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[color=#04ed42][b]#04ed42[/b][/color] [color=2e2c2c]....[/color]|[color=2e2c2c].....[/color] [url=https://img.roleplayerguild.com/prod/users/019806ab-5bf3-73c1-af11-60d7bfbd86f0.webp][color=9b9b9b][b]outfit[/b][/color][/url] [color=2e2c2c].....[/color]|[color=2e2c2c].....[/color] [color=9b9b9b][b]Party[/b][/color]
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[indent][color=darkgray]When was the last time Nate had made someone smile the way Tapeesa smiled? He couldn’t quite recall. It wasn’t the dazed, afterglow fueled grin that his partners would be left with when he threw on clothes and left their apartments. It wasn’t the fake, calculated smiles of the gamblers he would play with. It wasn’t even the usual amused smirk he could sometimes elicit from what few friends he had left when they spoke. Tapeesa’s felt different. He felt a strange tightness in his chest as he saw the dimples form on her cheeks. His own face seemed to mirror hers in a way, he smiled, laughed, and let himself cut fully loose.

Nate only realized how lost in dancing he had become when Tapeesa spun around to face two other men. They were charming, about his height, and dressed a little nicer than he was. There was an unreadable atmosphere about the shorter of the two, the one who had drawn Tappi’s attention. Nate almost didn’t realize that her fingers still clung to his desperately. He wanted to unhook his from hers, but he couldn’t quite bring himself to. She seemed pleased to see them, her voice filled with the same cheer that brushed aside any worry that these men were bothering her. Hell, one of them had even offered his own tribute to the pile of bad dance moves. She might have just wanted to keep him close, but his odds were on a more flattering answer. His smile, which had wavered at the arrival of the other two, deepened slightly when she looked back at him.

[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] Nate gave the taller man a nod when he was introduced, making a note of his particular skillset. He was always down to try something new… hopefully the flirty bartender wouldn’t get too sore about having some competition. When Elias looked towards Nate with raised eyebrows, the latter’s smile wavered slightly. [color=d4af37]"And who’s your new partner in crime?"[/color] Nate didn’t quite know how to answer, his hand still linked to Tapeesa’s. He wasn’t usually this nervous about introductions. He could just say his name, it would be fine.

[color=0bbdaf]"Oh, this is Nate."[/color]

Well, that did answer Elias’ question. Tapeesa let go of Nate’s hand, and he did not understand why that upset him a fraction. He gave a slight nod towards Elias as he was introduced, listening to the rest of Tappi’s explanation. [color=0bbdaf]"This is Elias, we both got [i]un-lost[/i] together trying to find camp while hiking up the mountain."[/color] 

Nate widened his smile, observing Elias’ face carefully. He reached a hand out towards him for a handshake. [color=04ed42]"Good to meet you, Elias. Just got here today myself… glad I didn’t miss the party."[/color] His eyes briefly shifted in Tapeesa’s direction for a moment before he just shook his head, offering a hand towards Forest afterwards. His brows furrowed as he thought through Elias’ introduction to the tall man. Drinks.. Baxter had mentioned something about mead, and the bottle he used had a homemade label on it. [color=04ed42]"You wouldn’t happen to be the mead guy everyone’s talking about, are ya Forest?"[/color]

Nate had become more static, while Tapeesa continued to sway next to him. Each gentle brush was a small reassurance he didn’t realize he needed. [color=0bbdaf]"[i]Sooooo…[/i] What’s up?"[/color] A brilliant question from Tappi as Nate wondered the same thing. [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] Nate winced slightly at the statement, more out of second-hand embarrassment than anything more concrete. He knew full well how awful it felt to be left stranded on a dancefloor. [color=0bbdaf]"Did you scrape your elbow or something and need me to heal it?"[/color] An eyebrow raised slightly at this. She had mentioned she was a healer, but he figured she meant like a doctor or even a camp nurse. Did this guy really need her to put a band-aid on his elbow and kiss it better? Nate brushed off the thought, trying to feel the beat of the music in his core to begin swaying to it again like he was before. Of course, he [i]was[/i] still interested to see what these two gentlemen wanted. After all, if they weren’t here to dance, they must need [i]something.[/i] 

Nate wasn’t ready to give up his dance partner so soon.
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[hr]Location: Dance Floor
Interactions: Tapeesa [@Mjolnir], Elias [@Qia], Forest [@NoriWasHere]
Mentions (in his thoughts): Baxter