[Karniut] Flirtation...the game of cat and mouse...[Amelia, Private]

[Stargrace]

The reception stayed in silence as both Females concentrated on the task at hand with their heads down and the ink flowing. When it was clear Amelia had completed what was asked of her Selene smiled and led Amelia out of the reception room, along the sheltered walkway and into the other half of the building. The other half of Karniut looked identical in colour and décor to the first half of the building. Selene led Amelia down a hallway with closed doors on each side separated by artwork between each door. Once the Females were half way down the hallway Selene slowed her pace before drawing to a halt. Turning towards the closed door on the left, Selene knocked and a Female answered in a silken timbre. “Come in.” Selene opened the door and ushered Amelia into the room.

The office was of average size while still maintaining cosiness. Selene smiled at Amelia and left the room shutting the door softly behind her. For a few brief moments all that could be seen of Amelia’s new teacher was her back. Her hair was a dark brown colour that was positioned at the curve of her head and held into place by hair pins. Nakita wore a green dress which revealed not only her hourglass figure but exposed her olive shoulders. Nakita turned slightly to peer over her shoulder and at seeing Amelia standing there Nakita turned around to fully face her. The first thing people noticed about Nakita were her harlequin green eyes crowned by a layer of long thick lashes; the shade of green of Nakita's eyes was said to be rather rare and dazzling. The harlequin green colour matched that of her dress seeming to further compliment the Female’s beauty.

Nakita smiled and in one graceful motion stood up from her chair and moved closer to Amelia. “Serale, my name is Nakita and, sorry, you are?” Before Amelia could even utter one word Nakita had spoken again. “My, where are my manners? Please take a seat, would you like anything to drink?” Nakita motioned to the plush chair opposite of where Nakita had sat moments earlier. Once Nakita had poured a lemon water and had received a reply from Amelia, Nakita gracefully sat back down again and crossed one leg over the other as a captivating smile lit up her face. “I am assuming you are here for the art of flirtation lessons, yes?”

[Amelia Lynsdaughter]

OOCWe are going to have so much fun with this! :p

One hundred and fifty crowns were dutifully offered to learn the art of flirtation. Amelia was literally filled with contradictions; stingy and yet willing to spend money on being taught how to wink and tease at the right time. Curiosity burned secretly inside the girl, though, eager to know a facet of life so foreign to her. She gave the full payment for her class in the form of a few bank notes, and then examined the form she had been given by Selene.

She quickly filled out her name and address, though she hesitated when it came to writing down her reasons for taking the class. The written word had a strength, a power that mere sounds did not. It did not slip away like a whisper would; those words were meant to stay, to persist, and hence must be chosen with care. In the end, Amelia settled for the following short paragraph.

'Sometimes I wish I could make a more favorable impression on people, especially men. I build walls between them and myself, and keep them at a distance. My attitude usually earns me their respect, but rarely their sympathy, which suits me just fine most of the time, but I would like to be more approachable for a select few. To my future teacher: if you are reading this, please remember I am a stubborn girl from the cold North. My ways are not easily changed, no matter how good my intentions. Please be patient.'

And so it was that, after filling out the form, Amelia followed Selene to the place where she would be learning how to flirt properly... though she liked 'character development' better as a wording. She entered Nakita's office quietly, politeness filling each step of hers. She studied the teacher briefly - a pretty female by any standard, with peculiar eyes radiating confidence and warmth. Amelia removed her fur-lined cloak and took the proffered seat. "Serale," she said. "No, thank you." Lemon water was just not Amelia's thing - alcohol would have been a different matter, but it was far too early to be drinking and she had no intention to get tipsy here of all places.

"Flirtation lessons, yes," she said calmly. "I am Amelia, daughter of Lyn, daughter of Adel, of the line of Aaltr Hendriksson." That was quite a mouthful, and possibly revealing of just why she needed flirtation lessons. Amelia was sitting with her back straight, looking in front of her with her gloved hands resting on her lap. Her legs were not crossed, and instead rested perfectly still. Her demeanor was detached, somewhat aloof, vaguely otherworldly. A girl of many contrasts, Amelia was fastidious about cleanliness and yet soaked herself in animal blood during her rites.

