While Kolyat had never actually been to The Limelight, he had heard things: Horrible things. Named after the human term for the center of public attention, this was the place to go if you had a taste for something more exotic than you're standard strip club fare and the term exotic was used loosely. It could mean anything from an asari with a slight different shade of blue to an all-male nude volus review. Kolyat was sitting center stage to witness it all truly wishing he wasn't.
He didn't want anyone he knew to see him here. He'd never be able to live it down. His gaze darted around uncertainly, on the lookout for the familiar face of C-Sec officer or a neighbor, anyone who might recognize him. He knew the odds of someone catching him here were astronomical; the Citadel was huge, but this knowledge did nothing to ease his paranoia. His sipped his drink with shaking hands, that spilled it down his front.
"Shit," he murmured under his breath as he tried to blot his shirt dry with a few balled up napkins.
"Are you sure you're old enough to be drinking that?" teased the cocktail waitress who was refreshing Thane's drink.
She was a drell; a few years older than him at the most. Her scales were a dark orange, striped with bands of bright red along her shoulders and her arms, and her attire was pretty skimpy, to put it lightly. Under different circumstances, he would have tried to chat her up, but now he just wished she would go away. She wasn't making this any easier. He sipped his drink again, trying his best to ignore her. She shrugged, as she loaded the empty glasses on her tray. "I hope you guys enjoy the show. I'm Versat. Call if you need anything." She smiled again, the simple action lighting her whole face as walked off. Kolyat caught himself staring after her.
He turned back to his drink to find his father staring at him over the top of his own glass.
"What?" Kolyat asked, running a hand over his chin. Was there something on his face?
"It's nothing," Thane said, setting the glass down gently. "Are you seeing anyone?"
"W-what? What kind of question-" Kolyat sputtered, nearly spilling his drink again.
"I was merely curious," Thane replied, an amused smirk crossing his lips. "Versat, was quite lovely." He gave a knowing nod, his grin growing wider by the second.
Kolyat scowled, as he sunk back in his seat. The idea of his dad checking out females, let alone the same one he was, was creepy. This part of the night was already starting off with a bang.
Suddenly the lights dimmed, casting the room into darkness. A focused circle shaped light illuminated the center of the stage where a human now stood. "Ladies and gentleman," she said, bringing the club to a loaded silence. "I'm Caroline, your master of ceremonies this evening and I'd like to welcome you to Limelight!" The crowd burst into a round of applause though Kolyat wasn't sure why.
"Since you've graced us with your presence this evening, it's obvious that you're here because you have a taste for the extraordinary. We guarantee we won't disappoint." Caroline winked, a distinctively human gesture which always struck Kolyat as odd. He decided the gesture fit Caroline because she was odd. He'd never seen a human like her before. She was shaped somewhere between a human and volus, much heavier than other humans he met up until now. Was she some sort of hybrid? Her hair was a deep red and fell in deep curls down her back.
Hair.
That was another thing that was odd about humans, he mused, still sipping his drink.
"Up first is Efferia!"
The audience clapped politely as Caroline trotted off stage as quickly as her uncomfortable looking shoes would let her.
The light went out and the crowd was hushed. Kolyat was getting tired of all this sitting in the dark. Soft music began to play and another circle of light lit the stage. There was a form crouched on top of folded legs, her head bowed and covered by her hands. From what Kolyat could see, it looked like an asari and he felt a little ill. He'd had his fill of asari for the evening. Maybe even the week.
The performer rose slowly, her hands gestured fluidly to the deep, primal beat of the music.
Suddenly the tempo picked up to a blistering pace and so did she. She leapt to her feet and threw her head back and what looked like a howl, though Kolyat didn't hear a sound other than the thrum of her feat against the floor. As she threw her head back, tendrils, long and thick cascaded over her shoulders, like human hair, but thick like lengths of rope.
She was standing now and she certainly was exotic, to say the least. Her costume, in shades of greens and yellows looked like it was painted on, her arms wrapped in bands of black. Her movements were wild and flaying, none of the practiced poise Kolyat had seen from asari before. This was something fierce, something savage. He was drawn in, sitting on the edge of his seat. He wanted more.
As abruptly as the performance had started, it ended. The spot light went out, the music stopped, and it was over.
The onlookers were brought to their feet, cheering for all they were worth. Some patrons had taken to throwing credit chits onto the stage, others simply seemed like they were on the verge of tears. Kolyat was too shy for any of that, so he simply clapped in his seat, rather loudly. It was one of the most evocative things he'd ever seen in his short life, and he couldn't help but be moved. He chanced a glance at his father who was clapping as well. Thane nodded in his direction and Kolyat felt naked, exposed. He quickly slumped back in his chair, trying his best to not look embarrassed.
Kolyat scowled again, ready to raise an objection, but it died on his lips.
What was the point?
