Chapter Text
Scar had the boys push the easels to the side. He had ended up getting them chests as the art room quickly became the play room. They had collected so much stuff over the seasons that it boggled Scar’s mind. There was rock collections, dried and pressed leaves, interesting feathers and egg shells. Since Spring turned to Summer the pair had gone on more walks, taking the various hunting dogs out into the woods to explore. More often than not, Mumbo would show Scar his finds before bed and tell him about his adventures. It was honestly Scar’s favourite time of day, to sit at Mumbo’s bedside and listen to sleepy boy tell him about his day over cups of tea.
That was just the natural things that filled the room. The thing was with Grian and Ren being outsiders and Scar being a different Clan Lord, the group had so many card games to play. On rainy days or just slow days, the group would set up in the room and teach each other various games. It was amazing how many card games was near enough the same but with a different name or a slight change of rules. The two boys had an ongoing scoreboard as they played to see the overall winner.
Mumbo was better at tactics, often playing smartly to beat Grian but Grian was more lucky and more importantly would cheat which kept the games neck and neck. Scar should step in but it was good practice for Mumbo. He often played himself and only allowed himself to cheat when Grian started it, it did feel good to put the kids in their place when he cleared the board so easily much to their complaints. They might be young and fast, but he was old and sneaky.
But today there was no cards being shuffled, there was another game they had to learn. Or at least Mumbo. Scar didn’t think that Grian would have to do much dancing as a commoner but if he was going to hang around the court and Mumbo, it might come up. Besides it was good for them to build up their stamina, flexibility and spatial awareness. It might also give them an out for all that energy.
Scar placed the record in the record player. “Okay so dancing…” He could see by the looks on their faces that the pair didn’t think too much of it already. It was going to be a fight to keep their attention and efforts on the teaching. He bit back his annoyed sigh. “Okay, so dancing… is a lot like fighting.” He told them, only slightly lying but it was enough that the pair sat up, now finally paying attention. Now he had to keep them interested.
Scar tapped his foot to the beat. “Okay so music has a tempo, basically it is the instructions on how fast we can move.” He tried to remember to all the boring lessons his previous tutors had attempted to make him sit through. Again he had to ask the universe if this was karma for all the shit he gave the grown ups when he was a kid. “I think.” Shit. Reverse. He broke the first rule of teaching. You had to be confident. You didn’t need to be correct, just confident. If you couldn’t blind them with brilliance, then baffle them with bullshit. He turned to the record player and set up the record again. “Okay so speed. The basic steps are this…” He demonstrated slowly twice before going at the correct speed for the basic movement.
Mumbo who had fencing lessons before nodded but Grian pouted. “This sounds like rich people bullshit.” Grian told him and while Scar 100 percent agreed, he could not admit to it. Grian didn’t back down even when Scar hit him with a firm admonishing look. Grian jutted his chin out and folded his arms. “It is! Why does Mumbo gotta strut around a dance floor like a windfall drunk bird.” He demanded.
Scar tilted his head, it was a fair question. He paused the record player. “Because it is a show of wealth. If the Royalty can waste time on dancing, well they must be not struggling.” He told him. “We are wealthy enough to spend time on music, performance and to attract and patron the arts.
Grian sniffed. “Rich people bullshit.” He confirmed which was true. Scar nodded and repeated it back to him. Grian sighed. “Okay so how do we do this?” He wasn’t happy but he was on his feet so Mumbo followed suit.
Scar put the arm back down, and paused listening to the music. “We start with the basic steps, and once you got these down, we can try piecing the moves together.” He told them and eventually the pair had the steps down, well mostly. Mumbo was okay until he looked down at his feet and stumbled.
“Right so to practice, Mumbo take Grian’s hand you are going to lead.” He told him. “So we are going to do the basic steps and then a simple couple movement. Mumbo move from the basic steps to the shuffle, Grian you need to be to the left, and brace.”
The pair stared at him before shuffling next to each other. Mumbo grasped Grian’s hand and put an arm around him just like he had saw the dancers in the court. Mumbo held himself stiffly as he did the steps with Grian. “Is this okay Scar?” He asked quietly.
Scar nodded. “Perfect. Now twirl…. And dip.” Scar realised very quickly he had shown his hand too early because Grian suddenly broke away from Mumbo.
“Scar…. Am I the woman?” Grian asked, stamping his foot. “You are teaching me the women’s steps!” He accused.
Scar sighed. “Well Mumbo is going to have to learn the right steps.” He told him. “It is easier to learn the woman steps.” He tried to placate the boy.
Grian wasn’t placated. “I don’t care! Mumbo might be the future King but he ain’t my King!” He told Scar firmly. “I wanna learn the right steps too!”
Mumbo spoke up quietly but firmly. “Scar, Grian should learn the right steps too. I am not his King, I am his friend but I am your future King, Lord Scar. We can take it turns leading.”
Scar nodded, realising that this boy who spends an hour a night telling him about a pretty feather, who came to him covered in paint and tears when he sneezed and ruined a painting he had spent hours on, was going to be his King one day and honestly Scar was proud of it. “As you wish my liege.”