[ Primrose looks at the picture, and it does take a moment, to place the baby (Teucer) and then the boy. A completely different time, she realizes, and Childe probably feels that even more acutely. She wonders if he even remembers what he felt at the time.
And when he smiles at her, she wonders if it will ever reach his eyes. But her eyebrows draw together, an edge entering her tone-- not quite challenging, not quite aggravated, but slightly harder than stubborn.
She was no longer who she'd been back there, either. She wonders what he would think, if she took him to Noblecourt, let one of those familiar with the past explain to him sweet little Primrose Azelhart, full of romantic dreams and smiles when she danced.
But that won't happen and she meets Childe's lightless eyes. ]
If I ran from everything I deemed uncomfortable, I would not have survived for as long as I have. I don't intend to leave until you do, and I do intend to let your family make their judgments of me for themselves.
[For a moment, he just blinks at her, surprised--as if he hadn't expected her to agree, or to want to stay. He looks just the slightest bit lost, though he shakes it off quickly.
Some part of him is still waiting for her to decide she doesn't want this. To think, for even a moment, that there's a chance she might not walk away... it's strange.
But he is honest when he can be, and he's never lied about his love for his family. So when his smile shifts, it's much more genuine, and the way some of his tension slips away is wholly honest, too.]
Well then, I'd best not keep you from Tonia for too long. I know she's already dying to learn a dance from you--she's never as interested in the toys I bring along as Anthon and Teucer are.
Ah, I see. [ dryly, as she straightens up. He's relaxed, a fair bit. She can imagine why he was tense and purposely, falsely cheerful in the first place, but this is better. She won't think about why it's better, because she's simply not ready to let her thoughts focus on that. ]
You've brought me here to put me to work. I hope your sister is prepared for a rigorous lesson.
[That makes him laugh--he holds out a hand to her, open and inviting.]
Naturally! She's very diligent, and stronger than she looks--a few growth spurts and she'll be able to outrun me. [She will not because Childe can teleport. But he will let her win races anyway.] And rest assured that you'll be properly compensated for your time.
[This is a stupid joke but he would pay her if she wanted tbh]
[They've been in touch long enough that he doesn't falter the way he once might've--though admittedly the jury's out on whether his cheeks are a little pink, or if it's just the lighting of the room.]
You know I'm happy to fight you whenever you please.
[Does he actually know how to flirt for real? Yes. Is this more genuine on his part, even if it's also silly teasing? Unfortunately, also yes. Stupid man.]
You'll have to contain yourself while you're here, at the very least. You can attempt to spill my blood after we've said goodbye to your family.
[ Listen, if he wants to take that as a challenge to legitimately fight, she'll accept that just as easily. Even though he doesn't get flustered like this as he'll occasionally get when she really insinuates or just outright states sexual interest. He's gotten stronger there, too. ]
Don't worry, I'll find the prettiest snow bank for our fight to the death.
[STOP.
He looks like he's ready to head for the door, then--but he pauses, and something shifts in his demeanor once again, soft and sincere.]
...Thank you, for agreeing to come. They mean the world to me. [There's nothing he wouldn't do for them. For her to humor the kids' curiosity, to be willing to tolerate the discomfort that's a fault of his, not hers--it means more than she may ever truly understand.]
Thank you, for inviting me to see your world for myself.
[ If Primrose had siblings, she probably would have done everything in her power to draw any kind of danger away from them. And she doesn't entertain the notion that she isn't dangerous. Very few people were worth trusting completely, her original traveling party aside. Childe asking her to come out here in the first place, to join him...
She doesn't quite understand why, still. ]
I look forward to learning the steps of a new dance.
[As much as Childe would like it to be otherwise, it'll inevitably be a bit of both. But he's never doubted her confidence before, and he isn't about to start now.
Besides, no matter the tension, he has faith that his family won't do anything that bad. He's a little bit blinded by his love for them, but he knows the difference between good people and bad ones. If they weren't good, he wouldn't have brought her here to meet them.
So he nods and heads for the door; unless she has reason to linger, he'll lead the way back downstairs.
