darling, don't you ever grow up (Ripley)

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Dan was actively seeking Ripley today. He knew that she and Irina had talked, and he also knew that Ripley was fine with the whole... dating Irina thing. Still, he loved the kid and wanted to talk to her himself. Not just about this, but to see how she was doing and what she was up to. He hadn't talked to her enough since he got here and he felt bad about that... but now that the Champions were chosen he had one less thing to worry about. Plus, he had promised Nik he'd look after the girls. He was definitely looking after Irina and even Tan on occasion, but he'd been slacking with his little Rip and he hated that. He wanted her to know he loved her, too.

Finally, he found her near the pond. "Rip!" he called as her familiar flavor of emotions caught up to him.

@ripley
(please describe her emotionalness!)

[Deleted]

@daniel
this is the music playing

ripley kneeled by the little music played she had sitting in the grass by the pond. she was taking some time out to herself in that moment. she wanted to dance. it was a calling of hers, she was happiest when she was dancing and when she danced she could escape everything. though right now she didn't think there was anything to escape from. everything was right. her and nik had made up from their fight after he had been stabbed, rina and dan were happy together and she could not feel more elated for them. she smiled softly as the music started and she stood up, stepping back and she closed her eyes and started to move how the music told her too. she had been told that she looked graceful when she danced and she hoped they weren't wrong. she twisted and turned to the music, moving her feet as she did, raising onto her toes she raised her hands above her head and spun with the music, totally lost in her owl little world as the music played in the background. "Rip!" she smiled as she heard dan's voice cut through the notes she was hearing in her head and she opened her eyes as she spun, her hair flying around her in the breeze. she came to a stop and brushed it back over her shoulder and she stood in the middle of the small clearing she usually danced in, a smile on her face. "you!" she said as she flitted over to him and she smiled. there was no words for how happy she felt for them and she knew dan would be feeling it as it pretty much radiated from her. "i'm glad you found each other. you and rina"

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If that girls smile didn't light up the heavens, Dan didn't know what did.

He felt that familiar surge of protectiveness as Ripley faced him, her happiness rushing over him like a wave. He knew what was coming, even if he couldn't read minds. He chuckled at her words, giving a little shrug, "I'm glad too," he stepped toward her again and cleared his throat. "Did you uh, need a dance partner?" Dan had never made physical contact with Ripley in his life. But with Irina he was learning to move past that. Plus, Rip was happy right now!

@ripley

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@daniel
this is the music playing

"I'm glad too," she smiled and almost danced around on the spot. she had so much energy at the moment, dancing always brought out the best in her and when she started it was hard to make herself stop, her mother had used to worry ripley would dance herself to death. "you'd better be mister" she said with a wider smile. "Did you uh, need a dance partner?" her face softened in that moment and she stopped dancing on her feet slightly and she nodded a little. dan and nik had been the same growing up, she didn't remember a point where she had touched either of them in any affectionate way, as much as she had longed too she had known they didn't like it, so while it had been hard she had respected it. her heart leapt at the chance to dance with dan though, her hand stretching out to him as she smiled up at him. "always" she said, holding her hand just away from him, waiting for him to touch her hand first.

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"you'd better be mister" Dan grinned and nodde,d liftening his hands for a moment in surrender, "I am. Swear it," he promised. Then she stopped dancing at his next question, and nodded. He swallowed hard, a little nervous that he'd even offered. But then her hand was outstretched and he stepped forward to take it. He moved slowly at first, pressing one finger at a time onto her hand until he was able to wrap his hand around hers. He let out a nervous breath, "that wasn't so bad," he muttered. He hadn't actually told Ripley or Tania about his ability yet... he was starting to think that time was coming. "Lead the way," he commented. Though, he was a good dancer, well trained with the help of Louisa, and he'd take the lead at some point.

@ripley

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@daniel
this is the music playing

"that wasn't so bad," she smiled slightly as she squeezed his hand lightly, not wanting to scare him off holding her hand while they danced. it was a big moment, she felt emotional at the thought that dan trusted her enough to touch her. she wondered when niko would work up the courage, internally she felt her heart fall a little as she realized that it wasn't likely to happen and she would have to get used to having one of her favorite people at arms length forever. she steeled herself though, against the sadder feeling growing in her heart and she smiled up at dan again. "Lead the way," she nodded a little. "of course" she said softly as she took a step back, her hand still in his and started to dance with him.

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He followed her lead, at first, his smile widening. Her emotions were so... elated, happy and maybe a time bit sad. However, she danced like a dream, which he wasn't the least bit surprised by. After a moment or so he slowly transitioned into taking the lead himself, giving away his mad dance skills. Even though they had no music, he slowly led her into the waltz. That was the dance he was the best at and, therefore, could shine in showing her how well trained he really was. It was hard not to be when your sister was playing all sorts of music all day long. Sure, he often just sat there and listened to her music with content. But still, she taught him how to dance. Maybe for this, maybe for Irina, maybe because Louisa one day hoped he'd be able to make contact with people... no matter what the reason was, he was grateful.

