one holy sock (![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
oneholysock) wrote in ![[community profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/community.png)
bakerstreet2024-11-20 12:49 am
oneholysock) wrote in bakerstreet2024-11-20 12:49 am
dance with me
the dance with me meme
Everyone loves to dance: ballroom dancing, slow dancing, doing the hokey-pokey, or ripping people to shreds in competitions for grand prize money and bragging rights. Dance can be serious, ceremonial, fun, done randomly, socially awkward, or just sheer random. Of the thousands of styles available, of all the people you could dance with, what and who do you pick? Do you even know how to dance? Best just turn on the music and dive in.
directions
1. Comment with your character, series, preferences, etc in the subject.
2. Reply to other comments. You're now dancing with them!
3. Play that funky music
we both know what we're here for
It was supposed to be something different, something they could work together on... fun?
... Yeah, no, they'd been at the place for about five minutes and already Kaina was already wondering if backing out was an option before the lesson got started. She wasn't the clumsy type but she had next to no experience with the whole thing and she wasn't that keen on potentially stepping on his feet.
She glanced sidelong at him. She could have treated it like a mission and focused solely on the details of what had to get done but that wasn't the point.]
... No turning back now, huh?
/evil laughter and lightning - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kMXBJW1PuU8
If she hadn't raised her voice to break the silence, he might have stood at the front door and stared at his reflection until he starved to death. Shirou, almost numbly, half-turned to meet Kaina's eyes in unison--recognizing her hesitation. She must have known, the same as he had, that it was a done deal. He'd seen her wear that exact look before divine straight out of a helicoptor.
It was an honest attempt to learn even just one more new thing about one another and they were willing to endure the anxiety that would come just for that.]
We're already here. [Grim. Though he placed his hand on the door to push it open, he couldn't imagine anything in the world being heavier. He could hear humming voices peek through when he pushed. There were already eyes on them.]
...So, there's nowhere else but forward. [He was self-aware enough to know they were both being dramatic but it made absolutely no difference whatsoever.]
omg a surefire way to murder them. hope your idea was worth it, shirou
Someone greeted and beckoned them to come in, likely the instructor. They were... energetic and didn't falter when Kaina stood fast against the enthusiasm and offered a more subdued greeting in return. She wasn't meaning to look intimidating on purpose though she definitely did not look ready for whatever was planned for them. Was it worse that there was a handful of people? Maybe meant they could blend in more and not be focused on as much...
When it seemed like everyone was there, the instructor started off with a spiel about how it didn't matter what anyone's experience was and that it was meant for having fun and learning more about each other with more than words. Seemed harmless enough but it did little to settle her lingering anxiety.]
shirou battling the concept of 'innocent joy' with a broom and calling kaina for an assist
It was a miracle they'd gotten to the instructor's introduction with minimal small-talk. While given names had been shared, there wasn't much in the way of conversation before the introduction was wrapped up and music had been put on. While the other couples came together to start their warm-ups, their instructor had walked them through a few things to try and warm up with as suggestions to test their mood.]
...It sounds similar to running a drill. [They'd been shown one way to touch and been offered a simple exercise to try with one another--stepping with one another. As long as he'd known Kaina, they were both hesitant with upfront displays of affection in public, so it seemed a little strange to meet her eyes and hold her hands as instructed, if only because it took them time to even get to that point organically. They were only committing to a handful of steps at a time but, all too easily, he was beginning to fall into that routine with her as if it were already practiced.]
face the consequences of your curiosity
Occasionally Kaina's gaze subtly shifted to take in the people around them. Some eyes were on them.]
... Really feels like we're being scoped out.
[It wasn't the concept of being looked at that was off-putting. That was something she could deal with. It was the open feeling of curiosity that naturally cropped up with new additions. Some subtle looks. Some not. Questions were most likely being cooked up as they were sized up. It wasn't like the two of them were secret experts looking to show them off or anything.
It must have been the way they carried themselves that pulled the attention towards them. And maybe looking like they were focused on the warm-ups a little too seriously.]
no subject
He'd grunted. Seeing her checking her peripherals and knowing he'd been doing the same--it made him feel more like an amateur than he really was. Like he wasn't doing everything he could to make her feel like he had her back. The way they held one another and stepped in line almost made it feel like they were confined to a cage with so many eyes on them that they'd never know a moment of peace.
When he worried more about her, his heart settled. Against her back, he supported her and moved into a new step with a humble reassurance held between them. Lapsing, almost fluidly, he returned to their old language.]
...Try focusing just on me. We just need to cover each other.
no subject
After a moment her full attention shifted towards him, mulling over how he phrased it again. Just had to cover each other. The others in the room had their own space to look after but she could get back to learning to read his movements like before. Anticipate and adjust if things changed to try to stay on task. The difference being that the aim wasn't to hurt anyone; just to improve themselves and get sharper. For each other.
She then took a small breath... and gave him a small nod with a subtle sound of affirmation. The tension that she'd unknowingly been carrying in her shoulders and hands eased bit by bit as she refocused.]
... I'm good now.
no subject
[It wasn't the same as one of their operations. Back then, feelings hardly mattered and the only thing he had to think about was making sure that they delivered on their orders. There was a sense of security in sharing that understanding but the elements had changed.
