isleofavalon | September Catchall

[While he contemplates the flavour, Claude observes as he begins to float, however marginally.]

Is it just me, or have you gotten a little taller? [He jokes, wondering how long it will take Lorenz to catch on.]

[Lorenz blinks over at him, a soft curious sound escaping him. He does, in fact, have to adjust his gaze downward slightly and that's when he catches on.]

Ah! Oh my- [He almost tips completely sideways as he scrambles to reach down for his seat, overbalancing one way before he manages to snag the underside of the stool and yank himself down, both hands clinging to the bottom of the seat before he can drift away any further.

For as undignified as it is he huffs a soft laugh, shaking his head and trying to stifle an outright giggle.] Well... that was fast.

[Claude reaches as if getting ready to help Lorenz before he tips over, but he manages to right himself on his own without his intervention. He snorts out a laugh.]

Oh, don't fight it! Go forth and spread your wings, little Lorenz bird!

[Lorenz huffs a breath, giving Claude an exasperated look.

He knows better than to argue though so he does release his seat.]

You're not planning on trying even the slightest taste of these, are you?

[Oh... oh dear he's floating a bit quicker now, actually needing to try to keep himself at a level that he can still talk to Claude comfortably. Of course... that very much means that any hope of maintaining a sitting or even standing position is long gone. So now he's just horizontal. Wonderful.]

If that's the case can we move away from the bar lest I end up bumping into someone.

Nope, sorry.

[He admits it with a smile containing no remorse whatsoever.]

Alright, let's move. [He'll just... grab his arm and lead him away from the bar like a very weird, very realistic Lorenz-shaped balloon. Lorenz probably can't control which direction to fly in yet, and holding onto him is a good idea lest he drift away entirely.]

[He scowls at the other man briefly but surrenders to the inevitability of it, allowing himself to be tugged along like some sort of kite. At least while Claude is guiding him he can attempt to shift positions so he's not entirely horizontal, something that proves to be more difficult than expected.]

I cannot imagine how someone unaccustomed to physical exertion would fare with this. It's...

[He taps lightly at Claude's hand once they're out of the way and manages to move to be parallel with him but it clearly requires some effort, his arms circling in the air not unlike the way one treads water while swimming. Just... that the drag is in reverse.]

More work than one might imagine.

[As demonstrated by the fact that he is gradually drifting back from Claude, enough that he reaches out to snag his hand again, carefully anchoring himself to his friend].

[Claude has to bite the inside of his lip to try very, very hard not to burst out laughing. He lets his hand be snagged again, hanging on tight to reassure him he won't let him float away.

Even if it would be hilarious.]

Maybe you're overthinking it and you just need to relax? I'm sure it's supposed to be fun, not hard work.

Yes well, perhaps, it would be if I needn't concern myself with staying near to the ground because someone- [A pointed look, a harder squeeze to his hand. Yes you, hypocrite.] someone that likes to lecture about throwing caution to the wind and having fun, I might add, is too busy taking notes.

[It might have started out with genuine annoyance but there's a teasing edge to his words and a hint of a challenge in his eyes by the time he's done. At which point he does precisely as Claude said. He relaxes.

Oh he still holds onto Claude's hand so he doesn't drift too far but he does bob up again, leaving his positioning up to just how far Claude wishes to lift his hand.]

Sure, but you and I both know that you need the fun more than I do! It's no good if I just floated off and left you behind.

[When is he not a hypocrite, really? Lorenz just has to live with it. Claude does raise his arm about as high as it'll go, then stands on his tiptoes, grinning.]

Feeling confident enough to let go?

[Lorenz scoffs dramatically, rolling his eyes... and the grudging smile on his face tilting up into a sly little smirk that he does his best to fight down.

Only to release Claude's hand abruptly in answer, dipping down enough to throw an arm around him instead. He pushes off of absolutely nothing, not unlike a maneuver he's done a thousand times with a touch of wind magic to dodge back from spells and arrows alike, only this time pulling Claude along with him into the air. Not far, Claude's a fair bit too heavy for Lorenz to lift comfortably with his equilibrium centered strangely.

But it's enough to take his feet off the ground for one breathless moment before Lorenz spins them in a tight circle and puts him back down, laughing before he can stop himself.]

[Claude's so taken aback by being suddenly pulled up that Lorenz is treated to the rare sight of him looking totally startled.]

Whoa, what--? [He clings on to him as he realises what's happening, and laughs as he feels himself spun through the air. It's only when he feels his feet touch solid ground again that he lets go, looking at Lorenz with amused incredulity. Could it be that Lorenz is actually having fun?]

[It's difficult for him to just let go of all the constant concerns or propriety and etiquette and simply exist. He usually needs to be goaded into it and if nothing else Claude is very good at getting under his skin. Even then a hand comes up to hide his laughter, stifling it through some misguided attempt to remain in perfect control of himself.

His genuine laughter is a fair bit more pleasant than the carefully cultivated laugh he allows himself in courtly circles. More of a breathy chuckle than the haughty thing he usually hides behind. So... yes. He is having fun.

Perhaps too much fun because now that he's a bit more accustomed to his center of gravity rotating on the opposite axis he's accustomed to he floats back from Claude, tapping his lip thoughtfully as he glances around to gauge the space.]

You want to know something, what are you trying to figure out about all of this?

Honestly, it's nothing deep. I just wanted to see what would happen before I signed up. I've never seen a potion or anything here that can do something like that, but now you've got me tempted to try it myself.

[He moves back over to the bubble bar, eyeing the selection.] Think I should just pick a random flavour and go for it?

[It'll even out the playing field a little if he gets something gross and Lorenz gets to see him suffer, right?]

