Open Mic Night

The Log
 The Sanding Hole. A local joint in Shantytown, it is famous for Open Mic Night. Any performer can get up and do an act, whatever it is. Stand-up, music, poetry readings, name it and there's a strong chance it's been done. Gilbert, the pit bull owner and bartender, enthusiastically retells the fire-juggling unicyclist that almost burned someone in the front row alive whenever someone asks about the sign that says NO UNICYCLES on the door.

Currently on stage appears to be a jazz duo, a mutt pianist and a dachshund saxophonist setting up mics. The mutt is quickly finished and takes a seat at the keys, and immediately begins improvising a mid-paced tune well suited for a lounge, and surprisingly it sounds rather decent. The dachshund finally finishes setting up his mic. "Hey, thank you for coming down to the Sanding Hole tonight. Drinks are half off during Open Mic Night." "Hey, we're half off!" the mutt shouts from the back without missing a beat on piano while flashing a big grin. "Oh," the dachshund says in response.

 Clive entered the Sanding Hole along with the rest of the Caravan, including Doyle and Ed. All of whom were chatting amicably. Tonight was the last night before the Caravan set off on its winter run, and thus they all wanted to get drunk and have a party before they were forced to trek through the roughest terrain their homeland could offer. It would not be a pleasant trip, and there was a chance some of them would not make it all the way through. Thus, tonight was the night to be merry and remember friendships old and new, current and past. And to make a few more as well!

Off in another corner of the bar sat Cora Moor, all by her lonesome, nursing a beer. She looked to be in something of a brooding mood, the kind of mood where an individual preferred to just simmer in their own loneliness and angst. Also, she looked like a complete emo/hipster with the black 'eyeliner', black jeans, and the shemagh she wore. Thus, it was totally okay to think her to be a whinyass.

 Carlos, it seems, is always way ahead of everyone or way behind. He's seated close to the bar sipping something very light to begin with: a virgin pina colada. The hard drinks can come later when the singing starts, appropriately enough. For a long while he seems lost in thought, the object of his mental meanderings unknown to all but himself, but when the rest of the Caravan shows up he immediately assumes his usual playful facade, swinging out of his chair (with his drink in hand of course) and heading straight for them. "Howdy, me amigos!" he greets, waving his huge hands. "You finally decided to show up! I was wondering when we'd get this party started."

 Keen was present, possibly to the surprise of some of the other caravaneers. Somehow, sitting around the caravan HQ by herself sounded worse than going to this place. Odd, since she regularly dealt with solitude as she wandered the desert. Being alone in a building was different, though. After all, the desert was alive, with or without other people. The plants, the critters, they made it move, made it breathe. A building, though... Without the people it was dead. With all of her business in Shantytown concluded, the jackal is prepared to leave tomorrow. For now, she draws level with Clive, eyes scanning the bar's interior. "Is this a regular tradition?"

 Dan enters last. He seems as reserved as ever, and silently drifts towards the back wall. His red eyes drift around the room, observing the chickenwire fence separating the performers from the crowd. Once his preliminary scan is done, the turtle rests his watchful gaze onto Carlos.

 "They do it every now and again, yeah," Clive replied to Keen with a nod. "I like coming here on Open Mic Night. It's all kinds of hilarious to see people hop up onstage and embarrass themselves for our enjoyment. And sometimes you get a genuinely good and entertaining act too."

Cora watched the newcomers with a small amount of curiosity, though they didn't seem to interest her too much at the moment. She was more interested in the music that was playing, which honestly didn't seem all that bad.

 Shax himself was present, although he wasn't part of the caravan at all. Just another patron, enjoying the drink and the music. He had been there for a little bit, and so had a nice buzz on already. It would take much more to get him actually drunk, and so long as he watched how much he drank he would be fine. Currently he was multi-tasking. On the one hand, he was looking at patrons and trying to decide which might be worth stalking. Who had the look of fighters and the like, people whom would be a good fight. On the other, he was entertaining ideas of actually singing. It seemed vaguely apropriate to do so, but the question of just what to sing was up for debate.

 Keen gives Carlos a friendly smile as he greets the group. It's just for looks, though. "Hello, Carlos," she says, then turns an ear to Clive. "I'll admit, I haven't been to anything like this," the jackal says. She looks a bit uncomfortable, really. Typically, Keen would avoid such a place... She looks across the room at the duo on stage, ears twitching as she listens to the music. It seemed odd, foreign, to her. She didn't find it bad, but she didn't really like it, either.

 Carlos grins as Keen acknowledges him; it was always good to have the ladies notice. "Well, there's plenty of time to get used to it all; whole thing is all night, you see. Let' find a seat close to the stage, mebbe?"

 The saxophonist suddenly shouts into his mic. "SAND TORNADOOOO! / ... Sand, Tornadooooo. / Diiiirt. In my booooooots. / My vegetables won't grow! How? Do I grow..? / Some dirt just went FROM THERE!" the dachshund points to his right without looking, "TO THERE!" the dachshund continued while violently pointing to the left and looking dramatically. "Sandy sandy dirt!" "Sax solo!" the pianist says bearing a huge grin. The daschshund shoots a dirty look backwards for a half second before playing a single weak brown note on his instrument. "SAND TORNADOOOOOO!"

 "Then you get shit like this..." Clive mumbled, rubbing his eyes with a forefinger and thumb.

From the back of the bar Cora looked up and, well... In her surly mood this was not what she needed. "Your singing fuckin' sucks!" she yelled loudly. And then she threw her beer bottle at the stage as hard as she could. Fortunately, the chicken-wire kept it from hitting the singer, but her jeers and abuse encouraged a few other patrons to do much the same.

 Carlos makes a funny face as he stares at the singer and his...horrible singing. "Hey, stick to the sax!" he shouts, trying to be a tad more civil than the beer-bottle woman.

 Keen is about to answer Carlos, but like everyone else, she is distracted by the singing. She doesn't throw anything or yell anything. She just folds her ears back and cringes.

 Shax simply snerked. Sitting at his table, he watched with no small amount of glee as the bottles flew, only dissapointed that the chicken wire got in the way. Ah well. There would be time for a real brawl sooner or later. He did grin, however. If this was how the night was going to go, it was a good sign...

