The weather is shifting, and she's felt the slight shift in mood throughout the city as that promise of cool runs through the streets. They'll be sick of the rain and dreaming of heat in a few more months, but for now, the change is welcome.

Things are moving in other places, not all of them cheerful. But the overall effect has felt like those bubbles in her fancy drink the other night--sparkling bits of hope and light and life stirring up through pockets of everything in the city, brightening some and muddying others. So Dhel's datapad cues up a rather upbeat setlist to work from.

The new jewelry gleams at her throat, the chains clasped to choker length to hold the smoky purple gem. She's matched it today with a very full, short skirt in purple with yellow flowers scattered throughout that flares marvelously with even a little bit of spin. The delicate strings of her purple halter tend to disappear into her fur, giving the illusion of a strapless top that shouldn't really stay put but somehow does.

She takes the stage a few moments after the local band clears their instruments, getting tunes set up on the sound system while giving Sholua time to set up.

'Set-up' consisted of making sure the pole was seated correctly and would take her weight . . . and maybe a little more. Then it was a retreat to the refresher and a 'change' of clothes. Yes, the performing clothes . . . . if you could call them clothes, were in use again.

There was a shift in the air. Allura had said the rains were coming. But there was something else coming. Likely meant that danger was going to increase. So relaxing was more important now than before. Phroth made his way to the Cave, just as Dhel's show was starting. The broad shouldered Karkarodon was dressed in the usual athletic wear. Bare claws scratched along the floor as he made his way to a seat, and ordered a beer, watching the stage.

Between the general mood, sharing the stage with Sholua, and her new acquisition, Dhel felt pretty good about what the evening's tips would look like as she offered up her usual patter. Not enough fresh faces out there to consider Sho new in town, or even at the Cave, so tonight was more of a 'special engagement' flavor.

There's been no real rehearsal, just a few weeks of getting better at picking up cues from one another allowing them to pass focus across the stage and Dhel starts off with a piece that starts slow and picks up speed as it runs along, knowing it's a decent one for a dancer to add in if desired, otherwise the second tune is pretty much a pole-dancing staple.

Dhel readily spots Phroth from the stage and offers a smile and a wink aimed his direction.

The Cave wasn't Korvin's usual haunt, but he was still amped from the race and ready to...

Phroth Lissken wrote: ↑

Sun May 23, 2021 8:57 pm

The broad shouldered Karkarodon was dressed in the usual athletic wear. Bare claws scratched along the floor as he made his way to a seat, and ordered a beer, watching the stage.

Ok, not ready for the giant shark person. Arriving just behind him, the Pantoran stood for a time, distracted by something quite different than what he would have guessed. Eventually, he recovered himself and made a beeline for the bar and something fairly strong to put him right with the world again.

With the music starting and Dhel singing, it was time to set to dancing! A warm up set to begin with. No point getting any strains or giving away she could Force enhance this to the max. Cartess would probably disapprove of such things though, so she kept to natural spinning talent.

Korvin Hikarrin wrote: ↑

Sun May 23, 2021 9:43 pm

Ok, not ready for the giant shark person. Arriving just behind him, the Pantoran stood for a time, distracted by something quite different than what he would have guessed. Eventually, he recovered himself and made a beeline for the bar and something fairly strong to put him right with the world again.

Korvin might be a bit harder to spot than Phroth, but Dhel does take keeping an eye on the crowd pretty seriously. You always want to spot the brawl getting started *before* someone tossed an angry Chadra-fan in your face. So she sees him at the bar, and waits till he's actually looking to drop him a nod before she spins with a held note, flaring her skirts and keeping half an eye on Sholua to keep the spin in time with hers, coming back to face the audience at the same time. Stage awareness was a thing.

Having no idea who the pretty Pantoran was, Sholua just continued on, now working into more complicated moves. Nothing like a few upside down, hands free spins to feel like you own the place for the night.

Carden had heard rumor of a preformance here, and it didn't hurt to check things out. Local nightlife here was something that he hadn't spent much time with after all. It didn't disappoint as far as local holes in the wall went, dark and dingy with a certain aroma you only ever find in such places.

Taking a few moments to look around he then moved to an epty table to snag a seat. Maybe there would be a waitress around in a bit, but more then likely he'd have to go to the bar for a drink.

Any other man would find distraction somewhere amongst Carden, the friend sitting alone; Phroth, the exceptional being at the bar; and Sholua, the breathtaking Mirialan dancer. But Korvin's eyes were locked on Dhel, to the point it probably insulted Sholua. Especially when she was performing, Dhel was about the entire world for Korvin, and he showed that tonight. Until a break in songs, he didn't even remember the Champalan Sunrise he'd ordered without thinking some time ago now.

Been a few weeks since he made it out but Deonis did wander into the cave every now and again. Something about his body language was tense and aggravated. Perhaps why he was here to forget something on his mind or soothe some kind of anger.

Regardless the big man went to the bar and grabbed a seat ordering something strong and watching the night's entertainment.

Once Sholua's past the warm up act, Dhel falls silent for the the next tune, letting the dancer hold the stage after short, "cheering's all well and good, but you know the sound of real encouragement is a credit hitting the tip bucket, everyone!"

With that, she steps to the side of the stage, tapping the Cascader off as she shifts into that non-entity space that lets her disappear from the stage while still standing on it.

And then she's not standing on it, having hopped off the edge to greet Korvin during the few minutes of this tune. "Hey, cutie..." she winces, glares at Sholua, and shakes her head as she scoots next to him, leaning in for a kiss. Avoiding commentary on the race that hasn't quite happened in some dimensions, she just says, "Hey, you finally made it by here! Whataya think?"

