Not on a date

[Elysia Katsaros-Styx]

As promised, Elysia Styx managed to make her way down the stairs in her flats. She knew better than to wear heels. Besides, she was rather tall anyway. Her hair was in place, firmly on the back of her head, and with light make up to accent her eyes a little more. Elysia took special care on her appearance, which her friends might have questioned. She did not say yes to any other requests that came her way, which luckily, no one put her in that position. Elysia did not want a date this year. Last year was different. She was experimenting, and required a date for that. Elysia sighed as she tucked her wand into her small bag that she took with her. This was in case someone pissed her off enough to cause something. Elysia did not smile as she approached the double doors leading into the Great Hall. Rather than waiting, Elysia entered, in case he was here already. Her silvery green eyes looked around the crowd, standing off to the side since she did not want to be mixed in. This was the most she had shown, and it wasn't even that much. Elysia looked amazing when she dressed up, but she rarely did it. She preferred the casual look. Tucking a stray hair behind her ear, Elysia waited patiently for her friend to come by. Zared could dress up nice. That much she knew for a fact. She did look forward to seeing him, even though she felt nearly nauseous. She didn't understand this feeling, but it obviously made her on edge.
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[Zared Katsaros-Styx]

Zared was pretty sure he wouldn't run into Elysia at the ball, after all why would she want to spend the time with him, she had rejected his invitation. She had said no and therefore he had no expectations about what this evening might then entail. He was sure that lestat was somewhere with that girl, but Zared had other friends. Zared had other friends, he had other friends! He had them, of course he did, his only friends weren't just Lestat and Elysia. He had other friends, Zared kept telling himself that he had other friends, that he would be able to find these supposed friends that he had. His beige suit was a little different that the usual dark colours that he wore, but it was by his parents suggestion. He walked around the hall, spotting Elysia in the hall, and couldn't help that she looked beautiful to him. He was trying his best to not look in her direction, instead he focused his attention upon literally anything else within the room. He stared at the drinks table and walked towards it, pouring himself a drink and just not going towards her, but he wanted to. He wanted to speak to her badly, but he didn't even speak really. Eventually after staring at the table for so long, he decided that he would just go speak to her, he needed to go speak to her. Zared got a second drink and walked over to Elysia, holding it out to her with a little smile, "You're beautiful," he blurted out, turning a slight red colour on his cheeks.
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[Elysia Katsaros-Styx]

Elysia sighed, looking at the boys in dark colors. She figured that would be what Zared would wear. Black would suite him. However, she did manage to find him over at the drink table,l looking over his backside with a subtle smirk on her lips. This view she could appreciate a little bit. However, Elysia turned her gaze to ensure that no one caught her looking at Zared in that sort of fashion. Within a few moments, though, Zared walked over with two drinks in his hand. Naturally, the Ravenclaw accepted his offer, while looking down when he complimented her. Her mouth was so unbearably dry from that compliment, and from how dashing he looked. She took a drink, before allowing some emotion to show, which was a smile. "That suites you, Zared. You look really nice." Now she wished that she had said yes to his invitation. Elysia didn't really know what to do next. They agreed to hang out, but what did that include? Dancing? Standing off to the side and judging? Both? "Considering last year, I didn't really dance, would you want to?" No, last year she was attached to the lips of Diane Winters. This year, she might do things a little properly.
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[Zared Katsaros-Styx]

The slytherin boy couldn't help but be surprised that she not only seemed to accept his compliment without throwing it back in his face, but also that she gave one back, for a moment he thought someone had just taken over from Elysia's mind, but he looked up at her and noted the sincerity in her face and knew that it was real, that she had meant what she said to him. Zared couldn't help the redness to his cheeks that remained realising that she meant what she said, and all he could do was nod his thanks and take a small sip of the drink that he'd brought. The redness remained as he kept his gaze on her, noting for the first time in a while the shape and colour of her eyes, the way they were just beautiful, the way she was so beautiful dressed, he was usually just in marvel of how smart she was, but this reminded him firmly that she had beauty and brains. The Slytherin was very surprised when she offered to dance, he couldn't quite believe it really, he'd never seen Elysia dance. She seemed serious but Zared didn't really dance, he hadn't really before, but if Elysia wanted to he would. After all, that's what people did at this yuleball thing, and he was certainly going to be dancing with the most beautiful girl here by far, he shrugged, agreeing to the dancing with that, and with the small smile, and somewhat quietly, "Don't....dance..really," he added, "But if you," he was trying his best to use his words, though he motioned with his hands between her and the dance floor. If he was honest, though Zared didn't dance, and didn't particularly enjoy dancing, he would enjoy dancing with her. They might not have come to this together, but she clearly wasn't against spending the time together.
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[Elysia Katsaros-Styx]

