Hello everyone! We have made our donation to Doctors without Borders.
At this time, this zine is completed. We will not be updating our socials anymore. Thank you for all of your support. This donation and project would have not been possible without you!
Hello! I hope the team had a happy holidays, thank you for putting together such a great zine, I was so excited to get it ^^ Since this was a charity zine, I just wanted to ask if the donation was ever made. Happy New Year!
Hello!
We apologize that we did not see this sooner - our socials mod had a life changing event happened and needed to focus on that. However, we have an announcement about this coming right up!!
leftover sales are open and are HALF-OFF until the 24th, so be sure to take a look before it closes!! (link to the shop)
proceeds go to doctors without borders!
please don’t use, edit, or repost without permission; thanks!
Here are the icons I drew for the @turnaboutballroom zine!! This was such a beautiful project and I'm so glad I was able to contribute these little pieces for our stretch goal~ Close up versions are under the cut and are free to use with credit as pfps (maybe even matching pfps with ur bestie hehe)
Leftover sales for the zine are still open for 1 more week and all proceeds will go to Doctors Without Borders! So go get your copy HERE! turnaboutballroomzine.bigcartel.com
Also fun fact about these icons: The poses they're doing are based on Scottish ceilidh dances! Specifically the Gay Gordons (Asoryuu), the Virginia Reel (Gina and Susato), and the Military Two-Step (Iris and Herlock). If you're ever in Scotland and able to attend a ceilidh, I highly recommend it bc they're SO much fun! 💙
Our second event is about to come to a close and we still have quite a few more tickets to the show! If you were thinking about joining, now's your chance!
SO THRILLED to finally showcase my piece for the @turnaboutballroom ‼️ everything about this zine is perfection and leftover sales are going on NOW so this is your last chance to get your hands on a copy! don’t miss out!
Written for @turnaboutballroom with spot art from the talented @cassiferlynnart ♡
Content warnings: none
Leftover sales are now open until September 24th, don't miss out on a project full of talent and love!
Summary:
The plan is quite simple, but effective. Haori wanted to experience a real British ball like she’s read in her favourite books so Kazuma-sama offered to be her official partner at the ball while Susato would have Naruhodo-san as her dancing partner. However, Haori also expressed the desire to dance with Susato, even though it is not conventional and she did not wish to attract people’s attention, especially from the judgemental British crowd, thus Susato thought of a way they could find themselves alone.
With an additional surprise to boot.
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“It’s an intricate design, Iris truly is a genius,” Susato praises as she spins once to test out the skirts of her dress. The pale pink fabric flows gracefully around her but, unbeknownst to anyone else, Susato wears a pantsuit hidden beneath the frilliness.
“Then could you stop moving so I can properly tighten your bodice?” Kazuma-sama calls, although there’s an endeared smile on his lips.
“I appreciate my ability to breathe, Kazuma-sama.” She sighs even as she obeys and stands still.
“And Barok is awfully uptight about dress codes, unfortunately for everyone,” Kazuma-sama says as he gets to work, lacing the strings of the bodice together to form a bow. She tentatively moves her arms around, smiling at the floral embroidery in her puffed-up sleeves before tracing the delicate lines of the bodice carefully with the tip of her gloved fingers. “Alright, you should be able to easily detach the skirts from behind, but you’ll need help putting them back on.”
“That won’t be an issue… I think.” The most likely scenario is that they will stay until the ball is over and spend the night at the manor, after all. “You'll make sure no one else tries to go to the balcony, right?”
The plan is quite simple, but effective. Haori wanted to experience a real British ball like she’s read in her favourite books so Kazuma-sama offered to be her official partner at the ball while Susato would have Naruhodo-san as her dancing partner. However, Haori also expressed the desire to dance with Susato, even though it is not conventional and she did not wish to attract people’s attention, especially from the judgemental British crowd, thus Susato thought of a way they could find themselves alone. The balcony seemed like the simplest and yet best solution to this small dilemma.
"If anyone needs some air, I'll redirect them to the garden," her brother confirms, a hand held high and another on his chest as if swearing an oath. “But no one ever goes to the balcony during these events, they’re all too busy trying to gain Barok’s favour. It’s all about status and politics, really.”
“What about your favour, then?” Susato teases. He doesn’t dignify her with a reply and reaches forward instead to adjust the floral pins in her hair. Susato closes her eyes at the familiarity of it all, it almost feels like being back in Japan, except the clothes are different, perhaps a bit more restrictive but as elegant nonetheless, and she will experience her first western ball instead of a familiar night outdoors surrounded by pretty lights and lively chatter.
“So, how do I look?” she asks.
Kazuma-sama smiles, offering his hand. She takes it and laughs softly as her brother makes her twirl. “Like you could blow all of London away,” he praises.
She rolls her eyes. “Mm, I only need to impress one person.”
“And you will,” he says as if it’s the simplest truth in the world. And perhaps it is.
