May I Have This Dance ?

Oh– was it that time of the gala already?

Since Basil had an extra plus-one ticket, she’d given it to another bun who she believed would help raise her sense of elegance, in the eyes of the other guests. She herself wasn’t too fancy, being more of a businesswoman herself - so she found a bun who was the exact definition of elegant.

She didn’t know Brûlée well, to be honest. Perhaps they’d spoken once or twice, but mostly, they knew this - Basil needed a plus one, and Brûlée needed a ticket. That was all there was to it. When she greeted Brûlée at the entrance, she did it with a handshake - rather than any traditional kiss to the back of a palm.

“Thank you once again,” She said, smiling as she shook her hand. “This favor means a lot to me.”

As Basil took hold of her hand and gave it a strong, firm handshake, Brûlée couldn’t help but laugh lightly. A bright, breezy sound that filled the air like the twinkle of wind chimes. 

“Why, of course, my dear,” she hummed, a smile of her own playing across her lips, “it’s my pleasure. After all, who could deny such a generous offer like this?”

There’s a hint of awe that glimmered within her eyes as the bun looked around, her heart skipping a beat in her chest. Everything was so. . . pretty. She’d assumed that it was going to be quite an elegant event, but this? This went beyond any of her expectations. 

“It’s gorgeous,” she murmured out without even truly meaning to, taking a step inside. “I don’t think I’ve ever seen anything like it.”

“It’s definitely even more extravagant than last year’s.”

Basil led Brûlée just into the gala - everyone who was already there seemed to be busy chatting or checking the hors d'oeuvre, so it was easy for them to get lost in the flow of the festivities. Basil smiled softly.

“It seems that every year, Angora tries to outdo herself,” She explained. “There’s more decorations this year… more entertainment, too. It makes me wonder what she has planned for the next… I’m not even sure what could outshine this.”

“Something more extravagant than this?” Brûlée asked, clearly fascinated by the thought, a hint of disbelief clinging to her voice. After seemingly a moment of thought,  she shook her head. “I don’t think that’s possible.”

“Miss Angora sounds wonderful,” she sighed out a moment later. “I’ve never had the pleasure of meeting her. I don’t tend to visit the casino very often. . . Perhaps I should, just to get the opportunity.”

Truly, she had more to say on the matter - she did! Yet all thoughts are lost as the room suddenly seemed to open up before them, the prior crowd from behind them having started to group into pairs in a flurry of swishing gowns and clicking hooves or heels. 

Brûlée couldn’t help but give an excited gasp when she realized what it was that was happening, turning towards Basil with a smile on her face that could lighten the already glowing room. “I think they’re getting ready for a proper dance!”

“Oh…! It looks like they are!” She pointed over at the stage - where the musical artists performed. “They’re setting up the string instruments now… I think it’s going to be a slow dance?”

She glanced over at  Brûlée again - and then blushed.

“I mean to say— you don’t have to dance with me if you don’t want to. But if you did…”

She offered her hand. “Would you care to? Dance with me, I mean?”

As Basil fumbled through her words, Brûlée couldn’t help the fond smile that came to her lips. Honestly, she really was so sweet. She took the bun’s hand with a certain amount of grace that seemed almost practiced.

“Gladly,” she said, amusement lacing her tone, “though you’ll have to forgive me if I’m a bit rusty. I haven’t had the chance to dance much lately.” 

Once upon a time, she’d done so quite frequently. Elegance may come naturally to some, but with her it was a learned form of art. It may come as second nature now, yet that didn’t not stop the nervous butterflies that fluttered from within her stomach. A good sort of nervousness, one mixed with excitement.

“Well, that’s a good thing to know. I haven’t been in much practice, either.”

Basil led her onto the dance floor, gently pulling her out there. She didn’t bring her out to the center of the dance floor - no, she wasn’t that bold yet. Just near the edge of it. Maybe they’d make their way out there eventually, during the natural flow of dance. For now, they were staying somewhere a little less… observed. Somewhere they wouldn’t be scrutinized.

