Genevieve’s Nowhere Nights

Date: 2025-09-05 17:02

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(Genevieve’s Nowhere Nights)

[Fri Sep 5 2025]

In a Shadowy Underground Speakeasy/span>/spanThis space before the stage is cleared of any furniture to allow clear views
and for dancing. The polished hardwood floors reflect the warm glow from
overhead pendant lights fitted with amber glass shades. The ceiling above
features exposed pipes and ductwork painted matte black to blend into the
shadows. A small stage rises eighteen inches from the floor along the
southern edge, equipped with footlights and a heavy burgundy curtain that can
be drawn for performances./span>/span60F(15C) degrees. The mist is heaviest At Mayflower and Franklin/span>/spanMatthew arrives with Malin, Arachne, and August in tow, hand lifted and waving towards the group already present. “Hey, how’re you all doing?”

Rain walks in on Kai’s arm, glancing around at all the unfamiliar faces.

Kai wanders down into the speakeasy with Rain and gives a two-fingered salute to Matthew, hel, Evalina and Malin, a respectful bow follows for Marlow and Genevieve, while August and Arachne are both favored with polite nods. He murmurs to Rain, indicating each person in turn, “Matthew, Helen, Evalina, Malin, Vice President Mars, Genevieve, August, Arachne.”

Rain nods slightly as Kai reels off a list of names she will never remember, directing a fleeting smile to each.

“I spent way too long in the parking lot, looking for the phone booth,” Marlow admits as she walks deeper into the club, a bouquet of roses offered toward Genevieve. “Gang’s all here,” she observes as more people arrive. “That dress is a vision, as are you,” she tells Genevieve, stepping aside so as to not interrupt any hostessing. “I’m not listing everyone’s names, but it’s good to see you all. Most of you, anyway,” she adds, after a moment.

Malin holds one of Matthew’s hands with one of her own, and she offers up an easy smile to those gathered. The gesture from Kai receives a small wave in return, and since he is naming names, she says right back to him, “Kai.”

Genevieve glances down at her own dress. “You know I’m not sure.” She admits to Helen as she takes the coat from Evalina, “I’m not a Fae clothing magic expert unfortunately.” She says, looking up as others come in. “Welcome everyone, feel free to grab a drink from either of the bars and I can take your coats or jackets if you want them stashed.” She claims, beaming helplessly at Marlow’s compliment “We sort of match.” She mentions, “Maybe that’s just because you’re doing gangster-chic.” She speculates as she accepts the flowers.

Kai heads over to Genevieve, “Hey Gen, this is Rain, my girlfriend,” he indicates Rain, “Rain, this is Genevieve, she’s in both the Hand and Sons, which I’m part of… like both of them,” he informs Rain.

Rain trails along with Kai, flashing a smile to Genevieve after his introduction, ”

Evalina glances around, affording smiles and nods to various people. Genevieve seems to have already been greeted by her and Helen is close by, Marlow gets an appreciative lookover, “Love the outfit,” She murmurs, a bright smile and wave is afforded to Arachne, Malin, Kai. Rain, August and Matthew get a friendly nod instead. “Good to see you two,” She says to Matthew and Malin, “You look incredibly cute together, as always.”

“Mars, my dear Aunt.” August greets from beside Arachne with a subtle dip of his head towards Marlow, but she’s the only one that he greets in return or by name, or at all, really. Matthew and Malin are treated like they group has been together for a long time, simple as, while his subtle lean towards Arachne ends with a lead of her arm to thread throug his so she can hold it. “I’ll keep my coat, thank you.”

Rain trails along with Kai, flashing a smile to Genevieve after his introduction, “Please sure meet you.”

Arachne tucks a clutch beneath an arm, that newly freed hand lifted in soft wave toward those already fathered within the speakeasy, quick to spot Genevieve and Marlow. “I feel terribly underdressed for the occasion,” she remarks in hushed aside to Malin. “The VP and Vie melt right in to the decor.” She drifts with August along behind Matthew and Malin.

“I suppose we will have to let the winds decide if it works that way or not,” Helen says to Genevieve as she looks towards the woman’s dress. She has an arm offered and is close in with Evalina, watching as the new arrivals come into the area and she lifts her free hand, fluttering a wave towards them, “Good evening, everyone.”

“I’m basically Kai’s double boss.” Genevieve agrees with Kai to Rain, “Lovely to meet you.” She says, “Just a moment.” She adds, slipping off to stash the coats.

Matthew winks at Kai and smiles at Rain, “Didn’t catch yours,” he says, reintroducing himself in the process, “I’m Matthew.” Then he looks to Marlow, granting her a sider smile. “Hey, you look great, really like that shirt and vest combo, red’s your color for sure.”

“It’s like the top of a sexy volcano,” Malin says to Marlow about Genevieve’s dress. “Unfurling and caressing the sky sort of like lover’s hands smoothing over bare skin, or something,” she notes, and then looks to Evalina. “Oh, thank you. You have a very fine outfit yourself. We’re both wearing anklets, too,” gets pointed out. She stands by Matthew, Arachne, and August.

Rain trails Genevieve with her gaze, speaking to her once she returns, sans coats. “That must be an incredible challenge,” Rain jokes. Probably.

“It was the look I was going for, yes,” Marlow agrees with Genevieve’s assessment. “Matching is good. Something-something staking my claim or what have you,” she figures. “My darling nephew, dapper as always,” she greets August. “Why thank you,” Marlow tells Evalina, before giving Arachne a glance-over. “You’ve never blended into any decor, and that’s why we love you,” she notes.

Kai slips his hands into his hoodie pocket, he looks around the speakeasy and hmms softly, nodding a couple of times, “I like that uhhh purple curtain or red curtain… I like that curtain,” he decides, telling Genevieve. He smirks and nods in agreement with Rain’s joke.

“Do you smoke?” Marlow asks Malin, somewhat abruptly.

Malin shifts her attention back to Marlow. “When I’m hot enough, probably. Do you?”

Kai settles his phone into the bottom of his hoodie and quiets down, fidgeting with something in his pocket as he looks around, idly rocking forward and back, unable to quite keep still.

Evalina nods towards Malin “That we are, though I feel pretty guilty, now, for putting on my most basic minidress…” She trails off, “I don’t have too many clubbing outfits, I’m afraid. And the one I like the most, got a little messed up by the mist monsters.” A sigh follows and she leans into Helen’s arm, giving her a look, “…I even forgot my purse. How terrible.”

“I’ll wait another few minutes, although people seem unusual punctual for Haven.” Genevieve notes, “Would anyone like me to grab them a drink? There’s a dedicated Absinthe bar if that’s of interest.”

“None for me, I’m driving, but thanks!” Kai tells Genevieve, “Want something?” he asks Rain, smiling down at her a little.

Rain slips an arm thorugh Kai’s hoodie-pocketed arm, “No thanks, me too, but thank you!”

There’s a wince from Malin when Evalina reveals the damage to her favourite dress. “That’s got to be painful, in a couple of ways. I’m sorry you had to go through all of that. I hope your outfit can get repaired, or replaced.” A smile is then given to Helen, and the Swede says, “That’s a lovely gown, as well.”

“What about you?” Marlow asks Matthew after a moment. “Do you smoke? I’m asking for a reason, I swear,” she adds.

“I’d love a drink, at least.” Evalina returns to Genevieve, then giving Helen a somewhat apologetic smile before explaining, “My car basically drives itself. I should be fine.”

“You’re still as charming as ever, Vice President,” Arachne’s observes of Marlow with a faint crease of her lips, turning her head to look up at August. “Can you really believe Matthew managed an outfit with rhinestones? I’m inclined to think he’s not feeling well. I’ve never seen him without something absurdly shiny,” she murmurs, eyes straying toward Matthew, and Malin agin, before wiggling her fingers at Evalina when she spots the other Rothwell. “Evalina. I love that nail accent.”

