A City Story Beginning: The Partay... Chapter 1

[Anwen]

"You're a cheerleader? That sounds like it might be interesting. Do you enjoy it?" Gillean discreetly looked her over. "It doesn't seem your style..." He said, softly, under his breath, in an almost inaudible tone.

[Tinuviel]

"Please, sit down and keep stretching!" Dara said as she sank to the ground. Pulling off her shoes, she continued. "I've walked all over the city tonight in these heels. I need a break from them!" Hopefully this won't make her uncomfortable... "I guess I'm enjoying the party--the girl who invited me didn't show up." Dara leaned back against the wall and smiled at the ballerina. "Do you dance at parties often?"

[Hwin]

Ada let a sigh slip from her lips. Clair, the friend who had invited her, had not shown up, and Ada doubted she would. Finally she made up her mind to ask Felix, since he was the captain and the host he might know if she was coming at all. If she wasn't even going to make it, then Ada had no idea what to do since she didn't know anyone else very well. "Why cant I ever be my normal self at these cheerleader parties?" she muttered softly to herself. Ada walked over to him, waited for a pause in his conversation and tapped him on the shoulder. "Felix", she said softly, "I hope I don't sound rude, but do you know if Clair planned on coming?"

[Misty]

"I was more so prompted to do it," Odette replied. "It's okay; it's not bad." Not good either. She didn't particularly enjoy the fact that she had to perform for people every single week. She also didn't particularly like the fact that the coaches and other cheerleaders would badger her when she didn't yell throughout the game to 'spur the guys on' and 'encourage them to the win'. But she supposed it was kinda cool to be involved in part of the game that made it entertaining when the crowd got bored. Plus she didn't mind having to cheer her brother on in his game; lacrosse was one of his passion-pact things. "Do you dance much?"

~~~~~

Felix held up a hand to quiet down Chase and Falconer as he turned to put his deep brown-eyed gaze on the newcomer, sloping eyebrows curved in an attentive way as he fixed his attention on her. "Rude, I don't know how anyone could get any ruder!" His eyes shone with amusement as his white teeth flashed against his dark skin. "I'm kidding," he said to her taken-aback look. "I honestly haven't heard anything about Clair; I would've thought she would be here. Everyone is. She could be late. Did she invite you?"

[Toph]

"Thanks," Ri said as she sat beside Adara. She went through her routine of stretches again, relishing the feeling of being stretched to her maximum flexibility. This was always her favorite part of stretching: when she was completely stretched and could now do every stretch perfectly. The strain was almost completely gone from her muscles.
"I do often perform," Ri replied, "But I've never been to a party this..." she searched for the right word as she bent to her left and grabbed her ankle. "Rich." It wasn't what she had been searching for, and it distracted her for a moment. "Usually there is a stage as well..." she trailed off. "That is too bad about your friend. I'm waiting for someone as well, but he came with me. He should be back any- Oh, there he is!"
Adam was still talking casually with the man, but they broke off and he headed toward the corner where he had left Ri.

[Anwen]

"I do dance a bit," Gillean answered. "I know how if that's what you're asking. I just haven't gone to a party with dancing since my sis--" He broke off. He still did not feel comfortable talking about this subject. "--for a few years." He amended and finished his statement. "Do you like dancing?"

[Hwin]

Ada had forgotten how easy it was to talk to Felix and felt her normal cheerful self returning. "Yes, she invited me. I don't cheer, but I come to watch often...or whenever my dad allows me to." Her lips tightened a bit, Ada hoped she hadn't made it sound as if she disliked her dad. It was hard when he ignored her much of the time and rarely even gave her a "yes" or "no" to know if she could go someplace. It almost seemed as if he didn't want anyone to find somthing out, or at least thats what Ada thought. "Anyways", she went on, "your team is really good, I saw you play at the last game."

[Tinuviel]

Adara loved watching the graceful dancer move--as if she enjoyed every moment of her stretching. She must really love this. Dara followed Ri's eyes. She saw a blonde teenage guy walking towards them. I wonder what connection he has with her...
She smiled at Ri. "You'll have to introduce us!"

[Toph]

"Of course," Ri replied, smiling to Adara, then shifting her gaze to Adam. "Adam, this is-"
"I know who she is," Adam snapped. He grabbed Ri's wrist and towed her away. "You'll have to excuse us," he told Adara, just barely softening his angry face enough to look polite. He pulled Ri along until he deemed it a safe distance from everyone.
"Adam! Wha-!" Ri protested.
"Don't talk to the Royales."
"Why?" she asked curiously.
He turned to her and released her arm. "I don't want you to get hurt."
Ri nodded slowly. She trusted him.
He looked down at her high-heeled feet. He had bought her those heels so she wouldn't have to wear her pointe shoes to look professional. Her ordinary shoes weren't fancy enough for get-ups like this one. "Go put your pointe shoes on," he told her. "It's almost time."
Nodding again, she went toward the purse table, where she had put her bag. All that was in the bag was her shoes, but she had thought the bag would be better than carrying them out in the open. She laced up the ribbons around her calves nervously. It was almost time. The Royale's conversation had distracted her for a moment, but now the anxiety came back. What if she made a mistake? Unlikely though it was because she could always throw a random move in if she forgot something, a mistake would be such a humiliation! Or what if she slipped and fell? That was more possible. Ri didn't think she could handle the embarassment if that happened. She would probably die right there. And then where would Adam be? She thought with a smile. With no Ri to waste his money on, what in the world would he do with it?
She sobered quickly and looked around the room for signs of the approach of her performance. She didn't see any yet, but then, what kind of signs would there be anyway? They would probably just announce her. Or, best case scenario, they would announce dinner, and she would just dance during it, in case any of the Royales got bored with nothing to do. That would be a dream. Very few of them would be watching then, so very few would see any mistakes.
Crossing her fingers, she hoped for the best.

[Misty]

"It's alright," Odette answered. She knew she wasn't making that great of conversation with her vague answers, but it seemed to be a habit of hers. And besides, her interest was invariably snagged by the cut-short topic of the forbidden subject relating to who she guessed Gillean was going to say was his sister. So, his sister had something to do with the fact that he hadn't gone to any parties and didn't particularly enjoy them. Bad memories? She wanted to pry, but that would be rude. Besides, what did it, in all reality, matter to her? He was just a stranger in her house after all. Another Royale. Another guy.

Movement from the wall seperating the living from the parlor caught her attention. Ah... There you are... Her dad and the guy were sneaking back into the living room. Mild annoyance at the fact that they had ventured into her personal solitute area seeped into her mind. But the curiousity drowned most of that out.

What were they doing in there? Why did they need to go somewhere all alone to talk about whatever they needed to talk about? What secrets were they hiding? And who was he that her dad would want to speak individually to him?

She had a few things to figure out...

