Entry 592; Day 1449

[misterblackbird]

[Filtered from Known DELILAH Members || Unhackable]
I shall say what I say so often on such days: the streets seem quite excited today. I don't think I've seen this much dancing in Misery Square since the last time the 'deities' decided to give a party. It's surprising to see and yet also not surprising to see--these things happen from time to the time, and the only question is when.

Quite a lot of you are really terrible dancers, to be quite honest about it. And I'm not sure what some of you are doing could really even be called 'dancing'. It's movement, certainly, but whether it's actually 'dance' or not I would think is up for debate.

It doesn't seem as though one can entirely escape it, save by locking oneself inside, yet again.

And here am I, stranded on one side of the square, and very much in need of getting to the other side. I'm not sure that going around will be of any use either, not judging by some of the alleyways I can see from here.

Very well, then.

Please do try to remember that the waltz is 1-2-3, not 1-2-collapse.

Perhaps it will be better if I lead.

~C.

[ooc: Yup, he's out and about, so feel free to grab him for a waltz or two. Or he can grab your character, for that matter! For the record, he's quite good at old ballroom dances. Don't expect him to manage those newfangled dances all the other kids are doing. No siree. But if you want a waltz, he will waltz you like you've never been waltzed before!]

Comments

ugh this week HELLO

[primrosella]

[OH, LOOK. GUESS WHO'S RUNNING TOP-SECRET BIRTHDAY ERRANDS IN THE SQUARE TODAY.

SURPRISE, IT'S ROSELLA.

Approach, Grab, Dance, Y/N?]

Finals week HI HOPE YOU'RE DOING WELL

[misterblackbird]

[MFY.

Oh, look. It's Cain, trying to get from one side of the square to the other with...moderate success. It's easier to break away from someone doing the Twist than it is to break away from someone doing a waltz. So far so--

Oh, wait, no. That's Rosella. And she is, alas, directly in Cain's path.

Commence box-step formation.]

[riceballfruit]

I'm sorry.... I know I'm not very good at it. [She bows to him, though accidentally bumps into a couple of people as she does. Some apologies later:] But if you lead, maybe it'll look better.

I woke up reciting priority rules FORGIVE ME FOR ANY FAIL

[primrosella]

[Directly in Cain's path and also holding a moderately-sized bag that she quickly tries to stuff behind her back and keep out of sight as he approaches and the formation's compulsion takes hold.]

--Oh, thank goodness, someone who won't step on my feet.

[EVERY CLOUD, SILVER LINING, ETC.]

[misterblackbird]

The gentleman generally does lead.

Here, let me...

[Carefully, carefully, he arranges himself relative to her. Hands clasped, one hand on her waist, her hand on his shoulder and...]

Now, do the opposite of what I do. When I go forward, you go back. Shall we?

It's okay I'd lie in bed writing my thesis before I made myself get up and just write it down

[misterblackbird]

[Oh, look. Parcels. She must have been doing some Christmas shopping.

You see, he can be oblivious at will sometimes. Sometimes.

Anyway: dancing now, which is rather enjoyable, really. Especially with Rosella.]

Have your feet been quite badly treated today, Rosella?

Lying in bed doing practice exams in my head counts as studying, then, obviously

[primrosella]

[Dancing they go! Hopefully she doesn't accidentally fling her bag in the midst of an elegant sway or gesture; given the way things are going out here in the Square, it'd probably be incredibly tedious trying to get it back.]

Well, it's just--there was an errand I had to run quite early this morning, because that was the only time the person I was seeing could keep the appointment, but then I got a bit caught up in all this and ended up with quite a few partners who were still rather half-asleep, I should think. They certainly weren't the most careful.

Fully legit

[misterblackbird]

[And now for a turn~]

Then I shall be most careful about your feet and I shall try to keep myself awake. I know I shouldn't like dancing with a partner who's half-asleep.

[And around and around they go~]

It's been some time since we last danced together, hasn't it?

[universaltranslator]

And how would you define a dance?

[misterblackbird]

Ideally something in rhythm. And with a little grace.

[primrosella]

[One of the perks of wearing full-length skirts as a matter of course: they swish so nicely during such impromptu dances as these.]

It's been some time since last we've been...that is, I'm glad. To dance with you again, and to be near you again, too.

Usin' one of ur icons hurr hurr...

[misterblackbird]

[Thank goodness Cain is still keeping to his old topcoats and tophats, even after all this time. They make a lovely pair together, his tophat, her long skirts.

But...................oh, yes.
The last time they saw each other, really was................]

I've always liked to dance with you. I'm glad we crossed paths today.

I can never unsee those as Kit, man. So trippy.

[primrosella]

I just needed time to think.

[She rather blurts it out, perhaps sensing the extent of those ellipses and the implications that naturally extend from them.]

It wasn't anything else.

[She steps into a graceful spin.]

And I've thought, and--and here I am. And I'm sorry it took me so long.

I know, right? But it's such a good faaaace ;;

[misterblackbird]

[The great controversy over the rise in popularity of the waltz was that the two participants in the dance were so alone. There maybe a floor full of other dancers, but each couple danced only with one another. Furthermore, there was just so much...touching that went on. It was nowhere near as decorous as the traditional reels and country dances, and far removed from the Queen of the Dances, the Minuet.

