Prom: Inez and Julian

[x-desperado.livejournal.com]

Julian might have come to the dance with one blonde, but he can certainly make time to dance with another.



Esme seemed to be having a good time and she was definitely happier than she had been in recent memory and since dancing for the last hour-or-so had been fun they'd decided to take a quick break. While she sat at one of the tables, Julian approached the buffet to get two glasses of punch poured into the disposable cups that sat next to the large, crystal cauldron. His jacket long since shed, he carefully poured the measures of bright red liquid so as not to spill any on the still cleanly pressed shirt.

A hand reached out and gently took one of the cups from Julian's hand, as Inez sidled up next to her classmate and gave him a smile. "And here I was just thinking how thirsty I was," she quipped as she took a sip of the punch, then frowned. "Damn," she said quietly, "I was figuring someone would have spiked it by now. You're looking pretty fancy tonight, Mister Keller. Almost as good as me."

Inez's teasing tone held an equal amount of compliment and confidence. Unlike some of her peers that had chosen to sport more traditional brightly colored satin prom dresses, she'd selected a classic Little Black Dress from 64 Square's upcoming line, on Adrienne's personal recommendation.

The thought of rebuking Inez's rude action fell away as his brain turned to a semi-solid state of pudding after seeing her in that dress. "I...yeah...you look amazing." 'Eyes, Keller! he had to remind himself, tearing his gaze back to her eyes. "You're right, you're definitely prettier than I am- but not by much." With a chuckle and another discrete look, Julian turned back to the punch and poured another glass.

"You say the sweetest things," Inez teased, nudging Julian with her elbow before looking around the floor. Her eyes fell on another blonde across the room and she smirked to herself. "So... Esme Stepford. Wanna explain that one, Romeo?"

With a roll of his eyes, Julian took a sip of his punch, quietly smacking his lips after. "Esme is actually really nice once you get her away from her sisters. She's been having a rough time lately, so I am taking her...as a friend." He smiled at her and winked, "Where's your date, Juliet?"

"Date?" Inez laughed. "I figured taking one date to the Prom would be like shopping and only trying on one pair of shoes." She pointedly did not mention that all the guys she knew were either old or already had dates.

Chuckling, Julian glanced over at Esme and gave her a little wave, "Just because you come to the dance with one pair of shoes, doesn't mean you can't dance in another...or something like that. I may have just ruined an otherwise perfect metaphor."

Almost as if on cue, a slow piece of music began playing and Inez offered a hand to Julian. "He might not metaphor, but can he dance?" she asked rhetorically, tugging him towards the dance floor.

The cups of punch were quickly set down on the table, as his hand grasped hers and followed her into the small crowd of couples pairing off to sway to the melody. "You're really asking that question?" Julian asked as he gave a quick spin-flourish, finishing it by placing a hand on Inez's waist and taking her hand. "Mind if I lead?"

Inez flashed a grin and followed Julian's steps. She should have expected that he'd be pretty good, but she was certainly no slouch herself. On one of the rare occasions that she'd actually managed to complete an entire semester of school in one place (before Xavier's, of course), her father had enrolled her in a dance class. With a recital, even.

"So, even though you're here with Esme," Inez quickly looked over to see the young telepath talking - or bickering - with her identical sisters, "- you and Angel have any 'plans' tonight?" She added a saucy grin to the last, fully aware of the implication.

"Of course we do, she's ditching John and meeting me at the motel in town for a fun filled night of doing it, after the dance." Julian chuckled, never missing a beat as Inez continued to impress him, "You're pretty good on your feet, Miss Temple."

"I can be pretty good off 'em, too," Inez teased, twirling under Julian's raised arm and back again, then mock-sighed dramatically. "Shucks, if only you weren't such a good boy."

A roll of the eyes and another spin around, Julian dipped Inez for a long moment before bringing her back up. "You and I both know I'm no good," he said with a wink and a cocky grin.

Suddenly realizing she was very close to Julian, Inez barely remembered to take a breath. "I... have my theories," she admitted cheekily. As the song drew to a close, she smiled and leaned in a bit closer. "Though you might want to get back to your date," she whispered, then added "Or your girlfriend. Whichever."

"Angel is with John tonight, I'm here with Esme," he smiled. "Someday you'll have to tell me about those theories, but for now, I should get my date her punch." With a grin, Julian headed back to the table where he'd set the drinks, "Thanks for the dance, Nez."

"Anytime," Inez said, looking over her shoulder as she walked away. "And if your 'fun-filled night' gets boring? Call me."