[ OPEN ] And I'm on tonight you know my hips don't lie and I'm starting to feel it's right

[ombranera]

WHO: Zevran, His Kestrels, and You
WHAT: Music, Dance, Shenanigans
WHEN: Current
WHERE: The Herald's Rest
NOTES: It's Zev and dancing. There might end up being shiftlessness, seductions, and intoxication.

[ The Learning ]

It wasn't an intentional lesson, this. There was music, there was wine, there was talk of dancing in the small cleared space between tables. Tossing about ideas of what to play, how to dance, when Zevran made mention of a method of training oneself to isolate movement that was more or less a dance and the younger Kestrels (all but Settimo) expressed their interest. He sent Vitta to gather a few coin covered scarves and belts in all manner of colors from his room and gathered the rest to walk them through it.

Anyone else that was curious might join in, Zevran was something of a hands on teacher, adjusting posture with a hand to the plane of a back, the curve of a hip, showing with his own demonstrations as much as by moving his students by feel so they knew how it was to stand, to move, to roll. Little things, hip rolls, undulating like a snake, how to pop one's hip or hold one's shoulders still while the legs and hips do their work- these he went through as best he could before Vita returned and he offered a proper demonstration.


[ The Dancing ]

After a quick duet, all rolling hips and wide, flirtatious smiles, the Kestrels took turns dancing either on their own or with someone else that had expressed interest. Zevran, likewise, was content to either offer pointers here and there or dance alongside- or against- anyone that would have him. There was wine, there was music, there was warmth in the building and he could think of no better reason than to attempt to have a good time. The show seemed more than enough for those that didn't wish to participate on their own- apparently anything was a good change of pace from Maryden's ballads now and then.


[ The Mending / The Resting ]

Learning to bend oneself in new and exciting ways, to move or not move as one willed- it could create soreness or the occasional sprain if one was not careful. Teresa took time away from the dancing and the drinking to tend to any that might have twisted something they should not, had slipped and fallen or overextended a limb in an attempt to learn this manner of dancing. Or, more often, to offer glasses of either watered down ale or water proper to those taking a break from all the dancing. Zevran himself would flop down on a chair time to time, shirtless and sweating, watching the group with a crackle of laughter. Now this? This was living.

Comments

The Mending / The Resting

[universal_charm]

Kirk was one of those who was content to watch the show, intrigued when it had begun and calling out our encouragement to the students and a few wolf whistles for the teacher. He joined in with his claps to create a beat, finding himself truly smilingng for what felt like the first time since he'd arrived in this strange world. But watching the way some of the dancers moved their hips, how could one not smile? He took it as a sign some of his luck might be returning that he was in the right place at the right time to witness the impromptu lesson-performance.

He waited for the apparent leader to take a seat before rising with a mug of moderately pleasing ale - the best he could afford anyways and that made "pleasing" a suspect term - and made his way over. He wasn't sure if this was appropriate, but he had never been one to give to much concern to such things anyways. He merely felt he should express gratitude, and so he would. Hopefully that didn't set off a bar fight, but with his past reputation it was as likely as anything. Not that that stopped him, or had ever stopped him before.

"A thanks, for brightening the evening," Kirk smiled with all his natural charm at the handsome lead dancer and held out the mug.

[ombranera]

"More hip, Vita!" With elves there wasn't much hip to begin with and it meant more effort on their part to get anything resembling the usual curvature a human dancer might have naturally. But Vita seemed game enough and rolled through the next set with more hip as requested, earning a handful of applause from her fellow Kestrels. Not the typical lesson- but a good one.

Not what he'd planned for the night in the slightest- a few songs, a few stories, perhaps a round of cards but this? Was better. Certainly a great deal more exciting than going over 'no you need to have tells it won't get you hit for twitching when you look at your cards' for the fifth time this week.

"Mmm?" Zevran turned his head to quirk a brow at the man and the mug, considering both for a moment before accepting. "Well it was this or another rousing round of 'Sera Was Never'. I think I prefer this."

[universal_charm]

"Considering I have no idea what 'Sera Was Never' is, I'll take your word for it," he chuckled, glad the man had accepted and motioned to the chair beside Zevran for permission to sit. Normally he might be more brazen, but he was taking a measure of caution around Skyhold given his status as a Rifter.

"But I can definitely say this is the best thing I've seen since I got here, by far," he threw in a wink and another smile for good measure, glancing briefly to the group still moving on the floor.

[ombranera]

"A charming ballad written for one of the members of the Inquisition." Almost a love ballad at that, which is not at all odd in Zevran's mind. Not in the slightest. Not even a little. Such things were- no that was a lie, it was terribly odd and he was glad to not have to sit through another night of it and longing eyes up to where Sera used to sleep. This? was better.

Zevran lifted his mug in thanks and took a deep drink, pulling back with a faint wince. It was no brandy- but it was not Dwarven Ale either. "You should see them on the flying silks, then, if that is what you fancy. A great deal less fumbling, and more danger."

[universal_charm]

The wince did not escape him and he smiled sheepishly at Zevran, rubbing the back of his neck. He knew it wasn't the best, but at least it didn't run the risk of putting hair on a persons chest either.

"Sorry, it was the best I could get. A couple of weeks here doesn't quite earn me enough for the top shelf," he hooked his thumb back towards the bar with a shrug of 'what can you do?'.

