Chapter 286: Speed Dancing, Part
I’ve only danced a few times in my life... even lesser times actually accompanied. Focusing on keeping in grace with the melody, I wouldn’t know my right foot from my left.
But out of respect and for the keepsake of tradition, I bottled away those qualms and tightly sealed the cap shut. Now was I supposed to stand here or was I supposed to stand there? The announcer said to line ourselves, and yet everyone’s placement felt sporadic and spontaneous.
Then just as spontaneous and sporadic, the music began to play and suddenly it was a free-for-all scramble for a partner. When the commotion had dwindled and the dust had cleared, I found myself hand-in-hand with an Elf.
It wasn’t Ash, sadly. No, I looked around, scoured, as I clumsily tried to keep pace... and I saw her distinct flutter of white quite a ways away, waltzing along to the music, her hands entwined with that of the seriously, astronomically, undeniably lucky individual that got to her first.
The sight stung... like a little prickle to the heart to that heart that just kept stabbing deeper and deeper. My dance partner was a little concerned, understandably so. Maybe she was under the impression I didn’t wanna dance with her from the way I kept slanting my eyebrows.
Whatever though, I’d eventually get my turn somewhere down the line. Most I could do was keep shifting inch by inch towards her position, and pray to whatever Divines that were up there watching for that early chance.
A step, a bow at a time, I slowly started growing accustomed to the customs. Every so occasionally, once there was a brief break in the melody, that was everyone’s cue to switch partners, spinning the full 180 to the newest nearest individual in proximity.
.....
There was also no differentiating between sexes. Apparently, the Divines were advocates of equal opportunity, thus if it so happens that I get paired with another guy, then a guy it was.
Made for some pretty awkward first few moments, I won’t deny... especially when you both swing one way and not the other. But I find that so long as we avoided eye contact throughout, it was all good.
I didn’t mind it so much... Honestly, I was always too busy waiting for the next pause in the melody to even focus on who I was dancing with at the current moment.
This process repeated itself a few more times, every pause, every segue, I danced, I pranced, always in the arms of another... but always a stranger. Then a crescendo of violins cued in a silence, and I turned, looked, and almost immediately smiled.
The music picked up again, plucking to the rhythm of a more dainty tune. Still smiling, I took a polite bow to which she complemented with a slight curtsy, and afterward, when I took my new partner’s hand into my own, I had to take great caution simply to avoid scraping the sides of my fingers with her razor-sharp tips.
And for the first time, I was actually paying very close attention to the waltzing beat of my feet.
“Well now,” I muttered nonchalantly, very nearly chuckling. “I didn’t know you danced.”
I spun her around clumsily, and her body twirled around me gracefully, and she replied back just as casually.
“Special... occasions...”
I pulled us left, perhaps a bit hasty. “Occasion has to be pretty special then.”
Yet she followed along with my movements effortlessly. “It... is...”
We swayed, we flowed, one end a gently coursing river... and on the other, a raging rapid constantly shifting tides. Seeing as how she was the better between us two, I let her take charge, while I just... kinda trailed along.
“Have you... decided yet...?”
So it wasn’t just a dance, then... she wanted some answers too.
“Yes, I have,” I replied.
“I... see...” She pressed further. “Who is... it...?”
I smiled. “Well, wouldn’t you like to know?”
“I... would...”
“Can I ask why you would?”
“I’m... curious...”
“Curious,” I repeated, recalling our prior conversation. “Is that ‘meaning of love’ thing again, isn’t it?”
“You love... Ash...” She suddenly spurted out of the blue, nearly sending me on a collision course with the other dancers. “From you... maybe I can feel how it feels... through your love... from her...”
This girl’s got unconventional priorities, I’m telling you. Well at least, she’s open about them... actually speaking out her motives, unlike a certain other woman around here. Nudge, nudge. Cough cough.
I can understand that line of thinking, but it’s got me begging to ask...
“Wouldn’t you rather feel love for yourself instead of through others?”
There was a stillness that washed over the hall, the break in the music signaling our cue to switch. Our little frolic came to a halt, she no longer led, and I no longer followed. Adalia slowly drew her hands away from mine, drew herself away from me.
