"Thank you," she said, accepting the drink.   And after trying it: "Mmm, good."   

She smiled at his remark. "Well, you, know; while I was studying psychology at uni, I minored in wildlife biology.  So I think, maybe, I can handle a three toed sloth."   She set her drink down.

"C'mon," she beckoned Justin to follow her out on the floor.  Once they were out there, she asked:

"So...is there any particular kind of dance you want to learn? Or do you just want me to pick, start with something fun and easy?"   

In reply to Dr. Alison Verault (msg # 662):

Justin didn't have any particular preference anything learnt was a step closer to improvement.Ladies choice, bearing in mind me size 16 clod hoppers

At 5'8", when Alison wore heels, she was used to being as tall as many men.

That wasn't true with Justin, however.  He was easily one of the tallest she'd met, even hailing from Texas.  Not that it was any problem.  The height looked really good on him...

"Okay then.  You know, I think we'll begin with a basic Salsa step;  it's truly not hard, and it's a flashy, fun dance once you've got the basics down.  So, there are eight steps, but number four and eight are rest points. Like this..." 

"One, two, three," her steps moved her forward, and then back to the same spot "four."

"And then in reverse - five, six, seven," her steps moved her backward, and then back to the same spot "eight."

"See?  Here we go again - " she repeated it, so he could observe again.

"Small steps are the thing, not big ones.  Ok?  Go ahead and try it..." she made sure to give him space.

In reply to Dr. Alison Verault (msg # 664):

Justin watched the Doc's forward and reverse steps. Taking note she started with her left foot stepping forward, 'One'; transfering her weight to her left foot as she made an inplace step with her right transfer of weight 'Two' she then moved her left foot back to start point transfer weight 'Three'; Resting on the 'Fourth' beat. With her right foot she stepped back resting her weight on it 'Five' following it with an inplace step with her left foot transfer of weight 'Six'. returning her right foot to the start placement transfer weight 'Seven and resting for the 'Eighth' beat.

Confirming this with her second repetition of the forward eight beat process. This prompted a hesitant swallow from Justin.  Quietly vocalising 'fortune favours the bold' he tried the steps himself.

Forward, Step, Return, Rest, Back, Step, Return, Rest. Glancing at the Doc for her appraisal of his attempt.
This message was last edited by the player at 05:09, Sat 30 July 2022.

"Not bad," she nodded, pleased that he'd clearly been paying attention. Enough so to even get much of the nuance of it, rather than just loosely imitate.

"Good, in fact. Now - I want you to do the same again, but this time, I'm going to stand facing you. I'll do the same steps, but in reverse order; moving back when you go forward, then forward when you go back."   She smiled. "You don't need to worry about what I'm doing yet; just focus on your own movements.  I'll follow you."

"Okay?  So let's start on three -- one, two three," she waited for him to step first, then followed immediately after...

Giving the Doc a nod Justin stepped of on her thee count. Running through the steps in his mind as he executed them Forward, Step, Return, Rest, Back, Step, Return, Rest. his steps mirrored by the Doc.

"That's right," she encouraged, "Good work!"

"Ok, so let's do it several more times, for familiarity.  Hold your hands up kind of like this," she said, demonstrating. "If they're down at your side, it makes you look bored," she winked.

Once they'd run through it a few more times, she said "Alright, so I'm going to stand closer to you now.  And I want you to take my hands," she offered them to him.

If Justin did so, then they would run through the steps once again, in this manner...

In reply to Dr. Alison Verault (msg # 668):

Justin appreciated the practice runs. Sure thing Doc. he replied with a smile, as he took her offered hands. I'll try not to miss-step. Wouldn't do to have you admitted to the Med for crushed toes. he hoped he didn't inadvertently step on her with his 16's. Practising their coordination twice, Justin was relieved how the Doc managed to avoid any possible miss-step, thereby circumventing subsequent injury.
This message was last edited by the player at 10:44, Sun 31 July 2022.

To be certain, Alison was paying attention to his feet -- being bound and determined that she didn't want to end up herself a patient in Med, with a critically bruised tootsie.

But for all of his jests about it, Justin demonstrated above average coordination, in spite of his size.  He had quite a bit going for him, in fact...in a number of ways.

After they'd practiced in that manner for a time, she smiled and stopped.

"Alright; so we're going to up the ante now, and get a bit more complicated.  Nothing too extreme; I have full confidence you can do this!   Don't worry if you make a mistake here or there, just try to get back on track, if it happens.  So - "   She raised her right arm, moving closer to him than before.

"I'm going to hold this hand up, like this.  And I want you to take it.   Then, put your other hand just beneath my shoulder blade.   Good. Now my other will go up on your shoulder - or near as I can get - that's pretty high up!" she laughed lightly.

