Sometimes, when Jyn was observing Joreth particularly closely, she caught sight of a surprise in his expression that made her feel ... a comfortable warmth slowly beginning to grow in the pit of her belly.
She hardly knew what it meant, but she knew one thing - for as much as she had wanted to hate him on principle alone, she didn't.
She was grateful for his steadfast presence as they made their way through the room, exchanging pleasantries as they did, Jyn's smile plastered on her face, clearly not reaching her eyes - not that anyone really noticed, not that anyone really cared.
All this was about was posturing and preening and lauding each other's accomplishments.
Jyn knew that she and Joreth would probably be expected to take to the dance floor at least once during the course of the night. Dancing had never been her favorite pastime, but somehow, the prospect of doing it with him didn't seem quite so daunting.
(The expected public display of affection ... less so. Jyn knew that she would rather their first kiss to be one that was real and wanted by both of them, shared in private where they didn't have to act in front of an audience. But no need to worry about that now, she would just have to wait to see if or when it happened to come up.)
They made their way through the crowd quickly enough, taking a detour to greet and Admiral and his wife, who she was indeed acquainted with. The conversation was pleasant enough, and although Jyn wasn't exactly pleased with the idea of sharing a dance later, there really was no delicate way of declining the offer.
But more than that, her stomach turned to see the covetous glance the Admiral's wife was directing Joreth's way - and Jyn was keen enough to consider what that might have meant in terms of his duties with the family.
"I'm sorry", she offered, smiling apologetically. "We have yet to greet my Uncle, and I'm sure he wants to speak with us. We'll catch up again later for those dances."
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She hardly knew what it meant, but she knew one thing - for as much as she had wanted to hate him on principle alone, she didn't.
She was grateful for his steadfast presence as they made their way through the room, exchanging pleasantries as they did, Jyn's smile plastered on her face, clearly not reaching her eyes - not that anyone really noticed, not that anyone really cared.
All this was about was posturing and preening and lauding each other's accomplishments.
Jyn knew that she and Joreth would probably be expected to take to the dance floor at least once during the course of the night. Dancing had never been her favorite pastime, but somehow, the prospect of doing it with him didn't seem quite so daunting.
(The expected public display of affection ... less so. Jyn knew that she would rather their first kiss to be one that was real and wanted by both of them, shared in private where they didn't have to act in front of an audience. But no need to worry about that now, she would just have to wait to see if or when it happened to come up.)
They made their way through the crowd quickly enough, taking a detour to greet and Admiral and his wife, who she was indeed acquainted with. The conversation was pleasant enough, and although Jyn wasn't exactly pleased with the idea of sharing a dance later, there really was no delicate way of declining the offer.
But more than that, her stomach turned to see the covetous glance the Admiral's wife was directing Joreth's way - and Jyn was keen enough to consider what that might have meant in terms of his duties with the family.
"I'm sorry", she offered, smiling apologetically. "We have yet to greet my Uncle, and I'm sure he wants to speak with us. We'll catch up again later for those dances."