~~~~~

"Ah, yes," Felix replied. "I see you in the bleachers sometimes."

"Did you see my score?" Chase cut in. "You shoulda seen that clamp, and no one to pass to, so I ran it to the goal. Now, that was epic."

"No," Falconer jabbed in the ribs with his elbow, "But I bet she saw your time in the box."

"That was nothing," Chase replied. "Those wimpy kitties were just being a bunch of wusses." He said in reference to the opposing team, the Jaguars.

[Hwin]

Ada smiled at Chases and Falconers attempts to get a good word in about themselfs. "I did Chase, it was pretty epic. Although those wimpy kitties" happen to be the team my cousin belongs to." Ada finished, her eyes twinkling with merryment as Chases face turned bright red and Falconer laughed with amusment. "But just between you and me....I think your team plays much better." She finished with a reassuring smile. Then she turned the conversation back to Felix. "Is that your sister?" Ada asked nodding towards the pretty but darkly dressed girl talking to a tall guy.

[Lithium]

Quinn strolled through the doors, taking a deep breath before she flashed her coached grin and walked past everyone. She was late for performing. She had promised to perform and she was late. She sighed and mentally kicked herself before she straightened her black skirt and then froze. A girl was getting up to dance. Ballet shoes that were ripped... she was a subterrean. No doubt about that.

She looked her over with her cool gray eyes, then walked over to the boy who had been talking to her- no, the young man. Quinn stood up to her full 5'11 height and smiled- adjusting the sides of her lips and how much of her teeth showed to get the right look. The art of smiling had been drilled into her, so she was pretty confident.

"Hi, I'm Quinn. Quinn Tesler. I noticed you are helping with one of the performers? Maybe you could help me. I'm not quite sure when I'm supposed to go," she flashed her eyes downward then back up, trying to make sure she had his attention, then fluttered her eyes in the way that made all the boys go crazy- or at least that what her manager told her. "I would be eternally grateful."

