Set in the original region of Arciel, Legends Rising is a route-inspired, but not strictly route-based, Pokemon roleplay. Pick a faction, pick a class, and strike out into the wild to take on the League, master Contest coordination, research the mysteries of Pokemon and Arciel, and much, much more. Will you be a classic trainer? A criminal? A farmer? Choose your destiny on Legends Rising.
Phew, he was starting to breathe! And with Rowan's help he at least started to calm down. Arietta was no expert, she had no idea what was going on- for all she knew Koray could have been going into kidney failiure- were the things at the ball poisoned!? Should... should she throw them up? She paused running through breathing as she moved to chew on the bottom of her bottom lip nervously, moving to grab at Koray's wrist again to check his pulse once more, as if that'd help at all. She was panicking, but that didn't matter. No worrying, nothing. Everythings fine. Maybe she's cursed to have bad things happen to people she dances with- or exes she... dances with... Arietta didn't know.
She shouldn't focus on that, this isn't about her right now. She can't think about herself and how fucked everything is- the important thing is making sure Koray's okay. "Is it helping? If it's... like... if it's not feeling any better i'll ring up the hospital, probably- right- that's what people do?
Koray continued to breathe, to focus on Rowan and everything else but Ara at that moment. He was able to stop the swarming thoughts that had triggered the panic attack and the tightness in his chest was lessening. His shoulders slumped as he was finally able to relax. All that he was doing was breathing but it was enough to get him out of the headspace. Ironic that the one person he didn't see tonight was the one that had saved him at the end of the day.
It would take a bit of time before Koray was able to relax and closed his eyes, tilting his head back while Ara checked his pulse or... whatever she had taken his hand to do. Rather than let her go, he instead shifted to take her hand. He was shaking still, but it was oddly comforting just to have that little contact. The question afterwards would earn a nod and then a shake of his head respectively. He was better, but he didn't want to go to the hospital for what he could now understand was a panic attack. "I'm ok..." Koray managed to sigh out, still actively trying to breath deeply. He wasn't really ok, he knew that, Ara knew that, and Rowan was already glowering at him for saying it.
"I'll...be...fine..." Rowan still looked dubious, but wasn't going to correct him this time. It wasn't like he could do anything about it right then after all. At least, not without making matters words.
Cool, okay. Okay, cool...His pulse was getting steady, he seemed to be a little better- if only for his breathing steadying. She was glad for Rowan being there comforting him, at least. She'd gone to let go of his hand, to take a deep breath and literally just pause, but he had gripped back and the girl just... let him. She didn't say anything, just sat there, she didn't know what had set him off, she didn't know what to do- did she have to use kiddy gloves- did she have to push away everything she felt? To be honest, she kind wanted another shot- everything was fuzzy but... that was fine.
"I had somebody else attempt to tell me they were fine today and they almost promptly fell flat on their fucking face." Her voice was soft, almost satyritcal in a way but if anything, she just seemed exhausted. She didn't want to elevate his heartrate or work him up anymore, so instead she just fidgeted. "I'd go on about how you're obviooously not fucking fine but... nah. Your pulse just spiked and deflated like it was nothing, totally. normal. occurrence, Koray." Another pause, she gulped back words. Words- what did words mean? Would could she mean?
"...Good outfit." She managed out, a safe topic. A decent topic. Gabe had a good outfit too- she flinched at the thought and leaned herself back against the wall. This felt wrong, everything was wrong. "...I don't like sitting- can I help- or do anything? I can get water- or- like- I don't know..." and get another shot while she was at it.
When Ara didn't pull away, Koray was feeling quite a bit better. This... this was ok... it had to be ok. Deep breaths, everything was fine. Everything was...just...fine. Well, that was until Koray heard Ara shove that word in his face. ...right... yeah, he deserved that. "...touchè," Koray murmured, sitting back and closing his eyes. His breathing had returned to normal at the very least and he was able to focus more on what had happened. Now if he could figure out why he would happen, that would be good. He was coherent enough to recognize it as a panic attack but... was Ara the cause of it? Probably. That wasn't something he'd think about right then however.
