#they just hold like a different level of power as dancers

[enter-drfrog]

One thing I’ve learned through my years of consuming live theatre and bootlegs of live theatre is that you can almost always tell when someone used to be a Newsie.

They always have this like indescribable quality about how they move even compared to other incredibly well trained dancers. I think it’s just because Newsies is such an insane, other level caliber of dance that it just brings them to another quality of movement.

I don’t know how to describe it. I just know that whenever I watch something the Newsie always stands out.

[otterneuvillette]

✧HIPS DON'T LIE ! ✧

⋆🌱— Pairings: alhaitham x fem! reader

⋆🌱 — Sypnosis: You are a well-known dancer in Sumeru City, a friend of Nilou's. You captivate people with your enchanting and slightly....sensual dances. You left the Akademiya due to discrimination bcs of family financial status.

⋆🌱 — content: fem! reader, slightly spicy. (you're a bad bitch lol), kinda OOC alhaitham lightly implied yandere tendencies, alhaitham losing his shit over you.

(might do a part two?? with smut or just a continuation..)

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Many could say that Al Haitham was incredibly studious, or even a workaholic. Or that fact that he'd prefer studying over establishing connections or relationships during his student years in the Akademiya.

You were just another face in the crowd to him, someone that never really understood him, and even if you did try, he'd shoot down any chances when you approached him.

But, he paid the price dearly once you left the Akademiya, with the lack of your presence telling him that you were gone— you never knew that he enjoyed your company either.

Al Haitham, who was known as a man that only believes in hard truths and pure logic or scientific calculations and mathematics, had underestimated his desires that was buried within his heart, his need as a human being.

He was in love with you.

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A sharp breath exited his body.

He was looking at you.

Al Haitham couldn't help but stare in awe. He took in every little movement, every miniature detail, every inch of your skin that was exposed by your costume and couldn't look away.

The world around him had seemed to come to a halt as you started dancing on the stage, catching his attention almost immediately as well as taking his breath away.

He never missed a show of yours, ever since he found out about your whereabouts after you left the Akademiya. He wasn't going to lie, he missed your persistent and bubbly personality, your beautiful eyes, your luscious hair and deep down, where he kept his unwanted desires hidden.

He missed looking at the shape of your body.

He couldn't lie anymore, he was still a man, much like every other men out there, who has a primal need for someone to satisfy his yearning. During the time the two of you were in the Akademiya, he never saw the need for a counterpart, a partner in life.

He couldn't understand why every other scholars his age has a need to find someone to share their fleeting youth with, to only part ways when they don't feel like it anymore.

Unnecessary, He thought, all these unneeded emotions and needs would only hold him back from his goals, but then he found you again, seen your performances and archons, oh how he wished he could take back those stupid thoughts he had back then.

He's falling from his high pedestal made from his beliefs and logic and embraced by the human desire that already consumed others.

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You step onto the stage, your dance costume shimmering in the spotlight. The veil that was covering half of your face, the clinking of your waist ornaments and the rhythmic beats of the music fill the air, and you feel the energy pulsating throughout your chest to the tips of your fingers and toes.

As a renowned dancer, your movement is a language of your own and every step tells a story. The fluidity of your movements, and the gracefulness of your gestures, all come together to capture the audience. With each sway of your hips and extension of your arms, You feel your body become one with the music, letting the rhythm take control of your movements.

You were aware of his eyes watching you, and as you move with the music, Alhaitham was captivated by the power you hold as you bewitched the audience with the way you move. With every undulation and every turn, you capture his heart, and Alhaitham can't do nothing but watch in awe.

A small sweat drop appeared on his forehead. He had always liked watching your performance, but this was entirely on a different level. You seemed to shine a little more brightly today, was it the lighting? Or maybe how the stage light framed your figure perfectly tonight?

He got lost in your movements, captivated by your beauty and grace. The way you moved your body, the dance and gestures... archon's above, even how your hair moved with every movement, complementing it like a shadow. The way that you use your body to dance was like a siren using their voices to charm sailors, simply mesmerizing.

He could not describe it in words. The way you danced was like an amazing piece of art that would take an eternity to fully appreciate.

As you reached the climax of your performance. You twisted and turned, accentuating each and every part of your body into the dance, making sure you catch every audience member's attention, plus, to making sure Alhaitham's attention was on you and you alone in the process.

You noticed that he was there for every performance you've ever done, and this performance was a way to show your....appreciation.

As the music played, you were dancing perfectly to every beat and sound. The lights in the Zubayr Theater looked like the night sky, You felt yourself getting tired slightly but you kept pressing on.

Al Haitham could feel his face get warm. As your dance progressed and your movements got more confident, he was completely and utter captured. His eyes, locked onto yours as you danced, your hips swaying to the beat of the drums.. it was all so mesmerizing.

When the tempo picked up and your footsteps began to echo throughout the stage, he began to get dizzy. His breath was caught in his throat, all the attention and focus was towards you. The music itself seemed to be only your domain, and everyone watching was under your spell.

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You were moving in a circular and Alhaitham swear that he could see your ass jiggle slightly.

You were blessed with a body with full curves and rounded thighs and waist, perfect for a dancer.

You were moving with such precise, and well practiced movement, twirling your wrist and the circling of your hips and waist. Your eyes wander around the room, and he wished that your eyes could stay only on him, but there are others that you must acknowledge in the room.

Alhaitham acquiesce. His heart is green with envy, blue with sorrow, and red with passion, all the colors of the rainbow pouring out onto the floor and forming a puddle of desire.

Al Haitham was completely entranced by the dance and you. Each gesture you made, how you swayed your hips and twirled your wrist...

He could've sworn at the way you walked, your hips swayed just a little more than necessary... as if you wanted to draw more attention to your curves and make the crowd even more attracted to you.

It had certainly worked on him.

Just as you looked around the room, Al Haitham managed to catch your gaze. He couldn't control his cheeks, they had turned a subtle pink.

You slowly moved lower, knees bent slightly, feet pressed to the wooden floor of the stage, raising the right side of your hips, lifting it upwards. While maintaining eye contact with Alhaitham as you move your hips from side to side at a fast pace.

He sees a silver of the floral tattoo on your hip and he felt his pants getting more uncomfortable by the second.

Al Haitham's mouth opened slightly and he felt himself breathe a little harder at the sight.

His heart was beating out of his chest as you moved your hips in a seductive manner as maintained eye contact with him. He felt so... exposed, as if you could see the lust in his eyes.

He just had to have you.

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As the tempo picked up, your movements became more intricate, your arms and legs gracefully weaving in and out of each other. Your body seemed to be in a constant state of motion, flowing seamlessly from one movement to the next.

The audience was lost in the moment, their eyes fixed on you as you continued to perform. The sound of the cymbals filled the room, adding an extra layer of excitement to the already astonishing performance.

The tiny bells, chains, and charms on your ankles, wrist and waist jingled and sparkle in the lights of the stages.

Al Haitham felt his entire body trembling in excitement. The sound of the cymbals.. the twirl of your hips.. the movement of your arms, legs and even the jingling of the bells and charms on your wrists and ankles..

You were the main attraction. The main course.

No... you were the entire meal.

And he's planning to have you all to himself.

Al Haitham felt an urge he couldn't suppress. The way you moved, the way your eyes seemed to glisten slightly. It had taken every last ounce of his willpower to hold back from rushing the stage and take you in front of the crowd.

As you finished your performance, his breathing had become quite heavy and your figure was the only thing on his mind.

He was so lost in thought thinking of how you felt.. how sweet you would've tasted...

It's killing him to not be able to have you.

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You panted. The long and intense performance took the breath out of you, but stamina is vital for a dancer so you weren't affected that much as you'd have thought.

You bowed towards the crowd that were throwing Sumeru Roses at the stage. You picked one up, smelled it and tucked it into your hair, it's vibrant purple was a stark contrast to your hair.

Al Haitham's eyes remained on you and he waited for you to notice him again.

As you picked up the Sumeru Rose and smelled it, then tucked it into your hair.. his eyes followed your every move with bated breath.

He noticed how your gaze lingered on him a second longer than necessary.

He was completely bewitched by you. The way your chest rises and falls, the way you bow, he sees a glimpse of your chest, which was quickly covered by the movement of your hair, much to his dismay.

And the way you tucked the Sumeru Rose in your hair. You looked so innocent to him...but he knows that you were anything but that and that little action alone made him want to just.. snatch you, claim you and never let you go.

He wouldn't let anyone have you, not after tonight. He'd kill anyone who would take you from him.

His previous thoughts and emotions quickly faded as reality returned. He was still sitting at his seat, he could feel his heart beating rapidly as he sat still. He couldn't help but stare at you with awe, the image still stuck in his mind. He felt himself smile as he watched you interact with the other audience members and your friends at the side of the stage.

Maybe next time he'll have the courage to come up to you and finally have the chance to talk to you.

But for now let him burn the image of you and your endless teasing during the performance in his mind.

So that he could imagine of fucking you senseless before he goes to sleep.

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☆— FIN—⁠☆

[larkspyrr]

chapter ii — tell yourself it's easy (wc. 4.8k)

prev — masterlist / ao3 — next

reblogs are appreciated!

By the time the dance had ended, you were out of breath, though not from exertion. You couldn't remember the last time you'd felt so alive.

The dance itself was exhilarating. The ebb and flow of the string quartet as they brushed a vivid painting upon a canvas of bars; drawn in, pushed away, drawn back, spun in place like a marionette, round and round the glittering floor of a ballroom that called the night its home, the burning focus of a hundred curious eyes. The bait for a nation's attention; you felt like Coppelia herself. But no one could see the inner workings of your circuitry, the hidden ticking and spinning and clicking of gears that only you and the duke were privy to, concealed between the curtains of your finery, tucked safely in the sparse inches separating your pounding heart from his own.

You had been pleasantly surprised by his dexterity as a dancer; you couldn't be sure how he'd found the time or resources at the bottom of the sea, but clearly he'd had at least some level of practice. You had certainly had partners with more skill and finesse, but the duke had surpassed your expectations, even if they had admittedly been laughably low; within throwing distance of his fortress. Still, credit where credit was due. He had put on a remarkable performance for someone so new to the crushing expectations placed upon the titled by the court.

In the hush of songs ended, his hand still rested loosely on the small of your back, his own breathing elevated to match yours. You once again registered a chill where your fingers braced against the expanse of his broad shoulder.