Yet it was also clear to an expert such as Nakita that the icy exterior was just the most superficial layer of the girl. Her blue eyes betrayed much, much more - it was a strange tint of blue, truth told, not the deep, satisfying, brilliant blue of fairytale princesses. No, it was lighter, and had something vaguely creepy to it - the supernatural sight that came with those eyes was quite unique. There was depth to her eyes, more intelligence than she herself probably realized, and a fire burning deep, beneath the cool facade. This girl had strong desires... she hungered. She wanted, she wanted desperately, and she wanted everything. Attention, feelings, money, power, things... and why not, love. This was perhaps not the most reassuring goddess struggling to come out and play.

A flawed creature, yet with something virginal that made her intriguing. Sinful in her purity and pure in her sins, Amelia had the potential to become very sensual, yet there was a rigidity to her that kept her from it. She was destruction incarnate, merciless on those who crossed her, yet capable of endless devotion. She was vindictive, whimsical, even cruel on occasion, but a loving daughter, sincere friend and loyal to her word. And so, blinking back her inner turmoil, Amelia just sat there and waited for Nakita to start teaching her.

[Stargrace]

Nakita took small delicate sips of her water while her harlequin eyes stayed trained on Amelia as Nakita blatantly studied the female taking note of her appearance, the way she conducted herself, but most of all, her demeanour. Nakita knew straight away that Amelia was not the sort of person to find it easy asking for help. Nakita also knew Amelia would take her lessons with a grain of salt. After all, it was not easy to change one's manner when one had so effectively created a mask of distance, indifference, coldness and strength the outside world saw.

Nakita asked for the form she knew Amelia has filled out back in the reception room. After Amelia has handed it over to her, Nakita's gaze finally moved away from Amelia to the document she held in her hand. In silence she read what Amelia had written. Nakita looked up from Amelia's message and gave Amelia a small smile which voiced her understanding. "From my experience, people usually come to me for flirtation help when they have someone in mind they wish to flirt with...is this the case with you Amelia?" Nakita looked back down at the document while she waited for Amelia to respond.

When Nakita felt it was time for the first lesson to begin she placed the document to one side of her desk before placing one hand on the top of the other, both resting on her lap. With a direct gaze that stated her authority in this particular room and her confidence in the subject she taught, Nakita began the lesson. "Although sometimes it seems that there a few similarities between genders, some basic guidelines apply to anyone who is about to flirt with the opposite sex. The main goal of flirtation is to convey that you are interested in the other person without coming out and saying it...which of course can invite rejection and embarrassment." Nakita quickly added. "But flirting doesn't have to be romantic at all. In fact, you may be better off just thinking of it as a good general social skill. It is not just talk we are dealing with here, it is gestures, stance, eye movement and facial expressions."

Nakita changed position slightly in her chair, pausing a few brief moments before she continued again. "As far as attraction goes, here is how we get the message: 55 percent is through body language, 38 percent is the tone and speed of your voice and only 7 percent is through what we say. In my lessons I will teach you what flirting is and why we flirt; how to flirt using all of the individual ways and techniques; what to do and what not to do; flirting by gender - this will help you know when someone is flirting back and also what they will respond well to...I will also like to work with you on what you wrote down..."

Nakita's gaze turned to the left to fall upon where Amelia's document was. "...creating better impressions and more appropriate attitudes. Please remember, I will be teaching you many different ways of flirting. Please take them all on board; however, you do not need to use what you are not comfortable with and what you do not feel confident using. You will have more of an idea of what works for you as we proceed in our lessons. And of course in our last lesson or two, you can put the art of flirtation into action..." Nakita's harlequin eyes twinkled with enthusiasm and zest at her last words spoken. When she had finished her sentence a playful smile displayed itself upon her crimson lips. Nakita arched a brow and looked at Amelia in aniticpation of Amelia's verbal response. Nakita kept a close eye on Amelia's nonverbal cues and the truthfulness the nonverbal cues would convey.

[Amelia Lynsdaughter]

Nakita's first question was a rather embarrassing one, but Amelia answered it truthfully. "Actually, my decision to come here was prompted by a comment a man made on my demeanor, but he is not one I would consider flirting with, I don't think." Her relationship with Vanderlou was one of teacher and student, and on a deeper level one of older sister and younger brother - or some strange parody of it that Amelia's mind had birthed. She had taken it upon herself to help him become strong, no matter how, simply because she happened to like him, but she had never thought of him in that way. Besides, Amelia had commitment problems and had grown cautious of stable relationships. She grew bored easily, and she liked her life the way it was - but one could never know when she would need this skill.