The compliment had Koray smiling a bit warmly, reaching up to tousle his hair a bit, "So is yours," he managed, shaking his head as she asked what she could do. Hmm, that's right... they hadn't finished their little game, "I didn't know you that way when you were famous, Ara. The answer... to your question... is no...technically..." Koray mused, looking at Ara as he pulled her closer. He didn't want her to go, not right then. "I think that was... your 5th... my 5th... question is... what lie do you tell...most often..." He had a fairly good idea but... hearing it from her would be better. Maybe.
What Arietta wasn't expecting as an answer was Koray answering the question from their 7 questions thing- that wasn't helping?! Drinking water, eating food, regulating your normal functions and ensuring your system was okay was, for all aspects of things, what she should be helping with! "I mean- i'd been... blog famous- and we debuted right after highschool- you had known me, sorta- but that's... that's not important? You're not serious with continuing the question game thing, right? Like- do you actually need water- aren't you thirsty?" And the answer to that was Koray pulling her closer.
Arietta's lips tightened and all she could do was further avert her gaze- great- greeeaat. Now she probably couldn't get water but... Koray was warm, for fucks sake. Her gaze eventually just fell to her lap and she sat there awkwardly, nervously. And as his question was asked... she basically froze up. Cool- great- peachy. What lies does she tell most often!? Well wasn't that obvious? Koray at least knew the lies she'd told about him, so he could easily piece that together- but still- was that.... was that really what she told most often- why was she dwelling on this?! "This is stupid, that's stupid."
She attempted to breathe. She told a lot to interviewers- but... what about her parents? Wouldn't that be the more understandable thing? People she saw everyday, who she cussed out to their faces... or all her exes, who she told things that could be considered tiny fibs, tiny lies that became big ones. The means to an end. "It's stupid because isn't my whole life at this point a practical lie, Koray?" Her words were slightly slurred and she quickly reeled back, "No-no-no, don't even think about cutting in. Think about it- like- the whole reason everybody loves me is because my whole image is the dammmsel in distress- and because my blogs are wild, and because I dance- because i'm always soo happy in interviews- Arceus fuck."
She let out a sarcastic laugh and pulled away from Koray, eyebrow furrowing. "But if we're going for a single lie, then let's give it a roll- if we think I talk to interviewers most often then it's the fibs about how well i' going and how my idol life is just peaches and rainbows and how much my exes fucked me over- or if we go from a family standpoint maybes its how much I claim to fucking hate my parents-" She opened her arms, as if gesturing around her, "Well obviously, I don't hate them I just- they fucking suck- is that good enough an answer Koray- this game was better when I didn't know it was you and your teals and your browns."
She slumped against the wall again, "I wanna 'nother shot..." she laid there for a moment, cheeks puffed out in frustration before mumbling, "Six- You're not in love with me anymore, right- don't think I can deal with being told that again today..."
Oh...that was right, he'd forgotten about that. Well, he hadn't exactly cared whether or not she was famous. At her question about continuing the little game they'd been playing, Koray shrugged. It was something to take his mind off of...whatever had happened. Ara being right there and warm helped, more than Koray was willing to admit but well, maybe it was some sense of familiarity. He wasn't quite sure what made him come up with the idea for the question but judging by the way Ara tensed, it had been a bad idea. Especially with the words that followed immediately thereafter.
Rubbing her hand with his thumb, Koray tried to soothe her a little only to wince at the next statement. Living a lie? He couldn't imagine a life like that but promptly shut his mouth when Ara told him to be quiet. Right, he would just... listen. Listen as she ranted about everything she said, or didn't say to keep her image. About everything she said she did that wasn't true. Out of all that, she said it was his favorite colors that tipped her off? Well, of course it would have given what he'd told her prior to that.
Despite himself, a soft chuckle escaped him as he shook his head. "It could've been anyone under this mask and my favorite colors tipped you off?" Koray asked/clarified, laughing a little more before taking a breath, wrapping an arm around her, "Sounds like you've gotten tangled in a web..." beyond that, he wouldn't mention the lies further, at least not for the time being when it was such a hot topic for her apparently.
The last question had him pausing, thinking about everything Ara had said, everything she'd done. "Sorry to disappoint then. Because I don't I ever stopped. It's just... not Eros, or romantic love anymore. More of a... Agape? A mix of Philia and agape, yeah. We're friends, Ara, and I'll always care about you," Koray explained, hoping that would be clear enough. If not, he could expand on it and then ask another question. If it did make sense, he'd move on but this felt like something he needed to make sure Ara understood.
