What Not to Do (Kallisti)

[Visha]

It was like stepping into one of the eshows she loved, utterly fantastical and larger than life. He made her laugh with all the flowery perfumed words, and she gave him the full attention he deserved, twirling the flute stem about her fingers as she listened. “Oh, I wouldn’t say I was unsuspecting.” Visha’s smile around the lip of her glass was nothing short of mischievous. She’d had alcohol before, but it bored her mostly, though she knew enough to understand it was a social expectation to enjoy. "Tastes just like a spiral galaxy," she told him upon her first taste, and laughed.

At confirmation that he had been here before Visha felt her guard drop a little. It meant he must be aware of the rules. When he leaned to display the screen on his wallet she moved a little closer, eyes wide as twin moons. She shook her head mutely when he asked if she had seen what he was about to show her, more interested in actually seeing what he wanted to share than offering an explanation for her ignorance. She was unprepared for the violence but it didn’t seem to disturb her either.

“That’s Nox? Hm.” He didn't look like she expected. Not that Raffe had given a physical description. But she had expected someone softer. She was tempted to pluck the device clean from his fingers to sit back and peruse properly, mostly out of curiosity, but also because it seemed there had been a lure tonight that she had been excluded from. Had everyone here already seen this video?

Her eyes cast about briefly. The place really was filling up.

She supposed she had one thing better though; a companion who had actually been there to see it in person. Whatever “it” was supposed to be.

He introduced himself then, banishing the frivolity in favour of something more honest. But of course it was the hand she was caught on, offered so simply. And unknowing. Ephraim’s voice warned sternly in the back of her head. The gloves would protect him. She wouldn’t even contemplate it otherwise. But her teeth tugged her lip like she contemplated something she shouldn’t. The reaction warred with the honest smile underneath.

“Visha,” she responded, and placed her hand in his. The contact zipped a thrill right the way up her arm. The leather obscured most of the sensation, but the novelty more than made up for it. In fact she was loath to let go and allow the moment to end. So of course she didn’t. She grinned. An impish tug brought his arm closer, and a gentle twist allowed for a closer inspection of his alluring jewellery. With her other hand she pressed a curious finger to the bracelets she had coveted earlier. “These are very beautiful,” she said.