=Normal POV=
(Sunday, 12/8/2019; 10:00 pm)
(Barbarchi City, Archipelago)
(Hunter's House)

It hadn't been long since Hunter came to sit with Trayden on the couch, in a hope to get the man to loosen up and join in the rest of the party. Hunter suspected, and had been proven correct, that Trayden hadn't been to a gathering like this before and was taking it all in. On Bryan's idea, Hunter decided to go sit with Trayden and just talk with him, maybe answer questions, make Trayden feel more welcome among them. Hunter did invite Trayden to come over, see him at work, and even attend other parties on the promise he'd be left alone from anyone who might try to make a play at him. Hunter knew Trayden wasn't new to being gay, but putting himself out there and it was easy to get overwhelmed if the people around you were laying it on heavy. Even Hunter would admit that perhaps he was a bit too forward with Trayden, but what could Hunter say? He was extremely gay and being outgoing was basically his job as a male stripper given he took his clothes off for people, along with dancing and singing.

Regardless, Hunter was heeding the words of his friends in mind that perhaps he could help Trayden out of his shell by bringing the cute man in slowly to the world of being openly gay. There were many who knew they were gay, but weren't open about it in fear of rejection and judgement.

"So, having fun?" Hunter inquired.

"Still don't know what to make of it. I get music, friends, dancing, and all that…But I've never been part of it," Trayden admitted.

"When you're one of my friends, this is a new normal," Hunter reassured.

"I suppose I'll get used to it eventually then," Trayden giggled. "I'm still working at how awesome you sing and dance," He blushed.

"I take it you enjoyed the show?" Hunter asked with a smile.

"The show was amazing," Trayden nodded. "So, you do all the music mixes, moves, and what not?" He wondered.

"Well, group dances, and certain moves are more of group decision if that makes sense. Everyone puts something in and we work it into a routine everyone can follow along with music. Some things we do the same in sync and others everyone has a different piece to do, but everything still flow," Hunter explained. "I do manage music and lights, but most of it is programmed with the song chosen. A lot of times, I'm watching from the side to make sure nothing happens. Props can break, clothes tear…You know," He added.

"Sounds like a headache," Trayden laughed a bit.

"Only sometimes, like when my uncle and boss need me to shake things up with new material. Which, I get, but it's a lot of work," Hunter stated. "For one person," He mentioned.

"You don't have any help with it?" Trayden frowned some.

"No one else knows how to run the programs, make the remix's, and stuff. Like how lights respond to base drops and what not. The others work there as dancers. Well…Chelsea is a server, but Nikki and Liv strip. Oliver serves, but Bryan, Jason, Eli, Thaxter, and Devon strip. Well, me too, but I don't go out and perform as often as everyone would preferably like me to as I have other things to keep an eye on," Hunter informed.

"But now, it's being requested you go out more?" Trayden wondered, looking at him.

Hunter nodded. "Yeah…Along with hot seats and solo dances,"

"I was meaning to ask about that," Rylee piped in. "Sorry, couldn't help but overhear since you're close to us and all…What are hot seats?"

"That's where we go around the room and get up closer with the dancing to customers," Thaxter said.

"Lap dances, making out…Customers can feel our bodies if they want, as long as it's not iron grip or being smacked," Nicole interjected.

"And no physical grabbing of the private parts. No grabbing, stroking, rubbing…Nothing. If we grind against you, that's fine, but not them holding us," Bryan mentioned.

"And they can't take our clothes off unless we let them. Obviously, never past the underwear," Devon nodded. "Girls can take their bras off, as long as they have something covering the nipples. And the males can go as far as a cock sleeve type of covering. Which is basically a thong, but only covers dick and balls," He added.

"And nothing sexual in the open," Hunter remarked.

"Do you guys/girls have private showings like other clubs do?" Hailey questioned.

