food police. (heritable) wrote in emillion, @ 2013-11-29 01:32:00 |
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Entry tags: | !complete, !log, juliette coulombe, morgayne falk |
like a flower bending in the breeze.
Who: Morgayne Falk & Juliette Coulombe.
What: Dancing lessons.
Where: Bahamut Hall.
When: Backdated to last Sunday (11/24), noon.
Rating: G.
Status: Complete.
Morgayne paced the floor of the training room anxiously as she waited for Juliette to arrive, her eyes flickering between the open door and her own two feet. Bahamut, so bustling during the week, echoed like an empty cathedral today. She’d passed her share of dutiful squires on her way in (there was still kitchen duty, after all, and other chores to be done), but by and large, the guild hall was still and peaceful. And Morgayne was glad for it. Though there was nothing particularly embarrassing about wanting to attend a ball, she found herself reluctant to let others know. Were her motivations to be called into question—well. She would cross that bridge when she came to it. At any rate, she was sure Juliette would be trustworthy. Juliette arrived at the hall precisely on time, still in the clothing she had worn to mass, a wrapped bundle of food in her arms. There had been no time for lunch -- the sermon had been long today -- but she thought they could share the vegetable wraps she had purchased on the way once the dance lesson adjourned. The thought came, not for the first time, that Seloria would be much better suited to this task, but… Well, Morgayne had asked her, after all. She could teach the very basics, surely, before she suggested a meeting with Seloria, who could assist with polishing and more complex footwork. With this in mind, she entered the training room and greeted her friend with a smile. “Good afternoon. You did not wait long, I hope?” Though her nerves hadn’t fully abated, Morgayne ceased her restless footwork upon Juliette’s arrival, and smiled in return. “Don’t worry,” she said, in reply to the other squire’s question. “I just got here a few minutes ago.” She eyed her friend’s attire—neat and presentable, in sharp contrast her own soft tunic and leggings—and added, “I hope I didn’t rush you!” “Not at all,” Juliette assured, setting down what she carried. “The cathedral is very close. This is the most convenient time and location.” She couldn’t help but note that Morgayne seemed a little on edge. She wished she was better at reassurance, even if she couldn’t quite fathom why it might be required. Balls were not so commonplace outside of her class, perhaps, but surely they were not worth any particular stress? It took her a moment or two to decide what to say; at last, she admitted, with some sheepishness, “I am afraid I have never done this before, but... I hope I can help you.” She wanted so very badly to be useful. “Is there anything specifically you would like to learn?” A pause, then hesitantly, “Have you ever danced before at all?” Morgayne shook her head. “No—not formally, at least.” Her brother spinning her around their living room hardly counted. “I’d just like to know the basics, I think. Nothing too complicated.” “The waltz to start, then,” Juliette decided. “It is the easiest -- or, that is, the base step is the easiest.” She considered for a moment stepping into the unfamiliar leading position before discarding the idea. Not yet; there was surely a better way to do this. “It looks like this.” She raised her arms into the familiar position, bending her knees and looking over her left shoulder as she executed a simple box step, back, then forward. “You don’t need the arms right now,” she was quick to say. “We can add them later.” Eyes glued to Juliette’s feet, Morgayne studied the motion. Right foot back, then the left stepped to the side, and the right foot coming to meet it. And a similar pattern as Juli’s left foot stepped forward. It seemed easy enough. Cautiously, Morgayne mirrored her friend’s footwork, leaving her arms hanging at her sides. Her own box step was clumsier than Juliette’s, but it approximated the move well enough. “Yes,” Juliette said, nodding her approval. Grace, she knew, was an acquired skill. As long as the steps were right, it would not matter so much, especially the first time. “So, with a partner… if you will excuse me.” She offered her left hand, palm up (though it took a moment to remember), then stepped in until their torsos touched, right side to right side, placing her right hand at her friend’s shoulder blade. “Your hand goes on your partner’s shoulder. If a gentleman chooses to put his hand lower than I have placed mine,” she added, as delicately as she could, “I do believe it may be acceptable to… forget the steps.” It was the closest she could come to saying, step on his feet, painfully if you must. They stood close—closer than Morgayne would have expected for such a formal dance. With Juliette, the distance (or lack thereof) was negligible, but she tried to imagine standing