houseofcards_rp | It's Swing Time~

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!

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Good. That surely meant she could finish off his beer. She was a useful Nine, wasn't she?

And she was being a good girl by not suggesting he chuck his pager into the nearest patch of flowers. Look at how lovely an Upper Card she was being for her King.

"A girl has to try." Her fingers were light in a quick smoothing over of her hair, smile briefly just a touch sharp as she glanced out over the dancers. "Or, well. A woman likes to. Once, you know, she's actually grown."

The second wife was clearly in attendance tonight.

One never knew, Theo might have actually tossed it if she'd voice the thought, tonight at least. He didn't mind his work, but when headaches could be alleviated by following simple good sense...ah, well. It was moot for now.

His gaze followed hers, not missing the nuance for he lifted eyebrows and merely said, "...ah." Yes, he could well imagine how awkward the situation got sometimes. More often than not, really.

"Well, we old crusties have to stick together, right?" Theo got to his feet, straightened his jacket, and extended a cordial hand to his Nine. "Dance, Lady James? I think I can keep up with this particular number."

'Awkward' wouldn't have been her word for it. Thankfully, he wasn't going to make her say any word for it out loud. Theo was a man with class.

Not all men were.

Which didn't mean she wasn't going to tut at this particular proper gentleman while reaching to take his hand. "I'm not certain I feel like dancing with a man who refers to me as an 'old crusty,' your Majesty."

Again, he rolled his eyes and vented a small scoff. "Beat me for it later. I plead circumstantial insanity at the moment." But he winked at her and escorted Rita to the dance floor, despite his not having done so in years, managed to alleviate them both into position without looking too much of a fool.

Thankfully, the song was moderately paced and Theo resolved to simply take Rita's unspoken advice and just not think about any official business tonight. A good plan, really.

"You'd like that, wouldn't you."

But there was a laugh in her voice, a good spark in her smile as she followed, took a slightly commanding grip of his hand in the middle of the floor. She would let him lead, if he wanted. If it would take his mind off things.

And she would absolutely demand he stick around for a second dance.

Theo's return look was falsely stern and serious. "Oh, absolutely." He chuckled with her, adjusting his hold on her hand and leading off to the music, feeling his muscles begin to remember the steps--it'd been ages since he'd bothered dancing at one of these things.

Good God, now that he thought about it, even before he'd met Juliana. It was a wonder he didn't trip at the mere idea of doing so. But that was then, and this was now; Theo had no intention of letting old ghosts linger tonight.

Not a night for ghosts. Not a night for work. Absolutely a night to ignore his pager and her ex-husband's barely-legal partner.

Certainly a night for a rather surprised laugh as he settled more into himself. "Why in the world have you been holding out on us, Theo? You're a natural."

He twirled her and pulled her back, grinning to her compliment as they changed directions again, dipping and swaying to the music.

"Kickboxing helped with the rhythm," he explained with a lopsided smile. "But my mother insisted on formal dance being part of my 'education'." The culture courses he'd given up for more formal medical training in his teens.

"Granted," he said a bit breathlessly, "I haven't done this in ages, so I'm shocked myself I still remember where to put my feet."

It was easy to follow. More than that, it was a pleasure. Absolutely wonderful to stop thinking about anything but the flourish of her fingers, the enjoyment of her spinning skirt, the comfort of catching a familiar hand when she came right again.

"Like riding a bike, doll." And, she added with a bite of a wink. "Watch out you don't show off too much, or it won't just be the 'crusty old ladies' asking you to get on your feet. Might have to keep up with someone in their early thirties."

Shocking and horrible, surely.

Theo laughed with her, feeling some of his weariness dissipate, a bit of stress ease from his shoulders. It was good, this event. Light, unmotivated by necessity, politics, or any underlying reason. Just a time for people to get together and have a bit of fun.

He'd definitely have to send Elisha a thank-you note.

"Then I'll just have to build up my stamina again, won't I?" It was out of his mouth before he realized it, to his mild shock. But hell, why not? He wasn't in his office, being official or autonomous.

There was a beat of surprise. A beat of staring at his own mildly shocked expression before her own burst into absolutely tickled joy.

She might stop laughing by the time the song ended. She might stop laughing by the time she leaned to plant a firm kiss on his cheek, leaving a bright red form of lips behind.

But probably not. Which wasn't a bad thing.

It was always nice to make a woman laugh, Theo recalled. Even if it was somewhat at his own expense. He'd always been able to do the same at himself, which made things so much easier.

He accepted the affection with alacrity, not minding the souvenir in the slightest. Spinning his partner in a final twirl, Theo pulled Rita back, dipping her over his left arm as the song ended. And following that with a heartfelt hug afterwards.

"Thank you kindly, m'lady."

It was with him, hopefully, more than at him. In good fun and more in the spirit of the dance than anything else.

And was certainly punctuated, cheeks flushed and eyes brimming with happiness, with an entirely tight squeeze of a hug.

"Thank you, Theo." She did relent when she pulled back, thumb lifting briefly to give the lipstick on his cheek a quick, efficient smudge from brightness into something less obvious. "And I swear, if I see you doing work tonight, I'm stealing your pager."

Theo chuckled, turning his head to let her rub out the lipstick marks. "Deal. I promise to even let you." He hadn't thought about the thing in the last half hour, which was promising, really. A record, since attaining the throne.

It's Swing Time~

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