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Inara Imperium/Vakkar
<-- back to Inara Imperium
Inara looked at the Holonet invitation one more time.
"Well, at least I don't need to worry about a dress" she muttered, switching off the screen and pacing the room.
"Besides, the Carida Ball was a bore, I probably would've hated it anyway", she continued rather unconvincingly.
Moving to sit on a couch she picked absently at her flight pants, wishing Mekum would come back sooner rather than later.
<Mekum_Campbell> Shouldn't you be getting ready?
<Inara> for the ball?
Inara nudges Mekum, 'what were you saying about getting ready?'
<Mekum_Campbell> I'm waiting for you
<Inara> where?
Mekum_Campbell yawns and lies back on the bed
Inara jumps onto bed next to Mekum and rests her head on his shoulder
  |
<Inara> should I be getting ready?
<Mekum_Campbell> Yes, you should be
<Inara> just one moment then
Mekum_Campbell nudges you off his shoulder
<Inara> awww...
Inara leans over and kisses Mekum, 'we could just stay here and give the ball a miss'
Mekum_Campbell glances at his Chrono, "Go on"
Inara climbs off the bed and heads to the bathroom
As the speeder came to a sudden stop outside the ball, Inara reluctantly let go of Mekum's waist before letting him help her down. She looked up at him, and he smiled with reassurance but he still looked tired. Inara felt a pang of guilt that he was coming for her benefit,
"Are you sure you don't want to spend the night in?" she asked again.
Mekum squeezed her hand, "We're here now, come on" They walked together toward the Vakkar Ball entrance.
Stopping to show their IDs, Inara slipped her arm comfortably around Mekum's waist and he kissed her gently on the forehead before they walked in the main hall.
Once inside they stopped to scan the crowd. The ball was well underway, people were mingling and talking and more than a few people had already begun to dance.
Inara glanced sideways at Mekum as he was still scanning the crowd at the ball. Reaching up she kissed his cheek,
"I will get us some drinks, you find us a seat" she grinned, before heading over to the punchbowl.
Josef and Riles were standing around chatting amiably but began to snicker as Inara filled two glasses with the punch.
"Evening Gentlemen" she greeted them, "How has the party been so far?"
Josef seemed distracted, scanning the throng of people apparently in search of someone, but Riles replied.
"Not too bad Inara"
She smiled and winked at Riles,
"Are you going to be showing off some of those special dance moves you've been practicing? I can't see too many tables, but you could always use the bar"
Riles turned to Inara as he replied how he was then answered the question with a roll of the eyes, "I don't think I'll be dancing in here Inara, I told you once before and I'll tell you again, I wouldn't even call that dancing," Riles laughs as he thinks back to it, "Depends how I feel later, kind of down right now. Perhaps if I cheer up, but remember that it's a maybe.." Riles answered thinking of the results of what could happen with a shiver.
Riles returned the favor, "How are you this evening? You seem to be really fine, yourself," Riles said with a smile, "And will you be dancing any of your moves? Just out of curiousity,"
Inara wiggled her hips slightly from side to side with a grin,
"Some Jazzy dancing is never out of the question"
She turned around looking for Mekum, but she couldn't spot where he had gone to. Turning back to Riles she smiled again, taking a sip from one of the punch glasses.
"So why so down?
Riles frowned as he looked back at Inara, "It's nothing, don't worry about it," Riles looked around himself seeing what's going on, Riles smiled faintly trying to forget about the question, "Would you like a drink? I can probably find whatever it is you may want, they seem to have a lot of unique drinks across the galaxy here," Riles said, taking another drink from his own beer. "I should only have one beer tonight, don't want anything crazy happening now..." Riles thought to himself.
Inara looked down at the two glasses of punch she was holding, taking another sip of hers,
"I should be right thanks Riles, but I suppose I should get this to Mekum. Can you see him anywhere?"
She tiptoed trying to look over the people beginning to mill towards the dance floor for Mekum. Riles obliged her by briefly scanning those around then, before shaking his head.
"I wonder if he'd be interested in dancing?"
Taking another long sip of her punch she looked around,
"Maybe I should mingle while looking for him. Want to go for a wander with me?" she asked Riles.
Riles scanned the crowd of people, trying to find Mekum, but shook his head with no success. "Maybe I should mingle while looking for him. Want to go for a wander with me?" Inara asked Riles.
Riles looked back at Josef, as he still was busy or concerned about something else and back to Inara with a shrug, "Hey Josef, I'm going to be gone for a while - don't know how long," Riles said over his shoulder, "Alright, sure I'll wander with you," Riles returned his answer to Inara, and followed along as she lead the way, but keeping an eye out for Mekum as he went along.
