Geralt looked over his shoulder fondly at the machine as Lucien complimented it, then turned back to him with a nostalgic smile. "Good eye. It is custom, I had it made as a gift," he paused a moment, looked into his glass and swirled the liquor around in it, before looking back up at Lucien. "Thank you, the only thing more beautiful than how it looks is the sound it makes." He glanced over at Cora as he said this, but did not let his eyes linger.

Cora giggled, her cheeks turning red, and nodded. "Yeah, I got confused for a minute," she continued to eat the sandwich in her hand at Akane's suggestion. Now that she was focusing on it, she was starting to feel a bit of lightness in her limbs, something she had never experienced before. It was probably best that she take her friend's advice, especially since she had never had anything to drink before.

As the sound of the music drifted around the tent, the Mermaid glanced about to see all of the different groups. Illy, Aurel, and Ivy were all gathered at a table, glancing around but not looking too happy. She wondered what could be bothering them...She saw that some of the workers had broken off into groups and were drinking, eating, and talking amongst themselves a little way off. They usually didn't mix too much with the troupe unless it was for work, Lucien said it was because they "respected their privacy". Geralt and Lucien were talking, and seemed to be having a rather good time, although Geralt was always smiling, there was something a little bit different about his expression when he looked at Lucien. Normally, the Magician reminded her of a shark...always smiling, cunning, handsome, and powerful. But when he looked at Lucien, he reminded her more of a dolphin, soft, sleek, and playful. He looked almost gentle when he smiled at their Ringleader.

Her attention was torn away from the two men as she felt her own fingers in her mouth. It seemed she had finished the sandwich, but had been so absorbed by looking around that she had not realized it. She reached for another, and smiled at Akane as she began to eat another morsel. She caught sight of Akane's tails swaying gently to the music, it seemed the Kitsune liked what she heard.

Cora wanted to unite the groups, to her, it would make it seem more like a party, and she had just found the way to do it. "Akane!" she shouted, loud enough for everyone to hear over the music and chatter. After some conversations died down a bit, she asked enthusiastically, "Will you do a dance for us?" Her eyes sparkled up at the girl with anticipation and excitement.

It was clear from the way that Geralt spoke of the instrument that it held some sort of meaning for him. Lucien did not have to inquire on it, there was just something about the look in his eyes that told him he cared for it. It reminded him a little of when he was looking out into the water to see Cora swim. There was a.. genuineness to him. Considering Geralt seemed to be the type of man who was always on guard, seeing these other sides of him was certainly a nice change. Despite that, he decided not to ask for who he had planned to give this to. If Geralt had wanted him to know, he probably would have told him. This was something he had learned long ago.

"I wholeheartedly agree." He said with a gentle smile. He of all people appreciated things like this.

It was the sound of Cora's voice that had snapped him out of his train of thought, causing him to shift his gaze onto Akane.

The kitsune's cheeks had become a little red as she noticed some eyes turn to her. She hadn't expected it, but she could not deny that she had been enjoying the music. If Cora wanted to see it, she'd most certainly comply.

"Oh, well if you insist." She told her a little sheepishly. By then the kitsune had gotten through the food she had been given, and went ahead and finished the last of her drink. She didn't want to let it go to waste.

Akane then picked up her fans from the table, having brought them out earlier when the heat had been getting to some people during the tank filling, before making her way to the center of the area they had left clear for dancing. She spread the fans open, and gave a small bow, before she began her dance. This song was particular, since it slowed and sped up at specific points, so Akane was paying close attention so she could match it with her steps. Once she had gotten the hang of the rhythm, she quickened her pace and began to dance more fluidly, flashing a smile in Cora's direction as she did an elegant twirl.

Ivory smiled a little as Akane began to dance, having turned to face in her direction.

"Akane can really dance to any sort of music." She commented.

"She adapts well, though we could say the same for you." Aurel said in response, causing the dhampir to shake her head.

"No.. we're a bit different in our approach. I respect her because of that." She said. Unlike her, the kitsune did not mind a bit of trial and error, she was okay with showing an imperfect dance and then experimenting along the way, and enjoyed every bit of the experience. Akane also didn't mind the spotlight, and while both of them were performers, outside of their acts Ivory much preferred to stay out of it. "But well, it's that individuality that makes our troupe so interesting." She added with a small chuckle.

Cora's eyes danced along with her friend as she watched her move to the center of the area and begin her dance. She slowly ate another sandwich as she watched, gripping the drink in her free hand as she did, completely mesmerized. She was so beautiful, so talented, like a living flame. Fire had been one of the things that had fascinated Cora most when coming above water. She'd seen it early on in her...residency on land, but had not come to understand anything about it until she had come to live with Lucien and the others. They taught her about how it gave off heat, cooked food, shed light, and could even hurt or destroy. She was always careful not to get too close, but when she watched Akane dance, she always felt herself pulled in by some strange magnetism. Lucien had lit a candle for her once, and she had mistakenly touched it, burning the tip of her finger. She had felt pain before, but a different sort, not the same raw feeling that touching the flame had produced. Now, as that memory touched her mind, she thought that she would gladly endure that again if she could be close to Akane.

Geralt watched as well, though his body still remained turned toward Lucien. He wanted the man to know that he was still on his mind, even if the Kitsune was dancing. It was entertaining, and he was glad to have supplied the music if it produced this result. Watching the troupe perform was something he could endure for a time without getting bored. Hopefully the girls would help to liven things up a bit. He eyed Cora for a moment as she watched, slowly bringing the dregs of a sandwich to her lips over and over as if she were one of his hypnotized audience-members. He couldn't help but chuckle inwardly, noting the way she looked at Akane. Whether she knew it or not, whether with the dance or the dancer, the girl was head over heels. He sincerely hoped that it was the girl, that could make for some interesting...propositions.

