Ballroom

[tomaszavenger]

Check IC for the second competition. All dancing must be done HERE! This will be locked once competition is completed.

[charli]

~Sara~

Sara stood in awe. Spinning slowly in the center of the dance floor, she looked up at the glass dome that was the ceiling. The whole place was so grand. It was like the grand hall in the movie Anastasia. Giggling, she sang "Once Upon A December" softly to herself.

"You can sing if you want," Eric laughed from the edge of the floor. "You really do have a great voice."

Blushing, Sara fell silent. Performing wasn't a problem for her with crowds, but she always felt awkward singing for one or two people. "Should we run through the dance before the others get here?" she asked, looking over at her partner. He wore a pair of gray trousers with a gray vest and white shirt, the sleeves rolled up past his elbows and the top button undone.

Sara's new wardrobe had a handy-dandy dial on the side. She set the year and opened the door to find the clothes she had purchased or received that year. It was very Indian in the Cupboard meets Howl's Moving Castle. In it, she had found a black pair of slacks, nice enough to be formal, but made of a fabric Sara could probably do yoga in. With it she wore a gray blouse, empire waisted with a low, squared neck line. The sleeves were fitted on her upper arms then flared at her elbows down almost to the tips of her fingers. Sara was barefoot. Eric wore polished black shoes.

"I don't think we need to," he grinned. "I remember the steps and counts. Do you?"

Sara beamed. "Yeah. You were right. I am better at dancing here." Briefly, Sara wondered if the skill would stay with her when she left, but she pushed the thought aside. "I think we're set with our fantastically surreal dance. Now all there is to do is wait for the others to come up."

[TheTimeSweeper]

Evan and Nav-E

“Geez, this place is huge,” gasped Nav-E as he looked up at the ceiling of the ballroom.

“Not exactly the most fitting place to perform a line dance, but we’ll take it anyway,” replied Evan right behind him.

Both were dressed in plain white T-shirts with blue jeans and sneakers. Neither of them owned a pair of cowboy boots and it was just as well because the sneakers were much more comfortable. Both of them also had a cowboy hat perched atop their heads.

“I hope that the bots or whatever or whoever is running this event can easily pull up the song and transition it to the arcade version without any problems,” said Nav-E as he still gazed at the ceiling.

“I’m more concerned about how we’re going to start dancing to this song,” replied Evan. “There is no lead-in; it just starts, so we’re going to have to be ready.”

Evan could see Sara and Eric idling nearby and they looked like they were dressed for some kind of elegant slow dance, not something fast and frantic. He waved to them before turning his attention back to Nav-E who was still gawking at the ceiling.

“Will you stop that? Your neck is going to seize up if you don’t stop staring up there. And you’re going to look ridiculous when we dance with your head stuck in that position.” A wicked grin suddenly swept across Evan’s face. “On second thought, ignore everything I just said.”

“Haha, very funny,” replied Nav-E who stopped his staring and glared at Evan. “And yes, I know the protocol for this song; no messing around. It starts fast and it ends fast.”

“I’m glad that you understand the situation. All that’s left to do now is wait for the others to get here.”

[tomaszavenger]

(OOC note: Dancing happens one by one because everyone has a different song. You can start when you like, as long as it doesn't interfere with anybody else, and as long as it is before the deadline.)

[charli]

((When's the deadline? What time is it now? I want an audience. ))

~Sara~

Sara waved back to Evan and Nav-E, then laughed to Eric. "Uh-oh, looks like double trouble. What song to you think they chose?"

Eric looked the twins over. ""Cotton Eyed Joe" maybe?"

"Knowing them, it's probably a song from a racing game."

A bot came over to them. "You may start your dance whenever you like. Please tell me your song that I can relay it to the DJ."

""Sleeping Lessons" by The Shins," Eric nodded.

"Very good, sir. Simply give the word when you wish to begin," the bot responded before leaving.

"I'm ready when you are," Eric grinned at Sara.

But Sara shook her head. "I need more people. I get, like, reverse stage fright. I freeze up when there aren't a lot of people. Let's not go first."

[tomaszavenger]

((The robot announced it! It's in the afternoon! 3.00pm I think it was. Time now is roughly 10.30 am.))

[Yetisarge]

Aaron and Zerb walked into the ball room. "Hmm looks pretty big." said Aaron as he looked around.

Zerb went off to find a bot in the ball room. "What do you mean... You stupid.." was all Aaron heard as he headed off to look around and noticed Eric and Sara.

"So what's the matter Zerb?" Aaron said as Zerb stormed back in his general direction.
"Seems it HAS to be with another person, I've never been a couples dancer." Zerb muttered

"Ah, sorry to hear that, I imagine you would tear up the dance floor by yourself now wouldn't you?"