The moment thrummed with electricity, a million different thoughts and feelings rattling around inside your skull.

Wriothesley's eyes were bright as he pulled you in so he could whisper, the words fanning across your ear. "Beautifully done. I saw no fewer than three different kameras focused solely on you and me."

Your heart slammed against your chest as you moved to look for the reporters, but a dip of the duke's head stopped you, his icy gaze persistent on your own, demanding your attention.

"Don't look away just yet," he said with a smile far too warm for his words. Your foreheads were nearly close enough to be touching. "We need them to think we are absolutely smitten. Can't afford to squander this opportunity by letting our eyes wander."

You scoffed lightly, but played along. "And miss out on the view of our resounding success?"

He chuckled. "Is the view before you not good enough?"

You tilted your head, letting your face wrinkle in faux confusion. "Are you asking me if your face is as appealing to me as the promise of my freedom?"

"Well, when you put it that way," he sighed. "Humor me?"

You allowed your warmest smile to light your face. The people were watching, after all. His throat bobbed, his eyes flicked down once to your lips before meeting your eyes once more. Nice touch.

You made sure his eyes remained only on you as you gave him a long, hard look, observing his mussed hair, the way his eyes crinkled at the corners when he smiled, the smallest of dimples in his left cheek. The line of his neck, his broad shoulders, his narrow waist. He had a strong frame overall, lithe but powerful. An attractive nose, a knife-sharp jaw. Vivid blue eyes with more depth than the Fontemer itself.

You suppressed an appreciative hum. He truly was a very handsome man.

"Humor you?" you mused, returning the favor as you leaned inward and pressed the corner of your mouth against his ear, the cool metal of one of his earrings brushing against your chin. You could feel more than see the duke holding his breath; a hand flex at your back. You smirked, the curve of your cheek pressing soundly against his. "Not a chance, Your Grace."

He exhaled with a small laugh as you withdrew. The other dancers were walking towards the outer boundary of the Suite, the quartet tucking their violins back into embossed cases.

Wriothesley pulled back then, his hand dropping away from your waist. He barely left you enough time to feel the bite of the cool air on your biceps before he bowed, the very image of the perfect gentleman, and offered his arm once more.

"Shall we?" he asked, eyes glinting playfully.

You easily linked your arm in his own, resting your opposite, gloved hand daintily on his forearm. The debut performance was complete, and judging by the eyes that still lingered on your linked forms, a success. There was no simple way out now, and for all your years navigating the murky seas of the court, you couldn't be entirely sure what was just beyond the horizon. The future felt like a yawning chasm before you for the first time in your life.

Your fingers curled against his arm nervously despite your resistance. "What next?" you asked quietly.

"Shouldn’t you be the expert here?” he asked with a small smirk. “Next, you introduce me to my future father-in-law."

You nodded in agreement, burying your nerves, glad to have a new mission; a next step to ground yourself in the face of your uncertainty. Your eyes scanned the crowd, eventually falling on a familiar form. "Ah, there he is." You grimaced. "Speaking with Lord Thibeault."

Wriothesley grunted, unamused. "Wonderful," he intoned.

You smiled at his evident distaste; the falter in his bravado. You understood. Thibeault had that effect on people.

"It is indeed," you said coolly. You shot him an evil little grin. "Let's go ruin his damned night."

Wriothesley snorted in surprised laughter. He matched your expression, pulling you closer to his side. "Oh, you and I are going to get along."

You led him over to the spot your father stood by the edge of the gardens, having what appeared to be a passably polite conversation with a tall, dour man — Lord Thibeault. He was scowling, though that was hardly an unusual occurrence. Famed for nought but his name and his legendary attitude problem, you were certain that if you ever saw the bastard smile, you'd faint from shock on the spot. Even in your imagination, the sight was deeply upsetting.

You came to a stop before them and two sets of eyes turned to you and your companion: one friendly, one hostile.

��Father,” you began, smiling nervously. “Allow me to introduce you to —”

"Your Grace," your father interrupted suddenly with a shallow bow, as low as his back would allow. You sighed ruefully, watching him pull himself back up straight with no small effort. He coughed. "I don’t believe I've had the pleasure," he continued, blissfully unhindered. "It’s an honor to meet you."

"The honor is all mine, my lord," said Wriothesley with his own bow. "I’ve been looking forward to meeting the man who raised such a delightful woman."

Your father laughed and Lord Thibeault glowered as you indignantly elbowed Wriothesley in the rib, hoping the motion went unnoticed to all but the duke. You could hear him suppress a small oof, tensing briefly, and fought back a triumphant smile.

"I am rather fond of her as well," your father said, still chuckling. He cleared his throat roughly. "...Spirited though she may be."

"Oh, but I've noticed," said the duke, the amusement clear in his voice. "It's rather what drew me to her in the first place."

"A match made in Celestia!" your father said merrily, cheeks flushed with tipsy cheer, raising his champagne flute in a small toast. He clinked the glass against Thibeault's, the flutes ringing softly, before downing a concerningly large quantity of champagne in one go, grinning all the while.

"So it seems," muttered Lord Thibeault with a deep frown, leaving his own flute still sparkling to the brim, untouched but for the slight tremor from the other man's unsolicited clink.

"Well, I'd threaten you to treat her right," continued your father once he'd finished his toast, lowering his now empty flute. "But I'm quite sure the last thing she'd need is an old codger like me were you to try anything. She is more than capable of handling herself. Nonetheless, consider this me doing my paternal duty."

"Of course, sir, and I believe it," Wriothesley said, voice low and earnest. "Still, allow me to assure you I'd sooner die than allow any harm to come to her. You have my word, on my honor as Duke."

Your father nodded, once, twice, satisfied. "Glad to hear it, boy. Er, Your Grace."

Wriothesley laughed good-naturedly. "Please, sir, there’s no need."

Your father nodded once more, slapping Wriothesley jovially on the shoulder before heading off to Archons-know-where, depositing his empty flute on a nearby ledge. "Enjoy the rest of your evening, you two", he called with a slight slur in his voice and a vague wave of his hand. He made no mention of Lord Thibeault’s evening.

Wriothesley turned to guide you away in a different direction, but was halted before either of you made it very far.

Lord Thibeault held Wriothesley’s forearm in a white-knuckled grip, said something to the duke too low for you to hear. Wriothesley smirked and you could see his lips move with his response as he turned toward the other man, obscuring your view of their exchange, to your frustration.

You had been pulled away by a young woman with a wide, kind smile, enthusing about your turn on the Icewind Suite while you listened amicably, nodding at all the right times, when a hand gently took your elbow once more. You were unsurprised to find the duke at your side yet again, but his smile had shifted now, radiating unhappiness; weary, forced. His face was nearly colorless. Your brow furrowed in concern.

You wondered what Lord Thibeault might have said to put a crack in his polished facade like that.

"My lady?" he prompted with an apologetic nod to the young woman, who curtsied graciously and excused herself. He wordlessly led you away to the opposite side of the courtyard. His arm felt tense where you had your own curled around it.

You splayed your fingers against the fabric of his sleeve, pressing down lightly in a gesture you hoped was reassuring. "Everything alright?" you asked quietly, leaning in so as not to be overheard by the people milling around you.

He looked at you and sighed, lip pulling up wryly at one corner. "Never better."

He continued to guide you away, ever away, and you allowed it. But you couldn’t help but feel like he was fleeing.

Wriothesley had been feeling quite proud of himself.

He hadn't been nervous to attend the ball — at least, no one would ever catch him admitting it. He could be forgiven for a little bit of trepidation when facing an enemy he'd never encountered before on unfamiliar grounds. He'd have taken a prison riot over a ball at the opera any day.

And yet, when he had seen you standing there — an unexpected-but-endearing cocktail of boredom and resentment on your face, he couldn't help but go over and see what on earth could make such a lovely woman look so unhappy on such a beautiful evening.

His unsolicited, exuberant entourage merely offered him the perfect excuse. He loved finding strategic reasons for him to follow his whims, wherever they might lead him.

Truly, he had only been curious about you, at first. The thought that you two might be able to help each other did not strike him until you were in that garden, and you showed him a fragment of your reality, weary and vulnerable, not-quite-defeated... but getting there. And while he could sympathize with your plight, Wriothesley was nothing if not an opportunist. It was the reason he was able to get to a comfortable position in life at all. A position that was now being threatened — amongst other things.

He didn't think you'd go for his scheme — whether you were truly uninterested in keeping with the traditions of Fontainian society or just experiencing some fit of pique brought about by a lifetime of luxury and privilege, he cared very little. He didn't trust you, not by any means, but he didn't need to. He could always trust greed. You had something he wanted, and he had something you wanted, and he'd be lying if he said you weren't utterly fascinating and easy on the eyes to boot, so he could think of worse company to keep for his ruse. You'd be an entertaining diversion, if nothing else.

So when your eyes lit up with the first sign of tentative hopefulness and he realized he'd won you over, he felt your renewed vigor reflected in his own soul.

You really were quite something.

The dance had been yet another facet of you which had caught him by surprise, and not unpleasantly so — you were as elegant and graceful as any debutante should have been, yet the power and strength in your frame belied the whimsy of modern courtship rituals. You were at once commanding and formidable and dignified and breathtaking — and Wriothesley was enraptured. He understood in a blink the parallel you had drawn between a ballroom and a battlefield; he saw you embody it. Your shared dance was a clash of wills, a display of skill and dexterity, a middle ground between rivalry and harmony uniting two opposing forces, eternally in orbit of one another. Coppelia and Coppelius, forever engaged in a duel of the heart and mind, cold copper and searing magnetism.

He prided himself on his self-control, but he was a bit of a romantic at heart, and he allowed himself to be swept along for the ride.

He wondered, as the dance came to a close, if you might be as stirred as he was, but your expression betrayed nothing of your thoughts.

Some light banter, a call to action, and your eyes were roving his body, from the crown of his head to the heel of his boot. The smile that took your face was blinding, and he found himself imagining, just for a moment, what it might be like to kiss you. He was only a man, after all, and Cryo vision or not, his blood ran as hot as any other.

You had leaned in, far too close for comfort, all part of the show, but the breath he felt whisper against the shell of his ear was for him and him alone.

"Humor you? Not a chance, Your Grace."

He was doomed.