Illyana's thoughts had also been pierced by the sound of Cora's energetic call to arms for Akane. Seeing that the Kitsune had taken up her offer, the would-be mystic turned her chair a little so she could see better as Akane danced. Illy found that Akane's performances had the same mesmerizing power of Cora's singing, but without the mind-numbing effects. It was pleasurable to watch, and a good distraction as well.

At Ivory's comment, Illy turned her attention to the dhampir. A small smile touched her face as she listened, seeing that Ivory herself was also caught up in watching Akane's dance. It was true what she said, and very mature for her to admit her respect. Illyana was reminded of one of the many reasons she admired the white-haired maiden, she wasn't afraid to speak her mind, to say how she felt. Given her upbringing, Illyana was glad that she felt powerful and comfortable enough to let this part of her personality shine. It was something that Illyana herself had not yet been able to master.

"I agree," Illyana chimed in, smiling to both of them, "There's no need to compare any of your dances to each other. Their difference is what makes them yours, what makes them...beautiful." She glanced around again, looking to the enraptured mermaid, the energetic fire-dancer, their charismatic and unerringly kind leader, to their reserved but observant snake charmer, and back to their powerfully honest, always herself knife-thrower. After a moment, her eyes then fell to Geralt, who smiled as he watched the spectacle as well. He was different too, and that was what scared her. She was reminded in this moment that everyone had a past...maybe his deserved some consideration as well.

Akane's dress flowed elegantly with her dance, she was really glad she had decided to wear this one today. Through her performance her movements had become looser, and her muscles felt much lighter, almost like she was flying. It had caught her off guard for a moment, but she had gone with it, until the song had come to an end. By then the kitsune was out of breath, her face flushed now that the alcohol had finally made it's presence known. The heat didn't usually bother her.. but she certainly felt it now.

Applause rang out, and Akane gave a bow before she headed back to the others to take a seat, letting out a breath.

"Whew.. now it's pretty warm." She said, fanning herself with one of her fans before she turned to look at Cora and giving her a smile. "How was it?" She asked, as she always enjoyed hearing the mermaid's opinion.

Ivory and Aurel both smiled at Illy's compliment.

"Oh Illy, you're making me blush." She joked. Neither of them could disagree with what she had said.

Aurel had never thought he'd ever truly enjoy dancing but.. there had been something about being given the freedom to do as he wanted with it that had made him warm up to the idea, and now he genuinely found it fun. It made him feel like he was understanding the snakes in a different way, and it helped him strengthen his bond with them all, just as he had made new bonds with all of the troupe.

Lucien joined the others in applause as Akane had finished her dance and taken her seat to rest. He could tell from her expression that she was finally feeling the effects of the alcohol, he'd be sure to keep an eye on both her and Cora. Still, he was glad that they appeared to be enjoying themselves. Even though Aurel, Illy and Ivory weren't not as involved, he could tell they were at least more relaxed and in brightened mood. That was good. He was glad that the party doing what it was supposed to.

Cora remained mesmerized as Akane walked over and gently fanned herself. It was not just the dance that was so alluring, the kitsune herself maintained the pull that the dancing had placed over the mermaid's mind. She had been so engaged by it that she'd forgotten to clap along with everyone else. She followed Akane with her entire head, turning it with the girl as she made her way over and sat down. "Warm..." Cora said, as if her mind was far away. After a moment of staring in awe, her full lips slightly parted, she seemed to catch herself. A smile appeared once more on her face and she took note of the flush in pale Akane's cheeks. "It was indescribable...just...gorgeous," she said, meaning every word. As the last word left her mouth, she looked down at her hands which grasped the drink in her lap, almost as if she were embarrassed. Without her notice, her smile slowly started to fade as well as the realization struck her that she could only ever watch Akane dance...that she would never be able to join her. Slowly, she lifted the glass to her lips and downed the remainder of her beverage, making a face as the acidic and herbal taste of gin enveloped her tongue.

Illyana also joined in the applause as Akane finished her performance, offering a smile to Ivory as she did so. "Oh, stop it. Even I know it takes more than that," she answered, playfully. She watched as Akane made her way back to Cora and took a seat next to her, and caught some of Cora's expression as well. The girl looked like she had seen a ghost, then in a flash, she was smiling again. That was just like Cora, to brush things off so easily. Illyana envied her that ability. That was until she saw Cora's face fall as she looked down at her hands. As the girl downed her drink, Illy frowned slightly and thought about going over to her. Maybe the alcohol had not been a good idea after all...

Geralt had kept his eyes on Cora the entire time after Akane had returned. He offered the kitsune a bit of light applause, but was almost completely uninterested as soon as she finished. He found what was going on with Cora to be much more intriguing. He watched the girl's face intently and saw the awe, the love in her eyes, the confusion, and the sadness. She had realized something, something horrible, something that could make her cry. His eyes followed the glass as she tilted and emptied it, this action confirming his suspicions. Normally, the Magician would simply watch this from afar to see how it would develop, with little, if any, true concern for the participants. Something must have tugged at his heartstrings, though, for he could not sit by and watch idly this time. Maybe it was his proximity to Lucien, maybe it was sentimentality, but he decided to go with his impulse, regardless of the outcome.

He too downed his drink with barely a twitch of the eyelid, set his glass down and said, "Excuse me a moment," to Lucien before stepping away and striding toward Cora.

He smiled down at the mermaid, and she looked up at him with big, confused eyes. He extended a hand to her, leaning down slightly, with the other behind his back. "May I have this dance?"

Cora had almost been startled to see Geralt approaching her, but once he was in her field of vision his presence appeared to block everyone else out. She blinked once, confused by his question. Silence hung between them for a second, but he remained smiling, with his hand extended. "Me? But I...I can't." She smiled up at him apologetically, as if the reason hadn't been obvious.

Geralt never let his smile fade and simply tilted his head. "Oh, come now, honey," he said, taking the glass from her lap and placing it on the table. He leaned down towards her once more and lowered his voice, "You can do anything...with a little help." He winked, then extended his hand once more.

