isleofavalon | September Catchall

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.]

[Lorenz starts to shake his head dismissively, hand lifting from Claude's waist to wave away his own overly critical thoughts...

And then he sighs heavily instead, giving Claude a look that half apology half embarrassed.]

You cannot claim to know so little of Fodlish dance, Khalid, that you've not realized I rather forcefully put you into the woman's role. Never mind how terribly inappropriate it is for the two of us to be dancing in the first place.

[And yet he can't quite bring himself to release Claude's hand, either.]

[Disbelief and exasperation cross his features in quick succession.] You didn't forcefully do anything. I don't know the dance like you do, so you taking the lead is practical. And I can't believe I need to point this out, but we both decided to dance together not for propriety, but because it's fun.

[It had been fun, anyway, but Lorenz Killjoy Gloucester just couldn't help himself. Despite the distance Lorenz is trying to put between them, and even thugh his tone is firm, he squeezes Lorenz's shoulder as if to reassure him.]

You know, where I come from, everyone dances with everyone else in a big group. There's no rules about men or women or even social stations. It's supposed to be freeing -- about expressing yourself -- not about putting a bunch of restrictions on it.

[As a general rule if something is enjoyable in any way it is also against the standards of etiquette for the nobility. So it's... is it really any wonder he's so quick to question and stamp out anything that is simply fun for fun's sake?]

That... sounds nice...

[Soft, hesitant, clearly considering how such a thing would work. He does relax a touch under the gentle pressure of Claude's hand but... he can't help the way his mind takes the thread he'd begun to unravel and picks and prods at it until it begins to truly fall apart.

Not after everything he'd said to Marianne.]

Still, a waltz is meant to be... elegant... romantic even.

[He winces even as the word leaves his lips, shaking his head and finally pulling away from Claude completely to pace a tight little circle in the air, one arm tucked protectively around himself.]

Which is precisely why a man is meant to have a woman as his partner, of course.

[Despite the way the words come out, that same arrogant tone whenever he feels he has to explain any part of what is appropriate to Claude but his expression is twisted into something hurt and almost worried.]

All these "meant to"s. Says who? Your dad? He's not here, and even if he was, who cares?

[He shakes his head, getting more perplexed by the moment. Still
he gives him his space as Lorenz paces away, simply posing another question:]

How long are you going to keep on sabotaging your own happiness, Lorenz?

[He wants to argue that it's all well and good to say things like that, insist he shouldn't care what his father thinks. But Claude doesn't have to listen to the man day in and day out. Avalon, of course, is a welcome respite but he's going to go back eventually. And he won't have Claude's guidance or sass to spur him on then.

But that question makes him freeze, gaze snapping up to look at his friend once more. His expression shifts quickly and obviously from startled to guilty to something more sheepish.]

I suppose that is what I'm doing, isn't it? [He's spent so long insisting to himself and others that he wants things to be the way he's resigned himself to that he has trouble seeing the other perspective.] I just... want to do what's best for everyone. Even if that means... [A little huff, dark amusement that he at least has a way to allude to it without saying it.]

Never letting myself have the type of dance partner I want. [The slightest hesitation, face flushing darker and gaze firmly cast aside so he doesn't have to see whatever Claude's response to that might be.] I- I think, that is.

How is that what's best for anyone?

[Veiled allusions and hints might as well be clear as day for Claude, confirming what he'd already figured out. So it also makes him confident in what he says next.]

The new dawn for Fódlan that Teach and I fought for... We're going to create a world where everyone can live how they want. The old rules, the old ways of governing, even the life of a noble that holds you back even here... It's all going to be swept aside for something new. Somewhere you can... [He tilts his head at Lorenz, opts to choose his mode of phrasing,] ...choose whatever dance partner you want.

[He offers a hand to Lorenz once more, a small smile beginning to tug at his expression.] So? What do you say?

Even you, with all your talk of dreams, cannot deny that there is benefit to political alliances reinforced through ties of marriage.

[Don't act like there's no possible benefit, Claude. Neither of them are foolish enough to believe that.