From the sound of it, most of the chaos has moved to the kitchen. And sure enough, when they move into the living room, there's only Teucer, Tonia, and a man (the one Childe had pointed out as Damon, in his photograph) sitting in a chair and reading. Two cups of tea sit on a side table, and the floor is strewn with open boxes and every type of toy under the sun. Gee, I wonder whose fault that is.
Damon looks up and gets to his feet as soon as they enter; he greets Primrose in heavily-accented Common Teyvatian, cuffing Childe lightly on the head as he heads out of the room to leave them be. Ah, older siblings.
Teucer, meanwhile, immediately abandons the toy he'd been playing with and runs over to grab their hands, jumping up and down.
"Big brother! And the nice lady!"]
Haha, did you like your gifts?
[Tonia, too, looks happy to see the both of them, but she doesn't rush over the way Teucer did. Even if she's got that "I want to but I'm a big kid so I have to be Mature" type of expression on.]
[ Primrose casts a side glance over at Childe, her expression subtle to most people-- he's known her long enough to probably read the you absolutely spoil them message in her gaze for the few seconds it exists before she's politely greeting Damon.
And then here's Teucer, back again, and her expression softens slightly for all that she still has very little idea of what to do here. ]
I admittedly can't imagine how you could ever choose which to play with first. Hello again, both of you.
It may be subtle, but he's obviously seen that expression often enough to know exactly what it means, because he grins and rubs the back of his head in affected sheepishness. CAN'T STOP WON'T STOP.
Teucer's happy to launch into an explanation of all of his toys, complete with plenty of mentions of big brother this and big sister that--and honestly, it doesn't really matter if Prim's listening or not, he's just happy to have the attention. Childe winks at her and begins cleaning some of them up, putting them back in the boxes or nudging them out of the way for the time being. Tonia jumps in to help without being asked, and Childe ruffles her hair fondly.
When there's a suitable amount of floor visible (well, for a living room, anyway), Childe puts a hand on his hip, cocking his head slightly.]
Is this enough space? Or would you prefer to go outside? [If it's too cramped indoors for Pimrose to do any dancing, they can probably make something work outdoors. Teucer and Tonia both look curious.]
what the heck when did this post image happen and kill me
[ Primrose nods solemnly as she listens - to the best of her ability - half-keeping an eye on Childe as he and Tonia work to clear up a space in the living room. It's honestly pretty damn impressive that Teucer can be this friendly and exuberant with someone he barely knows, but it also makes sense why Childe is so bound and determined to preserve his innocence for as long as possible.
She straightens as she takes in the newly-cleared space, and then nods. ]
This is more than adequate. I would be a poor dancer indeed if I needed any amount of space to make a dance worth viewing.
[It's a wonder Teucer is still alive, to be totally honest. But Childe nods, and crouches down to look at both Tonia and Teucer, who are clearly curious about what's going on.]
Miss Primrose very kindly agreed to show you some of her dancing, but we have to be polite and give her the space she needs until she's done, okay? [As Childe had promised, Tonia lights up immediately; Teucer looks excited too, but in that "small child excited about everything equally" kind of way.] Good, good, come on now.
[He moves over to sit in the chair and both the kids clamber over him immediately, settling down in a way that shows how often they've all sat exactly like this. Once they're settled, he nods at Prim, then gestures to a device that vaguely resembles a gramophone. Idk I'm too tired to get creative about it.]
If you need it, that can play music, if you press the switch on the box. [It's up to her whether or not she wants or needs to use it, though; he can dance, but he isn't a dancer like she is, so he won't presume either way.]
I may as well let the music dictate the dance I dedicate to this audience.
[ She glances at the gramophone-esque device, and then presses the switch. There's no stretching, no warm-up, no preparation, no deciding how she wishes to move. She merely does.
The song is unfamiliar, as she had expected. A slow and sedate start, solemn, but she can hear the promise beneath the beginning notes and she lets the music guide her. Graceful and precise movements, and while she lacks the thinner fluttering cloth of her usual dancer's outfit in this type of climate, she lets her body do the fluttering and beckoning for her.
