89th Spring 514AV
Tables had a number of uses in a tavern. They could be used as a seat, as a weapon in a brawl, as a barrier between two parties who didn't like each other. They could obviously also be used as a place to put a drink but Caela had never before considered them as a place to dance on. She'd seen others dance on them sure, drunken women who attracted to wrong sort of attention to themselves but it wasn't somewhere that Caela had ever considered dancing herself. She'd seen the effect that such an act could have on men and that was with an inexperienced, tipsy woman wobbling on a tabletop, she could only imagine what it would do to men if a sober dancer did it. It was something that the young woman had put a lot of thought into as she considered trying the action herself. She'd thought about the view anyone sitting at the table would get, how well they could see up a dancer's skirt if she wore one and had considered how that could be used to tease without showing too much.
Despite all the thought that she'd put into it, the dancer was nervous when she suggested such an endeavour to Merv. It was one thing to think about it but another thing entirely to actually do it. The glint in the tavern owner's eyes had been unmistakable and she was sure that he would find that more than entertaining himself judging by that eager shine. She'd have to watch herself with the old dog. He might have been a fine employer so far but that didn't mean that he might not decide to take liberties. She made a note to keep a wary eye on him, particularly after a performance and to be sure not to be alone with him unless it was necessary. It was probably just paranoia but it was a reminder to her that she really needed to be able to defend herself and the sooner the better.
Even before she'd put forward her idea (one that Merv was clearly enthusiastic about), she'd come prepared. A new skirt and stockings had been bought specially for tabletop dancing. The skirt was a soft shade of pink with many layers of frilly white material underneath it. Sheer white stockings would disappear into the flouncy folds of the underskirt but would still allow glimpses of flesh when she wanted. The clothes would have been perfectly serviceable for any ordinary performance if her idea had been shot down so she had them with her.
Carrying her new clothing into the back rooms, Caela set them down along with a light white blouse. Stripping off her street clothes, she changed into the new ones slowly and methodically. The stockings were pulled up to her thighs and secured with garters. Her skirt was readjusted and ruffled. Her blouse was left unbuttoned at the bottom so that she could tie it just below her breasts and leave her midriff bare. She finished the ensemble with a pair of light but sturdy dancing shoes. Examining herself in the cracked mirror, Caela twirled to get a better look at herself, watching the skirt flare out around her. Coming to a standstill, she examined herself more critically and unfastened another button at the top of the blouse. The girl snorted. She might as well not wear the blouse at all, seeing as it left little to the imagination. It left enough covered though that it was still a tease and that was what she wanted after all.
Satisfied with her appearance, the dancer stepped back into the bar and scanned the tables to find a starting point. As her eyes swept over the customers, she caught the attention of some of them and received jeers and whistles as a result. A tired and tipsy looking woman younger than herself tottered past her heading for the back rooms. A dancer who had finished for now. Caela envied her for being finished. Shaking her head back and forth, she resumed her search, finding a suitable table in plain view of many. Only a few customers sat around it and as a result there was an empty seat beside the table. She'd have an easy step up at least.
Mincing her way over to them, she smiled at the men as their heads turned. Her stomach fluttered nervously at what was coming but she managed to hide it, smiling and keeping her movements sure even if her limbs trembled. "Gentlemen," she murmured as she reached them. "Mind if I join you?" Not waiting for a reply, she placed her foot on the empty seat and stood up on it as gracefully as she could, using her arms for balance so that she wouldn't topple off. The men gawked at her but as she placed a foot on the table they seemed to realise where she was going and quickly moved their drinks out of her path. There was no chance of them helping her. Instead she had to get on the table herself, wobbling dangerously.
The wood beneath her feet was pitted and uneven, sticky with spilt ale. The table wobbled slightly as she shifted her weight. It wasn't the most ideal dance floor but she was up here now so she'd make the most of it. Straightening, she tossed her hair back and tried to act like she did this sort of thing everyday. Her ascension had already caught the attention of many and she knew that this was already going far better than she'd expected. She was the centre of attention and she was going to make the most of it.