 The piano player has given up playing entirely. He slumps onto the keys letting out a cacophpony of held notes, laughing uncontrollably. "Sandddddddddddd-dee-dot-dee-dooooooo... / Growing, lots of dirt! / SAND! Tornado..." The saxophonist finally lifts his instrument to his lips in earnest, and plays. Everything is just off. Flat, sharp, discordant, every note he plays strikes the ear in the exact wrong way. The pianist however, does manage to wipe his eyes and resume playing.

 "I could sing better than this you hack!" came Cora again, which was met with a fair number of loud, raucous agreements. Since she didn't have another beer bottle to throw, she couldn't throw anything else. Of course then someone happened to throw a chair at the chicken wire.

<Kane> "Prove it!" Came the reply to Cora. Not from the stage, but Shax did enjoy adding a little chaos. He never did stop grinning, even if he was found out.

<Zeta> Keen sighs, her ears seeming to fold more closely to her head, somehow. Her eyes widen when the chair flies toward the stage. Unconsciously, her hand lingers near the handle of her knife. She swings her eyes to Cora when the lemur yells. When Shax yells in response, she tries to find the source, but can't pick him out of the patrons. All the time, she hasn't stopped looking somewhat nervous.

<VelociRapper> The Sanding Hole Stage Protection System is well built, and althought the chicken wire dents and buckles a little, it remains standing. The saxophonist sets down his instrument, and quickly reaches under the piano, producing a unicycle. He gets on it while laughing maniacally, and wheels himself out the rear stage door. "HEY! NO UNICYCLES!" yells Gilbert. The pianist gets up, and with breathless laughter follows the unicyclist out.

<Miguel> Carlos has given up on trying to make sense of this evening. "Hey, I think I need me a drink," he says, trying to order a strong beer to begin with. It looks like its going to be one of those nights! He leans back and relaxes, enjoying the insanity as much as he can. "Hey, Keen, don't sweat the sharps; its all in good fun," he quips, seeing her hand near her weapon.

<Grafsburg> Cora sat back down and ordered another beer, scowling at the escaped entertainers. "Next act better be fucking good for what you're charging for beer here, damn it!" she yelled. Then again, this was Open Mic Night, so really it wasn't the owner's fault if the acts were sucking.

"Huh. Well, that was... Odd," Clive commented with a tilt of his head as the dachsund and the mutt made their escape.

<Kane> Shax kept chuckling to himself as the duo escaped. The music was horrible, but the audience reactions were hilarious. So, it was all good. He just hoped the rest of the night was as exciting. Or more-so. The entertainment was nice, and the drink he was nursing was decent, but he would love to get some fighting done tonight. Maybe even with his blades, if he found the right target in the crowd...

<VelociRapper> "Beer's half off, lady!" Gilbert said while he was angrily scribbling something onto a piece of paper. He briefly went outside, and taped it to the front door over the old sign. It says "NO GOD DAMN JAZZ UNICYCLISTS."

<Zeta> Keen glances at Carlos, then slowly moves her hand away from the knife. She hadn't noticed that her hand was near it. Obviously, she was on edge in this place. Again, she looks over at Cora as she rants. In the back of her head, she realizes that she might stand out a little in this place. Maybe. "Should we sit somewhere?" Keen says, hinting that maybe they should find a table and stop standing around conspicuously.

<Grafsburg> "Your beer sucks!" Cora yelled at Gilbert. But she stopped jeering afterward while waiting for the next act to show up, whatever that would be.

"Yeah, let's find a spot to sit. Come on." Clive motioned for Keen and Dan to follow him to the back of the bar. "See, if we sit back here we're less likely to be hit by debris. Also, the music won't be so awful and grating."

<Miguel> Carlos, not wanting to be left out, takes his beer (which he considered quite good, thank you very much) and proceeds after his fellow caravaneers. "We have a couple of places like this in Black Lake. Probably a bit rowdier too," he boasts.

<Fritz> Hustle and bustle, the heart's blood of merchant life... the demand for anything harbored profit, even for the most eccentric of tastes there would always be something. Ahkati was of simple tastes himself, the recipe for a good evening being little more than booze and a casual bedding with whatever fit his fancy. The hyena puffed on a cigar as he pushed his way through the crowd a bit to find a table. His expression lit up when he saw a familiar lizard... Shax. He meandered towards the lizard's table, taking the path of least resistance through the crowd, calling out his name as he approached. "Hey Shax. Funny, I thought you'd be the one to hunt me down first." The hyena's grin was broad, mirthful but showing teeth regardless.

<VelociRapper> A lone sloth goes on the stage. His expression is droopy, his right claw filed down. He wears a black leather jacket over a light brown hoodie, black denim jeans, and fancy pointed Balomar shoes. He waves to the crowd with his left hand, showing an analog wristwatch and a ring. "Sup bros," he says quietly into the mic. A quarter of the crowd is stirred into a cheer, for they know this man. "I'm Diego, bros, and uh, hopefully you'll like my performance better than that, uh... unicyclist dude. Yeah." He walks over to the keyboard, playing some chords and test notes.

<Grafsburg> Clive chuckled. "Here we go. Now we're at the bottom of the barrel. You know when the potheads come on that they're getting desperate. I imagine we'll have a brawl on our hands before long," he said as he motioned for drinks for the lot of them.

In the back, Cora snorted and propped her feet on the table.

<Kane> Shax blinked in surprise as the familiar face stuck out of the crowd. Of course, his own grin widened even more. "Ah, it's the caravaner! Please, pull up a seat my friend. Enjoy the sounds of the angered crowd; I doubt the music will get much better, alas." He chuckled, having gestured to an empty seat at the table with the first part of his greeting, and gestured to the stage with the next. "And usually I do the hunting first, but I felt in the mood for something more... tribal, tonight. I doubt you'd have enjoyed it much." The shine in his eyes when he mentioned tribalism would have frightened most people.

<VelociRapper> "You," Diego said abruptly stopping and pointing to Clive. "I heard that. You wanna, like, make a bet or something, bro? Because I'm pretty sure, like, I can show you up, or something. Yeah." Some patrons go OHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH and hiss. While waiting for Clive to respond, Diego drags the mic stand to the piano.

