2019-12-09 - The Day After

Nothing too unique seems to be going on at Vivid Dreams. Hans sits on his legs and keeps his belly against the cold floor. The dog probably doesn't need to be cooled off but this is the stance he takes. Queso is doing his gallery cat job of claiming the easels, leaving bits and pieces of his cat fur on the metal legs. What is a bit different are canvases of a variety of dancers. Most of them include painting, one of them include a sketch that Hera was working on. The sketch is undeveloped at this point but some lines and colors are applied showing that it is actually starting to take place.

Hera, in the meantime, has taken a break from her artly duties. For now, no class is running which is a good thing. She somewhat lays down, a bottle of motrin on the end table along with a glass of water. She cannot help but mutter, "I'm not 20 anymore, I'm not 20 anymore." To which Hans just whines in response. Poor dog, he's overworked and under appreciated but maybeeeeeee with the right teacher he could be a good dancer?

Looking disturbingly fresh and chipper after the night at the club, Zoiya walks in with a basket in hand. She is about to call out a greeting but sees Hera laying down on the couch and spots the motrin bottle. Oh dear. Her heels click as she crosses the floor, looking nice in warm in her denim jeans and hoodie, her hair pulled back into a tight braid. "I brought you something." She says, her voice a little quiet as she sets the basket down on the floor. "Muffins and this hipster coffee blend I found online. How are you holding up?" She sits nearby, crosses her legs and smirks at the other woman. "That was some ladies night, wasn't it?"

She gives a grave look at the guard dog, winking in his direction before she turns her attention back to his ailing mistress.

Queso immediately pads over in Zoiya's direction because he IS the cat and he IS the true owner of the place after all. He also doesn't understand the words the two leggers speak so surely Zoiya came to give him a treat, yes? Hans is the obedient one and recognizing Mae as a familiar face he just sits there, watching over the place. Maybe soon he will need petting? "Oh wow." Hera says as she begins to sit up, "Girl, you were rocking those heels and mine they ended up flying across the room. Glad that nice lady caught them and handed them bak to me." She's not so out of shape that she can't get off the couch though, "That's so nice of you." She truly seems flattered, not to mention grateful. "We are just, laying low today. No classes, though a lot of interest." She looks hopeful, and, in the meantime, Queso brushes against Mae's legs because, she has cat treats, yeah, she totally does.

"Queso." Mae greets the cat, reaching down to scratch under his chin as she watches Hera. "I wear heels like that on the daily, so I'm pretty used to it by now. I even dance in them." Her eyes sparkle as she gently picks up the cat to deposit him in her lap. She pets him as she continues to speak. "It's a good day to lay low. I'm surprised that I didn't have more of a hangover. I had some pizza and water before I went to sleep so I think I got spared the worst of it." She leans back, hands scritching at pointy ears. "Woke up somewhere that wasn't home, another woman's foot near my face. Not sure how I feel about that." She tilts her head, smiling brightly. "So what class is getting the most interest? I'm not going to lie, I'm looking forward to whatever you might have to offer because I think that art is a better way to pass the time than eating. Honestly."

Puuurrrrrrrr, purrrrrr, Mae might have turned the purrrr button on. Either or or the cat is trying to be manipulative for treats. Hard to tell but Mae can just interpret it as 'pretty kitty needing cuddles.' "I think I just danced and danced and pulled a muscle or two. It was really fun though, total blast." she even blushes a little and remarks, "I told some strange woman to forget the asshole men who came into her life. I guess my professional business persona is blown. Creative license though right? Artists should have it." Speaking of which she says, "An introductory pottery class actually. One where we make ashtrays and saucers then, the next level, get more creative if people are interested. As far as the morning after, better to wake up with a woman's foot near your face than in some strange man's bed without a memory of it. They say drugs cause that these days, talk about one heck of a side effect."

