maskormenacelogs | [ closed ] you can't be a dancing queen

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[ closed ] you can't be a dancing queen

WHO: Ken Kaneki, Annie Leonhart, and Thundercracker's Dog
WHERE: Thundercracker's warehouse
WHEN: Monday, September 22nd
WHAT: Kaneki offered to apply the theory of dance in a learning context; Annie accepted, and Thundercracker provided the space. ~~To loom in.~~ Cannibals teaching Titans to dance.
WARNINGS: Mentions of cannibalism or likewise probably unsavory things in narratives.

[ Annie adjusts the strap of her messenger bag, glancing skyward as if the stars will be more visible away from the main light pollution of the city than they actually are. She's early, and has already been inside to say hello to Rex and Thundercracker, but it felt more polite to be waiting back outside for when Ken arrives.

She wonders what the autumn in Florida will be like. She's only witnessed a spring and summer... it doesn't snow here, she supposes, but does it rain heavily? They're small thoughts, idle ones she lets pass through her mind while waiting. Ballroom has seemed straightforward enough after one night's worth of lessons, but she'll need to focus if she's following through with that competition for access to the judges in the aftermath.

Nngh... troublesome, but also entirely legal. Even beneficial. She's being a good citizen, right? It all counts. ]

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[ Kaneki tries to arrive earlier, but deep inside he just hopes Annie isn't like Touka and won't make him wait an hour for her. But if the house belongs to someone called Thundercracker (...really), there is a chance they are already there.

A map in his hand to lead the way, Kaneki eventually stops before he reaches the warehouse but he is able to see it down the road. He looks at it for a moment, before he looks down at the paper once more. ] ... it's here. [ he is also carrying a bag with a small CD player, some ballroom music CD's and a couple of books inside. Kaneki figured they'd need those, maybe. His clothes are relatively normal, but he is wearing a hoodie to cover his head and avoid stares; the eye patch covering his eye is also a must.

Kaneki just... stands there. Meeting someone he only spoke through text, and meeting this Thundercracker person, whom he never spoke to before... is he being gullible again? There are no ghouls in this world, so it's not like he will be eaten. It's not like he will be punched into unconsciousness and kidnapped. It's not like he will just-

Hm.

He is lost in thought for a moment until he finally realizes there is someone else nearby. A bit surprised (pay attention, kaneki!), he hurries towards Annie, smiling wide ]

Ah- Hello! I'm Kaneki! You are... Annie, right?

[ There's no smile, but she inclines her head toward him, stepping forward and offering her hand for shaking. She doesn't project any sort of shut off recalcitrance; she isn't all that outwardly emotive when not taken by surprise, that's all. ]

Yes, I'm Annie. Thanks for coming. Thundercracker lives here with his dog, Rex - ah... have you met any of the Cybertronians before?

[ She's asked this already, but it's been a week, and who knew - maybe in that time he had met one of the Cybertronians. If not, he was in for a big surprise.

There's a quiet observation of him as she gestures toward the partial opening in the doors, moving toward them casually, body posture relaxed. It's an ominous seeming situation, warehouses at nights with strangers, and with his depth perception impeded with one eye covered, but he was taking it well.

Indeed, Annie's more considerate and concerned over Kaneki's relative level of comfort over her own. She simply figures she can handle whatever comes up - and doesn't want him to feel threatened when there's no real threat in the area. Yet. ]

[ of course it had to be a girl who never smiles. It's the story of his life, isn't it? But given the type of people he knows, Annie's lack of expression isn't something that bothers him. However, she is polite enough to shake his hand, which he does after he pulls his hoodie down, still keeping a friendly smile ]

No...? I don't think I have. [ he has met a grey kid, though. Are Cybertronians grey skinned, cranky with yellow horns?

He does look back at the doors for a second and that's when it crosses his mind that maybe this wasn't such a good idea. Finally. It took him a while, but Kaneki is the type to think the best of people and believe them, but that has also bitten him in the ass so many times by now; like how he went to the Gourmet's Restaurant only to find out he was going to be the main dish. The thought crosses his mind and makes his stomach feel weird.

With a quick glance at the warehouse's door, he wonders if his Kagune would work on them. Probably. The girl also looks human, so he could handle her in case she suddenly turned out to be a serial killer. Thundercracker... he has no idea.

