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 Posted: Mon Jun 02, 2025 7:06 pm
Elka 1 There was little Elka loved more than fashion. The room she had chosen as her dressing room and studio had swelled, the extra closets she had brought in to fit more of her creations and finds fit to burst. So much so, she had commandeered a nearby room and had a door installed between them, so now she had a true fitting room for her and Kayde's costumes, while the studio was sparsely furnished to allow for room to practice. Far more than two people needed. Not like you'd catch her complaining about that. After living so long in cramped, tiny spaces from Jauhar to the small shack on the Matori beach, any large space for practice was treasured.
The Zenan woman placed the new dress on one of the display hangers near a window, smoothing out the creases with two hands. It was one she had made herself, for an upcoming performance she was most excited about. It was a bit more on the revealing side than she was used to, but a little discomfort was managable if she wanted to become even more of a star. Even the role was out of her comfort zone, being a duet dance that was far more alluring then they usually did. She was surprised Kayde had even agreed to it. She was glad of it. Taking more varied jobs could only help them. No one wanted to watch a performer for long if all they did was the same choreography and wore the same styles of outfits.
Running her hand over it a few more times, adjusting the necklace she had draped over the hanger to pair with it, Elka decided she was satisfied with how it looked. After so many years of sewing, she had gotten pretty good at it, to praise herself. Turning on her heel, she smiled at the man suddenly behind her as he held up a flimsy and transparent piece of fabric. With the frown on his face, she could tell he was having second thoughts.
"That is not for you."
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Posted: Sun Jun 08, 2025 6:57 pm
Kayde 1 The amount of relief he felt could not be accurately expressed. What he held in his hands was nothing short of scandalist. While it looked like a top, he couldn't quite be sure. It could have also been a skirt, for all the sense of it. While it was rather short, the entire thing was so transparent, he could see his fingers through the fabric, and seemed to have no consistency. Was this a neck hole he was looking at or arm? The larger one could fit around a slim woman's waist, but so could it her body. Since when did their costumes get so complicated?
Actually...Since when did their studio get so complicated? For the most part, Kayde let Elka do as she pleased with the space. His ambitions were hardly at the level hers were. If he had to stop dancing tomorrow, he wouldn't be terribly disappointed in it. It wasn't as if he couldn't still dance in his free time. He did plenty of side jobs to keep him busy, to keep his life varied. He even handed over control of his costumes and what performances they did to his wife. she was the one who cared. Who wanted to see her star rise as far as she could go. But it seemed as if he had gone blind for years and only now opened his eyes to what she had done. A separate room mostly full of her own clothes, that she had sometimes taken to wearing as normal outfits. And why shouldn't she? She'd made the majority of them herself. Even his own. She'd even started to make more revealing clothing than before. Which was why he had been so worried about this particularly one.
The sigh he gave was uncontrolled. Long and heavy. "I don't think I could pull something like this off." Giving the unknown piece of clothing a shake, Kayde tossed it back into the box he had taken it from. Wasn't this his side of the dressing room, after all?
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Posted: Fri Jun 20, 2025 6:51 pm
Elka 2 A little smile played across Elka's lips, dark with the lipstick she had applied later in the day, her eyes straying. She put a hand up to her chin, as if she was thinking very deeply about something. "Mm. I think you could." She stepped forward to reach into the box for the discarded fabric. Nothing more than a scarf at this point, already partially cut up for a future experiment. Not something he had seen her at, so it would go without saying that he wouldn't know what it was. She could tell by the confusion in his pale eyes as he had held it just moments before. She had plans to add it as an outer layer to a skirt. Another splash of color to make a new costume more flashy. Now she held it up against his chest, turning it around until she was satisfied. "Definitely could." Especially since...
Golden eyes turned back up to his face. How had she not noticed until now?
"You shaved..." the woman said softly, surprise heavy in her voice.
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Posted: Sat Jun 21, 2025 5:43 pm
Kayde 2 Kayde stood very still, watching Elka move towards him as he would watch her practices, her movements always graceful no matter what she was doing. Even the couple of steps she took, her hips swaying to a rhythm only she could hear, causing her long skirt to ripple over her legs. It had never stopped being mesmerizing. No wonder she had grown in popularity over the years. That and the exoticness of a Zenan dancer in Matori. Were you to ask him if he equaled her success, he would have said no.
"And how would I wear it?" he chuckled, putting his hands on his hips and leaning down slightly. His heart thumped a little bit faster than normal, feeling nervous over what her answer might be now that the idea was out there in the air between them. It was no surprise he was uncomfortable with showing too much of his body on stage. Or even out walking around. When they did lifts in the water, he made sure to keep a shirt on.
