Every night on my knees I pray
Dear Lord, hear my plea
Don't ever let another take her love from me
Or I would surely die, hmm

(Her love is) Heavenly, when her arms enfold me
I hear a tender rhapsody
But in reality, she doesn't even know me

Once again
Runnin' away with me, oh
Tell you it was just my imagination
Runnin' away with me

~Just My Imagination (Running Away With Me), The Temptations

As the flickering flames cast dancing shadows on the walls of the corridor, the party found solace in each other's company. The respite they had decided upon was proving to be a well-deserved break from the perils they faced in the Grymforge and the looming dangers of the Shadow-Cursed Lands ahead.

Despite initial reluctance, Ruby's infectious enthusiasm for celebration won over even the most stoic members of the group.

Amidst the crackling of the fire and the soft whispers of the night, the party exchanged tales of their adventures, reliving past triumphs and defeats with equal fervor. The bitter chill of the wasteland outside seemed to fade away in the warmth of their shared laughter and companionship.

In a moment of impromptu creativity, Ruby, with her innate elven magic, conjured up a folk song from her childhood memories. The tune hung in the air like a wistful echo of times long gone, stirring emotions and memories within each of her companions.

With a nostalgic smile playing on her lips, the dhampir's foot tapped against the cold stone ground. Then, she began to dance.

As Ruby's laughter filled the air, the warmth of her joy seemed to penetrate even the darkest corners of the corridor. Astarion found himself intrigued by her playful antics, raising a brow in amusement as he observed her twirling around the fire.

Uncertain of what to make of Ruby's dance, Astarion watched as she seized Gale's hands, then Shadowheart's, and continued on, determined to ensnare each member of their eclectic band in her whirlwind of merriment.

When Ruby approached Lae'zel with the intention of roping her into the dance, the githyanki's characteristic scowl was enough to dissuade any further attempts, prompting Ruby to move on to her next target: Astarion himself.

With a coy smile, the vampire spawn initially declined her invitation, content to watch from the sidelines. However, Ruby's playful insistence proved too charming to resist, and before he knew it, he found himself being pulled off the log where he had been lounging.

To his surprise, he found himself willingly swept into the rhythm of the dhampir's dance, her infectious energy coaxing him out of his usual reserve. As she spun him around, he couldn't help but marvel at the way she effortlessly drew their companions into the festivities, each one clapping along to the beat of the music.

With the circle formed and hands joined, the party members eagerly followed Ruby's lead, their anticipation palpable as they prepared to execute her favorite folk dance. As they began to spin in unison, the corridor seemed to come alive with the rhythm of their movements, the sound of clapping hands echoing off the stone walls.

Once they were back to their starting point they turned to the person behind them. Gale was paired with Shadowheart. Wyll with Karlach. Ruby with Astarion.

As the dance unfolded, each movement became a seamless exchange of energy and rhythm, a symphony of motion orchestrated by Ruby's infectious enthusiasm. They linked hands, their steps synchronizing as they kicked beside opposing legs, a playful rhythm that mirrored the flickering flames around them.

With each graceful movement, they effortlessly transitioned from one step to the next, their bodies moving in harmony as they spun and twirled, their laughter mingling with the crackling of the fire. Astarion found himself entranced by the sight of Ruby's violet eyes, sparkling with mirth, and the endearing way her nose crinkled with each delighted giggle.

In that fleeting moment, as they moved together in perfect tandem, Astarion felt a sense of peace wash over him. The weight of their burdens—the looming threats of Cazador, the parasite, the specter of mind flayers, and the machinations of the Absolute—all faded into the background, overshadowed by the simple joy of being present in the moment.

For once, the relentless march of time seemed to slow, allowing Astarion to savor the precious moment shared with Ruby. In her embrace, surrounded by the warmth of their companionship and the flickering light of the fire, he allowed himself to dream of a world where worries and fears held no sway, where the only thing that mattered was the gentle sway of their dance and the unspoken bond that bound them together.

What was he doing? Daydreaming like some love-sick teenager? He didn't have the time or luxury to fantasize about such things. Furthermore, it was embarrassing.

Clearing his throat in an attempt to mask the sudden vulnerability he felt, Astarion distanced himself from Ruby, the absence of her warmth leaving an ache in his gut that he stubbornly refused to acknowledge. He shifted his focus to more practical matters, feigning indifference as he noted the significant height difference between them, a fact that had often escaped his notice in their day-to-day interactions.

Without the customary elevation provided by her heeled boots, Ruby stood a few inches shorter than usual, her bare feet grounding her in a vulnerability that Astarion found disconcerting. Yet, as he gazed into her eyes, he couldn't help but be drawn in by the intensity of her gaze, the fondness and understanding reflected in the depths of her violet irises.

As Astarion wrestled with his conflicting emotions, a tumultuous storm raged within him, threatening to unravel the carefully constructed walls he had erected around his heart. A part of him longed to return Ruby's gentle smile, to bask in the warmth of her innocence and optimism, but another part of him recoiled at the thought, deeming such sentiments foolish and impractical.

He reminded himself sternly of the harsh realities of their world, of the darkness that lurked in every shadow and the weight of the sins he bore upon his soul. Ruby's child-like innocence, her unwavering optimism, seemed almost offensive in its purity, a stark contrast to the twisted depths of his own depravity.

He couldn't help but marvel at the contradiction that was Ruby—someone who had undoubtedly witnessed horrors beyond comprehension, yet still retained an aura of innocence that bordered on naivety. It frustrated him to no end, this incongruity between her outward demeanor and the darkness that lurked beneath the surface.

And yet, despite his reservations, Astarion couldn't deny the strange fondness that had taken root within him, a begrudging admiration for Ruby's resilience in the face of adversity. Her unwavering optimism, her child-like wonder, had a way of worming its way into his heart, even as he fought tooth and nail to keep it at bay.

But admitting such sentiments was out of the question. To acknowledge his growing fondness for Ruby's innocence would be to expose a vulnerability he couldn't afford to reveal.

And so, Astarion witnessed the subtle shadow of sadness cast over Ruby's violet eyes as he reluctantly turned away, retreating to the solitude of his tent. He couldn't bear to linger in her presence any longer, knowing that his conflicted emotions threatened to unravel the fragile facade he had carefully maintained.