RP:Stepping Out
This is a Bard's Guild RP.
Summary: Alvina and Lanara make plans to meet up at the bakery and catch up, as they are both proud members of the Bard's Guild. After a few minutes of discussing their home and love lives, and a bit of teasing, Alvina mentions that she'd love to take some dance classes. Lana wholeheartedly agrees to tutor her friend, and they decide to start out with line dancing, and move into salsa lessons in the spring.
Obscure Bakery
Alvina can’t remember when the suggestion of taking dance lessons had popped up in conversation between her and Hudson. Probably after she tugged him along to a ballroom dancing class right before a gala or ball or gathering of some kind. Her stomach aches, remembering all the food she ate grumpily. (Grumpy because they took lessons but didn’t even ballroom dance!). So she’d written to Lanara, a woman well known for her kindness and booty shaking prowess. That’s where she got the legendary derriere right? Too many squats or hard core dance moves. Either way, the bard’s happy to meet in Cenril as opposed to other regions for no particularly notable reason. She passes through the empty streets until she finds the bakery. She’s fairly sure this is the hidden gem of Cenril that Ranok is so fond of. A little bell chimes as she moves through the door, emerald eyes scanning the interior cautiously. Once she spies Lanara, she’ll lift her gloved hand to wave in her direction with a smile. “Hello there, madam dance instructor.” She greets the other woman comfortably. After talking briefly with Talyara, Alvina felt like she knew both witches a little better. She can’t stop herself from imagining Talyara’s warning about Lanara being a biter to this day. Lana looked scrappy but Alvina just can’t picture it and she’d missed the fight in the Redskull Trophy Ring. All of her attire screams ‘MOM’ from her high waisted jeans to her ruffled white shirt and black cardigan. Even her hair is pulled up and away from the wind in a lopsided bun secured by a ear-muffed headband. “It’s getting so cold…” She complains with a groan. “But enough about the weather. Thank you so much for meeting me! You look fabulous, how are you?”
Lanara was exhausted from packing boxes full of her belongings the past two days, so when the note arrived from Alvina requesting that they meet up for coffee and scones, the witch was all too happy to put thoughts on moving to the side. Besides, it wasn’t like she gave Elioyahazer a set date and time of when to expect her to move into his manor, so a few hours at a bakery with a friend was the best break she could ever imagine. Shrugging into an orange tunic, brown leggings, and knee-high boots, the elf is prepared for the journey to Cenril. One of the older mares had been saddled for her use, and about thirty minutes later Lana arrives at the familiar beachfront bakery. Dismounting, she looks for a suitable spoke in which to tether the reins to, and she finger combs her long locks, before entering the shop. Immediately, the scent of freshly baked bread assaults her senses and she greedily inhales, enjoying the resulting smells of hours spent kneading and baking. The witch selects a table which would afford them some privacy from any eager eavesdroppers, and she orders a cappuccino. She doesn’t have to wait too long, before the mother of three enters the establishment, and Lana rises from the table to pull Alvina in for a quick hug, “You look great! How are you? I can’t believe the drop in temperature!” They each take a seat, place their orders, and dive right into playing catch up, “I’ve been great! I’m moving in with Eli, we’ve decided to make things more official between us. How are you doing? How is Hudson? The kids?”
Alvina waves her wrist at Lanara. “Oh you,” She blushes still. “I’m good, I’m good!” she laughs, skipping over a purchase of coffee for a warm hot chocolate. It was perfect weather for warm beverages. She sits, flattening her jeans against her long cardigan so it doesn’t bunch uncomfortably. “Moving in!?” Alvina gasps, for she hadn’t properly met the man Lanara is referring to. Her eyebrows loft suggestively. “That sounds quite serious.” she offers in her best ‘mom’ voice. “Well you’ll just have to bring that boy over for dinner so I can give him a once over!” The voice dissolves into airy laughter and her usual pitch returns. “But seriously, congratulations. That’s marvelous news.” Alvina studies Lanara’s face and grins. “Look at you, you’re positively glowing. I won’t be noisy but if a RING gets involved you have to spill the tea.” Lanara and Alvina never had spent time together outside of a big function, so even though the bard felt like she knew the witch well, she had limited knowledge but felt comfortable speaking with her. Maybe that was just an aura Lanara gave off. “We’re all good, Bryce is going through a -biting- phase and per your sister, I’m not allowed to ask you for advice on that subject.” She waits a beat for her companion’s reaction. “But I would like to get Luna with a new teacher. I’m afraid her current instructor isn’t teaching girls her age.” She sighs. “They grow up so quickly…And Hudson is Hudson.” She smirks and rolls her eyes, brushing back a curled bang that escaped it’s prison. “He’s always living his best life and he was -really- excited when I mentioned dance lessons for myself. Please teach me the worst possible dance so I can troll the heck out of him.” Their orders are brought to the table promptly - Alvina removes both her gloves to curl her pale digits around the warm mug and inhale the steam rising off her drink. “One good thing about cool weather.” She’d have to just admire the warmth from afar for now. It’s way too hot to drink. “Where does Eli live? Do you have to move far? What does he do for a living? How long have you been dating? Tell me everything, please!” Alvina blinks and then reconsiders. “Everything you want, no pressure of course. I’m just nosy.” She wrinkles her nose, thinking it funny.
