meme #004 | slow-dancing ( think outside the boxstep )

[the]

slow dancing ┈┈┈┈┈┈┈┈┈┈┈┈┈┈┈┈┈ a meme → COMMENT WITH YOUR CHARACTER'S NAME, FANDOM, AND PREFERENCE. → PICK A CHARACTER YOU WANT TO TAG AND GO FOR IT. → PLAY NICE; NO WANK, FLAMES, OR GENERAL HUMBUGGERY. ┈┈┈┈┈┈┈┈┈┈┈┈┈┈┈ the deal FORMAL OR INFORMAL, WITH MUSIC OR WITHOUT, YOU COULD BE AT A GLAMOUROUS GALA WHILE A SINGER CROONS SOFTLY OR IN THE SILENCE OF YOUR OWN LIVING ROOM. WHEREVER YOU ARE, YOU HAVE THE URGE TO DANCE. DID YOU ASK YOUR PARTNER OR DID THEY ASK YOU? HAVE YOU GOT TWO LEFT FEET OR IS THE VIENNESE WALTZ YOUR JAM? IT COULD BE AWKWARD, IT COULD BE ROMANTIC. EITHER WAY IT'S CUTE AS HELL.

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[truth_is_cold]

The look on Rhade's face could only be described as priceless. Even not knowing the darker implications, what he'd said about Nietzschean culture alone automatically made him skeptical about the situation.

He straightened up slowly.

"Refactions of Dawn won't work with this, either, will they?- Wait," he picks up the flexi and points. "Which one of us is getting dipped after the turn?"

[hunt4commonwealth]

"Refractions can't do it. Her legs aren't jointed quite right to do all the moves. It's you and me, Brother-in-Arms."

He started moving a few pieces of furniture out of the way. They'd need room to practice and he sure wasn't going to practice in the rec room where just anyone could walk by and heckle.

"That's definitely you getting dipped." Actually, he didn't know for certain; he hadn't looked that closely yet. But he hoped it was Gaheris.

[truth_is_cold]

"You are a terrible sentient being," he said idly as he followed him out to the floor, taking his cue and moving the furniture. At least he wasn't putting too much of a fight.

"My mother made sure that I could dance. But I don't think this is what she had in mind." He rarely mentioned his parents, or his other family members. They existed. And he occasionally brought up his closer siblings, but not often. He didn't know why.

He did know that this would look preposterous to any one of them.

When they were done, he double checked the flexi, before handing it back to Dylan as if it were burning. If he wanted Rhade to take position he was going to have to lead him into position.

[hunt4commonwealth]

"I'm just following the instructions from the diplomatic corps."

Dylan looked at the flexi again, trying to memorize the first few series of steps.

"Okay." He took Gaheris' hands and placed them on his shoulders and put his own hands on Gaheris' waist. "You start with your right foot and I start with my left."

[truth_is_cold]

He had his hands resting on Dylan with all the affection one would place on a bridge control panel. That is until Dylan grabbed his waist, and he squirmed a little under Dylan's grip.

Cleared his throat, and pretended that his color hadn't flushed a shade towards crimson.

"One two three-" he started out, before taking his step, trying not to plant his foot on Dylan's because this felt very much like the opposite of what he was used to.

[hunt4commonwealth]

This was one of the more awkward dance experiences Dylan'd had. Which was saying something considering how his 16 year old self had embarrassed himself at his school dance many many years ago. Like then he felt stiff and clumsy and far too heavy. At least he hadn't stepped on Gaheris' feet. Yet.

"I think I'm supposed to pick you up and spin you around on the fourth beat."

[truth_is_cold]

Step. Step. "You have to what me?" He asked just in time to find his feet off the ground, and he stiffened up all over his body. He was very close to wrapping his legs around Dylan's trunk in surprise, and just managed not to. What he did manage to do was make sure that he was clinging a bit more tightly, trying to keep Dylan from dropping him.

Sometimes he forgot how strong Dylan was.

[hunt4commonwealth]

"Spin you," he answered after he'd already done it. "And then a dip."

He held onto Gaheris and lowered him in a deep dip.

He was starting to think he might end up with bruises on his shoulders from how hard Gaheris was holding on to him. "Relax, I'm not going to drop you."

[truth_is_cold]

Gaheris was nose to nose with Dylan, nigh on about to gouge holes where he was holding. He suddenly grinned tightly, a little more flustered by this than he wanted to be. This was a silly interpretation of a cultural ritual, correct? Nothing that should coax this sort of reaction out of him.

"How many more times do we have to do this?" He tries to slip his arms into a more comfortable position around his neck. "Am I allowed to do that?"

[hunt4commonwealth]

"Let me check." Dylan let go of Gaheris to glance again at the flexi.

"Six times." He hesitated, then added, "And...uh...the roles alternate each time." Now he regretted teasing Gaheris about dipping him.

[truth_is_cold]

"Do we now," There was something disconcertingly predatory to the way that Gaheris responded, and that was purposeful. He dropped his hands, gripping at Dylan's hips roughly.

