Blade nodded. "Maybe we'll both get tips," he replied.

Rosemarie giggled. "I can teach you a drinking dance. You don't need a partner and if you do it wrong it makes it even better."

Blade took Toru's hand with his clammy hand led them back to the dance floor. "I'm not good at this," he warned.

"I-I'm sure w-we'll be equally b-bad." Toru admitted with a small smile. Their yukata wouldn't allow for any wild movements, but they would be able to do a slow dance okay. "I-I didn't think a-any would ask me t-to dance." They admitted when they were alone with him on the dance floor. "I-I didn't really wear d-dance appropriate g-garments."

Blade was thinking about mentioning he didn't want to be there, but thought it'd come off wrong. "Well you look very nice and hey someone asked you," Blade replied. He awkwardly started moving his feet as the song began.

Toru could tell by his facial expression that he didn't want to be here. They teased him slightly. "I-I appreciate it, even i-if you w-were forced h-here by w-wandpoint." They gave him a small smile and danced with him slowly. Toru was overly pleased nobody had stepped on anyone yet as they shuffled slowly.

"Well...er someone pointed out that there would be disappointment if I didn't come to the dance, So I thought I'd come and make sure my two closest friends enjoyed themselves. Then i can make a run for it while you both have your wands away," he said with a little tease back.

& everyone :)

"Thanks, Toru," said Callista, touched. "It would be great to work with Ruriko! I really appreciate you putting me forward for that!" She bowed slightly. "Should I write to her directly to apply, or will she contact me?" She blushed a little, and though it was probably harder to see, she could feel it. "And yes. The twins are the youngest. Aurelia and Silvano. I think you'll like them. I just don't say too much about them because it's not fair to build up expectations."

Callista's face got just a little hotter at that point. Considering the recent announcement from Silvano, she was very glad she hadn't said anything. Up until quite recently, she had thought she had two twin sisters, but that was not the case. She was a little worried about how Hogwarts would handle it, and not sure who to speak to about it--she could talk to the head of the House, but what if Silvano didn't sort Slytherin?

(She was not going to think about that too hard. Camilla had surprised them all long ago by turning out to be a Ravenclaw, but Silvano had been showing unexpected amounts of sudden bravery lately, and that was a far more worrisome possibility.)

"It's nice to meet you too, Lorcan--" so this was Elizabeth's friend-- Callista began, and then was amused when Blade collected a Toru from them. She was glad to see Niamh was fine with it, but a little worried that dancing had become so closely associated with dating in people's minds.

"Well," she said. "You're an artist?"

Then she heard Paddy and Rosemarie. "A drinking dance? That's better if you do it wrong? And Paddy, don't worry--my family sent us to dancing lessons, but I don't think skill is the only thing that makes dancing fun. Dancing is social, after all, it's supposed to be fun."

(and all)

Rosemarie stayed politely quiet with some of the talk since she didn't know much and didn't want to be rude with a barrage of questions. "We have lots of dances but some are that are done when drinking. And in the fests it's very funny to see adults dancing like a duck. sometimes they fall and all. It's very entertaining. But the duck dance is very easy. It's mistranslated to Chicken but it really is called the duck dance. You don't need to be drunk of course, but when my Uncle is its hilarious. He does add running around and pecking at people though." She quickly showed the basic moves which was flapping and a shake of the booty. "See? It's really easy. And you can't really get it wrong."

The duck dance

That caused Toru to laugh a little. "I-I wouldn't p-pull my wand o-out on y-you anyway." They grinned playfully. "I-I'm not g-great a-at charms." Almost all of their charm classes this year had ended with less than outstanding marks though Professor Norman seemed jolly about all the fails. "I-I e-even accidentally g-gave Zoe cat e-ears." They pictured Blade with cat ears and began giggling uncontrollably to the point where they wouldn't be able to dance any longer. "S-Sorry." They said wiping their tears away. "S-Shall we h-head back?"

Callista had asked a bunch of questions before they left and wanted to answer them before they forgot.

(and all)

"Really?" Blade replied with a droll voice, "I get the impression most people would like to pull their wands out at me most of the time." He smirked a little at the idea of Toru giving anyone cat ears. "Now I would've enjoyed seeing that. I'm sure your actually good but just nervous." He nodded and headed back over to the group. He stood awkwardly near not sure what to say to anyone.

Lorcan nodded. "I am. I mean, I try. It's a hobby I picked up at home and it's pretty relaxing.", he explained carefully as he was well aware that his typical drawings could be disturbing to other people.