Kaneki, what are you getting yourself into? ]

What's a Cybertronian? [ he finally asks, peeling his eye away from the door ]

Ah... a robotic organism from the Scorpio sector of space. Thundercracker tends to stay in his Cybertronian form. He's just shy of seven meters tall. Rex is a Brittany pointer. He's a little over a foot at the shoulder.

[ Since the dog clearly needed to be brought into this equation. Annie's being polite, but she's also offering her version of diffusion. If the dog's as important as the giant robot, maybe some of the tension such things can produce can be turned to humorous ends. ]

He's not all that social, but Thundercracker has made human society's media a study and an art form. He's not friendly, but he's not dangerous without provocation. Blowing up his televisions counts as adequate provocation.

[ Also said seriously, because it's happened. Starscream was a special idiot indeed. ]

[ . . . ]

R-right. [ Right. What else can he answer, honestly? Is he supposed to say something else besides that she sounds crazy? But then again, Kaneki eats humans and he is now a Hero in a world with more superheroes, brought here by a sentient identity that controls a portal type of machine called Porter.

Of course a giant robotic organism who likes television and his dog isn't weird at all!

Kaneki scratches his chin thoughtfully before he squeezes the bag in his hand.

Aha. ]

W-well. I suppose I have to take television off the list, then. [ insert awkward laugher.

it is a joke. An attempt. ]

[ She blinks, then breathes out, almost a snort of amusement. In the end, more a resignation to the fact neither one of them appear to be all that great at a little thing called humor.

At least his attempts are better than hers. ]

Did you hear that, Thundercracker? Kaneki won't be touching your televisions.

[ She motions him in after her, Rex a bundle of energetic, mismatched limbs that comes running up to her, a bark and then happy, wiggling appreciation for at least one guest he knew, and the adventure of the one he didn't. Annie leans over to rub between Rex's ears, looking up and around for her Cybertronian guardian. ]

[ it's still somewhat terrible, he realizes. So he goes silent again, wondering just why the heck did he even try to say anything.

But he goes inside, pulling the bag closer perhaps out of nervousness and pauses when he sees the dog. Animals don't usually react to Ghouls, but that's in Kaneki's world and they are used to ghouls - he has no idea how dogs will react to him here, so he will stay put and just smile like a good boy he is.

He may also take the chance to glance around and try to see if there are any escape routes. Just in case. ]

[ There's no immediately obvious sign of Thundercracker, which was either saying a lot (where does a twenty-two foot tall robot go) about his ability to keep himself out of even social situations in his own residence, or more likely indicated he'll be appearing momentarily. Annie's not concerned; Rex seems fine, awkward limbs and open mouth with a wagging tail as he bumps into Annie's legs, sending Kaneki speculative looks before finally heading his way and sniffing at his legs, the bag in his hand, and licking at what skin he can find available. Even if Rex recognizes another predator, he's not getting any apparent sense of danger toward the things that matter in his puppy universe. ]

Looks like he likes you. What are we going to need?

[ To make whatever he has in the bag work. ]

[ kaneki tense for half second when the dog approaches, but relaxes the moment he feels the licks. Then, he just smiles and finally reaches for the dog's head to pet it. He never had a pet before, he isn't all too sure about ever having one (does the bird Touka and Hinami found count?) but he does find them cute. Again he looks around, this time to look for a giant robot.

How hard can it be to find it, he asks, but it's very hard apparently. It's fine, though. As long there are no unpleasant surprises, Kaneki can deal.

The question, though, makes him look up at Annie once again and he finally remembers the bag he was still clutching hard onto. ]

I brought a CD player and some music for us to dance to. Also books. [ of course he'd bring along books ] We will need electricity to play the CD's though.

Ah - we'll need an outlet. Or an extension cord...

[ With Rex continuing to investigate Kaneki, she heads toward one of the areas she knows has a series of outlets, hoping to find an unoccupied one. The first cluster is all claimed, leaving her to move past it toward the next. ]

What are CDs, anyway?

[ She's met old style vinyl records at the antique store, and been told about MP3s. CDs so far haven't come into her realm of direct reference - her roommates may own them, but Annie doesn't rifle through their things. Even dance lessons were done to music provided by an MP3 player connected to a set of larger speakers for projection. ]

Are books useful for these kinds of things?

