Follow My Lead

Writers: Eimi, Rochelle
Date Posted: 20th November 2006

Characters: R'mer, Eleada
Description: R'mer gets a dancing lesson from his teacher, Eleada.
Location: Dolphin Cove Weyr
Date: month 13, day 29 of Turn 3

R'mer sat on a chair at the far end, watching the pairs of dancers but trying not to look like he was watching. It was embarrassing just how little he knew about the dances at the Weyr. He used to dance with his sisters sometimes, but they were all 'tradition dances' and 'quaint'. Those were both nice ways of saying 'out of style' and 'hide-bound'. They only had the music that was passed down to them. New music was almost unheard of. So far, he hadn't heard a single song he knew. He asked one of the harpers if he knew one of his favorite songs and the journeyman laughed, saying "Yes, we had to learn that one when I was an apprentice. Shards but I hated learning the classics. They always put me to sleep."

'Classic'. That was just another way of saying 'out of touch'. No matter how many steps he thought he was taking towards fitting in at the Weyr, there was always something to push him right back to the beginning and make him feel like an outsider.

}:You belong at the Weyr because _I'm_ at the Weyr,:{ Hanunth would assure him. And yet he couldn't quite believe that it was really that simple. And it sure didn't help that he had managed to lose his one dancing partner for the evening somewhere in the crowd. Just where in Faranth's name _was_ Isie?

"Hi handsome."

R'mer almost jumped at the sound of her voice. "Eleada. Sorry, I was... lost /between/ I guess. Happy Turns End."

"And a Happy Turn's End to you too." She said cheerfully, then raised an eyebrow. "Although you don't look really happy about it. What's wrong, R'mer?"

"I just... don't like big crowds of people so much." This was true, but what he liked even less was being the odd man out in a crowd of people.

She studied him for a moment. He was from a farm, so it seemed like a perfectly good answer. But she guessed there was more bothering him.
"Did you have a date?" She hazarded, seeing him scan the crowd.

"Well, yeah, I'm here with someone. She just... went to get a drink..."
**Like half a candlemark ago...**

"And got lost." She finished for him. "Well, I can assure you that it wasn't you R'mer. You look very nice tonight." She said sincerely, trying to encourage him a bit. He really needed a little more confidence in himself, although the humility was refreshing for a bronzerider.

"You look really pretty tonight too," he said, wanting to change the subject. He was feeling more humiliated than humble at the moment, and he'd rather that not be as obvious as it apparently was.

"Why thank you R'mer." She smiled at the compliment, recognizing it as a polite gesture to distract her. Well, if he wanted distraction... "Would you like to dance?" She asked, feeling the draw of the dance floor again. She'd had several dances -and several glasses- but if she had to pick between wine and dancing she'd pick the more active option. If she exhausted herself, she was far less likely to wake screaming.

"Oh no," he said shaking his head emphatically, "no that is _not_ a good idea. I... don't dance."

Ah ha! "Yes, you do." She said cheerfully. "Because as your flirting instructor, I insist that you learn." She grabbed his arm, and in a feat of strength that surprised herself, dragged him unwillingly to his feet.

"Oh please, Eleada, no. I've been embarrassing myself out here all night," he groaned, already feeling the heat rise up into his face.

"Then you need to stop embarrassing yourself, because you're the only one doing it." She said firmly as she pulled him onto the dance floor.
"There are hundreds of people here, and most of them are drunk. Who cares if you don't know how?" She softened a bit then, seeing him blush.
Shards, but he was cute blushing! "Here. Put your arms around me, and follow my lead."

He did as he was told, wrapping his arms around her as the others around him were doing. Still, he couldn't help looking around self-consciously at all the other dancers around them. At least this was a slower dance.
Much faster and he was sure he ran the risk of stomping on someone with his big clumsy feet. "Look at me." She said firmly. "You're doing fine. Just look at me." She lead him into a turn, not even blinking when he grazed her foot. Even not knowing what he was doing, he was still better than some partners she'd had tonight. Or maybe it was because she liked him better?

He cleared his throat and glanced up at her face. It was hard not to look away, but finally he forced himself to keep his eyes on hers, only wincing when he accidently stepped on her foot. "Sorry," he mumbled quietly.

"Don't worry about it." She said reassuringly. "Just concentrate on me.
The other people don't matter." Slowly she moved him around the floor, skillfully sliding away from other couples when they came too close. She was certain he would get it eventually, if she could just get him to relax. "Good. That's better. Just follow my lead." She said encouragingly. R'mer took a deep breath and kept his eyes on her, trying to resist the urge to look down at his feet. "I'm trying," he nodded, trying to just let go and follow her. It wasn't easy. He was the man. _He_ was supposed to lead. But Eleada had never steered him wrong. If he trusted anyone...

"You're trying to lead again." She said abruptly. "Don't. Once you've learned to move naturally, then you can lead. For now, just enjoy the music." She smiled at him, remembering the stammering young man she'd teased into blushing like a fire. He had come a long way, no matter what he thought. The realization that at least some of it might be because of her was thrilling and gratifying. Oh, weyrling classes taught you about dragons and Threadfighting, but to learn about life you needed people.

"You sound like my sister, Imrie," he chuckled, forcing himself to stop resisting her direction. "She was always trying to get me to dance."

Eleada chuckled. "Sounds like your sister has a good head on her shoulders. A handsome young man like you _should_ learn how to dance."

"Well, I think you're a better teacher than she was."

She grinned. "Flatterer. You are getting better at this."

"I certainly like dancing with you better than dancing with her. It's... different." His small smile told her that it wasn't a bad difference.

She laughed softly as they rounded a corner of the dance floor. "Thank you then. I would certainly hope I was different than your sister."

"I certainly don't flirt with my sister," R'mer chuckled. Leaning in a little closer he whispered, "And I surely have never kissed my sister the way I kissed you."

"I should certainly hope you don't kiss her the way you do to me." She murmured back, amused. R'mer really needed some more experience if he was comparing her to his sister. "I like to think I learned a few things that know one else knows."

"About me?"

"Are you offering?" She grinned again. Then on a whim, she leaned forward. "I'm really shameless in some respects. I know too much for my own good." She murmured into his ear. She pulled back, and nodded suddenly to herself before he could answer. "That's right. You've got it now."

R'mer could feel flutterings in his stomach as he could still feel the tingling on his ear where her breath tickled his skin. **Shards...
You're here with someone R'mer...** Yet, he just couldn't help it. "So can we add dancing to the list the of things you'll teach me?"

"Of course." She said cheerfully. "I think it falls under flirting practice, don't you?" He would certainly be good at it, once he got a little more confidence, she noted. That really was his primary problem.
Lack of confidence, stemming from lack of interaction. Not that she had any problems helping him out...

Last updated on the November 23rd 2006

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Follow My Lead