Nate was shocked from his observations when he heard a couple glasses slide in his direction. He spun around, his steps smooth as he eyed up the shots before him. They were finely poured, and something he hadn’t seen before. Complex, appetizing, and consisting of hard liquor: Baxter read him like a book. It took no time at all for Nate to begin downing his shots. He did them in the order they were suggested, knocking back the first then the second. He ignored the questions and musings from the kid… Marlen, maybe? Sounded like the name of a fish… maybe they were the kid of the god of the sea. But they mentioned Apollo… Nate only recognized the name from some old boxing movie his dad loved. Could also be a god, or a person… Maybe a cat? Who knew at this point. Talking animals would really sell this chaotic environment.
“Any more feathers? How many feathers you ruffled already?”
There were questions worth answering… or, more accurately, someone he didn’t want to piss off by ignoring. He tilted his head in Trinity’s direction as he let the first shot coat his throat. It was a bit bitter, but seemed to mix well with that ever-present tingling from the smokes he had. "Cut into someone’s dance without realizing it." His words had a levity to them that hid his lingering annoyance at the scene that was caused. He quickly knocked back another shot, that same bitterness sliding down and warming his core. "The night’s still young… I have a habit of attracting the wrong crowd." He instinctively reached towards his ribs with his left hand, probing a scar through his thin shirt as he continued to flash a winning smile. His right hand plucked the last shot, this one different than the others, and held it up in Bax’s direction. He gave a small cheers, and drank.
“...or a Sit on My Face, Honey depending on where you're from, I guess...”
This wasn’t Nate’s first rodeo. He quickly turned his head over his left shoulder, spraying half the unswallowed contents out into the night air. If he was not choking and dying for air as his nostrils and lungs tried to heave in oxygen, he would have remarked on how much he loved someone who could make him laugh. Instead, small tears poured down his cheeks from the gasping laugh that had shocked him so. The only small blessing he had was that, despite his brain gripped with fear, he didn’t feel the burning sensation that would come with such a fit. He just needed a little time to recover.
Of course, another voice cut in. “Say please.”
He saw the sparkling dress again, the brunette staring right into his soul as she knocked back her own shot. If ever he needed motivation to gather himself, this was it. He wiped the tears with a quick swipe of his thumb, let out a couple last choking coughs, and slid on his best smile as he let his eyes wander over her body. He wasn’t trying to be subtle, and neither was she. "I will… later." He shot a quick look to the woman next to her, clocking fairly quickly that such a move would not be received particularly well. It was for the best, his ego was bruised enough. Nate turned back to face Bax, placing his hands on the table and leaning forward with a grin. "You’ve done me dirty, Baxter." He shook his head. "You’re lucky those were some of the best I’ve had" He figured that would satisfy Baxter’s question.
Nate spun back to face the party again, eyeing the dancefloor and tables to keep tabs on what kind of mischief had been going on. For the most part… things seemed to have settled a bit. His eyes did briefly glance towards Andy and Mason, a pang of indignation piercing his chest. His ankle still felt a little off… might have rolled it. It didn't feel like a sprain, but it was always hard to tell when pain was so muted. He might need to walk a little bit just to check… but despite the conversations around him droning into nothing more than background noise, he felt comfortable here. He slipped a hand into his back pocket, producing the pack yet again. He flipped open the lid, peering inside for a moment. He wasn’t sure why he had grabbed it… he didn’t exactly have a craving for one, and it didn’t feel like a habit. His fingertips ran along the remaining cigarettes, naturally gravitating to the only one flipped the wrong direction.
Most fathers wouldn’t smoke with their teenage sons, let alone encourage it. Maybe Nate’s dad knew something he didn’t. Lately, he began suspecting his father knew that lung cancer was not going to be the end of him. But his father had been insistent on one thing. In every pack you open, you always remove a cigarette, flip it around, and stuff it back in. The reason changed every time. Some days, it was to make sure you knew no one messed with your pack. Others, it was some old war tradition. On a rare occasion, Nate’s father insisted it was a good luck charm: so long as you had that Lucky in your pack, your luck would never run dry. Nate wasn’t sure if he ever believed any of those reasons, but he always kept one in the chamber just in case. He’d even fight the urge for a day or two if needed, waiting until he could buy a new pack before he ever dared smoke the Lucky.
Nate’s fingers slipped to another cigarette in his pack, bringing it up to his lips and lighting it with the same muscle memory usually reserved for riding a bike. As he took a drag, he watched the party move around him.
