All Tomorrow's Parties

[skyggedal]

This tread is not death-enabled.

Theme

Chandrila, capital of the Republic, is known as a place where great minds find space and peace to think. Deep below the capital's wide, clean streets these same great minds go to find an outlet for far baser urges, in nightclubs just like this one. Sprawling across multiple floors below ground level, the V´ertigo is a neon-lit temple to decadence, where basslines beat like synchronized heartbeats and patrons hunt for fleeting, ever elusive fulfilment.

The dancefloors are made of glass, and one may look at the throngs of dancers above or below if one is so inclined. Each floor has its own bar, serving the limited seating area and the private booths along the walls, and its own DJ spinning a different beat that joins the others to form an almost overwhelming flashflood of sound. The further down you go, the faster the beat becomes, and the dimmer the neon lights. At the bottom floor, known as the Darkness, patrons dance with glow-bracelets and glowing paint flashing under blacklight. At the top, large lounges allow people to relax to a slow beat, recuperating before they step back out into their daily lives once more.

==

Just after midnight, Adella was down on the middle floor, dancing to the beat and letting the bassline clear her mind of all thoughts. Nothing existed in that moment except the music and the crowd around her, most patrons caught up in their own dance, blind to the world around them. A couple of Twi'lek women were really rocking it, drawing eyes from the crowd. She wondered idly if they were regulars, the way people seemed to know their names.

Dressed in a black miniskirt, black tights, a short black top and black wedge sneakers, Adella blended in well with the crowd. Her pendant, crafted by her parents more than a decade ago, bounced on her chest as she danced, and the glow-bracelets on her wrist moved through the air tracing the path of her hands. She kept dancing for some time, feeling one with the beat and the crowd, but at last other needs were starting to make themselves known. First of all, the need for a drink. Or four.

 

[Dawn Whisperwind]

At about the same time, another young woman entered that very dance-floor. She was recognized by regulars immediately, as she was dressed as one of the performance dancers of the lowest floor, more exactly one of these specialized in the art of dancing with an pole as accessory. Her clothes, if you would call them that, reflected that immediately. Her hair was a high ponytail colored bright blue with antennas. The bright blue top with barely enough fabric to avoid any accidents during dancing was clinging to her sweaty skin like painted on. Her small skirt was as bright blue as the top and hair, and also only managing to prevent showing parts that belong to a strip club. Her lower legs were covered in bandage-like light blue fabric and only hiding her ankles, bridge an instep.

Top that off with a Butterfly outline around the eyes and some computer steered butterfly wings that moved according to muscle contractions of the back muscles they are connected with and fluttered in an rhythm as she danced.

After a four hour performance in the darkness, she now was in her free time, and the club owners allowed and encouraged the dancers to end the evening on any dance-floor they wanted and the drinks were even free!

And so here she was, her hips, arms, hands, neck, feet and legs immediately moving in sync with the music as her toes touched the dance floor, creating at least as many attention as the Twi'leks while doing so.

"Ahh! That's life!" she proclaimed and was about to lose herself in the music, when her attention was caught by another dancer. She had dark skin, looked human and was not far away. Something in her movement was hypnotizing, and she seemed quite oblivious about the attention she gathered herself (very much unlike Dawn, who liked to bath in attention when she was not in a job) and decided to see what she was made of. While dancing closer to her, she shooed away a human male and a Kubaz with a warning look, then began to dance close around her. Like the moth around the light. "Hi there, gorgeous"

 

[skyggedal]

Adella didn't notice the arrival of the butterfly-themed dancer at first, too caught up in the rhythm and movements of her own body. It was just so good to be down here, taking a break from the somewhat less exciting routine which made up much of her current life. She wasn't paying attention to anything at that point, even the twi'leks had slipped her mind for a while.

When shapes nearby slipped away to allow the newcomer space to move closer, and the young woman with a beautiful mane of blue hair, wearing a minimal outfit Adella thought might slip up at any moment to reveal the soft skin underneath, moved with enticing grace toward her, she found her interest piqued enough to start paying attention.