Truth be told, Elysia Kore did not appreciate dancing, but she also did not have any emotion in it when she tried. Would she find it enjoyable with him? Elysia told herself to give it a try. Her father could ballroom dance, and her mother was graceful as she was limber, so it was within the Ravenclaw. Elysia gently took his hand, with a small smile, and led him to the very edge. The last thing she wanted to was be in the middle. Elysia spoke softly, "I'm not the best dancer, so let's just take it slow." Elysia didn't know who she was speaking to at that point. Her or him. Regardless, Elysia listened to the music, and though it was slow, she could still measure the beats and the rhythm. It wasn't exactly her taste though. Elysia placed one of her hands on his shoulder, while keeping his hand in hers. She moved slowly, carefully taking in the steps to ensure maximum effort, and little to no incidents. She looked into the Slytherin's eyes, taking in all the features. Maybe this was why girls like dancing. The closeness, the feeling of a boy's hands on their body. But the feeling in her stomach was getting on her nerves. This was a simple act of friends, why was it bothering her? It wasn't a bad feeling, but one regardless.
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[Zared Katsaros-Styx]

Zared put down his drink on a nearby surface, he was nervous, she wanted to dance, he hoped he would be good at it, he didn't want to ruin her evening by being bad at dancing. He wiped his hands down on his suit and allowed her to take the lead on dancing. His hand hovered at her waist, not quite touching for a moment unsure of whether the gesture would be welcomed. Zared gained the courage to just gentle place it on her waist, waiting for either remark or a shove to indicate that he'd done wrong, but neither came. Instead her hand took his, and she placed a hand upon his shoulder. The slytherin couldn't help but glance at it, his cheeks reddening, having never been this close with anyone. Zared certainly liked the softness of her hand in his, he couldn't help but smile at it and feel himself smile at her. It was odd, he liked it, he liked her, but he knew this feeling was hardly mutual, she had made it clear she didn't really feel the same way. He had come to terms with her not really being interested in him, but this felt a little different, like perhaps she actually was. Zared couldn't help the comfortable feeling that her hand in his was for him, he couldn't help but like it, the softness, the warmth. The boy had spent so much of his life really adamantly against other people, much keener to spend the time with no one but himself, but he liked the feeling of someone's hand in his, so much so It felt almost perfect to slytherin. Zared was completely lost for words, just concentrating on following her lead, on dancing with her, that the few words he reserved for her were gone.
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[Elysia Katsaros-Styx]

The closeness was causing Elysia to really feel. And it was definitely a nice feeling. The smile on her face never left, though it was almost microscopic. It was reflecting in her eyes on how much she enjoyed this, despite not being very good and slow at it. She could not help but notice how her hand seemed to meld with his. It was strange that someone like Zared could warm the coldness that Elysia seemed to carry around with her, in a way to protect herself against those that could do her harm. It was clear that she liked Zared, but she kept the doubt. Elysia felt that the doubt could very well be a weakness. She really liked him. Her hand snaked around to where it was rested on the back of his neck. She had that urge, the very urge that she had when she was with Diane Winters. Except this one was different. Since she did not have the same feelings she had with Diane as she did with Zared, she was hesitant to make a move. Elysia knew that she had some Slytherin tendencies, and when she wanted something she often took it. Elysia decided then that she would take a chance. The very chance based on what she felt was most logical at the time. She decided to be as gentle as a feather, and planted a kiss on Zared's lips. This would tell her if her feelings for him were neutral. As much as this might have been an experiment, Elysia wanted this to be the real thing.​

 

[Zared Katsaros-Styx]

In this moment dancing with Elysia he couldn't help but feel really hyper aware of all that was happening around him, hyper aware of where her hands were, how she was looking at him and the steady but loud beating in his chest. It was odd, it was lovely, but odd. He had never felt this way before. He was looking at Elysia with a fondness in his gaze and was surprised, when she leaned forward and press the most gentle kiss on his lips. He felt surprised for a moment, surprised that she had done so, but he caught his senses and kissed her back. The softness of her lips on his was magical, he was almost frustrated that his first kiss with her had been such a disaster, since this was just perfect. Everything about it, it was like he could hear fireworks in the background. Did this mean that she liked him back? Did this mean anything to her? He pulled away and while his mind told him to say something, that this was the opportunity to use his words, they still failed him. Zared's mind urged to him to ask if this meant something, what it meant, but instead he just savoured the moment, the comfortable silence between them and the feeling that even if following this she still was not interested, he knew he would nothing less in any relationship than the same feeling of a kiss as she had given him. All Zared could do was let the smile that seemed exclusively for her grace his lips as he looked at her, maybe the Yuleball wasn't so lame after all.
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[Elysia Katsaros-Styx]

Elysia felt him kiss her back, and from here she knew. He had kissed her back. She gently pulled away and saw his smile, which was contagious. She smiled in return, saying with her smile and eyes what her voice failed to do. But what did that mean for them? Elysia did not really want to think about it. The moment was too much. She didn't dare spoil it with words. Elysia rested her head on his shoulder, and closed her silvery green eyes. The fact that he had kissed her back, it meant more to her than anything else. That meant that her feelings, so much she denied them, couldn't any longer. She knew that because of that little action, that it was mutual. For now, she did not need words. She could remain within the closeness that was Zared. The warmth from his body, and the scent. As much as Elysia wanted to kiss him again, and again, Elysia kept her control and didn't try to act on it. After all, she could remain like this for the entire dance. Something about her and Zared, it just fit. Maybe that was why she hated him at first. Being vulnerable around him, it was a sign of weakness. But her parents were stronger together. So, something like that could happen with her. Elysia remained in silence, knowing that this was the perfect Yule Ball. She might have hung around Zared, but it might as well have been a date.
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