But he doesn't push beyond that, doesn't let himself continue arguing. He knows as well as anyone that he's only making himself miserable. That he will continue to do so if he keeps clinging to these notions but he can't quite turn off the voice in his head, the one that sounds suspiciously like his father, that keeps insisting he's selfish for it.

Still, even after admitting that much (and he knows Claude understands precisely what he meant, especially when he repeats it) the other man offers his hand, a smile. No anger or judgement or any of a million terrible things he might have expected to see.

He offers to just.... return to dancing like it's just another playful offer, like it's not enough to make his heart leap into his throat.]

You- [There's the slightest hitch in his voice that only makes his cheeks brighten and the idea of all the varied implications that could be taken from such a gesture amid this conversation race through his mind for a moment. It's a challenge, not doing something foolish. Whether that's more sabotaging or letting himself act on a single one of the impulses he hides from himself.]

I don't think you're ready for a foxtrot. [A weak smile, not nearly as teasing as he'd meant but it's still something.] Why don't you teach me one of your Almyran dances?

[Claude just rolls his eyes at the talk of political marriages, as if he couldn't imagine anything worse. Sure, he can't deny the benefits, but that's still not his foremost consideration.]

When the time's right, I'll do just that. A party, a big bonfire, good music, and most importantly... [He drops his hand to gesture beneath them.] We'd need to be on solid earth. Being up in the air would make the jumping around part way too tricky.

[He looks back up at Lorenz with a smirk, making it hard to tell whether he's kidding or serious about that last part. All in all, though, it's clear it's nothing like a waltz or a foxtrot.]

Jumping.... around?

[It's strange, somehow, just moving on like it's a normal day and a normal conversation. Like he didn't just tell Claude something that would have gotten him disowned or worse, at the very least made him a pariah.

It's also reassuring in a way he wasn't really prepared for and when Claude gestures below them Lorenz reaches out to catch his hand before he can think any part of this was him denying that offer. No... No he doesn't know what to do with it but he's happy. A strained, relieved kind of pleasantness and Lorenz shakes his head slightly, dismissing the suggestion.]

Then I guess I'll have to teach you a Foxtrot, won't I?

[Then he's tugging Claude along, something fragile about his smile but also probably one of the most genuine ones he's ever seen.]

[Casual as he's acting, Claude is still watching Lorenz and the subtle little shifts in his expression closely, a warm smile of his own in place. He's so caught up in the moment he's surprised when Lorenz is suddenly tugging him along again, and he has to focus back on keeping in step with the taller man.]

Whoa! Someone's eager. [The teasing is gentle, though; he's not actually trying to discourage him. If anything, he wants to see more of that genuine happiness in Lorenz's expression.] Lead on, dance master!

[The teasing only makes him blush a little brighter, hesitating briefly before Claude tells him to continue and he huffs a nervous little laugh before he tries to guide Claude into position. Trying to explain the differences in pacing and movement, less moving against one another and more moving side by side in the same direction.]

Think you can manage it?

[Of course, a foxtrot requires being much closer together so the question comes as Lorenz pulls Claude in against him. The other challenge with the foxtrot is that the position means there's not enough space between them for Claude to watch his feet.]

[Claude listens attentively to the explanation, and nods when he's pulled closer, looking down only briefly to crane his neck and check he's in the right starting position.]

Think so! It's just about timing and counting the steps, so I think I can pull it off.

[This could either go great or horrendously, but at least Lorenz should enjoy seeing him struggle either way.]

Shall we?

We'll keep to a simple circle at first so you can get a feel for it, okay?

[And so Lorenz isn't tempted to throw him off with any twirls.

He doesn't count for him, that would be to easy, he just hums a few simple notes to begin a steady rhythm, something obvious but something Claude will still have to do his own counting for. Lorenz does his best to maintain the rhythm so that his friend can keep up but there's at least a couple times where he has to bite his lip to keep from laughing when the other man stumbles a step.

Hmm.... dare he try to walk him through a change step?]

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