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31_days2011-08-02 03:27 am
rosehiptea.livejournal.com) wrote in 31_days2011-08-02 03:27 am
[August 2] [Avatar: the Last Airbender] Whether We Dance or Not
Title: Whether We Dance or Not
Day/Theme: August 2/these small yet significant orbits in the language of desire
Series: Avatar: The Last Airbender
Pairing: Katara/Yue
Rating: K+
Word Count: 727
Notes: Slightly AU. Title from the Japanese proverb "We're fools whether we dance or not, so we might as well dance." (At least the internet is telling me it's a Japanese proverb.)
"Do you want to dance?"
Katara looks up into the smiling face of Yue.
"With a girl?" she asks, a bit surprised.
Yue laughs. "You don't understand. In the Northern Water Tribe, men and women dance separately."
Katara looks up, and sure enough there are two separate groups of dancers on opposite sides of the room, each moving in the same figures as the band, made all of men, plays bright music to welcome the Southern Water Tribe visitors.
"Do men and women dance together in the Southern Water Tribe?" Yue asks curiously. Katara notices the way her pale eyelashes flutter over her large blue eyes, and thinks to herself that this girl must be a real heartbreaker, up here where there are hearts to break.
"We might, if there were any men around," Katara replies. "But no one's danced there for quite a long time. How come you don't dance together here?"
"The elders don't like it. Unnecessary frivolity. And it could lead to, um, immoral impulses in the young."
"You sound like you're quoting from a speech," says Katara suspiciously.
"Many speeches," Yue says. Her face looks so sweet when she sighs. Yes, definitely a heartbreaker.
"Why don't they say no one can dance at all?" Katara asks, trying to keep her mind on a better track.
"Don't give them any ideas. But anyway, it's a Northern Water Tribe tradition."
Katara watches the female dancers from where she sits. It's not the couples dancing she's heard about, either -- the girls and women form two lines and dance figures that cross and recross.
"I don't think I could do those dances anyway," Katara says.
"They aren't as hard as they look. And they really are fun. But if you want me to just leave you alone, I will."
"No!" says Katara, almost shouting. "I mean, no."
The band changes its tune, and Yue pulls Katara to her feet. "This one is really easy. Just stand opposite me and watch what everyone else is doing."
Not feeling she has any choice, Katara walks with Yue to join the dancers. At the front of the line, the first pair of women approach each other, bow closely together, then turn to switch places. The other couples repeat it, and when their turn comes Katara bows to Yue, taking just a moment to inhale her scent of snow and azuflowers.
The the first couple starts again, this time walking together and putting their arms around each other's waists, turning each other to switch again. Katara waits, then walks forward to put her arm around Yue. She's so warm, in this cold hall, that it surprises Katara. Yue pulls her so close in the moves of the dance that their cheeks brush together, and Katara feels a tingle down to her toes.
The next steps are done in place, each girl lifting her skirts slightly to do some fancy kicking. Katara doesn't even try it, just watches as Yue flirtatiously lifts her skirt to her knees and kicks. It occurs to her that there are forms of desire the elders weren't watching out for when they made the separate dancing rule.
Before they can begin the next part of the dance, Yue moves forward and takes Katara by the hand. "Let's go outside," she says.
It's freezing cold, of course, but Katara doesn't even think of saying no. They walk through a bit of newly fallen snow to the shelter of a doorway and simply look into each other's eyes. Then, without another word, Yue kisses Katara. It's a real kiss, warm and deep, and the first kiss Katara has ever had.
They spend what seems like an hour just kissing, soft kisses on each others' lips and cheeks, with Yue daring a few kisses to Katara's neck that make her dizzy. They don't speak, and Katara isn't certain what she could even say.
"We'd better get back to the party," said Yue. "It's not like they'll suspect what we're doing out here, but still."
Katara wonders exactly how forbidden their kisses really were. Perhaps the elders, all men after all, have never dared put words to this. So she nods, and as they walk back, she takes Yue's hand in a gesture she hopes will pass as friendly to anyone watching.