Cora felt the urge to look around to see the faces of the others that surrounded them, but Geralt was filling her vision entirely. It was like the two of them were alone in a dark room, with a spotlight in the center of the dance floor, beckoning them. Before she really knew what she was doing, she placed her hand into Geralt's.

Geralt's smile widened as his long fingers folded around her delicate and cool hand. He backed into the center of the space that had been cleared for dancing, pulling the mermaid with him. As he got closer to the center, he snapped his fingers, and the song that had been playing was replaced by something a little slower, less lively, but still deep and rich.

Akane smiled warmly at Cora for her compliments. "Thank you." She told her, the red in her cheeks increasing for a moment. It was then she noticed her smile fade, but she didn't understand why. Had she said something that had upset her? She had been so happy just a moment ago. Her smile faded slightly, and she was about to speak up when Geralt arrived at their side.

His question to ask Cora to dance had caught her completely by surprise. She watched the exchange quietly. She had 'danced' with Cora before, but in a different way, which kept the woman in her chair, but they had still managed to at least move around to the rhythm of the music. Was that what Geralt was planning to do? Her eyes followed them as he pulled Cora into the center of the dance floor, ears twitching as the song changed to a slower tune.

Lucien watched this exchange quietly. He had noticed Cora's change in expression but.. he had been unsure of the cause. His expression had become worried for a moment as he had watched Geralt make his way over, but he didn't see any need to intervene, considering that Cora had accepted his offer. It at least.. seemed to have made her expression lighten. Lucien turned slightly to begin preparing Geralt's drink, expert fingers seeking the ingredients just as Geralt's had, before he set the glass back into the water, and gave the two his full attention.

Ivory eyed the two with a bit of suspicion as Gerlat had pulled Cora to the dance floor. She was unsure of what his intentions were, but she would be sure to keep a good eye on them.. just in case he got any funny ideas.

Cora never took her eyes from the Magician as he lead her out onto the dance floor, and he maintained her gaze in kind. Of course, she had "danced" before, but she had remained seated and was simply turned about by Akane in the past. This had been fun, but then again, she had never known that anything else was possible. With Geralt's powers, he could do almost anything...maybe that was what he intended to do.

The Magician waited a beat, still holding the mermaid's hand as the music slowly increased in volume. Once he was satisfied with the timing, he pulled Cora toward him rapidly, with some strength, but not so hard as to hurt her. She did not resist, and she was far lighter than he had anticipated. He had prepared for the fact that she had absolutely no strength in her legs, and so was not able to help him as he hoisted her into his arms. She collided with his chest and he wrapped an arm around her waist. The proximity was very close, and he knew that everyone was watching them, but it was not like Geralt to care about something like that. He held her to him tightly, but did use a bit of his ability to take some of the weight off of him. He didn't need to, but it would certainly help him to be more graceful, and he would accept nothing less.

He took a moment to position the girl so that her delicate pale feet were resting on the tops of his wingtips, as if someone would dance with a child. He waited a moment, smiling down into Cora's face as the flush in her cheeks increased in intensity.

She did not fight the Magician at all as he lifted her, and even when he held her. Normally, she would be mortified by this contact, and especially the proximity of their bodies...but something about Geralt set her at ease. She sensed no ill will in him, and even when she looked into his eyes...though there was something eerie about them, no alarm bells rang. She felt her face grow extremely hot as he looked down at her, the alcohol taking it's full effects. She could not help but smile back at him as he held her and positioned her feet on top of his, partially out of embarrassment. When he held her this way, she felt like liquid...and that was a nice thought to have.

Geralt waited for the right moment, then began to dance around with Cora, keeping a perfect time with the music. Despite the fact that his partner was essentially infirm, she had strong arms and was holding tightly to his hand and shoulder. He felt lighter as he danced with the girl, and though memories of a happier time for him threatened to spill over into his consciousness, he kept them at bay enough so that he would fully enjoy the moment. Part of him even forgot for a moment that Lucien and the others were watching, judging his every move, guarding Cora protectively. Even his parasitic companion was silent for the time being.

Illyana immediately tensed as she watched this scene unfold. When Geralt lifted Cora, she let out a small gasp, but quickly covered her mouth. She looked around the space to see if anyone was reacting the same way, but found Lucien to be calm along with everyone else. She thought that someone may step up to intervene, for the urge was very strong in her, but she caught none of that from anyone else. She couldn't be the one, not when Cora was smiling so widely, giggling with delight as the magician swung her about. The longer she looked, the more she noticed the mermaid's aura that was bursting with light and happiness. She was totally relaxed in the man's arms, despite what she had experienced...Illyana could not bring herself to make this a dark moment for the girl who had been through so much. Slowly, she forced herself to relax, but kept a weathered eye on the pair as they twirled around the dance floor.

Akane was surprised to see Geralt pull Cora off the chair. For a moment she was afraid that he was going to drop her but, he had held on to her pretty closely. The mood had become more relaxed through the slow-tuned music that filled the clearing. The kitsune watched the two of them dance. Cora looked like she was having so much fun. She wished.. that she could be able to dance with her like that.

The Ringleader had been watching the exchange between Cora and Geralt the entire time. He had tensed a little upon seeing Geralt lift her off the chair, but Cora did not express any discomfort, so he did not find the need to intervene. Honestly he was a little surprised.. had Geralt perhaps noticed a desire in Cora that he had missed? She certainly seemed to be enjoying herself.. and surprisingly enough.. Geralt seemed to be doing the same. He believed the expression he held right now to be genuine. It almost made him smile, but that was when Lucien had caught sight of Akane's ears flattening briefly, making him shift his attention to her.

There was.. something about the look in her eyes, something he recognized.. a look of longing, that had made him feel nostalgic, and prompted him to speak up.

"What's wrong?" Lucien asked, causing the kitsune to jump. She had been so focused on Cora and Geralt that she hadn't noticed him step closer.