She blushed faintly when she noticed a fair number of eyes on herself, but the butterfly girl dancing around her claimed her full attention with those sensuous movements of hers. Not to mention the fact that her outfit might disintegrate at any moment, which gave Adella a guilty thrill of excitement to think about.

Adjusting her moves to accommodate a dancing partner, Adella laughed happily, tossing her long, straight ponytail over her shoulder when the other greeted her. For the time being, the drinks she had been fantasizing about moments ago were forgotten.

"Right back at 'cha, li'l butterfly," she replied sweetly. "You move like a shining star."

Responding to a surge in the all-encompassing beat, she adjusted without even thinking, and cheered as a light-show started on the floor above them, casting light and shadow down toward them. "This is so cool!" She exclaimed.

 

[Dawn Whisperwind]

Although she only responded with a broad smile on the returning compliment, Dawn started to dance closer to Adella. Close enough that both could feel the other's body temperature but not close enough to touch, unless Adella moved willingly that way. ALso, this allowed communication by talking very loud instead of having to scream one's head off.

When the light-show started, right on schedule this time, Dawn had to laugh at the others exclamation in excitement. So she was a club-virgin? What a wonderful think to end the day. Continuing the dance for a little while while the other woman enjoy the dance before she "So I take it you're new? Want me to show you the secret places? If you're not have different plans, that is.." she ended that with a smile. The two of them dancing had attracted this floors population of singles looking for their soulmate (if even only for a night) and Dawn indicated as such as she looked expressively around, revealing the fact that there where suddenly a lot of male dancers around.

 

[skyggedal]

"Yes!" Adella exclaimed loudly, to be heard over the crowd and the music. She didn't specify which question she was answering, but looked over the throng of probably-single males nearby, then rolled her eyes minutely in Dawn's direction hoping the butterfly girl would understand what she meant. Any lorrdian would know it easily, but as Adella had learned during their years as space nomads, most people did not pay as close attention to body language as they did.

She smiled at the close proximity of their bodies, taking advantage of it to perform some exotic moves more designed to excite onlookers than to amuse the performers, and grinned as she noticed a number of dancers - mostly males, but some of the females as well - stumbled or otherwise had trouble keeping their composure. Thinking that it was better to leave while it was still possible, she took one of Dawn's hands in her own, holding it lightly, then raised her head up slightly in the gesture of "let's go!" mouthing the word as she did. It was nigh impossible to hear anything above the music now.

 

[Dawn Whisperwind]

Ohh, this was exiting!

Normally it was Dawn who led people down the dancefloor, and having the roles reversed was a thrilling and very welcome change. The positive shiver down her back was clearly visible for all around them as the butterfly wings fluttered strong enough to emit bright blue and harmless sparks, marking the way the two were going for about a meter in their track.

Dawn did not take the lead after that, but pointed discreetly at some subtle but not really hidden doors to the left and right of the bar. They led to a lounge, where the music was calmer and people could either relax a little, do business or enjoy a private dance. (Wich still ended with the dancers having their clothes on usually, this was not this kind of club..)

 

[skyggedal]

Adella raised her eyebrows as she followed the butterfly girl's discreete pointing toward a set of doors that she hadn't noticed before. She grinned excitedly and led her by the hand over in that direction, deftly guiding the two of them through the crowds.

When they went through the doors on the left of the bar, it was like coming into a new world entirely. The doors closed behind them, and muted the music to a dull thumping sound that was more felt than heard, and Adella breathed in a sigh of contentedness as the pressure on her ears abated. She felt energized, looking around the dimly lit room with eager eyes. A twi'lek dancer was giving a performance for a small group of patrons in one large private booth - these were bigger and more lavishly decorated than the ones in the main room - and a few of the other booths were occupied by couples. A handful of patrons were seated at the bar.

"I'm Dell," she introduced herself to the butterfly girl. "Wanna get some drinks?"