And yet, the popularity persisted. Perhaps due to those same points of controversy.

Certainly, it does allow the partners to hold one another quite close. At least for a little while.]

I'm glad you're here.

They are all of his BABYFACES. Intentionally.

[primrosella]

[She's always had a long tradition of remarking lightheartedly on her favorite partners. Her father comes first and foremost, always, and there's been Blue, and later Neil, too. But for the waltz, her insufferable boy will always be her favorite. Maybe even moreso than her father, these days.]

It's where I want to be. Near you.

But so good for pouting!

[misterblackbird]

I shall be selfish a moment and say that I'm glad you do--after all your thinking.

It's where I want you to be. And where I want to be too.

[The smallest of pauses--almost a missed step.]

I've so missed seeing you.

Pouty pout pouting runs in the family evidently.

[primrosella]

[Almost, but not quite. A falter, perhaps, but things go on.]

You can be selfish more than a moment, if you like. I rather like it when you do.

[And if resuming their momentum happens to bring her a little closer to him than she was before, well, who can say?]

[misterblackbird]

[Certainly not Cain. He won't raise any kind of objection in the least.]

Do you? Then I shall be selfish as a courtesy to you.

[In fact, he might creep a bit closer to her too.]

[riceballfruit]

[She nods, and her smile falters when she does the opposite, going forward when he does.]

I'm sorry! [She quickly corrects it, but still has to apologize.]

[primrosella]

Selfish as a courtesy? Why, what a terribly odd thought that is.

[Not that she minds, evidently.]

[universaltranslator]

I guess I can't argue with you there. But hey, at least people are having fun.

[misterblackbird]

I suppose it makes me insufferable. Like so many things I do.

[misterblackbird]

[It's almost endearing. Maybe that's the curse talking.]

Shall I have you stand on my feet? Would that be simpler? I've danced with Merry that way a few times.

[misterblackbird]

I suppose--which is more than can be said for many of the curses.

Have you yet been struck by this one?

[riceballfruit]

[Her endearing? Tohru could never think so. She looks abashed at his offer.]

I'm not that small, though! I could hurt your feet. I'll probably learn better this way.

[misterblackbird]

As you insist, then.

[But he'll go half-tempo for the time being anyway.]

You know, I don't believe we've been introduced yet.

[riceballfruit]

[She's thankful for that. It's a little easier to catch on that way.]

Oh! I'm sorry. I'm Tohru Honda. It's a pleasure to make your acquaintance.

[misterblackbird]

[1, 2, 3. 1, 2, 3. 1, 2, 3.]

Cain Hargreaves. It's likewise a pleasure to make yours, Miss Honda. One can meet all kinds of interesting people at a dance.

[riceballfruit]

Yes, Mr. Hargreaves. This has been a very good way to meet new people. I never thought of it before! I don't go to dances. [Social gatherings = something she doesn't have time for back home.]

[misterblackbird]

Please, call me Cain. Most everyone does.

[Still keeping to half-tempo...]

It's really the best way to meet one another where I come from.

[universaltranslator]

I've been dragged into my fair share of dances, but I don't think I'm cursed myself. What about you?

[misterblackbird]

I'm not quite sure yet. There have been a few times when I've felt obliged to improve on a step or two, but I don't know if that's my familiarity with the dance or if that's the curse.

[universaltranslator]

You're a dancer?

[misterblackbird]

No, but I know how to dance. There is a difference. There used to be quite a few dancers who lived in the opera house--ballet for them; balls for me.

[universaltranslator]

I didn't know you could live in an opera house.

[misterblackbird]

Ordinarily, I suppose one can't. But things are a little different in the City.

Although, I seem to recall hearing about performers living in their performance halls a few times before.

[riceballfruit]

Mister Cain, then. [Said with a little polite nod.]

Then maybe I should attend to some. If I find the time. Does the City have social gatherings?

[misterblackbird]

I hope you can find the the time. There aren't all that many here, but the times we do have celebrations, they really are quite remarkable.

[riceballfruit]

Then the next one the City has, I hope I can make it.

Do you usually go to them?

[misterblackbird]

I hope you can as well.

Yes, I usually do--to enjoy them for themselves, of course, but also because they often remind me a bit of the celebrations I went to in my own world.

[riceballfruit]

Then perhaps I'll see you at one of them. If there are any.

[misterblackbird]

I certainly hope there will be, and I certainly hope that I will see you too.

[riceballfruit]

[She slowly pulls away, one arm extended, hand still on his for a brief moment. They're finally at the other side of the street.]

I hope so, too. Take care, Mister Cain. [A polite bow.]

[universaltranslator]

Do you have any performances there?

[misterblackbird]

And you as well, Miss Honda.

[A polite, but European-style, bow in return. For an absolute beginner, she danced rather well. And he is, he must admit, a little impressed.]

[misterblackbird]

We've had some in the past--unfortunately, I think the number of performers in the City has dwindled somewhat.

[riceballfruit]

[She had practice all day with many other dancers. It helps.]