"I see," was Amelia's short answer to Nakita's lengthy speech. Around strangers, Amelia was exceedingly formal and somewhat rigid, not a single hair out of place, her back straight and her body almost perfectly still. Whether Nakita's lesson would be able to warm her up from her defensive position remained to be seen. A curious light burned in her eyes, though, contrasting quite a bit with the rest of her demeanor. While she may feign distance, she was definitely interested in the subject matter and what Nakita had to say, or she wouldn't have been here in the first place. She wanted to know, to understand, and then to apply at the right time. She nodded faintly every now and then as the teacher spoke, confirming her understanding.

It was unsurprising to learn that the content of one's words was almost meaningless in the context of flirtation. Amelia had been a student of rhetoric back in Nexus Prime - a skill she had learned to better communicate with the spirits and to remove a slight speech impediment she had carried from the time of her branding. She had been successful on both counts, and the notions of nonverbal communication, breathing, emotional appeal and so on were not unknown to her. Of course, applying them to the subtle game between men and women had never been her goal as much as using them to convince ghosts and spirits to do her bidding.

"That sounds very reasonable... Nakita," she strived to break some of the ice by using tbe teacher's first time in a display of good will. The instructor would have to work hard on Amelia, who was an intelligent girl all things considered but one with a unique mindset. The prospect of flirting with a staff member at the end of the classes did not feel entirely comfortable at first, but she supposed that this was the meaning of it, after all. Bringing out the hungry goddess within, at will and regardless of circumstances. Amelia gave a thin, encouraging smile and waited for Nakita to continue.

[Stargrace]

Nakita took another sip of water, arranged the notes on her desk and looked as though she was about to commence the lesson. Instead Nakita pressed her lips together and brought her chair closer to Amelia's. Her eyes looked deep into Amelia's eyes seeming as if Nakita was searching Amelia's inner-thoughts, her soul, the very essence of who Amelia was. In a soft voice filled with reassurance, warmth and that of respect, Nakita spoke.

"In life, people depend upon others in a number of ways. We depend upon them for love, for company, for guidance, suport and for understanding. We need someone to listen to us without passing judgement. I believe, most of all, we depend on another person to fill the loneliness we have inside us. It can be hard finding that someone and especially that someone who can do all of these things. As a result we often rely on many to fulfil these functions. In my class I do not just want to make you successful in how to act and how to behave; I want to help make you more of a person other's can respond to in a positive way." Nakita paused, her eyes never leaving Amelia's.

"For me to make the more agreeable changes to your inner appearance it will require you having trust in me. It will require you opening up to me and revealing aspects of yourself you might have never revealed to another, I want you to show me your heart. And in turn I promise you that I will give you guidance and support. I will listen without passing judgement; I will offer you understanding." For the first time since she began talking Nakita looked away seeming as though she did so because she was afraid of seeing Amelia's response. It was the first time, and very well may be the last time, Amelia saw her teacher seem not so confident. In truth, although Nakita would never reveal it, Nakita knew Amelia could be her star student. Nakita knew with her help, Amelia could once again exist in the living realm where she belonged.

"I do not expect this to happen straight away. But I hope in each lesson we have, you will find it easier to do so. And when the time arrives where this is achieved, we will work on showing another side to you that you have hidden deep within. It will be then that you will be able to say you possess all that you truly need..."

Nakita realised she had been leaning forward in her chair as she spoke her last words to Amelia. Nakita straightened her back, unfolded her crossed legs and then switched leg positions. With her hands positioned once again on her lap she gazed directly again at Amelia, she was now ready to face whatever response Amelia threw her way.

[Amelia Lynsdaughter]

Amelia listened to everything Nakita said, her breathing calm and regular, though slightly disappointed that she was keeping herself so vague. Truth told, the thought of confessing her secrets to a perfect stranger who was being paid for it rubbed the Northern girl the wrong way. She had not come here to make friends, but to receive instruction in a field that found her quite lacking. Amelia failed to see how confessing as if to a priest would help her. Still, she had made a point of displaying as much good will as she could muster, and she guessed she could share something.

