol. And it seemed Coralie's small bout with them had loosened her up. He definitely preferred it that way. Their hips brushed as she danced closer, and he gripped her waist more securely. He'd kept at least one hand on her bare skin as she'd led him away from Drunk 1 and Drunk 2. He felt a familiar stirring from down below when she rested her red head on his shoulder, and just as he was about to place a hand on her round ass, she started laughing hysterically. Lander would be lying if he didn't admit he was startled considerably. But it was an infectious laugh. She was actually crying with mirth, tears streaming down her face. It was one of those rare laughs that rocked your entire body and made it hard to stand. Lander really couldn't help but smile, and then soon started laughing himself. He held her up with two supportive hands wrapped around her waist, but he wasn't too steady either. He snorted and tucked his chin toward his throat as he laughed, the silent kind that shook one's shoulders. "Believe me, it's not uncommon to meet people like that. I've seen worse, but they were pretty bad. I really don't think they even knew where they were." He chuckled and smiled crookedly at her, making his eyes crinkle almost shut. "Do you not get out much? Inclement Weather isn't the only place the weirdos roam."

[Coralie]

She felt the way him hand had rested on her hip, and didn't object. As well as this, the support was more than appreciated. She thought about how she'd made him grin. How he had absolutely gone along with her acting. He could work on that frown though, she had remembered thinking for only a second before she'd ran off.

She loved the way he laughed so hard with her. She loved the way it didn't sound fake. Maybe it wasn't. She grinned. Her laughter was a little contagious, was it? Then she begun the thinking that always put her in bad places.

He seemed very sure of himself when he held her. She wished she could like the fact it was so easy to grab her and hold her, but something strange inside her unraveled when she thought about how many women he'd probably been with. She wondered if it was her time of the month. Her moods never changed that fast.

She tried her hardest to grin and stay happy after that, though it was difficult. She had no urge to laugh like she just had, but she danced. It was a little less enthusiastic. She knew her emotional change would be noticeable.

She watched him laugh, and it was a great sight. If she were to tell anybody about her first night out, she'd say, "You won't believe this. You had to of been there. But that kind of laugh was sort of charming." She pushed out the thoughts that Lander had had his way with many women, and danced.

She danced, boogied, grinded, whatever came to mind and whatever matched the music. She focused on the beats, her body concaving, her arms wrapping around herself, then her body slowly moving back and forth until her butt jutted out, and her hands were in the air, faced inward towards each other, her fingers gingerly overlapping. She danced like this for a while, not really thinking about Lander exactly, enjoying herself.

Then when she let her mind wander, she found herself thinking again. Finally, she turned around, let her arms around his neck dangle there, and leaned up against him. Not sexually, whether or not he sees it as her "coming onto him". It was basically for support. She gave him the puppy dog eyes and said in a very pouty, innocent sound: "Lander, how many women have you done this with? Enchanted, had your way with, then left never to be thought about again?"

[Lander]

He wasn't blind, he could see how she seemed to put a wall up between them. But he couldn't help what else was also between them. She'd given him a very obvious erection, and Lander wasn't even going to try to hide it. It would make it even more conspicuous. Best to just go along with her dancing, even if she wasn't that into it. He would never understand women for as long as he lived. It was like a candle had been blown out. One moment she was flirtatious and laughing, and he actually enjoyed her company. The next, she was distant and reluctant. But still dancing against him, so the brain between his legs was paying attention, even if the one upstairs was confused.

His own hips slowed a little as Coralie backed off and seemed to become lost in her own little word. He tilted his head, watching how her body twisted and jirrated to the music. The brain down below was having a grand little time, enjoying the show. Who cared if she was being bipolar? He definitely didn't. Just so long as he could touch more of her smooth skin, maybe kiss her plump lips. Best case scenario she'd share his bed tonight. Lander had good luck when it came to pulling a woman out of a funky mood. It was pretty easy. Just throw them some compliments and bat his eyelashes, and they turn to putty in his very skilled fingers.

His lips split into a smile when her arms were once more around him, and her body was pressed against his. Her breasts were warm against his bare chest, and his abdomen brushed hers as he danced slowly. The music was winding down into something calmer. The musicians skillfully controlled the mood of the crowd without most even noticing it. He sure didn't. It was like everyone had strings attached to their bodies, and the instruments were the puppeteers. But Coralie's question didn't help the mood. It ruined it. He hated when women pouted and whined. It was a quick turn off. His second brain couldn't decide if it was happy to be pressed against her pelvic, or pissed off that she was trying to be cute like a child. "What sort of question is that?"

Bad approach. He backpedaled mentally, trying to reel in his temper. Play stupid. "I don't know what you mean. Are you trying to imply something?" Lander frowned down at her shadowy face, trying not to glare at the pout on her lips that were so alluring a second ago. Where was the woman I was just dancing with? He put both of his hands on her bare back, splaying his fingers across the smooth skin. "Want to get a drink with me? I'm thirsty." Atta' boy, change the subject. Get some more alcohol into her. He looked over the top of her head, examining the crowd. There's got to be a Love Drug dealer 'round here somewhere.

