Tristran Thorn

"Ah, but then they might actually think that we were ill - it might not be the kind I was going for, but that's alright."

She hooks her arm through his and straightens her shoulders with all the solemnness of a soldier marching off to battle. Or certain doom. Whichever.

"Shall we then?"

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"Yes." He nods, taking a deep breath. He pats her hand.

"Let us bravely face our doom, then."

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"I warn you now that Tobias will likely tease you about my virtue," she quips - rather cheerfully, all things considered - before tugging him easily through the door and out onto the deck amid the renewed sound of voices and the light strains of music coming from Oddness and a rather strange looking instrument with far too many strings.

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Tristran merely raises both eyebrows at that, letting her tug him along to the deck and the music.

Alberic and Meggot are already dancing, and a group of the crew are standing at the sidelines, clapping in time to the music.

It's overall a pleasant atmosphere; he's just not looking forward to the actual dancing part.

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It's a bit more comfortable, all things considered. She knows them - has had her feathers snatched, has been carted around, has be teased, poked and prodded by them for the past two weeks - so she's more at ease with these particular eyes than any other ones.

"Okay," she replies, coming to a stop and turning herself around to face him. "At least we've had practice, yes?"

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"If you want to call it that," Tristran mumbles, getting himself into position. This should not feel like torture. It really shouldn't.

As soon as his skin comes in contact with hers, there's that familiar not entirely unpleasant tingling, and then there's the closeness as he brings his arm around her waist again -- all of it adds up to the familiar feeling of stupid awkwardness.

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Alberic laughs, as he turns his head mid-step, to see them.

"There you are!" he booms cheerfully. "We were beginning to wonder whether you'd run off!"

He jerks his head towards the 'band', and shouts, "Another song, Oddness! Something -- waltzy!"

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"Rather wish we had run off," she mutters, low enough for only Tristran to hear, hand winding lightly behind his neck - closer this time and she's not precisely certain why.

A bit louder, head tilting slightly to glance over her shoulder at the Captain's wide grin.

"Don't try to get all fancy on us."

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The music changes accordingly, Oddness' wings fluttering for an impatient moment before a particular tune catches his fancy.

"Ah!" the Captain's smile widens. "There we go!"

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Tristran smirks.

Oh, yes. He completely concurs with that -- running off now might seem a little strange, though; they've officially lost any and all chances of running off now.

The song that Oddness and several of the crew play is a softer song, almost a lullaby-like tune that likely requires less stumbling, and more smooth, swaying movements.

This is not a good thing, as Tristran can hardly move without jerking, let alone sway.

"Well, this is all rather familiar." Including his burning face.

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"I'm not going to have to cover your eyes again, am I?" the star teases then sobers, smile soft. "This one is easy, I promise."

She narrows her eyes thoughtfully for a moment, waiting for the music to catch up with her properly.

"It's a bit like a mirror. You step forward," she instructs, waiting. "And I step backward."

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Tristran's face burns further as he tries desperately to avoid being greatly affected by her smile -- so different from her usual sarcastic and snarky demeanor.

Why, oh, why, does it have to affect him so much all of a sudden?

He nods nervously, eyes cast down to their feet. He takes the appropriate step forward with one foot, as instructed, swallowing.

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Her heart pounds strangely when he looks away, and catching a quick glance of Tobias' exceedingly smug face only serves to pain her face brighter to match.

This whole dancing business is utterly wretched.

"And now opposite. I step forward and you step backward," she mumbles self-consciously, stumbling a little sloppily as her bad leg takes the weight of her, grip tightening as she rights herself. "We will not worry so much about turning, I do not think."

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Another nod, eyes still focused on their feet, and Tristran moves backward one step. His feet are positioned more or less in the same spot as they were when he began.

"...Like that?" he asks quietly.

This really will not do. He has to have confidence. And yet he'd rather battle dragons and witches and lions than dance any longer, only because it serves to show the world just how moronic (as Yvaine would say) he really feels.