Maybe he was still being affected by the beauty of the dance, or maybe it was the alcohol, but he really felt that Thane was wearing him down.
He could feel the hostility ebbing away and the longer he sat here, the more ok with it he was. Maybe he did want to spend time with his dad before… Well he hardly knew him to begin with, so getting to know him now seem more important. He was becoming more inclined to give their relation a real second chance.
"Here's your drink, Sere."
Versat had appeared at Thane's elbow with a new glass. Kolyat hadn't remembered him ordering one.
"Thank you, my dear," Thane said graciously as he accepted it with a smile. He tasted the beverage as if to prove his appreciation.
Kolyat watched as Versat hovered nearby, looking anxious, as if she had something she wanted to say, though Thane was oblivious to the whole thing.
Kolyat's teeth were set on edge. How could he be so dense? The most attractive waitress in the place is right there. Right THERE but he wouldn't give her a second look.
Would it be this way every time they went somewhere together? Kolyat forced into the background, while Thane got all of the attention? Kolyat wasn't a fan of that idea at all.
He downed the remains of his drink and slammed the glass down on the table loudly, jarring Versat from her leering. She hurried over, her tray pressed against her chest, that Kolyat noticed was a lighter shade of orange than the rest of her.
"What can I get you?" she asked, her tone of speech very friendly for a drell. Kolyat chalked it up to her line of work. Waitresses made most of their money on tips, and to get tips you had to be friendly.
"I'd like another one of these," he said holding up his empty glass and shaking it, the ice clinked against the sides as it rattled around.
"Are you sure? That was a pretty strong drink…"
She was treating him like a kid now? Compared to his dad, yeah, he was young, but so was she. He'd show her that he knew what he was doing
"Of course I'm sure," Kolyat almost snarled. "Matter of fact, make it a double."
He laughed to himself. He'd always wanted to say that, since he'd heard it in a holovid once.
"Ok," Versat sounded hesitant, but she complied.
The next few acts made Kolyat glad he had ordered that drink because there was no way he could have watched them sober. Each one was more horrific than the last: there had been an extremely flexible elcor dancer, a turian female who had mastered the art of "pole dancing" and a nude krogan male, simply standing there in all his glory, solving all of the questions people had about their anatomy that could have stayed a mystery as far as Kolyat was concerned. He'd almost cried.
The krogan had been too much. He would see his quad when he tried to go to sleep for weeks. Next up on the roster was a volus who apparently did an amazing trick with ping pong balls. Kolyat didn't know what those were, but he was pretty sure he didn't want to hang around long enough to find out.
He chanced a glance at his father and was pleased to see his normally calm façade had fallen and he looked almost as disturbed as Kolyat felt.
"Excuse me a moment," Thane said as he rose, swaying. "I'm in rest of a need-room. I should be back shortly," and he was off on shaky legs.
Kolyat raised a brow before he took stock of his father's side of the table. Versat hadn't been back for some time, but his side was littered with glasses. The same number as Kolyat's if not more… Had he been keeping up with him? They'd probably both had enough; more than enough. Once his dad got back, which would hopefully be before Madam Vocha took the stage, he was ready to call it a night. He'd figure out what to do about his father later.
He never wanted to come back here again. Hell, he might not ever want to leave his apartment again. With the images he now had associated with the other races, he wasn't sure he could walk anywhere without recalling this night.
After a while the lights dimmed again and Caroline was back on stage, significantly more clothed to Kolyat's relief, and looking very excited.
"Ladies and gentlemen," she started in her usual exuberant tone. "As some of you know, tonight is amateur night, meaning some of the braver guests among you are invited to come on stage and give us a show."
Kolyat cringed. He'd gotten a thorough look at the crowd and there was no one there that he'd want to see in the buff. He hoped Thane wouldn't be much longer; he wanted to get the hell out of there before he had anything more seared into his brain.
"Tonight you're in for a special treat," Caroline said, a mischievous gleam in her eye that came across the few overhead monitors scattered throughout the establishment.
"We found this fellow back stage and we just had to bring him out." Kolyat could hear the sounds of scuffle and see a few feet shuffling about behind the curtain. Caroline continued, unfazed.
"He's a little shy and wouldn't tell us his name, so we'll just call him 'Gorgeous'." She fanned herself dramatically and the crowd burst into peals of laughter. Kolyat's fingers dug into the arm of his chair, unable to shake the feeling of dread worming its way into his gut.
"I give you, 'the drell!""
Kolyat's worst fears were realized as Thane was pushed through the curtains by a pair of krogan sized hands and stripped of his jacket. The crowed was in awed silence as Thane did no more than stand here, a hand thrown out in front of him in attempt to keep the light from his eyes. He seemed disoriented. Kolyat had never seen his father drink so much, but he was usually a very pragmatic man. Surely he had enough sense in him to leave the stage before a bad situation got a lot worse.
