Shake a tail feather?

[Vega]

8th Trial of Cylus during Arc 717

   

"By all the stars, Arlo, you don't need to look like you're being led to your execution you know." Vega chuckled and pulled her gloves on, as she finished warming her hands near the fire in the camp just before they left. "It's going to be fun. We're going to go, it won't be all ladies." She hoped not, at least. "And you never know, some of them might not be quite so long in the tooth with elephant like qualities as me." She grinned at him and didn't point out that there might be some children his own age to play with, she'd keep that for later. No point to throw them all at once, after all.

"She plays drums, we have a laugh and if it's rubbish I'll pretend to faint, you can catch me and lead me out in a great show, alright?" She'd be quite content to do that if she was bored. "Life's too short to be prancing about so if it's dull, I'll faint ok? If it's too formal you can pretend to have really bad gas and stomach cramps. Come on, what's not to like?" Vega smiled at him then, a touch more seriously. "If you don't like it, or if I don't, we'll just go, alright?" It would be a good opportunity to meet folks, anyhow, Vega reasoned.

Having spent time at the library that morning, she was desperate to actually just move and she was more or less bouncing on the balls of her feet waiting for him. It wasn't in her nature to be so quiet and still as she'd been, but she'd been trying to learn more Xanthea, to help her with translating her mother's journals. "Hey, wanna hear what I learnt today?" She asked, as they exited the camp and started walking.

Scrunching up her nose in thought for a moment, then spoke slowly. "Miu srer ies Vega. Sev aji snumìna kọv miu ceh'aj. Ke’ua srer ies Arlo, ke’u awt snatxärem." Her grin showed that she was pleased with herself. "That means 'my name is Vega. I am mixed blood. Your name is Arlo, you are human.' clever eh?" She was quite determined to be able to translate these journals for herself. "I know the librarian could translate them for me. I don't want anyone else to do, I don't want to read their words, I want to read hers." It was possibly foolish, but Vega didn't care because no matter what, it was what it was and she wasn't changing her mind.

At the end of the season, she'd leave here and that wouldn't bother her now. She'd come for a reason and she'd achieved what she wanted ~ she'd found out about her mother, about who she was an what she was like. In truth, whether she had or not, she'd have left because it just wasn't in her nature to be in one place for any length of time, but she'd be able to leave now and feel content.

The Bakan Isorosi was where the lessons were taking place and there were a few people outside. Men and women both and Vega nudged Arlo slightly. "See. Told you." Most people seemed to have come in pairs or small groups and she was glad that she'd asked him to join her. Persuaded, in fairness, might be a better word. Cajoling might have even been a reasonable word. Whatever it was, they were here now.

A Sev'ryn called them in and Vega looked at her with interest. "Come in! Come in! We will be dancing here. You, you will leave inhibitions at the door and you will learn to move. First we warm up our muscles. With me?" The woman was young, relatively speaking and she had a selection of drums on the floor next to her.

She went to stand at the front and, waiting for them to take off their outdoor clothes and shoes, she stood, stretching slightly. Vega grinned at Arlo and started appearing from underneath her layers as she peeled them off revealing an actual person wearing a dress with a pair of trousers underneath. "Ready to shake a tail feather?" Vega appeared to have no shame at all, or concern about what others would think of her and quite happily skipped forward where she began to copy the warm up exercises that their teacher was showing them.

[Arlo Creede]

In spite of agreeing to go already, Arlo remained unconvinced that this dancing thing was a good idea. Whether it was only women there or not, dancing wasn't something he'd ever considered before. And he'd rather not embarrass himself in the process.

He was young. He'd never experienced warfare, the tragic loss of a loved one or faced any sort of life threatening anything before. Unless he was to count the thing that he and Vega had run into that trial in the forest. So embarrassing himself seemed like the worst thing that could happen to him. At least this trial.

But he'd agreed. So after laying abed in his tent longer than ordinary, and taking his time over preparing their first meal of the trial, he begrudgingly got up from the fire to accompany her. It was the promise of a fainting spell or a sudden case of a gut ache that finally convinced him. "Sure," he said, and grinned when she uttered what she'd learned of the Sev'ryn's language the trial before. "Are you sure that's what you said? Or have you called me a kid or insulted my hat again?" he asked, his face a mask of skepticism but he was only teasing.

But at least somebody was excited, and Lyova glided along with them, first resting in the brim of his hat, swirling around it then settling again. In the constant dark of Cylus, if she lingered a pace or two behind him, Vega might spy for the first time the silvery tendrils of Jesine's blessing on the back of his neck as the breeze lifted his curls away briefly.

