[Relationship] Chelmsford - It Breathes Inside Of Me

[Tereza Rozanov]

The drive to Chelmsford is pretty quiet. Tereza seems to be babying the car a lot, though how much of that is necessity and how much is her trying not to engage is hard for Sam to tell. She finds a carpark and gets out of the car. As they approach the bouncer, he steps out of the way and moves the rope for them without a word being spoken.

[Samantha McManus]

"Looks like they remember me," she says once they're in.

"I suppose drinks are in order?"

[Tereza Rozanov]

"A reasonable place to start," Tereza concedes. "Wouldn't be surprised if she hadn't left standing orders regarding you."

[Samantha McManus]

"Given that I'm clubbing on a university student's budget, I'm not complaining," she says as she heads to the bar.

"What do you want?"

[Tereza Rozanov]

"Vodka, straight," she responds without even thinking about it. "I'll find somewhere to sit..." She looks around, "Or maybe some wall to lean against. This place is a bit busy."

[Samantha McManus]

"You're not screwing around tonight," she snorts, but goes to order it anyway.

[Tereza Rozanov]

"Not like it'll get me drunk," she grumbles, moving over to find a mildly clear space to loiter in. It's a space that slowly becomes clearer as that low grade 'large predator' vibe causes people to drift elsewhere.

[Samantha McManus]

"No, but maybe it'll help you relax," Sam says, returning after having chosen to match Tereza's first drink.

[Tereza Rozanov]

"Only if I drink the bar dry," she quips, taking her drink from Sam.

[Samantha McManus]

"That much tension, eh?" She says, raising her glass to Tereza.

[Tereza Rozanov]

"No," she lies, "Just this damnable ... well, you know... constitution."

[Samantha McManus]

"Maybe I should get drunk and see if you can enjoy it secondhand..."

[Tereza Rozanov]

"I'm sure that would be quite the sight," she says, sipping her drink. "But might adversely affect our ability to dance. And my ability to drive you home."

[Samantha McManus]

"So I am going to be able to drag you out on the floor?" She asks, draining her glass.

"Because I'm not doing it if you're not feeling it."

[Tereza Rozanov]

"If it'll make you happy, I'll do it. That's what tonight's about, right?"

[Samantha McManus]

"Well it's not just about me, aye?"

[Tereza Rozanov]

"No," she admits, "But I'm not the one who just spent a bunch of time in the hospital."

[Samantha McManus]

"That's true," Sam says as she hands her empty glass off to a passing busser.

"You're just the one whose girlfriend wants to give her the night of her life."

Sam starts walking out on to the dance floor, passing in and out of the light. Somewhere in the shadows her silhouette seems to change, and Tereza catches a flash of bare hip when she's in the light before she steps back into the dark.

When she turns back around, the club lights play over a a tall, red-haired woman wearing nothing but feathers and paint... at least Tereza thinks that's paint.

"Dance with me," she beckons with a hand.

[Tereza Rozanov]

Regardless of her other feelings on the matter, the wolf *wants* badly and Tereza finds herself handing her drink off to someone, she doesn't even know who, and drifting after Sam, following her out onto the floor.

[Samantha McManus]

What follows is a dance that's primitive to the point of being primal, the steps beyond the memory of anyone present save perhaps the proprietor of the club. Tereza can't be certain if the other patrons are seeing what she is but they seem swept up in the same moment. The nearness of war and death makes all present feel giddily, desperately alive as they dance, drink, grope and kiss.

[Tereza Rozanov]

Tereza follows along in the dance, her wolf taking the fore, though a crafty enough hunter to remain in human guise. Her movements take on almost a worshipful motion, obviously leaning into what Sam is projecting.

[Samantha McManus]

There are moments when Tereza is dancing with the goddess. There are moments when she's opposite a towering, red-furred she wolf with feathers braided into its mane. By the time the music ends it's the goddess again, but she's regarding Tereza with livid yellow-green eyes set in black sclera.

"There you are, my wolf..." she breathes with a flash of fangs.

[Tereza Rozanov]

The wolf reaches out for Sam. "Morrigan," she whispers.

Somewhere in the sea of humanity, the goddess can tell that Erica is watching what's going on.

[Samantha McManus]

"You did well keeping her safe," she says, leading Tereza off the dance floor.

"She's dear to me, as are you."

[Tereza Rozanov]

"We worked well together," the wolf says, letting Sam lead her off to floor. Or maybe it was more accurate to say following like an obedient puppy.

[Samantha McManus]

"I still think you should be rewarded."

"So tell me, what do you want?"

[Tereza Rozanov]

The wolf kisses the back of her hand, "Time spent with you is reward enough for me, Morrigan."

[Samantha McManus]

"Is that all? I could feel the want as we danced."

"There's no need to be humble. You can ask."

[Tereza Rozanov]

The wolf sorts through her words and finally says, "I want you in every way you can think of for as long as I have the energy in me."

[Samantha McManus]

"Mmm, and I was worried you were getting tame."

"You'll have everything you ask."

[Tereza Rozanov]

The wolf straightens up and moves closer, leaning into the goddess, "Then I'll do my best to show my appreciation."