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[closed] (insert safety dance lyrics here)

WHO: Robin and Miss Martian
WHERE: Heropa, #17
WHEN: September 16th
WHAT: Dance lessons.
WARNINGS: Nada.

[ Okay, so maybe it's a little weird that by being one of the only team members who didn't just flat-out decline an invitation to group dance lessons out of some weird sense of dignity or something, he's somehow found himself becoming a temporary ballroom dance instructor. For a Martian. Sometimes life is amazing like that.

But M'gann is adorable, and she'd seemed so earnest, and hey, it's not like Robin has a full social calendar (crimefighting, work, and school aside). So he accepted, because it turns out that he can't turn down her sweet, adorable puppydog eyes, even over text.

With M'gann's floor cleared of obstacles, Robin pulls up a basic video tutorial on waltzing for beginners, and they both crowd in close. ]

Seriously, M'gann, you're so graceful. This is gonna be a piece of cake.

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[ No one can resist the puppydog eyes. They're not even intentional, it just happens. ~~Thank you, Marie Logan???~~ But she'd been so excited by the agreement that she'd gone and cleared the entire space in her room, levitating her small amount of items into a neat little stack in the back. Plenty of room.

She's hunkered down next to the boy wonder and his video however, fully intent on gorging herself on the information. Television was always fun, no matter the format. ]

Hm, you say that now, but I may have no rhythm for it at all. It's not like high school dancing.

No, high school dancing is more like awkward back-and-forth swaying to slow jams. Look, just watch.

[ He'd picked the least intimidating video tutorial he could find, and it starts off with a basic box step demonstration. ]

That's all there is to it! One, two, three, two, two, three, over and over.

[ Her head cocks slightly to the side as she watches, studying despite the relatively easy gait of it all. ]

Okay ... Looks easy enough. But how come it looks so complex when they're really dancing? Like what's the big difference?

Well, there are a lot of extra steps you can learn, and twirls and dips and all kinds of fancy stuff — oh, and a nice outfit doesn't hurt, either. But the basics are really simple.

[ He gets to his feet, pulling up a slow-tempo waltz on his communicator and setting it on her dresser. He's never actually taught anyone before, but he's shown people how to somersault up walls — can't be harder than that, right? ]

Wanna give it a shot?

[ If she didn't have the added ability to fly, she might have been interested in that somersaulting up walls. But she watches him get up and set the music, only picking her fingers for half a minute before mentally screwing it, and getting up to join him. ]

You are not allowed to laugh if I mess it up. O-Or step on toes. Although I doubt I'll be that bad.

[ She will stand there though, not entirely sure how she's supposed to get on with it. ]

You'll probably mess up a time or two, yeah, but that's part of the learning process. I won't laugh.

[ So Robin steps up, shoulders square and back, and holds a hand out for her to take. He can be a tiny little Prince Charming, even in his stupid, stupid sunglasses. ]

Now. May I have this dance?

[ Yeah really. One day she'll see him without them- one day. But he's promised not to laugh and this is really something she should be embarrassed about, so she steps up to her Tiny Prince and takes his hand. The starting position is easy enough, at least. ]

You may.

[ He guides her other hand up to his shoulder, and settles his carefully around her back, and the height difference is maybe a little tiny bit awkward but at least he's not self-conscious about being tiny. ]

Okay. Now, just follow my feet. [ He starts, out of time with the music, extra slow, so she can follow along as he narrates the steps. ]

Back with your right foot, to the side with your left foot, and both feet together. Now forward with your left, to the side with your right, and together.

[ Hey he'll grow into it, this is a proven fact, okay. But yeah, he is short, but not quite short enough to really warrant a shrink in height on her part. It's really not so bad.

She follows the instructions though, staring down at their boxing feet for the first few times; it's not too hard to get the hang of, even if she'd moved to lead right off the bat. ]

That's really all it is? I mean- not this slow, but...

Mm-hm! That's all there is to it — we're waltzing.

[ Robin squeezes her hand a little, grinning encouragingly. And hey, if she wants to lead, he's not gonna complain. Baby steps, though, baby steps. ]

Think you can speed it up a little?

I- Yeah, I think so.

[ She won't necessarily lead, but ... Does a 'strong follower' count? But speeding up is good, she can do that. ]

[ Strong following is good! Strong following means he doesn't have to do all the work here. Also means he doesn't get his toes stepped on, which is a sincere plus. So he picks up the pace, counting along with the music as they go. ]

One, two, three, two, two, three. Just like that, there you go! See, you've got it.

[ As it turns out, M'gann does have excellent rhythm, easily following the tempo and following smoothly as it picks up. She's about as elegant as Robin had predicted. ]

It's so much easier than I thought! --Wait, so this is a Waltz? Or .. a tango?