But the touch on his cheek caught the Leaf by surprise, despite how gentle it was. He had been caught up in his thoughts in between her talking to him. He was getting too lethargic. "I did. Do you not like it?"
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Posted: Sat Jun 21, 2025 6:47 pm
Elka 3 Elka gave an almost girlish giggle. "I never said that. The hair gave you a very masculine look." She stepped closer, running the tips of her fingers down the now smooth cheek of the man before her, resting at his chin where she hovered, two fingers poised. "But I do miss being able to touch your face like this," she added softly, giving him one final caress, the tips of her fingers barely touching his skin. She saw his body shiver just so, making her smile grow wider. Mischievous. It was something she enjoyed doing to the children, as well, when they were younger. More so on especially hot days, hoping the little shiver down their spine would help them to cool off. But instead of doing anything further, she took a step back, raising the fabric once more in front of his chest.
"I'm sure I could think of a way," she answered, her tone of voice playful. "Why do you think this wouldn't suit you?" Now that his face was clean, the still youthful face showing, Elka could imagine an outfit she could fashion for him. He could pull off more daring looks. If he would. She flattened the fabric more against his bare chest, straightening it out and holding it with both hands on his shoulders. "I think it does very well."
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Posted: Sun Jun 22, 2025 5:34 pm
Kayde 3 The feeling of Elka's fingers on his skin was quite distracting, taking away all his thoughts so all he was focused on was the pair of eyes in front of his own face. Though she was shorter than him, it wasn't by much. Her eyes were almost level with his own, especially while he continued to lean down slightly. He could have returned the favor. They were alone. No one really came into the dressing room. She didn't trust anyone else around her costumes. Some of them were many years old, first creations she couldn't bare to part with. She'd alter them, make them new and fashionable, again, without destroying that which made them unique from the others. But she'd cast a spell over him with those eyes, two pale suns glowing from a pale blue sky.
The Zenan's really did have a very interesting mix of a single color.
The shiver finally brought Kayde back, breaking his concentration and causing him to chuckle at her. "These flashy costumes are your thing. They suit your style far better than they do mine."
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Posted: Sun Jun 29, 2025 6:48 pm
Elka 4 "But they do." Despite knowing protesting was pointless, Elka couldn't help it. He was always doing this. Under-estimating his potential. His skill to perform and make the ground follow his every move. She had seen it with her own eyes enough times to know it as true. Kayde had the talent of a dancer, to captivate the audience with his moves that could be just as graceful as hers were. She who was trained for grace at a young age by an over-bearing and strict mother who demanded nothing but perfection. It was a gift to be cherished and it annoyed her that he didn't see it that way. Half of the gifts they received weren't even intended for her. They were for him.
As if to emphasis her point more, Elka frowned and twisted the fabric around the other way, making it into a sash that fell diagonally across his slim shape. Many people were deceived by his petite body at first. How could he ever be famous for the lifts he did with his dance partner, throwing her over his head with the ease at which they had heard told. Even after so many years of doing that, Kayde never seemed to fill out like their son was. Elias was becoming thicker in the shoulders and arms in a way his father wasn't. It was never a surprise to see the hybrid boy lifting a sword up with one hand. But despite his small frame, Kayde was both strong and graceful of foot.
"There's so much I could do if you'd let me."
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Posted: Sun Jun 29, 2025 6:50 pm
Kayde 4 A lesser man might have been annoyed. Kayde was no such thing. He knew she was just trying to help, even if she tried to too often for comfort.
Taking her hands, the Leaf forced her to lower her arms. "I know." That was all he could think of to say. He couldn't explain his discomfort. There was no reason for it. No positive or negative experiences over it. Unless he didn't notice and his subconscious was trying to tell him.
After giving her hands a little squeeze, the man lifted them once more, to chest level, gently prying the fabric out of her hands. He still didn't know which way was which with it, but he still managed to straighten it out enough to lay it against her body. "I still argue it looks far better on you."
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Posted: Sun Jun 29, 2025 6:51 pm
Elka 5 Stubborn. That was the single word that Elka would have used for Kayde had anyone asked her to describe him in one. He was stubborn about everything. In his refusal to think good of himself. In his refusal to see how far he'd come in his own dancing and its style. In how unique of a style he had created, one that combined his acrobatic background with tumbles and flips. About the fact he didn't need to take odd jobs from the citizens of the nearby towns and villages, even some from Oba, yet he continued to, saying how he'd miss the social aspect of it. This one especially she didn't understand. Nothing was stopping him from going out and talking to anyone he met.
Though she had to admit, she was impressed that, despite this busy schedule he put upon himself, he still had time for his family. She had never felt neglected by him. But the stubbornness! Elka puffed out her cheeks, replacing air where she'd rather there be words.