"Oh.. nothing really.. I was just.. thinking about how nice it must be to be able to dance with her like that.." Akane responded, resting her chin on the palm of her hand, elbow resting on her leg.

Lucien raised his eyebrows slightly as he brought his gaze back to the dancing couple. There was one thing he had noticed upon the interactions between the two women. They truly enjoyed each other's company.. and there was an innocent joy he saw reflected in their eyes when they were together. Part of him hadn't been sure if there was more to it but.. it seemed like there was, based on the way Akane felt about this situation. He let out a small hum.

"Do you want to dance with her?" He asked, finishing off his drink and setting the empty glass on the table.

"Yes.. but I don't think that I can do what he can.. I'm too small.. what if I drop her?" She sounded genuinely concerned, and he could hear the small tinge of envy in her tone. He felt a little bad for her. He knew what it was like to want something that felt so out of reach... He couldn't help but sympathize with her.

"I think that it's possible. Did you hear what Geralt told Cora? You can do anything with a little help." He said with a smile. "Why not.. make yourself a little taller? I don't mind stepping out on the dance floor with you. I'll be sure to step in if you really feel like you might drop her. Maybe I'll pull Ivory along for a dance." He said with a small chuckle.

Akane brightened slightly at Lucien's suggestion. Honestly she hadn't even thought of doing something like that. If it was just holding her up.. maybe she'd be able to do it? Having Lucien close by was definitely reassuring, she didn't want to end up hurting her in any way. If Ivory came along to then there was even more of a higher chance that she would be just fine.

"Yes.. you're right. I want to do it." She said, determination filling her expression, her ears perking back up again.

Lucien smiled warmly at Akane at her response, glad he had helped her in making up her mind. He had a feeling that Akane wouldn't be the only one who would be enjoying this next dance.

Ivory had shared Illyana's reaction, though she hadn't been as obvious about it. She had been more than ready to step in if Cora had been at least even a little uncomfortable by his actions but.. she couldn't really bring herself to, not after seeing how happy she was to be dancing. She let out a small sigh and leaned back against her chair. Honestly if she held no existing bias on this man already.. she might have thought that he had done this out of the kindness of his heart.. considering the way he looked right now. It was a little surprising, to see no sign of the man who gave the air of arrogance.. just.. someone who was really enjoying this dance. It was.. weird, and she didn't really know what to think of it.

The rest of the troupe and the carnies watching had completely melted away for the pair as Geralt glided about the small space. As the song neared its end, The Magician leaned forward to dip Cora as low as he could go. The girl had folded into him, holding him firmly by the shoulders but otherwise as light and limp as a damp cloth. As she went down, Cora made a small half-yelp half-laugh, and Geralt could not help but smile down at her elation. It seemed that the mermaid's happiness was far more infectious than he had anticipated. For the first time in a while, he felt truly free.

Cora mirrored this feeling, it was akin to swimming in the lake earlier today. Though she knew that this party had been for Geralt, she felt more like the day had been for her.

Once the song had ended, Geralt gently lifted Cora once more and held her bridal style, intending to make his way back to her chair to set her down. He paused, however, when he saw Akane approaching them with a determined expression on her delicate features. He raised an eyebrow at the girl, but stayed quiet to allow her to speak first.

Cora, still smiling, allowed Geralt to hold her, but turned her attention back to the rest of the troupe once she remembered that they were still watching them. She turned away and saw Akane approaching, and for some reason felt her heart leap into her throat. Though Akane's expression was firm, there was a hint of the whimsical smile that the Kistune usually carried, and Cora felt slightly uneasy with the girl's eyes on the two of them. Something about it felt...off to her, being this close to Geralt with Akane watching. It was almost like the roles should be reversed.

Akane was brimming with confidence by the time she had reached the pair. Elegantly, the kitsune grabbed hold of the side of her dress and raised it in a partial curtsy, before she moved her other hand toward Cora.

"May I have this dance?" She asked, mimicking Geralt's words, her eyes brimming with excitement.

Meanwhile Lucien had made his way over to Ivory, and extended his hand toward her, giving her a smile.

Ivory on the other hand raised an eyebrow, not particularly inclined to stand. "Why don't you ask Illy? I'm sure she'd enjoy it." The dhampir said, giving the fortune teller a sideways glance.

Lucien chuckled, having expected that sort of response. "I'm afraid that simply will not do. I promised Akane that we'd be nearby in case she almost drops Cora, she's quite concerned for her safety you know? It would be reassuring to have us both around." He insisted, his smile becoming more innocent in nature. "Plus, I'm sure Aurel can be the one to ask Illy to dance." He added.

Ivory's eyebrow twitched, and she squinted at the Ringleader for a moment before she finally heaved a heavy sigh, and extended her hand to take his. "Fine, but you owe me a desert." She told him, causing him to let out a laugh.

Aurel on the other hand had raised an eyebrow at Lucien, but then he let out a chuckle. It seemed that Lucien was enjoying himself. With that in mind, he turned his attention to Illy and raised his hand toward her.

"Do you want to?" He asked.

Geralt was certainly impressed by the initiative Akane was showing by this gesture, and her determination was nothing to sneeze at. Maybe seeing Cora in the arms of someone else had truly sparked something in the girl. Geralt could turn his nose up at many things, but he would not deny true love's cry. He looked down at Cora, pleased to see a positive reaction in her as well.

Brighter than they had ever been before, Cora's cheeks flushed with much more fervor as Akane asked her question with a flourish. It was as if she had been waiting to hear her ask for a very long time, without even knowing that it was what she wanted to hear. Coquettishly, the mermaid reached out her hand and laid it against the kitsune's warm fingers, then nodded, casting her eyes down as a sudden shyness gripped her.

