Monster Wrangler

[Works for me!]

Calico let out another sigh when the door closed.

She didn't even glance at Orlok as she turned to get changed.

But she did speak.

"What're you looking at?"

The saturnadus fluttered his wings absently, but didn't so much as chitter in reply.

[/Scene! And finally, FINALLY, /Game ]

"It's mutual Rayfe. Be seeing you around?"

"Yeah. Well. Orlok and I. Teamwork."

"Be kind of hilarious if I didn't show up, wouldn't it? But a terrible look for this tournament, any future business plans, and, you know, anyone I stood up by doing so..."

She bit her lip again, then sighed.

"So yeah, I'll be there."

She exhaled and half-grinned.

"Don't forget I have Orlok on overwatch. Anyone getting cute's likely to end up out cold and down a pint of blood."

Chitter.

"Do I want you to? Yes. Should you? Probably not..."

She bit her lip and glanced to the side.

"Especially if I want to be, uhm, presentable when I get there."

"Uhmmm... make sure nobody throws anything at me while I'm up there?"

It seemed to be a joke.

Her voice was pretty steady. You could barely hear a shake.

"I think that seems pretty likely, yeah."

When he got. With a vengeance. Calico, internally, had multiple competing trains of thought. One was absolutely delighted, into it, and seriously contemplating shucking out of her stupid t-shirt, shorts, and underwear and trying out a new and exciting dance right there on the floor. One was shriekin...

"We can start that way, but eventually, you'll learn what you need to know."

She gave him a wink.

"That's what I'm doing, anyway!"

She stepped forward, but still shy of the reach of his fingertips. Just. Then reached out to guide his hands into place.

"That clear things up for you?"

"I'm going to try to not have those 'personal finance' sorts of dealings, but... take it from me. People who'd try to give Mara or me the runaround would think twice trying the same crap with you. Something about a guy who looks like he can twist them into pretzels gets a lot of the smarmier types t...

"Suppose time will tell."

She shook her head.

"Anyhow. Jokes aside, I appreciate the vote of confidence. And I'm glad you're in, because, well... having you on hand might make some negotiations a bit easier."

"Turnabout is fair play, Rayfe."

She threw him a wink, despite her own blush, then bit her lip.

And then the song was over.

Hooboy.

"Or you could just... stay... right... there..."

She started moving around, making another circle behind him.

"Until you feel the need to do anything else..."

"Flattery will get you nowhere, but never stop trying."

Was she blushing a little?

Oh, most certainly.

"You can always cut in on the next song. I'm sure Orlok won't mind..."

That worthy had in fact fluttered over to Nyx and was leading the enthusiastic magnox in a bit of a dance of his own.

Oh this felt good.

Like the night of her last performance, when that talent scout had been in the audience, and everything, everything had been going right.

She smiled and spoke without missing a beat.

"Well. You're here now, after all... can you really call it a loss?"

She arched an eyebrow. Cocked her head to the side. "You know, when you put it that way... just... stay put a second." She circled around behind him, and looked it over. Not as compact as her new strollman, but the sound quality was almost definitely going to be better. "Now, let's see... let's see ...

Calico shook her head and chuckled.

"Whatever, Rayfe. Nyx could see you weren't acting right. And whatever your normal demeanor might be, mindless isn't it. Orlok. Come on."

Chitter.

But the saturnadus did lift off again.