tealeafs | deer country inbox 🌸

sure
its fun when we hang out

[ The secret is revealed. But if he had to elaborate (which he doesn't have to): ]

its not karate and its not reading
a friend might ask u to dance
i would
so
🕺
lets daaaance

[ Oh gosh, just look at that tiny dancing man. Robby, you dork. ]

well
if you insist
then it i suppose it would be awfully rude of a polite girl like me to turn down your dancing invitation

[ A pause, and then, finally figuring it out: ]

🕺

[ Double dorks. ]

should i come over to your house or do you want to come over here
or somewhere else entirely
?

[ Robby knows how to treat a dork right!!! ]

ill come over. a hole opened near mine
its empty but still a pain

ive got the music tho
u better get ready
u can listen to some til i get there

[ and Robby will include names:

- The Chainsmokers - Closer ft. Halsey
- Troye Sivan - Dance To This ft. Ariana Grande
- Charli XCX - Boom Clap
- Righteous Brothers - Unchained Melody

Plenty to keep her going for when he has to walk on over to hers!!!

But also included at the end of all that: ]

last one is slow song practise

🕺💃

[ There's only one short message Robby gets sent in return: ]

please be careful
!!!!!!!!

[ Because-- please, you can't tell her that one of those holes opened up near your place and not have her worry! Even though she knows Robby can handle stuff like this if he has to, she's still fussing.. just a bit..

But after sending that, she does turn her attention towards the songs instead, trying to listen to them. They're-- well, they're.. not quite what she's used to, though it doesn't necessarily make them bad.. It just means she has to try and get used to their sound as she listens to them.

.. by the time she gets to the last one, she wonders if there's special practice for slow songs like he mentioned.. W-What does that mean? Oh gosh, maybe she should have asked before Robby left.

Though there's a knock on the door at the exact moment she wonders that, making Chizuru abandon her Omni in favour of moving over to the door, opening it for the boy and letting him in with a smile before shutting the door behind him. ]

I got ready in the meantime..! [ She announces, sounding a touch determined - though it fades when she continues with: ] Well, I'm not sure how ready..

[ She's so out of her element with all this modern stuff. Modern talk, modern music, modern dancing.. ]

But I listened to the songs, at least..!

[ He's bundled up as he comes in, a 'hey' to greet Chizuru with and cheeks rosy from the cold. Robby will slip into the house happily, taking off his gloves and bag, and detaching his bracers near the front door. There's no need to bring all his outside gear farther into the house. The house is for fun, and dancing.

And as for the uncertainty of what being ready means (if they're exactly on the same page about that): ]

Cool. So you made room for us to move around? We'll need plenty just in case. [ Just in case. He's taken his scarf off by now, and finally hangs it with his coat, leaving him dressed down in a sweater and jeans. Robby's Normal Boy look. ]

What'd you think of the music?

.. well, I might need some help moving the table..

[ She says it a little awkwardly, but - truly, who would expect a girl like Chizuru to move furniture all by herself? Look at those twig arms of hers. It isn't going to happen. It'd be one thing if Scorpia was at home, but alas, the other girl is out - which means it's not like Chizuru can politely ask her to move heavy stuff for her.

But as she's already leading Robby down the hall and in the direction of the living room to do just that to create some dancing space for them, she does speak on to answer his other question. ]

As for the music.. um.. It was..

[ ...

Hold on. Chizuru.exe is looking for diplomatic terms. ]

.. very new! [ She's Trying. ] Though I was wondering what you meant by pointing out slow songs as a special thing..

[ Please, Chizuru, that pause... sure was something. Robby finds it more funny than offensive though, a small breath of humour that escapes with his grin. He's become accustomed enough to Chizuru and Scorpia's place that he doesn't even think much as he walks down the hall with her. He even knows the offensive table.

But as for slow songs: ] There isn't anything special. It's just the other kind of music, you can do the same kind of moves with, with or without a partner. But a song like that last one? You need a partner.