As neither of the girls were speaking, Geralt decided to cut himself in. "A lovely idea, after all of those buckets earlier I'm a dead man walking," he paused a moment, then shifted his stance while making sure not to pull them any farther apart. "Here, let me help." Gently, he placed Cora into Akane's arms, showed them how to hold each other, and positioned the mermaid's feet on top of Akane's as he had done for his turn on the floor. He even lent a little of his power to the mix, twitching his fingers to keep Cora light as he let go and left the two of them alone to dance.

As Cora let herself fall into Akane's arms, she was hyper aware of how hot her skin felt, how hard her heart was pounding against her ribs, and the proximity of her body to the kistune's. For whatever reason she was having a hard time meeting the girl's gaze. In looking at her feet, however, she noticed something rather crucial. She glanced up at Akane, and said "Are you...taller..?"

Illyana fought hard not to roll her eyes at Geralt's chosen finish for the dance. Of course, she was glad to see Cora enjoying herself, and although even the diviner could see the youthful and genuine smile that touched Geralt's eyes, her protective instincts rallied against the urge to believe him. When he handed her off to Akane, she finally felt relief wash over her.

Immediately she was distracted by Lucien, who had approached and asked for Ivory's hand. Her mouth dropped open slightly and she looked at the dhampir upon hearing her answer, the betrayal clear on her face. She was glad when Lucien steered the conversation away from her, but equally taken aback when he suggested that Aurel be her partner. Aside from being not the biggest eater, Illyana never exercised. Even when Faolan was around, it was the one activity she had always managed to avoid. Of course, she was sure she could dance...but she knew that it would be to the detriment of her partner's feet if she tried.

Still, Aurel asked. She was about to turn him down, politely of course, when she heard Akane's voice call from across the space, "Are you guys coming?"

Illyana's face fell as she glanced at the kistune and then back at Aurel. She sighed, shrugged, and was unable to come up with an excuse to refuse. At least Geralt wasn't asking her. "I suppose. But don't blame me if I trample you..." she said before taking the young man's hand and standing, now fighting the smile that threatened to show itself on her lips. She really was uncoordinated, being that her job required her to sit in a chair for hours at a time.

Akane's smile widened as Cora's cool hand met her's, and her tails swayed happily to the rhythm of the new song that had started playing, just as slow as the first. She was grateful for Geralt's assistance in positioning Cora in her arms. Her cheeks reddened at feeling her be so close to her, but she securely wrapped an arm around her waist, actually a little surprised at how light Cora was. She had tried carrying her before and had always thought she was a bit light, even though she struggled at times.. this time was different.

"I figured I would need to be taller to do this." She told her with an innocent smile, now matching the mermaid's height. One couldn't' really tell when Cora was sitting down, but she was much taller than she appeared. Feeling their bodies pressed closed together like this.. Cora's normally cool temperature felt so.. warm against her.

"Are you lighter?" She asked her, tilting her head slightly as she finally began to move to the music. This took a lot more focus than she thought, and she knew she probably didn't look as graceful as Geralt had when he had done this but.. she was determined to do her best to make sure Cora had fun. For a moment she had turned to the others, calling out to them as she hoped they'd join in on the fun. It was upon turning her gaze back to Cora that she noticed the mermaid wasn't really holding her gaze, which was a little odd.

"This.. is okay right?" She asked, wanting to make sure this was okay with it. She had been so preoccupied with her own feelings that she wasn't sure if Cora was just going with the flow.. or if she had actually wanted to dance with her.

Lucien guided Ivory to the dance floor as the two watched the interaction between Akane, Cora, and Geralt. The Magician had gracefully left the 'stage' to the two women, which had impressed the nephilim. The man really was quite observant.. he was sure he had noticed the feelings that were stirring between the two women. The fact he hadn't decided to not get in their way made him feel like maybe Geralt wasn't as bad as he had been made out to be. He placed a hand on Ivory's waist, but maintained a respectable distance from her as the two began to dance.

On occasion Ivory would glance over at the two women as they had started doing the same. For a moment she had been worried that Akane might actually be struggling with this but.. surprisingly she seemed to be managing just fine. It was.. odd, considering she had seen her struggle with carrying the mermaid for too long in the past. Had.. Geralt done something? No... why would he? Perhaps making herself taller provided the kitsune with some extra strength? She wasn't sure.

"I'm very impressed with the fact you can avoid stepping on me when you're so focused on something else." Lucien commented a little amusingly. He had noticed Ivory being particularly watchful today, it was also part of the reason he had asked her to dance. He was hoping it would also help her relax a little.

"Of course. I do this for a living, you know?" The dhampir responded, having no problem with moving to the rhythm of the music. "So I guess dancing is something you can add to the incredibly long list of things you can do?" She asked with a raised brow.

"I certainly can't argue with that." He said, before letting out a chuckle. "I suppose you can. I used to have a lot of time on my hands." He said, a hint of nostalgia in his tone, which quickly disappeared as fast as it had come.

Aurel had let out a small laugh, a little surprised that Illyana had actually said yes.

"I think I'll be okay." He told her as they made their way to the dance floor, and mirrored the way Lucien was holding Ivory.

"My feet are ready." He joked. As he began to move, he tried to make a good attempt at guiding Illyana properly, considering dancing wasn't really her thing.

Despite her question, Cora found that suddenly she had a hard time meeting her friend's gaze. Maybe it was the drink that had caused this sudden shyness, but there was no way for her to really know the effect it had on her since she had never partaken before. She gripped the kitsune's shoulders tightly, wrapping her arms around the girl's neck to help support herself, which brought them even closer. The smell of Akane's fiery hair wafted into her nose; it was delicious, spicy and sweet smelling. Her dancer's muscles tensed beneath her soft and supple skin as she held the mermaid close...everything about her was intoxicating.

At Akane's question, Cora couldn't help but giggle and shrug, "I'm not sure, but I do feel kind of lightheaded...maybe its the alcohol Geralt made me." She would have loved to believe that this was the only cause, but knew it wasn't entirely true.