"What have you got for us?" came a shout from somewhere behind Kolyat. He'd throw his glass at them if he thought it'd hit them but he was too drunk to count on that.
Thane looked around a moment, at something off stage before answering, "What would you have me do?" The crowd was set atwitter as his voice boomed over the loud speakers.
"Take it off!" was the simplest response from a group of humans down front. Kolyat was mortified. He kept praying silently to no one in particular that he dad was not that drunk.
But it was all in vain. "As you wish…"
The room was quiet enough to hear his zipper being lowered as the crowd waited, the air almost vibrating with anticipation. Kolyat definitely didn't want to watch, but he was too petrified to leave. He didn't want anyone to see him, and associate him with the man who was now on stage. Thane turned, slowly easing his vest over his shoulders and down his arms, displaying the stripes that ran from the nape of his neck to the top of his pants. The house erupted into "oohs" and "aahs" as he clasped his hands behind his head, sending a ripple through the muscles in his back. Kolyat felt lightheaded. He was seeing more of his father than he'd ever wanted to and he seemed very at home doing it. Had he done this before? He stared down at his lap, feeling his dinner trying to move its presence known incase he'd forgotten about it.
Maybe he'll stop now? Now? No? How about NOW?
He mustered up the courage to look towards the stage his father was mostly disrobed, down to what passed for his undergarments. The audience was agog as the last remaining scrap of clothing he had seemed like it wouldn't be around much longer. Thane's thumbs tucked into the waist band as he teased it down over a very defined hip.
It was weird that he was more intimidating this way than he'd ever been just sitting and staring at him. His body was a mass of corded muscle and sinew that Kolyat had yet to achieve, if he would ever. Sure Kolyat was taller and he had more mass, but he hadn't undergone the rigorous training under the compact so he might never look… quite like that. Or bear the scars. He was sickened, envious and embarrassed all at once. How much longer could he drag this out?
The briefs were almost at the point of no return, now low enough to display a gathering of stripes that wrapped around his hips to the front of his pelvis that seemed to being pointing downward. That was Kolyat's cue to exit. He'd had more than enough, let these people think what they wanted, he had to go. He made a break for the door, shouldering through the patrons who were now on their feet, shouting and hooting towards the stage.
He barreled through the bouncers, and rounded the corner, their curses in his wake. He was definitely going to be sick. He doubled over and felt his stomach lurch as he emptied its contents onto the street.
He swore he'd never mix bad food, alcohol and trauma together again. Ever. He spat, hands braced on his knees as he hoped the worst of it was over. He didn't envy who ever had to clean that up.
"Are you ok?" He felt a small hand on his back and he stiffened. This night just got better and better. He didn't speak, and didn't turn around, hoping she'd go away and save him any further embarrassment.
"I told you to slow down," Versat said as she patted him on the back. Kolyat turned to her, wiping his mouth on the back of his hand. She grimaced as she handed him a damp dishcloth. "I thought you might need this."
"Thanks," he mumbled, too mortified to make eye contact, trying to wipe his mouth as discretely as possible.
"Don't mention it." She laughed, but Kolyat just stared down at his shoes. "Oh come on, I was just teasing." She said as she stroked his arm before promptly punching it. "Don't look so down."
"How'd you look if that was your dad up there?" he said indignantly, rubbing his arm.
"That was your dad? Wow…" her eyes glazed over as she was no doubt putting that perfect recall to use.
"An inability to hold your liquor must run in the family."
"Here," Kolyat said as he thrust the dishrag back at her, not knowing what else to do with it and eager to not talk about what had just happened for a bit.
Versat folded it up and promptly threw it in to the alley. "So what are you doing in a place like this anyway? You obviously don't have the stomach for it."
"I-uh…." What could he say? It was all part of a plan to try to alienate dying his father but ended up blowing up in his face? On top of which, he was starting to feel like a real bastard about the whole thing? "I was curious…?"
"Right…"she nodded, though her expression said that she clearly wasn't buying any of it.
Kolyat looked over her shoulder in time to see Thane exiting the club. He was headed right for him, his clothes in disarray, credit chits shaking loose from his jacket and falling to the ground.
Without so much as a goodbye, he took off running, wanting to put as much distance between them as possible.
He heard them calling him, but he didn't care. He needed a minute to collect himself and he couldn't do that with him hovering around, no doubt offering excuses that he just didn't want to hear. Not now. Not yet.
The night had not gone how he'd planned at all, and it had done was create more problems and confusion. He was confused. Did he truly want his dad to go? For him to fade into nothing without ever really know him? For it to be as if Thane Krios has never existed as more than just a name? Could he forgive him for what happened to his mother? He felt like he should, like he had to. But he was still made, still torn up. He needed to think.
Kolyat took off like a shot into the bustling traffic of Bachjret Ward, and like that, he was gone.