<Grafsburg> Clive blinked and looked around at all of the jeers. His cheeks burning, Clive nodded. "Alright, I'll take a bet with you, hippie," he said, standing up and patting his chest with both hands. He grinned back at Dan, Keen, and Carlos. He'd show 'em that Gouge's Caravan wasn't to be fucked with.

<Fritz> Ahkati grabbed the vacant seat across from Shax, ducking one of the hecklers that seemed to be swinging his arms wildly with his intoxicated shouting. "Hnnh. Yeah, I take it you aren't here for the entertainment value." The unspoken bit was the 'probably to throw things at aforementioned entertainment value', but that was expressed well enough by the state of the place as a whole. "Haven't run into too much trouble, I take it?"

<Miguel> "Oh yeah," Carlos replies. "One time this guy comes in and tries to pass off his hypnotism act. Freakin idiot ends up unlocking someones 'inner beast'. Whole place was closed for repairs for a week." He hoots as Clive takes the challenge. "Yeah go get em!" he yells.

<VelociRapper> Dan merely watched, none of the previous antics moving him in a visible way. "Okay bro. Uhm..." A clawless hand taps on the side of the sloth's head. "I don't know if you're any good at performing. Let's uh, let's say that we bet ten coins, and whoever performs better wins. You cool with that?" Diego opened up a jacket pocket and took out a bag, pouring out a handful of coins into his cupped palm.

<Grafsburg> "You're on!" Clive reached into his jacket and pulled out a handful of coins. Of course he wasn't really thinking with his brain right now, but with his pride. As far anyone who knew him could tell, the coyote couldn't exactly sing or play an instrument...

<Kane> "None I didn't invite upon myself." The iguana continued his grin, now leaning forward to the table. "But truth be told, I came here exactly for the entertainment value. It would just seem we haven't gotten to my kind of entertainment yet." He glanced out at the crowd, noting one or two with a nod of his head for Ahkati's benifit. "The way some are drinking in here, it won't be long though. Not long at all..." The glee in Shax's voice was hard to miss.

<VelociRapper> Diego pockets the rest of his money. "Okay bro, since, I like, came up with the bet, I guess for fairness sake you can choose, uh, who performs first. So uh, do you want, like, me to go, or are you, like, all pumped up and shit?"

<Zeta> Keen smirks when Clive accepts the challenge. "Good luck!" She says, encouragingly. She listens to what Carlos is saying, and actually laughs. "Odd," she states, looking across the table at the kinkajou mix. "Do you spend a lot of time in places like that?"

<Grafsburg> "You go first, big shot," Clive said, folding his arms and giving the sloth a smug little look. "Make sure you keep track of that money. I'll be collecting it once we're done here," he said, throwing his hands in the air dramatically. And then he sat back down.

Cora glanced over at the table the Caravaneers sat at and smirked. "So what's your big act going to be, coyote? Going to demonstrate your canine dexterity and lick yourself?" she asked.

<Fritz> Ahkati's grin widened as well. "Just waiting for the inevitable brawl, eh? I'm sure there's plenty of distractions until then." Even in backwater sections of town you could find entertainment. "Even if it isn't the best kind, there's always *something.*" he downed a portion of his beer, still grinning. The big guy was definitely feeling buzzed after a few...

<VelociRapper> "Pretty confident, bro. You don't even know what you're facing, and shit. I guess I'll, uh, play Figments." The moment Diego says Figments, that same part of the crowd that had cheered him earlier cheered again, even louder this time. The sloth shoves the piano stool aside, and positions the mic close to his face.

He plays a few quiet notes and plays the hook, a quiet repeating pattern underscored by heavy sustained bass notes. The sloth leans onto the piano like it was the only thing supporting him, and his brown Balomar shoes begin to tap slowly to the beat. "Dusty Tuesday in the desert / A tumbleweed blowing through / A life that I don't remember / Memories too few" Diego pauses completely for a beat. "Dreams that lie forgotten / Swept away by sand / When did I become unrecognizable?"

<Kane> The iguana chuckled, leaning back as he kicked a leg up to rest on the table, the chair tipping back nearly dangerously. "Distractions aplenty, for certain." He held up his own drink at that, taking a swig himself. He paused as the music started, tilting a head as the new round started. Brow lightly furrowed in consideration, he set the bottle back on the table. "Better than the opening show; these ones know how to play their instruments at least." He grinned, then settled into listening to the background music. "So what brought you to this lively place tonight?"

<Miguel> "Eh, not really," Carlos admits. "Usually I hang out with the folks at this tech shop, but places like this are good to go to every now and then." He takes a light sip of his beer as he listens to Diego's song. "Hey this guy is pretty good. Hopefully he'll calm the place down and we don't have to worry about brawls and shit."

<Fritz> "Night on the town, man... All the booze an' mindless fun you can buy... It's not often you get to do this sort'a thing in my line of work..." The hyena glanced at the person playing... Hnnh. Not bad, actually. A bit depressing, but... he was biased towards bawdy bar songs himself. More fun that way. "What 'bout you? Kickin' ass ain't the only thing around here."

<Zeta> "Hopefully," Keen agrees with Carlos. At Cora's words, however, her head swings around, ears up. The jackal blinks a few times. "You act tough for someone who just sits and drinks," the jackal shoots back, her hands still meshed neatly together. Next to her chair, her tail gives a sharp flick.

<VelociRapper> Diego employs a different bass riff for the next segment of the song. "Vast expanses filled with people / From another time / Figments of imagination / Ruining my mind" The music loses the soft quality, the volume increasing as the notes become more distinct and forceful. "Waiting for a cyclone / To tear up the land / When did my world become disfigured?" No longer restrained, the sloth plays a loud solo that retained the sorrowful qualities of the earlier parts.

<Grafsburg> Clive bit down on his lip and looked away from Diego as the sloth started to sing. Well shit... "Ah, I don't have anything to prove. I'm just a washed-out old convict looking to pick on your friend here," Cora replied, grinning. She pulled her chair right up to join them, whether they liked it on not, while Clive buried his head in his hands.

