SIX OF CROWS X READER

Part 8C

"Uuuuum, of course," you say, forgetting the place decorum that Nina hurriedly taught you. The stranger doesn't seem to mind, he laughs lightly at your awkwardness and whisks you onto the dance floor.

"So, you came in the Ketterdam party,"he starts. "What are you doing working with the crows?"

"Uuuum, I'm..." you wonder for a minute whether you should admit your lowly origins at a place like this. Unlike Inej, you haven't done anything spectacular to make up for it. "I worked with the Council of Tides, Kaz wanted help with a plan and I have a decent memory of the details he needed."

"She's far too humble," laughs Nina as she twirls past. "Her memories inhuman."

"So you're a Tidemaker?" Asks your dance partner.

"No," you sigh.

"What do you do then? I mean when you have spare time."

"I used to fix things at the Council but... I don't really have enough time to do anything much."you say, wondering slightly at the stranger's curiosity. You settle into the rhythm of the dance, letting your dance partner lead you so you don't fall over in your exhaustion. When the music fades, you madly think up an excuse to get to bed.

"Uuuuum, I'm literally going to pass out in a minute so I've really got to get to my room now." So much for a good excuse.

"That's the best way to get out of anything I've heard in a long time." Laughs the stranger. "I've really got to use that one. But I've got this excellent tonic if you want to a few more dances."

You accept, following him over to the bar and mixing the contents of a small vial into a glass of champagne. In retrospect, it probably wasn't one of your best ideas however you feel much better afterwards and you can't wait to get back on the floor. For the next few hours, you dance and chat and occasionally eat but you never leave the stranger's side. By 6am, your exhaustion is catching up with you and it obviously shows because you don't even have to make an excuse this time, the stranger leads you straight to the exit. He accompanies you to your room and you vaguely wonder how he knew it was yours. Fumbling to open the door, you fall inside, turning to thank him for the amazing evening.

"My pleasure," he replies. "I'm sorry but I didn't catch your name."

"Uuuum,(Y/N)." you say. "(Y/N) (L/N)."

Once your door is locked, you barely have time to get to your bed before you fall asleep, just remembering that you never asked the stranger's name in return.

Go to PART 9