@ripley

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@daniel
this is the music playing

she smiled as he took the lead from her and she followed him happily. she didn't mind not being in control when she danced, she was happy to go with the flow and see where the moment took her and the person she danced with. she smiled as she was thrown back into one of her happiest memories, dancing on her father's feet when she had been little. holding his hands, standing on his feet and laughing with joy as he danced around the room with her. the memory warmed her from the inside out and her her smiling as she closed her eyes and put her whole trust in dan that he wouldn't lead her wrong while they danced. she hummed to herself softly as they moved, her hand tightening around his. it was one of the best moments of her life and she hoped that he realized that. she loved him as much as she did niko, he was her big brother just as much as he was and she hoped he knew that. she opened her eyes and smiled at him, raising a brow slightly as she took control back, holding his hand she spun away from him and flicked her hair over her shoulder, their arms out stretched. "don't you let me fall daniel hoh" she said with a laugh as she spun herself back toward him.

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Dan laughed along with Ripley, her positive emotions so strong that it was hard to resist. She let him lead once he started to pick it up and he grinned, unable to control himself. Her humming was sweet, and was the perfect melody for their movement. How did she do that?" Dancers. He swore they had a sixth sense for that sort of thing.

When she opened her eyes and smiled at him, raising that eyebrow, he raised one right back at her. He let her spin out as she took control and laughed. "I would never," he promised, catching her as she spun back toward him. "Plus, you're too good at this to fall. Can't believe I've never danced with you before, Rip," he added softly.

@ripley
(DAW THEY CUTE)

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@daniel
this is the music playing

"I would never," she smiled as he caught her and she grinned, her other hand moving to his shoulder again now they were standing closer. "Plus, you're too good at this to fall. Can't believe I've never danced with you before, Rip," she smiled and rolled her eyes, moving slightly to the imaginary music that was playing. "if someone isn't where i need them to be i'll fall" she said as they moved. "it never mattered to me dan, you know that." she said as she stopped dancing and she looked up into his face. "you were just you" she said as she ran a hand over her hair to smooth it after the spin and she pushed it back over her shoulder. "have you danced with irina yet?"

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Dan nodded at her words about not being where he needed to be and made a promise in his mind that he wouldn't let that happen. Then she stopped, looking up at him and saying those simple but powerful words. "You were just you." How could she, this sweet little sister of his, see something he didn't? She was smart, and had that strong heart to go with it. He didn't deserve friends like this. She asked if he'd danced with Irina and he blinked, remembering that he hadn't spoke for a moment. "Oh, uh, no. I haven't," he answered.

@ripley

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@daniel
this is the music playing

"Oh, uh, no. I haven't," she laughed a little and looked at him, tilting her head slightly and shaking it slightly. she had to tell him. she needed to tell him about the code her and irina had come up with when talking about the yule ball. "you should. she's a little worried about the yule ball" she said with a smile. well she wasn't really but why not up the score just a little, dan should let her sister know he could dance well. "we have a code. she's going to scream really loudly if you step on her feet so i know not to dance with you" she teased him as she twirled back to sit on one of the flat rocks that surrounded the pond. she crossed one leg over the other and leaned her elbow on her knee and rested her chin on her hand. "so daniel hoh. do you love my sister?"

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Dan frowned. Irina was... worried? She told him about this 'code' and he couldn't help but laugh, letting go of her as she twirled away to have a seat. He stayed standing, folding his arms and squinting at her, "are you telling me she thinks I'm going to hurt her?" he chuckled, but he really did feel bad that Ri was worried.

Then she asked that question, and Dan's eyebrows raised in shock for a split second before relaxing. "I do," he said firmly.

@ripley

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@daniel
this is the music playing

"are you telling me she thinks I'm going to hurt her?" she laughed and shook her head, wrapping her arms around her middle as he misunderstood what she had been saying. rina had every confidence in dan's ability to dance, it had been ripley that had been cautious. "no! not at all you big goof. i was worried you'd break my feet if we danced .. so rina said she'd scream in pain if you stepped on her so i'd know" she said as she looked at him and wiped her eyes a little as they felt wet from her laughter. "but now i see i have nothing to worry about .. not that i'll expect you to drag yourself away from rina" she said as she dropped her arms from her waist and she smiled. "I do," her smile turned to a soft one and she bit her lip lightly before getting to her feet and running over to him. she threw her arms around his neck and moved to hug him tightly while internally screaming. she was happy for them .. really happy. someone like irina needed someone as wonderful as dan. "i can't imagine two people more suited to each other, you know? you are like .. peanut butter and jam. white chocolate and raspberry ... like" she trailed off while thinking of two other flavors that went together well.

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Dan chuckled a little as well as Ripley laughed. Not only was her laugh infectious to a normal person, but he could feel her emotions running through him as well. He nodded as she explained that it was in fact RIP who was worried, and not Irina who was worried about Dan's dancing ability. "Oh, so you just assumed that I'd dance with you, eh?" he said, accompanied by a soft chuckle. Then she mentioned that she wouldn't expect him to leave Irina and he shrugged, "oh, come on. There's enough of me to go around. Well, only for you guys," he added.



Then her emotion shifted as he confirmed that he did in fact love Irina. He wasn't actually expecting her to attack him in a hug and he didn't wrapped her arms around her back at first. Her joy and elation was actually a little overwhelming, and he had to catch his breath. He eventually relaxed, though, his muscles not tensing so much as she spoke about them and how they were mention to be together. He smiled, gently pushing her back so that they weren't hugging so tightly, and so he could look at her face. "I have to disagree with you on that one, Ripley," he started softly. "She deserves much, much better. But I appreciate the sentiment," his smile was soft as he gave a small nod.



@ripley