(Untitled)

[kira_galliard]

{Early Evening- Tuesday, 29th June ~ Day 394}
{Crossroads DanceHall}

Tonight I'm gonna have myself a real good time
I feel alive
And the world turning inside out, yeah
And floating around in ecstasy, so
Don't stop me now
Don't stop me
'Cuz I'm having a good time, having a good time

It is finally time to open the doors

Comments

[marbasthefallen]

"Oh, the shark, babe, has such teeth, dear
And it shows them pearly white
Just a jackknife has old MacHeath, babe
And he keeps it … ah … out of sight."

It's an annoying habit I am sure I picked up from Wanda, but I find that once a song gets in my head, it's stuck. I am softly singing that under my breath as I wander into the dance hall. I've now taken to following Lucien, at a discrete distance of course. Thought I had my chance on Sunday in the park... but he got caught up with the mechanic girl and stayed at the fairgrounds all bloody day. At least I don't have to be quite so secretive here. It is a public function after all...

And I see there is little chance of catching him alone now that he's talking to the sin eater. Damn, he'll probably walk her home too, gentlemanly fuck that he is. This? This is getting irritating. I am reaching the point where I will have to do it in the middle of the street in broad daylight.

Look around for something to distract me, and there's a small, dark haired thing, and she has a scent about her...
it's old yet familiar.

I drift closer to see her stash some choice morsels in her jacket. "They are usually better the day they are made." I say dryly, giving her a smile over the rim of my cup. "Life is sweeter in the moment, and the future is often not as pleasing as one thinks it will be."

[silence_excolo]

"They are usually better the day they are made." Turn my head to see a well-dressed man, blond, smiling at me over his drink. His smooth manner, his sharp smile, make me think of something predatory. But it's his eyes that draw me in, more than anything. There's fire there. I find I'm staring a little too long, I think, while he keeps talking. "Life is sweeter in the moment, and the future is often not as pleasing as one thinks it will be."

"Said the grasshopper to the ant," I shrug, looking down at the remaining sandwich in my hand, "or maybe you've never had cole slaw." Realize after I've said it that he may not have, actually. Seems funny, somehow. "Or maybe I'm just not that hungry now." Take a quick bite & grab a cup of mead.

I see Sapphira's here, in a brilliant mask. Lucien, too, but they're about the only people I recognize as of yet. Oh, the red-haired sheriff's here, in a dress even. I'm starting to feel a little out of place in my old black jeans, boots, t-shirt & jacket. But hey, I came here to work... then why am I still here? I look back at the man as he takes another drink. He is handsome... but odd, somehow.

Am I flirting?

[marbasthefallen]

"Said the grasshopper to the ant," Grin at the analogy, but shake my heand and chuckle at the coleslaw comment. "Or maybe I'm just not that hungry now."

She looks around as she quickly takes a bite of whatever's in her hand and a gulp of her drink. What a quixotic bundle, she is. From the Carnival, if Lucien's memories serve me correctly.

"Or maybe you're more ravenous than you're letting on, and the wait will make the food all the more delictable later." I muse idly, then grin. "But I do not suggest that with coleslaw. Never keeps long and it's hell to get out of one's pockets."

Extend a hand to her. "Arik Underwood. One of the school teachers. Pleased to meet you...?"

[silence_excolo]

"Or maybe you're more ravenous than you're letting on, and the wait will make the food all the more delictable later." The way this guy chooses his words... ravenous? Delectable? He likes to be heard. Find I'm not minding listening, though. "But I do not suggest that with coleslaw, he adds with a grin. "Never keeps long and it's hell to get out of one's pockets." I can't help a small laugh at that imagery. "I just meant it's usually better the day after it's made, but yeah." Suppose I could've said mulled cider or something else, but it was the first thing that came to mind.

He holds his hand out & I take it before I realize I have. "Arik Underwood. One of the school teachers. Pleased to meet you...?"

"I'm called Silence," & I swear, I can't get the image of fire out of my head. ""Work for the Carnival." Wonder briefly if he was part of that riot, how he'll react to that knowledge. "Got asked to help set this place up," I offer as explanation. Pull my hand back.

"School teacher, huh?" Take a sip of the mead. It's pretty good. I'm tempted to look further, to read his Pattern, but I stop myself. Still a bit unsure of what might happen, were I to try. Too much power in this town lately, I don't want to risk any more damage. Stick to the surface for now. He seems normal, mortal, but maybe he's been touched by something powerful, like the hostess.