Mae grins down at the cat and runs her hands over his body, not even wincing as he claws her lap before settling down. "I remember up to the fourth shot, and then.." She shrugs her shoulder and laughs softly. "Hey, we can't be professional twenty four, seven. Sometimes we have to get wild and crazy, or maybe sometimes I have to get wild and crazy." She aims a grin at Hera. "I think you were fine, as long as you had fun." She settles back, and watches the other woman as she describes the class. "I don't smoke anymore but I'd have fun making ashtrays. Count me in when you get a sign up form up and about." She makes a noise and glances around, trying not to laugh. "I want to sculpt a naked person someday, just to say that I did it. It probably will look more troll like than humanoid, but it will still be fun." She winces and a giggle escapes her. "I have woken up in a strange bed before, it is always awkward when you nudge someone awake with your foot and demand breakfast. Bonus points if he actually gets up and cooks."

She grins over at Hera. "I just went with Sutts and Bens last night, mostly to make sure they got home okay. Mostly because someone mentioned pizza, and when I'm in my cups, I really really love pepperoni." She makes a happy face at the thought of pizza. "I passed out shortly after my first piece though, drank more than I thought I had."

Well, Mae has done it, Mae has continued to turn on the charm. Either that or the kitty is trying REAL hard to get some treats out of the new woman. Clawing her lap might have been the first thing, but then he goes to making biscuits, also known as making bread, on her legs. The massage goes on for a while and there may be some semi permanent paw prints on her legs but nothing to mark her forever. Hans just growls for a brief moment, as if thinking that the cat is annoying. Should Mae be observant though, she may notice something a bit golden on Hans' collar and it doesn't appear to be part of the tag.

"Nothing to it." Hera says at the mention of sculpting someone. "If that's your goal, I'll make it happen. I didn't become a person who worked with pottery overnight, trust me on that. My first love was sketching and then the ability to create clay and mold it, it's amazing, as if you're giving something life." The grin continues for a bit and she says, "Yeah, serious bonus points there. Last time I had a man cook me breakfast in bed well, let's just say it wasn't worth it all. Well, considering the circumstances maybe it was. Long story."

Hans does catch Mae's eye for a moment, the growl making her laugh softly. She turns back to his Mistress and she looks charmed at her words. "I'm not good at sketching at all, and me painting is me using my fingers to make shapes that I find fun. I always liked play dough when I could get my hands on it, and I'd pretend I was some great sculptor." She doesn't mind the marks on her legs, chances are with all the ink there, nobody will notice. "Yeah, I'm going to drag Dylan down here to show you his sketches, sometimes he's busy though. I think he'd like it here."

Hera gets a sideways look about the breakfast in bed, and her lips quirk as she grins wryly. "One day maybe you'll tell me that story and I have a few of my own. There are times when I got breakfast out of the deal, and it was great. There are always exceptions to the rule though. This town? I've found maybe one or two. Maybe."

The dog goes back to being quiet and the kitty begins to offer up a slight 'MEOW.' Doesn't last long and it may well be his way of saying <<Why won't she feed me?>> The cat clearly does look well fed and there's obviously no signs of animal abuse at all.

At the mention of the story Hera can't help but frown a bit. "I don't want to talk about anything horrid or depressing. I will..." she pauses to say, "Admit that part of me is a little jealous that you can dance and command a crowd like a good dancer should. Don't take that the wrong way but that type of dancing, it's really empowering. If you choose to do that, you are a slave to no one, your audience is your slave." There's something a bit odd with the way she says 'slave' though but the frown turns into a smile, "But, speaking of this town, it's really really given me so much hope. Seeing the real fruits of my labor begin to take shape, art appreciated and." the smile widens as she says, "Starting to make true friends. It's almost a dream come true, it really is." She still has a bit of a 'wow' factor in that she is a little new here, even if it's been about a month give or take, but there's also continued hope in her expression, as if true joy can finally be experienced in this tiny town.