Even so, she asks, “Would you mind if we just practise dancing one more time? But I will lead this time.” She just needs to be sure she can comfortably lead the dance with someone taller. Haori isn’t usually that much taller than her, but she will surely be wearing heels and with that she’d be around Kazuma-sama’s height.
Kazuma-sama bows and offers his hand once again, “Well then, shall we?”
“I should be the one offering my hand, shouldn’t I?”
“Do not overthink it,” he replies.
Right. She lightly slaps her cheeks before she steps forward and takes Kazuma-sama’s hand. His other hand lands on her shoulder while she rests hers on his waist. She’s practised before, of course, her father had taught her right before leaving for London again. “Just in case,” he had said, because apparently he and Mr Sholmes had to sneak into ballroom events often during their investigations. Fortunately, in this case, no mystery is to be resolved, it should only be a moment of leisure and celebration. Susato is still unsure exactly how Iris managed to convince Lord van Zieks to organise a ball essentially for them but she will take full advantage of it to make her best friend live out one of her hopelessly romantic dreams.
Nodding to herself, she starts the dance with a confident first step and then counts the beats in her head as she leads her and Kazuma-sama in a simple waltz around the room. As both her father and brother instructed her, a dance is all about trust, in yourself and in your partner. She chances a look up, to see that Kazuma-sama has his eyes closed, leaving her the full reign of both this dance and his faith that she won’t lead them towards a fall. She smiles, quickly looking around and spotting a stool nearby. She expertly leads them closer so she can jump on it so she is able to twirl Kazuma-sama without struggle. She laughs at his bewildered look as his eyes fly open although he quickly recovers.
“Thank you, Kazuma-sama,” she says, bowing her head.
Kazuma-sama laughs softly. “My pleasure, though I don’t feel like I did anything. Ready to blow all of London— I mean, sweep Haori-san off her feet?”
Susato hums, “More than, let’s make my girl’s dream come true!”
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Susato does not end up blowing all of London away, in fact, because it turns out that Naruhodo-san, despite the many dances of deductions, is a clumsy ballroom dancer. It is most likely the nerves and the need to appear all proper; his hands are all sweaty even through the gloves they both wear. Susato ends up being the one to lead between them because Naruhodo-san hesitates at each step, eyes always downcast, afraid to step on her feet. It’s a bit of a shame, Susato thinks, he looks quite dapper in the suit he has borrowed from her father — a dark blue suit paired with a white blouse and a light blue waistcoat underneath. He ditched any head cover, however; apparently he still hasn’t recovered from her and Iris making fun of the way he looks with a top hat.
(Susato only feels slightly guilty about it.)
On the other hand, Kazuma-sama is a natural in the ballroom. It makes sense, as Lord van Zieks’ former apprentice, he must have followed the man to countless events such as these. From the corner of her eye, Susato watches as her brother and Haori breeze through the British crowd, outshining absolutely everyone in the room, in her eyes at the very least. They’re quite the contrasting pair; Kazuma, hair slicked-back, wears a dark burgundy suit with gold buttons paired with a lace cape over the shoulders, while Haori wears a pale yellow silky dress that gently hugs her form with purple flower accents, but she insisted on having her obi belt wrapped around the waist.
Susato is quite eager to have her turn.
“The sun is setting,” she says, tearing her eyes away from the pair to focus on Naruhodo-san again. The defence attorney lets out a relieved breath. She rolls her eyes at him as the music comes to an end and she lets him lead them towards a buffet table, not too far from the balcony.
Another song starts and she catches Kazuma-sama’s eyes just as Haori’s back is turned to her. In that split second, Susato raises the glass she grabbed from the table a moment prior. Kazuma-sama nods, looking briefly at Naruhodo-san before focusing back on his dance.
“Here,” Naruhodo-san says, taking a small key out of his breast pocket. “The key to the balcony’s doors, just in case. Me and Kazuma will close the curtains once Haori-san joins you so you don’t have to worry about being seen either.”
“Oh,” is all she manages to say as she takes the key. That wasn’t part of her original plan.
“Kazuma has another key in case something goes wrong though, don’t worry! But I’m sure everything will be fine,” Naruhodo-san continues with a smile. “Now go, Mr Sholmes will make a scene so you can safely sneak away.”
“Mr Sholmes will what—”
As if on cue, she hears a commotion behind her, eliciting several gasps and a very loud groan — Lord van Zieks, surely. She almost turns around to see what it is about but Naruhodo-san nudges her towards the balcony instead. She chuckles to herself as she disappears behind the beige and lavender curtains. As the cool air of London’s autumn hits her skin, her hands expertly detach the skirt from her bodice, before draping the fabric over her shoulders like a cape.
Time to channel her inner Ryutaro.
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When Mr Sholmes suddenly collapses, Haori jumps in fright and the only reason she does not fall or get pushed around when people rush to the detective’s side is because Kazuma-kun expertly leads the both of them to safety, joining Ryunosuke-kun’s side near a buffet table. The defence attorney already has a glass of wine ready for Kazuma-kun to take, and one of lemonade that he hands to Haori.
