"I think you're meant to dance at them," Viola teases, though of course she knows the politics of dances make it more complicated than that. You're only supposed to dance with your date and if you discover halfway through that your date isn't any fun to dance with then you're just stuck. A fate worse than loneliness. Better to avoid it altogether and count on the universe to provide moments like this instead, where you can break off after one song and go about your business.

Viola has no plans to abandon Desmond though. He can keep a beat, knows where to put his hands, and actually moves his feet instead of standing and swaying awkwardly. For good measure, she steps back and lifts their clasped hands for a spin. When she returns to him, she stands a little closer than before. "Aren't people curious? They're so performative. It's like they want us to watch."