candybox | OPEN POST: Claude von Riegan - Fire Emblem: Three Houses

Uh oh. Your significant other's not gonna come and clobber me for hogging you all to myself, are they?

[He already suspects what the answer will be, but he can't help but tease nonetheless.]

I don't have one. Only person you have to worry about clobbering you is me.

[Which she can if push came to shove but she's hoping it won't. So far he seems nice enough at any rate. But the fact that she says that with a completely straight face may be a little concerning, though it's definitely lacking the terrifying cheerfulness of one of her friends if she were making the same statement.]

[The seriousness of that statement is duly noted. Though she's still dancing with him, which he supposes must be a point in his favour.]

Scary! [He gives an exaggerated look of alarm.] I'll try not to get on your bad side.

[That's Claude's jokey way of insisting he's harmless. Maybe. Mostly.]

[It is. So far he's been the perfect gentleman. If he weren't she would have given him a hard shove in the direction of pretty much anyone else at this point.]

I appreciate it. [Despite her warning she doesn't take offense to his reaction. And she isn't about to give him a taste of what she means. Let him think what he wants about her.]

And you why were you hanging on the fringes instead of dancing?

Figured it'd help to watch out the dancing works around these parts before I bust a move. I'm a great dancer, but every dance in every land is different.

[He grins at her.] Plus, it gave me time to scope out a dance partner. I'm a newbie, so I'm afraid I don't know anyone here.

This is fairly tame. No more inappropriate than what you'd see at a school dance.

[That brings a smile to her face.] Well now you know me, so you can't say that anymore. How're you settling in? You've been managing with the moonlacing?

[He mulls over the question as the music shifts to a slower song.]

Can't say I have any moonlacing "partners" others seem to pick up here, but in theory, it's a nice idea. Getting money and energy just from getting close to people, that is.

[And it feels nice being close to Ann like this, even if she's a stranger.]

It makes me think that if my world were this way, there would be a lot less problems.

It's more of a necessity than a happy accident. Most of us don't enjoy the process of turning into crystal.

[She shifts a little as the music changes. Honestly, this place has a way of breaking down concerns about strangers. Everyone needs the same thing to survive here. So hugging and dancing with strangers and friends alike will have to do considering she still isn't entirely comfortable with the ways of earning chroma in greater amounts.]

Just crystalization from not moonlacing for a long time. But how about you show me what you can do with a partner on the dance floor?

All right, just tell me if you can't keep up. There's no shame in it.

[He winks, and opts for a dance like his homeland's. One hand staying at the small of her back, the other opting to rest intimately against her neck, he leads her through a simple but energetic set of steps to start with, interspersed with a few twirls. At one point he surprises her by dipping her, his face barely inches from hers.]

Whoops, better not drop you. [He's not even hiding that he's trying to get a reaction out of her, but he's enjoying himself all the same.]

You're that good?

[Of course then he proves it much to her enjoyment. People can make all kinds of boasts, especially boys, but she always enjoys it when they can back it up. And while she may trip a little through some of the steps she manages okay. She's a little stiff about it but who wouldn't be in this situation?

But when he dips her she sucks in a surprised breath staring at him. Her freehand (she didn't know where to put it) flying to join her other around his neck scared for the briefest moment he would drop her.]

Anyone ever tell you it's not nice to scare your partner? [She huffs at him.]

[Fortunately he doesn't drop her, and manages to right them both without incident, but he laughs at her reaction.]

Maybe not, but you can't deny your pulse is racing! What's life without a little danger?

[He's not about to try the stunt again a second time, at least, resuming the dance as normal.]

[And now she's pouting, good job Claude. Though to her credit she doesn't cling and she doesn't move to put even more distance between them. Sometimes boys can be really dumb.]

Safe for everyone.

[Probably for the best as she might find herself yelling at him for any more unexpected dips and she doesn't want to be the center of attention for that.]

Safe... and boring. Ooh, careful! Someone almost stepped on your foot! Wow, it's so dangerous here.

[Voice laden with sarcasm, he guides her away from another pair of dancers, both of whom were nowhere close to stepping on her.]

All right, if that was such a terrifying experience, how about you lead the next dance? Show me what you can do.

That's not what I meant.

[And she may actually semi-intentionally step on his foot for that. Not that she's going to explain what she actually meant either. But there is something to be said for everyone being safe not necessarily from physical harm whether intentional or accidental but the big injustices. The things she was trying to help change back home.]

I didn't say it was terrifying, just you caught me off guard and it surprised me. Don't put words in my mouth.

Ouch! [He complains loudly as she steps on his foot. So mean...! And yet so deserved.]

Fine, I'm sorry, okay? No more surprises. I just want you to have fun.

[...Claude's idea of 'fun' just happens to be very different from most people's.]

[She smiles innocently. Serves him right.]

At least until we know each other better. Trusting you not to drop me is not my strong suit.

[Assuming they get to know each other any better of course. Chroma generation is only good for so much awkward interaction.]

But I could show you a few moves from home on the next song. Just don't laugh okay?

Why would I laugh when you're just going to stomp on my other poor foot...?

[That part is mumbled under his breath, but he nods.]

All right, all right, deal. Show me your stuff.

Hmm, what was that?

[Mumbling doesn't win you points Claude. But she nods in agreement and when the song changes to something more upbeat that reminds hers a little of the music played in dance clubs back home Ann turns, pressing close as she dares while guiding his hands to her hips as she sways and rocks against him.]

Uh-- This is kind of... [Intimate??? At least for someone who doesn't know anything about club dancing or grinding. Still, he keeps his hands on her hips, moving to the music along with her. Congrats, Ann, you've managed to fluster him a little.]

Not what you were expecting?

[She offers fully aware that it is basically a lot. And she doesn't normally dance like this with anyone. He can either count himself lucky or unlucky depending on how he feels about the style. But he can take comfort in the fact that he isn't the only one a little flustered at least.]

Not at all. I didn't think a sweet-looking girl like you would have a naughty side.

[Now he's past his initial surprise, though, he can collect himself a little -- or as much as is possible to stay composed when their bodies are close like this. Providing she permits it, his hands will roam a little as they dance, first up and across her stomach, then down along her thighs.]

[She blushes.] I can't decide if that was a compliment or an insult.

[Not that it causes her to stop his roaming hands. Well not immediately anyway. It feels nice enough and it isn't like he's being disgusting about where his hands go. not that it stops her from covering them with her own and directing them back to her hips and keeping them there.]

That's far enough.

OPEN POST: Claude von Riegan - Fire Emblem: Three Houses

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