[Inclement Weather] So You Think You Can Dance? (Open)

[Aidara]

Location: Inclement Weather Timestamp: 30th of Winter Tagged: EVERYONE! This. Was. Going. To. Be. Amazing. For months there had been talk of a dance lounge being converted into the party of the century. No. The best party ever. Most of the inhabitants of Skyinarta took it with a grain of salt, assuming that those bored and slightly insane due to the complete isolation that was winter in Wind Reach, had come up with yet another crazy rumor. It was not a rumor. After much prodding and digging, Addy had uncovered the super-secret location of the new attraction. Straight as the eagle flies from the Courtyard of the Sky, "Inclement Weather" was located. Such a cute, kitchy name. There was no news about the grand opening, if there was to even be one, but since the woman was the first one to "discover" the place upon its original opening, she thought it was quite suiting that she should throw a party which everyone would attend. But the woman had a problem keeping her mouth shut. In her intense excitement, she had blabbed the to, well, everyone she came across. Not only that, but she had fabricated the party day without much planning- today - and now she had to beat everyone there. Fingers crossed that it was finished. Unperturbed by all the if's, and's or but's that floated around the whole scenario, Addy flounced her way through the corridors that lead from her aerie home, crossed the Courtyard and located the closed, but freshly rebuilt-and-installed(they had started to look a bit ratty) double doors that would open unto the new (Also rebuffed and polished) dance floor. Clamping both her hands down onto the large handle, Addy squeezed and pulled. The doors swung heavily open, but without much resistance to reveal the hall newly carved into the stone. It was cavernous, big enough for half of the whole city to fit easily inside, with room to move. Not only that, but the stones of the floor had been worked and buffed until it was smooth and polished. That alone left Addy's jaw hanging agape. There were huge chandlers hanging from the ceiling, and tons of light fixtures installed into the walls. "Wow...." The soft utterance of disbelief echoed around the empty hall. And then she discovered the problem. There was no music. "Petch."

[Vala]

Vala was bored. So epically bored that she had even started a new hobby of pegging Deks with snowballs. It wasn’t just plain maliciousness though; there were rules to the game: only when they had one foot on the ground, but not when they are walking, or when they were stretching or yawning. Strange rules, but it kept Vala sharp. She had even grown so bored that she traded her skills in record keeping with a juggling master, for some cheap juggling balls. She had them now in the pocket of her Byrda. After practicing the simple motion of swinging on arm from the outside in, then carefully tossing one ball up with the wrist to produce a controlled arc in the air, and then catching it with the other hand, maybe over just a million times, alone in her room, Vala decided to get out, the image of a brown lumpy ball arcing in front of her was burned into her retinas. She was also starting to wonder if the three bells worth of sorting through the Juggler’s mess of papers to organize them into proper piles between personal, work and worthless, was worth the shoddy set of sack balls she received. Maybe if she saw the guy in the caverns, she could peg him with them.

Vala tried to whistle as she walked, but failed miserably, so she just sulked as she walked. She made sure to pass by the Courtyard of the Sky first to find a pile of snow. She made a small, tightly packed snowball, holding it in her gloved hands. Her brows furrowed in concentration: trying to find a Dek that fit the game’s requirements.

Vala walked for nearly 30 chimes trying to track down a target, and like a miracle, there he stood: A dirty Dek leaning against a wall, doing nothing. Vala cracked a wide grin as she noticed his left foot raised up pressed against his right knee. “Perfect!” Vala squealed. She waited for a single Avora woman to walk by, pressing herself against a wall to avoid notice, squeezing the already tight ball of snow in her palm. When the coast was clear, Vala wound up her arm, closed one eye, aimed, let out all the air from her lungs, held her breath - and just like in archery - she released her projectile with the cold calm of confidence.

Bulls-eye. The Dek sputtered as snow exploded onto his face, dripping down into his Vinati. He cried out in pain, but it was mostly just from surprise. He spun his head around, trying to find who had assaulted him, but his eyes were still too clouded from the snow to catch Vala sneaking away.

