The Burlesque Lounge

[Vail_Indigo]

slipping away from work for a taste of illicit desire...silk blouse, grey skirt slit just a tiny bit too high on the thigh, white nylons with a subtle fishnet pattern, strappy heels and pink nails...barely old enough to buy a drink, not old enough to know better

 

[xOxCherryxOx]

I can't help but see her. Her soft thigh seems to be calling to me, peeking so eloquently from the high slit of her skirt. I feel her watching me and if I were honest to myself, I'd have to admit I swayed more sensually, thrust my hips a little more dirty and kept turning my head to see if I could catch her eye. She was young, gorgeous and luscious, mmmm what I would do to spend a little time with her. Taking a chance at the end of my routine I tossed my hat her way, so that when I left the stage I'd have to go get it.

 

[zydrate]

From backstage, Felony watched Crystal do her 'stuff' on stage. Felony would cast a few looks out toward the crowd and she saw how Crystal seemed to capture their attention.

She wanted that. She wanted to garnish that sort of attention, hold the audience's gaze and make them really look at her.

She was humming along with Crystal's song, Felony knew every song out there that the girls played and danced to. It wasn't hard not to know it since all the girls heard them all the time.

 

[Vail_Indigo]

I didn't know why I was here, just that I'd needed to be here, and the girl dancing, dancing like it was all for me, was just adding to the confusion. All I'd wanted was a drink or two during my break. I could have gone to any bar but I came here.
And now I had her hat, and my heart racing, her scent tickling my nose. I didn't even realize that I'd brought it up to my face, had buried myself in it, just aching for the smell of her shampoo.

Girls don't go to strip clubs.
I shouldn't be here.
I'll die if I leave

 

[xOxCherryxOx]

Exiting the stage right, Crystal turned and was headed towards the bar area instead of backstage but caught Felony's eyes on her and instead went towards her and stopped in front of her, giving her a soft hug. "One of these days maybe we can do a number together Felony. I've watched you and you are amazing. I think we could heat things up out there if we wanted to." Smiling and giving her a wink "I'm going to go get my hat. I ahhh, sort of tossed it to that innocent looking girl that has legs to die for up front."

Turning and walking away, eyes searching for her. Finding her easily, heart slamming hard in my chest when I seen her nose buried in my hat. Self conciously threading my fingers through my hair and pulling my shoulder's back. I can do this.. really.. I can.

"Hi, I'm Crystal. I uhh.. think you caught my hat for me." God that was a lame line. What the hell was wrong with me? My fingers twitched, aching to twine in her hair, it looked so silky and smooth. "Mind if I sit with you a bit? I have a little while before my next set."

 

[Vail_Indigo]

As magical as she'd been on stage, Crystal was twice as beautiful up close and real. I wanted to look like that someday. She wasn't so much sexy, though she was, it was more a sensuality, a decadence. I'd never been good at anything like that. I tended to approach things with all the subtlety of a hammer. Even what I was wearing today, I'd wanted to look more mature at work, but it ended up looking like a 15 year old trying to be adult and sexy. Not a good look.
All of that was going through my head before I realized she was talking to me and my mouth was just sitting there, wide open.
"Oh...uh...yes, yes feel free. You are an incredible dancer! I'm Jen...or Jennifer...or Jenny...or..." I clamped my mouth shut right there before I started trying to make up new variations, like 'nifer' or 'enni'.

 

[xOxCherryxOx]

Grinning, I sat down next to her, not across the table like most do when they join someone at a table. I just didn't want to be that far. I even scooted my chair, just a bit more and crossed my legs, my foot dangling close to her leg, a lift of my toe and a soft brush of the tip of my shoe over her calf muscle. She seemed so innocent. Like a girl playing dress up in momma's clothing, it was endearing and sweet. It was sexy as hell.

"Hi Jen..Jennifer..Jenny." Laughing and reaching my hand out to take her's and lifted it to my mouth and brushed a very light kiss on her knuckles. It happened so fast I couldn't even stop myself and honestly, I didn't want too. "Thank you for the compliment doll. With legs like your's I bet you dance like a dream yourself. Can I buy you a drink Jen?" Waving over the waitress and ordering a martini, looking at you with a smile as you order your's.

