To our little ones || Aonung x Neteyam

Chapter 18: Smile

Kiri and Tsireya stood by one of the tables watching their surroundings. People were laughing while having light conversations meanwhile the two girls were confined to the corner of the room.

Kiri didn't mind, but Tsireya began to notice a strange pattern. Some gentlemen tried to approach her with smiles but their spirits quickly died down once they set their eyes on the woman beside her.

"Why are people looking at us like that?" Tsireya whispered.

"Well, I have quite the reputation. Gentlemen around live in fear of getting their fingers chopped off if they even try to utter a word to me." She smiled proudly.

"Miss Sully!" Miles stumbled his way through the crowd, smiling brightly at the two girls.

"Of course, there is always an idiot who believes to be the exception of the rule. " Kiri grumbled taking a large sip from her glass as Tsireya turned to the side to hide her laughter.

"It's so good to see you here, I was hoping you would show up." He gave a quick nod to Tsireya and immediately returned his attention to Kiri.

"That's interesting, I wasn't thinking you would show up at all." He didn't even try to show him a smile.

"I'm glad to hear that you were thinking of me." He leaned in teasingly.

"Mister Quarich, yes? I wouldn't want to spoil your fun by keeping you here in the corner, so don't worry and go enjoy the rest of your night." Kiri moved to face Tsireya but after a moment she could still feel Miles's presence behind her, so she turned once again. "Is there something keeping you here?"

"Well, I don't know many people yet. I believe Miss Fäe send the invitation only as a courtesy since I'm new in town." He scratched his cheek a little embarrassed.

"What a shame." Kiri drank from her glass not very interested but taking notice of the look Tsireya was giving her, so ultimately she just sighed and smiled a little more warmly this time. "Would you like to...stay with us, then?"

"I wouldn't be an inconvenience?" His face brightened immediately.

"Well..."

"Not at all!" Tsireya reassured him. "In fact, I'm glad you get to make some company to each other as I need to go find someone." She took away Kiri's grip on her arm and gave her an apologetic smile ignoring her quiet complaining.

Meanwhile, Lo'ak walked around the hall in looks for something to entertain himself, wandering around the corridors he stumbled upon a woman fixing her makeup in front of a mirror in one of the most secluded parts of the place.

"Oh, I'm sorry." He mumbled as he tried to get past her until he was stooped by a laugh and a tug on his arm.

"Lo'ak?" Her voice made him snap his head in realization.

"Liri?" He frowned and soon the two of them began laughing. "Look at you!" He moved his hands up and down the air pointing at her.

"I know!" She tugged one short of her short blond hair behind her ear. "Being an older woman really suits me."

"Oh, shut up!" He rolled his eyes at her smug smile. "You are barely months older than me, stop bragging."

"Well, I have to take the chance since I haven't seen you in months!"

"I know? Imagine my surprise when I heard this morning that my friend was throwing her birthday party and apparently my invitation got lost in the mail!" He fake a surprised expression earning a sign from her.

"I know, I'm sorry. You were one of the few people I wanted to see here, but..." She got closer urging him to sit on a near couch. "I didn't think it was appropriate since..."