Dance All Day Long
The area around the gazebo is hte focus of the evening's festivities. A nearly matched pair of Sirens have been hired to perform traditional Rebman dances. While they are bespangled and bejeweled with bling, they seem to be wearing nothing else. Spangles glitter in their hair, keeping the flowing locks from trailing too far forward and masking their bling. The music provided is haunting, as only that of a Siren can manage. Doubly so as there are two.
Strings of kelp run from the gazebo's roof out over the surrounding area. These extend quite a way from the structure and are fixed to gaily colored poles in a circumfrance of about fifty yards or so. Twining down the poles, the kelp paints spiraling stripes from top to bottom. Glowfish have been trained to linger along the kelp streamers, glittering in jewel tones to augment the bling of those below. The fish flicker on and off as they search for nibblettes along their kelp path.
The coral structures nearby are touched here and there with strings of luminous glass bubbles, each tinged pale blue or yellow, green or pink.
Couples dance beneath the bling-enhancing glowfish, swirling and floating through intricate patterns. Elsewhere, tables have been set out with food in weighted baskets, nibblables here and more substantial things there. Drink of all varieies is set out as well, the type of drink ranging from tame to wild, the strength of the drink designated by the color of the bottle to keep the little tykes from outfoxing their parents or guardians.
In what could be considered true Rebman fashion, Salin has decided not to visit the dance floor at this time. Nor does seem all that interested in the various nibblables or more substantial food. Instead, he's found his way over to the table with the drinks, to which he seems to be helping himself too quite liberally. There are a couple other members of Morfilod there and he seems to be talking with them in murmred words, though the laughs they offer are clear.
Liya is actually dressed in Rebman garb. It must be her friends' fault, since she's usually just stuck to that bikini, electric blue as it is. Instead she's in red, and looking very striking, even among all the bling splattered Rebmans. Striking and - exotic. She has taken a break from the party, and is just now returning, pausing at the entrance, unaware of the light reflected by the glowfish that highlights her arrival. She then swims in, bling chiming softly, rather than clinking, and heads towards the bar.
Whatever was said amongst Salin's little group has a deep laugh being offered and a slight shake of his head. Then, as the laugh fades, he's catching sight of something red from the corner of his eyes and as his gaze turns towards the entrance, he's realizing that it's Liya that he's saw. A smile dances to his lips and he's lifting a hand in a wave to catch her attention.
A hand waving, and not on the dance floor? Liya heads that way, once she recognizes Salin. She is small enough to be missed by the trailing kelp and most of the fish nibbling, though there might be one or two trying to see if the rubies in her hair are edible. She laughs, amusement dancing in her blue eyes, and comes to a stop near Salin. "It looks like I am late. I'm sorry. I guess I will have to catch up. Which drinks might you recommend?"
Once Liya has made her way over towards him, Salin is bidding the members of his family farewell so that his attention can focus on her. There's a quick grin to answer her laugh and it's followed by a slight shake of his head, "One is never late to a party as long as this, Liya." A deepening of that grin and then he's extending his glass in her direction, "Here, try this and see if you like it. If so, choose the darker bottles. Far better."
Out on the dance floor, Maggie's bronze and pearl mesh getup flickers and spins, the mesh floating in short swishes after her. Moving with the music, her hair a flash and flame in an arch behind her, she rises in a spin, arms tight against her that slows as she extends her arms, then speeds again when they are brought back inward once more. Glittering reds and pinks, green and orance, sparkle in her hair and gown as she lowers once more. Then, caught, she is spun and flung upward again. Arching her back near the top of the trajectory, she moves up and over one of the glowfish streamers, startling a pair of yellow-gold fish. They hunker down on thier kelp string and sparkle angrily. Maggie's arch takes her into a dive that brings her back down in a graceful swoop.
Liya takes the glass that Salin offers, sipping briefly at it, and then enjoying the taste. "That is pretty good," she admits. She leans over the bar, feet definitely not on the ground and says to the bartender, "I'll have one of whatever he's drinking." With a gesture to Salin. And then she turns to watch the dance floor. "Oh, look at Maggie!"
Merrisol had slipped away some time after court had let out and its dignitaries had flooded outdoors to join the citizenry in the glammed-up courtyard and initiate festivities. He returns presently, but instead of swimming through the city and up the slope and through the palace gates, he approaches from a far upward angle, dipping and rushing through the slipstreams of friendly dolphins. A trio of Tritons moves to intercept before he enters the patrolled water space above the courtyard, and he leads them a merri chase for a while - but then a laughing Selkie dude rushes over to diffuse the situation.. before it becomes a Situation. The Tritons move on grudgingly while the other two descend from the heights. The Selkie points to the ongoing party, at the acrobatic redheaded dancer in particular, and laughs more as Merri abruptly zips away towards the dance space.
"Glad you like it," is what Salin offers and then he's looking back to the bartender, to give a nod and a quick, "I'll have another." Liya's pointing out of Maggie has him casting his attention towards the dance floor, to watch Maggie as she is spun and flung up, only to end in an arch and a dive that brings her back down. There's a slight cant of his head and a quick chuckle before he's offering to Liya, "She certainly knows how to dance." As someone begins to zip in from above, he's lifting his gaze and then motions with a hand, "And .. that looks like Merri coming to join in."
"Kerf is an excellent dancer," Liya says, though she is basing that on only a little bit of experience and a lot of loyalty. She gets her drink and takes a long sip, enjoying the taste. A second sip follows, and then she gives Salin a somewhat appraising look. "So, m'lord Ambassador baron, do you dance?" she asks, curiously.
Shifting a bit closer to Liya as he reclaims his new drink, Salin casts a look over in the direction of the dance floor and then back over towards her, "Dance? Yes. I do." He pauses and then looks back over in the direction of Maggie, "Like that? I don't think so. Never spent much in the way of time trying it."
Caught by her partner, Maggie smiles at him and the two spin off together, describing a circle that takes them closer to the bar, closer to where Merri might end up if his trajectory stays true. The music swells once more then begins to settle toward a more sedate, slower dance. Maggie's partner offers to continue the dance and Maggie begins to decline. Slow dances are reserved for a partner who is not here. As far as Maggie knows anyway.