“Perhaps... one... day...”
Then, just as sudden, the silence was gone, and the music seamlessly picked up once again.
We spun around, turning our backs to each other, and as we were greeting our newfound partners with the customary courtesies, I heard a fleeting whisper from behind.
“Keep shifting... left...” It said to me. “You’ll find her... there...”
Well then, thanks very much for the heads up mysterious, listless, vampire cupid. Appreciate the directions.
Shifting, spinning, whirling, bowing from one partner to another, I gradually made my way further left, having a hearty romp with all sorts of creatures fascinating which were also plenty enough to fill an entire bestiary on which race was the better dance than the other.
Werewolves were hard to hold. I noticed that the succubi tend to often trip on their tails. Orcs had big limbs so mind the feet. Don’t even get me started on the ones with long protruding horns, oh boy... guy nearly gouged my eye out taking a bow.
This went on for a couple of tunes more, I don’t how many more paces left I could take before I end up bowing my head to the wall instead. I couldn’t see her anywhere, and it certainly didn’t help that I was constantly moving about as if I was on a musical merry-go-round.
Another seamless segue to another dainty tune. I bid my goblin partner farewell and spun around disheartened... I’m getting worried this whole thing would end before I even get my chance for that one-on-one dance. Doesn’t help that one of the bards working the pan flute looked already on the verge of collapse from a lack of breath.
Then I looked up at my dance partner anew, saw stark black in every furls and curls of a gown, saw bright gold hair tied in ribbons cascading curled with a curtsy.
“Dear Jester,” She spoke pretentiously, a slender gloved hand outstretched, paired with a glossy smile. “Will you grant me the honor of a dance for only but a moment brief?”
Amanda exuded elegance, permeated beauty and grace with the slightest of movements. Too bad I couldn’t see none of that. No, all I saw was the gleam of mischief in her gaze and the conniving smirk on her face.
It was a cockiness look worthy of Ria, really...
“Shouldn’t it be the other way around?” I said, slowly taking her hand into my own. “The princess asking for a dance from a jester... not much for high standards, are you?”
“Beauty’s in the eye of the beholder, as they do say,” She said, her other hand on my shoulder, and mine on her waist. “And would you look at that? You’re all that I can see right now.”
“Nice try. But you can’t flatter your way out of this one, Amanda,” I whispered, then whispered even louder. “Speaking of which, just what the hell is this?”
She giggled, pulled my arms for a twirl, then facing me again, she whispered back. “It’s a dance, silly. Now dance properly... I’m wearing heels, and yet you’re the one here that’s tripping all over himself instead.”
“You know what I mean,” I hissed under a breath. “Your idea? This here? Don’t like it, hate it. What the hell were you thinking? Putting yourself as a grand prize? Putting Ash?! Are you out of your mind?”
“Hey, I told you already if I told you beforehand you’d absolutely say no,” She said, finding amusement in my outrage. “You were properly warned, all things considered.”
“Warned of what? Warned of this?” I spun us a full circle around the room. “How the hell was I supposed to ever consider this?”
“Hmm,” She frowned. “I suppose you don’t.”
“You just threw yourselves in a den of starving wolves.”
“I know!” She said heartily. “Isn’t that wonderful? In fact, I think Ash is actually stealing the show. Everybody just keeps shoving each other just to get to her.”
I gaped at her as I twirled her again. “You know, I don’t think you’re quite getting it.”
“Actually, I think it’s you that’s not quite getting it.”
“Really, now?” I said, eyes wide open in disbelief. “Okay then, tell me, dear princess? What exactly am I supposed to be getting here?”
“That you can no longer just sit and stare doing nothing as you’ve always done,” She pulled me close, her whispers in my ear. “Now, you actually have to get your ass up and finally make that decision.”
My eyes were just staring again, still stuck trying to process things out. “That’s petty as all hell.”
“It is petty. I am petty.” She said, leading our waltz to the middle of the chamber with large strides. “But at least I know what I want... and at least I’m willing to do whatever it takes in order to get it. Question is now, my dear jester... are you?”
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