(no subject)

[shelley_winters]

Shelley restrains herself from sticking her tongue out as Ishamael and Lanfear go off - to plot something horrible, no doubt. Idly she imagines the reactions. Incredulous stares, followed by everyone pretending they saw nothing, most likely. Followed by a furious lecture later on...

She swallows, pulling her hands back down from where she had been nervously playing with the ter'angreal around her neck. How she had managed to forget about the thing, she has no idea.

This place is crowded, and frightening, and full of people she hates, and she wants to go home.

Comments

[woven-threads.livejournal.com]

The girl was alone and Rahvin saw his opportunity.

Closer up, he could see a hint of beauty, but she was still nothing special. Her hand toyed with her necklace, obviously she was trying to draw attention to her meager breasts.

He bowed to her slightly, looking up at her with dark eyes. "May I have this dance, my Lady?"

[shelley_winters]

Shelley blinks at him, and can't help colouring very slightly.

A strange man, a strange Forsaken man is asking her to dance, and oh dear, is he ever gorgeous. But then, they all are, which is not fair in the least. This would be Rahvin, then. The womaniser, Elan had said.

She risks a quick glance over to where he is dancing and talking with Lanfear. It's a public room, she's safe enough.

"O-of course, my lord Rahvin," she manages, with a small smile. Politeness is sensible.

[woven-threads.livejournal.com]

He grinned, unable to hide his delight at her reaction. Fearful without cowering and he couldn't help but notice the way her pale skin flushed under his gaze.

Plain, yes, but with an inner fire.

"My reputation precedes me?"

[shelley_winters]

Shelley nods careful assent, attempting not to bite her lip but looks up at him with some determination. Meeting his eyes will not hurt. Now. If he asks her name, what does she say? Her own name, or try Mesaana's alias again? But then, he might be more likely to know it...

"You have been pointed out to me, yes."

[woven-threads.livejournal.com]

"Of course I have," his smile verges on predatory. "Ishamael would want to see to your safety, after all, you are his." He saw the mark on her finger, of course Ishamael would be beyond normal signs of commitment.

"My interest in you is entirely innocent," he offered her his hand.

[shelley_winters]

Shelley bites her tongue angrily.

She is most emphatically not his, but all she does is lower her gaze slightly, thinking what to say. His offer of a hand solves that.

"I trust you will be a perfect gentleman," she says, with as much coolness as she can muster, and takes his hand.

[woven-threads.livejournal.com]

Oh, she would be fun to possess, to see more of her reactions. For a moment he entertained the thought of how she would look in his bed. Only a moment, because he was not suicidal and the idea of what Ishamael did to people who slightly displeased him made imagining what he would do to a fellow Chosen who went after what was his almost stomach turning.

"I always am," another smile and he gently began leading her in a dance.

[shelley_winters]

Blissfully unaware of his thoughts, Shelley concentrates carefully on the dance, getting the steps right. Luckily, she is vaguely familiar with this one. Step, turn.

Shelley feels really ridiculously small, dancing with Rahvin, far taller and larger than Ishamael. She keeps her head right up - so she can mostly see his face, dancing a respectful distance apart as they are - and aims for some semblance of dignity.

[woven-threads.livejournal.com]

She was less graceful than a woman noble born, although Rahvin could not see why Ishamael would waste his time on a girl of low standing.

"I fear that I am at a disadvantage as you know my name and I do not know yours."

[shelley_winters]

Shelley thinks briefly as she turns before returning her hand to his.

It seems less than likely he will know the name...

"Couldn't have that," she mutters carefully, before nodding. "I am Selae Arata Pilaera."

[woven-threads.livejournal.com]

He nodded, "It's a lovely name." The dance only captured a little of his attention, he was waiting to sense someone channelling.

"Arata," he frowned slightly as he thought. "Are your family Friends of the Dark also?"

[shelley_winters]

Shelley almost freezes, carrying on with the dance only by the slight pressure of his hands and the knowledge that she has to. The girl swallows, looking down to hide her face. She isn't, she isn't, she is not...

Finally, faintly,

"I have no family."

[woven-threads.livejournal.com]

An interesting reaction.

"I hope that no one in this room is responsible for that." His concern almost sounds genuine.

[shelley_winters]

Oh, does she want to say yes. But even thinking it, she can feel her skin subtly tightening, so that clearly comes under the heading of 'making trouble.' She hates him so much.

