Dancing With A Stranger Category: Stories
Current mood:
blissful
Disclaimer : This is a modern piece that takes place in the Modern Mortal Waking Realm. Hence, Solas has finished his confrontations in Trespasser and has moved on in search of the Idol (*Red Lyrium object from DA2) as well as what little magic he can cling to, in this new world. The struggle for a mage who pulls his elements from unknown sources --and still learning of those limits-- can be a challenging one. In a short summary to this, Solas is finally given a chance to relax at a club. He discovers that his secretary, Ms.Cane, has been waiting at the same club for reasons of her own.
The club was filled with the intoxicating sights and sounds of pure sin. This had been what taverns have turned themselves into over the millennia across separate worlds. Everything was just done in excess. Smoke glided across the floor almost in a heavy fog across the dancefloor and pouring towards the bar area. The place was packed with all kinds of people, and everyone had seemed happy. There were girls kissing men and other women while some men were doing some of the same. Sometimes it was difficult to tell who and what people were in the building because it was so dark with strobe lights and black lights used to light the place up.
Not even in the Fade, had Solas seen so many flashing colors in so many brilliant patterns. He had not heard so much laughter and sweet-nothings whispered amongst one another since his times in Ancient Arlathan; though this was a very long time ago. His senses filled with the scents of alcohol, sex, and permeated forms of loosely traced drugs. There was a lot flooding his senses towards ecstacy, and he needed this. After the night he had: from work, going to straight to being possibly thrown into jail for the night, and then suddenly released and informed that the murder case was dropped. He had not even the opportunity to shed the business that he wore. The dark silks and patented leather of the formal attire still clung to him from previous concerns that longed passed. His cologne had long since faded into a far lighter scent as well. So, yes. Solas needed an outlet for his stress. It was not as so much as a need from something requiring a release after a certain building point; but more like something celebratory for it was a small victory--though stressful. A few drinks wouldn’t hurt.
So, there he was, sitting at the bar, sipping the hard whiskey from his glass and soaking in the scandals and merriment around him. In some ways, it felt like home, but it was also so very far away from it. Back in his times of Ancient Arlathan, The People danced all the time. There were plays and costumes involved at specific parties. They’d cover themselves in dirt as to give blessings to the life’s cycle of birth and death. They rubbed and twisted perfumed lime and clay into their hair, making the stiff appearances of dreadlocks and shaved parts of their hair. The nobility had braided hair, but under the rule of Fen’Harel, it didn’t matter what hairstyle was allowed--for he didn’t care; and everyone who wished freedom was free.
In such a place as this, the lack of clothing had strangely been about the same, but it was in a different style. The music was far more electronic than pure acoustics, which in some of the songs, in his opinion, it wasn’t all that bad but he did miss the softer purity of tunes from an instrument. The drinks were sweeter with a stealthy and powerful creep-up that could easily have gotten him far more drunk than he would have liked to be. So, Solas did have to count his intake of alcoholic beverages more often. He actually stuck to the plain Jack Daniel’s whiskey for the time being, and wishing it had been elvhen spirit in his hands instead. On the whole though, it got the job done, warmed the throat and belly, and made his head delightfully spin. He wasn’t one to immediately complain from it.
This had been the first time after two years of coming to this world of dying magic, had Solas even looked at the other forms of entertainment. Naturally, it would have been filled with things far more physical and tangible to the Waking World of its reality as opposed to fluid thoughts, whispers and lucid fantasies that mingled and intertwined with one another. All of it required an adjustment from him.
Down the line alongside of the bar had been occupied with people scattered in separate spaces of barstools. He didn’t have to turn to his right to sense the presence of someone coming in close. Solas chose to ignore it; sipping more on the alcohol and relished in the way it slowly melted his insides.
“I didn’t think this would have been your kind of scene.” Ms.Cane’s voice spoke from over his shoulder.
