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[Sherlock looks a little affronted.]

Not everything I enjoy involves murder and mayhem. Just the most appealing things. Barring that, I do enjoy a nice show of performing arts. I have nothing against alcohol consumption and do in fact indulge from time to time when my mental faculties are either unneeded or useless and smoking is my only vice.

As for the suit... well, I don't wear ties but I would expect all parties to dress accordingly.

[Perhaps it is simply that Evelyn has never seen Sherlock imbibe alcohol or indulge in any other vices outside of an enormous love for "murder and mayhem." It's just difficult to picture him rolling up his shirtsleeves, so to speak, and cutting loose.]

All right.

[He wants a get-together, he'll get a get-together.]

A little party. As long as you promise to let me teach you how to do the Lindy-Hop.

[Sherlock makes a face but waves it off.]

I suppose if we have music, there can be dancing.

[Though she will still probably have to force him to. Good luck.]

I'll put out a wanted ad in the network. Invite who you must but I would prefer to keep it rather intimate.

[Oh, where there's music, there's always dancing. No self-respecting woman from the nineteen-twenties wouldn't know some of the latest moves.

Er. Latest in her time period, that is.]

You're all long-limbed like my brother, you'll be fine at it.

[She waves a hand, wondering if anyone familiar with Sherlock (and his methods) would want to attend a gathering with him.

Ha. Yeah, right.]

I swear I won't invite more than a score of people.

[A beat.]

...I'm kidding, of course.

Don't think I have to invite you.

[Though he will and has.]

And it's not being bad at dancing that worries me. I'm always graceful. I'd hate to show Philip up, though.

[Lie~]

Mmhm.

[Un-invite her. I dare you.]

Philip is a passable dancer, I'll have you know.

[They did a perfectly good Foxtrot over Christmas holiday.

Just...nothing since then.]

And that sounds like someone is trying to prove himself.

Prove himself? Me? No.

Just... need something to change before I go insane.

[He gestures at her.]

Show me this Lindy-Hop atrocity you want me to do.

It's fun, Sherly. Don't be so melodramatic.

[Rolling her eyes, Evie sets her cup of tea down and gestures that they move the sofa back a bit for more space.]

My brother learned it from some Americans. It's a combination of the breakaway, the Charleston, jazz and tap. Though...I'm not certain how familiar you are with any of those, so maybe we ought to start with something less complicated.

[A pause.]

Regardless, you'll have to lose your bathrobe.

It's not a bathrobe it's a dressing gown.

[He wiggles the thin, expensive looking material at her but shrugs it off till he's down to his pajama bottoms and short sleeved shirt. He tosses the gown to his chair.]

There. Now demonstrate.

It's a partner dance, Sherlock. You're going to have to bear with me just a little bit.

[And stop acting like a five year old.]

Your right hand goes here-

[She gestures to the bottom of her left shoulder blade.]

-and I have to hold onto your elbow.

[For convenience's sake, the narration will provide examples.

Go on, then. Touch the lady. She won't bite, for Heaven's sake.]

[Sherlock does as instructed. He's a bit stiff but only because he's unsure.]

Alright. Continue.

[Evelyn is certain that there instructional videos somewhere that he could look at and know instantly how everything in this dance works, but for the time being, her own words and exercises will have to do.]

With your other hand, hold- yes, there, hold mine. Good.

[She nudges one of his feet back with the toe of her shoe, just to get the position right.]

There's a one-two-three step around in a circle with a rest at the end, and every so often you can open your right side and extend out.

[She swings out, demonstrating a little step and ball-change before moving back in and taking his elbow.]

...think you can manage that?

[Sherlock takes it all in very careful and nods.]

I believe so. What's the rhythm?

Quadruple metre.

[Evelyn grimaces apologetically. Most jazz is in four-part time.]

But if you can keep up with the Charleston, it's very similar.

I don't know that I've ever danced before--let alone the Charlston. If I did, I've deleted it.

[He slowly mimics her moves in an echo, methodical and obviously thinking and concentrating.]

You dele-

[Sigh. Of course he did.]

...all right, then. I'll lead first, and once you've caught on you can do the same.

[But for the time being, here's a very slow one-two-three-four so he can get used to things.]

[Sherlock nods and does as she instructs. It's a testament to his boredom that he finds this an improvement on his current state of being. Dancing and Sherlock go together only in the sense that Moriarty says it... maybe a bit with the twirling. But still, this is all about the transport performing and that's hardly of any importance. But he still goes along with it.]

Not bad,

[she compliments carefully, because this is Sherlock Holmes and he has a rather large ego that needs to be fed often.]

Can you lead at a faster pace with music?

[Sherlock nods and there is certainly confidence in the way he holds her, his body ready to translate what his mind has grasped.]

Ready when you are.

[~~CUE THE DANCING MONTAGE~~

Cue Evelyn leaning over to turn on her gramophone and set the needle before assuming her position again. The introduction takes a moment before it gets into the main piece, but it'll let him prepare.

And to be honest, Evelyn is a little intrigued by Sherlock's compliance.]

[Sherlock remains a little stiff the whole way through but it's rather obviously a result of trying to do each move with presision--not loosening up, feeling the music. He's not really a 'loosen up' sort of man despite sulking about in his bed clothes.]

[Sherlock isn't all that bad.

He could stand to let loose, but that would be very...anti-Sherlock. He might get better.]

Try to relax,

[Evie urges gently.]

You're very stiff.

[And not in that way, so keep your mind out of the gutter, thank you very much.]

Relaxing comes later. Steps first.

[Though he does try to be a little more graceful about being a robot.]

[Admittedly, this is the sort of dance where you have to be relaxed and limber at all times, but Sherlock can take things at his own pace if he has to.]

Step-two-three...yes, right- right there.

[The meticulous mentoring continues.

Evelyn manages to force several different (interesting, mind you) moves upon Sherlock, impressed that he's rather the proficient once he begins.

Over at the gramophone, picking out another record with a much faster pace, Evie examines the track list and lets Sherlock in on a little secret.]

I'll have you know that Philip isn't going to come to your party.

[Just so he's aware.

The real question is, then...who does she take?]

You havn't asked but I'm fairly certain you're right in that assumption. I'd say just go with me but I think John might take offense.

[He certainly did when Sherlock told him he should go on and bed Bella.]

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