Shall We Dance?

    Thanks to the interventions of Lady Daiyu, Elly has not only eaten (menu food), but also slept properly. And cleaned herself up. Or was cleaned up. Water was involved.

    Regardless, she's been traveling non-stop for some time. But fortunately, she is pausing once more. Without any lesser options, she ends up at an actual nice inn. Everything else was full. She was also scolded not to fall asleep on the streets. It worries people.

    Speaking of worried people, Tae has been keeping track of Elly's work. Along the way, she has organized several adventurers to visit. Kind of like the ghosts of Christmas who visited Scrooge. Only with less warnings against bad behavior and more showers and pressure to rest rather than fainting on the road. Again.

Ayame, being still an active adventurer and also able to travel relatively lightly, was a good choice for a messenger. Her skills with Etiquette ensured a relatively smooth passage, and able to pass through with relatively little issue through the patchwork of legal tangles in different domains helped the secretarial sylph slides smoothly through the worst of travel complaints.

And Wake is easy to follow.

So Ayame arrived at the inn in her own time, passing through and smiling as she locates the Baroness, slipping a number of letters from her inventory to approach the noble sylph, along with a small bow of her head

    Elly is writing notes in a journal. She's not particularly skilled on the money side of the matter, but regardless she's doing her best to record details about every orphanage she visits. She records the size of them, the number of children, how they are currently funded, and how much local artisans want to fix them and maintain them. There is also a long list of adventurers she's spoken to. They are willing to help teach and care for children. There is an inventory of their skills and rough outline of their availability. She's putting together schedules.

    It takes her a few moments to undistract herself and notice that Ayame is right there in the room. Very carefully she sets aside her pen. With care she rises, steps from the table, and glides into a curtsey.

    Since she is not in an exhausted state for a change, it is perfectly executed. The gesture always makes it seem that she's just decided to not pay attention to grativty, with the way she holds herself for a patient, silent five count.

    "Dear Ayame, you have come far to find me. Is all well? I heard something about earthquakes. But I think they are far from Eas, correct?"

Ayame smiles at the curtsy, with just the faintest shake of her head. She bows her head politely in response; her typical attire not really allowing a formal curtsy; and waits for Wake to settle herself before she sits in turn, sliding the letters across as a polite afterthought. To the side. They're there, yes, but not - required. Not this minute.

"It's always good to see you, Baroness." She smiles, her back as straight as when she walked with books on her head, her hands folded to her lap. Fastidious. Precise. "Eas is well. A little excitement, perhaps a dropped plate or two. Nothing serious." She assures "Though it didn't stop your wife fluttering about"

    "No doubt she kept herself busy in the kitchen and fretting a bit. I do my best to calm her in chims when I fear she might be worrying, but when I'm working like this, there is such a fog over things."

    Elly shows no signs of frustration. In fact, she smiles. "The Goddess sees fit to bless me with an overwhelming focus. A blessing indeed, because it is her power that will save so many children. Tae has also inspired me. How can I not aspire to do all I can, when I am daily reminded of the warming radiance of her love?"

    She looks to the messages with a little sigh. "Paperwork. The one mob whose aggro I can never hope to shake."

    She pauses, then directs her attention to a new aim. "So what have you been up to, my dear? You look well. Hm. Your posture is lovely. This reminds me of something. It was important... oh yes. Your ongoing education. You have shown great skill in what I would call the substance of etiquette. However, I feel that my teaching should focus you on using what you have seen to convey the whole spectrum of feeling."

"I understand" Ayame smiles and shrugs, her shirt pristine and neat; menu cleaning is such a blessing for adventurers, after all "I did what I could to help her calm down. I may have suggested preparing some meals for those who might have been affected. Please be assured, both Tae and the castle helped sooth the concern among your people; it's uncomfortable, at best, and several of us have felt them before, after all" A moment's pause "Though not here, granted."

She pauses, a rather guarded expression flittering across her open face "As much as I present a professional appearance, my lady, I'm not - precisely, your student" There's an amusement there, mixed with a little wariness "Though of course, I do thank you for your interest, and I'm glad to learn anything you might feel of import. I don't even rely on my relic as much as yourself; as I could. I'm curious what you mean, though - it would be good to widen my abilities."

That same wariness. Elly is always Up To Something.

    "The world is never quite so certain and solid as we wish it to be. At the end of the day, though, you stand where your feet are, and if iit is not so steady as we'd like, it is where we stand."

    She seems amused by the correction from Ayame. "It is a pity. I feel that I am - precisely - your student. And my wife's student. And the innkeeper's student. If I am to learn from everyone, I find this most beneficial. It is the capacity to learn from others that helps me find the greatness in everyone I meet."