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It's the sudden, utterly uncertain quiet of his voice that snaps her eyes up - and it's the need to escape that makes her wince, then smile widely stepping back a bit and curtsying properly.

"I'm - I'll just -" she stutters then turns, voice raising to an overly cocky drawl, one hand braced on her hip. "You going to dance with me at all, old man?"

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The Captain's amused laugh rumbles across the deck like a wave of thunder.

"Far be it to say that I have turned down an invitation from a Lady," he booms in return, bowing respectfully to his red-headed partner and turning quickly to snatch the star's hand. "Especially from one so fine."

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Tristran blinks -- well, he didn't think it'd be that easy.

But he's relieved nevertheless, to be excused from having to embarrass himself any further. Clearly Yvaine must have thought so too.

He steps back and finds a perch on one of the shipping carts, taking in several breaths to steady himself, refusing to look at anything or anyone. He looks to the steadily darkening sky, instead.

Little sparkling stars appear through the foggy cloud around them.

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Oddness and the band slowly bring the song to a sweet and soft end before a new one begins for the captain and the star.

Alberic closes his eyes for a moment, simply standing with the star's hand in his -- listening. Then upon what seems to be the 'right' note, he gains position.

With what could only be expert knowledge in dancing (though from where he could have garnered it is anyone's guess), the captain places her left hand upon his shoulder, while his right goes to her waist. He gives her a wink, and begins to lead.

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She's not nearly as uncertain, though her skills certainly pale in comparison to his - stumbly and slightly off and she feels rather like a child standing next to him - until the grand, sweeping gestures take her in and she's laughing again.

"Thank you, sir," she murmurs respectfully - no trace of the cocky, sarcastic girl from earlier. "I'm not so good at teaching, I don't think."

One finely shaped eyebrow quirks over a helpless shrug of shoulders.

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"No, perhaps you aren't," the Captain agrees good-naturedly, "but you certainly took to leaving that little situation as quickly as you could, hmm?" He gives her a 'Don't think I didn't notice that' look.

And then he winks again, and guides her across the deck to the great cheers and applause of the crew, laughing as his feet practically float across the wood flooring.

"Still, you aren't as bad a dancer as your companion."

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Her chin ducks guiltily for a moment before she glances back up at him, half-petulant and half-uncertain, "Well, I am hardly going to force the moron to dance with me."

What else was she supposed to do?

There's a whistle and a loud catcall regarding the Captain's hand upon her waist and she shoots back a quick, "You wish!" in reply without missing a beat.

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Tristran, feeling less like a moron and more like himself, chances watching the two dancing again.

He notices that Tobias and Meggot are now dancing together too, joining the small group. Several other crew-members are dancing solo, hopping around on one foot then the other, as Oddness and his band start a new, more up-beat song. It's very folksy, and it reminds him a little of home.

Suddenly, he very much misses it. Adventures are fine and good, and there are things he could stand to change in Wall, but there is the matter of family, and of the things he's known all his life.

Hopping off the cart, Tristran makes his way past the dancing, inconspicuously passing Yvaine and the captain until he is more or less by himself at the stern of the ship. It is darker without the lamplight but it's peaceful. Crossing his arms, he leans his elbows against the railing and stares out into the open space.

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The Captain's head tilts curiously toward Tristran's retreating back and Yvaine heaves and utterly doomed sort of sigh. Yeah, yeah - get a move on. She knows.

"Very well. I'm going," she mutters, glaring darkly as Tobias laughs. Too many people on this ship know far too much than she really prefers. "Don't you say a word, Tobias."

She follows him slowly - serving herself up another mental lecture as she walks - and braces her back to the side of the ship, chin tilted upward toward the night sky, glimmering like some sort of bottled firefly.

"Trying to hear if my sisters are gossiping about you?"

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"No," he replies, refusing to turn and look at her for now.

He's being a terrible suck about all this, but it's a whole lot of confusion he can't sort through. He doesn't know how, and he is still a teenaged boy.

"Just needed to take a breath."

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