veilbreak | (no subject)

❤

After hours-- nay, days!-- of waiting, at last it's salsa night. La noche del ritmo (that’s “night of rhythm” for those who tragically refuse to brush up on their Spanish). Down on solid ground, it’s marked with wobbly turns, missed cues, and bold declarations of “I totally meant to do that.” But up in our little corner of the community hall on the Mnemosyne, it’s all warm lights, borrowed partners, and a playlist that refuses to let you stand still.

The humble chaos has been carefully unleashed by our fearless instructor EVA because she was clearly feeling optimistic! Come try a step (or three), spin someone new, and maybe leave with smoother moves than you came in with. Or at least a good story.

Salsa!

At its core, salsa is a conversation disguised as a dance: a gentle lead, a daring spin, a dramatic pause that says, “Yes, I absolutely meant to do that.” It’s rhythm with personality, flair with a wink, and just enough drama to keep things interesting.

How to Play: Grab a partner and get ready to roll some dice to see how well you take to the floor! For the sake of ease, we're going to say that there's four 'rounds' making up a song, but if you want to keep it going, go right ahead. Each dancer will roll 6d6 and match pairs with their partner.

🕺0 matches: This is a disaster. Someone got an elbow to a body part. Tears might be shed.
💃1 - 2 matches: A little stumble, a wee fumble. Maybe a little embarrassing, but you can brush it off.
🕺3-4 matches: You're finding the groove and looking good. Having a great time on the dance floor!
💃5-6 matches: Flawless chemistry. It's unbelievable. Your coworkers might think you're gettin nasty behind closed doors.

Bachata!

For those brave enough to learn two dances in one night, or who just want something slower, Eva's going to do a Bachata crash course. Slower than its flashier cousins, but no less dramatic, it trades whirlwind spins for close steps and a hip movement that politely insists on being noticed.

There’s a step-together-step, a tap with just a hint of flair, and a rhythm that feels suspiciously like a love song written at 2 a.m. Bachata isn’t about showing off—it’s about leaning in, finding the groove, and letting the music do most of the talking while you pretend you’re not completely swept up in it.

How to Play:Each dancer will roll 3d6, and count the amount of 3's and 6's rolled between the pair. 3 and 6 are the only ones that matter. Again, four ‘rounds’ make up a song.

💃 0 matches: Catastrophic! This is not going well. Maybe you need a new partner
🕺1-2 matches: Not too shabby! Not the smoothest it could be, but you're both feeling confident.
💃3-4 matches: Stunning. You have the room feeling flushed.
🕺5-6 matches: Is it hot in here? It's hot in here. We're all sweating just watching that spark catch.

For the Wallflowers!

Not everyone is meant to take to the floor, but that doesn't mean they have to be bored! Eva's brought a frankly alarming amount of playing cards for people to play the card game of their choice. She has instructions for Blackjack, War, and Trash on various tables. Bets are welcome, but please no strip anything, thank you.

And for those who prefer their thrills less competitive and more snack-shaped, there’s a spread of treats and drinks to keep spirits high. Something fizzy, something sweet, something questionably healthy but undeniably delicious—it’s all fair game. Refuel, refresh, and return to the action (or the spectating) as you see fit.

How to Play Blackjack (or 21):

The goal is to get the closest to 21 without going over.
- Roll 2d12 to simulate real cards (a 12 functions as an ace, so it can be a 1 or an 11 depending on the best outcome for your hand.
- Either 'stay' by ceasing rolling, or continue rolling 1d12 as many times as you like until you're at 21 or as close as possible.
- If you 'bust' or go over 21, you loose.

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Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

He pours two cups of juice, handing her hers. "Are you going to have a ranking of who's the best dancer by the end of the night?"

"Maybe. I'll see if Sloane wants to collaborate on it."

Bobby glances over to Sloane's reading/judging corner then back to Iyla. "Terrifying."

"Is it?"

"You know you're intimidating."

"Sure, but I like hearing it too."

"I don't mind telling you either."

"I know." Her gaze flicks to the people dancing. "Who do you think is the best dancer here?"

Bobby also glances around the room for a moment before he realizes that maybe he's not meant to really choose. "You?"

"Good answer, but I did mean besides me."

Bobby looks around the room again. "Eva has the knowledge, Pol has the confidence," he decides.

"I agree, though I doubt he needs the ego boost."

"I'd say I won't tell him, but I probably would."

"I'll know who to blame when his ego becomes too big for the ship, then."

Bobby shakes his head. "I'm not taking responsibility for that, he would've managed it on his own."

She shrugs. "Too late."

"It'll be okay, living with a teenager is pretty good for keeping egos in check."

Edited 2026-02-21 07:42 (UTC)

"I don't envy you," she admits. "Teenage girls are a nightmare."

"Were you a nightmare?"

"No." Her fingers drum against the side of the cup. "I wasn't allowed the luxury."

Bobby gives a small nod of understanding. "Sorry. I'm sure you would've been good at it," he tries for a balance of sincerity about the shittiness of whatever her situation was, but still lightly teasing.

"I would have been excellent at it." Her own playfulness is gone as she glances around the room. "Find me when you're ready for the second dance."

"I'm ready whenever you are," Bobby answers, giving her an out of she wants a break first but also ready to head back to the dancefloor if she'd rather the distraction.

There's a moment of consideration before she shrugs. "Now is fine."

He considers her carefully, knowing he should probably just drop it and get back to dancing. "You okay?"

salsa: iyla & bobby.

iyla - 2026-02-21 08:26 (UTC) - Expand

finotti - 2026-02-21 08:29 (UTC) - Expand