"More then likely yes." Zerb said as he went for a walk. As he walked away Aaron still noticed Sara and Eric, and he figured to hell with it. She obviously liked him more, no one could like Aaron anyway, it was an amazement that Katie had stayed with him as long as she did back home.

(note for those of you who read into that, no I haven't broke up with her, but I figured I needed some sort of sad moment in my life for this rp)

[charli]

~Sara/Eric-

Eric checked the clock. "It's already two o'clock," he said to Sara. "What if no one else comes? Why don't we just go ahead and do our dance."

"But..." Sara whimpered, biting her lip. There were only three other people in the ballroom.

"C'mon," Eric nudged. Then he singsonged, "Vietnamese fooood..."

"I do like Asian food..."

"Then c'mon. You won't win it unless you try."

"But..."

Suddenly, Eric's arms enveloped her in a hug. "You'll be fine," he whispered, his breath warm on Sara's ear. "I know we can win this." Stepping back, he held her arms and duked his head down to look her in the eye. "So?"

Sara couldn't help it. The corner of her mouth turned up in a small smile. "Alright... Yeah. Yeah, I'll be better once the music starts."

Returning the smile, Eric nodded to a bot and then led Sara out onto the floor. Once in the center, they assumed a traditional parter dance position, but stiffly as though they were mannequins. The music started, arpeggios sounding as if underwater, and Sara and Eric began to move. They were like wooden dolls. They danced together, but their vacant thousand-mile-stares suggested that they actually danced independently in each other's arms.

The vocals started, a distant, tinny voice. Go without 'til the need seeps in, you low animal. Collect your novel petals for the stem. And glow. Glow. Melt and flow. Eviscerate your fragile frame, and spill it out on the ragged floor. At this point, Sara's eyes focused, and she slipped out of Eric's arms, though she continued to hold his hand as if leading him. She rose up onto her toes and for the most part still followed alongside Eric, watching his face, though a bit of ballet was beginning to creep into her movements. Chaine turns, arabesques, battements A thousand different versions of yourself.

And if the old guard still offend, they got nothing left on which you depend. So enlist every ounce of your bright blood, and off with their heads. Jump from the hook. Sara let go of Eric's hand, deftly spinning to his other side as froze, unsure. She took his hand again, and he resumed his stiff two-step. You're not obliged to swallow anything you despise. See, those unrepenting buzzards want your life. She let him go again, skipping behind him, but this time he continued for a beat or two before freezing, and Sara once again took his hand. And they got no right. As sure as you have eyes, they got no right.

The music began to grow in intensity, picking up, becoming clear and present. Then it sounded like an actual rock song. Eric came to life, taking Sara by the hand as she spun rapidly, joyfully. Just put yourself in my new shoes, and see that I do all I do because the old guard still offends. (Their pudgy hearts and slimy hands.) Now Sara and Eric danced together, each of their steps lending momentum to to the other's. Turning and weaving around each other, almost like butterflies, they flew around the floor. They got nothing left on which we depend. So enlist every ounce of your bright blood, and off with their heads. Jump from the hook. You're not obliged to swallow anything you despise, that you despise. Sara leaped to Eric, and he caught her, holding her as she clung to him like a small child. His dance slowed into a gentle rocking motion like the two-step from the beginning but nowhere near as wooden.

The music faded, and Sara slid down to stand hand and hand with Eric. Smiling, they turned to their small audience and bowed graciously. "I told you so," Eric whispered in Sara's ear. "You did beautifully."

[Yetisarge]

Aaron had watched the dance and figured more then likely Sara would win it, because at this point in time she was the only one who had done anything.

'So unless Kat does anything since she seems to like to dance, it would seem like Sara would win it.' he thought to himself and took a seat to see if any one else would actually dance.

[TheTimeSweeper]

Evan and Nav-E

Evan and Nav-E applauded Sara and Eric’s performance as they each took a bow.

“So, that’s what we’re up against?” Nav-E whispered to Evan. “Pssh, piece of cake.”

“I don’t know; they were both really good,” Evan whispered back.

“True, but is their performance going to be a big hit with the crowd overall or is our dance going to be the big attraction?”

“Well, at this point, there isn’t much of a crowd so it’s really a toss-up right now.”

Nav-E glanced around the room and noticed that the same people from before were still the only ones here.

“Huh, either everyone would rather do something else or no one knows how to dance. Well, whatever the case may be, we’ll still have fun with this even if we don’t win.”

Evan grinned at his brother. “Right, and besides, we can always have Vietnamese food some other time. I think we’ve had some before too.”

“I think that was Thai food, but there’s probably little difference between the two. Vietnam is not that far away from Thailand.”

Evan nodded. “Well, regardless if we win or not, what say we wait a little bit longer for people to show up? Not that we really need a huge audience or anything to perform.”