He felt comfort when Kaina recovered. Showed her strength. It felt less like an accomplishment and a little more as if they were leaning on one another to learn something new. There was a measure in pride caught up in his chest when Kaina relied on him, finding her bearings with him and coming to relax with him. It hadn't been long into their lesson and, even as Shirou and Kaina stepped through the basics with every motivation to be patient with one another, their instructor had begun letting them practice on their own while moving to other couples to encourage them to pay attention to themselves.
It was when he'd begun to notice their instructor drift away that Shirou slowed his step a few measures and lowered his voice, letting his hand drift to Kaina's for a slight shift. It hadn't been the first time but he'd struck a chord with the other dancers by being so gentle and tender in public. Really, the both of them were starting to set some unrealistic expectations among them--]
Did you want to try leading? Now might be the safest time.
ngl sometimes I listen to electroswing for this
For now, she considered his offer to lead. Just had to repeat back what he was doing, right? Admittedly she had been also paying attention to those around her at the beginning--]
...Sure.
[When there was a moment he was ready, she began to lead from the first step they were shown. Her eyes occasionally flicked down to their feet and how their hands were positioned. Both checking where they were at to remind herself--especially from earlier on when she'd been more distracted--and doing minor corrections when she caught herself making a mistake. Adjusting a foot when nearly running into his, making sure she wasn't going too far ahead.
But other than that she kept her word and her focus remained on him.]
link me, i haven't touched any in a while
That first step was a little sloppy, his foot following too close and nearly touching her shoe. It was a moment's frustration--maybe even less than that. Even so, he corrected himself in the next step, drifting closer only when he felt comfortable with Kaina's lead. His gaze fell to their feet for a little while before a measure more confidence revealed itself as a sign that they'd found themselves back in sync.
No matter their small improvements, he was thinking far more on Kaina's subtle shift in demeanor and how she'd regarded him.]
Kaina. If I said that this was 'paradise in hell', what do you think I'd mean by it?
no subject
And as a bonus, I switch between electroswing and this ]
[Paradise in hell. Now that she found her stride with him again, some thought was spared for his question.
It could have been taken as an exaggeration at the get go. That the situation was something more tolerable to get over with and move on. But the class had been something he wanted the two of them to try out and if she thought about it, he'd been nothing but supportive despite initial anxiety over it. No quiet grumbling about having to do something and knowing he'd do it anyway. None of his usual furrowed brow and scowl he wore when something really was eating at him.
He hadn't seemed one hundred percent relaxed since they had a few mistakes breaking their stride a bit but there was an increasing sense of being... comfortable. Focused and comfortable.]
That you might be enjoying this for us a bit more than you thought.
ooh i dig berry and rose
Keeping pace with Kaina wasn't easy but he was comfortable each time he found his footing with her. Finding the right spacing and pace was a matter of understanding and she was reliable in her routine. Once she found something that worked, he could trust she wouldn't experiment or deviate without, at the very least, a subtle warning.
A sigh fell from him, glancing aside to determine whether or not any couples nearby could make them out.]
Much more. This situation is... unnerving, to put it lightly. It's hellish, acting as if I belong. [It wasn't like him to hesitate. There was only a fraction of a second before he finished the thought, holding Kaina more tightly.] Unless I'm with you. Otherwise? I can't understand any of this.
such a good combination
Not gonna lie, this whole thing still freaks me out a bit ever since you dropped it on me...
[Yet she still showed up even if she was still trying to find her way through it. She paused, looking over his face for a quiet moment.]
But I like seeing when enjoy something. When that happens you don't lean too hard into acting.
no subject
I know. [It was difficult to look at is as nothing more than a productive, rewarding process. In steps, he drew closer to Kaina and returned her gentle probing with a well-intentioned smile.]
Thank you for indulging me, at least... though, is it doing anything for you?
no subject
He was asking the million dollar question though. The easy answer to get out of it would be No. Not as much as he was. But she had to admit it was a little nice to work with him again in some capacity. Despite the people around them. And the situation. ...]
Might be a little early to tell, still trying to get the hang of it... but the lesson ain't done yet.
[There was still time. Maybe afterwards she'd have a better view of it. Maybe.]
Up for leading again?
no subject
[It was a little slow on his end but he'd slowed and turned with Kaina until he could lead again. While it seemed a little awkward from his perspective, his brows furrowed when he heard a woman's voice raise to a surprised gasp in the hall beside them, just beyond the glass.
That woman's exclamation caught him off guard a little but he'd kept his pace steady, his steps becoming more delicate for Kaina to find her openings. When he sighed, it wasn't out of impatience for an interruption but the thought that returned when his head cleared.]
...I suppose it's just a thought that rises up once in a while. If I had any talent then, maybe we could have been heroes together.
no subject
He still thought about it like that? She really hadn't thought that lack of talent had anything to do with it. The circumstances steered his path to where he ended up. But it felt like if she said that out loud it'd be dismissing his feelings a little bit.]
Think we woulda ended up working as closely as we did?
no subject
Instead, he was thinking of where her feet would fall and how he could take care to lay a welcome with each new step. Between those years before and then present, he was an unrecognizable man. He slipped on a smile for her that read plainly:]
I doubt it. I was impatient and desperate--an absolute liability.