Shivala seems truly overjoyed at the display before her as she walks in, and calls out in agreement at Caio's mention of shots. As the drinks are lined up, she wastes no time putting her hands behind her back and using her mouth to take the messy shot. Upon depositing the now empty glass, she licks past very sharp canines to get the residuals.

"Thank you Caio!" She sings, before turning back to the bar.

"And one Buaicphreabadh, please."  She says happily as she drops a silver onto the counter. 

Alaris approaches their shot with a nervous expression, glancing from person to person, but Caio detects a twinkle in their silvery eyes that belies the overt look of tension.

The paladin inhales slowly, filling their chest, then exhales and locks their hands behind their back. With a wink at the bartender, they bend their lanky frame over the bar, open wide, and engulf the shot glass with their lips. Tossing their head back, their throat works once, then again. Head still thrown back, their tongue slowly cleans out the shot glass of every drop of liquid and trace of cream.

Bending back over the bar, the glass thunks down on the bartop, spotless. They turn to the rest of the group and shrug. "You didn't think I was always a servant of the Lady, did you?"

      "Oh... uh, thank you." Astrid picks up the drink and brings it to her nose. "I saw some halfling traders come through our hold enjoying a few too many of these." Her nose crinkles a bit and places the glass back on the bar. As the others dive into their shots, the dwarf bends over and grabs the glass with one hand and tosses the contents over her should. 

    "Mmm... I think I'll stick with the ale from here on out."  She glances behind to make sure no one got a drink doused on them.

Ling makes her way to the bar next to Caio, already nodding her head in rhythm with the music. She slams her hands on the bar at Caio's suggestion: "Yes! To Shiva!" When Alaris expertly does the Marlatio, she claps: "Never cease to surprise us, Alaris! That was pretty good, but you've got nothing on me yet."

Lining up with the others, she locks her arms behind her back and bends low, taking her time to carefully pick up the glass. She straightens and tosses it back with one fluid movement, not spilling any. A few seconds pass as she waits for the cream to run down the inside of the shot glass, or perhaps she is simply holding the position because of the way the light bounces off her pale hair and skin, colouring her like a prism shard. Before she sets the glass down, she notices a pale half-elf watching her intently from under his hood. Grinning, she sets down the glass with her mouth and slowly licks the leftover cream of her lips. She inclines her head towards him, Are you enjoying the show? Turning back to the bartender, she asks for a Ag Rothaíocht to drink alongside Shiva's next shot. Ling stands on her tiptoes and folds her arms on the counter as she orders, leaning onto them. "And an Ag Rothaiocht for me, we're celebrating her birthday!" Maybe that will get us a free shot, she chuckles, that or my cleavage.

Out of the corner of her eye, she sees Astrid toss the drink over her shoulder, but says nothing. So that one is careful, can't say I blame her.  As the girls wait for their shots, she begins swaying her hips to the music, eager to start dancing. 

The barman is a spry young halfling in a sharp waistcoat and shirt. His hand flies across the counter and Caio's gold piece vanishes, soon replaced by six Marlatios, one Buaicphreabadh, and an Ag Rothaíocht. His floppy mop of dark blonde hair swishes back and forth as he slides up and down the counter, and a sly wink flashes back at Ling as Shiva's silver is pushed back towards her.

"A special treat, for the birthday girl," he promises, spinning bottles of exotic coloured liquid from hand to hand as he prepares something not on the menu for the cerulean Tiefling.

The half-elf with his eyes on Ling is as fair as she is, and he raises his glass in acknowledgement of her flirtatious glances. He maintains eye contact for a few moments, before standing and starting to head downstairs.

Nikolai always a bit on his feet as he watches the others throw back their drinks. “That is nothing! Watch this little Ling!” He leans forward, nearly striking his forehead in the bar, but is able to get at least his teeth around the shot glass. He begins to flip his torso up and back, but instead succeeds at causing his glass to fall from his mouth and spill all over his vest and face as the glass soars into the air! Nikolai just grins stupidly and begins to cackle! “See?! Told you! I am zee best!”

