I'm on a roll... or something...
I'm back again... this time with Dance!Verse! Or something. No Ballroom!Verse. Yes. That.
Title: The Rhythm of Life (tentatively for now).
Who: The Five Couples will appear, plus some choice cameos.
Rating: I'll just say R because I never know.
Kameron Ryan, former Australian DanceSport Champion, stared down at the staggering pile of bills on his desk and sighed.
When he had ‘retired’ at age thirty, it had been his dream to open his own studio. He had relocated from Sydney to London with his younger brothers and done just that. Elysian Studios was his pride and joy, unfortunately things lately had not been going so well.
Contracted dancers were at an all time low, the studio was slowly declining in repair; if he didn’t think up something soon, he would have to file for bankruptcy and close the doors for good. The money part didn’t bother him nearly as much as closing the studio. Standing slowly, he moved to toward the wall of windows that overlooked the main dancehall. Somewhere along the way in the last five years it had become more than a place for free dance classes. It had become a place for children to play after school, there were ballet and tap classes. Older students could take ballroom lessons, they had a daycare and were part of local outreach program for kids.
He loved his work, but he couldn’t keep it up. Not without some big changes. He watched as a young child trotted across the floor in tap shoes, laughing happily while trying to copy the teacher’s cross bar step.
Turning around, Kameron sat back at his desk and picked up the receiver of his phone. There were some calls he did not wish to make, but he had to ensure the studios success -- no matter the cost.
***
Three days after his big revelation, Kameron sat at his desk again, this time it was ringed by the people he held closest in his life. His brothers, Jaden and Zander; their dear friend, Dmitri; and the young Edmond -- Kameron’s only contracted dancer at the moment.
“Alright, ya lot, I’ve some news for you,” Kameron said. He sank back into his chair and scrubbed at his face.
“Kam? Why do I get the feeling I’m not going to like this?” Jaden arched an eyebrow.
“Because you’re not.” Kameron took a deep breath. “Elysian is failing.”
“How do you mean?”
“I mean there’s more money going out than coming in. We’re in debt. By a lot.”
“What’s a lot?” Zander eyed his oldest brother askance.
“More than you’d like to know. But I have some plans… some things I think should help us.”
“We’re not going to like this either, are we?” Dmitri frowned.
“Not particularly.” Kam smiled apologetically at the Ukrainian. “Firstly, Zander? I think it’s time you stopped dancing and taught full time in the studio.”
“Why do I have to stop!?” The youngest Ryan brother shot up from his chair, his abundance of curly blond hair bouncing with the movement.
“Because you don’t have a partner now, and you’re never happy with them. If you teach here for a while, I can cut back on payroll. There’s no way I’m shutting down the classes… not until the bitter end. Besides you love it, you know you do. The only time you’re ever patient is when you’re teaching someone to how to dance.”
“Fine,” Zander huffed, rolling leaf green eyes toward the ceiling. “I’ll teach.”
“Good.” Kam offered his brother a small smile before turning onto Dmitri. “You have your new partner, right? Things been going well?”
“Yes, she is good. I like her.” Dmitri grinned, brown eyes mischievous.
“Please don’t scare her off by hitting on her? You need a partner because you will be entering into the European Championship in three months.”
“Three months is not enough time.”
“Then you better work at it, the grand prize would be helpful plus you could get some good sponsorships.”
“It all rest on my shoulder!?” Dmitri scowled deeply and leaned against the wall by the door, arms crossed.
“We’ll be doing our part, trust me. However, Dmitri, I won’t be able to choreograph or train with you.”
“I must do on my own?”
“No, I was hoping your brother might step in?”
The room went quiet at the mention of Dmitri’s brother. Jaden gave a low whistle, which earned him a glare from Kam and promptly shut up, sinking low in his chair.
“You call and ask him. He is different now… distant,” Dmitri said.
“He might be different, but he’s still talented. He knows what he’s doing, and he knows you. Besides he understands what I did for him, right? He has to know he’s part of the reason I’m in so much debt right now. And quite frankly I am not above using extreme amounts of guilt to get what I want right now.”
