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Unfamiliar trolls clustered in tight knots all across the ballroom, some swaying on the dance floor while others loitered around the edges, sipping drinks and nibbling on hors d'oeuvres. Still others sat at some of the round little tables that had been gathered up at one end of the space, only narrow paths left between them for navigation. As far as Sollux could see, she was the only one warmer than teal who wasn’t a server. The realization, belated and obvious as it was, sent a shiver down her spine, following the path of her spinal ports.
She reached a reflexive hand to the back of her neck, brushing the rich violet silk there and reminding herself that they were covered. Eridan made sure that her dress fit perfectly. It was far more ostentatious than she was used to, from the quality of the fabric to the fact that it was long enough to reach the floor, pooling like blood at her feet and disguising the fact that she’d sweet-talked Eridan into letting her wear comfortable boots instead of heels. There was a small triangular cutout over her sternum, something she was certain her mate would kill anyone who looked too long at.
Sollux leaned almost drowsily into her, the susurrus of too many different conversations lulling her into a distant, zoned out haze. She sipped her champagne, surely not helping her alertness, and was glad of the fact that she’d be crawling into a hotel comfort platform with Eridan after this gala rather than returning to the helmsblock.
Soon enough, their glasses were both emptied, and Eridan waved off the server offering them more with an easy “not yet, thank you.” Sollux opened her mouth to comment, say something about how that was the nicest she’d ever heard Eridan speak to a stranger, but before she could, her mate was clasping both her hands and sinking into an exaggerated curtsy, the metallic gold of her own dress stretching as if displeased. It was tighter than Sollux’s, clinging to her curves in a way that had her wanting to kill any onlookers too.
“May I have this dance, milady?” she asked, soft and sincere. Sollux grinned, nodded, and only then remembered why she’d been so intent on staying near their table.
“Wait, but— I don’t know how to dance, ED, you know that. I’ve never done it before,” she hissed, keeping her voice low to deter eavesdroppers. She was out of place enough as it was.
“It’s alright. This is a slow song comin’ on now, all we gotta do is hold each other and sway, more or less. I’ll guide you.” Eridan squeezed her clasped hands, rings cold against her skin, before letting go in favor of taking just one to lead her onto the dance floor. She made walking in her towering heels look easy, looking down at Sollux for once rather than up. Sollux just followed until they found an empty enough spot, a respectable distance from an absolutely ancient-looking pair of indigos.
Her arms were guided to drape over Eridan’s shoulders, then Eridan’s hands found her waist in turn. Just like she promised, it wasn’t too hard to sway from side to side in little steps, acceptably close to matching the music. She stepped on the hem of her dress a few times, scuffing it with dust, and winced each time until Eridan leaned in closer and said, “Don’t worry about it. We’ll send ‘em out for cleanin’. Think about somethin’ else.”
“Like what?” Sollux murmured back.
“I could tell you what I’m thinkin’ about. How lucky I am to have you here as my date. These galas would be insufferable without you to keep me company.”
Sollux rolled her eyes fondly, allowing her arms to settle more comfortably around her. Eridan twirled her expertly so her back—along with her ports—was facing the wall, away from any of the nearest couples.
“It’d be calmer without half the attendees gossiping about the violet who brought her helmsman. Or are you that fond of causing a scandal everywhere you go?” It wasn’t like being on the ship, where their crew had long since gotten used to their relationship and ceased to find it interesting.
“It ain’t that I’m obsessed with causin’ a scandal. But if that’s the cost of showin’ off my perfect mate to the world the way she deserves, I won’t hesitate to take on whatever comes our way.” It was no sentiment Eridan hadn’t already proclaimed to her countless times before, both in public and in private, but it made her bloodpusher flutter all the same, just like it did every time. Sollux’s gaze momentarily dropped from Eridan’s deep violet eyes to her heavily glossed lips. It was only a second, hardly a pusherbeat, but Eridan noticed.
“I can cause more of one if you want me to.”
She didn’t wait for an answer. Just as well, since Sollux was speechless, feeling as flustered and girlish as a wiggler. Instead, without breaking the slow, rocking cadence of their dance, she leaned in and planted a kiss squarely on her lips, tasting of champagne and vanilla lip gloss. Relatively chaste but not shy. Sollux, as she’d been doing all night, followed her lead, melting into the softness and warmth of Eridan’s protection.
When they parted, it was to all eyes on them, or so it felt. It couldn’t actually have been everyone staring, but quite a number were, with equal parts curiosity and repulsion. Sollux’s skin prickled hotly. She shifted from foot to foot, stepped on the hem of her dress again, and cursed quietly.
“Time for another drink, my love?” Eridan asked softly. “Maybe we can take this one out on the terrace, get some fresh air.”
“Yeah,” she breathed, and pressed herself flush up against Eridan, giving up on trying not to encourage the stares. “That sounds perfect.”
They plucked two new flutes of champagne from the tray of one of the lowblood servers passing by, and Eridan let her lead the way out to the terrace. She stayed behind her, glued to her back in what Sollux knew was a protective desire to keep an eye on her ports.
Only once they were away from the music and the chatter did she admit, lips brushing the rim of her glass, “It is fun scandalizing them a little, isn’t it?”