"Sure," he whispered back when they walked in, and she pointed out the balance of men and women. "But how many of those men came because their wives made them?" He remained the youngest there, nonetheless. But then the Sev'ryn woman noticed them and there was no chance of turning back, so he kicked off his shoes and peeled off several layers of clothing to make moving easier. "You mind your own tail," he warned Vega with a grin as he joined the loose ranks beside her.

The warming up movements weren't so different than moves he'd have used for any given acrobatic movement, and those came naturally enough to the young man. It was when the drumming started that things got a little more interesting. The young woman at the front began hopping from foot to foot, rolling over to nearly touch her fingertips to the ground, then rolled up again to reach for the ceiling with fingers fanned out before having another go. "Just like your giving praise!" she suggested.

Now Arlo hadn't seen anyone worship like that before. Definitely not him. But when in Desnind, he decided? Besides, when all appeared silly, the few didn't distinguish themselves nearly as much.

[Vega]

   

She laughed when he asked what she'd actually said, her laugh deep and almost manly. "I believe I said what I told you. We might want to check with Ti'niva when we get back though, that librarian's canny and cantankerous both. I wouldn't put it past him, you know." She shrugged and considered Arlo carefully, though, before adding. "Though, unless he's met you he wouldn't know that you're such a short kid." She couldn't quite seem to help herself, she thought, it was just too easy. "Although, he saw my hat so knows that all others are inferior. It could be that. We should check with Ti'niva." She shot him a grin and said no more.

When they got there, though, and Arlo whispered to her, Vega gave a low guffaw. "Only you, darling. But do me a favour and wait to gnaw off your leg until we've got home and put the poodle to bed. Shush your moaning, look, they all look happy." Well, alright, that might not be entirely true but most of them did. In terms of minding her tail she grinned and shook her head. "I'm more concerned about my feet, but we'll see how it goes."

The warm up was easy, then the woman started with a strange, rolling movement from her toes to the sky and back again. Vega went with it and considered that when she wanted to give praise she usually said something like 'you did that well' or 'you look nice' or even 'you're really good at that'. Maybe that wasn't quite what she meant, but Vega did the movement, bending fluidly and then raising up.

"Good! Stretch, reach to the sky as high as you can! One side, then the other, bend and then stretch. Touch the grass and sweet your hands to the stars." Vega did it and then the instructor called out. "Now, stand opposite your partner, both start with bending to your left, then when you reach up, let just your fingertips come close to touch, but do not. Then, to the ground. In time, I will keep time for you. You touch the ground on 2, then reach together on 4 and so on. Begin!"

She pulled over one of the drums and started drumming out a slow and regular beat. She also counted out the "1 and 2 and 3 and 4" to help them. Vega turned and grinned at him, standing close enough that they could almost touch fingers but far enough apart that they weren't going to get into each other's space. What the exercise did was forced them to time their movements together, to be aware of not only their own motion but each others also. As long as they were both going to their left hand side, they were actually touching the ground on opposite sides, then coming together and almost touching fingertips but not. Vega couldn't help the fact that she was both grinning and counting as she moved.

However, it allowed them both as individuals to develop a sense of the beat, to consider their partner's movements and not to actually do anything other than what they'd already done. Vega was quite content with how they were doing although more than once she started moving in the direction Arlo was, because she was watching him. As the tempo started to increase, the speed they moved did and Vega couldn't help but grin in delight. "You doing ok?" She thought, since she'd dragged him here unwillingly, she'd better ask.

[Arlo Creede]

His hat, inferior? Very unlikely "It's only because he hasn't seen my hat yet," Arlo had reminded her as they'd strolled off to their dance lesson. Vega, as if she was looking forward to a lark. But Arlo, something like a man condemned.

Once they got started though, the others did look as if they were enjoying it. And in honesty, the young man didn't mind much himself. He wasn't about to admit it though. At the least it was good exercise and the movements weren't so unlike many he used for tumbles, flips and the like. But he wouldn't admit that either. He had an image to uphold, and he wasn't ready to let Vega think that her idea had been a good one. Or at least, not half bad.

So what had been meant apparently to signify praise, got a little more complicated and as he turned to face Vega, Arlo frowned. "Whose left?" he asked quietly before it dawned on him what their instructor had meant. The drums were a nice touch though, and he was game so when the count started, so did he. Much of it was catching up on his part, mirroring Vega's movements till his own were in sync.

