A/N: Just a head's up, I quit smoking last weekend, so the slower delivery of a chapter was due in part to nic-fits making it hard to concentrate. It may be the case for the next few chapters as well, apologies.

However, um... A/N is going at the top of this one because I have a little warning. This one goes... um... Softcore, between Ria and Raistlin, shall we say? I was going to cut it at returning home, but they had other plans because they're horny young adults and I spent a day arguing whether or not to let them have their way. I decided not to be the one to find out what happens when the Godslayer gets completely cockblocked. HA! So, enjoy the exploratory smut as they sneak onto third base when no one is there to call foul.

Chapter 5

Together

When they came out from behind the ride, Victor wasn't in sight.

"I don't know what exactly happened back there," Brian said to Ria when he saw her approaching, "but given the handprint on Vic's face, and the back and forth Norman and Race did for a minute, I'm guessing he did more than say 'Hey, Ria, I like you and thought you should know before things get too serious with the new guy'. I want you to know, I was not playing wingman and I'm sorry I didn't do more than telling him I thought it wasn't a good idea right now."

Ria gave a small shrug and said, "Appreciated, Brian, but you're not responsible for what Vic does. I know you've been stuck in the middle with Evan; you didn't need it with Vic too."

"So, we good?" Brian asked, expression still concerned.

"We good," Ria said, giving him a smile. "Where's Vic now?"

Brian gave a shrug to that. "I don't know. Cooling off somewhere, I guess."

"He was pretty pissed when he came over," Janet added. "Brian told him you could make your choices for yourself and Race didn't seem like a bad one." That caused Brian to look mildly embarrassed, and Raistlin to give the former a surprised glance. "Victor said something in Greek and then headed up that way." She pointed up the hill behind them, towards the main road. "I know there's a bar my cousin's band plays at there. If I had to guess, I'd say Evan just became defacto designated driver to get home."

"Well, then, let's hope he keeps himself out of trouble," Norman said, sounding less than impressed. "What do you guys want to do now?"

"Shinedown stopped playing not too long ago," Brian said, glancing towards the other side of the park and the notable change to prerecorded rock hits blaring from that direction. "Lacuna Coil is up next. Does everyone want to head back to watch it?"

The general consensus was a yes. Raistlin didn't much care about the band, but agreed because it was getting uncomfortably warm, especially with his jacket on, and some time in the shade was a welcome thought. They cut across to the embankment to weave through the slightly less crowded gathering of picnickers.

About halfway back to their blankets, however, Janet noticed an "ice cream truck" parked alongside the road and suggested diverting for a snack. At Ria's suggestion, Raistlin bought them small vanilla soft serve cones. It turned out to be a welcome sweet icy treat, though he quickly learned that he needed to eat it faster than he would have liked or it would melt. If it wouldn't have caused the noticeable ice crystals at his fingers tips, he would've used magic to cheat and keep it cold. Instead, he did his best to eat it without a mess being made as they made it back to the rest of Ria's friends.

Darlene and Lexi were lounging beneath an umbrella, snuggled up next to one another, with the former looking half asleep as the latter played with her hair. Evan was ostensibly listening to the music on the stage, but looked bored as they approached and was the first to notice them.

"Hey…" Evan called over. A confused look passed over his face as his gaze scanned the group. "Uh… Where's Vic? Off to the loo?"

Brian finished biting the ear off some sort of blue ice-cream creature Raistlin couldn't identify, swallowed then told his brother, "No. We're pretty sure he ditched for the bar for a bit."

"He did what?" Lexi asked, leaning a bit to see around the umbrella and her girlfriend.

Darlene opened her eyes more and flipped onto her stomach to look up at the group as they came down the embankment.

Brian looked less willing to give an answer to that question, taking another bite of his ice-cream as he took a seat next to his brother.

"Victor told me that he liked me," Ria said carefully, sitting next to her cousin as the other two girls turned back and sat up properly. "He didn't like me telling him that I wanted to find out how things could go with Race. We had a bit of a fight and he left."

"Hold up a tick," Evan said, green eyes darkening a shade as he looked between Ria and Raistlin. The latter was taking up his spot next to her and trying to keep an impassive expression despite the pleased smirk that wanted to form. "So you and Race are…" He looked like he was searching for appropriate words, before finishing with, "… actually dating? This is an actual thing? Already?"

Ria looked over to Raistlin and he could tell she wasn't entirely sure how to respond to the question; a question that was being reflected by the looks on Lexi and Darlene's faces. Norman and Janet took up spots between Evan and Raistlin, both looking mildly entertained by the question and expectant for an answer.

Raistlin turned his gaze to Evan, as he was the one who posed the question. "If we're going to put things between Ria and I in such terms, then I suppose one could say we're dating." His gaze went back to Ria, who had a faint blush forming on her cheeks from the attention of her friends and the conversation. She glanced over to him at his pause and he let a small smirk form as he said, "It might be considered a bit old fashioned, but I think I prefer calling it 'courting' as that carries a bit more reassurance of intentions."

Ria's blush grew and she ducked her head a little before saying, voice shy now, "I do like that way of thinking of it better."

Raistlin's smirk grew a fraction at that. He turned his gaze back to her friends, saying decisively, "Then that's your answer. Yes, we're courting."

Janet grinned at that, even as Evan's face fell and Darlene's expression shifted to suspicion. She glanced over to Norman, then Ria, saying with glee, "Ha! Called it! I knew you were holding out on me."

"Shush you," Ria said, blush at its brightest.

"That's rather quick, don't you think, Ria?" Darlene asked.

Ria gave a little shrug as she licked up the dripping bits of her ice-cream cone. Finally, she said, looking back at her best friend, "Like you said, sometimes it's just meeting the right person to make you find the time."

Darlene frowned at that, glancing between the two again. "Ria, can we talk a minute?"

"Darlene…" Lexi said in warning.

"I said 'talk' and I just mean talk," Darlene interrupted, tone not brooking an argument.

"It's fine, Lexi," Ria said. "Sure, we can talk."

Darlene gave a nod and stood. As she ducked from under the umbrella and headed for the road, Ria gave Raistlin a small smile and then followed after.

Raistlin watched her leave, a little concerned by whatever the older girl might try saying, but trying to remind himself the initial concern wasn't necessarily out of place among those closest to Ria.