Mae hears the meow and she grins down at the cat and redoubles her efforts at petting. The gaze she gives Hera is mild, and she listens to the end before she speaks. "I think there are two sides to everything, exotic dancing is one of them. Sure I can command a crowd, make good money, but people think of me in a way.. that usually isn't accurate. It inhibits people from getting to know me." She allows her neutral face to shift to a smile, and she cants her head slightly, nodding at Hera. "This town will get its hooks in you, so it's good to find friends, people you can relate to." She doesn't cross her legs at the thighs, but she does cross them slowly at the ankle as not to disturb her lap dweller. "Hera, I'm happy to give you dance lessons of any kind. You wanna command a crowd next time you go out, we'll get together and I'll show you a few simple moves. It's all about loving yourself, and not caring so much what other people think. At the club? I care, because that's my money. When I'm out like we were last night? I just want to move, I want to feel the beat, and I want to laugh with my friends."

The cat has clearly, very very clearly, claimed Mae's lap. Looks like there's not going to be any dancing for her tonight. Sad thing, she's a professional but the cat won't let her do her job now, nope. There are biscuits to be made after all, and while a few more paw prints are done, the cat turns on his back and paws at the air. Its cuteness overload Queso style, but the cat is just being a cat.

"People judge in ways they shouldn't. When it comes to art, any art, everyone is a critic and some of the critics will tear you down just to make a point. As far as commanding a crowd well, I don't know about that but." she looks directly at the woman. Face to face she reveals a bit of a tender moment while not gushing out too many of her emotions. "Last night I, felt like I was on a bit of a high, or something but, there are times I do feel it wouldn't hurt to work on my self confidence. Actually with how much I cut loose at the party, even that surprised me. My sketches, pottery, all that is an extension of me, it isn't me." Well it is, but not in the same way her body is, "To be really sensual that way, and want to be, wow, what a talent. I just don't think I could, really do that but to try something new. This entire town, it's a new start for me."

When Queso turns on his back, Mae gently scratches at his tummy, listening to the purring as she smiles at the lovely feline. "That wasn't a yes or a no." She notes, glancing up at Hera. "People judge all the time, and rarely for good reasons. People want to be right, so once they're on a path, they rarely step off of it." She shrugs and shifts a bit, careful to not disturb the cat.

"Dancing can be a high, hell, creating anything is a high and that's why I think I love it here. It's a place of creation, and it's beautiful and understated." She gazes back down at the cat. "Self confidence is really important for a lot of reasons. Not just having to do with dancing. When you create art, you have to put yourself out there, you know that more than most I would imagine." She shrugs and her hazel eyes move back to Hera. "So the more confidence you have, the better your creations will be. You'll want people to see them, to engage with them, to offer opinions and show you where their creativity is. A lot of weird shit is connected to confidence. Sometimes I don't have it either, but after about seven years on the stage, you learn to fake it when you can't feel it."

Hera watches Queso a bit as he paws at the air. Hans finally begins to feel sorry for the poor guest and he pads over to move to sit near Mae. The pretty dancer seems to attract the animals fairly well, which might speak good for her character, at least in Hera's eyes.

"Oh I can't argue that, I can't argue that at all." she continues, "But, it's also more than that. Art well, it can help you survive, really survive. When you loose yourself to the outside world and you can't even feel a flicker of hope, art can be the flint stone that ignites the fire to keep you going. When you feel the dismay of reality trying to rip you apart, art can be the glue that binds your soul to your body, telling you not to give up. Then, when you feel the suffocation of pain seeking to pull your heart out of your chest, because" she almost sounds exasperated as she emphasizes, "You just don't have the spirit to go any further, art can be the thing that tells you not to give up. Then." she breathes deeply as she expresses herself a bit more, "You wake up and seek to give that gift to others, to give them a haven where it's fine to come and create, and then to create again, and explore an inner world that no one, truly no one, can ever ever take from you."

She's so truly passionate about what she says that it's hard to imagine she has confidence issues until she mutters, "Sorry, just, explaining how I felt about it at times." Though she truly has nothing to apologize for.

"Speaking my language Hera." Mae offers quietly, reaching out to rest a hand on Han's head briefly before she gives him a light scratching behind his ears. "I come from New York, and I spent the lion's share of my life in foster care. When I decided to get out, it wasn't much better. Stripping can be a black hole, and for a while it was in my case, but it kept me sheltered and fed. So while I wouldn't recommend it to just anyone, to me it is art. It's also .. away for me to keep living." She goes quiet for a few minutes watching the other woman as if she's looking for something in particular. "It sounds like you've had a personal brush with things that you need escaping from too." She doesn't pry, that simple statement is left where it's at and she takes the apology with a slight smile and a huffed out, soft laugh. "Don't apologize. Passion is about on the same level as self confidence, and you've got passion in spades."

