2019-07-25 - Two New Prospects

It's pretty damn late at this strip club, and equally damn empty. A couple stray customers line the bar as booty hip-hop music reverberates from the sound system, but the main event -- the club's stage and solitary pole -- is conspicuously vacant.

Behind the bar, Antonio is slinging the drinks. He's overdressed for the occasion in a dark suit, and puffs from a vape e-cigarette in between orders.

Platinum Cabaret. Dahlia had been hearing about it. A few fleeting comments from patrons at Firefly. Some stuff on Friendzone hinting that there was more than just pretty girls dancing. Dahlia was curious, and that curiosity only piqued further when she had been asked to check it out. She had been debating on going and seeing what it was like, potentially trying for a part time dancer gig. The request cemented her decision.

Walking in through the front doors, Dahlia was dressed with the complete intent to get noticed. Despite the fact that the place was lacking in customers. A black skirt that stopped a little above her mid thigh. A pink halter topped that showed just enough clevage to leave you guessing, and maybe a little tempted. Hair pulled back into a neat ponytail, bangs carefully styled. A pair of black stilettos to match. Those bright green eyes slowly sizing up the place as she made her way towards the bar, leaning up against it casually. "Can I get a Bourbon straight up?" Flashing Antonio an easy smile.

Coming inside, Lyric is dressed in what is her normal attire. Her jeans have slashes across them all the way down the front of each leg showing bare skin beneath. Her shirt is a babydoll tee in a soft gray color that forms more to her frame but her clothing is modest, leaving plenty to the imagination. Her shoes are Converse. Definitely, she's dressed down. Walking over to the bar, she slides into a seat and glances back at the empty stage before turning to smile at Dahlia. Assumptions are made. "Do you work here?"

"A woman who knows how to drink," Antonio intones as he winks once to Dahlia and grabs for the bottle. "That's what I like. Welcome to the Platinum Cabaret." He sets out a tumbler and pours what's easily a double shot, then repeating the process and pouring one that's presumably for himself. "We're not even open yet, y'know. But seems the interest is already there. Helps when you're the only game in town, doesn't it?" There's a chuckle to punctuate his words.

The barman's eyes soon shift to Lyric, and when she asks the question, he looks between the two women with a knowing smile. "Yeah, do you?"

"Well I'm real happy to hear that." Dahlia chuckled when Antonio mentioned he liked a woman who knows how to drink. Glancing between the pair she offers Lyric a smile too. "I'm certainly hoping to." Taking a sip of her drink. "There's a pretty good opportunity here and I'd love to get in on the ground floor." Those bright green eyes swept the club again and then focused back on Antonio. "And I'm thinking you can always use another girl up on stage, can't you?" There's a deceptively innocent look that flashes over her features before she takes another sip of the whiskey. "I'm Dahlia."

Lyric gets comfortable in a seat and ponders drinks. "Can I get a shot of tequila? With lime and salt." She props her forearms along the edge of the bar as she considers the two. "It seems like a good job but I'd like to ask more about it. About a couple of different jobs." Though with Dahlia sort of interviewing, she falls silent as not to interrupt her. Wearing a pleasant expression, she openly listens.

"Hah! Well, I suppose that depends on whether you consider taking your clothes off at a little place off the highway to be a good opportunity." Antonio winks to Dahlia with what seems like a good-natured laugh, then sets to work on Lyric's drink. Producing another tumbler, he dips the rim in a tray of salt before pouring a hefty dose of tequila and adorning the side of the glass with a lime.

Raising his own glass, Antonio looks between the two women with a confident smirk. "Antonio Williams, owner and operator, at your service. Either of you lovely ladies have experience? Don't get me wrong, you don't necessarily -need- it in this job." He drinks to that, draining about half of his whiskey. "Just gotta have the right talent and attitude, y'know?"

"Seems like a pretty simple job to me. Dance, collect tips. Likely give Mr. Williams here a share of 'em?" Quirking a brow towards Antonio as if to clarify. "And then go on your merry way until next time you work." A cheshire like grin crawled across Dahlia's features. Something about her screamed trouble, but - like - the fun kind. If there was such a thing. "I've got quite a bit. Not specifically in a strip club, but I've done my fair share of strip teases in other professional settings." Not that there were many other 'professional settings' one strip teased in. He'd probably easily be able to put two and two together. Dahlia knocked back the rest of her drink. "I'm a bartender part time at Firefly right now. Bartending is fun and all - but I think adding this to the mix would be much more exciting."

"Other professional settings, huh? That's interesting." Antonio winks from across the bar and finishes his drink in another gulp, quickly pouring himself another. "The work here is as a part-time independent contractor. No benefits or anything stupid like that, just cash. You keep -all- of your tips and half of your dance fees. Those fees are for table dances or private dances, y'know?" He cocks his head to the velvet curtains that mark the entrance to the VIP Room as if to accent his words.

"Club goes up to fully nude but I don't care how far you go, so long as you're bringing in the cash. You like those terms so far?" Antonio's smirk only grows as he sips from his whiskey.

Dahlia's gaze flickers over towards the velvet curtains and then back to her potentially future employer. "Sounds like better terms than I thought I'd be getting into. Cash is king after all." She gives her empty glass a nudge forward, signaling she was done. There's a barely perceptible hint of discomfort as she shifts in her seat - seemingly from the shifting itself. But her expression doesn't really change, that smile still sitting on her lips. "So is it that easy then? Am I on your payroll now?" Quirking a brow.

