open | your baddest behavior

[cozen]

WHO: Alexandrie, Bastien, Byerly, and their captive audience
WHAT: Mandatory etiquette and dance lessons
WHEN: Justinian 15, 9:45
WHERE: The Gallows
NOTES: See the OOC post and IC announcement for more information! If you didn't sign up, you can still participate in Parts A and D, and just handwave the other two, without needing to sign up or get an assignment. If you want to do B and C, you can find your own dance partner/seating group OOC, or you can sign up now and we'll dole out new assignments if we get enough latecomers to do so. If you signed up and are missing from the lists when you shouldn't be, I'm sorry and please tell me!

disclaimer: event less fancy than pictured

Seating Assignments
— Table One: Gwenaëlle, Iorveth, Matthias, Athessa
— Table Two: Flint, Ilias, Darras, Med Seller, Yngvi
— Table Three: Julius, Thranduil, Anders, Brienne
— Table Four: Benedict, Colin, Valentine, Six, Derrica
— Table Five: Teren, Salvio, Bartimaeus, Osana
— Table Six: Freddie, Petrana, Kain, Merrill, Silver
— Table Seven: Yseult, Cosima, Steve, Inessa
— Table Eight: Sidony, Fifi, Nell, Fingon
— Table Nine: Thor, Nathaniel H., Solas, Skadi

Dance Partners
— Cosima & Nathaniel H.
— Athessa & Anders
— Teren & Flint
— Freddie & Bartimaeus
— Yseult & Darras
— Nell & Julius
— Merrill & Colin
— Skadi & Benedict
— Gwenaëlle & Solas
— Petrana & Salvio
— Osana & the Medicine Seller
— Sidony & Matthias
— Six & Thranduil
— Brienne & Valentine
— Fifi & Steve
— Thor & Fingon
— Ilias & Iorveth

Comments

[katabasis]

"Once or twice."

His fingers are rough, calloused to the point of scuffing as he takes her offered hand - raises it a by some small degree and inclines his head with a sly sidelong look that speaks definitively toward the concept of this being familiar territory. Indeed, in the evening's flurry of lavish gowns and well-tailored vests, the captain has somehow managed to seem strangely suited to the whole affair. Never mind that he's clearly made no effort whatsoever to tailor his wardrobe for the occasion. There is something both striking and chameleon like about the dark coat, the clean press of his shirt, the brass and copper rings on his fingers.

Maybe it's simply a matter of confidence - a certain ease in whichever room he's forced to occupy. Or maybe this is simply just as much a stretch as anything else is, and he's well practiced with pretending.

He certainly doesn't hesitate to lead her into the dance once the clack-clack-clack of the staff on stone finds its rhythm.

[doneisdone]

Her hand would no doubt match his in roughness if it weren't for the gloves, which were chosen, perhaps, for that very reason. Teren is relieved, however, that she won't have to teach some young idiot how to comport himself in this scenario, and is swept into step easily enough despite being a little rusty.

"It's been a while," she mutters in lieu of an apology, stepping once with the wrong foot but correcting it quickly, "and they've changed it."

[katabasis]

"The pair across from us know what they're doing," he says in kind, without so much as glancing in Petrana and the Seneschal's direction as he leads (in so much as one is able) Teren through what are the very basic but perfectly serviceable version of the steps being trotted around at the room. Clack, clack, clack says the base of the staff on the stone floor. "Though I'm afraid you'll have to forgive me if we skip the part where I take a knee. I might never get back upright again."

Some anonymous twitch behind his whiskers imply it's probably a joke. He's certainly seems spy enough on his feet anyway, even if their direction or timing isn't always quite up to scratch.

[doneisdone]

"Bully for them," sighs Teren, casting a glance their way but otherwise opting to rely on herself. Flint's joke results in the twitch of an eyebrow and a quick, wry glance, but yields no commentary from her: technically Teren is the same, but she's pretending at being ladylike tonight, and bellyaching about her various pains wouldn't exactly fir the grift.

"Where'd you learn," she asks after a time.

[katabasis]

"This may shock you, but Tevinter has dancing." Is the off the cuff answer for the woman who is masquerading as a lady. For the one he'd seen with her boot planted in the back of a Venatori spy, Flint adds, "I was made to learn the basics as a boy, and later knew a woman who enjoyed teaching."

The usual way anyone learns dancing, he supposes. By being compelled into it first by necessity.

"You?"

[doneisdone]

His sassy answer merits a smirk, and Teren doesn't push the matter. "I attended the occasional grand Orlesian party in my time," she says evasively, "it was important to fit in, as it is now."