May I have this dance? (open)

[Yuralria]

First of Summer

Yura shed her cloak as she walked into the Red Diamond and hung it on a hook. Some of the more inebriated guests threw shift comments as she walked by. She was here often, they all knew her job. She stepped up on the raised stage and threw a look at the fiddler in the corner. He was new, but he took the hint and broke into a snappy jig that Yura was familiar with. Yura listened to the music for a moment and broke into a step. It was a quick but simple percussive dance that usually got the crowd going, but disappointed a few of those who tended to look for something more. Perverts.The song ended sharply, and with a stomp, so did the dance. A harsh note began a minor chord and a haunting melody began to float through the air. A cellist joined as a breeze ruffled through Yura's hair. "Why don't you give them what they came for?" Yura grinned, her eyes the lusty pink color they had been stuck in all spring. She pulled the tie from her hair and shook her long, red locks out. they were such an uncommon sight in Avanthal. Then she began to dance rather suggestively, her movements full of provocation, like a siren luring her prey to their doom.

[Sliver]

The streets were just beginning to thin as the Kelvic's sensitive ears picked up an eerie melody drifting like a pervasive fog through the pathways of Avanthal. She had noted the location of the popular tavern on her walk through the city a few days prior, and now seemed as good as any to finally investigate the place. No one took notice of Sliver as she entered: not her mohawk, not the tattoos crawling up her pale skin, nor the numerous piercings that jangled faintly as she wove through the people to find an empty seat. It was not too crowded... yet, but people seemed to continue to file into the tavern. Not surprising, the hardships that had fallen on this city were bound to make more than usual seek the comfort that could only be found at the bottom of their mugs, cold and icy to contrast the almost summery environment outside. It wasn't until Sliver was properly seated that she actually followed the gazes of everyone in the place. They were fixated, nay, entranced with the figure dancing to the melodic rhythms the musicians conjured from their instruments. Her movements reminded the Kelvic of a serpent, beautiful and calculating. There was no denying her grace, or the suggestive way she showed off her physical assets, and Sliver was reminded of certain things she didn't understand about humans. If this woman were an animal, she would know that this was a mating ritual, summoning virile young males for reproduction, but while there were clear intentions of her movements, the Kelvic often found that human females engaged in this state just to tempt rather than to actually summon and engage in the activities their body symbolized. So the Kelvic watched, observing the lust on the faces of more than a few, barely hidden disgust on others, and the mesmerizing movements of the figure.

[Yuralria]

Yuralria slowed as the song ended. She was breathing heavily, sweat forming on her back despite her lack of a coat and her distance from the fire. She stepped down. Two quick dances in a row was a bit much. The bartender brought her a mug of cold ale and she sat at the emptiest table. The only Seat taken at the table contained a curious looking person. Tattoos and piercings adorned her body, and a mohawk graced her head. She was definitely one of the more interesting people in the tavern. the band struck a slow, ambient tune as Yuralria rested. She took a deep swig from her mug and sighed.

[Sliver]

Sliver didn't clap when the song ended as some did, but she inclined her head respectfully at the woman when she joined her at the table. If there was one thing the Kelvic had learned in her travels, it was that everyone had different skills, and that it was only natural for them to follow and try to enhance the ones they were adept at, wasn't that the reason she had come here, after all? Since the hub bub had died down a bit, a barmaid wandered over to their table. She seemed to be one of the people that had more than a little disgust for the woman, and Sliver didn't understand this either, though it was more than likely born from jealousy, her figure was not as lithe as the stranger sitting across from her. The barmaid pointedly did not look at the woman, and only addressed Sliver when she asked her what she'd have. Of course Sliver wasn't as pleasant to gaze upon per se, and dark animal eyes shone rather pointedly at the young girl, mouth sliding open to reveal teeth a little too white, and a little too sharp. "Just a glass of milk and the night's special." She made sure to scratch the wooden table with fingernails a bit too sharp when she offered up the coin, and all in all the girl practically ran from the table to get her order. serves her right. Sliver snorted a little in amusement then turned her gaze to the woman looking forlornly into her drink. Clearly everyone had something to forget in their glasses this evening. She remained silent, as was her way, and politely averted her gaze so as not to alarm the woman.