At the kitsune's second inquiry, she forced herself to meet her gaze, knowing that the redness in her cheeks was incriminating. That was a word she had heard Illyana use a long time ago, and for some reason it popped into her head now. "Oh, of course this is okay!" She found herself riddled with anxiety now, hoping that Akane knew that she hadn't done anything wrong. In fact, she had done everything right...including this. "You're the most beautiful dancer I've ever seen.I'm glad that--well, I'm having a lovely time, promise!" She smiled brightly, closing her eyes as she did show to flash her long black eyelashes.

Illyana, though she had accepted Aurel's offer, was still reluctant to enter the dancing area. One thing that made the girl uncomfortable over many other things was being looked at by others. She was glad, at least, that two other pairs occupied the space so that the attention wouldn't be focused solely on herself and Aurel.

As they took their positions, she couldn't help but stare down at her feet. Of course, only moments into the song she did step on Aurel and cringed as she saw the action take place but had no will to stop it. "Ah, sorry!" she managed to exclaim in a whisper, a trait that few possessed but that Illy was a master of. She looked up at Aurel then, smiling apologetically, "At least my lack of muscle mass makes me light?" Normally, she would be more nervous...but something about the energy of the evening was causing her to feel comfortable and happy. Smiling came easier, and she found herself not as beaten up by her mistakes. Overall, she supposed that she was actually having a good time.

Geralt, meanwhile, had made his way directly to the drink station. He was reaching for a bottle of whiskey with his unoccupied hand but stopped short as he noticed that another Old Fashioned was already waiting for him in the bowl of cold water he had prepared. A small smile spread across his face as he picked that up instead, and turned back to the dance-floor as he took a small sip. It was perfect, but that was to be expected of the hands that made it. His eyes found Lucien on the dance floor accompanying Ivory as they swayed and turned to the music. His "free" hand twitched inside of his pocket every now and again to maintain the float he had put on the mermaid, but right now he only had eyes for the Nephilim and his dance partner.

The two of them made a nice pair, in all honestly. Both were incredibly attractive, delicately pale, with large luminous eyes. Lucien had slightly sharper features than Ivory, but she was a true beauty in her own right. He found himself torn between watching both of them...they were so talented and graceful, and wrapped in each other's arms they formed a perfectly balanced binary; the white and the black, the gold and the blue, the light and the dark...The only thing he'd want to see more was this same scene horizontal, but from what he knew about both of them he doubted this would ever happen. Oh well, he had his own fantasies to keep himself occupied in times of need.

Akane let out a small laugh. "It's quite possible." She said. Her cheeks had remained flushed as Cora had wrapped her arms around her neck. This wasn't the first time they had been this close to each other, after all the two hugged and were very close in the times they would hang out.. but it was different this time. Akane could feel that. She felt particularly aware of everything.. the contact of their bodies.. the sea salt smell of her hair.

It was Cora's exclamation that snapped the kitsune out of her trance. Their eyes met as Cora lifted her gaze to meet her's, and it was upon her response that Akane fully relaxed, glad she was enjoying this.

"I just.. saw you with Geralt and I really wanted to dance with you." She said a little sheepishly. Cora had always been one to blush really easily.. but the flush in her cheeks was being maintained. Perhaps it was the alcohol? It was likely she looked the same. She had almost forgotten that she had drank, solely focused on the woman in her arms.

"Well.. you're the most beautiful dancing partner I could have asked for." The words slipped out from her almost naturally, captivated by Cora's gaze. It was really.. the most aware she had been of the mermaid.. but she liked this. She liked holding her like this in her arms.

Aurel had held back a flinch as Illyana had already stepped on his feet. He had expected it, so it hadn't really caught him by surprise. He simply smiled at her.

"Don't worry about it, I know what I signed up for." He teased, doing his best to lead her properly as to avoid as many of the attacks of her feet as possible.

"That's true, it's not that bad." He reassured, glad to see that Illy was appearing to ease up a little. She had definitely been pretty tense lately, hopefully it would help her relax.

Ivory caught that look of nostalgia from Lucien. It was rare for her to see him like that.. and while it made it curious, she decided not to ask and had instead gave Akane and Cora another glance. "Seems like they didn't need our guardianship after all.. they seem to be doing just fine." Ivory said with a small smile. It was clear the two were lost in their own little world.

Lucien followed Ivory's gaze to the two, a smile tugging at his lips. "Yes.. they certainly are." He was happy that it had worked out for them. Maybe.. this situation would help give the two a little push.

The moment that Cora stopped focusing on how embarrassed she was, the feeling began to dissipate, though it did never fully dissipate. She and Akane had been close since they met, "kindred spirits", as Lucien had said. But she had never before been so aware of the kistune's physical presence...

Her eyes widened slightly at Akane's explanation. "He's a good dancer...but it wasn't, well...it isn't the same a--as this." She struggled with the words, not because of her understanding of the language, but because her tongue suddenly felt like it had swelled to twice its normal size. "Oh stop!" she said, her voice a little higher and a little louder than she would have wanted. Her eyes rolled away from the girl's face and if the redness in her cheeks could have intensified, it would have. After a beat, she added, "If that's true for you, then I have the perfect mirror..."

The more Illyana relaxed, the easier it was for her to avoid stepping all over Aurel's feet, although she could not stop entirely. She just wasn't coordinated. The longer they danced, they easier it got, but just as she felt like she was getting the hang of the steps, the song ended. She looked up at Aurel, her hands still in place on his shoulders and said, "I hope I wasn't too embarrassing..." as she slowly let go and stepped away.

Geralt had been contemplating his next move, knowing that this particular song was soon coming to an end. In a perfect world, he would have strode up to Lucien, asked him to dance and ended the night with a kiss, possibly more, but he knew that was not in the cards. Lucien, of anyone, respected the long game and Geralt knew that he could not jump the gun to woo him. He also knew though, that the way to his heart was through his troupe...