Your father was an aging, yet amicable man. Wriothesley had been worried, for a split second, that he might present a problem for his plans, especially if he was aware of the notorious duke's past life — and he was certainly old enough to have been around during the trial. It didn't take Wriothesley long to realize that this would not be the case, however, as the man was as easy-going as a Fontainian river. Almost suspiciously easy-going, but Wriothesley wouldn't look a gift Viscount in the mouth.

Lord Thibeault was not going to be nearly so simple an obstacle to surpass, and he confirmed this shortly thereafter, gripping Wriothesley's sleeve in a deceptively strong, unnervingly bony hand as Wriothesley turned to leave. Your eyes had lingered on the two of them curiously until getting distracted by another young woman who'd come barreling over from elsewhere, speaking to you animatedly with expressive hands, a flurry of nearly unintelligible delight.

Lord Thibeault's signature grimace had remained unchanged for as long as Wriothesley could remember; since he had been a boy. Likely longer. "Found your duchess already, have you, Your Grace?" Thibeault droned, voice slow and reedy. Like the buzzing of a wasp. "How fortuitous."

Wriothesley smirked despite himself, relishing in his small victory. "It was love at first sight, my lord," he said in a sickeningly saccharine tone he just knew would get under Thibeault's skin. He winked. "Rejoice! For it seems fairy tales are real after all."

If possible, the other man's expression darkened further and Wriothesley felt a pulse of dark glee. Thibeault leaned in, his upper lip curling, revealing a sliver of teeth. "You forget yourself, boy," he spat. "I was at your trial not so many years ago, when you were scarcely more than a dirty little whelp with blood still crusted under your fingernails. The Chief Justice might have done his best to bury the past beneath all your illustrious 'achievements' and 'contributions', but those of us who witnessed it will always remember, always." He leaned in further still, spearing Wriothesley with more hatred than he’d experienced since he was a child. Wriothesley held deathly still beneath its weight. "I know the sort of person you truly are. I know that you haven’t changed and never will. And I don't believe this display of yours with that rebellious little chit is the genuine article for one moment. This is just another ploy, another poorly-disguised grab for power, and I'm not going to let you get away with it."

Wriothesley yanked his arm free of the older man's death grip, straightening out his jacket. His vision pulsed icily against his shoulder, with rage, with the vestiges of a long-dead boy's fear.

He didn't know much about etiquette, it was true. But he imagined knocking a man in the twilight of his life flat on his ass at a ball in front of a sea of witnesses was probably poor form, no matter how much of a dickhead the man was. Wriothesley glanced back over at you. None the wiser, you smiled and responded to whatever the other girl was saying, radiant and disarming.

He cleared his throat, already turning away; from Lord Thibeault, from his judgment. From Wriothesley’s own history.

"Good day, Lord Thibeault."

He placed a hand, forcing himself to hold it as steady as he could manage, on your elbow to reclaim your attention and get as far away from there as possible. You turned to him easily, but your eyes tinged with worry when you caught his expression, so he fought to offer you a composed smile, and hoped it was good enough. You didn't look convinced.

The evening was winding down, and the next hour largely uneventful. When he wished you a good night and returned you to your father with a kiss on the back of your silk glove, he was more tired than he'd been in years.

Archons. He could use a cup of tea.

With each step towards your family home, an unnamed trepidation intensified. You could feel the pressure of eyes on you once again, yet this time, they felt hungry, expectant; not curious and appreciative like earlier in the night. Your skin crawled, knowing there was a storm waiting for you just beyond the approaching door. Onward you tread, chin held high and proud, body braced for the impending assault, as sure and unavoidable as nightfall.

The ambush happened as soon as you set foot in the foyer.

Shrill giggles pealed through the halls, descending on you like birds of prey on a dying animal. Hands gripped at either side of your dress, their owners as vibrant and exuberant as ever.

"What was it like? Love at first sight?" squealed Chloe.

You didn't bother asking how they knew. You were as aware as they were of the penchant the staff had for gossip. You had only hoped to beat the gossip to your door.

No such luck, apparently.

"Oh, all that and then some," you said placidly, brushing off her iron grip from your waist.

Chloe's liberated hands clutched at her chest in excitement and she giggled again, swooning dramatically. "Oh, a man dashing enough to win the heart of the maiden who had sworn off love, at long last! Who would believe it?"

You rolled your eyes.

"Did he sweep you off your feet? Is he handsome?" asked Sophie in a dreamy tone, eyes glazed and far away as she likely concocted an entire play in her mind about the evening you must have had. You wondered if it involved glass slippers.

"Yes, he did, and he is the most handsome man I've ever met," you intoned, tugging the left side of your dress delicately away from her as well.

"Was Gerard there?" Sophie asked eagerly.

"I didn't see him. I think he's still studying in Sumeru."

"Oh, forget Gerard," whined Chloe. "Tell me more about the duke! I've read so much about the Fortress of Meropide. Its history is absolutely fascinating —"

Your father laughed from behind the three of you, skirting past and allowing the butler to help him out of his jacket. "That's enough, girls, it's time for bed. You can interrogate your sister in the morning."

The other two girls groaned, the very picture of drama, but obediently made their way up the sweeping grand stairs to their respective rooms.

"You're telling me everything first thing!" Chloe yelled from somewhere down the corridor before the sound of two doors swinging shut echoed into the foyer.

While the noise had certainly lessened with their departure, there still remained the usual hustle and bustle of attendants unloading the carriage and other employees of the house completing their evening duties. None of them paid you any mind, a small luxury you appreciated after the night you'd had.

Your father made to retire to his chambers himself, but paused, several steps from the top of the staircase. The household butler stood just behind him, one hand held stealthily beneath the Viscount's elbow. Your father turned, a contented, slightly drunk smile on his face. He swayed slightly. "It warms an old man's heart to see you've finally found someone you like, dear. I feared it may never happen." He went still for a moment, coughing lightly; you waited, knowing him well enough to know he was not yet done speaking. "You deserve the kind of happiness your mother and I had. The duke had a rough start, but he seems like a kind, responsible man. I pray that you will be very happy together."

Your heart panged; it hurt you to deceive him — to know how badly he only wanted you to be happy and taken care of. You consoled yourself with the argument, weak though it was, that this was simply a roundabout way of doing just that. Even if he didn't know the full truth.

You smiled to the best of your ability. "He is, father. Thank you."

He continued his way up the stairs, turning away from you with a shake of his head, butler not far behind. "Though, shame on you, causing your poor old father such worry all these years," he said with a shaky, exaggerated sigh. You smiled. "Good night, dear."

"Good night, father."

He disappeared down the hallway leading to the primary bedchamber, but even then, as the rest of the staff slowly dispersed, you found yourself rooted in place. Frozen.

Your mind was a tempest; anxiety, excitement, hope, shame. Just this morning you had been losing your will, resigning yourself to the inevitability of securing an advantageous, loveless marriage for the good of your family, your dream forever yanked unfairly from your grasp. Just a mere few hours ago, that certainty had been evaporated by a mysterious man with a captivating gaze and an underhanded plot. A few well-placed lies and one dance later, your future no longer felt so sure or predictable.

It was at once exhilarating and terrifying.

"Miss?"

You jumped at the sudden voice, spinning to see your maid, Molly, standing dutifully at your shoulder, fingers knitted together in front of her. You hadn't noticed her approach. She looked at you with a concerned tilt to her eyes, ever the gentle soul. "Is everything okay?"

You smiled, already feeling the turbulence settle a bit at her calming presence. "I'm quite alright, Molly, thank you," you said softly. "Just been a very busy day. I should retire as well."

She smiled in return, looking somewhat reassured. "I imagine so, miss. Good night then." She bent a knee, dipping her head politely, before disappearing into staff quarters.

You allowed yourself to stand on the precipice for only one more moment before finally heading to bed yourself, content at last to let the day come to a close.

The weather was perfect, and the Fountain of Lucine seemed like an entirely different world without the hustle, bustle, and sparkle of the debutante ball. The waters were calm, the jets less vigorous. There were other people meandering across the grounds — couples hand-in-hand, tossing coins into the fountain in the hopes of a happy future; mothers, pushing along strollers with babbling infants inside, light blankets draped over to protect them from the sun's enthusiastic rays; children, playing noisily in the gardens, plucking the couples' coins from the fountain water when they thought no one was looking; Melusines of the Maurechaussee Phantom chatting happily with passers-by about anything and everything. The only music being played was composed, performed, and conducted by an orchestra of birds; the only dances staged by fields of radiant blooms in a warm summer breeze.

You much preferred the Fountain of Lucine like this. It was infinitely more real.

You walked, arm in arm with the duke, enjoying the picturesque day. You fought back a smile every time a pair of gawking eyes rested on the pair of you just a moment too long. Molly walked a respectable distance behind you, ever the considerate chaperone, doing her best not to look as though she were listening, though you were sure she could hear. There were few people you relied on the way you did her — your ruse was safe with her.

Everything was going according to plan. The paper yesterday was just as the duke had foretold — an all-inclusive coverage of the ball, with a special focus on the surprise pairing of the Duke of the Fortress of Meropide and the Viscount Vellerot's eldest daughter. You'd spent the day indoors at home, resting, but had all the chatter relayed to you by your excitable sisters — play-by-play, in excruciating detail, going over precisely everything you'd done the night before. As if they thought you might need reminding, you'd thought to yourself, smiling, fond and amused at their antics.

The next morning, when the Duke had knocked on your estate doors to invite you for a walk about the Fountain, you were surprised, but glad for the opportunity to touch base with him about the next steps of your plan. You quickly agreed, kissing your father on the cheek while he read the Steambird, leaving quickly with Molly in tow, a mumbled and absentminded 'have fun, dear,' called from behind you.

The duke hummed thoughtfully as you walked, eyes looking at something far in the distance. It was something, you had noticed, that he seemed to do when he was preoccupied.

"I have a proposition," he announced.

"Another?" You quirked a brow, lips pressed into a thin line. "You're just full of propositions, aren't you?"

"Yes," he said simply, his smile unsettlingly mischievous. "But you'll like this one, I promise."

You looked at him carefully. "I'm all ears."

"Come visit the Fortress of Meropide," he said. "Chaperoned, of course, but perhaps by someone you... fully trust. If you catch my meaning."

