after the fall festival

[every_blossom_blooming]

Nina couldn't remember the last time she had fun like this. She'd had fun, happy moments, but all of them against the backdrop of something moving beyond her control. Maybe Darrow was no different, in the end, but at least here she wasn't coerced into debt, she wasn't constantly waiting for the next thing she would have to do for the gang that offered her protection. She still worried: she worried about Ravka, about the moment she left behind, about her friends.

But all day today she had not let a single one of those things bother her. She'd danced until she felt like she would drop and only then did she let Geralt guide her away from the square and the music, and she happily pressed against his side, her arm draped around his waist.

"Thank you," she said warmly; in the dying sunlight her eyes had become a deep green. The gratitude was heartfelt, the feeling infused each simple word. Her cheeks were still flush from their joyous exertion. "It's been a long, long time since I danced like that."

Comments

[worstsin]

"Why are you thanking me?"

Geralt stumbled slightly over his words, in a chuckle. He had had about enough of socializing himself, but he was glad that Nina enjoyed herself. Though it was uncomfortable to think that she hadn't been able to, for far too long. At least, in his opinion.

"Anyone who didn't want to show you a good time didn't deserve your company."

Geralt gathered her up more firmly against his side. He ought to take her home, or at least somewhere to sit and rest. He wouldn't mind laying down himself, maybe on a blanket on the grass somewhere, with a beer and a view of the stars as night came creeping in.