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Daze [Sir Zane]

Started by Cheesigator, February 05, 2017, 11:24:20 PM

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Cheesigator

"Alright girls! You know the drill, House opens in two hours!"

Utani's sultry voice rang out backstage as she passed between the girls putting on their ashy makeup and getting ready in lavish outfits that Utani's money had bought for them. Being the head honcho as she was, Utani was all ready to go, laced up in her heels with a few bells jingling on the skirt she had tied around her waist, the beads adorning her decorative bra shining as they swung and caught the light while she went around, checking up on everyone and making sure everything was A-OK for the show, as she did every early evening.

The Lusty Hydra officially opened its doors for business around 4pm every evening, welcoming travelers and townsfolk alike to come see the risque shows the girls who worked there offered; had the churches in Connlaoth ever seen one of their performances, the clergy members surely would have fainted the moment the girls stepped out onto the stage. It was a miracle the place was up and open for business at all considering the religious times, and the tumultuous nature of the male gaze on femininity. One moment they were condemned, the next, praised for their otherworldly charms and the ability to create entire new creatures from their wombs.

Oh, what a crazy world they lived in.

No, the only reason this place stayed afloat was due to the exotic nature of all who worked there; a loyal customer would find feminine personas with such varying personalities and physical appearances there was rarely a moment to be bored, let alone their acts which varied immensely from week to week, from choreographed routines to solo spotlight shows that left their audiences drooling in their mugs of mead for more. And at the top of it all perched on a throne decorated with lavish fabrics and the finest jewels money could buy was Utani, queen of her own little world, powerful enough to smack down anyone who opposed it and enchanting enough to convince them to give her their money afterwards so they could get a glimpse of her breasts decorated in lavish beads and tassels.

She finished yanking the laces tight on one dancer's corset, tying it off and smiling at her own handiwork, having managed to slim down the girl's waist five whole inches. Utani would've been jealous, but she could slim her own waist farther than that if she pleased.

She stepped out into the main area of the house; it was entirely dark inside as there were no windows to let in the sunlight, which was how she preferred it. Instead, she and a few other girls went around, lighting fires in lanterns and chandeliers and hoisting them up in the rafters, the warm flickering glow just as welcoming as a lover's bedroom. The tables were cleared, chairs tucked in, and Charmeine was wiping down her fully stocked bar one last time with a rag.

By the time the doors opened there were already eager customers waiting to come on in, and they were welcomed with smiles from girls in short dresses with plenty of cleavage to spare. The place filled up quickly, and the starting acts took to the stage. The thick velvet curtains were parted as a girl stepped out and performed her routine of dancing and playing with fire and fans, an artful display that captivated audiences with her beauty, grace, and humbleness, as she blushed at their cheers and bowed as she exited the stage.

The first few acts were always the tamest--as the night wore on, they would grow progressively more intense, more alluring, more sexual. Utani was considered one of the best girls to start the shift in mood. She took to the stage, and her use of glamour magic was ever present as she spread her aura around the room, slowly engulfing it until all eyes were locked on her fluid form. She was a belly dancer, matching the beat of the music played off-stage with precise muscle control and flexibility that made nearly all the customers drool. Between her exotic coloring and tattoos, the way she moved her body and the look she had in her eyes that promised a little something more for every person who dared look into them, she was a hit. She always was.

Zane

There is an odd tranquility to a quiet road, like a dried riverbed. The patterns in the dirt tell stories, but instead of currents and rivulets, roads tell about caravans of wagons and horses, about the men either too foolish or too urgent to heed the weather. Erak sat where one road fed into the next. Or, perhaps it was where the road forked away from the main road. Perspectives.

He gazed at his hand, cupped palm up, a small pile of dried seeds resting in it. He'd been siting like this, motionless, for some hours. Waiting on someone. It was only a matter of time, the giant could sense them, standing just behind him, just out of view. Motionless he remained. Perhaps five minutes went by before there was a change, as Erak felt the squirrel hop onto his knee. Another minute before the creature felt safe enough to hop to his arm. Another two before it started to slowly- in a squirrel's uniquely jerky slowness -head towards the seeds in his hand.