"My promises are important to me, so they do not come easily, Nakita," she said at last. She was calm and methodical right now, like she was when she catalogued the spirits she captured like so many butterflies, though the fire still burned within her soul, under the ashes. "I cannot promise that I will trust you - I trust perhaps three people in the whole world, and that is including myself. I cannot promise that I will always be open and honest. I cannot promise that I will listen to you every time. In fact, I can make no promises at all."

"However, I can tell you this," she continued, softly, her voice never stepping into disgraceful tones. She was the epitome of propriety, having spent eras in a noble household amidst important guests and dinners. "I am the kind of person who can accomplish a goal. If I am still alive to this day, it is because I never gave up, and I do not plan on starting today. When I want something, I keep striving for it until I get it. And what I want right now, to put it in the very honest terms you desire of me, is to be able to catch any interesting man in my clutches when I come across one."

She gave a pale smile. "That is hardly surprising, I have always loved the hunt." Amelia was the kind of person who, born a lamb, had at some point realized that wolves had a better time and she could be one if she so wished. Those were the most dangerous wolves of all, those who recognized their old weakness in others. The girl straightened the fabric of her skirt and waited to see if she had already totally creeped out Nakita in the five minutes or so they had spent together. It would not be the first time it happened.

[Stargrace]

Nakita rubbed her temple and gave a sigh. "I will settle for that. And just so you know, promises are important to me as well. When I give a promise, I am not the one to break it. I will teach you the ways to successfully hunt but at the end of the brightening it is you who decides how to use the knowledge and for what purpose..."

Nakita thought she had sensed loneliness within Amelia, of course this was not openly displayed, it hardly ever was. Loneliness was a sign of vulnerability and that was something Nakita knew Amelia would never display to practically anyone. But from the moment Nakita looked into Amelia's eyes she sensed something distinct about her; there were many layers to the female but that was not just it, Nakita saw a part of herself residing within the Vagaran/Elf, the part she had to change in order to become who she now was. Nakita contemplated telling Amelia this piece of information nobody else knew of. Pressing her lips together, Nakita decided now was not the time. After all, she had a lesson to teach.

Nakita stood and with that simple action it was evident the lesson had begun. Nakita took purposeful steps to the other side of the room. Once there she turned around and spoke. "Flirting is much more than just a bit of fun: it is a universal and essential aspect of human interaction. Anthropological research shows that flirting is to be found, in some form, in all cultures and societies. Flirting is a basic instinct, part of human nature. This is not surprising: if we did not initiate contact and express interest in members of the opposite sex, we would not progress to reproduction and all species will become extinct. Flirting then, can be thought of as a silent but very visual language that creatures great and small use to indicate their interest in a particular member of the opposite or even the same sex. It is a universal language spoken by all animals including us, a kind of self-promotion advertising our fitness for some type of a relationship, and sooner or later, for mating."

"We flirt by trying out our sexual sundries without having to go all the way with every potential prospect. While flirting can be viewed as important business with serious goals in mind it is also plain fun. Men and Women do it regardless of where it may lead because it is pleasurable in its own right. Flirtation also kicks in automatically, at the instant of attraction, driven by primitive, emotionally reactive parts of the brain." Nakita paused in her movement and speech before continuing to talk as she leaned on her desk in a casual manner.

"Like every other human activity, flirting is governed by a complex set of unwritten laws of etiquette. The rules dictate where, when, with whom and in what manner we flirt. We generally obey these unofficial laws instinctively, without being conscious of doing so. We only become aware of the rules when someone commits a breach of this etiquette - by flirting with the wrong person, perhaps, or at an inappropriate time or place. The more complex and subtle aspects of flirting etiquette can be confusing - and most of us have made a few embarrassing mistakes. Men find it particularly difficult to interpret the more subtle cues in Women's body-language, and tend to mistake friendliness for sexual interest. Another problem is that in some cultures flirting has acquired a bad name. Some have become so worried about causing offence or sending the wrong signals that we are in danger of losing our natural talent for playful, harmless flirtation."

