#dancer.

[vierandancer]

Meiko has three "canon" outfits for when she performs for Troupe Falsiam. She does end up wearing them in MSQ inevitably, but all the outfits start as what she plans to wear for performances.

[californiababylon]

Dancer.

[mydailyvintagephotos]

Vintage Celebrities Cooking

Loretta Lynn

Colonel Sanders

Paul Newman & Joanne Woodward

Norma Shearer shows you how to make Canadian Oatmeal Sticks.

Natalie Wood cooking 🥘 with her mother 1944

Dorothy Dandridge

Ann Blyth

Rita Hayworth

[r0se-bl0ss0m]

She was a dancer, that's h0w she expressed everything ❤

[vierandancer]

"Meiko, you're a natural!"

The praise was so unexpected, it stopped the Viera mid-movement. Not quite stumbling, she looked back over her shoulder to see if Ranaa was being sarcastic. That was impossible, of course; the Miqo'te lass didn't have a cynical bone in her body, it seemed. Still, the way she was staring at her, nigh starry-eyed, was almost disarming.

Meiko had never been a natural at anything. Hells, she struggled to make it through reading a sentence quicker than a snail's pace; even with her time spent at the Rogues' Guild, stealth had been a struggle to adapt to. She was too tall, too noticeable, limbs far too long to not be a little awkward.

So this? Dancing? No, that was silly. Mei had never done anything more than twirl around as a wee wean to the drinking songs in the tavern back home. Music would make her sway, but she never felt particularly graceful. Even now, the only reason she was here -- out in a meadow just beyond the Zephyr Gate -- was because Nashmeira wouldn't take no for an answer and Ranaa's pleas were too genuine to refuse.

Meiko had anticipated being so hilariously poor at it, that Troupe Falsiam would withdraw their recruitment invitation immediately. But Ranaa was clearly being genuine. Had she hit her head, or was the troupe simply desperate?

"A natural? I dinnae, that feels a bit far--"

But Ranaa shook her head, insistent. "Meiko! You learned the steps I taught you in only a few hours! It took me a whole week when I first began! I thought Mistress Nashmeira was going to throw me out." Earnest, she took a few steps forward and abruptly took Meiko's hands in hers with an intense look in her eye.

Ah, there was the part of her that was Nashmeira's protege.

"Please, I beg of you: You have to join Troupe Falsiam. Officially!" she squeezed her hands. "I understand if you have other obligations, but we can work around them! Please. I've had so much fun dancing with you today!" Her ears flicked back briefly. "Didn't you?"

Meiko flinched, a mixture of guilt and uncertainty socking her in the gut. Had she had fun? Truthfully? Yes. She had felt a little silly to start, wearing little more than a swimsuit with bells and extra swooshy fabric. But she had taken quickly to the steps Ranaa had shown her -- she just thought it was an easy choreography on purpose.

Meiko had never felt good anything before. Not aside from drinking and looking after her brother (which, considering her present situation, she clearly wasn't that good at), but nothing worth making coin over.

Maybe it wouldn't be so bad to learn a new skill. At the very least, she was enjoying herself. More than she had in quite awhile...

"Aye, very well." Feeling awkward, she gently withdrew her hands from Ranaa's grip. "So long as it doesnae interfere wi' my other work, I suppose I can learn a wee bit more. Although m'warnin' ye tae keep yer expectations low."

Ranaa beamed. "That, I cannot guarantee. But I am so very thankful all the same, Meiko. I can't wait to share a proper stage with you! -- Now, shall we take it from the top?"

[vierandancer]

Very much giving Ranaa & Meiko performance tbh.

[vierandancer]

Regarding personal grooming, Meiko didn't really do it very much... until she was recruited by Nashmeira. Nashmeira has high standards for her performers, especially the dancers, and so Meiko was introduced to some very thorough waxing routines. If asked, she would compare that initial pain as worse than the injuries from Zenos that left her bedridden all throughout the initial Azim Steppe part of Stormblood!

In order to minimize the pain -- because of course if Nashmeira tells her to do it again she will -- Meiko tends to her own personal grooming as best she can. She's nowhere near perfect and Nashmeira still requires she (and the rest of the troupe) have spa appointments at a certain venue 1-2 times a year. It's a very nice establishment but no amount of pampering can make up for the physical torture.