Josephine's crisp nod hid the fact that she knew she had her work cut out for her. Mihra was at least improving in small doses but not enough for her to cancel an entire week's worth of afternoons to teach the Inquisitor to waltz.
"Better, Lady Lavellan. Much Better. But perhaps you should keep your knees soft and low so you don't look like a toy on a string popping back up. Rise and fall should be gentle. It comes from your legs and not your toes."
It wasn't better. And everyone knew it. A small audience of the Inquisitor's inner circle had gathered to watch the lessons, much to Mihra's dismay. Varric and Bull took bets on how many times Mihra would step on Dorian's feet in a single song. Whomever was closest to the number without going over won the pot.
After they had gotten too rowdy, Josephine had demanded they watch from afar, if at all. Dancing, it seems was one of the many things to not mess with an Antivan with; especially when there was a royal ball on the line. Josephine was certain they still watched but much more discretely as to not distract the Inquisitor.
"Right. So I can't be a trebuchet on the dancefloor." Mihra mumbled while getting into frame with Dorian. He corrected her frame. "You never let me be a trebuchet."
"You can be whatever you'd like, my Darling, after we save Empress Celene." Dorian vowed. He put pressure against her shoulder blade, reminding her that she wasn't giving him enough connection for him to lead her.
"Pulling, tugging, sinews brought taught. Stretching until almost broken and then relief. Everything flies but me…. I don't think I'd want to be a trebuchet." Cole's voice echoed from some balcony above, although nobody could see him.
"Quite right, Cole. Nobody wants to be a trebuchet." Dorian confirmed then began to count the waltz.
For Mihra's part, she didn't step on Dorian's toes as he waltzed her down the length of the room. Josephine felt a surge of hope that maybe she could teach the Inquisitor how to dance and then….
"ACK!" The noise, that came out of Lavellan as she messed up the step sounded like it came from a disgruntled duck rather than the petite elf. Josephine knew she had to drill Lavellan's waltz into perfection, for Lavellan always made that noise when she messed the dance up.
For his credit, the Tevinter mage barely broke stride as he led Lavellan in a box so she could regain the beat. "Keep dancing, Darling. I threw in a step you didn't know yet."
"Show off," Lavellan accused before Dorian spun her to her left- a move she didn't know at all. Another noise came out of Lavellan this time; a loud "HA!" of triumph.
Solas had been watching from the door discretely. He nodded. A smile tugged on his lips as Lavellan triumphantly called to Josephine like a proud child doing flips into a lake.
"Did you see that Josephine?! I did a thing!"
"An inside turn to be precise, Inqusitor. This is very encouraging." Josephine nodded, "Perhaps we shall get to twinkles after all."
The unmistakable sound of Sera's laugh echoed through the great hall. "Twinkles!"
"I'm not going to get anywhere if the peanut gallery insists on putting their ore in at every turn!" Mihra called out in exasperation.
"Wouldn't think of it, Twinkles." Varric answered smugly. "This is serious business."
"You better give me a cut of that 'serious business', Tethras." Mihra shot back, turning on the spot, finger pointed to where she thought he was watching from.
Josephine heaved a sigh of defeat, knowing that now it would take twice as long to reign in the
chaos. Dance lessons would have to be a private affair in her office from now on.