"Okay;  so it's just the same steps we've been practicing. But, we're going to rotate slowly, while we do them.  I'll lead on that part, just focus on your steps, and follow me as I turn."    She smiled, "This will feel awkward, at first.  But if you can keep all of this together, then you're really dancing."

"So, here we go...one, two.." 
This message was last edited by the player at 18:43, Sun 31 July 2022.

Giving a chuckle at the Docs jest Justin loosened the hold, he had, on her hands so she could reposition them. After listening to the Doc's instructions he assumed the standard Walts and Foxtrot Partner position he'd been drilled in at the Academy what felt like 100 years ago. Like this he asked checking for confirmation after she answered he added Is a dip part of a Salsa. he asked grinning mischievously.
This message was last edited by the player at 23:57, Sun 31 July 2022.

"Why yes it is; you've had some experience doing those, have you?" wondering a little now just how inexperienced he truly was.

"If you'd like to try that; normally in a Salsa dip, you'd pull me closer on step 3, then twist to the left on 5, letting me lean back on 6 and 7, before you bring me back."

In reply to Dr. Alison Verault (msg # 672):

Justin assimilated the information Its sightly different the dip in the Dances we were drilled in at the Academy. They were limited to Waltz and Foxtrot. he mentioned

"I see; well, it's the very same idea, it just falls on different steps.  Do you want to try it out-?"

Sure thing Doc after all she had taken the time to provide his instruction, it'd be a slight if he didn't apply what she'd taught him.

Is the background tune acceptable?

She'd been thinking about the music.  She stopped, and pulled away for a moment.  "Yeah...not really." 

Alison waved, called out to the DJ, who was idle with the Pulse as relatively empty as it was, "Hey - can we get a change of tunes?  If you know Salsa music, that's what we're looking for -- but anything with a good Latin groove, with eight beats in the bar, would work!"

Fortune smiled upon them, as the DJ provided something suitable --

"Awesome!" she waved.   Then turned back to Justin, moving closer to him again. "Alrighty. So step wise, it goes like this --  one, two, three," she moved in nearer to him, putting her hand up on his shoulder, "but you lead, bringing me with you, rather than me doing it."     

"And then four is a rest, as usual. On five, you twist to the left," she guided him, by shifting her weight backward, "bending your right leg as you do.  We go a bit lower on six, I fling my arm straight out like so," she demonstrated, "before you pull me back, and we rest on step eight..."   

She was ready once he was, and began stepping to the more appropriate music.
This message was last edited by the player at 19:25, Mon 01 Aug 2022.

Justin smiled as he nodded his understanding of her instructions. Stepping off on the first beat Twisting to the left and bending his righting leg on the fifth beat. On the sixth they lowered slightly. After she extended her arm straight on the sixth Justin drew her back on they seventh the rested on step eight

"Muy bueno, señor! Muy bueno!  For a man with size 16 clodhoppers, I'd say you've sure got some moves, Mr. Kase!"   

This has been an unexpected outing, but one Alison was glad had happened...

In reply to Dr. Alison Verault (msg # 678):
Todo gracias a su amabilidad bella dama.
Justin Clicks his heals together gives the Doc a half bow lifting her hand and lightly kissing the back of her hand.

She smiled. "Encantado de ayudar. ¿Deberíamos llamar a esto una primera cita, crees?"

"Uno se sentiría honrado de contarlo como tal. Siempre que no tengas inconveniente en soportar la grosera asociación de un simple Piloto."

She smiled, winked, "Siempre soñé con ser una chica Bond, Sr. Kase. Creo que esto podría ser lo más cerca que puedo estar."

Alison was happy to continue dancing with Justin for about as long as he could hold out, or return to their table and finish their drinks, whichever he preferred.

Once they both decided it was time to call it a night, she said "I had a great time.  Thank you so much. You know where to find me, so don't be shy." 

If he was interested in walking her back to her quarters, she would not turn that down, but didn't necessarily expect it, given that it was getting late now.

In reply to Dr. Alison Verault (msg # 682):

Justin blinked uncertainaboutthe Doc's reference.  "Una chica Bond... Es algo así como ser una Persona de Interés" Justin's portable chimed signalling he had incoming alert calling him to attend to duties elsewhere.
Alas Doc duties call. informed Justin apologetically holding up his com.
This message was last edited by the player at 10:04, Tue 02 Aug 2022.

"No, sir.  It's a reference to a very old fictional character, James Bond.  The women who hung out with him were often referred to as 'Bond girls.'   So I was comparing you to James Bond. Trust me, it's a complement," she winked.

"And, I understand," she said, gesturing at the com. "Please go take care of business; I hope it's nothing serious." 

------>>>>  To Officer's quarters, and current day

Justin smiled broadly. Nothing  Why thank you Doc.
Nothing serious more time consuming Admin which I try to have completed daily. I'm headed to the Command Deck. May I escort you somewhere first. Justin offered hopefully. I recall hearing something about the English 007 Movies. My reference was about a US series something along similar lines.