the star and the songbird (JaskierXGeralt Modern AU)

The dancer (Ch 2)

Julian had never even been in a club before. he saw them on TV, but he doubted that they were actually that colorful and full. he assumed they were just like bars, but with EDM DJ's and lights. but what he saw was not what he had expected. it looked like a normal building. it was built of bricks and looked like a cafe. he went to the counter, not quite sure he was in the right place.

"Um, excuse me, I'm looking for Phillipa? do you know where I can find her?" Julian asked the man at the counter. he was quite handsome and strong looking.

"Back there," He pointed to a back room without even looking up from his phone. "Take the staircase down to the third floor. that's where the club is."

"Oh..... ok. thanks."

Julian went down the staircase just as the man had said to, and right as he reached the third floor, sure enough he was in a large brick room, with a dance floor, three bars, and a bunch of little rooms in various hallways. standing at one of the counters next to the dancefloor was a woman with dark skin, long dark braids, and a tight red dress looking at her phone. she didn't look up.

"Um, are you Phillipa?" he asked after waiting for her to realize that he was there. she finally looked up.

"OH! you must be Julian. hmmm Julian. definitely gonna change that," she chuckled. she walked over to him and shook his hand. "It's nice to finally see you. hmm you're scrawnier than I thought. JACKIE!!!" she yelled, clapping her hands twice, making Julian jump. a girl came out from behind a pillar. she looked like she had just started putting some body paint on her body, because she had no shirt on, only a bra, causing Julian to instinctively look away.

"What's wrong?" the girl asked. 

"Y-You don't have a shirt on. I-I'm trying not to be rude," Julian said. was this normal for her? people seeing her without a shirt? not even a crop-top?

"OH sweetheart, if you want to work here, you're going to have to get used to seeing that. you also have to get used to people seeing YOU like that." the girl said.

"Enough chit-chat! Jackie, measure him. how tall is he?" Phillipa ordered.

"You could've just asked me-- what are you doing?" Julian looked down to see that this girl was untying his shoes.

"I have to see how tall you are without your shoes on. they add an extra inch." she said, not even bothered by the fact that she was invading his personal space.

"I can do that myself, thank you." he said, finishing what she had begun. after he took off his shoes, Jackie immediately took out a measuring tape, god knows where she was keeping that, and saw that he was 5 8".

"Why didn't you just ask me? I wouldn't have lied. and what did you mean you were gonna change my name? I happen to like my name," he said, but Phillipa wasn't listening. 

"Hmm, Jackie go get Greg. I can't figure out what this.... twink would look good in," Phillipa ordered.  Twink? Julian thought to himself. who does she think she is?!

 "Can you dance?"

That question caught him off guard. "Wha-- Can I what?"

"I think I was pretty clear. Can. You. Dance? it's pretty simple," she said, looking at her phone again.

"I---I mean, yeah, I guess. what kind of dance?" he asked, now starting to understand what job he was applying for.

"I don't know, just can you dance? look around you and guess what I mean," she motioned around the room, again without looking up. then he figured it out.  he looked around and saw poles on the dance floor, and silk hanging from the ceiling.

Julian was stunned. "You---you need a new.... dancer? and entertainment dancer?"

"UH, yeah. what did you think? you think I needed a bartender to be a certain height?" she laughed.

"But the website said no skills needed except....oh...." he got dizzy for a moment.

"People skills. a way with people. OH that reminds me.  you like girls or guys?" she asked, as if he already worked there.

"Are you seriously asking me my sexuality? for a job? Why, so that you can figure out which type of sick asshole I'll be better experienced with?!" he was getting angry now. this information wasn't on the website.

"Exactly! Now you're getting it. JACKIE HURRY UP!" 

Jackie showed up a few minutes later with a man who looked like he was trying to be the new David Bowie. he walked up to Julian and sized him up. 

"He's not much to work with. but he is cute. after a few months every one of the guests will be eating out of his hand when I'm through with him, isn't that right buttercup?" the man, who Julian assumed was Greg, joked.

"OOH! that's a great Idea!" Phillipa exclaimed. "Greg, your mother was polish, right?"

"Yup," Greg said.

"What's the polish word for buttercup?" she asked.

"Hmmm, I think it was Jaskier," Greg said with a thick accent. Jackie looked it up on her phone.

"Yup. Jaskier," she said.

Phillipa thought for a moment. "Jaskier. Jaskier...... guess what kid? you're hired! Greg, get him fitted with some outfits." then she walked away, leaving Julian with Fake David Bowie, and body paint girl. what was going on? what did he sign up for? he was starting to beleive that being an adult was scarier than her thought.