Nakita picked up her glass of water, she took a sip and then with the glass in hand she moved towards the chair behind her desk and seated herself. In a slightly more vibrant tone Nakita spoke again. "So Amelia. With that in mind we will end the lesson there and commence again at the same time next brightening? We will start the lesson with you naming for me where you would flirt, who you would flirt with and how you would flirt. Do not feel pressure about answering and especially answering correctly." Nakita leaned back slightly in her chair and gave her student a pleasant smile of farewell.

[Amelia Lynsdaughter]

Amelia listened intently, and Nakita could be certain that she had the girl's undivided attention. In fact, she had never been so attentive as a child learning her Schola as she was right now, trying to capture the nuances of a game whose rules she did not know - or perhaps, she knew but was unable to remember on her own. Amelia had grown up being a mess of a child, and later on a mess of a young woman in more ways than one. Truth told, she was fully aware that she had emotional issues, that she was hardly normal, that some might find her frightening. And in all honesty, she did not mind being just that. The trick was in making a man like that about her.

She nodded vaguely every now and then, conveying her attention. She liked the scientific approach to the topic, and that helped her to breach an otherwise embarrassing subject. On the other hand, Amelia was a constantly hungry girl, and this was no more and no less than another form that her hunger could take. She doubted she would ever marry at this point - this status seemed incompatible with the things she wanted from her life - but that did not mean she would necessarily and always be alone. Amelia was slowly becoming more accepting of temporary relationships, or even casual. The old Amelia, the one who wanted a fairytale marriage, had been an extremely insecure girl who needed the idea of someone reliable supporting her. Now? Now it seemed more likely that she would be the one supporting her mate. And she had since realized that she hated dead weights.

Not to mention that she wanted to have her share of fun. Even though her brand of fun might differ from the average person's (unless they happened to love battling insanely powerful entities with swords and goat's blood,) having a good time had become one of the driving factors in her life; which was quite surprising if one were to only look at this girl's seemingly cold exterior. Expanding her views to another kind of fun seemed like a good idea, and while rather shallow at its core, none of Amelia's goals were particularly deep. Money, power, vengeance, fun. Such was her life, and now that she could live it like that, it was a blast when it worked.

"That sounds perfect, Nakita. I will give this some thought," she agreed and politely took her leave after collecting her things. "Tomorrow, same time. I will be back with my answers." In fact, she already had a few images in her mind, but she thought Nakita wanted her to think things through for this.

And she did think things through. The next brightening saw her arrive in her teacher's office with fastidious punctuality. She sat down primly, greeted Nakita and began to talk, answering the question she had been asked the previous brightening.

"The place where I would be most comfortable flirting," she said softly, "is one where I can be in control... where I can have an advantage of sorts. Preferably my own house." Her voice turned a little bit more mellow as she indulged the fantasy playing out in her mind, one that she apparently found pleasurable to entertain. "The weather outside is bad... no, foul. Stormy. You can hear the roar of thunder every now and then, and the flash of lightning streams through the shutters. There is a lively fire in the hearth, and plenty of logs to keep it fueled for a long time. It is cold outside, yet it is warm in the room... perhaps even a bit too warm."

She gave a tiny concentration frown, though she found the scene entirely agreeable. "As for who... a polite, well-mannered gentleman who is more than he'd have me believe would be quite intriguing. Of course, being handsome never hurts. Now, the how has been giving me some more trouble. I am not exactly into corny lines or showing men my butterfly collection," she tilted her head slightly, thoughtfully. "Is it possible to start flirting by offering a drink?" Now, that would not be a problem for Amelia, who had grown quite fond of the thing.

[Stargrace]

Nakita greeted Amelia with a warm smile. Once Amelia was seated, Nakita was pleased that Amelia had remembered her instructions and had given it thought. Nakita listened intently and commented only after it was apparent Amelia had finished speaking. "I can understand completely why you would choose your home, that is where you are in your element and have the control. It is important, vital even, that when you partake in the game of flirtation you always feel that you are in control and comfortable. However, not much flirting would take place at your home and the selection would be rather small, to say the least. Common and acceptable place for flirtation are: social occasions/functions such as parties, celebrations. In this context, a degree of flirtatious behaviour is not only socially sanctioned, but almost expected. These places are governed by a special code of behaviour which anthropologists call 'cultural remission.'

