[ it's okay Garry's being called a grandpa in another thread, they can be old together. He looks hesitant at first, biting his lip and seeming to mull it over - his first instinct is to say 'no, I can't dance' or 'I'll embarrass myself,' but, honestly, they're not very good excuses. It's not like there's anything better to do - might as well pick up a new skill. Besides, it's not like anyone will see them. ]
Well... All right. [ he turns from her a bit to slide open one of the rickety drawers in the kitchen area, pulling out a beaten-up looking packet containing a teabag, which he lowers into the slowly-boiling water as he speaks. ] Why not? I'll try not to step on your feet too much.
[ Diva is actually surprised he agreed, considering what a stick in the mud he tends to be (by her definition, at least). So when he agrees, she looks positively elated, and also steps back to walk back into the sparse living room. ]
Hey, that's great, Garry! I thought you might say no... I'll just make room here! I can move furniture, right? [ Though it's almost pointless that she asked, since she's already moving to pick up the couch and move it ]
[ crossing his arms defensively! He doesn't want to be judged by Diva, of all people. Between the two of them, he's clearly the more average... right? ]
Not people like me! Maybe some rich people still hold balls like that... But even at school dances, nobody does any waltzing or anything.
[ She sets down the chair with a "hmph," but the area is at least clear enough to be something resembling a (small) dance floor. It's not exactly the grand ballrooms that Diva is used to, but ah, well. ]
I really don't understand it... It's so pretty and elegant, you think it would be timeless! Like opera, that isn't fashionable anymore either, for some reason.
[ rude!! She puffs out a cheek childishly in response, and then retaliates by walking forward to grab his arm and tug him along to her makeshift dancefloor. ]
It is, Garry! The times changing is awful, since I can never keep up with it, you know...
It'll be fine! It's not like we're going anywhere.
[ It's like five feet, goodness. But she's also not ready to start teaching yet, since she has a point to make. ]
And of course I would admit to it. It's even worse for me, you know, since right when I get the hang of a certain era, I'd have to go to sleep, then start all over again thirty years later. It's so annoying! Especially with how much my Chevalier move around, so I have to know everything before I'm even allowed to go out with them.
[ he just doesn't want it to get cold, okay!! and/or start a fire. Unlike some people he knows. But he sighs and relents, as always with Diva. ]
R-right, I forgot about that... The hibernation would make it quite hard. [ a pause; his expression softens a bit as he looks over her. ] ... Have you been all right with that, by the way?
[ She does, and she looks a little surprised, but then nods with a softer smile. She looks a little touched, actually. ]
Mm, it's fine. I'm not tired at all anymore, so I'm definitely not going to go to sleep any time soon! [ Which she says lightly, but then pauses, since she knows that's also not quite what he meant. She reaches up to tap the side of her head lightly. ] And it's quiet, most of the time, so it's okay. It only ever speaks up when I'm mad or scared.
[ as if he wouldn't worry about her. Garry nods once in response, looking faintly relieved. As long as she hadn't been barely staving off any genocidal urges... ]
That's good. Let's hope it stays that way, hmm? Well, at least for now, I think I can keep you from being mad or scared.
[ It's nice, hearing things like this. It brings a warm feeling to her chest, because as she had been learning in Haven, she can trust these words, for once. She hadn't been able to before she came here, as odd as that was, but... It doesn't matter, either. For Diva, it doesn't matter than she had to find those words in a place like Haven, because it was nice to have found them at all.
She reaches out to take his hands gingerly, and she gives them a light squeeze. ]
I think you can too. [ It's soft and warm, but her tone lightens as she laughs. ] Because I'm going to teach you how to dance properly! I definitely can't be either when I'm dancing!
[ of course, it's a bit intimate - but he expected that. He expected it to be a little awkward thanks to their height difference, too, which also seems to be the case... With uncertainty, he nods, gingerly resting his hands where she left them. ]
Well, it's a lot easier with music, so I'll hum when we start, at least...
