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[edle_gestalt]

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( ACTION. ) AUGUST 19th

[herocomplex]

<sub>[ It's the beginning of the week, which means that America has a lesson with Austria. He's definitely improved on the piano since he started learning months ago, surprisingly, and today he's playing out a simplified jazz piece for Austria. He's doing well, missing a few notes here and there, but he doesn't ever stop or seem hesitant. As the song progresses, the brunette may notice America bouncing in his seat or his lips moving as if he was keeping count. He even tears his eyes away from the sheet music for a second to cast Austria a glance with a smile before putting his attention back on the music.

A few more hiccups, but he finishes and leans back, hands gripping the bottom of the piano bench before one hand gestures to the music. ]</sub>

Hahaha, okay! Shit like this reminds me of the Charleston, you know?

_{[ Surely Austria remembers that dance in the 1920's. ]}

[edle_gestalt]

[This is honestly the last thing Austria could have expected when he first arrived here, especially with America being the first person he ran into, and the conversation that ensued. This was, honestly, incredibly fulfilling. It isn't as if he'd never given piano lessons to another nation but... well, it had been a while, and it had been only possible when he was living with other nations. Back when his house was full, he didn't feel quite as isolated. Not only does he get to watch America improve, which is fulfilling on its own, it's also hearkening back to less lonely times.

Austria starts up, though, looking at the way America is leaning back; if he were a cat his hair might be sticking up.] Ah -- try not to tip it back --

[The Charleston, though. Yes, he remembers. Bittersweet for a number of reasons, including the fact that it sort of signified an era of freedom of expression right before things went sour. And bittersweet, because]

...I was barely out of a wheelchair when that came out, so I never learned it. But yes, it's got the same rhythmic pattern. Your playing is coming along very well.

[herocomplex]

Hahahaa, oh, _{[ weird voice ]} hell yessssss! Take that, Mozart, you bi-atch. BAM.

_{[ Just. Going to finger gun the piano. Please don't pay attention to.. probably any of this that is happening right now. Also, what does Mozart have to do with anything.
America does shift in the seat so he's completely facing Austria now, seeming pleased to receive praise. ]}

Yeah! I'm boss at this shit now. I bet I can play Sherbet now.

_{[ Schubert, remember? ]}

You never learned the Charleston? Why not? I mean, obviously not back then, but why didn't you try to nowadays?

[edle_gestalt]

[Austria just blinks. Slowly. And not like a cat would from trust. Really the only reason he's not huffing over it is that he knows Mozart would have laughed at that.

...They might have gotten along, if he's honest. If Mozart had the patience for a bit of Dunning-Kruger effect in regards to music, he's certain the two of them could talk for hours about .... butts]

Stop calling him Sherbet! At least call him by his actual ridiculous nickname, which was ... mushroom boy ... all right that doesn't sound nearly as darling in English as it does in my dialect.

[The driest of glares.] In case you forgot, things got a bit tense at my place shortly afterwards, to put it mildly, I wasn't much in the mindset of dancing. [Austria, you literally started the tradition for the waltz-ridden New Year's Concert during that time to make yourself feel better about everything, you dissociative twat] After that I ... well for one, it wasn't in vogue any longer.

[for one. For two, he was depressed and didn't get out much. But he's ending it there before he says as much.]

[herocomplex]

_{[ His voice is soft for a moment. ]}

Oh.. right.

_{[ But then: ]}

Well! It's decades and decades later, but it's never too late to learn! Geez, I wonder if I can even remember the damn thing myself. Let's see..

_{[ Don't mind hm, he's just going to stand to his feet and look down at his toes-- kind of shuffling the basic movements of the dance. ]}

[edle_gestalt]

[The softness in his voice isn't actually what he'd expected, and he feels bad, like he's just kicked a puppy with sarcasm. It doesn't last when America gets up to go through the motions of the dance.]

It seems about right, from what I remember seeing at least. Wait. Here-here-here-- [He scurries over to take America's place on the piano bench and begins playing something like this, and he's rusty and maybe a little too cautious and delicate with the phrasing but as it goes on he gets more into it. He's tapping his foot. Still playing, he looks up to watch America, and he calls out] Easier with the music?

[Austria has a birdbox, but for now he's content with making the music himself. Really nice music. It'd be a shame if someone tore him away from it and set off his asthma.]

[herocomplex]

<sub>[ As soon as Austria plays the music, America feels his lips pull upward in a pleased smile. Yes, it is quite easier to dance when someone else is playing music. Alfred is quite surprised he's getting back into the swing of the dance (though, he's improvising some modern dance moves the second he has a chance to sneak one in.)

It would be unfortunate if someone did tear him away from the piano like America is doing right now. ]</sub>

Come on, man! I wasn't joking when I said it isn't too late to learn!

_{[ just gonna try and drag the brunette off and onto his feet.. ]}

i swear all of our threads send me down the best youtube rabbit holes

[edle_gestalt]

[Wait. WAIT.