But it was for naught. The sound of an approaching wagon startled the tree rodent, and it ran off. Much like the affronted silence had fled when the crescendo of a wagon's axle against it's stocks as the wagon progressed. Then slowed, and eventually stopped in front of the sea wolf. "Well I'll be damned, Eric?" Erak sighed as he stood up, why were these mainlanders so dead set on making even his name soft? He nodded when he came to his full height. the man in the wagon seemed slightly unsettled by this. "Yes, I am Erak"

This time, the driver nodded. "I wasn't sure you would actually be here, yet here you are! Here, these are yours." He slid a small, heavy looking box over to him. It was a kind of wooden lockbox, and had a thick envelope resting on it. He picked up the envelope and- as gently as he could -opened it. He glanced over the writing. 'Hereby grant... five hundred acres of heavily forested land outside Clinesgrove to one Erak Ragnak at the sum of... By the powers vested in..' Erak grinned as his eyes moved from the text to the scroll work along the side of the page. Working through proxies had been a labor of faith. Trusting that these mainlanders would keep their word and not absconder with his gold. But it had been necessary, for Erak never could have entered into a noble's court unmolested, especially here on the coast.

Erak folded the deed to his newly acquired land and placed it inside his vest. Next, he reached over to take a hold of the box and gingerly broke the lock, letting the man driving the wagon see the fifteen or so tightly packed stacks of coins. "Take me to Clivesgrove." slowly, Erak slid the box back towards the man, "Yours." Bumbfounded, the driver nodded. The money was of little consequence to him. he had the combined wealth of two Sea Wolves entire raiding careers within his ruksya.

It was just becoming dark when the wagon crossed into the town proper. If it could be called that. Clivesgrove was the first town from the city of Cerenis, or perhaps the last one until you reach Cerenis. Again, perspectives. It sat on a popular trade route into the city, as as such, many of the towns citizens lived by trade. Lightening the load of wagons heading to port to do trade, and then the purses of those heading back home. Erak felt the place was perfect. Far enough from the sea that people's first thoughts seeing him wouldn't be 'Oh shit, it's a raid!' and the commerce would bring news from all of Serendipity. For him, it was perfect.

But for now, it was dark, and the land he had purchased didn't come with a home. He would have to build it. Last time he'd been to Clivesgrove, he mostly avoided the town, camping in the forest that he now held the deed to. This time, he'd stay in the town's single inn, at least for tonight. Making his way towards the windowless building, his eyes narrowed at the name. "Lusty Hydra." The mere idea sent a shiver swimming laps up and down his spine.

Shaking off the tremor, he moved inside, eyes surveying the lowlight. Spying the bar, he made his way over to it, patiently waiting while the woman behind the bar treated other patron, then eventually came up to him- he wasn't going to impose on her after all. "Ale. Darkest you have." Then, as an afterthought, added, "Please." then made his way towards a table, leaving a solid Gold Mark where his hand had been. A kindly crone in moonspear had told him that soldiers who enlisted during times of war were paid a gold mark every half year. Erak hoped that meant the coin was worth a lot, and not that the military was grossly underpaid.

Selecting a table against the wall- and away from most of the other patrons and the stage. He elected to pull the chair away from the table and sit on the ground, his back against the wall. Like this, the table came to just at rib level, so he could rest one arm on the table, the other against his knee. Soon enough, he had his ale, and was content to sit there and relax until much later.

Except, he felt a need to look at the stage. He couldn't quite place it, like a sudden itch that needed to be scratched. And so he did. Where before there had been many dancers on the stage, there was now only one. She wore clothes he had never seen, and moved in ways that were unprecedented. The Seawolf was fascinated. This was something new, strange, and enticing. Erak never once tore his eyes away, occasionally bringing the ale to his lips.

