[ open ] oh the shark has pretty teeth, dear

[lyingheart]

WHO: OPEN (to any interested!)
WHERE: A community center in Nonah, NC
WHEN: 9/20, an hour or two on Saturday Night
WHAT: One of the community centers in Nonah, NC, is hosting no-cost introductory level classes for ballroom, as taught by a local community college dance club, which a few imPorts are taking advantage of along with locals. Dance montage???
WARNINGS: Watch your toes, friends...

A few blocks away from one of the main train stops for the line that run through the Nonah Military Outpost through the city lay Clayton Park Community Center. Multi-colored fliers advertising different classes available at low to no cost pepper the boards outside each train stop, ranging from parenting classes on Wednesday evenings to drop-ins for resume writing and a competitive dodgeball group.

The Saturday Night ballroom class was scheduled for the main gymnasium, where an eclectic mix from the community college ballroom dance club could be found chatting while they set up the speakers for their music players. Everyone's dressed in close toed shoes and casual wear, and there's a sign-in table right by the front door where a nice older gentleman assigns everyone a "Hello, my name is:" sticker based on the name they write down on the sign-in sheet.

The basics of three different dances were planned to be touched on over the course of the night, starting with the waltz, moving on to the tango, and finishing with a much more energetic look at swing. People will all be encouraged to switch partners, and switch leading and following in each portion of the night, and it ends with an open dance session where most the community college students are pulling willing persons out to dance a full song.

With an overall relaxed vibe, the instruction is mainly guided by a woman in her fifties and the vice-president of the ballroom club, a young man in his early twenties. There are restrooms located down the hallway, along with two water fountains, and no proper seating for anyone watching in the gymnasium itself.

Welcome to class, everyone. Let the learning begin!

Comments

[lyingheart]

( i )

Annie heads over early, checking out the block the community center's located on before she heads in and ends up at the sign-in table, getting her very own sticker to wear on her chest: Hello, my name is Annie. There's no proper place to leave her things, leaving her to stake out part of the wall and carefully peel her name tag off her hoodie so she can take that off and leave it with her water bottle. They gymnasium here is around the same size as the one at Heropa High, a pointless detail she files away, just like she notes if any of the beams on the ceiling can be used to get to windows (yes, sort of, and there's a rope attached to the ceiling that's tied up on the wall).

Annie reaffixes her name tag to her t-shirt, considering reclaiming her hoodie, but deciding against it in the end. If reading body language is important with these styles of dance, she can afford to make herself a little easier to read. She's adjusting the sweat bands at her wrists before speaking with the instructors or local students, yes, I'm in highschool; yes, I have permission to be here; no, I have no idea what prom is; yes... I was homeschooled... in the mountains...

( ii )

With the announcement of each break and next beginning for each dance, Annie doesn't waste much time in moving forward to ask whoever looked available (or even just in her size range half the time, being five feet tall was fine when she was following, it was awkward to the point of her not taking lead if the height disparity was too great when a switch was prompted) to ask the time honored question of:

"Do you have a partner for this dance?"

( iii )

During the downtime between learning the basic steps and the free dance time set aside at the end of the night, Annie heads out into the hall with her water bottle and sweatshirt slung over a shoulder. Ostensibly, she's looking for fresh air, or fresher air at the very least, walking down the stairs and out the doors to step into the cooler night air. The moon is close to new, waned down to a thin sliver of white in the night sky, past the orange and gold and red hues of the night lights in this section of town. She's surprised she can see it at all over the buildings. Nonah isn't quite as built up here as it is closer to downtown.

After spending some time outside, she heads back in, stopping in front of a collection of announcements on upcoming events in the community calendar. There she remains, reading them over: one in particular has her attention. Is it the Horror Movie Festival coming up in October? Or the flier talking about an amateur ballroom competition coming up in November, with a guest judge returning to his home city for the event? Or is it the puppy kindergarten classes?

"Before the end of the month..." Doesn't leave her with all that much time. Hmm...

[ ooc: tag me in prose or action, i'll match to your preference! ]

iii???

[hoboagogo]

He'd been returning from the restroom himself having tried to cool off a bit with a nice splash of water that had gotten a little high, up into his bangs, and leaving them damp and plastered to his forehead, the rest of his hair pulled back into a ponytail. Just as Annie had surmised when she'd brought it up, he definitely had not been able to get away with just watching and waiting-- but at least he didn't feel quite as ridiculous now as he had earlier on in the night.