[Geothryn]

Geothryn walked into the Red Diamond and took a seat at the bar, the black leather that covered the wooden case for his lute shining in the lamplight. Nodding to the barkeep, he asked for a mug of ale. No wine for this one, nope; wine was much too expensive. Sipping at the bittersweet malt liquor, he appreciated the full-bodied taste. He turned then, facing the small upraised stage, and watched a woman dancing to the fiddlers' music. She was quite beautiful, and her dancing was provocative, enough to illicit bawdy remarks from some of the bolder men. Geo contented himself to watch, sipping at his ale, his eyes brightening into a lime green color. When she finished, sweating, she went to sit with a most peculiar woman who wore many tattoos and a mohawk. Turning back, he asked the barkeep, "D'you think I can have a shot at that? Not the girl, the stage." He joked, grinning. After an affirmative response and a sympathetic chuckle, Geothryn got up and walked to the stage. "Hello all! Some of you may know me, some may not. I'm just here to play a bit o'the lute. I promise you won't be disappointed." He took the lute out of its case and seated himself upon a stool. Strumming up a few chords, he began plucking out a harmony. It was a fast-paced song, and his fingers flew over the strings, plucking and strumming to create the uptempo tune. The song he played was one favored at parties, and it made you want to get up and do a little jig. These songs were alright for a crowd like this, but truth be told Geothryn preferred the slower songs, the ones with words and emotions... Perhaps he would play one of those later, if the crowd felt up to having their hearts torn asunder.

[Yuralria]

Feeling slightly better after a mug of ale, Yura stood again. Looking to the girl with the mohawk she stated "I'll be back" She walked up to the stage, curtsied to the bar, and began a sort of line dance. Some of the regulars who knew her routine and were drunk enough to remember it joined in. It was a quick step, lots of sliding and turning. Many of the patrons were stumbling in their attempt to match her steps. She missed a few steps now and again, it wasn't her strong suit, but no one noticed. One of the more inebriated patrons who wasn't familiar with Yura's habits, A male with bad breath and worse teeth, reached toward her and grabbed her butt. In a quick motion, she tangled his arm in the sheath of her Dao and kicked him in the face. She continued to dance, her eyes almost daring someone too try something similar.

[Sliver]

The barmaid came back with the Kelvic's order during the dance. Sliver smiled serenely up at the woman, her teeth shining in the lamplight. The maid tried to smile in return, but the plate with her order clattered to the table, a couple potatoes rolling off in her rush. Sliver skewered them with her nails and popped them in her mouth one by one, downing a huge gulp of the glass of milk the barmaid cautiously passed her before retreating rapidly. Then Sliver sat for the show. There was a strange male up on the stage, his hair seemed odd to her, it had bright streaks that didn't seem constant among other Vantha. His tune was peppy, and the woman who had been sitting across from her, clearly already getting well into her drink, seemed to get into the jig, encouraging others to join. Just another thing the wolverine couldn't fathom: Alcohol. What on the gods earth did anyone want with beverages that not only dehydrated the body, but inebriated an individual so as to cloud their senses? It ran counter intuitive to every instinct for survival that ran through Sliver's mind, and it tasted foul. She took another drag of her dairy product and smirked, she wasn't missing a damn thing. The smirk turned to another amused snort when Yuralria kicked the drunkard. What fools. So she leaned back in her chair and took in the raucous scenery.

[Geothryn]

Cocking his eyebrow at the dancer, he smirked at the man who had just received a foot to the face. This one didn't like to be touched, then. That was alright, Geo knew how to keep his hands to himself. He wasn't out to go a-courting, anyway, not tonight. Tonight was dedicated to his lute. And his cups. While not that new to the wonders of alcohol, Geothryn could only ever have been called drunk on a couple of occasions. He almost never drunk himself to that point, instead preferring the happy medium between sobriety and inebriation. He found the slight tipsiness awarded from a mug or two of ale gave his mind freer reign in its creativity. The mug he had downed earlier, for instance, inspired him to slow down his playing, strumming a softer melody. He looked as if he were going to sing at any moment, but something kept him from sharing his vocal talents. His eyes had at this point darkened back to the familiar emerald hue that was his norm.

[Yuralria]

Yura stopped dancing as the song changed. She didn't want to dance slowly tonight. She grinned at the musician and went to sit down again, waving for another ale as she sat. Looking at her table mate, she introduced herself. "Hi, I'm Yuralria Whitevine." A breeze blew through the tavern, despite the closed windows, blowing the few stray strands of her long reddish hair that weren't caught up in her braid. Took you long enough to be sociablethe wind breathed.

[Sliver]

The Kelvic let herself be lulled a bit by the slow medley, her stomach filled with drink and food, an almost sleepy quality coming over her until the woman plopped herself back into the seat across from her. The stray waft of wind brought a bit of a chill to the space, also aiding in snapping the Kelvic from her reverie. The mood in the place was a bit infectious, so Sliver smiled, this expression a bit more friendly than the one she had given to the barmaid. Greetings. I am called Sliver. She sat in silence with Yuralia for a short time, finishing her drink. That was an impressive display earlier, I am sure you have attracted many potential mates. The Kelvic was unsure if this was the proper thing to say, but it was a compliment after all. She just never fully understood the purpose of alluring entertainment, the idea running so counter intuitive to the world as she understood it.