[marbasthefallen]

Never been a fan of coleslaw myself. Something unnatural about mayonnaise, but the thought is soon driven away by her laugh.

She takes my hand and introduces herself as "Silence". Oh yes, I remember now. Something about balancing the games. "Got asked to help set this place up,"

Look around the hall, and give it an appreciative nod. "A job well done, I'd say. But Silence... quite the singular name. Are you the epitome of your title, or the antithesis of it?"

"School teacher, huh?" Smile and sip my drink as she does hers. "It's something to do to pass the time while here. I have a fondness for history." I explain, with a smile. Well, maybe a memory for it. Lived through it, basically.

"What do you do with the Carnival, Silence?"

[silence_excolo]

"It's... something I've been called for a long time," is what I settle on. "Not much for talking, I guess." Usually, that is. Guess I've been relaxing a little, the longer I'm in this place. The Carnivale almost feels like... well, not home, but not too far from it.

Not sure if that's a good thing.

"It's something to do to pass the time while here." While here? "So you're not from here?" I ask the obvious question, but I find I'm curious to know. There's a... passing familiarity about him. I can't figure it out, but it's almost like I know him. Or did, once. Of course, the next obvious question is, "Or you're not planning to stay?"

"I have a fondness for history." There's some private joke behind his smile, it seems, which makes me smirk. "Any particular?" I ask, finishing the sandwich & wiping my fingertips on my jeans. "There's a lot of it, after all."

I think I just made a joke. Huh.

"What do you do with the Carnival, Silence?"

"Mechanic," I answer as I look at my glass. This is a fine mead. I wonder if it's one of Verdi's? "I do a bit of wiring, but mostly help keep the games running." Among other things, not that he needs know. Look back to him, this odd gentleman talking with a grimy mechanic. There's something about you...

"Have you been to the Carnivale, Arik?"

[marbasthefallen]

"It's... something I've been called for a long time, Not much for talking, I guess." My eyebrow quirks up a bit. "So I shall consider myself lucky to find you so verbose this evening."

She turns the conversation away from her, asking where I am from, and if I am staying. "I've been all over, a rambler you could say. My home is long gone." And that is a truth. I shall never see from whence I came again, but to hear CeCe and my Lady laugh together... I regret nothing. "As for staying, we'll see. Excolo is interesting, to say the least. How do you find Excolo, now that the Carnival seems like it's an extention of town now?" I ask, curious.

"Any particular. There's a lot of it, after all." Laugh at that. Oh, if she had any idea... "I like ancient history. Pre-Christianity. And wars. I find the drive for man to destroy his fellow man in the name of something fascinating."

Silence tells me she works on the wiring, and the games, but she's more interested in what's behind my eyes, I think. There's something extra to her, to be sure. Something old... I can tell that much, still.

"Have you been to the Carnivale, Arik?"

"A time or two." I answer honestly. It was only a few times in my form. In Lucien's... well, that's not what she's asking, is it? "Won a large stuffed lion one night."

The musoc changes into something more suited to a waltz-step, and why not?

"Care to dance, Silence?" I ask, holding out my hand to her.

[silence_excolo]

Arik jokes a little about me being 'verbose' tonight, & he's not wrong. I give him a shrug. "Well, I was on my own for a long time. Guess I got used to not talking." Which is true enough, even if I can't remember all of it.

"I've been all over, a rambler you could say. My home is long gone," and there is true sadness behind those words, one that echos in me. Homesick for a place that hasn't been for over a century... "Sorry to hear that," is all I can think of to say. Won't ask him where. He'd tell me if he wanted me to know. Says Excolo is interesting, though, & I can't fault him that. I wonder if he truly knows how interesting it's been. "How do you find Excolo, now that the Carnival seems like it's an extention of town now?"

Mull it over a bit & can feel my brow knit. "There's something... strange, unique about this place. I've really only been here since August, but..." & I can't seem to find the right words. Everything that's happened since I arrived, the memories I've recovered, the powers I've met. Still with the sense that time is running out, that all this might be coming to an end of sorts. "Interesting, at least, yeah."

He talks of his areas of interest in history being ancient & Pre-Christian & I wonder where he studied to be knowledgable in such areas. He must at least have been to the wealthier cities, those that still have books on the subject. "And wars. I find the drive for man to destroy his fellow man in the name of something fascinating." We know something of that. Souls of soldiers that died for a cause, just or not. Shake the thought away. "That's still a pretty wide spectrum, it seems, for grade-schoolers to follow."