Vala didn’t really know where she was, she had just been walking to find a mark. Several people began walking from the other tunnel entrances; she wouldn’t be able to get out that way. She looked behind her to see a door with some sort of sign on it: it was a public building. She didn’t bother reading what it was for before opening the door and sneaking in.

When she walked in she nearly bumped into another girl. She heard the girl mutter “Petch.” under her breath, which just made Vala furrow her brows in distaste.

The hall was empty except for the two girls. Vala didn’t want to go out just yet; she wanted to explore this new discovery before tracking more targets. It was a grand place, it was definitely large. Vala mostly just noticed the immensity of the room. Too big for her taste: Vala never really liked large crowds. She did like the majestic light fixtures and chandeliers the hung from the walls and ceiling. Vala always had a weakness for beautiful light fixtures. She even hoped to be skillful enough to make them herself one day.

Even though the other girl had cursed, Vala was bored enough to be interested. She looked cute, even quirky: maybe she was interesting. Vala stepped forward so that she faced the other girl. She pushed back a lock of hair behind her ear as she said “Hi there, my name’s Vala. What is this place?”

[Xelin Sylaaf]

Xelin did not like heights. So naturally it was with a sunk heart and a streak of dread that he ventured into the realm of Wind Reach. It was an obviously daunting journey for him. With little money to pay for guides, Xelin had scraped and pained his way through the awful mountains, not to mention the thin, cold air. He was so used to cities, big, ugly, dank cities, that were very, very low to the ground. This was a new experience for him, and one he was not thrilled to experience again. Only one thing kept his mind from the idea of abandoning his journey: money.

Having taken to some small traveling escapades, he'd run into more than his fair share of traveled men. While during many drunken nights conversing in low-rent pubs, his ears came across talk of a club deep in the mountains. An extravagant place, a high end place for parties of social elites who sought the privacy of the remote lands, and it was just about to start up.

As a musician, Xelin jumped at the chance for good paying work, especially in a new place located deep in Inarta territory. He didn't have any special fondness for the Inarta, but he'd yet to meet one so it was likely they had not heard of him, which definitely worked to his safety as a performer. Even if the rumors were probably greatly exaggerated (which they were) Xelin had felt that finding the place for himself was still worth a shot soon found himself clawing up towards the mountain city. Soon after that he found himself instantly regretting it.

He made it, however, and not a moment too soon. A few hours wandering on the street soliciting for rumors got him both the location and date of the opening. This led him to the opening day, and to a very large set of double doors leading into a massive stone building.

With all the excitement and hope that had built in him, Xelin was more than a bit underwhelmed as he entered in to see only two young girls standing there, amidst a gaping and empty room. Xelin adjusted the strap on his lute and his eyes wandered awkwardly around the interior. Perhaps he'd gotten the date wrong, or the place maybe, or maybe he had been lied to and wasted his time and might as well kill himself then and there for all his lost hopes.

That last idea was too dramatic, he thought. Instead he remained where he was, hoping one of the two in front of him might say something to clarify everything.

[Vala]

Vala turned at the sound of a new comer: an outsider. Vala smiled at the thought of hearing his stories of the outside world. After living her entire life in a single city, rarely ever leaving its safe, ensconcing walls she couldn't wait to get a taste of something new. She was bored of the monotony: it was like a divine intervention. Vala whispered a quick thank you to Priskil

She noticed he was short, but not as short as her. She actually found him a little cute, in a weird non-Inarta way. She realized she was probably just interested in the novelty. She could tell she was letting her guard down - he wasn’t like the other Inarta, maybe he was different.

She walked up to him, entranced by his sandy blond hair - intrigued at the lack of a scarlet flash. Trying not to stare at the worn lute in his hand, Vala instead stared into his blue eyes. “Uh,” Vala cleared her throat, embarrassed she was stuttering. “Hi, my name’s Vala.” She said in a meek voice, bowing slightly. She couldn’t think of anything else to say, so she just shut her mouth, hoping he was charming enough to start a conversation. Maybe he would even play her a pretty song... She blushed at the thought.

