A Mirage Of Milk And Honey

Chapter 32 - An Ocean of Stars

Honey hadn't thought much of it at first. She'd danced with others already, laughing with them when she stumbled, high fiving when she made no mistakes. Asking Aedis was nothing different from asking a friend to dance.

But then she'd caught Me'Liah and Ma'Tali's eager gazes in the corner of the room, and against her will an embarrassing flush bloomed on her cheeks.

"I am warning you," Aedis spoke from beside her, "I have not danced Koākoi in a very long time."

Honey let out a snort, turning to face him.

"It's not too late to back out." She shouted over the music, her voice drowned by the melody of instruments.

Aedis fixed her with a challenging gaze, and he motioned for her to spin.

Honey did as told with a laugh, turning so that her back faced him.

At first, Aedis was almost hesitant with his movements, as though testing the waters.

A slow stroke from her bare shoulder down to her fingers, before pulling up. Honey's hand followed the motion of his own, lifting above her in an arc. He tapped her right hip, and she moved away from the touch to tilt into a side arc. Then she was following his hand around and up so that she faced him.

Gradually, the slow and tentative movements became more fluid. They picked up speed not with harshness but with confidence. Aedis' directions were clear, little was up to interpretation and Honey appreciated it. When he stepped back, she'd step forward. When he moved closer, she'd move further.

There were elements of ballroom dance, as well. He'd spin her the way one would in Nileau, and as the music's tempo picked up speed, so did Aedis' movements.

Honey was dizzy with berry wine and sweet foods, her steps light and her head clouded with no dreary thoughts, living in the moment. It was unfamiliar, but she couldn't pay any mind to it because she was enjoying herself too much.

Aedis spun her once more, tapping her sternum to send her backwards before pulling her back with only a touch of his fingers against hers. He ran the backs of his hands from her shoulders to her hands, lifting them around his shoulders in one fluid motion that flowed into the next. And then one hand was gripping one of her hips while the other moved down to the back of her knee.

With a jump, Aedis lifted her up, one knee bent not around but against his hip and the other extended straight as he spun her in a semi-circle. It wasn't so much a lift as it was an assisted jump, but Honey let out a breathless chuckle as he set her down with fluid ease, moving her into a turn.

Aedis grinned at her, a boyish thing that made the corners of his eyes crinkle and his cheeks strain as he joined in with Honey's laughter.

"I haven't seen that one before." Honey giggled, giddy with wine.

"It's a little move I picked up in Aéruh, a Kingdom of Osheya." He bragged playfully, shrugging.

"What was the dancing there like?" Honey asked curiously as Aedis lead her so that they stood in front of each other.

Aedis sighed in thought, "It was very fluid. A lot of smooth lifts and jumps. Light fabric and flowy dresses that billowed with the smallest movement." Honey smiled up at him doefully, "A lot of sheer fabrics, too. Whites, light blues. Sometimes pinks and oranges like the sunset."

"It sounds beautiful." She replied, and Aedis smiled softly, before tripping over his steps ever so slightly.

"It was also scripted!" He joked, and Honey let out a cackle of laughter.