A Club in Baltimore, Monday Night

[arboreal_priestess]

Between snake cults, dragons, and now singing fish going evil for a lack of participation trophies, it had been awhile since Verity and Liam had had anything resembling a real date. So Verity had skipped out on her shift at the Devil's Nest and headed out to the mainland with him, dressed to kill (both literally and metaphorically), and looking for a good time.

The club they'd ended up at was a lot smaller and quieter, one where they could have dinner the second floor up and actually hear themselves talk. "Oooh, good call," she said as they were led to their table. "Dinner and dancing. It's like you know how to show me a good time."

Comments

[arboreal_priestess]

"You're many things for me," Verity agreed, "but not my gay chupacabra dance partner. And I'm good with that."

How was her plate half-empty already? Oh right, they had dancing to get to.

[firstofitskind]

"So long as you keep me around for any dancing that doesn't involve a scorecard," Liam said. "Otherwise, what was the point of all this practicing?"

[arboreal_priestess]

"Oh, believe me," Verity said with a huge grin, "unless there's a judge waiting, James has nothing on you as a partner. We're gonna dance your feet off."

And then find a place and go do a different kind of dancing.

[firstofitskind]

"I'm ready when you are," Liam replied, finishing off the last of his plate.

[arboreal_priestess]

Verity finished off the last of her mashed potatoes, daintily wiped her mouth, then tossed her napkin down on the table and practically leaped from the chair. "Oh, I am more than ready for you to show me these moves of yours," she said.

For once, she wasn't teasing. This was genuine excitement.

[firstofitskind]

Liam waved their server over so he could take care of the dinner bill, and then slid an arm around Verity's waist as he led her down the stairs to the dance floor.

"No laughing if my skills aren't up to par," he said solemnly.

[arboreal_priestess]

"Kiss me enough and I won't even notice," Verity promised with a happy smile.

[firstofitskind]

"It's a deal," Liam said, leaning in to offer what was sure to be the first kiss of many.

[arboreal_priestess]

It was hard for Verity to not just get lost in it, but the thumping of the bass and the promise of the floor were too much. "C'mon," she murmured against his mouth, tugging him further along. "I can't wait to see what you've learned."

[firstofitskind]

It was nothing fancy, just a simple two-step to start, though he was managing to keep his movements to the beat and looking loose and natural.

"Am I passing muster so far?" he asked.

[arboreal_priestess]

"I mean, you're on beat and you don't look half-panicked that your hips are about to fling themselves off of your body because you're moving them," Verity congratulated. "You're already blowing half these guys out of the water and you've barely even started."

[firstofitskind]

"Glad to hear it," Liam said, his hands finding her hips and pulling her close. "That was a surprisingly accurate description of me the first time we danced together," he admitted.

[arboreal_priestess]

"You weren't that bad," Verity said with a laugh. "I mean, your partner seemed to think you were quite the treat!"

Really, Verity? Really?

[firstofitskind]

"Ugh," Liam groaned. "That was terrible. You're terrible," he informed her, his tone one of complete and utter fondness that made the word seem like a term of endearment.

[arboreal_priestess]

"I'm a motherfucking delight," she told him, removing what little space between the, there had been. "And you looooove me. You said so. You chose this."

[firstofitskind]

"Hm, did I?" Liam pretended to think about it. "I suppose you're right," he said, after a moment, leaning in to give her a quick kiss. "I did choose this." There was nothing quick about the kiss he punctuated that last statement with.

[arboreal_priestess]

There weren't literal stars in her eyes as Verity looked up at him, but damn it was pretty close. "So you think the mistletoe knew?" she said, still moving to the beat. It would take more than some kissing and delightful conversation for her to lose that. "Or just random luck?"

[firstofitskind]

"I dunno," Liam mused. "I'm not sure I believe in 'random luck', but I find the idea of a prescient plant a little unsettling, so let's go with that."

[arboreal_priestess]

"I dunno," Verity said, grabbing his hand and twirling herself beneath it. "Maybe it's the island that prescient and the mistletoe was just a tool in a very long game."

...Was that any better to think about?

[firstofitskind]

"Not actually sure if that's better or worse," Liam said with a laugh, pulling her close again with a flourish as she finished that twirl.

[arboreal_priestess]

"You don't think 'Matchmaker Island' has a nice ring to it?" Verity asked, stealing a kiss as he pulled her in.

[firstofitskind]

"Mmm, sounds like a cheesy reality TV show," Liam replied.

[arboreal_priestess]

"Yeah, but look at our lives there and tell me they don't half resemble on," Verity pointed out. "That or a super-weird soap opera."

[firstofitskind]

"Maybe a little," Liam admitted. But then, even his life pre-island would probably be considered weird by a lot of people's standards. Verity's too, for that matter.

[arboreal_priestess]

And she'd been on a reality show already.

"Matchmaker island," Verity said. "I'm putting my money on it now. Using plants to do its sinister shipping."

Like the pollen flowers! It all added up!