Learning to Dance [attn: Bella and Andraste]

[Roan]

Bastian

Bastian tugged at the base of his uniform jacket as he walked along the corridor. He was on his way to the ballroom of the Tower, to meet Andraste Sedai for his first dancing lesson. The very idea of the lesson was mildly terrifying for the large man. Dancing wasn’t something his father or mother did around him, though he knew they danced. . . they spoke about it when they went to some of the military balls his father was required to attend.

The idea he might be required to dance with an Aes Sedai, or, Light forbid, a noblewoman while off on Tower business was also terrifying. The lesson between the Red Aes Sedai, Beron and Bastian made it very clear that he wasn’t simply a soldier. His responsibilities went beyond simple combat and delved into diplomacy. Fortunately, much of the diplomacy would be handled by whatever channeler he was working with.

Eventually, he reached the ballroom, and noticed one of the many doors leading into the great room was slightly ajar. He peaked in and saw Andraste Sedai, along with someone he didn’t recognize sitting behind the piano. Stepping in, he made sure to close the door behind him to hopefully discourage curious onlookers from wandering in. He tugged at the collar of his uniform as he approached, “Andraste Sedai, I am sorry for being a bit tardy. The Mistress of Kitchens would not let me go until I got one of her cauldrons spotless.”

[Bella]

Andraste smiled graciously. "I still recall my time working with the Mistress of the Kitchens myself, so I understand very well. It's quite alright." She gestured to the young woman behind the piano. "This is Accepted Nissa, who will be playing our music for us." She strode forward to come closer to where he stood.

Clasping her hands loosely before her, she offered him another smile. "Please try not to be nervous. There is nothing to be worried about in learning to dance. You know how to fight after all, yes? The steps can be surprisingly similar."

[Roan]

Bastian

Try not to be nervous, she says. As if I have control over this? Learning to dance from an Aes Sedai. Nothing to be worried about? Easy for her to say!

The Ji’val cleared his throat and allowed a small smile, “I shall try my best not to be nervous, but. . .if you hadn’t gathered from our previous lesson on etiquette, my parents didn’t spend time teaching me the finer points of life. Life in our cabin in the woods was about hunting, farming and other things essential for homesteading.”

The man looked to the Accepted and nodded a greeting to her before looking back to Andraste, “I do know how to fight, though you might want to talk to Lysira Gaidin about whether or not
I’m a. . .graceful fighter.” He finished with a wry smile bordering on a smirk, “But I’m willing to try.”

Bastian’s nerves weren’t receding. He stepped forward and took in the opulence of the ballroom, but couldn’t even begin to imagine what formal balls would look like. From what the Aes Sedai suggested, he wouldn’t have to wait all that long to experience a ball first hand. On the one hand, the Ji’val was looking forward to the trip to Kandori, but he was feeling rather apprehensive about the reason for the visit.

[Bella]

Andraste offered him what she knew was a disarming smile. It was a skill that she had begun working on as the only girl among four brothers, and then to outsmart her merchant parents, before finally needing it to be a merchant herself. It wasn't that it was disingenuous in the least, which was the very thing that made it effective.

"The first thing to learn is how to begin," she said, holding her hands out. "Stand straight but relaxed, starting with your feet roughly shoulder width apart." She waited for him to do so and then moved closer.

The height disparity was going to be a slight issue. She had anticipated it to a degree and worn a pair of heels, but they still didn't add that much height to her small frame. He was still much taller than she was, but she was up to the challenge. Of course, moving in close enough to enter hold reminded her of the difference, but she'd managed.

"You place this hand lightly on my waist," she said, moving his hand for him. "And I put my hand on your shoulder." On upper arm, as it were. "And then these hands--" She held up her other hand. "--go together like this." She waited for his hand to join hers. "This is the basic dance hold and you will typically stay in this hold throughout the dance."

[Roan]

Bastian

The Ji’val listened as Andra started to explain where to begin. He rolled his shoulders and his neck to try and help him loosen up and relax. As he did that, Bastian shuffled his feet so they were shoulder width apart. Part of him couldn’t help a small smile as it wasn’t too unlike how he got ready for a spar, though he’d be in more of a guard stance. She did say dancing wasn’t too different from fighting. . . and this just helps prove her point. The problem, though, was as the more he tried to relax and loosen up, the more. . .tense he felt. Closing his eyes, he took in a deep breath and let it out slowly, doing his best to center himself.

There really was no need to be so nervous. . .it was just him, the Accepted at the piano and Andraste Sedai. He watched the Red Sister and then realized she was moving closer. His efforts to calm himself were about to go out the window until his eyes met hers and he saw her own warm smile. It wasn’t that he wasn’t nervous, but something about her manner just seemed to help calm him.

