Lord Rainier's Studio, SaDiablo Hall, Dhemlan Kaeleer

[glacial_queen]

The Nharkhavan Midsummer Festival was coming up quickly; they were less than a month away from the coven's performance and the costumes had just been delivered. Helene had the footmen deliver the large crates into Ranier's studio just before their next rehearsal was scheduled to begin.

The coven ran over to the crate, unpacking yards of diaphanous material, like butterfly wings made of silks and satins. There were ropes of metallic beads and tiny coins, even tiny slippers sewn with crytals that caught the light and shimmered.

"Oooh," Kalush said, picking up one of the costumes and holding it up to her chest. "These are perfect! Absolutely perfect."

Karla held up her own costume, identical to Kalush's save in color scheme (hers was, of course, in blue and silver) and then gave Raven an unsure grin. Raven, who she's practically had to strong-arm into this anyway "At least they're skirts?"

[For folks what are in Kaeleer with her]

Comments

[trigons_child]

Raven hadn't been too sure about this, what with already preparing for the summer showcase and dancing wasn't exactly something she had any confidence in, but it was important for her to learn about the cultures of what would one day be her new home, so she'd agreed to Karla's request to join the coven for the festival.

But right now, looking at the costume, hers in red and black, she was having second thoughts. "Karla, part of my outfit seems to be missing," she said. LIKE THE ENTIRE MIDDLE PART.

[glacial_queen]

Karla's smile only got wider. "But at least it's not pants?" she tried, jingling the waistband of the skirt at Raven. "See? There's a bright side? No pants. And it's just showing a bit of your midriff." Or, like, all of it. "It's not like it's going to show off your legs."

[darkcourtcoven.livejournal.com]

Morghann's arms were filled with deep green and burgundy fabric, holding it up to her cheek. "And Kalush made sure that your shirt would be extra, extra, extra large to accommodate your--" She stopped and blushed. "Well, that is, uh, it should fit."

[trigons_child]

"To accommodate my...?" Raven said, puzzled for a moment as she glanced down. She quickly realized what Morghann meant and turned a shade of red that matched her outfit. It wasn't her fault she had a comic book rack that defied the laws of physics!

"But...but...." She flailed about for a good reason to object. "But we might catch a chill and get sick," she said lamely. So much for a good reason.

[darkcourtcoven.livejournal.com]

Kalush burst out laughing at that, helping Jaenelle fasten the hip belt over her skirt. Jaenelle's fabric was black, like Raven's, though her inset fabric was iridescent like a beetle's carapace. Within the fabric, all the colors of the Jewels glimmered and gleamed. "Catch cold? In Nharkhava? In the summertime?" She shook her head. "Not likely. Even if we weren't dancing, you'd end up sweltering wearing far less than this."

[trigons_child]

"Sunburn!" Raven said hastily. They would be running the risk of severe, painful sunburns on their backs and stomachs due to the exposed skin.

Straws, she was grasping at them.

[glacial_queen]

"We won't be dancing until after the sun goes down," Karla reminded cheerfully. "So no worries there. And Gabrielle, Janelle, and I have been making sun balm unguent for a month, so even if you do decide to wander around all day with the costume on, you'll be fine."

[trigons_child]

If it was after sundown, and she was wearing a good deal of black, then maybe no one would be able to see...her pale while skin practically glowing in the dark. Eek.

"How many people are going to be there?" she asked anxiously, holding the costume against herself to try to gauge just how much skin she was going to be showing.

[darkcourtcoven.livejournal.com]

Kalush battered her lashes and stifled a grin. "Well, it is the major holiday festival around Tajrana," she said. "Tajrana is Nharkhava's capital city."

There was something for you to think about Raven!

"Of course, not everyone in Tajrana are going to be there," she added hastily. "Though there will probably more there than usual, since we're performing."

Kalush was a horrible person.

[trigons_child]

Raven had to grope behind her for a chair so she could sit down heavily, still clutching the costume against her ample chest. "I am not entirely certain I can do this now," she said weakly.

At least no one else from Fandom would be there, right?

[glacial_queen]

Well, since Raven hadn't said that aloud, Karla didn't have to respond even if Emma's ping had already answered that beyond a shadow of a doubt.

"You haven't even tried it on yet," Karla chided. "It just shows a little bit of your belly; it's not that bad." Said the female who freaked when her knees were showing. "And the red already looks amazing against your skin. It highlights your chakra beautifully."

[darkcourtcoven.livejournal.com]

"And we've all worked so hard rehearsing!" Kalush added, settling down by Raven's feet and looking up at her. "It would feel wrong to do it without you!"

