It's Swing Time~

[cipherspeak]

It didn't take a rocket scientist to figure out Elisha's motivation for organizing - or, honestly, delegating the organization of - a semi-formal dance party. Lucinda had suggested a ball, with stars in her eyes. She probably had already picked out ballgowns and themes in her head when Elisha had nixed the thing and - in a moment of desperation, with the memory of the swing-themed Fox wedding still in his head - suggest a Spring Swing, instead.

Everyone had run with it, and Elisha was pleased to say it had come out well. He was even more pleased to say that he didn't have to wear a suit, even if he stepped out into the lantern-lit gardens in everything but the tie. He paused near the raised dais provided for dancing and gave the small band the signal to start up the music before he attempted to fade back in the crowd. Not that that ever worked.

"Let the games begin," he murmured to no one in particular as he picked up a glass of champagne off a tray.

Note: Open to everyone and their brother; tag around, have fun!

Comments

[butneverbreak]

Rita is a lot of things. She's sharp, she's smart, she's just a little dangerous when she sets her mind to it. She's comfortable in terrifying shoes and old-fashioned lacings.

And she's pretty damn good at swing dancing.

Which means that there are very few people who won't, at some point or other, be approached by a woman in an appropriately dramatic dress, severely bright lips pulled into a pleased smile with the easy demand for a dance.

[intotherough]

It wouldn't surprise him in the least if someone told him that Rita James was good at every kind of dancing there is. In particular, he wouldn't be surprised about swing - there's something energetic and sharp about both the dance and the lady.

He does pause a bit in sipping his drink when she stops in front of him.

"I dinna know if I quite match up to a lady as lovely as you," he says in his musical brogue. "But it'd be rude not to try, I'm thinking."

[butneverbreak]

"You don't, doll." At least she's cheerful as she says it, hand still extended rather expectantly in his direction. "But does anyone in here?"

Acceptable answers, of course, are either that no one does, that her daughter does, or that she should ask again once she's seen him in a kilt. Any which way, her eyes are absolutely sparkling.

[intotherough]

"And I wouldn't, even wearing the family colors," he tells her. Which is, of course, two acceptable answers in one. Ben's a clever one like that.

He's also setting aside his whisky without a second's hesitation. There'd been a few...imprudent displays earlier that had sent the crowd tittering, but he feels certain that they won't be having with those.

The band strikes up a jaunty number, and it's not quite the Glenn Miller Band, but it'll do, Ben thinks. "Shall we show them how it's done, lass?"

[butneverbreak]

He absolutely is. It's absolutely one of the reasons she's asked him to dance. What's the point of dancing with someone who isn't going to be a fabulous dancer or at least an amusing partner for the few minutes you're together?

"I think we shall." She can't resist one last quirk of her brow, one more entirely cheeky flash of a grin as she tugs to bring him properly onto the floor with her. "Think you can handle taking the lead?"

Because tonight was a night of being absolutely on point. No ex-husbands or underage home-wreckers were going to be allowed to see her miss a beat.

[intotherough]

He is a very fine dancer. The Scots aren't quite the Irish, who've been said to prefer dancing to eating, but Ben Mackinnon was raised to dance a very fine reel. And having gone to college himself during the early days of the swing revival, this one's a skill he picked up, too. Nothing impresses a history major in a vintage dress quite like the ability to actually jitterbug.

It remains to be seen if it has that same effect on accountants.

"Oh, I think I can take it, Rita," he says as he sketches her a charming bow with a rakish grin. "If you can, at least."

[butneverbreak]

Likely nothing will ever be as impressive as a way with numbers. That doesn't mean having a light touch with pink drinks and an easy way on the dance floor aren't quality picks for a man to spend time with.

The laugh on her lips is bright in her eyes, fingers squeezing his for the final half-seconds before the music shifts from preparation into proper dancing. "Money where your mouth is, Ben."

Because why the hell not =|

[heartbreakclub]

"Aha. No. I'm flattered, but I don't think so." He'd not come to dance. In fact, he hadn't even come for the drinks. A man should be allowed to come to such occasions to look out for the important girls left in his life without risking a dance proposal.

Never a reason not to. B|

[butneverbreak]

He should be. But a woman should also be allowed to press slightly before giving up, to spend as much time as possible focused on people who didn't make her want to snap a piece of jail-bait in half.

"Are you certain, Mr Caustello? Not even a tiny bit of a shuffle? You might have fun."

Someone has to raise the age of a corner of the room to over 100.

[heartbreakclub]

"Heaven forbid I have fun." Granted, he's not really known for having fun, but he's quite certain this would be more of an exercise in embarrassment.

"Where do you find all this energy? What's your secret?"