Unlike the other patrons, Erak never once vocalized, he simply watched with an unwavering curiosity. As the belly dancer ended her routine, and the barwenches started making rounds of the tables, taking drink orders. When one came to his table, a dark ale already in hand, Erak allowed the corner of his mouth to quirk in a smile. "Thank you. Who was that?" he asked, nodding towards the stage.

"You must be new here" she replied in a somewhat bubbly manner, "That was Utani, she owns the place." Nodding appreciatively, he turned his attention back towards the stage as the next act came out. Lagestonia didn't have shows like this, so Erak sat quiet, attentive, and curious. Drinking in the experience with his eyes and ears.

Cheesigator

Utani ended her dance in perfection, gracefully bowing until she was bent in half at her hips, flashing a grin as she stood up fully and exited the stage. She poked around in the back for a bit before she continued her rounds of normalcy, stepping out into the crowds of patrons, even bringing drinks to a few tables.

When she smiled she melted hearts, and when she batted her long lashes men often found their pants a little bit tighter. Her winks were playful, as was the swaying of her hips as she walked away.

As drink orders were caught up, Utani leaned over on the bar, emphasizing her figure with the curves of her back and the beads that twinkled on her skirt bringing any particular person's gaze right to her ass.

"So Charmeine, how are we doing tonight?" She cooed, and the other tan-skinned girl with bright scarlet hair quickly hurried over to her, setting down the glass she'd been cleaning as she leaned in and waved for Utani to lean in too, which she did, with eyebrows raised in amusement.

"See that guy, the big one, I mean the REALLY big one, over there against the wall?!" Charmeine hissed, pointing over Utani's shoulder. The fae woman cast a glance back in that general direction, and saw him--he was rather hard to miss, and he was seemingly entranced with the stage.

"Yes?"
"He dropped a gold mark. A gold mark."

That got Utani's attention, and she looked back at him again real quick before looking back at Charmeine, who was now holding up the currency in her hands.

"Shh shshshshsh! Put it away put it away!" Utani instantly scolded, cupping her hands over the other girl's to hide it from any prying eyes.

"We never get big shots with that much money in here, and my god Utani look at him he must be a half-giant! Where could he get this kind of money?!"

The fae shook her head. "Put it under the counter on the floor, under the loose board do you hear me? I don't care who he is--he just earned himself the best service in the house for all I care. Give him all the ale he wants."

Charmeine hesitated, casting a worried glance in Erak's direction, but after an eyebrow raise from her boss, she quickly nodded and did as she was told. Her concern wasn't misplaced; she had a feeling he could be a dangerous man if he wanted to, and she just hoped he wouldn't trash himself on ale so all the girls would be finding out.

As Utani wove her way through the crowds, she would occasionally glance in Erak's general direction, discretely so he wouldn't notice, that was if he ever took his eyes off the stage. After she had taken care of her other patrons though, she approached him from the side, resting a hand on her hip as she tilted her head, looking at him curiously.

"Enjoying the show, big guy?" She asked, raising an eyebrow, eyes glowing a little in the lack of light, a slight smirk on her face as she took in the sight of him. Yeah, big guy was a bit of an understatement.

Zane

Through all the shows, Erak was rivited, He saw more dancers, singers with voices that could melt permafrost, and other acts that he couldn't place. Someone came out in spoke common with a jovial tone, using unique cadence and rhythm to.. tell jokes? The foreigner didn't quite catch all the words, or understand the context of a lot of the word play, so he was quiet while all the others laughed.

But still, he was fascinated. The only time he managed to peal is eyes away were during the service breaks. He did notice that while other tables were having his drink orders taken, someone was always bringing him a new ale. It gave him a bit of a wistful smile and a flash of home. Life in Lagestonia was one of camaraderie. Usually. Feast halls would serve the sea wolves without question. The gold and goods that came back from raids was used to trade for livestock and other much needed supplies to live on the frigid island that was the home of the lagestonians. Captains accumulated gold as a sport. Highly competitive sport. But sport non-the less.

