[hr][hr][center][h3][b][color=42A9FF]April[/color][/b][/h3][img]https://img.roleplayerguild.com/prod/users/019a32b8-61bb-718f-82f1-903e3238ae55.webp[/img]
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April’s chest fluttered with excitement for a moment. Danni and Dorian had told Millie Broadway about her? She knew how much her brothers loved her, but every now and then a reminder of it took her breath away for a moment, as she felt that love for a moment. She returned Millie’s hug tightly, giggling with the building feelings of ecstasy. They had gone through so much bullshit, so much drama and suffering this year - and now, now they just got to be happy, they got to celebrate and enjoy life, with no existential dread crushing them, no pressure of performing on a global stage on the horizon. [color=42A9FF]“Oh, absolutely, I’d love to show you around!!”[/color] she squealed, already thinking what Millie would want to see the most on campus. April had never really spent a lot of time in the performing arts center, but she knew that it was supposed to be gorgeous - she bet Millie would want to see it. She’d want to see everything. Maybe she could give her the full tour. 

[color=42A9FF]“Okay, have fun!!”[/color] she waved a bit, as Millie was whisked away by America Chavez to the dance floor - or the dance air space? Everyone was leaving gravity behind now, whether they were aided by their powers or by Vicky’s gravitational lift. 

She was about to head to join in when the music went silent for a moment, as Vision arrived and gave a speech, praising each and every one of them individually. She didn’t remember the last time an adult had praised her - didn’t remember the last time an authority figure had told her that she did well. Her parents certainly hadn’t. Nothing had ever been enough for them, when excellence was held as the baseline, the standard. So as Vision paid her a compliment for her efforts in the contest, April couldn’t hold back the tears - they weren’t sad, however. They were tears of pride, of happiness. That same giddiness latched onto the drinks in the courtyard, not freezing them but violently sloshing them about, spilling them over onto the tables.

She dried her tears on the back of her sleeve, before beaming at Marlena as she asked if she needed a partner. She wanted to dance with everyone she loved tonight - wanted to dance with her team. The style of dance seemed to be partner swaps, so she could begin with Marlena - and then see about getting Leah, about getting Danni and Dorian and all the others. [color=42A9FF]“Yeah, let’s do it!!”[/color] April grabbed Marlena’s hand, and dragged her to the dance floor, where the lack of gravity let them start to drift pleasantly upwards into the sky. 





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Percy bit back a grimace. He didn’t like dancing. They had assigned dance units at Gates and he had been conveniently ill during every lesson. The touching, the social rules, the noise… it was a perfect symphony of everything that made him want to scream and tear off his skin. But he had already skipped out on a lot of the celebrations that day, sitting in his room in complete silence in the dark rather than joining the others. And then, he had caused Dorian to miss the start of this event too, having a public meltdown worse than any he’d had in a while. He could be uncomfortable for a moment. How long could dancing last for? 

He nodded, as Dorian asked if they could dance - enticing him with the idea that it would be like Pride and Prejudice. Percy [i]loved[/i] Pride and Prejudice. It had quickly evolved into his comfort movie. 

[color=ed1c24]“Very well, Mr. Darcy,”[/color] Percy acquiesced, following Dorian’s lead. He did his best to mirror and match his boyfriend’s steps, as they left gravity behind - and despite never having danced before really, he managed to hold his own. 

[Color=CC99FF]”Enchanté Ms. Swan.”[/color] No matter how many times Dorian had watched Pride and Prejudice, he still called Elizabeth Bennet, Kieran Knightley's character, by Elizabeth Swan, another character played by her from the Pirates of the Caribbean series. He led Percy in the dance, knowing full well that his boyfriend never had much of a want to dance, and full happy that he agreed to even do so right now. [Color=CC99FF]”You're a natural Perce.”[/color]

Percy blushed, even as he protested Dorian mixing up franchises [i]again[/i]. [color=ed1c24]“Her name is Elizabeth Bennet,”[/color] he corrected. He had told Dorian this a thousand times before, and he would probably tell him another thousand times, if not more. They weren’t dancing quite like in the movies - Percy didn’t know the name of the dance they were doing, but it was a bit too modern for Bennet and Darcy - or for Elizabeth Swan and Will Turner. Although… he wouldn’t mind if Dorian decided to dress as either Turner or Darcy for a bit. 

