Laurence + Katrina | DCT | Sam, Tim

Laurence stood with Katrina for a little while longer, the man still entranced by Sam's beauty. She looked more nonchalant and less crude tonight, which he assumed was the alcohol. Either way, it brought a small smile to his lips as he watched her interact with her instructor. He noticed Katrina was now watching Tim, not really in any way more than one does a concerned friend, but he got her attention before gesturing to them.

"What do you say we go talk to them instead of standing here staring all night?"

"Sounds good to me," she replied softly, fidgeting with a strand of lightly coiled hair. She hated the whole "dress-up" notion, yet she'd agreed because of their job. It was a hazard of being an eventing instructor she never knew she'd be dealing with.

As they approached the two, Katrina gave Tim a small smile. "Dance with me?" She asked it casually and confidently, surely not in fear of rejection for she was very clear of her desire for friendship and nothing more. As they walked out a little further to where everyone was slow-dancing, Katrina went through the motions, slinging her arms around his neck casually.

"Are you doing okay?" She didn't have to specify, he knew exactly what she was talking about. They'd all seen that big scene he and Emily had made.

...

After Katrina and Tim had left, Laurence shrugged and looked at Sam with a boyish grin. "Lots of top eventers here, I'm surprised you haven't made your rounds yet, found a former Olympian to dance with." He gave her a teasing wink, fidgeting with his ring as he watched the mood lighting dance in her eyes. He then glanced back to Katrina and Tim, who were now in the sea of people on the dancefloor. These kinds of things made him uneasy, but they were easier to tackle in the presence of people he trusted. So far, that was Katrina, Kierstan, Julian, and Tristan, among a handful of others, but he chose to be bold on occasion. He drank a small portion of whatever was in his glass as he people watched silently, intellectually analyzing some of the couples.

Timothy + Sam / E/ M: Kat,Laurence.

Their conversation had continued along the same lines,the pair nearly in stitches over some rediculous notion as Kat and Laurence strolled over.Tim had to wipe his eyes slightly,lips almost a beaming smile - as if nothing had happened nearly an hour prior.
He had offered a little 'mhm',raising his eyebrows to Sam in a 'cya around' manner before following his collegue.Tim wasn't exactly eager,But the coolness of the Latina had pushed his fears aside.For a moment at least.
"Fine - Totally and Uttery."
He blantently Lied,eyes anxiously flitting to everyone around them.It was all so cramped,so close.Still he loops his arms around her waist,swaying along and almost feeling a little more secure,
"Sorry - I really can't dance.The whole two left feet thing applies."
He offered apologetically with a giddy laugh.
- - -

Sam had startled a little as they arrived,watching her instructor waltz off toward the dancefloor with the young woman - Perhaps an old friend?She wouldn't ask,partly because it wasn't her place,Partly because she didn't care.What she did know is that the woman had looked beautiful- Sam in true form had noticed that before anything else.She pondered on this for a few moments,Before glancing up as Laurence spoke.Her soft lips seemed to be stuck into a permanent smile,which made a change to from a scowl for certain.
"I'm taking my time - You can't rush excellence.You of course wouldn't know."
She replied sarcastically,thankful for the make-up across her face that stopped the slight blush of her cheeks showing as her eyes gave the impression of a rare smile.She didnt know what he was up to,but she wouldnt say she didnt appreciate the attention.This champagne didn't help for keeping her armoured stance up whatsoever.Sam couldn't help but shoot him a look of a little confusion as he stood for a while,twirling his ring and staring into her eyes.
Once he had averted his eyes somewhere else,anywhere else thankfully,She finally took the chance to glance him over.He looked purposeful,a lot more professional than most of the young playboys in here anyways.Was Handsome the word?
"You tidy up well.Could do with loosening up a little though - You clearly don't do this often.But then I suppose it's a talented person sort of thing?"
She sort of complimented him casually,before popping her usual quip on the end.Offering a playful shrug,indicating she couldn't resist to tease,She then wandered her way back to the table for another drink - walk naturally sassy ;sexy even with the way the heels made her body sway gently.Glass in hand,messing around a little to allow her to calm slightly before making her way back.
"You seem to watch people alot - all be it from the cover of mud or whatever you were doing..Beside tripping me over...Anyways I wouldn't bother trying to learn anything from these lot."
She added nonchalantly,taking a sweet sip and settling rather casually against the wall not too far from him - her unusually gentle eyes following his gaze.The strawberry-blonde was chatty,It almost suited her in terms of making her more easy to deal with.In terms of her normality though,This unsettled her slightly.Not that she'd notice too much,clamping her eyes shut.The ever-changing lighting was making her iris' ache.