 

[Taruna]

Now it was Dawn's time to lead, as she gingerly pointed Adella towards a smaller booth to their right. It was clearly intended for these one-on-one's and changed it's light to a more comfy atmosphere. This booth was automatically reserved for Dawn when the two of them entered the Lounge and consisted on a half-circle of a couch and a seat without a backrest (It would be hard to remove the wings on multiple ways, not the least of them required Dawn to remove her top, and -that- comfortable she did not feel with Adelle yet).

Big blue-contact-equipped eyes underlined with a wide grin were seeking contact with Adelle's. It was a shame she could not tell her her real name, as this would be probably more dangerous to her then to Dawn herself, but she was well trained in situations like this. The secret, in the force and life itself was quite identical.. find the right balance "Hi Dell, I'm Lepi. Do not worry about drinks, that's already handled and will be delivered when we arrive," she added with a conspiratorial whisper "Employee's get a Discount" before proceeding with a more normal tone "Do you enjoy your visits here so far? There are some litle tricks to enhance that experience, but also some ways to spoil the fun thoroughly. If you want, I can explain both to you"

 

[skyggedal]

"Lepi?" Adella looked at the butterfly girl and smiled. "That's a cute name," she said with a little excited clap of her hands. She lit up even more as Lepi mentioned there would be drinks, not to mention there was a discount involved. She walked alongside Lepi over to the smaller booth, and sat down on the couch, leaning back and finding the couch very comfortable indeed. She was almost sinking down into it, which was a nice feeling after the excitement of dancing.

"I'm definitely enjoying myself so far," she agreed with a grin. She considered Lepi's question for a moment, but her curiosity definitely won out in the end. "Tell me everything!"

 

[Dawn Whisperwind]

With a wide grin Dawn sat down, but was not able to lean back as Adella did as she had to consider her quite delicate wings. Breaking them would possibly send a feedback to the neural connectors connected to her spine and that was something she did not look forward to.

"Let's start with the fun. Keep away from the first three levels when the evening begins, that's the place where the ordinary guests warm up. For instant fun, start with the fifth level. Side note: This way you can avoid spiked drinks too. And to spoil the fun thoroughly for others: Request the same song in on the second level and add a tip of 20 credits, this way the system glitches and sends the song to all levels. Great fun, I can assure you."

She had to pause as indeed a young man came to the table to swiftly deliver a pair of glasses, nod to Adella and Dawn and go back to the counter and take the next orders.

Only when he was gone, Dawn took her glass including the soft white tissue usually put under the glass to avoid the condensation from the cold drinks floating all over the table. Would Adella be attentive, she would notice some strange smudge on the tissue, almost looking like written common.

"And, if you wish to profit from the discount, order all drinks with 'salt on the rim, you will see that there is in fact none, that's just a phrase to explain 'I get a discount' without telling everyone around you immediately."

 

[skyggedal]

Adella twirled the glowing bracelets on her left wrist while she listened to Lepi talk. It sounded like fun to get all the floors playing the same music through a glitch. She wondered idly if she could slice into the system and make it do even more fun. Maiara would definitely have approved of that. Her heartrate was slowing back to normal as they relaxed, and she stretched with a happy whine before crossing one leg over the other and leaning back once more.

She grinned wide as their drinks arrived, the liquid within the glasses clear at the top and fading into an icy orange towards the bottom. The drink smelled sweet and fruity, and it tasted heavenly with just a slight hint of the alcohol within. Her eyes went to the smudged writing on the little piece of tissue under Lepi's glass as Lepi lifted it, but she couldn't make out what was written on it. A lover's note perhaps? A phone number? Her eyes sparkled.

"Salt on the rim? Noted!" she said excitedly, very happy with the prospects of getting discounts every time she came here. Which, considering the great evening she was having so far, she was aiming to do quite a lot! Perhaps she could even convince Greymarch to come... No, he'd probably think it improper and below his station. She sighed a little, but remembered not to pout since she didn't want her new friend to think she was unhappy. "Got a fan?" she asked, nodding slightly in the direction of the napkin where she'd seen the smudged writing.