"Molly can be trusted," you said, looking over your shoulder at the woman in question. She kept pace behind you, looking warmly at a pair of children playing tag in the flowers, seemingly lost in thought. "But for what reason?"

"Well... we promised to help one another out, didn't we?" he said, raising his eyebrows playfully. "The Fortress has a Pankration Ring. We can do some training under the guise of an outing together, and then return to my office for tea. And, I suppose, to discuss things further, away from prying eyes."

You gaped at him, stopping abruptly. He made a soft sound of surprise as he attempted to continue walking, finding himself anchored in place. He tilted his head in question.

"I'm sorry," you said incredulously. "Did you just say 'pankration'?"

"Yes," he said slowly, as though he were talking to a child. "As in boxing?"

You blinked. "I am familiar with the term. You are aware that duelists tend to favor the sword, correct? Not brawling like barbarians. I have never boxed, once, in my life."

He rolled his eyes with a huff. "I am aware. However, combat training should never be restricted to just one discipline," he said with a vaguely offended tone, waggling a scarred finger at you. You had flashbacks to a particularly insufferable, imperious governess you'd had growing up. "Pankration is a noble sport! It's vital to stay well-rounded if a duelist doesn't wish to get skewered. Hand-to-hand will be a good place to start our training before we progress to other weaponry. Even the Marechaussee Hunters started with unarmed combat. Strong foundations become strong houses."

You snorted a laugh, patting his arm and continuing your rotation around the fountain. He followed obediently, still frowning slightly, an admittedly adorable, petulant expression you hadn't seen on him yet. "Okay, okay," you said placatingly, patting his forearm once more. "You raise a good point, Instructor Duke. Perhaps afterwards, we could start your training as well."

"My training?" he said, eyes wide, pout forgotten. "I thought we were having tea?"

You laughed, drawing several curious eyes from around the garden. "We can discuss other ways to raise you in the opinions of the aristocracy, based on my personal experiences. That was the other half of our arrangement, was it not?" you reminded him in a low undertone. You smiled mischievously. "I'm sure we can work tea in somehow, if you insist."

"Ah, yes," he said, nodding sagely. "Of course. And I do insist, thank you."

"Consider it a date, Your Grace."

"Wriothesley," he corrected immediately.

"Right." You sighed. "It's quite the mouthful, isn't it?"

He frowned. "It is not."

"It absolutely is," you told him. "Shouldn't we consider shortening it? It may also help our charade, give the impression of intimacy between us. Nicknames between lovers and all that."

He swallowed. You followed the bob of his Adam's apple with a curious eye. "And how would you shorten it?"

You looked away, deep in consideration. "How about just 'Wrio'?"

"'Just Wrio'?" he parroted, face wrinkled in distaste. "Hm. I don't like it. Sounds undignified."

"Oh, come on," you wheedled, bumping softly into his side. You thought his give, the sidestep he took in response, was more for your benefit than due to any actually lost balance from the light impact. You smiled at him from beneath lowered lashes, resting your chin on the curve of his shoulder. You noticed a few other pairs of eyes glance your way in interest from around the garden. "It's cute. It suits you."

If you were a fool, you might have sworn you saw his cheeks color, just a bit, at your teasing. If you were a fool, anyway. He remained stubbornly silent for a beat.

He rubbed the back of his neck. You smiled at your impending victory.

"Maybe it's not that bad," he conceded, grumbling.

You grinned triumphantly, the day suddenly seeming just a little brighter. "That's what I thought. So, what should I bring? A change of clothes? Tea?"

He cleared his throat. "Anything you'd normally use for training. A change of comfortable clothing. We may wish to be... careful, however. It might give the wrong impression if you were to leave in different clothes than you arrived in. Also no, I will provide the tea. I am very... particular."

"I'm sure you are," you said wryly. "And alright. I will bring a change of training clothes only. When should we plan for my visit?"

"The weekend works for me if it works for you. Saturday?" he offered.

"Saturday, then," you agreed with a nod.

"I will be waiting ever so patiently for you to grace our illustrious halls with the unfathomable depths of your beauty and charm."

You snorted in laughter, an undignified, happy noise that you couldn't bring yourself to be ashamed of. "I'm rather excited to see the famed Fortress of Meropide at long last. A duchess ought to know her turf."

He dipped his head graciously. "I will be sure you receive the full tour, my lady, hosted by yours truly."

"Oh my," you said, free hand placed above your heart. "I'm flattered. I really am getting special treatment. Careful, lest your inmates become jealous."

"Oh, I'd be disappointed if they didn't,” he said. “Gossip does have a knack for traveling between the over- and underworlds, and the inmates tend to gossip like old fishwives. We want to make sure we give them quite the show. It'll be sure to make the rounds."

You grinned. "Oh, I'm sure you and I will manage, Wrio."

a/n: title from 'learn to do it' from anastasia bc im in a musical theater phase and it made me laugh to think of the reader teaching him how to fit in among the nobility. anastasia wrio / dimitri reader, anyone? or perhaps "to be a princess" from barbie princess & the pauper might fit better lmfaoo

[rainbowsky]

Hiiiiii. I'm here again!💛 My question is: what are your top 3 solo dance performance of Web?

Mine includes his recent interpretative dance of Like the Sunshine, opening dance during SDOC4, and the classic Versace on the Floor, duh! 😘

You're anonymous so I have no idea who you are, but hello! Nice to see you! 😊

I absolutely love this question, thanks so much for asking it! DD's dance performances are always exciting, and something I eagerly anticipate - probably more than anything else from him!!

#1 Like the Sunshine

There can be no other winner. Truly the most memorable performance he's ever given. So special on every level. Even though I've been unable to watch it since January (long story that I talk about in my post* about the song, which is still in drafts), I think about it a lot. Exceptional, beautiful, powerful.

*Sorry to bring up a mystery post, it WILL be published eventually!

#2 SDOC3 Captain Dance & Rehearsal

I loved this practice version because we got to see DD dancing out of costume, and he looks so fucking amazing (he really can rock a tight-cuffed pant, windbreaker and ball cap like no other). This clip holds a special place in my heart. I love watching his practices. DD in his own clothing, just being DD, being a great dancer.

Both the practice and the live performances show DD's strong skill, professionalism, and talent. (DD's starts at 12:40).

After the captains' opening performances the dancers all voted with their towels to choose the best one. DD ended up getting the fewest votes of all the captains.

If you rewatch the performances you can see that other performances weren't nearly as intricate, coordinated or frankly 'cool' as DD's, but we got to see these performances from a very different vantage than the dancers, so I'll cut them some slack for being so blind. There were even some comments after the fact, that they couldn't see the complexity of it from where they were sitting.

It's crazy to me to think that he ended up in the bottom from this, and he even made a statement about hoping to improve. 🥺

This dance was so good, he performed it so well. It really shows that perspective is everything.

#3 VOTF

It feels like this performance wasn't meant for our eyes (😅), but I love it anyway. For all the same reasons everyone else does. It's just so smouldering and sexy, and he looks godly here.

My CPN post about the performance can be found here.

Special Mention: YH Practice Clip

This practice dance has to be mentioned because it's been a favorite of mine for years. Not just because he looks so stellar in it, but also because more than a lot of other videos out there, this one really shows DD's exceptional gift for dance.

If you watch the presence/power of his performance vs the two dancers behind him, you can really see how much he stands out - how much star power he has just based on his overall demeanour. He has such beautiful lines, precision, musicality and quality of movement. He hits every beat and every step effortlessly, while giving so much swagger and fluidity. His transitions are unbelievable - so smooth and so strong. It's mesmerizing to watch.

It's crazy to think it's only 1 MINUTE of dance. It feels like an entire epic story of movement.

The same is also true with the Swalla video that is popular among fans. Same thing. You can really see DD's talent in these clips. I fervently wish he'd release more of these, although I understand it's not likely to happen again. It would be a feast for me if he did.

[sunskate]

2024 Cup of China RD

you know what correlates exactly to the ranking is how much GOE each team got for their ChRS. T/V and S/D tied in GOE for theirs, but otherwise, 1st through 10th exactly in order. you could throw out every other mark and still get this ranking lol it's so bogus

Gr/Pa were hurt by their levels in steps. although levels in the midline count for so little - Olivia had a level 3 to Caroline's level 1, and it only counted for .61 in BV. happy to see S/D continuing to be consistent - i still hold my breath, but they did well. this field is so deep that teams #2-6 had every judge giving every PCS mark that counted in the 8's

idk if it was the camera angles, but this stream made it so clear that Gleb is skating about twice as far as Diana in the program because he's always skating the outer circle around her. even before the field packed with half a dozen notably excellent female ice dancers took the ice after them, it stuck out more than usual that they're very unbalanced as a team

for me, i like Olivia's skating so much i would have had them above T/V. S/D have more power, but T/V look more assured and detailed, and they're often dancing in hold

it's good to see Gr/Pa looking more like their better selves. they and especially she are good dancers, she just moves well. still don't think their skating looks as deep as some of the others, but i like that this RD stays in one decade and feels cohesive in the choreo

Mark was setting up LaLa vs CPom as the battle for silver and the last GPF spot. just happy they both skated really well. interesting he said LaLa have softer knees and ankles and have the stronger skating skills. CPom have this creamy smooth glide and this grounded deep contact with the ice, where LaLa i can't tell exactly how they're doing what they're doing - they're just fast but also never look hurried which some higher energy skaters (👋 Vadym) can- they have a lot of flow and express and project upwards in a way that's different than CPom

G/F back to looking assured and focused. they're such a what if team - what if they had better packaging. what if they had programs that are as good as they are. Land of 1000 Dances has to full stop to switch over to Stevie Wonder because there's no way to segue that makes sense, they're so different, and then the last song just sort of peters out lol they deserve better, they need to choose better 😩

[lightning-and-sparks]

So for the dancers power levels, does that come into play later with an intra-group conflict or with them and an outside force? I really loved the scene where Brezziana, Sara, and Mihaly talked about Jack’s power because of how it brought out their different sides and started that thread of a conflict between them and power. Is the order of it Wander>Mihaly>Brezziana>Sara>Jack? Is that something that subconsciously rules the governs the group? You’ve done such an amazing job of fleshing everyone out and making them seem like friends, but ones who may have their bonds fracture under the situation. Also just wanted to say you did such an incredible job on all of Thorns, between its length and subplot management, well written and meaningful OCs, and worldbuilding, but my favorite part is how you’ve handled the Dancers as a whole, especially from Jack’s perspective!

