﹂ One boop to the nose and a lighthearted giggle after the fact, and the mild panic on Raffaella's face would give way to a sunny smile. Soon, however, she would remember her current plight. Her frantic countenance returned, prompting Tessa to bring her into a swift but gentle huddle that included Pooka. The gupoo made a noise somewhere between a whine and a croak, like if a frog could complain. If one didn't know any better, they'd think Pooka loved Tessa more than her owner, if she didn't always find herself floating her way back to Raffaella eventually.
﹂ "Tessa! Tessa!" she whispered urgently. "I was seen! Everyone saw me!" she emphasized, as if that were the worst thing that could have possibly happened. "And, and! Kasp asked me to dance!" she squeaked, her voice caught in a confused limbo somewhere between fright and excitement. "—but, I ran away... I don't know how to dance! I barely know how to fly! Tessa~! I don't know what to do..! What if he's mad?! What if he doesn't ask me next year?!" she fussed in hushed whispers. For some, it might have been hard to resist laughing at the girl, making a mountain out of a molehill—but to Raffaella, whose breadth of knowledge regarding high society and socializing therein made her feel like an ant walking among giants, the distance from where she stood to the top of that molehill must have appeared truly insurmountable. A mist formed in her eyes, her body tense, as though she were standing at the precipice of the island, looking down at the endless ocean below.
﹂ Tessa's face was a canvas of mixed emotions as she listened intently to Raffaella's frantic whispering. Her eyes were wide with genuine concern, but the corners of her mouth were turned up in an understanding smile. The little girl's worries seemed somewhat absurd to her, but she could see that they were very real to Raffaella. Tessa's heart swelled with a mix of joy and concern, like a parent listening to a child's first big worry. Tessa's eyes sparkled as she looked at Raffaella, her heart aching for the girl's innocence. She wanted to laugh, not at Raffaella but with her, to show her that everything was okay. But she knew that the situation was serious to the girl, so she controlled herself. Instead of laughing, she just smiled warmly, her eyes filled with love and understanding.
﹂ Still squatting before Raffaella so that they were at the same height, Tessa reached out and gently straightened some creases in the girl's dress. Her touch was soft and caring, and her extensive stiletto shoes kept her at eye level with the child, creating a connection between them. "Oh, sweetie, you don't have to worry about any of that!" she said, her voice filled with warmth and her smile shining brightly. She winked at Raffaella and continued, "It would be a tragedy if nobody saw you in this fabulous dress that you are wearing!" Her words were like a soothing balm, hopefully calming the girl's worries. Tessa stood up, towering over Raffaella at almost six feet tall in her shoes, a figure of grace and confidence. "And Kasp will understand. Besides, dancing is easy! Especially when flying," she said, her voice filled with encouragement. "Remember that 'sweet reward' I promised you for coming? Let's do it right now." Tessa giggled softly and reached out a hand to Raffaella, her eyes twinkling with excitement. "Dance with me. I'll show you how, and then you don't have to worry anymore." As she spoke, her smile transformed into something more, something almost divine. It was a smile that radiated pure love and understanding, a smile like that of an angel, filled with grace and compassion.
﹂ Raffaella made a pouting face, as if to suggest that Tessa didn't understand her worries at all. The growing patch of pink, partly hidden and barely visible beneath her mask told a different story, however. "I look silly," she protested through her puffed cheeks, repeating the criticism she'd given to herself in the mirror earlier that night. Though Tessa wouldn't know it, this time she sounded a bit less sure of herself while saying it. Try as she might, Tessa's enthusiasm was infectious, and she'd eventually crack a shy little smile once Tessa offered her hand. With instinctive trust, she took it, before she really knew what Tessa was up to.
﹂ "D-Dance?! With—AHH!" she squeaked as the two of them flew up into the ball proper, Tessa's vitesse carrying them both away until Raffaella added her own to the equation. Instinctively, she reached for Tessa's other hand, and Pooka sailed away, emitting a chirping purr that could approximately be described as 'whimsical.' Raffaella, meanwhile, stammered and stuttered various discordant notes of concern as she twirled, bounced, and generally frolicked in the air, mostly at Tessa's mercifully gentle whims. "Okay, o~kay. I'm okay," she convinced herself breathlessly as she slowly acclimated to the weightlessness of the situation. "I can do this, I can do this..." She gasped as Tessa tilted her backwards. "Hi Ana!" she blurted out in urgent greeting, too caught up in the moment to worry about little things like what she might've thought of her dress.