"I've seen show like that before. Anyone who can do that sort of thing is amazing. Did you teach them all they know on the silks too?" He arched a brow with the tiniest curl of his lip in the corner.

[ombranera]

"Most ale this far south leaves something to be desired. Now, if you brought me Dwarven ale? We might have to have words. Angry words." But he had not and thus, Zevran simply nodded for the man to join him if he so wished. Many from here and not seemed curious- more so now that he began walking about without the patch over his eye.

'An air of mystery and danger' Settimo said. Or. Something like that.

"Half of that they already knew. I simply teach them how to enjoy the art, rather than know it to make themselves mindless performers." It is a delicate balance, being skilled to be skilled and being skilled because one wishes to be skilled.

[universal_charm]

"Dually noted," he inclined his head, grateful for the lesson in what ale to serve to - an elf? He was fairly sure elf was right given Zevran's ears, but he wasn't entirely positive. He sat down beside him and leaned back, comfortable as his gaze turned to the dancers still swaying in their make-shift silks.

Kirk wasn't sure what had drawn him to the man, except he seemed to be the leader, and to him the most alluring of the group. Which was reason enough for himself, along with simply being intensely curious. Being tossed into a strange new world with no direction wasn't enough to dampen that part of himself, and it was slowly recovering as he began to carve something like a place for himself here.

"You must really enjoy it then, to be able to teach it," Kirk mused, blue eyes refocusing on Zevran. "What even got you started on it? I mean, if that's not to personal a thing to ask."

[ombranera]

"I had little choice in the matter." Like a great deal of his skills he had to twist into something other than what he'd been trained to do. Finding the joy in it and teaching himself to think of it differently- he had gotten through that part of the process well enough to walk the rest of the Kestrels through the idea. Slowly they were coming around to it. The distinct lack of punishment for failing has helped a great deal. One does well at first or one does not, there was no pain for not picking it up quickly.

If anything it seemed as though Vitta laughed at herself when she misstepped, now. Something that would not have happened a month ago. So quickly they have come so far, his fledglings.

"But it is something I have come to enjoy for its own sake."

[universal_charm]

That was a curious way to word it, and Kirk couldn't quite imagine what the other did that would necessitate that. But it wasn't the first time he had wondered about things here like that. More and more he was understand just how out of his depth he was, though that realization did nothing to curb his curiosity. Even so, he didn't think it wise to press to much further into that particular matter. He hardly knew the man, after all - in fact, he didn't even know his name.

"It certainly shows. A performance is always better when the person enjoys what they're doing, I think," he agreed, letting a sultry little smile curl onto his lips. "So, might I know the name of the best dancer in Skyhold? I want to make sure I don't miss another performance."

[ombranera]

"Zevran Arainai, at your service. Or rather I will be after a moment's rest." It has been some time since he's last done this after all. Stretching himself out before he retires for the night will be something of a requirement; he shall have to recommend the same of his Kestrels. He hadn't expected quite so much attention- oogling? Certainly. A few passes made at himself or his students? Of course.

But active interest in learning? That is something of a surprise. "After a drink or two I might even show you a few of my tricks- if you are of a mind to learn."

[universal_charm]

"Jim Kirk," he introduced himself and shook his head. "No, of course, take your time. You have that way of making it look effortless, but that just means it's all the harder, right?"

The offer took him by surprise. Frankly he had been content to come up and flirt a bit, but the idea of getting a lesson from the man in the alluring dance was.. appealing to say the least. He felt a smile tugging at his lips, the sort of smile he wore when he was presented with the chance to explore something new, learn something new (though it still retained that touch of flirtatiousness).

"I always enjoy the chance to learn new things, especially from someone so skilled," he inclined his head in gratitude. "I apologize ahead of time if I step on your toes."

[ombranera]

"Exactly so." The most impressive feats were those that looked like they could be done in one's sleep, after all. Especially considering it was a part of training to do so while sleep deprived but- no longer. Here and now there was only the warmth, the wine, and the fine company of the Inquisition. A fair and welcome change of pace.

"If you are close enough to step on my toes, Jim Kirk, you are far too close to be observing what is done properly." Not an entirely unattractive idea; but that had not been his intent for the evening. A possible bonus from the attention? Perhaps. But for now he was floating on the drink in his veins and the comfortable security that came from knowing he and his charges were safe.

[universal_charm]

"And here I was hoping for a hands on lesson," he quipped, the words flying from his lips before he really thought about them.

It wasn't that he was expecting much to come of them, but flirting came as naturally as breathing. He had built part of himself around his charm and that glib tongue, and now more than ever he relied on it like a shield in this strange land. It was familiar and comforting in its way, and like anyone lost he clung to those things.

Even as he said it his eyes are on the dancers, head tilted ever so slightly as he watches their movements. It reminded him, in a very shallow and far off way, of club dancing - swaying to a beat, but focusing on certain body movements. He had the distinct notion he might make a fool of himself on the dance floor even with the master's tutelage, but it was a fun evening, and there was no harm in trying. Who knew, maybe it would come in handy someday, even.

"Can I make a request of which color cloth I wear?" he asked him, motioning around his waist so Zevran could catch his meaning. What could he say? He liked the color blue when he could find it, though yellow had a special place in his heart too.