[ Annie looks back his way, waving him over as she finds an open outlet. She's genuinely curious, and it shows on her face, the first visible emotion she's had that disturbs her general calm or detachment. She enjoys books... wonders at the sheer astounding variety even now. ]

If there is none, I think it has batteries? But they might die half way through- [ this is apparently enough for Kaneki to relax more and forget about the supposed giant robot or the strange warehouse. He pets the dog one last time, before h e crouches down and opens the bag to take out the CD player. ]

Uhm, CD's are- [ how to explain it? he never thought he'd have to. He guessed everyone knew what it was, but MP3s certainly are more advanced - but he got what he could in short notice and a CD player wasn't expensive and had the speakers incorporated. He figured it was enough. ]

"Compact disks" that store data. These ones specifically store and play audio that the CD player will reproduce. [ he pats the CD player as he takes it out of the bag and then grabs the few CD's he brought along to show them to Annie.

As for the books, a wider smile will grow on Kaneki's face ] At least with the basic moves. I have read about it and it doesn't sound too hard for beginners like us. The books tell us the theory and we'll just have to apply it - I will be teaching myself too, since this is the first time I'll dance. [ at least he is a quick learner and Kaneki is able to apply theoretical knowledge to real life quite easily ~~it has even saved his life, before~~ ]

Edited 2014-09-24 22:04 (UTC)

Discs?

[ She reaches out for the CD player he's holding, intending to plug it in for him. She has the better angle, after all. As she does, she notes the smile on his face when he talks about the books. It's a small detail, one she files away to keep in mind for later. ]

Like the ones you use in computers? I know about music files, a... friend has sent me a few of those before.

[ She guesses Inumuta technically counts as a friend (again), though it's one she considers tenuous at best. She can't discount trying. Can't even discount the fact she wants to try, with this whole "friends" business, and the handful of people willing, even those that are difficult to believe, like Kay and Minako.

His statement about also learning earns him a quirking of her eyebrows upward. Based on what he'd said on network, she can't be too surprised, but it's still surprising to hear. He has that much confidence in applying book-taught theory to the real world? It's hardly that he can't. Curious that he's so quiet in his confidence, laid back, almost. ]

Is that considered teaching or more mutual learning at this point?

[ Honest question, paired with no real cares either way, though her mindset and outlook on practice is a bit more routine and involved. It helps having someone to instruct when one's gone wrong, but this is something else. The blind, leading the blind.

Ah well. Thundercracker isn't going to care. ~~besides, Kaneki is canon hax at this whole applied book learning bs wow~~ ]

You can play it on a computer too. [ he isn't particularly good at explaining technology to someone who doesn't know the basis of technology, apparently. It's not something he ever had to do, anyway. HE WILL TRY, though ] The disk allows you to carry around the music files, instead of only having them on a computer.

[ He barely notices the small surprise, since he is reaching for the books and flipping through them. The basic steps were there, he has read them and understood them. As long they don't dance something complicated like tango, the rest doesn't sound too hard.

If he was able to do martial arts, he will be able to dance. Sure.

But the question finally makes him look back at the girl again and he smiles back ] yes, I'm interested in it, too. [ that's why he is here, helping her, after all. ]

Though, I suppose having an actual teacher would be better?

Edited 2014-09-25 07:31 (UTC)

[ In theory, those would work on her laptop? Annie eyes them with renewed interest. Curiouser and curiouser... ]

I have Saturdays for that.

[ She says, and she knows it's true. The one Saturday alone has given her an idea of a framework, and as she looks over at Kaneki, his player now plugged in, she nods her head his way. ]

Besides, Tony said I should find at least one import partner for something like this. You don't like crowds, and you want to learn, too. It's a mutually beneficial arrangement. So - [ she places her hands on her thighs, pushing up and straightening in a smooth movement ] - we'll try our best. Take it seriously, and have... fun, or something like it, along the way.

[ Lofty goals. She feels they can at least achieve a portion of them. Annie turns toward Kaneki, expression less closed off, softer as the curiosity (and lingering incredulity) settle in. ]

What're we challenging ourselves with first?

[ One imPort partner. Hm. He isn't the best at this considering he is learning too, but he will try his best and try not to disappoint. Besides, if Annie has classes, she can even teach him back.

Though, that statement... how unnatural sounding, Annie. "Take it seriously, and have fun".

But let's get to the good part! Kaneki opens one of the books to show Annie the picture there before he smiles wide. Look at him all excited about books and learning and applying theory ] "Waltz"! The waltz is a smooth, progressive ballroom and folk dance in triple time, performed primarily in closed position.

Triple time means it has three beats to the measure. 1-2-3, 1-2-3, 1-2-3 and so on.