But he spots the smaller girl considering the board, flickers gray eyes up in the general direction, and finally asks:

"I thought Rex almost had his basics down. You gonna sign him up?"

...Also isn't Rex someone else's dog? Oh well. Who cares.

[lyingheart]

"Thundercracker might be inspired to try. Socialization is important while he's young." She wonders how much of that applies to people, too. It might be true enough in her case.

She wonders if that's more funny or sad. Some habits are trained in from a young age.

Annie's gaze trails up, fixing on the ballroom competition flier. "Looks like there's a competition coming up. Hosted by the same club as the ones running the class." She reaches out, fingers brushing against the paper. "All amateur, of course."

[hoboagogo]

A neutral noise, a shrug, and Shinjiro won't contest that reasoning. While the pup had been around a decent amount of people, who knew if he could interact with other dogs or not. But as she looks back at the flyer, he glances as well, shifting from the cartoon rendering of puppies in a classroom to the advertisement for the contest.

"...Shit, don't tell Aki. He's got this thing about winning." Turn it into a competition and suddenly he's there. No matter what it might be.

While he adjusts his scruffy ponytaiul, Shinjiro's shoulders move in an awkward motion- something almost like an ill-timed shrug. "You think they're gonna want people here to sign up?"

[lyingheart]

He's that kind of competitive? Annie doesn't find herself taken by surprise - it fits more that he'd have believed a certain similar, ah, edge to Annie. Annie only put the effort into cut-throat competition when she needed to do so. There's a good reason it was Mikasa and Eren who scored highest in hand to hand combat.

It wasn't a lack of skill on her part. Hand to hand didn't score points for graduating top of the class, unlike other parts of training.

"Competitions need competitors." Stating the obvious, but for a point. "One of the judges is from Nonah originally. Some kind of small time celebrity in the dance-sport world."

Paraphrasing the blurb underneath Marco Rodriguez's name on the poster. "I've heard that name before."

i

[ktfod]

"Prom is an American thing, but back home we have similar things to it." Said after Annie's been questioned and after he fashions his own name tag to his red vest- not lacking any affiliated patches or accessories denoting his past school. He signs up and answers his own questions with an almost enthusiasm but really his mind's been on other things- like the massive black eye he has eating away at the left side of his face.

"It's a dance held by the school/ A formal affair but sometimes it's not as strict depending on the school. Only Juniors and Seniors are able to attend but Sophomore's and Freshman can if they have a date from the higher grades. It's a sort of celebration in favour of those near graduating. A 'King' and 'Queen' are usually chosen at some point too. Though I really don't know about how or why, I'm pretty sure fellow students just pick." Some popularity contest which is why he doesn't really talk about it more. Purely a lack of interest on his part.

[lyingheart]

Annie gives him an incredulous look. "Sounds complicated for a dance." Kings, Queens, rules on attendance, celebrating those close to graduation... certainly more ceremony than what she's used to for far more important things. Though it does fall along lines of what's considered important in ceremony here within the United States in her limited experiences.

"You say it's formal, but I'm guessing that what passes as dancing there isn't the same as what we'll be learning here. Good to see you came out," she adds. More imPorts put her more at ease, backward as it sounded. Less focus on her in the end, if (or when) such things were noticed.

[ktfod]

"Yeah, I guess it does. But it's pretty popular here and most highschools do it." And continuing not to really be his thing. He'd attend, wouldn't turn down a crown if he got it, but not really interested in taking part directly.

"No, I don't think so. They're just kids our age doing whatever as far as dancing goes, it's not a high society affair so it's not expected to know what we're learning here. It just requires a dress code." A nod.

"Yeah, had the time. Seemed like it could end up being more fun than a few mile run." Chuckles to himself. That was a joke. Kind of.

[lyingheart]

Ha. What better time to run than when it's cooled off for the day? Not that it mattered so much as they started approaching fall.

"A different style of exercise." Prom sounds more like a disaster, but people their age seemed to thrive on that half-way point of adult and child. She looks out across the room, seeing mostly unfamiliar faces. It's what she expected, and it's reassuring in its way.

"How'd you earn your eye?" She gestures toward her face, indicating his own black eye, before settling a hand on her hip. How long before things go going? Hopefully not too long now. Still more than enough time for other people to file in... some she might even know. (Or not.)