Arietta's cheeks remained puff as Koray moved to pull her closer, though she didn't push away, just sat there looking ever so slightly agitated. "...Hair was died those colours for months- can't forget hair colour." She mumbled out, a hand moving up to twist her hair through her fingers- around- around- around... Hair was really twisty... Oh, he said- tangled in a web? Arietta moved to hold up her finger, staring at it, "...Or wrapped by my own hair- webs are fun if you can wriggle outta em- hair... things." Yeah, her brain lost what she was saying really quickly, and her whole body was... kinda tingly.
Arietta, obviously, didn't understand, and the confused noise that left her lips made that fairly clear. "...but spa day- before spa day you hated me, right? You can't go from hate to... Philia?" She untangled her hair from her finger, blinking at it before letting out a huff. "I don't get it. Eros- Philia? A-grape...You can't love somebody if it's not love-love." She pulled her knees closer to her and leaned her chin into it. "Just like bein' fuckin told oooh Arietta I stillll love you- but I don't wanna date you- the fuck does that even mean."
Koray sighed when Ara reminded him about the hair color. He'd never asked her to change her hair color for him and reminded her about it several times. Except there was no dissuading her from it so he'd let it go. Then... there was something about tangles and... Ara... clearly didn't understand what Koray had been insinuating when he'd mentioned webs. Maybe she was more drunk than he'd realized.
The confused noise confirmed what Koray suspected, that she hadn't understood what he'd meant by that explanation. Sigh, alright then... He'd try to explain but given the state she was in... this would be complicated. "First off, I could never hate you, Ara. I didn't before that day, and I won't ever. I made that clear before, remember?" Koray corrected, his voice firm but warm, "There are actually four main kinds of love but let's just call them romantic, unconditional, familial, and friendship, do you follow me so far?" he explained, waiting for some confirmation before continuing regardless.
"Let's put this in simpler terms. We were boyfriend and girlfriend, that was romantic love. Now, it's more of a friendship love. But my feelings for you are between the friendship and unconditional love areas. It's... deeper than just friendship, but not romantic." This probably wasn't going to make much sense but... Koray didn't exactly know how else to explain it right then.
Arietta's head tilted on her knees as she listened to Koray speak, eyebrow raising slightly. Right- yeah... didn't hate her. She still couldn't get over that- like, you'd expect an ex to hate her after all the shit she's said but yet, whoop, here we are. Four main kinds of love...? Her eyebrows furrowed more. Romantic- which she'd had a tonnnne of experience with... she wanted that. That was good- she needed that. Then... unconditional, whatever that meant. Familial- family? Annnd... friendship- what was the idol girls! Arietta hummed in response, head falling further into her knees, "Yeahh?"
Then he started blending categories and her head started to hurt- what did unconditional even mean? "Sooo.... you're like... one of the idols or something?" Her eyebrows hurt so she relaxed her face and leaned closer to Koray without really realizing, "...I don't really get it... whats unconditional anyway? I don't see how it really applies- like- you shouldn't."
Am I making this clear enough? From the look on Ara's face, Koray wasn't sure it was sinking in. Sighing, he snuggled with Rowan and spent a few moments focusing on the Phantump rather than the source of the panic attack he'd had earlier. Still, even as much as he hadn't wanted to see Ara that night, it was nice just talking like this. Like nothing had happened between them. Like it wasn't painful just to be around her and know what could never be. She'd made it clear that they couldn't go back. Yet... Koray's heart still hurt when she was around. Saying that they were friends, that there were no strings attached, it was a lie. But then, hadn't Ara told him enough lies? One white lie... it wouldn't hurt, right?
As Ara tried to make sense of what he'd just said, Koray refocused on Ara again. He flinched a little at being compared to the idols and shook his head, putting an arm around her instinctively as she leaned closer. At the question about unconditional love, Koray sighed and tried to think of the best way to say this."Unconditional love means that there are no conditions, no strings attached. It's not dependent on what you do and you can't change how I feel based on your actions. It means I love you for you, Ara. That's all. As for where I stand, I guess I'm a little closer than a friend, wouldn't you agree?" Hopefully that made at least some sense. At that moment, Koray couldn't think of a better way to explain it.
