Mear
We started a slow game of speed which rather contradicted the title ironically. However, I found my thoughts were elsewhere and tying to work out things to say. It was quiet between us for a bit before Shupple started talking. This I valued as a bridge away from the perpetual silence.
“The um... wish I was talking about outside was um... something I had wished back a few years ago and uh-” Shupple started, and for a moment, I wondered if she was going to explain fully. However a slam on the table caused both of our heads to turn. I saw that it was the Gengar that had approached me earlier. I still had yet to know his name, but by the way he was looking at us both, I believed that he probably knew Shupple in one manner or another. For a moment I felt something strange run through me. I was…. slightly angry for some reason.
Suddenly the Gengar snapped his finger and the cards that we had been playing with rushed off the table and into his hands. He looked somewhat satisfied with this motion and smirked in a way only a Gengar could, and in that moment, I realized he was planning something. One of my eyes shifted to Shupple, but she seemed somewhat transfixed on what had happened.
“You don't get your cards back unless you dance the tango, got it?” the Gengar chucked before turning sharply and skipping off happily. I was left somewhat dumbfounded by the statement. This indeed conferred that the Genger knew Shupple…. Ironically I realized that I should have come to that conclusion beforehand from the way he had appeared at my door only to talk about her…. Then my thoughts moved back to the matter at hand… A.. tango? But… I felt my eyebrow raise, and both Shupple and I exchanged confused looks.
“Did he just say…” Shupple started as though she were trying to unheard what we had both heard.
“Uh….” I thought for a minute whether it was better to confirm this information or to remain quiet about the notion… to forget it all together. However, even as this option came to mind, I knew it was to be disregarded due to the simple fact that we had indeed both heard it escape the Gengar Gijinka. “Ya….” I finally answered feeling my face somewhat shade differently.
Shupple looked at me as if she had expected both of us to just disregard the notion and turned a shade red before looking away after a moment. I looked down at the table to where the cards had been previously and was unable to find anything worth saying at that point. We were both silent for a moment.
“We… don’t really need the cards back…” Shupple started somewhat more in a consoling manner of something that was lost and was not expected to be found. I looked up from the table at her and then shook my head a bit.
“But they’re your cards….” I said feeling somewhat the cause of the cards disappearing. Shupple tured red at this statement, and I found that my eyes had shifted away forcing their way out onto the dance floor. Several other dancer seemed to already be performing the tango, and I suddenly became aware of the music that was playing. Indeed….
“It’s….” Shupple started again as though trying to reinforce what she had said earlier. I found that my hand had started to trace pictures on the table.
“Would you like to dance?” I asked quietly just above the music. I couldn’t even believe that… I mean… unlike the other dances… the tango….. and…… I felt my face turn sharp red, and I forced myself to look passed the dances. Suddenly, I noticed on the other side of the dance floor, the Gengar seemed completely happy with watching the dances. However, he seemed to catch my eye for a moment and smirked.
“But….” Shupple broke off. And I found myself regretting even suggesting a dance……I … and all those people…. I felt my hand start to shake a bit as it continued to move along the table.
“L-let’s just go for one dance…” I said feeling the nerve in my voice about to crack at any moment.
Shupple seemed to address the entire matter to the table as she looked down quietly. I felt my nerve threatening again, but there was something in me that was also beginning to form that demanded to go as well….
“A-a-alright… one dance…” Shupple concurred after a bit.
We both moved onto the dance floor nervously and somewhat awkwardly. Neither of our forms was even remotely correct, and we stumbled quite a bit. The steps were strained for the first thirty seconds, and I found that we had exchanged nearly a dozen or so foot smashing of the other between the two of us. I tried desperately to keep my eyes on Shupple as one does when with a dancing partner, and she seemed to be doing the same. After a few extra odd seconds, we started to move in a more fluid dance. It was peaceful and soon we were just swaying with each other in a gentle rhythmic motion. Step… step… step… It was starting to become more of a nature than anything else. I felt my face growing red and resisted the urge to avert my eye. Step… step… step. I felt myself tense sharply just barley avoiding stepping on Shupple’s foot. Step…step….step.