Lanara can’t help but giggle at Alvina’s excitement about the relationship taking a serious turn, her cheeks flooding with color. It had been a long time since the witch felt this way about anyone, and after Krystan’s death, the failed engagement to Eirik, and Largakh being murdered, it was a wonder she had managed to find love again. Placing her trust in another male was difficult for Lana, though she’s convinced that Eli is something special, and let’s be honest, a girl with those looks doesn’t stay single for too long! “Thank you! I’m really excited to see where things may lead. He’s a great guy, and he treats me with respect.” Alvina mentions that she –must- tell if they get engaged, which causes those crimson cheeks to darken all the more! Conspiratorially leaning in, she lowers her voice, “I think he’s the one, but I don’t want to jinx it!” A nervous giggle ensues, before they are talking about Alvina’s children and dance lessons, which is the reason for their meeting today. “Wait. Wh-What? Why can’t I talk about children and their biting habits?” Her brows furrow in confusion, and she tries to think back to a time where Talyara would have been involved in a toothy encounter. “Well… I suppose it’s similar to a puppy teething, right? I think every child goes through that phase, before their adult teeth grow in. Ice cubes work wonders!” Not that Lana would know all the much about children. Sure, she had rescued that albino boy and given him to her sister, and she volunteered at the orphanage every now and again, but she had never actually raised a child. “Actually, it’s funny that you’re mentioning all of this… Because we will practically be neighbors! Eli lives –very- close by, right in Cenril. About a quarter of a mile south from the bakery, right on the beach. It’s a lovely gated manor that he inherited from his father.” Nodding, she knows that Alvina will understand, as realty was costly in Cenril, and the only way most could afford a lavish home would be through inheritance or illegal affairs. Speaking of illegal affairs, Lana is quick to move away from the topic of his line of work, as saying murderer for hire would be frowned upon. Plus, the assassin was looking for a new line of work, that didn’t involve sending people to their death for coin. “We’ve been dating about four months… But we see each other all the time. He’s in the Adventurer’s Guild, and he’s been helping out at the animal sanctuary. You and Hudson will like him; we totally should double date sometime!” Their order arrives and Lana immediately sips at her cappuccino, savoring the taste on her tongue, as she collects her thoughts. She can’t help but tease, her eyes twinkling with mischief as she clears her throat, “So… Huds mentioned to me that you wanted to take exotic dance lessons? I haven’t taught that class in years, but for a friend, I’d be happy to help! I’m sure I have a sexy little number to dress you up in, and we will work on strengthening your legs, so you can really gain flexibility.” Lana’s jesting, knowing that the bard would be far too shy to take a class that risqué.
Alvina could understand lapses in love affairs. There’s a list of disappointments with men that shadow her past but that was then and this is now. When Lanara lights up like a Yule bulb, Alvina feels her companions infectious excitement. The mention of him being ‘the one’ leads to Alvina pretending to lock her mouth and throw away the key. They wouldn’t say it again for fear of jinxing but OMG. “That’s marvelous!!!” She exclaims with the news that they’d be living in Cenril too. It doesn’t go unnoticed that Lanara dodges the bards inquiry about his occupation, not that she can talk with a mobster husband. She’d have to mention it to Hudson, that they’d be living here, just in case his men tried to come around as ask for protection money. Surely Hudson wouldn’t give that order - he was just as fond of Lanara as Alvina was. He’d promised once to get out of the game. If she’d known, she might caution Lana of the same. “I’d love that - it’s hard to get out without the kids! Forgive me if I have a little more wine than appropriate. It’s my duty as a mom out on the town. And about the ice, Emilia was gracious enough to give me a teething ring. It’s just this little ice circle that doesn’t want to melt! But yes, let us know when you’re both free so we can snag a bite.” And then the bomb drops - Hudson had mentioned exotic dancing had he? Blush creeps up Alvina’s neck before blooming fully in her cheeks. She looks stunned; green eyes wide discs. “N-now wait a second!” She starts, voice breaking while she tries to swallow her shyness. “I d-don’t know about all that, I mean I’ve gained some weight after the girls so my hips aren’t as limber as they used to be honestly and Hudson buys all this trash food because his werewolf metabolism lets him eat whatever he damn well pleases and really the point is I don’t think I have the body type for uh…?” Alvina looks away and clears her throat, face still pulsing with blood. “Flexibility.” Though it was a perfectly innocent word on its own, it felt unrealistically bold to say.
