#hehehehe lets geeaaauuux

[nelithic]

@desertslegacy:

[ Indulge ] It is nothing that she had planned to do, but one moment she had been conversing perfectly pleasantly with a comrade, sharing in the new and exotic hors doeuvres and a bit of drink, having fun in spite of the strange and unsettling circumstances - above her she felt the bristle of her patron against her shoulders, a solar flare of annoyance prickling her skin, behind her eyes, blinding her momentarily. She knew that there were dragons here - many, in fact, and many of them seemed delighted to be there, relaxing and enjoying the company of their friends - but the moment she locked eyes with the pale woman Igrene felt her hair ruffle and her body moved. In a slight panic, Igrene tensed her every muscle, to no avail - her arm was drawing back, and as she stepped within range, she struck -

despite the strange way this realm had come to be, she had yet to encounter true danger or hostility yet this evening. the elementals themselves were puckish creatures, but their actions contained little malice. this did not preclude vigilance of course; it was understood that magical forms of life were particularly mercurial, and the situation here could change swiftly.

it is for this reason that, when she meets the sun-dusted woman's eyes, she pauses instantly. something is—

the chair topples and the woman is on her feet, and nel sees the lunge a moment before it comes. she sidesteps, catching the thrown punch with a hand and stumbling back some steps before she catches her balance against the strength greater than she had anticipated. the alarmed murmur of nearby patrons goes unheard as eyes newly hardened fix on the would-be assailant, tension coiling to answer a threat that had finally come. "what is the meaning of this."

another swing comes before her answer does, forcing her to release the hand in her grip to duck the hooking blow overhead.