[Toph]

Adam frowned at the girl. "I was unaware that there were any other performers." And he hadn't known. Ri wasn't actually a real performance, just a cover-up, an explanation for their being at that particular place. If there were other performers, Adam thought with rising anger, Mr Smith (as Adam was required to call him, though, of course, he knew his real name, even if it was against regulations) should have at least told him.

Suspicion rose in Adam's mind, against both Mr Smith and the performer. Adam had thought dancers were mostly reserved for the higher in aged, more dignified audiences. The teenage group was usually a barren field for dancers. These thoughts festered in his mind against this Quinn, if that were really her name. It sounded decidedly fake, Adam thought, but then, everyone had fake names those days.

Mr Smith would indeed be a poor agent if he could not even keep his little hockey or whatever it was party a small, closed affair. Adam had thought there were too many people present in the room when he first walked in. Now there was another performer?

"Perhaps you should check with Mr-" he paused, deciding and correcting in a second, "Rodriguez," he finished almost hostilly. Darn! Now he had broken regulations, there were twice the people in the room than he had expected, there was another performer asking him, of all people for directions, the situation was getting out of his hands, and Ri-

"I'm sure you'll get it figured out," Ri spoke up kindly, a bit ashamed of Adam's rudeness.

"Ri..." Adam warned, completely unconcerned about his manner and pushing her back a bit. Maybe they should get out of there while they could. The message was delivered. They would miss Ri's performance and she wouldn't get paid, but at least they would be safe from ambush.

[Anwen]

Gillean followed Odette's eyes and saw her looking at an older man, possibly her father, and a young man walk into the room. They had run out of subject matter, and stood there looking around. He trailed the blond teen with his eyes till he got to the little (he assumed it was for performers) raised platform. There seemed to be something going on over there and he involuntarily began to walk forward. He stopped and, turning around, flashed a smile and said,"It was nice talking to you Odette! I hope to see you later."

Why had he almost spoken of Maria? Of course. She was always dancing and singing... He hadn't danced since her death. Anyway, that wasn't an excuse to leave Odette hanging like that. He made a mental note to apologize to her later. He hadn't talked to a sensible girl younger than 30 in a while and it was making it hard to talk to one. (As you can see, Gil's thoughts wander quite easily)

[Misty]

(Hehehe Odette's too)

Odette knew she hadn't been a very good conversational person while he had been there, but now that he was gone she was kind of disappointed to watch him go and she nearlly followed after. But she stopped herself. She had brought it upon herself, she knew. She'd messed it up, and to change that, she'd have to fix it. To fix it, she'd have to do something. To do something... well, she'd have to do something. And what..? She didn't know, and, she told herself, frankly, she shouldn't care. To care was to open oneself up for hurt because the only way someone could hurt anyone else was if that person made themself available for it.

Letting her gaze wonder across the room, she settled on Felix who was with-she sighed-Falconer and Chase... And that other girl with the really long blond hair and rosy cheeks. What was with all these strangers? She sighed again. Her mother had really outdone herself this time.

"-speak of her," Felix said as Odette came up beside him. "Yes, this is my sister, Odette. Odette, this is Claire's friend..." Odette knew it was during that pause that he was realizing he didn't know the girl's name. Of course... Felix could talk to anyone about anything whether he knew who they were or not. But he didn't make it awkward; that was a skill of his. It seemed on purpose that he'd stopped there, like Odette should know just from that who she was.

"Hello," Odette replied with a polite smile.

"We're going to get a drink," Falconer informed them as he and Chase strode away. As if we needed an announcement, Odette scoffed.

"Felix," she said. "Sabes que esta haciendo con Papi y that guy?"

Glancing in their direciton, Felix hesitated. "No se," he answered, somewhat urgently, though he maintained a carefree demeanor. He spoke quickly so that no one but Odette could keep up. "Nunca vei el y Papi nunca mentioned any...thing about planning para hablar con alguien. I did hear un poco sobre que dijeron before salieron; it seemed kind of random. The guy dijo, 'Esta musica es agradable, wouldn't you agree?' Y Papi dijo que he preferred the traditional mixes."

Music talk..? Odette didn't buy it. That couldn't have been all that was going on between them two. Small talk of music wouldn't make them need to leave the room.

"I'll be right back," Odette said, turning to hurry away.

"No, you won't," he laughed.

She grinned back at him; he was right: she wouldn't be coming back. If he were to hold his breath whenever she said that to him until she returned he would turn blue from lack of oxygen.

