B-Side

[Erynies Adrasteia]

Ryn's supposed to be on her best behavior but perhaps she can make a small exception to snarl at these two to make them back off? She doesn't even know what they're talking about. It feels like they're using way too many words to say absolutely nothing. And they're certainly not friends. She doesn't even know which one of them is Lucie and which one is Piper.

"I always work the correct amount." she says in her attempt at talking small.

[Narrator]

"Quite right."

"As well you should."

"Do you need anything?"

"Something to drink, something to eat?"

"A newspaper? A book?"

"A headset?"

Well, you can't say they weren't eager to please, even if they kept that same, pasted-on smile throughout their weird double conversation.

[Erynies Adrasteia]

"I've had breakfast." she informs them and then, when that doesn't seem to discourage them adds "And I can hear Katarina well enough." Which isn't entirely true. The soundproofing isn't perfect to her ears but she can only barely hear and she'd much rather listen properly through the ear-shell clamps, but she can't stand how much it deafens her to her surroundings. And then she makes what to her might as well be a brilliant social deduction. "Do you want something from me?" She keeps addressing them by looking directly between the both of them because they might as well be one being with two heads.

[Narrator]

"We just want to make sure you're happy and content."

"Because when you're happy, we're happy."

"And more importantly, when you're happy, Kata's happy."

"And when Kata's happy, we're happy."

"And when we're happy, the label is happy."

"And when the label is happy, we're all happy."

"And you have some significant sway with Kata, yes?"

"She dragged you back from Europe with her."

"You've been inseparable."

"Joined at the hip."

[Erynies Adrasteia]

The words coming her way are dizzying and confusing to Ryn even as each individual part isn't particularly complex. She just blinks and when there's finally a break in the words she glances over at Katarina, then down at herself and back at the Twins.

"I wasn't dragged." she corrects the most egregious falsehood. "We met. We liked each other. She's good at this." she nods towards the window to the recording booth. "I'm good at... other things. We work well together."

[Narrator]

"Of course you do."

"And whatever makes Katarina happy makes us happy."

"But strictly speaking, from a corporate standpoint..."

"...you work for her, and she works for us."

"We just want to make sure we're one big happy family."

"All pulling together, yes?"

[Erynies Adrasteia]

"I do not work for you." she says, putting every ounce of social skill she has into trying not to make it sound like a threat. There's more that she wants to say, especially in terms of their ability to make Katarina or her do anything, which is zero as far as Ryn is concerned, but she's aware enough that actually speaking her mind would probably sabotage Katarina's career. Or force her to clean up Ryn's mess with her Voice.

"But I will do what makes Katarina happy."

[Narrator]

"We just want to make sure she's happy with us, you see."

"We know she's been taking meetings with other studios."

"Which she's allowed to do."

"That's totally fine."

"But we're eager to help her with this next step forward in her career.'

"Her new look is something special."

"We see big things for her."

"We're hearing great things about her."

"We just want to make sure we're all on the same page."

"Singing out of the same hymnal."

"Pulling together, not against one another."

"All for one and one for all."


These were the execs that Katarina (and Ryn!) had been meeting -- the ones pasted up on Ryn's wall; the ones who ran those parties Ryn so loathed, the ones who smelled of drugs, corruption, power and lust.

[Erynies Adrasteia]

"I'd prefer she didn't meet with them either but worst case is I skin them alive and smother them with their own hide before devouring their heart."

Ryn blinks and snaps out of her day-dream of simply telling those two the truth. "She won't work with them." she simply says instead. A more savvy person may consider not giving away that kind of information where negotiations and connections are concerned. It arguably weakens Katarina's position with the Twins and word may well spread to the other studio before tonight and be at the very least a bad look, possibly even close future doors. But Ryn is not just new to this game, she doesn't really consider herself a player and even if she did, this wouldn't even occur to her.

[Narrator]

"That's so good to hear."

"We're glad we're together on this."

"We have some contracts we need her to sign."

"Tour schedules, media appearances, things like that."

"We don't suppose you could get her to sign them quickly for us?"

"Just a formality, to move things along."

[Erynies Adrasteia]

"Paper-oaths. I will stress their importance." Ryn all but scoffs.

[Katarina Kane]

"That's all we ask."

"Simple, really. But important."

Obviously, Ryn would have looked at these paper-oaths with the level of scrutiny they deserved, giving them a complete read-over and fully understanding each and every clause. So really, it was Katarina's fault that she interrupted Ryn over the intercom.