Lyric always learned a lot by listening, it seemed it doesn't let her down now. While she hears the back and forth between them she reaches for her tequila with a murmured word of thanks. Lifting the tumbler, her lips close over the rim taking with it some salt as she downs a good portion of the drink and then bites the tender part of the lime with a shudder. "S'good." A smile to the bartender. Even now she doesn't interrupt, not really, just curious about the terms. When they seem to be agreeing, she motions towards the curtians. "Private dance? What all happens back there?"

"I ain't really got a payroll to put you on, since we're just dealing in cash." Antonio smirks to Dahlia and takes it upon himself to refill her whiskey, pouring himself another before swirling the amber liquid in the glass. "Table dances are at least ten bucks per song and private dances are at least twenty bucks per song. I don't care if you charge more, but don't want you charging less." The proprietor sips from his whiskey as he considers.

"Discretion is important in a place like this, too. I didn't invest money in this place just to have it shut down by some overzealous undercover asshole, you know what I mean? So if anyone stats asking questions, you just refer them to me." He watches Lyric drink with a grin before responding to her question. "Most of my girls will do a little bump and grind, but so long as you're making money, I don't choreograph the lapdances. If you can twerk, you'll probably be just fine." He winks, followed by a bout of laughter. "You got any other questions?"

Dahlia studies Antonio for a moment, a thoughtful noise. "Of course. Ten and twenty is more than reasonable for a starting place. Cash only because it's easier to deal with?" Just an idly curious question it seemed. "How many girls do you have working for you right now?" Shifting slightly, falling quiet after her questions were answered. Letting Lyric take the stage now for Q&A time.It was her turn to listen.

Dahlia studies Antonio for a moment, a thoughtful noise. "Of course. Ten and twenty is more than reasonable for a starting place. Cash only because it's easier to deal with?" Just an idly curious question it seemed. "How many girls do you have working for you right now?" Shifting slightly, falling quiet after her questions were answered. Letting Lyric take the stage now for Q&A time.It was her turn to listen.

"I do have a question but mostly it's about a different kinda job." She glances towards the stage and pole again with a crooked smile before turning her attention to Antonio. "My name is Lyric Bates. I've lived in Gray Harbor all my life. I love music very much and wondered if you would be hiring anyone for the sound box. I can DJ while the girls dance. I can keep track of the songs they want to dance to and keep the private areas loaded with whatever songs the girls on duty that night prefer."

"A DJ, huh? I could use one. Let the dancers set their own playlists, yeah. Very good idea. Don't mind having a variety of music at this place. You still gotta look the part with your outfit, of course -- not skimpy enough to be mistaken for a dancer, but enough that everyone remembers they're in a strip club."

The club boss finishes his third whiskey, inclining his head toward Dahlia. "Only got a couple girls so far, and a very nice cocktail waitress. Hoping I can find some quality talent in this town." Antonio's grin is a near-constant by now. "Cash is easier, less paperwork and fewer complications. Play your cards right and you can bring down several hundred per night working here, y'know?" Ever the salesman, Antonio pours himself another whiskey.

"Sounds to me like I'm going to see you on opening night then." Dahlia flashed another smile. "Both of you even." Starting to stand up, laying a couple bills down to pay for her drink. "For what it's worth, I like the idea of having personalized playlists too. Gives the dancers an opportunity to make themselves memorable for clients. Keep 'em coming back." A few stray strands of hair brushed back from her eyes.

Lyric finished off the tequila and follows with the slice of lime, shivering this time, sucking the juice from the lime. It's placed back on the edge of the glass and slid back across the bar. "I like the idea the girls choose their set. They know what their routines are best to. I can get with them every week and get them set up for the week ahead." Lyric seems to be excited about it, beaming a smile. "You just tell me what you want me to wear and I can wear it. I'll have to buy something, but I have my check coming from working at the Waffle Shoppe. So I'll have some money." She bobs her head to Dahlia in total agreement. "I think you'll do wonderfully. I can be here for any practices too if needed, but I'll have music ready for that if you prefer to do that privately."

"The waffle shop, huh? You and Everly both." Antonio laughs, winking once and taking a sip of his whiskey. "I think we can put you in a club tee shirt and booty shorts, eh? Nice eye candy. And yeah, you get with the talent and make sure their favorite songs are on tap. What do you want per hour?" The club boss leaves the question open-ended.

"You just pay me what you think I'm worth and I'll be happy. I work only part time at the Waffle Shoppe but I have lots of rent to pay at the trailer park so I need something to at least do that. It's not that much but sometimes it seems like it. I'm happy with a steady paycheck." Lyric bobs her head, "Club tee and booty shorts I can wear those. I'm excited about it."

"Good, good. Start you at fifteen bucks per hour, hmm? More, if you do well here." Antonio sips his drink with a smirk, cocking his head toward the stripper pole. "And if you want to make much more eventually, we can see about that too." He winks once.

Lyric widens her eyes. Little Miss Minimum wage since she was kicked out of Foster care at eighteen sees dollar signs for the first time. Her hand is offered over. "Thank you, I'll do really good. I won't let you or the girls down."

"I'm sure you won't, hmm? And you'll look good while slinging those songs." The club owner takes the younger woman's hand and plants a quick kiss on her knuckles before returning to his drink. "I'm sure you'll enjoy your time here, Lyric."

Lyric lowers her eyelashes down a little embarrassed at the kiss and the words. "Thank you, I am sure I will. I really look forward to working with you." With her hand back, she fishes in her pocket for some money and smooths out the crumpled dollar bills and slides them on the bar for him. "I will be here tomorrow so we can be ready for your grand opening."

"Drink's on the house. I look forward to working with you, hmm? You might want to come with some suggested songs in case the girls don't have any. Just let me know if you have any questions or any issues, eh? You'll do well here, sweetie." The club boss winks and finishes his whiskey in a quick gulp.