She began to hurry across the dance floor, manuevering in and out among the couples.

"Odette!" Another cheerleader exclaimed as she grabbed onto Odette's arm as she was intending to walk passed. "Come on, join us!" She began to dance. "You're one of us; you know the dance!"

"Not now," Odette replied. She prepared to hurry on, unhindered, but paused. "Merissa, you know practically everyone's face at school, whether you're friends with them or not." A compliment; Merissa would be happy with that. She'd want to give Odette what she wanted too. It was mostly true. She kenw who was cool and who wasn't, who was in the popular group and who wasn't. If not by name, she would know where he came from. "Do you know of him?" She gestured towards the guy.

Merissa glanced at him, pausing for a second. "Never seen him before, or if I have he didn't matter to be remembered," she answered.

Well, Odette figured, how could she expect one girl to know of every single person that existed in school? He could be new. Or one of the silent, unnoticed types. There were certain groups Merissa wouldn't look into.

"You look slightly more active," Falconer, who had been hovering near the snack table watching like a phantom, edged towards Odette. She noticed Chase on the dancefloor, half involved with another dance partner as he glanced their way. "Want to dance now?"

"Falconer," Odette responded, "Do you know who he is?"

"No," he answered after a few second. "He doesn't look familiar." Then he looked back to her, looking somewhat unsure and having a sort of good-natured look of defeat mixed with hope on his face. "So, no dance?" He knew she wasn't going to. But he accepted it.

No one was going to be any help here, Odette sighed. Except maybe Papi... He obviously knew enough to know what it was they were talking about. And that girl the guy had come with... She must at least know his name. So, she could either go up to one of them. Or go straight to the guy; no one would know anything about him better than he knew about himself.

But... He was busy. Why was he such the popular one anyway? The performers... Odette realized as she looked from the girl he'd come with to the one that was talking to him now, the black-haired beauty with the full lips and the fit form. He had something to do with them apparently. It would make sense that he would talk to Papi about them too, since they were the entertainment. Course, she would've thought her mom would be the one who was dealing with that. She was the party enthusiast.

Maybe she should just ask Papi, Odette thought. Did she really want to strike a conversation with him? If she was the one that started it, she would be the one that was reasonably expected to keep it up, or at least make it end short and sweet with grace and courtesy.

No... She decided. She would stay behind the lines. He was busy. She was antisocial. It clashed.


(Conversation in English, just so everyone knows:
Odette: Do you know what's going on with Papi and that guy?

Felix: I don't know. I've never seen him before and Papi never mentioned any...thing about talking to anyone. I did hear a little bit of what they said before they left; it seemed kind of random. The guy said, 'This music is pleasant, wouldn't you agree?' And Papi said he preferred the traditional mixes.)

[Tinuviel]

Dara was left on the floor, blinking. Of course. What was I thinking? Sometimes I forget how acutely aware people are of class differences. The first few months away from home might be harder than I thought...
Noticing how awkward it was that she was sitting on the floor by herself, Adara placed her shoes back on her feet and stood up. She looked over at the dance floor. Ri looked ready to go on, but extremely frightened...Dara had seen the tall Royale before. I just can't put a finger on it... Then she knew. Quinn Tesler...a favorite of the cheer leading crowd. Adara's musical preferences differed, but she realized how important Quinn was. Ri's job could be jeopardized...these teenagers wouldn't want Ri if there was Quinn.

She strode across the room, keeping an eye on Ri. Whether "Adam" wants me to or not, I've got to help Ri if this turns nasty. Unfortunately, Dara had seen circumstances like these before. The Subterreans always lose. Always.

[Misty]

(Sorry, forgot to introduce)

"Can I have your attention, ladies and gentleman!" That was Mr. Rodriguez's voice channeling through the stereosystem. "We're going to take a break from the dancing part of tonight's festivities for some entertainment! So, grab yourself a snack or two and settle down, and I will introduce to you... Our! Entertainment!"

"Odette! Come on!" Merissa scurried passed her, latching onto her arm as she went, the preppy flock following behind as they rushed toward the snacks, still chattering and giggling as they went. There was no off button to the extroverted natures when they were all put together.

As the flock chose snacks, Odette drifted towards Felix, plopping down on a couch beside him. Chase sat on her other side, and the guys piled around. This might not be the best spot... Odette thought grudgingly. But it was her right to be able to be with her brother; the guys would just have to deal with it.

