Fashionably late and fashionably dressed, Dante Lorenzo Domínguez-Álvarez arrived to the Shanachie Christmas party alongside his boyfriend and, to the relief of all no doubt, calming influence, Cesare. Despite the ruthlessly tailored suit which allowed him to stun in a colorfully gradient jacket, the statement watch on his wrist and expectedly haughty exterior, Dante presented a more subdued façade as he mingled and shared his presence with fellow dancers, actors, and musicians. Perhaps he had not been sleeping so well this past week thanks to some unwanted dreams?
Dante ignored Cesare’s perplexed look as the Black Eagle’s phone rang from within a pocket. Dante held up a finger to the person speaking, silencing them as he produced the phone and glanced at the screen. Cesare’s annoyance briefly flared as Dante departed the group without so much as an apology, the urban choreographer watching Dante depart the bar area and head outside before apologizing on the man’s behalf and gesturing for the conversation to continue.
“Hola. Sí, tienes a Dante.” Answering as he stepped outside into the chilly evening air, his breath instantly materializing in a puffed exhale while he produced a clove cigarette and sparked the tip with a lighter. Yes…he smoked. Would the Bad Boy of Ballet vape?
¿Verdaderamente? ¿Rusia? Por supuesto...” Dante spoke as he sucked down a drag and listened to an agent friend of his inform him that the prestigious Mariinsky Ballet in St. Petersburg was planning on offering him a principal position.
Dante listened as the clove crackled upon the inhale, the spicy taste biting at his tongue as the woody spice and hints of cinnamon were deeply inhaled. It would be an opportunity back to the heights of classical ballet, Dante knew this, but as he considered the offer, he turned to see Cesare laughing with Josette and several other dancers through the window, saw the children playing in the snow with snowballs and snow angels and the Black Eagle felt a pang of…*something*. It was everything he had wanted upon arriving here in Rhydin and yet now…he felt utterly disinterested. Certain dreams weighed heavily on his thoughts in that moment, swirled and twisted like a serpent around the notion that he and Cesare were putting down roots in Rhydin, that he was building something at Shanachie, that they had gifted him an opportunity when he had been cast out from London…no matter what half-truths had been purposefully leaked to the tabloids to try and balm his wounded ego. It gave him pause…it gave him reason to smile.
“No.” Dante cut off the offer. “Tell them that Dante Lorenzo Domínguez-Álvarez is no mercenary. “El águila negra will not be flying East. I have a home.” In every since of the word. “Si estoy Seguro.” Dante added with emphasis and hung up the call and lifted the clove for another drag…more sure of this decision than any other one to date.
And that was when he saw…*her.* The little white ghost of Josette’s had snuck close while he had been engrossed with his phone call and now rose up on her haunches to periscope up over the bit of snow plowed high from the sidewalk. Dante gave a start and fumbled his clove down into the snow where it extinguished its cherry with a quick sizzle.
Once he recovered, the Black Eagle would narrow eyes and lock the little thing in a stare down. The competition between the two adversaries was legendary for its intensity and stillness. Apparently, she had not forgotten Dante’s slight…and Dante had not forgotten her impertinent intention to usurp him as the most loved and adored.
“¡Usted! Alejarse de mí. Ve a buscar una rata.” Snapping his finger in Vie’s direction to dismiss her. “Before I make you into a nice pair of gloves for Cesare.” Stamping his foot at her now when she did not immediately obey.
Instead Vie simply twitched her nose and narrowed her eyes at the impertinent and insolent man. Gloves? *Gloves!?* How dare he! Slowly she came down onto all fours and crept forward several steps to give a single sniff of the clove in the snow. A sneeze meant as much as a chastisement for his nasty habit as it was a warning for the Black Eagle caught the clove with pixie dust and sent it flying up into the air. It caught a gust of wind and blew away just as Dante might if he continued to be rude. Vie then leveled Dante with a brassy stare…the next one was meant for him.
“No. No…” Dante clapped his hands after watching his clove float away and understood the threat as she crept forward and sneezed his way. But Dante Lorenzo Domínguez-Álvarez was fleet of foot and jumped back, the Bad Boy of Ballet, El Tres himself, backpedaling from the fey creature with a shout.
“¡Niños! ¡Chicas! ¡Ayuda a Dante!” Dante called out to the group of children, pleading for help as he turned tail and ran from the chasing Vie and those targeted sneezes. The snow-white arrow launched herself after the Black Eagle as he ran round a tree, kicked snow her way (which didn’t faze her in the least) and then sprinted after him with several more sneezes for good measure until the ballerino danced inside. The ermine gave a triumphant spin upon the snow to shake him off and flaunt her victory before rushing off for more challenging fare. The battle had been brief…and entirely lopsided and no matter how Dante would spin it…Vie would *know.* She always *knew*.
Dante slowed his run as he came back inside and rejoined the party, a furtive glance over his shoulder to ensure he wasn’t being followed before coming to Cesare for a warm hug. “I am sorry. I promise to be better in the days to come and the new year. Te prometo.” A kiss to both surprised cheeks before leading him back to the group which included Josette…a silent prayer she did not ask about Vie as Dante had yet to come up with a proper story.
Yes…Dante had chosen to stay here in Rhydin with Cesare for as long as he would have him, desired to continue with the Shanachie into the new year and beyond for as long as they would have him. Fame was fleeting but family…even feisty Vie…was for all time…* para todo el tiempo.*
((Thank you all for playing along with and tolerating the Bad Boy of Ballet, El águila negra, El Tres, Dante Lorenzo Domínguez-Álvarez. And thank you for the space to write and participate. I hope 2021 is a great year for all of you. Gracias.))
