Glass Houses

[Ilesha]

(( from here ))

Ilesha found that the House of Burlesque was far more imposing than walking into her mother's office when she was in lawyer mode. The allure of such a place was not lost on Ilesha - but it catered to a very different kind of person than Ilesha was used to. It was mostly men. It made her wonder who Claire had intended her to meet. She'd left the other woman as she'd been stopped by someone just inside the door.

The bar looked relatively innocent - a normal bar - in a normal club, Ilesha thought to her self. She ignored the way the women danced on the stage. It wasn't a strip so so to speak, but even a glance would make her blush. So she did what came naturally to her she averted her gaze and sat down at the bar.

She was not sure what to do, where to go, or even where to look. She could only hope that Claire would return soon and make this all that easier on Ilesha. But she didn't have her hopes up. Maybe she'd learn something here maybe not. But it would be a story she could tell when she went home.

[Raffe]

The evening drifted by. Raffe stayed on the peripheral of Oriena and Carmen's drama, amused but content to stay out of it. By the time the dancers were in full swing the bar grew less crowded, and he idled between cleaning glasses and watching the show. At least until his gaze caught on a lone woman perched on one of the stools. Scarlet fabric hugged her curves, dark hair kissing her shoulders in waves, and Raffe's eyes danced an appraisal that sparked a grin to his lips as he straightened from the bar and headed to her spot.

She looked profoundly uncomfortable, and was perhaps the only one in the whole club -- aside from Carmen and the man she was ensconced in a booth with -- who wasn't paying any attention to the entertainment. Women did frequent Kallisti -- and some of the dancers were male -- but it was rare to find one alone, let alone giving off every signal of discomfort.

"Hey."
He offered a boyish grin, eyes twinkling to the stage behind her head and back to her face. "You're waiting for someone or you're very lost. Can I get you a drink?"

[Ilesha]

The bartender approached and Ilesha returned the smile however uncomfortable she was she knew a smile was appropriate. "I would love a drink. I'll have whatever you recommend. Nothing too strong though."
He almost looked out of place here. Except he knew his way around the bar and Ilesha was sure that made much more sense than him up on stage. The thought made Ilesha look away and caught a glimpse of the stage. She sighed and then turned back. She was certain she was the color of her dress.

"I'm waiting on Claire. She said she was going to introduce me to a few of her like minded friends. But she was commandeered the moment she walked in."
Ilesha wasn't sure how much people knew about Claire - her coven or even magic. This was all so very surreal. "I was hoping to learn a few things."
As soon as the words were out of her mouth she regretting saying them. "That sounds so wrong considering our location."

[Manix]

((OCC: Marine guards are posted incognito within the club. Carmen aka Ori has full permission to mode them as she see's fit.))

[Raffe]

The discomfort was endearing; she didn't seem to know where to settle her gaze, and an accidental glimpse of the stage pulled a sigh from her lungs. He couldn't be sure in these lights, but he'd bet she was blushing. Raffe grinned, happy enough to provide a distraction. He splayed his arms on the bar, drumming his fingers. "Let's see. Something classic then? Not Sex on the Beach. Cute as the blushing is."


The tease was innocent, his grin bright as he set to the task. Bottles spun in his grasp with the elegance of old friends, though it wasn't so much showmanship as the confident ease of a task completed a hundred times. His attention split between preparing the drink and maintaining the conversation. ""Like-minded friends"?"
He considered it for a moment. "That could be anyone here, so I guess you're stuck waiting. Not that I'm complaining."


He was silent a moment as he poured the liquid from shaker to glass and set a garnish at its lip. He twisted the long stem, and pushed it out to her, chuckling at the stuttering way she retracted her words. "Don't worry - no one here bites. Not even if you ask them to."

[Ilesha]

He was making fun of her in that cute I mean no harm kinda way. It felt odd. It wasn't the first time that a 'boy' had talked to her. She got on well with the guys in the shop. They talked shop. This was different - she was different. She was all gussied up like some fancy girl. She was so out of her element.

Ilesha decided it was time to stop acting the foolish girl. She smiled back at the bartender and tried not to blush at his innuendos. But she knew she failed. "I don't think it's just anyone here. She mentioned other girls like us."


Ilesha smiled knowingly, but she wasn't about to lay her cards on the table. She didn't even know if anyone here really knew Claire's secret.

Ilesha took the drink and sipped it carefully. "So what's the name of this one?"

[Raffe]

Girls like them? He knew Claire pretty well by now; she must have been taking shifts here at least six months, maybe longer. One of Oriena's acquisitions. But it didn't mean he knew why she'd bring this one here, so it was the curve of her knowing smile he reacted to rather than the mystery of her presence. Was she teasing him? "I know she's wiccan. Though I don't know of anyone else here who is. Are you really going to make me guess?"
He laughed.

His gaze adjusted for a moment to watch Carmen finish up in the booth and her man-friend leave, open with his curiosity. The flat of her stare warded him off offering a conspiratorial wink, and he was otherwise occupied anyway. He leaned in, tapping the bottom of the glass when the girl-in-red placed it back in the bar. "This one is called a Cosmo. And I'm called Raffe."

