❧ Out ❧ Of ❧ Time

[tinkertank]

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Comments

[laughingandlyric]

[Jehan bit his tongue short of saying 'you usually care to dance with everyone' and instead, settled on giving him a quizzical stare and a bemused smile.]

You don't believe that I'm an awful dancer? Have you seen me walk, Rey?

[affablecharm]

Not the most graceful, but maybe that's because you should be dancing instead.

[A big grin.]

Jehan, please? I'm a really good lead. I promise.

[laughingandlyric]

Oh, charmer!

[he gave in response, almost in a squeal, and half-cringing he was so embarrassed.

He was charming, too, and the worst part was? He knew it. That made it at least a billion times more awful, definitely.

Blushing despite himself, he went to idly chew on the end of the cherry stem, shaking his head no.]

No. Nonono. I can't dance, no matter how good you are. And definitely not in front of all these people.

[And definitely not with a male classmate in front of all these people. Not when B had already popped out early, after spiking the punch.]

[affablecharm]

[He couldn't keep from chuckling at the near squeal Jehan gave in response to that. He knew he was charming, but he did like to hear it more and more often.]

And if it weren't in front of all these people? Apolline could teach you if you really wanted... She's only a hair worse than I am...

I know... if we go dance with her and her friend, no one would be the wiser.

[laughingandlyric]

[Again, Jehan eyed him for a moment, as if considering...

Before resolutely returning his eyes to his feet and shaking his head no for the second time, more sheepish now.]

I can't, Rey. If it's with Apolline, then I'm leading.

[And to be honest, dancing with Courfeyrac's little sister (who was a sweetheart, and probably a better dancer than her brother, Jehan guessed) while Reynaud ambled off with her friend was not his idea of a good time. If Rey needed a diversion tactic, Jehan was sure he could think of a better one than that.]

If it weren't in front of all these people, I might be willing to try... but that's kind of the point of a dance, isn't it? All the people? I couldn't.

[affablecharm]

Then you've clearly never danced with her before. She'll lead even when she's not supposed to.

[He grins and nudges Jehan's arm with his own, raising an eyebrow.]

The point of these is to have fun... Not necessarily being around all these people. I know where there's no crowd, if you wanted.

[laughingandlyric]

I was having fun.

[He insisted, sniffing, as if offended by the correction... but any offense didn't sink into his expression as he chewed on the inside of his lip, thinking.

Then, with a little fidget,]

Okay-- that would be okay, I guess. Somewhere we can still hear the music?

[It was pretty loud.]

[affablecharm]

[He raised both his eyebrows in a 'really?' expression...

And grinned when Jehan relented.]

It might be a little muffled, but we'll still be able to hear it. Follow me.

[laughingandlyric]

Following.

[He relented, setting his coke down on the bleachers and sticking his hands into his pockets to amble after Courfeyrac, still a bit distracted by all the noise and motion on their way out, dawdling mildly.]

[affablecharm]

[He didn't make a beeline out of the room, not wanting to draw attention to anyone that he was leaving. But when he found the spot just out of the way of everyone else, he leaned against the wall and just waited for Jehan to catch up with him.

The music was still easy to hear, if not a bit warped by the walls between them.]

[laughingandlyric]

[Raising his brows a little, he sped up and almost skipped the last steps to him, once the distractions were gone.]

You will regret this lesson, Mr. Courfeyrac of the Green Hill Boulevard Courfeyracs. I will absolutely step on your toes no less than twenty-six times.

[affablecharm]

I'll count them to hold you to that promise.

[Pushing himself off the wall, he grins and holds out his hand.]

[laughingandlyric]

I can't-- believe you're really doing this.

[Gave, looking halfway between skeptical and shy for a moment before taking his hand with a bobbing nod.]

You're not going to tell me you made a bet with someone that you could get literally everyone to dance with you after this, are you? Because then I'll step on your feet twenty-seven times.

[affablecharm]

I promise I didn't make any bets... At all.

[Now with his hand, he grins and waits for the right beat in the song before starting them with a slow move.]

Just wanted to dance with you.

[laughingandlyric]

[And Jehan tries to mimic, but as promised, he's a little clumsy.

It doesn't help that he feels a little flush and fluttery at the second portion of that statement. Not that he should, but it was a little difficult not to, when one had consumed as much sugar as he had.]

All right... so show me what to do.

[affablecharm]

[Starting with a few simple steps, he murmured them for Jehan to follow.]

Like this for now, then we'll speed them up. Let me know when you're comfortable...

[laughingandlyric]

[A nod, and Jehan tried. He really did. It fluctuated between getting it, and then messing up here and there, so that any improvement seemed to negate itself...

But from the way he was looking down at their feet, brows knit, mouth fretting in concentration... he at least really was giving it his all, since Reynaud was taking the time to show him.]

...I don't think I'll ever be comfortable. I am the worst. Maybe literally.

[As if to prove it? #1. Stepped on his foot.]

[affablecharm]

[Courfeyrac kept the movements slow, grinning and watching Jehan's face instead of their feet.]

Not the worst- [He cuts off with a slight wince, but at least they aren't wearing shoes.]

Okay, stop looking at your feet and just let loose, that should help. [And he speeds up the count a bit so Jehan has no choice but to follow his lead.]

[laughingandlyric]

[So follow he does. He feels... well, really ridiculous... but at least the faster they go the less he can focus, and the less he can focus, the less he cares about mistakes and just begins to enjoy it.

It wasn't awful, actually... surprisingly.

And Courfeyrac was far from a bad partner.

By the time the next song ended, he was actually grinning, biting his lip.]

Okay... so you are as good as everyone says.

[affablecharm]

Oh? People are talking about my dance skill or other things when they say I'm good~?

[Because he can't help but poke that, grinning from ear to ear. His gaze flickers down to Jehan's lips, with him biting it it's impossible not to, and he subconsciously licks his own. Stopping their dance for a breather, he cants his head to the side.]

And didn't I tell you that you weren't completely awful?

[laughingandlyric]

[And all at once, he was reddening in the face, pulling away a little abruptly and clearing his throat.]

Vulgar, Rey.

[Not that he minded as much as he put on, but he was flaggingly shy; that he couldn't help.

With a huffy glance back at him that slowly melted into a wry smile, he went to hit his stomach softly with the back of his hand.]

Maybe not 'completely' awful. Which I promise is all people say about you... not 'he's good', but 'eh, not awful'.

[Teased! Hah! Two could play at flustering.]

[affablecharm]

[Worth it. But as Jehan continued, he very nearly spluttered and took a step forward.]

They say I'm not awful? But they don't say I'm good? What else do they say about me?

[He raises an eyebrow at him.]

[laughingandlyric]

Oh, well, you know...

[He pivots quickly on his heel-- a move you just taught him!-- hands clasped behind his back, smiling since Courfeyrac couldn't see his face anymore.

Rey might be popular with the ladies, but Jehan was popular with ladies who wanted to chat.

So!]

...I really shouldn't tell. I'm a confidant, after all. Besides, I don't want to hurt your feelings any.

[affablecharm]

[Damn his ability to learn things quickly! Another step forward and Courfeyrac is slipping his arm around Jehan's waist under his arms.]

My lips will remain sealed! I could use this as a learning experience, you know...

[laughingandlyric]

[Humming in exaggerated thought, at long last, he shook his head no.]

Reynaud Courfeyrac is not know for keeping his lips sealed, or to himself. No! I do not trust you. I will take these secrets to the grave with me.

[And if it also off-handedly made it so that Reynaud was tugging him close like that for a bit longer? That wasn't so bad either, he decided.]