A Review by Tavaan
It’s not easy to find the new places that are opening up. Although businesses often begin with a lot of fanfare, this city’s just too big for the average gentleman to stumble upon such an event. But as Twilight was recognized in The Oracle for its original and innovative mode of operation, I found myself not only informed, but quite curious as well.
For my review on Twilight, I went on three consecutive nights, in order to see the initial development of this unique establishment.
Night One –
There was a line. I was at the end of it. There was a large a notice near the front entrance, which looked like it had been there for a passage or more. People had obviously read its description of the place and come prepared. There were backpacks, instruments, and even a young man carrying two chairs on his back.
When I got to the door, a woman took my coin and nodded for me to enter.
It was obvious, right away, that there was some confusion. Usually, you enter into a place and there is music playing, a host or hostess to seat you, or a menu to look at. But here? Nothing. Merely a lot of people milling about as they talked, shrugged, and explored the huge open hall with its multiple stage areas and scattered tables. Instead of a dance hall and tavern, it seemed more like a bunch of commoners who had broken into an abandoned warehouse and were wondering if anyone had brought the makings of a party.
Only tonight, someone had.
Those that I noted earlier with packs and instruments were hastily setting up bottles behind the bar and shouting people over to them. Two men had already struck up tunes on their instruments, and seemed to be playing off of each other’s melodies. Somewhere, a drum took up the rhythm.
And the party began.
I bought myself a rather expensive ‘Ghost’ (my favorite drink) and settled at the bar.
It was an explorative night. Most of the time it was rather like a large party, a bit out of control, but without enough spirits to go around as the bar was quickly running dry, and no organized entertainment besides a fortune teller (the guy with the two chairs), and three musicians. One group braved the stage to give a sort of impromptu skit that didn’t get the most amazing response. I thought it was rather silly, actually. There was a lot of honey in the air.
Most of this changed on . . .
Night Two --
Some opportunistic people must have felt things out that first night, because there were people at Twilight an hour early, waiting to get in, and they had brought a rather vicious array of equipment. When I stepped in this time, one of the stages was lit with mirror lanterns, music was playing, and a woman was dancing, slowly and sinuously, to the exotic melody. The bar was equipped by some people who had brought quite a bit more spirits, in both quantity and variety, and the smell of woodfires drifted out from the kitchen.
It was just about opposite of the night before. People danced in a large, cleared area, their rhythms guided by the dancing of the woman on the stage. On the other end of the hall a group was putting on a rather professional drama that drew a fair sized crowd, and gathered them some gold in their bowls, as well.
If there was a problem tonight, it was that too many things were going on at once. Foods were brought out on platters and sold, entertainers seemed thick as stew, and it was difficult to concentrate too long on any one thing. I left a little dizzy.
Night Three?
Things settled a bit, but Twilight held onto its wild flavour. I danced with a lot of very pretty girls, and got drawn into a dice game, and watched a group of role-players who had stolen a corner for themselves. A powerfully built man did a sort of sword dance that looked like he was fighting an invisible enemy. (I was later told it was a martial arts form.) And someone was giving gypsy dancing lessons.
Late that night, I had a chance to sit down and talk with Tellin, one of the two employees that keep the place in order.
"Satisfied?" I asked.
"Quite," he replied. "Twilight’s alive. It has some growing to do, some motions it needs to go through. People have to discover what it’s all about."
"Which is what?"
"Human imagination. Human inspiration. Human achievement. We all have actors in us, musicians in us, entrepreneurs in us. Dancers. But most of us will never get to express those sides, because so much is expected out of professionals. But here, the professionals don’t come. They won’t make enough gold. So people like you and I can get up on stage, or become cooks for the night, or be bartenders. And if the crowd seems pleased, if you feel like you’re living a dream, then you might just be inspired to hone your abilities and try to become a professional yourself! For a lot of these people, who struggle with addiction and where lack of gold makes for a difficult life, this is a rare opportunity. If in only a few of them it makes a difference, then we’ve not only created an extremely fun establishment, but done something to help out the Thieves District."
Although I left exhausted from the overstimulation, (I prefer a darker, quieter sort of excitement) and probably won’t go back again, it was obvious that Twilight is catering to a large population who seem to be seeking a new and more creative way of enjoying a party. If the excitement doesn’t die out, Twilight could inspire a new way of looking at businesses.
But for now, it’s opened up a venue that allows people to bring their most vibrant and colorful sides out for the world to see.