One for the money, two for the show (Xadel)

[Gia]

70 Winter, 512 AV Gia ran her fingers lightly over Xadel’s skin, tracing the hard outlines of the muscles of his back. A faint dew of perspiration slickened it, despite the chill of the room, testament to the rather energetic endeavors of a few minutes before. His chest was pressed against hers, his cheek resting on her shoulder, and she heard the steady rhythm of his breath in her ear and felt its warmth against the curve of her neck. She should just let the matter drop. Half a bell ago she had been literally in mid-sentence when his lips had closed on her open mouth and, well, she had been temporarily diverted from her soft arguments against his proposal. Xadel had an absolutely frustrating and wonderful ability to get her off topic – with a look, a kiss, a hand placed in just the right spot. But, the intervening interval and the pleasure that he could, and did, give her notwithstanding, Gia would have the last word in this matter. Besides, they were due at the square in less than a quarter bell – he couldn’t fall into one of those post-exertion snoozes that men seemed so prone to. Gia always found such activity energizing. And right now, her mind was formulating just what she needed to say to convince Xadel that she was right – and therefore, he was wrong. Not that she didn’t appreciate his sweetness – it was just that she wouldn’t let him do this for her. It just wouldn’t be right, no matter how he insisted. Her fingers traced back up his back, to his shaggy, dark hair, giving one strand a gentle little tug. “Don’t go to sleep, Xadel. We have to get going.” She wriggled about under him, tilted her head and brought her lips to his as she gave him both a kiss and a gentle shake. “Come on. We have a show, remember? At the square?”

[Xadel]

Xadel closed his eyes, giving in to the euphoric feeling of both his own release and a job well done. It was a point I pride particularly that he had the ability to send Gia into such hysterics the numerous amount I times he did. It was always a little game he played to try and beat his high score and see just how coherent she would be afterwards. This one was an average amount but that still was more than most could say and nothing to scoff at. He purred lightly under the touch of his friend. He always loved the way that she would touch his skin and it was hers that could always pub him in a better mood. He could spend an eternity laying against her breathing in her scent and tasting her upon his tongue as she traced the outlines of his body. He left his eyes shut as she tugged on his mane. "Mm, are you trying to get me going again? That certainly is one way to keep me awake I suppose. Too bad we have a gig." He opened his eyes and smiled. His eyes swirled a purplish color, as they usually did after such an event. He lifted himself up from her, placing his hands on either side of her shoulders and staring deep into her eyes. "What do you say we wash up a little eh? I hated to show up to a performance covered in sweat already." He winked. He knew that the sun would be fully set soon and the cover of darkness would make for a great performance. They were set to perform their fire dance in the square, a good job indeed. He had needed a diversion though to district her from talking him out of stealing the lute from the store he had seen earlier. It was an easy enough job and there was nothing she could do to stop him, but it was still better not to argue about. He owed her from earlier in the season when here got destroyed in a brawl that was partly his fault. He placed a kiss on her lips, following it up with more on the neck and kissing down to her exposed chest. A playful flick of the tongue over a sensitive area enough to tease her and he rolled to a siting position. She was right they needed to get ready and he had been serious about washing up.

[Gia]

Of course he replied with a teasing word and smile, but already Gia was trying to shove him off of her – not roughly, but just as he was so much bigger than she was, and she needed a little extra oomph to get out from under him. But he quickly pushed himself up, hovering over her, and she stared up into those gorgeous eyes – now a deep shade of Heliotrope, as they were wont to be when he had scored the type of satisfaction that their recent activity was bound to produce. She smiled back up at him, her hands running up his arms to his broad, well muscled shoulders, twining in the shaggy hair that fell down to cover his neck, pulling him back down for another kiss, which seemed to lead to a series of quite distracting ones, interspersed with nips and licks and the last one making her wish that truly they did not have to leave the comfort of her bed, and each other. The consequences of missing this performance, though – in the form of the manager’s ire and his oft repeated threats of booting them from the act – was enough to prompt Gia to reluctantly follow Xadel’s lead. Sitting upright, she stretched like a contented cat summarily roused from its favorite napping spot, arms over her head and fingers reaching towards the ceiling. Lacing her fingers together, she lowered her arms behind her head, bringing them down to her waist, in an unconscious display of her natural flexibility, which stemmed from a life time of dance and acrobatics. With a wriggle of her elbows, she passed her hands under her and thence forward again, then unlaced her fingers and fairly popped up from the bed. Skipping to the hearth, she pulled on the rotating spit that could come out at an angle, upon which hung a metal pot, with hot water within. Taking up a ladle, she poured some of this in a basin and rose to bring it to the bare and much abused wooden table that held center stage in the squalid apartment. She fetched a bit of flannel, submersed it in the steaming water, wrung it out and handed it to her lover, with a grin. “Oh, I don’t know. I think a bit of healthy sweat makes a man look handsome – rugged, you know?” She took up another cloth and dipped it as well, and began to swipe it up and down and around, resting one foot on one of the two chairs as she bent over a bit, her long hair falling in sheaves of bronze about her shoulders and back and waist, as it caught the light of the meager fire that burned in the grate. “Women, on the other hand….” She grimaced as she rubbed at her skin, making it glow pink. “…Do not look or smell good sweaty.” Her eyes, looking more green in the light of the fire, went to him an she grinned again. “You missed a spot. Want some help?” her tone was very saucy, and if they ever wanted to get out the door on time, Xadel had best know to say no.