“That’d be great, Vie.” August replies while shifting his arm to slip it free from Arachne’s, and instead lay his palm on the small of her back where they stand. The smile he wears is simply modulated, polite to fit in the setting even with the natural clash of it with the severity of his usual gaze. “I’m already a few drinks in, no point stopping now.”

Kai squeezes Rain’s arm with his and continues to smile slightly, his phone pointedly in his pocket as he rocks slightly on his feet and pushes his lips out and together, then sucks them in and repeats the process, some kind of tic surely.

Malin stands there leaning against Matthew. “He spared your eyes today, Arachne,” she tells Arachne of the lack of rhinestones. “Please don’t push him to get uncooked Top Ramen hair, though.”

Matthew smiles at Evalina, offering her a belated greeting, but his cousin Arachne has his attention. “You know, I wanted to let Malin do all the shining tonight,” he says, motioning towards Malin and her dress, “but next time I’ll get a tie that gives me some of that razzle dazzle.”

Rain holds her phone out to Kai, “Preston was just speaking about his jousting event tomorrow.”

Evalina smiles warmly to Arachne, “I am so glad you do. I was hoping someone would notice!” She tells Arachne cheerfully. “I was thinking of wearing your gift today actually, but I kind of felt guilty wearing something so nice to what I presumed to be the average club-” She snorts. “…Turns out I would have still been underdressed with them, mm?”

Just a tad belatedly, August’s head turns to Arachne first with his brows knitting together in confusion – and from her, he continues on to stare at Matthew. It’s a long, long look, top to bottom, then up again in some contemplation before he relays to Arachne in a mock stage-whisper of sorts, near to her ear but only low, not inaudible, “If looks could murder, my guy would be a serial killer.”

Malin looks to Matthew and asks, “Did you want to go get a drink?”

“Oh fun,” Kai nods to Rain and looks down at the offered phone, grinning at her a little, “You should be able to make that with me right?” he wonders, his brows lifting a little.

Evalina glances at Matthew, “Ramen hair would suit you amazingly. DOn’t let anyone else tell you otherwise.”

“Mmhmm,” Rain nods to Kai, “I’ll be there.”

“I think he looks very nice.” Genevieve claims of Matthew and explains to Evalina, “I don’t think there’s nearly enough excuses to dress up nice in this city.” Before slipping to the bar.

“I would think that the mists take and injure more people than drunk driving does in this city,” Helen says to Evalina with a shrug of her slender shoulders, “Did I miss something about a dress being ruined? I really didn’t follow.” She waves towards Malin and Matthew, “Hey you two, by the way! It is good to see you! What season are you all on right now with Battlestar?”

“You’re going to spoil the secret on Matthew’s upcoming role in that knock-off You serial killer gig he landed for a Netflix deal,” Arachne murmurs toward August in feigned stage-whisper of her own, nudging lightly at his ribs with an elbow. “He’s gone a little overboard with channeling his character.” When Genevieve comes back with a glass for Evalina and August, she looks curiously at the glasses. “Now, those look gorgeous. How do they taste?” she asks.

“Okay, so no one smokes,” Marlow decides, absent any response. “Are we staying in this area for whatever comes next, or are bar runs acceptable?” Marlow asks Genevieve.

Evalina chuckles at Genevieve, “I expected an actual club. Not a Jazz club. Have you ever been to my restaurant? Or my lounge?” She smirks, “Both of them play primarily Jazz as well – seems it might be a smooth genetic disease.” She nods to Helen after. “Yeah, one of my better dresses, sadly.” She accepts the drink after.

“We’ll be staying here when things kick off, but you can make bar runs between songs or before things start.” Genevieve explains.

“I smoke the occasional thing. Do you have something wonderful for me to try,” Arachne volunteers to Marlow when she overhears the Vice President’s remark, turning to look her way with a faint smile.

“I smoke, but you didn’t ask everyone.” August tells Marlow off, half-distracted and half-speaking into the glass Genevieve handed over. Absinthe or not, he drinks it like champagne, like it doesn’t burn at all, and for someone seasoned like he is, it really might not.

“Not particularly,” Marlow tells Arachne. “Or well, I suppose I have good cigarettes because I’m that type of guy, but it’s more I brought an accessory that fits the ambiance but not my outfit, and I want someone else to hold it. Are you volunteering?”

Muagust lives on in everyone’s hearts, no doubt. Matthew winks at August, “Save me a dance, yeah?” he asks, grinning brightly, beaming all that Montrose charm on him before it’s shifted right on over to Evalina. “I would never let anyone tell me I looked anything other than amazing, but I’mma maybe pass on the ramen hair.” His sights then settle onto Helen, waving at her with his free hand, the other remaining in Malin’s with a squeeze. “We’re still on the first season, but we did see that big first episode that was like, three hours or whatever.”

August gives Matthew a wink back, and a subtle call-me gesture behind Arachne’s back.

announce “Ok, how this will work is I’ll pair everyone up every other song or so, if you want to be matched with a particular person especially you can text me or slip me a note, there are burners near the foyer if you’d rather do it anonymously, otherwise I’ll just pair people mostly randomly.” Genevieve explains, “The songs are pretty slow so you can dance and chat privately with your partner until we switch. I’ll bring the band out in a minute.”

“Ok, how this will work is I’ll pair everyone up every other song or so, if you want to be matched with a particular person especially you can text me or slip me a note, there are burners near the foyer if you’d rather do it anonymously, otherwise I’ll just pair people mostly randomly.” Genevieve explains, “The songs are pretty slow so you can dance and chat privately with your partner until we switch. I’ll bring the band out in a minute.”

“It’s not really your type of thing, but if you want a cigarette, I’ve got you,” Marlow tells August, bringing one out and offering it to the younger Pierce as Genevieve begins to explain what comes next.

Arachne’s gaze dips briefly toward Marlow’s gold foil-embellished cigarette. “I suppose I am,” she confirms after a soft dip of her head, turning her head to listen to Genevieve when she explains what comes next with interest.

Malin crinkles her nose at Evalina. “Why don’t you be the first to start the trend? With skin as fair as yours, it’s like a blank canvas ready for anything, and zig-zag blonde, textured Top Ramen hair would do beautifully,” she makes that up, gesturing with a slender hand to the woman. Then she looks over as Genevieve explains the event.

“That sounds terrible,” Helen says to Evalina as she looks towards the woman and asks, “It must be able to be repaired, no? There has to be a fine tailor in this city. What drink are you drinking?” She looks towards the side bars now, curiously leaning in one way and then the other before pressing gently into Evalina’s side, “I should get a drink as well, especially if I’m going to be dancing.”

Kai nods a couple of times at Genevieve, his little smile never budges from his face, even as he continues to pop his lips out and back in every so often. He does, however, start to lean forward and back again.

“I think the Nocturne Key was the first place I visited when I came to town actually.” Genevieve mentions to Evalina, tucking one of the roses she got behind her ear and setting the bouquet aside for now. “That is very fancy looking.” She admits of Marlow cigarette, “I only smoke crack unfortunately.”

Helen turns towards Matthew in the crowd and says, “That first episode should really get most peopled hooked, if not, I don’t have much hope for them.”

“I couldn’t believe he’d never seen it, so we finished Mister and Missus Smith, that series, and now I am nerdifying him,” Malin says to Helen about making Matthew watch shows with her.

The cigarette Marlow offers, August has to take with one-hand, hold it between his fingers while also still keeping his drink in the same hand, because his other hand is busy staying with Arachne. “This looks expensive for a few minutes of smoke.” Is his only comment, but he smirk towards Marlow anyway. “I know my dear aunt always has my back.”

“Stop,” Marlow laughs at Genevieve. “If I ever find you dope nodding with a burned spoon in your hand, I’m going to make it your MyHaven profile picture,” she threatens. “Also, I want to dance with you, you’re the prettiest,” Marlow tells Genevieve shamelessly. “Always,” Marlow affirms toward August.

“Oh I liked that. With uhhh the This is America guy,” Kai finally pipes up to Malin and gravitates over her and Helen’s way, arm in arm with Rain, grinning to her a little, “I didn’t really like the ending though.”