Oh, now this is a good one! So early on, it already was a very different idea to give Jack some kind of power. I think when I first saw the Locked Out of Heaven map my first thought was that it was him holding up the mirrors and when they changed to show Night Swan it was his own mental struggle taking over. On terms of power dynamics, you nailed it. I knew I wanted to have Jack and Wander on opposite ends of the spectrum. As prideful as Jack and NS were/are, Jack’s low ability for magic (after being a descendant of Night Swan) is seen as embarrassing and is something that upsets him.

The whole story has been about him being undermined and overwhelmed by the people close to him. When he hears them discussing how he isn’t strong enough to defeat them and he’s basically at their mercy it reveals the dynamic of him being below them more clearly. Jack’s hesitance to pursue Wander subconsciously comes back to that. He knows if things go wrong between them, it will be him cut off from the group, if you go back to that hierarchy you mentioned before, Wander is the only thing keeping them intertwined because he can bridge the gap between planets.

I think what makes Thorns convincing is how messy and flawed characters and situations seem. No one there is perfect and are prone to failure. Unconsciously, although they detest that fact, they have some fear of Jack. Compared to Wander who stayed for a period of time afterwards (events of majesty) he no longer has that weary. His race does come back into play because it’s an Eternyx centered story. Eternians are not common outside their domain so that adds to his suspicion.

It was challenging to balance so many characters at once but I think I did okay. It gave me a lot of eyes and ears to work with so it was helpful. I thought having parts where they’re scattered or paired off worked well to show their personal connections. Jack is seen with them all one-on-one at some point. I held off on Brezz and his encounter because I had cold feet on how the reaction to Brezz’s friendship came about. She’s a very selfless character so I wanted to see her take something for herself just for it to come back to her actual carrying, if that makes sense?

I think as a group it’s difficult to take very individual characters and have them work effectively together. I don’t think all of them would have done some of the things Jack had done (that’s why he chooses to leave them out of certain events) he’s also struggling to regain himself and wants his image to come out unscathed. He doesn’t tell them about certain encounters with Roland in order to protect his pride and hide his shame. Although he doesn’t act like it, he cares a whole lot what they think of him. I mean, he’s always held under high scrutiny so he sees friendship as the same concept.

Thank you so much! I really wish I could explain all the thought and trial and failure that went into Thorns. It took a lot of energy and time to hold each strand of a story together and expand and fill plot holes to fix narrative problems in the beginning. There are a lot of gags and stupid shit that I put in there, namely Brezz’s Crocs because I thought it was funny and I rep an obnoxious pair of yellow Crocs that I get some awesome hate over 💪 these questions are awesome and I’d love to field more! I have a whole lot to say.

[flowering-darkness]

hii ari do lorenza and clio change their jobs often throughout ffxiv's story (ik clio wasn't always a gnb (realizing i only remember the gnb part.. favoritism)) and are there any reasons as to when or why they switch? do u imagine them taking inspiration from skills learned in one job and including it in another? (i hope this makes sense!!)

Hello friend!! Thank you so much for this ask!! (You’re so valid =P)

As per usual, this has sent me off on a ramble about the different job and weapon changes and reasons for them throughout the story. So my answer is quite long, but here’s a summary before the rest is under the readmore!

A Realm Reborn: Marauder into Gunbreaker for Clio, Black Mage for Lorenza

Heavensward: Machinist then back to Gunbreaker for Clio, still Black Mage for Lorenza (until “starting Red Mage” sometime post-3.0)

Stormblood: probably just Gunbreaker but gaining Dark Knight skills for Clio, “Red Mage” for Lorenza

Shadowbringers: Dark Knight for Clio, “Glaivethrower” (Dancer but without the dancing) for Lorenza

Endwalker: Reaper-y sort of Gunbreaker for Clio, back to Black Mage for Lorenza (gains custom title of Void Princess post-Endwalker)

Dawntrail: maybe Viper for Clio?, still Black Mage/Void Princess for Lorenza

A Realm Reborn

When Clio first sets out to become an adventurer, she signs up to Limsa Lominsa’s Marauders’ Guild because she already knows how to wield an axe - her dad taught her how to use one quite early on, albeit mostly for cutting down trees. So she technically starts as a marauder. However, when she and Brynblyss and Tsutsuji go with Yda and Papalymo to meet with the sylphs (around the level 20 quests), she ends up coming to the rescue of Radovan and Sophie in the forest. The pair offer to train Clio and Bryn in their respective classes as thanks, and so Clio is given a gunbreaker’s soul crystal and an actual Bozjan gunblade (as opposed to the Garlean style), while Brynblyss gets more experience of healing magic (since he has been using potions before now). As part of this/during this time, Clio acts as the tank for the party, but in more of a Xenoblade Chronicles “evasion tank” style than FFXIV’s “face tank” styles - she doesn’t have the bulkiest armour, but she keeps enemies’ attention on her and then can dodge their attacks thanks to her manifestation of the Echo (which lets her see in-game telegraphs). Since none of the rest of the party fight from melee range due to being casters, it thankfully doesn't matter that she moves around (thus also getting enemies to chase her) a lot!

Lorenza doesn’t come to the Source until the Syrcus Tower raid, but when she does so, she acts as something that best resembles a black mage. Her spells are more powerful and Darkness-imbued than those of a typical thaumaturge, and she draws upon the ample environmental aether of the Source in order to cast them, so it feels the most appropriate thing to call her class, but.. she probably doesn’t have a black mage’s soul crystal, unless I can think of how to get her one. Maybe the Scions had one lying around somehow..?

Heavensward

When the party take refuge in Ishgard, Clio realises that her unconventional fighting style (by Eorzean standards) could be used as a way of identifying her as the Warrior of Light, which isn’t really what she wants in the wake of the bloody banquet. Happily, her older half-brother (whom she wasn’t really aware she had) is part of the Skysteel Manufactory, and provides her with a machinist’s firearm to use instead. It.. works, but Clio finds it harder to hold enemies’ attentions and defend herself from oncoming attacks compared to what she’s used to with a gunblade; it’s clear that fighting from a distance isn’t what she’s comfortable with in an actual battle environment. So she goes back to using her gunblade more when out travelling through Dravania, since no-one's around to potentially recognise her for doing so, and goes back to using it consistently (like she did in ARR) after successfully rescuing Raubahn to clear her name in Eorzea. Additionally, Clio goes through the level 50-60 dark knight quests here, as she had done the 30-50 ones and confronted her darkside in the form of Fray right before Heavensward started, but now she gets to learn more about who Fray was and what dark knights are from Sidurgu. Despite this, she doesn’t really have any need or want to use the skills from the soul crystal. (yet.)

Lorenza continues as a “black mage” until the end of the Dragonsong War, where she then crosses paths with X’rhun Tia at.. some point, and ends up learning swordcraft and starting the red mage questline with him, quite inadvertently (this is mainly because I think the concept of her doing those quests is hilarious 'cause of the voidsent ties). She’s been on the Source for long enough at this point to have built up decent reserves of internal aether, but she does still use environmental aether to augment her spells - so she’s probably more “black mage but casting through a sword now” than an actual true red mage. This is perhaps reflected in the outfit Tataru creates for her after taking her measurements - it’s still very typically robe-like in its overall silhouette, but it still provides better ability for movement and swordfighting than actual robes, so it’s a good middle ground for her!

Stormblood

For this expansion, I’m still a bit on the fence about whether Clio picks up another job again. Monk would make a lot of sense for being so tied to Ala Mhigo, while something like Samurai could be something she picks up in Kugane and might arguably be an interesting parallel to Heavensward (from gunblade, to just gun, to now just blade!). For the moment, though, I have her sticking with being a gunbreaker as before - though she does go through the 60-70 dark knight quests here, where she actually starts to properly know and reconcile with Clover (her Esteem, who replaces canon Myste rather than Fray), so once those are completed she could in theory call upon more of a dark knight’s powers. However, she still doesn’t have any particular need to. (yet.)

Lorenza continues experimenting with casting through a sword instead of a staff, so she’s still somewhere between a black mage and a red mage. She fights very differently to Alisaie despite her also being here, because she’s a lot more of a “proper” red mage by comparison. This includes the two having very different stances - Alisaie’s is the in-game wiggly one with her rapier held out in front of her, whereas Lorenza holds her sword much lower, like how a reaper would hold their scythe. She also rarely actually uses her sword for melee attacks, unless the battleground has forced her to get close to an enemy or vice versa.

Shadowbringers

Clio’s arrival on the First marks a shift, because she now finally fights much more like a typical in-game dark knight, complete with a much larger blade (the Crystarium manatrigger, which looks a lot like a dark knight greatsword despite being a gunbreaker weapon!). She has gained the ability to be more interactive with Clover, and when she learns that to make things better in this world ravaged by Light means becoming a Warrior of Darkness, she starts trying to use these dark skills to help those around her. Additionally, the pure Light she takes on from absorbing the Lightwardens’ aether ends up making her joints very stiff, and in the later stages her skin becomes like plaster - so her usual evasion tank fighting style is no longer something she can do effectively, meaning she needs to be a block tank instead. It’s a bit weird for her to be using darkness, but everything is a bit topsy-turvy like that here in this reflection. This comes to a climax at the Crown of the Immaculate, where her darkside - Clover - essentially sacrifices herself to cancel out the excess Light before Clio turns. This restores her mobility (and also her eye, which got torn out in the final fight against Ran’jit), but essentially means she’s stuck in a permanent Living Dead state, which isn’t ideal due to being a bit too Darkness-heavy than is healthy for an ordinary human. Thankfully, this imbalance is resolved at the Seat of Sacrifice, because that’s where Lorenza enshrouds Clio for the first time, despite the two not sharing a reaper’s pact. Once they defeat Elidibus as the Warrior of Light like this, Lorenza is able to take the excess Darkness with her when she ends the enshroud, restoring Clio to a normal and healthy aetherial state.