She glances around, pointing to the art on the walls. "So you've made this your haven, right? It's a beautiful one, and I hope more artists start to catch on to that and visit you." She glances down at the animals, grinning. "Or for company of the furred variety. That's also important."

Hera feels the woman share part of her past and, then things change for her. So far she has not told anyone about her horrid childhood, or the terrors that were within. The fantasy would would definitely be much better, but she lets part of it out and says, "My parents were killed and I was on the streets, the really really bad streets." her eyes take on a distant look and she says, "Got sick there, then gangs took me in, and they weren't the gangs anyone wants to be a part of. I grew up." she sighs and says, "Way too fast. Had to, but I started sketching on the streets and that was, well, that was where my hope finally started to emerge, it started to. That was." she waves her hand in the air to gesture to no one in particular, "A long time ago." Hera is in her 30s after all, likely a reason why her muscles got easily pulled on the dance floor, or at least on some level. The burdens are there of not being the athletic type.

"I, had to dance, but dancing as a slave that's, something else. I wasn't dancing...for me and I hated it. Even when Theo and I got together, I didn't even want to dance for him."

Crazy hoomans. Why do they talk about their past? Hans doesn't know and Queso doesn't know either but the dog settled into Mae's leg for snuggles it seems.

Mae offers a hand out in silent support, listening as her other hand continues to pet the animals. She doesn't say anything as Hera speaks of her past, letting her unburden herself without interruption. "You've come a long way from those streets, and nobody can make you go back there now. It's hard to remember that when the past sneaks up on you, offers a nightmare or reminds you what it was like." If the hand is taken she'll give it a squeeze as she aims a smile across the couch. "When I first started dancing in New York? I hated it too, and somewhere along the line I decided to take it back for myself. Not always easy." She goes still and contemplates for a few moments. "If you ever want to try to take it back for yourself, dance for pleasure, I'm gonna leave my number today. You just text or call, and we'll get together."

She grins a bit, clearing her throat. "Or you can just text to bullshit with me, because between sets at the club? A girl can get mighty bored."

Hera smiles and takes the offered hand. "Thank you." she says, "But, I have come a long way." Time doesn't necessarily heal all wounds, but it does make them more bearable. "When I was younger it was harder and, yeah, quite hard." she then goes on to tell her new friend more about herself, "Hera, actually isn't my real name." she says, "When Theo cheated on me I kind of, took on a persona of the old greek goddess. I wasn't going to put up with his shit. Yes, I broke down, I broke down bad I won't lie but, there was something about the goddess, she had a true power about her and no matter what, she kept going. I wanted that power, I really did. My real name." she says, "Is Diana Foster." strangely fitting since she wound up an orphan, "I guess if we can retell the stories and revisit them, they aren't forgotten either. Athena, she had her wisdom but, being with Theo to begin with, I wondered if I was wise. Aphrodite, she was beautiful but, I wasn't lucky in love. Hera she, I mean she was the true queen, she had the true power, and I'm sure she gave Zeus hell. If Theo ever comes back, I'll give him hell. He knows it."

"I haven't been able to take my power back like that. I think I've just evolved and put on enough pretend armor that it keeps the barbs out." Mae winces when Hera speaks of her ex cheating on her. "I like the name Hera. Mythology was probably the only thing that I enjoyed in school. Seemed like a fantasy world, and I could get into that." She tilts her head as Hera reveals her real name. "The name you've taken, and the name you had are both beautiful. One day you might be tempted to take Diana back, and give her new life. I like Hera though, she was a badass in the books I read. She didn't take much shit." She goes quiet for a few beats, and then she turns her head to regard Hera with a solemn look on her face. "Do you think he would come back?" She asks, eyebrows raised slightly. "I've a few bits of my past come back to haunt me, and sometimes I handle it better than others." She wrinkles her nose, leaning in to speak quietly. "Not sure what I would do if a piece of New York walked back into my life. Let us hope that the three thousand mile difference keeps that from happening."

