[Suvai Pavilion] Dancing With Strangers [Quelen]

[Ora Sa'vina]

Spring 23, 511AV It was midday when Ora reached the Pavilion, it was busier than she had expected it to be, that was a non-issue for her, all konti, to her, where her family, sharing space was welcomed. The young woman nodded happily to any of the woman who acknowledged her as she entered the building, removing her normal shoes and replacing them the sleek, black dance shoes. Ora had kept up with her dancing while she was away from the island, but she had not been able to keep up with practicing as much as she would have liked to; today was a day she intended to spend most of practicing. The short woman passed through the main room and off into a small one with less space. The true purpose for this room was unknown to the woman, but it was a room she had used frequently before she left the island. The konti spent a fair amount of time stretching, bending at the waist to touch her toes, twisting and rotating to stretch out and warm up her back. Ora then sat, reaching for her toes, and pulling her knees in against her chest. Ora wanted the time to think as well as prevent injury. Her intention to dance was set, but what dance? A fast, energetic one? Or a slow, graceful one? Ora was torn, she loved the slow, methodical ones, but the sharp, abrupt jumps and turns of energetic ones always got her heart pounding. Ora continued to stretch out her legs and feet in preparation. Perhaps she would start with the high energy ones, then move into the lake for the slow, graceful ones, the water would help cool her as well as aid her in the actions. Ora nodded slightly, she enjoyed that thought, the water would refresh her and help hydrate her as well. The violet eyes konti stood, closing her eyes as she stood, her feet parallel, her arms resting at her sides. A chime passed, Ora breathed in through her nose, filling her lungs then out of her mouth, expelling the used air. Violet eyes flashed open as the woman was set in motion, her feet moving her across the floor, her body was low as she made a circle, her arms moving fluidly as the woman turned into her motion. One the circle was complete, the woman flung herself into the air, spreading her arms out for a moment, before she curled herself in, landing and rolling. Mistake. Her landing was not right, pain struck her rear, she needed to land on her feet, she was off. “Damn.” The woman frowned, slowly standing back up. Again, she made the rapid, spinning circle around the room. Ora leaped into the air, spread her arms, then scrunched into a ball. The woman landed again, this time she was on her feet, perhaps not as steady as she might have wanted to be, but it was better than before. The Konti rolled a few feet, as she rolled forward, her feet hit the ground and like a lily in the morning dew, Ora opened her arms out and stood smoothly. With her arms spread, the woman took several steps forward, the tops of her feet dragging over the floor, her feet pointed as she stepped. One, two, three, four... The third step finished and the woman's arms drew in, she began to spin on the tip of her left foot, the other slowly rose to stick out at a ninety degree angle. Ora began to slow, but the damage was done, she had spun too long and now her mind was swimming, Ora stumbled, the leg that had been stuck out caught her as she took a few steps into a wall. A light thump was all the impact was. “Right, don't spin that long.. Ora sighed, moving back to the starting position across the room. She'd start again.

[Quelen Dran'Sora]

Quelen had spent the first part of the day wandering wherever her feet took her in Mura. One day had done little to dull her fascination with her first landwalker city. After a midday dip in Silver Lake she had made her way to the Suvai Pavilion, intending to just make sure that she remembered the way there, but finding it full of Konti training she found herself drawn in, and soon she was quietly against a wall watching the Konti move about in their practice.

Every now and again a new Konti would arrive, drawing Quelen's attention for a few moments before she turned her gaze back to the group. Eventually one of the new arrivals caught her attention. Not because of her appearance, even though like most Konti she was pale and pretty, but because she put on a pair of shiny black shoes Quelen had never seen before. What could they be for?

Curious Quelen moved away from the wall and followed the Konti to a small room. Not wanting to intrude Quelen stayed outside the doorway, leaning lightly against the wall so she could peer around the corner and watch. First the Konti went through various stretches, exercises Quelen had seen others do in the Pavilion, and Quelen was about to turn her attention away when the Konti started to dance.

Quelen's eyes went wide as she watched her first landwalker dance. It was very different than a Charoda dance, like Quelen had expected, but it was just as beautiful and there were some similarities in the movement. Quelen wanted to move into the room and ask about the dance right then, but seeing the Konti trying to practice something she decided to wait a little longer.

Watching the Konti dance about some more, and then start spinning gave Quelen the desire to move as well, but she didn't want to take her gaze away from the dancing. When the Konti then crashed into the wall after her spin Quelen gave a startled gasp, stepping into the room without a second thought, and asked, "Oh my, are you alright? That looked like it hurt."

Realizing what she had done Quelen gave a little sheepish smile before offering her right hand in greeting, "Sorry for interrupting. I'm Quelen, and you dance beautifully," Quelen's smile brightened as her curiosity began to bubble out in the form of questions, "I've never seen a landwalker dance before. Is that why you're wearing those black shoes? Are they a special shoe Konti wear when they dance, or is it for the dance you were doing?"