 

[Vail_Indigo]

I'm not sure if I whimpered when she kissed my hand, but I might have. I know I didn't let go of her fingers. And the touch of her shoe along my leg, I didn't understand how to handle the situation. I was pretty sure she was flirting with me, but I'm bad at telling.
And I wondered how those same lips would feel on mine.
I tried to push the thought aside. I'm not gay, or bi, and I've barely even slept with guys. But here I was, in a burlesque club, with a gorgeous woman giving me all her attention.
I was in way over my head already, and I was still holding her hand.
I let the waitress know I'd have what Crystal was having.

"Thank you...but I don't really dance...I never really learned how, and all the other girls just seemed to know. When we go clubbing, I just look like a spaz," I giggled

 

[xOxCherryxOx]

God she was so innocent it was intoxicating. It was the way she kept ahold of my fingers and the cute little giggles she had. Her subtle looks at me had my skin flushing and desperately wanted to touch more. Feel more of her. Finger's reached up and slid through her hair, tucking a errant piece behind her ear, a little trail of finger's down her neck and sliding over the chain that hung around the slim column of her neck.

Exquisite.
I couldn't stop touching her. Worried I may be reading signals wrong. Hoping I wasn't. It had been so long since I'd seen a girl that tugged at me inside. It was heavenly. Wicked. I had to have her.

"You know, maybe we could go dancing together some time. I bet I could teach you a few moves and you would pick up on them in no time."

 

[Vail_Indigo]

I almost died at her touch, and was instantly nuzzling against her fingers, my eyelids fluttering shut for a moment. This isn't me. I don't go to these places. I don't flirt with women. I don't blush when they touch me.
I was dizzy, it was happening so fast.
My leg shifted, my knee touching hers.
My eyes went wide when she suggested going dancing, and I nodded quickly.
"Yes, yes please. I'd like that"
no boy had ever twisted me around their finger like this. No boy had ever made me go weak like this.
I was having my first crush all over again, time ten.
Was I gay?
Was that why I was here?
More importantly...does she like me Jen, Jenny, Jennifer?
"I'd love to dance with you, Crystal. Will you...will you call me Jenny?"
I don't know why that mattered, but it made me feel...small.

 

[xOxCherryxOx]

It was a slight move, but it was there and it drove me wild. That little nuzzle, so gentle, moved me. The glimpse of her eyes closing as if she were just soaking it up. I had to shift, subtly rubbing my thighs together.
The ache that had set in was crazy.
We'd only just met.
Her knee touched mine, fuck fuck fuck.
How did that little move make me wet?
There had been men, gorgeous adonis type men that fell at her feet and sent her flowers, gave her jewelry.
Never had they made her instantly wet with such an innocent touch as Jen did...Jenny.
"Of course I'll call you Jenny. Or Princess."
Ok that slipped out. Somehow my filter was gone and what I thought just seemed to fall off my lips with her. Dangerous.
"If you wanted to Jenny.. well.. you could always meet me after work. Maybe have a drink at my flat. Dance a little. Talk. Or, something."

 

[Vail_Indigo]

"I...would you...would you teach me how to dress well? I mean, I know that sounds stupid, but I don't know how to look as beautiful as you do. I know thats just a costume for stage and all, but i just feel silly all the time, outside of anything but t-shirt and jeans. And I want to be sexy," I stopped myself before saying 'for you'
"No, no, I'm sorry, that was a stupid thing to ask," I stammered out as I felt myself blushing.
But I wanted to be so beautiful for her, just to hear her call me Jenny again...or princess. Or anything.
I was so weak for her, so wanting to make her smile, to make her want to be around me, to...like me.
I was deep in crush.
I'd never felt this much towards anyone.

 

[xOxCherryxOx]

"I would love to Jenny! I love giving makeover's!" Grinning and lighting up with the idea's that were flowing she took both of Jenny's hands in hers.

"I think we'll have so much fun and it's not stupid at all. We can play dress up and get all dolled up and dance. We can sip some wine and just have a girl night. It can even be a sleep over like highschool."

The smile that was on my face had to be rediculously huge. I probably looked like a fool but I was genuinely excited. It was all because of her.
Jenny.