This is a waltz. Tango's a liiiittle bit tougher.

[ But hey, they're moving right along with the pace of the music now, and it's surprisingly natural. A moment later, Robin grins up at her slyly. ]

You know, I thought you were kidding, but this really might be a good team building activity.

Oh, show me a tango!

But, well- I may not have thought it was the best team building exercise. You think it would work?

Hmmm.

[ He lets her go, scrolling through tango videos on his comm. ]

Well, you have to pay close attention to your partner. Move in sync with them. Adapt to their movements. So yeah, it's not so bad.

[ Robin "hmms" as he pulls up a demonstration, his ears going faintly pink as he remembers how adamant M'gann had been that he teach Wally. Way too corny. ]

So this is what a tango looks like. More intermediate, as you can see.

[ Way too adorable, you mean.

But she leans over to watch all the same, fingers against her lips in thought. It definitely looked more difficult ... more in sync than the previous type. Challenging. ]

Could we try it? I think I can follow you if you lead.

Let's give it a whirl.

[ The music from the video still playing, he holds out his arms, letting her take his hand and maneuvering them both into a half-decent starting position. He's a little less confident about this one, but he knows the basics, at least. Probably it won't be the worst. ]

... hey. [ Impulsively, but he'll never get it out if he lets himself think about it: ] Can I ask you something kind of weird?

[ Into position and she will gladly take whatever lead he offers; if he's rusty or nervous about it, she doesn't notice. At least, not above the fact that she's starting from ground zero. ]

Weird might be teaching a martian to tango... But sure.

Point taken. So here we go — back, back, back, side, together. Just like that. Back, back, back, side, together.

[ He repeats the move, leading them in a loop around the room, a little rusty and a little cautious because this dance is closer than the other one was. But it's less tension and more wary politeness, and that much he can deal with. ]

I was just wondering — oop, elbow up, there you go — uh, about kissing? [ awkward. awkward awkward awkward. there is no way to ask non-awkwardly about kissing while you're tangoing with someone. THIS WAS A TACTICAL ERROR. ] Not you! Well, yes you, but not us.

[ He almost misses a step, but corrects for it, catching his bottom lip in his teeth as he tries to focus on the dance. Slow, slow, quick quick slow, that's the pace. ]

I mean I've only done it a couple times and I was wondering— careful, watch your left foot — well, you're the only person I know in a relationship, so— [ god, Grayson, just get it over with ] ... well, has it ever not been awesome? Like even once?

[ It's back down to her feet as he guides her the first few times, not entirely aware of the difference in closeness-- at least not as aware as her dancing partner. And-- up goes the elbow, a little stiffly, but she's getting there.

The question however, leaves her blinking a bit owlishly, watching him stumble his words and she very quickly bites back the urge to swarm his mind and soothe whatever nerves he's fumbling over. Might have, if it wasn't so .. interesting. Endearing to see from the Boy Wonder.

At least multi-tasking is easy enough. ]

Well ... I don't think every kiss has to have those feelings of excitement or- or feel like stars are being born in your heart. [ Wait, that's dramatic. ] I just mean- sometimes kissing is just. Kissing. Because it's nice. I mean- and don't ever tell Conner I told you this, but sometimes I kiss him, and I know he's not in the mood for it. He won't get upset or anything, but it usually distracts him from any troubling thoughts he's having.

[ And all the while she's correcting her steps, only near-stumbling once or twice. The rhythm is trickier to get this time. ]

Oh.

[ He's... not sure if that makes him feel better. A little bit, maybe. He'll have to chew it over. Good to know that someone can not be in the mood for it, though, even if that someone's as in love as Conner is with M'gann. They're probably more in love than anyone he's ever seen. ]

But you guys are— you're like soulmates. [ That's a little bit cheesy, but. ]

[ She nearly stumbles right out of rhythm from that little comment, cheeks tinting their pearly shade of pink on green. ]

W-Well, maybe. I mean- I mean I've kissed other boys. Once- but it was before I met any of you. I kind of went exploring a bit once I got here. Um, Earth, I mean. But I hadn't known him that long.

But I mean, when you love someone ... sometimes it doesn't matter if you feel fireworks or not. You just kind of ... know.

[ He's quiet for a long moment, the tango music doing its very best to keep his thoughts from going anywhere too dramatic. Step, step, step step step. ]

... do you think he knew for as long as you did?

[ It takes her a minute to realize what exactly he's asking- it must be a cryptic bat-family thing, but the step, step, step step step is almost soothing to her mind. ]

I'm ... not sure. It might have been longer than me, honestly.

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