[darkcourtcoven.livejournal.com]

The rest of the coven followed Kalush's cue, crowding around Raven like a flock of brightly colored tropical birds, giving her encouragement. "We can find something to put around your midriff," Gabrielle suggested. "More jewelry, perhaps? With garnets! It would be lovely!"

[trigons_child]

"I will try it on," Raven said, growing weak in the face of peer pressure, not to mention a bit of pride at Karla's praise of how good she'd look in the outfit. Plus she didn't want to disappoint the rest of the coven.

She'd gotten over her nervousness about singing in public, how hard could this be?

Rehearsal

[theboyos.livejournal.com]

Once the excitement over their costumes had settled and everyone was ready to begin, Ranier touched the music sphere. Music filled the room, with Kalush taking center stage.

Ranier watched her, prowling around, eying her movements, occasionally demonstrating with his own hips what the proper movement was. He'd allowed the skirts, but not the metallic hip scarves; those would hide any slight mistakes in their movements. Granted, the audience watching their ultimate performance might not notice, but he wanted his ladies flawless. "Again!" he said, clapping his hands. "Keep your arms straighter, Kalush!"

Re: Rehearsal

[darkcourtcoven.livejournal.com]

Kalush tried not to sigh, instead nodding and beginning again. This was all just a fun dance for her friends and she was glad of it, but for her, this was so much more. This was the music, the dance of her people. Ranier had choreographed it for her, a way to show the people of Tajrana that she was ready to lead, ready to make her Offering, ready to stand for her people and by her people and with her people.

That was a lot to put into one tiny dance, amidst so many other performances. Kalush didn't care. It was a way to win the hearts of her people and, dammit, she was going to be perfect.

She began the routine again, making sure her arms were kept high and straight.

Re: Rehearsal

[glacial_queen]

"I don't know if I'm more envious of what she can do or what he can," Karla murmured, watching Ranier mirror Kalush's routine. "All I know is that I don't think I can move my hips as well as either of them."

Re: Rehearsal

[darkcourtcoven.livejournal.com]

"Psssht, you're one to talk," Sabrina said, lined up in front of Karla. "You have more practice moving your hips than all of us." She did a little shimmy, more suited to a burlesque bump-and-grind than the dance they were practicing now.

Re: Rehearsal

[darkcourtcoven.livejournal.com]

"By that, she means 'sex with Warren!'" Morghann hissed, trying not to giggle. "In case you were confused."

Re: Rehearsal

[glacial_queen]

"Thank you, Sabrina, Morghann," Karla said, rolling her eyes. "I might not have gotten that if you hadn't pointed it out to me."

Re: Rehearsal

[theboyos.livejournal.com]

"If you're talking, you're not paying attention!" Ranier didn't turn towards them, but his eyes were a bright gold in the mirror at the back of the studio. "And if you're not paying attention, you're going to do it wrong."

He clapped his hands. "Five sets warm up exercises for the three of you," he commanded. "Perhaps the costumes made you forget that we are here to work and to learn."

Re: Rehearsal

[glacial_queen]

Karla winced and nodded, stepping out of line to practice. Like Lucivar, Ranier could be an incredibly hard taskmaster; they were at the point now where all of the exercises had been mastered and therefore he expected precision. An arm at the wrong angle or an extra step could earn them more reps.

The fewest reps Karla had ever gotten away with practicing was seven and that was when he'd assigned them three to begin. Dancing was harder than it looked!

They adopted the basic posture, held it, and then began to isolate their lower abs, followed by their upper. Working their way upward, they continued on with chest lifts and then isolated and shimmied their shoulders.

And then they worked back down again, doing the chest and abdomen exercises down to their hips. Next came the hip lifts and basic shimmies, easing into hip pushes and circles and then finally the double hip locks. Six hip drop and kicks were next (three for each leg) and then a series of vertical figure eights that ended with them back in their original pose.

Exhausting. And that was the first set of reps.

*I think I hate you both,* she sent over a distaff psychic thread.

Re: Rehearsal

[darkcourtcoven.livejournal.com]

*You were the one who forgot to whisper!* Sabrina retorted, letting her arm go a little loose as she did so.

"Sabrina, another!" Ranier called.

*How does he do that?* she groaned, even as she called, "Yes, Prince Ranier!" *He's focusing on Kalush!*

Re: Rehearsal

[darkcourtcoven.livejournal.com]

*Some kind of Craft,* Morghann said, circling her hips. They three of them moved in sync with one another, their sets as tightly choreographed at the dance itself. *Evil, vindictive Craft.*

Re: Rehearsal

[theboyos.livejournal.com]

"I can hear you!" Rainier's voice was like a crack of thunder. The girls froze, looking at him, horrified.

Rainier laughed at that, actually turning to face them rather than continue to speak to their reflections.

"Not really, I was guessing," he said, lips curled. "But five more reps for all of you."