Esmeralda dances to the rhythm of the tambourine (changewillcome) wrote in valarlogs, @ 2016-06-20 20:45:00 |
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Entry tags: | !complete, esmeralda, kitty pryde (shadowcat), laura kinney (wolverine), logan howlett (wolverine) |
Who: Esmeralda, Kitty Pryde, Laura Kinney, Logan Howlett
What: A trip to the Court of Miracles
When: Recently
Where: The Court of Miracles
Warnings: Should be none
Status: Log | Complete
“What kinda place is it?”
Logan shrugged, and got out of the car. Kitty stared at the space he’d left, then rolled her eyes. “Yeah, that’s real helpful.” She got out and followed him. “It’s not a strip club, is it? It would be kind of weird if you took me to a strip club.”
“We went to one last week.” Laura stepped next to Kitty and her father, tone matter-of-fact. “We share an appreciation of women and someone had to keep an eye on him.”
“It ain’t a strip club. Just a club with some nice dancing an’ shit. You looked like you needed some cheering up.” Logan got the door for them. “An’ stop pullin’ her leg, kid.”
Laura grinned.
“Funny.” Kitty stuffed her hands into her jeans and slipped in.
Not just dancing. Oh no. While the Court of Miracles was (more or less) an upstanding establishment in the fact that they appeared to cross their t’s and dot their i’s, it still had the feel of a travelling gypsy show from days past. Cards were read. Seemingly magic was performed through slight of hand and typical tricks. Illusions. Able to be explained as a gimmick, it was also a testament to their heritage.
As for Esmeralda, she was waiting behind the ‘festival’ stage’s curtain for her entrance. She had three dance slots, wherein she sometimes would serve after the fact, others just watch. Today was a serving day. But right, listening for the opening from Clopin.
“Come one, come all. Hurry, hurry, here’s you chance, see the mystery and romance! Come one, come all! See the finest girl from France. Make an entrance to entrance. Dance La Esmeralda…. Dance!”
And that was the cue, the ‘begger’ outfit seeming to vanish into her dance outfit, tambourine in hand. It was always her favourite part of the night, being able to dance and it was also one of the more popular portions of the night for those there for the entertainment. But as the dance came to an end, she ‘vanished’ off the stage, listening to the reactions from the crowd before heading to the first table of the night.
“How can I help you tonight?”
Kitty knew magic. They all did. Working with people like Doctor Strange or their own resident sorceress, among others, had exposed all three to varying degrees of magical.
But there was something nice about the kind of magic in a place like this. Something old school.
Kitty watched the dance, liking what she saw and clapping at the end. Laura, in particular, was into the music, though Logan's expression hadn't changed much.
"Whatever house spirit you got, if you got any?" Logan asked.
"I don't know," Kitty said. "What do you recommend?"
While Esmeralda lived in the supposed ‘real’ world, (though really, what was real?), she never let herself believe that things were impossible. So magic? Not so strange a concept. Madeline and her cards and palm readings were accurate. There was a pull, a draw, a tinge in the air that came with their energy. Besides, closing yourself off to believing in one thing meant that you would stop believing in general. And if she stopped believing in the goodness of people and the hope for a better future, well… Esmeralda wasn’t sure what would happen.
Still, the music and set up was of a tavern, where word of mouth was often the way to get advertisement. She had the information Grantaire had given her for where she might promote The Court of Miracles but she didn’t know if she would use it for that reason yet.
There were plenty of spirits, so there was an option there.
“House spirit, alright.” Then she turned her attention to Kitty’s question, “Metheglin, or spiced mead. Ancient recipe, but very good.”
“Thanks darlin’.”
“I’ll try that,” Kitty said. She’d only had something like mead a few times, and all of those were dream related and at least one was an alternate universe of her own creation. She shifted in her seat and leaned forward. “It sounds interesting.”
“Your act was very nice,” Laura interjected. She was too young, legally, to have alcohol, so she ordered water. She didn’t want the establishment to get in trouble. Besides, she could sneak a taste of the others’ drinks if she wanted to. Shhh.
“It’s the one I usually get.” Smiling, she took the orders, before looking to Laura and her smile brightened. “Well thank you. I love dancing, so I’m glad you enjoyed the act.”
Really was there anything better than doing what you loved? Sure, it could be exhausting and the pay wasn’t amazing, but it was better than the sous that would randomly be placed in her tambourine when she performed on street corners or metro stations. It was more steady and they all chipped in and helped one another. Then again, they had their ‘base of operation’ in the cellar, rooms upon rooms set up like back in Paris.
“You are welcome.” Laura rested her hands on the table, seemingly satisfied with what she had to say.
“It was beautiful,” Kitty agreed.
Kitty glanced between Laura, Esmeralda, and Logan, who’d only grunted his agreement. This was going to be an interesting outing if Kitty was the only one who talked much. But then, what else had she expected? Logan would express his satisfaction in large tips and grunts, and Laura was… Laura. She looked back at Esmerelda. “Have you done this a long time?”
Esmeralda could really work with anyone if necessary. So one person doing the most talking while others were quiet? Not so weird to her. She just went with the conversation. Better than trying to force conversation from people who didn’t want to talk. It was easier that way.
