Post by Deleted on Sept 19, 2022 8:53:34 GMT -5
He nodded as she admitted that many men didn't care for the way she spoke or acted around them. That was predictable. Of the men, mostly, but the woman in front of him too. She didn't seem the type to act in a way that was dishonest to herself. Not that she wasn't capable of putting on an act if she really wanted to, but why would she? She worked directly with the Queen, she didn't really need to be someone she wasn't. And men...well, they were always who they were to some degree, many of them the same. Despite the somewhat balance of power in Lorendale between men and women, men still considered themselves to be the dominant force and women were the submissive ones. Dresden found this to be mostly true himself but on the occasion that he ran into a more dominant woman he would hardly shy away. But most men were like Dresden. They didn't want someone to challenge their pride, to have a stronger voice than them. Because they didn't know how to play the game. "I believe that," he nodded. "But the anger just comes up outta the embarrassment. Either way, they find out their chances are slim and their pride gets hurt."
A shameful past? Hiding? Ah, well, maybe Scout could read him like a book. Not that he felt an ounce of shame for anything he'd done in the past. It was all justified to him, in one way or another. But that wasn't the reason for his made up name. Not in the story he chose to tell. "Less excitin', I'm afraid," he leaned in a little closer for a moment. "I'm an orphan. Don't all orphans have made up names? Handed to us by someone whose got no idea who our parents were? Can't have a family name without a family. I think they got Drake out of a book they read to us or somethin'." The words came out easily. He was too old to still be hurting over being an orphan, and anyway what did any of it matter? Whether he be an orphan or a commoner with a family, they were all the same to most Nobles like Scout. "But my first name I picked out for myself. So I like it."
His smile only grew when she called him charming and then used his name. For a moment he only looked at her, eyes resting somewhere on her face, lips parted slightly, as if the way she'd said his name had taken his breath away. When he finally caught it again, he licked his lips and cleared his throat, turning back to his mug for a quick drink, hand moving to cover his heart once he sat it back down and returned his gaze to her. "Thank you, Lady Kane," he said a little more quietly, personally, with a bit of a scratch to his voice. "I like the way you say it."
Even if the joke had fallen flat, it accomplished what it was meant to do, so he only nodded. "No need for apologies, my Lady. The problem was in the deliverance and that is my fault alone. Besides, I've got no reason to curry favor with Royals now. I'd rather continue to do so with you." And it seemed he was doing rather well as he finally spotted the kind of reaction he'd been hoping for. She'd been cute so far, playful in her flirting, but she was used to this. She'd made that clear already. She was perfectly capable of conversing with someone in a way that would get them talking, help her find out whatever information she needed to know. Up until she'd blushed she could have easily just been doing the same to him. But he'd finally gotten to her, even if only a little. He'd tuck that away, keep it in mind and utilize it soon.
As she took his hand, he lead her past a table into the middle of the dance floor, avoiding the other dancing couple and then a woman of the Inn who was dancing somewhat provocatively for the sake of finding another customer. Dresden's eyes remained on Scout though as she placed her hand on his arm and moved closer. His own hand moved to her back, sitting just a little lower than it should, below the shoulder blade instead of atop it. Because, well, like he said, he didn't really know what he was doing. Of course. "I'll do my best but I can't make any promises. You insisted I prove you wrong, I'm only obligin'."
He looked down to get his feet in place with hers, and then on the beat began to move. The couple from before were attempting a similar dance, though the unenthusiastic husband was hardly trying. Dresden on the other hand moved fairly well, though sometimes his steps were choppy. It wasn't a lack of rhythm but an unfamiliarity with the dance moves that made it impossible for him to lead her, instead he was attempting to follow her lead and always seemed a half step behind. After only a few moments, he turned his face away slightly so as not to laugh in her face, at himself. "Reckon you're okay with me just guardin' things now, huh? You gotta give me some credit, though, not a lot of orphans even know this much 'bout ballroom dancin'. It's a little more proper than the kind of dancin' I'm used to."
A shameful past? Hiding? Ah, well, maybe Scout could read him like a book. Not that he felt an ounce of shame for anything he'd done in the past. It was all justified to him, in one way or another. But that wasn't the reason for his made up name. Not in the story he chose to tell. "Less excitin', I'm afraid," he leaned in a little closer for a moment. "I'm an orphan. Don't all orphans have made up names? Handed to us by someone whose got no idea who our parents were? Can't have a family name without a family. I think they got Drake out of a book they read to us or somethin'." The words came out easily. He was too old to still be hurting over being an orphan, and anyway what did any of it matter? Whether he be an orphan or a commoner with a family, they were all the same to most Nobles like Scout. "But my first name I picked out for myself. So I like it."
His smile only grew when she called him charming and then used his name. For a moment he only looked at her, eyes resting somewhere on her face, lips parted slightly, as if the way she'd said his name had taken his breath away. When he finally caught it again, he licked his lips and cleared his throat, turning back to his mug for a quick drink, hand moving to cover his heart once he sat it back down and returned his gaze to her. "Thank you, Lady Kane," he said a little more quietly, personally, with a bit of a scratch to his voice. "I like the way you say it."
Even if the joke had fallen flat, it accomplished what it was meant to do, so he only nodded. "No need for apologies, my Lady. The problem was in the deliverance and that is my fault alone. Besides, I've got no reason to curry favor with Royals now. I'd rather continue to do so with you." And it seemed he was doing rather well as he finally spotted the kind of reaction he'd been hoping for. She'd been cute so far, playful in her flirting, but she was used to this. She'd made that clear already. She was perfectly capable of conversing with someone in a way that would get them talking, help her find out whatever information she needed to know. Up until she'd blushed she could have easily just been doing the same to him. But he'd finally gotten to her, even if only a little. He'd tuck that away, keep it in mind and utilize it soon.
As she took his hand, he lead her past a table into the middle of the dance floor, avoiding the other dancing couple and then a woman of the Inn who was dancing somewhat provocatively for the sake of finding another customer. Dresden's eyes remained on Scout though as she placed her hand on his arm and moved closer. His own hand moved to her back, sitting just a little lower than it should, below the shoulder blade instead of atop it. Because, well, like he said, he didn't really know what he was doing. Of course. "I'll do my best but I can't make any promises. You insisted I prove you wrong, I'm only obligin'."
He looked down to get his feet in place with hers, and then on the beat began to move. The couple from before were attempting a similar dance, though the unenthusiastic husband was hardly trying. Dresden on the other hand moved fairly well, though sometimes his steps were choppy. It wasn't a lack of rhythm but an unfamiliarity with the dance moves that made it impossible for him to lead her, instead he was attempting to follow her lead and always seemed a half step behind. After only a few moments, he turned his face away slightly so as not to laugh in her face, at himself. "Reckon you're okay with me just guardin' things now, huh? You gotta give me some credit, though, not a lot of orphans even know this much 'bout ballroom dancin'. It's a little more proper than the kind of dancin' I'm used to."