Gradually, Primrose speeds up, foot occasionally tapping the floor to acknowledge the beat as the music itself picks up in liveliness, demanding fervor. She twirls, spins, leaps within the space she's been allowed, and there's a fierce and proud gleam in her eye as she does. In the end, her love of dancing has never truly died.
But finally the song ends and she sinks into a curtsy. ]
[Unsurprisingly, the music draws the attention of those in the kitchen; during her dance, or perhaps shortly after, she'll probably notice the way conversation dies down--quickly followed by curious heads poking out of the kitchen to see what's going on. Teucer watches with, well, childlike interest--it's little more than something new and temporarily interesting, for him, but he's got the manners to sit still anyway. Tonia, as Childe had predicted, looks completely enthralled. As for Childe...
It's been so long since he's seen her dance. Though, really--it could be argued that he never truly has, couldn't it? She'd danced at the station, but everything was different there. And those had been more like stolen moments, not really a true performance, like this. Much like his little sister, Childe's gaze doesn't leave Primrose for even a moment as she dances. But his expression isn't anything so simple as appreciation for a craft. No--and perhaps it's lingering rawness from their earlier conversation. Or maybe it's that it's so easy, seeing her like this, to remember that they aren't so different. That both of them walked through the shadows to arrive precisely where they are, bloody footprints left in their wake. Whatever the reason--his gaze is an odd combination of tender and knowing, of appreciative and vulnerable, insomuch as people like them can be.
It's a look that's gone as soon as the sound of applause rings out; Teucer, of course, knowing that that's what you're supposed to do after a performance. Tonia happily joins in, as do Childe's other siblings, the ones watching from the doorway--they call out something in Snezhnayan, and Childe finally looks away from Primrose to call back an answer.
Tonia hops off the chair as he does, bouncing on her feet but somehow managing to look shy.
"That was really beautiful, Miss Primose! Um--" A glance back at Childe, who nods encouragingly. "Could you please teach me too?"]
[ She knows not a word of Snezhayan and has no idea what Childe's siblings have just said or how he's replied, but she's opting to focus more on the aftermath of her own performance. It's been a very long time since she's danced for others, and nothing quite like this, for anyone's family. Those who came to Sunshade to spend time in the presence of the dancers weren't foolish enough to have their families with them. And her fellow travelers had asked for a dance or two when it was her turn around the fire, rather than Tressa's excited stories about her newest bargain or the scholarly text Cyrus was eager to discuss.
Primrose can't focus on the audience when she dances, not on specific expressions, but she rises from her curtsy as Tonia pipes up. Well, he had predicted this, hadn't he? ]
... As long as you maintain the understanding that dancing is not an easy art. You'll utilize every part of your body, and that will be extremely difficult to do, without constant practice. If you're certain you want to try, even knowing that...
[ A small smile tugs at her lips. She remembers being young and wide-eyed at the prospect of dancing. ]
[Eager nodding! So much eager nodding. Her head's going to fall off if she doesn't stop.
"I am! I will! Oh, oh, did you know--there's this one type of dancing I saw once--"
And off she will go on a tangent about ballet, or at least as much of a tangent as a young person with no actual knowledge of it can manage. Teucer, sensing no more entertainment for the moment, scoots off to grab some of his new toys and scampers off to the kitchen like a tiny little whirlwind. Goodbye small child.
If he can, Childe will try to catch Prim's eye over Tonia's head and wink at her, before he says in a playfully put-out tone--]
How come you never asked me to teach you, huh? When you were little you used to stand on my feet, you know.
[Tonia immediately looks scandalized. HOW DARE HE EMBARRASS HER IN FRONT OF HER NEW IDOL. "Big brother!"]
[ Ah, ballet. Definitely the most beautiful and also incredibly difficult dancing medium, in her opinion. She's nodding understandingly when she catches Childe's audacious wink and-- ah, there he goes.
She's never had siblings but she imagines this is probably what most large families are like. She wonders if he would have stayed home with them more often if he hadn't joined up with the Fatui. What had happened to strip the light from his eyes.