“Okay, I will call him. I will tell him what you say. Then we will see.” Dmitri sighed and settled back against the wall again, chewing on his thumbnail.
“Edmond?”
“No.” The twenty-two year old shook his head, dark bangs fluttering against his forehead.
“Yes, we all have a part to play… unless you would rather be on your own again?”
“Fine, what am I to do?”
“There’s no easy way to put this: Edmond, I’m whoring you out.” This earned a muffled snicker from Jaden and Zander, and a cry of disbelief from the dark haired man in question.
“I’m sorry?”
“In the last few years I’ve had a few different lords and ladies wanting private lessons. I have a certain lord right now who wants to hire an instructor for his daughter, before she’s presented. She’s some debutante, and it’s her coming out soon, so she has to do all that high society bullshit. But her father is willing to pay a very large amount for private lessons. Apparently, this girl’s dream to dance the Viennese Waltz at her debut, and he can’t deny his little princess anything. Since you mainly dance Standard, you get the job. Besides, you’re young and handsome, I’m sure she’ll eat it up.”
“You really are whoring me out.” Edmond looked at his mentor incredulously. “Pourquoi moi dieu? Quel est cet enfer nouveau"
“Oh, I know you’re upset but please don’t go rambling off in French, you know I hate it. If you have something to say, say it so I can understand it.”
Edmond glowered at Kam, blue eyes narrowed. “Why me God? What fresh hell is this?” he said dryly.
“It will be alright, you giant baby! She just needs the basics, you can make anyone look good.”
“And finally you,” Kam turned on his middle brother.
“We’re not done?” Jaden pulled up the hood of his sweatshirt and yanked on the strings until his face was practically hidden, eyes closed tight.
Kam rolled his eyes. “You’re twenty-six, don’t be a child!”
“I’m scared though,” Jaden’s muffled voice replied. “Just… just get it over with. Quickly.”
“You’re getting a new partner so you can compete in the Latin Championships.”.
“That’s all?” One bright blue eye opened, surveying his brother. “That’s not so bad, who is it?” Jaden let go of the strings on his hood and emerged slowly, much like a turtle from its shell.
“Ramona De La Vega.”
Jaden sat in his chair, left ankle balanced on his right knee, back straight and scratched his head, ruffling the short blond curls. He stared at some point on Kam’s desk, eyes not really focused.
He opened his mouth to speak, blinked, then snapped it close. Jaden finally looked up at Kam, shook his head, and stood up from his chair. Wandering out of the room without a spoken word.
“He’s taking that a lot better than I would’ve thought.” Zander shrugged.
They waited a moment before the office door slammed open and Jaden stood there, jaw clenched. “NO!” he bellowed. “No. No. No. Nononononononono. OH KAM? DID I MENTION NO!”
“Too late, I’ve called her trainer and manager. They should be arriving from Spain sometime tomorrow.”
“How could you do this to me? We’re likely to kill each other within five minutes! How the hell are we supposed to work together?”
“You’ll have to be nice.”
“I’m always nice!“ Jaden placed a hand over his heart, the other waving wildly in the air.
“She’s the barking mad Sheila who hates me for no clear reason!”
“I thought it had to do with--”
“No one asked you, little brother!” Jaden glared at Zander until he shut his mouth and turned away.
“This is complete shit, Kam! You could’ve at least warned.”
“I did, they’re not coming until tomorrow.”
“More than a day would’ve been good!”
“If I had you would’ve ran away.”
“Whatever, you bastard.” Jaden ran a hand through his hair. “And what will you be doing then? While I’m working with a person I can’t stand and Zander’s forced into retirement. While Dmitri’s trying to convince his brother to come here, and poor Edmond is a veritable whore! What are you going to be doing to save all this!”
“I’ll be taking on a new dancer.”
“Well, how terrible for you.” Jaden rolled his eyes.
“I finally said yes to training Anton Cromwell.”
“Oh.” The men in the room all breathed in unison.
“I told you, we’re in debt, we all have a part to play. And I won’t let this place close, no matter what it takes.” Kam stood up, hands braced on the desk. “Are you all with me?”