﹂ The Ballroom was transformed into a magical sphere of excitement as Tessa and Raffaella took to the air. Tessa's eyes sparkled with joy, and her laughter was a melody that filled the hall as she guided her young student in a delightful dance. There was a graceful frolic in their movement, a symphony of arms and legs that played out in the air. Tessa's heart was light, filled with the sheer joy of teaching her student how to dance while flying. As they twirled and glided, Tessa explained the key to dancing in the air. "Focus on me, sweetie, not the surroundings. The flying will take care of itself," she said, her voice soothing and encouraging. She demonstrated what to do with her legs, emphasizing how dancing in the air was different from dancing on the ground. "It's all about the body and arms," she said, her voice filled with warmth and wisdom. Her eyes sparkled as she led Raffaella into a gentle twirl, their fingers barely touching, yet connected by a magical bond. "Ready for a twirl? Here it comes," she said with a radiant smile, her voice dancing with excitement. The twirl was perfect, and Raffaella pulled it off with grace. "That was great!" Tessa exclaimed, her face beaming with pride. Her heart swelled with happiness, and she could feel the joy of their dance spreading through the event.
﹂ Tessa's laughter was like a bubbling brook as she giggled at Raffaella's reaction to being tilted backward. Her eyes were filled with mischief and joy as she guided her student through the next steps. "Okay, cutie, let's practice letting go for just a second. Sometimes you let go of your partner to do some moves, and then you catch each other again. So, let's just do something simple like flapping our arms up and down two times, and then we hold hands again!" she said, her voice filled with enthusiasm. Tessa counted loudly, her eyes locked with Raffaella's, making sure everything was super clear. "Here we go – 3… 2… 1," she said, her voice filled with excitement. Tessa's smile widened as her student mimicked the movements with their arms, and then they caught each other again, their hands fitting together like pieces of a puzzle. "Gooood! That was awesome! See? Not so difficult!" Tessa laughed heartily.
﹂ Raffaella couldn't help but smile. This... was fun. Tessa was right: if she focused on her partner, flying really did take care of itself. So long as the two of them kept moving together, other students faded into the background. Their dance was surely a spectacle, but everyone else was too absorbed in their own dance for Raffaella to really feel like there were eyes on her. Even the sensation of the heartstrings of everyone around her faded into obscurity within the flurry of movement, the flowing of the air, and the graceful fluttering of their dresses. "Ohmigosh! I love dancing!" she gushed, breathlessly. She truly lost herself in the moment, her smile giving way to genuine laughter. She was having so much fun, in fact, that when her mentor told her she was going to let go, she didn't even question it. She flapped her arms like a silly, overgrown bird, letting Tessa take back her hands when she was ready. "This is the best! You're the best, Tessa! Thank you so much! I never could've tried this on my own..." she trailed off bashfully.
﹂ The graceful dance in the air gradually descended until Tessa and Raffaella's feet touched the elegant Ballroom floor again. The magic of the moment lingered in the air, settling around them like a gentle mist. With a soft and caring smile, Tessa squatted down to be at Raffaella's level, her eyes filled with warmth and understanding. Her hands, gentle and assured, straightened out any creases in Raffaella's dress, making sure that every fold was in its proper place. "Of course, sweetie – I'll always be here for you," Tessa said, her voice soft and reassuring. She gave her student a playful wink, her eyes twinkling with mischief and love. Her gaze then drifted over to Anastasia, and she nodded her head, a look of admiration and wonder in her eyes. "Maybe one day we can dance like that," she said, her voice filled with hope and aspiration. "I feel exhausted just looking at it!" she chuckled. Tessa slowly stood up again. "Anyway, I think I need to say hello to some people, but I'll see you soon again -- have fun, okay?" Tessa said, her smile bright and genuine, a promise of friendship and guidance that would always be there for Raffaella.
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