Anyone less fit might start to get winded. But it appeared most of them there were doing alright. And when Vega asked, he grinned a little and said, "I'm doing fine...Do I not look like it?" It was a serious question, in case he'd managed to begin moving counter to everyone else. But then the teacher called out again. "Now then! Next you rise up, lower your arms towards your side, but not all the way. Your feet should be moving in a skipping, hopping pattern while you turn in a circle opposite your partner. Take care not travel across the floor," she said as she first demonstrated then picked up her drums again.

And then? They were meant, apparently, to fall into a large circle about the room, and perform this same movement with their feet, but following one after the other for four beats across the floor, then four beats in circular turns, each of them. Elbows bent then, with hands clasped together at their midsections. Not easy, Arlo concluded, but he was game to try.

[Vega]

   

Vega grinned at him delightedly when he argued that it was only because he'd not seen the glory and splendour that was Arlo's hat that the librarian declared hers marvellous. "But he has, hasn't he? You went there, you told me about the place. In fact, therefore, he is judging my hat against yours as the original and mine's better." She clapped her hands together and added. "You're going to be really good at dancing. You waltzed right into that one."

In fairness to him, though, he was a good sport about the whole thing and he took full part. When he asked whose left she replied with a vaguely confused tone. "Yours?" Yes, it was definitely a question, but they worked it out between them and it even got to be quite good fun. It was tiring and she recognised that it was also likely to be building up muscles in their arms, especially, in these first movements. She made sure to breathe through the movement, tensing and relaxing her arm muscles as she moved so that she would get maximum benefit from the muscle build up. Although Arlo knew she was stronger than she looked, it was when her arms were bare here that he could see that she was actually quite muscular in her arms at least.

"You look fine. I was just concerned that you've forgotten to scowl for a few bits so you might be getting tired." She grinned back at him and then turned her attention to the teacher. Turning in a hopping what-now? Thankfully, the teacher demonstrated and then got back to the drums, which really did help for keeping time. Vega gave a slightly nervous chuckle and put her arms where she was supposed to, then started with her feet. She couldn't help but laugh as she get it completely wrong and nearly tripped over in the process, before starting again. "I don't think I'm naturally graceful you know. Look at her, she's like a willow tree or something." Vega motioned with a nod of her head to a woman in her mid twenties who was, indeed, graceful and talented. She made it look beautiful and easy. "I bet you she's lovely and kind and does charity work, too. I hate her on principle and she's far, far too old for you." Having directed his attention to the woman, she flicked him gently (ish) on the shoulder should his gaze linger too long.

It was the addition of moving forward, then stopping and turning that undid her. Vega threw herself into it completely and she would be much better at it if she stopped thinking about it so much. However, the determination to get it right, the counting in her head meant that she started turning when she should be moving forward, realised she'd done it and tried to right herself. Inevitably, her feet tangled together and she landed on the floor with a laugh so raucous that it would be entirely appropriate in a drunken evening at a bawdy house or gambling den. Even the teacher stopped with a smile and waited for Vega to stand up, calm herself down and get back in line. She managed the first and last one, but she was still giggling.

"Now! You have moved your arms and you have moved your legs! Now we will do them together!"

Vega looked at Arlo and she had a look on her face which suggested that she thought this was, ever so slightly, not likely to happen. "Sorry in advance." The instructor again demonstrated, they kept the four steps forward, four beat turn but now they added a clap on every second beat. First a clap to the left, then above their heads, then to the right and then, on the eighth beat and the final step of the turning movement, they stamped one foot and clapped in front of them.

In a move just like the acrobatics he had taught her, when Vega decided that there was no way that she could do it, she became much more graceful, much more able to move and as she realised that she was doing it, she started to get better. With a grin at Arlo as she stamped and clapped, she couldn't quite help but ask, "Come on, it's not so bad, is it?" She might have been sensible to stop there, but she couldn't quite help but add. "Admit it. You're glad you came."

[Arlo Creede]

Just when he'd gotten the hang of the current maneuver, and had managed to keep his left and his right straight and in the right order, their colorful and cheerful leader had to go changing things up. Arlo paused in the middle of straightening up and his expression when he looked at Vega could only be interpreted as confounded. "How do you skip, hop and turn all at once?" he whispered to her.

But he guessed he was about to find out. "I'm not the least tired. I could keep going at this another break or two," he lied, while trying to sort out the new steps they'd been given. The primal drumbeats only meant that there was a certain kind of rhythm to his stumbles and mishaps. It was the skipping, hopping and turning the required the most figuring out. So much that the right and the left became a secondary, or tertiary concern. He stumbled over his own feet, collided with another dancer in front of him when he went forward instead of around.