Meanwhile on the dance floor, Tapeesa waited expectantly for Leo’s response. "I will take your word for that, and I will probably be hanging out near the tables or near them maybe when you are done," he replied, leaving her pinky hanging in the wind. She felt a little rebuffed when he ignored her playful promise, but she quickly shook it off and let her hand fall back to her side with a smile. "I will see you later, Tapeesa, and have a good time dancing."
"Try to have fun," she replied with a small wave as he left.
A little wind had been let out of Tapeesa’s sails after that awkward interaction. She kept her ever present smile, but struggled to find the same weightlessness she had a few minutes before. She couldn't help but notice how barren the dance floor was as she looked around. It was just her and the other couple dancing, which honestly made her feel a bit like a sore thumb now that she was more aware of it. She had always thought parties had a lot of dancing, sure drinking, but also dancing. Although she was quickly realizing that maybe that was the Hollywood glamorized versions of parties rather than reality. Her fingers slipped through her hair trying to work the knots from it as she swayed around trying to find her groove again. Her eyes slowly shut as she split her hair into three sections and began entangling them into a braid with an effortless precision like it was second nature to her. When the plait nearly reached her navel, Tappi slipped a spare hair tie from her wrist and fastened it.
With a sigh, she opened her eyes and looked around. She was thirsty and needed to find her second wave, but there was also a part of her that felt a little guilty at the thought of slipping off the dance floor for a quick drink, even if she had every intention of returning. If she had known that's what she was going to do, Tapeesa might have accepted Leo's offer. She debated it a second or two longer before accepting that she might look like a jerk and migrated toward the bar.
Tappi slid up to the counter beside another red head as he took a drag from a cigarette. She recognized him as the guy that took a spill on the dance floor awhile earlier. "Sorry about that," she commented, looking up at him while nodding her head toward the general dancing area. Her brows then furrowed and nose scrunched as she realized she was apologizing for something she didn't even do. "Well… Not that it was my fault, but you know…" She flashed him a sympathetic smile. "For what it's worth, I was going to help you up, but then you kinda zoomed." Her hands clapped together in some vague motion to symbolize ‘zooming.’
Nate had watched Tapeesa as she approached, his eyes following her movements. They traced along her patterned boots for a moment, admiring the craftsmanship. As she got closer, he offered a friendly smile. Her apology confused him. He looked back towards the dance floor, and his cheeks flushed with embarrassment. He had hoped no one saw, and felt even worse that she felt a need to apologize for it. "Sorry I ran off quick," he apologized, figuring it might help balance her unneeded apology. "I appreciate the thought, though." It was just his luck to miss the chance to get helped up by a pretty woman.
Her smile grew slightly before her attention shifted back to the bar, as she leaned forward against the counter and skimmed the various alcohols and liquors for a simple bottle of water. Tapeesa’s fingers strummed against the wooden surface as she turned her attention back to the man, desperately in need of assistance. "Is there no water?" she asked in a hushed, guilty tone as she tilted her head toward him subconsciously. She laughed softly, noting the irony of her looking for water in a sea of alcohol and drunks.
Nate smiled, tilting his head slightly as he thought for a moment. The kid a few feet away had asked for one. Baxter had plucked it from seemingly thin air… no, he had reached down for it. With a cigarette still dangling from his lips, Nate placed his palms on the bar behind him. In an effortless motion he was a little too familiar with, he hopped up onto the counter and leaned backwards. His legs hooked down, helping to keep him stable as he leaned back just enough to see a few bottles of water tucked under the back of the bar in rows. He reached a hand out to grab one, and then quickly crunched back up into a sitting position. He removed the cigarette from his mouth for a moment with his right hand, blowing a cloud of smoke into the air away from Tapeesa. With his left, he offered the bottle of water. "It's your lucky day."
Tapeesa’s eyes widened slightly as she watched him hop onto the bar with ease. Her gaze darted around a little confused before landing back on him. As he started to lean back her hands awkwardly hovered near his leg, preparing to—well, she wasn’t very strong so she wasn’t sure if ‘help’ was the correct word—try and keep him from falling. Thankfully they didn’t have to test how sturdy his skull was or how strong she was. He sat back up like it was nothing and held out the bottle to her. An amused laugh escaped her lips as she reached out to take the bottle from him. "Thanks." She smiled up at him with genuine gratitude and a lightness in her grin that made her cheeks dimple.
With a pleased sigh, she removed the cap and downed nearly half of the bottle. It seemed Tapeesa hadn’t realized how thirsty she actually was. Soda didn’t really cut it when it came to hydration. Her right thumb raised to wipe a drip of water from the corner of her mouth as she looked over at him. "I’m Tapeesa, by the way," she added in a friendly tone. She quickly wiped her hand against her jeans, removing the water that clung to her skin, then offered it to him.
