Fair slipped off the silk after a dazzling display of things Elena couldn't do. She taught perfectly, and if she was someone else, she would have picked it up in a heartbeat. But alas, she was Elena. And Elena was not very good at this.
"Have fun!" Fair said after showing her how to slide down the curtain without falling. She skipped away, disappearing quickly.
"E-Eh?" Elena heard Lios before seeing him. He was dangling from a hoop far above, swinging in it playfully. Alright, time to try this out. Elena touched the silk cautiously, testing the waters. It seemed pretty stable, so she grasped as far up as she could and pulled herself up, a bit panicked that she wouldn't be able to climb up. Her costume wasn't slippery, so it helped her clutch to the silk. She grit her teeth and reached higher. She could do this.
Once Elena was a good dozen or so feet up, she folded the silk below her over her feet and secured it, sighing in relief as she laid back and swung from it. Her arms hurt. Vasilios was a few feet higher, but she couldn't go any farther.
He smiled and watched in amusement as Elena climbed the curtain. He was proud that she had made it up that far without freaking out or complaining. He swung back and forth, reaching for his own curtain and secured himself to it, leaving a tail of silk behind him. He slid down to her level, stopping a few feet above "you look beautiful. Absolutely stunning" He complimented whistfully, reaching out to hold her curtain as well as his own and slightly swinging back and forth "a few things before we start. Don't looked down don't look away. Ok?"
She hiccuped, closing her eyes tightly. Vasilios leapt onto the curtain closest to her, only a foot or two away. He grasped Elena's silk, and swung it slightly, causing Elena to clench her fists harder around it.
"You look beautiful. Absolutely stunning." He whispered. Elena let her eyes open ever so slowly.
She looked at Lios, and nothing else. Thoughts zoomed across her mind, until it became completely blank.
"O-Ok." She managed, entranced.
He nodded slightly and started swing gently back and forth. Dark, hypnotic violin music started to play in the air around them, filling the area with its own magic. "Ah so Fair knows my favorite song." Lios said with a chuckle. "We're going to try a little something. Don't worry, it's simple and used as a beginners practice but it's really fun." He slid the few feet that separates the two and pulled Elena to him the waist "Ready butterfly?" He asked softly
"Eep!" She yelped as the curtain started swinging. She adjusted her stance, tightening the fabric around her. Violin music poured into the room, and Vasilios chuckled. "…So Fair knows my favorite song."
Elena fought the urge to climb off and drag Fair back and hide behind her. So she left for important business, huh? She frowned. Despite this, she had to admit; The music was quite nice, a hypnotic trilling of notes that she could only wish to play.
"Alright then." She huffed, preparing herself. Vasilios pulled her closer, and she felt the need to hold her breath. He smelled.. She couldn't quite put her finger on it, but it was definitely something sweet. Something was veiled under that as well. Something she didn't pick up.
((Oops, sorry! >< Was working on it though :) ))
(you're good, sorry for being pushy about this XD)
As the violin music picked up he started to slowly pull her into a spinning movement, his lips brushing against the nape of her neck as he spun her in his arms so that her back was to him. "Now I'm going to lead you in a sort of dance, alright? I promise I will not let you go unless I warn you before hand. THis act is all about trust and confidence in each other. Can I trust you Elena?" he asked, his voice picking up a slight tone of desparation.
((It's fine! I should have told you about it anyway))
As Fair played the melody, Vasilios twirled Elena around slowly, his lips gently brushing the base of her neck. She shivered involuntarily, though it was not cold at all.
"… You can trust me." She murmured, answering far too long after the word was spread. She felt… Dizzy. Elena realized that she was actually disappointed that she was facing away from Lios. She wanted to see his face.
"You can trust me." Elena said again, more confidently this time. She said it assuringly, for some part of her wanted horribly for Vasilios to understand that she meant what she said.
He smiled lightly and leaned in close to her ear "I knew I could." Lios wrapped his arms around her waist, gentle hands tracing the design tracing the design on her stomach. "Pretty little butterfly." He cooed turning her around and dipping her And started To sway back and forth
Vasilios leaned closer, his breath hot on her ear. She blushed furiously, suddenly thankful he couldn't see her face. Elena felt his arms wrap around her slim waist, hands trailing across her flesh. She fumbled, hands beginning to sweat. Lios turned her around and dipped her. Elena closed her eyes, the height from which they danced starting to catch up to her.
They swayed, the two lengths of silk entangling in their dance.
"Hmm.. You asked me if I trust you. But," She paused, seeming to reconsider her question. She tried again after a minute of silence.
"…But, should I trust you?" She whispered quietly.
He smiled thoughtfully and pulled her back into their skywards waltz "No, you shouldn't." he winked and pulled her away, only snap her back to him as if he couldn't have her far from him for more than a few seconds. They continued this dance for a few more minutes, Lios going through the movements with Elena as if they have done it a hundred times over. "A born naturally my dear." he praised with a smile swaying with her, causing the silk to flap back and forth near the bottom
Elena sucked in her breath when Vasilios pulled her away, the silk dangling dangerously below her. She was tucked back into the folds of his clothes a few seconds later, and she gasped for breath.