Evalina cocks her head at Genevieve, “What did you think of it?” She wonders of the woman, “It’s not quite as fancy as La Vie, but I am kind of happy with the vibe of it, myself.” She shares before giving Helen a nod. “Certainly. But honestly, I’ve way too many outfits as is – including three little black dresses, counting the one that is damaged. I should be fine, for a while.” She tells her, entirely happy with the gentle press. She smirks at Malin after, her hair, rather bizarrely, leaves its pony tail model, taking on a dried ramen look on her head – a rather absurd one at that. It stays there for a while, the auburn-haired woman grinning, then letting it return to her pony tail. “Yeah. No. I think Matthew is more suitable for this trend.”

The curtains pull back to reveal a four person band, a bleach blonde marilyn monroe look-alike in a slinky black dress and satin gloves as the singer, and three men in suits on piano, bass and guitar. “Please give a polite welcome for the Stars Below.” Genevieve mentions and then turns back to the crowd, “For the first set of pairings we’ll go with just who people came with, so Helen and Evalina, Malin and Matthew, Arachne and August, Kai and Rain, me and Mars.” She states, “And be sure you’re listening to the soundtrack or you’ll probably miss your dance steps.” She adds. ( https://w2g.tv/?r=uoo995fip92j8h9xan )

Kai pulls his hands from his hoodie and winks at Rain, “May I have this dance?” he wonders, he dips into a brief bow and offers her his hand.

Helen a twinkle in her eye, Rain offers a mock curtsy, extending her hand to Kai, “I think you certainly may, sir.”

with a twinkle in her eye, Rain offers a mock curtsy, extending her hand to Kai, “I think you certainly may, sir.”

Malin gasps at Evalina as those tresses transform briefly. “Those were some real Soup-er Curls,” she says in a terrible pun. “Ramen Ringlets or something like that.” As Genevieve makes the announcement, she looks to Matthew. “Last time we went dancing, I was the lead. You think you can handle it this time?” she teases him.

“Well you’re supposed to say that privately, but it works out anyway.” Genevieve chides Marlow as she tugs the Pierce over to a corner of the dance floor, “Honestly I don’t super remember.” She admits to Evalina, “But I do recall it having a good vibe.” She agrees.

Matthew listens to Genevieve’s instructions, offering up a simple nod once they’re delivered, attention drifting back to the conversation at hand. He’s grinning about the show, but once pairs begin to veer off on the floor, he leads Malin to a dance.

“Who is Rain?” Marlow wonders idly as she moves to Genevieve’s side.

“Everyone always complains about the endings of shows because … I don’t really know why. It is really rare that I find the ending of a show terrible unless the show was cancelled and nobody knows what happens,” Helen says to Kai as she lifts her shoulders slightly, “But don’t spoil anything for anyone.” She watches Evalina’s hair change and laughs softly, almost reaching up to touch it before it fades back to her normal style. She shifts in her stance when Genevieve reveals the band and the partners, tilting herself in that direction and reaching to try and take Evalina’s hand, “I suppose this is us, Eva. This music seems right up your alley. This music often brings back memories.”

As the first couples are assigned, Arachne naturally turns toward August and threads her fingers through his own, drawing him out toward a place on the dance floor that’s all theirs. A helpful finger is pointed toward Rain for Marlow’s benefit, before she’s swept into a dance with the younger Pierce.

The singers satin-gloved hand curls around the microphone stand, and a complex aura of deep sapphire and shimmering silver instantly wreathes her form, the colors swirling like water and starlight in time with the pianists lush chords. She draws a breath, her voice a husky, intimate confession meant for the dark corners of the room, “What would I do without your smart mouth? Drawing me in, and you kicking me out…” The sapphire in her aura deepens, flecked with the turbulent crimson of frustration and desire as she admits, “Youre crazy and Im out of my mind.” But as the verse builds, her grip tightens and the chaos coalesces into a single, radiant gold, a visual representation of utter devotion that pulses warmly with the bossa nova rhythm. She leans into the mic, her voice swelling with soulful conviction on the chorus, “Cause all of me / Loves all of you,” the golden aura blazing so brightly it seems to illuminate the entire stage. For the bridge, her aura softens to a vulnerable, translucent rose, the colors rippling like a heartbeat as she lays her cards on the table, her voice a near-whisper that carries to the very back of the room, “Risking it all, though its hard,” before she throws her head back, offering the songs final, breathless promise to the heavens before stepping back and letting her long lashes flutter closed. ( Genevieve )

Tugged along, August sets away his glass on the nearest available surface for now, and the cigarette is pocketed inside his jacket so he can join Arachne. Slide his arms around her waist. She’s pulled close immediately first, and a motion of his hand guides; lifts one of her arms knowing she’ll follow the rest to let her fold them over his shoulders. The dip of August’s head finds Arachne’s own to press against hers in their intimacy, to simply, quietly, sway with her and the music.

Kai dances his way off toward the stairs with Rain, nodding to her. Once they clear the dance floor he presses his hand to her lower back and leads her out.

Arachne melts easily into August’s frame, her fingers threading higher along the nape of his neck as his arms secure her waist, guiding her into a slow and natural rhythm. Her lashes lower, brushing against his temple when she leans close, letting him guide her steps while she lets herself be taken away by the music.

Matthew’s hands settle on Malin’s hips, settling close and instep with her. “I don’t think I’ve heard this song before,” he murmurs to her, “do you know it.”

“Was it something I said?” Marlow wonders as the two make their exit, though her attention then turns to Genevieve.

Evalina grins at Helen, giving her a cheerful nod as her hand is taken, a gentle squeeze afforded as she turns to face her. “I do like this sort of music,” She shares, “Quite a bit. It’s soothing to me…” She leads her a little more away from the crowd with smiling eyes, then looking aside to watch the couple leave. She furrows her brow, glancing at Marlow. “Probably not?” She doesn’t seem too sure. “It’s just Kai. He’s probably off to cast some ritual or whatnot…” She furrows her brow, then her eyes return to Helen. “…I hope.”

Kai wanders back into the speakeasy sometime later and lifts his hand up at middle height, the other up by his head and dances with his imaginary friend, or perhaps a ghost. He’s fairly poor at it and seems to have no rhythm as he slow dances with the air.

“That was a fast ritual if so.” Genevieve mentions to Evalina as Kai comes back in.

A soft, yearning aura of emerald green surrounds the blonde singer, its gentle pulse synced to the guitarist’s rhythm. She leans in, her voice a husky, intimate whisper that seems to hang in the bourbon-scented air, “We’ll do it all… On our own,” the green aura shimmering with a fragile hope. As the verse builds, her grip tightens and the emerald deepens, swirling with touches of silver loneliness as she confesses, “Those three words are said too much, they’re not enough.” But on the plea of the chorus, “If I lay here… Would you lie with me and just forget the world?” her aura melts into a warm, luminous gold, a visual sigh of perfect contentment that glows in time with the walking bassline. She closes her eyes, swaying, her voice swelling with a soulful conviction for the bridge, “Show me a garden that’s bursting into life,” before she draws the final line back to a breathy, vulnerable whisper, offering the songs simple, emphatic conclusion: “Just know that these things will never change for us at all.” ( Genevieve )

“I think Kai likes to do all things fast.” Evalina quips to Genevieve, her eyes flitting to Kai with an amusement that’s tinged by an edge of worry.

Helen moves up closer to Evalina now and presses herself against the other woman. She looks briefly after the departing and arriving once again man, but seems to turn her focus to Evalina as she shrugs her shoulders, “Who knows, but for now, we can enjoy a live band and some music.” She presses lightly into the other woman, moving to lift a hand to hand, another about her waist to lead her along the dance floor as the live band sings and plays music, “It has been ages since I’ve danced like this, thank you for reminding of me of this and coming with me.”