So he has been to the Carnivale a couple of times, at least. Maybe I've seen him there? But it's not his face that seems familiar, it's... the air about him. His movement. That fire behind his eyes. I smile at the thought of a big stuffed lion in his arms. "Won it for someone? Or do you just like lions?"

And suddenly there's a change in the music, slower, with 3/4 time, & he offers his hand. Oh no. "Care to dance, Silence?"

"Er," & I've both hands on my drink now, which is almost empty. "I-" I actually don't remember if I can dance, but I can't tell him that, now can I? "I'm not really dressed for it..." which is a poor excuse, really. What harm can there be in trying? It's not often I get asked, after all. Enough. " I down the last of my drink & set the glass down. "Okay," & take his hand. "But I may suck at it." Might as well warn him, heh.

[marbasthefallen]

We both go quiet over the thought of 'home', and I wonder how long it's been since she's seen her's. Questions for another day.

"There's something... strange, unique about this place. I've really only been here since August, but...Interesting, at least, yeah."

"I've found that Excolo seems to draw out the... eccentricities in people." We'll go with that description. "It's entertaining, I'll give it that."

Still on the history thing, and I smile. "Oh, I know enough of American history and world history to give a nice, rounded, general overview of it. Perhaps I have a photographic memory for the subject?" Or it's just that I remember it so well.

"Won it for someone? Or do you just like lions?" Grin at her smile. "Yes to both." Remember that piece of fluff in my Lady's arms, and revel in the memory of taking feline form. "I was born in the sign of the lion, in August. I tend to emulate my sign at times." I am not quite sure if that's a lie or the truth. After all, I became so very long ago.

I am amused that my invitation to dance causes her such consternantion. I am about to retract my offer, when she downs her drink and places her hand in mine.

"Okay. But I may suck at it."

Smile easily and lead her onto the floor. "Warning duly noted." I assure her, then place a hand on her waist. "Just follow my lead, and it will come naturally." Wait for the music to hit just the right moment, and then move us, effortlessly. Lucien had a natural grace, one which Wanda was able to work with. They danced when they were in Austria...

I was in Vienna, with my Lady, twirling her around guilded halls when the Blue Danube Waltz was new and the crown jewel of musical accomplishment. Smile down at the petite woman in my arms, who thrums of something from a time long ago.

"If this is your definition of 'sucking', then I am quite pleased with the failure."

[silence_excolo]

"I was born in the sign of the lion, in August. I tend to emulate my sign at times."

"Star signs, huh?" I muse aloud, trying to remember what I know of those old zodiac symbols. "Leo, the lion - proud, masculine, spontaneous, ambitious, generous. Arrogant," & I chuckle a bit at that, " & prone to bursts of temper. Did I get that right?" Also known to be rather flirtatious... but I'm surprised I've remembered any of that. It's not exactly been a topic of focus for me for some time.

This is not like me. This... flirting & socializing crap. And dancing? But... but I find I'm enjoying this. Having fun. When's the last time I actually had fun? Without the worry of explaining what I am or what I'm doing here or any of that. Just being. In this moment, in this part of the Pattern, the music weaving & us following, & it's easy, so much easier than I thought it would be. His hands guide & I feel I've done this before, in some form.

"If this is your definition of 'sucking', then I am quite pleased with the failure."

And smiling. "I'm good with patterns, I guess," & really that's all it is. Easy. "And you're a good partner," I add, cuz I sure wouldn't have done this on my own. Maybe I should stop being so careful all the time.

I watch the room spin around us as we dance, the faces popping into focus here & there. I spot Dana's red-gold hair, Leah's pale white-blonde, & someone with... blue?

"Hey, black & blue, what's new with you?"

I stumble just a bit, leaning into Arik harder than I'd meant to. Black & blue. Black & blue hair. I remember, blue streaks in my hair, long ago. Who was it called me that? "Uhm, sorry," I say, shaking my head a little. "Lost my footing." But already the worry has creeped back in.

[marbasthefallen]

"Leo, the lion - proud, masculine, spontaneous, ambitious, generous. Arrogant... and prone to bursts of temper. Did I get that right?"

Throw back my head and laugh. "Nailed in on the head, Silence." Moreso than she can ever imagine.

When I compliment her dancing abilities, she smiles. I get the feeling she does not do that often enough. "I'm good with patterns, I guess, And you're a good partner," Grin back down at her. "Thank you, but if a partner doesn't have a natural talent, all the leading in the world won't help. Maybe we should try a tango next, hmmm?" I ask, and raise an eyebrow in a silent invitation.