"We're ready for a take? I think we're good," she said over the speaker, in the isolation booth. "Andrew, watch out for the middle of the verses, the rhythm gets tricky. Rob, make sure I don't peak the levels; we're going to overdub some shouts on the chorus. Alright, let's go..."

Katarina's last attempted single had been a disaster, with her voice unknowingly kicking in and encouraging people to commit suicide. That's not ideal for future record sales. But this time, Katarina knew more about how the voice worked. Her lyrics focused more on herself for the verses, to avoid accidents -- and then occasionally kicked into overdrive during the chorus...

"Nine 'o clock on Friday; they're playing my song
I'm so ready; been waiting for this all week long.
There's no time for talking, don't wanna stop to eat
The only thing I need tonight's a rhythm and a beat!
You know what we came out to do!
You gotta shake it with me before I'll shout for you!

If you don't get it, then let me spell it out for you.

I've gotta
BE! the one that's rockin' hardest in the club
OH! I've gotta go until the sun comes up
YOU! know what you wanna do and who to do it with
AN!-y one can do it if you're not afraid to wiggle it.
SEE! me on the floor givin' it all that I got so
E!-ven if you're tired, pound you're drink and take a shot.

I feel the thump in the bass, and them I'm up in your face!
You gotta shake it with me right where it counts, counts counts!
So if you wanna be with me, B-O-U-N-C-E
You need a little bit of BOUNCE.

We're standing on the corner; I'm hanging off of your elbow
Will we skip another one? I'm thinking hell no.
You're gasping for air but the night's just beginning
Dress is soaked with so much sweat you'd think I've been swimming
DJ, spin up a song!
Get me on the dance floor where you know I belong

My date may be worn out but I can still shake it all night long!

So
BE! the one that lasts the night on the dance floor
OH! I've gotta dance until I just can't dance no more
YOU! can try to keep up with me if you dare
AN!-y one who can move belongs with me out there
SEE! me on the floor dancing the night away
E!-ven if you're unsure, get a grip and come and play

I feel the thump in the bass, and them I'm up in your face!
You gotta shake it with me right where it counts, counts counts!.
So if you wanna be with me, B-O-U-N-C-E
You need a little bit of BOUNCE.

The base is thumpin' and jumpin', DJ don't play a slow one
I've got my evening planned out and I'm stopping for no one!
Seven days of stress ready to be released
So my head goes north and south and my ass goes west-to-east!
You've had plenty of leeway!
You better keep up, or I'll go home with the DJ

And it'll happen so fast, you'll need instant replay.

Come on and
BE! the one that finds your second wind
OH! on the dance floor you know it's sink or swim
YOU! 've got to dig deep and find your power
AN!-y hesitation; you'll need a cold shower
SEE! me on the floor with my hips in full motion
E!-ven you can tread water in my musical ocean

I feel the thump in the bass, and them I'm up in your face!
You gotta shake it with me right where it counts, counts counts!.
So if you wanna be with me, B-O-U-N-C-E
You need a little bit of BOUNCE.

So if you think I'm slowing down, then you're probably dreaming
You'll have to drag me off the dance floor while I"m kicking and screaming
I live for the beat, and I love how it feels
I party twice as hard as you and I do it in heels!
We can shake off our sorrows!
So even if you're broke, you've got to beg and tomorrow

Plop down the cover and do it again tomorrow!

I'm gonna
BE! the siren calling in the night
OH! when the music goes you feel just right
YOU! will find yourself giving in!
AN!-y crazy beat will make you sway and spin
SEE! the people dancing all through the night
E!-ven the wallflowers are shining bright/

I feel the thump in the bass, and them I'm up in your face!
You gotta shake it with me right where it counts, counts counts!.
So if you wanna be with me, B-O-U-N-C-E
...
You need a little bit of BOUNCE."

[Erynies Adrasteia]

Ryn, doing her best to maintain her stoic reputation, only bounces in place a little bit in time with the beat, only hearing Katarina's muffled voice. What's more obvious is the broad smile sneaking onto her face throughout the song. This is Katarina's element and seeing her in it just feels good. It feels like Ryn did something right somehow for things to have ended up this way.

[Katarina Kane]

The others listening in were a little less restrained than Ryn, thanks to both listening through the headphones and not being aware of the Siren's power, and thus less likely to be able to resist it. It was, fortunately, not a manner of everyone bouncing in the exact same way at the exact same time; that would have been noticeable and likely raised too many eyebrows. That being said, maybe Katarina should come up with some sort of dance? An Electric Slide or a Cabbage Patch, with siren-related instructions, could be a thing.