Nate met her with his own soft smile, chuckling at just how thirsty she was. He did not hide his probing looks as he watched her, though his eyes mostly followed her single braid that hung over her shoulder. When she introduced herself, Nate responded quickly. "Nathaniel, but please call me Nate." As she reached a hand out, he quickly set his cigarette in a small holder in the ash tray next to him before shaking hers. His eyes briefly caught a glimpse of the tattoos on her hand, which piqued his interest. He reached out his other hand slowly, while turning hers in his palm. "That's some nice ink… mind if I get a closer look?" He paused his movements, his bright eyes glancing towards her face with an eager smile. He always enjoyed learning about the importance behind what people got etched into their skin. It was always a story.
Tappi began to slip her fingers from his grasp, but Nate’s growing interest gave her pause. "Thank you." She looked down at their hands as he turned hers over, studying the line work of her kakiniit. While her hand tattoos often garnered some amount of attention, like it did with Elias, but his eagerness caught her a little off guard. Her smile didn’t falter but shifted to reflect her own curiosity as she looked back up at him. A subtle flush crept to her cheeks as she set down her water. "Sure," she agreed, just as interested to study his curiosity as he was to study her.
Nate slowly reached out with his free hand to grab her other hand, bringing them a little closer to get a good look at the design. He was gentle and slow with his movements, but he studied the design carefully with a smile on his lips. It wasn't overly complex, just careful lines and dots. He turned over her hands and wrists to ensure he saw the extent of the design, before his brown eyes met hers. "They're pretty… your tattoos. And your hands." He hid his internal recoil at the latter statement. It wasn't even a move, just another thought he couldn't keep to himself. He cleared his throat quickly, letting go of Tapeesa's hands. "What's the story behind the design?"
While he examined her hands like he was appraising a piece of art, Tappi watched his face with a curious furrow to her brow. Her lips parted to thank him again before the second part of his compliment slipped out, erasing her thoughts and leaving her a little dumbfounded with her mouth agape. They both cleared their throats at the same time as he released her hands. An awkward laugh slipped out as she reached for her water and took another, more graceful sip. "Well, my hands," she held up her right hand and rotated it in the air slightly, "They’re genetic." Her grin grew bigger and brighter into something more playful and teasing, although the blush still clung to the apples of her cheeks.
Tapeesa laughed softly as she looked down at her right hand, fingers splayed out and wiggling slightly. "It’s my kakiniit. It’s a type of traditional hand poke tattoo that Inuit women get." She paused for a second, catching a loose strand of hair that slipped from her braid and tucked it behind her ear. "They’re usually very spiritual and personal." Her gaze traced the various lines and dots as she spoke. "This is the same kakiniit my mom had. I think she said it was some hunting amulet and ocean spirit… Something?" She shrugged her shoulders and chuckled as she finally met Nate’s gaze again. "I don’t remember. I was like seven when she told me. I just chose this because it keeps a piece of her with me." While there might have been a hint of sadness in her words, her smile never faded. Death and grief was never easy. But she refused to look back on her memories of her mom with anything but love. Her tattoos were just a way to keep her close and always on her mind.
"What about you?" Tappi asked with a slight tilt of her head. "Tattoos, not kakiniit," she clarified with a laugh. "You’re too ginger to be Inuit." She pinched the tip of her tongue between her teeth, smiling at her lighthearted goading.
Nate nodded softly, taking in the explanation with great interest. He reached down and plucked the cigarette, taking another drag as she spoke. Her playful ribbing brought a smile to his lips. "Damn, hair gave it away?" He faked shock, the corner of his lips upturned in delight.
He contemplated her question for a moment, tilting his head back and forth. She seemed happy and relaxed, and the last thing he wanted was to kill the vibe. But, she did ask, and it felt rude for the showcase to be only one way. His hands dipped down to the bottom hem of his shirt. With a slightly embarrassed smile he slowly began lifting it up. Nate was remarkably toned, years of vanity workouts leaving his stomach chiseled. He wasn't sure why this felt embarrassing, he'd shown more for a lot less reason. "It's not as elegant as kakiniit," he said, nodding towards her hands. His pronunciation wasn't perfect, and he slowed down the word to single syllables to try his best. He lifted the shirt up to his pectorals, revealing a small phrase tattooed in black ink just above his abs on his left-hand side. It was small, flowing script with just 4 words. Come fly with me. "My dad's favorite song… and mine too. It's my go to for karaoke." He felt awkward still holding the shirt up, but figured it was only fair she got a good look. "He's got a matching one… but we were drunk when we got it on my 21st, so not quite as sweet."