“Sorry, my date wasn’t feeling well and I didn’t want to make her walk home,” Kai tells Genevieve, not pausing in his dance with himself. Other than that, he quiets down and continues to move along the dance floor slowly.

Matthew hugs Malin closer his hands moving from her hips up along her back as she quietly laughs against his chest. Their dance isn’t technical, just two bodies in motion, murmuring quietly to one another.

August’s hands keep Arachne in guidance of motion; they’re held waist to waist at times, swaying like a breeze, quiet beneath the din of the music like neither of them are present in the crowd, and in their own little alcove. A brief pause after Arachne laughs against August’s chest, his head dips past her cheek, dots kisses across and down the skin at the delicate incline of her neck in another hushed word. One from her side, another at her hips, she’s made to turn with August in their slow, silent semi-circle.

Evalina smiles sweetly as she dances with Helen. She lets herself be lead, happily, but there’s a skill to her. A lightness in her step, a precision in her movement. “It is my pleasure. Honestly.” She tells Helen, “I get to dance with someone as beautiful as you /and/ partake of something meaningful to you.” Her smile softens, and she slows her dance, her hands flitting to Helen’s waist, her head resting lightly against her shoulder as she lets the world melt for a long whisper of a moment, the music carrying her feet in a slow shuffle.

As the cover of Chasing Cars ends Genevieve steps back and politely applauds for the band. “Ok, partner change time.” She announces, “Hmm, Kai and Evalina, August and Mars, Arachne and Malin, Helen and Matthew.” She decides, stepping to the side herself for this set of songs.

Kai lowers his hands to his sides and heads over to Evalina, smiling at her a little, “Hey Cats,” he greets her.

The dance continues with Evalina leaning against Helen’s shoulder, but it seems like the song is ending as she smiles, leaning back, “Then it seems like we’re going to go ahead and do this more often, but it looks like we’re changing partners. I have a cow to wrangle now with Moothew.” She kisses Evalina’s cheek afterwards and gives her a squeeze.

Arachne’s eyes open when the music fades, her hands lifting in soft applause as well before Genevieve announces the new partner switch. A hand squeezes at August’s shoulder, smiling over toward Marlow before she drifts to find Malin.

As the song draws to a close Matthew murmurs a few more words to Malin, they’ve stilled and he kisses her cheek, a final exchange before they part ways to switch partners.

Evalina hesitantly untangles from Helen, leaving their slow dance with a final warm smile. Her hands briefly brush Helen’s shoulder, fussing over her, “Have fun.” She wishes unto her. Then, she’s approaching Kai, tilting her head lightly. “The last time we danced, there were swords and knives and the butt of Mason’s rifle,” She remarks with a smirk, “Hopefully this time will be more boring?”

Parting ways with Matthew, Malin moves over to Arachne, but puts on a show of it. Her blue eyes lock on the other woman’s as she struts her stuff to her and asks, “Are you the dude, or am I?” which is not produced in a sultry manner to match that approach she just did.

“I hope so,” Kai replies to Evalina and offers his hand to her, “Is my hand on your hip okay or what do you think?” he asks uncertainly, tilting his head a bit as he steps up in front of her.

August’s lips carry higher, but never off of Arachne’s skin in their ascent to nearly brush along her lips. But she draws away too fast, and he’s left amused in her wake. “Don’t eat my girlfriend, Malin.” Is all that he offers before stepping back, and turning slowly himself to Marlow. His coat his fixed in place, with a low, long look that leads right up to his shorter Aunt. “Mister Pierce,” August’s hand extends, open-palmed, offering his hand for her to take.

Arachne fills a space that Matthew vacates with a flawless smile toward Malin, fingers twining delicately through her employee’s own, drawing her in to a comfortable space for quiet words, eyes flashing with amusement. “You can lead, Malin. Just this once.

As satin-wrapped fingers curl around the microphone stand, a complex aura of deep, melancholic indigo and sharp, gilded gold instantly wreathes her form, the colors swirling like a lavish, mournful parade in time with the string section’s iconic loop. She draws a breath, her voice a husky, intimate lament that seems to crawl from the depths of the absinthe-scented air, “‘Cause it’s a bittersweet symphony, that’s life,” the indigo in her aura deepening into a oppressive, inky black as she growls the next line with a soulful, weary conviction, “Tryna make ends meet, you’re a slave to money then you die.” As the band lays down a lush, slowed-down bossa nova interpretation behind her, she leans into the mic, her aura flickering with a chaotic, fractured light, a million different colors bleeding into one another as she confesses, “But I’m a million different people from one day to the next,” the plea “I can change” emerging as a desperate, breathy whisper that causes the gilded parts of her aura to spark and flare with futile hope before being swallowed again by the dominant, resigned indigo of her mold. With a final, powerful swell from the piano, she throws her head back, the aura solidifying into a single, stark, unchanging silhouette as she delivers the last, defeated lines into the lights, “I can’t change my mold, no, no, no, no, no,” before stepping back into the shadows, leaving only the haunting, echoing final line: “Teardrop on the fire, feel this on my breath…” ( Genevieve )

Matthew smiles at Helen, offering up a small wave as she arrives closer, though Malin’s words do carry their way and he can’t help but laugh at them. But his attention is on his dance partner and as the music fills in, he offers a hand preparing to draw her in closer. “It’s been a while, I’m glad we get a chance to dance, Helen.”

Helen begins to step up towards the new spot, closer to Matthew. She waves towards him on approach, “Hey, Moothew! I told Eva that I was going to wrangle this steer and make sure he dance proper-like.” She puts on a bit of a country accent when speaking and stepping up closer, “It has been a while!” She does get drawn in closer and says, “Now, this is a slow version of this song, but it usually does hype me up, so I might lose it a little.”

Evalina takes Kai’s hand, “You can hold my hip,” She permits, “There’s no need to be shy really. Older than I look, remember?” She lets out a light hearted laugh. “I can lead if you prefer?”

“I lead, Little Pierce,” Marlow tells August, taking his hand only to tug him toward herself, the undead monster smiling sweetly up at her taller nephew.

“But that’s the best part,” Malin whines over towards August. As her face turns back to gaze at Arachne, she pouts at her deeply, and those too full lips with their filler pillow considerably. “I can’t eat you,” gets relayed, but she places her hands on the other woman’s hips and offers her shoulders or arms in return. As the music starts, she smiles and says, “Oh, I like this song,” and begins to lead in a rhythm to match the song.

Kai nods to Evalina, “Sure go ahead,” he agrees and rests his other hand lightly on her hip, he smiles at her a little and focuses his eyes on hers, “I’m not much of a dancer,” he informs her, in case she hadn’t noticed herself.

“It’s pretty sway friendly music.” Genevieve points out from where she sips her drink, “Everyone can sway.”

“I wouldn’t have it any other way, ma’am,” August agrees with Marlow, because he seemingly had the same idea when he’s led to her gravitational pull. Her hands are set on his waist, with his arms that carefully and slowly curve up her shoulders to fold in place not too differently than how Arachne held him earlier as they fall into a slow, simple rhythm. Perhaps a bit too intimate, with how he leans closer, and at least efforts to make-up for their different heights to give her the reins, so to speak.

Matthew dances proper like, a hand on Helen’s hip, the other holding her hand as he begins to move with the rhythm of the music. “Wrangled?” he asks, but the song begins to pick up and he steps back, spinning Helen. “NO need, this steer is a prime dancer!”

Arachne lets out a soft laugh at Malin’s dramatics, sliding easily into the rhythm as those hands claim her hips. “No one said you couldn’t try, but I don’t think it’d work out in your favor,” she returns slyly, her own palms settling lightly against Malin’s arms, allowing herself to be guided for the sake of the moment, swaying back and forth. “It’s not a bad song, no. I think this one will sneak into my playlist later.”

Evalina grins, leading Kai with a quiet confidence, “Don’t worry about it love. Just trust in me. Follow me as much as you can. I’ll slow down to match you.” She suggests, trying to lead the man, “Don’t try to think too much. Close your eyes, if it makes it easier. Try to move with the music – let your body lead you.”

