Pietro and Mel, later in the party

[om_janus]

The friends dance and chat



So far diversions tactics had proven not only effective but actually pretty fun. Melissa had been at the party for a while and though she could deny being pretty hypervigilant, she was managing to have a pretty alright time of it.  She was drinking bottled water from the kitchen fridge rather than the punch though. You could never be to careful.

Sitting out for a moment, she looked out across the party and smiled a little. She wasn't even feeling too isolated from everyone else. It felt pretty damn good too.

Pietro had been keeping an eye on her on and off, saying hello, chatting, whatever, just to make sure Mel was having a good time. She seemed kinda tense, but was letting herself have fun, which meant she felt at least moderately safe. It was a process--he knew that by then.

But when "Dreamers" came up on the playlist, Pietro had to go and grab her for it, since it was her official song. Every time he heard it he thought of her, because--so many reasons. But mainly the bit about defining yourself... yeah. All day.

He swung up to her and held out his hand, straightening his Peter Pan hat with the other and grinning. "Any chance of getting you back on the floor?" 

The music, the offer, Pietro, it all meant that Melissa unhesitatingly took his hand "Go on then. It'd be a crime to say no the Rizzle Kicks and my favourite SB wouldn't it?"

"This is the song I put on for you too," he said with a wink. He pulled her towards the bouncing mass of kids already on the floor. "You look good; how's it going?"

"Better than it could have. Dancing helps shut up the brain." She told him as she let herself be led through the crowd."How about you?"

"You know me, always happy at a party." He found a good spot and moved in close (god, her girl bodies were tiny--he always forgot that!), settling a hand at her waist easily. He smirked. "Though I gotta admit I keep getting distracted by the prospect of washing all that paint off Remy. Visions of us covered in blue paint in the shower are dancing through my brain."

It had been hard enough to behave while putting it on him. Getting it off... no behaving was happening .At all.

"Oh I'll have to hear all about that. We are long overdue a catch up." She told him, intrigued by hints and looking forward to seeing that costume properly for sure. There were plenty of people who's costumes she was looking forward to in fact. Top of the list currently being Alice and Jack. Why hadn't she seen them yet tonight? "Keep chatting. Distract me?" So long as she wasn't thinking about it, she was feeling calmer.

He bounced and swivelled to the music with her, but also managed an obedient nod. "Other favorites include the idea of Jeanne-Marie slaying da Costa all night, Lil and Brian in their Viking Warrior get-ups, which is hilarious, and Warren--speaking of body paint, wow."

"Wow, just wow. Though hate to burst your bubble but I'm pretty sure Buffy set a precedence for sleeping with the vamps instead of slaying them." Melissa pointed out, dancing closer to him happily. "Did I miss the memo about being half naked and painted?"

Pietro had been making a face--not that he disliked the mental image of Bobby getting some, but JM just... weirded him out. He knew she'd screwed Lil and he still couldn't picture it, really. 

But then he smirked. "Remy's a trendsetter and he doesn't even know it."  He'd totally been the one to talk him into it, too. "Once they saw him in body glitter at the masque, how could they help themselves?

"Mostly I think Eames and I make it our goal to see he wears as little as possible whenever we can."

"And I'm sure the students thank you for it." The body glitter had certainly been eye-catching-for more than one reason. 

Her arms slide around his neck as they dance. "And thanks. Seriously,  I don't think I would've made it down here without all the help you've been giving me lately. I owe you."

"You do not," he said brightly, leaning down and bending his knees to rest his forehead against hers. "But I take my payment in brownies and Britcom, if you feel the need to give me things anyhow."

A slight pause, just a second as he considered whether or not to say what he was thinking. Then, "And I hope this doesn't sound douchey, but I'm proud of you."

Because he really was. Seeing her here just kind of made his heart feel all, like, weird and light. He knew how hard it was, as much as anyone else could.

"Not douchey at all." And since he was there and in her range and all, she tilted her head just a little and kissed him. It just felt like the thing to do.

Pietro smiled into it and kissed her back--knowing damn well what it meant for her to do this, right here, in this body. He parted his lips just a little, but didn't go for the tongue, just a nice kiss before closing it off. "Like soooo proud, wow."

"People should say 'wow' when I kiss them more often, totally good for the old ego." She beamed up at him, nuzzling her nose against his but only briefly. While it did sound like Remy was pretty much the more chill boyfriend ever, she was no way gonna start snogging or being overly familiar with his boyfriend right in front of him.

"I will bear it in mind," Pietro promised, nuzzling back and then standing straighter--so they could go back to dancing.