[JP] Lt. Vitor Silveira & Ens. Alix Harford - Shut Up & Dance Pt II

[btv.abreu]

((602 Club, Mill Valley, California, Earth))

((About one month after Frontier Day.))

Silveira: I can imagine… I had my awkward and stupid moments and that’s why I got drunk… ::He shook his hand in front of him, as if he could put away the talk with Nan::

As you said it's complicated… And I am an expert at that… But I don’t want to keep bothering with my story…

He forced a smile and raised his glass to her, with a wink before taking another sip.

Silveira: If you let me I just keep blabbing by my elbows, as we say. 

Harford: Blabbing at the elbows? I haven’t heard that one.

Vitor smiled and shrugged. He opened his arms as he leaned forward.

Silveira: I am of Portuguese origins, so I am not as cool as an Italian or Greek, but I am as noisy and loud. Where are you from?

Harford: I grew up on the family farm in Texas.

Vitor raised an eyebrow surprised. There was a soft accent in Alix’s voice, but he was far from imagining it was from there.

Silveira: Really, I never would have guessed. Your accent sounds more… I don’t know, not exactly from there…

Harford: Thank you, I’ve worked hard to put my accent away. ::holds up her glass:: But if I have too many of these, it’ll come right back to the surface.

Pulling the straw into her mouth, Alix smiled as she took a long drink. Vitor was pleasant and charismatic, easier to talk to than most. If the two had met with a little less heartbreak between them, they might have really had a good time. As it was, Alix still found his company enjoyable. As the music changed she recognized the first few bars of a smooth melody about living with a broken heart and she chuckled a little. 

Vitor smiled, nodded and raised his own glass to Alix. As she chuckled a little, he tipped his head.

Silveira: Something funny?

Harford: Oh, just the song. Rather fitting lyrics for the two of us tonight. 

Vitor raised an eyebrow and began to pay attention to the song. The tone was slow and the piano really kept a sad pacing to it. It looked like a good pick for a close dance. And as he heard it he nodded sadly. Particularly when it got to the part where he said “The day bleeds into nightfall and you’re not here, to get me through it all. I let my guard down and then you pulled the rug.” That struck him hard, reminding him of Nan. Vitor wondered what Alix would think about it. But he had shared perhaps enough, and didn’t want to keep monopolising the conversation. But he made a note to find out who it was, so he could add it to his playlist.

This one would be Nan’s song. 

Silveira: You like it?

Harford: It's a beautiful song. Heart wrenching, but really beautiful. And the artist's voice is lovely. He's got a nice soulful tone.  

Vitor nodded, his smile gone for a second.

Silveira: He does. It's as if he knows how this feels… You know who it is, or how it’s called?

Harford: I believe it's called, Someone You Loved.

Vitor took a sip from his drink and shrugged.

Silveira: I can add it to my playlist. I think it fits well where I stand now…

Harford: Yeah, as I said, rather fitting for the two of us.

It felt like a shroud of sadness was covering them more and more. In a moment of celebration, with drinks and smiles around them, Alix and Vitor were the epitome of sadness.

He narrowed his eyes. Taking a longer sip from his drink he set the glass down. One of his crazy ideas was brewing in his mind.

Silveira: You know what… I have one of my trademark crazy plans. Let’s see what music plays next and let’s dance. If we keep sinking like we are right now, soon there’s going to be a hole at our feet. What do you say?

Harford: I don't know, Vitor. I don't really dance and you… well… 

She offered the man across the table a sad smile. Part of her wanted to dance and forget her troubles, but she'd not done much dancing and she certainly didn't want to plunge Vitor further into the memories he was trying to escape. 

Vitor almost regretted suggesting it to Alix. He briefly reconsidered, but he was always up to face his fears. To move forward and push straight.

Like a war horse he so fashionably considered himself.

Silveira: Hey that’s why I want to do it again. Besides, I have many friends whom I dance with.

That was true, although that was like once every year or something. It had been so long since he danced with Alora when he visited Ops. And Hallia… Well that was back in the Excalibur… He opened his arms.

Silveira: Look, we don't even have to get close to dance. Let’s just find a song to jump in. ::He smiled, winking at her.:: What do you say?

Harford: ::hesitant:: All right. I'll give it a try, if the next song is a good one.