"I've got a closet full of pretties we can play around with. You'll look like a Burlesque dancer when we are through. Now I can't wait to get off work." Laughing I grabbed a napkin off the table and wrote my address on it along with my phone number. "I get off in about two hours. Just come by when you're ready ok Jenny?"

 

[Vail_Indigo]

I swear to god I did not grab her address, squeal like a 12 year old, and skip out of the room. I swear to god I didn't.
OK, maybe I did.
Then maybe I also counted down the minutes until work was over.
Then maybe I drove around for an hour trying to decide what I was doing.
Then maybe I sat in front of her house for 30 minutes trying to get up the courage.
Then maybe I decided that my life wasn't going to be worth living if I didn't do it.
Then maybe I didn't spend another 5 minutes feeling awkward and gawkey and unpretty and unsexy at her door.
Then maybe I knocked because I remembered how beautiful she made me feel, how girlie when she called me Jenny.

 

[xOxCherryxOx]

The knock made her jump from her seat and take off running towards the door very nearly throwing it open and pouncing.
Instead she stopped. Breathed. Did a little shimmy dance.
Pulling open the door and seeing her there, that she really showed up, Crystal couldn't help but clap her hands together and in a teenage whoop "Oh my gawd! Girl night!" Proceeding to take Jenny's hand and practically pull her inside, shutting the door and flicking the lock before wrapping the pretty up in a tight hug.
"I'm so glad you came. You're here. I worried I may have.. come on to strong.. when I sat here waiting so long. Ugh, I'm such a nerd! Want some wine or something?"
God I'm rambling like an idiot.
She's going to run for the hills thinking I'm crazy.
I hope she doesn't.
I want her here so bad.

 

[Vail_Indigo]

she smells so damn good. And she's so soft, and her hair, my fingers in her hair, and I'm holding the hug too long and it hurts to step away.
"Yes, yes wine would be good," I say, following her around like a puppy.
"Its been forever sicne I had a girls night. I don't really know anyone around here, you may be my first friend."
I sneak a quick moment to compose myself, almost unable to stay perched on my heels. I almost gulp the entire glass of wine down at once, and help myself to another.
"Its going to be like Queer Eye For The Straight Guy," I laugh, "I guess I just missed this part of growing up, you know?"

 

[xOxCherryxOx]

Keeping her hand in mine, unwilling to let it go, I lead us to the kitchen where I have a bottle of wine chilling and two glasses out already. A small platter of strawberries to the side, I hoped it didn't look to cliche'.
"I know what you mean about that. I haven't lived here long either. I'm actually from a small town in Idaho and most of the girls at the lounge sort of keep to themselves or have their own little clique's. You may be my first real friend here too."
Her hand looks so dainty holding that glass of wine.
Pretty pink nails. I wondered how they would feel raking down my thigh or my back.
Then I heard her reference to Queer Eye and laughed. "I had a couple of friends growing up that I had some sleep overs with. I didn't look forward to any of them as much as I did having you here tonight though."
Lowering my eyes a moment, feeling a hot blush on my cheeks.
"Umm.. We can take our wine to my room.. err.. my closet and I'll show you some pretties I picked out so far."

 

[Vail_Indigo]

I had to giggle
"Small town girl becomes burlesque dancer? Its like a movie of the week!"
I followed her to 'the pretties'
"I trust you to treat me like your favorite Barbie doll...but with smaller boobs," I blushed as I sipped my wine, "I'm guessing your job makes you really need to keep a huge closet of stuff. Mine is all office clothes, except for things like this when I fail miserably at being a girl."

 

[zydrate]

Early morning routine

The lights were low. The crowd gone home for the night...or perhaps for the morning. Felony was alone in the back as she was putting away clothes from tonight's show. The girls were great, the crowd was big, as always and that all made her smile.

Being a backup dancer and singer, not to mention a fill-in once in a while, was great. It was a start and so she considered herself very lucky to have gotten a job here.

Felony was in her zone, the music was blaring on her iPod and she was quietly singing along with the music as she continued with putting things away. She didn't mind helping out sometimes, it wasn't like she had much to go home to...just a one bedroom apartment and a cat.