“Wrangled!” Helen exclaims to Matthew as he steps back and she begins to spin. She keeps a graceful air about it, but she clearly isn’t some expert dancer. She does catch herself from spinning too much and then leans in back towards the man, “Prime dancer!”

Kai nods a few times at Evalina, returning her grin, though he doesn’t close his eyes. He does, however, let Evalina lead him around and does his best to not step on her feet, “Move with the music,” he repeats and tries to do that.

Gnashing her teeth, Malin playfully moves in towards Arachne’s neck, but doesn’t actually make any contact. “Remember that one time you thought I was a vampire, and hired me to teach a new one how to feed?” she asks, sides shaking as she holds back a laugh. As she guides Arachne on the dance floor, the motions are subtle, keeping in time, and she does not attempt to seduce August’s woman.

The singer’s dress catches the light as she glides to the microphone, she leans in, her voice a husky, intimate whisper that drips with contradiction as she confesses, “I’m good at keepin’ it cute, but on the inside, I’m freakin’ out,” As she finishes the first line she grasps the microphone with her satin gloved hand, a chaotic aura of freaking out crimsons and pinks appears around her, pulsing in time to the music. A sly, dangerous smile plays on her lips as she growls the bridge, “Come on and cross my heart and hope to die, I’m thinkin’ somewhere in between your thighs,” her aura deepens to a lustful, midnight purple while the golden sparks flicker in time to the strums of the guitar. She throws her head back as she hits the chorus, no longer a confession but a demand, her voice soaring with a raw, unguarded need, “Baby, ruin my life! I want it bad, I swear, that I’m really not scared,” the lie laid bare by the shy, fluttering pink that now tints the very edges of her emotional aura as she delivers the final, breathy admission, “I’m just a little bit shy.” ( Genevieve )

Evalina nods softly towards Kai, gently squeezing his hand. “You’re doing wonderfully, I promise,” She assures the man, “Dancing is less about technique,” She murmurs, “And more about relaxing. So long as the music guides you, at worst, you’ll just be… unconventional.” She tells the man, “Everything else we learn… It’s just different ways of expression. Like the vocabulary to the melody of our conversation.”

Arachne tips her head back just enough to avoid Malin’s feigned bite landing close, a wry smile tugging her lips as the memory resurfaces. “I remember,” she answers without hesitation, her tone threaded with just a hint of amusement as her high-heeled feet follow Malin’s subtle lead across the floor. “In my defense, I do believe you could have taught them well regardless.”

Kai nods to Evalina, quieting himself a bit as he starts to relax a bit, he smiles at her a little and continues to dance along with her, his gaze fixed on her, “How’ve you been? Haven’t seen you in a while, other than rescues,” he murmurs to her quietly.

Matthew steers Helen back in before she can spin out too fast, anchoring her with a steadying hand as it settles back to her hip. As the next song plays on, he picks up the steps, leading the pair in a small circuit around the dance floor.

“My plan to use beet juice to replace the blood was pretty fantastic, I think,” Malin relays to Arachne about her shenanigans for that poor vampire boy. “We’ve both been confused for vampires, now, so I think that automatically puts us into some sort of sisterhood,” she says in a tone that is insistent while continuing in mellow movements, keeping it languid.

Evalina gives a complicated expression to Kai, “Not the best, honestly,” She admits quietly, “But I live, right? Best we can hope for in this city.” A faint smile as she leads him just a little closer, her eyes distant. “So how have you been? Your new relationship going well?”

Genevieve applauds politely before announcing the next set of dancers, “Mars and Matthew, Helen and Vie, Malin and Evalina, Kai and Arachne.”

Malin steps back a little from Arachne, and attempts to guide one of woman’s hands away from her shoulder to press a chaste kiss to the knuckles. “Thank you for the dance, Queen,” is said graciously.

Kai wanders away from Evalina, he gives her a chipper smile that he keeps plastered on his face as he looks to Arachne, dipping into a respectful bow to her.

“No.” August stops immediately, with a hand that slides off of Marlow’ shoulder to settle on her side. The look he casts aside at Genevieve, it is the usual Pierce stare, down to every, immediate, demeaning hostility with which they stare. And after a beat, he glances at Marlow, then slips out of her grasp. “I’ll take Kai instead. Arachne can take Mars.”

Evalina cocks her head, considering Kai, “…Just the usual, honestly.” The faintest, fakest, smile – and she’s retracting from their dance with a smooth step, giving him a small nod before turning to find Malin, offering her a hand after sending off a text.

Helen looks through the crowd of dancing partners to try and find Genevieve. She waves and walks over towards her, taking in a deep breath for some reason as she approaches.

Matthew parts from Helen and begins looking over the crowd for his partner, making way over to Marlow. “Another Ma- pairing, is the worlds ready?”

Malin makes her approach to Evalina, offering up a sincere smile. The hand that is presented is accepted and she relays, “I feel like you aren’t one who likes to lead…”

“I’m not sure that would have gone over as smoothly as you liked, but it’s an interesting idea at least,” Arachne supposes toward Malin as she steps back, looking over toward her next matched dance partner. “Oh. This was over so soon,” she realizes, only to see August moving to dance with Kai instead, so she just moves to the side.

Kai turns his chipper smile to August and moves over to join him instead, offering out a hand to the fellow.

“Arachne, come have a threesome with me and your cousin, lovely,” Marlow says as August butts in to steal Kai.

Helen closes the distance towards Genevieve and she smiles at the other woman as she gets closer and then, with a big exhale, she exaggeratingly begins to try and blow at the front of Genevieve’s dress, though she only leans in close enough to make the joke without being close enough to get anywhere… too close. She then leans up and watches, to see if there is a reaction, “I had to try!” She offers a hand afterwards, “This is a really sweet idea, it lets people speak and maybe do something they normally wouldn’t, socialize as they normally wouldn’t. Shall we?” She leaves her hand offered, a neutral positioning, to allow either of them to elad.

The singer steps up to the microphone, her hands behind her back as she shifts her hips in time to the bass’s walking line, leaning forward as her eyes flutter open and her voice drips with admiration. “Everybody loves you, baby… You should trademark your face,” As she leans in her cheek brushes the microphone and a shimmering, desperate aura of rose-gold and anxious silver instantly wreathes her form. With a soulful conviction thats both playful and pleading, she growls the central proposition, “Give me a call if you ever get lonely, Ill be like one of your girls or your homies,” her aura deepening to a lustful, midnight purple as she delivers the bridge with a breathy catch, “Face card, no cash, no credit, Yes, God, dont speak, you said it.” The band locks into a slinky groove behind her, the nylon-string guitar weaving around the pianos jazzy harmonies as she throws her head back, the rose-gold aura blazing into a final, passionate crimson on the raw, unguarded need of the last line, before suddenly vanishing as she breaks contact, “Give me a call if you ever get desperate, Ill be like one of your girls.” ( Genevieve )

Matthew looks towards Arachne, beckoning her way, “Yes, get in here, let’s make this a real family affair,” he insists, flashing Marlow a smile. He can’t help it and then throws in, “You have amazing eyes, Mars.” He wonders of his cousin, “right?”

Evalina giggles softly to Malin, “Oh my, reading me are you?” She tilts her head at the woman, then nods. “You wouldn’t be wrong. But I do make exceptions at times,” She suggests as she tries to coax Malin into a close dance.

And while still holding that venomous look, August takes Kai’s hand. It’s aggressive, too, how he steps forward, leads Kai’s hand up to lay it on his shoulder, and brings one of his own to the man’s side, and another on their shoulder. All in all, a polite endeavor, where neither of them leads, and neither of them is lead. A truly mismatched pair.

“Don’t make it more awkward than it has to be,” Arachne shakes her head in light exasperation at Matthew and someone as she sashays over, glancing between the pair of them. “How shall we do this then? I suspect the Vice President is leading, Matthew in the middle?”