"Alright, let me hear that on playback," Katarina called back over the intercom, tapping her lips with her pencil as she listened. There was something a little comical about someone listening so studiously to a bubblegum, throwaway pop song, but that's what a job is! "Any thoughts from the peanut gallery out there?"


The twins spoke up.
"The radio might have a problem with the middle section, with the booty references."

"It's about your image -- you're going for more of the glamour and glitz with your new look. This might pin you to Earth a bit too much."

"You'd hate to run afoul of the new Parental Advisory committee."

"They're talking about adding stickers to albums, now. You have to think about what sort of artist you're going to be."

"And to be marketed as."

"So we can maximize your broad appeal."

Katarina rolled her eyes in the booth, and mimed 'talk talk talk' with her hands where Ryn could see it. "Yes, Madonna's career is definitely on the rocks, you're right."

"If you want to be the kind of singer who writhes around on the floor in a wedding dress, your back catalogue needs some work," Lucie deadpanned.

"You were the clean-cut Eastern European sensation on your previous singles. Real girl-next-door type, only the next door was behind the Iron Curtain."


Katarina sighed, looking at Ryn with a shrug. "As always, so lovely to have the execs here. Or, at least, the middle management. When did you say the chief exec was coming to America?"

"Oh, soon, soon."

"So much to do, so much to take care of, you know how it is."

[Erynies Adrasteia]

Ryn grins at Katarina's miming and gives an almost imperceptible nod.

She doesn't see much of a point in arguing with the Twins in as much that she doesn't really care what they think. But Katarina did ask her opinion. "I like it. If she wants to appear..." what had Katarina called it again when trying to break it down for her? "...larger than life then she shouldn't care about the objections of mortal men."

[Katarina Kane]

"Objections of the label, on the other hand, do tend to pull more weight. That being said, I've got a new look, and a new agent," Katarina said, chuckling at her own joke as she nodded at Ryn. "And if she votes for the new look, well, I probably need to do what she says, don't I?"

[Erynies Adrasteia]

Ryn smiles back at Katarina, then turns towards the Twins and her expression turns into more of a smug grin as she crosses her arms.

"She decides." Ryn reaffirms, uncertain if Katarina can hear her or not. The Siren's voice is coming through the speaker in this room but Ryn has yet to fully understand the intricacies of modern technology.

[Narrator]

"Always the best, I find," a new voice said from behind Ryn -- a voice that would probably surprise her if, you know, she wasn't always hyper-vigilant about everything.

"Ah, Toni! Great to see you, glad you could come," one of the Twins started, apparently dropping their argument with Ryn and Katarina for the moment -- on a dime, pivoting and parrying away in the form of verbal combat that Ryn just hadn't quite mastered yet.


"Always good to see our labelmates working together; we're one big, happy Chrysalis family here," the other smiled back.

"And you must be Ryn. A pleasure," 'Toni' smiled, reaching out to shake hands.

Meanwhile, Katarina had ducked down into her booth, fiddling with something she had brought with her while attention was elsewhere...

[Erynies Adrasteia]

Ryn glances down at the extended hand, then back up at Toni.

"You're right, I must. And you chose to be Toni."

[Katarina Kane]

And the conversations went on like that for a bit -- a game being played over Ryn's head. No, not a game -- a combat, of sorts, perhaps? At least that was a way Ryn could maybe conceptualize it; a battle for which she lacked training or weapons. The Twins kept trying to maneuver Katarina into agreeing to things her way, parrying and thrusting and approaching things from different angles, while Katarina riposted and deflected. She would occasionally toss it to Ryn for support, who could only offer up so much -- this wasn't her arena.

Katarina and Toni had a different, although not altogether opposing, dynamic. Toni, the older of the two, had some seniority here, but it was Katarina who had the experience in this arena, with successful singles to her own name. And yet, Katarina was the one he owed Toni something here -- the choreography the music video Katarina wanted for the album, to solidify her new position. So there was a little bit of jockying for position here, too; trading favors for favors, compliment for compliment, always trying to get their own way in, their own ideas placed front and center in their collaboration.

Wasn't there someone, somewhere, who needed to get punched? This was like dragging Katarina along on a late night run over the rooftops, tracking someone down. Lord forgive her, the siren would trip over her own two feet and alert the pray about what lurked in the shadows. And yet here, it was Ryn who was trying to avoid tripping over her own feet as this battle she couldn't quite understand continued to rage on.