While Tappi had intended on immediately returning to the dance floor, she found herself leaning against the bar, lingering a little longer than intended. She laughed at his feigned shock, appreciating that he could take some light teasing. While she was more than capable of being serious, life was too short not to enjoy the smaller moments of joy and levity… Which, in her case, could mean a little harmless teasing.
She let her gaze drift for a second to pick up her water but froze in the process of bringing it to her lips when she noticed Nate lifting his shirt. Tapeesa’s face turned as red as the maraschino cherries that sat in a small dish on the bar. She did ask, but didn’t really consider the fact that his shirt didn’t have any sleeves and his arms were bare. Well that was dumb. She tried to push back her nerves with a breathy sip of water. Nate was very muscular, so naturally she fixed her gaze anywhere but his chest, which made it difficult to actually see what he was showing her. It wasn’t like she had never seen a shirtless man before but they were never that… close.
A genuine smile replaced her initial shock when Nate attempted to pronounce kakiniit correctly. "Kah-kih-neet," Tapeesa repeated slowly, enunciating each syllable with a reassuring nod of her head and gentle encouragement. It wasn’t often people humored random facts about her culture, let alone attempted to pronounce an Inuktitut word. She appreciated his attempt even if it was a bit sloppy.
For whatever reason the small act of reverence to her culture steeled a bit of her nerves. Tappi inhaled a sharp breath then let her gaze fall to his chest. Her hands slipped to her thighs as she leaned over slightly to read the quote. "I don’t think I have a go to karaoke song," she confessed with an awkward laugh, trying not to focus on how close she was. She slowly stood back upright and lightly patted her legs with a slight tilt of her head. "I still think it’s sweet." Her gaze drifted back up to meet his dark brown eyes, her smile growing slightly. "I actually got mine on my eighteenth birthday," she added, laughing at the slight similarity. "Not drunk though… Probably would have helped. It took forever."
Nate raised an eyebrow at her blushing, taking a moment to piece together she was just as embarrassed as he was. That being said, he wasn't going to turn down the opportunity for some light teasing. "What, you don't want to touch?" His tone remained light, but he did quickly drop his shirt to cover his abs for both their sakes. It was best not to push his luck further than that. He took in another breath, letting the numbing smoke fill his mouth as he let the cooling numbness flow out. He grabbed at the cigarette, holding out the butt in her direction as he raised an eyebrow. "Want one? I've got plenty."
Tapeesa actually snorted out a surprised laugh. "Ha. I actually try to keep my public groping to a minimum," she replied, shaking her head and rolling her eyes in disapproval… Even if her smile never once fell. A little chuckle to herself escaped her lips as she brought her bottle of water to her lips and finished what remained.
Her gaze fell to the offered cigarette with raised brows before looking back up into his eyes. Did she really look like the type of girl who smoked?... Ok, well, smoked that? Tapeesa leaned her left elbow against the bar and pointed at the small wisp of smoke that spiraled off of it. "That stuff tastes horrible," she replied with a guilty smile. "I only smoke weed." Tapeesa shrugged. "It’s medicinal, won’t kill me, and is way more fun." Her index finger poked his chest for emphasis. "You should consider switching."
Nate ran his tongue along his bottom row of teeth, looking down to the nearly finished cigarette. He stamped out the embers in the ash tray next to him. "Little harder to travel with." He let out a little laugh, turning to face her. "Unless you've got a stash you don't mind sharing, making the transition might be a challenge." He raised an eyebrow quizzically, before his eyes shifted back out towards the rest of the party. He thought he had seen her out there dancing earlier, and he hadn't quite had his fill yet. He just needed to be sure of one thing first. "You're not… there isn't some guy who's gonna kick my ass if I ask you to dance, is there? Made that mistake once tonight." He flashed a small smile, motioning towards the mostly empty dance floor. "Someone's gotta keep the party going, right?"
"Coming here was the first time I traveled. So I can’t really relate to that struggle." Her brows rose and head tilted slightly at his other comment. It hadn’t really crossed Tappi’s mind yet, but if she had a fully stocked greenhouse, the chances of marijuana being there was pretty high. She did use plants for medicinal purposes. It would only make sense. "However, I do have a greenhouse at my cabin. Haven’t had a chance to check it out yet, but…" She shrugged her shoulders with a curious, and maybe a little bit guilty, expression. "I am a healer and the Gods like to party… It’s probably a safe bet."