"Why thank you! That's very kind." Shiva says, giving the barman a toothy smile. Leaning back, she winks at Ling as she takes the drink. Grabbing the cherry, she pops it in her mouth, before savoring her drink as she downs it in 10 seconds flat.

Noticing the silent exchange that just took place, Shiva leans in to Ling so that she can be heard over the music; "Looks like that's where you get off, I was gonna hit the dance floor soo-Oh Nik! " She can't help but smile as Nikolai declares his proud exclamation. Turning once again to the barman, she says "May I use a cloth, please?"

Caio makes a mental note of Astrid’s sly maneuver but doesn’t call her out as he joins the others in the sweet shooter. “I’ll also take a shot of akvavit and a dark ale please.” While the sugar and cream were fun for the group, Caio’s own tastes tend towards the more savory and bitter. Once his drink is brought to him, he takes a swig of the beer and follows it by knocking back the herbaceous spirit. At this point the alcohol is finally starting to blur the edges of his mind. With a shrug he sets Ghoul off into the rafters. Keep an eye out for anything out of the ordinary. He turns back to see Ling making eyes at the stranger who then disappears downstairs. “Well, I’m ready to hit the dance floor. Who’s joining me?”

Nikolai reaches for Shiva’s hand. “No need for towels, dear. You forget I have powers for such things.” He dramatically twirls his hand around himself in a flagrant flourish as all the spilled drink disappears. “Now, for another! My good man, I will take something I can drink with my hand.”

The halfling clicks his own fingers, and the mess left on the floor by both Astrid and Nikolai also vanishes. He waves another hand, and a thick, glass bottle of amber liquid floats down to him from one of the upper shelves.

"The finest halfling whiskey, all the way from Five Towers?" He offers. "To you, sir, two taler for a double!"

Alaris watches Caio send Ghoul off, then makes their way over and lays a gentle hand on his shoulder. "Maybe send him downstairs, especially if many of the others are headed that way? I'll keep my eyes open up here. Send him back up if you need me..." The paladin returns to the quieter end of the bar and nods to the halfling bartender. "You have a real gift for bringing happiness to people," they say when a moment opens up for a bit of conversation with the barman.

      Astrid is clearly not reassured by her new acquaintances, rubbing a temple as she watches the display. "I think I will stay up here, as well... If you'll have me," she says turning to Alaris. She raises a hand to get the bartenders attention, a bit embarrassed as he cleans up her mess. "I'll take one of your stouts, please. I promise to keep this one off the floor."

"Certainly," Alaris replies with a half-smile. "They're an acquired taste, I understand, but I love them true enough." Their silvery eyes glow with emotion in the flickering light of Temnitsa. They fall silent, looking back towards the barman.

The halfling smiles glibly and pours the dwarf a stout with a frothy head of cream.

"It's no bother," he replies with a shrug. "As long as everyone's enjoying themselves. That'll be four pfennig, by the way."

Once Astrid has paid, the halfling turns his attention back to Alaris.

"In Littlewood there's an old proverb," he starts to tell them, by way of an answer. "Here’s to a long life and a merry one. A quick death and an easy one. A pretty girl and an honest one. A cold pint and another one! My people try to take that sentiment with us wherever we find ourselves. Some are more successful than others."

He shrugs and starts to poor another customer a drink, flitting back and forth about the busy bar, but always returning to those sat nursing their glasses.

Meanwhile, the rest of the group are headed to Temnitsa's lower level. Shiva and Ling go first, both of them graceful and sure-footed, not worried about slipping on the age-smoothed stones. Nikolai and Caio follow a little more slowly, each feeling the alcohol. The air grows cooler as they go down, and the sound of the pounding music fades. The narrow stairway amplifies the sound of their breathing, and candles set into alcoves in the stone throw their distorted and spindly shadows against the walls. The foursome can hear the new music before they reach the bottom of the stairs. It has an even more insistent beat than what the gnome was playing when they first entered. It shoots through the ears and into the veins, spinning the listener around, and leaving them almost dizzy by the time they reach the last of the stairs.