A sigh came from Brian, drawing everyone remaining's attentions. "Well, this is not how I think anyone expected today to go…"

Lexi gave a nervous laugh at that. "I mean could be worse… Could've had rain?"

"Or worse, thunderstorms," Norman chimed in.

"Bands could've been held up and not played?" Janet said.

Raistlin listened as the friends tried to lighten the mood with continued nihilistic suggestions on how the day could get worse. Oddly, it did seem to disperse some of the tension, and he added a few of his own suggestions to the mix between finishing off his ice-cream cone. He still kept an eye on the direction Ria and Darlene had gone, and was glad they stayed just in sight through the crowd between the friends and the street.

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Argyria followed Darlene down the sidewalk a bit, until they reached a spot that didn't have a stationary crowd loitering.

Darlene turned and leveled her deep blue gaze on Ria, asking in clear consternation, "What the hell is going on here?"

"What do you mean?" Argyria asked, trying not to exacerbate the situation and hoping her best friend would give her something to work with.

"You said he was just a guy Ivan and 'Geny wanted you to help make friends," Darlene said, an edge creeping into her voice. "You said his parents weren't those kinds of friends with them…"

"And that's all true," Argyria insisted.

"Really? Cuz Evan said Race mentioned something while we were off to the tents about sharing the same gods, and you two are getting pretty freaking cozy pretty freaking quick," Darlene said, eye narrowing now. "Are you really not seeing how this reeks of a set-up?"

"Darlene, one, that's not what this is at all," Argyria said, starting to get frustrated. "Two, even if it was, which it really isn't, a set-up for what? Yes, Race prays to the same gods we do, but he isn't a part of our traditions. Completely different paths here. What's going on between us is completely separate from that stuff."

"Oh really? Then how do you think Race is going to react about that 'stuff'?" Darlene questioned. "Cuz given what I've seen of you two so far, he doesn't seem to be the share type of guy and that's going to be problematic."

Argyria gave a frustrated sigh, taking a big bite of her ice-cream cone as she considered how to respond. Finally, she said, "He is very well aware of our traditions and what my responsibilities are. He has already agreed to let them be as they are."

"So you two have already had the talk?" Darlene asked, sounding surprised now.

Argyria gave a small shrug, taking another bite of her steadily melting cone.

"You didn't even have the talk with Evan!"

Argyria gave another, even smaller shrug, before saying quietly, "He's not Evan. He's not one of us in the strictest sense, but he still gets things like that."

Darlene's expression was truly baffled now. "So help me out here, Argyria, cuz I don't get it. You don't date. You don't ever even show much interest in dating. You've been all class work and training and no distractions of the romantic sort. Then this guy shows up to work with Ivan, you meet guy, guy and you are suddenly dating and you think it's going to be all sunshine and roses?"

"No!" Argyria said in irritation. "I know it's not all going to be sunshine and roses! But we get along really well and I really like him, and I know he really likes me. We'll figure the rest out as we go."

"How long is working with Ivan for? Is this a perma thing or just summer thing?"

Argyria gave yet another shrug. "It's probably not permanent. He's got some responsibilities back home he's got to eventually head back to deal with, but he's looking into options here and planning on coming back."

"What sort of responsibilities?" Darlene asked, suspicion creeping into her voice again.

"Stuff that's personal and not mine to tell."

"And how long would he be bouncing back and forth? How do you know what he's up to there? For all you know, he could have a girlfriend or something back home and this is just a side thing for the summer."

Argyria gave a brief, unamused laugh at that. If it was anyone else, Darlene might be justified in her concerns, but she could at least know that wasn't the case with Raistlin. "Believe me, he doesn't have any girlfriends back home. And as for the rest, I don't know how long it could be, and I frankly don't care. You act like this is the first potentially long distance thing to ever exist. You and Lexi spent a whole year being long distance until she moved in with you last year! This isn't any different. Can't you just be happy I met someone and he is a decent guy who actually likes me back?"

Darlene gave an exasperated groan. "Come one, Ria. I'm not trying to shit on your day. I'm just worried. This seems like a flame and I really don't want to see you get burned."

"Then can you please just trust me a little?" Argyria pleaded, unabashedly using a guilt-inducing pout on her best friend.

"Nuh-uh, don't you even!" Darlene protested, pointing at her.

"Please," Argyria said, cranking up the guilt factor with puppy dog eyes added. "Pretty please trust me?"

"It's not you I'm not trusting," Darlene said, averting her gaze and trying to remain stern sounding, but the younger woman could tell she was gaining ground.

"Trust my senses? You know how good my intuition usually is. I know what I'm picking up on from him, and I can tell he actually cares."

Darlene gave an irritated huff, glaring at her side long. "How sure are you on that?"

"One hundred percent," Argyria said without hesitation. "He's really good at being snarky or aloof when he wants, but he's a really nice guy once you get to know him. He's been a perfect gentleman and I can tell he wants to make things work."

Darlene rolled her eyes, but didn't rush to respond. Argyria finished off her ice-cream cone while she waited. Darlene eventually gave another sigh and grumbled, "Damnit…" She fully turned her gaze back on the younger woman and said grudgingly, "Fine. I guess at least you dating Race keeps from causing a schism in the group from either Evan or Vic getting butt hurt you picked the one over the other."

Argyria perked up at the concession. "So you're on Team Race now?"

Darlene rolled her eyes again. "I'm still on Team 'You're secretly batting for our side'." That caused a mixed laugh of indulgent annoyance from Ria. "But yeah, I guess I can get behind this so long as he doesn't go screwing around on you and you're sure this is what you want right now."

Argyria instantly nodded to that. "Definitely sure about this."

Darlene gave another huff, then gave a crooked half-smile. "Well, you certainly seem a bit happier when he's around. I'll give him that much. But I reserve the right to kick his ass from here to Canada if he turns out to be pulling something over on you."

Argyria gave another nod to that, saying with agreement she knew wouldn't need to be fulfilled, "If he does, you've got my blessing to give it your damnedest. I don't think you'll need to though; he's not like that."

"You sound awfully sure of that for only knowing the guy a week," Darlene said, shaking her head.

"I just know," Argyria said, not wanting to give anything away that shouldn't be said, even to Darlene.

"Yet you seriously couldn't tell Vic liked you?" Darlene asked, sounding a bit disbelieving. "How'd you of all people miss that?"

