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🤣 that was hilarious!

Practice went according to Jade’s plan until she neared Abirami. She leaned toward him so he could pick her up, and then it seemed to take as long as a Destiny ceremony for him to figure out what he should do. Once he finally lifted her into the air, Jade outstretched her arms as a bird would its wings. Then Abirami spun. Stiffly. Carefully.

Jade glared at him. You dolt, I’m not nitroglycerin! How do you expect to give that kid a decent show if you’re going to screw it up? She crossed her arms. “Put me down,” she said through gritted teeth.

Abirami promptly obliged. “Sorry.”

Jade huffed and shoved him toward the stage’s rear. “Just watch Ophelia and Isaias. You need to do what they do. He has seen lifts before while watching me practice.”

She refrained from mentioning the illegal circumstances that prompted his spectatorship. She owed Isaias for protecting Rosemary, and he owed Jade for protecting himself. So she tolerated his dangerous friendship. Screw the Benevolents; they’d get folks no matter which way they turn.

Jade and Abirami watched Ophelia and Isaias dance, and Jade was actually impressed. She hadn’t known Ophelia’s skill level, which was not too bad. Isaias, however, surprised her. Then she thought of the rebellious farmer kid’s skill with a pencil. Maybe his gracefulness wasn’t so surprising. The pair was on the second lift of the dance. Isaias fluidly swept Ophelia up into the air, giving her just the effect Jade wanted: that of a flying bird.

”See?” Jade asked Abirami a bit more gently.

@jared-williams

@rose-colored-fancy

I might write some from Isaias’ view, too. That would be interesting.