Solas smiled warmly to the friendly voice that lulled close to his ear. Tilting his whiskey glass a bit further up, he gulped down another quiet swallow. He pondered from a glance past his shoulder to steal a reassurance of who he was anticipating before responding. “...And just what would have been my kind of scene?”
It was just enough extra courage to render his thoughts a bit more loose before turning in his stool to place the glass down. Solas turned, looking towards Ms.Cane and finally took the opportunity for himself to drink in her sight next. He saw that her attire had changed slightly than of what he was use to seeing. She kept the high heels and nude stockings; however the black pencil skirt and white office blouse was changed to a loose flowing cocktail dress that was raised slightly higher to her mid-thighs. The straps and ruffles were covered in black feathers while its centerpiece was pressed in charcoal and blue vitol sequins. Her ears were decorated from her bottom lobe up to the upper rim in a pattern of diamond studs and silver chains. Her neck was graced with a loose silver chain that cradled a silver celtic pendant--which had been a symbol that Solas only recognized from the heavy fanatic that his secretary had been over the design ever since she learned of her “dna origins” last year.
“Oh, I don’t know…” She smiled in return and turned to wave down the bartender. “...I didn’t think you went out at all. Like ever.”
“I have a way of stretching my legs now and then…” He shrugged some in response and watched her slender wrist, dressed by a diamond tennis bracelet, successfully twirl in the correct manner--he supposed--to get the attention she wanted.
“Give me a strawberry daiquiri.” Ms.Cane placed in her order and rested her elbow on the bar counter. “So… How did the questioning at the station go?”
“About as expected, I’d say.” Solas pondered with a glance up at the ceiling. His fingers traced patterns on the side of his tumbler glass. “Everyone’s keeping their jobs. The case was resolved under natural causes, and the only thing left is making the final deal through the company’s insurance.”
“Sounds like it went very well! So, that’s why you’re here.” Ms.Cane exclaimed and reached for her daiquiri.
She downed her drink way too quickly, causing Solas to watch a little in surprise with how fast that she was drinking. Either the alcohol content in a daiquiri was far weaker than what he was currently having, or Ms.Cane really had a desire to ‘take the edge off,’ or so he supposed. He tilted his head and that smile turned slightly more with nervousness as Ms.Cane slapped her hand against the bar and then placed her glass down.
“Ms.Cane?” He started to question and was pulled by the tug of his knees. Her bare hand redirected the steering of his barstool to turn towards the opened floor covered in fog.
“Come on. Let’s dance to celebrate.” She suggested and reached for his tumbler glass next, to pry it loose from his fingers and set it down.
“Dance?” His eyes couldn’t have been wider.
He was glancing towards the small crowd at the dancefloor and then back to Ms.Cane. The form of dancing he saw… Well… Solas didn’t really call it dancing. He called it grinding and humping right in public. Not even in Ancient Arlathan, would have such moves been considered appropriate beyond the bedroom -- unless they were being performed by bondservants and the like. There was no skill to this form of dancing, that even if Solas considered it, and he danced well, he still would have felt way too embarrassed.
“N-No. No--Ms.Cane--” He started to refuse and chased back for the drink that was removed successfully from him.
“Don’t tell me you can’t dance.” She giggled and took his hands, pulling him as she dragged Solas towards the dance floor.
“I can dance--I just can’t dance this--” He attempted to explain but his words were not speaking fast enough.
He wasn’t about to run from her, but he didn’t want to be removed from his chair either. So, Solas was reluctantly pulled into the foggy atmosphere, filled with other similar couples where were clinging to one another. They ground their hips to each other and intertwined loose fingers around one anothers’ clothing. To Solas it felt more like an uncomfortable clothed orgy among strangers. Perhaps at one time, he might have even approved, attempted to move as the people around him did, and let the electronic music of bells and other instruments that he couldn’t name carry his troubled thoughts away.
But not now. That would have been in another life. Another time.