Argyria gave a shrug. "Vic might like me, but it's in a different way that didn't feel much different than a friend. It's totally different than when I'm around Race and picking up stuff from him. How long could you tell Vic had a thing for me?"

Darlene's lips pursed in thought, then she said, "I started noticing some little changes with him last summer, then when we all got together for Winter Solstice, him and Evan acting off kinda made it obvious there was a thing going on and Evan knew and didn't like it."

"What sort of things?"

"Just them trying to compete over who was more useful, who might get to things first," Darlene said dismissively. "Them acting like any two males trying to outshine the other for a mate."

Argyria sighed and nodded, "Yeah, the competition stuff I picked up on, but I thought it was just their usual or something going on at college. I didn't know it had to do with me specifically."

Darlene shrugged. "Like I said, maybe Race being your choice isn't such a bad thing. They kinda seem to be putting their competition aside to collectively dislike him intruding, but they'll probably be able to get over losing out to him easier than each other."

"Why are guys so dumb sometimes?' Argyria asked rhetorically.

Darlene raised an eyebrow. "You really want me to answer that?"

Argyria giggled and shook her head. "Not really, I already have your speeches memorized almost word for word."

Darlene laughed at that. "Well, I guess I have to come up with some new ones."

"So, you all done interrogating Race and his intentions?" Argyria asked hopefully.

"Hell nah," Darlene said, grinning. Her frank, but decidedly not contentious, response caused another giggle from Ria. "I've barely scratched the surface of his persona. Dude has a way to go before I'm willing to fully extend trust seen as where he's going for alpha spot in your life, but I'll be nicer about it unless he gives me reason to be otherwise. I'll let you know when I'm satisfied."

It was Argyria's turn to roll her eyes, but she said, "Fair enough. Just please give him a chance. I really do like him and want this to work out."

Darlene's smile shifted to a less brash one. "Yeah, you've got that glow about you. I'm not going to dull that shine; I just don't want it getting snuffed out by the one causing it is all."

"Not happening," Argyria assured her. "He's juggling a lot right now, and it's been a bunch of adjustments for him, but he's trying in good faith."

"Well, I guess that's all anyone can ask of the guy," Darlene said, then gave another sigh and glanced back to the group. "Want to head back and get out of the sun?"

Argyria nodded. "Yes, please!"

They returned to the group and when Argyria sat down next to Raistlin, she couldn't help but give him a big smile and a kiss on the cheek. He gave her a bemused glance, but then gave her a tentative smile as his gaze flicked in question for a second in Darlene's direction as the older girl fished for a drink in the cooler. Argyria's smile widened a bit and she gave a little nod, then leaned against him to get more comfortable on the blanket. Raistlin put an arm around her shoulders as he shifted to accommodate the partial snuggle.

Darlene took a seat next to Lexi and glanced over at them, giving a wry smirk at the sight. She said in mostly good humor, pointing at Raistlin, "I signed off on whatever this is with you two so long as you don't abuse her trust. If I have to revoke that acceptance cuz you screwed up, I've already warned Ria I'm kicking your ass. And believe me, I've got enough moves to do so and you don't want a five inch stiletto lodged where the sun don't shine or worse. Got it?"

Raistlin raised an eyebrow to the casually delivered threat. "There seems to be a line growing of people who would have something to say if I did, but I'm not going to."

Darlene shrugged, entirely unapologetic. "That's because we all love Ria and want what's best for her." She turned her gaze over to Evan, who had broken off his conversation with Brian to listen in and looked a bit sulky to even casual observation. "And you and Vic need to stow some of the testosterone. It didn't help you before, it was starting to get on everyone's nerves, and it's not going to help from here on out."

"Bugger off, Darlene," Evan said, eyes narrowing on her.

Darlene glanced over to Lexi. "My honey flavored pastry of delight, would you like to help me with that later tonight?"

Lexi's groaned as a blush flared, and shoved her in the shoulder. "Shut up. You're so embarrassing."

Conversation died down, as Lacuna Coil was up on stage and had their set underway and the majority of the group wanted to listen to it.

Argyria snuggled a little closer to Raistlin, feeling pleased over all. Vic and Evan would hopefully come around, Evan she could see being more likely in the near future as he was at least making attempts to be social at times; and she had Brian, Darlene and Lexi in support of things with Raistlin, even if they weren't allowed to know who he really was or how he got here. She really couldn't ask for much more, all things considered. Argyria was still wrapping her mind around all the changes since Raistlin showed up in her life, and her brain was still working to integrate the reality that yes, she was indeed in a relationship with her favorite mage and this all wasn't some fangirling delirium, so she couldn't blame them for questioning to some extent what was going on.

Argyria felt a gentle kiss to the top of her head as Raistlin shifted again and he started stroking her hair. She glanced up and he returned the smile she gave with that softer one she liked. She noticed his eyes were that lighter color that meant he wasn't feeling particularly stressed or upset at the moment.

Raistlin leaned down and asked quietly next to her ear, "Where are your thoughts right now?"

Argyria smiled at the question that was becoming familiar. She liked how he'd ask, instead of making assumption or projecting his opinions for her to accept. She shifted her head and whispered back, "Just thinking that this still doesn't feel like it can be real sometimes, but I'm happy it is. Things with you click in place too comfortably for this to be a mistake to try."

Raistlin's hand paused in stroking her hair, then he pressed a lingering kiss to her temple before he whispered back pensively, "Our thoughts are in the same place this time."

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The concert brought about an interesting little breakthrough of insight for the mage as it went on. Raistlin could tell Ria was enjoying the music, staying focused on it as the female singer's powerful voice echoed out over the crowd. During a couple songs, she closed her eyes to take in the music without distraction and he noticed it seemed to put her in some sort of an unintentional trance. A trance that seemed to cause her magic to flicker up just barely enough to tease at his awareness for a minute or so at a time, usually towards the end of a song. It wasn't nearly as noticeable as when he caught her meditating at the willow tree, but he was in direct contact with her and her magic tingled against his skin when it happened. It was a subtle, almost unnoticeable feeling, but it was there, almost like the faint aura her familiar gave off. Hers was compelling; it teased at his awareness like the flicker of a fire trying to draw in a moth to its light.