"You do not give yourself any credit."
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Posted: Sun Jun 29, 2025 6:55 pm
Kayde 5 Kayde lowered the fabric, holding it with two hands and fiddling with it. The smile on his face was small, He knew he was agonizingly stubborn sometimes and felt bad for it, but at the same time, it wasn't something he could help doing. "I am sorry," he said truthfully, leaning forward to give his wife a tiny kiss on the nose before straightening back up. She wasn't wrong. He didn't give himself much credit. Didn't think he deserved it. It wasn't as if he was doing this because he wanted to, after all. Not that he hated or even disliked what he was doing. Dancing was fun. Not much different from what he did before with the traveling trope. He simply didn't think of himself as a rising star like she did. Like she deserved to be. Elka had worked so hard to get to where she was, even spending her free time from working in that Jauhar inn to teach herself how to dance from a book. Continuing to practice while living in that house on the beach that was far too small for a family of four while also taking care of said family of four was admirable. It was through her hardwork that they were even here today.
He just wanted her to have all the credit. All the attention. All the fame. Not him.
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Posted: Tue Jul 01, 2025 6:21 pm
Elka 6 Elka felt what irritation she had been building start to evaporate at the show of affection, a smile slowly spreading across her face despite how much she tried to control it. As always, Kayde's gentle ways and kind voice had an instant affect on her mood. For the better. It was such a difficult task to remain angry or even slightly annoyed at anything when he was around to defuse the situation.
She had lost count long ago with how grateful she was to have him around.
"No, you're not," she countered with a grin, raising her head in a haughty, but playful, manner. "You're trying to distract me. Well, it won't work." Stepping back, Elka put her hands on her hips, raising her nose even more in the air to show him how serious she really was. "I will make you see what I see."
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Posted: Tue Jul 01, 2025 6:31 pm
Kayde 6 Stubborn was a word often used to describe him. But seeing her standing there like that, hands planted firmly on her hips, that determined set to her jaw and certain shine to her eyes....Stubborn was a word that easily clung to her, too.
Kayde chuckled, feeling neither scolded nor nervous about her declaration. It was like a game. Lets see who would win this little war of theirs, whose will was the stronger one. Slowly, as if he were suddenly afraid it would break, the man lifted the piece of unfinished costume and opened it up, surprised to see how little it was crumbled from being held tightly in his fists. He still didn't know which side was which-Elka's process was her own to understand-but he did his best, holding it up between them as if he was studying it. "And what is it that you see that I don't?"
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Posted: Thu Jul 03, 2025 5:28 pm
Elka 7 Leaning forward, as if they were conspiring secretly together in a crowded room and she didn't want anyone to hear, Elka whispered, "I see many things you don't," and leaned back to her usual height. The smile on her face never wavered when he refused to react to what she had said. She hadn't really expected him, too. Kayde was never one for much gossip, even things about himself.
Instead, she raised one hand to her face, holding its elbow with her other hand as she stroked her chin, pretending to be deep in thought. Like it was something she had only just noticed. The fabric he still held up, now studying it, didn't really hide much of what was behind it. "I see the women looking at you. Men, too. The way their eyes follow you on the stage when you're alone." Maybe that would get something out of him.
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Posted: Thu Jul 03, 2025 5:30 pm
Kayde 7 Kayde shifted uncomfortably, holding the piece of unfinished fabric closer to his chest as if it would provide any bit of protection from her words. It was thin enough, he could have held it against the window and seen every detail of the boats in the water, no matter their distance, as if he wasn't seeing through something. He wasn't sure what she hoped to accomplish by saying such a thing. It wasn't a secret how he felt about such things.
"I don't...." the Leaf started awkwardly, feeling silly for trying to hide behind what he held and lowering it, still holding it in both fists. Glad more than ever to be inside a room few were allowed to see. "I've not....Seen what you claim."
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Posted: Thu Jul 03, 2025 5:58 pm
Elka 8 He was embarrassed. She knew he would be. She'd have felt the same in his place, had someone told her something like that years ago. Nowadays, Elka found herself far more confident in her abilities and appearance. No longer shying away from the more revealing of costumes that was presented to her before accepting a part. Kayde, on the other hand, never really got over his own shyness. In a way, it was adorable. Endearing. But it also limited his own career, not to mention also leaving her to turn down roles if she wasn't comfortable dancing a part without him. Such as a more romantic one. For a dancer to be this shy about their body was unnatural, when their entire livelihood was centered around showing it off.
"Of course not," she replied, still smiling, not giving into the irritation and anger she might have before. "We do not see ourselves as others do, do we?"
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