"Yes. You can reserve ahead of time, or ask the night you come and we'll work something in for the dancer requested to handle said showing. We don't do house calls anymore, too many problems with dancers being there alone and ladies, or men getting too rowdy resulting in cuts, bruising, and too much grabbing," Jason replied.

"So now it's just only at the business, with a guard present to watch over things. This keeps things controlled, and if it does get out of hand, a dancer isn't left to fend for themselves. The guard will keep everyone back for the dancer to leave, and then next steps take place depending on what is decided regarding the incident. We've never had to do it, but it can go as far as having the assaulting figures arrested if the dancer presses charges. It's a measure in place for the safety of the entertainment," Eli explained.

"These showings are just showings, right? Still no full nudity?" Rylee inquired.

"Yep, just private dances. Usually birthdays, bachelor and bachelorette parties. Dance for everyone, make the person of honor the center of attention, you know," Hunter shrugged. "Same rules, private areas stay covered. We're not a club like some of the others where you can pay to sleep with one of the dancers. We're entertainers, not prostitutes," He reminded.

"We do have random hook ups with each other, now and then. Not all the time, but drink too much and it happens with our backgrounds as male and female entertainment. We've all seen one another, we know we're clean and protected, and we're not strangers," Olivia giggled.

"To correct that statement, we sleep within our sexual orientation…" Hunter rolled his eyes. "I don't sleep with women," He reminded.

"Okay, yes…Within orientation," Olivia muttered.

"But back to where it started…Hot seats are just the dancers going around to get closer with customers in public setting. It's more music and dancing, just not on stage with routine. It's strictly what the dancer feels like doing and switching around so every table, at least, gets something," Hunter stated.

"And now you get to join us!" Devon patted Hunter's back.

"Only because he's being requested more and we gotta give the people what they want or we don't have business," Nicole stated.

"What happens if one of you gets in a relationship?" Hailey asked.

"That's the only out of hot seats, being in a relationship. Greg and all of us understand that when you date, unless it's an open relationship, you're committed to the person you're with. So while the dancing on stage is fine, hot seats or even showings, are not because that's not hands off. On stage, the customers can't touch dancers. So if any of us are dating, we don't have to take part in private shows or going around to give lap dances and let ourselves get felt up by strangers," Bryan remarked.

"I mean, unless your lover is into that kind of thing," Eli chuckled.

"I know it's out of a movie, Magic Mike being the example, but do you ever bring people up on stage for those lap dance things?" Trayden questioned.

"No, but may be something to consider for newer additions to shows," Hunter replied. "Why, you wanna be my volunteer because I have no objections," He grinned as Trayden blushed.

"Odin above, Hunter…Stop trying to seduce Tray…" Alyssa rolled her eyes.

"It wasn't seduction, it was suggestive. If I wanted to seduce him, I'd get more hands on and clothes off," Hunter laughed a little. "I merely replied to his question and followed it up with one of my own as to why he was asking if we did that,"

"I'd die of embarrassment to have all eyes on me while getting a lap dance," Fisher admitted.

"They don't look at the person it's happening to, just what the dancer is doing to you and wishing it was them," Ethan informed.

"That's right. How'd you know that?" Thaxter wondered.

"An ex I had worked as a male stripper, on hire or taking open slots in a club, though. He told me that majority showed customers are watching the dancer not the person who is being danced on," Ethan explained. "He tried to get me to work with him, but back then I was about as thin as Tyler and Rylee and the company he worked for that booked his gigs told me I'd have to bulk up. Started going to my ex's gym with him, but we ended up getting into a huge fight and broke up. I kept at the working out, just never bothered with the idea of being a stripper since I wasn't with him anymore," He continued.

"Did you want to be one?" Oliver blinked.

"Well, the idea was enticing. But I didn't want to be doing solo stuff like he did, and given the descriptions of how things can get at private residence showings…I backed off the consideration of going through with it," Ethan shrugged.