Austria is all too easy to yank away from the piano and he gets up, sputtering indignantly] But -- but the music --

[He wracks his brain for a moment, and it's admittedly hard to remember dance steps from only what he'd seen and recall a Charleston tune at the same time. But eventually]

Birdbox, play Kannst du Charleston tanzt du Charleston.

[...oh. oh god this is faster than he remembers it. Was he really that distracted by ankles back in the day to register how fast this all was? He coughs, watching America's feet, trying to replicate.]

I'm not sure how [PANT] long I can keep this up... [PANT PANT]

that was such a cute song omg

[herocomplex]

_{[ America perks up, zipping his attention in the direction of the birdbox cause he has no idea what it is, and for a moment, it causes him to be distracted, pausing his movements. Though, after a brief moment of his, America continues the movements, grinning brightly when he sees Austria giving a valiant effort. ]}

Hahaha! You can do it, Austria! I have faith in you. Do your best to keep up with me! I'll catch you if you fall!

[edle_gestalt]

[There's actually a baffled squint through all of the effort when America says I have faith in you. The initial gut reaction is borderline amused at the thought of anyone placing their faith in him. Then a split second later it's a chill at realizing he found that notion funny to begin with. And another mere split second later he's touched?? And he's still dancing, and maybe he's panting slightly less. The steps don't need as much effort as he's putting in, they can be understated... okay, this is getting a little better.]

I think I... might be all right. Though I can't say I won't set up a hot bath later.

[He's still thinking about the fact that he wanted to laugh at anyone having faith in him. It's weird. It's especially weird to realize you casually think that poorly of yourself in the middle of an exhausting dance. It's certainly a distraction from his bad knees.

Yep, enough of a distraction that he forgets for a moment what he's capable of doing and stumbles, steadying himself on America's shoulders, but doesn't quite fall entirely.

He just shrugs. He's too jaded with his own physical weakness to be embarrassed by it anymore, and he keeps going.]

[herocomplex]

Ope! Easy there!
_{[ wow his midwestern is coming out. ]}

Haha, like I get it, you're old, so this stuff can be kinda hard, but I think you're doing great!

_{[ America does stop and exhale, seeming a little out of breath himself, small beads of sweat beginning to surface to his skin. ]}

It makes me wonder what kind of other dances you know! Oh, hey, can you twerk?
_{[ Cease. ]}

[edle_gestalt]

[oh no, a cute regional accent? what is this?]

Brilliant observation. But no, it does feel more comfortable than just a moment ago, I... we never started slow, did we, we just barreled right through it...! [Is that a laugh? Is this .... an endorphin?

Austria's ready to brag about his own dances until that question comes out.]

...No. I'm not even very good at the simplest hip isolation, and yes I've tried. [Wait.] N-not twerking, I mean, just simple dances that require hip movement... Spain's been trying to teach me for centuries, I can get by with a bolero but not with mambo. The waltz is my own dance, so naturally I'm the best at it, quite a few of the older court dances [He takes a moment, realizing he's been talking long enough to ... not breathe, so he breathes] ... I don't think I do much jumping about like this other than the polka.

[mumbled] Spain can twerk.

[he coughs. what? he's getting tired.]

[herocomplex]

<sub>[ America is barely paying attention to most of what Austria is saying, which is dumb, cause he's the one who asked the question.. but that's just kind of how he operates I guess.

Though, he hyper focuses on one thing Austria said: ]</sub>

Okay, we should waltz!

_{[ HOW SUDDEN? Without asking, he's adjusting his posture and trying to take a hold of the older man, forcing him into the female position. Or something like that. His hand is on Austria's waist and the other does have him by his other hand. ]}

Show me! I've done a little but it's been decades!

barges in late carrying. something besides starbucks, sorry america he loves you but not your coffee

[edle_gestalt]

[Austria is enough of a rambler that he doesn't mind. And that response, honestly, is so much better than what he'd half-expected, which was America insisting Austria attempt twerking. He's being asked about his dance and he's proud, if he had feathers they'd puff out.

Even (maybe especially) after America claims the lead. Almost instinctively there's a tiny, stupid grin that he quickly swallows back. The dance's heyday was during his marriage and if past Halloween couple costumes are any hint, it isn't the first time he's been ... squished? into position to follow.

A brow goes up, dumb grin still hiding behind pursed lips.] Relax your hand. ... Birdbox, play Roses from the South, and be sure it's a Viennese orchestra. [The music starts and he's chirping about posture and repositioning here and there until the main theme comes in and he begins to move, guiding small steps considering the lack of space.]

Every January and February back home we do this. Just about every other day there's a ball somewhere in town, though they vary in formality. They've all got different themes. I should plan to organize something here.

u think ur late, i'm also late

[herocomplex]

Huh? January and February? Haha, uh, that's kind of weird.

_{[ He's being critical even though he's waltzing? Good grief. Austria may even notice him humming lightly to the tune-- he's familiar, at least. He's a little slow and he keeps looking don at his feet, but America knows the basics of a box waltz. ]}

Come to think of it, a lot of your customs are weird, man. Don't get me started on lederhosen. No bitches ever gonna catch me wearing that shit, haha!!

_{[ why is he so mean ]}