And the only thing that salvaged his dignity was shared misery, when ended up on the floor in a heap. Naturally he offered her a hand up, but couldn't resist the wide grin when he did. "Don't think I'll ever let you live it down, Gracie." But then of course it got worse, when the instructor added a new challenge to the mix. "First turn to the right, second to the left!" she called out cheerily. The woman was a sadist, Arlo decided. Left right, forward, arms, clapping, stomping...He tripped again, but at least this time spared those nearest to him.

"Not so bad," he lied again when she asked. But the bright spot was the woman she pointed out, who seemed to have mastered the stuff, and wasn't at all hard to look at. So since he was a little winded and could use a breather, he did, and then Vega flicked him for it. Arlo scowled aside at her, his expression speaking volumes. Sure she was too old for him, and he was young. But neither did it either of those things make him blind.

[Vega]

   

"Gracie?! Oh I like that name!" Vega laughed as she jumped up without letting him help her, swatting at his outstretched hand with a good natured, "Gerroff. I'd pull you over you're only a little fella." Before he said it, though, she added, "plus, there's my elephant like nature. We're lucky I didn't fall straight through the floor, you know." She couldn't do anything except laugh, though, at the abysmal lack of co ordination they both showed at different points.

When the instructor added in clapping and then turning left and then right, Vega gave a slight chuckle which bordered on hysteria. "You know," she said to Arlo in a conspiratorial tone, "I was just starting to like her, too." With a nod to their teacher, that was. She kept up more than she thought she would, but that wasn't really saying very much of anything at all. Still, she couldn't deny that they'd both learnt a lot. Add in to that just how much her arms and legs were aching and she was sure that the balance and movement had helped with core strength, balance and actual dance. She considered that she'd add it in to her daily routine.

Arlo's glare, though, was met with a steely gaze from vivid pink eyes. "Don't you glare at me, young man. This lot probably assume I'm your mother as it is." She knew that this was somewhat unlikely in fairness, but it added to the drama of the statement. "Imagine what they'll say. Oh, I'm done in, but I enjoyed that scandalously. Thanks." She even sounded vaguely serious for a brief few trills. "It was good of you to come along, I know you didn't want to. I would have felt like a sore thumb on my own, I appreciate it. You're a good sport."

Of course, as they started to move over to collect their things, with the other class members, she could quite help adding, "for a kid," before skipping off to pick up her shoes.

[Varthakh]

Rewards for the two-legs's

General Comment

Lovely! A pleasant read I personally think Arlo's hat is superior, sorry Vega! I hope to get the chance to review more threads starring the two of you, you make an awesome duo! Enjoy the rewards!

Vega

Story: 5/5
Collaboration: 5/5
Structure: 5/5

Knowledge:
Endurance: Ignoring fatigue
Dancing: A good exercise
Dancing: Requires a warm up
Dancing: Reach to the sky!
Dancing: Full bend and stretch of arms
Dancing: Staying aware of your partner's movements as well as your own
Dancing: Mucking up the dance move may result in falling
Dancing: Clapping in time with the beat
Dancing: Clap and stomp combo
Detection: A glare
Strength: The soreness of your muscles after a good workout
Strength: Tensing your muscles during exercise is a good method of isolating muscles for working out
-
Arlo: A good sport
Arlo: Went dancing with you
Arlo: Has an inferior hat
Arlo: Inclined to scowl

Loot: None.
Injuries: Delayed onset muscle soreness (DOMS), lots of dancing!: 3-5 Trials to heal
Fame: None.
Devotion: None.
Magic: These points may NOT be used for Arcana.

Comment:
Awesome! I loved reading Vega Her cocky attitude made me smile on more than one occasion. Despite all that though, she seems to be a very kind, caring individual. Keep up the good work! Enjoy the rewards

Arlo

Story: 5/5
Collaboration: 5/5
Structure: 5/5

Knowledge:
Dancing: Mirroring your partners movements
Dancing: Catching up
Dancing: Good exercise
Dancing: To the beat of the drum
Dancing: Mucking it up may lead to crashing into other people
Dancing: Skip, hop and turn combo!
Dancing: Warming up is like acrobatics
Deception: Lying about your fatigue
Deception: Pretending to have a good time
Endurance: Taking a breather
-
Vega: Thinks her hat is better than yours
Vega: Took you dancing
Vega: Too old for you

Loot: None.
Injuries: None.
Fame: None.
Devotion: None.
Magic: These points may NOT be used fro Arcana.

Comment: Very interesting! Arlo seems to have a good friendship with Vega, it makes for a lovely read. I like how he was stalling at the beginning, I wouldn't much like to go dancing either!