That observation had the mage considering a number of things he had witnessed from her thus far. Such as it was seeming all the more likely that what he had been sensing at the club, of an almost magic-like fire burning in his veins alongside his desire while dancing with the future priestess, was in fact some sort of wild magic being unintentionally tapped into. It had been enthralling and concentration shattering when it was happening, and it might have been because she was absorbed in the music and not paying attention to what she was emitting. He had felt that sensation whenever they were kissing more passionately in private, but it was less forceful and it seemed more natural at the time.

Such interactions were still unfamiliar territory for Raistlin and he hadn't thought much about it. Until now, that is. He wasn't being directly affected tonight, he was just nearby to sense it. Sihir could be a way to actively and consciously connect to her magic on demand and for specific purposes. It was possible, however, that perhaps if she tried her meditations with some sort of music acting as a catalyst, it might help her with gaining confidence in tapping into even a small amount of her magic and not losing her focus by worrying over the potential of failure.

The mage was now considering conducting a secondary set of magical experiments, this time for Ria's benefit instead of his own. When they were in private, if he could get her to agree to test his theory, he could use the spell he knew to observe magic properly and track how the aided meditations impacted her magical attempts.

The bands stopped playing an hour before dusk fell and pre-recorded music started playing from the stage and the various music players people had brought with them. Mosquitos were flitting about the park in more noticeable numbers as they looked for people to feed on, causing people to toss on extra layers of clothes if they had them, or wrap up in blankets, as they waited for the fireworks to commence.

Ria retrieved one of the rolled up blankets to protect her arms and legs from both the bugs and the chilly evening air. Raistlin gestured for her to hand him the blanket and settle in front of him. She did so and as he wrapped his arms around her shoulders, pulling the blanket around her, he muttered a word of command in Sihir, casting a passive repelling cantrip.

As Ria nestled closer, she murmured, "That tickles, whatever you did."

Raistlin let her lean back and find a comfortable position, then rest his chin on her shoulder. "Just keeping us from being eaten alive."

Ria giggled at that and shifted to kiss his cheek. "You really are the most useful boyfriend."

"I aim to maintain my various positions of esteem, Lady Ria," Raistlin replied dryly, causing more giggles. Her comment was compounding the prideful feeling he was in general trying to keep contained so as not to obnoxiously gloat and ruin what little good will was built with some of her friends. Even still, Raistlin wrapped his arms more securely around her, letting himself enjoy the facts that she was his to court and it was openly acknowledged. The unprecedented thrill of it was putting him in better spirits than he quite knew what to do with.

Victor returned to their little camp not long after the music shifted to the prerecorded songs. He was surprisingly sober, and when Brian asked where he had been, he said, "Went to the bar, had a drink, got to playing some rounds of pool with some old bikers." He gave a rueful laugh, adding, "They royally kicked my ass and won a hundred off me. Was fun, though. One of them taught me a couple trick shots."

"Billiards With Bikers?" Evan asked. To Vic's nod, he said, "Sounds like it should be a Spike reality show."

Victor chuckled at that. "Maybe do each episode with a different biker group around the country?"

"Sounds like a winner," Brian agreed. "You have some of the most random side quests pop up."

"I'm just awesome like that," Victor said with a smirk. He glanced over to where Ria was sitting with Raistlin and his smirk faltered. He turned his attention back to Brian and asked, "So how was Lacuna Coil live?"

"Pretty amazing," Brian said with a grin. "Even without studio equipment, they kept the instruments' output balanced and we could hear the lyrics perfectly from here."

Conversation revolved around the concert for a short while, but there was a bit of tension underlying. Victor and Norman were carefully avoiding responding to anything the other said, and Ria was staying apart from it entirely.

At one point, Victor attempted to say something to Ria in Greek, and she cut him off abruptly in kind. His expression fell and his jaw clenched.

"It's getting late," Ria said in Common. "Before the rides close down, I know it was mentioned maybe taking a spin on the Ferris Wheel. Did anyone still want to do that?"

"I wouldn't mind," Janet said immediately, also seeming to want to escape the tension. She glanced over to Brian and asked, "How about you?"

Brian looked surprised by the question, as they hadn't talked much directly since Victor and Ria had gotten into their argument. "Um… Yeah. I suppose that'd be fun."

"I'll pass," Norman said. "But you guys have fun."

Evan and Victor echoed their declines.

"Race?" Ria asked, looking up at him.

"We can do that, if you'd like," Raistlin agreed. He wasn't sure which of the contraptions the Ferris Wheel was, but it sounded like one of the less intimidating machines from what had been said earlier.

"Lexi, you want a go?" Darlene asked her girlfriend snuggled up under a blanket with her, not sounding like she had an opinion either way.

Lexi considered it, then shook her head with a smile. "Nah, I'm comfy here."

Darlene nodded to that and nuzzled at her neck, causing Lexi to giggle and lean her head to one side for the affections to continue.

"Alrighty then," Ria said, shrugging off her own blanket. "Let's see if we can sneak in one last ride for the night."

The four of them headed back towards the carnival, leaving behind their previous winnings and having to be careful where they stepped in the dusky evening light so as not to trip over people on the crowded lawn. The lines for rides when they got inside the area had decreased, many of the previous children attendees absent with their families elsewhere. Most of the remaining crowd was people around their own ages.

They purchased tickets from a booth outside the giant slowly turning wheel and got in line behind other patrons. From how many people could fit, even with the slow process of changing out passengers, it didn't seem like they'd have long to wait.

"The view of the city and park from up top should be pretty," Janet commented, glancing over at Brian.

He gave a nod, seeming a bit shy now as he fiddled with a dial on his chunky blue and green watch. "Yeah, we might even get a good view of the sunset, depending on how long it takes to get to our turn."

Ria was fighting with a smile as she watched the two, and losing that struggle.

The next loading of passengers cleared most of the line ahead of them. As they moved forward through the railed off line, Ria asked quietly, "Still good with the idea of going on?"

Raistlin gave a nod. "Seems quiet enough, and I'm not afraid of heights."

Ria's sunny smile came out in full brilliance as she said, "Well hurray for that!"

Brian and Janet boarded the ride ahead of them about ten minutes later. Despite his expressed confidence, Raistlin did feel a little stab of unease when they finally had their turn to board one of the little caged booth compartments and he felt it sway with their entrance. That seemed to be entirely normal, and there was no worrisome creaking noises, however, so he took a seat next to Ria and tried to keep his expression neutral.