Though she was entranced by him, Vala tried to maintain a safe distance, without being too obvious. After having far too many close encounters for her liking in the past season, Vala wanted to make sure to make a good first impression, instead of freaking out on the cute outsider when, and if, he accidentally touched her...

[Xelin Sylaaf]

Well it wasn't a step to where he wanted, but it was a step. One of the two girls, the younger from what he could guess on a whim, approached him and introduced herself. A few stumbled words and the hints of blushing tipped Xelin off pretty quick to the kind of girl he was dealing with. Not that he wasn't unfamiliar with the kind of body language on display before him, it was a sight fairly common on the road. A young girl, stricken with the sight of an instrument and a look of someone well-traveled. The look of a bard held many promises to all many of country girls and innkeeper's daughters, it was one of the only real advantages to the lifestyle. This girl seemed nice enough, a little thing with striking eyes and the usual shade of red hair he'd heard so much about. The Inarta's were a beautiful people he'd give them that.

Still, at another time he'd be interested, but for the moment he was more interested in work. He needed to know who was in charge how he could get them to hire him, he damn sure didn't want his harrowing trek up the mountain to be for nothing. Worse, he doubted he'd have much of a chance making his way back through if he came out empty handed. Please gods, he thought, may good fortune finally find it's way into his life. Sure, he knew he hardly deserved it, but everyone is entitled to a lucky break now and again, right?

First things first, though, he figured it was worth introducing himself to the girl. She seemed eager to make a good impression, which was a welcome change from his previous run ins with women. He flashed a wide grin to her as she locked eyes with him. Even in exhaustion and desperation, Xelin always needed to keep his charm up.

"My name's Xelin." He answered back. "Do you know who runs this joint?" He motioned to his lute, "Or at least whoever runs entertainment." He took a look around the room once more. Noting the vast and overwhelming empty silence of the room, he remarked with a chuckle, "You Inarta's sure know how to have a good time. Did I catch this place during the busy season?"

[Aidara]