Maybe it was worth it, though, when finally things were agreed upon, and Katarina and Toni began to record. Toni was fine, surely, but Katarina's voice had Ryn's attention long before she was Sirenized.

...Did Katarina look uncomfortable? Shifty even? Hrm.

"OK, ladies! Let's huddle up!

In 5...6...5 6 7 8!"

"Oh Mickey, you're so fine
You're so fine, you blow my mind
Hey Mickey, hey Mickey."

"Oh Mickey, you're so fine
You're so fine, you blow my mind
Hey Mickey." "We're hot to go!"
"Hey Mickey." "We're hot to go!"

"Oh Mickey, you're so fine
You're so fine, you blow my mind
Hey Mickey." "We're hot to go!"
"Hey Mickey!" "We're hot to go!"

"H-O-T-T-O-G-O. We're hot to go!" "Hey Mickey!"

"I could be the one, or your new addiction
It's all in my head but I want non-fiction
I don't want the world, but I'll take this city
Who can blame a girl? Call me hot, not pretty
Baby, do you like this beat? (Na-na-na-na, na)
I made it so you'd dance with me (Na-na-na-na, na)
It's like a hundred 99 degrees (Na-na-na-na, na)
When you're doing it with me, doing it with me!

H-O-T-T-O-G-O
Snap and clap and touch your toes
Raise your hands, now body roll
Dance it out, you're hot to go
H-O-T-T-O-G-O
Snap and clap and touch your toes
Raise your hands, now body roll
H-O-T-T-O-G-O
H-O-T-T-O-G-O
You can take me hot to go
H-O-T-T-O-G-O
You can take me hot to go

Well, I woke up alone staring at my ceiling
I try not to care but it hurts my feelings
You don't have to stare, come here, get with it
No one's touched me there in a damn hot minute
And baby, don't you like this beat? (Na-na-na-na, na)
I made it so you'd sleep with me (Na-na-na-na, na)
It's like a hundred 99 degrees (Na-na-na-na, na)
When you're doing it with me, doing it with me

H-O-T-T-O-G-O
Snap and clap and touch your toes"

"Hey Mickey!
Now when you take me by the hand, who's ever gonna know?
Every time you move, I let a little more show
There's something we can use, so don't say no, Mickey

So come on and give it to me anyway you can
Anyway you want to do it, I'll take it like a man
But please, baby, please
Don't leave me in the damp, Mickey!" ("Five. Six. Five six seven eight!")

"Oh Mickey, what a pity
You don't understand?
You take me by the heart when you take me by the hand."
"H-O-T-T-O-G-O. You can take me hot to go!"
"Oh, what you do Mickey, do Mickey
Don't break my heart, Mickey!"


The two continued singing closer and closer together as they traded off lyrics.

[Erynies Adrasteia]

At the very least, Ryn would be steadfast in her opinions so even if she couldn't assist much in the battle of words, she at least was a reliable point on which to lean. Or deflect the Twin's attention to in order to send their clever words headfirst into a brick wall. She doesn't change any minds but words spend on her chew up time and patience. Similar to how she hadn't consciously intended to rebuff Toni's politeness but she had expected a man and something about that had caught her off-guard.

It becomes a little clearer when Katarina and Toni start singing, though she probably still wouldn't be able to put a word to it if asked. It feels like being challenged. And not like people sometimes try with Words. It's like Toni is provoking her heart. It reminds her of the duet she and Katarina sang when they shattered the wishing orb but more... carnal. It makes her want to leap through the sound-proof glass and slam Toni into the ground. Maybe crack a rib or two. She doesn't, of course. Toni is, as far as Ryn can tell, innocent. She's just... singing. With Katarina. About what even Ryn can tell is an intimacy she does not want to share. Katarina had been excited about this too and that somehow gnaws at the back of her mind as well.

Ryn might think herself stoic and impassive on the surface, but it's easy to notice the clenched fists at her side and the sheer tension that runs through her body as she stares at Toni. Even with her curse no longer radiating supernatural dread, she still seems enough like a wild animal in that moment that it's easy to imagine a growl escaping her throat.

[Katarina Kane]

It doesn't help that this is Katarina's happy place -- you can see it on her face, feel it in the air as she performs. Even not being on stage, with just the audience of musicians and studio mooks and Ryn, singing is where she belongs; the higher state that Ryn recognized in herself when she was running through the night. A state she shared with Katarina with the help of the Orb, and one she just doesn't have right now, even as Toni is right there next to her, sharing that space, that moment, trading the verses back and forth, leaning in and out from the mic with one another, their voices blending and intertwining during the choruses...