Jaden looked at the others in turn, then back to his brother. “Yes, we are.”
Title: The Rhythm of Life (tentatively for now).
Who: The Five Couples will appear, plus some choice cameos.
Rating: I'll just say R because I never know.
Kameron Ryan, former Australian DanceSport Champion, stared down at the staggering pile of bills on his desk and sighed.
When he had ‘retired’ at age thirty, it had been his dream to open his own studio. He had relocated from Sydney to London with his younger brothers and done just that. Elysian Studios was his pride and joy, unfortunately things lately had not been going so well.
Contracted dancers were at an all time low, the studio was slowly declining in repair; if he didn’t think up something soon, he would have to file for bankruptcy and close the doors for good. The money part didn’t bother him nearly as much as closing the studio. Standing slowly, he moved to toward the wall of windows that overlooked the main dancehall. Somewhere along the way in the last five years it had become more than a place for free dance classes. It had become a place for children to play after school, there were ballet and tap classes. Older students could take ballroom lessons, they had a daycare and were part of local outreach program for kids.
He loved his work, but he couldn’t keep it up. Not without some big changes. He watched as a young child trotted across the floor in tap shoes, laughing happily while trying to copy the teacher’s cross bar step.
Turning around, Kameron sat back at his desk and picked up the receiver of his phone. There were some calls he did not wish to make, but he had to ensure the studios success -- no matter the cost.
***
Three days after his big revelation, Kameron sat at his desk again, this time it was ringed by the people he held closest in his life. His brothers, Jaden and Zander; their dear friend, Dmitri; and the young Edmond -- Kameron’s only contracted dancer at the moment.
“Alright, ya lot, I’ve some news for you,” Kameron said. He sank back into his chair and scrubbed at his face.
“Kam? Why do I get the feeling I’m not going to like this?” Jaden arched an eyebrow.
“Because you’re not.” Kameron took a deep breath. “Elysian is failing.”
“How do you mean?”
“I mean there’s more money going out than coming in. We’re in debt. By a lot.”
“What’s a lot?” Zander eyed his oldest brother askance.
“More than you’d like to know. But I have some plans… some things I think should help us.”
“We’re not going to like this either, are we?” Dmitri frowned.
“Not particularly.” Kam smiled apologetically at the Ukrainian. “Firstly, Zander? I think it’s time you stopped dancing and taught full time in the studio.”
“Why do I have to stop!?” The youngest Ryan brother shot up from his chair, his abundance of curly blond hair bouncing with the movement.
“Because you don’t have a partner now, and you’re never happy with them. If you teach here for a while, I can cut back on payroll. There’s no way I’m shutting down the classes… not until the bitter end. Besides you love it, you know you do. The only time you’re ever patient is when you’re teaching someone to how to dance.”
“Fine,” Zander huffed, rolling leaf green eyes toward the ceiling. “I’ll teach.”
“Good.” Kam offered his brother a small smile before turning onto Dmitri. “You have your new partner, right? Things been going well?”
“Yes, she is good. I like her.” Dmitri grinned, brown eyes mischievous.
“Please don’t scare her off by hitting on her? You need a partner because you will be entering into the European Championship in three months.”
“Three months is not enough time.”
“Then you better work at it, the grand prize would be helpful plus you could get some good sponsorships.”
“It all rest on my shoulder!?” Dmitri scowled deeply and leaned against the wall by the door, arms crossed.
“We’ll be doing our part, trust me. However, Dmitri, I won’t be able to choreograph or train with you.”
“I must do on my own?”
“No, I was hoping your brother might step in?”
The room went quiet at the mention of Dmitri’s brother. Jaden gave a low whistle, which earned him a glare from Kam and promptly shut up, sinking low in his chair.
“You call and ask him. He is different now… distant,” Dmitri said.
“He might be different, but he’s still talented. He knows what he’s doing, and he knows you. Besides he understands what I did for him, right? He has to know he’s part of the reason I’m in so much debt right now. And quite frankly I am not above using extreme amounts of guilt to get what I want right now.”
“Okay, I will call him. I will tell him what you say. Then we will see.” Dmitri sighed and settled back against the wall again, chewing on his thumbnail.