The ambient noise and the score of people going about, enjoying themselves helped to distract anyone from noticing the two men standing just off from the staircase. Campbell glanced down at the unfolded note that had been placed in his hand before looking back to the Sergeant who stood with him. He considered the man thoughtfully, he was young for his rank, no more than twenty four but already had an aura of someone far older. 'Was I like that once?' Campbell thought to himself, unable tp remember being that age, all of the memories had blended into a single story, divided every now and again into chapters.
"Thank you." Campbell uttered quietly, not wishing to attract attention and smiled softly, motioning with his head that the other man could leave. The Sergeant nodded in parting and discreetly walked away as if he was just passing. Campbell's eyes followed the other man, waiting until he had blended into the crowd before unfolding the piece of paper. A sudden single voice caught him off guard, he looked up from the note, slipping it inside his pocket at the same time and glanced around. He allowed himself to relax slightly, realising Ran was making another of his announcements and instinctively brushed his pocket, checking that the folded piece of paper was still there.
Campbell glanced at his chrono and looked at the crowd, some of them still dancing. 'Serina would tell me to get a drink, I proberbly should.' He thought to himself again and moved away from the staircase and into the crowd. He glanced around, looking for the quickest direction as people moved all around him and noticed several passing glances at both him and the Meridian campaign medal, it was old news to him, however it was still a relatively new talking point back in the Core. He smiled politely at a few of the people passing him, exchanging 'excuse mes' and 'thank yous' as he made his way deeper into the crowd.
Inara and Riles moved through the crowd, keeping an eye out for Mekum. Holding her drinks high to prevent them from spilling, Inara excused and pardoned herself as the press of people became heavier.
The majority of people were invariably heading to the dancefloor, so before they realised it Riles and Inara found themselves amongst couples dancing. Inara stood awkwardly, holding the two drinks and looking at Riles for suggestions on what to do next.
Riles squirmed a little as he was ushered onto the dancefloor and Inara and him stood there, standing awkwardly as the couples danced together. Riles called over a waiter to grab his own beer and the waiter picked up both of the punch glasses that Inara was holding. Riles watched as the waiter went and Riles turned back to Inara blushing and squirming a bit, he hesitated before asking, "Would you.. care for one dance? You know, just as friends of course," Riles asked and froze over waiting for the reply.
Inara smiled, "Well, it can't hurt while Mekum's held up. No flipping though okay"
She grinned as Riles came closer and held up his arms. She stepped into position, with one of his hands resting on her waist and hers on his shoulder. Together they began to step around in the small area available.
"This is rather civilised compared to the enlisted room dancing," Riles commented with a laugh.
Inara nodded, "And not even a hint of officer training needed to become this couth."
Riles smiled at the comment, "Alright then, no flipping." Riles put out his hands on her waist as she put hers on his shoulders and they began to dance through the crowd. "This is rather civilised compared to the enlisted room dancing," Riles commented with a laugh and continued to dance. The song played slowly as the two danced. Riles looked down at Inara with a smile, "And not even a hint of officer training needed to become this couth." Inara commented and Riles laughed.
Riles brought Inara through the crowd, dancing and weaving in and out of the other couples. The song continued to play, already almost finished. As the last few minutes passed with Riles and Inara dancing, he looked back down at her as the song slowed to a stop and Riles hesitated again, "I suppose you'd like to go find Mekum now? He's probably wondering where you are," Riles looked at her as he waited for the final answer.
"You're a great dancer Riles" Inara exclaimed before addressing his question.
"Well, the one thing I'm certain about Mekum is that I won't be finding him until he wants to be found"
Riles nodded in understanding, but nonetheless seemed hesitant about continuing to dance so Inara curtsied.
"Thankyou very much for the dance, at the very least I have done more than I did at the Carida ball. Thanks to you," she grinned.
The next song had already started, so they started looking for a way off the dance floor. As they excused themselves past couples, Inara noticed Alley dancing with a man she hadn't met but assumed was her husband Locke.
Inara waved at Alley, and when Alley noticed Inara she smiled back and waved.
"Evening Alley" Riles greeted Alley from beside Inara.
"You're a great dancer Riles" Inara exclaimed before addressing his question, "Well, the one thing I'm certain about Mekum is that I won't be finding him until he wants to be found" Riles got a bit red at the compliment but nodded his understanding before Inara curtsied. After she exchange her thank you's and he did his own thank you's as the same with your welcome's he bowed to her, Inara scrambled off through the crowd as Riles followed suit like usual. They met up with Alley and another man she was with.
Inara introduced herself and said 'Hello' as Riles went along with it all and replied, "Evening Alley," Riles nodded with it, "How are you tonight?" He stood patiently at Inara's side ready to get to know who this mystery man was, he always liked new faces.