“Shouldn’t we check on Mr Sholmes as well?” she asks, accepting the drink and immediately downing it. Dancing is tiring after all, she needs to remain hydrated.
“Barok is handling it,” Kazuma-kun replies.
Haori turns around and notices that the crowd has parted enough for her to be able to see Mr Sholmes sprawled on the floor, a hand dramatically draped over his forehead like a fainting lady, with a very annoyed Lord van Zieks standing above him.
“Lord van Zieks looks like he’d rather die,” she says.
“Exactly,” both men concur at the same time.
“To be fair, he always looks like that,” Kazuma-kun adds, lifting his glass up slightly as if cheering to that fact.
Coincidentally, Mr Sholmes suddenly stands up again with flourish. Haori frowns, about to question that as well, until she looks at Ryunosuke-kun again and realises—
“Where’s Susato?”
The two men share a conspiratorial smile before Kazuma-kun points towards the balcony. “She’s waiting for you.”
Haori decides against asking out loud the many questions that suddenly pop into her mind, in between Mr Sholmes’ sudden collapse and subsequent instant recovery and these two’s odd behaviour. She has not been able to talk with her best friend since this ball has started, however, therefore, she will simply head towards the balcony.
“Alright then,” she hands her glass back to Ryunosuke-kun, “I will be right back!”
“I don’t think so,” she hears the defence attorney mutter to himself before Kazuma-kun elbows him on the side. She just chuckles at their antics.
Haori shields her eyes with her right hand when she passes through the curtains. The chilly air of London fights against the warm sunset that greets her as she walks into the balcony. To her surprise, the balcony is decorated as well, vines and flowers slithering their way through the cobbled-stone railguard, looking as radiant as the flowers inside the ballroom. Temporarily distracted from what she had originally intended to do, she walks towards the guardrail, her gloved hand tracing the delicate petals of a lily when she hears someone clear their throat.
Oh, right, Susato!
Haori spins on her feet, already smiling wide to greet her friend only to falter at the sight before her. It is indeed Susato standing there with a sheepish smile on her lips but it is what she is now wearing that strikes Haori. Whereas she previously wore a beautiful ball gown made of shades of pink and ruffles, it is now replaced by a slick purple suit. Her bodice seems to be the same, although Haori could have sworn it was beige in the ballroom. It appears as a dark purple now against the sunset and under the cape Susato wears over her shoulders.
Susato clears her throat once more, offering a gloved hand as she bows.
“May I have this dance, Haori Murasame?”
Haori squeals and takes her hand without hesitation. “I’d be honoured, Susato Mikotoba!”
Relief washes over Susato as their fingers intertwine. Haori smiles, reaching with her free hand to push back a loose strand of hair behind Susato’s ear so she can properly look into those lovely brown eyes. Then, she rests her hand on Susato’s shoulder just as Susato pulls her closer with a hand on her waist.
“Can I say you look rather gallant or are you tired of me saying that yet?” Haori chuckles.
“You really do have a favourite word,” Susato deflects although she’s smiling.
“That I use only for my favourite person,” she replies easily.
Susato blushes ever so slightly and Haori smiles. The music from inside can still be heard, although muffled behind the closed glass doors of the balcony. Haori can only see shadows dancing against the sunset from where she and Susato stand, a vision from a dream.
They start swaying, slowly, nervously. So unlike the Susato she knows, actually.
“Come on, we’re supposed to have fun,” Haori says lightly, bumping their foreheads together. “Stop fretting, you look like Ryunosuke-kun.”
That seems to do the trick because Susato straightens her back with a huff. “I sure hope not! He was sweating through his suit, do I look as nervous as him?”
Haori laughs. “Only teasing you.”
But there’s a fire in Susato’s eyes now, her posture more confident, her smile more carefree. Her touch on Haori’s waist is firmer, warmer and suddenly they’re moving. Susato moves expertly, as she does everything else. Haori smiles as she follows naturally, warmth and love filling her senses. Their feet glide over the balcony to the muffled sound of the music inside, Susato twirling her at every crescendo to the point of Haori’s head spinning as well, but she doesn’t mind, she isn’t afraid, she laughs, even, because Susato’s touch around her is steady and safe.
Then the music goes from lively to slow, and Susato matches the pace. Haori breathes in, not realising how out of breath she had been while Susato doesn’t seem all that tired outside of the healthy flush to her cheeks. The dance becomes slow again, but this time intentionally rather than out of nervousness. Haori leans their foreheads together again.
“Thank you,” she whispers. “For this whole evening. A dream come true.”
The twinkle in Susato’s eyes only shines brighter. “Anything for my favourite person.”
The music ends just as the sun sets, letting the moon bathe them in her light, but Haori and Susato keep swaying to the gentle beat of their hearts.