Tapeesa’s gaze followed his out toward the dance floor. She had honestly seen more life at a funeral. It wasn’t very surprising she lost some of her initial excitement about dancing when no one was actually joining in. She slowly looked back up into his eyes with a soft laugh and the ghost of a blush across her cheeks. "Can’t say there is. Only thing you’re in danger of is mediocre bordering on embarrassing dance moves." Her fingers strummed along the edge of the bar. "That’s what I’m best at," she whispered to him like it was almost a secret.
She pushed off of the counter and took a step backwards toward the dance floor. "That’s what I was trying to do before you distracted me." Tapeesa’s dimples returned as her lips curved into a teasing smile.
Nate cocked an eyebrow while he ran his tongue along the inside of his cheek. This woman was full of surprises, and he was more than happy to see what else she had in store. He rolled his neck around in a circle, making a show of stretching a little as he subconsciously began to follow her footsteps beat for beat. As much as he would love to see this greenhouse and see if her assumption was right, there was no chance he was going to let Tapeesa dance alone for a second longer. "Oh… I’m a distraction. I see," he teased, taking another step closer. A mischievous glint flickered through his eyes. "I guess I have no choice but to keep you focused." His tone dripped with levity, his hands stuffed into his front pockets. Without the threat of another confrontation, he was actually excited to do some dancing. There was just one thing.
"You don’t seem like the boring type." His observation was a bit blunt, an effort to be genuine instead of flirty. He clicked his tongue against the roof of his mouth, sizing her up. "Embarrassing moves I could see," he admitted, a grin forming on his face as an idea came to mind. "But I would wager you’ve got nothing on my worst moves." It was a simple, playful challenge. More of a hook, as he stepped past her, removing his hands from his pocket. He held both hands out in front of himself, as if he was holding some kind of bat. He lifted his hands up near his shoulder, and then shot them in a downward motion. The mime was only clear as he began circling his right fist around his left: he had cast an invisible fishing line in Tapeesa’s direction, and was trying to “reel” her in to follow him to the dance floor.
Tappi spared a quick glance over her shoulder to make sure she wasn’t going to bump into someone, but the path from the bar to the dance floor was wide open as most people seemed to give it a wide berth. "I do have trouble focusing. How kind of you to help me in my time of need," she jested. Her voice was laced with a playful sarcasm as she pressed her hands to her chest like he was her savior. "This is a very important mission." She pointed at the ground for emphasis, even stomping her foot a little. "And it’s kinda sucked, bouncing around by myself." While her last comment held the same lighthearted air, there was sincerity to her words. She was a little saddened that she had spent most of the night dancing with no company but her own. But now with Nate, things were looking up and she couldn’t stop smiling.
"Give it time," she laughed softly as she held his gaze. "Soon you’ll realize this is about it and be very disappointed." Tapeesa held out her arms slightly as if to say, yup that’s about it. Her hands lightly smacked her legs as her arms dropped back down to her sides. Her brows raised when he mentioned having the worst dance moves, stirring the little competitive monster that lived inside her. "That… Sounds like a challenge." She squinted her eyes and pointed at him. "Alrighty then, Nater-tot." She rubbed her hands together deviously like some cartoon villain from one of their childhood TV shows. "Time to put your money where your mouth is."
She lingered behind watching him as he walked past with giddy anticipation at seeing his terrible dancing. At first Tapeesa watched him curiously, not entirely sure what he was doing. But once Nate casted his imaginary fishing line toward her and started reeling in, she nearly doubled over burying her face in her hands. Her face turned bright red as she broke out in laughter. She peeked over at him between her fingers watching as he whipped out the corniest dance without any hesitation. When she stood back up her lips scrunched in that way where she was trying really hard not to smile and maybe was a little bashful.
Tapeesa rolled her eyes then slowly started hopping toward him on beat with the music. As she closed the distance between them her grin grew, tugging at the corner of her mouth until it was so big her eyes squinted and her dimples dipped in her cheeks. When she was within a few feet of Nate, she locked eyes with him before pinching her nose and puffing out her cheeks. She held up her other hand and wiggled her fingers, then started twisting her body as she lowered herself down to the ground and back up again. All the while a continuous soft laugh flowed from her.
It had been so, so long since he had laughed like that. He felt a surge of pride as she recognized his little competition, and the nickname was… unique. He bit his bottom lip and shook his head as she made clear her intention to accept the challenge. He felt his own cheeks get a little red as her smile grew when he danced. He couldn’t recall making anyone smile like that before. And when she attempted the scuba diver, Nate let out a short laugh that seemed to come deep from his core. Tapeesa cut through any lingering nerves or frustration over a very long year. For all his talk of living and having fun, he hadn’t quite let himself be this merry.
