Adrian and Kayci: Dancing Masks

A/N: This is a short based off a story I'm doing with a bunch of friends: Adrian is a mystery man and Kayci is the Princess Royal (Crown Princess by this time). She has fallen in love with him ... and they both sing. A lot. And dance. Therefore:

Adrian came across Kayci late in the afternoon, as he wandered in the general direction of the balcony off the large hall. She was in the hall, sprawled on a padded bench along the left wall, in the shade.

“Your Highness,” he intoned gently as he came near. “Is something the matter?”

She sat up, her golden mermaid skirt swaying around her ankles as she slid her legs off the cot and leaned on her hands, propped up on her knees, her emerald-green tank top glittering faintly. “No … well, yes.”

“Tell me.” He knelt beside her, placing both of his hands on her knee and looking up at her. She sighed gently and began to sing, tapping her foot.

“I wake up in the morning with a head like ‘what ya done?’ This used to be the life, but I don’t need another one … good luck cuttin’ nothing, carrying on, wearing these gowns … so how come I feel so lonely when you’re up getting down? I play along when I hear our favourite song … I’m gonna be the one who gets it right. You better know, when you’re swingin’ ’round the room: looks like magic’s solely yours tonight."

She leaned back, putting her hands behind her head.

“I don't feel like dancin' when the old Joanna plays - my heart could take a chance, but my two feet can't find a way. You’d think that I could muster up a little soft-shoe gentle sway … but I don't feel like dancin': no sir, no dancin' today.”

He bounced up, extending his hand to her.

“Don't feel like dancin', dancin'?”

“Even if I find nothin' better to do!”

“Don't feel like dancin', dancin'?”

“Why'd you break it down when I'm not in the mood?”

“Don't feel like dancin', dancin'?”

“Rather be home with no-one when I can't get down with you.”

“You are a sweetheart,” he said, smiling behind his mask and taking her hand, lifting her to her feet. “Dance with me.”

“But I said … ”

“Just do. Please? Make me smile.”

“You are smiling … I can hear it.” Nevertheless, she stood and followed him as he continued the song.

Swinging gently to the one-two beat, he held her close. “Cities come and cities go just like the old empires, when all you do is change your clothes and call that versatile. You got so many colours make a blind man so confused - then why can't I keep up when you're the only thing I lose? So I'll just pretend that I know which way to bend, and I'm gonna tell the whole world that you're mine … just please understand, when I see you clap your hands - if you stick around I'm sure that you'll be fine.”

They broke into full dance, skipping and hopping across the marble floor in the sunlight.

“But I don't feel like dancin' when the old Joanna plays -”

“My heart could take a chance, but my two feet can't find a way!”

“You’d think that I could muster up a little soft-shoe gentle sway …”

“But I don't feel like dancin' - no sir, no dancin' today.”

“Don't feel like dancin', dancin'?”

“Even if I find nothin' better to do!”

“Don't feel like dancin', dancin'?”

“Why'd you break it down when I'm not in the mood?”

“Don't feel like dancin', dancin'?”

“Rather be home with no-one when I can't get down with you.”

Back and forth, around in circles, then across from each other, stepping in a circle, as if facing off …

“You can't make me dance around … but your two-step makes my chest pound.”

“Just lay me down as you throw it away into the summer light!”

Back together, arms intertwined, skipping merrily.

“But I don't feel like dancin' when the old Joanna plays - my heart could take a chance, but my two feet can't find a way! You’d think that I could muster up a little soft-shoe gentle sway … But I don't feel like dancin' - no sir, no dancin' today.”

“Don't feel like dancin', dancin'?”

“Even if I find nothin' better to do!”

“Don't feel like dancin', dancin'?”

“Why'd you break it down when I'm not in the mood?”

“Don't feel like dancin', dancin'?”

“Rather be home with no-one when I can't get down with you.”

Spin, skip, twist, flip, both in sync for the final chorus, singing at each other with merry grins:

“Don't feel like dancin', dancin'?”

“Even if I find nothin' better to do!”

“Don't feel like dancin', dancin'?”

“Why'd you break it down when I'm not in the mood?”

“Don't feel like dancin', dancin'?”

“Rather be home with no-one when I can't get down with you.”

As they laughed amicably, Adrian led the Crown Princess off onto the balcony, one arm around her shimmering green shoulders and her head on his.

“You always make me smile, Adrian … ”

I Don't Feel Like Dancin' (c) Scissor Sisters