    She turns her attention utterly on Ayame at that point. She has that way of narrowing her focus so that all else seemingly falls away. "Now, this draws us back to my wise and beloved secretary. And I think I know what I would like to teach you. If you are truly ready to expand your horizons. Or perhaps you will settle on using this trip of yours to simply to calm my concerns and deliver paperwork? The choice, as always, lies in your hands."

"Of course I'd be delighted to learn anything you feel I should know, my lady" Ayame begins with a smile, refolding her hands demurely in her lap and looking across, up, at Elly, tilting her head just a little in deep thought. "So yes, I'm pleased to learn from you, though I trust I won't be simply trotting around with two books and a china set on my head" She notes wryly.

"There's a difference, to me, of learning from others, and formally becoming a student. It is ... accepting the place another has, their power over you, their greater skill as well as a true desire to better oneself" She pauses "I suppose in that sense, I would accept I am a student in that matter, with regard to you."

    "I have no power over you, Ayame. That is, none but that which you wish me to have." She smiles at this, though there seems a touch of sadness there, as well. It does not last long, though.

    "I would like to teach you something that does not involve balancing things on your head. Though your balance will lend you grace in your motions."

    She pauses and rises to her feet. "We need... music." She flips through her inventory for a time, then pulls out a phonograph. "Yes, this is just the thing."

    A moment later, and there is music in the room. It gets some attention from the landers, who seem rather enamoured of music, and amazed at the way Elly has apparently shrunk a band and put it in a little box.

    The baroness pays this no mind. Instead, she reaches out to take hold of Ayame's right hand and then, presuming she is allowed to hold her secretary's hand, she bows over it.

    "Shall we dance?"

Ayame stands automatically when Elly does, responding "That's my point, though, my lady. In saying you are someone's student, you are giving them that power" And, with a rather faint smile, perhaps teasing just a little "Which can be a dangerous thing when they are tempting, and dangerous, and wonderful as yourself"

She extends her hand automatically, gloved as it is, and then pauses as she looks at it "Certainly, though I'm afraid I'm not much of a dancer. A family event or two is all I ever really did" She says with a nervous, small smile

    "Well, I hope I am worthy of your trust and care. But.. tempting? Hm. As a priestess of a fertility goddess, I will accept that compliment. Though I must ask how you see me as dangerous? Granted, before I retired, I was a fairly good fighter. These days, however, I am simply a healer striving to make the world better."

    She will, as she speaks, reach out to take hold of Ayame by the waist. She draws her close a moment later. "I imagine you will learn very quickly, Ayame. You are very graceful. I will lead, and you will learn the steps as we go. And please, do not feel pressured. I want this to be fun. To show feeling."

"Danger doesn't have to be physical" Rowen says with a smile, as she lets herself be drawn in, pressing lightly to Elly and resting a hand on her shoulder, looking up at the taller sylph, her wings buzzing softly as she keeps her balance.

"You have a talent for drawing people in to your dreams. Lighting a fire in someone's heart can be just as dangerous to who they were before, than striking them" She says softly, blinking slowly

"And fertility?" She asks with a small grin "Should I be congratulating you? Or Tae?" She teases

    "I see. So by moving someone to be greater than they are, to be more loving, brave, or gentle, I have put them in... danger. Hm. An interesting viewpoint. I suppose in this way, I defeat what I see as shortcomings and plant the seeds of virtue."

    She is quiet for a time. As close as they are, the motions of her hips can be felt rather easily. She does murmur step patterns where she deems it necessary. It is a simple waltz that she teaches. A mere four steps to learn and it serves as such a good foundation..

    "And sadly, no, I do not think I can get her pregnant directly. But perhaps there is a way with magic. I am not certainly yet. However, all of our orphans will have the right to call us their mothers, should they wish, and we will love them as best we can. It is not the same as a common family. We cannot gather them all in Eas. Well, we probably could, but I do not think that is the best thing for them, nor would it be the best thing for the kingdoms."

"I never said it was a physical danger" Ayame points out, as she follows those steps with the same care and dedicated thought that she puts into everything, her forehead creasing lightly as she steps with Elly, only stumbling a little here and there. She is not a natural dancer, and even here, she does not have a Song in her heart.

"I mean that danger is ... a change to who we are. If I change, significantly, due to your words - should I not warn others of that possibility before I send them your way?" She asks lightly "That who they are, may not be the same that they leave your present as?"

And then she nods, squeezing Elly gently "I'm sure you'll manage. I'm sure there are ways, and you're smart enough to find ways around them if you need to. If nothing else, the image of Tae or yourself pregnant is - well, I can't quite picture it. Tae's a delicate thing, and you - no, my mind rebels" She laughs

    "Tae is very slender, but she is pretty tough. So long as we don't make a baby that is my birth weight we should be fine. And worst case scenario, we have Nurse Uta to keep us safe if we should have such complications. It seems we won't have much to worry about on that front, though. At least not for now."

    The thought has her attention for a time, but it does not linger into sadness. It is a good night. She is making progress to helping the children of Yamato, she has managed to stave off another incident by not fainting on the road, and she has a dear friend dancing with her.