We take a few more turns, and I am not sure if it was my suggestion of a more intimate dance or something caught her eye, but Silence suddenly loses the flow and ebb of the dance and stumbles against me. She apologizes, but I can sense her drawing away.

"It's no problem." I assure her, and lead her back off the dance floor. "Is everything alright?"

[silence_excolo]

It was a nickname. Someone used to call me that, when- when? Arik has led me off the dance floor before I even register. He's asking me something. "Is everything alright?"

What am I doing here? Am I meant to be here, dancing with this- this stranger? Who isn't so strange. I shake me head a little, trying to focus. "No- I mean yeah. I mean, I'm fine, just-" I just can't think straight. Part of me says to leave, to focus on what just happened, try to draw it out, learn from it. But part of me... doesn't. It wants to stay & dance & look into Arik's eyes & find that fire. It wants to have another drink & find something to laugh about.

Which am I meant to choose?

Find myself looking from the door to Arik to the drinks bar...

"Not sure I know how to tango," I say, surprising myself a bit. Think you could teach me?" Feel my eyebrow arch at that. I guess one more dance would be okay...

[marbasthefallen]

"No- I mean yeah. I mean, I'm fine, just-"

I think she is not quite as 'fine' as she is telling me she is. If I had a dictonary and looked up "conflicted", I would bet good money her picture would be next to it.

"If there's somewhere else you need to be, please do not let me keep you." I say, giving her an out. Really, it's more fun when they're more invested.

"Not sure I know how to tango," Well well. I think my eyebrow goes up with hers. "Think you could teach me?"

This evening just became more interesting.

"I think we could give it a try." I say slowly, my grin widening. "Hold on..." I quickly cross the hall and put in a request for Por Una Cabesa... but all I get is a blank look. After a bit of explaining of what I am looking for, we finally decide on a song, and I cross back to Silence and lead her back to the dance floor.

"Now. Follow my lead again. The main thing to remember about the tango..." The song starts, and I grin down at her and whisper, staring into her eyes. "...is to just let go."

And with that, we begin to move.

[silence_excolo]

His right hand presses into the middle of my back, pulling me close. "The main thing to remember about the tango..." & that grin is just a bit devious, I think, "...is to just let go." He whispers while staring into my eyes & I feel something in me give & then we're moving. I look to his feet once, dapper dress shoes next to my work boots, to see the pattern. One, two, three-&-four. His left hand directs me & soon I have it. My face feels hot & the music is like a deep rumble in my chest. I breath in the scent of him, dry & almost floral, & feel almost... intoxicated.

Maybe this was a mistake. It's too- too much. But he suddenly pushes me out in a spin, only to yank me back close & I'm almost gasping. My eyes go wide with the surprise of it, but I'm laughing, my left hand clasping his shoulder. Gods, this feels so good! Maybe I used to dance like this, before, I dunno. Maybe I didn't. But I should have.

"You are far too good at this," I breath out as he directs us both into a tight spin. A few more steps & his arm extends, pushing me out again, but this time he snaps & spins me inward, wrapping me against him, my back to his front. My cheeks must be on fire by now.

"Makes me wonder what else you might be good at-"

What did I just say?!

"Ah- I meant- um, that, y-you must be good at other dances, too." Oh great. Try to keep the rhythm, the pattern, the pace, the timing. But I'm pretty sure I've just killed the mood. I stare out towards the crowd, embarrassed to look him in the eye.

[marbasthefallen]

There, there we got. That moment of Oh God what am I doing shifts to Oh God, I should do this more often. I can see it behind her eyes, when she lets go and it's delicious.

Laugh when she compliments my skill. "I am only as good as the woman I am dancing with." Spin her out and pull her back close---

"Makes me wonder what else you might be good at-"

My smile could not be any more feline unless I were in lion form. Silence feezes for a moment, and the perfect tempo we were keeping falters.

"Ah- I meant- um, that, y-you must be good at other dances, too."

"Life is one long dance, dear Silence." I all but purr, pleased that I could coax her wilder self out a bit with just a dance. I wonder what I could entice when back to my full power. Spin her out again, then puyll her back quick, right into my chest. The song is ending, so I run my hand down the back of her leg, and lift it up to my thigh as I dip her low. Our noses are practically touching.

"And if one must spend their life dancing, may as well variety to match the skill." Wink at her, the straighten us back up.

The music has ended and there are more than a handful of people applauding us. I step back and grin at her, before bowing and kissing the fingers I still have trapped within the grasp of mine.

"You are a very good... dancer, Silence. You should learn to enjoy it more."