Everyone needs someplace to get some exciting entertainment in, and today, it's The Pit. Watching goombahs pound each other is a good way to get one's bloodlust out without dirtying one's hands, and Daenerys has come to appreciate the distinction. So he finds himself a seat to sprawl in and enjoy the forthcoming fights.

Walking in from the sidestreet, Xanthee pops through the doorway, her cloak slipped off her shoulders as she enters the large viewing area. Looking around, she finds someone offering a bets and she goes up to them, quietly talks for a moment, before marks are exchanged for betting slips. Wandering towards the seating area, she spies a certain tanner and offers him a wave as she makes her way to where he is seated. She points to the empty seat next to him and asks, "You mind if I join you?" she folds her cloak and drapes it next to her as she sits down. She's wearing a rather slinky black dress, oval cutouts on either side of her waist show skin. Her hair is tussled to her shoulders, and black kohl is around her eyes.

"Of course not." Daenerys informs her in wry amusement, and takes a motto take in her appearance. He can appreciate the new look: definitely not the same girl he'd known. An encouraging sign that she might be growing up a little bit. "Nice dress." He grins at her, meaning it in all honesty. "Looks like you're determined to do something different in life."

"What? This old thing?" Xanthe says with a michievous smile and she settles in and crosses her legs, the slit on the side falling open and exposing her knees and calves. She waves over a waiteress and orders a single glass of white wine. While her drink is being fetched, she takes out her betting slips and fans them out in front of her as she watches the match that is ongoing and she smiles back at Daenerys, "Well, I am 16 now, time for something a little more grown up I think." she says with a disarming smile.

Daenerys is restraining a chuckle at her. Her newfound confidence is definitely an important milestone in life. "Good on you, then." The betting slips are eyed curiously, for he's never done that; he's got other things he must do with his marks, more's the pity. "Ha, that old thing, indeed. Fits you well. Suppose I can't call you baby girl anymore."

Xanthee fans herself with the slips and smiles. "I got the bug at Southern, I won big betting on Amani to impress the gold. I put two marks on her and it was 10 to 1 odds." she says as she wiggles excitedly in her seat waiting for the first bout she had bet on to commence. The waitress comes back with her glass of wine and she passes her the correct number of marks, plus tip. Sipping it she makes a little face. "Ohh, a little drier than I was expecting." she says to herself. "You can call me anything you want to." she purrrs teasingly, a smile on her lips.

"The one who was rather fond of crossbows?" Daenerys remembers her, a glowering little thing: all teeth and annoyance in defense of her space. He's also relieved to see Xanthee hasn't lost her sense of humor. "Then baby girl it is."

"Yes that is her. I hope she's doing well." Xanthee says wistfully as the match ends with a declared winner. There is applause and cheers from the crowd as the way is cleared in preparation of the next match. Sipping at her wine, she looks over the rim at Daenerys. "I've decided all I can do is move forward." she says in a declarative way, "And to not bat my lashes at every cute face that comes by the Tea Room." she pauses with a sly grin, "Although, that miner the other day was trying my resolve but I was being good." she says with a giggle as the announcer calls the next match. "Oh! That's my guy." she says pointing to a dark brute with a sloping forehead and a lean, muscled body. "His name's Thrax and his odds were 5 to 1." she says conspiratorily to her seat-mate.

"Ah, I wouldn't go as far as that," Daenerys objects mildly, eyeing Xanthee from the corner of his eyes. "It's part of your charm." He smiles a little bit, fond of her brash playfulness and mentally cursing the man who'd ruined it for her by being an ass. He sits up to get a better look at the fighters, but mostly Thrax. What a bruiser that one is. He turns back to Xanthee, then, and watches her carefully. "He was cute, your miner." There's a smile there for that irrepressible giggle of hers. "Is this something you want advice on, or are you set?" No need to lecture her like she's an idiot, after all.

Xanthee is watchiing the fighting area as the opponents eyes each other up, waiting for the ref to start the fight. "He was charming." she admits with a happy sigh and they raises an eyebrow as he offers advice and she merely giggles again. "I think I have things in hand, but I'll keep that in mind." she says with a wink as the whistle blows and the match commences. Thrax goes on the offesive immediately and Xanthee lets out an excited whoop, punching the air in front of her as she follows the sport.