Liya smiles at that, a very mischievous look on her face. "I haven't either, but I'd love to try." Of ocurse the music does slow down to that far more romantic melody and Liya loses her chance for the acrobatics at the moment. Her expression goes to one a bit more crestfallen. Aww. She sighs a bit, and looks back at Salin, but that sad face doesn't last too long. Nor is she the shy type it seems, as she tilts her head coquettishly, giving Salin a sweet smile. "Dance with me?"
There's little doubt that Salin may be saying a prayer to Lir, or something of the equivilant, once the song shifts from acrobatic and flare to something slower and romantic. A flicker of lips draws a smile upon them and he's murmering, "Don't worry, Liya. You'll get your chance yet again." He does note Maggie and her current partner drawing closer and he's lifting a hand to give a slight wave before shifting to offer that hand to Liya, "Of course." Then, it's off to the dance floor.
Liya sets her glass down, and reaches to take Salin's offered hand, her expression brightening until she's beaming, the enthusiasm and contentment nearly visible. She swims over to the dance floor with Salin, and then turns to face him, her gaze on his face, as she follows his lead. Wait, dancing under water? How does this work anyway? "Remind me to ask Maggie for lessons," she murmurs.
With the dance floor reached, Salin is simply slipping an arm around Liya's waist, his hand coming to settle against the palm of her back, while the other holds her in a gentle grip. The mention of lessons draws the hint of a chuckle and a murmered, "I'm sure you'll do fine, Liya." And then he's leading her in the 'dance'. Which is more of a finessful flutter of feet that imitates the movements of a simple land based dance.
While Maggie's partner is clearly disappointed, she lifts both hands away from him and shrugs. That's the way it is. Noting Salin and Liya, Maggie brightens and offers a wave, then drifts back a bit. As her gaze lifts, she spots Merrisol darting in from above. Seeing him, her smile warms and she kicks off from the floor to head up to meet him. Her erstwhile partner takes that in and slips off to find someone else to pull into the dance space.
Liya does smile and wave to Maggie on the way by. And spies her heading up to meet Merrisol. That just brings a grin to her face, before she's distracted by this dancing under water thing. So, starting with a slow one is probably not a bad thing, as it gives her the chance to start with a fairly basic set of steps. She is a good dancer, able to follow a lead and the music with a rhythm that perhaps should be expected from a bard. A big smile at Salin, and she squeezes his fingers gently, in thanks, as they start to waltz around the dance floor - erm - water?
Maybe Merri had the wrong idea dropping into the dance space so precipitously from above. Here as in the throne room, the upper echelons are occupied by the most accomplished divas of Undersea Groove. Upstarts who try to break into that league may find themselves not so much out-danced but bodily tossed back down by the invisible motion physics created and fueled by the likes of Lady Surafyc and her artful troupe to aid their complicated twists and twirls. Inverting himself via tight jacknife roll, Merri skids feet first into the fray, separating the diva and her escort. Surafyc almost bounces the interloper out with the lashing cartwheel of her dance step, when she recognizes her old partner of dances past. Hellooooo~! Captain 'Lord' Merrisol this time around, too. He takes her ankle on his shoulder and her waist in his arm to complete the cross-lateral whirl, draws outward so her other leg can sweep up and over, to execute a swan glide while propelled along on his chest, aaaaand then her other partner is in place to take over. Goodbyeeee~! Merri makes the transfer and ducks out, bowing into another jacknife that sends him out of the upper tier and moving to join Maggie sooner than he thought, since she's on her way up to him at the same time. "Hey!"
There's a flash of a smile to Maggie and then his attention is settling back on Liya and when she begins to pickup to the dancing in water, that's a quick flash of a smile and a murmered, "See, you've already caught on." It's no doubt a touch harder without substance beneath your feet, but he's moving her along at a slow pace, the dance taking them a touch higher in the water. He manages to catch Merri's little bout of .. flare and it draws a quick laugh to his lips as he motions in that direction with his head.
Liya's gaze goes up as Salin points that way, and her dancing suffers as she stops stock still in order to stare in total awe at the dancers. "oh," she says. "One day I want to be up there too." And maybe not in the too distant future, if she has anything to say about it. Though because she's stopped moving the current and Salin's dancing has her bob right into Salin with a little bit of a clink. Hopefully they did not just become part of a bling snarl up to beat the band.
As she is looking up anyway, Maggie gets to see the full crosslateral twirl-a-thon with the good, if enthusiastic, Lady Surafyc and her equally talented and robustly demonstrative partner. Lifting a hand, she wriggles her fingers in a greeting that could be to any number of the upper eschelon but centers on Merrisol, "Hi. Welcome back." Below her the sirens continue the more gentle rhythms of their song, something that the upper tier seem to take only nominally into consideration as their gyrations and spins take more than one measure to complete. Or, in some cases, are completed in half a measure so can be repeated before the next begins. It does tend to make that upper tier a semi-dangerous place for the interloper. Maggie is not as set on being one of the hip-check crowd. Instead, she swims up to Merrisol, places her hands on his shoulders and murmers, "Dance with me, please."
A soft laugh escapes Salin's lips as Liya speaks of her desire of wanting to be up in that level of dance and with his gaze settled up there, he's offering, "That .. I'm not going to be able to help you with. Aside from cheering as you get lessons on it, perhaps." Oh. Wait. She's stopped. And he's still dancing. And there's the current. Then there's clink of bling meeting bling and a murmered, "Huh. It you wanted to sit in my lap, you could have just asked." Yep. Quick tease there. And an experimental pull of a shoulder, to make sure his bling hasn't tried to become one with her bling in a snarling mess of glittering colors.
Liya's cheeks go a dusky pink shade, as she suddenly realizes her daydreaming has brought her in a little closer to Salin than is usually socially acceptable in public. And certainly, his tease doesn't help, bringing a touch more colour to her. She starts to pull back, only to feel a tug of bling, and stop, so that nothing gets torn or broken. "Uhm, I think we're stuck," she says, biting her lower lip. "This was not quite the sort of dancing I had in mind." She reaches her hands to try to balance a bit differently, see if she can't get the bling to free itself from the unnatural attraction it seems to have developed.
Catching hat shade of pink that grows only darker with his tease, Salin is giving a quick chuckle before his eyes drift downwards, so as to try and identify exactly where they are stuck, "Uh huh. I'm thinking this was all part of some master plan of yours, Liya." His eyes flit up, a teasing grin on his lips and when she reaches her hands to balance a bit differently, he's moving one of his own to slip between them, to try and unsnag the bling from each other.