"Awkward much," she heard a girl's voice murmur as they walked passed.

"Welcome with warmness to the floor," Papi announced, "Ri!!!"

"WHOOO, YEAH!!!" Felix shouted, clapping and whistling as loud as he possibly could. The cheer leaders snickered at the actions of their team's captain, and the guys joined in as they checked out the girl who walked onto the floor.

[Hwin]

Ada had desided to slip away while Felix and his siter talked, it seemed privet and she didn't want to interfere, although she was curious what they had been talking about. Before she had gone far a mans voice rang out throughout the large room, pausing the dancing, and signaling the girl in the ballet outfit onto the floor as he did so. Grabbing a glass of water, Ada leaned against a wall and watched with intrest.

[Lithium]

Quinn smiled as the dancer named Ri was announced and quickly got to her seat. The girl was well looking- probably a good dancer if she had gotten a gig at this party. I must watch her closely, she thought to herself, Maybe I can find a dancer to replace Ginger- poor girl. I wish she hadn't broken her ankle.

After carefully crossing her legs to the side and readjusting the bottom of her shirt, she pulled out a tube of chapstick and slipped it over her lips. This will be an excellent performance and even if it isn't... I will still clap the loudest. We as Royales need to support the Subterreans. Man, I wish I was one of them.

Quinn smiled and sat straight up, studying everything and everyone around her and she found her gaze lingering on the young man who was obviously Ri's manager. She smiled. Maybe he could take her mom's place and let her mom become... well, her mom again.

[Toph]

Ri glanced at the boy who clapped and yelled. She tucked his face away in her memory. He would regret that...

Adam pushed back his sense of unease for the moment and watched as Ri sat and got into her starting position. He saw her take her deep breath just as she always did. Tilting her head down so that her hair hung in her face, she sagged her shoulders in a dramatic way and he smiled. No amateur dancer would have realized the affect a simple tilt of the shoulders would give, but Ri was good. Another example of this was her hair. It was pulled back in a simple ponytail, but enough short strands and her bangs remained free to hang in her face, adding a downcast look.

The music began and so did the dance. Dispite what her nerves must have been, Ri's face was a mask of peace. She twirled and leaped, and once she even went into the front-to-back splits. She made it look so easy. No one could see the muscles straining beneath her skirt and skin-colored tights. But Adam wasn't fooled. He knew how much strength and energy it took to hold oneself up on one leg. And the balance! To stay up in a twirl on a shoe with less balance than a real foot.

Suddenly, the music changed. It was now a blaring, bass-filled subterrean styled rap trash. Adam frowned. What the-? He let it rest, he didn't have time to ask. He had to save the situation. Ri was frozen in the crouched pose she had hit just before the music changed. Her eyes were on Adam as her hand strayed toward her shoe ribbons. She could either get up in humiliation from the prank, or... Adam nodded almost imperceptibly. She wanted to teach the prankster a lesson, and he was not in the least opposed to it.

He watched as she pushed her back out, then pulled it back again and again in time to the beat. Her fingers worked quickly on the ribbons, and her actions were covered by her improptu dance moves. She finished and stood sharply, tossing her shoes to Adam. Reaching out, she caught the heavy, cloth pants Adam threw back. The pants had been for the walk back outside, but Adam had kept them near him. He didn't trust anyone to keep away from strangers' handbags and he had wanted to be sure no one knew of how poor Ri usually dressed. Just because they couldn't afford new dance shoes, and they were a little stained by dirt, did not mean she couldn't keep up an image.

Ri jumped into the pants quickly, even landing on the floor on beat. Her peach-pink skirt was draped over the edge of the pants, a stark contrast to the almost sickly green of the pants. Ri did an impromptu, the moves just seemed to come to her. Every now and then she would throw in a break dance move. The cofee grinder was the first thrown in, then the moonwalk, then the arm/body wave.

Her technique for hip hop was strikingly different from the ballet. Every move was sharp and fast; it was no longer the graceful flowing of limbs. She was right on every beat, though Adam could she was not totally absorbed in it. He watched closely as Ri searched the room. She's searching for the prankster, Adam realized. Her eyes locked onto a place in the crowd and he knew she had found the one responsible, though how she determined who it was, he had no idea.

The song ended abruptly and she ended in a pose pointing to the one she had decided the culprit. Adam turned to look...