... Primrose isn't fond of the fact that she does wonder about him now, when before, she hadn't let herself drift close. It had been far too dangerous. It's still too dangerous, in a different sort of way, but also in a way that hasn't changed since their paths crossed during that "game".
Now isn't the time regardless and she clears her throat, mildly. ]
I can't say I've seen your dancing for myself... Ajax. [ The least familiar of his names, but also the one that seems to be the most familiar on her tongue. Odd. ]
I've only heard talk of it. Need I settle myself on your feet as well to receive a demonstration?
[It's... odd, hearing that name from her here, now. Truthfully, he's still not sure why he asked her to say it last time, other than that it was an instinctive, truthful response to her question. And he can't tell if it would be odd for anyone else to use it, because most likely, no one besides his family ever will. Maybe he's just destined to never quite fit a single identity. Surely the other Harbingers went through this too, didn't they? Then again, none of them cling to their old lives quite like he does...
Ah, well. "Ajax" is who he has to be here, and--he doesn't dislike it, anyway. Maybe that's all that matters. More importantly--he grins.]
Ah, but weren't we going to do battle on a street corner? We can't have any unfair advantages.
[Tonia rolls her eyes, because she is way too accustomed to her brother. "Ignore him..."]
Ah, I see. Well, if you would prepare to hone your skills until then, I'll let you slip away for now.
More importantly, Tonia-- [ yeah she's absolutely taking the advice of the girl who had to deal with this man as a sibling ]
The type of dancing you're referring to is known as ballet. It's designed to make every movement as elegant as possible, but that also requires precision and muscle strength. The strength is necessary to make it seem effortless. So while I can teach you the basic movements, we'll also need to work on your physical strength and stamina...
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And when he smiles at her, she wonders if it will ever reach his eyes. But her eyebrows draw together, an edge entering her tone-- not quite challenging, not quite aggravated, but slightly harder than stubborn.
She was no longer who she'd been back there, either. She wonders what he would think, if she took him to Noblecourt, let one of those familiar with the past explain to him sweet little Primrose Azelhart, full of romantic dreams and smiles when she danced.
But that won't happen and she meets Childe's lightless eyes. ]
If I ran from everything I deemed uncomfortable, I would not have survived for as long as I have. I don't intend to leave until you do, and I do intend to let your family make their judgments of me for themselves.
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Some part of him is still waiting for her to decide she doesn't want this. To think, for even a moment, that there's a chance she might not walk away... it's strange.
But he is honest when he can be, and he's never lied about his love for his family. So when his smile shifts, it's much more genuine, and the way some of his tension slips away is wholly honest, too.]
Well then, I'd best not keep you from Tonia for too long. I know she's already dying to learn a dance from you--she's never as interested in the toys I bring along as Anthon and Teucer are.
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You've brought me here to put me to work. I hope your sister is prepared for a rigorous lesson.
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Naturally! She's very diligent, and stronger than she looks--a few growth spurts and she'll be able to outrun me. [She will not because Childe can teleport. But he will let her win races anyway.] And rest assured that you'll be properly compensated for your time.
[This is a stupid joke but he would pay her if she wanted tbh]
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[ Wow. Shameless.
Listen, she doesn't need money, joke or not. She's survived on nothing. ]
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You know I'm happy to fight you whenever you please.
[Does he actually know how to flirt for real? Yes. Is this more genuine on his part, even if it's also silly teasing? Unfortunately, also yes. Stupid man.]
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[ Listen, if he wants to take that as a challenge to legitimately fight, she'll accept that just as easily. Even though he doesn't get flustered like this as he'll occasionally get when she really insinuates or just outright states sexual interest. He's gotten stronger there, too. ]
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[STOP.
He looks like he's ready to head for the door, then--but he pauses, and something shifts in his demeanor once again, soft and sincere.]
...Thank you, for agreeing to come. They mean the world to me. [There's nothing he wouldn't do for them. For her to humor the kids' curiosity, to be willing to tolerate the discomfort that's a fault of his, not hers--it means more than she may ever truly understand.]
