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[color=0bbdaf][b]#0bbdaf[/b][/color] [color=2e2c2c]....[/color]|[color=2e2c2c].....[/color] [url=https://imgur.com/Okl6AJX][color=9b9b9b][b]outfit[/b][/color][/url] [color=2e2c2c].....[/color]|[color=2e2c2c].....[/color] [color=9b9b9b][b]party[/b][/color]
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[indent][indent][indent][indent][justify][color=808080]Nate’s comment kept replaying in Tapeesa’s mind as they danced. [i]She was more than enough.[/i] What did that even mean? Well, she knew what it meant but… what did it [i]mean?[/i] It wasn’t something she had ever really heard. It sounded like something her mother or grandfather would have told her in her childhood during her moments of self doubt. Their reassurances made her the confident, carefree, and unapologetic person she was today. But the way Nate said it made it hard for her to meet his gaze and her stomach tickle in a strange unfamiliar way. And while it made her a bit more anxious in his presence, it also made her weirdly comfortable around him as well. 

The entire time they danced her smile never faded, continuously shining bright and illuminating the dimples in her cheeks. While most of her night might have been spent alone, she found a rejuvenated second wind and happiness at having company that didn’t pull away from her weirder side but reveled in it. Tapeesa easily found her rhythm, bouncing and swaying in beat with the music while occasionally still throwing in some corny moves like finger guns or doing the little peace signs in front of her eyes with a bob of her head. At another point, without hesitation, she took Nate’s hands in hers and swung them to the side with a laugh. As their arms arched overhead, they both twirled close enough that they brushed up against each other before their hands fell back down between them.

A soft poke startled Tapeesa. Her smile grew as she looked back over her shoulder and saw Elias. [color=d4af37]"Really? Sprinkler? Macarena? What’s next, the cha-cha slide?"[/color] She slowly slipped her right hand free as she spun around to face Elias and his new friend. The tips of her fingers on her left hand remained hooked with Nate’s in that subconscious way where she didn’t want him to drift away because of someone else. She didn’t even fully realize she was doing it, more like putting a pin in their dancing with every intention of resuming. 

Then, to her surprise, Elias attempted a small section of the cha cha slide. It was awkward and wrong and he had an embarrassed self conscience look on his face but it still made her laugh softly. [color=0bbdaf]"There will be no macarena slander here. It’s my favorite,"[/color] she argued playfully while sparing a glance over her shoulder toward Nate with a smile. 

[color=d4af37]"Anyway,"[/color] Elias continued as he pointed his thumb at the guy beside him and stepped in beat with the music. [color=d4af37]"This is Forest. He brings better drinks than whatever’s on tap if you change your mind on the whole not drinking thing."[/color]

Tapeesa leaned back slightly, looking around Nate to check the clock on the side of the arena. Noting that it was less than an hour until midnight she looked back at Elias with a slight shrug. [color=0bbdaf]"The night’s almost over. I’ll probably just stick with water."[/color] Her attention shifted to Forest and her smile grew, making her eyes squint slightly. [color=0bbdaf]"Hi, Forest. I’m Tapeesa,"[/color] she introduced herself while holding out her right hand toward him. 

[color=d4af37]"And who’s your new partner in crime?"[/color] Elias asked, looking over her shoulder to where Nate stood behind her. 

[color=0bbdaf]"Oh, this is Nate,"[/color] Tapeesa replied. Her fingers slipped free from his as she shifted to stand beside him, assuming he wouldn’t try running off now that he was part of the conversation. [color=0bbdaf]"This is Elias,"[/color] she spoke to Nate while motioning her hand to the man opposite her. [color=0bbdaf]"We both got [i]un-lost[/i] together trying to find camp while hiking up the mountain."[/color]

Tapeesa continued to sway back and forth slightly, her arm occasionally brushing Nate’s as she waited for the other shoe to drop. Her head tilted to the side curiously as she looked between Elias and Forest. [color=0bbdaf]"[i]Sooooo…[/i] What’s up?"[/color] she asked while clapping her hands together expectantly. [color=0bbdaf]"I don’t [i]actually[/i] think you’re here to dance considering you didn’t take me up on my offer earlier, and I’ve been out here dancing alone for at least an hour."[/color] Her comment was innocent and playfully goading, masking the faint soreness she felt at being on her own for most of the night. She looked over at Forest with furrowed brows. [color=0bbdaf]"Did you scrape your elbow or something and need me to heal it?"[/color][/color][/justify][/indent][/indent][/indent][/indent]

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[color=808080][b]interactions[/b] [color=2e2c2c]....[/color]|[color=2e2c2c]....[/color] nate, elias & forest [color=2e2c2c]...............[/color] [b]mentions[/b] [color=2e2c2c]....[/color]|[color=2e2c2c]....[/color] none [color=2e2c2c]...............[/color] [b]collabs[/b] [color=2e2c2c]....[/color]|[color=2e2c2c]....[/color] none[/color]
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