[AW] dancing queen

[Runaveig]

Treat people with kindness.

Night had fallen and the Court was alive.

The thrum of music, of woodwinds and a lute, the steady pounding of a drum moved in time with her very own pulse. Runaveig spun, her shawl billowing out around her as she did so, her body balancing on her back hooves as she danced. She pranced about, sweat on her brow glistening off of the firelight from the nearby bonfires. The horses surrounding her stamped their hooves in time with the music, with her dancing, and she laughed.

Oh, but she felt alive!

These streets were where she truly thrived. She performed because it was in her blood, in her soul, the steady music beating in perfect time with her very own heartbeat, rapid and vibrant. She smiled dashingly to a nearby young stallion, catching his flustered stare with her glittering gold eyes. A wink and she was gone, dancing within her own circle of performances.

Even though she couldn’t see him, Runa knew that Umbra was perched nearby watching out for her. The black dragon was terribly protective, and despite her protests he never went a night without watching over her.

Twirling once, twice, three times, Runaveig stopped with a low bow, one leg folded under with the other stretched outwards as her sides heaved, sweat dotting the dusk colors of her body. There were a number of cheers and applause by way of stamping hooves, and a few Signos were tossed her way as a tip. The young Entertainer gave a soft laugh as she straightened and nodded, grateful for their kindness.

It was unneeded, of course; Runaveig survived just fine off of their generous tips, but she went about collecting the sparse Signos to later on give to the orphan children that littered the streets of Denocte.

"Speaking."

credits

Open for anyone. <3

[Katniss]

Katniss had never been an entertainer. Never did she draw a crowd nor did she make a living by singing, dancing, or engaging in other moonlighting activities. Katniss has been born and bred as a soldier. Her muscles were stiff, her joints unused to the fluid movement needed to dance. None of that meant that Katniss didn’t love to be entertained.

Ever since coming to Denocte, Katniss had grown used to the parties and the glam that Denocte was known for. She used to come with Metaphor and then with Kibou, but tonight, she stood here on her own. She felt alone, as if she meant nothing to everyone. She felt invisible, as if she was standing here but no one could see her. No one could see her or rather, they saw right through her.

A smile pulls at the corners of her lips as she watches the entertainer. Her body moves gracefully with the music and she makes it seem as though the movements are easy. Katniss knows better, though. She knows that the mare before her has practiced hours in order for her body to be conditioned to obey her every command. The dancer before her has trained like she trained for battle. But instead of the drums playing music for her, the drums are the sound of war coming.

She sighs when the music finally halts, eyes watching as several of the others toss Signos towards the mare. She wants to contribute, but she is saving for Kibou’s schooling. She knows how much her son wants to go to Terrastella and train to be a medic. She should have known that would be his fate. After all, he is the perfect image of his father and as much as Katniss loves her son, knowing this fact makes her heart ache in a way it never has.

The dancer approaches her, picking up the last of the coins tossed her way. Katniss allows her eyes to rest softly on the other, a soft nod given as a simple hello. “You dance beautifully.” She speaks the truth. In fact, she is unsure if she has seen a better dancer. The only thing that would make her act even better was for someone with the voice of angels to accompany her. Yes, a musical number would surely win over the crowds. But Katniss cannot do that, she cannot even hold a tune (or so she tells herself).

@Runaveig