Arietta just sat there for a moment, feeling a warmth spread despite the cold as an arm was wrapped around her, but she still was struggling to grasp what he was saying, and was immediately thankful as he moved to further explain. No conditions, no strings...attached. She bit her lip at that, a soft giggle leaving her lips. Yeah, right that. She couldn't change anything, he said, it didn't sound like love love, it didn't really sound like love, but like if that's what he said? "...So kinda like a best friend?" there was a tilt to her head as she blinked up at him.
That was the only reasonable explanation, right? She attempted an understanding smile and shrugged her shoulders, "...right...okay...right..." She softly mumbled, "That's different then- I just... I don't think i'd be able to deal if it was a romantic thing...I..." She shifted slightly, moving her fingers through her green hair, "...mmm a little tipsy. Wanna ask your next question?"
Is any of this getting through? Koray wasn't sure especially given Ara's drunken state. The initial question almost had him sighing again. That was... mostly true, but not the point he was trying to make right then and there. It seemed that some of what he was trying to explain had clicked which was a good thing. No more explaining. Not that he could handle such a thing right then and there. His head hurt and it was hard to think straight anymore, especially with a now drunk Ara leaning against him.
At the reiteration of it not being romantic, Koray bit his lip. It's not romantic love... right? No, it couldn't be. "No... not romantic..." Koray muttered, trying to convince himself more than Ara right then and there. Then of course she had to bring up the silly game again and... ahaha... hahaha... HAHAHAHA.... The series of giggles that escaped Koray really couldn't be helped and he was leaning over, clutching his stomach as the fit of laughter physically hurt. At least this time it was a good kind of pain.
She blinked, startled as he practically keeled over, giggling. "H-Huh?" her head tilted this way and that, had she said something funny? Did he,,, not wanna ask a question or anything- or had her voice sounded weird? Her mouth opened and closed but she couldn't find words, not really. "Korr...?"
Arietta poked his side gently, then, a confused noise leaving her lips. Was... he okay? You'd think she just told the funniest joke in the world or something, "...Was it my turn and i-i'd forgotten, or.... uh..." Hands moved to her lap and she blinked once more, an uncertain giggle leaving her lips, "...Is the game over?"
It took a good few moments before Koray was able to calm down enough to stop laughing. Arceus, he hadn't expected to go back to the whole 7 questions thing after nearly having a breakdown in the ball. He was half tempted just to go back in and dance the night away. That was what he'd wanted to do after all. To fly and forget his troubles, to have one night where he wasn't thinking about the shit that Ara had put him through... Of what she was still putting him through. Sigh. Maybe it was a fool's errand to even try and remain friends with her. But... he had to try, even if his chest felt like an elephant had stomped on it.
"Sorry..." Koray murmured, still chuckling a little, "...sorry... right, my 6th question... If your life was a book, what would its title be?" It was a harmless enough question. Maybe it would lighten the mood some? If he could just... keep it light, maybe his chest would stop hurting. Everything's fine... Except it wasn't, and Rowan knew it. A soft coo came from the Phantump which Koray responded to by hugging him closer. Rowan was here, everything would be just fine.
Oh thank Arceus, it was continuing. She'd thought for a second he'd somehow broken, which wouldn't be surprising based on whatever had happened before! "Oh! Good question!" It was a simple enough question, but it left a lot for her to think about- technically her life story is already published for the world to see on her blog- but what if... the blog was made into a book? Ooooh... it'd be juicy, all right.
If she were to have a book, it's title should be fresh, quick, catchy! Something that draws the eye, something that gets the point across simply. "Welll... i'd want something cute, but catchy! I could always have the name spoof one of mums books, like 'Mending Muse: Behind The Scenes of Therapy' but it's... both wordy annnnd suuuper boring~" A soft, slurred giggle, her hands move to tuck a strand of hair behind her ear then, "So... what about something catchy... like... there's this show? About detectives? The X files, what if it's spelt 'e-x' and is like... an investigation into my life?"
She likes to think she's smart, but... that was probably a stupid idea. Still she was grinning like she'd come up with an award winning title, momentarily forgetting the very situation she's in. "Oh! Oh, my turn, right?" eyes flicked to Koray and she hummed in thought. "Hmm...oh something that'll life the spirits!" A dumb grin continued to rest on her face, "What's your most treasured memory?"
It's gotta be his adoption, right? With his foster pop? That's a good story!