(He's fascinated by anatomical processes, especially in magical creatures. (; )

"Elizabeth told me a bit about her friends here when we recognized each other. She said you have a thing for wearing and creating fashion, japanese fashion specifically. It's another form of art, isn't it? Clothing is a very strong form of self-expression.", he went on. He had totally forgotten about the plate with the caprese salad he just got.

He looked to the girl with the pinkish hair when she explained a type of dance. It was a strange sight, but she was still a child, looking no older than 11, so he wasn't that judgy. And chicken or duck, it looked in fact like the movements of these creatures. He chuckled a little, obviously amused.

Elizabeth had disappeared shortly to get a coconut cocktail from the bar over there - obviously with no alcohol in it. She had tasted elven-made wine and similar stuff at festive occasions, though, but it was something she didn't need. As she came back to the small group, she saw the dance instructions. It worried her a little that a girl this young spoke about being drunk so openly, so her face looked concerned for a moment before a look of confusion appeared. This was a real dance? She couldn't help it but have a low opinion of it, but instead of voicing it, she remained silent and smiled. Manners, Ms Covington, she told herself innerly and took a sip of the coconut cocktail.

Toru and Blade returned in time to see the duck dance. They had heard of the chicken dance before and the moves seemed similar. It was perhaps a regional thing for the name? There were all kinds of unusual dances in Japan but they weren't really interested in talking about it.

They did take a moment to finish their conversation with Callie. "I-I'm sure y-you could send an o-owl, but she's p-probably already put something i-in the p-post for you." Their cousin was very straightforward when it came to business and fashion. Very much like Callie seemed to be. They'd get along great.

Lorcan's mentioning that he had been drawing all day. "A-Anything interesting t-that you've p-penned today?" They asked curiously. Even if it was disturbingly accurate anatomical processes Toru still found them fascinating to look at.

(and all)

Rosemarie blushed slightly at the chuckle. Everyone she knew did the duck dance at fests, along with other ones. It was all in good fun. She’d seen people tipsy and many fests and was always taught that being mildly drunk was fine. It was when people took it to past tipsy when her parents took exception.

Blade stood by silently as Toru began to pick up chat where they left off.

& everyone :)

Callista smiled at Toru. "Well, if you think she's sent something already, I'll wait for it." She turned to Lorcan. "Yes, Japanese street fashion, mostly lolita-style. I'm not really dressed that way today, but I'm sure you have seen me in my frills before? Clothing is very much a form of self-expression."

Callista wasn't sure what to say about the duck dance, so she just laughed good-naturedly; then finally she remembered where she'd seen it once before. "Isn't that a dance that people sometimes do at weddings? At least, that's the only place I've ever seen it before. A friend of my mother's got married and her grandmother started it."

(and all) Blade was feeling awkward and had no idea what to say to the conversation so he remain standing quietly.

Rosemarie nodded. "I suppose one can do it at weddings. I haven't been to a wedding but I don't see why not. It's a fun dance." She smiled shyly.

Lorcan looked at Toru. "I spent the afternoon on a quieter deck. There, I drew some of the landscape around us...but that bored me quickly. However, there was a sea gull I pictured as it was sitting still for a long time.", he explained. "You see, sometimes, I draw normal pictures as well." he added, chuckling, "no offense." He smiled at Callista. "I do believe I've seen you quite a few times. Your choice of clothing isn't common at all around Hogwarts and my home has little population, the majority being tourists. But I admit that it suits you very much. It reminds me of Victorian fashion." He wasn't that talkative either but seeing Blade just standing there, silent, was strange, even to him.

Elizabeth listened to their conversation and smiled a little. If it weren't for the frills, she might give that style a try, but she was so much more comfortable in her plain, classic clothes. The discussion shifted over to the duck dance - which wouldn't be a suited dance for her wedding and... She sighed and stopped that thought. What was up with her? Even Callista was somewhat familiar with the dance. Her upper arm was hurting a little, so she loosened the snake armband a little, hoping it would stop, but it didn't, which was in fact strange. She turned back to the conversation. The girl here was eleven and a potential Hogwarts student as well, it would be immature to scare her off. "Rosemarie was your name, right?", she inquired friendly. "Is your family coming with you to Britain if you decide to go to Hogwarts?"

(and all)

Blade had as much awkwardness as he could take and silently left the hall. No one was talking to him right now anyway so he just left. He danced with the two who wanted it.

"Yes Ma'am," Rosemarie said. She shook her head and innocently replied, "Why would we do that? I will just take an aeroplane ride to and from Germany at the term breaks."