bakerstreet | The Meet And Greet Meme For Characters

The Meet And Greet Meme For Characters

The Meet and Greet Meme
For Characters
This is the IC version of the The Role Call Meme

[The Rules]

1. Find the thread for the canons/fandoms of your character. If you don't see one, make one!

2. Post with all of your character accounts. Yes, all of them. Throwing in your entire musebox is totally fine in this meme. (Please write down the name and canon/fandom of the character in the subject line, and also if they're canon, AU, crossover or OC, etc.)

3. AU characters are totally OK. Crossover/fusion characters may post at all the fandoms/canons their crossover/fusion is derived from. Fandom OCs may post at their fandom/canon's thread. Original Story/Universe OCs will have their own thread.

4. Tag around all over the place - Canonmates, non-canonmates, everything is OK!

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"It was really his daughter, my grandmother, Alexandra, who brought Alderian philosophy to the United States in the 1930's. She had headed the neurology department in Vienna, but in the States, at Harvard she was only given a temporary position, as women didn't have full professorships there. She eventually gained more notability than her father."

"Too much family history, but yes, I follow in my family's footsteps."

Noting her empty glass, "Shall we attempted that instruction now?"

"No, no, it's fascinating and to have such an interesting family history...it really must make your family proud that you're continuing it," she said and then looked down at her glass.

"Well, I guess I don't have an excuse now. Lead the way."

She smiles and puts down her empty glass.

Aodhagán's warm hand took her own and he led her out onto the floor.

"Lesson One. I do not bite unless asked or when in a compromising position. I rarely bark, but I may growl. If you are as uncertain as you believe, you will step wrong. This is expected and yes, you may actually trod on my feet. I assure you, it will not be the first time. These boots can be polished up again and be no worse for the mishap. Lesson Two. Dancing should be fun, even if you are stumbling, few will believe it if you are smiling. Third, I am a grown man and if I do not like something I will say so. I fully expect you, as a woman who knows her own mind, to do the same."

Sounded less like lessons and more like a contract between them.

His head cocked sideways, "Agreed?"

She let him lead her onto the dance floor, her eyebrows raising as he spoke, laughing a bit.

"Okay, okay, I got it," she said. "Agreed."

"Good."

Aodhagán narrated what he was doing as he did it, "Placing my right hand slightly beneath your left shoulder blade, my right arm is held at a 90 degree angle to my body. My left arm is raised, or would be if you were slightly taller and not the perfect height, so that you may rest your hand lightly against it, at your eye level. A little lower, we are mismatched in height, but you must be comfortable, yes?" adjusting her hand slightly. "You should rest your left hand comfortably near the my right shoulder, providing pressure with your fingers and thumb to better “follow” your partner’s lead - it allows me to direct you subtly so you do not trip up," his eyes practically twinkled. "Now, for better balance, the woman should look over the man’s right shoulder as this creates an elegant and poised dance position, but is impossible here, again given our disparaging heights." Again he smiled, "Should you dance with someone else, it is good to know why you are doing something and not just that it is done."

In position, he paused, "Questions?"

She let him maneuver her into the right hold, remembering at least this much from previous lessons, but still listening intently and nodding when he asked if she was comfortable. She held on to him in the right places and attempted to hold her head in the right position, even if she was more looking through his shoulder and not over it.

"This part is coming back, at least," she said. She remembered her instructor constantly going around and poking under her elbow to get her to keep her left arm at the right angle.

Tilting his head, his finger tapped the rhythm against her back taking the beats at half time, deliberately slowing it down, "Hear the beat? I am going to lean to warn you before I take that first step - yes, dancing is non-verbal communication at its best. All you have to do is remember your right from your left," grinning.

"Nice and slow, your right foot moves back then your left foot meets it on the next beat, just that step. Ready?"

She nods and feels his fingers tapping out the rhythm.

"I think I can handle that," she said with a smile before nodding again at his question.

"Excellent."

Aodhagán's voice grew quieter, "Right foot, left foot. Very good. Keep going until I say otherwise." He kept up the chant, 'right foot, left foot,' and deftly guided her backwards across the room, pressure against her back causing her to turn and go back the way they came.

Smiling, he was the absolute picture of contentment and genuinely appeared to be having fun.