Not that Ms.Cane wasn’t prepared to change his mind! With all of her provocative posings, the way she leaned into him and attempted to sway her form against him, she could have portrayed the sheer image of the wind attempting to seduce the mountain to yield. Such bravoda deserved a certain compliance and in spite of his efforts to seem appeased, Solas had been more than prepared to retreat. He attempted to inch away when he felt her hands grasp his, to pull forward and down to rest at her hips. His grey eyes glanced away, looking towards anything to find interesting except her -- if it was possible.
“I can’t--” He tried to explain quickly.
“Sure you can. Look. You don’t even have to do much. Just sway your hips a little with mine; like this…” She said and moved closer. Her body moved in tune to the rhythm, in tune to his own. “See…?”
She was far too close that his senses were in overload. Solas felt his throat run dry and his sense of balance wanted to fall underneath him. This could not last long. Ms.Cane was human, his secretary, and above all -- someone who was a part of this current world; a world that he had no business being a part of in retrospect. Solas refused to bend much to her guidance, but he didn’t want to hurt feelings either. Instead, he lifted his hands to her shoulders and took a step backwards to create some small space between them.
“Ms.Cane…” He pleaded in getting her attention, finally looking back at her.
“Just this once, can you call me Carol?” She mimicked his tone and pouted her lip at him.
Solas paused, glancing down and then back up at her. He acknowledged that all she was doing was trying to enjoy the night. It might have meant something more from her, but he doubted it. Perhaps she had needed cheering up; because he did take notice that she downed her drink pretty fast earlier. If that had been the case, then of course Solas would have felt guilty--if not obligated--to play the needed part she seemed to almost request of him. However, he couldn’t dance this way.
“My apologies... Carol. Force of habit, I guess.” He gave the excuse as smoothly as he could deliver it, and turned her hand into his hold in a manner he could find himself accustomed to.
He propped his opposite hand behind his back and gave a more proper bow before her. He caught the surprised glimmer in her eyes and accepted it as her knew interest to maybe follow his lead instead. So, without giving further explanations, Solas straightened his back and abruptly pulled her close to him once more. There was a respectable distance maintained between them, but it wasn’t noticeably too terribly. His body remained stiff as he guided her into moving across the floor with him. It was obvious that the dance was far more different than what other others around them had been doing.
“Oh! You prefer the classics. I should have known.” Ms.Cane smiled in delight and glanced around, feeling the eyes of other people looking their way. “Unfortunately, Solas, I don’t believe I can do this.”
“You were the one to drag me to the floor, were you not?” Solas beamed at her with a tease in return. “I had to put up with your bumping and grinding, now it's your turn to put up with mine.”
“Alright, but I’m not responsible for what happens to your toes.” She laughed as he noticeably took a stronger lead.
“Oh, you most certainly are...” He was quick to give a light-hearted argument in return, turning her with him in step to the music. “And I’ll bill you for the damage.”
Ms.Cane gasped at him and before she could retort, Solas pressed his hand to her forearm and pushed her back a few paces. In turn, he stepped back as well, leaving only one grasp of her other hand to remain as their connection. Walking around her and wrapping her form up into his awaiting arm, Solas came closer so that he hugged her from behind. The two then swayed to the music more in a fashion that was almost similar to those around them, but not quite.
“You’re evil.” She remarked over her shoulder to him.
Solas raised an eyebrow at her and loosened his arms around her to rest one hand against her back. “That’s no way to talk to your boss.”
Pushing down on her back, he leaned into her with a guidance to have her bend over in front of him; swaying once from her left and then the right before his wrapping that same arm back around her front, placing his hand towards her throat and guiding her back up. Solas could feel the pulse fluttering underneath the soft pads of his thumb. He could hear the sharp breaths escaping her lips and knew her heart was beating much faster than it was previously. This had been a more appropriate dance suited to him: something that pressed between classical and tribal, and something that required a bit more...emotion thrown in the mixture. Considering how very smoothly she seemed to fall in step, Solas considered himself a good teacher.