As she was finishing up, she caught a side glance at the stage. She smiled. And as if on cue, the music changed on her mp3 player. Walked up to the stage, she adjusted her player and set it up on the portal speakers on the stage. Since no one was around, she was going to do a little practicing of her own by performing this... Besides, she was the only one here at the moment...she was still hyped up from tonight's show anyway.

 

[fr33ks33k]

Malcolm the Bluesman

They said he was too young to know a damned thing about the Blues. They told him that he was too green to know a damned thing about guitar. He just laughed and picked up the old six-string and started tuning it.

"I know all I need to know about the Blues right here." he placed a hand over his chest, right above his heart.

He'd known loss and love, even at his age. He'd seen things no person should have to and things no person should want to. But he had; he'd learned to shut out everything but the rhythm, how to let it flow through his soul, his mind; how to let it out through his body.

"And all I need to know about guitars, I've taught myself. There ain't a damned thing you could show me that'd be worth learning." he strummed the strings and it was perfect, every note ringing clear in a chord like a diamond. Loud enough to be heard even without the fancy electric pickups and amplifiers. That was the true power of the Blues.

-------------

Malcolm set up his stool and adjusted the microphone to the proper level. Looking up and around he saw there was just the one girl in this early. Or was it late? He'd stopped keeping track of time in this place. He'd only agreed to play here because of the acoustics of the place; they were perfect for his kind of music, despite the oppressive music pumping from the speakers. When there was a lull, his guitar was the only thing echoing off the walls. And when he played, he commanded the attention of all those in earshot. The sleazy customers, the girls working the stages and the tables, even the bouncers tapped their toes to his song.

He played a short lick, fingers flowing over the frets with increased vigor. It was just sound check time. He'd have plenty of time between now and his actual show to recheck and readjust, but he enjoyed the sounds of his playing reverberating around the room, the glitz and gaudiness of the club dimmed for the moment.

-----------------

Much later, Malcolm's spotlight had come up, hot and harsh in the darkness of the rest of the club. He pulled a pick from his pocket and strummed a chord, tuning his low E string just a bit. His eyes scanned the crowd. The usual bunch of men looking to score or get as close to a piece of tail as they could outside of their menial lives. He felt kind of sorry for them, but then again they knew what they wanted, didn't they?

Without warning, his fingers flew down the neck, tapping frets at what seemed like random. The song he played wasn't a song it was a soul. This soul was tortured, trapped between life and death. The notes had a melancholy overtone as he struck each one, but there were hopeful innuendos in the harmonies. His eyes were downcast, staring at his guitar, at the floor, anywhere but up at those who listened to his music. If he happened to lock eyes with them, he was sure they'd see just how much of himself he put into his music.

That was another appeal to this place, the anonymity. No one cared who you were so long as you had another dollar to slip into a garter, or the tip cup.

Even so, Malcolm's eyes managed to find their way up and over to the various stages going on in the rest of the club. His Blues became a sultry swing as he watched them; swaying hips and false lashes, pushed-up bosoms and pressed-out bottoms. They were their own kind of beautiful, and his music reflected it. He stared downward again and his song returned to the typical Blues riffs that were expected.

Tonight, he just couldn't keep his eyes off the other stages. His concentration was torn, but no note ever faltered. The fluidity was impressive. Malcolm kept on playing, watching the women shedding their skins and slithering across the stage, tempting those poor suckers with their own versions of venom. He smiled as he played on, calloused fingers caressing his guitar in a way few women had known, and for good reason. There's always a woman behind the Blues in a man.

 

[xOxCherryxOx]

Crystal Devine

"Oh I think I totally have you covered on the barbie doll look Jenny."
"Let's put this on you first. Then I'll do your makeup before you try on a few dresses." I could barely wait to see you pull up those stockings and attach them to your garter. To see you in that flirty pink with the little bows. But first we had to take off, what you have on.
Reaching for the front of your shirt and starting to unbuttoning it, eyes drawn to the softness of your cleavage, stopping and looking in your eyes and grinning.
"I guess I could let you do that part huh?"
Turning and pulling out my vanity chair, fiddling with various pots of make up and brushes, watching from the corner of my eye as your shirt slips from your shoulders and my breath catches when I see your soft creamy skin.
I want to reach out and touch so badly.
It's literally killing me to keep from putting my mouth on the curve of your breast and lick all the way up the smooth column of your neck.
"Ahem, I umm I found this dress in the back of my closet and I haven't worn it yet. I think maybe, I bought it thinking of this beautiful girl that would cross my path one day. I think it was made for you Jenny. Just so you know, you could never fail at being a girl. You. are. beautiful."