With a nervous smile she returned to her drink and began wishing desperately for happier moments to come. It seemed the entire fleet was celebrating victory, but Alix knew the celebration was simply covering the sorrow and the loss that everyone was struggling with. Her thoughts turned to her own family. Hearing stories of Vitor’s had her missing them. She should have checked on them, checked in with them, but it was no use. They'd not have answered. 

Alix looked distracted, Vitor took the chance to finish his drink and looked at her. 

Silveira: Running away in your thoughts. I promise I will not let us embarrass ourselves. At least not much

Harford: Yes, sorry. I was lost in thought for a moment. ::pause:: I'm glad your family made it through Frontier Day safely.

Vitor nodded and smiled. He had the feeling that besides the unknown heartbreak, Alix’s family life was also troubling her. 

Silveira: Thank you. I hope yours is also safe. I feel like that is also something that troubles you. May I ask why?

Luckily, Alix was saved from answering Vitor's question as the song changed and the sad atmosphere around them began to fade away. She listened for a moment before turning her gaze to her companion. She may be hesitant to dance, but embarrassing herself on the dance floor was preferable to talking about her family. 

Harford: Well? Does this song save us from sinking into the floor?

Alix deflected his question by paying attention to the music. He smiled and decided not to insist. Clearly Alix was more reserved, not everyone was an open book and blammer mouth like him. Vitor started paying attention to the song. He didn’t recognize it either, but somehow it had a good rhythm. 

Silveira: Oh I think this is perfect. ::he tipped his head to the dance floor.:: Let’s go.

Harford: Alright, but I don’t know what I’m doing.

Vitor started shaking his head to the rhythm as he opened up a path to the dance floor. When he reached it he was fully swinging, shaking his hips and breaking the pace. He tipped his head to Alix, pointing to her to join him at his side. Stepping sideways to the left, he then returned to the first position, before tipping his foot forward. Somehow it felt like the right kind of dance for this song.

Silveira: This is an easy one, follow my lead.

Eyebrow arched and head slightly tilted to the side, Alix watched Vitor with an amused grin and a furrowed brow. He was pretty good at moving his body to the rhythm, a skill she’d never been able to master, not that she’d had much opportunity to try. After watching his feet through another cycle or two of the steps, she attempted to join in, matching her feet’s movements to his. It was a clumsy attempt, but not horrible.

Harford: I don’t know how you keep to the beat of the music.

Vitor added a shoulder shake as he repeated the moves, raising his voice slightly.

Silveira: Left, left, right, right, toe and keep shaking your booty and shoulders.

Harford: Shake my… 

She shook her head and chuckled, still focusing on the footwork. Finally, she caught on and was able to relax a bit and enjoy the movement of it; left, left, right, right, toe. She even began loosening up and adding in some of the shoulder shakes and claps that Vitor was doing. 

Vitor laughed and nodded to Alix at his side, clapping his hands as they started to sink to the song. The lyrics were sad, but the song was pretty “danceable”. And he was enjoying it, not only the dance itself but also being able to teach something to a new friend. 

Silveira: See, it’s not that hard… 

Harford: No, it's not bad once it gets going. 

She smiled at him realizing that this was the first time since she’d met him that an air of gloom wasn’t settled around his shoulders. He looked rather good, relaxing and having a good time. Alix felt herself relaxing, matching his energy as the song progressed. 

By the time the song had ended, Alix was smiling and laughing and having a good time. A two step wasn’t what she thought of when Vitor had suggested they dance, but it was fun and they hadn’t had the awkwardness of being tangled in each other’s arms.

Harford: How’d you learn to dance a two step anyway?

They had fun, dancing as the song played out, and Alix had loosen herself, which was his intent. He also managed to move around easily. There was that old Portuguese saying “Those who sing put their sorrow away”. Vitor always thought that applied to dancing as well. Again “popular wisdom” was proven right.

Silveira: Well, formally I never. But I know enough dance styles to get around it.

Harford: Well, you’re a natural dancer and a great teacher. Thank you.

Vitor smiled and made one of his exaggerated bows, his arms wide open.

Silveira: Thank you. You are an amazing student and easy to teach.

Just as Alix was turning to leave the dance floor, another song kicked on and she turned back to look at Vitor.

Harford: Shall we head back to our table?

Vitor almost said yes, but as he heard the next song, he simply started shaking his head.

Silveira: Already? How about one more

Harford: I don’t know… 

Worried she’d look foolish, Alix hesitated. She’d finally found her footing with the last song and then it had ended. Faster paced, this one sounded much more difficult to dance to. 