Nakita flipped a lock of hair over her shoulder while she continued to speak at an even-pace; her voice conveyed competence while it also commanded attention. "Drinking places is another acceptable place for flirtation especially places where alcohol is served - bars, night-clubs, restaurants. Flirting in drinking places is, however, subject to more conditions and restrictions than at, say, parties. In bars, for example, the area around the bar counter is universally understood as a 'public zone' where initiating conversation with a stranger is acceptable, whereas sitting at a table usually indicates a greater desire for privacy. Tables furthest away from the bar counter are the most private zones. As a rule of thumb, the more food-orientated establishments or zones tend to discourage flirting between strangers, while those dedicated to drinking or dancing offer more socially sanctioned flirting opportunities."

Nakita paused while she silently moved towards the refreshments. Once there, Nakita looked over her shoulder at Amelia and pleasantly asked "Tea?" She began to pour herself a cup giving Amelia the chance to respond. When Nakita was again seated, she resumed the lesson. "The gentlemen you would flirt with sounds like a good choice. If a polite, well-mannered gentleman is the type you would want to flirt with then I believe you would have to initiate the flirting so he is aware that it is acceptable to act and respond in a flirtatious manner towards you. Of course not all gentlmen act as gentleman should." Nakita grinned "I prefer a man who is a little more..cheeky by nature, it just turns out to be more fun." Nakita ended her sentence with a wink before her face turned serious again as the lesson commenced.

"At one level you can flirt with just about anyone. An exchange of admiring glances or a bit of light-hearted flirtatious banter can brighten the day, raise self-esteem and strengthen social bonds. Flirtation at this level is harmless fun, and only the stuffiest killjoys could possibly have any objections. Clearly, it makes sense to exercise a degree of caution with people who are married or attached. Most people in long-term relationships can cope with a bit of admiration, and may even benefit from knowing that people find them or their partners attractive, but couples differ in their tolerance of flirtatious behaviour and it is important to be alert to signs of discomfort or distress. Men tend to see the world in more sexual terms than women. While women are more socially skilled than men, better at interpreting people's behaviour and responding appropriately. This means the women need to be particularly careful to avoid sending ambiguous signals in interactions with attached men and men need to be aware that attached males may misinterpret friendly behaviour towards their partners. Otherwise, light-hearted flirtation is both harmless and enjoyable."

"Flirting is also an essential element of the mate-selection process, and when you are flirting with intent, rather than just flirting for fun, you need to be a bit more selective about your choice of target. In mate-selection flirting there are two basic rules about who to flirt with that will increase you chances of success and reduce the chances of embarrassing rejections." Nakita took a slight pause making sure Amelia was following her. "Do initiate flirtation with people of roughly the same level of attractiveness as yourself. This will give you the best chance of compatibility. Most successful long-term relationships are between partners of more or less equal good looks. Sounds superficial I know, but there is some leeway of course and other qualities are also important. Studies have shown, however, that the more evenly matched patners are in their attractiveness, the more likely they are to stay together. What level of attractiveness do you think you are, Amelia?" Nakita gave Amelia a slight smile.

"The second rule is don't flirt with people who are unlikely to return your interest. Even if you are not looking for a long-term mate, you will enjoy flirting more with someone who is interested in you. So it makes sense to approach people who are likely to see you as at least a possible partner, rather than those likely to dismiss you as unsuitable. Men naturally tend to seek females who are younger than them and place greater emphasis on physical beauty, while women are more likely to favour older males with a higher status and earning potential. Women also tend to prefer males who are taller than them. There are many exceptions to this rule, and confidence and charm can outweigh apparent disadvantages."

Nakita sat back a little in her chair "Now we will move onto how to flirt. Before we begin do you hae any questions about any of the material I have spoken about so far? Please do not hesitate to stop me at any time if you do have a question." Nakita took a small sip of her tea and waited for Amelia to voice anything she had on her mind. Like her students, Nakita looked forward to beginning the lessons on how to flirt. While her students liked it because it was material they would rely on when playing the game, Nakita liked to see how her students used the material she gave them. It was always interesting to see her students act in the manner she asked them to. At first, her students usually are self-conscious to act out the material she bid them to in front of her. Nakita was not inclined to think Amelia would have that problem but that was part of the reason why Nakita liked her new student; with Amelia you could never be too sure of anything. Amelia kept her cards held close to her chest and this, Nakita predicted, would present the biggest challenge not only to Nakita as the tutor, but also for Amelia's success at the game of flirtation.