As she stepped in close, Bastian realized he towered over her. She’d not seem so . . .small when she’d shown him and Beron table etiquette. Before he realized it, Andraste had taken one of his hands and placed it on her waist before placing her hand on his upper arm. As he felt the warmth of her hand there, he watched as she raised the other, explaining he’d hold hers in his. His calloused, rough hand took hers, and he seemed somewhat amazed at how smooth her skin felt, but then realized he wasn’t here to examine how smooth an Aes Sedai’s skin was. . .he was here to learn to dance.

Clearing his throat, he offered a small smile before asking, “So. . .this is the basic hold. How many other holds are there? Or. . .is that something for later in the lesson?”

[Bella]

Oh, my.

Andraste chastised herself before the thought could even complete itself. He was not a young man, was not a child, but it was a trainee. It was highly improper, she knew, but it didn't stop the feeling that she quickly realized (again) that he was...very handsome. And very close. And she hadn't felt a draw to someone like this in a long time.

Again catching herself, she offered up another admonishment and kept her warm, gracious, polite smile on her lips.

"There are some variations on this hold," she replied to his question. "And then there are some dances that don't have a hold at all, but they tend more toward more casual celebrations, so we'll focus on the formal dances first." She took a quick breath. "Now, normally, it will be up to you--as the man--to lead the steps, but while I teach you, I will lead. Follow my movements and steps."

[Roan]

Bastian

Stay focused, Bas. You’re here to learn to dance. She’s an Aes Sedai. I’m a Ji’val.

Another voice of hers seemed to counter Yes but she’s a woman and you’re a man.

I am a Ji’val and she’s an Aes Sedai. Another bloody full rank! His thoughts went to Lysira. Bas. . .they are both WAY out of your league. Now FOCUS!

He cleared his throat as he pulled himself back to the present moment and looked to her, desperately trying not to focus on her lips. Part of him couldn’t help but smirk, “So. . .when it comes to dancing, men are in charge?” His tone was light and he was far from serious. He remembered his father made a similar joke to his mother, and the way his mother playfully punched his father, which led to them play fighting before his father would wrap his mother into a bear hug, the pair of them giggling like children.

The quip helped him relax and not be quite so rigid in the formal stance. “I’m quite happy to follow your lead tonight, Andraste Sedai,” the man rumbled, a laugh mixed in with his words. He then realized his teasing might not go over so well coming from a Ji’val to an Aes Sedai.

[Bella]

Well, he certainly wasn't helping her keep her thoughts in order, she thought wryly. Her expression didn't change but for a faint glint of humor in those dark eyes and a faint lift of one brow. "When it comes to dancing, it traditionally falls to the man to lead, yes," she said, "but that is a far cry different than being in charge." She winked.

Bad, Andra. Bad.

"For now, though..." She moved along quickly to get past her momentary lapse in judgement. "We start with one long step. You move forward and I move back. Then two small steps to the side. Then another long step back, this time with you going backwards before two steps back the other way. Like making a rectangle with our feet."

Turning her head, she nodded at the girl at the piano, who started playing. Andraste looked at Bastian and then moved them through the steps slowly.

[Roan]

Bastian

You are not focusing.

I’m trying.

Try harder!

Oh Light, she winked at me!

Did you even hear what she said?

Something about leading not being the same as being in charge?

Bas. . . I’ll say this once. FOCUS

The Ji’val couldn’t help smirking, but cleared his throat as he redoubled his efforts to focus on the Red Sister’s instructions. One long step forward, two small steps to the side, one long step back two small steps to the side. . . it seemed simple enough.

He felt his pulse quicken a bit as the music started to play, but Andraste, true to her word, stepped them both through the steps. She guided him with gentle pressure from her hands if he started to go astray. The pace was slow for anyone who knew how to dance, but for Bastian? The pace still felt a bit fast, especially when it came to the two small steps.

Bastian watched his and the Aes Sedai’s feet. One long step, two steps, one long step back, two steps. In his mind, he started to count, ‘One, two, three. One, two, three.’ Each ‘one’ was on one of the long steps. Focusing on what their feet were doing meant he wasn’t focusing on her and how close she was, and as pleasant of a distraction she could be, he couldn’t afford such a distraction.

[Bella]

Andraste had them practice that one step--which she told him was called the box step, for obvious reasons--for quite a while until the motion felt like it moved more fluidly for Bastian, and the pair of them were more in sync. When she felt that, she brought them to a halt but kept them in hold.

"I'm going to show you a couple other moves in basic dancing," she said. "Both require releasing hold and bringing back in."

The first move was her stepping back, gently nudging him with her hands to keep him in place. She stepped out until they were more like a line, and she lifted her hand while looking back at him. "Pause, and back together." She turned back into him and into hold with a smile. "Very good," she said.

"Next is a spin," she said, then demonstrated just that--his holding her hand while turning her and her turning, and then back together.