Lanara is sipping her cappuccino, trying her very best to maintain a poker face, when a bubble of laughter escapes, and she is unable to hold her composure. Tears fall from her eyes, and she claps her hands, delighted that her little prank had caused –that- reaction in Alvina. The redhead is stuttering and stammering, her face is cherry red, and she spits out the word ‘flexible’ as though it were something filthy she overheard from a sailor. Lanara bangs on the table, contagious giggles nearly having her double over, as she shakes her head, “No, no, no! I’m only teasing, Alvina! But you had to see your reaction! Your eyes got so big, and your jaw, literally, dropped!” After a few minutes of the endless teasing, the witch quiets down, and nibbles on a lemon cookie, eyeing the shy bards form. “You haven’t gained any weight that I can tell, and there’s no need to dive right into an advanced class. We can take things as slow as you need to, it’s really no worry! It depends what style you’re most interested in? Ballet and ballroom tend to use more muscles than one would think, as you are forced to hold some of those difficult poses for extended periods of time. They also require a partner, most of the time. Would Hudson be interested in taking a couples dance class?” She’s all business now, and hoping to make Alvina feel comfortable. She would adjust the pace of the class to suit the woman’s needs. “Salsa is fun! It’s a lot of hip shaking, but not as revealing as one would think… There’s also jazz, which is a lot of swinging around. Or tap! That’s mostly fancy footwork with these shoes that click like high heels when you step!” Lana is coming to life as she discusses the classes she offers, having had a passion for dancing ever since she was a little girl. “If the kids want to take a class, they could join in too, so you don’t have to find a sitter!”
Alvina watches Lanara explode with laughter and greets the reaction with a confused tilt of her head. It was a joke? “Gods above…” She sighed, laughing at herself for reacting so immaturely. It wasn’t like they were playing that high school game where a group of teenagers each take turns saying vulgar terms for anatomy at an exponentially increasing volume until caught or too embarrassed to go on. “You cad!” She shrieks, waving her hands at Lanara in false offense. It wasn’t beyond Hudson’s logic to ask Lanara for this. He was the bold one between them. Men! “Ugh,” she groans as the blush dies away. She sets her mug down to hide her face in her hands. “I said the thing about the hips and I can’t even….” It’s hilarious gibberish. Lanara got her -good-. She breaks into talk about dance lessons and Alvina clears her throat to discuss but she can’t shake the smirk from that little incident. “We’ve done a bit of ballroom before. I don’t know how interested he is in going forward with it but I wouldn’t be opposed to practice there.” The witch mentions salsa and Alvina excitedly chatters in reply. “Oh I love Salsa,” There’s a certain satisfaction that comes with those hip motions but she won’t DARE give Lanara more ammunition to tease her with! “The outfits are always so sassy. I wonder if Kree makes Salsa dresses. We’ll have to bother him about it later.” Alvina moves to take up her mug and purse her lips to displace the steam. “Soon,” She warns the hot chocolate, so the beverage knows its days are numbered. “Tap dancers make me dizzy. How do they move so -fast-? I swear, their heel goes down and the next thing I know it’s coming up with a thousand other little steps preceding.” Alvina sinks into the comfortable atmosphere. She feels at home here, it must be Lanara’s charm and passion. So many people with so many passions. It thrilled her. “What’s your favorite dance style?” She asks, leaning in to hear her answer. “I’d love for them to join me sometimes! But I wouldn’t hate having a conversation that didn’t involve Moana lyrics. So! What do you think? What kind of potential does a skilled instructor like you see in this Miss?” She’d trust Lanara’s decision, even if it was a low level start up to get her into the -swing- of things. If only Alvina had said that pun. She’d have been so thrilled. Emerald eyes square on Lanara’s fair face, heart pounding anxiously, as if Lanara was going to read her fortune instead of tell her a dance style they could do.