Kai keeps a chipper smile on his face as he stares through August’s head, resting his hand on August’s shoulder as instructed and sways lightly from side to side to the music.

“Don’t make it more awkward than it has to be,” Arachne shakes her head in light exasperation at Matthew and Marlow as she sashays over, glancing between the pair of them. “How shall we do this then? I suspect the Vice President is leading, Matthew in the middle?”

“I tend to read people pretty well!” Malin claims to Evalina of her natural talent. “No stepping on my back today, though,” she teases her newest dance partner as she takes the lead and slim digits rest against Evalina’s hips. “No room for Jesus is your style,” gets claimed next, as if this is some great insight as the woman closes in.

The tallest of the three Matthew does not seem keen on being the meat in this sandwich. “Uh, how about we…” and he proceeds to line up beside Marlow, “hope the next one has some pep and we just do a bit of a line dance,” he reasons, glancing between the pair.

Evalina snorts, “You’re telling the Angelborn she has no room for Jesus?” She wonders of Malin, “Maybe I should step on your back indeed. He’s like my idol, you know?” She worries her lower lip, “Jesus Christ is my n-” She doesn’t finish the sentence. “…My lord and savior.” Is instead given, solemnly, before she focuses on the dance. Happy to let Malin lead her, a smile on her face.

It looks like, after a short word given by August, there is an absence of anything else from August and Kai, where they simply sway – while Kai holds a plastered smile, and August avoids looking them in the face, more occupied by staring elsewhere, plausibly over their shoulder and anywhere except them, same as they are.

“Who is Shiloh?” Marlow asks, brows furrowing as she pauses, staring at Matthew.

“Isn’t that sacrilegious or something?” Malin wonders aloud, peering at Evalina when she uses the word ‘idol’ as she begins to guide her dance partner on the floor. Swaying and turning like a high school slow dance, the moves are simple. “Yoy need to work on your presentation when trying to convince people of your devotion.” A beat. “I think Jesus is my Homeboy is appropriate when someone is as devout as you are.”

Diamonds on her wrist sparkle as the singer leans into the microphone… “It doesn’t hurt me… Do you wanna feel how it feels?” As she steps forward her finger trails up the microphone and a turbulent aura of bruised violet and electric blue crackles to life around her, its edges flickering with the anxious, golden pulse of the nylon-string guitar. The violet in her aura deepens to a near-black as she pleads with a raw, soulful conviction, “And if I only could, I’d make a deal with God,” the colors swirling into a desperate, impossible climb. With a breathy catch, she delivers the title, the aura blazing into a single, focused streak of crimson ambition racing up an invisible slope, “Be runnin’ up that road, be runnin’ up that hill.” For the bridge, her aura softens to a vulnerable, heartbroken rose as she turns the question inward, her voice a near-whisper that hangs in the bourbon-scented air, “Tell me, we both matter, don’t we?” before the music swells again and she throws her head back, the crimson streak returning with renewed force on the final, breathless promise, “I’d be runnin’ up that hill with no problems.” ( Genevieve )

Mirabel steps inside and looks around at length, studying the dancing pairs. “Goodness gracious,” she remarks. “How intimate.”

Matthew does not get his wish and is in fact manhandled by Marlow – who doesn’t have to try hard to force the Montrose into position to be sandwiched between her and Arachne. He’s not in much position to fight it, and accepts his fate, swaying with the music as he speaks in low tones.

“Jesus Christ is my gurrrrrl.” Evalina returns to Malin with an exaggerated accent, her own moves smooth, precise. Not quite professional, but not entirely new either. “So how’s your life? Busy still?” Beat. “Having fun at least, I hope?”

“Hey Mirabel.” Genevieve greets Mirabel with a smile over Helen’s shoulder. “I’ll put you into rotation next set of dances, you can text me or slip me a note if you have someone you’d prefer to be matched with.” She explains.

Kai blinks how and then but otherwise just gazes straight ahead through August’s face, he continues to smile chipperly as he dances along with August in a light swaying motion.

“Oh, I’m sure I could handle anyone you might present me with,” Mirabel decides and smiles blithely at Genevieve. “This reminds me of prom.”

“I think you’ve now encountered heresy,” Malin feigns offense as Evalina makes her proclamation, and their bodies continue to sway and shift to the beat of the live band’s performance. “Life has been pretty busy with work, but Matthew and I managed to get out of town for three days and relax in Big Sur, which was super nice. We have a couple more trips planned. What about you? Have you done anything exciting as of late?”

As the song ends, Genevieve looks around briefly, “Ok Mirabel and Kai, Mars and Malin, Helen and August, Arachne and Vie, Matthew and Evalina.”

Evalina gives Malin a slow nod, “Heresy indeed…” She pretends at a panicked sadness, “Whatever do I do? However do I repent for my-” And then the bell interrupts her act. She smiles, “Nothing as exciting as dancing with your boyfriend,” She quips with a wink, then taking a single step back. “Time to find out what it takes to make a Malin tick-”

“Whatever you’re thinking, stop thinking it,” Marlow tells Matthew, following his gaze.

Malin says, “Thank you for the dance,” to Evalina, winking at her. “I’ll deal with your heretical soul later.”

Kai steps back from August and gives a light bow to the man, he turns and joins Mirabel on the dance floor, a chipper smile fixed on his face as he approaches her, “Hello, Miss Kane.”

Malin raises both medium width eyebrows as she makes her way to Marlow. “Twins can dance together without it being weird, right?”

A haze of deep violet and electric indigo swirls around the singer as she bobs her head in time to the beat, bleach blonde bob swaying. She leans in, her voice a low, shadowy croon that cuts through the bourbon-scented air as she growls, “Your girl on the road, she doin’ promo,” the indigo in her aura deepening into something secretive and intimate. The guitarist picks out a slinky, nocturnal riff while the pianist layers in muted, dissonant chords that underscore the tension in her delivery. Her tone shifts to a growl of raw desire as she confesses, “I only love it when you touch me, not feel me,” the violet in her aura igniting into a sudden, hungry crimson. With a breathy, almost dangerous sincerity, she lets the chorus climax linger, “When I’m fucked up, that’s the real me, babe, that’s the real me, babe.” ( Genevieve )

“Good evening, Mister Ashford. No funny business, young man,” Mirabel warns Kai. She reaches for the student’s right hand and puts it above her hip. “Try not to step on my feet. I don’t imagine you’ve ever taken dance classes.”

As if that round couldn’t end any faster, August breaks away from Kai immediately, without returning his bow, or anything else in his turn. His coat is fixed again, and he even brushes away the spot at his side where he was held, but he collects himself quietly, and quickly by the time he joins Helen. His hands is held out, either for Helen to take, or to guide, with a mismatched smile that doesn’t extend to his eyes in the slightest as the only lingering expression of his mood. “Would you like to lead?”

Matthew laughs at something Marlow says, and just shakes his head turning to watch as someone makes her way towards him. “And time for me to finally meet Cats and Coffee in the flesh. He guides a hand to his shoulder and then rests his own at her hip before claiming her other in his own, beginning to lead.

Matthew laughs at something Marlow says, and just shakes his head turning to watch as Evalina makes her way towards him. “And time for me to finally meet Cats and Coffee in the flesh. He guides a hand to his shoulder and then rests his own at her hip before claiming her other in his own, beginning to lead.

Helen approaches August now after departing from Genevieve and she waves towards him, smiling as she comes up closer, “Good evening, August. It seems like you have been having some interesting dances so far.” She shrugs her shoulders and offers her hand, to allow August to lead, “I think to help you recover from that last experience, you go ahead and lead.”

Matthew laughs at something Marlow says, and just shakes his head turning to watch as Evalina makes her way towards him. “And time for me to finally meet Cats and Coffee in the flesh.” He guides a hand to his shoulder and then rests his own at her hip before claiming her other in his own, beginning to lead. [fix]

“Yes Ma’am, I’ll try not to step on you and no ma’am I haven’t,” Kai replies and rests his hand where Mirabel puts it, offering his other hand to hers, “If you want to lead that’s cool with me,” he adds, his chipper smile relaxing into a smaller, more genuine one.