<Miguel> "Don't sweat the tough act, lady, cause that's my job," says Carlos, sharing yet another of his sly winks. But now shes coming over here, oho! "Want a piece of the action huh? Figures...but its a good choice." He offers his large hand. "Pleasure to meet ya. I'm Carlos. You?"

<Kane> "I'm a man of many vices." The grin broadens once again. "Fighting happens to be one of them. But I am also a man of impulse. Opportunity swings my way, I take it." The iguana pantomiming grabbing something out of thin air. The song was background, but it was good background. This Deigo could sing, the reptile had to give him that at the very least. "Live fast, free, and with no regrets. Would be my motto, if I ever took one I think." Shax chuckled, grabbing his bottle and draining the last of it. To hell with moderation, this night could shape up to be fun.

<Zeta> Keen seems surprised that Cora was dragging her chair over to join them, but she did nothing to stop it. "I think my friend here has enough to worry about already," the jackal says, but she too grins.

<VelociRapper> The solo ends, and Diego returns to the quiet hook from the beginning, singing with a quiet, straining voice. "I won't weep for the day / That I left it all behind / These are the times I must abide" Diego stops playing except for hitting a bass chord between each lyric. "And if I have to shed a tear / For the home I kissed goodbye / I'll let them know / That I'll survive..." Diego resumes the playing the embellished hook with the alternate bass riff, playing mid-volume before drifting off into silence.

<Grafsburg> Clive was just... silent. Yeah, this song was better than something he couldn't come up with. That wasn't a compliment in the song's favor; he just had no musical talent! "Looks like your friend is wishing he was somewhere else at the moment..." Cora said, taking a drink of her second bottle of beer. "Cora Moor, pleasure to meet you all," she said, motioning to Keen, Carlos, and Clive.

<Fritz> "Heh. 'Many vices' eh? Color me interested." Ahkati finished his drink, leaning on the table on one elbow, toothy grin widening. He was no newbie when it came to finding trouble to get into, but... He was always looking out for new opportunities.

<Miguel> "Nice to see ya, Ms. Moor," Carlos responds with a flare of cheer. "Yeah I think Clive here's about to lose ten creds. Cheer up buddy we'll buy you a drink!" He pats Clive's shoulder playfully. "Course you could surprise us with a hidden talent or something..."

<Kane> "Drinks are one, fighting is another. Drugs too, but one should be careful with those." His grin grew as he listed off the first few basic, leaning in as well. "One should never discount the taste of good food, nor a great text or film either. And, but of course, what would a man of vice be without the original pleasure of the flesh? Pleasure is, after all, pleasure." The sort of hissing whisper he spoke the last in was laced with promise, and would have been perfect except for when the iguana chuckled suddenly. "My apologies... Our friend Tirin called me a 'Mercenary of the Bedroom' when I implied my love of such vices. I rather like the term; much more grandiose than, say, 'whore.' But it does amuse me somewhat..."

<Zeta> "Keen," the jackal introduces herself. "This is Clive, by the way, the guy that is about to lose his money," she says, tilting her head toward the coyote as he watches Diego play.

<VelociRapper> Then, as if he had never played the song at all, Diego looked up with that stoned expression and pointed at Clive again. "Okay bro, I'm, like, done, and stuff. So uh, I guess you should uh, get on stage and uh, ready your performance and shit. Or like, maybe forfeit. I don't care."

<Grafsburg> Clive sighed. "Alright, alright. I'm going." And he stood, and headed for the stage very very slowly, like a man being led to the gallows.

Cora grinned. "If worse comes to you can just give us a strip-tease! Woo!" she called after Clive. "I doubt he'd do that. He seems kind of stuck-up," she added in a more subdued tone to Carlos and Keen. "Pleasure to meet both of you by the way."

<Miguel> "Clive? Nah, he's pretty solid. Dunno how he'll get past this hurdle though!" He looks over Cora briefly, noting her appearance. Convict, eh? Hmm...

<Fritz> "Yeah, tried drugs for practical reasons, staying on your feet on the road and all, but... too pricy, monetary and otherwise. I'll never forget what a good steak or drink tastes like as long as I live after eating so much damn road dust either." The hyena traced aimless patterns in the tabletop with a blunt claw, gaze drifting from Shax to the stage and back again as he raised a brow. "Mercenary of the...?" Ahkati tried to keep a straight face, but he couldn't. It was just too... Not funny exactly, but... full of pomp to be sure. He chuckled softly. "That's one way of putting it, and a hell of a lot more tactful than 'whore'."

<VelociRapper> "So uh, do you need any like, music? I can like, play piano, or some shit, if you need it for a song, or something," Diego asks Clive, watching the coyote walk up with an air of doom around him.

<Grafsburg> "Yeah, you know what? I can't beat you. You did good. I uh... I concede defeat." He took the microphone in hand. "I concede defeat. The sloth wins," he said. Then, he dug his money out, offered it over, and scurried back to the table with his tail in his hands.

<Miguel> Carlos gapes at Clive for a while over his sudden surrender; he has a feeling that this is more than just about ten creds. "Yo bud...you doing all right?" he asks, obvious concern marking his speech.

<VelociRapper> "Alright then. Thanks bro." Diego pocketed the money, and then got off the stage, disappearing into the crowd of people.

<Kane> "Isn't it just?" The iguana's grin broadened again, he himself rolling the title around in his mind. Like one might roll a mouthful of wine or brandy around, to savor the taste. Still, the reptile let the moment pass and glanced towards the stage. The song had been good, heartfelt if nothing else, and this other one... Ah, shame and dissapointment. Shax himself joined in the inevitable boo's from the crowd, having hoped for at least some attempt. It didn't seem like it would have gone well, but still... Ah well. His attention turned back to Ahkati. "Amusing naming conventions aside though, I don't suppose you'd like to join in me enjoying a little vice, mmm? Or do you preffer bedfellows of the female persuasion?"

<Fritz> "Aw, that's it?!" called out Ahkati over the crowd. "Cryin', cryin' shame!" Laughing, Ahkati, settled back into his seat, eyesbrows shooting up as he considered... "I... Well, sex is sex, man. What they got just changes a few of the basics, what you aren't don't mean nothing to me..." After a moment's thought, he nodded, toothy grin turning a bit more earnest. "Sure, why the hell not? You only live once."

