Reception

[fiery_ring]

The reception takes place in the Big Top, which is more than large enough to accommodate the crowd. Outside, a large hog roast is taking place, with food and drinks aplenty.

It's a good time for Carlotta to catch up with her friends from school, most of whom she hasn't seen since the start of the war. A few of them have married in that time and brought husbands, some are in work or still at university. A petite, pretty woman, Alison, has brought a daughter of about two; finally a distraction from an incessant need to worry what her hair looks like. A tall, strapping woman, Mirabel, is sporting a burn scar on her face; rumour has it, she has been serving in combat.

The circus folk mingle among the guests, bringing food and occasionally breaking out into acrobatics. At the front of the tent, Fred the Bouncer sits with Wolf, his large guard dog.

Comments

Re: Dancing

[gavin62truck]

Claiming a spot on the floor, he turns and faces her to rest his free hand on her waist, drawing her in closer. His touch is heavy but sure, and what he lacks in grace he makes up for in confidence as they sway in time to the music.

"Having a good time?"

Re: Dancing

[ikissdhimbck]

She's still getting used to how close people dance. Her carriage is almost perfect, save for the way her body leans in to be close to him.

"I am. Will an' Carlotta look happy, an' the folk here are pleasant. Question is, are you?"

Re: Dancing

[gavin62truck]

"I'd probably enjoy this more if I was drinking, but, hey, what'mIgonnado." He smirks. "Nah, kidding, it's all good. Everyone looks like they're having fun. Can't not enjoy yourself when like half the guests are circus performers. And the monkey ain't stalking me, so I can't complain."

Re: Dancing

[ikissdhimbck]

"You only assume the monkey ain't stalkin' you 'cuz y'can't see him. But y'wouldn't if he was any good at it, now would you?"

The Devil's in her eyes as she smiles up at him, fingers tightening in his grasp.

"What happens when y'drink?"

Re: Dancing

[gavin62truck]

"Ah, great," he says wryly. "The monkey's a ninja, too."

He looks down at her with a twitch to his eyebrow, and though his tone remains wry there's some truth to his exaggerations.

"What happens when I drink? Well, let's see. With one whiskey too many, I'd hit on every woman in this tent. With two whiskeys too many, I'd hit on every woman in this tent, including the grandmothers. With three whiskeys too many, I'd receive about a dozen slaps and/or punches to the face. After that, the number of whiskeys too many would be irrelevant, as I'd have started a fight with every guy who I thought was staring at your breasts and/or ass. I mean, I still think that every guy is staring at your breasts and/or ass right now, but I'm sober, so don't worry, I ain't gonna start any fights."

Re: Dancing

[ikissdhimbck]

She blinks, arching her eyebrows.

"So you're a real peach, then?"

That's good to know. She figured he must have a reason, to be so adamant about not drinking. She could have imagined worse than flirting and brawling.

Sneaking a glance down the front of her dress, her cheeks turn rosy.

"Keep sayin' that, an' I'm gonna hafta spend the rest of the evenin' hidin' in a corner."

Re: Dancing

[gavin62truck]

"Oh, yeah, a real peach, honey."

Of course, that was the funny, superficial explanation. He didn't touch upon the more severe levels of assholery that would be involved.

He chuckles at her bashfulness, giving her waist a squeeze. "Well, get a couple drinks in me and I'll fight everyone who looks at you."

Re: Dancing

[ikissdhimbck]

Her lips twist.

"I'd much rather your hands were on me than on anybody else."

Re: Dancing

[gavin62truck]

A slow grin.

"Well, whaddya know -- I feel exactly the same way."

The hand on her waist circles around to the small of her back.

Re: Dancing

[ikissdhimbck]

Her teeth catch her bottom lip, a shock of white against the deep red lipstick.

"Remember we're in a crowded place," she whispers. "There's no room for your — tomfoolery."

Re: Dancing

[gavin62truck]

He leans in, his smirking lips brushing her ear. "'Tomfoolery' is actually my real name, in case you didn't know."

There's a bit more sway to his hips as he presses her body even closer.

Re: Dancing

[ikissdhimbck]

She snickers, turning her face against his neck for one indulgent moment.

Her leg gently bumps his.

"You're gonna get us thrown off the dance floor."

Re: Dancing

[gavin62truck]

"Hell, I could get us thrown out of the country."

Lips still twisted, he plants a quick kiss underneath her ear.

