Step and Spin [Kaya]

[Shoki]

78.01.14
Before noon


[smear:33CCFF]It’s still exercise.[/smear:3366FF]

Stupid.

[smear:33CCFF]The last thing you need is your mind to be on fighting of any sort.[/smear:3366FF]

Sharding.

[smear:33CCFF]Social activity is good for you.[/smear:3366FF]

Ice.

[smear:33CCFF]New things require more thought. If you already knew how to do it you would just think about things that won’t relax you at all.[/smear:3366FF]

Queen.

Hedara glared meaningfully at a wall. She didn’t quite look like a sullen child but that still was partly how she felt. Temperanth honestly felt like a mother, not her dragon. The dragoness was quietly satisfied. If she had actually been smug Hedara would have turned right around and gone home. The Ice Queen was resting quietly outside, trying to relax herself as well. Hedara didn’t look relaxed. She looked the same as usual. Hair tied back, pants and tunic. It was incredibly common to see her like this. Especially right after practicing with her weapons.

Except right now she was in a large cavern waiting for an instructor to arrive.

A dance Instructor.

She prayed this would go mercifully fast or the instructor would never show. One or the other.

[Kaya]

Rilora trotted into the room, spotting her friend immediately. She waved, an unusually chipper smile on her face. She pulled Hedara into a light hug, then stepped back to look at her friend and compare outfits.

"Pants just don't look right on me," she commented, lifting one knee. The gentle sweep of a skirt or the airy feel of a dress was missing. "The tailor said these ones fit though," Rilora considered, looking at the seam as she replaced her foot on the ground.

It was the right dress for the occasion, though she shivered a bit waiting for the instructor to arrive. She hoped once they got moving she'd feel warm enough. It was an impossible task to feel normal up in the north. Close enough then. "I mean, look at my hair," she indicated, craning her neck as if she could turn to see her own hair tied up and away from her shoulders. It was not a style for navigating dangerous political waters. Perhaps that was the point. "You look more natural, though your expression would have people believe Temperanth was blackmailing you. ...oh, is she?" Rilora grinned.

Archith had thoroughly enjoyed sitting at the back of Rilora's mind while she got ready for the dance class. Every tug on her hair, the little tug and push from the seems, it amused the Gold to no end. She had settled in near the Ice to visit and perhaps share a joke about their Riders. Or maybe take a quiet moment with Rilora's mind too occupied to fill it.

[Shoki]

Hedara’s head tilted when she heard (bit late if she was being honest) the footfalls of someone coming to greet her. A small smile managed to get to her features before the Weyrwomen hugged. It was still good to see Rilora. Hedara looked at her critically.

“They look as if they fit well. Good for keeping the heat in without having to trip over skirts. Perhaps that is only me.” Tiny wry smile flitted across her face. Rilora seemed at home in skirts, but she didn’t think she looked bad in pants. She didn’t know how much her voice on fashion would be welcome. It being something she was wholly unequipped to talk about. Unless it was specifically what she was supposed to wear at different times. Bah, formal wear.

“Give it time, you’ll be welcome for it after some movement. If it is anything like my morning practices it either is tied up or plastered around my face.” Hedara considered how the other woman’s hair fell differently because of the length. She herself might not have cared much about appearance in many things, but it was still curious how the Ice rider maintained some rather long hair in the face of less practicality. A moment later though, a tight frown got to her. Someone was hitting the nail on the head.

“Worse than that, she talks sense. She shouldn’t be allowed to reason into things that are superfluous.” And the sulking child was back.

Temperanth was amused. She moved slightly, so that she was including Archith in the space rather than being unmoved when the Gold settled in. The rider didn’t give her a remark directed at her so the Ice merely gave and aside to the Gold.

[smear:33CCFF]Well, looks like I’m the bad guy today. For my next trick I will have to make some hatchlings eat their food or perhaps make some young humans go to bed early.[/smear:3366FF] Hedara was too busy being a child to notice the comment alluding to it.

[Kaya]

"Oh, don't frown like that. Your wrinkles will stick sooner," Rilora chided, turning her head just slightly to the side and pursing her lips, eyes flicked upwards. She admired her fit friend and waited eagerly for the class to begin. Surely she wouldn't be so at home with moving and athleticism so quickly, but it would actually be fun to begin, and admire her friend's skill. "And where is this instructor person?" she asked, giving a small hop as if to warm up in a single motion of impatience.

Oh, I like bad Temperanth, Archith said, moving into the space the Ice had provided her. Perhaps I can -- for this one day only -- be your sneering backup, making them tidy and endure nightmares of actual chores. A rumble escaped her. It was quite a scene to paint.

[Shoki]

Hedara snorted, though her face betrayed a slight smirk. She didn’t think wrinkles would do any such thing but never let it be said that she wasn’t in an occupation that could age her early. Rilora too but right now the other Weyrwoman looked like an excited young lady. Little hop and all. Hedara was about to speak when foot falls came and she looked up to see if she was lucky and it was just another participant. She wasn’t that lucky.

The instructor appeared, followed by a harper with a drum in hand. The former just looked upbeat. Hedara didn’t usually have a problem with that but she was already not feeling this exercise and the instructor’s obviously bubbly mood didn’t help. The harper seemed to blend into the background, his quiet, easy smile and weathered features made him more part of the scenery rather than center stage. They made their way to the ‘front’ of the cavern, or at least the furthest point away from the entrance.

“Welcome! Glad to see you all here. I’m Laruna, I will be your instructor. Itanel will be helping us out today further into the lesson.” The harper gave a mild wave before going to get himself settled, leaving Laruna to speak. “Now starting off with a little stretch to get us all ready, follow me!” She started stretching out her legs and Hedara gave a sigh before following. Nothing too annoying yet. Chipper mood aside.

Temperanth’s eyes whirled with amusement. [smear:33CCFF]I welcome your aid in my reign of tyranny. No young one will go undisciplined for certain.[/smear:3366FF] The Ice rumbled for a moment before she relaxed back from the jesting into more relaxed socializing. [smear:33CCFF]Enough of my dark deeds, how are you Archith? Hopefully you and yours have not been too much assaulted by Ice Stone’s fickle winds.[/smear:3366FF]

[Kaya]

The tight muscles resisted, but the instructor guided them. Don't push too hard, just relax into yourself, go to a comfortable stretch and stay there. Let the muscles adjust. Then turn and do the other side. Hold counts to ten, to twenty. With a bit of advice, stretching felt nice. And she saw another participant wobble, and Rilora silently offered encouragement and felt the better internally for it.

Ice Stone was lucky to have Laruna for an instructor. She waited to see if Itanel would prove just as talented. They would learn a few basic steps first, a few well timed drum beats telling them when to step. Rilora's initial tries had quite a few missteps, improving to smaller mistakes. Most of the time anyway. She shot a smile at Hedara after finishing another basic step. Just a couple others and they'd be ready to try something put together, slow, then faster.

Oh, you know me, Temperanth. The weak willed wind has nothing on me. And Rilora's swift inside. The easy climes of the south are wonderful day to day, but I can manage this. She was a bit chilled compared to the easy warmth of her Weyr, but she wouldn't let Temperanth onto that until she was decidedly chilled. But we're well as can be expected. Perhaps better. The Weyr's been cleaned up well since our latest disaster. And Bylanath and hers are starting to get involved again. I supposed something finally struck a nerve with them. Rilora appreciates their support. If only we could be more proactive.