But… there was no reason he couldn’t be a little competitive. "If you want a wager so bad, Toppings," he said with a wicked, comical grin, "Let’s make a game of it. Whoever taps out, loses." He held both his hands out in front of him, as if his fists were enclosed around a horizontal handle at hip height. "And the loser owes the winner one favor." It was a bit juvenile, even he could admit that. But games always needed a reward, and he wasn’t about to ask a stranger to pony up cash for a cringey dance battle. He bowed down slightly, reaching out his right hand to grab onto an imaginary handle. With the base hits of the music, he made a show of cranking the arm back. The lawnmower was a dirty trick, but a classic move. He pretended to start up his lawnmower, and then proceeded to parade it around Tappi. He couldn’t stop grinning like an absolute idiot the whole while, eyebrows raised in challenge.
"Toppings?" She clapped her hands together softly, bringing them to her face as she laughed. Tappi had heard a lot of unique nicknames when it came to her name, but that one was definitely a first. Her eyes followed him as he mowed in a circle around her. She bit down her bottom lip trying to stifle her laughter, even hiding her mouth behind her hand. She was quickly realizing how many surprises Nate had up his sleeve. While she did totally turn their dancing into a competition right out the gate, an actual bet never crossed her mind. A ‘favor’ made her a little anxious about whatever it could be cashed in for, but she was also a good sport. And, for whatever reason, she trusted him not to be unkind when he cashed it if he won… Which he wouldn’t because there was no way she was going to lose to the lawnmower.
When Nate finished his lap and was back in front of her, Tapeesa held out her right hand toward him with an impish grin. "Deal." After sealing their bet in a handshake, she kept hold of his hand while she pressed her other palm to the back of her head. She then slowly slipped her fingers out of his grasp as her arms swung in and out in sync with the music, going into the sprinkler. Her face scrunched up, redness in her cheeks never fading as she twisted around like she was watering the lawn he just mowed.
Nate shook his head, mimicking a yawning motion as he watched her attempt the sprinkler. That one was far too easy, too predictable. "Oh… you’ll need to try harder than that." He chuckled a little at her sincerity. If she wanted to use a corny classic, he could too. He also didn’t mind the closer distance between the two. He held out his right arm with his palm face down, and then his left. He matched his movement to the pace as he then turned each palm with flare, then brought each one to his opposite shoulder. The macarena was a classic, and it worked well enough even with the sped up beat. His movements were fairly fluid, coming across as a little less stiff than he would have liked. It was hard not to just lose himself to the moment and go with the groove, even with a dance move older than he was. But as he finished the set, he hopped up and spun to stand perpendicular to her, clapping his hands and turning his gaze back to her.
Tapeesa rolled her eyes as she watched him shift into the macarena. A classic, truly, and coincidentally, one of her favorites. Her head nodded to keep the rhythm with him so the moment he jumped and spun she slid in right next to him. She stuck out her right hand and looked over at him in a silent challenge for him to go one more round, simply because she had to join in at least once. When it got to the part where her hands were on her waist instead of swaying she bumped her hip into his playfully with a contagious grin and laugh. Then there was the jump and spin, but when she landed her right hand pointed up into the air with her left hand on her hip. She pursed her lips as her index finger dipped to point down across her body then back up at the sky. While doing the old disco move she shimmied and rocked her shoulders adding her own little flare.
This elicited a proper laugh from Nate, who was more than happy to just truly let loose and dance. No teaching moves, no awkward small talk, just moving and grooving. At the same time… Nate was far too competitive for his own good, and he would do anything within the flimsy rules they had established to win. While she was finishing up her disco, Nate began to snap his fingers and sway his hips slightly as he got back on the beat himself. Once confident he had the rhythm down, he exaggerated the movements. His arms swung wildly back and forth, snapping to the beat, while he stepped back and forth as well. It wasn’t his best trick, but the Carlton was good enough to buy time and see what else Tapeesa had in store for him.
Tapeesa gasped and pressed her hand to her chest in a dramatic fashion. "How dare you judge my sprinkler, then whip out the Carlton!" She didn't know how many more moves she could pull out of her hat but there was one that she taught herself as a kid and she was confident enough to whip out. She scrunched her lips and squinted her eyes at Nate as she smoothly slid her right leg back. Then she did the same with her left, back and forth until she was doing the moonwalk. As she got into the rhythm she waved her arms up and down in front of her, just for fun. When she reached the edge of the dance area she turned around, making her way back toward him. Unfortunately it is also very hard to coordinate the moonwalk on grass. As she closed in on Nate her boot got stuck on a little lump of earth and she stumbled backwards into him with a gasp and embarrassed laugh.