Every new mug of ale was greeted with a nod of gratitude, and a deep- satisfied gulp. The Ale was fantastic, perhaps the best dark ale he's had since coming to Serendipity. He leaned back against the wall and cast his eyes back to the stage as the next show was starting. He didn't even look away when, a little more than halfway through the show, a voice demanded his attention. He was reluctant to give it- immediately at least. Three woman danced together now to the beat of drums, not unlike the belly dancer from before, but nowhere near her skill.

His lips pursed at he thought of the right words, remembering that common was far more implicit than his native tongue. "Yes. Shows are fascinating. Each girls have a... eroticism to them." His voice turned upwards, questioning his own word choice as opposed to turning the whole statement into a question. "That is word, yes? When one displays sexual allure?"

As the three girls sauntered off the stage, he turned to look at the speaker, both of his eyebrows rising in surprise. That was the belly dancer talking to him. His head gave a slow nod of a bow, "You must be Ms Utani."

Cheesigator

Utani waited patiently for him to look at her; in the meantime, he fumbled a response, clearly their common tongue was not his native, which was fine. She was in no rush--she owned the place, after all.

She let her own gaze slide to the stage, watching her three girls perform their act quite well, much to the applause and hollering of their customers. "Right," She said in response to his question about his wording.

She took her time meeting his gaze with her own lime greens, watching her girls disappear backstage before she looked at him again; her green eyes were piercing and almost entrancing to a degree; fae had a way about them that made them dangerous even when they weren't trying to be. Stare too long into her eyes and you might just get lost in them, perhaps even permanently, they were so enchanting, as was everything about her. Her posture, her physique, the colors in her hair; she had done quite well to make herself a mystifying and mysterious woman. It was a part of her charm as much as it was ingrained into her by nature itself.

"And right you are again." She gave him a coy smile.

"It's not very often we get customers such as yourself in here; half-giant, perhaps?" Something mischievous twinkled in her eyes, her tone of voice flirtacious as she shifted her weight on her hips, putting emphasis on her curves in all the right places. "Or might I even go so far as to venture a guess and say that you're a sea wolf?"

She had heard of them in her days as a pirate; heard the stories of a faraway land where people were descended from giants and almost as big as them too, but she'd never met one--not up close, anyways. She'd never had a reason to in her own ventures, as she didn't have a need to go along their rumored trading routes, and she figured she'd done her crew a favor by keeping her head low when it came to them. As it stood, she might've been the only person in this establishment to speak of who could stand toe-to-toe with him when it came to power.

Utani had every intention of serving him as necessary to make sure he was a well-pleased customer, (only to a certain point, of course) however she also had a duty to the girls who worked for her, who she would protect fiercely and to the death if need be. What a horrible boss she'd have been if she didn't come check out possible dangers to her beloved entertainers, to put her foot down and make sure they were safe?

Zane

The sea wolf looked over the woman once. It was not a lustful once-over, but a curious examination. Despite living on land for almost a year at this point, he still found it fascinating that women showed off so much of themselves. But in entirely opposite ways than the women he was used to seeing. He'd long since gotten used to seeing exposed legs here and there, but it still fascinated him. Eyes back to matching hers, he answered her, "Perhaps two years ago, yes. Now? Shleona." His's eyes closed for a moment think of the right word in common. "Forced retired."

He finished off his mug of ale and looked back to the woman. There was something about her that didn't make sense. She put of the energy of a Sängerin. Creatures from the Angry Sea that could darken the skies, churn the sea, and enchant even the most steady of Wolves off the side of the prow. Rumors say that the most powerful Sängerin could call fell creatures from the deep to drag entire ships beneath the dark surface. He knew not of a word in common equivalent to the meaning of Sängerin, but literally, the word meant, Sea Singer.