[Oriena]

When blood fanned in water it attracted sharks. Since she'd begun seeking others like her, Oriena had spent time honing the ability - stretching her senses to detect even the lightest flutters of recognition. And it drew her as sure as those sharks.

After Carmen had walked out, she lingered in the dressing room, flicking through the racks of clothes and costume. Something dangerously close to duty tethered her to the club tonight, and if she was stuck here until closing she chose to blend in. But adrenaline still throbbed in her veins, her gaze glittering with the memory of fire. She needed an outlet, and since Jaxen had unceremoniously ditched her, a new game to play.

She freed herself of the ponytail, locks a straight dagger of black over one shoulder, and picked something with the arbitrary interest she'd exacted over Jaxen's choices. Soon blue lace hugged her throat, worked with the dark wink of obsidian beads. The dress followed her curves all the way to her knees, shoulders bare, revealing porcelain flesh in a V to the base of her spine.

She was applying make-up in the soft lighted mirror when Carmen returned.

"Security is sorted, for the moment. I also have this."


Ori plucked the card long enough to read the name, then handed it back with a smirk. Through her tangled webs of knowledge, she knew something about that company. The irony amused her. "You work fast. And you know you don't need permission. Spend what you need to. Hire the best."
She tipped her shoulder into a shrug, watching Carmen's still expression in the mirror. It was for the other woman's benefit Oriena even made the suggestion, though perhaps a deep possessiveness over what was hers also fired her motivations. And a fervent whisper in the darkest of her thoughts. A voice that insisted war.

"You're staying, then? Until closing?"


"I said we'd talk later, didn't I?"
Her expression brightened. "Besides. Tonight, I am the security."


The rolling beat of the music shuddered through her chest when she reentered the club. Oriena's maelstrom gaze took lingering inventory over the faces gathered tonight, but it was to the bar she meandered. Her gaze rested on the back of the girl in the red dress, a smile curling her lips at the baby bird come wandering into a den of wolves.

"You're missing the show, sweetheart."
Husky amusement laced the words as she approached. Her gaze cast slyly to Rafael's beautiful face. "Or maybe not."
She waited until the girl met her eyes before a ripple of power lit her from within, unfurling a second greeting if the other was able to sense it. A playful smirk writ her sultry features.

"This is Oriena,"
Rafael supplied. He tilted his gaze towards her. "Play nicely. I just told her we don't bite."

[Claire]

So Claire had made promises and at the first whiff of distraction left them in the dust. She did feel bad for making Ilesha wait, but freaking drama had a way of yanking her into a trap, one she didn't realize closed around her neck until it was too late.

This one involved a boy. Tony didn't know him. Neither did Raffe, but she was sure either friend would disapprove of her choices. He had been waiting for Claire when she arrived, but as boyfriends - though he would be so honored to consider himself anything more than a one night stand - weren't allowed in the club, Claire had to deal with him in the alley. Finally, it took one of the bouncers to escort him away, but not before Claire shot him a daring gaze that he so much as try to touch her without permission. His thread could easily snap in twain.

"Sorry sorry sorry," she texted Ilesha, including a little winking pair of red smoochy lips in the message. "Give me five minutes and I'll be there. Hope Raffe is keeping you company,"

Thanking the bouncer, she found herself in the same stage room Oriena just vacated. Claire needed to work tonight. She'd wasted too much money on asshole dates and could use the cash to replenish her bank account. That meant looking fabulous. Or at least more fab than usual.

Blue and purple eyeshadow rimmed her eyes, sparkling liner and velvety mascara edged her gaze. Her hair was pieced spikey and sleek. A black sequin dress cut to the top of her thighs, and unlike Oriena's, trailed long sleeves that pointed at the wrist.

A crystal talisman necklace dangled between her breasts along with a feather charm. Plum stilettos raised her height high, or higher, anyway, when she entered the club floor.

Of course she didn't have the complete luxury of waltzing straight to friends for socializing. She made her way across the club slowly, allowing herself to be drawn into the circles of clients along the way. When she finally peeled herself away, she strolled up to Oriena, admiring the svelte lines of her back, and tickled the skin with her fingertips when she came within arm's reach, a hungry smile lighting the depths of her eyes.




(Ooc: sorry!)

[Ilesha]

Ilesha grinned at Raffe. "Wiccan would be a close term. Though I don't consider myself that. Never truly thought about it."
He introduced himself and Ilesha blushed at her ill-manners. "Ilesha."
She offered him her hand with a smile but things changed quickly from there.

Claire sent a text and Ilesha answered quickly, "He is."

A woman told her she was missing the show. Ilesha was about to say she was waiting for someone when a slight glow radiated about the woman. It was odd. She was certain she'd seen it around Claire as well. There was a particular pull towards her and Ilesha had to fight the desire to reach out and touch her own gift as she'd started a soft hum under her breathe before she cut it off.

Claire strolled up in an ensemble that definitely belonged in this place. Ilseha sighed a breath of relief if only for a moment there was a familiar face in the multitude of things going on. She smiled finally saying what she had meant to earlier. "I was waiting for Claire. She was going to introduce me to friends."
Ilesha felt even more out of place than she had moments before. It felt like all eyes were on her, she almost wanted to run away but the thought of learning something kept her firmly planted on the bar stool.