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[justscribing]

USERNAME: Alhaitham ALHAITHAM GENSHIN IMPACT TEXT • AUDIO • VIDEO • ACTION • OVERFLOW

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[fanstheflames]

Oh, I do. I just don't want to leave any potential customers waiting, you know?

[ the duality of customer service. ]

[justscribing]

[He hums non-committally. One of many reasons Alhaitham here is not in customer service. Imagine having to worry about leaving people waiting. They can wait.]

Then is this a short break or a long one?

[fanstheflames]

Depends! Do you want me to bug you for a short time or a long time?

[justscribing]

Either way you'll have more to do with your free time, unless you were really intending on expending all of it with me. [A beat.] Did Robby not come with you?

[fanstheflames]

No, he did. I'm making the rounds before I--

[ A pause. A blink.

... Why does it feel like she walked into a trap... ]

[justscribing]

[That's because she did.]

What, before you dance with him?

[fanstheflames]

... Or try to.

[ Wow. ]

[justscribing]

[All right, that gets a chuckle out of him.] Which one of you is the bad dancer?

[fanstheflames]

It's me. It's definitely me.

[ On the bright side, she gets an Alhaitham smile.

On the dark(?) side, it's at her expense. ]

[justscribing]

[Alhaitham is a menace and a bully.]

Then you should practice quickly if you want to have any hope of impressing him... or at least not stepping on his toes.

[fanstheflames]

That's not exactly something you can pick up in five minutes! Not even me!

[justscribing]

A waltz isn't very difficult. Would you like me to show you?

[It's the only dance he spent the past few weeks learning.]

[fanstheflames]

... I gotta say, I didn't expect you to know how to dance.

[ Alhaitham?? Holding out on her?? ]

[justscribing]

It's a skill I've picked up recently. [He doesn't even need to say why.]

[fanstheflames]

Oh, for Kaveh. Good, he's probably overdoing it.

Then, if you don't mind...

[justscribing]

[He is absolutely overdoing it. But that's Kaveh.]

If I minded, then I wouldn't offer. [He sets his book on the table and rises from his seat gesturing for Tsuruno to make her way to the dance floor.

Once they've squeezed past people to a spot, Alhaitham holds out a hand expectantly.] You'll put your other hand on my shoulder.

[fanstheflames]

... You're so tall.

[ Mild griping, but she'll reach up to rest her hand on his shoulder as she takes the one he offers. ]

[justscribing]

Very observant. [Heh. Alhaitham puts his hand on her shoulder blade, adjusting his feet to be lined up.] You'll follow my footsteps without the space between us changing, but first watch the pattern.

[He'll lead her, one step at a time, into a couple cycles of a box step.]

[fanstheflames]

[ She does watch the pattern. She has to make sure she doesn't step on his feet because she's Watching the Pattern, but she sure is doing her best!! ]

So did someone teach you or did you grab a book on it?

[ ... She has to ask. ]

[justscribing]

There were people offering dance lessons during the set-up for those who weren't familiar. [Though admittedly some of the music that's been playing is an bit mismatches for a Fontainian Waltz. That's the only dance he saw being offered, though.]

[fanstheflames]

... Wow, I missed that entirely.

[ Oops. ]

[justscribing]

I figured. [So she gets a crash course from a guy who learned like 2 weeks ago.

After another cycle in the box step:] Do you have it down? Try moving your feet at the same time as mine now.

[fanstheflames]

I... think so?

Okay. [ She's a little hesitant, but he's not moving super fast, so after a second to deliberate, she's able to fall into the rhythm he sets. ]

[justscribing]

[Luckily the dance itself maintains a steady pace, so she doesn't have to try and learn fluctuations in the tempo.] You're picking it up.

[fanstheflames]

I'm a fast learner! And my teacher's decided to be patient.

[ Good job, teacher!! ]