 

[Taruna]

Unable to help it, Dawn smirked a little. Not only upon the observatory senses of the other but also the quite innocent remark.

While leaning forward a little, she took the napkin and stroke it a little with her thumb to activate the electrostatic activated ink showing the real message for a moment and in her head a solid impromptu-plan formed quickly as she responded "Having fans is kind of in the job description of a dancer, I'm afraid. Luckily you sometimes have some among them who not only think of procreation when they are observing a woman dancing."

She then looked at the message and smiled broadly "Hey, what do you think? Wanna see one of the top-payed VIP rooms? No worries, this client who just invited me is one of those faithful to his wife, but he does occasionally crave the presence of some youth. Care to have a look into the world of top notch escort service?"

Leaning a little more forward, she put up her most devilish 'I-dare-you-face' "What'cha say, Dell? Care for some adventure?"

 

[skyggedal]

Adella laughed with delight at Lepi's suggestion, feeling pleasurably buzzed by the drink and the dancer's infectious grin. She felt herself grinning too.

She supposed it wasn't uncommon for dancers to be moonlighting as escorts, or maybe it was the other way around. People had accused her of being one occasionally, back when she and Maiara had their long successful run as crowd-fillers for parties on Brentaal IV. Sure, she had seen her share of VIP-rooms already, especially after landing her current job, but Lepi was fun, reminding her of those days. It couldn't hurt to have a little fun, could it?

Throwing back the last of her drink with a satisfied smile, she had another look at Lepi, gauging her by the movements of her body. She couldn't see anything bad, nothing to suggest an ulterior motive. She leaned forward, accepting the challenge. "Bring it on!"

 

[Taruna]

'Tadaa!'

With that the plan was a go. Quiet satisfied with her accomplisment and the luck she had with that, she downed the drink in one go and led Dell trough one of the small well lit and expensive decorated hallways, leading to the true VIP areas. Yes, these VIP areas that only were known to these who do not look at the price tag before ordering drinks and of course escorts of the professional and less professional kind.

While swinging her hips and elbows a little to the music playing in the hallways Dawn explained to Dell the finer details, like that it was simply expected from an escort to be present and polite, but also quite clear and firm in case the client forgets that he ordered a escort instead of a hoe.

Not waiting for Dell to confirm what she explained she opened the door to the comparable large room, clearly intended for smaller conferences and partys. There were compfy coutches and seats, a big low glass table in the middle and a wall filling monitor on the right showing the most active dance floor at the moment.

On one of the coutches the apparent client was seated with his head forward and on a pad, to his right and left behind the coutch two bulky human stereotype bodyguards. The cllient on the other hand was quite a handsome human, with almond shaped eyes and a all-business-Hairstyle. Hard to believe he was actually a senator.

It was elevating to see that her Impromptu plan was working well, as the two bodyguards were confronted with a unexpected turn. They expected one escort, not two. That did not compute. So they looked at each other, apparently deciding what do do next.

As the Force wanted it, Dell also turned around to close the door. Excellent! This was the perfect oppurtunity, so Dawn used her excellerated speed to her advantage immediately, ducking down and rolling forward so she was no longer in their sight when the Bodyguards looked back to the door and launched herself into the air, spreading her legs and offered the bodyguards a good look at her undies, at least for the split second before her feet made contact with their chins.

This of course let the Senator look up and Dawn used the fact that she was standing on the backrest of the coutch he was sittin on. With her feet on the height of his shoulders directly behind him, she turner around bent forward to grab him by the neck with both hands and bent her back back, so she fell backwards behind the coutch, dragging the surprised Senator over the backrest with her and, upon landing, wrapped her legs around his hips and arms around his neck to grapple hold him until he would lose consciousness.

This would be a strange thing for Dell she imagined, as Dawn imagined her coming into a room with 3 people, turn around to close the door just to turn around a second time and no one is in her line of view anymore.

