Dance Instructions

Posted on Wed Dec 26th, 2018 @ 11:34am by Senior Chief Petty Officer Fernando De La Rosa [Taylor]

Mission: Season 2: Episode 3: Determination is not always a good thing
Location: Fernando's and Mona's Cabin
Timeline: right after "The Good Roommate"
1762 words - 3.5 OF Standard Post Measure

When Mona returned she had shed her uniform, put on a fresh scent as well as a sweater and tracksuit bottoms. It wasn't the sexiest outfit imaginable, but then it wasn't meant to be. Mona preferred dressing down in most circumstances, unless she was actually trying to impress. And more than anything else, at present, she wanted Fernando to be comfortable around her. "So, you're ready?"

Fernando nodded. "My green skin Venus, I was born ready. Please teach this humble student." He giggled as he said it though he really wanted to learn how to dance well and impress Mona.

"Well, we'll first do it looking down", Mona said. "Just so we don't step on each other's toes. Not comfortable. In fact, why don't you lose your shoes? That way, it's not so bad, as it will happen at first." She wiggled her toes. "Slow dance first, and the oomari is easy to learn. It's a native Risian dance, from where I was born."

"Makes sense." Fernando replied as he kicked his shoes off and stood barefooted facing Mona. "So far so good." He quipped. "The oomari?" He questioned.

"Just follow my steps, okay?" She placed one hand on his shoulder and another flat on his chest. "You take me by the hip and the arm, traditionally. And there will be music later."

He placed one hand on Mona's hip, the other clasped her hand. "That wasn't too difficult. What's next?"

"Now you look down", Mona said. "No, not at my rack. My feet." She couldn't resist that quip. "Follow my steps, learn the sequence. It's repeated, in unison." She started the traditional steps slowly, leading him along, and for any outside observer it would have looked weird, as by the nature of learning the steps, they were completely out of synch.

Fernando blushed scarlet. In truth, standing so close to Mona, he wanted to take her in his arms and smother her in kisses yet he fought to maintain his decorum plus he didn't want her to smack him into next week. So he looked down (at her feet) and repeated the steps as she led him through them.

"Very good", Mona encouraged him. She led him through what little space they had in their room, light on her toes and fluid as only an Orion could move. "Are you enjoying this?" she asked.

"Gracious." Fernando answered. He wasn't as light or as fluid on his feet as Mona but he wasn't a klutz either. He moved surprisingly well. he looked into her expressive eyes. "Yes, I am." He answered simply but honestly.

"And confident, too", she smiled. "See if you can follow while not looking at your feet." In dancing, one was supposed to look into the partner's eyes, after all. She smiled, in equal parts pleased with her ability to teach as well as his willingness and skill to learn.

"I have an excellent teacher." Fernando replied as he did as she encouraged and repeated the steps somewhat slowly but he didn't step on her toes. So he counted that as a win.

"Very good!" she cheered. "Now, let's add some music to it, we'll have to remain with the tact. Which, musically speaking, is far easier for me than otherwise." She gave him a pat on his chest, where her hand was still leading him. "Computer, play an oomari song."

He smiled at Mona's praise and took a deep breath when she said they were going to now try it to music. "Ready when you are Mona." He replied and he was. He would try his best to get the steps right. He wanted to be able to dance like Mona.

The music started, and Mona pushed him to remain in synch. "Don't worry about getting it wrong. We can try again."

He nodded at her words and concentrated to the music and moving his feet in time to the music. Failure was not an option!

"Have you been leading me on?" Mona wondered. "You're better at this than I thought you'd be. At this rate, you'll be leading in half an hour."

"No." he replied shaking his head, "I have a good teacher and I've always been a quick study.. Really? You think so?" He was both surprised and pleased at Mona's praise.

"Yeah, others before you have stepped on my toes a dozen times by this point", Mona grinned. She figured she wouldn't wait half an hour. "So, you've memorised all the steps, yes? Would you like to try and lead? Just not into the furniture."

"I believe I would." Fernando answered figuring he would have to do it at sometime and why not sooner than later. "No, not into the furniture. That would be painful."

"Okay, switch positions", Mona said. "Now, don't worry, I know it might be awkward, but you'll have to put your hand on my chest, like I've got mine on yours. I'm not going to bite."