in this position with a stranger. It was difficult. She arranged her arms per Juliette’s instructions, nodding as her friend spoke. “Right,” she said, lips quirking up at Juli’s last remark. “Revert to clumsiness if he gets too handsy, got it.” Juliette returned the smile with a small one of her own. “It is, at times, a lady’s best defense.” A pause as she gathered her thoughts, then she said, “You step between the legs, toe first if you are stepping back, heel first if forward. The lead comes from the hands but also the torso -- so I was always taught -- and I have never been taught to lead, so… I apologize in advance. Your left leg will move first.” Slowly, she moved forward, right foot first. Morgayne stayed silent, absorbing her friend’s words. Her grip on Juliette’s shoulder tightened as the other girl began moving, and she stepped back with her left foot. She kept her gaze trained to the left, like Juliette had when demonstrating the move, quashing the temptation to stare at her feet. “You don’t need to apologize,” she added as they continued their slow box step. “I probably should have asked one of the boys.” “I do not think so,” Juliette said after a moment. They were making slow but steady progress. “Boys do not bother to learn the woman’s steps. They lead and expect you to find your own way.” At least, that had been her experience with most inexperienced male partners. “I will do the best I can,” she promised. “Now step only back, not forward.” They began making slow and steady progress down the floor. “You have asked about balls before,” she said at length. “I hope you will not be… disappointed.” At first, Morgayne’s progress was halting and stiff, but the box step began to get easier as she and Juliette practiced again and again. Eventually, she found herself able to let her attention wander, her thoughts no longer focused solely on stopping herself from trodding on her friend’s feet. “Oh, I doubt I’ll be disappointed,” Morgayne replied easily. “I don’t expect too much. I’m just curious.” Idle curiosity about how the other half (her mother’s half) lived was one part of her motivation, anyway. As for the other...well, she’d no idea if he’d show up at all. She wondered if there was a way to ask Juliette who was to attend the function, without being obvious about her desires. “Most balls associated with the Bards’ Guild are… curious,” Juliette sad at last. It was hard to describe them another way. “I think you have mastered this,” she commented once they had made it to the edge of the floor. “Perhaps a simple turn?” She lifted their linked hands, then after a moment remembered to give a hudge with the other hand, the one on Morgayne’s back to encourage her to move under the arch of their arms. “Three beats. Your partner continues his steps -- I think -- as you turn.” “Oh?” Morgayne asked, sensing an opportunity to segue into her topic of choice. “How are they curious?” The turn was unfamiliar, but she let Juliette’s gentle direction guide her, and managed not to trip over either of their feet. “The guest lists are often…. unconventional,” she said. “As are the music selections, on occasion. Once more,” she said, her attempt at a lead a little more confident this time as she initiated the second turn. This turn went smoothly, the two of them moving in concert as Morgayne continued her line of questioning. “Who usually shows up, then?” she asked. Juliette managed to lead them out of the turn and onward to the corner. “Back,” she said, beginning to turn the corner, “then forward.” She did not trust her ability to lead enough to express this without words. A moment later, she returned to the original conversation. “I would assume they are Bards’ Guild members. Occasionally they come dressed… very oddly. Or… almost not at all,” she said, recalling the woman whom she seemed to encounter in the powder room every time she attended a ball recently. Morgayne raised her eyebrows as they continued to move across the room. “Perhaps my poor dancing will be less noticeable, then!” Not to mention her knowledge of etiquette, or lack thereof. “It is not poor,” Juliette said automatically, coming to a stop and demonstrating a curtsy, “only unpracticed.” She considered a moment before saying, “Are you acquainted with Councilor Cassul’s sister? She teaches dance, far more successfully than I. Perhaps, if you desire more than simple basics, she may be able to assist? I can introduce you.” Following Juliette’s lead, Morgayne executed her own curtsy, her form a wobbly reflection of her friend’s. But her balance was decent, and her reflexes improved from daily training with Divina—she’d get the hang of it. At Juli’s suggestion, Morgayne shook her head firmly. “There’s no need,” she insisted, “the basics will suffice.” And indeed, they were enough to suit her purpose. “As you like,” Juliette agreed. “In which case, perhaps the foxtrot?” She smiled and added, “And then we can discuss a dress. I have some thoughts on the matter.” |