OOCI changed a bit, not too much. Instead of it being the clubs opening day, I changed it to Addy had decided to throw a huge party. I know Vala that you wanted to do this too next month for her birthday, and this could be a good way to get Addy to help if you like the way she throws this one. "Aidara, pleased to meet you Vala. I'd be more pleased if this had worked out the way I wanted..." Frustrated and focused, Addy did not pull her eyes from their scan of the room when Vala approached, paused, and introduced herself. More important matters else where. It was extreme disappointment that drove Addy's somewhat flaky and rude reaction. The healer stepped away from Vala before she had a chance to respond again, moving off into the center of the room. Her boots clicked loudly on the polished stone, the sound echoing up into the cavernous ceiling. "Well, the acoustics would be awesome..." Biting at her lower lip, Addy at propped a hand upon her lip, the other raised to tap a finger thoughtfully at her lip. "This can still be saved. I just have to do more work than I really intended.... I hate work sometimes" The whine was loud enough for the little Inartan newcomer to hear, and it was only belatedly that Addy realized that they weren't alone. In fact, Vala wasn't even paying attention to a word that Addy was saying (not that she was talking directly to the girl in the first place, but it was the principal of the matter.) No, she was drooling over the sad looking man standing in the doorway. Chuckling softly, Addy strode back over to the pair and stepped right into the middle of their conversation "I am Aidara. Call me Addy, please. Xelin. That's an interesting name. From where do you come, and why Wind Reach?" In a normal course of events, Addy would have slipped up next to the stranger and introduced herself while practically wrapping her body around his own- if they were attractive enough. And he was. But the way that Vala looked at him made her pause. She had just met the girl, and preferred not to make enemies unless she had too; especially not ones over a boy. Boys were silly. To the question he posed, there was a rather indefinite answer. "I... don't really know at this point, so let's say me. The hall was just completed, and I thought there was going to be more here than there was. However, we can do something about this. We can set it up and you..." A finger was pointed and crooked at Xelin, motioning him closer towards her, "Can run the music. I see a lute, and I'm going out on a cliff to say that you're good with it, and can possibly sing yes? Are you shy? If so, get over it quickly." It was rare that Addy got so bossy, but all this she said with the sound of a laugh in her words and a smile on her lips. While she spoke aloud, the healer was having a second conversation in her head "Sira darling, we need food. Can you find the Dek nearest to you and send them this way with whatever food is left over from the festival? This "dance party" is an complete wreck and now I need to fix it." Breaking off her connection to her bond-mate, Addy then switched over to another channel in her head. The one connected to her sister Sai! Use your bitchy voice and get a team of Deks to go to the craftsmen and get whatever furniture was commissioned for this party in the club. I need it. Now." "Alright. That's set. Now, you..." Not even aware that she nimbly jumped from being completely silent to talking again, and that the other two had no idea of the number of people sharing Addy's head space, or that she could talk to them with a thought, she jumped back into normal speech with little thought of a gentle transition for her new friends. "Dek's will be here soon with the proper accouterments for a dance club. Now we just have to get the people. But we don't need people yet...." Addy never stopped once in her planning to take a gauge on either Vala or Xelin, but she did so now. Though first impressions were already over, at least on their behalf, and it was too late (for now) to fix whatever they currently thought of her. "How rude of me. I get so caught up in everything, especailly when the important parts of you know, the preparations of my own party that were supposed to be done for me by someone else, are dropped on my shoulders. I'm a healer for Rek'keli's sake. Not a .... dance club...builder." A brilliant smile and Addy toned it down a bit more. Taking the time to carefully straighten her bryda and top, long curly red locks were then re-positioned into a proper mass that cascaded prettily over her shoulders and down her back. Yes, apperances were very important. It wasn't until then that she got a really good look at Vala. The girl was very pretty, though a bit guarded. From years of people watching and general...sluttiness, Addy had learned to read people very well. The way that Vala set her shoulders, and had her body slightly turned away from Addy, but towards the newcomer told the healer much more than the girl probably intended. But to save judgments for when she actually knew Vala, Addy turned her attention to the Outsider. Cute. Definitely cute. Blonde hair was the first indication that he was indeed and outside, that and the fact that he looked completely lost, confused and overwhelmed. But his hair would stick out among the gingers like a sore thumb. Luckily for him, he seemed to stumble across two Inartian's who didn't mind the outside world. Elsewhere in the volcanic city, he wouldn't be met with such... enthusiasm. "Well... Welcome, I guess, to Inclement Weather and my super-fabulous party....um.... don't worry, we can make this place work."

[Vala]

He was charming, but Vala could tell he wasn't charmed by her. Her smile faltered for a second, while her pride took a hit. Rarely had she been so obviously spurned for something as ‘trivial’ as work, but it barely took Vala another moment to turn the situation into a challenge: Vala would make the guy like her by the end of the night, even if it meant having to hug the guy. She shivered at the thought, but Vala was super board so she was willing to deal with the discomfort if it meant a bit of entertainment.

“Xelin” Vala said silently to herself, trying to pronounce his ‘strange’ name correctly. He began asking Vala a bunch of technical questions. She tried not to scoff: she had just entered the place to hide, she had no idea what it was called let alone who owned it. She was glad when the other girl, Aidara, interrupted and answered everyone’s questions.

From her dress, she was above a Chiet, but from her build she was definitely not an Endal: Avora, Vala concluded. A controlling one at that. She wondered what the pretty lady did, whatever it was, she looked very successful.

From the tone of Aidara’s introduction, Vala could tell she noticed Xelin’s ‘exotic’ looks, not that she blamed her. Though tinged with a bit of jealousy, Vala was in awe at Aidara’s masterful control of the situation, even spontaneously assigning Xelin charge of music. Vala was caught off guard when Aidara suddenly went silent, though her face suggested she was still conversing: Vala wondered if she was talking through some sort of telepathic channel. Vala could feel the viral, green monster of jealousy growing within, trying to stifle it with thoughts of the oncoming party.