Still, this woman did know have the unmistakable rich blue of a Sea Singer, nor did she have scales instead of skin. Nor did she even smell of the ocean. No. This was just another oddity of life on land. Erak closed his eyes and bowed his head in a slow- honorable even -greeting. "Hello Ms Utani. I am called Erak Ragnak."

Cheesigator

Forced retired? Utani's eyebrows furrowed, only slightly, as she wondered what exactly that meant. It was incredibly vague, as it was probably meant to be for now, and could mean many different things. Clearly it was a decent retirement, considering the coinage he'd dropped on their establishment like it'd been nothing.

She gave him a warm smile as he nodded to her, and she bowed her head slightly back, bending gracefully at the knees in a slight curtsy. "Erak? A pleasure to meet you tonight."

When she put on her charms it was sometimes hard to notice; it was subtle in the way her lips curved so sweetly, the way her eyes seemed so warm despite their unusual colors, almost as if her soul was a warm fireplace, inviting one in deeper. She was good at making first impressions, and even better at getting everyone to like her.

"I used to sail a ship myself, some time ago." She mused as they started setting up for the next act on stage--only a few more hours left and then her establishment would shut down for the early morning. "I've heard many stories of sea wolves, perhaps it might be fun to get together sometime so you can tell me how many of them are true."

Though she was curious and wanted to sit down with him and talk some more, he also seemed quite intent on the show, and heavens forbid she made him miss out on any of it because of her own selfishness. So it was here that she nodded to his empty mug, a smirk playing on her lips, amusement dancing in her eyes.

"I take it our ale is to your liking. Let me know if there is anything else you might need, and I'll see that my girls tend to you properly." If there wasn't anything he could think of, then she'd saunter back off into the rest of the crowds and clusters of people around tables to mingle and check on her girls until the night was over.

Zane

One of the giant's large eyebrows raised when she mentioned that she too was once a sailor, the other quickly joined it when she mention that she had much knowledge of stories about sea wolves. This reception was odd for those who'd only heard stories. Trepidation, uncovered fear, even anger and outrage he would understand. But she was... Well, Erak didn't know what she was doing by coming and talking to him. He's been being quiet, not trying to attract attention. And she was keeping a modest distance away, so she wasn't making an advance. Between this and the presence she seemed to give off, this Ms. Utani was an odd one.

Then- when his like of the ale was brought up, his face brightened- an animated smile cracking his up to this point restrained demeanor, "Lhinsatva! Vorelan tua tetam, leviriet Sheyem." Then, realizing that he was talking in his mother tongue, stopped, cleared his throat, then calmly replied, "Yes, it is quite good. Thank you." And like that, The mysterious woman was gone.

And so the sea wolf's eyes drifted back to the stage, where another show was about to state. Hands grasping the pint glass that suddenly seemed to appear in the dim light. And that's how the night continued. Erak would finish off the pint during the show, then watch the rest of the patrons during the intermissions. He didn't realize he was getting tired until the first time he picked his head up from the crook of his arm. He must have fallen asleep early in the show, as he hand was still wrapped around a mostly full mug of ale. "Kraem." He muttered to himself before tilting the pint into his mouth and draining it. He set the mug on the table upside down. He was done.

Turning his eyes towards the ongoing show, he didn't remember falling asleep, one knee propped up, arm resting on his knee, his face tucked into the crook of his arm.

Cheesigator

And so the night wore on until the early hours of the morning; girls kept bringing the giant man pints and he downed them happily. The girls always reported to Utani that he was polite and cordial; no advances were made, and he always thanked them with a kind smile. A lot of them weren't quite sure what to make of it, but by the end of the night Utani had a feeling she knew when Charmeine came up to her after the stage had closed its curtains for the night and the girls were escorting customers to the doors.