That's precisely what you convinced me to do.

[Another playful sort of huff but now the spin has him thinking.... goodness it's been months since he had any reason to dance but... perhaps....]

I suppose if you don't wish to be left behind down here you should.

[Because he's just going to once again push off of air, spinning around only to catch himself higher up. He beams at Claude for a moment before throwing himself backwards in a flip that gains him more altitude and- Yes, he's far more occupied with testing out various dancing and tumbling moves in mid-air than letting Claude taunt him now.

Claude's the one that wanted him to let go.]

[He look as happy as a horse prancing in a field... or a pegasus cavorting playfully through the air, he supposes. He watches Lorenz with a smile before moving over to the bubble bar, picking the closest flavour, and breathing in deep.

It tastes of incredibly sour cherries, and he screws up his face a little just tasting it, but already he can feel the weight seemingly leaving his body as his feet rise off the ground.]

Alright, Lorenz, I'm-- hic!-- coming, ready or not-- hic! [...That would sound a little better without the hiccuping out bubbles. He pushes himself off the bar to take to the air, a little unsteady at first, but soon able to slow down enough to get his balance right.]

[It's rather satisfying to see Claude fumble himself, even if it is only briefly. Especially since, now that he's embraced it, Lorenz finds himself quite at home in the air, all long lines and graceful arches... yes, perhaps he is showing off like a dressage horse but he's enjoying himself so Claude can just keep that observation to himself.

Still, seeing the bubbles that poor Claude is creating he can't help collapsing into a poorly stifled fit of laughter again.]

You look ridiculous.

[Claude pretends to look offended, puttings his hands on his hips as if getting ready to deliver a stern lecture. Which only looks more ridiculous, of course, given they're floating in midair.]

Now, now Lorenz! I'll have you know-- hic! [Whatever point he was about to make is cut off by more bubbles, and he settles for taking a deep breath and clamping his mouth shut until the hiccups stop.

Well, that's one way for him to shut up, however temporarily.]

[He's going to fall into a gigglefit without even the excuse of wine this time if Claude keeps it up.]

You'll have me know...? [He floats closer, brow quirked, lip bitten to keep himself from laughter. It's mean, perhaps, the way he snatches up Claude's hand again and this time twirls him around in place. Claude had already had difficulty keeping himself steady. Still, he draws the other man's hand up to spin him, very much like a particular dance move-

Only to fail so dramatically at smothering his laughter as Claude comes back around that he makes this awful, unbecoming sort of giggle-snort that somehow turns into a stream of similar bubbles from his nose. Which has him clamping both hands over his face in an instant.]

Ah-- Hey! [Claude has to let out the breath he was holding in surprise as Lorenz spins him around. He's not graceless, exactly, but certainly more comfortable in the air atop a wyvern than using magical nonsense to float about.

Though Lorenz's giggle-snort has him laughing too as he comes back around. What a dork.]

Is my air-dancing really that bad? [He leans back suddenly to imitate Lorenz dipping him.]

[He is a dork but Claude knew that a long, long time ago.]

Well it's certainly no waltz.

[Half muffled behind his hand, still not certain willing to pull his hand away lest more bubbles escape. Hopefully he startled Claude enough to save him from bubble hiccups though?

It takes a moment to calm his laughter, finally clearing his throat, still fighting a grin and as he drifts back towards Claude, holding a hand out with a slight bow. A clear offer. If they're going to air dance it may as well be together, right?]

[The hiccups have, thankfully, subsided, so Lorenz helped!]

I never did learn to waltz, so no shocker there. [Still, he takes Lorenz's hand with a smile and a cheeky wink.] But I don't mind doing things your way for once.

[So if Lorenz wants to dance, Claude will follow his lead.]

All this time and you never-

[Perhaps Claude should indulge him more often because instead of his usual irritation he just gets an incredulous laugh. A slight roll of his eyes, simply taking Claude's hands and tugging him along in looping circles. Little adjustments here and there regarding positioning of hands and another amused little murmur.]

At least I don't need to worry about you trodding on me this way.

[But that is surely all the more reason to continue guiding him through little spins here and there just... enjoying the opportunity to keep Claude on his toes for once.]

[Blessed with quick feet and a good sense of rhythm, Claude can keep up with Lorenz well enough, even if there's no music. Still, his expression is focused keenly on Lorenz under that grin of his, making sure he matches each step in tandem, and so the twirls don't throw him completely.]

I could get used to this!

[He laughs. What 'this' refers to, exactly -- dancing, or having fun goofing off with Lorenz, both? -- is anyone's guess.]

[Maintaining the rhythm is made easier by the fact that Lorenz, without really thinking about it or realizing it, begins humming, soft as can be. Even in his arms as he is Claude would have to concentrate to follow the melody. Still the comment makes Lorenz laugh, bright and cheerful at first-]

Shouldn't you already be rather used to being in the air?

[Of course... then it occurs to him that it's not the elevation that Claude is referring to. But perhaps the dancing or carefree attitude that comes with the thrill of weightlessness... or even their proximity.

The last thought has his cheeks flushing lightly and he seems to abruptly be more aware of just how close the other man is, how improper it is for two men to be seen dancing together, for... for all of it. It's a gradual thing, though. Not a sudden rush of panic but instead his movements slow, his posture tenses, he begins to put more space between them again, expression falling.]

I- I feel like I should apologize...

[Claude frowns, bright expression clouding over.] For what, exactly?

[They'd been having fun, and at worst, Lorenz had teased him a little, though no more than Claude had done to him. He has no idea what else he could be referring to.

Of course, Lorenz's body language says plenty on its own so Claude can make a few guesses, but he wants to hear it from Lorenz himself.]

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