"You alright?" Ria asked as the ride started to move and their compartment left the loading platform to allow the next pair on.

Raistlin gave a tighter nod than before. "Yes. This is just… different."

Ria wrapped a hand around his and gave a little squeeze. "It really does have a nice view, once it gets moving. And gets you up out of the noise for just a little bit."

"That's not entirely unwelcome," Raistlin said wryly as the compartment moved again for the next passengers.

Ria gave a short laugh to that and released his hand to lean against him. He wrapped an arm around her shoulders and rest his head against hers, trying not to concentrate so much on the swaying of the contraption.

The ride was only mostly full by the time the remaining line of patrons had boarded, and the sun was beginning its descent below the horizon. The attendant said over the intercom, "Hey folks, looks like we're wrapping up for the evening. Give a cheer if you'd like me to keep this spinning a bit longer for its final go of the evening?" Cheers came from most of the compartments, including the one above of theirs from Janet and Brian. "Any boos opposed?" None came up. "Alright, then enjoy the ride for a few extra turns, folks, and be sure to have a safe evening tonight when you leave."

The ride started turning without pause now, and the movement kept their contraption from swaying so much. They were already near the top of the wheel and Ria suggested he look over at the city sky line. Raistlin did so, and saw this city had a great many more of those "skyscrapers" than her city did. They were taller than the ride, but still more easily noticeable from the top of it and at a distance. It was strange to see so many thousands of windows all lit up, presumably by electricity as everything else was.

After they passed the crest of the ride, Ria pointed over to the bridge and said they could just make out the fireworks being set up. Raistlin looked over. He had no idea what they were doing, but he could see a couple dozen people indeed in the midst of some sort of activity over there. She settled back next to him and they let their gazes go around to the sight of the park ahead. Below them, Brian and Janet could be heard talking, but the exact words didn't make it up to them.

During the second rotation, as Raistlin was looking over at the setting sun, he felt Ria shift forward a little and then heard tiny giggles next to him. He glanced down at Ria, and saw her attention was below. He leaned forward as well, wondering what had caught her attention. He saw Brian and Janet were kissing in the contraption below. He could feel an embarrassed blush tinge his cheeks as he quickly leaned back and he quietly chastised, "Ria, don't be a voyeur."

Ria didn't look the least sorry as she leaned back against him and scoffed a bit. "Hey, I've been hoping those two might hook up all week," she just as quietly argued. "I'm allowed to notice my nudging at Janet worked and be happy about it."

"Is that so?"

"Mhm," Ria said cheerfully, grinning over at him. "I think they could be a cute couple, so score one for my matchmaking."

"Do you do things like that often?"

Ria shook her head. "Nah, but after seeing them at the club and thinking about how much they have in common, I definitely felt like this was worth a bit of prodding."

"That seems to be a pervading sentiment today…" Raistlin muttered wryly, looking aside, out over the carnival.

"What do you mean?" Ria asked, looking over at him curiously.

Raistlin looked back down at her. "Our gift giving old man, Ferdinand? Among other things said, he seemed rather… curious as to what sort of interactions we were having. He was rather gleeful at the concept of us being involved with one another."

Ria's eyes widened at that and she sputtered out a few noises. "Wait… He what?!"

Raistlin gave a nod, smirking now to cover for his own baffled embarrassment over the incident.

"Like, was he just kinda maybe hinting it was a good idea?"

Raistlin shook his head, saying with a fair bit of discomfort at the memory of the old man's invasive questions, "No. He was quite nosy about it and encouraging."

Ria looked ahead, expression stunned at first, then turning contemplative. The Ferris Wheel made almost an entire circuit with them sitting in silence. Raistlin watched her, now wondering what she was thinking about what he had said.

Just when he was about to ask, while they still had some semblance of privacy to speak, Ria looked back at him, smile starting to form. She asked, sounding delighted, "Do you realize what that implies?"

Raistlin raised an eyebrow in question. "I think I've missed something you might have thought of."

"If I know that batty old man at all from the books, 'Ferdinand' wouldn't act like that if he didn't think there was really good reason to," Ria said, sunny smile at its brightest now. "If he was being encouraging, not trying to caution, then that means…"

Raistlin picked up what she meant, and a bit of her excitement, "That means there really is some way that can be found or allowed for, for me to return even after I'm sent home to do whatever I need to there…"

Ria nodded enthusiastically, then said in teasing humor, "I mean, of course, that is if you're really, really sure you wanted to…"

Raistlin could feel a smile forming and he leaned down to give her a brief, but impassioned, kiss. "Lady Ria," he said seriously, meeting her silvery gaze, "consider this my formal request to properly court you."

Ria gave a nod and her voice was sincere as she said, "Consider this my formal acceptance to be properly courted, Sir Mage." She leaned up and gave him a much longer kiss, arms going around his neck.

The kisses continued until the Ferris Wheel came to a stop, carriage swaying as the first passengers were let off below. From above, just as they were pulling apart, they heard a teasing whistle. They looked up to see Brian snickering.

Janet shouted down, "Magic of the Ferris Wheel lives up to the hype, aye?"

Ria broke into a giggle fit, nodding. She shouted up, "Some tropes are good tropes, I guess?"

Janet nodded, glancing over at Brian. "Yeah, it's great."

Brian almost choked on his laughter, now looking embarrassed as he looked away.

"Hey, Bri," Ria called up as the carriages shifted to let the next off. "Might want to pop the collar, I can see a hickey from down here."

Brian slouched down, hand going over his face as Janet laughed in knowing amusement.

Ria turned back around in her seat, still giggling. She looked up at Raistlin, who was shaking his head at their comments. "Why are you blushing? It's not like I left you love bites."

Raistlin chuckled at that and shook his head again. "Your world's idea of propriety, even among friends, is taking some getting used to."

Ria's laughter became more profuse for a minute. "Yeah, I suppose it would." She gave a small shrug, then asked, "Think you can get used to us and our less restrictive ways?"

"I believe that's part of the price of being here, so I suppose I will have to."

Ria laughed at his sarcastic reply. "Is it really all that bad?"

"Not really, no." He leaned down and gave her a gentle kiss, something he could enjoy doing here without raising eyebrows like he would in his world, even were they betrothed and not simply known to be courting.