<Grafsburg> "I don't wanna talk about it," Clive mumbled, as if he were just... broke inside. Cora shrugged as Keen made her departure and wandered over to Ahkati and Shax, who seemed to be the two other interesting people in the bar tonight. "Top of the evening to you, gents," she said in a suspiciously familiar accent.

<Nikolai> The lights dim a bit on stage as a figure, short and stout with small pointed ears takes center. Music begins to play from... somewhere, some stereo or something near the stage. A beat kicks up along with a somewhat upbeat tune. The lights come up, revealing what appears to be a rather dashing woman, primped and preened to perfection... in a sense. A samoyed in deep red and black sequined dress, a thinned middle, and what appear to be voluptuous boobs under the bright red sequins of the dress, which lies under the black coat. What could indeed be a she sits on a stool, legs crossed, large, black, yet well kept riding boots. Her eyes look out over the crowd, neck wrapped in a black boa. And she opens her mouth to sing. "You keep sayin' you got somethin' for me. Somethin you call love but confess... you been messin' where you shouldn'ta been messin'... and now someone else is gettin' all your best..." The voice sounds like a falsetto... though it's good... and certainly lady-like enough to still be feminine. There is little else to suggest anything else, save for the strong arms hidden under long red gloves that protrude from the coat.

<Miguel> Carlos gazes at Clive with some concern, but he doesnt have time to consider this further before the next act comes on. He grins, always happy to see a pretty lady...but wait somethings a bit off here. Was it the singing? No it was OK...or was it? He watches her closely trying to eke out the mystery.

<Kane> Shax's grin was almost feral. Not in a sadistic sense, but the excitement was there. No, the sadistic feral Shax saved for other occurances. This was not one of them. But, the arrival of the next performer somewhat de-railed his train of thought. It... -looked- like a woman. But, then again... "Normally I'd say we should leave now..." He murmured, still not having leaned away from his hyena companion. "But, this may be worth watching." His head tilted, the reptile watched. There was something just off about that person, just enough... The voice was farily good though. "I think that's a male." He finally concluded, head resuming its normal orientation. "Makes a good woman though, doesn't he?"

<Fritz> "I can wait," Ahkati said with another grin. "I'm a patient man." He studied the figure for a moment, squinting. "Huh. You may be right. Had me fooled... Can't tell from here, if you know what I mean," he said with a rude snicker.

<Miguel> "What the hell's that?" Clive asked Carlos, looking up from the singing that was going on. It was kind of weird, but he really couldn't tell why.

<Nikolai> As the song picked up, the samoyed en drag stood up and began to strut across the stage, curly tail bouncing as his hips swayed. "These Boots are made for walkin', and that's just what they'll do, one of these days these boots are gunna walk all over you..." The faux-femme doted, casting sultry glances to a few in the crowd, "You keep lying, when you oughta be truthin', and you keep losin' when you oughta not bet. You keep samin' when you oughta be a changin'. Now what's right is right, but you ain't been right yet...." And so on she... eh... he sang, making his way down the steps of the stage, foot over foot with an ease not seen with people who've put on heels for their first time.

<Kane> Shax, for whatever reason, simply kept smiling. The tune was catchy, it had to be said; nevermind the gender of the singer. And, if he really was a he, he had some good balance too. "I've seen women trip head over heels, pun intended, in those." He motioned towards the canine's feet, chuckling at the memory. "Man has balance." He almost sounded impressed.

<Miguel> Carlos has sat in on several lady acts before. This was a bit different, even unnatural, somehow, but he couldn't put a finger on why. "You getting weird vibes from this girl?" he says to Clive. "Something's off..."

<Fritz> "An experienced drag-artist... Don't see *that* every day." He was many things... Explorer, wanderer, guard, mercenary... but not an expert on such things as wearing a lady's outfit. Hell, it wasn't often he saw *women* in that sort of getup around here, regularly. "Yeah, whoever he or she is, they sure got the swing of it." He lowered his voice. "Boy are the folks who think that's a lady going to be in for a shock..."

<Grafsburg> "Wow. Even I couldn't quite tell that was a man," Cora said to Shax and Ahkati, kicking back again. It seemed for the most part that the crowd had no idea how to react to this. Some were fooled, others were just baffled.

Clive seemed to be marginally cheered up if only because he wasn't the center of attention anymore. "I think that's a crush, Carlos. If you want I'll hook you up with her after she's done."

<Kane> Shax's grin expanded a couple of teeth, glancing sideways to Cora. "I've learned to take in what I see at a glance. I suppose it's cheating in a way, but incredibly handy." His gaze turned back to watching the canine, utterly amused. "This should be fun to watch, I'm sure." The iguana chuckled again, then cupped his hands to his mouth. "Sing it, girl!" Encouragement for the Drag Queen. More chaos for everyone else. Beautiful!

<Nikolai> Nikolai continues to sing, making his way through the crowd, keeping up the convincing act, and even causing a couple of obviously dull fellows, drunk on various spirits, to gaze longingly, one falling off his barstool. As he finishes he nears the group with a few lizards, including the one who had shouted with such exuberance and encouragement, or so it seemed. "...These boots are made for walking, and that's just what they'll do, one of these days these boots are gonna walk all over you." He sings, finishing with a sultry pointed gesture at Carlos, who had been looking at the cross-dressing canine for quite some time, or so it had seemed to Nikolai. Then, he turns, swishing, making his way back to the stage capping off his song "Are you ready boots? Start walkin'!"

<Fritz> Ahkati, following suit, cupped his hands around his mouth and wolf-whistled loudly. "You *go* girl! Yeehah!" He would egg "her" on as "she" continued to sing, grinning all the while. "Yeah, if he hadn't pointed it out..." he trailed off, letting that thread hang there. When the almighty queen approached the hapless Carlos, he let out another whisle, this one drawn out. "Ooooh, that one's in for a surprise..." he muttered, cackling to himself.

<Miguel> Carlos' eyes widen as that final swish clues him in. He's seen girls strut their stuff...and he's seen nongirls imitate them. "Clive," he whispers anxiously. "I think the lady's a man." He feels a little sick now.