[ She's awkward, give her a little credit for trying, Kaneki! As it is, she listens to his summation, nodding to what he says. Yes, that'd been the same as what had been said on Saturday. The basic idea of the rhythm behind the waltz, the count, and the way in which people moved. ]

Mm, they addressed that on Saturday.

[ Rex settled down on his bed, watching the both of them with interest. ]

You've read what closed position looks like? American ballroom allows for it to open up, from what I understand, but I don't know any details on what that looks like.

[ She waits for the music to play more than anything else. They can figure out the rest from there, unless he wants to do a dry run to get a sense for the movements. Annie cants her head to the side, finding his obvious pleasure over these books curious, in some way. A nice kind of curious. Its... reminding her of someone else, that pleasure in learning. It's nice to see how people can have passion for all kinds of things. ]

[ kaneki nods, flipping through few pages to show Annie a picture ] Closed position is a category of positions in which partners hold each other while facing at least approximately toward each other. It employs either body contact or body support, that is, holding each other is not limited to handhold. This allows both parties to support each other and move along with each other's body weight, making the dance movements smooth and much more natural.

However, Waltz action movements requires for the two to be separated, actually. It depends on the movement, in the end. But that's a bit more advanced, from what I have read.

[ he reaches for the CD player and a CD, quickly deciding which song to play before he puts on the CD: Johann Strauss' "The Blue Danube". It's one of the most popular Waltz, so it's Kaneki's first choice, too ]

They probably addressed the basic Waltz steps, right? The invisible box?

[ she nods, watching him. ]

The box step or something along those lines.

[ she's a little amused at how he's decribing the way it works - he's right, but it's almost like hearing an observer instead of someone aiming to try himself right now. with the music, she can move toward kaneki, making a vague gesture to him as a whole. ]

Most of learning the positioning is getting a feel for when you're supporting, guiding, or following, reading signals for direction without using each other as a crutch.

[ by being responsible for their own weight. a lot of contact didn't mean heavy leaning on either party. annie herself is fine starting in, though she waits for a positive cue from kankei that he's reeady to begin. the beat of the music is something easier to remember after having been trained what to look for - the music itself novel. she likes hearing new sounds, and this is yet another new one, for all it's a popular waltz in and of itself. ]

What's this song called?

[ well, for now he is an observer. Only when he finally takes the step along with the music he will become part of it, he figures. When Annie comes closer and silently asks him to do the same, Kaneki approaches and offers his hand.

If she already knows the basic position and how to stand, then they just need to apply it, right? Probably she is much better than him at this since she already had a class ahead of him and someone to actually teach her. ]

The Blue Danube, by Johann Strauss. It's one of the most famous Waltz, at least in my world.

Is Johann Strauss equally famous?

[ she takes his hand, stepping into proper position (as she'd been instructed). she's counting the beats in her head, but she waits until it looks like he's listening for that count, too. ]

We can move on the next fourth beat.

I don't know much about music. [ insert apologetic smile ] The books I read don't usually involve it, so I never had much interest in dancing and music, before.

[ when Annie and he come closer and he places his arm on her shoulder blade, it finally hits him what "closed position" is. Wellp.

It's alright.

He is still a normal 18 years old, so now he thinks this might be a bit embarrassing. But of course, he shoves it down and mans up, nodding as he listens to the song. When he finally has the cue to begin, Kaneki moves his feet and hopes Annie will follow ]

That makes two of us.

[ for very different reasons, as far as books are involved, but for... similar reasons. annie hasn't needed to have an interest in either. both are being cultivated here, where they can be interesting diversions for the things she is making herself available to pursue.

she's responsive to his movement, light on her feet and careful not to rest any weight on his arms as they move. where a few had laughed at the idea of annie being inclined toward dancing, it's not so difficult to see when one knows how it is she can move - she's fluid, non-resistant, keeping time and count to the music now, after having been introduced to the way the saturday prior. it's a matter of familiarity and words to name the things she did. by now, she better understands them.

for her, this isn't embarrassing, except in failing to learn at all. close proximity is simply part of what's required; a different sort than usual, and that isn't simple on her mind, but it doesn't carry any connotations of inappropriate intimacy. (so for what it's worth, she won't be trying to exacerbate any embarrassment he feels - she won't have any to feed into it.) ]

You can relax into a looser flow of movement, if you like. Or try one of the other steps.

[ including ones not in the technical manual, though she was shown different turns and the like that fit within american ballroom, if not otherwise traditional ballroom. ]

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[ closed ] you can't be a dancing queen

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