[ She looks down to their feet ]
But we'll start with a waltz first, since that's easy? It's only a few steps, like this— [ She starts to move, carefully orienting her steps so that it's fairly natural for him to follow. ]
[ he half-laughs as he speaks, doing his best to follow her. It's obvious he's never really done it before - he doesn't have much rhythm - but he's trying, at least, staring down at their feet with lighthearted concentration. ]
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Well... All right. [ he turns from her a bit to slide open one of the rickety drawers in the kitchen area, pulling out a beaten-up looking packet containing a teabag, which he lowers into the slowly-boiling water as he speaks. ] Why not? I'll try not to step on your feet too much.
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Hey, that's great, Garry! I thought you might say no... I'll just make room here! I can move furniture, right? [ Though it's almost pointless that she asked, since she's already moving to pick up the couch and move it ]
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Yes, go ahead... [ he trails off, staring as she casually picks up an entire couch. One day, he'll get used to these things. Maybe. ]
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You really don't know any steps at all, though? Not even a waltz?
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-- Huh? Oh, uh, no! I don't. Dancing like that is sort of a niche interest back where I'm from.
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[ She peeks over one of the armchairs, and even though you can really only see her eyes with how she's carrying it, she's clearly judging. So hard. ]
How can that be niche? It's just dancing! Everyone dances.
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Not people like me! Maybe some rich people still hold balls like that... But even at school dances, nobody does any waltzing or anything.
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[ She sets down the chair with a "hmph," but the area is at least clear enough to be something resembling a (small) dance floor. It's not exactly the grand ballrooms that Diva is used to, but ah, well. ]
I really don't understand it... It's so pretty and elegant, you think it would be timeless! Like opera, that isn't fashionable anymore either, for some reason.
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[ garry pauses, then smiles, raising an eyebrow teasingly. ]
But I can imagine it's pretty rough for an old-timer like you, Diva.
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It is, Garry! The times changing is awful, since I can never keep up with it, you know...
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I never thought you'd admit to it! Ah -- but, er, the tea... [ he says even as he lets himself be dragged along. ]
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[ It's like five feet, goodness. But she's also not ready to start teaching yet, since she has a point to make. ]
And of course I would admit to it. It's even worse for me, you know, since right when I get the hang of a certain era, I'd have to go to sleep, then start all over again thirty years later. It's so annoying! Especially with how much my Chevalier move around, so I have to know everything before I'm even allowed to go out with them.
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R-right, I forgot about that... The hibernation would make it quite hard. [ a pause; his expression softens a bit as he looks over her. ] ... Have you been all right with that, by the way?
[ she knows what he means. ]
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Mm, it's fine. I'm not tired at all anymore, so I'm definitely not going to go to sleep any time soon! [ Which she says lightly, but then pauses, since she knows that's also not quite what he meant. She reaches up to tap the side of her head lightly. ] And it's quiet, most of the time, so it's okay. It only ever speaks up when I'm mad or scared.
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That's good. Let's hope it stays that way, hmm? Well, at least for now, I think I can keep you from being mad or scared.
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She reaches out to take his hands gingerly, and she gives them a light squeeze. ]
I think you can too. [ It's soft and warm, but her tone lightens as she laughs. ] Because I'm going to teach you how to dance properly! I definitely can't be either when I'm dancing!
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Right! I-I'll try not to step on your feet, but I can't make any promises...
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It's okay! It took me a while to get the hang of it too, so I won't mind.
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A-all right... Is this right? How do we start?
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[ She looks down to their feet ]
But we'll start with a waltz first, since that's easy? It's only a few steps, like this— [ She starts to move, carefully orienting her steps so that it's fairly natural for him to follow. ]
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[ he half-laughs as he speaks, doing his best to follow her. It's obvious he's never really done it before - he doesn't have much rhythm - but he's trying, at least, staring down at their feet with lighthearted concentration. ]