"Woo! It's hot in here. Anyone else hot?"

Damn the siren, anyway.

"I think we need to overdub some more handclaps. Let's take it from the top!"

If Katarina noticed Ryn's discomfort, she certainly wasn't doing anything about it, and wouldn't so long as the recording session continued. The Diva torturing the Deva.

[Erynies Adrasteia]

Ryn has very little recourse but to silently steam and glower, which to be fair, she's still exceptional at. If Toni had a bodyguard maybe she could've gotten into a fight with them but she didn't. Stupid humans, don't they know that the world is full of dangerous things? Like her! Maybe Katarina could sing about that... She should suggest that to her later. After she's done fantasizing about stalking Toni from the shadows for a week until she jumps at every shadow and will never again be quite sure that the darkness is truly empty. that thought does bring a slight smile to her face despite the repeated and heated duet in the recording booth.

[Katarina Kane]

The recording session continued apace, as Ryn was in danger of wearing a groove in the floor from the pacing back and forth, but finally, mercifully, it came to an end. Less mercifully, Katarina and Toni did the cheek kissing thing as the two groups packed and prepared to depart, prompting Ryn to come up with no end of tortures for the singer/choreographer, surely.

The twins, the engineer, and most of the others filed out of the room before Katarina came out, looking fairly out on her feet. "That....is an exhausting day," she rasped. "Only so long I can keep that energy up."

[Erynies Adrasteia]

Why does Toni get to kiss Katarina's cheek in public? Who knows! Humans are - and will forever remain - stupid in so many ways.

"We do have a party to go to." she says as she moves to let Katarina lean on her should she so choose. She'd rather go and dance with Katarina than go alone but if need be she'd be more than happy to go by herself. Unnoticed in that case and she'd blow off steam in a way she knows Katarina would disapprove of but ultimately makes the world better. If you kill a murderer the amount of murderers in the world stays the same. She forgot where she heard or read that but she found it exceptionally stupid at first. Until she realized it was probably clever words and implied that one should obviously not stop at one.

"But I can take you home if you want."

[Katarina Kane]

Katarina sighed. "No, no. It's important to get out to see and be seen. Plus, one of those senior VPs I was telling you about will be there -- Mr. Casey Rose, vice president of international talent relations," she said, contempt dripping from her voice.

[Erynies Adrasteia]

"That title is meaningless." she concludes. "Is it important that I know what he does?"

[Katarina Kane]

"He was one of the ones I had to...interview with...when the STB were getting me into place here in the West," Katarina said, distastefully. "He is a.... obstacle for young women who wish to become stars."

[Erynies Adrasteia]

And just like that Ryn is reminded what real fury is like and her grudge against Toni fades far into the back of her mind. She certainly could have inferred that Katarina was potentially subject to this treatment the moment she smelled the rot in this city but she never quite made that connection until now. Her hands clench into claws at her side, shoulders tense. "He must suffer before he is allowed to die."

[Katarina Kane]

"Mmm, bad party etiquette to murder one of the guests," Katarina said, trying to placate the deva with a joke. "Besides, cut off one head, two more pop up."

[Erynies Adrasteia]

"So you say. Fine. It is your quarry." she smirks ever so slightly. "But if he runs I will give chase."

[Katarina Kane]

"Oh, I don't think he'll be running when we're through with him," Katarina grinned, showing teeth. "Not for a while, at any rate."

[Erynies Adrasteia]

"Then lets go and do a party." Ryn grins back.

[Narrator]

A rooftop party! That was something Ryn could appreciate, even if she probably would have preferred it if it was just her, Katarina, the table of food and the night. Instead, there was a bunch of people in fancy dresses and suits, and champagne and music and talking and schmoozing.

Well, maybe the music could stay, as some people were dancing. And maybe the fancy dresses could stay, as Katarina had changed into something short and backless, with her visible scales flashing in the light. There was something, one of those Word-Games people played, about dresses looking better on the dance floor? If she was better at this sort of thing, maybe she'd know what to say here.

Like in the studio, Katarina was often surrounded by people, mingling and talking and drinking and schmoozing. Unlike the studio, Katarina wasn't separated from here by a massive pane of glass and producers and musicians, so she could stay close. You know. As security.