 

[zydrate]

Felony

Her set was done with for tonight. There were no leads to take over tonight. Which was a good thing. There were a few dancers that were requested to go on and Felony was surprised she got one. But there wasn't time tonight.

Everyone was having a good time, the house was nearly full and the music kept everyone pumping, in a party mood and always buying more drinks.

The girls were given a certain time to go onto the main floor and flirt with the customers and Felony found that a little hard to do since she didn't really know any of the customers that well. There were a few regulars that had requested specific dancers to join them for drinks.

But Felony just lingered around by the stage and the band area, listening to the wonderful beats that got her body moving and had her humming along with them...

 

[xOxCherryxOx]

Jasmine

Jasmine had just gotten to the club, early as usual, when she heard Malcolm's guitar echoing in the main part of the lounge. Quietly she followed the sound and seen him there, lost in the music, playing one riff after another warming up for the night. He always sounded amazing but something about the simplicity of just him and his guitar with no customers or other employee's being loud and talking over the music that played to her emotion's like he was playing just for her. As if he'd ever even noticed her.

Sighing, she moved a little closer, setting her bag on the floor and resting her hip on the table closest to her. She had time to watch and appreciate before she had to go get ready for her set. It was sort of a thrill to be able to watch him unnoticed, in his element, a look of pure pleasure on his face. One day maybe, he would play just for her. If she was lucky enough to catch his eye that was. Picking her bag up she headed backstage, purposely walking across the room in front of him and smiling as she passed, giving a small wave then dashing on back to change since before long she'd be the one onstage singing and dancing for the crowd.

An hour later she emerged, center stage, music thumping in the background and her dancers by her side.
Hips swaying, her latin voice sang out

 

[fr33ks33k]

His eyes roamed across the various stages, each it's own island, a pedestal with a goddess on it. The patrons were worshiping in the one way they knew how, with cash. Malcolm played a little ditty, a fractal tune that echoed his broken attention without sounding erratic. As he ended, he saw her stepping out into her own spotlight. As she started gyrating her hips, all he remembered was a brief flash of earlier. Her smile and wave seemed so distant, so innocent in comparison to what he saw now. She was dripping sensuality, her voice was a sultry Siren's song. He found himself playing along to the music she had as a background, the Latin undertones bending his notes in odd places, making sharp twangs and extra tempo.

Once, he thought that she saw him watching while he played. He felt her eyes on him, but in an instant she was shaking her curvaceous hips at a guy in one of the front spots by her stage. Somehow, his Blues fused with the Latin rhythm, and as his rough fingers sought the next notes, never knowing where they'd come until they were struck, he thought of how ironic it was that their music tastes had met, even though they hadn't shared a word. When her set was over, he would make it a point to fix that.

 

[xOxCherryxOx]

If Jasmine was honest with herself she'd admit she put an extra swing to her hips when she seen Malcolm looking her way. A flare of feminine pride hit her when she realized he had picked up the music and was blending his smooth rhythm in. The crowd was it's usual vibrant mix of catcalling and whistling, money being tossed her way and men wanting her to inch closer so they could more personally, give her a tip, but Jasmine didn't play that way.

Probably some of the reason she had such a following, they thought her playing hard to get and held out hopes she would cave in one day and they might get their hands on her. Not happening, she was a singer, a dancer, a performer, not a stripper like some of the girls around here. She preferred to be wanted for her gift of music and dance than slutting around. That part of her was something she'd only share with a partner.

As she turned she caught his eye again and as she tilted her hips to the beat of the music she smiled and gave Malcolm a flirty wave. She even blushed after she did it, usually she wasn't forward at all other than being a little bold when she performed. The music wound down and she waved to the crowd, blowing kisses and bowing, shimmying her hips as she walked offstage.