Exton

Well.

It's been an interesting night so far and my head is spinning like a high-speed lathe trying to keep up with everything. Thank the gods for Star… even Rowan is no better at healing emotional pain. Something tells me my little brother is going to be spending a lot of time talking with her….

We sit down at the table - kind of crowded now - and I bring out glasses and all the booze in the place. Some whiskey, a flask about half-full of poteen that Keon left here, a bottle of rum and a half-dozen beers. "Help yourself, the servants are gone for the night." Raina just grins, but Tannr looks confused again. It's going to take a while to bring everyone up to speed.

Tannr wastes no time, cutting right to the chase. "So… Raina - I'm a little confused here. Which one is your partner, the elf or the vampire?" I keep my face a mask, trying not to smile. Oh, Raina… you've got some explaining to do…. But Tannr's not done.

"Please tell me it's the elf… they're tricksy, but at least they won't consider you an appetizer some late night." His face falls when he reads the truth - or part of it - in Raina's eyes. "Ohhhh, fuck… not the vampire."

"Will you relax. little brother? I'm a big girl, and I can take care of myself. And not that it's any of your damn business, but they're both my partner, and Ky as well."

I didn't think Tannr's eyes could get any bigger….

"Wait… are you saying that you and Ky share partners, or that you and Ky are partners, or what?"

"Both. Well… mostly. Ky and I both sleep with Gareth, but Ky's never been with Nick. Yet."

Tannr gropes blindly for a bottle and drains about half of it at a draught. He comes up gasping. "Okay, that's better. What exactly do you mean… yet?"

Raina grins. "Well… they've been dancing around each other for a while, but neither has made the first move. It's kind of funny, because neither is exactly shy, but - oh, I don't know. I think they've made it into a battle and they're probing for a weakness or something." She giggles suddenly. "Ky is apt to scream if Nick probes too deep…."

Uh-oh. Telltale signs of tipsyness… Raina isn't shy, but she's usually not this 'out there' about her bedroom games. I think I ought to cut this short before she explains about Nick and Gareth….

But Star beats me to it. "Erik… I'm tired, and Mera needs to sleep in our room tonight. Can you catch up some more tomorrow?"

Saved by the belle…. "Sure. Tannr, you can have the couch when you're ready to call it a night. Tomorrow we'll see about working out something more permanent… maybe the apartment above the stables, if you don't mind that… and Keon can stay in Mera's room when he visits. Anyway, we can work all that out later…."

Star has disappeared, but now re-enters the room with a pillow and a pair of blankets. She hands them to Tannr, who smiles and clasps her hand, just a moment longer than necessary. "Thank you for your hospitality, Lady. I look forward to speaking with you again tomorrow. Freya send you sweet dreams."