"My plan? More likely your plan," Liya protests, though she is chuckling now, recovering somewhat and seeing the humour in the whole thing. And if Salin's fingers are nimble enough, the bling is caught in a way that is fairly straightforward to untangle. Of course it might look rather risque, to those watching, but - it'll work. And once done, Liya backpedals to a safer spot. Is the music still playing?
Nope. Nothing to see here, folks. Those fingers deftly untangle the bling without so much as single risque touch. Of course, it may not look that way to others, "My plan? Well .. maybe." A quick flash of a smile and when they are free and Liya is backpedalling to a safer spot, there's a quick laugh, "Well. Now that we're .. untangled, shall we grab another drink?"
Still mostly upside down but for the arch of spine that lines them up face to face and gaze to gaze, Merrisol responds without words by reaching up(down) and clasping Maggie around her narrow waist, fingertips making contact through the mesh slip. Instead of stopping each other's momentum in a clash of opposing forces, he continues on while curling her down(up) in a graceful inversion that showcases every inch of her flexibility. Her unbound hair takes longer to catch up with the reverse motion, and he pretty much dives through its fiery haze, letting it sweep down(up) around them to be lit from within by his phosphorescent accents until it is properly coursing along her back. Then he leads with his toes, peels away from her, and curls himself into an upright descent, repeating the curl of his partner once more until they are both in position to touch down upon the sea bed with their toes. Awfully complicated way to come in for a landing, but that's synchronized swimdance for you! He looks around once they are lazily spinning to the music, and stares at Liyandra and Salin, locked in an awkward embrace like goofy adolescents joined by their braces. "Oh.. do they need help?" he wonders, guiding the way over. Even if all is well again.
Privately, to Maggie, Merrisol steals a soft kiss while they are engulfed in flames, if only figuratively!
Privately, to Merrisol, Maggie returns that gentle, tender kiss while figuratively sheathed in flame.
Liya is laughing, but a quick glance shows that her outfit is intact, as is Salin's. Though even if there was a wardrobe malfunction, would anyone notice? Or care? She shakes her head, briefly, and then nods. "I think a drink would be lovely, yes," she says. "But only if we can try dancing again in a bit?" Once she has a chance to recover from the entire fiasco, that is.
Reaching for Liya's hand, Salin is flashing her a smile, even as he gives a quick nod of his head, "Yes, we can certainly try dancing again, when you feel like it, Liya." He does begin to lead her back down towards the bar, but he slows a touch, for he catches sight of Merri beginning to guide Maggie and himself over and with a lift of his hand, he's offering the pair a quick wave.
Meeting Merrisol face to face thanks to his arched spine, Maggie smiles as he pulls her into a graceful synchronized swimdance. Her hands remain on his shoulders as he bends her into the arc of that inversion. She moves with him rather than counter to him and while she does not attempt a heel-to-shoulder fling of body and shimmer of bling, she does curl one leg about Merrisol without ever touching his skin. This curve acts as a guide for a slow spin and then when she faces him again, the leg archs back into place. When her hair shrouds them both like the tail of a comet blazing beneath the sea, she lets Merrisol guide her movements into that second inversion that rolls through them both to land them safely on the floor. Landed, her hair lifts again to hover about her like a cloud of flame. Turning her attention to Salin and Liya, she twitches a quick smile and moves with Merri toward the two, "They look okay." Now. She did not entirely miss the tangle and apparent grope, but trusts in Liya's good sense to smack the man if he needs it. Of course, an underwater smack might not feel like much. Maybe she is saving it for when they are next on dry land. Settling her hand on Merri's arm, she gestures toward the bar, "We can intercept them and get something to drink." Best plan of all.
Merrisol nods. "Ah, so they do, and more than just 'okay'," he adds, after a brief moment of further studying both Liya and Salin. Court glamour was court glamour, but under these glow fish and the ambient pink aura from reflective glass baubles on coral, all those dangerous strands of gold, rubies and pearls, serve to create dazzle on the dance floor. Morfilods, represent! He lifts a wave in their direction, then... takes to eyeing Maggie's previous dance partner, the fine fellow now moving towards the bar himself. Is he a Ygrayne? Is he? House Wars aside, Merri is still none too pleased with their gamble in court to have a man punished for political satire. Instead of following Maggie in that direction, he draws his other arm across her midriff as though to bearhug her possessively from behind. Speaking of needing smacks..? "All right.. after one more turn?" he requests, with a gentle tug outward to twirl Maggie if she's willing, thrice over beyond the reach of his arm unless she reaches herself to join their hands. And back to the dance from there.
More than okay? Maggie's gaze returns to Liya and Salin and her smile warms, "Yeah, they really do. Look more than okay." Rubies and gold just naturally go together, right? She lifts another wave but is stopped by Merrisol's arm slipping about her waist. Lifting a hand as well as her head, she brushes his cheek with her palm while listening to his request. Unaware of the direction his gaze turned, she does not see her previous dance partner heading toward the bar. Her other hand drops to his arm as though allowing a bear hug from behind, "I would love to." Take another turn, not smack him. The tug sets her to twirling and she spins three times 'round, one hand lifting smoothly to take his as they angle back to the dance floor. Her previous dance partner ends up next to an older fellow with narrow features and too bright eyes. Glancing back, he notes that possessive curve of Merrisol's arm and nudges the older fellow. Lemonhead turns to grump at the departing couple.
Liya takes Salin's hand and smiles back at him, leaning in a bit as he speaks, and then moving towards the bar with him. As he slows them down, she tilts her head questioningly, her gaze darting about to catch sight of the blonde and red blazes of hair. Though as they decide to go back to the dance floor, she makes a face at them. "Show offs," she murmurs. And then her attention goes back to the bar, as she fetches up not too far away from the disgruntled ex dancer. The bartender is on the ball and has two more of whatever they were drinking earlier set up in a trice as Liya turns to study the dance floor intently. "I think I can do far better than that," she says, meaning her first attempt.
A faint chuckle escapes past Salin's lips as he gives a nod of his head in the direction of Liya, "That they are." His attention is going back to the bar as well and when they arrive and their drinks are already prepared, there's a flash of a smile for the 'tender and a bob of his head, "Thanks." With a glass in hand, he's turning his attention back to the dance floor, looking out over the various peoples, "You probably could. Me, on the other hand? I'm afraid I don't have the grace, nor flexibility to allow for such dancing."