Vitor shrugged and simply danced closer to Alix. He took her hands but instead of pulling her to him he led her to his left side. In doing so he let go of his left hand, having her make a twist as he kept shaking.

Silveira: Hey, it’s what the song commands… Shut up and dance with me. 

He smiled, letting her go as he now took to her other side.

Vitor was charming, she couldn’t deny that. Maybe it was his easy, relaxed demeanor, or maybe it was the two strong drinks that made Alix relent. Whatever it was, she felt herself smile as she took her place next to him on the dance floor.

Harford: Alright. Let’s dance but, before you shut up, can you explain this new fancy footwork?

Silveira: It's a simple variation. Left, right, left, right, twist and shake alone before coming back. Only hands holding and not getting closer because this is a faster beat.

Harford: Shake and twist and then- what?

Instead of responding with words, Vitor took her by the hands and led her through the steps. Every so often, he’d swing her away from him for a little twist and then Alix would shimmy back toward him as the steps reset. Alix mused that dancing was really no more than plotting data points in a set pattern. Sure, she wasn’t as artful in her motions as Vitor, but she was really starting to enjoy moving her body to the rhythm.

Harford: Like that? ::she asked after a twist::

As Alix let herself go Vitor smiled and nodded as he kept dancing.

Silveira: Exactly, that’s perfect.

That earned him a warm smile and a light chuckle. Dancing with a man she hadn’t known before tonight, and whom she may never see again, was sort of liberating. She didn’t have to worry too much about things. Alix could just let her mind go and enjoy the movement and connection between them without analyzing things to death.

As the music continued, Alix fell silent, enjoying the dance. It wasn’t until Vitor said her name that she came out of her haze and turned towards him.

Vitor enjoyed the dance and he was smiling as he saw that Alix really tuned in.

Somehow dancing with a stranger he just met had really helped, and he hoped that after their gloomy start he managed to distract Alix and let her enjoy the moment.

Silveira: Alix?

Harford: I’m sorry, I must not have heard you over the music.

Vitor nodded and smiled at her as the song finished. He gestured to their table.

Silveira: I think we deserve a little rest.

Harford: ::smiling:: A rest sounds perfect.

Vitor led Alix back to the table they shared before the dance. He smiled at her, as he crossed his arms over his chest.

Silveira: Thank you.

Harford: Why are you thanking me? You’re the one who taught me to dance.

He kept smiling, even if his eyes began to burn.

Silveira: I wasn’t expecting to dance again… Or so soon. Thank you so much.

A wide smile crossed Alix’s face. After their conversation earlier, she knew just how much weight that sentiment carried. If she could help Vitor move on, even just a little, it was worth an entire evening of embarrassing herself on the dance floor.

Harford: You don’t have to thank me, Vitor. I had fun.

Vitor nodded. He was thankful for also being able to show Alix a good time.

Silveira: Me too.

A silent moment hung between them as Alix and Vitor both got distracted by their own thoughts.

Harford: So, when do you have to report back to your ship?

Silveira: I still have a few days left. ::he shrugged:: But I will likely get back to work tomorrow. I am planning on sleeping in my quarters tonight. How about you? 

Harford: We’re on leave for a while yet, but I’ve been staying on the ship. Trying to get… used to everything.

Vitor nodded. He hoped Alix adjusted swiftly to the new posting, she was a kind soul. 

He plastered his trademark grin and winked as he replied. 

Silveira: I am sure everything will, eventually, sort itself out. You're a good person and deserve all the best Doc Alix.

Harford: Thanks Vitor. I’m sure it will, and hopefully you find your feet on the dance floor a little more often. It’d be a shame to let heartbreak ruin something you’re so good at.

The night felt like it was drawing to an end, and Alix was a little bit sad that it had to. Vitor Silveira had been a welcome distraction with a kind smile. After they said their goodbyes and agreed to stay in touch, Alix watched him walk out of the bar. Thinking back through their conversation, Alix felt a little guilty. She really should reach out to her family and make sure everyone was okay but, as she left the bar, she knew she wouldn’t.

[End]

Lt. Vitor S. Silveira

Chief Tactical Officer

USS Artemis-A, NCC-81287

O238907VS0

and

Ensign Alix Harford

Medical Officer

USS Astraeus, NCC-70652

D240104AH2