Katrina/Laurence | Sam + Tim

Thoughtfully, she replied, "who are you trying to convince?" She too was feeling uncomfortable by the massive amount of people here, this kind of thing made her anxious. She wanted to see one face in the crowd she knew she'd never see again, and, thus, it only left her filled with disappointment. Deserved disappointment, but disappointment no less.

"That's fine, I didn't actually want to dance with you, I just wanted to check on you," she replied in a cool tone. She wasn't one for showing affection, nor the chipper, cheery tones some of the other girls had. She was real.

"We probably don't have to stay here. If you want to go talk somewhere quieter, I'm in. Or we can just sit in silence. Your choice."

...

Laurence couldn't resist a small smile at how chatty she was, how friendly. Now, normally she was, but it seemed the alcohol just increased it exponentially to the point of her being tolerable to others. In general, she seemed to behave this way around him, but it seemed to rub off on her interactions with others when the other elements were added in.

Even though there wasn't a huge age gap between them, Laurence felt so much older, so much wiser, so much more mature than her in this moment. She was still youthful and sassy, he had been forced to leave those qualities behind when tragedy struck. It also made him nostalgic interacting with her.

After waiting for her to become quiet once again, he replied, "well, that's where you're wrong. I'm not trying to learn from them, I'm only trying to understand them. See that couple over there? That girl is probably here because she thought she'd meet people her age. She doesn't know how to say no, and that man she's dancing with has too much power. He's probably got a lot of money, like everyone here. He doesn't know how to hear no anyways. That's a disaster."

He then turned to face her again, watching her with a soft expression on his face. "So, anyway, who do you have your eye on? Surely some top eventer has struck you."

Timothy + Sam / Kat + Laurence.

"No one.I don't- ."

He paused,looking his aquantaince in the face returning a thoughtful expression,although his eyebrows were a little knitted.

"Well Thanks - I guess.You seem to be the only one around here to do that?Lil mother hen huh?"

He gave her one of his playful looks,as he did with most of his silly comments although it was seemingly more giddy before nodding gratefully.Tim had sensed the similar tension in her as soon as they had entered the dancefloor's gathering.

"Please - Its hard to breathe.And silence?- You? Doing comedy now Katrina?"

He chuckles,Making his way toward a less restless part of the gathering.

- - -

Sam kept occassionally sipping at her glass rather daintily as he spoke,trying her best to follow his gaze and take in what he was saying.

"Yes..- You're probably right.. "

She admitted,a little thoughtfully even before stepping forward a shoulder's brush away from him and piping up.

"Or - She simply came for that and decided on the money instead.She certainly doesn't come from money- so being a mistress is the easiest way to gain it."

She spoke rather knowledably, an almost sad tone in know this sort of thing In so much detail.There was a faint glint in her almond eyes,certainly enjoying the element of testing how far she could push his buttons.So far - No success it seemed.He only seemed apt at pressing all of hers.But it hardly made a difference in the way she was of course, indifferent in the matter.

She continued to cast her eyes away from him,almost despairately as Sam saw his incredibly piercing gaze shift focus to her again.

"No-one in particular."

She shrugged it off rather casually,as if to give the impression she wasn't bothered.Wasnt looking.In truth this was partially correct - if anyone was a believer of only being able to rely on yourself it was Sam.

"These things arent for that sort of thing anyways - any one with a little experience knows its a pointless venture.Besides - If I had why on earth would I be talking to you of all people about it?"