Liya tilts her head slightly, watching the dancers, and then she turns to look at Salin. "You mean you're going to let me go out there with someone else?" she asks, amusement gleaming. She takes a sip of her drink, continuing to study how this under water dancing business works. There's got to be a trick to it she's just not quite figured out.
As his gaze turns back to Liya, there's a feigned look of innocence as he offers, "I sure will. I'll just have a giant trident made of ice in my hand the whole time. And I'll put on my best political glare." A flash of a wink and then he's lifting his drink up to take a long and healthy sip before lowering it back down. His gaze does flit back to the dance floor, watching the various pairings, "I can do the basic dances. The slow ones. Start adding in the acrobatics and turns and twists? Makes me remember that I spent far too much time dealing with politics and not enough time out and about." Which, probably explains why he doesn't have much skill in fighting, either.
Liya's laughter rings out, soft and musical and obviously enjoying herself. "I see," she says, reaching over to touch his arm gently. The good natured amusement in her voice shows just how seriously she's taking that threat. Not very. "But - you do realize that if you learn at the same time I do, you'll be able to keep up with me, right?" Cause if she gets out there and learns without him - lost cause.
His lips curve into a quick grin as Salin lifts his hand to lightly cover Liya's for a moment, "Just ask around. It's a scary look. Really scary." Humor aside, he's casting a look back out to the dance floor, regarding everything for the moment before looking back in the direction of Liya, "Ugh. Logic. I have no arguement to counter that. So, I suppose you're right."
It's a long indulgent number, the Sirens managing their soaring vocals without the song becoming overwrought. And a turn through its final chorus can be short, or long, depending on how one utilizes the dance space. Merrisol takes the long way, lifting them into the middle space where freestyle has room to blossom. He is mindful of how their colours create imageries of light and fire, and so keeps them in constant dips and swirls, however slow, to keep Maggie's hair flickering and alight with his own bioluminescent ornamentation. Meaning, of course, lots of close embrace, his hands weaving and shaping the flames. The song's end is still dying echoes by the time he leads her down from the dance space to get that drink.
Rising with Merrisol up to the middle space, Maggie follows his lead. She flows into spins and twirls, dips and arcs that send her hair floating out in wide swrils or tight coils that seem to trap the two together before releasing them again. Lit by the glowfish and his bioluminescent bling, her hair almost seems to have a life of its own. For some, above or below, that it is woven by his hands and her movement means little. The two dance and turn within the confines of that flame. Coming out of it when the song spins exhoes through the room, Maggie takes Merrisol's hand and weaves a way down to the bar that lands them next to Salin and Liya. Fairly glowing with delight in the dance and her partner, Maggie sparkles a quick, "Hey," to the others. "What are you two drinking? I don't remember what that color of bottle means."
Liya's not above a small victorious smile, as Salin caves in to her logic. "Excellent. Do you think Maggie and Kerf will teach us?" she adds next, stirring the pot. Maybe on purpose. She sips some more alcohol, since it's there, in her glass, and it's adding to her bravery in getting back on that dance floor. Perhaps another sip of two will get her just brave enough. She catches sight of Maggie and Merrisol as they dance, and watches, fascinated. "Just beautiful." And then as they come down to land beside them, Liya glances at her drink. "I have no idea," she admits. "It's whatever Salin was drinking. And hi. Can you teach us how to dance like that?"
As Merrisol and Maggie make their way over towards the bar, Salin is dipping a nod of his head towards them, while a smile flashes across his lips, "Well done." Then, he's looking back to Liya, to give a soft chuckle and a shake of his head, though he offers nothing to coutner what she's said. Instead, he's looking back to Maggie, only to lift a hand and point to one of the darker bottles, "Light is for lightweights. Dark is for those that can drink."
Merri relaxes his arm some from escorting Maggie barwards and settles them into the space beside their friends. "Hullo again," he says, in better spirits this time around. "I see you two made out all right." And no, he probably didn't mean that particular double entendre, even if it fuels Ye Olde Gossip Mill. House Scion gropes -and- makes out with Flatlander! Way to go. Merrisol smiles while he looks over the coloured sip-bottles available, his gaze sliding over Courtier and Lord Lymon with even geniality. "Teach you.." he repeats then, looking at Liya since Salin is occupied with the ill-advised challenge to Maggie's iron constitution. "I.. hm. Not in time for the next dance, we can't," he says bemusedly. "But if Salin is..." he glances. There's so many words that might fit here. He leaves it open ended. "I would be honoured for you to join me for it."
Maggie does not quite lean against Merrisol for an instant as his arm relaxes, but it is a near thing. She flashes him a quick grin, then looks over the bottles indicated. Lightweight, lightweight, ahhh. Nodding to one of the darker bottles, she indicates to the 'tender that both she and Merrisol should have one. Looking back as the bottles are delivered, she offers one to him, then considers Liya and Salin. Her head tilts to one side just a bit and she nods, "Sure we can. If Salin is free?" Or at least reasonable? Ahem. Lifting the bottle, offers it in a silent toast to the Ambassador before claiminig a longish pull and she winks once at Salin. Challange... accepted. Her attention is again pulled to Merrisol and Liya, "Well. That depends on when the next dance is, I guess. It will be fun either way."
Liya tilts her head, gaze going from Salin to Maggie and back again. "Well, if you two want to have a drinking competition, you won't mind if I snag Kerf for a dance, will you?" she asks, hopefully. Given that Merri has already sort of agreed to it and all. "And Kerf, I'd love to, any time. You'll just have to go easy on me, because this is all new." And she's not a child of oberon, alas. Though did the rumour just get ... broader? Stranger? A little more twisted? Oh dear. Liya grins at Maggie and then says, "I bet four people could really make some intricate patterns." Yes, she's sort of cluing in.
"We made out just fine. Thanks for asking though, Merri." There's a flash of a grin to Merrisol and a shadowed wink to Liya before he's looking between the three others. A loft of his brow comes and then promptly lowers as he considers something, but when he speaks, it's Liya that he's addressing, "By all means. You're more then welcome to dance with him, Liya." His gaze shifts to Maggie, regarding her a moment before he offers, "Drinking competition? I'm afraid I wouldn't want to make her look bad." And that is said with a hint of a teasing challenge behind it.
Merri looks over at the Sirens, who seem to be coordinating with some quintet musicians for the next number. Maybe time for a drink... wait. What? He looks back barward, seeing the dark bottles set before him and Maggie, and Maggie taking a long pull. "Drinking competition?" He looks Bard-ward too, now. "Yes, Liya.. but aren't we all going.." That's what he meant, right? If Salin is... going to dance with Maggie! It does fit. He definitely meant that.