For now the pair had been establishing a basic dance in swing. A stance Percy was more than likely not used to, as instead of having their feet directly beneath each other, they were almost shoulder length apart, a basic two step march that moved into a rock step. Nothing crazy, nothing too fancy. They stood almost at an angle to each other, making a V shaped pattern with their bodies, and Dorian's hand was on Percy's lower back. A clearly more relaxed stance to take as opposed to the ballroom dancing shown on period dramas. 

Dorian wanted to add a bit more flare into it, after all this was swing, he quickly (and without warning) threw Percy out, extending his arms in such a way that was meant to lead into the turn in and back to the basics. Unfortunately Percy had gone too far out too quick, their fingers grazed each other as they slipped away and Dorian quickly extended the telekinetic field around Percy to grip his hand now before pulling him in. Giggling as they rejoined with Percy curled into his arms before he let go and went back into the basics.

Percy yelped as suddenly, he was thrown out - he didn’t know this style of dance, he had a vague idea of small, controlled spins in period pieces but nothing quite like this - he’d panicked, trying to get a better grip onto Dorian’s fingers, only to meet nothing but air. But the next thing he knew, a familiar sensation enveloped him, like a weighted blanket, and he was pulled back in, his back to Dorian as he was pressed against his chest. [color=ed1c24]“Don’t do that!”[/color] Percy protested, as he bit back a smile - or at least, attempted to. He couldn’t help himself, a lovesick grin forcing its way to the surface, as he started to giggle. And as they went back into the basic step, he couldn’t stop looking at Dorian with adoration, missing more and more of the movements as they went. 

[Color=CC99FF]”You can't even ‘ide it! You're ‘avin’ fun.”[/color] Dorian continued, watching Percy's feet to try and keep him on step and rhythm. [Color=CC99FF]”Now kick ball change and 1,2,3  and now we do a twirl!”[/color] Dorian pulled Percy inwards this time, having him move underneath his arm as he then twirled  him out before coiling him back in and throwing him out. His free hand and matching foot extending outwards in the opposite direction to add some flair into the move.

[color=ed1c24]“I am not having fun!”[/color] he argued, giggling between each word. He couldn’t help himself, it was like his body had decided to betray him in that moment, years of suppressed laughs and snarky comments just evaporating. He had no idea what a kick ball change was - was he supposed to kick? But the tempo was fast enough that he couldn’t even question it, before he was spun around and thrown out again, his vision swimming a bit as more laughter escaped him. 

[Color=CC99FF]”T'en we should ‘not ‘ave fun’ more often.”[/color] Dorian was also now in a fit of giggles. He'd never seen Percy this happy, this free. It made his heart melt and his love grow. Sure he'd seen him smile or show his affections in ways only Percy could, but this? Unbridled emotion with no walls to hold them back? Never in a million years did he believe it possible. 

[color=ed1c24]“I never have fun with you, [i]ever[/i],”[/color] he swore, even as he was starting to struggle to breathe from the joyous laughter. If he hadn’t just cried his eyes out, he probably would’ve been brought to tears. If Dorian hadn’t been holding them up in the air with his powers, his knees might have given out. He spun into Dorian’s chest again, holding himself there for a moment as his body trembled. 

Dorian gave Percy a kiss as he held him close, fully enraptured in their dance to notice anyone else that was on the floor. When it came time to spin him out once more, where normally a partner swap out occur, he extended out just as he'd done last time. Flourishing with his free hand and leg out as he turned to face away from Percy, but when he turned back again to grab and pull Percy in, he was in the hands of another.

Chase had taken the partner swap and began to dance swing with Percy. There was nervousness inside him, from what felt like a thousand eyes staring right back at him. As he turned their angle slightly he smiled and waved at Dominika, before turning Percy to see who he was saying hi to. [Color=585c74]”Percival…you didn't tell her?”[/color] His tone clearly surprised at the news.

Percy had been having a really nice time - he’d been having fun, feeling giddy with happiness and joy. He didn’t know that he had been jinxed - didn’t know that the universe itself was conspiring against him, that even with 1 in 400 odds, he was doomed, doomed to be swung out from Dorian’s grip - and into Chase’s. He was stunned speechless for a moment, falling out of the rhythm of the dance - and stumbling out of Vicky’s anti gravity field, face first, destined for his next kiss to be with the pavement about ten feet below. 

Chase watched as Percy immediately lost his grip on the situation. Shadows pooling around Percy's lower back as he caught him in a low dip and pulled him back up with a smile. [Color=585c74]”I always told you skipping Dance Lessons wasn't a wise idea. Just, follow my lead?”[/color]

Dorian looked towards Percy, asking him if he needed help, if he needed them to get away. He needed no words, a simple look conveying it all.

