#odyssey

And DeFunt starts his routine up, joking about middle age on a guy "I used to be able to write my name in the snow.. now, not so much... but I can't afford the medical bills, so I'm tring to cheat the system... 'Hello, Rotor rooter?'" He mimes a cellphone

She gives a slight chuckle, sips her drink, glances around to see if she can spot 'Shalimar'.

Probably in the backstage side, out of view

She leans in to whisper to August, "We should be ready to go as soon as this 'Shalimar' finishes performing. We'll go backstage for his autograph or something."

August is picking at his salad, but nods.'

And as DeFunt ends, someone says "Ladies and Gents, the Jester from Jefferson City, the lil stinker you've all grown to love... Shallimar!'

And Shallimar steps onto the stage

(Perception plusAlertness rolls)

/roll 6

/roll 5

Coradel watches the new performer closely.

Coradel has to admit, the guy looks like Shalimar. she may even wonder if that's some cantrip use at play to fool her.... August however notices that the tail is wrong. wait, he realizes, is that a black cat pooka who has painted stripes down his tail?

August tilts his head, frowning.

He closes his eyes to listen to the speaker.

A frown, and she looks to August to see what he thinks, but August already has his eyes closed in concentration, so she focuses on the performer again, clapping along with the crowd at the introduction.

'Shallimar' says "And what's with our government these days," Oh a fair mimicry of the voice, but no, it's off, Coradel can tell ''Look, i'm tempted to send them a dart board and a blind fold in order to help their decision making process. Gotta be better than what we got? '

August shakes his head slowly. "I do not think that is he."

"It is not," she whispers back, shaking her head.

She has started tapping a manicured nail on the table in irritation as she watches.

"Should we go back now, before he exits?"

A nod, and she rises, leaving payment and a generous tip for the waitress.

Then the guy starts to trash Duke university .."I almost went there, and I'm sorry to say, the Duke Admin are so stupid they think Dictation is a sex position"

And the changelings in the room laugh at the expence of 'Duke' university

August follows as inconspicuously as he can in black leather.

Her eyes go wide and she grabs August's arm to prevent her from taking action right then. After all, those are her lieges.

She leads the way outside again, taking August's arm as the walk away from the front entry...but then down an alley in search of the stage door.

A hand on hers where it rests on her arm, comforting and giving strength. Outside, he squeezes her hand.

They do find a door that says 'employess only'

August release her to check the door, listening first, then trying the handle.

Sounds of laughter are distant, some sounds of kitchen work, but not loud

She is about to blithely go straight through the door, but pauses as August engages in caution.

Nice and gentle, open the door and check inside before they slip in.

All the body language of impatience.

It was actually wise August did that, because there is a lady bringing coffees by, and not to the main chamber but to the back end of the building. They let her pass, she doesn't see them, and they realize She can guide them back stage where the 'talent' awaits free coffee

Coradel slips in smoothly in the coffee-bearer's wake, pulling August along.

He goes with her.

THe lady opens the back stage area FOR them, glides in...

DeFunt looks up at the server ,smiles, then REALLY smiles as he sees Coradel, "whoever number three is I'm sure I'll be in love" then he sees August and laughs "Hey, well, at least I still have good taste"

"Ah.... yes." nonplussed.

Coradel smiles at DeFunt. "It's you! You were wonderful out there," she lies through her teeth. "We were just wondering...well, I was just wondering if I could get your autograph?" She picks up a napkin and looks to August, "Honey, do you have a pen?"

DeFunt is surprised but pleased "Young lady, I will sign anything or anywhere you want"

Of course August has a pen. And a notepad.

She laughs charmingly as she offers over the pen and notepad to DeFunt. "Here. Make it out to Tabitha. That's me," she adds a bit vapidly.

"Lovely name , Tabith" he hears laghter coming from the stage 'looks like Shallimar is cracking them up'

"Well, he's probably not as funny as you were. Do you and he perform at the same places a lot?"

A shrug "Didn't used to . Lately it seems he's all over St. Louis though. Hits every comedy club like clockwork. I dont think he's funnier than me either. His humor's too mean for my liking, but some like it, and from what I hear he barely argues about price. He should get a decent agent... I hate it when some guy drives expected pay for entertainers down. Why work for nearly nothing? You gotta eat right?"

"Maybe he's trying to get lots of exposure? But you're right, if it's driving pay down for other people like you, that's not fair."