Blogathon - Entry 41
Jul. 27th, 2008 05:30 am![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
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Beltane in Shayara
Friends had convinced her to come, and Alyssa’s glad for it now. She had doubts before, between being single and feeling like an outsider for no good reason, but they’re blown aside as the music tugs insistently on her limbs. The day is warm without being hot enough to drag her down, sapping her energy. Her dance dares her closer and closer to the bonfire, though never close enough to let it catch her skirts. Her cheeks are flushed and her eyes are bright. A stranger seeing her right now would think he saw a woman in love. And she is, in a way. In love with her city and her people; drunk on the day’s energy. She could dance alone and it wouldn’t diminish the joy all that much.
But she doesn’t have to. There are red Narsani ribbons tied to her wrists, fluttering in the wind and movement, the light briefly making it look like she’s trailing threads of fire in her wake. She feels a tug, some brave soul catching hold of the ersatz flame and she grins, recognizing a former coworker. They dance, and by the end a Lhri’nari grey ribbon has joined the ones at Alyssa’s wrist.
Time makes her bolder, and she herself invites a Tamrani-looking boy to dance. She doesn’t learn his name that night, but she likes the way he smiles.
When the kithrayn of L’Arath asks her to dance, Alyssa is stunned speechless. She knows her parents aren’t fond of the man, as well as the reasons why, but give credit where credit is due – he doesn’t lack for pure magnetism. His grip on her is strong, she’s not sure she could break it if she wanted to. Thankfully she doesn’t, intimidated as he leaves her.
Through it all, she feels like she’s being watched. Eyes boring into the back of her head, putting her to memory. The feeling doesn’t abate until the music ends and he lets her go.
She goes to sit by Donna after that, too tired to keep moving much longer. Something about the Librarian makes Alyssa want to put her head in the woman’s lap. Makes her feel like a little girl again, safe and content. Her glasses droop on her nose and the dancers in front of her blur like running watercolors. She closes her eyes and listens to the music and laughter, glad she had come after all.
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Beltane in Shayara
Friends had convinced her to come, and Alyssa’s glad for it now. She had doubts before, between being single and feeling like an outsider for no good reason, but they’re blown aside as the music tugs insistently on her limbs. The day is warm without being hot enough to drag her down, sapping her energy. Her dance dares her closer and closer to the bonfire, though never close enough to let it catch her skirts. Her cheeks are flushed and her eyes are bright. A stranger seeing her right now would think he saw a woman in love. And she is, in a way. In love with her city and her people; drunk on the day’s energy. She could dance alone and it wouldn’t diminish the joy all that much.
But she doesn’t have to. There are red Narsani ribbons tied to her wrists, fluttering in the wind and movement, the light briefly making it look like she’s trailing threads of fire in her wake. She feels a tug, some brave soul catching hold of the ersatz flame and she grins, recognizing a former coworker. They dance, and by the end a Lhri’nari grey ribbon has joined the ones at Alyssa’s wrist.
Time makes her bolder, and she herself invites a Tamrani-looking boy to dance. She doesn’t learn his name that night, but she likes the way he smiles.
When the kithrayn of L’Arath asks her to dance, Alyssa is stunned speechless. She knows her parents aren’t fond of the man, as well as the reasons why, but give credit where credit is due – he doesn’t lack for pure magnetism. His grip on her is strong, she’s not sure she could break it if she wanted to. Thankfully she doesn’t, intimidated as he leaves her.
Through it all, she feels like she’s being watched. Eyes boring into the back of her head, putting her to memory. The feeling doesn’t abate until the music ends and he lets her go.
She goes to sit by Donna after that, too tired to keep moving much longer. Something about the Librarian makes Alyssa want to put her head in the woman’s lap. Makes her feel like a little girl again, safe and content. Her glasses droop on her nose and the dancers in front of her blur like running watercolors. She closes her eyes and listens to the music and laughter, glad she had come after all.