"Utani, the giant guy, he uh... He's out cold. I don't think any of us could move him." She said a bit nervously, scratching at the back of her neck as she cast a long glance out in the general direction of where the public floor lie beyond the backstage.

The fae woman arched an eyebrow and stepped out into the club proper to take a look for herself, seeing that Charmeine was indeed right. He'd fallen asleep where he was leaned against the wall, and she had to admit the sight was almost rather adorable to see.

The last customer was ushered outside and the girls closed the doors, everyone now crowding around to peer curiously at the man--word had quickly spread throughout them during the night, and now that they all had a chance to take a look and see if it was true, they took it. They huddled up in a group behind Utani, almost as if they somehow thought they'd be invisible so long as they stayed behind her if the man woke up.

"What should we do?" Charmeine asked, stepping to the front and giving Utani a worried glance, to which her boss just smiled at her.

"You girls head on upstairs, get your rest. I'll take care of him--we'll let him stay the night, and I will keep an eye on him." She said, making some of the girls gasp a little and murmur among themselves before Utani waved them off with a hand and a gentle "Shoo, shoo."

Obediently they all filed back behind stage and took the stairs to the upper level to their personal rooms, and once she was alone with the giant man Utani stepped over to him, waving a hand in front of his face to find he was indeed, out cold. She chuckled a little, pausing a moment as she felt an urge to touch him; she reached out and lightly rested a warm hand on his back, giving him a soothing pet as she smiled to herself. Gentle giant, what a good way to describe him, it seemed. She didn't get the slightest inclination he meant ill will toward them, and for her that was good enough.

She disappeared upstairs for a few minutes before she came back with a thick blanket, knowing that sometimes without the bodies filling the space, her house could get a little cold on the lower level. She draped it around him and gave him a spare pillow, leaving it by his arm in case he stirred in the night and grabbed it. With that she went back upstairs to her own room and went to sleep.

Utani woke early in the morning as the first rays of sunlight started streaming through her window; she wanted to sleep in, she usually slept until the early or mid afternoon considering her life was mostly nocturnal, but she remembered their guest downstairs and decided to go down and check on him, finding him right where she left him as she came over and placed a gentle hand on his shoulder, giving it a soft squeeze.

"Sir Ragnak, it's early morning now. I hope there isn't anywhere you're supposed to be." She said softly as she attempted to wake him.

Zane

Erak's Dreams had been of remembrance. A recollection of mutiny, of his plan to survive the mutiny, of watching his ship sail away from the Serendipity Coastline. Of watching her explode on the water. The one thing he'd always demanded of his crew was loyalty, and for their crime of betrayal- he sentenced forty nine Sea Wolves to die. As was his right as a raiding captain. In the landscape of his mind- he stood- watching the Dhevali burn- sinking below the waves, when he felt a hand on his shoulder.

His head popped up, out of his arm as he started the blink the sleep from his mind before letting out a powerful yawn that shook his shoulders. Damn sleep spirited always had to choose the most disruptive way to leave. His stormcloud blue eyes looked over to find Utani. Realizing that he must have passed out. "You're ale is very good, very strong. Better than most in these Seren lands." he reached into the small sack that hung by a strap on his shoulder- positioned in a way that it was under his arm and concealed by his vest. As most of his forearm disappeared into the much too small sack- it was visibly apparent to be charmed somehow. As his hand pulled free- he let his hand rest on the table, opening it and pulling away to leave a stack of solid gold marks- perhaps ten or twelve in the stack. "Thank you for allowing me to impose on your hospitality. It won't happen again."

Erak sat up- becoming aware of the blanket for the first time as he folded his legs to sit cross legged, "I would like to come back- if I can" he gestured towards the now empty stage, "is fascinating. And I will always be nearby. I am now owning the Forest outside town." He pulled the deed out of his vest next- laying it on the table for her to inspect if she liked. He knew he'd probably have to have the deed handy for a while.

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