[ It's a rule. No sad slow moving on the dance floor. For now, ah, look at that table. No good, in the way-- Robby will walk over to one end, a quick look to figure out-- ] Let's stick it by the bookcase?

[ Heave-ho, time, Chizuru! ]

Alright..!

[ Chizuru will do her best to help, despite her little stick arms.. It's not like she would've let Robby do all of this by himself, either way, even if he's the stronger one between the two of them. So she nods at him, putting her hands on one side of the table, and then does her best to move it in the direction he suggested.

.. even if it's still not too easy on her. But Robby's help does actually make it possible at all, which is already a step up. It just means that she's very concentrated while they're moving it, and it's only once it's properly out of the way and put down again that Chizuru can let out a breath of relief and finally find her words again. ]

So.. which do you think is more important to learn first? [ 'First', she says, because Chizuru is determined to become a dancing expert here. She has to be able to give Jinx a good date, right? And if that involves dancing.. she has to learn it all!! ] I'll trust on your guidance..!

[ Now Robby has become the sensei.

It is him. ]

[ Just as long as she can make sure he isn't dragging the legs on her side, Robby doesn't need Chizuru to lift the table too high, or even put much more effort into it. That's what these muscles are for, baybeee!!!

But space has been made, the table adjusted just to squeeze it closer to the bookcase, and Robby is already taking out his omni by the time Chizuru asks her question. Got to find a good tune...! ]

We'll go for some moves you can do to most songs. Everything's about how you move the hips; long as you're not worrying about what everyone else is doing or showing off? Getting away with dancing's easy.

[ Okay, let's put some songs to play at random, one already playing as Robby leaves it on the table as he moves to the wider space in the room. He's already letting his hips move with a foot tapping, his body loose as he gestures her over. ]

I'll show you some ways to dance with another person -- but tell me if you don't like anything, okay? Some moves mean getting pretty close.

[ There's a light fun note to it than really serious, but he wants to put that out first than surprise Chizuru or give her the wrong idea. But he's got his hand still out, waiting to take hers, directing her - 'Just do this, what I'm doing,' - as he continues the easy bop of his hips. ]

[ Moving your hips? What kind of scandalous things are you going to teach her here, Robby? Proper ladies aren't supposed to move their hips that wildly!

.. that is, in fact, an actual thought in Chizuru's head. Maybe not that literal, but it gets kind of close. The girl does reach out to grab his hand, not having to think about that part. What problem is it if Robby comes close when they're such close friends, when she feels so comfortable with him?

But moving that way is a little.. ah... ]

Robby, people won't think.. um. [ Chizuru starts talking - but not moving, other than holding his hand - and then stops for a moment.

And thinks.

And then she finally continues, a worried frown on her face. ]

People won't.. think things about me if I dance like that, right..?

[ You know. Scandalous things. Scandalous enough that she can't even say the word 'scandalous.' ]

[ Robby can guess what she means. He's not dumb, aware of social norms between men and women in particular, and the kind of appearance girls need to hold more than guys. ...but at the same time, as serious as he can take this-- ]

Are you thinking things like that about me right now?

[ There's a faux offence, a small laugh, and Robby shakes his head. ] --No one's gonna think anything with these moves, I'm not teaching you anything that sexy.

[ But now he thinks he needs to explain what he was worried about earlier, and he gives her hand a very tiny pull. ]

Lemme pull you in? You can just walk, [ he directs, aiming for her to come in close, and he lifts their arms joined by their hands, ] --but turn yourself when I raise my hand like this-- put your back to me?

[ And if Chizuru can follow those directions without pausing in fluster, he'll bring their arms down to come across over her stomach, Robby moving his hand to fit better in hers, while his other hand comes to rest on her shoulder. ]

You move your hips to move with the music, and your body too. Just feel the way I'm moving now--

[ Not slow, but not either, from left to right-- left to right-- ]

[ There's no pause, at least, but there is fluster as the girl follows his directions, until they're right there, back-to-chest. Chizuru isn't so sure what about this exactly is bringing the fluster. Maybe it's her mind still lingering on the thought of a moment ago, or maybe it's just that she's not often been close to Robby in this sort of way. Usually close contact with him doesn't really fluster her, it just feels like a normal thing for friends to do, but..