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[Coralie]

"Lander, you ass," she grinned at him, and jumped up onto her toes to give him a kiss on a cheek. "It was a serious question. That's a kind of question I'm sure you're not used to hearing, yeah?" She squeezed his hand. "I mean all the women that have made you so experienced." she winked at him. "It's okay. You're still probably going to get me in bed despite my moodswings." she sighed.

"Drink it is!" she led him back to the bar, ordered a drink, and watched all the people dancing. She would have admitted that it was bad on her part to get pouty. It was just a habit that was just now developing, she would learn later in the future. Yet, she was also just now developing her confidence. Everything was moving faster. Forget, forget, she told herself. Forget, she repeated. It was almost so strong that she looked around thinking that she spoke it out loud.

She looked at him, her eyebrows raised. "You know how to work us girls, huh." she grinned. She couldn't stop grinning. Even after she had almost had her near-breakdown. Maybe it wasn't going to be a future habit. Maybe... "Sorry about earlier, yeah? I'm just new to this confidence thing. This whole, 'get out of the house Coralie, you have a bod, rock it.' thing." she laughed. It wasn't as hard as before, but it was real. "In no way am I thirsty." she looked at the drink she had ordered. She sipped it.

"Maybe I'm just so caught up in the moment I don't feel like I need a drink. Maybe I need something to drink." drink away everything for the first time. She looked at him, her whole being reflected in his eyes back at her. A confused woman at a bar, laughing whether or not she wanted to.

"I'm glad it was you I met tonight. Nobody else could have done that back there." she smiled at him. A warm smile, a grateful smile. "You're cool, Lander. I hope even after tonight, even if we end up being a one-night stand, that I meet up with you someplace later, yeah?" she winked at him. Somehow her drink was downed, and whether or not his was as well, she tugged at his arm. "Come dance with me and make me the happiest girl in the world tonight."

[Lander]

He tried for a smile, but it felt a little stiff on his face. She was mercurial, this one. But weren't most women? It seemed like it, a lot of the time. Lander had never found a reason to settle down in a serious relationship. It was too complicated, and he'd never found a woman that stood out from any of the rest. Not in his eyes. At least Coralie wasn't going to press the matter anymore. It made him uncomfortable when they pried. He's bedded a lot of women in his short life, and he wasn't going to count back. He'd run out of fingers and possibly toes.

She led him over the bar, and he was grateful for it, but he only requested some water. He wanted to be sober tonight. Who knew what information he'd tell her if she got him drunk, and he wouldn't be having that. Not ever. His business was his alone. Maybe that was one of his many problems with any sort of commitment that didn't involve steady pay; opening up. Lander worked on his glass of water, using it as an excuse to stay quiet, watching her over the rim. He really wasn't sure if this was just another mood swing, but she seemed more or less back to before.

He set his drink back on the counter, leaning his weight on an elbow. "I'm not working anyone. Just trying to have a good time, and give someone else a good night while I'm at it." Which really wasn't a lie, so he smiled. But she was really starting to make him think. He almost felt guilty, when he thought of his less than noble intentions. She seemed rather innocent. Lander could almost go so far as to think he was taking advantage of her, instead of just having sex with a like-minded woman. Because she wasn't like-minded. She was pretty shy, to a degree. Hadn't ever even been to the club.

I mean, really, who hasn't been here? he thought incredulously. Was she that innocent? Maybe I have a sex addiction. He didn't like that idea. Any kind of addiction never ended well. Great, she's making me second guess myself. And the request to make her happy, that was the topper. His stomach was churning uncertainly when she tugged him back toward the dance floor. This was really going in a direction he hadn't planned on. Ever. The music had turned into something soft and smooth. Even the druggies deep in the crowd had stopped their erratic, sexual, drug induced gyrations. Everyone had a partner pulled close. It was intimate.

Be a man for a bell, he ordered himself. Lander hadn't really known what to say to her hopes and confessions, but now he could take the proverbial reigns. "Let's dance." He looped an arm around around her waist and half spun half pulled her into the inner fringes of the crowd, twisting to face her and snaking his other arm around her bare waist. He wasn't going to sleep with her. Not after all that. He wouldn't be able to live with himself, and he resented her slightly for that. More for the fact that she'd made him rethink his shit intentions. But in a way he was glad, because he'd be able to dance with her into the wee hours of the morning, then not have to be sick for the next week thinking how he'd left her to wake up alone in bed, likely to never see him again.

He had never regretted sleeping with a woman, but he'd regret it with her. At least with the bad intention he'd had. She was just too unsure of herself. The women he shared a bed with were definitely the looser kind, that'd probably put out for handfuls of men before him. Lander could enjoy this though, to a degree. He spread his fingers across her back, pulling her body up against his. He tried not to think about the fact that his erection was pinned between them. Once a perv always a perv. This sentimental junk only effects the brain up top, not the one down below.

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