"...If you'll be patient with me," he decides, clearly out of his element but not afraid to admit it. "I am still better at following than taking the lead. It will be a fairly dull and clumsy experience."

Fair warning. Now that he is no longer a mystery to her, he opts to slip the mask off of his face, and his wings; his tail; his long hair done in a loose side plait over his shoulder; the burgundy swallowtail jacket embroidered in black with a hint of jade... all of him is disentangled from the guise of anonymity. He steps into leading position and takes her the way she took him, proving he can at least make it this far without stumbling over any of his misgivings or uncertainty. He glances at other dancers, listens to the beat and judges how he should take his next steps. Focusing on the dance itself helps keep him preoccupied amid his social discomfort.

"If you're lucky, I might even work up the necessary finesse to give you a spin," he keeps going, dry as before. "But don't hold your breath."