[Ora Sa'vina]

“Oh my, are you alright? That looked like it hurt.” Ora was startled by the sudden voice and figure that entered the room she was in. Violet eyes moved quickly to see who was there, and much to her surprise they landed on a Charoda. Ora had only met a few of her kind in her life, but each encounter had been a pleasant one. “Oh! I'm fine, don't worry!” The konti quickly said with a small smile. It didn't take Ora long to notice something different about this woman, she was missing a portion of her arm. Whatever had happened was none of Ora's business but she couldn't help to feel some amount of pity. “Sorry for interrupting. I'm Quelen, and you dance beautifully,” The konti blushed at Quelen's remark. “Oh, it is fine, I do not mind at all.” Oh, thank you!”[/color] Ora bowed her head slightly. “I am Ora Sa'vina, it is a pleasure, Quelen.” Ora reached out and took the Charoda's hand in both of hers, holding it lightly as she bowed her head again. “I've never seen a land walker dance before. Is that why you're wearing those black shoes? Are they a special shoe Konti wear when they dance, or is it for the dance you were doing?” Ora blinked a few times, glancing down at her shoes. “They were dance shoes I purchased a long time ago. They help with form, balance and movement.” Ora wiggled her toes inside the shoes as she spoke. “They help a bit with the sudden movements in that dance.” The Konti smiled at Quelen as she moved to stand next to her. “Would you like to dance with me? I love Charoda dances, they are so elegant and beautiful.” Ora let her left foot stick out in front of her. “I would enjoy the company if you would like to stay and practice.”

[Quelen Dran'Sora]

"A pleasure to meet you Ora Sa'vina," Quelen smiled brightly and bowed her head in return, and then she listened quietly as Ora explained about the shoes, "I've never heard of shoes especially for dancing before, but I suppose it makes sense for a landwalker dances," she mused softly, mostly to herself.

When Ora asked if Quelen would like to dance with her Quelen's face lit up with a brilliant smile, "Yes! I would love to dance with you Ora. You know Charoda dances? Which ones? The Sideways Serpent? The Four Pearls?" suddenly Quelen gasped, "Oh! Do you know the Whirlpool? That one's my favorite, and it looks a lot like the one you were doing before."

Quelen was practically vibrating with excitement at the prospect of not only dancing with a Konti, but one that knew Charoda dance as well! Maybe they could even go into the Silver Lake after and dance in water even!

[Ora Sa'vina]

Ora smiled at the jubilant Charoda. Such a cheerful and excited woman, what a wonderful evening the two would have. The Konti smiled widely and laughed slightly. “I know bits of The Four Pearls, but I do know most of the Whirlpool. It has been years since I was taught it, but perhaps we can improvise parts, yes?” Ora stood next to Quelen. [color=blue] “How about we go through the first part that I was working on together.” Ora held herself lightly, her left foot in front of the right, her toes pointed forward. Her left foot was behind and the toes pointed to the left. Her arms were held slightly up and to her sides. “Sometimes I have trouble holding my arms ridged but relaxed, the best thing to think about for me is to think of a jelly fish. So loose and relaxed and yet they are still sturdy.” Ora waved her arms just slightly, as if mimicking a Jelly. Ora stepped her left foot to the side, the Konti turned into the step, her arms moved fluidly as of by their own accord. Right foot stepped forward, Ora completed as slow spin. The Konti was slowing it down for Quelen's benefit, it was hard to follow if you went the proper speed, the movements happened in a flash. “Let us see you, Quelen!” The dancer said with a bright smile, her arms floating down to her sides. The Konti stepped towards Quelen, to follow her and watch as she moved.

[Quelen Dran'Sora]

"Sounds fun!" Quelen replied to Ora's suggestion to improvise parts of the dance with a bright smile and a musical laugh, and then nodded suggestion on what they do.

Taking a couple steps back, to give Ora space to move, Quelen brought her arms up into position like the Konti did. When Ora mentioned thinking of a jelly fish Quelen gave a soft giggle, slowly moving her arms about like the tendrils of a jelly fish, "My teacher back in Charbosi used to say the exact same thing."

All her movement stopped as Ora started to move, and Quelen watched intently with her large eyes. She knew how to dance in the water, but this was the first time she was watching someone dance on land. The movement of the arms seemed the same, but the movement of feet, though with the same goal, was different.

At Ora's encouragement Quelen gave a small nod, positioned her feet like Ora had, pointing her left foot forward and her right to the left, and then started to move through the circling steps. Left foot first, and then right as Quelen focused on mimicking the same movements of her legs that Ora had just shown her. Unfortunately she was focusing so much that she completely forgot to move her arms, and they just kept in the same position the whole time.