“Dancing? Most my life, serving drinks? That’s a bit more new. Speaking of, let me go and get your orders.”
With a smile, Esmeralda turned and headed to the bar. Technically she was too young to be serving alcohol but American rules, but that was why her documents had her at 21. Besides, even she didn’t quite know how old she was. Years came and went without much fanfare when you were always on the move.
Then a few other orders were taken and given to the bar, where she picked up the drinks for Laura, Logan and Kitty and took them to their table.
“Here you go.” For Logan, the house spirit of the day was Pálenka, or a fruit brandy. Then the spiced mead for Kitty and water for Laura. After all, she wasn’t one to talk if she took a sip of the two drinks, but not having to officially check ID was much appreciated.
Kitty watched her head to the bar, then turned back to her friends. “This place is nice, I like it. Someone like Kurt would fit right in.” She could think of a couple other people, to name just a few. People like them, mutants, generally knew what it was like to be ostracized and outcast. And Kitty was Jewish. Not that she wanted to play Oppression Olympics.
Logan nodded. "Yeah. Like the atmosphere. View ain't half bad either."
Laura rubbed her thumb along the table's edge. "Do you want to to tell her dress would look good on your bedroom floor."
"Wait what?" Kitty blinked.
Logan couldn't tell which of them she was talking to, and then Esmeralda returned with their drinks. His was fruitier than he expected, but it was still pretty good. "How long you been in town?"
If there was one thing they were good at here, it was being unexpected. A place for the outcast to come and not feel so alone or ostracised, if only for a bit. Esmeralda would never play the outcast olympics, if only because she always was trying to help others. Be it through dance and making them feel better, or other ways, asking help for those who might feel unable to ask themselves, whatever was within her ability to do.
Just like the alcohol. Then again, a lot of the drinks they served were specific to their heritage, passed on from generation to generation. Something different from typical American fare. Though they of course had drinks familiar to Americans. But if asked for a suggestion or just the house drink, the chances were more likely to be Romani in nature.
“A month? Perhaps a bit more or less?” Truthfully, Esmeralda wasn’t all that sure. Always on the move, there was never time before to really place it. Even in Paris where they mostly had been, the time blurred together. Nor was it like she could say that they had crossed in from Canada to remain undetected and had false identification. But mostly it was just losing track of time as they had gotten everything set up and in working order.
"That's cool." Kitty took a sip of her drink. "Oh, I like this. I could drink a lot more of this." She wasn't a heavy drinker, not in the way Logan was, but she liked to drink for fun. It was better than drinking for other reasons.
"Is there a name for the dance?" Laura wrapped her hands around her water, enjoying the coolness.
Hearing that Kitty liked the drink made Esmeralda smile a bit more. Mostly just because she had recommended it, so it was always nice when her recommendations were appreciated. “I’m glad to hear that.”
Then Laura’s question, which turned her attention to the youngest of the table. “It’s known as Čoček. Dancers such as myself are known as Čočeki. I prefer the tambourine but there are others who may use violin or other instruments.”
The drink was really good. Not quite what she'd been expecting but that wasn't always a bad thing. Kitty smiled back at her, and took another sip.
"It's fascinating," Laura replied. "My girlfriend is an artist, but your dancing is also kind of like art."
"That's because it is," Kitty said.
“Oh? That’s lovely!” Esmeralda was always a fan of the arts, however they may come about. To be able to express oneself through their art spoke to her. It was one of the reasons she danced. She loved it, could express herself, it was part of her and well, she got good tips since being here and was able to make her money from people passing by and giving her a sous, or well, Euros now. Not as much but it was enough each day to get by.
“But dancing is an art in its own right. I’ve always felt it to be, even if it’s part of me. It’s not just me saying it because I do it.”
“She really is,” Laura said, fondness in her voice.
“I did ballet, when I was younger. Don’t really keep it up any more but a lot of the movements and discipline stayed with me.” Kitty sometimes wondered if she should have kept it up. She’d liked it. She’d just ended up liking other things a lot more. “Its definitely an art. You’ve got talent.”
Logan grunted in agreement, but was too focused on his drink to offer anything else.
It was sweet when people were caught up in the happiness of a relationship and it was clear that Laura was happy with hers if the fondness in her voice was anything to go on, though it seemed the main one conversing was Kitty so she turned her attention back to her and nodded.
“Ballet is good. And I’m not surprised, those movements and discipline get ingrained in you.” Even when she wasn’t dancing, there tended to be a sort of lilt to her demeanor, made it easier to pick pocket and the like. Barring ruses that were also used to get money, of course.
Noticing that her next order was up, she smiled.
“I’ll leave you to your drinks. I hope you enjoy the other shows if you stick around.” She did have three acts a night after all.
The fondness was amusing. Logan rarely got to see Laura act like that. She was usually subdued and quiet, at least in the dreams. That she’d found friends and a girlfriend to be normal with was something that made him very happy. “We’ll probably stick around.”
“It helps when being a ninja,” Kitty joked.
Laura waited for the woman to leave. “It helps when being a ninja? And people call me socially awkward.”
“Shut up.”
The ninja quip had indeed made Esmeralda laugh some.
“That it does.” With a wave, she turned and headed off to finish her drink rounds before heading to go to the cellars for a bit to get ready for her next act.