Nate was quick to react, reaching his arms out and helping to cushion her stumble. Learning his lesson from the last time, he grabbed onto her shoulders, taking a step in to help use his body to prevent her from falling. "Easy there, Tapeesa… best leave moves like that for the professionals." He made sure she was back up and standing before he slid his own feet back, moonwalking a step and a half away. He needed to wrap things up, apparently for her own safety. Of course, the alcohol in his system also seemed to dull the more reasonable side of his brain. He knew a move that could leave her stunned.
Nate reached up to his shoulders, pulling his shirt clumsily over his back and head. Sweat glistened along his back. He was far too absorbed in the competition to feel the same surge of embarrassment as before. He held his shirt in his right hand, lifting it over his head and twirling it in a circle. His left hand extended out in front of him. In time with the beat, he galloped in place. Each gallop sent him a couple inches closer to Tapeesa, a wild smile on his face. A chuckle slipped out as he pranced his little pony move closer to her, his shirt swinging over his head like a lasso.
Of course, he needed to seal the deal. As he got closer, he swung his shirt in her direction, aiming towards her waist. As his twisted up shirt wrapped around her, he caught it with his other hand. Locked in close, Nate raised his eyebrows and shot Tapeesa a smirk. With booming satisfaction, he asked, "Do you yield?"
As if her nearly falling wasn't bad enough Nate had to rub it in with his own mini moonwalk. Tappi crossed her arms over her chest in a playful pout as she waited to see what he was up to next. However she was not prepared… at all. While halfway through their dancing she managed to get more comfortable and her cheeks returned to a normal color, the moment he pulled his shirt off her eyes widened and she flushed redder than before. She was caught somewhere between shock and embarrassment, watching from behind her hands. He started galloping and twirling his shirt overhead like he was a cowboy. With each gallop he got closer. At first she took a step back but he only continued to close the distance. She had no idea what to do or how to react and before she could plan her next move he was on her. In a swift move he hooked his shirt around her waist and trapped her close to him.
Tapeesa gasped softly and buried her face in her hands. Strawberry pink skin was visible beneath her fingers as her anxious laugh was muffled against her palms. He kept her close enough that no matter which way she moved some part of her bumped into some part of him. She slowly shifted her hands just enough so she could peer over her fingers up into his eyes. The warmth radiating from his body and the closeness of his bare chest made her flustered and struggle for words. She nodded her head, her bashful smile still hidden beneath her fingers. "You win," she reluctantly conceded.
The air had shifted slightly. He instinctively was breathing a little harder than usual, his body clearly upset with the strenuous motion after a tiring day. Nate's dancing partner was clearly beyond flustered, and he quickly pieced together he may have taken things a little too far too soon. He flung the shirt back up and over his shoulder, taking a step back to give Tapeesa some space. He rubbed the back of his neck awkwardly, his smile fading a little. "Sorry… got a little carried away," he admitted. It took him a moment to check his shirt and figure out which way to slide it back on. All the while, he spoke in a soft tone. "I haven't had fun like that in a long time. I didn't mean to make you uncomfortable." Once he slid his tank top back over his head, he looked back into her eyes. He almost instinctively took another half step back, leaning back on his heels. "You were right, Toppings. We've both got some pretty bad moves." He let a small awkward smile tug at the corner of his lips. "I wouldn't mind seeing more of them sometime."
Her chest heaved softly as she tried to catch her breath. Loose hairs that fell from her braid clung to the sweat that glistened along her brow and collarbones. There was a small pang that pinched in Tapeesa's chest when Nate's smile shifted slightly and he took a step back. Her own apologetic smile grew subconsciously like it was trying to make up the difference. "It’s ok," she reassured him. She looked over at him as he put back on his shirt, accidentally catching a glimpse of his chest before it disappeared beneath the fabric. Her hands reached up to grab the hem of her own top which had inched up from all the dancing and exposed a hint of her mid drift. "Although," she commented as her teasing tone slipped back into her words and she tugged her shirt back down. "That was cheating because I can't do that move." Ok, well she could but she wasn't going to rip her shirt off in the middle of a party.