Koray smiled lightly when Ara praised his question. It was something that he saw as harmless enough so maybe it wouldn't bring up bad memories. Thankfully that seemed to be the case as she started to ramble about what kind of name she would want to have and why. Arceus, she's so cute. Wait, where had that thought come from? This was not the time for something like that. Especially considering the rocky ground they were still on after the spa day. Sigh, what was wrong with him?
Finally it seemed that Ara settled on a title. 'The Ex Files'. That... made him flinch a little but he managed to stay smiling regardless. He nodded at the title, not quite able to fake that he was happy hearing that. Not when he knew just how true it was. Koray nodded when Ara asked if it was her turn and smiled a little, smirking a bit. Hopefully it would be an easy one. Unfortunately that was certainly not the case after he heard what it was. My most treasured memory? That... well, he stopped breathing for a minute there.
It took a few moments before Koray was able to breathe again and closed his eyes, pulling away from Ara and instead holding Rowan close to him. "That's...an easy one. The lakehouse with you that weekend. Cooking together, swimming... watching you sleep..." Even as painful as it was to recall, he still had a small smile on his features. "That time, it was perfect. I was happy. We were... happy." Not like right now. Not like everything seemed like it was falling apart at the seams. Right, just breathe... breathe.. everything was just fine... Nevermind that his chest hurt again. Or that he wanted to be anywhere but there right then.
...The lakehouse. Ara's eyes widened slightly, that was... not what she'd expected. She watched as Koray shifted away from her and began speaking, and her smile almost instantly diminished. His.. most treasured memory was... it was like a bandaid was ripped, and Ara bit down on her bottom lip. Arceus yeah, maybe she could see his point, but was it really the happiest time in his life, not even when his dad... She was a little bit in shock. A lot went down that weekend at the lakehouse, it was fun, it was sweet- it was a good memory.
"...We were happy." She echoed back softly.
Hands moved to run through her hair, she didn't wanna dwell on it- this was just a questions game- but Ara had so many questions. The rose petals... the sickly sweet aroma of strawberries, of freshly baked cookies- the splash of a lake, the giggles of two idiots in love. Her cheeks flushed, and she brought her knees up to her chest. "Those cookies were the best i'd ever had, the lakehouse is just, a really pretty memory- not what I was expected though- I thought you were gonna say getting taken in by your dad!" A giggle left her lips, before she paused, tilting her head towards him.
She attempted another smile, though it was almost sorrowful, "Another question, right?"
Koray couldn't look at her. It was hard enough to breathe after remembering all that. Even worse after Ara echoed his words and then added in more memories. He could feel his own cheeks warm at the memories, at having her agree that it was a good memory. In comparison, getting adopted by his father was a close second. He shook his head at her words, smiling lightly, "Close second... but no, I will always love him though... who knew that the kind stranger that pulled me off the streets would be someone I would later call father?" Koray's voice was quiet and tried to take a few deep breaths. Right. Another question.
"What's one thing you did that you really wish you could go back and undo?" Maybe it was a more difficult question, but at that point, Koray's nerves were shot. He wanted to go back inside and dance. Maybe it was cruel, but if this made Ara want to leave, they could just part ways and be done. That sounded like it would be the best for both of them at this point.
"What's one thing you did that you really wish you could go back and undo?" "..." Oh. Oh no. Arietta blinked a few times, as if she hadn't quite digested the question properly. The one thing... that she did... She's done so many things that she can look back and cry about, so many things that make her heart ache and her eyes water. She's hurt people, she's said things, she's left people behind and she acts like everythings totally and utterly fine.
There were... so many things- that she shouldn't say. That she shouldn't even begin to utter. Private things, secret things. Details that she shouldn't share. But... her mind was foggy, whether it be the alcahol, or the sudden nostalgia that filled her, the concept of reminiscing with somebody who wasn't shutting her out- somebody who she's attempted to shut out.
Or maybe it was something else lingering. Arietta was shaking, she was shaking, but she attempted to clasp her hands together and force out a laugh. "I... can't just have one thing, can I?" She rested her chin on her knees, staring into the distance for a moment, the very faint beat of music pulsing in her ears, prompting her to continue.