Privately, to Maggie, Merrisol's touch is felt at her back, drifting up and down through the mesh, but more pointedly than casual intimacy.
Privately, to Merrisol, Maggie reaches a slight touch to his arm, a soft thanks for the reminder, perhaps.
Maggie tilts her head at Salin, the sparkle in her eyes growing more heated, "Oh? Really? Do you think a Rebman, even one from the famed House Morfilod can out drink a Minosian Captain?" She pauses then and nods to Liya, then looks up to Merrisol. "Hmmm? Oh, of course. I don't object to your dancing with Liya." Lowering her gaze, she refocuses on Salin, then Liya and her gaze sparkles even more, "We could, yes. Let's give it a try. Salin? Our drinking contest should be postponed. We'll do it in two weeks time. We'll need it by then." Or she will. Lifting her hand, she offers it to Salin, "Shall we dance?" So, it is a challange of a different sort.
Liya looks at Merri, and then she smiles. Those big blue eyes of hers give him the sweetest look that says, 'Pleaseeeeeee Kerf, teach me this neat new dance that I so drastically want to learn.' And then she looks over at Salin and Maggie, as Maggie turns the challenge on its head and her grin broadens. "C'mon, Ambassador. Show us what you've got," she teases softly.
Gggggggrrrruuuunnnnttt. Yep, that's what Salin's got. That's followed by the lift of his drink to his lips so that the contents can be drained in a rather long mouthful. When the bottle is set aside, he's moving to take Maggie's hand, his head dipping towards her before he's looking over towards Merri and then to Liya, "Fine Fine." Back to Maggie it goes, "Two weeks, though."
Merrisol looks super pleased to be the buzzkill for that particular event, not even worried that it is set to resume in two weeks' time. Anything could happen by that point, or some specific thing, even. Liyandra's wheedling, while unnecessary, is too charming not to play up to, so he makes a show of sighing and nodding acquiescence. "Fine," he draws away from Maggie and the counter without having touched his drink, and offers his hands out to Liya, palms up.
The next musical number begins with the belling tones of one percussive instrument, setting up a casual tempo that promises to gain rhythmic life as the other musicians and vocalists join in, just jaunty enough for groups to dance in lieu of a partnering option. Other Rebmans take to the space at all levels, accordingly.
Maggie takes Salin's hand in hers and steps closer to him, "Two weeks." What else happens in two weeks? Well, by then the kids must be off the ship and somewhere safe. A thoroughly gross, disguesting corpse must be burned. And a Rebman traitor must be delivered to durance vile. Or, maybe those last two can be reversed. There is a wicked little part of Maggie, probably inherited from her dad that kinda wants to see Evyndr confronted by the corpse of his victim. Then again, maybe not. Dancing! Right. Moving away from the bar, she leads Salin toward the dancefloor and the oblivion of forgetfulness. Can't think about things like that when out on the floor, right? Right. Looking back, she motions with her head up to that middle tier.
Liya grins at Salin, as he agrees, and then Merri has her attention with his playing up to her wheedling. Her drink is set down, half empty, and she reaches her hands out, placing them on top of his. "In your hands, Kerf," she says, teasingly. The sound of the next number has her tilt her head, picking the beat up swiftly enough. And she swims with the handsome blonde to wherever it is he's selecting to try teaching her how this all works. Mind you, she's had some time to watch and start getting the idea of it. So maybe there's not the risk of bling clash'n'stick. Maybe.
The risk of becoming inextricably bound together is quite low, because Merrisol isn't wearing razzle-dazzle metallics on his person today. Just repurposed aquatic plants and sea critter corpses! Now Salin and Maggie, on the other hand... well let's just say Maggie's mesh dress is capable of netting some tasty catches from the sea?
Nodding to Maggie at her suggestion, he firms his grasp on Liyandra and springs from the sea bed and into that expanse, with the casual dancers below and the pros high above, saying, "It takes a little more concentration to maintain your altitude up here, but the advantage is room to experiment without jostling." While speaking, he keeps his eyes on Liyandra, even if hers roam about as she absorbs the impromptu lesson. And, they have started, simple versions of moves that could be more encompassing when confidence is attained. "Also, Liya. The key is to understand the way the water moves within the three-dimensional space.. the dynamics that are created by the movements almost every other dancer."
His arm, close about her and crossing her back to her opposite shoulder, while the other arm extends palm to palm with hers, swishing languid patterns while at the same time indicating the various other couples and groups in the vicinity who would be affecting them the most. One such couple twirls by, and a couple of seconds later, Merri unfolds his arm with Liya riding upon it. "Feel this.." he instructs, and there it is, an invisible stream that draws Liyandra over his extended arm into a backwards flip... if she goes with it, and gives it grace.
Merri stays out of that slipstream for the most part, though his arm can be felt slipping to the small of her back, and guiding her next move by adding in a little twist with his hand. The resulting spin between them that draws the glow from his arm bands into her jewels, reflecting red flashes into his algae weave trunks, which strobe and ripple the effects from hips to thighs. He takes her hand again to draw her back out of the spin and back into him. "See?" Or feel, anyway.
As Merri springs up to the midlevels, Liya follows, certainly fit and agile enough, and a good swimmer. For a flatlander. She does look around, mostly for land - seamarks? - to fix the level in her head, so she can try to stay at the midlevels. It might not stay that way, but at least to start with it seems to make sense in Liya's head. The simple moves, she can handle, especially as she's now concentrating and not gawking at the dancers above her. Her gaze does flit around, but as Merri calls her name, she turns her attention entirely onto him, listening to the explanation. She looks at the other dancers, as the information comes in about the currents, eddies and slipstreams and it's perhaps like that suddenly connects things for her. "Like a much more complex type of wave riding," she murmurs. She is moving tentatively, with the bits of dance that are obviously beginner level, though when Merri extends his arm and that slipstream coaxes her into a backwards flip, she instinctively goes with it, startled at first, but catching balance and grace without two much rockiness. And hopefully not kicking Merri in the process. Her eyes are agleam with the discovery, and her lips slowly curve into a smile as she says, "Oh, I see. That's - fun." The words are soft spoken, but intense. Merri might just be creating a monster here.
