martyr mode mp3 | lyricsForbidden Fruit:
Simone’s Notes:
A new generation nostalgic for the spectacle and perceived glamour of the old times determined to bring burlesque back. This revival was pioneered independently in the early 1990s by Billie Madley's "Cinema" and later with Ami Goodheart in "Dutch Weismann's Follies" revues in New York, Michelle Carr's "The Velvet Hammer" troupe in Los Angeles, and The Shim-Shamettes in New Orleans. In addition, and throughout the country, many individual performers were incorporating aspects of burlesque in their acts. These productions, inspired by the likes of Sally Rand, Tempest Storm, Gypsy Rose Lee and Lili St. Cyr, have themselves gone on to inspire a new generation of performers such as Vienna La Rouge and Dita Von Teese. In the case of such performers as Julie Atlas Muz and Agitprop groups like Cabaret Red Light, the revival of burlesque has also provided a new vehicle for political satire and performance art. The revival of roller derby also features elements of burlesque. Today New Burlesque has taken many forms, but all have the common trait of honoring one or more of burlesque's previous incarnations, with acts including striptease, expensive costumes, bawdy humor, cabaret and more. There are modern burlesque performers and shows all over the world, and annual conventions such as the Vancouver International Burlesque Festival and the Miss Exotic World Pageant are held. In 2008, The New York Times noted that burlesque had made a comeback in the city's art performance scene. 2009 PARIS Burlesque Festival Features San Francisco Burlesque Songstress Kitten on the Keys- comedienne, mistress of ceremonies and sing and stripper.
Damon stayed the whole night with Katherine just to make sure that she was alright. He acted like her guardian the whole time.
“Are you okay?” he asked her Christmas Eve the next morning. The dancer nodded.
“I told you, Damon,” she insisted. “I’m just fine.” Katherine nearly fell over to the ground.
“Whoa!” she said quickly. The lt. col. caught her just in time.
“Careful!” he said out loud. “We really should take it easy.” Katherine looked up at him with sweet little doe eyes. Damon felt his own cheeks going hot just by the sight of her lovely face. Her burning ember eyes set his soul in a wild bonfire. “Whoa!” he thought. The fire dancer held him tight in his arms in the snow. Such a movement shocked the man back into reality right away. He looked down at the fiery dancer. She looked up at him again.
“Damon,” she murmured at him. “Let’s spend today and Christmas together!” That really threw him for a loop! Damon’s face went bright red.
“WHAT?!?” he nearly yelped. The burlesque dancer giggled at him.
“Nothing dirty!” she quickly. “Buy me breakfast first, I am a bit hungry!” That took a little while for that command to sink in at first. The man quickly shook his head.
“Of course!” he boomed. “I’d be happy to take you to breakfast!” Katherine giggled again.
“Well then, let’s go silly boy!” she said aloud. She grabbed the lt. col. by the arm and rushed him down the street. Damon tried his best to keep up.
“Whoa!” he yelled again. “Slow down there woman, you’re still not better, remember?” Katherine didn’t listen. She kept dragging her new boy-toy down the street.
They came into a small burger restaurant just outside of the city. Damon looked at his new accessory as they arrived at the thick glass doors.
“Are you sure about this?” he asked. Katherine nodded once.
“Yep!” she announced. “My friends and I always come here after the shows for a quiet bite to eat.” Damon looked in at the dimly lit place.
“I don’t know…” he mumbled. “It looks a little too shady for my taste…”
“Oh come on,” his lady friend pushed. “I’ve been going here for years. This place is safe, I promise!” Damon sigh reluctantly.
“If you insist…” he answered. Katherine nuzzled his ear.
“Follow me,” she whispered. The dancer led him right inside. They came up the front counter. The clerk recognized her right away.
“Katherine!” he lit up. “How have you been?” She smiled back at him.
“I feel a little weak today,” the fire dancer answered. “But other than that, I am flying high as ever!” The clerk nodded at her.
“That’s always wonderful to hear,” he said. He took one look at Damon as speaking that.
“Oh, and who is your gentleman friend here with you?” the clerk asked. Sanders quickly became nervous. He had originally planned on not getting close to anybody here at all. But yet, his new gal pal saw to that otherwise. She squeezed his arms with her long, polished nails.
“This is Lt. Col. Damon Sanders!” Katherine announced proudly. “He’s spending today and tomorrow with me!” *Sweat drop on Damon’s head* “She seems too eager to brag that out loud, isn’t she?” he thought nervously. The clerk smiled at them both.
“I am so happy for you!” he announced. Katherine and the clerk laughed. Damon just looked up at the ceiling and said nothing. Suddenly, he was beginning to wonder about his choice for a “comfort girl.” What the hell was that man thinking when he made that wish to Manami?
“Will it be the usual this morning, Kathy?” the clerk asked once he and the dancer had calmed down some. Katherine nodded at him.
“Yes sir,” she answered. The fire babe looked over at her male friend.
“You want anything?” she asked. “My treat!” Damon took a quick glance at the menu.
“I’ll just have coffee…” he mumbled. Katherine smiled and turned to her friend behind the counter.
“You heard the man!” she chirped. Her pal nodded.
“I’m on it!” he said quickly. The clerk rang up the meal and the dancer happily paid for her breakfast and Damon’s coffee. Once they got their food, they sat down near the window. Silence followed as she ate and he drank. Katherine looked down at the table some.
“Do forgive me,” she said to her date in a soft voice. The lt. col. looked up slightly off guard.
“Huh?” he asked. Katherine swallowed a bit, nervously. She fiddled around with her fork as she tried to find the right words to explain herself.
“You see,” the dancer began again. “I lead a lonely life most of the time. Sure, I have had boyfriends here and there, but how long do you think they stick around? I’m just a pretty face that dances with fire. That’s how the world views us burlesque dancers. Pretty pathetic, if you ask me. For once, I just wish to live like a normal woman with a stable relationship. You were so kind to not only take me to hospital, but you stayed with me in my apartment the whole night. Even in the morning you still stayed with me. I got a little too carried away with my excitement and acted rather silly. I was just happy to have a good-looking man stay with me until he was sure I got better.” Her words stirred something in Damon’s heart. For once, he saw a glimpse of what it was really like without the glitter. It looked pretty bleak for Katherine and others like her. Right then, Damon made up his mind on something. He gently took her by the hand. His gal pal looked up rather surprised. The lt. col. smiled at her kindly.
“Katherine!” he announced boldly. “I will give you the *best* Christmas holiday that you have ever had in your life!” The dancer looked up at him in happy surprise.
“Really? You’re not playing a rotten trick on me here, are you?” she asked slightly suspicious. Damon gave her the smile of a charming devil. He leaned in and lightly kissed her on the lips. Katherine was surprised again at first, but then she happily kissed him back. The lt. col. lightly pulled away. He gave her a devilish smile again.
“Now do you believe me?” he asked. Katherine’s cheeks were now a bright cherry tomato red.
“Yes!” she said out loud in a high-pitched yelp. Damon smiled at her as he lightly stroked her hand.
“Very good,” he said softly. Both went silent for a moment to realize what just happened. Their loneliness had just been cured. A true Christmas miracle? Doubts could secretly run high if one saw the *real* plot unfolding for the next act tomorrow morning…
But for now, it is nice to enjoy the silence and romance on Christmas Eve before the heavy blood-soaked war to come. Happy Christmas Eve everybody!
