Dance Dance Reprobation

[magicademymods]

The Twilight Ball Arrival The Promenade has been transformed. Literally. With Modification. Ha ha. Cough. Crickets. Toad familiars eat the crickets. Circle of life. Animals bow before singing lions. You get the idea. Neither tree nor stone form the Promenade now. It is instead a long bridge over a shallow and brilliant pool, the gentle ripples of which catch the afternoon sun and scatter it into a million highlights that play over the Great Hall, the bridge, and those who walk down it. There is no formal receiving line, merely a gentle procession of people across the bridge at whatever speed feels comfortable, slowly making their way to the Great Hall. The Great Hall itself has been enchanted to be completely invisible while one is inside it, save for the outline of doors so people can actually find their way out through means other than smacking their noses into the invisible walls till they find a place with no resistance. Thus the twilight for which the ball is named will show all around the dancers, while they are protected from any errant breezes, faint hints of rain, or slime monsters that might otherwise threaten the festivity. Come in. Find your date and get comfortable. The fun is just beginning. Let the Revels Begin After Headmaster Birony welcomes everyone with a speech about she's going to get on her boat, go upriver, and kick that sonuvabitch Bison's ass so HORDT that the next Bison-wannabe is gonna feel it, the dance formally begins with a peppy number designed to get people out and moving. The orchestra here comprises some of the finest players available anywhere in the world, thanks to the whole Valhudor shtick and graduates of said house, and the music is infectious as it drifts through the slowly-darkening air. But as the dance progresses, they play something for everyone. Martial waltzes and slow dance ballroom numbers. Powerful tunes to lose yourself in, and gentle melodies that slip beneath conversation and encourage intimacy and closeness. Professors Trammel and King treat everyone to an exhibition of what an Earth resident might call 'swing dancing on amphetamines' and many students do call 'the closest I have ever come to death'. No pause for speeches, no announcements or interruptions -- just a steady stream of music, bringing dates and lovers together in dance, as the sun sets and casts the room into gentle and romantic twilight. Also a dolphin and a whale are swimming through the floor and they, too, are unmistakably dancing. If this is the weirdest thing you've seen all night, you need your eyes checked. "Food! One of the food tables has been discreetly slid against a wall, where it positively shudders under the weight of a massive buffet open to everyone. The food here tends towards the light, such as fish and vegetables, cucumber sandwiches and thin-sliced meats. Things that will give you energy without weighing you down, so you can keep dancing till the dawn comes. At one end of the table, an owl the size of a cupboard sits on a perch, serenely watching the varied drinks laid out for consumption. 'Spiking the punch' is so cliche that no one is going to pretend it won't happen or the students will behave on their honor, so here you get a chaperone. Even so, this whole area is a popular gathering spot for those between dances or partners, drawing steady attention throughout the night. Meanwhile, Elsewhere Shockingly, not everyone has found that loving feeling, asked out an attractive someone, and gone to the dance with romance on their minds. The rest of the campus, and of course Anastara itself, remain open as normal... and perhaps even less-minded than normal. The faculty, the familiars, the cleaning golems -- almost all attention is on the dance itself. If there's mischief to manage, now would be the perfect time... or just something else besides wallflowering and missing out. Wait, Wasn't There a Ghost Dragon and an Off-Brand Shoggoth? Professor King managed to find a way around the protoplasmic ooze's resistance to magic and splatted it (with no small amount of help from students and faculty!). The dragon disappeared into the caverns beneath the Magicademy. That certainly isn't ominous and won't inspire anyone to go down there, will it? Don't fall in the river down there. Please don't fall in the river.

Comments

[areasontohope]

When Fluttershy mentioned dancing first, Yuki felt himself get nervous. Of all the things she could've chosen to do, she had to choose the one thing that he felt all wasn't going to go well for.

But this night was for her and he recalled that, taking a deep breath. Maybe she'd just want one dance, that couldn't hurt.

"Let's go." He sounded more confident than he felt. Noticing one of the guys that had asked Fluttershy out lurking about, he took her hand and walked with her to the dance floor.

Once there Yuki slightly bowed, holding one hand out to her and the other was behind his back. "May I have this dance?"

[shiningkindness]

If she noticed one of the other students that had tried asking her to the dance, she didn't say anything as she walked with him to the dance floor.

Then, with a small smile, she responded with a small curtsy (or something looking like one).

"I'd be honored to."

[areasontohope]

Honestly, he had no idea how she wasn't tripping over her gown. And he couldn't hide his surprise when Fluttershy curtsied to him though he had seen such a thing when learning how to dance at Grokin Derfeur's court.