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[ If Primrose had siblings, she probably would have done everything in her power to draw any kind of danger away from them. And she doesn't entertain the notion that she isn't dangerous. Very few people were worth trusting completely, her original traveling party aside. Childe asking her to come out here in the first place, to join him...
She doesn't quite understand why, still. ]
I look forward to learning the steps of a new dance.
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Shall we return to the chaos?
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[ Whether it's judgment or a whole lot of childish enthusiasm, a good dancer moves through everything with the same amount of grace. ]
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Besides, no matter the tension, he has faith that his family won't do anything that bad. He's a little bit blinded by his love for them, but he knows the difference between good people and bad ones. If they weren't good, he wouldn't have brought her here to meet them.
So he nods and heads for the door; unless she has reason to linger, he'll lead the way back downstairs.
From the sound of it, most of the chaos has moved to the kitchen. And sure enough, when they move into the living room, there's only Teucer, Tonia, and a man (the one Childe had pointed out as Damon, in his photograph) sitting in a chair and reading. Two cups of tea sit on a side table, and the floor is strewn with open boxes and every type of toy under the sun. Gee, I wonder whose fault that is.
Damon looks up and gets to his feet as soon as they enter; he greets Primrose in heavily-accented Common Teyvatian, cuffing Childe lightly on the head as he heads out of the room to leave them be. Ah, older siblings.
Teucer, meanwhile, immediately abandons the toy he'd been playing with and runs over to grab their hands, jumping up and down.
"Big brother! And the nice lady!"]
Haha, did you like your gifts?
[Tonia, too, looks happy to see the both of them, but she doesn't rush over the way Teucer did. Even if she's got that "I want to but I'm a big kid so I have to be Mature" type of expression on.]
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And then here's Teucer, back again, and her expression softens slightly for all that she still has very little idea of what to do here. ]
I admittedly can't imagine how you could ever choose which to play with first. Hello again, both of you.
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It may be subtle, but he's obviously seen that expression often enough to know exactly what it means, because he grins and rubs the back of his head in affected sheepishness. CAN'T STOP WON'T STOP.
Teucer's happy to launch into an explanation of all of his toys, complete with plenty of mentions of big brother this and big sister that--and honestly, it doesn't really matter if Prim's listening or not, he's just happy to have the attention. Childe winks at her and begins cleaning some of them up, putting them back in the boxes or nudging them out of the way for the time being. Tonia jumps in to help without being asked, and Childe ruffles her hair fondly.
When there's a suitable amount of floor visible (well, for a living room, anyway), Childe puts a hand on his hip, cocking his head slightly.]
Is this enough space? Or would you prefer to go outside? [If it's too cramped indoors for Pimrose to do any dancing, they can probably make something work outdoors. Teucer and Tonia both look curious.]
what the heck when did this post image happen and kill me
She straightens as she takes in the newly-cleared space, and then nods. ]
This is more than adequate. I would be a poor dancer indeed if I needed any amount of space to make a dance worth viewing.
hehehehehe
Miss Primrose very kindly agreed to show you some of her dancing, but we have to be polite and give her the space she needs until she's done, okay? [As Childe had promised, Tonia lights up immediately; Teucer looks excited too, but in that "small child excited about everything equally" kind of way.] Good, good, come on now.
[He moves over to sit in the chair and both the kids clamber over him immediately, settling down in a way that shows how often they've all sat exactly like this. Once they're settled, he nods at Prim, then gestures to a device that vaguely resembles a gramophone. Idk I'm too tired to get creative about it.]
If you need it, that can play music, if you press the switch on the box. [It's up to her whether or not she wants or needs to use it, though; he can dance, but he isn't a dancer like she is, so he won't presume either way.]
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[ She glances at the gramophone-esque device, and then presses the switch. There's no stretching, no warm-up, no preparation, no deciding how she wishes to move. She merely does.
The song is unfamiliar, as she had expected. A slow and sedate start, solemn, but she can hear the promise beneath the beginning notes and she lets the music guide her. Graceful and precise movements, and while she lacks the thinner fluttering cloth of her usual dancer's outfit in this type of climate, she lets her body do the fluttering and beckoning for her.