He had gotten through more than half of his drink by the time he'd decided what to do. As he only had thirty seconds left, he decided to return the favor and quickly made another drink for Lucien. He'd decided on a German Sidecar made with Brandy instead of Cognac, and simple syrup as he had not Cointreau at the ready. He placed the glass in the cold water, and walked out onto the dance floor just as Ivory was disengaging herself from Lucien.

Instead of tapping the girl on the shoulder, he tapped Lucien, keeping his other hand in his pocket until Cora was safely and securely back in her chair. "Would you mind terribly if I cut in, sir?" he said, then let his eyes roll to the vampiress, "Your partner is wickedly talented..." a smile curled across his lips as he noticed his intended's eyebrows raised in surprise. Even annoyed, she was simply stunning.

Akane's tail's swayed slightly out of tune from the music for a moment as Cora stated that it was different. Part of that made her a little happy. She didn't want to be the same as Geralt.. she wanted this experience to be different for her.. in a good way. The kitsune's ears twitched when Cora raised her voice, smiling a little amusingly until her following words, which making her be the one to avert her gaze in the moment. Cora had complimented her appearance plenty of times but she couldn't help be more conscious about it now that she had her so close. In this moment, even though Cora usually felt so cool to her.. she was quite warm.

"Well um.. I'm glad.." She said, almost unsure of what to say for a moment. It was at that time that the song had finally come to and end. Akane hadn't moved immediately, for a while just.. enjoying having Cora in her arms like this.. she almost didn't want to let her go, but she also didn't want to push Cora too far. She knew maintaining this had required a bit of the mermaid's own strength, and she didn't want to tire her out, so reluctantly, she made her way over to her nearby chair, and set her down, eyes locking with her's for a moment at the closeness the kitsune didn't want to break, before she finally brought herself to fully pull away.

It was unfortunate the song had come to an end so soon, mostly because Aurel felt like Illyana had finally fallen into the rhythm of things, but he wasn't going to make her dance to another song, considering how much physical effort they had put into the refilling of the tank today.

"No, not at all, you were doing very well toward the end." He said, before beginning to follow Illy back toward the table, however, seeing Geralt ask Ivory to dance had given him pause. What a.. bold move.

Lucien raised his eyebrows as he turned slightly to face Geralt, surprised that he was actually asking for Ivory's hand to dance.

"She certainly is. I don't mind at all, however it is not my choice to make." He said, his eyes shifting to Ivory. Knowing how much distaste she held for the man, he fully expected her to say no to his request.

No was exactly what Ivory wanted to say. She was looking forward to heading back toward the table and simply dedicating herself to watching for the rest of the night. There was no way that Geralt wasn't expecting her answer. Part of her felt surprised that he had even tried asking, but at the same time she should have seen it coming, based on their previous interactions. There had been no actual issue with him dancing with Cora, if anything the mermaid had quite a bit of fun, so there was technically no reason for her to say no, at least, in the eyes of other people. On the sole fact she knew the answer Geralt was foreseeing Ivory decided to accept. He could consider this her contribution to his 'welcome party.'

"Fine." She said, releasing Lucien and offering her hand to Geralt, making sure to meet his gaze directly. She had no intention of running away.

Cora enjoyed the last few moments she had in the kitsune's embrace. If whatever it was hadn't made her feel so self-conscious, she may have allowed herself to be lost in the moment, but because she was so hyper-aware of everything, she could sense the song ending. The mermaid was beginning to feel a weakness in her arms and legs as the night progressed, one like she had never felt before. If she could put a word to it, it may be fatigue or numbness, but it was a hard sensation to explain and most likely an effect of the alcohol in her system. She didn't want Akane to put her down, but part of her recognized that it was time, so she let it happen without protest. As the kistune set her back into her chair, she let her fingers lay against the woman's warm skin and slid off as she pulled away, almost desperate for any contact that she could get.

"That was lovely..." she said, smiling up at Akane with less of her usual brightness.

Illyana couldn't get off of the dance floor fast enough. Of course it had nothing at all to do with her partner and everything to do with the activity itself. Besides, she was tired, and much preferred to watch everyone else have fun than really partake herself. She lived through them in a way, and she was content with that for the time being.

"That's good to hear, but I hope you learned your...lesson..." her voice trailed off into silence as Aurel stopped and turned toward the sound of Geralt's voice. Illy couldn't help but follow his gaze as her lips parted slightly in shock. Knowing how Ivory felt about him, he still had the gall to ask something so blatantly...in front of everyone? Arrogant didn't even begin to describe the magician.

Despite his sole reason for accepting Lucien's initial invitation to join Cirque D'étoiles, in this moment, The Magician only had eyes for Ivory. The Frenchman was quite right, it was not his decision to make, and although her refusal would have been almost as satisfying as the answer he got, he found himself completely drawn in by the power of her gaze. Deep blue eyes that seemed to stretch on for miles, almost the same as the other pair of eyes he had coveted, but also...different; Ivory's stare was intense and powerful, and while it may act to others as a deterrent, to Geralt it was a magnet. He had always liked a woman who showed her conviction, no matter the circumstances. If the two of them had been alone, he may have even allowed himself to fall into the intricately erotic sensation that was coursing across his skin, but alas, there was quite the audience here. All eyes were on them as the woman slipped her delicate but strong fingers into his hand.

Geralt said nothing at her acceptance and simply positioned himself as Lucien had been, though he couldn't help but get a little closer to the woman. He let his hand slid down to the small of her back and pulled her in until they were just barely touching. Though Geralt felt her subtle readjustment so there was a thin sheet of air between them, he did not resist it. He smiled down at her, contradicting the forced neutrality in her face. He studied her mouth, her nose, her eyelashes, her perfectly pale skin...she really was something to behold, especially close up.

Vaguely, he heard Lucien and Akane converse, but he did not hear the words. He assumed they would be joining himself and Ivory on the dance floor so as not to make them the lone pair. No matter, their presence was nothing to him right now.