 

[skyggedal]

Adella followed Lepi, listening to the explanation and admiring her movements as they closed in on their destination. As VIP rooms go, the room that revealed itself as Lepi opened the door was nothing out of the ordinary. Luxurious and spacious, and she'd bet a hundred creds that a pole of some kind could be lowered from the ceiling, or perhaps raised from the floor. Her eyes widened slightly as she saw the client. Thankfully, he had all his attention focused on a datapad and didn't notice either of them... Dell turned swiftly around and pretended she was taking her good time closing the door. This... is awkward! she thought, recalling some information about this man, who was not just a senator, but also owner of a great many shares in one of the corporation's competitors. He liked to one-up Mr. Yun at every opportunity, and had tried to seduce her a number of times.

Okay, I can make this work, she thought to herself, deciding she could pretend her interest had been piqued after all. That datapad could be useful, if he was distracted enough to--

She turned around and saw no one there. For a moment she just stood there, astonished. Then she noticed Lepi's blue wings wiggling slightly behind the couch where the senator had been sitting. Raising one eyebrow slightly as she wondered what was going on, she had a feeling the dancer-slash-escort wasn't really either of those. Either that, or he liked it really rough. But that sorta went against the whole intro that Lepi had given her. Adella had to recognize that she had no idea what was really going on, but it seemed suspicious. Was the innocent-looking dancer more than she seemed? The answer appeared to be a resounding 'Yes'.

For another moment she stood there contemplating what she should do. Fleeing was one option, get out while whatever was going on was going on. If Lepi could take out those two bodyguards and the senator so quickly, well... Adella was confident with her knife-work, but not this confident. However, that datapad was just sitting there, winking at her with its light. Putting on her gloves she opened a small panel on the wall next to the door, slicing into the surveillance system only to find it had already been set up to send a pre-recorded vid of an empty room. So this definitely wasn't a spur of the moment thing, she concluded. She closed the panel again and moved over to the datapad, which was still unlocked. A quick glance told her most of what she needed to know about his browsing history. Looking towards the still-moving blue wings, Adella weighed the pros and cons of grabbing the datapad and getting out of there.

@Taruna

 

[Taruna]

Awesome!

The first part of the plan worked like a charm, now it was only slightly disturbing that Dawn did not yet even think of part two. With the Senator below her and out for the moment now there was the question of getting him to the extraction point without too much of a fuss. There were always some problems when you do this. Abducting Senators, that is. Even the corrupt ones that tried to destabilize an entire sector just out of greed.

A soft shuffle of feet jointed her mind back to the present and problem number two: Dell

Now was the time to think about how to handle her without knocking her out to. She was nice. And observant. And too smooth in her movement to not have the one or another melee trick to make things complicated. But she could not just send her away, could she now?

She suddenly smiled. Broadly. Why the five hells not?

Abruptly appearing from behind the couch, her observant eyes cough Dells eyes eyeing the data pad.

"Hey, Dell? Would you be a honey?" she asked, and and then as their eyes connected spoke softly but firm "How about you take that datapad and acompany me out of here? This evening is not so much fun anymore. And then you go home and only remember a most awesome night with Dawn."

It would only occur to her later that she messed up and tell her her real name, but for now, she created a double of herself that would at least last long enough to have everyone see Dell and Dawn leave the building, while she could grab the Senator and make haste to get him out...

 

[skyggedal]

Adella's eyes locked with Lepi's, and she felt like she was suddenly falling into a pool of soft darkness, the momentary surprise and even shame at being seen almost taking the datapad was replaced with the feeling that this was what she should be doing. She didn't recognize the soft pull of the Force, as it urged her to do what she had already been wanting to do.

"Sure!" She said cheerfully, picking up the datapad and tucking it in her ubiquitous purse. "It was getting boring here anyway."

She felt lighthearted as they left the room behind, going up past the dance floors and out into the night air.