"I saw a spot outside behind a tent..."

Re: Dancing

[ikissdhimbck]

She cuts her eyes at him sideways, suspicion and mischief warring with each other.




"What're you suggestin'?"

She has a feeling it's not a private dance.


Well. Not a proper dance, anyhow.

Re: Dancing

[gavin62truck]

"I'm suggesting...a little bit of tomfoolery."

His smile is so sly that it puts other sly things to shame.

"C'mon. I checked. It's out of the way. Nobody's gonna see us."

Re: Dancing

[ikissdhimbck]

She fixes him with a look, eyebrows touching her hairline.

"Y'put some forethought into this, then? My, I dunno if I should be flattered or indignant."

She glances over her shoulder shyly.

"Have y'put any thought into how we might sneak away without raisin' eyebrows?"

Re: Dancing

[gavin62truck]

"Forethought? Jeezus, honey, I been forethinking about gettin' you outta that dress the moment I saw you in it, but for a while at least, this would be as close as I'm gonna get to doing that without actually taking it off."

He keeps his voice to a low murmur, his lips near her ear.

"And as for raising eyebrows? I really don't think anybody's gonna notice. Or care."

Re: Dancing

[ikissdhimbck]

"'Forethinking' isn't a word."

Why, yes, this is what the former schoolteacher got out of that whole spiel. The amusement on her face damages her overall aura of ruler-wielding schoolmarm, however.

She presses her cheek to his, leaving a faint smudge of lipstick just under his sideburn.

"Why don't you spin me, take a bow, an' lead me off the floor t'this magical out-of-the-way place?"

Re: Dancing

[gavin62truck]

...It isn't? He could've sworn that it was.

But he isn't going to argue, because she's just agreed to participate in the aforementioned tomfoolery.

Straightening up tall and pretending that he has more class than he actually has (which is to say, none), he keeps her hand in his as he steps back, gently twirls her out, and holds her at arm's length as he puts his free hand to his midsection and gives a little bow. When his hair falls over his brow, he looks up at her, nothing but pure mischief in his eyes.

Righting himself, he hooks her hand in the crook of his arm and they make their way toward the tent's exit.

Re: Dancing

[ikissdhimbck]

Oh, no.

He's going to sink her with that charm, and the peek-a-boo of his blue eyes from behind a curtain of hair.

She smiles wildly, for one moment looking the wind-blown cowgirl she usually does.

Curtsying, she takes his arm and follows him out.

Re: Dancing

[gavin62truck]

Her untamed grin sends a thrill through him, and nearly mirroring it, he bites the inside of his bottom lip to keep from letting a laugh escape.

Once outside, he leads her around the tent toward the back. There are some caravans and circus trailers parked there, but nobody seems to be in them as they're all at the wedding party. From here they can still hear the music and chatter and laughter, but faintly.

Tommy pulls Kate into the shadows between two trailers where he's pretty sure that nobody will see or hear them.

Re: Dancing

[ikissdhimbck]

It's so rare that she can let herself be happy. Not just content, not just all right, but honestly lighthearted and free.

She's humming the song they danced to, once again trusting him to lead her true.

"How on earth did y'happen upon this?"

Re: Dancing

[gavin62truck]

"Well...Will mentioned that he used to do a horse act with Carlotta, so while you were off dancing, I went out for a smoke, and I thought I'd wander around, see if I could find any horses out here in these trailers. Y'know, so I could bring you to see 'em. But I had to get back in case you started to wonder where I disappeared to, so. I didn't find the horses but I did think this was a good spot to sneak away to for a few minutes."

With his back braced against the side of the trailer, he shifts lower so that their height difference levels off a little, and grasping her lightly around her waist, he draws her in closer between his legs.

Re: Dancing

[ikissdhimbck]

The smirk slowly slips from her face as she listens, something more akin to surprise taking over.

"Y'came lookin' for horses y'could introduce me to?"

And fretted about not worrying her by disappearing?



That's the sweetest thing he's done so far.

She laughs softly, pressing up between his legs until almost every bit of them is touching, and pulls him into a deep kiss.

Re: Dancing

[gavin62truck]

...Well, this is a pleasant -- and totally unexpected -- reward for his efforts.

He'll take it.

As his hands roam her body, indulging in the curves that her dress does a great job accentuating, he deepens the already thorough kiss, his throaty, purring sighs muffled against her cheek.