    "Try to relax as you move. Our minds tend to make simple things more complicated than they need to be."

    She is still pondering Ayame's more philosophical commentary. "I think you should let them know, of course. I am a force for change, and nobles struggle to resist my arguments. From my perspective, though, I like to think that the goodness and pity in their hearts moves them to do the right thing. I hope they do not see my cause as a dangerous thing to their aspirations."

"We're using the word in different ways, I think" Ayame smiles, nodding and trying to relax. It's clearly difficult, for the sylph - everything about her is meticulous, exact, the opposite of the flowing steps of the dancer, and she does struggle with it, for all she keeps trying "I use it to mean something with the potential to change you, in unexpected ways. Not a physical threat, necessarily."

She gives Elly a smile "But you do mean what you say. I think that might be the most dangerous thing of all" She teases lightly "You are sincere. It shows in everything you do."

And she muses a touch, then laughs "I'm not sure how Uta would treat a child. Possibly as a very unusual slime. Tell her she's not to put babies in the slime tanks."

    "Danger is not just physical, no. Danger need not even necessarily be harmful from an outside perspective. But danger is a... hm. A change or threat of a change that may not have previously been desired. Even a change in desires is dangerous, is it not?"

    She can sense Ayame's tension. It gains her attention as she tries to determine what is happening. Finally, she suggests, "Maybe.. stop thinking about your steps. Think about the music. I think it will be easier. Sometimes, the right thing is not terribly precise, less an area mastered by logic and more about feeling."

Ayame nods again, a small frustration flitting over her face as she sighs, and then closes her eyes and lets Wake guide her. Her feet do trip a moment, but she doesn't stumble and continues the slow steps, listening, feeling, hearing the tinkle of the music box.

"I suppose not" She agrees ruefully "I'm used to practice and considering my actions exactly before I take them. Even when I fight, it's - withdrawing to safety and then striking out." She muses

"And exactly. That's my point" And that smile flits through again "You might be the most dangerous woman I know, in that way" She teases.

    "I think I'd rather be the sweetest, most gentle, and irresistably beautiful woman you know," replies the Baroness. She laughs softly and manages to /not/ let her hand wander for a teasing pinch. That would be... most unseeemly. She'll wait until later.

    "On the dance floor, there are rules, and some dances are more rigid than others. I tend to favor those that allow for a more sincere expression of feeling. This does provoke a question, though. I mean no offense by it. We are very different, and I admire you greatly. Do you find it distressing at times to work with someone who changes direction as easily as I tend to?"

"Oddly, no" Ayame considers, and then expands "You see, your goals and directions may vary, but mine - to support you - don't" It's a simple response, as she moves, but she does relax a little as she talks, opening her eyes and looking up to Wake, focusing more on the commentary then the dance "So while what I might need to do to achieve that goal varies, I don't need to consider the goal itself as changing."

Her smile is a little wry "I know it seems a small thing, but there we are. The basics of my work remain the same, but the details change"

    "So your focus is on helping me. That is really, honestly, wonderful of you." The calm smile grows more tender. In the strange mood, she is a little more vulnerable herself. More expressive.

    "I hope your life working for me is a good one. You could serve anyone, or do anything. I want to support you as well as I can. I doubt I will do as well as you have for me, but my heart will always be devoted to your dreams as well, Ayame."

    The dance does not change, but the expression does. She closes the distance, so that she is holding her secretary closer. "I mean nothing troubling, but I assure you that Tae and I both love you dearly. We fear we are a burden to you."

Ayame nods at that, as she considers, and she takes the time to turn the thought over before she responds "I made a commitment to assist, and I enjoy that. I find it gives me focus" She explains "And stops me just wandering away. Even before, I - I had my expectations and what I would work in, and now, it's just good to keep to that."

She nods, smiling a touch. And distracted by the conversation, she is at least a little more free with her motion, despite the constraining attire "You are not. I would say, if you were. I adore you both fondly. You're a delight to assist. I - I know it may be hard for many here, but not all want to be the ... the protagonist in something. Some of us are happy to just help others achieve their dreams, and to safeguard the world to let them do so."

    "Every dream needs more than a dreamer if it is to have any hope to become more than fantasy. Your steady support and focus on the details is so valuable. I need your help to make all of this work. When I gather more information and finish my tour, we can sit down with my journal full of notes and you will help me make it real. To lift it from the page and into the world."

    She sighs softly, kissing Ayame's brow. "For now, though... my mind is set on this dance. In the morning I have no doubt the strange mood will claim me again and drive me into action. It has few respites and until it reaches its conclusion, it does not long relax its grip."

"You know I'll help as best I can" Ayame says fondly, accepting the benediction and stepping back from the dance "For now, just rest as you may, and know that for tonight, at least, you are safe and protected."