<span style="font-family:Cairo"><span class="fixed-color" style="color:thistle">“I wouldn’t say I dance well,”</span> Tony replied with a chuckle. <span class="fixed-color" style="color:thistle">“I just know how to keep to a rhythm and that makes it not appear awful.”</span> The smile on his face said he spoke from experience in that; it wasn’t his own, but he had seen what that could look like. <br/>
<br/>
… It had been a party with almost as much dancing as the celebration Tony was currently in attendance at. Granted, it had been a much more formal event, but the two really were quite similar in all other ways. It was his mother’s work Christmas party. Everyone brought in their own dishes and each one was unique. They weren’t quite cultural, but they were familial. There was music too, because how can you not have music at a party? It hadn’t been partygoers performing, but… <br/>
<br/>
Ok. So maybe the party hadn’t been too similar to the festival at Casa Marianella, but there was dancing anyway and that was where Tony’s mind wandered to when he thought of who he looked good dancing next to. There was someone he’d met at that part who couldn’t find a rhythm. <br/>
<br/>
Tony hadn’t been there with anyone in particular aside from family. It had been shortly after he announced that he intended to go to college to be in law enforcement similar to his father who was no longer with them and his mother was proud of him for that decision, proud enough to bring him along to a party where almost everyone who knew him would be weary of him because of what he was. However, that didn’t necessarily mean that everyone around him knew who he was and that was how he’d found a young woman who had been preparing to run out of the party. He hadn’t seen the tears in her eyes, but Tony felt the sadness in her heart and that was half the reason why he’d pursued her. People weren’t supposed to be sad at parties, after all. <br/>
<br/>
<span class="fixed-color" style="color:thistle">“What are you running from?”</span> Tony had said to her. <span class="fixed-color" style="color:thistle">“I really don’t think the party’s that bad.”</span> <br/>
<br/>
He could tell that she didn’t want to turn around, but she had turned around after a bit more insistence. <span class="fixed-color" style="color:hotpink">“I don’t have any reason to be here. He doesn’t want me anymore and there’s no other reason for me to be here.”</span> As she spoke, Tony could actually see the tears and he felt them almost as strongly in his core. <br/>
<br/>
<span class="fixed-color" style="color:thistle">“Not even to dance…?”</span> <br/>
<br/>
<span class="fixed-color" style="color:hotpink">“I can’t dance.”</span> <br/>
<br/>
He couldn’t be entirely sure how utterly certain his expression had been, but it was something to laugh at now. Tony had insisted that anyone could dance if they tried hard enough and apparently he’d been convincing enough to get her to stay. Leading her towards the music, he’d simply started bouncing to the rhythm and he encouraged her to do the same. His laughter when she started moving though had been musically amused. She couldn’t find the rhythm and it was the most odd thing to watch. <br/>
<br/>
<span class="fixed-color" style="color:hotpink">“See!? I told you I couldn’t dance.”</span> Despite how upset she wanted to be, though, she was smiling because of Tony’s laughter being that infectious. <br/>
<br/>
Anthony had never tried to find out who she was after the party. In fact, he had guessed even on that night that he would never see her again. It was an interesting encounter, though. And it was only one of many that being an empath would bring him… <br/>
<br/>
Shrugging as he reminisced a bit, he corrected himself. <span class="fixed-color" style="color:thistle">“Well, I suppose I dance better than some.”</span> He was still smiling as he said it. <span class="fixed-color" style="color:thistle">“I like to think that dancing and that music are things meant more for the joy they bring people than they are for looking good, though.”</span> That was what had made Amadan’s performance so excellent in Tony’s mind. Tony was not in any position to judge the quality of any piece of music; however, he could see and feel the effect it had on every single other person in the room and he could see the effect it had on the performer. Amadan’s music had that infectious quality. It was like laughter. <br/>
<br/>
The prospect of seeing more was definitely something Tony could look forward to. <br/>
<br/>
Turning his attention to the next performer, Tony’s smile softened and became more attentive. Samira’s performance was entirely endearing and he could feel a collective sense of support coming from everyone gathered in Casa Marianella. This place was more than just a place where people gathered to share food and celebration and he was realizing that more and more. They were tight knit like a family. He made sure he was one of the first ones to join in the applause when her performance was finished and he gave the same respect and enthusiasm to the next pair of performers. <br/>
<br/>
When Fernando came into the center of everyone’s attention, though, Tony found that his attention shifted a little bit. Now, instead of smiling tenderly at the show, he was leaning forward in his seat, watching with extensive interest because he could feel… well, <i>something</i> fuelling Fernando and it had something to do with Amadan as well. It was a harder thing to perceive, though, because it wasn't’ entirely emotionally based. It wasn’t entirely within Tony’s ability to perceive. It was certainly becoming a much more intriguing environment, though. <br/>
<br/>
Fernando’s performance was definitely awesome, too. It was a performance that had Tony springing to his feet again, dancing - as good or bad as it might have been - to the quickness of the pace. In all reality, his dancing was more like bouncing than anything else. He did keep up with the rhythm, though. That was what he could manage. <br/>
<br/>
Excitement was growing and Tony knew that when Amadan started walking towards the center of attention again, it was going to be a conclusion he would enjoy. As he was already dancing before, there was no reason to stop now, although he did move himself closer to the rest of the group, finding that he was able to feel more at home among them now that he’d seen some of their fun. <br/>
<br/>
<span class="fixed-color" style="color:thistle">“Of course I can keep dancing!”</span> he proclaimed with jubilance. And as Amadan started playing, Tony started moving again, making every effort possible to get everyone else into the swing of the rhythm as well. At one point, the detective was holding hands with Samira, swinging his arms from side to side with hers, and he loved seeing the smile on her face. <br/>
<br/>
There was so much wonder in what music could do.</span>