TheNexusProject/TheBowerOfTheMask
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The Bower Of The Mask
- "For your viewing pleasure tonight, fresh from her packed house tour of the Hundred Kingdoms - let's hear it for Bubbles and her Dance of the Golden Balls!"
- - Symone, Master of Ceremonies
- "No, no, no. Let's try this again. The art of this technique is in the subtle nuances of pressure in the 1,001 prescribed caresses. You don't just go around pulling and snatching at things ham-handedly ... Oh, that's better ...."
- - Kaiali, instructor of carnal arts
While it is actually open during the day, The Bower of the Mask is known as one of Bastion's most exclusive nightspots. Housed in a graceful grey- and pink-veined marble mansion near the shopping district, the Bower is well known for its burlesque shows, incomparable courtesans, and absolute discretion. On the outside, the Bower is a typical Bastion dwelling, a marvel of pale marble with oak doors carved with its trademark mask and immaculate lawns with brilliant flowers to set off the landscaping. Inside, guests are greeted by the maitre'd, and if they did not come with a mask, they are supplied one. The house is softly scented with sandalwood and musk oils, and from the vast foyer guests are given the option of a game room, many sitting rooms, a theatre, or the staircases that lead up to private rooms. There are also two dining rooms, but these are mainly used for private parties or the personal use of the staff. The decorating is done with an eye to sensuality; every texture, fabric, scent and color combination is designed to delight every sense.
The staff is hand-selected by the owner Resplendent Dreams of Seraphim and trained regularly in the art of the courtesan. The Bower is their home and they're usually found lounging in various stages of dishabille, playing Gateway or cards with guests in the game room, discussing all manner of topics in one of the sitting rooms, or entertaining in one of the private rooms. Naughty play and teasing are encouraged throughout the house; anything more lewd must be taken to a private room. Sera ensures that her staff is skilled, sharp and intelligent; gender and age don't really matter, but those considered underage (15 or 16) have duties that are less demanding (such as serving drinks and assisting with parties) and they are not "available", as it were. Nexus is a cold, horrible place; Sera would rather have those precocious enough to want to work for her employed in her establishment than in the hands of some twisted, amoral pimp. She also provides regular medical examinations, and has worked out a deal with a nearby seamstress and clothier to give her staff a modest discount on clothing and lingerie, to keep them in the latest stare of fashion.
The shows and parties are legendary at the Bower. Regular auditions are held for the burlesque shows; only those that are truly erotic without crossing that fine line into vulgarity are scheduled. The theatre rarely has many empty seats on show nights; Delos Ferrano even has a table permanently reserved for himself near the front. "Bubbles Amore", the famed dancer, has a regular show at the Bower; she and Sera are very good friends and often make quite the spectacle when out shopping or having tea. Invitations to the parties and orgies held at the Bower are valued commodities; the heavy black lacquered cards are hand-delivered by impeccably-dressed, masked servants. Rarely does anyone invited fail to show up; the parties have a reputation for an "anything goes" atmosphere, and even the most sorely jaded can still be impressed by the display.
Rumours
- Not much trouble happens at the Bower; some might say that it's due to the crack security defending it, while others maintain that the head guard has a collection of carefully preserved genitalia that once belonged to patrons that got out of hand.
- There have been stories about a "secret room" in the basement where all sorts of specialized kink goes on, but no one who's ever been there is talking...
Secret
- The Master of Ceremonies makes a good bit of jade on the side by accepting bribes from prospective burlesque dancers who want to play the stage at the Bower. He is relatively sure that no one knows about this; however, Sera is well aware.
Comments
I fixed a link. Also - while the entry is neat, the open links don't give a lot of room for the person writing them to manoeuvre. The owner and a dancer at the same club? Past patrons, nearby locations or objects, or (in)famous incidents in history are as good. - Moxiane
- The owner was already done on another page long ago, I linked to her because this is one of her places... The dancer (Bubbles) was the open link intended for this page, I noted the huge amount of unwritten links, so I kept it to a minimum until some of the other unwrittens get knocked out. - Dreaming Nymph
- Yeah, I noticed that... now. Ne'ermind. As to the large number of unwritten links - so what? The more the merrier. I fully intended for them to reach unmanagable levels when I wrote the rules. ^_^ - Moxiane