Ria leaned into the kiss and gave a happy little noise in the back of her throat. She asked almost rhetorically, "It's really, truly okay to get used to this, isn't it?"

Raistlin nodded, stroking the side of her face. "Yes, Ria, it is. Just remember what I told you, even when I have to go back for a while."

"Omus sharpuk derli, e iderli omshar elem shardish," Ria replied, smiling up at him, hand joining his and interlacing fingers.

Raistlin smiled at her first real attempt to speak Sihir. She had a good ear for mimicking sounds and words she heard enough times and that phrase didn't have the particular combinations she had difficulties pronouncing. "That was almost right." He repeated the last part, correcting a few syllables.

Ria said the phrase again, and this time she was able to say it properly. Her effort received a well-earned reward kiss that only came to an end when it was almost their turn to depart from the ride.

It was fully dark as they made their way back to the group, two pairs walking arm in arm. They had barely left the cordoned carnival area when a BOOM went up behind them, causing Raistlin to jump a bit.

As he heard a crackling noise and turned to view whatever the source of the infernal noise was, Ria tightened her grip on his arm and leaned up to say, "Fireworks. That was a test one to make sure everything is working."

Raistlin nodded his understanding as he saw the lights finishing spreading across the sky in a way that looked almost like one of his little light spells blossoming into the shape of a flower, but on a much grander scale.

"We should hurry back," Ria suggested. "The fireworks will be starting soon and when they're done, the crowd to leave will make it difficult to reach everyone until things clear out."

Raistlin turned back and saw Brian and Janet waiting a short distance ahead, the latter couple having noticed they had gotten split up again. Raistlin led Ria through the crowd to them and they managed to make it back to their little encampment with a few minutes to spare.

The fireworks show was timed to coincide with music from the rock station playing over speakers in the park and music players people had brought with them. It was loud when it started, even from where they were sitting. The various explosives filling the air with flowers and waterfalls and star bursts of all shapes and colors was an impressive sight to see. His world didn't have such technology and it would take several mages working together to potentially create such a light show. Ria was wrapped up in a blanket (this time with him included) in front of him, and she quietly named the fireworks she knew of for him when different varieties first appeared. There was also a lot of quietly delighted murmurs from her as she saw some new fireworks being displayed this year.

However, there was a lot of acrid smelling smoke building in the air around the bridge as the show went on, and the wind was carrying some of that towards them. Raistlin did not like the smoky chemical scent one bit and it started distracting him from enjoying the light show. The main clouds of smoke also started to make it difficult to see some of the lower parts of the light show towards the end.

The truly impressive part was the grand finale, when several hundred fireworks went up over the course of the last song playing. The fireworks went off at different heights, layering effects over and above one another. Even if you gathered mages together to put on a light show with less unpleasant side effects, it'd probably take the entire conclave to potentially accomplish that many light spells and illusions so quickly, and they'd be quite exhausted afterward. When the last of the fireworks faded and the speakers announced the end of the show, the park echoed with applause and cheers for the fireworks crew on the bridge.

Then the exodus to reach vehicles began. Ria and her friends stayed seated, passing out a last round of water bottles.

Ria said quietly as she passed one to Raistlin, "Situations like these, you either watch from your car and leave when the grand finale is wrapping up; or you stay put and wait an hour for the worst of the rush to die down. If we try to leave like everyone else, we're going to be stuck in traffic, wasting gas and bored."

Raistlin nodded to that as he accept the water, stifling a yawn. The crowd leaving didn't much bother them; their large light colored umbrellas, now useless for blocking sun in the middle of the night, still acted as a pseudo-barrier to alert people the space was taken and to go around. Brian turned up the radio for them to listen to more music, and he and Norman started singing along to some of the songs, with Lexi, Evan and Janet joining in for others. Ria stayed snuggled up in his arms, at one point mentioning in good humor that he was "nice and toasty warm" and she was using him as a second blanket from the chilly night air. The mage couldn't help but laugh at that a bit; his body temperature was always a bit higher than normal, even when he wasn't ill, because of his magic.

When the worst of the crowd was gone, everyone pitched in to pick up their little encampment and return supplies to vehicles before splitting off into their three groups to return to respective home. As Darlene and Lexi lived in this city and it was getting late, it was Janet who gave them a ride home, as she and Norman's homes were much closer to Ria's.

The short walk to Janet's car was filled with Ria asking Janet what had been said with Brian leading up to their kissing on the Ferris Wheel, and Janet telling her that there was a mutual liking acknowledged, phone numbers exchanged, and they were going to be making plans to see each other once exams were done. Then there was a bit of teasing from Ria, causing Janet to tell her in bashful amusement to be quiet or teasing would be returned, and her boyfriend was actually present to hear it. That made Ria squeak out an apology, causing Janet to laugh at her reaction.

The drive was much quieter; Norman was dropped off first just outside the city. The big man wished everyone a good evening through yawns, telling the girls he'd see them on Wednesday for their first exams together. They were dropped off at Ria's not long after, with the girls exchanging a brief hug and agreeing Janet would pick Ria up in the morning to grab a coffee and have a quick study session together before the first exam.

Gabby was waiting for them on the balcony, meowing down in annoyance as they approached the building. Ria teased the cat a moment, then followed Raistlin inside the building. They made it upstairs and into the apartment, shedding respective jacket and pairs of shoes. Raistlin put away the remaining picnic snacks as Ria fed the cat. That done, they both all but collapsed into bed.

Ria snuggled up to him and little kisses were exchanged as they nestled deeper under the blankets. Despite his fatigue and knowing she had to be up early for her exams, Raistlin was roused by the kisses and deepened them as his arms wrapped around her. Ria seemed to perk up as well, pulling him closer, and noises rumbled in the back of her throat as they shifted to her being on her back.

The noises, quiet as they were, drowned out Raistlin's half-hearted thoughts chastising himself about needing sleep or to be entirely appropriate with one another. Ria was so responsive in moments like this and it was downright intoxicating to feel her all but melt in his arms as her scent and those sounds permeated his senses. Knowing he was the one causing such reactions, knowing they were as genuine as they were- it was another addictive aspect of being around her. Letting himself revel in them was setting his blood on fire and driving away his exhaustion, and he told himself small doses were acceptable to keep from completely starving himself of the contact and his control from breaking as a result.