[glowsferatu]

[ kanaya has properly danced herself out bu the time she leaves rose in the gymnasium to mingle. she made the mistake of wearing heels today, and doesn't want to wait until she's home to get out of them. but that's why her purse is so big, it's full of secrets, like backup shoes.

she's no sooner slipped out of the pumps than she sees annie, standing in front of the bulletin board. and here she is barefoot now. she cocks a brow, picking up her shoes and heading over to see her, her nylons making a light pap on the ground with each step she takes. ]

Looking to aim a little wider next time?

[lyingheart]

I'm not armed with a shotgun, Kanaya.

[ Since of course, comparing the spray of pellets in a shotgun to a broader range of whatever is the logical thing to do. Still, when Annie turns her head toward her, she glances downward. ]

I don't know how you can dance in those.

[ Now that she's barefoot. Of course, Annie realizes that it's highly probable she'll need to learn. Her inward grimace stays inward for now. ]

[glowsferatu]

I had more a bow and a blindfold in mind.

[ but that sort of wide shot best better describes when there's a specific target in mind, and as far as kanaya knows, the opposite is true of annie. the shotgun analogy would fit her idea much better. ]

If you decide to stick with it long enough to have to be in formal attire, most shoes you'll end up in will have heels. It's better to get used to it early.

[ she returns them to her purse, trading them out for a pair of black ballerina flats, which carefully slips them on. properly shod once more, she looks back to the bulletin board, cocking her head with some interest, which is quickly replaced by a wry grin. ]

Looks like they're doing a contest. Can you imagine what a disaster that would be?

[lyingheart]

[ her eyes flick up toward the ceiling, as if to find any kind of relief waiting among the ceiling tiles. no words of wisdom are plastered there - a water stain, but that's not anything she can divinate. just a sign of age and things falling further into disrepair. ]

I don't own heels. Looks like something else I need to rectify.

[ even by saying that, she's giving some indication of ongoing intent here. an obtuse kind, though she can't help but breathe out in a sort of snort at Kanaya's estimate of the contest. ]

It will. If we all get involved, that's a guarantee. But...

[ She presses her lips together. It's a hurdle to move past, the talking that doesn't just stop when it's easier not to say what she's thinking. When she doesn't need to share the information. ]

There's someone there I'd like to meet. Were you at the most recent swearing in?

[ always a "were you." Annie had not been as... intermingled there as she's tried before at other such events. she spoke with holiday, reaffirmed a feeling, and spoke with one of the new imPorts. read the pamphlets. studied the names. ]

[Open]

[hoboagogo]

A.

After signing in, they'd made him re-do his nametag after he'd forgotten how much he relied on the translation function of the communicator and scrawled it in messy kanji. Eye-rolling, griping, re-writing, and he ends up with "Hello, my name is: Aragaki Shinjirou" slapped onto the chest of his untucked button-down, fishing a hair-tie out of his pocket and letting it loop onto a wrist. He doesn't plan on dancing- He'd mostly shown up to watch, maybe be some sort of teasing support to the people he knew... but the lack of chairs is starting to make him realize just how likely that is.

Spoilers: Not very.

So he'll be busying himself at the corner where it seems most people are dropping their bags or possessions, wondering just what to do with his phone, wallet, and keys. Just. Setting them down doesn't seem too intelligent. So instead Shinjiro is standing there, sort of glaring at the pile of purses and coats, looking vaguely unsure.

B.

By the time the night was half over, he'd realized that-- this was way less stupid feeling that he'd anticipated it to be. Maybe because most of the people there were so excited or into it, or joking around and laughing at themselves as they stumble or twirl a little too fast or far-

They're all crappy amateurs, just like him. Which definitely helps shove down any potential self-consciousness as they take a break and he backs away from the main area. They'll have to swap partners soon, and wallflower that he is, he's trying to scope out if there's anyone there just as unsure and out-of-place as himself.

At least he's managed not to step on any toes so far, or accidentally smack someone in the face, as he'd seen one of the younger dancers do to their partner. If nothing else, years of fighting had helped him hone in his spatial awareness, and know where he was sticking his limbs.

A- though an implied B, probably eachother's main dance partners

[ktfod]

Steps in with a sort of bored look around. His gaze passes right over a few girls eyeing him up as if they don't exist, such a thing is so commonplace to him, even here, though not nearly as much as back home, thankfully. But while his gaze ignores them, it clings to a familiar figure like a fish to a well baited hook.

