Tal looked entirely pleased with himself and almost insufferably smug as Hotaru deftly stroked his ego and gave him a compliment he could accept without awkwardness. The fact that she was complimenting his weapon rather than himself made it a lot easier to appreciate. Alas for the courier, his swollen ego led him into making a teasing 'boast' that his friend swiftly pounced on, leaving him scrambling for an excuse.
"Teach? Dancing? Oh, I dunno..." he temporized, suddenly modest in an effort to save his pride. "I'd probably step on your feet a lot, an' I don't want t'break anythin' so you can't dance at the party..." He was sweating metaphorical bullets at the thought of accidentally taking Ru off the dance floor, and he reached up to rub the back of his neck nervously.
But maybe learning just one or two dances wouldn't be so bad... Maybe. The look of surprise on Sah's face when he saw might almost be worth it!
He stood obediently still while he was measured and answered without hesitation when she asked his preference. "Heels. Or maybe calf? Don't want people - or dragons - steppin' on it if it's on the floor." He shot his mischievous companion a fondly exasperated look while she pretended to be asleep with exaggerated draconic snores from the hearth, innocent of all such pranks and slander!
"Teach? Dancing? Oh, I dunno..." he temporized, suddenly modest in an effort to save his pride. "I'd probably step on your feet a lot, an' I don't want t'break anythin' so you can't dance at the party..." He was sweating metaphorical bullets at the thought of accidentally taking Ru off the dance floor, and he reached up to rub the back of his neck nervously.
But maybe learning just one or two dances wouldn't be so bad... Maybe. The look of surprise on Sah's face when he saw might almost be worth it!
He stood obediently still while he was measured and answered without hesitation when she asked his preference. "Heels. Or maybe calf? Don't want people - or dragons - steppin' on it if it's on the floor." He shot his mischievous companion a fondly exasperated look while she pretended to be asleep with exaggerated draconic snores from the hearth, innocent of all such pranks and slander!