[Lithium]

Quinn grinned and clapped, encouraging her fellow people to cheer. She had noticed the almost imperceptible look on her face meaning- "what the-?" It had not been part of the routine, but it was impressive. This girl was the next "It" dancer and Quinn wanted her for her gigs. Maybe her "manager" could get in on it too. Either way, Ri was going to go big and Quinn would see to it. She wouldn't just be some back-up dancer. Quinn had a great feeling about her. Blue eyes- nearly purple. Light blonde hair. A beautiful face. A punky look and seeming attitude that Quinn could get along with.

She walked up to the man and waited for him to turn back around, gently twirling her black hair. She would have to ask him first, then Ri. She grinned. This was going to be great! Finally, she gets the change to foster a rising star.

[Toph]

The spot was empty. The other guests to the side of it were also looking, but there was no one there. Adam craned his neck to see above the crowd. He just barely saw the corner of a black Royale suite disappearing around the corner of the door.

Then the dance floor was filling again as the music started again. Adam thought briefly of the royale who had said she was a performer, but then he thought Mr Smith would introduce her later. Or maybe if she were a singer she would just sing a song for the couples to dance to.

Ri had somehow disappeared in the crowd Adam saw as he searched for her with his eyes. He would have rather gotten out of there with Ri then, as his earlier suspicions were rising, but it looked like he would have a harder time slipping away unnoticed than he had thought. He turned to walk in the direction he thought Ri had most likely gone in, but suddenly stood facing the performer girl. He moved to go around her, frowning as he did so...

[Lithium]

"Wait! Hold on one second," she grabbed his arm, "Please, I need to ask you something. Nevermind. I'm just going to ask."

She fixed her shirt and took a quick breath before she blurted, "Ri is amazing and I need a new back-up dancer. My old one broke her ankle. On top of this, I would like to sponsor Ri as the new "It" dancer. She is incredible but she can become more so if she attends Stargate Academy of the Arts. If it would make you feel more comfortable, you can become my manager as well. It's... Well, my current manager needs a major break." Quinn shrugged.

"So, how about it? They pay is great. The perks are incredible, including access to every party." She looked up into his eyes and waited for him to respond.

[Misty]

Felix watched the girl with observant eyes, paying close attention. Pointe wasn't really his favorite style of dancing, and neither was ballet, lyrical, jazz, or tap for that matter. But he was smart enough to know that one could learn different pointers from each style: balance, grace, fluidity, a connection between music, song, and dance. He'd already figured that out from the many hours he spent scrutinizing dance routines and videos online. He also knew that one could pick up various pointers from different dancers because each had their own unique quirks, some were better at certain things, and others at different ones. He could learn from any and all.

By the middle of the dance, Felix couldn't understand how in the world she ever managed to stay up on the tips of her toes like that for so long, and how could she spin that many times and still maintain a clear mind?! If it were him out there twirling around the floor, he would fall over the minute he paused to stretch into a position; it would probably end up being when he attempted the leap and his unsteady legs buckled out from under him.

Whoa! Felix cringed as she sank to the floor, one leg forward and the other behind. He had a feeling the position was causing him much more pain than it was actually causing the skilled little dancer.

Wha-!? Felix's attention snapped to the DJ table as the music stopped and a sort of static sound crinkled. The music picked back up in an upbeat piece of Subterrean noise chocked full of cuss words, violence, and insults. She recovered well enough, and he was impressed by her moves. He'd mastered the rotating leg move referred to the coffee grinder already himself, figured out the moonwalk and was quite smooth with it, and was in the process of perfecting his body rolls and arm waves to perfection. But she hadn't had any time to prepare, and the Royales would definitely be impressed since they rarely witnessed that style of dancing.

The team and squad were silent in a sort of hushed confusion. A few began clapping as they looked around unsure. A few others clapped politely. Felix clapped vigorously, putting their politeness and confusion to shame. All dancing styles meritted some appreciation because they all spoke beyond the physical realm of words, and joining them back to back was pretty impressive. Dancing was where someone could let their mind flow, and it might be accepted as an art instead of reproached as some words. All styles had that in common.

[Anwen]

Gillean clapped with the others. He didn't particularly care for either type of dancing, but he admired the dancer's grace, rhythm, and presence of mind. When the floor grew crowded again, he got up and started doing laps again. Amazing how some people gravitate to the dancing floor so quickly! He thought.

As he was walking around the room, he came face to face with the dancer, Ri. "Great job!" He said after bowing slightly. "My name is Gillean. Do you preform often?"