There's a touch of a nod from Salin before he's offering, "I've gathered the principles of things. Unfortunately, it's the actual application of it that I've never had the time to put into motion." He does look over in the direction of Merrisol and Liya, watching a moment before his attention shifts back to Maggie, "Right. I can see that." Another nod and then there's a quirk of his lips to a smile at the mention of being a native, "Ya, I won't be going careening off. That much I can say that I have mastered." A chuckle comes at the thought of it and when Maggie's hands come to be offered, he's taking them in his as he gives a nod of his head, "Comfortable enough that I won't make a fool of myself. That's about it."
Maggie nods, "Oh, excellent. Then for you it is really just practice." Since he is already aware of currents and slipstreams and eddies. So, it will be up to Maggie to keep from kicking the poor guy in the face. She cocks her head slightly to catch the rhythm of the Siren's song, then nods to Salin, "Okay. Lets try the move Kerf and Liya are doing." Shifting them into a slightly better position relative to the cross currents, she sparkles a smile up at the red headed politician, "Ready?"
Won't this make for wonderful slander from House Ygrayne. Here's the Scion of House Morfilod, receiving dance instruction from a flatlander. There is a flit of Salin's eyes about the level they are at and then he's looking back to Maggie, so as to give a slight nod of his head, "Right. What they did." He does steal a quick look back over in the direction of Merri and Liya before he's turning his attention back to Maggie, "As ready as I'm ever going to be, I suppose."
Merrisol can be so serious at times, but now he smiles with a born teacher's genuine fulfillment from steering a neophyte on to a path of learning. That moment when it *clicks* for them. But then, with Liya being a fast learner, perhaps he should have taken Salin... the 'slow' ones are really what makes it all worthwhile, right? THEN AGAIN. If he's one of those Impossible Ones, it's straight to the principal's office... which essentially means Maggie, so. Things are probably best, as is.
Whoops, they're sinking. "And here's the other thing - if you're not 'riding a wave', keep moving!" he laughs, bending them both into an arc, then with a twist and strong a scissoring kick, taking himself back into the center space and then drawing her along upon the stream of his own making. His grip loosens so she can put whatever flourish she desires into the assisted leap, but he catches her again and coasts through her trail, and she through his, and again and again, eeeep, dizzy yet? The fast pirouette makes acid-trip light trails from his arms... and brings her long hair about in a corkscrew and then a rising funnel that blooms like an pinwheeling orchid when Merri suddenly lifts Liya herself up into it. Staying behind, he slows his spin gradually, eyes lifted to watch her style, ready to extend himself to her again once she is on her way down.
Oh, Liya's not quite there yet, she's just got the basic concept. As they start to sink, it takes her a moment to realize that her landmark is rising. Erm. Seamark. And if it's rising that means they're ... sinking? Yes! Sinking! So, she's just figuring this out when Merrisol comes up with his laughing advice, and bends them into an arc. Liya is caught mid-nod, as she ends up in Merri's slipstream, rising back up to the central area, and letting her arms go up and out as she starts to get a bit braver. Her feet flutterkick to keep her moving and she leans back into the slip, feeling the woosh against her back. And then as Merri starts them pirouetting, her eyes widen as she quickly has to try to not get dizzy. In fact, there's not any big fluorishes on this particular move because mostly Liya is concentrating on not getting dizzy. Eep! Spin, spin, wobble, wobble. Though when he sends her up into a cloud of hair, the rush from the freedom (and the oompht in the pit of her stomach) is such that her hands fling up automatically, rising almost to the top heights - almost, but just shy of catching the top dancers' attention - before dropping again. Her arms gracefully lower to half, gradually slowing the spin and moving out to tumble her into a backflip that drops her back down to Merri's level with an increasing speed.
House Ygrayne can suck it as far as Maggie is concerned. She is certain that Lymon is actually one of that House's ilk, though that might be her own bias showing. As Salin gives his concent, she grins up at him, "Okay. Here goes." She helps him position his arms and the curl of his forward leg into the proper supportive positions, then murmers something about using his other leg and arm to keep them at their proper height. Then, taking his opposite hand, she twirls from one side to the other and releases his hand just in time to bend back over his arm in a backward arc that takes her into a graceful swoop. "Now catch me." There is laughter in her tone, a sparkle in her eyes and her hands extend upward toward him. "With the slipstream Kerf and Liya generated, you can sort of toss me upward, then join me above." They are sinking a little, but not too much thanks to the eddies and currents from the others.
And of all the places to receive instruction .. it had to be in the middle of a party. It couldn't be anywhere quiet, where people couldn't see. That would simply be too easy. So, Salin puts on his best face with a flash of a smile. His leg curls forward, his arm moving to support and when she takes his other hand and twirl from side to side, he's offering a soft laugh. As she comes to bend back over his arm in a backward arc that takes her into that graceful swoop, his gives only a little, and when her hands extend upward towards him, he's taking them in his own. Setting his body to spinning, and her's by extension, he's then lifting his arms to toss her upwards, so that she's spinning in a circle of flame as she rises through the water. A slight flutterkick of his feet has him ascending after her almost immediately.
Oooh lala! Rebman eyes, noble and common alike, begin turning up (and some, down) to watch the curious pairings of... well all four kind of look like Flatlanders, although they are quite sure two of them are not. But who is teaching who? And wasn't that guy with that girl before, and that one with that one? What kind of Bohemian rhapsodical world are observes glimpsing here? Anyway, that flip wasn't half bad! A smattering of cheers emanate from the sidelines, which had before now been directed towards the upper echelon performances alone. Lady Surafyc hmmmmmmfs.
As she is flipped upward, Maggie takes the spinning momentum and turns it into a gliding swirl that weaves a figure eight with Salin's as the midpoint. Each time she moves inward, she brushes a gentle touch to his shoulders or his waist and lets her hair define the limits of the turns. When he reaches her level, she swoops upward again and then sets for him to do a more masculine version of her arc and swirl. Laughter dances in her eyes as she hears the cheering, "Well done, Ambassador." Liya and Merrisol are shadowed an equally cheerful nod of approval for their fancy flipper-work. Looking back, she adds a flutterkick of her own to catch the slipstream at just the right place, "Then, when you are ready, we can see if Liya and Merri want to try some of the more extravagent patterns."