"Oh, no."

She looks up again, calmer.

[woven-threads.livejournal.com]

He smiled again. "Ishamael is your family now?"

[shelley_winters]

Shelley reddens under the light coat of powder again. Forget the rest of the evening, this one dance is punishment enough, and she can't disagree! She desperately wants to kick something, then hide forever.

"...Perhaps."

[woven-threads.livejournal.com]

He leaned in slightly, "Family is a very dangerous attachment," he whispered, his cheek brushing against her hair.

[shelley_winters]

Shelley unhappily says nothing, all too aware of the family she has back home, and her friends at the bar. It's a horrible, terrifying thought, and she's suddenly afraid the sound of her voice might betray her.

She keeps dancing, coldly ignoring the way he leans close.

[woven-threads.livejournal.com]

Rahvin laughed but his eyes remained emotionless. She was afraid of the others.

"Is this your first time at one of Graendal's parties?" He smoothly changed the subject.

[shelley_winters]

"Yes," she says, gratefully seizing on it.

She completes a turn with creditable grace, for once. Keep the conversation on easy things, and perhaps she can cope.

[woven-threads.livejournal.com]

"Lucky that you're Ishamael's, or you could wind up the entertainment. You'd be surprised at the things that can suddenly happen."

He followed the steps easily.

[shelley_winters]

Or not so easy. She stiffens slightly in his arms.

"I'm not sure I would."

Her voice is colder than she had meant it to sound, and she mentally kicks herself.

[woven-threads.livejournal.com]

"There are worse fates. I cannot think of one myself at the moment."

[shelley_winters]

Shelley continues dancing in silence.

Is he threatening her, or simply playing around with words, trying to scare her? It's impossible to say.

[woven-threads.livejournal.com]

Rahvin looked up, trying to spot Ishamael. His reaction was all that mattered.

The dance was almost at an end.

[shelley_winters]

As the music stops, Shelley very carefully doesn't give a sigh of relief, but thinks one extremely hard, stopping and releasing his hand carefully. Reaching up to his shoulder that long had been somewhat tricky, apart from anything else.

[woven-threads.livejournal.com]

"Thank you for the dance, Lady Selae."

He smiled but his eyes were still cold.

"Ishamael has chosen well."

[shelley_winters]

Shelley steps back stiffly, cheeks angrily darkening again although she tries to force it down.

Rather let him see anything on her face she might regret, she bows her head in response to his thanks.

"Thank you, Lord Rahvin."

Go away go away go away...

[study-in-pain.livejournal.com]

An extremely tall, and beautiful woman with charcoal black skin gracefully walked towards Rahvin. Her hands were folded against the front of her long, black skirts. A simple, unadorned, high-necked dress stood out amongst the elegant fashions of the party. Her voice was calm, and soothingly maternal as she spoke.

"Rahvin."

Pausing for a moment, she glanced towards Shelley dark-eyed gaze studying the tiny redhead for a moment before she returned her gaze to Rahvin without saying another word.

[woven-threads.livejournal.com]

"Semirhage." His voice was calm only because he could show no weakness.

Graendal and Lanfear he could understand to some extent, but the sadistic nature of the woman in front of him was almost unimaginable.

"Have you met Lady Selae?"

[study-in-pain.livejournal.com]

Another calm glance.

"We have met."

Her tone was as calm as ever. Nothing seemed to change about the woman as she turned to Rahvin once more. She did not want Ishamael's little plaything to overhear this.

"I have matters that I would discuss with you."

[woven-threads.livejournal.com]

He nodded briskly and glanced at Shelley.

"I must take my leave, Lady Selae." He lifted her hand to his mouth and pressed his lips to the back of her hand for a moment. "Delightful to meet you"

He looked back at Semirhage, his face an unreadable mask.

"I'm listening."

[shelley_winters]

Shelley swallows extremely hard. She had been hoping that in sixty-odd years the woman would not recall. But given the opportunity, she seizes it, and nods politely to Semirhage. She glances at Rahvin as he takes her hand, trying not to squirm uncomfortably when he kisses it, hoping her face is still calm.

Then their attention is mercifully off her, and carefully she turns and makes her way away from the pair, fighting not to hurry, or look back over her shoulder as the pair began to speak in quiet tones.