[Action - backdated to before the Homecoming Dance]

[dancing_flames]

[Times have been tough for the Glory household lately. They've always been lower class, but with the crop failure and then the factory strike, the dance school has been getting even fewer patrons than usual due to the lack of spending money among everyone but the upper class. Things have been tight even with Haru's help from his job as a carpenter.

In short, it's not a good situation. But never let it be said that Shuda didn't know how to take an opportunity and run with it. Haru had mentioned something about the high school having its homecoming dance over dinner the other night - in the context of going with a girl, but that's unimportant - and immediately Shuda saw his chance. After all, a dance is all about dancing, and there are no doubt plenty of students who would like to attend but don't know the first thing about dancing. Why not capitalize on that?

So he sets out a sign in front of the dance school with two simple sentences on it:

50% OFF DANCE LESSONS
IMPRESS YOUR DATE AT HOMECOMING

[If this will draw more customers, then hey, why not? It's certainly worth a try. He'll be sitting in a chair in the corner of the studio for anyone who wants to drop by and sign up or ask him any questions.]

Comments

[ravelt]

[Sup Dad. Haru's just going to awkwardly walk into your studio.]

[dancing_flames]

[Flatly:]

You can't sign up.

[Sorry son, you are a lost cause.]

[ravelt]

I don't wanna sign up for your lessons!

[dancing_flames]

Then why are you here? Don't you have a job you should be doing?

[ravelt]

I only have work when people hire me for it, Dad.

[dancing_flames]

Still no luck?

[He scowls.]

You'd think the mayor would realize that this whole situation is just getting worse. Then again, he's probably off on another vacation without a care in the world.

[ravelt]

I've got work! Just... not anything recently... Sis always puts a good word in for me when the store needs repaired! But I can't really rely on just that place needin' repairs all the time...

[He shakes his head.]

But I didn't come here to talk about jobs.

[lasthairbender]

[And here's Aang peeking his head through the door.]

Excuse me, sir! How dancey are you?

[He may not understand what fifty percent means, also. Maybe that means he'll get 50 dollars for taking a lesson!]

[dancing_flames]

"Dancey"...?

[Is that some newfangled kid speak or something? Because it certainly isn't a word he's ever heard before.]

I know how to dance, if that's what you're asking. That's why I run this school.

[lasthairbender]

Okay... Cool! You have your own school. That's great! So what's a good way to do it. The... dancing?

[dancing_flames]

Have you ever danced before?

[Let's establish the basics here, even though he's pretty sure the answer is going to be "no."]

[lasthairbender]

Only a little! From what I saw on the tv screens sometimes. Watch! [And he goes into some choppy, amateurish tapdancing for a bit.]

[dancing_flames]

... in other words, no, you haven't. And you definitely won't be impressing any date of yours with that.

[He is going to have his work cut out for him here.]

[lasthairbender]

[He sheepishly comes to a stop and frowns.]

But- I really want to impress her! You have to teach me to dance better... loads better! Please!

[etherion]

[Oh. Oh. Dance lessons? Not that she needs them, but maybe she can help out a little bit? A partner to dance with who can help out? ONE NEVER KNOWS, so she'll be popping in to look around some.]

[dancing_flames]

[... oh hey, Shuda is pretty sure he recognizes this girl. He's seen her with Haru before, unless he's very much mistaken.]

You. You're Haru's girlfriend, aren't you?

[etherion]

Huh? Oh... oh, yeah! I am! I'm Elie! How did you know who I was?

[She's pretty sure she's never met Haru's family, though he's talked about them before. Unless...]

Are... you Haru's dad, by chance?

[dancing_flames]

That's right. He's told me a few things about you.

[Nothing too terrible, don't worry.]

He told me you're an amazing dancer.

[etherion]

I hope they were all good things! And... well, I wouldn't say amazing, but I'm pretty good! That's actually why I came in here, actually, to see if anyone needed a practice partner.

[dancing_flames]

Don't worry, he didn't have a bad word to say about you. He was actually worried that he wouldn't be good enough to keep up with you. Said you were an amazing dancer that even I couldn't compare to.

[etherion]

What?! Are you serious? I mean-- well, I'm really not that great, I just like to dance is all!

[HARU NO.]

[zeropoints]

[Tsuna is standing in front of the dance school, staring intently at the sign. He's been here for at least 10 minutes, muttering under his breath, and it doesn't look like he's reached any sort of decision yet.

On the one hand, he can't ask the girl he likes to the dance anyway, since she doesn't even go to school. On the other hand, what if... Well, what if a miracle happens and he does get to dance with her?? And it would suck if, at the crucial moment, instead of showing her slick dance moves, he showed her that he couldn't dance... at all. Augh, what to do...]

[dancing_flames]

[Shuda watches the kid standing out in front of the window for a while. He's staring at the sign, which is good, but he also doesn't seem to be DOING anything... which is not so good. Or maybe he just can't read?

Who knows. At last Shuda decides that either this kid needs to come inside or go away and stop loitering, so he pokes his head out the door.]

You interested in dance lessons or not?

[zeropoints]

[Despite popular belief, Tsuna is not that much of a failure in school and he can read just fine, thank you very much!

He jumps at Shuda's voice and hunches up nervously when he spots the man.]

U-um, er, yes...? [But he doesn't sound so sure about it.] I mean, it's okay, right? Even if I'm not going to dance with anyone anytime soon?

[dancing_flames]

Of course it is. There's no rule that says you have to use what you learn right away.

[He doesn't even seem surprised to see that the kid looks scared of him-- he gets that reaction a lot. It's not like he TRIES to be imposing, though...]

They're for anyone who's interested in learning how to dance properly.