Raistlin's lips traveled from Ria's to her neck, to that spot he had discovered quite by accident that she liked. Her hand at his back grasped at his shirt as she gasped quietly and shifted beneath him, aroused noises becoming more frequent. His hand went to the leg wrapped around him, and met soft bare skin. That's when he remembered the shorter dress Ria had been wearing today, showing off the shapely legs now entwined with him.

Raistlin heard the desirous groan rumble from his throat as that preening part of his mind remembered with more than a little gloating pride that she was his to pursue now, and had soundly rejected others who might want to challenge that. Despite his personal insecurities, and fears of betrayal that were in part thanks to previous experience, Ria kept surprising him by choosing him to give her affections towards. It seemed only fair to return some of that attention with the interest of gratitude.

Though some part of his mind was now issuing warnings that it was dangerous territory, that his rationalizations were thin at best, his fingers still gently moved higher, tentatively exploring each tantalizing inch of the length of her leg. She was his, what was between them was his, and each and every one of those spots were his as well. Ria leaned into him with a moan that felt like encouragement, back arching a bit as his hand moved higher, and her head turned to engage his lips with renewed kisses. Raistlin had presence enough of mind to not let his hand wander directly near where undergarments would be, but his fingers mapped out every other inch of territory he was laying claims on and came across sensitive spots that caused little whimpers and squirms when caressed.

Concentrated as he was on trying to keep from decidedly off-limits areas while still enjoying the less dangerous expanses and the steady warmth coursing through his veins, it took Raistlin some time to realize Ria's hands had slipped beneath his shirt and she was making a timid exploration of her own over his chest and back. His hands stilled as he noticed where her hands were. Gooseflesh raised in the wake of her caresses, her lithe fingers following muscles and stoking fires as she stroked them. He felt the hand at his back trail up and down the length of his spine, along his shoulder blades, then back down his spine, to the edge of pants, then follow the hem to his hip.

His arousal was quite thoroughly billowed by the time her hand paused with uncertainty of where to go next. Raistlin wrapped his fingers around hers and brought her hand up, pinning it to the bed and keeping her from potentially finding a more conscience-shattering spot to move to. Renewed kisses were desperately passionate, breaths becoming ragged as hips moved against each other, seeking relief for ever-increasing fires burning in both, seeking a relief that couldn't or shouldn't be properly given.

Ria's free hand on his chest left to rest on his hand gripping at her hip and the hem of her undergarments. How had his hand gotten there? There was too much movement, too many heated spots where the fires were being stoked from.

"Raistlin…" He heard her shaky moan between kisses, barely a whisper, as her fingers tightened over his.

Raistlin lifted his head back, giving a questioning hum of noise before taking a deep breath as he tried to get better control of his senses. Which was made difficult because Ria was still shifting beneath him, and it was most certainly not movements to pull away as he thought might be the case from her attempt to get his attention.

There was a tiny displeased groan, and then Ria murmured, sounding equally self-conscious and frustrated, "Please… Don't stop yet…"

"Don't stop?" Raistlin asked, hardly able to form the words, not comprehending the request.

"Mhm," Ria said, giving a needy press of hips.

"Oh?" Raistlin asked in confusion.

Ria pressed a kiss to his neck, another to his jaw, then murmured, "Please… I'm so very close right now."

Close? Close to what? "Oh!" Understanding dawned, shocked understanding, but understanding none the less. He had completely misunderstood why she had intoned his name as she had. "Really?"

"Mhm…" Ria admitted, sounding more embarrassed now. She asked with a hint of frustration, "Please don't leave a lady in distress like this? I don't want to have to take a cold shower this late at night."

Raistlin let his head drop to her shoulder, now chuckling to hide embarrassment of his own as his mind searched itself and failed to find an appropriate response. "Well when you put it like that…" His hand pinning hers released its grip to go to her shoulder and shift the hem of her sleeve enough that he could give gentle kisses there.

An aroused whimper came from Ria. "Tease… You're a gods damned tease, Sir Mage."

"No…" he said quietly, then gave another kiss before giving an admission. "I'm out of my depths and stalling because I'm not sure what to do without risking doing something that can't be taken back and we'll both regret come morning."

"Oh…" Ria breathed out, voice sounding abashed and understanding. After a short silence, a supremely timid offer was whispered. "Well, I'm no expert, but I do kinda know what I like when it's just me here. I can give a few hints?"

Raistlin was glad the bedroom was so dark, because he could feel an embarrassed blush heat his cheeks- both at the offer itself, and the curious thoughts wondering about Ria in such a personal moment. "Hints would help," he conceded, resuming kisses at her shoulder and neck.

Ria didn't say anything further, but after a minute she shifted so she wasn't so tightly enwrapped with him. Her lips found his and then her hand over his at her hip slowly moved, tentatively guiding his hand between their hips, beneath her undergarments, to the very place he had been trying to avoid. That warm, soft, already somewhat wet place…

"Ria…" Raistlin groaned against her lips as her fingers led his between the lower and he felt an almost painful tightening of lust grip him in his corresponding region. "Oh gods…You're going to shatter every resolve I've ever made at this rate." Even as he voiced that half-hearted protest though, his slender fingers were already moving beneath hers at their prompting, almost of their own accord, with greedy desire to explore and claim in some fashion every bit of her that was offered for his own.

"Keep moving those two fingers like that," Ria said, voice tremulous as her hand left his to its discoveries, "and I'm going to have a hard time finding that to be an actual problem. Sleight of hand tricks apparently do the same thing for you that guitar practice supposedly does for guys here."

There was probably a very good reason this was problematic, Raistlin thought. But he couldn't think of that reason as a finger caressed a spot and Ria gave a sharp intake of breath, then started whimpering as he let his finger move over that spot again. Some vague part of his mind remembered from his anatomy lessons with Meggin that there was some sort of bundle of nerves there, but it hadn't really seemed important to know at the time and it had only been mentioned in passing and in relation to a labor story that was decidedly not arousing. He couldn't recall the details of that story right now, or the name of the spot, but he had found it and the noises from Ria intensified the longer his fingers took turns dancing over and around the spot.

Her hips bucked against his hand as she gave a particularly longing groan. Which incidentally caused his fingers to slip from that spot, deeper inside her, and he gave a loud groan of his own as he felt the tight muscles squeeze against his fingers. That would feel so good squeezing against the part of him that was achingly, agonizingly hard and was all but screaming at this point to replace his fingers.