Hera rolls her eyes a bit at the idea of her ex asshole coming back. Some guys are like that though, and she assumes that Mae has seen the type. "I really really really doubt it, I really do. He left me for another woman and the stress of all of that, well, I was expecting and so, there ya go. Shit happens I guess." Though it's more painful than that. With a sigh, she goes on to continue the friendly chat. "I just, don't think anything is going to come back to haunt me." Famous last words but, who knows? "If New York comes back to haunt you, you can always find a haven here. I'm not here to judge anyone, trust me, at least not when it comes to that kind of thing. Now if someone hurts children or animals, yeah, the goddess' wrath will come out in that case. There are some things that are sacred ya know? So, don't worry about it." Odd, apparently Mae was giving her advice and now the tables might have turned, "Just keep on dancing, right?"

Mae tries not to grin over at Hera, but she can't help herself, especially when the other woman offers her own version of sanctuary. "I'll keep this place in mind, I have a feeling you would be the wrong woman to cross, in any way, shape or form." She gently lifts Queso from her lap, setting him down on the seat next to her. "I should get out of your hair though, I've got to go home and get ready for tomorrow night. Back to work!" She rolls her eyes at that and lets out a groan. "I love it, but at the same time, my feet are already complaining to me about being in those heels for six hours plus." She lets out a soft chuckle and gives Hera a look. "Feel free to stop by if you wish, strip clubs aren't all that scary, at least around here. Love, our bartender, makes some amazing drinks and our dancers are all.. pretty clean and nice. We would keep you entertained at the very least."

Hera gestures toward the dog and Hans, unlike the cat, takes orders well. He stands up to give Mae space to leave. "Strip clubs don't scare me, as long as there is a good bouncer that is. I hate it when women are mistreated so, sure." she smiles at the offer, "I would love to come by. In fact, I'll bring some bottles of wine over, the nice stuff. It really makes me happy that I am making new friends. Speaking of which, invite Dylan over when he can drop in. Queso" she chuckles, "Has yet to claim him."

"We have amazing bouncers. Hot too." Mae considers that for a moment and tries not to grin. "I don't date where I work though, causes problems." She considers for a few beats and then she pulls out her phone. "I think you gave me your number last time, shoot it at me again so I have it here. Next time Dyls is home and we're bored, I'll send you a text. You can come over and we can eat take out and talk art?" She pauses for a beat, her nose wrinkling. "Dyls doesn't talk too much, he's more expressive with his art than his voice. I like it though so.. I really want you to meet him."

Hera reaches over for her phone and sends over the text. It doesn't take long of course, the age of smartphones making like better for everyone. "I would really enjoy that, I really would. Quite the relief to hear you have good bouncers though. That's really my only concern. Staying protected is a good thing. I imagine we both know how horrible the world can be." then she asks, "When is your next show?" An inquisitive question but hey, artists should support each other, right?

"I'll be around tomorrow night, three sets and then all the table dances and lap dances men and women wish to buy." Mae sticks the tip of her tongue out through her teeth as she grins. "I kind of enjoy my work most of the time, it's a thrill and it's never the same night twice." She stuffs her phone back in her purse and leans in to give Hera a nice squeeze half-hug drawing back as she picks up her purse. "I'll text you to let you know when I'm there. I think tomorrow night is going to be a body paint night, so.. art!" She grins at that and then starts for the door. "Text anytime, Hera! Have a good evening, get some rest!"

Queso then simply goes back on his haunches and figures that hey, the nice lady didn't have treats so maybe she wasn't all that nice after all? Hans goes to sit on his butt and watch her leave, a bit protective it may seem. Hera just chuckles a little and says, "Hey, a girl has to make a living, but I'll come out tomorrow and see the club." The hug is accepted and then she easily lets the woman go. "Body painting, now that's really something I could get into. As far as rest, oh believe me, I'll get some. Last night was a blast but tonight, it's recovery. Be safe out there."