#aeilin x rowan | Explore Tumblr posts and blogs

se-ono-waise-ilia · 5 years ago

Text

After Party - Chapter 1

Masterlist

Summary: The organized and dignified celebration of winning the war shifts once some of the older crowd leaves in the middle of the night, and the children of the Khaganate introduce some party elements that lead to a more raunchy affair.

Warnings: mature content, alcohol & drug use

Multiple POVs, many ships included: Manon x Dorian, Aelin x Rowan, Elide x Lorcan, possibly more!

Music & Dance inspiration for Manon: Stampede - Alexander Jean Ft. Lindsey Stirling and Derek Hough - Kairos Ft. Lindsey Stirling

Genre: some angst, partying, romance, hints of smut (ooh), and actual smut in later chapters (ooooooh)

Why: Because Nesryn’s memory of the party left a lot to the imagination. So let’s dance…

—-

The night was progressing as Manon noticed some people start to leave. Although Manon was older than most of those present, she could sense that it was mostly the old humans and exceptionally old fae and witches leaving.

This party was a bust for her. While watching Aelin and her mate dance an actual fiery waltz was something she would never forget, the style of music and dance wasn’t of interest to Manon. The merry string music and cheerful waltzing and line dances clashed with her brooding mood.

Yes, they won. But the cost…

Manon continued to nurse her bottle of liquor. She had given up on cups soon after the initial dance, due to the fact that every time she left her dark corner, a certain king tried to make eye contact for a dance. So she shamelessly took three bottles of liquor from the bar, and kept her eyes down as she claimed a large bench for herself. She sat right in the middle, and used the many layers of her black skirt to take up the extra space. No one sat next to the Crochan Queen, which was how she wanted it.

She kept hoping Abraxos would make a surprise appearance and stick his head through the nearby window. But Manon knew he was mourning the loss of his mate in private.

Manon didn’t want to be at the party. Nor did she want to be with Abraxos, where she would feel prompted to face her grief. Nor did she want to be alone, where she would be forced to face all of her emotions in sad solitude.

So, she would stay at the party for as long as it lasted to avoid confronting her feelings. She did have one more bottle to consume before she needed to go to the bar again, but she did need to relieve herself.

Gathering up her gauzy black skirt in one hand, and her final bottle in the other (she wasn’t going to leave it unattended), she made her way to the toilets.

Her path was blocked by a familiar attractive male body. She swayed a little from being prompted to stop so abruptly. She kept her focus pinned on a button on his formal jacket, but he lifted her chin with his finger, “Dance with me Manon.”

Manon looked up at him. She noticed him during the party confidently conversing and dancing with a variety of people. He was very good at it. But she couldn’t picture herself dancing merry dances to dreadfully cheery music. She could tell he was also uncertain, as he had a hesitant look on his face. She would decline, and he wouldn’t be surprised.

“No. This music is bad,” and she stumbled around him. He didn’t seem at all rejected as he swiped the bottle from her hand, and took a slow swig as he stared her down.

Manon slurred, “Hold that for me,” as she continued her trek to the toilet. She heard him chuckle as she swayed.

It was after she relieved herself that she understood how drunk she was. The room spun around her. She just leaned against the wall for a few minutes. She wished she had brought her bottle with her….and Dorian. She smiled at the thought of how they would use that wall.

After an unknown period of time, she made her way back to the party. The cheerful music had thankfully stopped, and someone was talking.

Manon eventually found a place to see the speaker, one of the female royals of the Khaganate. She had the room’s attention, so Manon chose to listen.

“…the side effects may make the evening a little more…intimate,” the woman indicated to the little smoking bowls being placed around the room. Manon sniffed a tendril of smoke, drugs.

Manon observed a bowl being placed near her, and she moved to stand directly next to it. As she inhaled it, she felt herself let go of her miserable emotions somewhat. The room wasn’t spinning anymore, so much as it was growing hazy and soft looking. She went from disgruntled, to numb, to simply present. Manon intentionally inhaled some more.

“As is tradition on our continent, the first dance of this particular portion of the evening goes to the oldest royal with the greatest title in the room.” Hasar! That’s her name…

The whole room looked towards someone, but Manon was simply hoping for different music. The princess continued, “The title must be from bloodline, not marital relations.”

Manon liked drums. They were fierce, and the tone was more primitive. Guitars also had a sense of power and authority she liked. And the strings…when played right, they were just sensual.

She felt eyes on her. The eyes of Hasar, the room, and she instinctually found Dorian’s. Oh…me…that’s interesting.

The princess gestured to the middle of the dance floor, “Queen Manon, our Khagan musicians will play music based on your dance style. No one else will dance until you command the room.”

Manon looked to Dorian again, who straightened up as if she expected him to ask for a partner. She noticed he was still holding her bottle of booze, which she very much wanted at the moment. She huffed, lifted her chin, and managed to not stumble on her way to the dance floor. Alone.

The room remained silent. Manon looked to the new musicians from the Khaganate, and was pleased to notice a variety of drums. And a guitar. She pointed at them, “No fucking waltz or overtly happy music.”

They nodded, and Manon felt thrilled at the idea of control over the vibe of the room. She looked around, and noticed everyone was fuzzy looking. She cackled, completely aware of how drunk and high she was.

She lifted her arms and hands above her hands, and the drums started. The beat was powerful and sensual. She swayed accordingly with her hips, ribs, and arms. But she found her arm movements constricted by the shoulder sleeves of her top. She stopped, and the music stopped.

She heard many gasps as she took off her top to reveal blood red bindings around her breasts. She decided to keep her skirt on. She liked how the many layers of fabric moved like black smoke.

She laughed again and continued to dance. The musicians continued with her. This music was far superior to the damn ballroom music. She rolled her shoulders, quickened her hands, flipped her hair, shifted her ribs, circled her hips, grazed her feet across the floor, moved her whole body to the floor, and more.

Why is no one else dancing? She wondered after an unknown amount of time. She felt eyes on her, but the only face that came into focus was Dorian’s. She smiled upon seeing him. I think it’s time for him to have his chance with me on the dance floor, she thought as she pointed to him while continuing to sway.

Next up: Dorian’s POV

Chapter 2

This is my first multi-chapter post on tumblr, and I understand the protocol is to give the option for interested readers to be tagged. So feel welcome to ask for a tag if you like :)

28 notes · View notes