<Grafsburg> Clive snickered. "Oh, I guess so." He paused. "Well I can still hook you up if you want?" he offered. Of course the coyote knew it was a guy; he just liked teasing Carlos!

<VelociRapper> The door is flung open, swinging so hard that it smacks into the wall and leaves a hole where the knob was. A tall figure walks in, arms held slighty away from the body. It wears a white robe partially stained brown with dust and red with blood droplets, and the entire body save for the figure's talon feet are covered in tattered, dirty strips of cloth. A few splotches of brown bleed through the strips, marring an drawn on image of a sword on the right arm and a picture of a scale on the left. The figure's head is covered in a large white sheet that has been stained orange by sand, held in place by a rope noose hanging upside from the neck as if it were a necklace of some kind. A black sash is tied around the head, blindfolding the strangely dressed person.

<Kane> Shax himself gave the "lady" a standing ovation, complete with wolf-whistles. He would have called for an encore, but he did have promises to keep that night. Of course, this was before the sudden apperance of the... wanderer. Traveler? Tribal? The iguana gave it an appraising glance. This was new, to say the least...

<Fritz> Ahkati applauded with the rest of them, laughing heartily. His instincts set his hackles on edge somewhat as the door was knocked open, and the bizarre looking stranger entered. He kept quiet, trying hard not to stare... Though it was difficult.

<Nikolai> Even the queen stopped, and turned, the music's last notes dying away as the figure burst into the door. Still armed with the microphone, and feeling a plenitude of audacity still coursing through his already confident veins... and all while maintaining character... He brought the microphone to his face as people stopped applauding and gazed to the door. "It seems we have a strange new visitor." His voice was still feminine, and high, "Who is this... mysterious person, slamming doors and putting holes in walls?"

<Grafsburg> Cora stopped mid-clap, attention turning to the hooded figure. She blinked, then began to snicker. Whoever this joker was, they came across as funny to her, more than intimidating. "My guess is some drunk or crackhead," she said to the other two from the corner of her mouth.

Clive was still laughing at Carlos when the newcomer made his entrance, though he quickly went dead quiet afterward. "What the fuck?" was about all he could say to that.

<Miguel> Carlos had suspected from the beginning, and Clive was full of shit...or so he would have said before the...guy came along. He turns his head and stares at the newcomer. Well hes certainly had it rough lately.

<VelociRapper> The entire room fills with a voice, airy but deep, lacking an origin, seemingly emanating from every spot in the room at the same time, creating an echo. "Where is Gilbert?" No one seemed able to respond quickly enough, except for the current bartender who disappeared into the back room. "Where is Gilbert?!" The freakish person raised its left hand. The wood floor begins violently shaking, and the air begins swirling around violently, sending empty glasses toppling while napkins and other light debris began to swirl around the room. This spectacle lasts for a couple moments before abruptly ending. "I demand an answer!"

<Miguel> "Whoa, hold your horsee there fella!" Carlos declares, standing up and approaching the stranger with a confident swagger. "I'm sure that if we talk this out like gentlemen we can come to an understanding about your request." He grins in a gaudy way.

<Fritz> "Who the hell is...?" The hyena's voice trailed off as he glanced around, obviously confused as well as mildly disturbed. And put-off! A perfectly good act just got interrupted here, by this... stranger. "Who the hell is Gilbert?"

<Kane> The... event, for lack of a better term, has quelled the eager spirit of the reptile. Most people might attempt to explain away the disturbances, but Shax had seen enough strangeness to know that this was unnatural. And suddenly, his proverbial hackles are raised. "Crackhead or not, I have a sudden dislike of this person..." He murmured back to Cora. Again, where the iguana had been hiding the two punching daggers he was now holding was anyone's guess. But, there they were. Just in case, of course.

<Grafsburg> "Woah woah woah!" Clive stood and grabbed ahold of Carlos, yanking him back. "Easy there buddy, don't go off all half-cocked. Sit down." The coyote would try to direct Carlos back to his seat, keeping an eye on the hooded stranger the entire time. He didn't want the hybrid kid to suddenly get stabbed by what he had to assume was some kind of madman.

"Gilbert's the guy that owns this place," Cora explained to Ahkati under her breath. She chuckled at Shax's comment. "Gotta agree with you there. Who the hell does he think he is?"

<Nikolai> 'I picked a hell of a day to wear heels' the samoyed thinks to himself, reaching into his coat, hand wrapping around the revolver there, though not drawing it as he puts the microphone down and turns it off. This person clearly seemed out of their mind... and they certainly seemed to have a strange power about them. What sort of creature was this that had entered the bar. Whatever grace the dog had was now gone. It was all concentration among confusion.

<Fritz> "Ah, I ain't gettin' in the way of someone with a chip on their shoulder," the hyena said, hand straying towards the shotgun but not yet touching it. "This guy means business." Duh. Otherwise he wouldn't have interrupted an event on the seedier side of things in such a manner... Though odd that someone wouldn't know where to find the owner of the establishment in the Hyena's mind. To him, most people stuck with their enterprises...

<VelociRapper> "There is no understanding needed. The owner, Gilbert. If no one shall offer up the slaver, then I will tear this place apart!" He begins walking forward to the bar, and as he does tables, patrons, and anything else that might be in the way are pushed aside, as if a force field surrounds the whacky looking person. Patrons that had been easily pushed aside begin scrambling away. "You will pay for your crimes tonight, Gilbert! For taking away another's right to live on their own terms, I condemn you to hell!"

<Kane> "Slaver?" Shax had, at the first 'explosion' of things and people, ducked to the ground. Hopefully his two current companions had done the same. Now, the reptile had no particular fondness for slavers for a variety of reasons, but it seemed a bit odd. In any case, it wasn't Shax's fight. And while normally he'd love for the chance to go at it with this... person. Thing. Masked lunatic. At the moment, they didn't seem to be fighting on fair terms. All the more reason to fight, but not here. Not now. It wasn't likely he could get close enough, if the path of destruction was any indication. He'd have to plan this one carefully, oh yes...

<Grafsburg> "What the fuck..." Clive mumbled yet again. He was getting the feeling he'd be mumbling this a couple of times throughout this ongoing debacle. He couldn't fathom how the hell the stranger was pushing people back without even touching them. "Stay back Carlos," he said, stepping in front of the hybrid as if to protect him.