“A palate cleanser?” August muses with the inkling of a more genuine shift in the way he smiles, and slides his hand beneath Helen’s to lift her hand up to his shoulder. When he steps close, there’s room enough for Jesus between them, and his hand only politely settles high on her side, and superficially too. “I’m very thankful.”

Evalina chuckles softly at Matthew, “This’ll be my last dance.” She says out loud for Genevieve’s benefit, letting him lead her in a dance, “We’ve met before, I’ll have you know,” She remarks cheekily, “But it’s good to have some time to chat.” A smile.

Casey makes her way inside the speakeasy, looking around rather awkwardly. She’s come late and as a result everyone appears to be paired off, this naturally puts her on the sidelines to linger just a little while.

Genevieve glances over Arachne’s shoulder at Casey, “Hi there, I don’t think we’ve met, I’m Vie. I can add you into the rotation next set of songs.” She says and glances over at Evalina with a little nod.

“I think it’s best that I do,” Mirabel tells Kai primly and puts one palm on the young man’s shoulder while fitting the other into his hand. If and when the music resumes, she sways into the first step, guiding him with an air of calm insistence. “This new girlfriend of yours is very eager to start her book club. It’s good of you to find one that has sensible, studious priorities.”

Swaying along with Malin, Marlow levels a glare over at Matthew, though the sound of Genevieve’s voice draws her attention and her look softens slightly.

Kai nods in agreement as he follows Mirabel’s lead, listening to her talk, his gaze on hers as he tries his best not to step on her feet, “Yes, ma’am,” he agrees.

The singer’s satin-gloved hand curls around the microphone stand, and a swirling aura of passionate crimson and shimmering gold instantly envelops her, pulsing in sync with the upright basss walking line as she shifts her hips in time to the beat. Leaning into the mic, her voice is a husky, intimate whisper as she begins, “We go together / Better than birds of a feather, you and me,” the gold in her aura sparkling with delight. As she confesses, “Youre the medicine and the pain, the tattoo inside my brain,” the crimson deepens, swirling with hints of turbulent violet. The band locks into a slinky, bossa nova groove, the nylon-string guitar weaving around the pianists sophisticated chords, while she sways, her delivery growing breathy and conspiratorial on the chorus: “Say the word and Ill go anywhere blindly.” Her aura flares into a blazing, devoted gold as she declares, “Its true, Im a sucker for you,” before she steps back, letting the final line linger like a promise in the bourbon-and-absinthe scented air: “Im a sucker for you.” ( Genevieve )

Casey gives a shrug to Genevieve, letting them know. “I’m Casey. I’m not sure if I’m staying.” she does seem distracted by her phone, or is just hiding behind it to look busy.

“I Know we’ve met!” Matthew insists of Evalina as the pair continue to work around the dance floor, “but we’ve never really talked before,” gets noted. His eyes flit towards Casey, offering her a small nod of recognition. He totally misses Marlow’ look, he’s too busy smiling.

Malin snickers at Marlow as she glares at Matthew. “Don’t look at my man that way. My mentally fragile self cannot handle it, I fear.”

Evalina tilts her head at Matthew, putting down her own phone. “Well then, now we get to talk,” She cocks her head. “How’s your life been? What does the great influencer, Mootthew, get up to?”

“You’ve been relatively well-behaved lately, too,” Mirabel ventures, smiling sedately at Kai while she leads him in a slow, meandering dance. “Keep your hand where I put it, mind you. I don’t see what business it could possibly have back there.”

Kai keeps his hand up and where Mirabel initially put it, but at her words he also lifts it up so he’s not actually touching her and lets his hand hover over her with about an inch or so of distannce, swaying along with her direction, “Thank you, Miss Kane, I’m trying,” he replies.

“Goodness. You don’t have to look like a dolt, either,” Mirabel huffs and guides Kai’s hand back onto her hip, her voice edged with a sort of verbal eyeroll. “You know, did we ever do your swimming aptitude test when you first enrolled? I vaguely remember that you came with me to the beach.”

Genevieve applauds politely again, “Ok, Kai and Matthew, Mirabel and August, Malin and Vie, Mars and Arachne.” She decides after a moment, “I think this will be the last official pairing for the evening. Let me just grab Evalina’s coat.”

“Oh, that’s right,” Mirabel remarks, chortling lightheartedly at something Kai said rather quietly. “You didn’t have any swim trunks and–ah. Mister Pierce, I’ve got a few choice words for you while we waltz about. Come here, young man.”

“Thank you for the dance, Miss Kane,” Kai tells someone and steps back from her, gives her a slight bow and turns to head over toward Matthew.

“Thank you for the dance, Miss Kane,” Kai tells Mirabel and steps back from her, gives her a slight bow and turns to head over toward Matthew.

“I said what I said,” Marlow tells Malin gravely as the next pairings are announced.

Evalina smiles at Matthew, “Can I just say you’re a perfect gentleman?” She praises, “Honestly, if you didn’t have a beautiful woman…” A wink follows, and she’s retracting, then taking her coat and giving Genevieve a friendly smile. “It was lovely to see you,” She glances at Helen after, “Don’t worry, I’ll just be smoking a cigarette, I won’t just abandon you.”

“And I definitely heard you,” Malin is still looking over at Marlow, snickering and shaking her head head. Clearly, the two have severely different views on some topic. As she moves over to Genevieve, she asks, “And what about you? Do you like to lead or be the bitch?” in the most delicate of manners that one could possibly manage in airing such a question.

“Tell me what you need?” is whispered into the microphone as a fierce, life-giving aura of deep crimson and fertile green blooms around the singer, pulsing with the heavy notes of the piano. She sways with deliberate grace, her voice swelling from a husky invitation into a soulful declaration-“Im a motherfucker, but they got a problem / Put some babies in your life and take away the drama”-as the piano lays down rich jazz harmonies and the guitarist accents her phrases. The crimson in her aura deepens into a regal, golden glow when she growls, “You would never know a God without the goddesses,” her delivery radiating both power and tenderness. As she nears the end, her touch on the mic softens, the aura melting into a warm, rose-gold shimmer as she breathes the final plea, “Let me be your woman” ( Genevieve )

Matthew breaks from someone with a smile, “Good to speak with you too,” he says and makes way over to Kai, offering him a faintly amused smile. The other guy is met with a hand up, halting him from making contact. “Let’s see what the next song is,” he insists.

Matthew breaks from Evalina with a smile, “Good to speak with you too,” he says and makes way over to Kai, offering him a faintly amused smile. The other guy is met with a hand up, halting him from making contact. “Let’s see what the next song is,” he insists.

“I can’t lead and be a bitch?” Genevieve wonders of Malin petulantly.

“Well, show me you can, then,” Malin demands of Genevieve.

Kai nods to Matthew as he heads over his way, he keeps his hands at his sides and waits for the next song, glancing off to the stage momentarily.

Helen flutters a wave towards the others moving to their dance partners, “I might take having no dance partner this time as an excuse to head out. I have a few things to do before it gets too dark outside. This was fun!” She begins to walk towards the nearby exit afterwards.

“You’re well-dressed, at least. My compliments,” Mirabel says after looking August over, smiling placidly. While putting her hand on his shoulder, she asks, “Just what happened to my portrait, young man? It was almost finished.”

The song does kick on Matthew begins dancing without contact. “This is fast enough,” he insists of Kai, “you know how to dance, Kai?”

Genevieve places one hand on Malin’s hip and the other in her hand as she steps into leading her, “Did you see that hooker who walked in and out again?” She asks, “I think she was having an allergic reaction from the lack of Syphilis in the air.” She comments as she leads.