[Erynies Adrasteia]

And close she stays. There's enough tainted souls in the crowd that Ryn can't pinpoint them properly but she knows they're out there, circling for prey the same way she should be. But they have their target picked out, a plan in place. It's important to stick to the plan, apparently. It's not what Ryn would do but then she'd be utterly lost trying to navigate this party. At least her expression still manages to keep most people who might get the silly idea of trying to talk to her from actually bothering her. Which mostly seems to just steer them towards Katarina instead who's like a lightning rod for social interaction.

She only occasionally has to fight the active urge to throw somebody off the roof, which is a significant improvement from only a couple months ago when it would have been all she could think about. And she did learn a good trick, which is to claim to go get something to eat or drink for herself or Katarina, buying herself some time weaving through the crowd with purpose and away from the constant words. It's at the buffet that she suddenly has the feeling that something is off. She's being watched. With more intent than casual glances or leers. The (as she was told) masculine-leaning suit she's opted to wear isn't doing as good a job as she'd like but this is something else and she's not sure what.

She hurries back to Katarina's side, one hand still holding a couple canapes (what's the point of bite-sized food if it leaves you without the satisfaction of tearing off a piece...) and the other two champagne glasses (a significantly better human invention).

"You said you wanted to dance." she says, not quite a question despite her best effort to make it sound like one. She needs to move and she needs to stay close to Katarina because it makes her less nervous. Because it means Ryn can more easily protect her if necessary, of course. She's certainly not withdrawing from the crowd and unknown observer into the safety of her girlfriend's vicinity.

[Katarina Kane]

"I did indeed. Excuse me for a moment, gentlemen," Katarina smiled, taking the champagne flute from Ryn and striding with her across the floor.

If Katarina had noticed them being watched, she certainly wasn't showing it. Then again, this was her element she was in, and she was being watched, quite a bit -- far from the only star here, but one of the ones flashing brightly at the moment, so eyes on her were...to be expected, at the very least.

"Our meeting with Mr. Rose is in about 15 minutes," Katarina whispered to Ryn as they crossed the floor. "I believe he believes he will be getting lucky tonight. I would hate to disappoint."

[Erynies Adrasteia]

This is one of those opposite-words. She's still bad at spotting them but this one is obvious enough for even Ryn. She grins and downs half of the champagne in one go. This approach still goes against her instincts but not too long ago she eviscerated three Asura-ridden people of this... tribe? Group? And here they are as if nothing had happened. She trusts Katarina's suggestion of a better way for now.

"He is lucky. I could do much worse." she grins her too-sharp grin as she turns to face Katarina and walks backwards, pulling her along by the hand and onto the dance floor with unerring steps. And the people she doesn't blindly move around step out of the way because she may be short and bereft of her curse of dread but she still commands an aura of imminent danger that makes most people step out of her way. She might claim to hate these parties but she is clearly enjoying herself right this moment.

[Katarina Kane]

"Well, we'll see how frisky he is. In an ideal world, no one will know anything that's happened in there. But it's always good to know someone has my back should the worst come to the worst," Katarina smiles, as Ryn leads her onto the dance floor, letting the ex-Deva take the lead. She knew how uncomfortable Ryn could be in situations like this, so anything to get her out of that shell was a plus.

[Erynies Adrasteia]

"Who knows, his hand could end up in a paper shredder." she says; an even less thinly veiled threat than even suggesting an 'accident' but she's at least trying to adopt Words and subterfuge, even if it's hardly a romantic thing to say. You can pull the monster into the light, but she'd probably always stay with one foot in the shadows. Her dancing too has improved though. She's always known how to move her body but she's begun to figure out how to do the same around and with Katarina's. And there's a primal freedom in it that none of the people around them would dare.

Her hand is firm in Katarina's, on her shoulder, at her back. No formal steps though the occasional spin or dip is woven in between their bodies moving in tandem against and around each other to the beat. It goes against Katarina's old girl-next-door image and Ryn can't help but smile at the thought that her executives would not like this very much. For a number of reasons. And for a couple glorious minutes there is no social norms or maintained image, only the truth of them in the moment. And even some of the disapproving looks stem from envy, if even just for the unfettered nature of it all.

[Katarina Kane]

"As subtle as a ball-peen hammer, you," Katarina giggled. Her face was flushed a bit from the champagne -- she had explained to Ryn that a little bit of alcohol could explain away a bunch in the tabloids, and she had been downing some of that champagne like water, both to keep up appearances and to try to calm the jitters for the rest of the evening. Ryn might take to this "mission", as they called it, like a duck to water, but Katarina? While she had that inner core of steel, it was not something she was...overly used to tapping into. Especially when it came to someone she had previous personal experience with.