Lanara is grateful that Alvina wasn’t angry with her for the little pun, but if she knew the witch well, she’d know that she was notorious for pranking those she was fond of, all for a good laugh. She’d never put the bard in harm’s way, of course, and the redness in her cheeks is rather adorable, as it brightens her features. “I meant no harm; I just couldn’t resist teasing you! Though, I’m sure Hudson would love if you took those classes! Once we get you moving, I can show you a few moves that will be sure to wow him!” Lana is comfortable in her skin, and she works hard to keep her figure toned, so of course she doesn’t see any issue in helping out a fellow friend impress her husband. It went with the territory, and she knew steps that weren’t all that scandalous, so Alvina wouldn’t feel too awkward showing them off. They chatter animatedly about the styles of dance for several minutes, and it’s a wonder that they hadn’t been friends for many years, as they seem to complement each other rather well. It’s a relief to Lana that Alvina is so bubbly and easy to get along with, as most in the land didn’t have such a likable personality. The witch is at ease in her presence, and finds that she’s open about discussing just about any topic, and she places an order for a refill on their drinks, although Alvina had yet to take a sip. Did she often talk to her beverages? It’s endearing all the same, and Lana likens it to how she talks to her fur babies, as though they were actual children. “I think line dancing would suit you well! It’s a series of steps, all repeated several times, and you can wear the –cutest- cowgirl boots and hat! Honestly, it’s super simple, and it shows you how to move your feet and all about repetition.” There’s a pause, “Once you get those down pat… I think I’ll move you into Salsa lessons. Those are different moves, more about the sway and feeling the beat, but it will help you to be less awkward if you learn country style, first.” A genuine smile is given to the woman, as she knew she’d enjoy spending more time together and teaching her to dance, “What do you think? When shall we begin?”
Alvina dares to sip her hot chocolate after her warning and it complies by not burning her tongue or the roof of her mouth. Sweet success. While Lanara explains, she nods and tries to imagine what kind of dance moves would wow him. He works at a strip club, she wonders if there’s anything that isn’t dull to him by now about the way a woman’s body can move or flex or strut. Maybe it’s different when it’s your wife verses random employees. Eh, best not think about that lest she flush and chatter uselessly again. “Line dancing,” She repeats, feeling the weight of the foreign word on her tongue to gauge its flavor. It sounded simple enough. She nods, accepting this decision. “I’m in!” She calls to the establishment at large as Lanara’s refill joins them. “We can begin as soon as you like! The Yule season is upon us so there may be a bit to do but let me know when you’re all moved in -” her eyebrows wiggle again - “ And we can go from there. Fair?” The waitress is snagged, the check paid for, and Alvina still grinning comfortably. “I apologize for the short visit but I’ll be expected home soon to meet the girls for dinner.” Bryce had his own dinner schedule; eating everything all the time. The bard reaches across the table to take Lanara’s hands, if she’ll allow it, and squeeze them excitedly. “I feel like I’ve known you for a lifetime or more.” She confesses though it went without saying. “Don’t forget to think about where you want to eat so I can politely judge your BOYFRIEND.” There’s Alvina’s brand of teasing. It’s so easy with people in love. “And here, I’ll pay upfront if you don’t mind. Ah, ah, ah - and if you won’t take it all as payment, take it as a donation to the shelter. Please.” It sounded like Lanara’s bae was well off but Alvina knew there was a certain pride in making money doing what you loved.
Lanara bobs her head up and down, eager to begin lessons as soon as the Yule Ball preparations were complete. It wouldn’t do to play a party –and- teach a friend dance steps, while moving from Sage to Cenril. She didn’t want to bite off more than she could chew, but seeing that they were guild mates, and in similar social circles over the years, plus that fact that they had this undeniable friendship chemistry, Lana is excited to start as soon as possible! “That’s perfect! Why don’t we begin right after the Yule Ball? I’m not sure if you heard, but Queen Hildegarde asked if I would do the honors of hosting this year. So, I’ll be pretty busy with all of that stuff, but once it’s over, my schedule should really open up! There’s a spare room at the sanctuary that I use for lessons, as I haven’t been to Schezerade in quite some time since… Well… You know.” Kahran’s attack was still imprinted in their minds, and sadly, the dance studio had been vacant for several months. “And of course we will meet up for dinner with the guys, it will be wonderful! There are some really nice restaurants over in Rynvale. Maybe we can make a whole night of it, and take a boat ride, as well. It will be a blast!” It would be a blast, at least for the women, who would be gushing about love and gossiping the entire night. As for the men, who knows? Maybe they could form a bromance! The substantial amount of coin that is handed to Lana is met with a quirked brow, as there was enough for pay for dance lessons for the next two years, and she didn’t even charge her friends! “There’s really no nee- Oh? For the shelter… Well, I suppose. But you really don’t have to do this, Alvina… Thank you!” Returning the squeeze to her hands, they both rise to leave, and Lana pulls the bard in for a quick parting hug, “I’m so happy that we did this and that we’ll be spending time together. I’m so excited! Get home and give the little ones a hug for me!” A warm smile passes betwixt the women, before the exit the bakery and head home for the evening.