Adjustments (Kallisti)

[Elyse]

[[OoC: I’m having a pretty rough day and writing Elyse and Anna is very therapeutic for me. Anyone can jump in if you’d be there - no worries if not - just be kind - therapy writing here :-) ]]

Elyse was getting dressed for her set on stage. She was back to work now and had missed quite a bit. People at Kallisti had been very supportive during her tough times. Family - they said. It reinforced everything Sage, Hayden, and Anna had told her about family. They had accepted her here. For no other reason than she was a fellow employee. That felt nice. It was what she needed now. She had only started taking her medications recently but they were already working. That made her smile at least - until the inevitable mood swing hit. Her therapist had warned her that mood swings, decreased libido, and the thoughts of suicide were possible side effects. The first two would go away as she got used to the meds. She was told to contact a doctor immediately if the last came into existence. Mood swings and decreased libido were present, and, thankfully, she wasn’t experiencing the last one. 

Anna was there being the stalwart friend she was. ”You doing okay? Ready?”

Elyse nodded, checking her wallet and seeing that Marta was going to stay with her tonight. That helped too. She also said she had something important and good to talk about. Elyse responded by telling her she looked forward to hearing it. ”Yeah - I’m okay. Very nervous though. Not sure I can do this.”

Elyse’s head was moved as Anna took her face in her hands, bringing Elyse’s eyes to meet hers. ”You got this, Elyse. Want me to come out with you?”

Elyse blinked. ”Our dance isn’t ready yet…”

”Not our dance,” Anna interrupted. ”Your dance - with me backing you up. Same thing you did during rehearsal - but you have me there with you.”

Elyse just looked at Anna for awhile. She wasn’t sure what Anna had planned, and usually a change like this would get her nerves going, but this time she felt strangely calm and intrigued. ”Go on…” Elyse prompted, curious at what Anna was thinking.

[Anna]

Anna knew Elyse was so close. The meds were helping l, even if Elyse was moody at times and Elyse had mentioned that as she was adjusting to the medication that would happen. ”It’s simple, hon, you do your dance and I’ll improvise around it. I’m on stage with you, backing you up on your dance. You don’t have to change a thing.”

Anna put her hands down no longer needing to hold on to Elyse’s attention. ”You got this Elyse! You rocked it during practice. You know your stuff. I get it though…things have been rough and you’re off kilter. I’m here for you - we’re here for you. Whatever you need. You wanna go out solo, we’re watching backstage. You want someone on stage with you supporting you? I’m your girl! If you feel you’re not ready, I’ll take your spot, but you’re ready Elyse.”

Elyse needed the slight push - the reassurance that she was ready to do this again. During practice, many of the dancers had stayed in to watch her practice showing their support for her, but Anna had noticed something else too. A genuine smile. Elyse had been happy dancing for them. Anna didn’t tell her this - Elyse needed to realize it on her own, and Anna would do what she could to make that happen.

”You just have to dance - and trust me,” Anna said.

Elyse’s golden eyes sparkled in thought. Anna silently cheered her on. ”Okay - let’s do this - my dance - with you backing me up.”

Anna smiled and looked at Elyse’s outfit. ”I’ll get ready - gotta go find a costume.” Anna also asked someone to let them know to announce her as well as Elyse. Jasmín would be taking the stage with Kaylee today.

[Elyse]

Elyse was ready. She was sort of excited for this, but also nervous. It really hadn’t been that long, but it felt like an eternity ago. In many ways this felt like her first time performing on stage again. Her costume was reminiscent of wolf colors, but it was more revealing that what she had worn the first time. She also no longer had an Atharim tattoo to hide. It had been covered up. Her golden eyes shown as she waited to be announced.

”Alright - I’m going to let you go out first. I’ll join in later. I’m still supporting you back here - so is everyone else,” a few people were watching from backstage - those who weren’t working the crowd.

Elyse felt some panic began to rise. ”This isn’t a trick right? You’re still coming out?”

”Trust me, Elyse. I wouldn’t lie to you. I’ll be there - when the time is right, I’ll be there. Anytime you think otherwise - just remember to trust me.”

Anna smiled at her, and Elyse nodded. She trusted Anna. Anna wouldn’t leave her out there alone if she promised to be there. Besides, the announcer announced both Kaylee and Jasmín - both their stage names. Kaylee would go on first - and Jasmín would join her.

The music began and Elyse took the stage as Kaylee. She feel into a groove as she told the story of the lost wolf looking for her pack. Her moves were graceful and in a way, deadly. Elyse had been trained to fight. Kaylee took that training and turned it into something beautiful. Her eyes she knew reflected the lights and it kept the audience in wonder. Elyse loved that. Here she didn’t hide - ever.

Still, Anna remained offstage, but Elyse didn’t worry. She still heard Anna’s words in her head.

Trust me

When the point in her dance came that the wolf found her family she executed her spin and suddenly she wasn’t alone. Another body pressed against hers and spun with her. Jasmín had joined her. As Anna had told her - she didn’t have to change her moves. Anna perfectly incorporated what she did into what Elyse had already perfected through practice. Anna had leaned her whole routine, and had found a way to join in. The first spin had them facing each other, but as they switched moves, Jasmín began to mirror Kaylee’s moves.

In a moment of trust, she adjusted her next move so they could look upon each other by turning their heads. Anna, a professionally trained dancer, didn’t hesitate and moved right into position. Kaylee stretched out a hand and Jasmín mirrored it. Their fingers touched and they looked at one another. Kaylee smiled at what she saw for her partner hadn’t just matched her costume.

[Anna]

Anna had spent time in rehearsals learning Elyse’s routine, and had figured out a way to insert herself into it without issue. It depended on Elyse’s trust, which Anna knew she had. The lone wolf looking for her pack - it was in a way Elyse’s story, and Anna’s plan had been to make it literal. Elyse had a family. She was beginning to understand that. Anna’s moment of entrance had been perfectly decided.

The dance hadn’t been all she had worked on. Anna had been practicing with the power. Juls had told her that mixing the different elements together would make different effects. Anna had played around with Juls illusion weave. It has taken a bit, but Anna had got it working. As Elyse took the stage she looked in the mirror, embraced her power and wove illusion. Her adjustments made the weave significantly smaller and changed the color from flame red to gold. As she finished the weave, she looked and smiled. Her eyes shown like Elyse’s. It wasn’t exactly the same, but it would work.

At the moment where the lone wolf was to find its family, Anna entered the stage as Jasmín with a spin, coming into contact with Kaylee and beginning their dance. Kaylee had trusted, and it went off with out a hitch. They finally faced each other and she knew Kaylee had seen the golden eyes effect. Jasmín smiled back, and noticing the tension of anticipation, she gave Kaylee a small nod. This was her dance. Jasmín would follow.

Kaylee grabbed her hand and pulled, and Jasmín spun into her, her back pressed against Kaylee’s chest. Jasmín raised a hand and gently stroked Kaylee’s face. Kaylee turned her around and they danced. It was a dance of trust, and had some sensuality to it. It was after all burlesque. They finished and headed off stage.

Elyse hit Anna so hard with the hug the Anna let go of the power, dispelling the illusion. Anna hugged her back, realizing that Elyse was crying. ”Thanks Anna,”

Anna hugged her tightly. At least she was crying because of good emotions. ”Of course - that’s what friends do. Now stop the crying. You’ll smear your make up.” Elyse let out a chuckle. ”You gonna do crowd work? Group number?” Elyse nodded. Anna smiled. Her girl was back. ”Proud of you. Don’t forget. You’re never alone.” Anna pulled away from the hug and kissed Elyse on the forehead before they got ready to work the crowd.