In terms of Lorenza herself, she is much weaker than usual during Shadowbringers because of being overwhelmed by how much Light is present on the First. She can’t really use the aether around her to cast spells because it’s so aspected to light it would be toxic for her to channel, and she isn’t physically strong enough to be of much use as a pure swordfighter (nor does she want to be in such close proximity to the sin eaters she’d have to be fighting). Instead, she ends up learning how to use the same style of throwing weapons that Lyna wields, as this would keep her at a better distance from combat and is much less aetherially demanding than casting spells. Lyna feels a bit guilty for not helping Lorenza initially when she and Clio first approached the Crystarium, as she was in such a state to begin with, so she is very willing to help Lorenza with this as a way of making it up to her. Functionally, this fighting style is closest to being a dancer, but it has a very different and duller flavour compared to the typical flashy effects of a dancer in-game. Lorenza continues to fight in this way until after 5.3, since her enshrouding of Clio at the Seat of Sacrifice is what restores her properly back up to her old strength.

Endwalker

Once everyone is finally back from the First, Clio continues to use a gunblade as her weapon, but she starts to fight more like a typical reaper would, including taking on more of a pure DPS role instead of her previous niche as the party’s tank. This is because Brynblyss starts to train as a paladin, because he wants to take a more direct or active role in combat to better help the others, and Azami (Tsutsuji) replaces him as more of the healer/support role, due to still recovering from nearly becoming a Lightwarden at the end of Shadowbringers, which weakened her magic (she essentially goes back to being an arcanist instead of a summoner). Clio is also keen to try and balance the darkness she used on the First as the WoD with the light she is so known for on the Source as the WoL, so.. that’s why she ends up looking like something in the middle of in-game gunbreaker and reaper (though her actual skills would essentially be the ones from dark knight - they’d just have that same blue that the reaper ones do). She ends up receiving a new weapon from Hydaelyn after the Mothercrystal trial - it’s her own version of Venat’s Allegoria, which I represent in-game as the gunblade of divine light =)

Lorenza, on the other hand, returns to her initial style of fighting like a black mage, since she can once again draw upon both the Source’s environmental aether and her own internal aether to cast devastating dark magic on opponents (and, while the sword was nice as a change, she’d realised she’d rather just keep herself out of melee range in the first place). The power of her magic is particularly prominent in the context of Azami’s own volatile elemental spells and summons being dampened down in impact somewhat, as well as the context of having slain and experienced the embodiment of darkness that is Zodiark. The exact weapon Lorenza carries here is the augmented deepshadow scythe, which is a black mage’s staff despite the name - the character most associated with deepshadow gear is Cylva, so I might be able to make something meaningful there, but I’m not sure how yet. The initial intended meaning of it was as a reference to Zero’s reaper scythe/the fact I played through Endwalker as a reaper.. and also so that she has a metal blade on her to use as a more physical weapon on a certain someone after the final duty. During the events of patch 6.5, while fighting Zeromus in the Abyssal Fracture, Zero's scythe breaks - but, because it's specifically the blade part that is broken off, Lorenza then starts using the remainder of it as her new black mage staff, since Zero is able to channel light and fight with a sword and shield again.

Dawntrail

Having not actually played through Dawntrail past the opening few quests yet, whatever I write here has the potential to change with time. However, I think the way I’ve left things off from Endwalker allows the girls to be more consistent, at least - Clio now has a weapon that can change form, so I can just say she uses that for whatever (and then maybe get the appropriate weapon of divine light in-game..), while Lorenza now has a weapon of great personal significance to her, and I can’t envision her changing to use something that isn’t that because of such significance. So Lorenza will stay as a black mage, while Clio might try out viper but I'm not sure. Regarding classes, I think I might go back to everyone filling their initial roles in the party (so Clio as the (off-)tank, Lorenza and Tsutsuji as pure DPS, Brynblyss as the healer) - but I haven't quite decided whether Bryn and Tsutsuji are still travelling around with everyone or if they only pop up for certain story points like the other Scions. I did at least figure out a way to keep Zero and Lorenza in the party, though, so there's that at least!

Thank you so much for taking the time to read this, to anyone who has! I apologise profusely for it being as long as it is, but I hope that it was an enjoyable read and answered your questions sufficiently ^-^ and, thank you so much again for sending this in!~

[peppertaemint]

Taeyong! I know almost nothing about him except he’s hot. Like so hot he almost made that Shalala song ok. NCT seems overwhelming to try and get into. Are you a fan? Any tips? Or favorite Taeyong performances? Have Taeyong and Taemin ever done anything together? Not sure I could handle that…

Oh hello. This Ask is rather beautiful because it's a bit like filling up a bucket of water that will eventually overflow and soak the person standing under the bucket. Anon, you're standing under the bucket. Are you ready? There's no going back. Water can't just unwet. *nervous laughter*

Taeyong is a pretty marshmallow of a snack with oodles of talent. I loved ShaLaLa whatever it's called because it has a nice beat for dancing and grinding it out. Plus kitty moves in the choreography. Did you see those?! I would expect nothing less from NCT's Princess of Power. Please, go back and dance to it. Trust it will hit different.

Left: bb Taeyong; Right: NCT Yuta kissing a skeleton.

I am an NCT fan; mostly I like some NCT 127 and NCT U type stuff. And WayV. WayV are dope (and part of NCT - hope you're taking notes, Anon.) NCT have distinct vibe that can be fun and wild, or sophisticated and sensual, or just a little batshit. It's zero to one hundred with them. Oh, and death-defying cringe. Adrenaline-inducing art for art's sake level shit.

You can't just set out to get into such a staggeringly large group that covers vast genres of music. You just gotta dip your toe in and let the current take hold. Enjoy the feeling.

Here's where I would start.

Ten & Taeyong - Baby Don't Stop

NCT Ten and Taeyong's duet is flawless in vocals, dance, styling, and execution. It's the perfect duet with an edge performance. I really recommend the live performances, too.

If you like Taemin, you will like Ten. He's an accomplished dancer who can keep Kai and Taemin on their toes. Does that sound like fun to watch?

SuperM - Kai x Taemin x Ten

And now to SuperM, who aren't NCT, but they are a group that includes Taemin and Taeyong. You can look up lots of SuperM concerts and performances to see Taemin and Ten performing together or just being cute. Unfortunately, no duets yet.

SuperM - Tiger Inside

Enjoy, Anon. Come back and tell us what you thought. 💖

(Yes, more Taeyong)

[cerastes]

I think something Engage didn’t quite nail is unit distribution... You start with a lot of not very good, not very entertaining units with supports that amount to “hello, this is my hat, I see your hat as well, we should converse about this”, if I had to read another Celine support that amounted to “I like tea”, I would have buried my arms into the dirt and howled to the moon in agony-fueled screams that translate to “WHO GIVE A SHIT” in wolf language, sharing with them a nugget from Descartes own repertoire.

But, thing is, bunch of chapters in, you actually start getting units that aren’t only effective to use in gameplay and don’t have me clutching prayer beads so they don’t get instantly annihilated come the enemy turn, because I can trust them to not explode in the Enemy Phase (this is a very Player Phase oriented game, and I appreciate it), they also have supports that I want to actually read, like anything regarding Pandreo or Panette, or how much of a weirdo the dancer guy is, or actual funny narcissist Goldmary, or Princess “I am holding to the last straws of my nerves with bloodied, splintered fingers” Ivy, the last of which betrayed every expectation I had to how she was going to be and instead feels fresh.

I think... The early game is by far the weakest part of Engage, so it’s a bit hard to break into. Mind you, the map design is great throughout, but you open the game with so many nothingburger units, narratively and gameplaywise, that yeah, the first impression can easily be a bit negative.

*Mind you, I’ve not played in Normal, I’ve only been playing Hard and up, but just going by how not hard Hard is, I imagine half of this post may seem to not matter for Normal difficulty, given it’s likely a cakewalk, but even then, if someone is playing on Normal, they likely care more about the narrative than the gameplay, and, well, again, the game opens up pretty weak that way in the early game as well, so same problem, different bridge.

**This is wholly a me thing, but given I love axe units, I resent the fact that they are so so very sparingly given to you, with your starting option being “the game won’t shut up about my muscles but all I get is Build and not Strength” Boucheron and “Are You Really Gonna Use The Jagen”... Old dude, forgot his name. Anna is a magic unit, and if you promote Diamant to his unique Hero class, his stats are thoroughly sword stats until you get a few level ups and he can actually swing axes without missing and getting exploded, and Jade is a good tank but her killing power is low, having more of a support combat role, so your first real axe unit is Panette, who admittedly is insanely good, but god damn, you have to wait.

***Despite these thoughts, it’s only fair that I say that I am enjoying the game nonetheless and having fun with it.

[an-honest-puck]

I have watched Pray Don't Be Fickle far too many times than is normal (thanks @personinthepalace for sharing the whole scene lol) and I simply cannot get over how incredible Jonathan's voice is- like, the tone of his voice?? so crisp and clear it's amazing

(also, I love rewatching it and watching everyone reacting to him lol)

the fact that it's Harry who first summons him and names him Reverend Jon

Nancy suggesting a silly summoning spell to give Jonathan time to get on stage

the musicians in the background looking at Jon, waiting for him to cue them

Nancy double checking that he's coming and Harry trying not to break as he watches Jon walk on

ok no but hold on, the pure delight on Nancy's face when she realises that Jon's actually going to get on there and sing is so wonderful and lowkey kinda heartwarming?? idk, she's just so hyped for this moment y'all, it's hard not to get swept up in the excitement ya dig?? lol

not Jon Oscar starting his cameo with a pun XDD

"I sense someone has become something jarred!" - Oscar

Charlie: Our headmistress has been turned into a pickle! We need you to reverse that. Oscar: Of course. Well, my children, there's only one way to do that of course. Charlie: Of course- Oscar, breaking half way through this sentence: Which I fear is through song.

Nancy absolutely setting Jon up for a big dramatic song and of course the kicker: "Why don't you take... centre stage?"

listen, I know Nancy literally gestured for him to be centre stage, but that still doesn't explain why he starts this song kneeling pfffff- fr who knows, but it's a bloody power move if I ever did see one

speaking of brilliant moves, shoutout to Charlie for inviting everyone in the cast on the stage to be a part of this iconic moment 😌

Oscar: Uhh. My children, I must say, I'm disappointed that tonight is the only show my parents are watching.

