Oxford, England, 7pm - The Bridge

[mparkerceo]

The line to get into The Bridge was snaking around the block, so Parker, Elizabeth, Nourhane, Selim and River were amusing themselves trying to figure out how to get around the bouncer and get inside already.

"Bribery, bludgeoning, or blackmail?" Parker asked River. "Which do you prefer?"

[for moonbrain_tam]

Comments

[moonbrain_tam]

"He dreams of a girl named Charlotte," River said cheerfully, looking excited. "Waiting for her to show up. We could be her friends."

[mparkerceo]

Parker brightened. "You are genius. Perfect." She turned to Elizabeth and Nourhane, and tapped their shoulders. "Hey. Follow our lead!"

Without waiting for an answer, she marched up to the door, and smiled at the bouncer. "Hey. Charlotte said she'd be here soon. She was hoping you'd be a babe and let us in so she could meet us inside?"

The bouncer's eyes immediately lit up, and he asked, "She told you about me?"

[moonbrain_tam]

Parker would be better at doing the talking, but River could always help. She giggled and glanced at Parker. "We know all the details." There weren't that many details to know yet, but still.

[mparkerceo]

Grinning back at River, Parker turned to wink at the bouncer. "We promise to pass on a good word to her." She drew an X over her heart. "Cross my heart." And hey, if they ran into her, they would. Probably.

"Okay, but make it fast." The bouncer unhooked the velvet rope and shoo'd them in, to the boos of a few people further down the line. "Quiet down!"

Elizabeth was giggling, and Nourhane shaking her head and rolling her eyes as they hit the atrium to hang up their coats. "How do you know these things?" she asked Parker.

Deliberately not looking at River, Parker grinned. "Sources. Lot of them. Come on, let's grab a table before they're all taken."

[moonbrain_tam]

River looked smug, then cheerfully followed Parker, her steps already in tune to the music. There were a few tables still available and River sat down almost reluctantly, her eyes drawn towards the dance floor.

[mparkerceo]

Selim immediately settled into a chair and leaned back, shaking his head at Nourhane. "You know I do not dance to anything that is fast," he told her, and signaled to a waitress. "Go! Dance! I will guard your purses, and watch the stupid boys who try to dance with you four."

Nourhane gave him a peck on the cheek, then beamed at the other three. "Is he not wonderful?"

"He's a prince," Parker said, amused. "And you're way too lucky." As Poe's Hey Pretty started up, her smile widened. "Time to break some hearts!"

[moonbrain_tam]

Letting out a laugh, River rose again and led the way towards the dance floor, dodging people in her way. She made a few heads turn, but paid little attention to that. Finding space for the four of them, she began to spin, arms outstretched, for a few seconds before adapting her style a little to the local tradition.

[mparkerceo]

The lights on the dance floor blinked and spun, and Parker laughed as River cleared a path and then a space for twirling and showing off. Nourhane kept to swaying and smiling, and Elizabeth tried to mimic River with little success but much glee. Parker sighed happily and beckoned two guys closer as she tried to keep up with River-- never an easy feat, but easier after so much practice.

Well it's 3a.m. I'm out here driving again
Through the wicked winding streets of my world
I take a wrong turn break it but I'm too far gone
I've got a siren on my tale and that's not the fine
I'm looking for

[moonbrain_tam]

River watched the guys for a moment. Pretty, nothing too disturbing going on in their minds. In fact, she found the curiosity she caused enjoyable. Moving closer, she gave a small, almost unnoticable not to Parker.

[mparkerceo]

Parker nearly purred, then slung one arm around the taller guy's shoulders, giving him a sultry look as she wiggled her fingers at the other. Dancing with both of them, she grinned at River and thought, Yay! And I think the guy behind you is hoping he can impress you with his moves.

Said guy was doing some rather cool modern dance moves, clearing more of a space for River, and shooting admiring glances at her legs.

[moonbrain_tam]

It wasn't impressive, really. Too focused on himself to let go and be truly one with the music. That was the case with a lot of people here though. Still, he was pretty and importantly, he did enjoy dancing. River spun around, her skirt flowing and revealing even more of her legs. She placed a hand on the guy's shoulder and leaned forward towards his ear. "Think about how you move and you miss a beat. Can't afford that." She threw her head back and laughed.

[mparkerceo]

Parker caught a glimpse of the startled look on the guy's face, but was too busy dancing with tall blond in front of her and tall brunet behind her to do more than mentally laugh along in River's direction.

Hey pretty
Don't you wanna take a ride with me?
Through my world
Hey pretty
Don't you wanna kick and slide with me
Through my world

Twirl with one, slide against the other, and watch Elizabeth bounce with a cadre of girls in the corner, Nourhane giggling at all three of them.

Well I've got a mind full of wicked designs
I've got a non-stop-whole in my head-
imagination...

[moonbrain_tam]

Perhaps she had been too direct, or rather, said something that had been interpreted as too direct. In this case, River had only been referring to actual dancing. She smiled sweetly at the young man and tried to take his hand ans spin around.

Out of the corner of her eye she saw Parker dance and sensed her laugh. Nourhane was throwing amused glances at her fiance, and Elisabeth had caught the attention of a guy who kept missing the beats.

[mparkerceo]

Oh, this was so fun. Music and friends and pretty, pretty guys. Parker couldn't think of anything to make it better, really...

Although, watching River enjoy herself made it just one step more fun, blending in but standing out, bright and brilliant and the best dancer in the room. Another guy was trying to cut in now. Good. And behind you, River. She had to already know, though.

Don't you wanna kick and slide with me
Through my world
Hey pretty
My pretty baby
Rock it through my world

[moonbrain_tam]

River already knew. She could dance with both of them, and if more wanted to join she wouldn't have a problem. Her movements were quick, precise and playful, expressing the joy she felt. Dancing with Parker, surrounded by people who found her intriguing, made her forget the path she had decided upon for her future, and forget the disappointments of what her life could have been.

[mparkerceo]

Parker brought her mind back to her partners, and smiled, pushing down thoughts of the future and missing River, the past and missing Jarod, and just dancing in the moment.