#casually just

So when it came to seeing the different styles of Eorzean dances, Rayana was completely enraptured by them. So much so that seeing dancers performing in the streets of Ul’dah or Gridania, she would stop in her tracks and watch, unmoving until the performance had concluded. Which tended to be a bit of a hassle at times for the Windsong members who got her as a job partner for the day, as it meant setting aside valuable work time to standing around watching dancers do their dances.

She always felt bad afterwards, even if her partner reassured her all was fine. So badly Rayana wanted to study these new dances. Unfortunately, she never had much time to. Always hopping from job to job or, if she wasn’t working, she was at home, cleaning, cooking, organizing, helping out where she could. She was constantly keeping herself busy as to not be a burden on the Free Company who had so graciously taken her in. On Top of the fact she needed to be stronger, for Doma, for Windsong, for him. There was no time to study dancing. No time to pursue her dreams. She had work to do.

One of the jobs she was on had taken her to Ishgard. It was her first time back after the Dragonsong War had concluded. Silianaux accompanied her, of course. He was a senior member of Windsong, and since her joining, he had accompanied her on a lot of missions. At first it was protocol, every new member of Windsong was accompanied by a senior member to help them learn the ropes--especially if they were new to fighting large beasts or new to certain areas, which Rayana definitely was. But even after being accepted as a full-fledged member, Silianaux still followed after her, having become one of her dearest friends.

And it was on this mission in Ishgard that Rayana’s attention had been caught by a beautiful porcelain music box settled in a shop window they passed by. She stopped to watch the two figures slowly spin curiously.

“So beautiful...” She said in awe. “Her dress is so detailed, flowing along like she is dancing.”

“It’s called a waltz.” Came Silianaux from behind her. She looked at him, his smile warming her chilled form. “The dance they figurines are doing is a waltz.”

A waltz. She had decided there and then, quietly in the depths of her heart, that she wanted to see a waltz in person… Someday...

Her work retook her attention of course, and she eventually forgot all about that tiny little wish she had made. So many other things had taken priority after that day: The Ala Mhigan rebellion, freeing Doma from Garlean rule, Silianaux losing his eyesight… She had been so preoccupied with working, rebuilding and helping… Again, her tiny little dreams had been set aside to gather dust.

That was, until, Silianaux had taken a job for Windsong and asked her to come along. She agreed, of course, having become so protective of him after nearly losing him to death twice. She was never going to let him leave somewhere far by himself. He led her deep within the Shroud, promising her that he would reveal the details of the job in time.

When they arrived in a small little flower grove far out of the way from civilization, Rayana couldn’t help but ask again.

“What is the job? To pick flowers?”

Silianaux was busy digging in his pockets to answer.

“Sillyman…?” Rayana asked as she leaned forward toward him.

“One moment--!” He held up an index finger as his other hand dug around in his coat pockets.

Rayana patiently waited, watching him as he fumbled around in his extremely colorful and fancy-feathered coat he always enjoyed wearing. Eventually, he found what he was looking for. A tiny little wooden box, which he proceeded to wind-up. A second later, a melody began to play and he tucked the box back into it’s pocket.

“Ahem!” He cleared his throat, then held a hand out toward her, that familiar charming smile forming on his lips. It sent her heart aflutter. “May I have this dance, my lovely serpent?”

Rayana tilted her head slightly. “Ehh…? What about the job?”

Silianaux stood there with his hand extended. “... There wasn’t a job.” He admitted a bit shyly.

“Oh. Then why did you say there was?” She asked.

“So you would be surprised when we got here.”

Silence befell them, and Silianaux knowingly waited for her to, more or less, catch up.

“OH!” Rayana exclaimed suddenly, her eyes widening in surprise.

Silianaux couldn’t hide his smile of delight, which Rayana very much noticed. Her face flushed red with embarrassment at how long it took her to realize that it was a surprise for her. She gently took hold of his offered palm and, with a gentle tug, she was pulled toward him. A smile graced her features as she followed his guidance toward him. Oh how she enjoyed little moments like these with him… Probably more than he would ever know.

The first few steps were strange. Instinctively, she led him lead and followed after him. Step by step, he would count below his breath to the chimes of the music box: One, two, three… One, two, three… Their height differences also made things complicated for whatever dance they were attempting to do. He was a tall elezen man, and she a tiny au ra woman. A long step for him was five steps for her. There were a few stumbles and staggers, but eventually, they figured out something to make it work.

Eventually they were twirling among the grass and flowers with untrained elegance. As Rayana was held and spun slowly around the grove, a long forgotten memory surfaced of two porcelain figures twirling atop of a music box. Her eyes went wide as a small gasp of realization escaped her.

“A waltz…!”

Silianaux only smiled toward her. Rayana’s heart thumped hard against her chest, and she ducked her head slightly. It wasn’t to hide the tears welling at the corners of her eyes or the deep blush forming on her cheeks, no, she knew full well he couldn’t see. It was, instead, for her. She couldn’t look at him or that smile of his. Her racing heart couldn’t take it. Her feelings that she tried so hard to keep buried couldn’t handle another moment of this.

Their forest waltz only continued for a moment or two longer before Rayana’s silent tears prompted her to squeak out a sniffling sob of happiness. Which had then thrown poor, blind Silianaux into a panic, causing him to believe that he had somehow stepped on her toes. She reassured him that she was fine, but he hadn’t bought it, and he proceeded to fuss over her for the rest of their time in the grove.

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