Basil hesitated for a second, but began to lead in a very simple dance. One step, two step, turn, repeat. Nothing too fancy for starters…

Brûlée gladly allowed Basil to lead her out and into the fringes of the dancing pairs. Basil had chosen to start out simple, leading her through the motions, and Brûlée fell into the rhythm easily. A laugh bubbles up free from her chest as they complete the first routine, a joyous little sound full of warmth. Oh, how she had missed dancing with a partner like this.

One, two, turn. . . One, two, turn . . . One, two, turn and. . . twirl!

Now, perhaps it was inelegant, sneaking in to take the lead like that in order to allow the more formal bun a spin, but Brûlée couldn’t help it! Even without getting the chance to sample the events’ champagne just yet, there was already a buzz that had ignited within her veins, happy and carefree.

“Oh…!”

Basil gasped as she was spun by her partner. She didn’t expect Brûlée to be as bold so early in the dance! However— after her surprise, a smile spread across her face, and she laughed.

She pulled in a little closer when she came back in from the spin. It looked like this was the most fun she’d had at the gala yet - and so, the next time they’d moved into position, she was ready - twirling once again with even more enthusiasm.

She didn’t even notice that as they danced, they were inching closer and closer to the center - she didn’t even feel the need to care about all the people around them. Just the bun in front of her.

The music, the laughter, the dancing. . .  It was all so exhilarating! So perfect. . . Or, well, almost perfect. She wished the music was a little more upbeat, for their footfall had turned merry and quick. It didn’t fit the slow, heartfelt song that was playing all that well, admittedly…

The musicians thought so too, apparently, considering the way they  switched up to a much more jovial tune from where they had caught wind of the two happy dancers. All around them, buns joined in with their own fun, carefree dances, laughter and clapping filling the room. It truly felt like a faeries’ ball, as though they’d stepped foot within another dimension.

To Brûlée, it truly felt perfect. Elegance, as beautiful as it may be, was nothing compared to the pure exuberance that seemed to capture the room. She was almost disappointed as the song came to a climax and then an end, finding herself dipping Basil, her chest heaving with needed breaths and yet a smile so genuine on her face.

All around them, the buns that had joined in the dancing pause to watch. Then comes the applause.

Basil could feel her face heating up with a blush as she realized all the attention that had been placed on the both of them. The one thing that was missing was a spotlight centered on the two of them - but everyone’s gaze was more than enough to make up for it.

She laughed it off, getting herself back up to a standing position - mostly by keeping a hold on Brûlée to stay stable. It made the two of them stay close to each other - the prime example of a couple enjoying the gala. At least - that was what the crowds saw.

“...Thank you,” Basil whispered. It was just loud enough for only Brûlée to hear. It seemed… genuine. Heartfelt.

Brûlée was quick to stabilize Basil as she came to a stand again, the soft breath of a whisper she gave enough to soften her gaze immediately. Even so, a hint of mirth still twirled behind her twinkling gaze.

“Of course,” she murmured back, admiring the bun before her before reaching up to brush a stray strand of hair that had fallen out of place from the dancing out of their face. “It was my pleasure.”

As the buns around them began to move on once more, Brûlée still couldn’t help but wish she could allow herself to linger in this place, frozen in time, for just a moment more. Yet she only allowed herself to indulge for a mere second before she broke the spell again with a light laugh, tilting her head slightly. “Where to next?”

“R–right!”

This question also snapped Basil after her own daze - she knew that some buns had a natural sparkle to them, but Brûlée seemed to shine without the need for any kind of shimmering light dancing around her… it was easy to get lost in just about everything about her.

“I think that I heard the drinks were good,” She began, reaching to brush her hand against Brûlée’s - asking for permission of sorts to hold it. “I mean, any event Angora hosts is bound to have something good to drink. I heard they developed new flavors just for the gala…!”

“A drink sounds lovely,” Brulee hummed out, unable to help the fond smile that played across her lips at how eager the other bun seemed. “Shall we, then? There’s plenty of time left in the night, and drinks are always better in company.”

Taking Basil’s hand, the young bun would fall perfectly into place against the other  bun’s side, and giddiness within her that was sure to shine throughout the rest of the night.

Yes, there was still plenty of time to enjoy the night's gala... For now, though? She would much rather enjoy spending the time truly  getting to know the bun that had granted her this wish for such a fairytale of a night. 

Maybe, at the end of it all, she could even get her happily ever after.