Nav-E shrugged and re-adjusted his hat. “Fine by me.”

[charli]

~Sara/Eric-

"I wanna watch Evan and Nav-E's dance," Sara said to Eric as the stepped off the dance floor. Adrenaline still blasted through her veins, flushing her cheeks, brightening her eyes, and affecting her speech. "Knowing Magic, their dance is bound to be awesome." She pirouetted as she spoke, too full of energy to contain herself.

Eric was feeling the effects of the dance as well. His heart was pounding, and as he watched Sara, he felt something stirring within him. In a back corner of his mind, he remembered learning in Psychology that the human body has a hard time distinguishing between arousal. There was no telling how much of this urge he felt to reach out and pull Sara to him was simply adrenaline from the recent exercise. The wisest course of action would probably be to distance himself for a bit, until they both had a chance to unwind a bit.

"You stay, then," he smiled at Sara. "I'm going to get something to eat. Tell me how it goes." As he walked out, he couldn't help but reach out a hand to brush Sara's hair and down her jaw.

Startled, Sara watched stiffly as Eric left. She felt her cheeks flushing deeply, and she was panting, that could just be from the dance. Right? Shaking her head, she walked to the wall. I need to get things under control, she scolded herself. Who knows what problems Eric could cause.

Sitting down cross-legged against the wall, she leaned forward and rested on her folded arms, fixing Evan and Nav-E with a look that said loud and clear, "Your turn."

[TheTimeSweeper]

Evan and Nav-E

Evan and Nav-E kept waiting for anyone else to show up to the ballroom and when no one came, Nav-E got a little miffed, but he quickly shrugged it off.

“Ah, screw it. If they miss it, they miss it. It’s their loss.”

Evan nodded and motioned to the center of the ballroom as he walked toward it. “Shall we? We still have an audience made up of Aaron, Zerb, and Sara. Eric was here a moment ago, but I think he left.”

“Yeah, he probably went back downstairs to get something to eat or whatever.” Nav-E followed Evan and addressed the bot that was handling the music. “Yo, DJ bot dude! Start the song on my signal and when it reaches the two minute mark, switch the song to the arcade version.”

“How about you tell the bot what song we’re dancing to first before giving out switching instructions?” laughed Evan. “Nevermind, I’ll do it. The song is ‘Redline Shuffle’ from the arcade and video game ‘Cruis’n USA’,” he told the DJ bot.

“Very good, sir. And I’ll be sure to switch it to the arcade version at the two minute mark. Anything else?”

“Nope, that should be it unless you can think of something to add, Nav-E.”

“Nope, I’m good.”

“Well, in that case just watch for Nav-E’s signal to start the song.”

The bot nodded and prepared the song while the twins walked to the center of the ballroom. They then stuffed their fingers in their jeans pockets and faced the small group of people watching them. Both noticed that Sara was seated cross-legged against the wall across from them waiting for them to start.

“Ready, Nav-E?” asked Evan, grinning.

“Ready, Evan,” replied Nav-E, returning the grin.

He then winked over his shoulder at the DJ bot and the music started immediately with a quick drum solo before launching into the main song. The twins wasted no time going through the foot motions of common line dances including the chasse, grapevine, weave, and of course, the shuffle step in that order. Thirty seconds into the song, the two of them rotated a quarter-turn to the left and the music repeated itself.

“Heh, we haven’t danced to this song in a long time!” breathed Nav-E.

“Well, we have, just not in these clothes, but I like doing it this way a whole lot better!”

The song was entirely instrumental and the electric guitar playing the solos amid the drums in the background accentuated Evan and Nav-E’s moves around the dance floor. Both were having a blast and after four rotations returning to their starting positions, the arcade version started up. The dancing was halted for a split second before their fingers were quickly removed from their jeans pockets and suspended in mid-air to form invisible guitars. The music now was faster and took on a heavy metal tone as Evan and Nav-E played air-guitar in tune with the music around the dance floor while still going through the same line dance motions. Every thirty seconds or so, the song would repeat itself and the twins would subsequently rotate a quarter-turn to the left.

“Heh, even if we don’t win, this is the most fun I’ve had ever since we got here!” laughed Nav-E as he played air-guitar over his head in tune with the music.

“Yeah, and if we do win, we still had fun and we’ll have Vietnamese meals later on,” grinned Evan as he played air-guitar behind his back.

“I hear that!”

Trying to play different styles of air-guitar, line dance, and remembering to rotate at the right time proved to be difficult for the two of them, but they somehow managed and roughly two minutes later the arcade version slowly faded away. Evan and Nav-E ended right back where they had originally started facing their audience as planned and bowed quickly, both with wide grins on their faces.

