And by noon we'll be gone...

[asliceofchaos]

In the dusky predawn, the Carnival changes. The rides speed up. The music turns frantic, and the dancers match the pace. Fairies, earlier drifting and enjoying the sights, clear the rows between tents and stalls as a new crowd strides the carnival grounds

Comments

[Dancing floor]

[tenoroftheskies]

Out on the large clear space that's serving as a dance hall, there's a crowd of fae clustered around its outer edge. They're stomping, twirling, spinning each other to the tune, but there's only one on the floor itself. Tempest, kitted out in gray and blue skirts, spinning and spinning with her hands stretched high above her. Her shoulders are bare and sweat-bright in the lamps overhead. Her skirts flare and thunder rolls over the floor. She seems oblivious to the rest of the fae, though if someone stepped in to the circle she's made hers, she would notice. She most certainly would.

Re: [Dancing floor]

[notalighieri]

While most of the unwilling occupants of the Barracks might not have planned to wander into the carnival's claws, Dante most certainly had. Sanity is a relative concept. He cruises through the crowds and watches the scenery change, hands in pockets; the tattered red cloak swaying as he walks.

Look, a familiar face he hasn't seen in quite a while. Dante stops, and backtracks his steps to stop by the side of the dance floor. The princess of storms sure is a sight to see. No sane person would disturb such a show when not even the locals seemed to dare. But sanity is a relative concept.

Dante smiles to himself as he steps just one step closer than the rest of the crowd.

[tenoroftheskies]

Her spin broadens until she twirls to a near-halt in front of Dante, her eyes foreign and almost oblivious to his presence. Tempest catches his hands in her own and sweeps him on to the dance floor, the wind picking up around their feet. It's only then that she seems to recognize him, and a faint smile flickers and dies on her face.

"Demon-hunter. Have you found yourself entertainment enough in our forests?"

[notalighieri]

The smile might flicker and die on her lips, but on his it lives on in full health. Well.. it's more of a grin, really. -A stunning, mysterious, and no doubt incredibly dangerous woman: what's not to like? Dante allows the princess to lead him across the floor and follows with surprising grace.

"Never enough." A swift dramatic step and he's up close to her, grinning, and guiding one of their joint pair of hands outward to the side -almost as if suggesting a Tango. "I'm easy to amuse, Princess... But I'm picky with what I like."

[tenoroftheskies]

She automatically moves her hand to his shoulder, that tiny smile reappearing. "Selectivity is no crime, particularly where ones own tastes are concerned."

The music shifts to a brisk staccato tune and she arches close to hiss in his ear. "Do you truly wish to dance?"

[notalighieri]

His grin widens at her response, and his free hand slides confidently to her side. Keeping close, he answers in a mercurial whisper "Princess, right now, nothing would make me happier~"

[tenoroftheskies]

She dances.

The wind roars in around them, catching at their sleeves and hair and making the music louder rather than drowning it out. She dances, and thunder peals across a sky that seems cloudless. Rain spatters down into the growing cyclone surrounding them; the watchers at the edge of the hard-packed arena are shoved backwards by the gale.

Tempest tilts her head up and closes her eyes. "I could give you the power of this place," Tempest says. "Say the word, and I could make you a knight to be feared."

[notalighieri]

He follows the rhythm of the music and the wind, and a wide smile sits on his lips. Dante's smile widens as the rain wets his naked skin. The somewhat tattered red coat sweeps behind him in the powerful gusts as they move across the floor with strong yet graceful steps

Re: [Dancing floor]

[incaution]

Jo's made her way out to the carnival later than most, having been distracted with things back at the barracks. She walks around and takes in the sights, and keeps her eyes open for people she knows getting into any trouble. Honestly, she's here to make sure neither Peter or Neal do something stupid. But all thoughts of the two men are pushed aside for a moment as she catches sight of a familiar head of white hair out on the dance floor.

Smirking at the sight of him, she slinks her way out onto the floor and over to him.

"Hey."

Yes, after such a long period of silence and keeping to herself, this is all she can come up with as a greeting.

[notalighieri]

He doesn't quite trusts his senses here, but when he hears Joe's voice he's expecting it. He could have sword he felt her approach. However, when he turns around to look, he's pleasantly surprised to see it really seems to be her.

"Hey." His face lights up in a genuinely happy and surprised smile, -if tainted at the edges by a ghost of sadness. A moment passes in silence, but before Joe can get a chance to break it.. Dante beats her to it. Taking a bow, he extends a hand to her and motions to the floor and the music.

"May I?"

It's no traditional dancing tune but don't worry, he can make it work.

[thatsortofaman]

The Doctor's been wandering the carnival with no particular pattern, heading toward anything that catches his attention - and the crowd around the dancing floor does lead him to investigate, weaving through the clustered fae until he can see who they're all gathered around.

He smiles as he spots Tempest, and steps out of the crowd, just into the circle of clear space. He's not planning to interrupt her dance, just get a clear view to watch for a minute or two.

[tenoroftheskies]

He might not be planning on interrupting, but he's definitely going to be participating. Somehow in one long step she's at his side, one arm sliding around his waist and twining her fingers through his with her free hand. She sweeps into a waltz and it's dance or be dragged. Tempest is looking him in the eye with a very distant, not-quite-cold look on her face - it's clear after a moment whatever negative feelings she has aren't toward him as Tempest rests her head on his shoulder and keeps dancing.

"Daring the fox's den, are we?"

[thatsortofaman]

The Doctor blinks a few times in surprise, but he steps into the dance with only a moment's hesitation, matching her movements easily. He grins at her question, and it's the same smile he gets just before he jumps of a cliff or pushes the big red button - in short, when he's doing something dumb and knows it.

"Always. Why, d'you think she'll be annoyed?" he asks, too innocent to be sincere.

[tenoroftheskies]

"As I understand it, she has very little fondness for you," Tempest says, drawing back enough to look him in the face. Her eyebrows go up a fraction. "And yet I think this troubles you little."

She slides her hand from his shoulder to the small of his back, so she's leading once again. She smiles very, very briefly, and the expression lights up her whole face while it lasts with a wicked - not quite cruel - delight. "I think also this may be a source of my fondness for you."

[thatsortofaman]

The Doctor shrugs carelessly. "It takes a lot more than her to scare me off. I've already got an appointment to die, and it's never been with her."

He arches an eyebrow at her next comment, his smile turning almost bemused, and he lets her lead him through the next few steps of the dance in silence. "And here I thought it was just because I'm clever."

[tenoroftheskies]

She laughs. "Don't we all," she says, her gaze his on his face. One hand slips away so she can brush two fingers against his chin before she's back in proper waltz position, her lips just a bit closer to his. "And yes," Tempest says. "That is also a very good reason."