After the song ended in a peaceful quiet way, Shupple and I broke apart each expressing somewhat of a red faced aversion of eyes. Neither of us were able to say anything, and when one of us attempted to make sense of it and state it, it would just collapse in on itself and we would go back to silence.
“Thanks for the dance…” I managed to say after a moment. “it was nice… and….”
“Ya..” Shupple answered half chucking to herself.
We both moved off the dance floor and let the other couples continue on with the dancing. I found it funny by thinking of that sentence in terms of couples because…. I stopped myself and then forced the thought dismally into the back of my mind. It was starting to get late quickly yet I was only a tad tired.
Just then my eyes caught the Gengar moving across the lines with another strange smile plastered on his face in a coy yet calm way. His grin somewhat made me angry for one reason or another. Shupple seemed to step forwards and held out her hand for the cards that were in the Gengar’s hand, but he suddenly seemed to take her hand and then continued a smile pulling her a bit.
“May I have this dance?” he grinned at Shupple. Shupple reflected with a look that crossed between agitation and a number of other things. I was left with an unsure moment where I just stood there. Realizing that it was probably just a dance and what not… wait why exactly was I feeling so strange about this? Shupple sighed after a moment and seemed to accept the purposed.
“Alright,” she managed to sigh before the Gengar was off and already moving Shupple back to the dance floor. Again there was a strange agitation that rung in me for one reason or another, but after a moment, it faded somewhat peacefully. Sighing to myself, I looked over and saw that several other people were standing around talking to one another. My hands moved somewhat, and I caught myself tracing in the air the images that I was seeing. Unnerved for a moment more out of embarrassment than anything, I shoved my hand in my pocket and leaned my head forwards quietly.
Suddenly I heard someone was singing on stage, and my eyes moved over. I registered that it was Chii, and as my eyes moved downwards, I found Lupe was standing only a few meters away. It appeared as though he was singing to her. It sounded peaceful, and my eyes moved back to the dance floor that seemed to take this song and apply it to dance. I saw not far off, Shupple was still dancing with the Gengar, and suddenly something worked its way inside again. My hand reached in my pocket, and I found the necklace that I had reverse sketched into reality that morning. It was still there…. I hadn’t even thought about it till now. Taking my hand out of my pockets again, I found that the song hand ended, and both Shupple and the Gengar Gijinka were walking back.
“Thanks for the dance,” the Gengar laughed. “Oh and if ya didn’t know. I’m Grey. Already know who you are though.” He laughed again walking off before I could question any action. Shupple looked a bit paler than before, and for some reason, I felt half worried.
“Are you alright?” I asked.
“Ya….” Shupple answered suddenly moving her hand up and holding up the deck of cards. “Anyways….” She broke off as though considering if it was worth saying any more. “Ya….” Shupple answered after a moment suddenly moving her eyes away. I found myself looking down at the floor, and it came to me that I didn’t even realize I had started looking down at it. Suddenly, I realized that Shupple was starting to look even more pale that before.
“Shupple are you alright?” I asked stepping forwards.
“I’m fine,” Shupple said with a short moment, but there was something in her voice that made me disbelieve this…. “I’m… just tired… I think…” she said quietly.
I stepped forwards again and placed my hand on Shupple’s forehead. Had not there been a concern, I would have probably recoiled at realizing what I was doing. Shupple felt somewhat cold to the touch instead of warm. I moved my hand away feeling a strange worry start to move up in me.
“I’m fine….” Shupple insisted, but already she seemed to avoid my eyes.
“Well… we should sit down and take a break or so….” I said.
Shupple just gave a nod and didn’t say anymore.
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Hah. Mear's worried =P
Mear
KC
