(Untitled)

[kira_galliard]

{Early Evening- Tuesday, 29th June ~ Day 394}
{Crossroads DanceHall}

Tonight I'm gonna have myself a real good time
I feel alive
And the world turning inside out, yeah
And floating around in ecstasy, so
Don't stop me now
Don't stop me
'Cuz I'm having a good time, having a good time

It is finally time to open the doors

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[hermia_sophia]

Valmont wanted to be the one to talk to Micah, and I agreed - Valmont has always had a better rapport with the boy, now that Micah has come past that first painfully awkward crush. Not that Valmont knows what to say. Not that any of us know what to say. it makes me sick to think of that thing taking advantage of a boy like Micah! But that is what the thing in the Tower does - it preys on innocence. That's what it did to that girl Genny from the carnival, from what Zann said. It didn't hurt her, not beyond the hurt that comes to a young person who is deceived love, so I hope that it has not hurt Micah, either.

And I must speak to Alice, still, about Micah and about boys and about magic. She floats in and out in her vague way, and seems to be all right, and certainly there have been no other destructive incidents. But still - this cannot go untended.

She is so wonderfully happy to be here tonight! I fear that it will hurt her when I speak to her of magic...

But today is the haymaking festival and the party afterwards, and the dance hall is full of music and friends. And it is a day to celebrate the town, which is something that we truly wish to do.

And so we go in, me on Valmont's arm, watching Micah and Alice in their happiness, and all that Valmont and I can think of is the conversation that he must have with Micah.

Dear gods, have we become one of those families that looks decorous on the outside but is falling apart within?

(but we are thinking of ourselves as a family, says another part of my mind.)

"Shall I get us some punch?" I murmur to Valmont, giving him a weak little attempt at a smile and a squeeze to his arm. "Or would you like to dance first?"

[valmont_vicomte]

At least in all this I have my Hermia; I would keep her my rock, but I think she is rather my raft, keeping me afloat through all the strange times we've had in the past few months. I smile at her.

"I would be very glad to dance with you, darling; it's been a while since we danced together." It's a rustic sort of song that's playing, but luckily we're not expected to line dance, and I lead Hermia out onto the dance floor. "This will be a good place for the town," I say. "And maybe somewhere to burn off excess energies might mean fewer fights at the inn." I doubt that, but it's good to be optimistic.

[hermia_sophia]

"I would be very glad to dance with you, darling; it's been a while since we danced together."

"It has," I say softly, sliding my hand down to take hold of Valmont's as we step onto the dance floor.

"This will be a good place for the town," I say. "And maybe somewhere to burn off excess energies might mean fewer fights at the inn."

I give Valmont a little quirk of a smile for his dubious tone. "We can hope, at least," I murmur back.

The music is lively and bright, full of fiddles and stamping feet. But I slip my arms around Valmont as if it were a much slower dance, and hold him close for a moment. "It will be good for the town to have a place that's dedicated to being happy. Perhaps that will help prevent fights in its own way."

[valmont_vicomte]

Hermia holds me as if we are holding each other up, which I suppose we are. I swing her around gently.

"It will be good for the town to have a place that's dedicated to being happy. Perhaps that will help prevent fights in its own way."

"Yes," I say, smiling at her. My dearest always has a positive way of looking at things. "These simple pleasures are important. And," I add, "think of how many people may meet their future husbands and wives here." That's a cheering sort of thought.

We move about the room, and I keep an eye out for Micah. I see him talking to a blonde haired girl, and my heart jerks painfully, but it's not Danika.

"I keep being afraid," I say softly, "that Micah's friend will show up. I really must talk to him soon."

[hermia_sophia]

Valmont's smile comes back a little, easing some of those worried lines on his face. I twine one hand up to smooth a few more away with my finger, tracing around the corner of his eye. It feels like a very personal sort of thing to do in public, and for a moment I almost feel as if I have been terribly indiscreet, but how can I not try to keep Valmont from looking sad?

"Yes. These simple pleasures are important. And think of how many people may meet their future husbands and wives here."

"True," I agree, with a smile back. "So there will be even more happiness…"

Valmont tenses suddenly, and I look swiftly up, concerned. But then he relaxes and explains, "I keep being afraid that Micah's friend will show up. I really must talk to him soon."

"I understand," I murmur, squeezing Valmont a little tighter. "There's no good or easy way to have that kind of conversation. I know you don't want to cause him any pain, but it's not safe for him to keep seeing her."

[valmont_vicomte]

I smile at the feel of Hermia's fingers on my face. My dearest.

"There's no good or easy way to have that kind of conversation. I know you don't want to cause him any pain, but it's not safe for him to keep seeing her."

"And it's not safe for us, or for Alice, or for anyone who works at the inn," I say, and sigh. I let the music, and Hermia's dear arms around me, carry me through the rest of of the dance, and then I say: "I'll see if I can speak to him now." I lift her hand to my lips and kiss the back of it. "I'll let you know how it goes."

[hermia_sophia]

For a long moment we are quiet, just being with each other and the music and the dance. For that long moment, everything is all right.

"I'll see if I can speak to him now."

"I understand," I say, as the song ends and the applause ripples up around us, and my arms tighten around him.

He kisses the back of my hand, a sweet courtly gesture that is so very much Valmont that it makes me smile, and says, "I'll let you know how it goes."

"I'll be here," I say softly. I lean against him for just a moment longer, and then unwind to let him go.