If she had actually ever gone to a high school dance -- whether she could even remember it at that point -- she would never have thought she'd be the one to approach a boy. Though in this case, "boy" hardly seemed apt.

Categorizing someone like Steelbeak was futile at best, particularly while Tegwen was well on her journey to the land of Tipsy. And she was not in her right mind even while sober.

At the synthesized strains of a violin heralding a ballad -- Christmas or not, which she didn't even care -- seeped from the Goldeneye's speakers, Tegwen reached across the table, putting her hand in his. "Would you dance with me?"

Steelbeak couldn't decide whether or not to play the macho 'I-don't-dance' card. Of course he danced, but it was always in his best interests to lead on otherwise. An exception would be made for Tegwen. His eyes dropped briefly to the pearl choker he'd presented her with when he picked her up for the gala. He could have stolen the necklace for her. He could have negotiated his way to a much lower price by intimidation. Instead, he bought it legitimately and paid quite well for it, too.

He'd already made several exceptions for this girl. And at the moment, he wanted nothing more than to hold her close. Yes, dancing sounded good. Ideal. Perfection. Dancing would be perfection.

And no. He wanted more than to just hold her close. That was a mere springboard.

"Of course," Steelbeak replied, standing. He helped Tegwen from her chair and headed for the staircase with her arm looped in his. It looked gallant, but really, she was having some problems with her equilibrium after so many drinks.

Tegwen seemed uncertain as she stood in front of Steelbeak in the middle of the dance floor. The Goldeneye was getting busier as the night progressed; F.O.W.L. was raking in the money for their loosely disguised benefit. Despite the crowd -- primarily gathered around tables in the main level and clustered at the bar -- the temporary parquet wood floor was a ghost town. This merely compounded Tegwen's anxiety. On top of the awkwardness of a first dance, she knew they were very much on display. Her eyes shifted from her date to the main level and the tables all lining the railing above them.

Heads were turning.

People staring. Critical eyes focusing on them, assessing them as individuals and scrutinizing them as a couple. Though she couldn't hear it all over the music, Tegwen could see bodies leaning in close to one another, sharing whispered musings on the peculiar pair by themselves in the middle of the dance floor.

Why was nobody else dancing?

Tegwen turned to flee what she felt was suspiciously like ridicule but Steelbeak held her in place with a well-placed hand on her bare shoulder. Slowly, she looked at him.

He smiled. "Dey'll all join us. You'll see."

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