"A heartbreaker," she thinks to herself, and sighs.
Day/Theme: August 2/these small yet significant orbits in the language of desire
Series: Avatar: The Last Airbender
Pairing: Katara/Yue
Rating: K+
Word Count: 727
Notes: Slightly AU. Title from the Japanese proverb "We're fools whether we dance or not, so we might as well dance." (At least the internet is telling me it's a Japanese proverb.)
"Do you want to dance?"
Katara looks up into the smiling face of Yue.
"With a girl?" she asks, a bit surprised.
Yue laughs. "You don't understand. In the Northern Water Tribe, men and women dance separately."
Katara looks up, and sure enough there are two separate groups of dancers on opposite sides of the room, each moving in the same figures as the band, made all of men, plays bright music to welcome the Southern Water Tribe visitors.
"Do men and women dance together in the Southern Water Tribe?" Yue asks curiously. Katara notices the way her pale eyelashes flutter over her large blue eyes, and thinks to herself that this girl must be a real heartbreaker, up here where there are hearts to break.
"We might, if there were any men around," Katara replies. "But no one's danced there for quite a long time. How come you don't dance together here?"
"The elders don't like it. Unnecessary frivolity. And it could lead to, um, immoral impulses in the young."
"You sound like you're quoting from a speech," says Katara suspiciously.
"Many speeches," Yue says. Her face looks so sweet when she sighs. Yes, definitely a heartbreaker.
"Why don't they say no one can dance at all?" Katara asks, trying to keep her mind on a better track.
"Don't give them any ideas. But anyway, it's a Northern Water Tribe tradition."
Katara watches the female dancers from where she sits. It's not the couples dancing she's heard about, either -- the girls and women form two lines and dance figures that cross and recross.
"I don't think I could do those dances anyway," Katara says.
"They aren't as hard as they look. And they really are fun. But if you want me to just leave you alone, I will."
"No!" says Katara, almost shouting. "I mean, no."
The band changes its tune, and Yue pulls Katara to her feet. "This one is really easy. Just stand opposite me and watch what everyone else is doing."
Not feeling she has any choice, Katara walks with Yue to join the dancers. At the front of the line, the first pair of women approach each other, bow closely together, then turn to switch places. The other couples repeat it, and when their turn comes Katara bows to Yue, taking just a moment to inhale her scent of snow and azuflowers.
The the first couple starts again, this time walking together and putting their arms around each other's waists, turning each other to switch again. Katara waits, then walks forward to put her arm around Yue. She's so warm, in this cold hall, that it surprises Katara. Yue pulls her so close in the moves of the dance that their cheeks brush together, and Katara feels a tingle down to her toes.
The next steps are done in place, each girl lifting her skirts slightly to do some fancy kicking. Katara doesn't even try it, just watches as Yue flirtatiously lifts her skirt to her knees and kicks. It occurs to her that there are forms of desire the elders weren't watching out for when they made the separate dancing rule.
Before they can begin the next part of the dance, Yue moves forward and takes Katara by the hand. "Let's go outside," she says.
It's freezing cold, of course, but Katara doesn't even think of saying no. They walk through a bit of newly fallen snow to the shelter of a doorway and simply look into each other's eyes. Then, without another word, Yue kisses Katara. It's a real kiss, warm and deep, and the first kiss Katara has ever had.
They spend what seems like an hour just kissing, soft kisses on each others' lips and cheeks, with Yue daring a few kisses to Katara's neck that make her dizzy. They don't speak, and Katara isn't certain what she could even say.
"We'd better get back to the party," said Yue. "It's not like they'll suspect what we're doing out here, but still."
Katara wonders exactly how forbidden their kisses really were. Perhaps the elders, all men after all, have never dared put words to this. So she nods, and as they walk back, she takes Yue's hand in a gesture she hopes will pass as friendly to anyone watching.
"A heartbreaker," she thinks to herself, and sighs.