Just A Casual Dance

Spirit Dance Prompt
Featuring S-292 (Razer) and S-297 (Dovah) and a cameo from S-117 (Kadozen)

The rain pattered softly against thin glass, casting patterns on the wooden walls of the "penthouse" suite. The room was larger than any other at the inn and yet quite humble in comparison to the large hotels of the city. The space had be sparsely decorated with rugs and a colorful plush comforter on the bed. The black couch was worn and secondhand, with a plastic cover draped over the top. Humble, until your eyes reached the far corner where Razer had established herself.

Razer was a "gamer". And that was an understatement, as far as Dovah understood it. Her friends were always going on about her "stream", the latest releases and gaming news, fawning over about followers and donations and subscriptions. The corner was decorated to match the demands of such a passtime... The walls adorned with shelves of gaming collectables, SylphTube reward plaques, and photos of Razer with other popular gaming figures. All of that was tucked tightly within the view of a huge gaming rig, complete with high-end cameras, microphones, and hardware that could likely direct a space station. Razer took pride in her technology. Dovah often watched from his spot on the couch as she reconstructed parts by hand, hosted online parties, or just sat admiring her own hard work. That, along with gaming for thousands, if not millions of fans.

Dovah didn't fully understand it, or much of anything for that matter. It had been a few months now since he became Razer's somewhat reluctant roommate. Or rather, the "creature" that slept in the bathtub. Dovah was worried how someone else may feel about his condition... He'd been found, beached like a shark, lost and confused and coated in an un-ending, thick oil. No matter how much he bathed (or at Razer's behest, washed down with a busted fire hydrant) the oil continued to drip off his skin. Everywhere he went he left a fire hazard of slick black goo. Even with his lack of knowledge or memory he could tell it was unpleasant. HE, was unpleasant.

Razer didn't seem to think so, though. She welcomed him after his recovery with a wide, crocodile grin. He couldn't lay comfortably in a bed, the sheets and mattress soaking with oil... So, she insisted he take the penthouse suite master bathroom bathtub, complete with its own door and privacy.

"I don't use it that much anyway," she'd snickered.

Now he was on their couch in the living room, hands gripping a plastic wrapped ChowBox controller Razer let him use when he wanted to play on the console. He wasn't great at video games like she was, but he enjoyed them. They helped him escape the constant, creeping thoughts that plagued him. The sadness always seemed to fade a little when he picked up the controller, or one of the handheld consoles he would also borrow when Razer wasn't doing a stream with them. He was always so careful, gingerly ensuring never to make the devices dirty or harm them in any way... Even as he watched Razer actively spill her soda onto them by accident, usually with a laugh. He didn't want to disappoint her.

The door creaked open. Familiar steps padded on the wood. Razer and Kadozen both entered the room. Her laugh echoed with the rain and against the walls. Dovah had almost forgotten he was playing Sylphrim, and his character was immediately crushed by some sort of troll as the small green-hooded sylphling and the much larger black dragon entered the room. Razer flopped right onto the couch, punching his shoulder playfully.

"Dovah! You're supposed to SWING the sword!" she sneered. He nodded in response, shrugging a little as Razer turned back to the dragon.

Kadozen was much larger than either Dovah or Razer, but he got by alright. He was used to ducking through doorways and snaking his long body around obstacles, Dovah noticed. He wondered if he would ever be able to live as gracefully as Kadozen did. Perhaps in a few thousand years. He didn't enter the room entirely. It actually looked like Kadozen was just using the room to turn around after finishing his conversation.

"Thank you again for your help, Razer."
"Anytime, Zen. You know I'm happy to help! You let me live here rent free sooooo I kinda owe you my life." Razer popped a soda bottle out of her hoodie pocket, snapping the top off with a click and tossing the bottle cap into a jar on the coffee table. It was filled to the brim with bottle caps.

"Dovah, do you need anything? I will be gone for several days to prepare for the festival," Kadozen asked in a serene voice.
"No, thank you. I'm all good." With that, the dragon made his leave, dipping his head to avoid ripping the headboard with his massive horns. His golden scales glittered in the light from the TV, where GAME OVER blinked in huge letters as instrumental music played.

They sat quietly on the couch for a moment while Razer chugged her soda and played on her phone, before picking up the controller to take over where Dovah had lost in his game. Dovah liked just sitting with his friend. He liked how she didn't even flinch at the oil on the controller cover. But what Kadozen said had him confused...