With the hand that cupped hers, he flicked his index finger and another song began. This one was darker, almost gothic, and called to mind that of a twisted and tormented romance. One of his personal favorites. He began to lead Ivory and was pleased when she relinquished control. He hoped to feel this same compliance with Lucien one day, perhaps in more private quarters.

"Smile or no, you look absolutely radiant this evening." He said, watching her face as his body guided the two of them around the floor. She was exceptionally skilled, he could feel the muscles in her body reacting to his every movement. Oh, the nights they could have spent together...if she wasn't so opposed to his existence.

"Yes.. it was.." Akane responded, before pushing her chair back to the table and taking a seat beside her. Even though they were no longer touching she could almost still feel her coolness on her fingers.. it was.. strange.

Lucien was surprised Ivory had accepted, but he let go of her hand and stepped back to allow Geralt to take his place. He had certainly underestimated Ivory's tenacity, he'd be sure not to do that again. The Ringleader stepped toward Akane. Though he would have been fine with going back to watching from the sidelines, he didn't think that Ivory would like everyone's attention to be solely on them, if they were the only one's dancing. To remedy this, he figured he could ask Akane to dance.

He extended his hand toward the kitsune and smiled. "May I have a turn? I'm sure the other two could use some company on the dance floor." He told Akane, glancing over at Geralt and Ivory briefly.

Akane followed Lucien's gaze and nodded, rising to her feet and taking Lucien's hand. "Sure!" She said. The flush in her expression from dancing with Cora had yet to go away, but the kitsune did not feel nearly as conscious of Lucien as they stepped onto the dance floor together.

Of course Geralt hadn't hesitated in pulling her closer to him, but Ivory was more than ready to readjust their positions to one she was more comfortable with. While she was willing to allow him to lead, that was the most she'd let him have. She appreciated all the personal space she could get to herself.

This was the closest in proximity she had been to the man, but it was also the second opportunity she'd really had to observe him, the first time being when they had first met him. She felt like there was something different about his expression that she didn't quite understand. Was it less sharp? The smile he held was certainly not the same arrogant smile she had been expecting. It was... odd. Had it been the usual smile she would have taken it as him being satisfied with her acceptance but.. she couldn't tell what he was thinking, and that bothered her.

Ivory's expression didn't change much at his compliment, but she at least decided to at least give him a response. It would make the dance dull otherwise, not to mention awkward if she was just staring at him in silence.

"Thanks." She said, pausing for a moment. "Akane picked out the dress." Normally she would not have picked this sort of thing for herself. Her personal preference of comfortable clothing consisted of slacks and blouses for everyday clothing. It wasn't really the conventional type of clothing for women, but the fact some used it to work had at least made them a little accessible to her, with Lucien's help. Most dresses she owned were relatively simple and not attention-grabbing at all, aside from her performance outfits anyway. Despite her life as a performer, Ivory did not like being the center of attention in her everyday life, and for that reason she was thankful when Lucien stepped out into the dance floor with Akane.

Illyana watched everything unfolding before her, not bothering to hide her confused expression. She watched as Geralt took Ivory's hand and pulled her close and a shudder ran up her spine. She couldn't imagine being that close to the man, allowing him to touch her like that...but if she knew anything about Ivory, it was that she would not have accepted without a good reason. Slowly, she made her way back to the table and seated herself once more, but did not take her eyes off of Ivory and her over-confident partner.

Geralt noticed how hard Ivory was trying to keep her expression from showing her true feelings. Something about her personality struck him as easy to read, but she was trying to be as vague as possible here. He respected her attempt and noted that even he could not make a guess as to what was running through her mind. She was either fighting disgust or elation, or maybe a mixture of both.

He tilted his head slightly as he span her around, waiting for a crescendo in the song to quiet before he chuckled deeply and responded, "Oh, I wasn't talking about the dress." He let his statement hang between them for a moment before shrugging slightly, "Although I must admit Akane does have exceptional taste. Black fabric does wonders for your skin and hair...it reminds me of moonlight." While this was something he could hear himself saying to any woman, truth not being a factor at all, he caught himself actually meaning this statement. He wondered off hand if it was something in the drink, although his tolerance was exceptional, or something about the night air itself that was having this effect on him...either way, he did not feel the need in this moment to impress or manipulate. He felt strangely truthful, open...and while he would normally fight this feeling, he did not want to ruin the moment by doing so and decided to let it ride. There were worse things to seem than honest, anyway.

Lucien continued to dance with Akane as he gave the other pair the occasional glance. Things seemed to be going well at least. Once sure of that, he fully turned his attention to the kitsune.

"Did you enjoy your dance with Cora?" He asked, even though he already knew the answer.

Akane's big smile returned upon his question. "Oh yes! Very much.. thank you for encouraging me to go." She said honestly, unsure of whether she would have decided to do so on her own.

Lucien could tell just how genuine Akane's happiness was. He was honestly happy for her too, he just wondered if the woman had realized the difference between how she felt dancing with Cora, and how it felt like to dance with him. He decided to keep that comment to himself however, not wanting to make it extremely obvious to her. She seemed like she was thinking about it enough on her own.

Ivory was well aware what he meant, but she hadn't found a need to specify what her thanks was directed to, she didn't really want to either. The spin had allowed her to break eye contact with him, but she found herself locked in his gaze once again as they returned to their original position, with her still maintaining that subtle, yet very important, space between them.

She found his second compliment hard to respond to. Part of her just wanted to ignore it. Compliments.. weren't really something she was used to receiving. Catcalls on the street were common and easy to ignore. Normally found herself breaking conversation with any man who attempted it rather quickly, and considering how intentionally unapproachable she made herself, it wasn't really something she had to deal with often. Seeking an escape from having to answer him directly, and the awkwardness of the compliment, she glanced down at his clothes. Black trousers, black shirt.. basically black wingtips.

"Are you sure you don't just really like black?" She asked, considering what he had said the day before.