“Now, you’re learning.” He smiled near her ear, and spun her spun her away, only to gradually guide her back towards him.
“You should have told me you could dance.” She spoke softer, falling more into step with him across the smoke aligned floor.
“I did.” He responded in kind with a smile.
He watched the way the lights danced over her face like intruding breeches attempting to pull from the Veil itself. It was as terrifying to him as it was beautiful. Gliding across the floor together in a more classical pattern, Solas finally had collected the nerve to ask her what had been weighing on his consciousness.
“Why did you bring me out here?” He spoke upon a turn that took them both across the dance floor.
Ms.Cane glanced down and then back up at him briefly. Her cheeks flushed pale from embarrassment and she shook her head slightly as if almost wanting to avoid the questions. “Ah...I don’t know… My date wasn’t showing up tonight.”
“The cad!” He exclaimed and earned a giggle from her.
“Cad indeed…!” She agreed and smiled brightly for a moment. After a side-glance away, Ms.Cane pouted a little briefly and then looked back to Solas once more. “Oh, well… His loss. Besides. You’re much more fun.”
“I’m glad you think so.” Solas smiled and lifted his hands to spin her once more.
Slightly, he tilted her frame back, only to pull her flush against his body one last time at the song’s ending. Dipping her back into a low bend, Solas posed her there and looked down at the marvel he polished from that plain example of erotic dancing. There, was his pride showing--his canines flashing in a devil’s smile.
“So… My style is better?” He asked upon carefully pulling her back up so that the weight of gravity and balance could adjust itself for her.
“Oh, hell yeah…” Ms.Cane rasped; still attempted in catching her breath as she stood upright to her feet.
She looked up at him completely enamored. Unaware by then the dance floor had cleared to watch them dance, for the moment nothing but them two had seemed to matter. Ms.Cane slid her arms up along his neck and traced patterns onto the back of Solas’ bald head and pulled his head down towards her own. In turn, Solas had looked from her eyes and then towards her lips in a final understanding of what she was attempting. Really, it shouldn’t have been so puzzling, but his mind had been slow from the whiskey and his head was dizzy from more than just dancing.
His eyes closed and their lips had met in an estranged connection. Cold from his execution, but gentle in an attempt to tease and compromise from hers. An image of something bright from his past flashed in the forethought of his mind, Solas immediately pulled his head back from her capture. Reaching up, he grasped one of her hands and slid it down to his cheek instead.
Ms.Cane opened her eyes from abrupt departure. She blinked at him quizzically and then slowly frowned in slight disappointment. “There’s… someone else?”
Solas swallowed uncomfortably and nodded before a final confirmation. “Something like that… Yes.”
“Is it--?” She tilted her head some and watched him lower his head. Ms.Cane sighed with a roll of her eyes. “Christ, Solas… It’s been, what? A year since we’ve worked together? I thought we would have -- well, talked... about -- ...I mean you don’t tell me anything!”
“I’m sorry.” Solas slumped a little and gradually released her.
“No. No, don’t start that because, I came here with someone in mind to being with.” Ms.Cane shrugged and folded her arms. “Wow… I mean wow-- She must be really special.”
“She was.” Solas nodded and felt her eyes following him then. So, he forced a smile and reached up to wrap one arm around her shoulders to guide her back towards the bar. “...Please don’t fret, Carol… I’ll still drink with you. I’ll still dance with you. And when you puke, I’ll help hold your hair back.”
Ms.Cane laughed at him and smacked his chest with the back of her hand as they walked together. Solas knew that she tried to understand him, but there were some things that he could not explain about to anyone in this realm. If there was a moment in his sad journey to catch levity, he would try to grasp it but not at the cost of misleading others in such a manner. Although, in some ways, Solas couldn’t have asked for a better companion in this strange world.
blissful
