"I don't know how to dance.  I never learned."

	M'ressan smiled slowly, disarmingly.  He rose and took her hand in
his own.  His eyes-- green like her own, though slightly lighter in
color-- twinkled affectionately.  "Then let me have this dance," he said.
"They say I'm not a bad teacher."

	Elswyth shrank back imperceptibly.  "I--"

	"You have a lot of our culture to learn, my dear," M'ressan
pointed out.  "Why not start here?  I promise I'll be gentle."  He flashed
another of his smiles.  It lit up his face, making simple features
suddenly attractive.

	Elswyth rose hesitantly to her feet.  "I make no promises on my
ability to learn this," she she said.

	M'ressan shrugged.  "If my feet get sore, we'll know I oversold
myself as a teacher," he quipped.  Holding her hand reassuringly, he led
her to the edge of the dancefloor.

	"First," he said cheerfully, "you'll want to stand closer."  He
stepped close to her, so close that she could smell the leather of his
jacket, and the spicy male-musk beneath.  "Put your free hand here."  He
touched drew up her hand in his own and touched it to his shoulder.  His
arm snaked around her waist.  She started backward.

	"It's all right," he soothed.  "I'll warn you.  That's really
where my hand is supposed to go."  He grinned.

	Elswyth nodded.  "I understand," she replied gravely.

	"Now, move your left foot to mirror my right..."  He launched off
into explanation and demonstration.  Elswyth watched intently, mimicing
him deftly.  Her body was lithe and sinuous beneath his fingers.

	"That didn't take long," M'ressan grinned.  "You now know
everythng you need.  Practice will make it move for smoothly.  "He
tightened his arm around her.  "Shall we dance?  Don't worry.  I'll lead."

	They moved onto the dance floor together, Elswyth concentrating on
following his motions.  He watched her move with an experienced eye.
After a moment, he leaned down to her ear.  "Keldarrans seldom notice
things like this," he said softly, "but I wasn't born here.  You were a
warrior where you came from, weren't you?"  


Respectfully Submitted,

Susan Rati
Creator, DragonLands

NRPG: Tag, Jill <G>.  I wasn't sure how to handle Elswyth exactly, so I
mostly focused on M'ressan.  He is *not* making a pass at her, BTW.  He's
very happily mated/monogamous.  He does tend to be touchy and
affectionate, though... not to mention very flirty.  He's very charming,
but he tends to know where to draw the line between playful flirting and
serious propositions.  That's with DragonLanders, though.  Elswyth can
take his behavior however you like ;).

Barb: This all occurs before the bit with Shae.  I'm still thinking on how
to tackle that <EG>.