"Razer?"
"Yeah, Dov?"
"Whats the 'festival' "
'Ah you know, Spirit's Eve. Zen wanted some ideas for the inn's getup for it"
"Whats... Spirits Eve?"

Razer's eyes got big as she dramatically turned to Dovah, mouth ajar.

"You don't know what Spirits Eve is!" she exclaimed. Of course, he didn't even know that beings celebrated birthdays, much less holidays. "Dovah! It's my favorite holiday, man. We all get together to eat food and play pranks and dress up, and then we get painted with glowing paint and we dance. Something about warding off harmful spirits or something. It's a blast, and the dance is fun too. You'll love it!"

Dovah frowned a little. "I don't really know much about dancing..."

Razer looked at him, her expression going a bit softer as she set down the controller. The silence took over again, but this time it didn't feel as good. Dovah rubbed the back of his head, embarrassed, looking down at the floor. His chest started to hurt as he noticed the oil from his legs was getting on the rug again. He started to stand up, when suddenly, Razer's hands landed on his shoulders.

"So, you don't wanna go to the festival then yeah? It would make you uncomfortable?" She spoke so casually, like normal. He nodded, not looking at her face. His chest still felt tight. "Soooo, then you don't gotta! Easy as that! I can even stay home with ya! We can play Sylphrim and watch some crappy horror flicks. Betcha Hatch would even leave us a pizza or somethin-"
"I don't wanna ruin your favorite holiday," he interrupted abruptly. He felt his throat go dry. The tight feeling got tighter. But then, so did her grip on his shoulders. He wasn't sure if he wanted to run or not. "I don't, I don't want you to miss the dance for me."

He sniffled, just slightly. Maybe she wouldn't notice. Maybe she didn't.
Razer grinned, standing quickly. Dovah reeled a little as she let go of his shoulders and grabbed his hands, pulling him off the couch fully onto the rug. She stepped right in the oil puddles. She didn't care.

"Then, lets dance here!"
"D-d-dance? Here? Right now?" he stumbled a little as she pulled him onto his feet. "I don't know any of the moves-"
"That doesn't matter,"
"But you said it was for warding off spirits..."

Razer held both his hands up chest-high, her mouth drawn into that signature crocodilian smile.

"Aw screw the spirits, Dovah! It's just excuse for Sylphs to have a good time. Just do whats fun."

She pulled gently on his arms, and began a somewhat goofy back and forth motion. It was like a game of paddy-cake, but their hands never left each other. Her grip was firm but kind, and she didn't try to force him to meet her gaze or move too quickly. It almost felt natural when she began to move her feet, back and forth gently swinging him along. And he followed easily, still not looking up, but letting a trace of a smile hit his face.

"Atta boy, see? Not bad at-" Razer yelped a bit as she slipped. The oil.
But before she could hit the ground, Dovah had her by the wrists. His hands were larger than hers and could fit all the way around her arms. In his haste to grab her, his eyes caught hers. The bright foggy green seemed to glow, her slit pupils like cats eyes in the dark. She grinned playfully, crooked teeth opening to a laugh. Dovah was just glad his fur was pitch black... lest she see the deep, full body blush he was falling into.

Razer turned on her tail, the plasticine material crunching as she propped up on it to resume the awkward dance. She spun Dovah around, her laugh echoing as they both slid clumsily through the oil spilled on the ground and rolling off of Dovah's legs. Carried by the weight of their tails, they looped around each other, smiles blaring and Dovah's heart pounding like a drum, as they strode to the pause menu screen music. The rhythm soon felt natural. And before long Razer led Dovah to what he assumed must be the actual steps to the dance. And to his surprise, they felt natural, almost familiar...

The final pose left them pressed chest to chest in the living room. The rain had stopped, and they were both winded and breathing heavily. Dovah wished he could tell through both their jackets if Razer's heart was going as fast as his. The tightness in his chest had melted away to the same cool, calming comfort he often felt around her. As far as he could tell? She was the same old Razer... Her eyes beaming with mischief and blissful ignorance. She grinned one last time, reaching up to pat Dovah on the head.

"Told ya it was fun!" she said as they parted, both of them coated in black oil. With a casual wave she wandered off to wash off in the bathroom, leaving Dovah alone with the music, and the flutters in his stomach, and a odd unearthly glow.