[Amelia Lynsdaughter]

Amelia felt a bit silly after Nakita gave her reply. Of course one would want to flirt in public, or else the thing would sort of defeat its purpose. Still, if she thought about it, that was the single most enticing fantasy she could conjure. Amelia was not antisocial, but she was social in strange ways. Her trust did not come easily, as she had told her teacher, and even more so when in large crowds. The thought of acting in vaguely coquettish ways while under everybody's eyes was going to be her worst enemy throughout these lessons.

The things Nakita taught her were things she had always instinctively known, but had never given any conscious thought. Where it was more acceptable to flirt, with whom, and with what goal. Amelia did not frequent a lot of the places Nakita mentioned as flirting-friendly, mostly because she did her drinking and cooking at her own place and she did not get a lot of spare time, but she had thought about doing some ballroom dancing at some point. She had always wanted to learn, and it was probably the closest she could go to showing off without embarrassing herself.

Amelia did not expect Nakita to share her tastes in men, either. She liked them well-behaved and polite because she equated the rougher types to monkeys, apes and other such zoo specimens. Sadly, she had been known to return these men's attentions at sword's point, so she sought the gentlemen instead. Drawing a sword on them was all fine and dandy, but every once in a while one might want to do something less confrontational.

What gave her pause, though, was Nakita's question about how attractive she felt she was. It came as a tangent on the matter of flirting with people of about the same level of attractiveness. Truth told, Amelia did not entirely agree with this; being a huntress at heart, she always went for the biggest prey and aimed constantly high, regardless of how the target compared to her. Since she was not concerned with long-term relationships, she thought she could handle rejection one way or another, but the question still remained unanswered. "I think..." she said, and considered herself as a whole. Amelia was not truly beautiful in the classic sense of the term in that her features lacked the perfect proportions of traditional beauty, but she was not without her attractiveness. With that exotic coolness to her gaze and a 'don't care' expression about her, she did make heads turn in Zinn'Sunn. She had perfect lips and teeth, nice smooth skin, and perhaps most importantly for a man, a tall and attractive figure. "I am a step or two above average. A couple more if I try my hardest." Amelia's was one of those faces that benefitted quite a bit from the wise application of makeup, highlighting her eyes and giving her skin a healthier tone. "But if I am to do this, I may as well aim for the best, regardless of how much more attractive he is," she gave a pale smile.

Amelia thought she had memorized everything. "No questions so far, Nakita. Thank you." And now, she suspected, they would be getting to the real meat of this lesson, and the girl was looking forward to it. If Nakita could teach her how to be pleasant without looking stupid or worse, being mistaken for someone 'easy', the witch would be most grateful to Karniut and its employees.

[Stargrace]

Nakita gave a nod of her head upon hearing Amelia's answer of what she thought her level of attractiveness was. No facial expression accompanied the nod, it was free of judgement and did not reveal Nakita's thoughts on the matter. A small smile then appeared on Nakita's face. "Attraction is not all that counts. You have the confidence, even if you are not completely confident in your flirtation skills at this stage. As I said, confidence counts for a lot, same as charm. But I also believe you are more attractive than you may give yourself credit for. It is usually the case with Females..." Nakita leaned closer to Amelia and continued. "I think we have just seen the true huntress reveal herself." Nakita gave an open smille before moving on.

"We will start with first impressions. First impressions are crucial in the game of flirtation. You need to get the body language right straight away or they won't bother to stick around to find out how fascinating you are. Before you have even spoken to the person you've got your eye on, the way you have walked and stood is more than eighty percent of their first impression on you. We make snap judgements based on instinct but the fact is, almost every facet of our personality is evident from our appearance, posture and the way we move...."

