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Blue Evening Sugar
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"Wait, I thought you just said you were a fashion designer, you didn't mention dancing before."
"Well, dancing's kinda my new big thing. I used to just do fashion, but I've been branchin' out a bit."
"So they just let you do whatever you want in Balzan?"
"Mmm, it's more like they, uh... guide you, kinda. Help you find your talents and develop them." Roz lowers her voice to a mock whisper. "But I think the guy who told me I should do it just wanted to see my tits bounce around!"
"O-oh. I--" you almost say you don't blame him, but you catch yourself "--uh, did he?"
"Hell yeah he did!" Roz guffaws. "No skin off my nose if he had fun with it, though -- I love dancin'! Plus it was just a good idea, I'm pretty damn good at it now, if I do say so myself!"
"So you uh, dance naked?" As though you don't already know the answer.
"I mean, I do and I don't. Usually for actual performances I'll have some kinda costume on, 'cuz that's more interesting 'n there's usually some kinda theme or message, but I usually practice in the buff, more comfortable that way." Roz shrugs. "Balzan's prolly the most cool about bein' naked out of all the Dars, so it's not like anyone minds."
Like anyone would, you think to yourself. "Oh, uh, I guess that makes sense. So... what do you dance to?"
"It depends, really. Mostly it's to music made by other people in Balzan, but my gig at the fair has a lil' more... meaning behind it. We have, like, traditional songs 'n dances 'n stuff that're all about Vesper and our history 'n what makes us unique -- 'n the dance I'm doin' at the fair is all about our history and how Vesper was founded in the first place."
"What if I joined Balzan? What do you think I'd be good at there?"
"Beats me! We usually cut sigarzghars loose 'n let 'em experiment with whatever they wanna, 'til they find their passion, y'know? So it's really all about you."
"So what does Balzan do the rest of the year? Is it all just here, or do you put on shows, uh, 'off-shelf', too?"
"Well, we do a lotta stuff here at home, we gotta entertain everyone on the shelf after all -- but we do send some people to put on shows all over the place, on other shelves 'n stuff. They say if my number at the fair goes good, I'll be ready to go on tour myself!"
"Oh wow, that sounds exciting." And like a possible avenue off of this rock.
"It is! But scary."
"What about the other Dars? What do you think of them -- who do you think would be good to join?"
"Well, you really oughta join Balzan, wink wink, nudge nudge," Roz chuckles. "But seriously, uh, let's see... Dar Blin's pretty cool. Balzan 'n Blin are like this --" she holds her hands out, weaving her fingers together "-- best buddies. They're always helpin' us out with all kindsa technical stuff. Most of our stagehands 'n stuff are from Blin. They know their stuff too, lemme tell you! No way any of us could go on tour without 'em. Grixti's alright I guess, although there used to be some bad blood between them 'n us 'cuz they split off from us. Food's great, though!" She pauses to think for a moment. "Funtana's pretty good too, kind of a buzzkill sometimes but you won't find nicer people... just look at Cider! Can't really say much about Nevian 'n Zahra, don't really get on with 'em much, but they seem like they're all business all the time. We sure as hell need 'em though, they keep this place up 'n running." She sighs. "And that leaves Ormi. Ormi's... complicated. And not just 'cuz of Millie. Like, they're kinda in charge in a lot of ways I guess, which makes 'em kind of a pain in the ass. Not gonna say they're bad people, but... I usually steer clear of 'em."
"So basically, if I don't join Balzan, you want me to join Blin."
Roz shakes her head, putting her hands out defensively. "Nonono! You should go with whoever's right for you! I mean, sure, I like you a lot and I wanna have you in my dar, but y'know... it's your choice, not mine, I'm not gonna tell you who to pick. Even if you pick Ormi."
"I guess I'll know the right choice when I'm ready," you sigh.
"Yeah, you will! Once you kinda get a look up close, you'll know who you wanna join. Getting in's another story, but it usually isn't too bad."
"So about the fair -- when does it start, and how long does it last?"
"Like in a week and a half, 'n it's a week long." She grins. "Just thinkin' 'bout it's givin' me butterflies in my tummy. But in a good way!"
"Are uh, sigar-whatevers allowed at the fair?"
"Of course you are, the fair's about you as much as it is about the rest of us!" Roz laughs. "Hmm, I think the water's ready."
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