“Of course, Miss Kane.” August settles with Mirabel. He extends his hand, quite simply, to take hers and lead himself closer to her while she’s putting her hand on his shoulder. One of his settled above her hip, with the other still holding Mirabel’s hand in the curve of his palm in a more traditionally fast-paced shindig, given the faster song. “You know, I just can’t find it in myself to part with it. It has been sitting in my private gallery for the longest time; we’ve been absent from the public eye in turns, I was worried people would say we’re the same person because we’re never in the same place together.”

“Nope!” Kai replies, seemingly relieved that there won’t be contact, he lifts both hands up and dances terribly in place, a little grin on his face, “How’s it going?” he asks her.

Malin moves her hands easily to hold one of Genevieve’s and place the other on a shoulder. “I am totally out of the loop on who is a sex worker and who isn’t these days. Am I even living anymore?” She requests, “Check my pulse?” of Genevieve in a dramatically toned question. “How do you feel about open communication between couples, Vie? Is it a bad trait?”

Malin glances casually over at Marlow, and winks.

“I suppose *have* been a little bit like ships in the night; but still, I do want a portrait. Perhaps I’ll just have to sit for another, if you’re so attached to the first one,” Mirabel ventures, looking mildly flattered despite herself. With the faster song, she sets into motion almost briskly. “Surely nobody could think we’re the same person. I haven’t got your natural talent for surly brooding.”

“Terrible.” Genevieve tells Malin, “Open communication totally ruins all the fun of having to steal their phone while they’re asleep.” She explains.

“Are we human?” Mirabel asks Malin while dancing past.

Matthew steps out from in front of Kai and over to his side, he’s demonstrating a cumbia, quietly explaining something about the steps to him.

A small spurt of laughter erupts past Malin’s lips as Genevieve replies. “Perfect. You and Mars will work out then, exceedingly well.”

“See?” Marlow tells Malin, as if she’s won something, before turning back to gossping at Arachne.

“I’m not, but I’ve never done a blood test on you,” Malin replies to Mirabel whilst dancing with Genevieve, and she nods to Marlow. “There is more than one of your kind in this world, I see. I still appreciate how open and honest Matthew is.”

“Ah, don’t sell yourself short,” August assures Mirabel. “You have quite the heart-piercing stare, Miss Kane. I’d even say it puts even me to shame.” In their continued dance, when the initial song turns to a slower one, so does the motions. Dancing past Malin and Genevieve, with a little turn so August can keep Mirabel within bounds of whomever she decides to speak. “I will eventually find it in myself to give you your painting, I promise. But if you do wish for another,” That smile, it’s quieter, almost a bit teasing, “I’ll have to charge you.”

Kai is focused on his feet as Matthew shows him some moves, he starts out slow but starts to pick it up after a couple of minutes, eventually he nods to Matthew and grins a little, “Nice, thanks,” he tells Matthew.

“Good for both of you. I’m genuinely so happy that you and Matthew overshare every little thing,” Arachne calls over toward Malin playfully, a faint smile given August’s way before she’s swept back into her gossip with Marlow.

Genevieve’s lips quirk into a grin at Malin, “Well she did bring me diamond studded roses so I think I’m more or less obligated to, otherwise I’d be a terrible sex worker.” She points out.

Matthew hears them and offers up to Genevieve and Malin, “She’s had plenty of access to my phone,” he comments, “And one time I even just left it in her care to respond for me since I was busy.” With what, he doesn’t elaborate, looking back to Kai. “Yeah, exactly, so then–” he reaches forward with both hands, “you hold your girl’s hips, and you get in nice and close and–” he mimes it, “it’s a good dance.”

Kai backs up a bit to give himself some room and rests both of his hands out in front of him at about mid-height as he continues to practice the dance, nodding to Matthew with another grin, “Yep,” he says, “I could see that.”

“Is that how a sex worker’s performance is measured?” Malin looks like she feels even more out of the loop now as she asks that question Genevieve’s way. “Arachne, we are both tee emm eye-ers. He and I tell each other everything.”

“Is that so?” Mirabel asks and raises her eyebrows at August. The slower song prompts her to pull the student a little closer, lips curving into a smug smile. Over the course of a few musical beats, she presses forward, seeking to lead the young man into a series of backwards steps. “I’d like to see you try, Mister Pierce.”

“You love your secrets too much to overshare with anyone,” August informs Arachne, quite helpfully, with a warmer smirk, but it’s short-lived in favor of focusing on Mirabel. He’s pulled just that much closer with the turn of his head, and the smile is lesser in favor of the usual sternity of his expression. The dip of his head maintains the alignment of those oft baleful eyes with Mirabel’s, while he’s carefully stepping where she does, after she does it, holding onto her pace like it’s simply second nature that’s well-beaten into him. “I wouldn’t actually dare to try, ma’am, I know when I’m in more experienced hands.”

“That’s it,” Matthew encourages Kai, he continues with the steps, dancing by himself rather than dancing with an invisible partner. He’s no longer dancing a cumbia, now he’s vibing, breaking for the bar to get a drink.

“Hello…” Comes the soft, drawn our lyric, “I’ve waited here for you…” Her eyes flick up to meet the audience as she grasps the microphone and an aura of deep indigo and flickering, anxious gold instantly wreathes her form, its pulse synced to the iconic base line. “Everlong…” She sings as she makes eye contact and the aura blazes to life. Her grip tightens and she leans in, the gold in her aura sparking with a desperate hope as she pleads with raw, soulful conviction, “Come down and waste away with me,” before her voice soars on the chorus, the aura blazing into a single, brilliant white of transcendent wonder, “And I wonder, when I sing along with you, if everything could ever be this real forever?” The band swells behind her, the pianist adding lush, jazz harmonies that buoy her breathy, vulnerable prayer, “You’ve got to promise not to stop when I say when,” the final word drawn out into a throaty, surrendering sigh that lingers long after the last note from the guitar has faded. ( Genevieve )

“It’s good to see that you have some sense,” Mirabel informs August, looking a little bit triumphant. She seems to have no qualms with full contact of the front of her body with his, though after the dance grows long, she does lets out a huff and remarks, “I’m not twenty-five anymore, I’m certainly discovering that.”

Kai lowers his hands to his sides and continues to work on his dance, which is probably a little odd looking since he isn’t engaging his arms in the dance, his features tight with concentration.

Matthew returns with his drink, settling into Kai’s gravity as he dances his solo dance with the younger guy. He’s abandoned the cumbia in favor of his own freestyle of moves. “Kai,” he says, “you know how to do–” he starts to do a heel-toe shuffle, “this move?”

Kai shakes his head at Matthew and replies, “Nope,” he admits and looks down at the man’s feet, too absorbed in the dance to notice that the sun has set. It doesn’t help that they’re underground either.

As Everlong ends, Genevieve applauds for the band who bow and head off the stage. “Ok everyone, that’s it for the official part of the event, but do feel free to stay and what have you for as long as you’d like.”

“Let’s reserve the art studio in Plymouth Hall sometime this month so I can sit for another portrait,” Mirabel decides and lets go of August’s shoulder. “You can choose the style of the next one. The first was very good.”

“You certainly could’ve fooled me.” August reassures, even dares, to break away a step, and extend his arm along with Mirabel for a moment of separation. Although it doesn’t quite fit the music, the lift of his arm leads Mirabel into a soft little spin on her heels before being pulled right back, just as the song changes to a slower tune with the end of the band to make it right and fitting. With his hands resettling above her hips, to a slower, normal sway, he dips his head to get in another word. “You’re a teacher both in class and on stage, I think I can say I learnt a thing or two from you tonight.”

Matthew grins at Kai, “Next time,” he says, “or if you ever wanna actually get some dance lessons…” he shrugs, “I’ll teach you what I know, Kai.”

“That’d be great,” Kai replies to Matthew, grinning back at the fellow, he checks the time on his phone and winces, “Oof… I’d like to stay but, full moon and all. I’ll catch you later?” he asks Matthew.

“Goodness!” Mirabel remarks in surprise, but she makes it through the spin in one piece. “Well, I’m glad to hear it, Mister Pierce.”