106 right here. /highfive

[butneverbreak]

Is she allowed to pat his arm? Hopefully it's not an overwhelming amount of fun if she pats his arm before crossing her own over her chest.

"What, was I supposed to lay down and resign myself when I hit forty? We've both got years left to kick around."

And, well. She had young people to show up. That couldn't be helped.

We were made for each other. I mean lolwat?

[heartbreakclub]

"I think most young people expect forty to be the end of the world." When in fact there were many more years to come. Time to seize opportunities, to right wrongs, to do everything that he'd never had the time to do when he was young and still struggling through each dreary day.

"But I can happily report that even at sixty there will be no locusts eating your food or toads in your bed."

You play dads, I play moms, and I think we cover the high-low age spread. \o

[butneverbreak]

Maybe she can't get dancing. Maybe a break would actually be good, after the workout of dancing with Ben and Johnny.

"Can I get that in writing?" The laugh is bright enough, certainly reaches her eyes as she glances back to him from looking over the crowd. "And a promise you'll send back reports from eighty? We've got to hit the age of decay sometime, right? My money's on ninety-three and four months."

[fiddlerjohnny]

"I don't know," Johnny says with a grin of his own, "not sure I could keep up with you, Rita."

Won't stop him from trying, though. "You'll have to go easy on me."

[butneverbreak]

Oh, Johnny. She'll go for a pinch of the cheek before a grab of the hand.

"Have I ever gone easy on anyone in my entire life, doll?"

Spoiler alert--she hasn't.

[fiddlerjohnny]

"Can't say I was around for your entire life but I'm guessing.....that's a no."

But he'll let himself be grabbed. "Think I'll manage somehow. Wouldn't want to disappoint."

[butneverbreak]

"I have sincere doubts you know how to disappoint a lady, handsome," she laughs, one arm dropped lazily over his shoulder while the other catches his hand properly. "You've done this before, right?"

[fiddlerjohnny]

He offers up a properly charming sort of grin, "I've faked it before, anyway."

And he's picked up a step or two here and there. Enough not to be an utter embarrassment, at least. "You just lead the way. I can follow."

[butneverbreak]

Well, an absolute hum of approval for that. "Takes a big man to follow a lady. Promise I won't throw you too hard."

But no promises she wouldn't get him to throw her. Or that, at the end of the day, she wouldn't throw him a little.

They'd do just fine.

[expluribus]

Lasse can be reasoned into putting on a suit for an event such as this one and he's shown up in a fine tailored pinstripe three-piece. However, soon after his arrival, he accidentally loses the jacket somewhere. At least he's still got the waistcoat and tie?

By the time Rita finds him, Lasse is happily sprawled on a chair, sleeves rolled up to his elbows, one arm hooked around the back, a glass of champagne dangling loosely from his fingers.

An easy smile on his lips, the Dane looks up at the Heart and raises an eyebrow.

"Think you can keep up?"

[butneverbreak]

And it's a shame to oust him from such a clearly comfortable state of being, really it is. But the point of a dance is, surely, to be dancing until the Clubs kick you out--or at least until Gideon started making entirely distressed faces about the hour. Whichever worked.

"Are you really slinging challenges, doll? Are we going to have to throw down? Because no one's going to save you from yourself, darling."

[expluribus]

"Story of my life." He laughs as he sets down the glass next to his chair.

"It's a valid question. You've been whirling around since you've arrived. All I've done is help little brats hide their candy treasure."

Lasse is pretty sure most of the sticky booty has ended up in the pockets of his lost suit jacket. Another reason why he wouldn't mind not getting it back.

[butneverbreak]

"Is that what you've been up to?" Clearly he deserves an affectionate swat on the nose for that. Surely he knew it was coming when he confessed to his crime. "For shame, Mr Rasmussen. What will their mothers say?"

Although, if this were going to be an opportunity to sit on the arm of a chair for a few minutes, well. She isn't actually going to pass that up.

"Ought to report you. Possibly to the fun police."

[expluribus]

"You'd snitch on me? I am shocked, Ms James!"

The mothers are probably glad that nicking candy is all their children are doing. There are so many worse things Lasse could think of, including swinging from the lanterns in the garden or attempting to make a bonfire using aforementioned paper lanterns.

"Though I doubt you'll find a member of the fun police. I heard they were banned from the premises."

[butneverbreak]

Oh, tsk and snort, sir, even as she smooths gently to settle the folds of her skirt, ankles crossing more demurely.

"I'm so sorry to disappoint, handsome, but as a mother, I am the fun police. Left my badge in my other dress, but you're never really off-duty, are you."

And clearly, of all the un-fun mothers in the world, Rita is the un-fun-est.

On opposite day.