When Maggie takes that spinning momentum and turns into into a gliding swirl that results in a figure-eight, with him at the mid point, Salin is simply treading himself in place, only to then shoot up when she sets the stage for him to mimic her with a more masculine version. Rather then simply do a figure eight, he begins to weave a living coil of flesh around her in much the same fashion that a seasnake would its prey. Swift, soft kicks of his feet guide his movements, his back arching and head tilting as his body glides around hers in a glittering trail of golden bling, from feet to thighs to torso and it's only when he breaks through the cloud of flame that is her hair that he looks to the crowd of people. A wrinkle of his nose, a chuckle and he's moving to follow, even as he looks over towards Liya and Merri, "Erm. Ya. Suppose we could give it a try."
Merrisol watches Liyandra's appealing shapes in rotation with mute admiration, his own forms slow and subtle compliments below her, keeping them engaged and connected even while apart. At her interpretive backflip, he seizes the opportunity to enhance her dive, gathering what spin is left to him and riding it 'round tightening, then expanding revolutions, glowing trails whipping in sine and cosine patterns. As Liya drops into it, Merri is there with his hands sliding into hers to reverse her angle and send her skating and twisting around him while he turns with her, hand over hand alternating for those body twirls, never letting go entirely. Don't try this at home, kids.
The general accolades are heard, the general awareness of Salin and Maggie accomplishing something spiffy in their own bit of space. But Merri's expression is all attentive assurance to his partner, while he repeats the pattern of hands until she has it down and can control the rate of her spin, within their spin, within the spin they are now making around the edges of the dance space, trawled along in the slipstream of... none other than that laughing Selkie dude from before. When Merri notices that in his periphery, he pulls himself out of it and Liyandra with him, and simply turns with her until they are close to Salin and Maggie. "Nalwin," he explains to Liya briefly. Man, he hates that guy!
Liya actually is slightly out of control in that dive down as she plummets, though it might look spectacular. When Merri catches her hands, reversing her angle and sending her skating and twisting around him, red glowing and shining throughout the blackness of her hair, she catches his hands gratefully though he might be the only one to know just how near a thing that might have been. And certainly, the momentum from her dive has her curl around him in a spiraling pattern with hardly any effort at all. She doesn't try to talk as she tries to figure out how this maneouver works, concentration obvious on her face, where it is visible. Hand over hand over - right then, after a bit, she does get the pattern and then she starts experimenting with it, increasing her spin, slowing herself down, speeding up again. It adds shimmer and pulsing to the effect. So long as her stomach doesn't protest too much. She laughs though when Merri pulls them out of it, impulsively turning to give him a hug. "This is magnificent, Kerf," is her exclamation. A tilted head and a "Nalwin?" to Kerf, a lot more quietly and then a big smile at Maggie and Salin. "Are you having fun?"
As Salin rose up from her feet to her head, his twisting about her causing a small vortex to spin her around and around, Maggie lifts her hands to let her hair twist and spiral above her, a mini malestrom of flame and sparkle. Riding that upswing of water, she parts her hands and lifts one leg before diving downward again to meet Salin. It is a good thing she did, too. Her hair's tips were just tickling the toes of a dancer above, causing just a bit more of a stir than she would have been comfortable with had she noticed.
The crowd murmers and applauds Merri and Liya's smooth moves and a rustle above has couples trying out that hand over hand over hand thing. A new groove, baby, has been born.
Moving to catch Salin's hands, Maggie flip-kicks toward where Merri pulls Liya from the slipstream. Maggie's eyes are shining and she curls into an arc that pulls Salin after her. It turns into a down and up curve that takes the arcing and spinning, all gold and bronze bling and red hair over to their friends.
Merri folds his arms around Liyandra's back to briefly return the embrace, rubies and gold filament catsuit tickling and glowing in the light of his bioluminescence. "Nalwin," he replies as though that explains things, then smiles. "And yes, Liyandra.. it is always a pleasure." Over Liya's shoulder, he can now directly observe Maggie's progress with Salin, and gives them a look of pleasant surprise. He drifts away from those still partying, an elbow out for Liyandra while he keeps them both smoothly aloft until they reach a point near the edges of the dance space to meet up with the swooping fun that is Captain and Ambassador.
The Selkie, in his half-man half-seal form, with bright brown pools for eyes and a big big mouth all the better to laugh and tease, flip flops when he sees they have escaped his wake, flop flips, and swims over. "Big Fella, I gotta hand it to you. Gold haired, moon haired, coral haired, flame haired, ink haired, all these beauties you find, and would it kill you to share?" he teases all right, and did... did he really just include Salin in that tally? Nalwin waits for that narrow-eyed look from Merri that just about splits his fuzzy sealskin with mirth.
Merrisol presently says, "Everyone, this is Lieutenant Nalwin of the Rebman Navy, special operations. Nalwin.. this is everyone."
Nalwin blinks, then laughs more. "Charmed, ~Everyone~!"
There's a pleasant little laugh at Maggie takes his twist and begins to spin round and round, her hair and hands twisting and spiraling above. When it eventually comes to an end and she's taking his hands, he's curving into that arc after her, only to move down and up, curving and spinning in that gold and bronze and flashes of red. Catching Liya's smile and question, there's an incline of his head and a quick smile to her, "I am." But it's Nalwin that his attention goes to next, his brow lifting a touch before he's simply incling his head towards the Selkie.
Liya beams at Merri, quite pleased with the fun they've had so far and looking forward to more. She sticks with Merri as they move to the edges of the dance space, ready to relax or try again, whatever the story is. There is definitely a bit of bubbly contentment there. Wait until she tells certain folks about this! They'll be looking for sunglasses to protect them from that sunshine and bouncy glee. She frowns a bit at the Selkie's teasing, not quite sure how to take that. She sort of inches back a bit, but doesn't lose her glee. "Nice to meet you, Nalwin," she says cautiously. Maggie and Salin get a bigger, warmer smile and a wave of one hand, as they arrive.
Nalwin smiles more at those who acknowledge his presence. He goes on to Merri, "O Captain My Captain? I heard you were looking for helpers on a certain outer reaches raid?" He blinkblinks, and that oily sheen on his goopy eyeballs! You just can't club him, you can't!
Merrisol stifles a groan and turns it inwards. "I am not your..." He trails off into a sigh that indicates he's already made that point several times over, and looks about to the others. "Excuse me, I need to... have a chat with the LT. Over there." Where there are spears.
