d a n c e {open}

[gemma]

Gemma was not ashamed of her profession, though that didn't stop her from keeping her blonde head down as she quickly went through the employee's entrance in the back- as if afraid that someone might recognize her. And in a way, she was. She didn't need her poor, ailing mother to know what she did just to make ends meet. But now, however, Gemma was beginning to fear that it wasn't enough. She was working constantly, every day this week opening to close at the apothecary, and then apparating over to Dark Temptations. She was exhausted, but there was no rest for the wicked, she figured.

But if that were the case, she wondered what she had done that was so terrible. Sighing lightly, Gemma went to the dressing room, as usual she was the first of the girls to arrive. Peeling off her dress and undergarments, she stuffed them into her locker along with her purse, and spun the dial to secure them. She then went about getting dressed, slipping into her corset and tying it carefully before turning it the right way round. Gemma pulled on her fishnets, slipped her feet into her platform heels, then went about fixing her hair.

She curled and teased it, as well as used a copious amount of hairspray to prevent her coifs from falling flat as they were prone to do. Hair in place, Gemma went on to do her makeup, much heavier than she would ever consider doing outside work, this was for the stage. False eyelashes, heavy-handed eyeliner, bold lipstick. But in exchange for the getup, Gemma would get to dance. Sure, people were only watching because she was half-naked on a pole or in some businessman's lap, but it was something. Gemma figured this was the only kind of dance she would succeed in, anyway, she was too tall and too curvy to be a ballerina.

Gemma had seen them, petite and skeletal, yet so light on their feet, such grace and poise... Whereas she had to be distasteful. But she was dancing. And getting paid to do it. Fluffing her hair, Gemma flashed a grin that didn't meet her eyes to the mirror as he name was called, introducing her by her stage name- Venus. It was trite, predictable, but Gemma would rather take that than something like Diamond or Candy. Abandoning her chair, Gemma took to the stage, her insecurities melting with each step toward the pole.

Here she wasn't uncomfortable in the spotlight, here she shined. Deaf to the hoots and hollers of the crowd, Gemma began her dance, climbing, sliding, and spinning around the pole, moving her body in smooth, sensual lines. She wasn't thinking on the debt, or how ill her mother was, for the time being, Gemma was free.

Outfit