"D-Don't do that! You scared me." Elena complained. Whether he listened or not, he kept her close by his side for the rest of the dance. The curtains swayed under her feet, and she adjusted it carefully.
He smiled down at her, eyes glowing softly in the changing lights of the tent "forgive me my dear, I did not realize your fear of surprise." He held her close to his chest, swaying and moving in the air as if they're was an invisible floor beneath their feet. He spun her around a couple times but never let her get as far as his arms length
As the two twirled above the air, she noticed them slowly descending. The dance was drawing to a close. Her hair drifted around her, and she made a note to tie it up the next time they did something similar. Slowly, slowly, the dance came to a stop. Elena's feet brushed against the mat on the floor, and she let herself descend until she could stand without the silk. She exhaled, looking back at the silk.
"Well. That was certainly… Enjoyable." She said.
He laughed lightly not letting her go "Yes, I'd say it was. have you ever dance before?" he asked "you seem as you know your way on a dancefloor." he noticed. He looked her over once more and smiled thoughtfully "Fair did a good job." He pulled away from her to unwrap the silk from his torso. "you go change and I'll meet you by the exit."
"Oh! Uh, I used to take dance lessons when I was 7. I wasn't really good at it, but I guess I kind of remember a few things." She blushed, looking down at her feet, a hint of pride in her twinkling eyes.
"Fair did a good job." Vasilios remarked. Elena made a point to cover herself with the silk she unwound from herself. "Alright." She muttered, running off back to the dressing room. She didn't want to be reminded again about the horrendous outfit she wore.
Only then did she realize the music had stopped. Fair must have "returned from her business." She rolled her eyes playfully. Elena changed quickly back into her normal wear, grateful as to not look at the clothing for a minute longer.
Lios walked to a bench and pulled off his shirt, his back exposed to the area. He ran a hand through his hair and pulled on a close black button down shirt. He turned and headed to the front of the tent to wait for Elena. He couldn't stop thinking of her in the beautiful outfit or how natural it felt to have her in his hands "You've lost it now Lios."
Elena fiddled with her blouse, and then ran out to greet Vasilios. She noticed his change of clothes; A black shirt with buttons down the front of his chest.
"Should I have changed as well? Because I don't really have any other clothes to.." Her words trailed off at the end. She stared at him, watching the moon filter through his ruffled hair. Elena's lips parted in an O shape, and it hung there.
Quickly, she snapped it shut, realizing that she had been staring.
"S-sorry." She rushed, adjusting her hair to hide her embarrassed face.
He smiled lightly and shook his head "you have nothing to apologies for. He glanced up at the moon, it's light filtering through his shirt, shadowing the curves of his chest. "Ready to go?" He akswd glancing back at her. "We have a few more tents to go."
"Ah, yes. Of course. Where to next?" Elena inquired, making sure not to look him in the eye. Or anywhere near him. She glanced around her, looking for interesting tents to visit. She made the mistake of turing a bit too far to the left, and caught of glimpse of Lios. She gulped, her head snapping back to the ground.
"We have three more tents. The history about the circus, magicians, and mechanical." Which would you like to visit first?" He asked noticing her attempts to look distracted. He pulled her into a walk while she made her decision
"Hm, the history of the circus seems like an interesting place to visit." Elena noted honestly. She walked alongside Lios quitely. They turned onto a gravely path heading toward a tent.
"I thought they told the story of the circus during the show; Do they not tell everything?" She questioned, tugging on her clothing with apprehensive hands. The moon was almost to its peak, and she was feeling a bit drowsy. She shook her head, clearing the fog that was building up in her mind. She mustn't fall asleep now, maybe she would miss something important. Elena forced her eyes open and trudged on.
"We tell a version of the story. Not completely the truth, not completely a lie." he saw her eyes close drowsily and laughed "We can continue this tomorrow if you'd like, I know it's late and I've kept you for so long." he offered, stopping in his tracks and turning to begin to head back "You can sleep here if you'd like, or I can escort you home."
"I see." Elena contemplated this, and nodded.
"No, no way! I'm totally fine! We can continue." Elena said, eyes widening. Her hands moved from side to side, trying to show what she meant. They dropped to her side after a minute, and she yawned.
"Oh!" She covered her mouth sheepishly.
"L-let's go to the tent! I'm fine." She protested weakly, but she was kind of talking to herself at this point.
He gave her a concerning smile but nodded "alright. If your willing to be so persistent about it." He led her to the classic red and white tent. "This is what we used to do way back when everything was easy and carefree. It's kind of like a moving cinema." He tried to explain. "You'll see." He opened the tent flap for her and led her inside. They sat in the front rows near the stage, a moving track separating them and the curtains above. "Don't be frightened if you feel the seats moving. It's normal and part of the experience." He winked and pressed a button on a stand nearby. The lights above dimmed and the stage came alive with light.