Swooping up to the others, Maggie pulls up short on spotting Merri's discomfort. Catching the selkie's name, she eases forward where Liya drops back. The comments about Merri's potential partners is met with silent laughter. If the Selkie only knew. "Nalwin. Nice to meet you. I'm Maggie." The more formal title and name will be held for now. Unless someone else wants to provide it. Catching the accumulation of 'beauties' ennumerated, she blinks and blushes. A wicked sort of gleam touches her gaze and she glances a surruptitious look Merri's way. Should she? Relenting, because she does love the "Big Guy" and is fond of her friends, she eases closer to them. Then comes the request, the blinking, the... She chuckles and moves forward enough to whisper something to Nalwin. Is it barbed? No telling.
Privately, to Nalwin, Maggie says, "Oh, Nalwin... He is /my/ Captain..."
Swooping up alongside Maggie to the others, Salin veers off at the last moment, allowing her and Merrisol to talk with Nalwin. He's got no vested interested there, after all. As such, he's angling off towards Liya, coming to veer around behind her so that he can settle his arms around her waist and his chin upon her shoulder, "So. Having fun yet?" He does look back as Merrisol takes his leave and Maggie leans in to murmer to the Selkie, "Wonder what that's about."
Liya blinks at Merri, not sure what's going on. "Of course," she says to him first. "Thanks for the dance, my friend." Her brow creases though she certainly doesn't try to stop Maggie at all as the flame haired woman moves up to help Kerf out. Liya is somehow not entirely surprised as Salin is suddenly there with a nice comfy hug from behind. She leans into it without a second thought. At his words, she laughs, tilting her head a bit, and says, "Oh, yes, that was fun. Now I want to learn how to get good enough to go way up there." A glance up at the elite dancers who may or may not even know there's music playing. Then at his question, she reaches her hands to his, so she can swim forward a bit. "Maggie, what did you tell him?" she asks curiously. "And - " A pause. "- And why is he picking on Kerf?"
Turning with a flip of her feet that sort of mimics a Siren's tail, Maggie moves away from Nalwin and Merrisol. Catching sight of the comfy hug, she grins, then clears her throat and sobers, "Nalwin?" She pulls in a deep lungful of life-giving water, and expells it. "Ummm." Extending her hands, one to each, she moves in closer for a huddle. Speaking very softly, almost forehead to forehead, forming a triangle if possible, she keeps her words as much within their group as possible.
Maggie mutters to Liyandra and Salin, "See... I... the... the... to... indiscriminant in... affections... far... I..."
As Liya leans back against him without a second thought, there's a flash of a grin that dances to Salin's lips and that tilt of her head affords him the opportunity to brush a quick kiss to her cheek before he's looking up to the most elite of dancers, "Uh .. right. That's probably going to take me a bit longer then you. I'm not even sure I can move like that." Cause, some of those dancers are just doing things that should be impossible. When her hands settle on his and she swims forward, he's releasing one arm from around her and following after, only to wind up with an extended hand from Maggie which's taking. Oh. Look. Triangle speaking. Listening to that, Salin can't help the laugh that escapes past his lips and the quick, "Aww. That's cute. Merri has a love lackey."
Maggie looks aghast at Salin and shakes her head, "No. He doesn't." Or if he does, Maggie's going to disavow it. "He has a girlfriend and that is me. Nalwin can flip a fin." Okay, if Salin is going to take it out of huddle, then Maggie will make her point. Clearly. She glares at the Scion of House Morfilod and releases both his hand and Liya's. "I think I need coffee." Rather than hard liquer. "I'll catch you all later, okay?"
Liya flashes a glance to Salin, amusement showing at that little kiss. And then Maggie speaks her bit, and Liya's eyes widen. She thinks for a moment, but before she can answer, Salin interjects and then so does Maggie, and Liya shuts up. Whatever she was going to say - clammed up. She shakes her head a bit, and then says, "Poor Kerf." There is sympathy on her face too. Though her elbow might find Salin's ribs. "That's not nice, you know."
Liya then looks quickly over at Maggie. "Oh. Uhm, I guess. Sure. We'll see you later."
The reactions all around draw a lift of a brow and the elbow to his ribs causes him to backpeddle a bit in the water, "Huh. Guess it's alright for Merrisol to make jokes at me, but not the other way around?" A shrug of his shoulders and he's lifting a hand to give a simple idle wave in the direction of Maggie, not bothering to answer.
Liya gives Salin a look, and then she moves to whisper in his ear. "Of course not. But you could have kept it to just the three of us, like Maggie started it," she says. "Do you think she's mad at us?" She looks over at Maggie, and then she sighs, under water or not. And under water? That elbow to the ribs probably just tickled. A moment and then she adds, "Selkies are strange like that though, aren't they? I mean, the one I met in Amber seemed to be."
Doesn't much watch Maggie take her leave, his gaze having shifting to Liya as he gives another shrug of his shoulders, "Don't know. You'll have to ask her. I think, though, I'm going to call the party at an end for me." A roll of his head from left to right and then back again has him smiling to Liya, though, "Feel free to stay longer, Liya, if you'd like. I'm just going to make my way to the Palace to tend to something."
Catching some of the conversation behind her, Maggie flips a curve through the water to bring her back to both of them. Her eyes are open wider than usual and she looks distressed, "Guys... I am sorry. I didn't mean to sound upset or anything. Salin, of course you can tease your cousin. I'm not interfering. Liya, of course I'm not mad at you two. Seriously. I am sorry that it sounded like I was." She focuses on each in turn, "I really do need coffee if I'm resorting to bitchiness. Please excuse me. Both of you."
Liya blinks as Maggie comes back and then she smiles. "It's okay - I think - maybe Selkies are just strange." There's a bit of intensity there, speaking from her own history as well. And then she shakes her head. "Go on, get some coffee." She turns to see if she can put a small kiss on Salin's cheek, if he isn't too annoyed to let her. "And of course, go right ahead. I'm sure I'll be okay for a bit." The sharks are circling, and there's perhaps a few who are watching. And might be perfectly willing to dance with the flat lander. See if they can pump her for information, lure her away from Morfilod, sell her to Ygrayne?
Pausing, Salin turns his attention back to Maggie so that he can give a quick nod of his head and a flash of a smile. Then, he's looking to Liya, tilting his cheek in time for that kiss and offering her a smile as well. After that? It was off to the palace. Work to be done, it would seem. Though it doesn't last overly long and he has no choice but to come back to the courtyard after he's done, considering you have to move through the party to go anywhere.