"I regret so many things- there's so many things I wanna just... go back and... wipe clear." A soft breath, and a hum, "I... would love to be able to undo my first relationship with... Soph.... That's what started it all, even if I was tiny... even if I was small- you never would have seen a little girl so broken before. I would have loved to be able to go back and... undo some of the things i've said to mum and dad, to take back all the 'i hate yous'..." There's a shift now, her hands raking through the green in her hair, trying to keep her emotions grounded.
"I regret...creating my blog...I should have just stuck to a diary, probably. I...I said a lot of things when I was really small, I started it when I was twelve and some of those posts are just- sooo cringey- and then i've said some really really mean things- maybe... it feels good, being able to get all my anger and emotions out on that blog, like it's a diary, but..." A soft shrug, "It's not really a diary, is it? And... and everybody can see- and...'
She cuts herself off, realizing her breathing was quickly getting faster, that her hands shaking was becoming more noticeable- but yet she continued speaking. She continued speaking like stopping her rambling would lead to somebodies death- the words just kept coming. "I... I regret... pushing the girls away, when I was with Gabe- I regret... I regret some of the things I said to him- but... I can't regret the choice I made that day, because I love my girls. I... don't... regret what was given to him- because I learned from it, but I just..." A headshake, "I regret dating Shea. I regret what happened there- and ever trusting them..."
Her voice began shaking, and she stood up, she needed to move, to walk. She began pacing infront of Koray now, one step, then another step. "...I regret...I would erase... a lot of things- like... i'd erase..." A stumble but she was quick to right herself, and her hands moved to cross infront of her. "...One of the bigger things.. i'd erase...would probably be some of my most recent interviews, some of the things said, a-and, a-and then i'd e-erase... erase meeting Gabe again- e-erase the kisses from tonight... i'd... i'd e-erase tonight... i'd..."
She spoke quicker, and then she froze, standing right infront of Koray. Her makeup was running, she hadn't even realized she was crying, and for a moment just stood there in silence, looking surprised. A hand moved, gently pushing under her eye, and she stared at the wet remnants of tears on her finger as if she hadn't even realized this would affect her. "...i'd..." She stumbled over her words, and then there was a noise, broken, a wail, and she balls both her hands into fists.
"I'd... erase... leaving...you... because you didn't- deserve that- and you're... you're so nice- and- it's bad- not- why- i just want to live a happy life- why is everything so stressful?!" Her words turned into a stammering mess and she stumbled backwards now, a choked noise leaving her lips, "Why am I- i shouldn't even be- I didn't... I just wanted to dance and now i'm- i'm crying again? I'm happy, aren't I? Everythings... lifes good- i'm... moved...onwards?" A head shake, and her hands moved to push through her hair, shaking.
"I'm sorry..." She managed, barely audible amidst her rapid breathing, her eyes flicked to Koray's form, and she took a deep, shaky breath. "I- I- said nothing... yeah? y-yeah." and then she took a step away from him and walked off, hands clutching at her chest. "...fuckkkkk." What the fuck, Arietta Ostinato, is wrong with you. She was her own cinderella, running away from her problems.
Koray hadn't actually expected Ara to answer. He had fully expected her to freak out and leave, just like that. Instead, the first question asked of him earned a shrug. Then the word vomit began and Ara started to explain just how many things she regretted, starting with her first relationship. Then there was the blog... pushing the girls away... Gabe.. well, a lot of things seemed to center around Gabe nowadays. Then there was Shea which Koray couldn't really blame her on. The last few regrets were about tonight, the kisses... and then... about leaving him.
All thoughts came to a screeching halt as Koray processed this little bit of information. He honestly didn't know how to take hearing all this, especially the part about regretting leaving him. Of all the things Ara had to say, it just had to be that. Koray didn't even realize he'd stopped breathing until his lungs started to scream for air. That was about the time Ara started to back track and question herself for telling him so many things. Even saying it was nothing. That she'd said nothing. By the time Koray had realized what had happened, Ara was running away from him.
Normally, Koray would have gone after her. At any other moment, he would have tried to reassure her that it was alright, that he understood... but right then? Koray was too numb and just, let her go. Maybe a few hours of dancing would be better. Right? He'd come here to dance, not step into drama with an ex that apparently regretted leaving him. "Let's...go back inside, Rowan..." Koray murmured, slowly rising to his feet. He would take a few moments to make sure his mask was adjusted properly before stepping inside the ballroom again. The night was still young... he could still dance the night away. Everything was fine... just, fine...