Gradually, Primrose speeds up, foot occasionally tapping the floor to acknowledge the beat as the music itself picks up in liveliness, demanding fervor. She twirls, spins, leaps within the space she's been allowed, and there's a fierce and proud gleam in her eye as she does. In the end, her love of dancing has never truly died.
But finally the song ends and she sinks into a curtsy. ]
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It's been so long since he's seen her dance. Though, really--it could be argued that he never truly has, couldn't it? She'd danced at the station, but everything was different there. And those had been more like stolen moments, not really a true performance, like this. Much like his little sister, Childe's gaze doesn't leave Primrose for even a moment as she dances. But his expression isn't anything so simple as appreciation for a craft. No--and perhaps it's lingering rawness from their earlier conversation. Or maybe it's that it's so easy, seeing her like this, to remember that they aren't so different. That both of them walked through the shadows to arrive precisely where they are, bloody footprints left in their wake. Whatever the reason--his gaze is an odd combination of tender and knowing, of appreciative and vulnerable, insomuch as people like them can be.
It's a look that's gone as soon as the sound of applause rings out; Teucer, of course, knowing that that's what you're supposed to do after a performance. Tonia happily joins in, as do Childe's other siblings, the ones watching from the doorway--they call out something in Snezhnayan, and Childe finally looks away from Primrose to call back an answer.
Tonia hops off the chair as he does, bouncing on her feet but somehow managing to look shy.
"That was really beautiful, Miss Primose! Um--" A glance back at Childe, who nods encouragingly. "Could you please teach me too?"]
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Primrose can't focus on the audience when she dances, not on specific expressions, but she rises from her curtsy as Tonia pipes up. Well, he had predicted this, hadn't he? ]
... As long as you maintain the understanding that dancing is not an easy art. You'll utilize every part of your body, and that will be extremely difficult to do, without constant practice. If you're certain you want to try, even knowing that...
[ A small smile tugs at her lips. She remembers being young and wide-eyed at the prospect of dancing. ]
I'll instruct you to the best of my ability.
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"I am! I will! Oh, oh, did you know--there's this one type of dancing I saw once--"
And off she will go on a tangent about ballet, or at least as much of a tangent as a young person with no actual knowledge of it can manage. Teucer, sensing no more entertainment for the moment, scoots off to grab some of his new toys and scampers off to the kitchen like a tiny little whirlwind. Goodbye small child.
If he can, Childe will try to catch Prim's eye over Tonia's head and wink at her, before he says in a playfully put-out tone--]
How come you never asked me to teach you, huh? When you were little you used to stand on my feet, you know.
[Tonia immediately looks scandalized. HOW DARE HE EMBARRASS HER IN FRONT OF HER NEW IDOL. "Big brother!"]
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She's never had siblings but she imagines this is probably what most large families are like. She wonders if he would have stayed home with them more often if he hadn't joined up with the Fatui. What had happened to strip the light from his eyes.
... Primrose isn't fond of the fact that she does wonder about him now, when before, she hadn't let herself drift close. It had been far too dangerous. It's still too dangerous, in a different sort of way, but also in a way that hasn't changed since their paths crossed during that "game".
Now isn't the time regardless and she clears her throat, mildly. ]
I can't say I've seen your dancing for myself... Ajax. [ The least familiar of his names, but also the one that seems to be the most familiar on her tongue. Odd. ]
I've only heard talk of it. Need I settle myself on your feet as well to receive a demonstration?
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Ah, well. "Ajax" is who he has to be here, and--he doesn't dislike it, anyway. Maybe that's all that matters. More importantly--he grins.]
Ah, but weren't we going to do battle on a street corner? We can't have any unfair advantages.
[Tonia rolls her eyes, because she is way too accustomed to her brother. "Ignore him..."]
Hey!
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More importantly, Tonia-- [ yeah she's absolutely taking the advice of the girl who had to deal with this man as a sibling ]
The type of dancing you're referring to is known as ballet. It's designed to make every movement as elegant as possible, but that also requires precision and muscle strength. The strength is necessary to make it seem effortless. So while I can teach you the basic movements, we'll also need to work on your physical strength and stamina...