"He's in the bloody back!" Cora called out finally, deciding that this crazed stranger would probably hurt someone if he wasn't told what he wanted to know. To hell with Gilbert anyway; he overpriced his beer.

<Miguel> Carlos listens and observes, realizing that this person is very dangerous indeed. The first psychic hes seen on this trip and he goes on a rampage. Swell. Quickly he devises some kind of plan to deal with this without getting his head blown off. "Sir, if you wanted to deal with Gilbert, maybe you should do it without scaring off the good folk here? Its a private quarrel after all." His tone is much more serious now. "In any case...I can't allow you to be hurtin nobody. This is a town of laws, good sir, and we do this proper or not at all." Thus the gauntlet is thrown down. Carlos grits his teeth and stares at the stranger, wondering how crazy he must be for trying this.

<Nikolai> Nikolai took a few paces back into the shadows behind the stage. He didn't want to be involved in this... he just showed up for the open stage performance... nothing more. If this Gilbert was such a slaver, maybe he deserved what he got.

<VelociRapper> The person with strange powers laughs mockingly, not missing a beat as he walks towards the back. "Begone, pest. Shantytown has no laws, and you have no power to enforce your will." With a brush of his hands, Carlos would find himself hit by a blast of telekinetic force, enough to knock him five feet away. The noose-wearing person disappeared through the door, and is greeted by a shotgun blast.

<Fritz> "Slaver? Ah hell..." Personal grudge just became ideological as well. Not a good combination, and definitely not one to stand in the way of. After all, he had no idea where this 'Gilbert' was... He just had to plot out a quick exit strategy in his mind before tapping Cora and Shax and pointing towards the nearest window or door. If the shit hit the fan, it would be best to just cut and run in this sort of environment. "What is that guy doing... Getting himself ki- holy *shit*!" The hyena almost fell out of his chair as he watched Carlos take the brunt of... something... He'd never seen anything like it before...

<Kane> No laws, huh? Almost the kind of guy Shax might get along with. His kind of philosophy. Shame, then, he wanted to kill him. Nothing personal about it, of course, or even over ideological reasons. But this was new, almost exciting even. And Shax had to test himself against it, prove he was better, and then take such power for his own. Of course, that was assuming this person survived. Shax winced at the shotgun blast, not so much as the casual throwing of a full-grown man. He waited, watching intently, to see what happened next.

<Miguel> Carlos was expecting that, actually, but it still hurt. He grunts as the wind is knocked right out of him, but a quick movement of his arms finds toppling backward onto his rear rather than onto his head. Moaning a little, he staggers onto his feet, hoping that was enough of a distraction. Slaver or not, he hated the idea of anyone being murdered while he could do something about it. Judging from the shotgun blast, however, it might be a bit late for distractions. "Shit!" he yells, scrambling towards the back door.

<Grafsburg> And Carlos was thrown on his ass. Clive was right there by his side, to helping him get back to his feet. "See Carlos? This is why I said leave that guy alone..." he said in a genuinely-frightened voice. There was something very very off about this guy. When Carlos headed for the back, Clive grabbed ahold of him tightly. "Stay. Here," he said in an authorative voice.

Cora stood up when the hybrid ahead was thrown back. "Damn!" Not much else to say on that matter really.

<VelociRapper> Pellets slam into the wall, sending a few wood chips around. "Guns cannot save you!" There is a shout followed by another blast. Noises of glasses shattering and liquids splashing follow, and Gilbert can be heard screaming. His screams suddenly stop.

<Miguel> Carlos lets Clive hold him back, cursing under his breath. "...Gilbert didn't run away when I gave him a chance," he utters, clutching his sides as the pain from his encounter with telekinesis suddenly sets in. "What an ass."

<Nikolai> As the screams and violence escalate, Nikolai begins to remove his boots mumbling worriedly to himself. The dog grabs his boots in his hands and makes a run for the door. There was no way he was sticking around here for this. It sounded like Gilbert just got pureed.

<Kane> Shax, revealing he wasn't completely insane, did have a moment of doubt then. A shotgun apparently did not work on this man. But, then again, he knew it was coming. But now his curiosity was getting the better of him. "I have to see..." The iguana murmured, and without a sound he began slinking forward. Towards the back. Had to see, of course, just what he would be facing eventually.

<Fritz> Ahkati was silent, eyes narrowed, staring at the door... God, he *almost* felt bad. If he'd been a slaver than he really shouldn't, but... by the sound if it, he wasn't standing a chance. "Wait...!" the hyena half-whispered-half-shouted. "Just don't get in that guy's way..." He wasn't about to stop Shax, but... caution beat out curiosity, at least for him... Though he didn't want to cause a stampede by sprinting for the door.

<VelociRapper> With a measured gait, the mysterious stranger stepped back out into the bar, looking no worse. "The condemned cannot escape my wrath." The blindfolded man then would proceed towards the front door, his talon feet scraping on the floor.

<Grafsburg> "Eh, bastard's a slaver apparently," Clive said to Carlos with a shake of his head. When the hooded figure went right back out the way he'd come, Clive just watched.

Cora muttered a prayer under her breath and pulled her jacket closer to her, as if she felt a chill rush through the bar.

<Kane> Shax, at least, had the presense of mind to skirt the edges of the blindfolded man. He didn't want to confront this man. Not yet. But he did have to see what had happened to Gilbert. Or, whatever his name was. Using the opportunity of the eyes on the departing figure, he stole into the kitchen to see what had happened. Almost... eager, to see what remained.

<Nikolai> Nikolai slips and falls as the voice comes from behind him, dropping his boots and tumbling into a table clumsily. Running in a dress was NOT easy. He curses a bit under his breath, scrambling to get out of the way of the killer.

<VelociRapper> Shax would find lots of spilled alcohol and broken glass lying on the floor. On the wall adjacent to him would be the wall, damaged by the shotgun blasts. Gilbert, the pit bull bar owner and tender, laid against a wall between a few kegs. There is a single thin line of dripping blood on the sides of the kegs and surrounding walls. Gilbert's eyes were rolled backwards, his expression locked into terror. His neck has been removed. All the muscle and flesh appears gone, loose skin and fur sticking to the spine. Much of the neck is also burned, the cauterization stopping any blood from leaking. The shotgun is clutched in his hands.