Dhelih Dotaivi wrote: ↑

Mon May 24, 2021 3:35 am

And then she's not standing on it, having hopped off the edge to greet Korvin during the few minutes of this tune. "Hey, cutie..." she winces, glares at Sholua, and shakes her head as she scoots next to him, leaning in for a kiss. Avoiding commentary on the race that hasn't quite happened in some dimensions, she just says, "Hey, you finally made it by here! Whataya think?"

Korvin's got a happy smirk on his face as he watches the hop, the approach -- the strange wince and glare -- and the unhesitating kiss.

"It's ah, pretty impressive," he says, politely ignoring most of the things he could comment on. "You and your, uh, friend," he gestures to the currently upside down Sholua, "seem like a pretty good team."

Korvin Hikarrin wrote: ↑

Mon May 24, 2021 3:56 am

Korvin's got a happy smirk on his face as he watches the hop, the approach -- the strange wince and glare -- and the unhesitating kiss.

"It's ah, pretty impressive," he says, politely ignoring most of the things he could comment on. "You and your, uh, friend," he gestures to the currently upside down Sholua, "seem like a pretty good team."

Dhel glances up to see what Sholua's doing at the moment, putting two fingers in her mouth to offer a piercing, and appreciative whistle; which, as intended, draws a few more from the audience. "Better audience participation, better tips," she offers as a bit of explaination, slipping her arm around his waist so she can tuck in beneath his arm. "She's great! Doesn't snore at all, and usually isn't hogging the refresher, you know?" She lowers her voice a bit "I keep wanting to ask more about," she taps her cheek, about where one of the Mirialan's tattoos are, "but I'm not sure if that's rude for Mirialans or not."

She glances at the drink. "Oh! Good choice. The colors are nice aren't they? You'd never know it, but Slal back there really wanted to be a painter. You'd never know it looking at this place, would you? But any of the fancy-colored drinks really get some attention."

When Dhel whistled it drew a grin from Sholua and spurred her into a new set of acrobatic whirls alternating up through hand and leg holds until she was pretty far up the pole. There she slowed the spins, waiting to see who in the crowd would shout a suggestion first and if it was one she would punch them for later.

Dhelih Dotaivi wrote: ↑

Mon May 24, 2021 4:13 am

Dhel glances up to see what Sholua's doing at the moment, putting two fingers in her mouth to offer a piercing, and appreciative whistle; which, as intended, draws a few more from the audience. "Better audience participation, better tips," she offers as a bit of explaination, slipping her arm around his waist so she can tuck in beneath his arm. "She's great! Doesn't snore at all, and usually isn't hogging the refresher, you know?" She lowers her voice a bit "I keep wanting to ask more about," she taps her cheek, about where one of the Mirialan's tattoos are, "but I'm not sure if that's rude for Mirialans or not."

She glances at the drink. "Oh! Good choice. The colors are nice aren't they? You'd never know it, but Slal back there really wanted to be a painter. You'd never know it looking at this place, would you? But any of the fancy-colored drinks really get some attention."

Korvin lets her snuggle in, giving an affirming squeeze. "Best way to end a day," he murmurs happily, voice so low it would almost not register, but for being right beside Dhel's ear.

"That is interesting about Slal," he says, genuinely intrigued. People finding themselves on unexpected paths... Yeah, I could relate to that, he thinks with an internal chuckle. "Have a sip if you'd like," he offers. "I didn't have much plan for it. Got distracted as I came in and ordered." He chuckled. "But I'm planning to stick around... Maybe meet your friend, if that's alright?"

Another Pantoran found their way into the establishment that night... Most of her past couple of weeks had been hard working on-call at all hours of the day and night. The connections she had made were few... and for someone with her purpose that just wouldn’t do anymore.

She found a seat near the bar and ordered herself a drink as she glanced around the room.

Seeing a familiar face in Carden she walked over to the table he was at and nodded her head in a greeting, “Hey, I know your face. Seat taken?”

She holds up one hand, refusing the drink. “Not till after the set, that one’ll anaesthetize vocal chords, and I need ‘em for the next number. After the set, I’ll share anything you like.”

Glancing to the stage, she adds, “you should ask for something. Ankle hang into a dragonfly or something... but you’re pretty much obligated to tip then, more if she picks your move.” And it was sure to draw more suggestions.

Dhelih Dotaivi wrote: ↑

Mon May 24, 2021 3:56 pm

She holds up one hand, refusing the drink. “Not till after the set, that one’ll anaesthetize vocal chords, and I need ‘em for the next number. After the set, I’ll share anything you like.”

Glancing to the stage, she adds, “you should ask for something. Ankle hang into a dragonfly or something... but you’re pretty much obligated to tip then, more if she picks your move.” And it was sure to draw more suggestions.

Korvin's ears perk at the sharing comment, to the point he almost misses the rest of Dhel's words. "Oh, uh... I'm happy to tip," he says a little awkwardly, "but I don't know, uh, names of..." He trails off with a vague wave toward the pole. It seems Dhel has found something that Korvin didn't become an expert at via rich kid parties.

Lassa Tenro wrote: ↑

Mon May 24, 2021 3:52 pm

Another Pantoran found their way into the establishment that night... Most of her past couple of weeks had been hard working on-call at all hours of the day and night. The connections she had made were few... and for someone with her purpose that just wouldn’t do anymore.

She found a seat near the bar and ordered herself a drink as she glanced around the room.

Seeing a familiar face in Carden she walked over to the table he was at and nodded her head in a greeting, “Hey, I know your face. Seat taken?”

Carden looked over from where he had been watching the mirilian dance on stage. "Not if you want it." He replied with a easy smile at the pantoran he had met a few weeks prior.

"Good to see you again."