One More Meeting (Arthur and Francis)

[Francis Bonnefoy]

That wide, luminous smile was enough to still Francis that moment. His heart stuttered and his thoughts vanished, caught by the sheer delight on Arthur's face. He let Arthur lead him into the middle of the dancers, realizing only too late that he was supposed to be dancing.

But it did not matter now whether Francis slid into the rhythm, since the music was slowing down. Francis listened closely as the orchestra segued into a new song.

The first notes were sparse but stretched, almost hypnotizing. They hovered in the air as the next strains resonated in the ballroom, and by then, Francis recognized the dance.

A tango.

Ah, perfect. Of course, he would have no other partner than the man before him. He took a few gliding steps away from Arthur, peeling off his gloves delicately. Keeping his eyes locked with his partner's, he deftly unbuttoned his waistcoat and shrugged it off, tossing it almost carelessly into the audience.

Francis had offered his invitation.

[Cpt. Arthur Kirkland]

Arthur tilts his own head to the side. And a moment later his goes to his tweed jacket, removing itself and being tossed into his side of the audience, along with his waistcoat which had been loosened while dancing earlier. He stands there, braces aligning his lean form.

There's a slow smirk, and Arthur accepts the invite, gliding towards the other to take his hand.

All eyes are on them, but the only people they can suddenly see are each other.

[Francis Bonnefoy]

The rest of the ballroom fell away, leaving only Arthur to fill Francis' awareness. They cleared a space as they circled each other, and Francis never blinked, never let his gaze stray from his partner.

Francis was the first to take a step toward Arthur, skulking closer with panther-like grace. Even when they were pressed against each other, Francis did not touch him. There was heat and electricity between them, around them, and Francis felt blissfully alive.

In an abrupt motion, Francis seized Arthur's waist, grasping firmly as he bent the pirate down. They made a perfect arc over the floor, with Francis' face nearly touching Arthur's neck, intoxicated by his scent.

[Cpt. Arthur Kirkland]

Arthur falls into stance practically naturally, feeling the sturdiness and strength of Francis' arms around his waist as they arch, before coming back up to position. There's a moment's pause where Arthur's gazing into Francis' eyes, finding himself getting lost in the blue sea of them.

They begin to glide across the floor, their feet entwining and dancing against each other perfectly. They come to a halt and Arthur wraps his leg around he other's thigh, re-positioning himself.

He still doesn't break eye contact, barely daring to be anything chess than chests touching.

[Francis Bonnefoy]

With the music cresting higher and higher, the fervor of their dancing rose. The air still crackled around them, yet it wasn't until Francis felt Arthur's leg around him that electricity speared into his bones.

This was more than just a dance now.

Francis dipped the pirate for a long moment, then straightened in one smooth move and yanked Arthur by the arm back into position. Francis marveled at Arthur's expertise - for a pirate from an underprivileged past, Arthur was practically a master at dance.

Now they slid across the floor together, invading the space in sync. Their movements were now in harmony rather than furious aggression. When Francis pushed Arthur out onto the floor, connected only by their hands, he tugged Arthur back to wrap himself in Francis' arm and halt when they only a breath away from each other.

The music swelled around them, reaching its crescendo.

[Cpt. Arthur Kirkland]

Arthur could feel it. Crackling, enlightening the two figures, practically as one. There's a moment where Arthur reaches up and traces Francis' face against the air, expression serious, before he suddenly grabs Francis and they move across again, faster, in time with the momentum of the music -- and if Francis and Arthur are in complete sync -- which Arthur has absolutely no doubt about --

After the second spin Arthur jumps and his leg wraps around the Noble's waist, and off they go, twirling, dominating the floor-

The audience are applauding or stood in stunned silence, buy neither are paying attention to them. Just each other.

[Francis Bonnefoy]

Francis was lost to the movement of their joined limbs, the fierce grace of their journey through the music together, and as they executed that last spin, Francis truly felt like he flew. The song ended with a sudden crash, leaving Francis with Arthur in his arms, bent over the pirate's kneeling form.

For many long minutes, they were still. Francis was tied to Arthur by the harsh gulps of breath they struggled for, yet unwilling to move even an inch away from his partner.

It took the thunder of applause to bring Francis back to the fact that they had an audience and that they were still in the ballroom. Francis slowly unfolded himself from Arthur and stepped back.

He managed a chuckle and a bright smile, bowing to his spectators and then to Arthur.

"You are an exquisite dancer, my lord," he murmured when he straightened. He winked.

[Cpt. Arthur Kirkland]

Arthur just smirked and bowed in return. He was very clearly adept at improvising.

"As the same could be same to you, my good man." He remarks, holding an arm out as someone brought forward his tweed and waistcoat. "We must surely discuss such talents later."

He wanted to see him, somewhere relatively in private. Not right now, strictly, but the request was clearly there.

He turns back to the audience, the tweed jacket hold over his shoulder, and taking another mock bow, laughing and grinning at the audience. He twirls the top hat back onto his head, and with one last glance, disappears among the crowd again.

The circle soon converges back into normality, the crowds buzzing with chatter about the spectacular performance. It was clear that Francis' ball had already been a great success.

[Francis Bonnefoy]

Francis recognized an invitation when he heard one. Before Arthur could duck away again, Francis grasped his hand and squeezed - a signal of his acceptance. He turned away before he could be tempted to linger and watch Arthur; surely his longing would become obvious to everyone.

He flashed his guests a dazzling smile, indulging in some of the chatter and compliments toward him. But the talk was venturing into dangerous territory: many inquired about the identity of his partner.

"A country noble," said Francis dismissively, laughing. "A landowner outside of Granor. He was visiting and I thought I should extend my hospitality to show him the true splendor of our city events."

Before he could be asked to elaborate further, Francis moved away and allowed himself to be swallowed by the crowd.

[Cpt. Arthur Kirkland]

Arthur would be found on the balcony, looking out into the lights of the city below. It was rather brisk and cold out here, so he was lucky that not many people had decided to venture here on this eve, if only to duck out for a quick breath of cool air before venturing back inside. The music was drifting softly out, and by now it was becoming quieter; more intimate.

He'd milled around the smaller masses, explaining he was a country noble who Francis had extended his hospitality too. He hadn't known in sync, just over heard and coaxed out what Francis had covered for him. He'd laughed, danced politely with a few ladies, observed a few targets, then finally decided to wait for his invitation to appear. He sits upon the balcony, balancing precautiously with a lot of ground to cover before hitting the grounds below. This didn't seem to bother him in the slightest, but he was getting a little apprehensive.

His stomach felt rife with butterflies.