She questioned,a little sharply but still rather amused by the whole matter.The fact he seemed to be so intrigued in her life was so different,perhaps it was just the effects of having no one else to go to.Perhaps it was simply how he looked in the lighting that excited and repelled her all at once - Perhaps just the bitter drinks in their glasses.Simply Small talk,She realised with a mental sigh,shutting those ideas down at once.Biting her lip,Sam winced her eyes shut again and picked a delicate finger up to tentatively stroke her forehead.Maybe so many glasses weren't such a great idea.

"I dont know if it's you or the lighting but I need a break."

She breathed,waltzing her way from the far side toward the doorway,all the while absentmindedly dodging her way around the collections of strangers.Sam could see the darkness settling in by now,feel the faintest of breezes tempting her outdoors.

Dash|SJ|26|M: Athens

"Just tell me about you. Where did you live before coming here? Why come to White Oaks?

He honestly couldn't say why he had such a need to talk to Athens. Maybe it was the way he interacted with Judea, a quality Dash found famiiar with his own efforts with his brother. Hell, it could just be the fact that Athens was an attractive young man. And he was kind, something Dash's ex had not been. Dash's last relationship had ended with everything but acceptance and forgiveness.

Isaac had been a handful, sure. Dash had been easy prey, young, not confident in himself. Isaac had a special penchant for finding places and events like this. That's part of the reason why Dash was so at home in a place like this. But there are always dark moments in a "good" relationship. Almost every person that Dash grew close to, save his mother, used or hurt him. Yes, even his brother. But he couldnt think about that now. There was Athens. And maybe things were going to be ok.

Looking up at the blonde, Dash interrupted his answer, Athen's soft voice faltering. "Im sorry if this is too forward, but you are unlike anyone Ive ever met. Forgive me if I misjudged, but is there any way you, um, might want to go out for a date? With me?" As Dash asked, his face flushed and he looked back down, playing with a thin bracelet on his wrist.

Cameron Fairfield | 19 | Dajana

He raised one eyebrow in a playful grin. "Are you tryin' to imply you thought I wouldn't be?" he teased, tugging her hand some more. He was actually enjoying himself, despite only having spoken to one girl so far. Still, she was a good one.

Pulling Dajana into a fast movement, he swung her around flamboyantly with a vivd arm movement. They began to whirl around the hall, in something that may or may not have once resembled a Viennese waltz, but was now thrown away in Cam's charisma.

Despite the strange glances they were attracting from other, better, dancers, Cam was rather unsurprisingly enjoying himself. He was perfectly comfortable throwing his body into bizarre shapes that didn't even echo the classical ballroom style.

Hope this is good Charmie :)

Kathleho Mahlope | 22 | Kierstan

Kat took a thin champagne flute, swallowing the lot in one gulp. Placing it down on a nearby table, she paused momentarily to wipe her mouth, before pushing back her curly hair. She had carefully pinned it back for the gala, resulting in a slightly dangerous looking messy bun with strands falling out purposefully.

Noticing an almost replica of the hunters instructor, Kat found herself watching him, intrigued. The cool trainer had never mentioned anything about family, although to be honest, he barely mentioned anything. Not that Kat minded it, it was a welcome break from all the chatty, nosey people about this place. She was here to ride, not socialize, although many of the other students clearly were.

Leaning against the wall with ease, she continued her un-hidden scrutiny of the young man, her dark eyes watching him carefully.

This is so cheesy I'm dying *gasps*

Lorenzo Biancci | 27 | Endurance /Polo Trainer | Astrid

An unconscious smile slipped onto his face when she laughed, the small sound light and playful. "I know," he replied simply, hiding the fact that he knew most things about her. Almost everything, really.

He resisted a gasp as she laid his head on his shoulder, his heart beating rapidly. Lorenzo instead held her slightly closer, slightly nearer to his thumping chest. I love you. He didn't even try to chase aaay the thought this time, allowing it to circle and echo its softly spoken words in his head.