Almost everyone else in the cast: *breaking*

Oscar: But here we go.

the band and Jonathan being perfectly timed on that opening chord and note??? wtf is this improv magic????? /amazed

I'm sorry but even from that very first line "When you've been turned" his tone is so crisp and so strong my god

also, I can't tell if rhyming 'jarred' with an alternate pronunciation of 'prepared' (i.e. 'preparred') is lazy or lazy enough to be genius XD

I adore Lauren and Nancy's all the little interjections in the first few lines and Jon including them in the song XD

Jon: When you've been turned into something jarred Lauren: Sing it, Reverend! Jon: You must be prepared, be preparred Nancy: It's just you! Jon: It's just me it's a solo, that's unfortunate Nancy (literally just as Jonathan has goe up to the two Henrys and Shields looks like he's about to help him lol): Don't try and pass it, Jon! Jon: But do not worry, things are gonna turn out great!

the knowing laugh of the audience when Jonathan sings "Pray, don't be fickle..." (because how else are you gonna rhyme 'pickle' ya dig?? XD)

but fr tho, Jono vocally popped off on the chorus!!!!!!!

also can we spare a moment to appreciate the way he physically embraces this song?? he's not dancing, but he absolutely nails the 'possessed by the music' acting direction of the scene and I friggin love it!!!!!

(the man is surprisingly light on his feet I would love to see him tap - Charlie says he was a great tap dancer back in their LAMDA days lol)

gotta love the musicians changing the rhythm of the song on him - to be fair, they are keeping in the gospel style of shifting the rhythm lol

and in true improv style, Jono incorporating that into the song XD

"A different kind of rhythm has started / And I know that we're all gonna see the change!" - Oscar

(yo how did he hit that note on 'change'?!!?!?)

and then of course he pops off lyrically and vocally

yo I legit have to record it here because this bit of lyrical improv is Showstopper level!!!!

A different kind of rhythm has started And I know that we're all gonna see the change! Magic's here and the lord is upon us So don't be fearful, now don't be enraged!

his vocal interjections in the second chorus!!!!! the way he becomes a choir director and gets everyone to do the chorus again because no one actually knew how the chorus went, least of all him!!! XD

and then he gets back on his knees and it's all over for us bitches /affectionate because it's me, I'm bitches XD

the way he signals for the music to stop is so fckn cool omg

THE RUN HE HITS ON 'PRAY' ADFSAKHDJFKSLAHLDJSK 😩😩😩😩😩😩😩

(Nancy in the background looking so proud!!!!!!!!!!!!)

THE TIMING OF THE BAND TO COME BACK IN WITH THE MUSIC ASDFHADSFJLKAFHLJK 😩😩😩😩😩😩😩

again with the badass stop-the-music signal?!?!?! we get it you're a fkcn bombass vocalist AND you're musically trained goddang- /jk

and to top it all off: a pitch perfect exit featuring a Shields flourish to end

in conclusion: Mischief, give the people what they want and let Jonathan Sayer sing more in your future productions!!!!!!!

[tutuandscoot]

Now that we know that Tessa couldn’t do a spread eagle, how far do you think she could have gone in ballet, if she had chosen to stick with that rather than ice dancing? Is that type of turn out required in ballet? Are there ways you can develop that in ballet if you aren’t born with it?

Great question!

Yes she absolutely could have gone far in ballet. Lots of ballet dancers (including myself) have limited turnout and they just work hard to improve it. you of course need to have some turnout to start with (which btw everyone has some sort of turnout, unless there’s like a birth- related defect with the hip joints) but the other thing is figure skating mechanics and ballet mechanics are very different and the way you use the muscles in that area of the body can contribute to limiting or extending range in various respects.

(Full disclosure- this is just from my experience as a dancer- I’m not a physio or an expert on anatomy in this respect, so it’s a pov of (now retired) athlete to (no where near as talented or successful and also retired (me)) athlete- not claiming to know all the facts and of course every person’s body is different).

For skating you use and prioritise your large power muscles such as the glutes, quads and hamstrings. These muscles produce a lot of energy to get you across a 60m rink, into and out of lifts, and controlling edge changes and sustained, repetitive bending on one leg along with knee alignment and action. These muscles however contribute little to the mechanics of turnout, they help, but are not the main facilitators.

The muscles you use for ballet are much smaller, deeper muscles such as the quadratus femoris and Piriformus muscles. These control the rotation of the thigh ball-in-socket- joint in the hip (make a fist and rotate it in and out- then imaging there’s a muscle attached to your thumb that helps control it). These are the muscles that facilitate turn out and hold it it place, then the big power muscles get you in and out of the air and sustain you through a performance in a turned out position.

Now in full honesty, I probably can’t really explain the intricacies of what contributes to a lack or abundance of natural turnout. (If you are interested you can read more in depth here) Part of it has to do with your thigh ball-in-socket (the head of the femur) sitting more forward or back in the hip joint. That is just one but there are a lot of things that contribute to it- flexibility, range of motion- how far your joints can move etc..

Strength is another big factor, the key muscles are very different- not that I’can skate at all, but it’s obvious since they (skaters) spend like 96% of their time in parallel positions- pushing back/forward, straight or on an edge lean, this requires the power muscles almost exclusively, the smaller muscles wouldn’t be much help if the power muscles weren’t strong and had incredible endurance with contributing core control.

When I think of myself and my relative lack of turnout, I think when I plié (bend my knees) in turn out my knees don’t go very far back, like if I was to turn side on and look in the mirror they would be going out diagonally to the side rather than ‘flat’ to the side.

I don’t know T’s exact range or physicality on an anatomical level, but this would very likely be the same for her, when say, comparing her to Scott- he’s knees would go more flat to the side (I need a picture of them doing pliés in first side by side 😠).

This moment here is a good way to compare them:

T’s knees are pointing more diagonally to the side- shown with the less than 180* angle, but Scott’s are more facing than side, closer to 180*. It’s not that her legs aren’t turning out, they just don’t turn out as far, or as you can see in motion, as easily as Scott’s. So there’s having a less than ideal/perfect amount of turnout, then there’s being able to use it. T might not have a tonne, but she uses what she has.

There is also this example that I’m going to point out before someone says ‘but she can do this’:

So while this is still a turned out position, it is much easier to open your hips when you are both a) leaning forward and b) the lower down you bend.

So if I were to just make a quick assumption. T has average turnout, Scott has a good amount/ significant turnout. So while they are both doing the same skating, training, strength and conditioning to train their power muscles for skating specifically, when it comes to turn out moments- they come easier to Scott because he just has more of it, even though his big muscles like glutes and quads would be trained like Tessa and be much stronger than his smaller turnout muscles. But if T were ballet training, and she trained those smaller muscles, her turnout still wouldn’t be amazing, but she would be able to work it properly and therefore all those positions would be facilitated better and contribute to more overall turnout.

(And as I’ve said since I’m not a skater there may be a number of other factors that contribute to her not being able to SE, but turnout/hip mobility makes the most sense to me just watching and understanding a bit about turnout mechanics).

So if Tessa does, as I assume, not have the most amazing turnout, had she gone down the path of ballet it would be something she would have to work on and strengthen along with stretch to get the most out of her lines. She has an athletic figure/muscular structure so I would imagine things like jumps would come easy to her. When she was asked to join the NBS (national ballet school) this would’ve been something they assessed as part of their selection criteria. All major schools accepting kids for serious/fulltime training, will have kids as young as 8/9 perform a number of ‘tests’ such as splits, turnout, back flexibility, body proportions, all these things along with watching them in ballet class before selecting potential students. I know it seems a bit much for kids so young as bodies can change through puberty, but they still do it. So if her turnout (again, just assuming her turnout range here) wasn’t amazing it obviously didn’t stop them from wanting her.

So had T chosen ballet, absolutely she could’ve done it and made it far because she is beautiful and angelic, a beautiful performer and has a scary level of innate musicality, can clearly work with a partner and teammates/peers in general, can take instruction and is a perfectionist, turnout certainly wouldn’t have stopped her. She wouldn’t be dancing in Russia or anything but she certainly could’ve done it.. anywhere else. I’m kinda glad she chose ice dance though ☺️ (and I think she is to.. and Scott was as well 🥰.

[heavyhitterheaux]

REE!! Just read already best friends it took my ass all day!! But I wanted to be comfortable in bed when I read it 😭 UGHH I FUCKING LOVED IT. That so called “best friend” (fake jealous ass bitch) NEEDS HER ASS BEAT, WHOOPED, DRAGGED!! ALL OF THE FUCKING ABOVE

I’m gonna put some of my favorite things from the fic below:

Visit you at work and photoshop you in compromising pictures with different men to make it seem as if you were doing more than just giving them dances and sent it to Jack through a text message. This is really another level of miserable 😐

amila- Jack it’s Camila, I hate to be the one to tell you this. But Y/N isn’t as innocent as she seems. I don’t want for her to string you along anymore seeing as it’s been almost eight months. I’m actually surprised that she kept it up for this long. She does more than dance for people, she sleeps with them. She’s been lying to you. I’m sorry. This whole thing just REALLLYYYY PISSED ME OFF!! 🔪

Jack- Y/N, I didn’t want to do this over a text but, I have a lot of things going on and I feel as though we need to take a break from our relationship for a while. “I didn’t want to do this over text” THEN DONT!! BE A MAN AND FACE HER 🙄

And to think you told your mom and grandmother about him. SHE TOLD THE GRANDMA BROOO 😭 and he broke up with her OVER TEXT!!

And that he wanted to bring you to Kentucky to spend Thanksgiving with his family. AND YOU THE TYPA GIRL I WANNA BRING TO THANKSGIVING!!

“I love you, Mila. Thank you for being the one person that I can always count on.” THE IRONYYYY. Like she’s telling this evil ass bitch she lovers her & don’t even know what this hoe did!!

“Of course, baby girl. I am always going to be here for you. Until the end of time and even after that. All we need is each other.” And here comes her fake ass response, like bitch NO U NEED HER 🖕🏽

“But you really liked him and I was excited to meet him so he better get his shit together and make me a great grandmother.” Nana’s in the hospital bed preaching 😭

“Girl, please. You know you want him and only him. I’ll stop picking with you for now, but do me a favor and drop his address when I get out of rehab. Nana will set him straight.” Someone please tell me, where I go or what I gotta do to get a Nana like this 💀 I feel like this would be @hoodharlow as a grandma, DONT MESS WIT HER FAMILY 😭 or you will be catching them hands.