When Nate looked like he was considering moving further away, Tapeesa subconsciously took a small half step forward. While she might have been caught off guard, she still had fun and didn't want him to leave. The corner of her lips curved upwards at the goofy nickname, teasing the return of the small dips in her cheeks. "I would like that," she admitted while looking over into his eyes. There was a soft sincerity to her words that almost felt a little out of place compared to their comfortable banter. "But," she continued with a little more levity in her voice. "If those are your bad moves, I’m a little scared to know what your good ones are," she teased as a soft laugh escaped from her lips.
Tapeesa looked around a little awkwardly, a blush creeping back to her cheeks as she realized the unwarranted attention they might have garnered and how they lingered on the dance floor standing still and out of breath. Her fingers tucked the hair that slipped from her braid behind her ears while her feet began slowly stepping side to side. She wasn't entirely sure why, but it felt wrong just standing there. It was like filling a silence in a conversation, but instead of words it was the subtle sway of her hips as she slipped back into the familiar dancing she had been doing before when she was alone. Tappi didn't expect Nate to stick around after their silly competition but there was a part of her that hoped he did.
Tapeesa's small steps towards him and reassurances made Nate's smile grow. He wasn't sure why, of all times, he now cared what someone thought of him. His heart drummed in his chest, definitely a byproduct of the dancing and nothing else stirring within him. When she mentioned cheating, Nate audibly gasped and raised a hand to his mouth in faux shock. "There was no rule against stripping as part of the game." Was it a bit of a dirty trick regardless? Perhaps. But he took a half step closer and did his best to whisper above the music. "You definitely could have pulled the same move, and I guarantee you would have won." He let out a little laugh at that, a gut reaction to diffuse the own internal tension that came from the statement. He didn't want to think about Tapeesa without a shirt too long, it didn't seem fair to her. His eyes shifted briefly to other party goers lingering near the bar, seeming to just now realize again they were in public. He spoke his next thought as soon as it came to mind. "I prefer that kind of dancing in private." He shook his head a little at the thought.
As Tapeesa began to get back into her own groove, so did Nate. He matched the swaying of her hips, letting his arms hang loosely at his side. There was something in her later words that made his chest feel tight. The teasing was absent in her admission of liking the idea of doing something like this again. If he was honest with himself, he'd probably enjoy watching her do anything. He swayed near her, letting the music guide his movements as the two began to get a little more into dancing proper. But before he let himself get fully lost in the beat, there was something she had said earlier that still nagged at the back of his mind. "For the record… I'm not disappointed. I think all of this," he motioned vaguely towards her, that bright smile of his still wide and toothy. "It's more than enough, Tapeesa."
Her eyes narrowed as he feigned offense while pointing out the loophole. Sneaky little... Before she could think of some sarcastic response, Nate stepped closer, catching her gaze with his. His words, however, caught her by surprise. She crossed her arms over her chest and shook her head. A judgy, but still lighthearted scoff could be heard over the music as she rolled her eyes. Yeah, there was no way that was happening, especially in front of everyone at camp… Or alone, most likely. She wasn’t that type of girl, even if the comment made her blush a little for reasons she wasn’t entirely sure. "You play dirty." Tappi waved her index finger at him all the while never losing her smile. "I’ll remember that," she warned him with an accusatory glance and a poke to his chest. She clocked his comment about dancing in private. She wasn’t entirely sure if it was an innuendo or he was just embarrassed about his good dancing, but she feigned ignorance rather than ask.
There was a faint bit of tension that Tapeesa didn’t realize she was holding onto until Nate began swaying more normally in sync with her. A tightness in her chest like she was holding her breath and waiting to see if he was going to stay released, and her shoulders relaxed. As they fell back into a rhythm her light, carefree air slowly returned. She was nearly loosened up enough to go into one of her goofy little spins when his voice cut through the music. Her gaze flicked to his beaming, authentic smile then up to his dark brown eyes. The comment threw her off her rhythm. She stumbled slightly as the warmth crept back up to her cheeks and her heart started beating a lot heavier in her chest. Was it always doing that? She couldn’t fight the sheepish grin that tugged at her lips at the sight of his own infectious smile and his jarring compliment.
Tapeesa leaned in slightly like she was sharing a secret, but averted her eyes because… She didn’t know if her heart could handle all of that. "I actually have no idea how to respond to that," she confessed, barely loud enough to be heard over the music. When she finally looked back over at him an anxious, but flattered laugh fell from beneath her bashful smile.
"We can just dance, then." Nate's suggestion was simple, his smile widening with her look back at him. It was what they came out here to do, and he didn't want to distract her any further from the task at hand. So, he let the music guide his movements as he stayed within Tapeesa's orbit.
