[Video]

[leekspins]

[It's early in the evening after the bakery has closed. Orihime is in the back, whipping up more vats of cake batter and preparing more layers to keep in stock, for use in ice cream cakes and regular cakes. She's been thinking a lot about the advice Auntie Meme gave her -- to try something new, embark on a new adventure. But the thing is, she usually does this already, especially in Genessia where she can try anything she wants. The Holodeck programs make that especially easy!]

[So what else should she do that she's never thought of doing before?]

[She's quiet as she works, slicing some berries to pulp and mix into a batter, when all of a sudden, out of the blue, it hits her.]

[She drops the strawberry and the paring knife on the cutting board, whipping off her plastic gloves as she lunges for her communicator. If she doesn't say it now, she might forget, so the urgency is there when she makes the call in a stained apron, chestnut hair caught up in a ponytail and hairnet, face smudged with green frosting on her right cheek.]

I NEED TO LEARN HOW TO DANCE!

[That's something she's never tried to learn before! Satisfied, her intense look vanishes, replaced by a cheerful smile, and she hangs up. She's not sure anyone's paying much attention to their communicators, so she'll get back to work as she waits for the telltale pings on the device to let her know she's got a new call or message.]

Comments

Video

[youfool]

[She had his interest. Now she has his attention.]

Is that right? Is there a man you're hoping to impress?

[He can't recall seeing her at prom...]

Video

[leekspins]

[Yay, a message! Yay, it's Ted! She listens, that smile still rooted in place, up until that last question. The communicator nearly drops out of her nerveless fingers as she fumbles to recover it.]

No! No no no, that's not it at all!

[Weirdly enough, it's the opposite...]

I just want to try something new that I never thought about trying before. It wasn't easy! I kind of daydream a lot...

Re: Video

[youfool]

Haha, easy, I'm not accusing you of communist sympathies or anything.

[Boy does he relate. Daydreaming takes up the majority of his waking life.]

Well, there is a school for that very thing in Nova City. Dancing, I mean, not communism. I wouldn't mind showing you a few steps, if you'd rather. My last partner had no complaints.

[She didn't have any compliments either, but then, it's Satsuki. Her silence says it all.]

[Video]

[zenoh]

[ Ayame was momentarily stunned by the randomness and intensity of the brief message. She recognizes Orihime, and while she's happy to see her face again through the network, her mind couldn't help but wonder what is up. With a sheepish wave, Ayame greets her old friend with a slight smile ]

Uhm... Pardon me, but what brought this on?

[Video]

[leekspins]

Ayame-san!

[Yay, she's back! If she somehow didn't seem happy before, it's pretty much assured now. ...Unfortunately, their reunion will be marked with lies, since Orihime doesn't think her anonymous texts to Auntie Meme were privately locked. If she spills the beans, people might make the connection. Worst of all, Ichigo might figure it out.]

I was struck with a sudden flash of keen insight! They say dancing is closely related to fighting, so it's a great way to improve my training, ne?

[zenoh]

Orihime, it's been a while. I'm glad to see you're as enthusiastic as ever.

[ Orihime's energy is contagious even through a video conversation. Ayame instantly feels her spirits raise just from hearing that enthusiasm from the young woman. She smiles, resting her chin on her locked fingers ]

As for our topic, there are correlations. Dance provides excellent exercise for martial artist who wish to avoid plateaus.

[ She hums, thinking of the benefits of many types of dance forms in her mind before she turns her attention back to Orihime ]

But more importantly, I'm pleasantly surprised to hear that you fight. What is your background?

[Video]

[xlvii]

Oh? What style were you hoping to learn?

[Video]

[leekspins]

Well...if I had to pick just one? Breakdancing, definitely!

[Of course it's breakdancing. Why would she ever learn something normal or romantic?]

But all of them seem like they'd be fun.

[Video]

[xlvii]

A pity. If it were something like ballroom dancing or square dancing, I might be able to help with that.

[Video]

[fashionably_strong]

What kind of dancing?

[Video]

[leekspins]

I'm not sure! Probably more than one. Breakdancing was my first choice, but Ayame-san and Ford-san recommended square dancing and pole dancing.

[She probably should have switched those two around so it doesn't look like Agent 47 is an experienced pole dancer. Unless she did it on purpose because it sounded funnier.]

Ne, Bulla-chan! Do you want to try square dancing with us? We need at least four people, but the ideal is supposed to be at least eight!

[Video]

[fashionably_strong]

[Square dancing sounds kind of dorky to her, but she's not going to insult something Orihime is clearly so interested in. Besides, it's not like her social calendar is booked.]

Sure, if you get a group together, I'll give it a try. I had to take ballroom dancing as a required class at the military school I went to.

video;

[orlokbutterfly]

[Did someone say dancing? Because that pings Gale instantly. He even leans into the feed like he happened to hear it from off screen.]

Anythin' in particular you wanna learn? Can't say I'm good at all forms of dancing, but I like to think of myself as an expert in a good few.

[What? Guardian responsibilities? No, dancing is clearly more important.]

video;

[leekspins]

So far we've got break dancing and pole dancing, and Ford-san said he'd teach square dancing if we can get enough people to sign up for it.

[How about it, Gale? :D]

What are your specialties?

[She beams. He's a guardian, she's a deputy, it'll be good cross-city relations!]

video;

[orlokbutterfly]

Break dancing and pole dancing? Honey, you're speakin' my language. I make use of those on a daily basis.

[He ponders a moment.]

I'm pretty unfamiliar with square dancin' though, but I'm always all for learning new styles. They're always fun to string together, especially in combat scenarios.

[Clearly the best cross-city relations were made through dance. He's so down.]

video;

[devilishkaoru]

Are you planning on mastering them all?

[He may or may not be planning on teasing.]

But I would suggest a thing I heard called the chicken dance as your first line of call.

video;

[leekspins]

I could be a dance master if I did!

[Found her next daydream.]

Can you show me how that one goes? It sounds hilarious!

video;

[devilishkaoru]

Become the dancing master you always want to be.

[He paused for a moment.]

I can show you a clip of it, I think that would be better than me actually doing it. Plus that way you have something to look back on while you practice.

[Video]

[hot_handed]

Hah?! How can you not know something as simple as dancing, Fire Hair?!

[Video]

[leekspins]

You can dance, Murder-sama? You're even more talented than I thought!

[She wonders if he's good at it. Now she's curious to find out.]

We don't have dance lessons at school, so I guess it just never came up. I should probably learn, though, this place has a lot of public dances. Usually I just eat the food there, ha ha!

[Which reminds her... Her expression grows brighter and more excited.]

Ne ne! Do you want to learn square dancing with us? Ford-san said he'd be willing to teach if we can get enough people to sign up!

Re: [Video]

[hot_handed]

Of course I can dance! It's not fucking hard. Lack of lessons is no excuse. I taught myself.

The hell is that shit?

video;

[gamerrep]

You can always practice dancing with dancing video games.

[This is what Chiaki does and hey she won silver at the Olympics for it.]

[Video]

[k2so]

You've got a good pair of lungs in you, Orihime.

Why the urgency?

[Video]

[leekspins]

Ha ha, thank you! I just wanted to make sure I didn't forget. I was trying to think of a new experience I've never done before for a couple of days now, and the thought came to me while I was spacing out.

Ne, do you dance, Kay-san?

[k2so]

I see. I guess that justifies the screaming.

I've done it a few times, always with Cassian. And always in my other body, the android one.