“Now that was awesome,” said Nav-E.

“Definitely,” replied Evan.

[charli]

~Sara~

Sara could not stop laughing as she applauded. Evan and Nav-E's dance looked like so much more fun than her and Eric's. "Oh, my God," she gasped, finally starting to control herself. "The air guitaring. Was. Awesome. And leave it to you guys to pick a song from a racing game. I totally called that one!"

Sighing, Sara sat back against the wall, her knees bent and feet flat on the floor. "Is anyone else gonna dance?"

[TheTimeSweeper]

Evan and Nav-E

Both brothers grinned as Sara clapped enthusiastically amid her laughter for their performance.

“Our routine must have been more entertaining than we thought,” said Nav-E.

“I know you’re just being facetious,” laughed Evan. “That was truly an awesome experience though.” Walking over to where Sara sat against the wall, he said to her, “Glad you enjoyed our performance. We don’t get to do stuff like that nearly as often as we’d like to.”

“Speak for yourself, dude,” replied Nav-E as he joined Evan by the wall. “I do stuff like that all the time; you’re just never around when I do it.”

“Well, that explains a lot.”

“Yeah, I guess it does… Hey!”

Evan chuckled and sat against the wall with his hands behind his head. “Whew, that was crazy. And yes, leave it up to us to choose a song from a racing game to dance to. We would have gone with something else, but Redline Shuffle fit so much better and we haven’t danced to it in months.”

Nav-E half-grinned over at Sara as he too sat against the wall. “So, you knew that we were going to choose a song from a racing game as our dance song? Impressive; you know us too well and we pretty much just met each other!”

Evan grinned at Nav-E and gave him a playful punch on the shoulder. “In answering your question, Sara, I’m not sure if anyone else is going to dance. Aaron and Zerb are here, but I don’t know what they’re gonna do.”

“If they picked the song that we have in mind for a music competition if there ever is one, I’m going to be really annoyed,” said Nav-E.

“I doubt that they are even familiar with what we have in mind and our idea is supposed to be a secret, ya moron.”

“It’s not really a secret if no one knows the title, Evan!”

Nav-E punched Evan this time which spawned a mini-brawl between the two brothers until it quickly died down.

“Ah well, whatever the case may be, we’ll face it when the time comes,” said Evan.

Nav-E nodded as he made himself more comfortable against the wall. “Whenever that’s going to be.”

[charli]

~Sara~

Sara was fidgety, what with the adrenaline still in her system. And then her stomach growled. "Well, that's my cue," she said standing. Walking out, she hooked her left thumb in the waist of her pants and turned over her shoulder to give a two fingered salute to Evan and Nav-E. "Smell ya later."

[TheTimeSweeper]

Evan and Nav-E

Evan and Nav-E watched as Sara saluted them and then walked out of the room, presumably to get something to eat.

“Do you think we should follow suit?” asked Nav-E. “Aaron and Zerb seemed to have mysterious disappeared and with Sara now gone, we are the only ones up here. On second thought…this is a good thing. We have the entire dance floor to ourselves with an unlimited supply of music! We can totally jam to our hearts content up here!”

Evan threw back his head in laughter. “You seriously want to do that?”

“Hell yeah I do! Think about it! If we were downstairs, we wouldn’t be able to do something like this because we’d have to keep the music low and respect the privacy of the other house members. Since we’re up here, we can play the music as loud as we want and dance to whatever we want!”

Evan put a finger to his chin and thought about it for a moment. “What would happen if the music was loud enough that we were disturbing the people downstairs?”

“What would happen is that they might be inclined to come up here and join us for a dance party! It is very likely that if we dance, then others will want to dance too and if we play group dance songs, then no one has to be excluded.”

Evan got a gleam in his eyes that let Nav-E know that he was on board for a dance party.

“Alright, let’s do it.”

“Awesome.”

“So, what should we play first?”

“Cha-Cha Slide: Part 2 - Extended Version by DJ Casper, of course!”

Evan grinned. “I had a feeling that you’d say that.”

Nav-E rubbed his hands together and stepped onto the dance floor. “So then it’s settled. DJ bot, you know what to do. And turn the music up while you’re at it, please?”

The DJ bot nodded and Evan joined Nav-E in the middle of the floor. Standing at least five feet away from each other to allow ample dancing room, the twins got ready for the music to start.

“Ready?” Nav-E asked, grinning.

“Ready.”

“Let’s do it. No, no, no man. Cut that, man. We’re gonna get into the new Casper Slide: Part 2. We’re gonna get busy right now. This is for all the imitators, perpetrators, and haters. This is something new, the Casper Slide: Part 2, featuring the platinum band and this time, we’re gonna get funky, funky… Funky, funky… Everybody clap your haaaaands!”

And so the dance party commenced.