There was nothing but "pest" in that man's expression at that moment. "So which foot do I start off with again?"

[hunt4commonwealth]

Now it was Dylan's turn to clench Gaheris' shoulders hard as his rough grip on his hips took him by surprise.

"Left foot." Dylan shifted his weight to get ready to move his right foot and added, "And if you drop me, I swear I'll put you on janitorial duty."

[truth_is_cold]

"Oh, but Dylan. I'd never drop you." So reassuring. But truly, he wouldn't. He'd have to outdo him. So he glanced down to make sure they were in position. "One two three-"

And then they were moving. And then they were moving, stepping together, and he hefted Dylan up in a spin, before dunking him.

He still looked cheeky, even as he announced, "You're holding onto me very tightly."

[hunt4commonwealth]

"That's because for some reason I don't trust you. Maybe it's the smirk." Although trust was the whole point of this dance, wasn't it. And if Dylan put aside the instinctual monkey nervousness at being picked up, swung around, and fake-dropped, he did trust Gaheris. Gaheris might be an ass sometimes, and an occasional cheat, but he wouldn't let Dylan fall, Dylan was sure of it. He reminded himself of that and relaxed his grip.

[truth_is_cold]

"Of course I won't drop you. Not unless you drop me." Sadly, true. But not a matter of trust, but because he had to win. If he was being a big enough pest, then he probably would have.

But when Dylan began to relax, something warmed in him again, and he pulled his friend back to standing. Finally he put one hand on his shoulder, the other one his waist, and gave him a more genuine smile. "I think this is how we're supposed to do it. So that we don't have to keep shifting whenever we alternate."

[hunt4commonwealth]

"I'm not going to drop you. I'm a nice guy, remember?" Most of the time.

Dylan also changed the position of his hands. "That does seem like it would go a bit smoother."

And now it was his turn to pick Gaheris up and spin him. He decided he'd try to pick him up higher this time. Higher than he'd lifted Gaheris the first time and higher than Gaheris had lifted him.

[truth_is_cold]

This time Rhade had to help, hefting himself up with the hand on Dylan's shoulder so that Dylan could briefly catch hold of his waist. Long enough to maintain the spin. At least it was easy enough to resume his hand positions moments before being dunked.

...Sort of. He ended up with his hand to the back of Dylan's head. And he blinked up at him awkwardly.

[hunt4commonwealth]

With the two of them working together, Gaheris' air time was pretty astonishing. Dylan was starting to enjoy himself despite himself.

During the dunk, there faces got a bit closer than last time, too. Noses nearly brushing. Dylan held Gaheris there for a moment, thinking that he looked strangely vulnerable in the moment, and feeling a surge of protectiveness in response. And then he swung Gaheris back upright.

[truth_is_cold]

Rhade was also starting to enjoy himself, for more than the bland intention of being annoying. He was moving with Dylan- the competition involved both of them, now. And no longer felt as though they were competing against each other, but their last move.

It was his turn to lift up Dylan, turn him, and this time sweep him back with the dunk just to surprise him a little.

[hunt4commonwealth]

Dylan laughed with the dunk, his eyes crinkling with the fun of it all. Usually dancing was something to be dreaded, but this felt almost like a team sport. He no longer worried about trodding on Gaheris' toes and instead focused on making each move better than the last one.

"Only two more left, now." Then they'll have done the required six repetitions.

This time for the lift he didn't just pick Gaheris up, in the middle of the lift he threw him up in the air and caught him.

[truth_is_cold]

He was having fun with it, as well. He let himself be tossed a little (because if he fought, he would fall and make disaster for them both), and did his best to make the spin go smoothly.

This time when he was dunked he kicked up a leg, just to be funny. And laughed very unintentionally near Dylan's mouth, huffing warm air with the pleased chuckle.

[hunt4commonwealth]

Dylan grinned at Gaheris' laugh and unconsciously gazed just a little longer than necessary at Gaheris' mouth. Then, not one to be outdone in hamminess, he pulled Gaheris close against him in a dramatic sweep as his pulled him up from the dunk.

[truth_is_cold]

And his leg was still up, and ended up a little wrapped around Dylan's as he brought it down. He was pressed up against him, holding onto him, making contact with another male (who he frequently competed with).

And it was quite comfortable, actually.

He didn't want to read too much into it. It was as if his mouth, though, began running before he could stop the words from coming out. "Not quite magic yet?"

[hunt4commonwealth]

"Magic?" It took him a moment to understand the reference. Then the memory of that conversation over a Go board hit him. He looked away, flustered. The magic was supposed to be just for Sarah.

"We've got one more repetition left." That was a safe thing to say, right?

[truth_is_cold]

"If I lose your attention you're going to make me drop you," he warned, before stepping back. The steps were still easy to go through. He didn't try something so bold as a toss when he lifted Dylan up- he did hold him there for a moment though, before spinning and dunking him low.

And it was his turn to look thoughtfully at Dylan.