What self-control Raistlin was maintaining reminded him that as tantalizing as that thought was in this moment, it wasn't an option for giving himself relief. His fingers pressed inside her a few times as he fought to keep that resolution, and the moans that were coming from Ria almost undid him. As his fingers reluctantly pulled out of those snug depths and resumed their work on the bundle of nerves just outside, trying to give her relief, he used his other hand to guide hers to returning the favor and help keep at bay thoughts of alternatives.

Ria hesitated as she felt where her hand was placed, pulling away from their kisses. "Oh…" she gasped. "Oh wow… That's, uh… that's new for me." His fingers stilled what they were doing and she murmured, now sounding thoroughly bashful and he'd wager anything she was having a full blush at the moment, "Hints needed?"

He unlatched the button and put her hand on the zipper, leaving it up to her. "If you want to, be gentle, but otherwise I don't think it's that hard to manage from there." His fingers resumed their task as his lips found her neck again.

A shaky moan escaped Ria and she murmured in embarrassed humor as fingers timidly caressed from outside his pants, "Funny, Raistlin, but it feels plenty hard."

Raistlin let out a short laugh, "Wrong choice of words, I suppose." Then he felt her hand moving, and heard the zipper releasing, and any further words caught in his throat. And then, with a little bit of unfamiliar fumbling, Ria was releasing him from the discomfort of his clothing. After another pause, he felt her soft grip wrap around him and give a few tentative strokes, and it sent such a shocking jolt of pleasure up into him that he stopped moving entirely except for a gasp.

Ria's hand froze and she asked, "Bad move?"

"No," Raistlin groaned as he wrestled to speak through the pulsating feelings. "Quite the opposite."

Ria's hand repeated the motions and Raistlin's head dropped to her shoulder as he struggled to maintain composure. Then he felt Ria's hips move, pressing herself into his fingers. Part of his mind remembered what he was supposed to be doing, and his fingers resumed their caresses, seeking out that spot that made her tremble, hoping he'd be able to "not leave a lady in distress", as she was most certainly going to end his at this rate. He heard the telltale hitching moans as his fingers found it, and both of their ministrations picked up in speed, occasionally whispering half-coherent instructions and encouragements.

And then Ria's breathing was becoming more shallow and her hand froze around him as little trembles rippled through her. "Gods above," Ria whimpered, hand suddenly leaving his shaft to grip at his hip as the trembling grew stronger. "Oh gods… oh gods… Oh Raistlin… Raistlin, please… please…" The quiet pleading became less intelligible as his fingers moved faster in response to the urgency in her voice, and then she went silent as her grip on him became almost painful, nails digging into his hip, and her breathing sounded all the more irregular.

And then Raistlin could tell when she found relief. It wasn't just that she gave a different, slightly higher pitched hitching intake of breath, or that she suddenly arched up against him, pressing hard against his hand, and then fell limply to the bed. It was largely because when the future priestess found her release, the mage felt a palpable ripple of magic reverberate up into him, one that felt like purified essence of desire hitting him and permeating every fiber of his very being.

There was no preparing or bracing for something like that. That already raging fire in his veins ignited into a miniature explosion of sorts, wringing a strangled gasp from him. His hips pressed against her leg as he felt a tightening and spasms he had only experienced during a few erotic dreams, and his free hand gripped the bedsheets as the sensation roiled over him and he lost any semblance of coherent thoughts for several seconds.

When Raistlin finally started processing things again, he and Ria were entwined with him on his back and her pulled next to his side, half laying on him and her head resting against his chest. Both of them were breathing heavily; both were sticky; and both seemed to only be able to move in the smallest of ways with supreme effort.

Finally, Ria murmured, sounding satiated and bewildered and exhausted all at once, "That… that was… that was intense… That's never… It's not usually like that when I… That was like fireworks exploding in…"

Raistlin nodded his agreement. "Yes… It was… It really was…" Even with as rung out as he felt, he still made a few small gestures, casting a couple cleaning cantrips because he couldn't stand consciously being in the aftermath of a mess like they were. Another gesture righted the state of his undone pants so he wasn't exposed. That done, he let his head fall back to the bed, as he was feeling almost dizzy at the moment. He mumbled with an unidentifiable mix of feelings, "Being next to you when you find a release is like being hit by some god's best lust spell."

"What are you talking about?" Ria asked, sounding more confused now.

"You really didn't sense that?" He asked, almost incredulous she could be unaware, though he knew she wasn't pretending.

He felt her weakly shake her head, not even lifting it from his chest. "Sense what?"

Raistlin gave a disbelieving laugh, then said wryly as he tucked her more snuggly next to him. "Your issues tapping magic seem to be lessened to some extent when you're in… vulnerable states, to put it mildly, and not concentrating directly on channeling wild magic. When you released, some of whatever magic you had pent up did, and it was potent enough to finish me for the night."

"Oh… Um…" Ria seemed to be struggling for words. "Sorry? I had no idea that could happen?"

"I don't think you actually have anything to apologize over," Raistlin said with a hint of sardonic humor returning. "And I suppose I should be glad you didn't know either, as that would imply things that would tempt me to throw fire at someone."

Ria gave a tired laugh at that. "You're incorrigible."

"Me?" Raistlin challenged as she gave little kisses to his chest, (which he was now only realizing was exposed because at some point he vaguely remembered he had shed his shirt while feeling so overheated,) that betrayed the half-hearted reprimand. "I think that might be applicable to you as well."

"Fair enough," Ria agreed, snuggling closer and giving a yawn. "But the afterglow is amazing, so I'm ruling worth the trouble."

"Agreed," Raistlin said with a pleased smirk forming as she voiced her satisfaction. He gave a kiss to her head, shifting to get more comfortable for the night. Ria adjusted her dress, then nestled back against him.

They fell asleep shortly thereafter, too spent for more conversation or consideration of what had taken place between them. It had felt good and wasn't the thing that couldn't be taken back, and they both knew they weren't releasing their claims on one another even if those claims weren't binding. That was all either of them could dredge up enough concern for when weighed against rules and propriety and expectations and whatever the future might hold when separated. They were together now, and that was all that mattered in the little sanctuary that was their evening interludes.