Smile

Dance.

Barriss spun, whirling from one clone to the next, laughing.

It was all incredibly silly. The mess had been transformed into an impromptu dance hall, with half the tables pushed up against the walls. Someone had rigged the in-ship communications channels to tap into the holonet, and found one of the music stations. Jump music was pouring out of the speakers affixed to the ceiling, loud enough to be heard over the cheers of the clones, but not quite so loud that it was thumping against the white walls of the mess.

They'd won their last battle. It'd been a rare rout, and they'd caught the Separatists entirely unprepared for their assault, plowing through their defenses with unexpected ease. Casualties were at a minimum, and there was a victory party raging through the 41st as a result.

She found herself squared off across from Gree again, grabbing his hands as they spun themselves around each other. She was sure she looked entirely ridiculous, but then, so did pretty much everyone else. Some of the men were in groups, flailing their arms around while they laughed at each other; some others seemed better at moving their bodies in tempo, their steps not nearly so wild. A pair of clones were on top of one of the tables, waving mugs of caf and bellowing something about the "brew of the brave and true", coming from somewhere called the "Green Dragon". They'd assembled quite an audience, and were receiving cheers for the performance.

Gree spun her around, her skirts twirling out, dark and elegant against what was otherwise an assembly of white; the room was all white walls and white armor. Gree released her hand, and Barriss spun out, finding herself caught and then swept upward off her feet, volta style, by Vin, with his hands under her arms, her feet swinging outward until he lowered her again, grinning down at her. Another hand tugged her away, spun her once. Barriss found herself face to face with a beaming Taler, who grabbed her hands before propelling them straight across the floor at a breathtaking pace. Barriss struggled to both keep up and not get trampled by Taler's enthusiasm.

It was hard not to be carried away by it all; usually the time after battles was solemn, serious, filled with time in the medical bay, mourning, and attempts to reestablish some sense of normalcy onboard. To see the men celebrating instead was heartening, and she'd found herself swept up into the fray accompanied by a round of cheers.

Cheers which now faded abruptly. The men bellowing the drinking song suddenly stopped, and stillness rippled out from the mess hall doors. Barriss found herself caught between Taler and Gree, her smile fading as men were quickly moving aside, and the music cut off mid-song.

Master Luminara Unduli was walking forward though the crowd, which parted quickly before her, suddenly entirely sober. She was frowning, and Barriss could not tell exactly what type of frown it was.

Gree cleared his throat, and both he and Taler straightened into more professional stances, straight and tall on either side of Barriss. Luminara came to a halt before her padawan, still frowning.

Barriss gave a small curtsy, bowing her head and folding her hands before her politely, wishing she could sink into the floor. Dancing in the mess hall with the clone troopers was undoubtedly not the kind of behavior her Master would approve of, and she flushed with embarrassment.

Luminara said, in clipped tones, "It seems I have been somewhat remiss in your training."

Barriss resisted a flinch, but not a grimace. Luminara continued, mildly, "Dancing does not merely mean sashaying wildly around the floor, padawan. Pick up your feet. It will not do to have a Jedi unable to move properly."

Barriss blinked, looking up at her Master again, who had a small smile tugging at the corner of her mouth. "Master?"

Luminara smiled more fully, arching a brow. "Did you think I would be upset that morale is currently high?" Barriss flushed and looked down again in embarrassment. Luminara chuckled, speaking more loudly for all to hear, "Whoever is in charge of the music may turn it back on. Though I do remind you we are en route to the Mid Rim, and will be arriving in a few hours. I expect to have troopers when we arrive rather than revelers."

There was a pause, then a fresh cheer went up from the whole room. Barriss beamed up at her Master, who returned it with an amused smile of her own. The music burst back on with a staccato roll of drums and a second roar of approval. Motion returned to the room.

A hand was extended off to Barriss' side, not to herself, but instead to her Master. Luminara's brows rose as she regarded Taler, who was grinning rather wickedly, in spite of how red in the face he was. "Can't say I do much more than sashay wildly, General, but I'd be honored."

Luminara tilted her head to the side, considering, then chuckled, placing her hand in Taler's. "I suppose one turn around the floor would be acceptable."

A series of whoops rose up around them from that statement, and Barriss laughed as Luminara rolled her eyes a bit in exasperation. There was still a bit of a smile on her Master's lips.

Another hand presented itself, this time to her. Gree was grinning. "Shall we join them?"

Barriss placed her hand in his, smiled and said, "Yes."

I know Luminara's usually all business, but I figured she's got to relax every once in awhile.

Thanks to everyone who suggested clone names awhile ago. I went with Vin and Taler, as suggested by FiresOfHope. Taler is a brave, brave man, trying to flirt with Luminara….

Anyone who knows what series "The only brew of the brave and true/Comes from the Green Dragon!" comes from gets a cookie!

~Queen