Yuki just smiled as he straightened up, fighting not to show how nervous he is at this. He held himself still as he waited for her to come into his arms and tried to tell himself to breathe.

[shiningkindness]

In all honesty, Fluttershy was pretty nervous herself. While she'd been to dances before, she'd never had a date, not like this, so dancing so close this way was entirely new to her.

Still, despite her own nervous smile that was less well hidden, she stepped closer and placed her hand in his.

[areasontohope]

Realizing she might be nervous, Yuki moved the rest of the way to close the distance between them. He could now physically feel himself shaking because lifelong habits of worrying about transforming weren't going to magically just up and disappear, even if he told himself that he was just being childish and stupid.

If they screwed this up, they'd screw it up together he supposed.

He fought to remember the steps the king's people had taught him, but nothing was coming to mind as Fluttershy got close. So he tried to smile for her.

"Ready?"

[shiningkindness]

Glancing up at him, she managed to return the smile, even if it is still a bit nervous.

"M-Mmhmm...ready."

[areasontohope]

Well, there was nothing to do but get this done. Luckily he remembered just in time what foot to lead off on and so he moved. It wasn't as bad once he got started, but Yuki wasn't sure if they should talk during this dance. They probably should, but he figured he might forget something if he started a conversation.

So he covered the nervousness by just keeping a small smile on his face.

[shiningkindness]

Fluttershy didn't seem to mind the silence as they danced. Though it did feel a bit awkward. Still, as she glanced up at him, she could help a smile of her own.

[areasontohope]

Well, Fluttershy wasn't talking and was that a bad sign? Belatedly Yuki realized that he'd almost stepped on her beautiful dress wondering about that, but he'd managed to avoid it at the last moment.

So he'd have to broach the topic he supposed.

"After this dance, did you want to take a break or dance some more?"

[shiningkindness]

Glancing up at him, she thought for a moment.

And honestly, she was going to say they could take a break, so it wouldn't be so awkward for them.

"M...Maybe we can see how we feel after this...?"

...Or that.

[areasontohope]

"That sounds like a good plan." Yuki said this with a nod and a smile.

He was quiet for another minute or two but then the song ended. And then something romantic sounded like it was starting to play.

His nerves felt like they were on edge but he had made the decision to let Fluttershy dictate the evening, so it was his job to basically shut up and let her run it. However, he could give options though this time they would be dancing even closer together.

"Did you want to dance again?"

[shiningkindness]

She noticed the new song beginning to play as well, and she couldn't help a blush. Dancing to a song like this, even closer than before made her a bit nervous, but...

Was it strange that she also kind of wanted to?

"...I-I mean...i-if that's...okay?" To be honest, though, she wasn't sure if she was asking him, or herself.

[areasontohope]

Inwardly his jaw dropped at Fluttershy's response. But he tried to cover his nervousness with a smile.

"Of course it's okay. I asked you if you wanted to dance again, right?"

Yuki could feel himself shaking but again this was her evening.

[shiningkindness]

She nodded a bit. "W-Well, you did, yes. But...I want to make sure you're enjoying yourself too."

[areasontohope]

They were both hesitating and Yuki realized it.

He would never force her to do anything, but it did seem like Fluttershy wanted to dance to this..song.

But he held out his hand to her as he waited.

"It's up to you."

[shiningkindness]

Her heart thumping in her chest, she blushed as she glanced away a moment. Then, still with a bit of hesitance, she reached up and placed her hand in his, taking a step closer.

[areasontohope]

Somehow he shouldn't have been surprised that Fluttershy took his hand, but he was. His legs were shaking and Yuki was glad he had a long white coat that partly hid them, convinced as he was that she would somehow notice them.

'Breathe, just breathe.' Yuki told himself as he tried not to squeeze her hand too tightly when he felt it in his. With a nervous sort of nod, he remembered how to do the whole lead thing and moved closer to her.

He took a deep breath and got as close to her as he could, repositioning their hands as they had been before. This time he didn't ask if she was ready, he simply lead.

[shiningkindness]

She didn't really notice him being nervous, too nervous herself. But she somehow managed to follow his lead, even while her heart was racing.

It was still...nice though. Despite how nervous she was, once they started dancing, it was easy to forget all that for a moment and just think about moving with him to the music.

[areasontohope]

Yuki couldn't say it, but he knew if he managed to ever hear this song again, it was always going to bring Fluttershy to mind. And he tried to focus on something else instead of listening to the words.

He thought to talk about her hair but that was stupid so that thought was dismissed. And he was sure his face was turning red because of the words to the song and the way the lights were dancing in Fluttershy's hair.

There was no escaping this, and Yuki's breath constricted slightly as he realized his hold on her had gotten just a little tighter.