"There's plenty of different kinds of stripping you could do. It doesn't have to be private loan type," Devon mentioned. "You could do what we do, in a club. Group and solo, all for a crowd,"

"And you never gotta worry about coming up with your own stuff except for lap dances and all that takes is shaking your ass, grinding, and moving like you're riding someone in sex," Hunter added.

"Yeah, well…I tried in the past and it's hard to get into places like that if you don't have what they're looking for. Also, most of them are what you described as prostitution joints," Ethan huffed.

"That's because they're not looking for dancers," Hunter informed calmly. "They're looking for an advertisement to sell their customers who might want the full product. Short summary, they're looking for you to be available to have sex with paying customers. Like prostitution without having a sugar-daddy or being a sex slave. But you're basically having sex your whole shift with breaks to recover in between. At least for the males, I know girls can have multiple orgasms. It's just a job that you can quit when you want to," He enlightened. "Sadly, there are a lot of those here in the city, even some of the small towns,"

"You should try it again, babe," Rylee smiled at Ethan.

"What? Being a stripper?" Ethan asked as Rylee nodded with a grin. "But…I'm with you,"

"I don't care you showing off to others, as long as I'm the only one you sleep with," Rylee chuckled and Ethan rolled his eyes.

"Babe, I'm twenty-seven…" Ethan protested.

"Age isn't really a factor," Hunter shrugged. "I'm about to be twenty-four,"

"Turning twenty-six myself at the end of April," Bryan stated.

"Twenty-seven in March," Devon nodded.

"Just turned twenty-four in October," Thaxter smiled.

"Turning twenty-six in May," Jason beamed.

"Twenty-six in July," Eli said.

"Twenty-four in February," Olivia informed. "Oliver too, since we're twins,"

"Twenty-four in March," Nicole smiled.

"Twenty-three this past August," Chelsea grinned.

"Age only matters when you can't maintain your body anymore. Wrinkles, getting winded during routines, body issues where you can't move like you used to," Hunter mentioned. "I know strippers in their late forties and look like they're still in their twenties. Some of the others you didn't see last night are actually in their thirties. You could still be a stripper, if you want to. Just mind the places you apply for," He added.

"You said you needed a new job…" Rylee tempted.

"Hey, Hunter…Weren't we looking for another male dancer, since some of ours are leaving…Due to settling down and other reasons?" Devon hinted quietly, nudging his friend in the arm.

"That we are…" Hunter replied, getting the hint clearly. "Say, Ethan, was it?" He began as Ethan looked at him, nodding. "Can you dance? On your own and follow routines with a group?"

"I've…Never really done it before, but I could learn if shown…" Ethan responded.

"You cool with taking your clothes off for men and women?" Hunter wondered. "Any stage fright?"

"Maybe not full down like you do, but yeah, I'd be okay with it," Ethan nodded. "And no, I don't,"

"Why's he asking him all those questions?" Shane looked at Devon.

"We need a new male dancer to even out the males for the new year, and Hunter does all the hiring for the show. Ethan passes his inspection and he could work with us," Devon informed.

Hunter got to his feet and walked away a few steps before turning to face Ethan. "Come on," He invited. Ethan blinked and followed Hunter off to another room down the hall. The two returned about five minutes later as Hunter sort of walked around him, and stopped on the side. "You got a good body for it. Built to your figure without being under or over. Abs, at least six, and tan. Defined muscles where they need to be, great ass, and hips," Hunter stated. "Are you attached to your body hair?" Ethan shook his head. "Not required, but preferred, to not have any except what's on your head and face, as long as it's maintained," Hunter informed.

"Trim or shave it short first, then wax. Believe me, you don't want to wax first," Thaxter offered.

"And if you're no opposed to being completely exposed with ass, and legs spread or dick out to the boss over here," Devon motioned to Hunter. "He could do the wax for you. He's got great hands, and that's coming from a straight guy," He grinned.

