toku matsudaira, geezermancer (giri) wrote in emillion, |
After her first turn around the dance floor, Juliette had chosen the chair furthest from the center, in hopes that she might look as though she was willing to dance while at the same time remaining unnoticed by most of the attendees. She had waved Morgayne off sometime earlier to try her very first waltz (her friend had looked excited; Juliette still didn’t entirely understand, but she was glad of it) and now she was biding her time, watching the dancers, hands folded neatly in her lap. She spotted familiar faces among the many strangers of the crowd, smiling faintly as her sister whirled by, thankfully healthy and seemingly in a good humor. As the piece ended, Toku stepped away from Rin with a smile and thanked her for the dance. That he had managed not to trod on the girl’s feet was a testament to her dancing skill rather than his, he knew. He generally avoided dancing, and he’d spent the whole time worrying he’d accidentally step on Rin’s feet, but found at the end that he had enjoyed himself in spite of it all. Still, one dance was more than enough for him, and so after saying goodbye, he left the floor and headed for the chairs arranged for those who preferred watching to joining in, or were simply waiting for a partner. He spotted a young girl sitting by herself, looking as though she would like to be anywhere but there, in the midst of the festivities. Toku could sympathise, and perhaps it was that which made him take the seat next to her. “Hello,” he said with a kind smile. “I hope you don’t mind my asking, but are you not dancing this evening?” Juliette looked up with surprise at the unfamiliar man who had spoken. She did not think she had seen him before, though the cadences of his voice reminded her immediately of Ms. Han. He had a kind face, she thought, and his expression was pleasant. It was not -- exactly -- an invitation, so she did not rise, and he had not offered his hand, so she felt as though he only wanted an answer. Curious, but… “I will dance, if asked, of course,” she answered after a moment. Anything else would be impolite, and she would never dare to refuse an invitation outright. Still... “I… prefer to watch.” Toku nodded. “I see.” Her manners were impeccable; it did not seem as though she wanted to dance, but Toku had no doubt that if he did ask, she would politely accept and keep a pleasant expression whether she actually wished to dance or not. He did not test that theory, however; he had little desire to make the young girl miserable, if he could help it. And perhaps, conversing with her would deter anyone else from approaching to ask for a dance, and allow her to rest for at least a short while. “I am not too fond of dancing, either,” he confessed, to set her at her ease. “I can never seem to will my feet to step where they should. It is best if I do not dance at all, in the interest of diplomacy.” |