[ktfod]

[ktfod]

"Shinji?" Said just as he ends his beeline towards him. Shinjiro's here? Now that he thinks on it- he thought he saw him reply to Annie, but- he hadn't realized the other had any interest in going to something like this? He's already finding himself smiling at the idea.

"You look clean." Like a little more clean than the new usual clean. It's nice.

[hoboagogo]

He'd known Akihiko was going to show up- had snooped enough on his conversation on the network, even joked about it with Annie. And he'd just- assumed Akihiko had done the same. So the questioning tone to the call of his name is what has him snap his head up, rather than the fact that Akihiko had called it at all.

"...Do I not usually?"

Just ignore his past two years of vagrancy before here.

The compliment is a bit lost on him as he pulls his hands up to work his hair into a low, scruffy ponytail bobbing just above the base of his neck, looking over the other man. He brushes it off, though, rolling a shoulder casually. "Thanks, I guess."

[ktfod]

"Lately yeah, it's nice." A wider smile, very different from the almost bored look he had walking in. Shinjiro being here is a nice surprise. He's not a snoop, Shinji, sheesh. You should know that by now, he has better things to do than sit on the network and read other people's conversations. What a time sink.

Follows Shinjiro's hand with his own, hand in a leather glove like usual, ditching the rubber ones after he got a better handle on his electric mimicry. Akihiko curls some loose hair behind Shinjiro's ear and makes a soft, faux punch/shove with his fist at Shinjiro's cheek.

"Didn't think you'd be at something like this."

a

[glowsferatu]

Kanaya, or "Kan Cha-Cha" according to her nametag, because her girlfriend is hilarious, looks looks over the same pile, her eyebrows shooting straight up. She packs her life into her purse, she couldn't possibly set it down somewhere it could so easily be taken. Community centers usually have lockers, if not for rent then coin operated. Why couldn't they be using those? There must be some better space available.

"They don't seriously expect us to leave things here, do they?"

[hoboagogo]

Kan Cha-Cha. While he recognizes her from seeing her on the network once or twice (Mostly as 'that girl living with the girl with ten cats'- Sorry, Kanaya-) he wouldn't have guessed her sense of humor bled over into bad dancing puns at her own expense. So that gets a raised eyebrow, but no immediate comment.

The question though, does.

"Guess they don't see an issue, since we're all right here in the room." Which didn't make him feel much more comfortable about it, of course. Hanging out in the shadier bits of town back home had ingrained a certain sense of 'don't make it easy for people to steal your shit'. But at the same time, he doesn't have much of an alternative to offer. "That or people can lock 'em in their cars."

You know. The ones that... have cars.

[glowsferatu]

If she's going to be known largely by reputation, that's probably one of the kindest she'll be saddled with. At least it isn't centered around her attitude. But then, Shinjiro is mostly 'that boy Sanada isn't marrying' to Kanaya, so turnabout is fair play.

"You'd think they might at least hang them somewhere higher, harder to reach." Though that works more against bears than thieves, but if it's more trouble than a thief would be willing to go to, it might do. Who even owns a car, anyway? You can't well drive one through a Porter base.

A.

[nitidus]

Rose's bag is not as big as Kanaya's; her back-up shoes fit inside it (barely) as does her wallet and deodorant. She dumps it among the pile, smooths down her skirt and glances around the gym. Her name tag reads 'Hello, my name is: Rose Lalonde. There are no puns that suit her name and that is just terribly unfortunate, she thinks. At least Kanaya can pun for them both.

She spares a glance at Aragaki and then out towards the gym again. Kanaya seems excited, at the very least. Rose is fairly worried she's going to break someone's foot.

"Do you dance?" She says quietly, her eyes on Aragaki. "You look a little nervous."

[hoboagogo]

He frowns at the indication of him looking nervous-- not because it's untrue (because it isn't, and he is,) but because he hates someone having picked that up so quickly. Here he'd like to think that he'd concealed it well. So his shoulders stiffen slightly, and after a small pause, he shakes his head.

"...I ain't ever before, no." No use in lying or posturing here, at least. His hands slip into his pants pockets idly, fingers rolling at a ball of lint inside them to occupy himself.

"What about you?"

He's hoping there's enough people here who don't know what the hell they're doing. Then he won't feel like he's sticking out so much- especially as he'd originally planned on not jumping into it right away.

[nitidus]

"I slow danced at my prom, once. I stood on a lot of toes."

She isn't entirely sure she's gotten much better since then. She offers a sheepish smile.

"All of this is terribly new to me, though. The closest I've come is watching musicals."