Lili saw Magnus take a break from dancing with Ruby to grab a drink.
"Just grabbing another drink," she told Cormac, and she sashayed over to where Magnus stood on his own.
"Magnus," she smiled sweetly at the pretty man, tilting her head and dropping her long hair across one shoulder.
"Lili," he greeted her warily.
"Sorry about using you like that at the post office," she said sincerely. "I'm sure you'd do the same if you were in my shoes."
"I'm not sure I'd do it exactly that way Lili, but there's no hard feelings, if that's what you're asking."
"I'm pretty sure there were some 'hard feelings' on the day, if I recall correctly," she giggled.
"Well you did tease me mercilessly, if I recall correctly."
"You gave as good as you got, Magnus Dorn," she reached out and patted him on the cheek.
That was the final straw for Cormac, who was watching the pair like a hawk from his position in the shadows.
He streaked across the mats and jumped in between them, thrusting his chest against Magnus and pushing him hard against the table where the drinks all clattered together and wobbled dangerously.
"Fuck off and leave my woman alone man!" he shouted.
"Get stuffed Cormac! I didn't even do anything. She was just apologising to me for using me to escape at the post office."
"Is that right Lili," Cormac asked her, his face red with anger.
"Yes Cormac," she assured him. "I know he's your friend, so I want to make sure we're still okay. I didn't want him holding a grudge against me."
Cormac looked somewhat placated. He wrapped his arm around her waist and pulled her away, throwing a glare back at Magnus, who shook his head in annoyance at his crazy friend.
Cormac's possessive jealousy was out-of-control, Magnus thought. And he'd chosen himself an incorrigible flirt! What a bloody disaster zone those two were going to be. It was like watching an inevitable train wreck, with no ability to brake or change course. He would have to avoid her in future.
"Don't touch other men Lili," Cormac said to her. "I know you're very open and friendly, but you can only touch me in future okay. I don't even want you looking at other men from now on. There's no need. You have me now. I'll look after you."
This man felt suffocating, she thought, and she'd only spent twenty-four hours with him in total. She couldn't imagine a lifetime…
He really didn't understand her at all, she mused. She was like the woman who sang that song that had played earlier; "I'm like a bird, I'll only fly away…"
She wished she could change men for her recruitment duties tonight. This man was already recruited, and spending any more time with him would only fuel his obsessive behaviour.
Thankfully, Commander Meyer spared her from having to answer his unreasonable demands by dinging the gong, calling everyone to listen.
"Someone turn the music down," called Delphi. "Where's Arrie, does anyone know?" she looked around the room.
"I think she went to the bathroom," said Winter. "I'll go check."
Winter hurried down the hallway and tapped on the bathroom door. "Arrie?" she called. There was no reply.
She jogged further down the hall, calling out, "Arrie, Arrie. Where are you? Arrie?"
Behind a closed door at the end of the corridor she heard a little voice in reply.
"Is that you Arrie?" she asked with concern.
The door opened and Arrie walked out. She smiled at Winter with forced brightness.
"Yep. I'm here. What's up?"
Winter immediately detected red eyes. "What were you doing in there Arrie? Are you okay?" she said softly, gripping the girl gently by the shoulders and staring deeply into her eyes.
Tears pooled in Arrie's eyes.
"Don't ask if I'm okay," her voice broke. "That gets me every time. Even when I feel happy."
"What happened Arrie?"
Winter was worried. This was a girl who almost never cried. She was tough as nails, with a very high pain threshold.
"Nothing," she sniffed. "It's all good. I'm just being a sookie lala. Must be that time of month."
"You never cry Arrie, so it must be something. Did somebody hurt you?"
That did it. Arrie broke down and started to sob. Winter hugged her and patted her back in sympathy.
"Who hurt you Arrie? Tell me and I'll tell the Captain, and we'll get rid of him."
"No… no," she sobbed. "I'm fine honestly," she sniffed. "I think it's the muscat. Ever since I started drinking, I've felt melancholy."
"Really?" said Winter doubtfully. "Are you sure that's what it is?"
It did make sense, because she'd never seen Arrie sob like that, and she had heard that some people were depressed drunks.
"Mmhm," Arrie sniffed. "I'm sorry. How embarrassing. I'm a maudlin drunk…" she laughed through her tears.
Winter laughed with her and tilted her chin up.
"Alright soldier. No more drinks for you tonight. I can't stand to see you cry. I was really worried! Here, wipe your eyes," she handed Arrie a bit of tissue from the bathroom. "We have to join the others in the training room. The Commander has an announcement to make."
Arrie wiped her eyes and blew her nose, steeling herself to enter the room where she knew Baer would be.
All eyes turned to look at them both as they walked in, holding hands together.
Arrie kept her eyes on the floor, not wanting to see Baer, but really not wanting him to see that she had been crying.
She didn't even know what she was so upset about. She could have told him to stop. But that was the problem, she hadn't, and now she felt… used? Ashamed? And she was attracted to him, just to add to the hot mess.
"Thanks for joining us, Arrie," said Delphi. "Glad you could make it."
Oh, and now she was being scolded for being late. Wasn't that the cherry on the bullshit sundae.
Winter squeezed her hand, letting her know she was there for her, and Arrie looked up from under her lashes and smiled thankfully at her best friend.
The commander kicked off now they were all present. "The guards have issued a challenge, and the Captain has agreed to accept it, to a mixed wrestling tournament."