The room they stop out into at the bottom is massive. Everything is stone, the walls bumpy and uneven, the floor smooth beneath their feet. A massive statue with black wings rises along the far wall, its wings dripping strings of garnets that look like drops of blood. Explosions of colour and light burst like cherry bombs throughout the room. They sparkle like fireworks, and every time one bursts it rains down a glittering shimmer onto the dancing crowd below. Huge marble fountains spray sparkling water with black rose petals drifting on the surface. Far above everything, massive chandeliers dangle down on long golden cords over the packed floor of dancers. Black wax drips to spatter on the dancers below, none of whom seem to notice. They're too busy whirling and spinning and clapping.

In the crowd, Ling spots her half-elf and he grins back at her, his face all angles and shadows in the shifting lights. A hot breeze blows through the room, like desert wind. It lifts his silvery hair and blows it across his eyes, hiding their expression. Then he is gone, into the crowd.

Shiva puts her hand on Ling's shoulder as they arrive in the astounding and beautiful space "Happy hunting, honey. If you need any of us, don't hesitate to let us know."

She then steps into the crowd, moving and swaying with seductive ease. She makes sure to keep herself visible to the entrance, however, in order for Caio and Nikolai to be able to find her.

      Astrid looks to the empty shot glasses then towards the stairs where the trio of tieflings and the elf disappeared. "Are you talking about the drinks, or your friends," she says with a grin. She scoops up the fresh mug of ale and raises it in salute. "Either way, I suppose here's to acquiring the taste then."

Alaris raises their drink in return, takes a small swallow, then another. "So what do you do when you're not searching for lost cities, Astrid?"

Ling shakes her head at Nikolai with a grin, nodding along as he drunkenly proclaims being the best. He definitely is, that much he's got right. Looking between Caio and Shiva, she pushes off the counter, jumping up. "Yes, let's dance!" It doesn't seem like she minds that both know she's after the half-elf, rather on the contrary. Ling pulls both of them along as she weaves through the crowd, already finding the rhythm of the music. She looks over her shoulder to see Nikolai also following them and her smile widens. Letting go of Caio, Shiva and her descend the narrow stairway down to the lower level of the club

Ling pauses a moment at the bottom of the stairs as she takes it all in. Even better than last time, wow! She looks around and quickly spots the roguish half-elf, staring at her again, his hood now cast down. Absentmindedly, she presses Shiva's hand and looks back to make sure Nik and Caio are also near them. When she turns around again, the half-elf seems to have disappeared into the crowd. The others are here, it's safe to let go for a bit.  With a last glance at Shiva, who is already swaying to the music, Ling steps into the masses and is absorbed by the sea of dancing bodies. She holds up her hands to catch some of the wax, laughing freely.

Caio does as Alaris suggests, and has Ghoul take his post in one of the dripping chandeliers. Meanwhile, the elf takes a few awkward moments to finish his beer on the sidelines while watching the slick, writhing bodies before him. Again, he catches a glimpse of her. Lithe body flitting about like a wraith, tiny bones and skulls caught in her tangled red hair, limbs draped in black lace waving back and forth, hips swaying, beckoning him into the melee. Caio swallows the last of his ale and puts the glass down. His fingers run through the mess of black curls atop his head as he stumbles forward at last, finally drowned enough to chase the phantom into the abyss.

      Like a child licking ice cream from their lips, Astrid similarly removes the creamy head from her ale that remains after taking a healthy drink. "Well, when we're not clearing out the kobolds from below the mountain, and the orcs down the hill from Kazad Azgaraz... I try to help my father out around the shop," she taps the large pocket watch hanging from her neck. "One of these days I'm going to get this thing running. I can manage simple repairs easily enough, but I'm still working on being able to make something like this on my own. It sure would be nice to figure out a way to make these things run so as not to have to wind them all the time." The dwarf fidgets a few moments with the device before letting it fall back to her chest.

     "What about you? What sort of business do you all tend to get up to... other than this?"