Fernando did as Mona instructed with only a slight hesitation, His hand resting gently on her chest. it was awkward but he managed without stepping on Mona's toes or tripping over his.

"Now you get to lead me", Mona smiled. "Just do it." If he managed this, he'd have learnt the most important lesson. The rest was just learning different, more complex dances.

Fernanado took a deep breath and led her through the steps in time to the music, it was slow but fairly fluid, again no toes were stepped on or tripped over. His movement would only get better with more practice.

"Wonderful!" Mona cheered. "Yes, that's it. A good fighter has to be a good dancer, most excellent."

He beamed at Mona's compliment and reacted without thinking and kissed her on the cheek.

"You could do worse than learning this way, could you?" Mona grinned.

He gave her a bashful smile., "I'm sorry Mona. I was and am excited at my progress and it is because of you."

"Hey, no need to apologise. I'm Orion, and I don't want to suppress all aspects of my culture while in Starfleet." She grinned. "I'm dressing like this to not make you too uncomfortable", she confessed. "I'm not going to give you that... what did your people call it, a red light? I think it was. All's good."

He breathed out a sigh of relief. He had worried he might have jeopardized their friendship with the kiss. "Mona." He said honestly, "Thank you." He grinned at her, "Yes Earth has sayings with all kinds of colors. "Green light, red light, caution light. Blue light.'

"I think I prefer green light", Mona snickered. "The world needs more green."

He nodded, "Somehow I knew you were going to say that."

"I am predictable in that regard", Mona admitted. "Okay, now that you can dance almost as well clothed as you did in the nude, want to step up and choose one yourself?"

He laughed and shook his head, "For a moment I thought you were going to say we were going to dance in the nude. As for choosing one for myself, I wouldn't know where to begin." He admitted.

"A dance from your world", Mona said. "Maybe one I don't know yet. We could watch a hologram first. And dancing in the nude? Only at mastery level 100. A little incentive for you."

"Fair enough." He replied, "Any restrictions on the type of dance I pick? And watching a hologram is an excellent idea. Um out of curiosity what level are you?"

"I'm Orion, we get our species trait set to level 150 upon birth", she joked. "And no, pick anything you like."

"150?" He repeated. "Oh boy, I have a long way to go. He thought for a moment, "Okay. I know the dance I want us to learn. The Tango. I think it is a very elegant and sexy dance."

"Those two suit me just fine", Mona agreed. She let go of him and sat down on the sofa. "Let's watch a few, so I'll know what to do."

He popped down next to her, "As you wish. I hope we can learn it."

"I'm sure we can", she said, grabbing the bowl of chocolates and playing it on her lap. Leaning in against him, she said, "Show me."

Fernando found a holoprogam that featured the Tango. It showed the couple going through the steps of dance first slowly and then at full speed. "They're amazing." He told Mona, liking her leaning against him.

"Yeah, I agree", Mona said. "This would make for an amazing show. Looks like we have a project for the next few weeks." It was a nice way to stay in shape, better than the gym, she quietly admitted to herself.

"We are of the same mind. I think the crew would be amazed if we can do this and I see no reason why we can't with you as the teacher."

"And from the looks of things, we'll only need to level your skills up to 75 for this one. Adept level, you know?" Mona teased.

"Level 75?" Fernando repeated, "That sounds like a long way to go especially since I just started my lessons."

"Ah, but you're a fighter already. You see, dancing evolved as a substitute for fighting. I mean, evolutionarily speaking, a woman wants a man who is strong and powerful and a skilled fighter, who is able to protect her and her children from harm. But a guy who constantly fights for real, especially one who picks fights with other members of the same tribe, isn't good husband material. He might get injured for nothing, or even turn on the woman herself. So she's looking for some other way that the guy can demonstrate his fitness. Dancing comes in there. Most men hate to dance, but they do it anyway because it's sure to impress prospective mates. Women love to dance, mostly because it allows them to pick and choose among those who show off their skills. I mean, we don't think about it in those terms today, I don't think we've ever consciously thought about it that way when it evolved, but it is what it is."

Fernando listened intently as Mona explained about the beginning of dance and it's significance. "I had no idea." He admitted "However what you say makes sense. I know for myself, I never thought about it in those terms. I just dance cause I like the way it makes me feel."

"Good", Mona smiled, popped some chocolate in her mouth and kept watching.