He swallowed, the only thing keeping him from screaming as Chase touched him being his boyfriend’s telekinetic barrier. He studied Chase’s face as he had a thousand times before. He hadn’t been able to understand their classmates, but he had been able to understand him - or so he’d thought. A tremble went through him as that pain crawled its way back to the surface. He wanted this to be genuine, to be real - wanted this to not be an act to save face, to avoid social embarrassment. He wanted Chase to regret what he’d done and apologize - even if Percy himself didn’t know if it was too late, didn’t know if he could ever forgive him. 

And for a moment, he thought he saw in Chase’s eyes what he wanted to see.

He looked at Dorian and shook his head for a moment.  

He switched into Spanish, as his gaze hardened. [color=ed1c24]“Y que te hizo pensar que yo le hubiera dicho algo? No voya, si eso es todo lo que estoy es. No se los digo.”[/color] 

Chase rolled his eyes at Percy. Difficult of course he would be. And why shouldn't he? Chase was a monster, a murderer, and a million other despicable things. [Color=585c74]”No pensé por un segundo que tu me ibas a dar el chance para pedir disculpas. No es solamente para ellos. Pero…”[/color] Chase got quiet, debating on if he should even say or ask about this. This dance was already so fragile it may break it, but when else would he get the chance? [Color=585c74]”Fui un cobarde. Pero tú me dejaste sólito en esa clase del infierno. Me dijiste que me amabas y solamente porque yo no tenía las palabras para responder tu me abandonaste primero.”[/color]

There was nothing in Chase’s eyes that he wanted to see - no glimmer of remorse, no regret. His best friend had died a long time ago, and this was just the thing wearing his corpse. Percy stopped dancing, his hands shaking as they folded into fists. He wanted nothing more than to lash out and scream, to punch Chase as hard as he could, to split his lip and watch him bleed - to make him feel just an [i]ounce[/i] of what he’d put Percy through. That was what all of this had been about? That was why his life had been made a living hell - because of a class? The tremors in his hands traveled to the rest of his body, and he was livid, seeing red. 

Chase hadn’t changed. Couldn’t change, maybe. 

And it was only because he knew that beating the lights out of him right now would ruin the party for everyone else that he restrained himself. 

[color=ed1c24]“I wasn’t going to tell anyone here. I was going to keep your secret,”[/color] Percy spat. [color=ed1c24]“I wasn’t going to tell them how you threw me into every locker I’d fit into, every trash can - that you were my friend and you threw it all away because you were, what - scared? You’re right. You were a coward. And you still are one. You care more about what everyone else here thinks of you than the rot inside your soul. You think you’re Arthur, but you’re Mordred.”[/color] [i]You’re the reason I drink.[/i] [color=ed1c24]“And if you [i]ever[/i] touch me again, it won’t be social suicide you have to worry about.”[/color] 

Chase had let go of Percy. He wasn't going to fight him, he wasn't even trying to start an argument. All he'd wanted was to have the chance to apologize. His hands tugged at the cuffs of his sleeves, taking a step back as Percy held up a mirror to who he had become. [Color=585c74]”I never said I was Arthur, I've known for a while who my counterpart was. But you're wrong about one thing Percival, I wasn't worried about what everyone else here thought about me, only what you did. I simply wanted to apologize, and I knew you'd never forgive me, but I thought maybe the Percival I knew was still there, clearly it's just [i]Perce[/i] now. Don't worry about me seeing you again.”[/color] Shadows pooled around Chase as they opened up behind him and he began to slink in. 

[color=ed1c24]“The Percival you knew was beaten out of me when [i]you[/i] decided being a monster was more important than being my friend,”[/color] he snarled. [color=ed1c24]“And I don’t worry about you. That would require thinking about you.”[/color]

[hider=Translations]Y que te hizo pensar que yo le hubiera dicho algo? No voya, si eso es todo lo que estoy es. No se los digo = Why would I tell her? I won’t, if that’s what this is. I won’t tell them.

No pensé por un segundo que tu me ibas a dar el chance para pedir disculpas. No es solamente para ellos, Pero… = I didn’t think for a second that you would give me the chance to apologize. It isn't just for them, but…

Fui un cobarde. Pero tú me dejaste sólito en esa clase del infierno. Me dijiste que me amabas y solamente porque yo no tenía las palabras para responder tu me abandonaste primero. = I was a coward. But you left me alone in that class from hell. You told me you loved me and because I didn't have the words to respond to you you left me first.

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