"Good to know," Daenerys laughs, and relaxes back to watch the two men pound each other. Thrax is eager, he notices with a smirk. "Just let me know if I need to hure someone to make a fool out of the next one who tries something stupid." The twinkle in his eye suggests he might be kidding only a little bit. "So this miner. Melosim? Tou think he's good people so far?" Of course he worries about Xanthee — oh, how he hated to see the bubbly girl brought to tears. Her excitement today, though is more like the one he's so fond of.

Xanthee giggles at his suggestion and shakes her head, "I am sure I am fine on that point. Anyway," she says with a smirk, "I heard that poor excuse of a brownrider," he who must not be named, "has been demoted back to weyrling status." she relays with smug satisfaction. As Threx is almost taken down by his opponent, Xanthee winces but encourages him to fight back. "And yes, I think Mal is good people. We'll see. There was something, I don't know what, just something about him." she says almost wistfully as she looks at her friend.

"Now that is justice." Daenerys smiles his satisfaction at a just outcome. "He obviously needs reteaching." The taner wrinkles jis nose as Threx is nearly taken down, hoping he doesn't lose Xanthee her marks. "Mm, now…." Daenerys geibs playfully. "I dunno about all that, now." And then his grin broadens. "Seriously, though — don't see why you shouldn't enjoy his company if you're of a mind." He hadn't gotten any bad vibes off the man, either. "Think he might be interested."

Xanthee blushes a little bit and shrugs non-commitedly. "We'll see." she says cryptically as she turns her eyes back to the fight just in time to see Threx turn it back on his opponent and take him to the mat. Letting out another whoop, she scoots to the edge of her seat leaning towards the ring as the ref counts down. When he reaches zero, the match is over, and Threx is victorious. Whistling, loudly, Xanthee claps excitedly as she bounces in her seat. The motion moves her dress' slit higher up her thigh and reveals a discreet knife holster there with a very nice stiletto blade held securely in place. Not noticing that she's is letting it all hang out, Xanthee waves her betting slip in Daenerys' face. "That's another 5 marks right there!"

"And there's all your secrets on display, baby girl." Daenerys will tug rhe dress back doen, covering the knife and some of her thigh. "Hey, now, not everyone needs to know everything, you know?" He half scolds, laughing at her exuberance; at least she's smart enough to carry a blade! Daenerys doesn't ask if she can use it, though. He takes for granted that she can. Weyrbrats are usually good at these things.

Xanthee looks puzzled until she looks down and and watches him pull her dress into place with a smile thanking the Tanner for the head's up. "Thanks. I got it with my winnings. I figured I spend enough time in the Bazaar and people are always trying to tell me what a dangerous place it is, so I figured I would get something. I love that I can wear it with any dress and it doesn't ruin the shape at all." She sits back waiting for the next bout to begin, taking a sip of her wine. "So why come here if you don't bet?" she asks quizzically.

"What, do people think you're stupidly wandering around just dying ro get mugged?" Daenerys rolls his eyes skyward for such nonsense. "I think you're smart enough to take care." He cants his head to one side, considering her. "You decent on using that right?" Because if she isn't, he's likely to offer her a lesson or two. "Eh, I just like watching, to tell you the truth." He shrugs affably. "I like using my marks on other things." Like many, many knives hidden on his person.

Xanthee cocks her head to one side, "I've only used my belt knife for eating although I am rather adept at peeling tubers. I figure the shock of me pulling it out of nowhere will be enough to disarm them." she jests as she giggles a little bit. There seems to be a longer break now between bouts, and she finishes her glass of wine. "So we've talked about my love life enough, how's yours doing?" she asks studying his face for his reaction to her question.

Daenerys smirks. "Girl, you better learn to use it for more than that!" He laughs, though, for she does have a point. "Far as my love life, it exists and that's all you need to know." He affects an air of brotherly superiority and smiles enigmatically down upon her. Because he's cool like that and whatever. "Anyway, tanning keeps me busy."

Narrowing her eyes in his direction as he plays coy, Xanthee isn't satisfied with that answer but she will that that slide…for now. As he suggests she should learn how to use it she affects a puzzled look, "Oh where will I find someone adept with knives who could possibly show me?" she shoot him a pointed look and then bursts out of giggles, that glass of wine obviously bringing out her giddy side. And so the rest of the evening is spent in good company, many laughs, Xan wins more than she loses, and the bond between 'brat and Tanner is solidified even further.