<Miguel> "Doesn't matter," Carlos says to Clive, heaving himself into his seat to recover. "Ain't no justice in petty vengeance." He watches tensely as the psychic exits. Looks like he has a very interesting telegraph to send to Black Lake tonight...

<VelociRapper> The figure begins praying, walking towards Nikolai without regard to the samoy. "Life demandeth that we all returneth to the dust from whence we came, but those that make this physical existence brutal by harming their fellows deserve no less than to be sent to the void." Rather than shove Nikolai aside, the killer simply steps into the air, walking past and then descending. The door opens gently by itself, and the killer exits. Once outside, he merely sinks into the ground and vanishes, as if he had never been there.

<Fritz> "Okay..." The hyena broke the stunned silence after the stranger left. "Um. What was that?" It... was quite what he imagined the grim reaper to be like, come to think of it. Kind of creepy to say the least... Well, completely terrifying, to be honest, but he tried to not let his hands shake too much as he looked around for anyone who looked like they knew what happened.

<Grafsburg> "I... What." Clive didn't have anything better to say; that was not how reality worked. People didn't do that. They didn't walk on air or sink into the ground... "And you wanted to go after him," he said to Carlos.

"I haven't the slightest idea..." Cora said to Ahkati. "That was surreal, at least. Never seen something like that before..."

<Kane> Shax was quick to inspect the corpse more closely. This was... unprecedented. Unnatural. Impossible. Exciting. New. Fucking amazing! Shax's grin could have split his face in two, and the manic glint in his eyes would have turned all but the most willful. Oh yes, he -had- to have this power. This strength. One day, he vowed himself, he would possess this. But, there were more pressing matters. Surely, others would come looking for the bartender. Shax, ever the opportunist, made a quick check of pockets for spare change and the like, before exiting the kitchen as silently as he had come. The reptile skulked back to Ahkati and Cora just in time for the crowd to begin moving once again. "Well, that was entertaining." He said brightly. "But, I think it is time to go. I get the feeling the bar is going to be closing for some renovations shortly."

<Miguel> "That was meant to be a distraction," Carlos says, still pained. "Idiot was supposed to get away." He turns and overhears Cora and Ahkati. "Guy was a psychic, and a really powerful one too I take it. Not a lot of them folks around, and good thing too." He carefully moves to sit up straight, supporting himself with an arm on the table which seems to have his revolver too. "If that fella was able to track down Gilbert over here then we might be in a bit of trouble in the near future."

<Nikolai> Nikolai lays shocked on the ground... completely aghast at what he'd just experienced... while in drag no less. Today had indeed been quite the day. He was still shaken, and laying on the ground. The pain from his tumble hadn't really kicked in yet.

<Fritz> Shakily, the hyena got to his feet, glancing around. He couldn't help but shake his head at Carlos' offered explanation. "Shit son, I didn't even think that sort'a thing actually existed..." He still didn't, really... Unless the stranger would like to explain on friendly terms exactly how that worked. "Yeah, we should split before something *worse* comes down on this place," he muttered, agreeing with Shax. "C'mon, let's get outta here." As he headed for the door he would offer Nikolai some help up in the form of an extended hand. "You alright?" He inquired, keeping in mind that the guy was probably still shocky from the experience.

<Grafsburg> "Bullshit..." Clive mumbled. He didn't see fit to elaborate any further than that, though he really didn't believe that psychics existed. That was stupid. Science fiction. Kids' stuff.

"Yeah, I really don't wanna be stuck in here with the dead guy..." Cora agreed with Ahkati and Kane. She excused herself shortly afterward, quietly slipping out of the bar.

<Nikolai> Nikolai takes the extended hand, coming back a bit, more conscious. He uses it to stand again, before gathering his boots from the floor. "Thanks." He says, no longer feigning a womanly voice. "I think I'll be fine. Despite the attire... I'm a fairly robust." He adds, chuckling a bit, nervously though, still trying to shrug off what he'd just seen.

<Miguel> Carlos smirks. "That's a common reaction, yeah, but until you can come up with a better explanation for how a man can throw me across the room without touching me..." He takes a long swig of his intact beer to finish it off. "Never seen any this powerful, though...well not outta town anyway." uh oh.

<Kane> Shax stuck near Ahkati as they attempted to leave, along with many other patrons it seemed. He was nearly bouncing with energy, and... was he humming? The reptile caught part of Carlos' conversation, and offered his own two cents with his usual social tact. "One less slaver in the world, Law Man. I'd wouldn't be to stop him if he goes after people like that." The iguana shot over the distance with a sing-song voice, still remaining by Ahkati's side.

<Grafsburg> "Right, right. Whatever." Clive shook his head. "Cut the act Carlos. This is serious, okay?" The coyote snorted and headed for the door. "I'm heading back to the HQ. See you there," he said to the hybrid, still shaking his head even as he scrambled out the door as quick as he could without looking like a fool.

<Miguel> Carlos stares. "You don't know how serious I can be." he replies. The iguanas words give him pause and worry. Had he been that easy to read? Then again the reptile seems to be missing a few gears... He sighs heavily and settles into the chair, watching the patrons scurry off. God what a night.

<Fritz> "No problem," the hyena gave the cross dresser a nod. "You'll be fine I think. A stiff drink a night's distraction or rest ought to do it." Farbeit from an expert opinion, but it was reassurance non-the-less. Besides, the guy didn't seem to be physically harmed. "Alright, lets... just go." With that, Ahkati departed.

<VelociRapper> Dan shook his head. So that rumor about the psychic guy wasn't just some fanciful rumor after all... Perhaps it would be good to leave for a bit. But before that, the turtle had business to attend to. He departed as well, attempting to catch up with Clive.

<Nikolai> Nikolai mumbles "or all three" He says, following the rest out of the bar... he had to get changed... and to get home.

<Kane> Shax seemed to be the only happy one leaving the bar. Ah well. Their loss. And he had promises to keep. "So then..." He glanced side-long to Ahkati. "I'll let you lead the way then. Haven't got much to call home here in Shanty." It was shaping up to be a good night, all told...