Chapter 57
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The world narrows until it’s just him and Douxie, waltzing across the gymnasium floor, their movements ebbing and flowing perfectly in tune with each other, an electric current running between them. Douxie’s eyes are liquid gold, and the smile on his face is soft and adoring, so much so that Krel feels a bit breathless. He’s glad the lighting in here is low – otherwise, there’s no doubt the entire student populace would see him turning bright cyan. If he hadn’t already felt like the belle of the ball, he most certainly would now, feeling like something grand, something beautiful that Douxie’s showing off to the world. He really does feel like that flower.
“You know, you’ll have to show me some traditional Akiridion dance,” Douxie says as he picks up Krel by the hips, Krel’s hands going to his shoulders, and lifts him in a smooth arc before setting him down and naturally morphing back into their previous positions. “I’d love to learn.”
“Well, it’s a bit … ok, so Akiridions don’t actually have music,” Krel says, falling back into step as if they’d never stopped box stepping. “I only discovered that when I came to Earth. So, our dances usually either happen in silence, to a particular chant, or to what I suppose is spoken word poetry, although we don’t call it that. And I am certain in the future there will be a renaissance of our dance culture with the introduction of music.”
“Well, something to look forward to then. You know, you’ll have to take me to Akiridion 5 at some point. I’m awful curious as to what it’s like,” Douxie says.
“That can most certainly be arranged,” Krel says. Honestly, he’s rather excited at the thought. Earth is his home at heart, but Akiridion 5 is where he’s spent the majority of his life, and he can’t deny that he appreciates Douxie’s interest in his native culture.