Well, this is definitely making her blush.

Enough so that she's not quite moving along with him yet at the end -- it seems like this is where the pause finally kicks in, everything just a little bit too much for an overly modest girl. ]

U-Um, hold on.. [ She asks - almost begs, really, because Chizuru so easily sounds pathetic when she makes tiny sounds like that, almost like a kicked puppy in human form. ] This is a little.. um..

[ There she goes again, clearly looking for a word. Though this time she seems a little less worried about potential offense, and more worried about what kind of word she can slap onto this feeling in the first place.

It's complicated. ]

It feels like a little.. much..?

[ She looks ashamed as she says the word, if Robby turns his head enough to be able to see her facial expression.

But Chizuru just is ashamed. This is apparently very normal for someone like Robby, and the last thing she wants to do is look like a total idiot in front of her friend over something like this, just because she isn't used to it. ]

Sorry.

[ To Robby's credit, he does slow his own moving when he feels Chizuru turn stiff in his arms, and his tone matches the apology, and he directs, 'Turn back around?' to free her from the position. A hand still on hers if she hasn't dropped his, and if not, he'll take her other -- gently, wearing a smile on his face to help soften the awkwardness he's helped to generate. ]

You don't have to do that, [ he'll assure first. ] Sometimes, you can do it really quickly? It's a fun thing to do if you let your dance partner spin into you. Everything's about the energy-- if someone held you like that moving slow? It's probably more intimate. [ Admittedly. ] But if you do it more like--

[ --here, let him do an invisible sway with his arm around an invisible stomach, a grin forming along with a small laugh at himself, ]

--this is somethin' fun you can do with friends.

[ But regardless, Robby doesn't want to rush back into doing moves. Let's give Chizuru a moment, and you know--not think Robby was up to anything, there. ]

I-I see. [ She stammers, apparently still flustered - if her now visible facial expression is anything to go by - but starting to calm down a little now she's got a bit of personal space once more.

It may be hard to tell, but at least she isn't really blaming Robby here for anything, or having any weird thoughts about him. If anything, Chizuru does know that it's because of her. Because of her not being used to this, or maybe just a culture clash between very different times and places. It's so much easier to blame herself for that than Robby.

It's why she also can't help but join in with an: ]

I'm-- I'm sorry too. [ For making it awkward, just because Chizuru is the Japanese equivalent of a Victorian lady.. ] I thought I was ready for this..

[ At least she's still allowing him to hold her hands. Holding her gaze seems to be a different story altogether though, since she ducks her head shyly. ]

But I guess I wasn't.

[ Judging by how she got flustered in one second. Good job, Chizuru. ]

You don't think Jinx will want to dance with me like that the party, do you..? I-- I won't know what to tell her.

You'll tell her no. [ Simply, but Robby knows it isn't that simple, either. He feels like he's lost his opportunity now to make this a fun little thing, wondering if he should continue. But he doesn't want to ruin this for her, or make her feel down about quitting now.

They just need time, and patiences. ] But it's okay, because you don't need to dance like that. You can dance like this, too. [ With their bodes where they are, hands held, which he lifts. Doing his slow little sway on the spot....! ] Is this doable? You just move to the music-- just like this-

[ He won't move onto any other step. Maybe she's flustered herself too much to continue, so Robby's testing the waters. There's nothing intimate or hard about this; just a simple side to side movement, a slow swing to the rhythm. ]

[ It is a simple movement. It's something even Chizuru could do, with her lack of dancing experience, or with how easily flustered she tends to be. Technically there should be no problem with it.

.. but there's a tiny part of her that feels awkward about it now. Would it be weird to dance with Robby after she just threw a fit about it being too embarrassing? Did she ruin the mood, just because she can't handle simple things from other worlds? W-What if Robby is just being nice because he is nice, but he's actually on the inside thinking about how much of a wuss Chizuru is?