"Body language is the main channel of communication. And unlike the spoken word, body language can signal invitation, acceptance or refusal without being too obvious, without causing offence or making binding committments. So how do we tell if our body is sending the right signals - and more importantly, how to read theirs? Let your body do the talking and the flirting by learning to recognise... I want you to take this information in so you can recognise when someone does these actions to you, or responds in this manner to what you do. The five sexual signals are: the flirting triangle, mirroring, the eyebrow flash, pointing and blinking." Nakita moved her chair closer to Amelia until she was no more than two steps away from the Vagaran/Elf. Nakita leaned in closer so Amelia could clearly see Nakita's harlequin eyes. In a soft voice Nakita began speaking.

"When we look at people we are not familiar with our eyes make a zig-zag motion: we look from eye to eye and across the bridge of the nose." Nakita made the eye movement as she spoke displaying exactly what she said as she said it. Her eyes moved from Amelia's left eye to her right before dropping a little to the bridge of Amelia's nose. "With a friend the look drops below eye level and moves into a triangle shape: we look from eye to eye but we also look down to include the nose and mouth." Nakita again visually displayed her words, pausing afterwards so Amelia could practice the same eye movement. "Once we start flirting, the triangle gets even bigger - it widens at the bottom of the triangle to include their good bits, like the body. The more intense the flirting, the most intensely we will look from eye to eye - and the more time we spend looking at their mouth. If someone is looking at your mouth while you're talking to them, it may be very, very seductive. It could be that they are imagining what it would be like to kiss you."

"Mirroring is said to be what separates a good flirt from a great flirt: nothing will bond you more effectively than mirroring someone's behaviour. This simply means you do whatever they do. Or visa, versa. If they lean forward to tell you something intimate..." Nakita leaned in closer to Amelia. "...you learn to meet them. If they sit back to take a sip of their drink and look you in the eye, you pause and follow suit." Nakita said the last sentence in more commanding tone bidding Amelia to do the action. "The theory behind mirroring is that we like people who like us. If someone is doing what we're doing, we feel that they are on the same level as us and in the same mood as we are. There are two no-go areas with this signal however: firstly only mirror positive body language; second, capture the spirit rather than mimicking them. As a general rule, wait around fifty seconds before following their gestures. So I will lead, you mirror me; keep in mind the waiting period..." Nakita smiled and then leaned in closer to Amelia. Nakita waited before sitting back, her harlequin eye never left Amelia's. "Good - lets move on."

"Next is the eyebrow flash. When we first see someone we are attracted to our eyebrows rise and fall. If they are similarly attracted, they raise their eyebrows in return. Have you ever noticed this?" Nakita paused. "It is not surprising since the whole things lasts only about one fifth of a second. We are not consciously aware of doing it, but it is a gesture that is duplicated by every culture. Some experts say it is the most instantly recognised non-verbal sign of greeting used by people. The trick is to watch for it when you meet someone you fancy. You can tell them you're interested on a sub-conscious level by prolonging your eyebrow flash for up to one second - deliberately raise them while catching their eye for full impact. Now show me." Nakita raised her eyebrows in a quick motion as she said the last three words.

"Next there is pointing...Sneak a peek at what their feet and hands are doing - we tend to point toward the person we're interested in. If we find someone attractive, we'll often point at them subconsciously with our hands, arms, feet, legs, toes. Again it is an unconscious indicator to make our intentions known. Unconsciously, this is often picked up by the other person, without them knowing why. If you have your eye on someone, point in their direction, even if you don't make eye contact they may take the hint. - This may not seem like your style..." Nakita shrugged her shoulder and smiled casually. "But it is always worth knowing and worth keeping your eye out for..."

"The last signal is blinking. If someone likes what they see, their pupil size increases and so does their blink rate. If you want to up the odds in your favour, try increasing the blink rate of the person you're talking to, by blinking more yourself. If the person likes you, they will unconsciously try to match your blink rate to keep in sync with you, which in turn makes you both feel more attracted to each other." Nakita stood, refilled her drink and then perched onto the desk and took a sip. Before taking another, her silken tone became slightly louder in volume as she said. "Now lets see you put the five sexual signals into action for me. I will play the part of...a polite, well-mannered and handsome gentleman." Nakita gave Amelia a playful, coy smile and then like an eager audience member, Nakita sat and silently waited with anticipation for the performance to begin.

OOCOf course when we put this into practice I will give a quick lesson to the boys so it can fully be implemented. And then the rest will be up to them to see how well they do *grins*