“Edmond?”
“No.” The twenty-two year old shook his head, dark bangs fluttering against his forehead.
“Yes, we all have a part to play… unless you would rather be on your own again?”
“Fine, what am I to do?”
“There’s no easy way to put this: Edmond, I’m whoring you out.” This earned a muffled snicker from Jaden and Zander, and a cry of disbelief from the dark haired man in question.
“I’m sorry?”
“In the last few years I’ve had a few different lords and ladies wanting private lessons. I have a certain lord right now who wants to hire an instructor for his daughter, before she’s presented. She’s some debutante, and it’s her coming out soon, so she has to do all that high society bullshit. But her father is willing to pay a very large amount for private lessons. Apparently, this girl’s dream to dance the Viennese Waltz at her debut, and he can’t deny his little princess anything. Since you mainly dance Standard, you get the job. Besides, you’re young and handsome, I’m sure she’ll eat it up.”
“You really are whoring me out.” Edmond looked at his mentor incredulously. “Pourquoi moi dieu? Quel est cet enfer nouveau"
“Oh, I know you’re upset but please don’t go rambling off in French, you know I hate it. If you have something to say, say it so I can understand it.”
Edmond glowered at Kam, blue eyes narrowed. “Why me God? What fresh hell is this?” he said dryly.
“It will be alright, you giant baby! She just needs the basics, you can make anyone look good.”
“And finally you,” Kam turned on his middle brother.
“We’re not done?” Jaden pulled up the hood of his sweatshirt and yanked on the strings until his face was practically hidden, eyes closed tight.
Kam rolled his eyes. “You’re twenty-six, don’t be a child!”
“I’m scared though,” Jaden’s muffled voice replied. “Just… just get it over with. Quickly.”
“You’re getting a new partner so you can compete in the Latin Championships.”.
“That’s all?” One bright blue eye opened, surveying his brother. “That’s not so bad, who is it?” Jaden let go of the strings on his hood and emerged slowly, much like a turtle from its shell.
“Ramona De La Vega.”
Jaden sat in his chair, left ankle balanced on his right knee, back straight and scratched his head, ruffling the short blond curls. He stared at some point on Kam’s desk, eyes not really focused.
He opened his mouth to speak, blinked, then snapped it close. Jaden finally looked up at Kam, shook his head, and stood up from his chair. Wandering out of the room without a spoken word.
“He’s taking that a lot better than I would’ve thought.” Zander shrugged.
They waited a moment before the office door slammed open and Jaden stood there, jaw clenched. “NO!” he bellowed. “No. No. No. Nononononononono. OH KAM? DID I MENTION NO!”
“Too late, I’ve called her trainer and manager. They should be arriving from Spain sometime tomorrow.”
“How could you do this to me? We’re likely to kill each other within five minutes! How the hell are we supposed to work together?”
“You’ll have to be nice.”
“I’m always nice!“ Jaden placed a hand over his heart, the other waving wildly in the air.
“She’s the barking mad Sheila who hates me for no clear reason!”
“I thought it had to do with--”
“No one asked you, little brother!” Jaden glared at Zander until he shut his mouth and turned away.
“This is complete shit, Kam! You could’ve at least warned.”
“I did, they’re not coming until tomorrow.”
“More than a day would’ve been good!”
“If I had you would’ve ran away.”
“Whatever, you bastard.” Jaden ran a hand through his hair. “And what will you be doing then? While I’m working with a person I can’t stand and Zander’s forced into retirement. While Dmitri’s trying to convince his brother to come here, and poor Edmond is a veritable whore! What are you going to be doing to save all this!”
“I’ll be taking on a new dancer.”
“Well, how terrible for you.” Jaden rolled his eyes.
“I finally said yes to training Anton Cromwell.”
“Oh.” The men in the room all breathed in unison.
“I told you, we’re in debt, we all have a part to play. And I won’t let this place close, no matter what it takes.” Kam stood up, hands braced on the desk. “Are you all with me?”
Jaden looked at the others in turn, then back to his brother. “Yes, we are.”