The thought weigh rather heavily on her, but.. Chizuru realises lingering on them is just going to make things worse and even more awkward, and that's the last thing she wants to cause here.

She has to be strong. C-Come on, Chizuru, you can do it..!! ]

Y-Yes!

[ It's a bit of a squeaky answer, like it doesn't come out easily, but she's doing her best. She's doing her best so much over here. ]

I can do this. [ See, she's even moving along. Even if her face might be getting a little red from the sheer amount of effort she's putting into trying to contain her embarrassment, to try and move past it. ] I-Is this kind of dancing common too where you come from..?

[ Robby isn't going to say anything about it. He just smiles more when Chizuru gives her 'Yes!' and starts to move with him, and he continues at what they're already doing. No need to rush; let Chizuru get a feel for it, take her time.

But he does laugh lightly, a huff at her question. ] There's hundreds of ways to dance--all depends where you're going. Night clubs are more energetic, hands up and kinda like this; it's just about moving your body and letting loose.

[ Huh, but this does make him wonder, a curious glean in his eye. ] What kind of dancing do you do in Japan? [ Hmm- ] Isn't there something with a fan...?

[ He think he saw something in a movie once?? ]

[ There's a soft, affirmative hum. ]

That's mostly what I imagine when I think about dancing.. [ Since it's the only kind of dancing Chizuru really knows. And even then, it's not like she got to see it super often in person - but it's still definitely less foreign to her than the dancing from a moment ago, or even this dancing now.

Even if this is the kind she at least seems capable of keeping up with, even when she's thinking about the same time. Chizuru may be easily flustered, but at least a girl can multitask. ]

It's usually more of a solo thing though. Like.. um.. a performance? I always thought that the women who did that looked so elegant.. [ Maybe she kind of wanted to be like that too, one day.

Someone elegant and feminine. Someone loveable. ]

You could treat yourself. Find a proper dance teacher like that and learn.

[ Robby does stop, himself, and it's easy enough with the moves being simple. His omni is playing through different songs in the background, but he's not really worried about that.

And he doesn't plan to give up on learning some dancing like this just to acclimatise Chizuru to it, but he's looking at her now, with raised brows. Actually serious! ]

You know, maybe they're not exactly the same, but there's dancers in Trench--there's gotta be something like that with all the stage shows in Cellar Door.

[ Not to fluster you again or anything, Chizuru, buuut?? ]

[ See, when Robby stops, Chizuru does too - because this is way too embarrassing to be doing all by herself. Not to mention that she's enough of a natural follower that there's no way she'd just keep going on her own.

Leaving them just standing there. Staring at each other. Chizuru looking a little bit more embarrassed at his earnest suggestion, protesting with: ]

But that's different..!

[ Please, if that thing from a moment ago is how they dance where Robby comes from, Chizuru is kind of scared to find out how they dance here..

If there's anything she misses home for, aside from the people she knows, it's that simple fact. Just the familiarity, rather than constantly receiving this culture shock.

Realising that protest might have been a bit strong though - it wasn't at all, barely even reaching average protest levels for most people, but this is Chizuru - her face flushes, gaze dropping as she elaborates: ]

I-It's fine. Things aren't like they are in Japan here, and that's fine. [ She says it like something she's been repeating to herself really often. Like she's trying to convince herself of that more so than Robby, despite saying it to him. ] I just.. want to learn dancing in a way that doesn't embarrass Jinx when we're at the party.

[ Right. That's all she has to do in this moment. Focus on that. A tangible goal. Chizuru tries to gather her courage, steady herself once more. Dragging thoughts away from something sad, and towards something productive.

She doesn't want to drag this down, not when Robby clearly intended for this to be something fun.

Chizuru looks back at him, looking a touch more determined. ]

You can teach me that, right?

[ Robby knows when not to push. He feels bad for her, when she speaks those words like a mantra, the reality everyone tells themselves in this place--or, that Robby does too. His expression softens to Chizuru's submission, a giving in that he'd like to twist around and do something about. But he can't right here, or now; he'd stress her more than she already had been so far in all this, so it's better to focus on what she wants.