At first she focused hard on using the right foot and stepping in the right direction. But once she was feeling more comfortable she started to relax and enjoy it. She looked up and saw his own smile, mirroring it.

"This is fun," she said. Of course they were still doing the most basic thing, but so far his toes had been spared.

"Of course. And because you're comfortable, we're going to add in the next step," grinning. "After you step backwards and your left foot meets the right, you're not going to put any weight on your left foot. On the very next beat you're slide your left foot to a shoulder width stance, then the right foot will meet it on the following beat."

He kept his voice rumbling, holding her attention, so she didn't think about anyone else around them, "Nice and slow. Right back, left no weight. Left wide. Right meets. Good. And again until you can do it in your sleep."

She got a slightly nervous look on her fact, but he was a good instructor and guided her through the move seamlessly. It actually surprised her that she didn't trip up, only hesitated slightly at one point when she almost forgot which way to go.

"I...don't remember it being this simple before," she said as they did the move over and over. It was like no one else was around them. She was focusing on only him guiding her and her own feet moving the right way. "I think you must be a much better instructor than I had previously.

"Or I've become less awkward."

"I do not have to cough up double your money back," laughing. "If you tried to learn in school, it is likely that you were still unused to how your body moved and were self conscious, thinking you had to be immediately good at something you did not know how to do. There is always the distraction factor of a dance partner you are interested in and wish to impress...many things at that age make it difficult to concentrate."

"Which is one of the reasons why we have rules, establishing a measure of comfort between us."

She laughed.

"No no, you don't," she agreed. "I learned in uni so you're probably right. Although, I think I've remained in that awkward stage until very recently."

And she could still be pretty awkward sometimes.

"That theory suggests that I'm not trying to impress you, though."

"Not necessarily. I already indicated that I was impressed with you, so the pressure is off," steadying Molly as she stepped wrong, without appearing to do anything at all.

She cringed as she felt herself mis-step, but he got her back on track.

"Maybe I shouldn't talk and dance at the same time," she joked. Or remember that she was being led around the dance floor by a bloody Harrod's model. It was slightly distracting when she started focusing again on how attractive he was and now how close he was.

Edited 2014-05-12 20:49 (UTC)

"I am glad you are confident enough to try. Do not worry, breathe in and relax, you are having fun and that is all that matters."

For Aodhagán this is effortless, his body knows what it is doing and needs little guidance from his mind. An excellent example of muscle memory.

"So, you and your cat live in London. Do you have any other family." She hadn't told him about Toby, but a few cat hairs give him that clue. Nor had she said she lived in the city, but as she worked at Bart's that was an obvious conclusion.

She did what he said and let herself relax a little more.

"Yes," she answered his questions. "My brother is in Spain and my mum lives up near Liverpool where I grew up."

"And you did not go home after university?" Incorporating another corner of the Box Step into the dance, now that her feet were moving without having to think about every little step. "She must miss you."

"Of course," she said before she paused as he changed the dance pattern a bit and she had to think about which way they were moving for a moment. "But we're only a couple hour train ride away and she likes to visit me here.

"What about you? Where's your mother and father?"

"My father died shortly before my sister. That was why she was here in London, for his cremation. As for my estranged mother, she is in New York City. I have no dogs, no cats, no fish, birds, or lizards," lightening what he had just said.

"Oh, I'm very sorry to hear that," she said, frowning a bit.

"No, you are having fun, not sorry," stern. "My father, was an old man in his late eighties who died in his sleep after have afternoon delight with his mistress. Nothing to be sorry for. As for my mother, I do not miss her as we have not spoken since leaving the States."

"I can have fun and be sorry," she pointed out with a smile. She had trouble understanding how one couldn't miss their mum. She assumed some family drama or other must have occurred, but still.

"My mistake," chuckling. "My family, like my friends, are those whom I choose to be with. There is a freedom in that. And it gives me time to write or take appointments or appear at social events like this."

Last corner added in, Aodhagán gradually increases the speed of their steps.

"You enjoy your work. What is next on the horizon?"

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theonewhocounted - 2014-05-20 19:58 (UTC) - Expand

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aodhagan - 2014-05-21 23:49 (UTC) - Expand

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