[Xadel]

Xadel watched Gia walk over to join him. He really would have preferred to go for another round but sadly they required money to keep a place to perform those acts and food for the energy as well. For that it meant they needed to work and this one in particular was important. It was late in the day and the lack of sunlight meant they were the headliners. If they didn't show then the whole troupe suffered. "We'll don't worry, I'll be sweating again soon enough. As far as women sweating you don't, you glisten." He said with a wink. He watched her caress her nude body with the wash rag and a part of him envied it. He was content to watch her beautiful body for a moment and he almost forgot to wash himself. Gia made a comment about missing a door and he looked down with a smile. "Thats easy to do when there is so much of it to clean. For now though Ill save that for later and then you can help after we get our pay." He smiled and flicked some water at her before walking behind her, pulling her well rounded rump into his manhood and kissing her neck. His enjoyment would be quite evident before he forced himself away after a light slap on Goa's behind, and started to dress. "We better get a move on though beautiful."

[Gia]

She accepted his pretty, silly words with a smile and his advances with a shiver, leaning back against him as he pressed into her from behind. The evaporating moisture from the wash cloth was leaving licks of chilly air on her bare skin. But Xadel’s body and his kiss sent parallel trails of fiery sensations dancing over it in counter-point. “Braggart,” she said teasingly, to which he replied with a swat and a suggestion that they get going. But he had also made a promise of resuming what they both so reluctantly left off. She jumped and turned quickly, flashing him with a smile, her hands on her hips. “I’ll hold you to that, my friend – just see that you don’t find some pretty skirt to chase after and leave me to come back here cold and alone.” Her face had pulled down into a mocking pout, and then she grinned, whirling about once more to go rapidly to where her dance costume hung from a nail in the wall, and pulling it on. She wouldn’t hold him to anything – that wasn’t how it was between them. Xadel was free to pursue whatever caught his eye and attention, as was she. But from the look of things, he seemed pretty serious in his assertion that he would indeed find his way back to her bed once their performance was done. She was finished dressing at almost the same instant as he was, and once complete in their finery, she swirled her cape over her shoulders and then slipped her hand through his arm. Exiting the room together, she was already back on track with her argument that had been so deliciously thwarted by the clever and beautiful man now at her side. “It’s too dangerous, by far. There might be a dog in that shop, or a guard. I’m sure the owner would sleep with a sword close to hand…” As they walked down the filthy hallway and descended the rickety stairs to ground level, her soft but adamant voice trailed off, leaving a restful silence in the room. In less than five chimes, they were at the square designated for the night’s performance. The air was quite cold, with no cloud cover above to hold in any slight warmth. The stars sparkled like jewels overhead, but Leth’s face was mostly hidden from those below him, the new moon having just turned. That was good for their fiery performance would look that much more spectacular in the deep shadows. Despite the cold that already bit at her nose and fingers, Gia unfurled her cape and carefully laid it aside, moving into the crowd of players that formed their troupe. The surrounding crowd wasn’t so big – it was the cold that would be keeping many inside the warm, if odiferous and noisy, taverns. But it would do – it would have to do. They needed whatever coins would be thrown their way, regardless of the amount, they could not be picky. Xadel and Gia would be first, which was a blessing, for a variety of reasons. First, the exercise and the fire itself would warm her. And then once done she could wrap up again in her warm cloak. Going first with such a splashy act would warm up the crowd, too, and hopefully pull some more onlookers out to watch the rest of the show. Taking up her fan like metal props, Gia moved into position, opposite from Xadel. Part of the dance they did together, other parts they separated and were more like two individual performers. With a nod to the manager, Gia indicated that she was ready for him to light the ends of the spars. Then she looked over to her partner and friend, to see if he was ready to begin.

[Xadel]

Xadel could tell that his promise to finish what they had started struck a chord within his partner. It was something that they engaged in often but no matter how much they did it it never got old and they always managed to keep it fresh. They were so in tuned with each others bodies it was as if they were performing in almost every aspect, reading off each others cues and quickly responding. He smiled at her reaction. "See that you don't find some pretty skirt to chase." She said. He smiled a little at that. It was true they kind each others company most often but neither of them was tied down and were completely free to do whatever, or whomever, they pleased. "Oh no worries there love. If I do happen to find one I'll just bring her back and we can all share our warmth." He said with a wink and a smile. He smiled and kissed her on the cheek before they walked toward the place they were designated to meet arm in arm. It didn't take long for them to arrive and they had made it on time, luckily they had forgone the second go at their session. Xadel quickly prepared himself, shedding down to just a pair of pants and his boots. He never had much issue with the cold. He squatted down and hid his hands from sight before using some Res to ignite tips of his own props. In short succession he stood and turned toward Gia, the bright lights of their flames causing the night vision to blur. All around some more people started to be drawn in thanks to the dark surroundings. They were two points of light standing amidst a sea of black. He locked eyes with his dancing partner, his face becoming intense. He nodded ever so slightly, never taking that fiery gaze off the beauty. "Ladies and gentlemen! I present to you, a brilliant display of amazing feats. See how our performers display their amazing abilities of acrobatics and precision. Our first act! The fire dance of seduction!" The troupe leader said over the crowd. When he was finished he gave the cue and the musicians started up in a slow, tantalizing piece. Xadel took his first steps toward closing the gap between their bodies. With each step he moved his hips and arms in such a way that the firelight played over ever sinew of his rippled muscle. Years of dancing and performing had blessed him with lithe muscle that reminded one of a panther about to strike. He could already hear the oohs and ahs of the crowd as he moved the fire like an extension of his body. They would definitely give them a show.