Maybe it is all in the Earis' head. But they could swear that that one dancer is staring in this direction a little too much... and is staring at Zaros a little too long.
Every so often, he'd glance over at Zaros. And Earis happens to very casually notice Zaros lock eyes with him. The eye contact is heated. Enough to burn Earis' insides. And not in a pleasant way.
Zaros lets out a little chuckle. "Your espionage could use a little more tact."
Earis scoffs under their breath. "Espionage is quite an extreme word, is it not?" They pointedly ignore the burning of their ears in embarrassment upon getting caught. "I was simply observing."
"If you say so," Zaros' amused voice is a delectable rumble in their ears.
They would roll their eyes in any other setting. But they have to maintain composure. "Are you familiar with the region's dancing measures?"
In the corner of their eye, they see Zaros trying (and epically failing to maintain composure, his shoulders slightly quivering with silent laughter). "No, I don't believe I am."
"Well... the dancing measure seems to be quite familiar with you." The Earis finds themselves glaring at the dancer doing a particularly impressive sequence of hip sways, before darting their eyes to the wine glass before them. They might need another glass. Or five.
"Ah," Zaros smirks at them over his shoulder. "I understand. To answer your unuttered question, yes, him and I have engaged in a few... dances... before."
Taken aback by how callously he admitted to such, the Earis whips their head to face him. "Surely you jest?"
Zaros puts on a mock innocent face at the mixture of jealously and intrigue that paints his rivals face. "When have you ever known me to jest?"
A frown tugs at their brow as they turn away from him upon hearing his voice drip with sarcasm.
"Who ever told you you were humorous is an absolute prevaricator."
Zaros swallows back the retort that they had once told him that themself... what feels like centuries ago. Instead, he revels silently in the relief that washes over the Earis' features at his seeming denial of the association with the dancer.
He watches them take a good long sip of their wine before he says as innocently as he can possibly muster: "I, however, have engaged in numerous intimate dances with the maiden serving us wine tonight."
Oh, the absolute glee and satisfaction that runs through his body as he watches them force the fruity ambrosia down their throat against their jealousy's insistence.
I need more jealous Earis...
Or even better, jealous Zaros🌚🌝
Oh noooo, don't give me ideasss 😏