(What she's saying wants.) ]

Sure, [ he promises, and he'll lead her through the steps, and movements, explaining what he's doing: that club kind of dancing is about simple foot work, moving with a slight bounce, and how they can raise their hands up together, come in a little, but only as close as Chizuru likes- laughing as he says, 'just swing them like this, loose and fun', and pulling back to their starting spots.

There's nothing risque about it. At most he asks, 'Do you wanna see a spin?', and in the most unrisque fashion ever, after stepping in close and directing her, 'okay, let go of one hand-- and then with our hands up like this-' Robby does a little twirl where he brings their hands back down after, grinning. ]

See? --Wanna try?

[ She doesn't have to! But wasn't it fun and harmless, Chizuru? A little twirl, for fun. ]

[ Thankfully the girl seems more than capable of keeping up with Robby's special attention being put towards making sure this isn't too risque for Chizuru's poor delicate heart. The dancing itself doesn't seem to be the problem, though the girl is frowning - mostly because she's concentrating really hard over here.

She doesn't want to remember this just so she can dance along with Jinx, after all. Chizuru wants to make sure to memorize these steps well enough that she could lead the other if necessary. Forget dress to impress, Chizuru's got some dance to impress on the mind, apparently.

And after that little twirl demonstration-- ]

Y-Yes! I want to try..!

[ .. okay, maybe she sounds just a little bit too serious about that, like they're training in combat rather than dancing..

But at least she doesn't seem miserable, so it's a step up, right. Maybe it's just that the girl is taking all of this a little too seriously, but there's something endearing about the sight of it, Chizuru so serious about something that doesn't require that level of seriousness at all.

The same air lingers even as she's trying it out this time, raising their hands, trying to help Robby to twirl this time around. ]

Like this? I guess it's a good thing that you're not that much taller than me.

[ And neither is Jinx. Bless everything in life for Chizuru being surrounded by fellow short kings and queens. ]

[ This is a familiar sight, to be sure. Robby's smiling to reassure in the first place, to make all of this seem alright (as it should!), but that face Chizuru wears is, well, something to smile about too. Once Robby realises why he recognises it, or stops wondering if Chizuru's okay...

It becomes oh, she's making that face.

But! There is a twirl--and with it is a choked laugh, Robby's eyebrows raised in some mock offence when their eyes meet again. ]

Are you calling me short? Hey, those inches between us mean a lot, you know!

[ It's hard to mistake him for being serious with the smile on his face, but this is Chizuru. ]

[ It is Chizuru.

Which means there's a brief pause. Most people would immediately joke back, but apparently this girl needs a moment to ascertain whether Robby really is joking or not. Thankfully she does seem to catch on to the joke this time, which is why she doesn't immediately burst into a storm of flustered apologies.

No, instead the girl is quiet for a moment. And then - still looking serious, almost solemn, like Chizuru is apparently capable of doing that for the sake of a joke after all - she suddenly moves to stand on her toes.

Which definitely makes her the same height as Robby. There go your precious few inches, dude.. ]

Like this?

[ P-Please let this joke hit the mark, she's still just the tiniest bit worried she may have misread him here.. and it's not like Chizuru would ever want to hurt Robby! ]

I'll catch up, you know.

[ Despite technically being beyond her main growing age... ]

[ Wow.

Wow.

Look at this. Bold, attacking, right in his face. Chizuru's face too, the determination of it striking Robby more than if she had smiled right there. But she doesn't need to smile--she's got him wide-eyed and shocked in what she does.

But Robby does recover, looking Chizuru straight on, fully, as he remarks: ]

Oh yeah? --Lemme help.

[ And he takes a hold of her waist and, with little effort, hoists her up off her feet. ] How's this? [ He asks, holding her up above his head, as high as he can get her, and following it up by twirling her around, spinning himself on the spot.

If she has anything to say, he may have to answer back: ] Huh? What's that? I can't hear you, you're too tall!

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