Hunter rolled his eyes and shook his head. "Moving on…You pass on my body checklist, but obviously, it's not all looks. It's moves too, so let's see what you can do with an easy song that gets you moving the way you need to," Hunter smiled. "Alexa, play Party In The USA,"

"Playing Miley Cyrus's Party In The USA,"

The music changed as Hunter went to lean against the pole and watch. "Boys, girls…" He snapped his fingers as the dancers from Wild Fantasies shifted to stand with Ethan. "This would be a group song we do, so just go with it how it appears in the music video," Hunter mentioned. "Stripping not necessary, to the rest of you. I just want to see moves on cues to do so," He stated.

"Got it," The dancers replied with a nod.

As the song went on, Hunter watched closely, moving to differently places to see different angles of dancing. Hunter saw that Ethan moved fabulously with his upper half, even bending his legs or shifting his feet. However, while trying to move his hips, it looked off because he was trying to move his whole body when the moves only called for certain parts to do it. Towards the end, Hunter walked up next to Ethan. "Alexa, pause," The music paused as it was quiet. "Good dancer, need to work on hip movement. You're trying to move your whole body when the move doesn't need everything. Ever heard the terms shake your money-maker?"

"Refers to moving your ass," Ethan nodded.

"Which means it's all lower body movement, not all body," Hunter informed. "Don't move like this," Hunter showed him what he was doing. "When the song chorus hits so I put my hands up, their playing my song. The butterflies fly away. Nodding my head like yeah," Hunter moved his head. "Moving my hips like yeah," He kept his upper half still, letting his legs and hips do the work to make the motion. "When you get used to the feeling it gives you, there won't be an issue with your body moving on instinct when you see how routines are with other songs," Hunter explained. "Some songs, like this one, have cues when you move. But then there are some we do, when you have to know which cue is to what move because we practice it as routine, make up our own dance to the song,"

"I think I get how to move, but not how it's supposed to feel…" Ethan admitted.

"Should we get the suit?" Bryan asked.

"That's a good idea. Do it," Hunter agreed.

"Suit?" Ethan blinked.

"It's a series of straps and restraints that two people wear," Nicole informed as Thaxter returned with it and got help from Bryan in attaching it to Ethan and Hunter, with Hunter in front of Ethan and them basically strapped together.

"Hunter calls it the marionette suit," Jason chuckled.

"And all it means is with it on…If I move, you move the same way. Don't lock your body, stay loose, and let me lead," Hunter remarked. "We're just about similar height, so it'll be fairly easy for you to moved the way I do. Alexa, resume," The song picked back up where it was on the second to last chorus. It was interesting to see how this suit worked, but those unfamiliar with it understood the idea. Hunter danced lead while the suit allowed his movements to copied by Ethan so he could feel the movements. Trayden loved it, and before the end of the last part, the dancing stopped. "Pause," The suit was removed from them both as Hunter stood next to Ethan instead. "Resume," Hunter said as Ethan got the picture and both of them finished off the song in sync and Ethan moved his body the way he learned how to. The song ended as normal playlist picked up.

"Okay…One, that suit is weird and I find myself asking how often you have to use it," Ethan blinked.

"We all had to suffer the suit to learn some moves that mister incredible flexibility has over here," Devon mumbled, referring to Hunter who smirked.

"Yeah, and then some of you, not mentioning names, purposely forced me to use it because you enjoyed my ass shaking against your cocks," Hunter folded his arms as Eli and Jason giggled flirtatiously.

"And two…How'd I do?" Ethan wondered.

"You free Monday night around 4 pm?" Hunter inquired. Ethan nodded. "Bring comfortable pants you can move in, and don't weak sneakers. Preferably flats, or dress shoes and they have to be black with no ties, so slip on, with socks. Ankle high," He instructed. "Also, bring license or ID and social security card. Come by the club Monday, tell the bouncers you're a new dancer hired by Hunter. Welcome to being a male stripper at Wild Fantasies," Hunter grinned.