In a few chimes Aidara was back, though she had never left the room. “"How rude of me. I get so caught up in everything, especially when the important parts of you know, an opening day of a dance club, are dropped on my shoulders. I'm a healer for Rek'keli's sake. Not a .... dance club...builder." Vala was surprised, she was starting to believe that Aidara did own the club. Her initial surprise was enough to distract her from the second part of Aidara’s confession... but only for half a second. Vala stepped back to hide behind Xelin, instinctively bringing her hands up and shifting her weight to the balls of her feet, ready to run if the healer made a move towards her.

Vala flinched when Aidara’s hands moved to fix her Byrda and top. Her heart raced, pounding violently in her little chest. She unconsciously began throwing up her natural defenses: a pretty smile; wide innocent looking eyes; topped off by rosy red cheeks, flushed with fear.

Vala’s fear was only somewhat tempered by her boredom. Aidara wasn’t acting very healer-y at the moment, but just the thought of her hands... Vala smiled harder, cheeks sore from the strain... Vala tried to focus on the new guy Xelin. He definitely wasn’t a healer, she could always hide behind him... Vala decided to stay, to see how everything would pan out. Maybe she could even sing with him... she liked singing. Vala coughed, unconsciously trying to clear her throat. If Aidara got too close, she could always run out. She desperately hoped the higher ranking Avora wouldn’t force her to stay if she tried to leave.

[Xelin Sylaaf]

Well things were slowly moving in the right direction, at least that's what they appeared to be moving. Xelin wasn't sure. The second girl, one who exuded infinitely more confidence then the blushing girl now trying to hide herself behind him did, took control of the situation and began planning for something. What that something was Xelin had no idea and he was beginning to wonder if maybe he should have learned a bit more about the Inarta before he ventured up the mountain. The whole thing felt strange, he was being dragged in to helping a girl who wasn't even the proprietor, this was not how thing usually worked. Granted, there was rarely a set formula when it came to the "trade" of music.

Still, the whole thing was beginning to become suspect, the first being that this girl used the term "super fabulous" that never sat well in Xelin's mind, but her young age also tipped him off that maybe he'd come to the wrong place. Still, at was at least moving towards something productive. And to Xelin, productive meant "getting paid."

He first needed some clarification, "Wait, Addy, is it? I'm not sure I'm really following what you're trying to do. You don't own the place but you're trying to have a party here? Isn't that a kind of business that's saved for, I don't know, the owner? Now, I could be missing something, but.....actually yes I'm missing a lot here."

He passed a glance to both of them, "You can obviously guess that I'm not from here. And I bet you can also guess I'm a performer. I'm here because I was told a club was opening, high end kind of place. I was also told there was paid for work for a guy like me. So my question is, what the hell kind of place is this and what do either of you have to do with it?"

He turned to Vala real quick, the more timid of the two and flashed a quick smile, "A guy could lose his head being this far away from being familiar." Always keep an air of friendliness when you can, he always told himself. He wanted to make sure he wasn't coming off like a demanding jerk, that tended to work against him whenever he was in a strange land.

[Gossamer]

. Character: Aidara Experience: +1 Observation, +1 Planning, +3 Socialization, +2 Leadership Lore: Party Planning, Taking Charge Of Situations, Salvaging Proverbial Train Wreck Situations Character: Vala Experience: +2 Observation, +2 Socialization Lore: Aidara: Healer & Endal, Xelin is Hot., Neverousness Around Strangers. Character: Xelin Experience: +2 Observation, +2 Socialization Lore: Cracking Jokes To Lighten The Mood, The Ability To Adapt To Changing Situations Additional Note: Unfinished. What more can I say? Oh. Aidara. Your parties SUCK. .