Tables had a number of uses in a tavern. They could be used as a seat, as a weapon in a brawl, as a barrier between two parties who didn't like each other. They could obviously also be used as a place to put a drink but Caela had never before considered them as a place to dance on. She'd seen others dance on them sure, drunken women who attracted to wrong sort of attention to themselves but it wasn't somewhere that Caela had ever considered dancing herself. She'd seen the effect that such an act could have on men and that was with an inexperienced, tipsy woman wobbling on a tabletop, she could only imagine what it would do to men if a sober dancer did it. It was something that the young woman had put a lot of thought into as she considered trying the action herself. She'd thought about the view anyone sitting at the table would get, how well they could see up a dancer's skirt if she wore one and had considered how that could be used to tease without showing too much.
Despite all the thought that she'd put into it, the dancer was nervous when she suggested such an endeavour to Merv. It was one thing to think about it but another thing entirely to actually do it. The glint in the tavern owner's eyes had been unmistakable and she was sure that he would find that more than entertaining himself judging by that eager shine. She'd have to watch herself with the old dog. He might have been a fine employer so far but that didn't mean that he might not decide to take liberties. She made a note to keep a wary eye on him, particularly after a performance and to be sure not to be alone with him unless it was necessary. It was probably just paranoia but it was a reminder to her that she really needed to be able to defend herself and the sooner the better.
Even before she'd put forward her idea (one that Merv was clearly enthusiastic about), she'd come prepared. A new skirt and stockings had been bought specially for tabletop dancing. The skirt was a soft shade of pink with many layers of frilly white material underneath it. Sheer white stockings would disappear into the flouncy folds of the underskirt but would still allow glimpses of flesh when she wanted. The clothes would have been perfectly serviceable for any ordinary performance if her idea had been shot down so she had them with her.
Carrying her new clothing into the back rooms, Caela set them down along with a light white blouse. Stripping off her street clothes, she changed into the new ones slowly and methodically. The stockings were pulled up to her thighs and secured with garters. Her skirt was readjusted and ruffled. Her blouse was left unbuttoned at the bottom so that she could tie it just below her breasts and leave her midriff bare. She finished the ensemble with a pair of light but sturdy dancing shoes. Examining herself in the cracked mirror, Caela twirled to get a better look at herself, watching the skirt flare out around her. Coming to a standstill, she examined herself more critically and unfastened another button at the top of the blouse. The girl snorted. She might as well not wear the blouse at all, seeing as it left little to the imagination. It left enough covered though that it was still a tease and that was what she wanted after all.
Satisfied with her appearance, the dancer stepped back into the bar and scanned the tables to find a starting point. As her eyes swept over the customers, she caught the attention of some of them and received jeers and whistles as a result. A tired and tipsy looking woman younger than herself tottered past her heading for the back rooms. A dancer who had finished for now. Caela envied her for being finished. Shaking her head back and forth, she resumed her search, finding a suitable table in plain view of many. Only a few customers sat around it and as a result there was an empty seat beside the table. She'd have an easy step up at least.
Mincing her way over to them, she smiled at the men as their heads turned. Her stomach fluttered nervously at what was coming but she managed to hide it, smiling and keeping her movements sure even if her limbs trembled. "Gentlemen," she murmured as she reached them. "Mind if I join you?" Not waiting for a reply, she placed her foot on the empty seat and stood up on it as gracefully as she could, using her arms for balance so that she wouldn't topple off. The men gawked at her but as she placed a foot on the table they seemed to realise where she was going and quickly moved their drinks out of her path. There was no chance of them helping her. Instead she had to get on the table herself, wobbling dangerously.
The wood beneath her feet was pitted and uneven, sticky with spilt ale. The table wobbled slightly as she shifted her weight. It wasn't the most ideal dance floor but she was up here now so she'd make the most of it. Straightening, she tossed her hair back and tried to act like she did this sort of thing everyday. Her ascension had already caught the attention of many and she knew that this was already going far better than she'd expected. She was the centre of attention and she was going to make the most of it.
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