“I deserved to have that relationship, not her.” BITCH U DIDNT EVEN WANT HIM!! YOU WANTED THAT LIGHT SKIN BIG HEADED ASS HOE DRAKE 😐

I’m not holding on for a got damn thing. Get your shit out of my apartment and you better not come back. I… consider this friendship over with. Who knew you were a jealous ass bitch. Oh, and find another person to get you to help pay for your tuition next semester, I’m done. FIRST OFF, YN told this bitch the fuck off. AS SHE MOTHAFUCKIN SHOULD!! But what gets me is SHE WAS HELPING THIS FAKE WACK ASS HOE WITH HER TUITION?! AND THAT’S HOW SHE WANNA DO HER🤨 ANDDDD I STILL THINK SHE SHOULDA GOT HER ASS BEAT THE FUCK UP 🗣️

jackharlow: the baddest to ever do it. first black principal dancer of americanballettheater that's my wife yall 😍 YALL SEE THAT!! BLACK PUSSY POWER AT ITS FINEST!! Babygirl is married ANDDDD got her dream job 😘

lilnasx: jackharlow I'm spoken for. he better download a dating app. This….this just killed me 💀

REE YOU ALWAYS FUCKIN EATTTT, IM SO GLAD I WAITED TO READ THIS 🫶🏽😭

I FUCKING LIVE FOR YOUR REACTIONS 😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭

YES TO ALL OF THIS AND THANK YOUUUU MAMAS 🥺

Jackman was wrong for not letting her explain

Don't even get me started on Camila

Yess Nana gives me Blanca vibes because I know she doesn’t play about the people she cares about

And Camila wanted Drake's ass not Jack

When she saw how her "bestie" was happy she was like where is my boo at? She doesn't deserve him

WHEN SHE DID DESERVE HIM

And yesss the ultimate form of black girl magic! Jack made sure to help her dream come true 😭😭

Druski and Nas always be going at it and don't know how to act lmaooooo

Who knows, I might do another insta au that shows married life for them and her thriving being the badass she is 😌💕

[makeitagoodoneeh]

@rebloggingrexan hi, it looks like you tagged someone from an earlier reblog but you're asking about what I said about partnering in my tags, so I'll answer!

The short answer is that Dracula and Jonathan look like they are moving independently while trying to hold onto each other, as opposed to organically moving as one unit. This shows up in their overall posture, as well as in how their legs move.

Professional dancers whose primary training is a partnered style create shapes with their bodies -- leaning or curving towards and away from each other -- that allow them to use each other's energy to move together as an efficient unit. Different styles have different holds, but across styles, the holds have a certain elasticity, and typically, there is close body contact that isn't *just* the arms. The head, chest, hips, and feet move closer to and further from the partner's depending on what kind of movement you're creating. They bounce off of each other and reel each other in from the end of their reach, especially when transitioning in and out of dramatic movements like "lines", drops, lifts, etc.

You also have to use your legs differently when you partner dance as a unit, than in ballet-type partnering. Ballroom dancers (this choreography, and their hold/posture, is definitely more of a ballroom/"dancesport" tango than a traditional Argentine style) have a very "grounded" energy, sinking deeply into their knees and hinging at the hips to generate power for long, fast steps that cover a lot of ground, and, crucially, to control/balance/counterweight the shapes they're creating with their upper bodies.

These two are *sort* of using each other to stop/start and change directions, but not very fluidly, and only in specific moments of complicated choreography or tricks/"lines". Their "frame" (position of the arms when they're holding each other) is relatively rigid and upright, which is where you start when you're trying to create the visual of a ballroom dance, but not where you end up when you're experienced.

Check out these dancers at the Gay Games in Paris -- they're not "professionals" at the level you'd see in mainstream (M/F partnered) championships, but they're very serious, highly trained competitors. The couple where the follower is in all white and the couple where both partners are in tails are good examples of the shapes I'm talking about. They are in a "closed position" with their arms in frame the whole time, but see how the frame tilts, sways, twists relative to their hips, and expands/contracts, even though their hands are staying in the same place?

This one is American style tango (of course the US has its own unique versions of the competitive ballroom and Latin dances), which allows things you see in stage choreography (separation of partners, turning moves etc.) that the International style, seen in the Gay Games clip, does not allow. You can see how their separation and coming back together is more organic and fluid, even when there is a dynamic of pursuit and/or resistance in the choreography.

Okay that's probably way more elaboration than necessary, but obviously I was hoping someone would ask, lol. As a lifelong ballroom dancer, I really wish more different types of productions would hire ballroom dancers to do their partnered performances!

Just for fun, I'll finish with a link to one of my favorite tango "showdances" of all time with some horror vibes.

Dracula and Jonathan’s Tango - from The Polish National Opera production of ‘Dracula’.

With Choreography by Krzysztof Pastor and Music by Wojciech Kilar.

[vijayjstuff]

Unlock Your Inner Gumby: How to Increase Your Body's Flexibility with Flexibility Training #Flexibilitytraining

Have you ever watched a yoga instructor contort themselves into seemingly impossible positions and thought, "There's no way I could ever do that!"? Well, guess what? With dedication and the right approach, you can definitely improve your flexibility.

Greater flexibility isn't just about achieving impressive poses (although that can be a fun perk!). It offers a wide range of benefits for your overall health and well-being. Improved flexibility can:

Reduce your risk of injury: Tight muscles are more prone to tears and strains.

Enhance your athletic performance: Whether you're a runner, dancer, or weekend warrior, greater flexibility can improve your range of motion and power.

Improve your posture: Tight muscles can pull you out of alignment, leading to aches and pains.

Increase your range of motion in daily activities: From reaching for that high shelf to tying your shoes, better flexibility makes everyday movements easier.

The key to unlocking your inner gymnast lies in flexibility training. This incorporates various techniques to improve your muscle length and joint mobility. Here are some steps to get you started:

Embrace the Warm-Up: Never stretch cold muscles! Before diving into static stretches, perform a light cardio warm-up like brisk walking or jumping jacks for 5-10 minutes. This gets your blood flowing and prepares your muscles for movement.

Master the Art of Static Stretching: Static stretches involve holding a position that gently elongates a muscle for a sustained period (usually 20-30 seconds). Focus on your breath, and avoid bouncing. Here are some beginner-friendly static stretches to target common tight areas:

Hamstring stretch: Sit on the floor with legs extended. Reach forward and try to touch your toes, keeping your back straight.

Quad stretch: Stand on one leg and grab the top of your other foot, gently pulling it towards your glutes.

Chest stretch: Stand in a doorway and place your forearms on either side of the frame. Lean forward until you feel a stretch in your chest.

3. Explore Dynamic Stretching: Unlike static stretches, dynamic stretches involve controlled movements that take your joints through their full range of motion. These are a great way to warm up before activity:

Arm circles: Make large circles with your arms, forward and backward.

Leg swings: Stand on one leg and swing the other leg forward and backward in a controlled manner.

4. Consider Yoga or Pilates: These mind-body practices incorporate postures and movements that improve flexibility and core strength. There are classes designed for all levels, from beginner to advanced.

5. Be Patient and Consistent: Remember, improving flexibility takes time and dedication. Aim for at least 10-15 minutes of flexibility training 2-3 times a week. As you progress, you'll gradually see and feel the difference.

Bonus Tip: Foam rolling can be a great addition to your flexibility routine. It helps release tension in your muscles and fascia, further improving your range of motion.

By incorporating flexibility training into your life, you'll be well on your way to a more limber, capable, and comfortable you! If you are looking for flexibility training then simply contact me.

[thewaysoundtravels]

time travellers of embodied reactions

[The text below was written whilst listening to the @Factmag mix by Laila Sakini aka @lailasakini and was inspired by a reference to a concept by Ian Williams aka @ianwillwrite in his book Disorientation.]

Fact Magazine · Fact Mix 895: Laila Sakini (Feb '23)

Straddling two different timeframes simultaneously, tracking them both to keep them in step, whilst feeding the present being created into the choices to follow, a link is formed from one to the other. It’s a skill to stand in both moments of being as an usher to them. In watching the present, guiding it forward, the reactions to it are what is being monitored. At the same time, cuing up what will come next, which is always a descendent of what is.

It calls for delicate manoeuvring, balancing the needs of the future against that of the present which must be sustained to make the former possible. There is no direct line between the two, but there are fragments of what’s happening in the DNA of what’s lined up on the horizon of time. This is about being totally in tune with the circumstances of the now to be able to take it to new levels of existence through sourcing elements that will speak to it so as to be able to lead it into unexpected dimensions.

It is always a balancing exercise, for misjudge the point of equilibrium and everything will fall apart in an instant, and spectacularly at that. When that happens, the future that was being prepared becomes a chaos-fuel burning through everything without discrimination. This is the future that is kept at bay with each choice, the risk that drives the fear lurking at the edge of consciousness. It is an instability that must be prevented from materialising, an undesirable guest to be denied admission.

Every decision is a breadcrumb in a journey whose destination can only ever be suspected. When the present collides with planned components crafted to complement it, the results though anticipated are not guaranteed. Each moment must be cautiously monitored to gauge unfolding events against intentions, and where deviation is detected, judgement calls must be made. Proceeding in the hopes of creating a course adjustment is one option, or taking hold of the emerging strand and letting it dictate what comes next is another viable option.

Some like to think preplanning is the answer to mastery of the unknown, but that is a beast that knows no master. Only by responding to the present can the future’s path be seen, but even then only a few moments ahead. Each emerging moment must be read and fed what it requires to be sustainable, an exhilarating situation for always being on the verge of falling apart, it is a phase of frenzied activity requiring concentrated calculated effort. There are those who seek to impose their will upon time, force a sense of order upon it through sheer persistence and force of effort. It is a noble pursuit though somewhat doomed to fail eventually. To be out of sync with what is, means to show little respect for the recipients who have been entrusted into the care of manipulators of mood and energy. Persistence in such a mindset loses the goodwill of the living indicators of success or failure in the shared experience. It should not be forgotten that it is a privilege to be granted the power to be in control. Exercised well, that authority will result in the triple labelled acclaim, accolades and advocates. 

For each who steps to the decks is playing a role with the capacity to break them just as much as it can elevate them to levels akin to that of deities. Every collection of would-be dancers operates according to its own internal logic, which must be detected and worked with to produce a mutually appreciated experience. To every DJ who faces a room of people waiting to be drawn to the dancefloor, take to the task with the care it deserves and may the reign as the one who controls the crowd, be one of joyful engagement.