Babylon - After the entry thread.

This Livia chippy seemed to have a decent sort of humor about her and she kept company that footed the bill, so she couldn't be all bad. Sure she SAID gentlemanly habits and dashing good looks, but she knew what it was. Big cash and a nice ride. This was Hell, after all. No one's intentions were good!

Putting her hand to her mouth in a demure gesture of shock, she gasped. The schoolmarm seemed to be going over quite well, so she opted to stick with it.

"The noble mien and classic looks are merely the bioluminescent orb that this devilish deep sea angler uses to guide his hapless and naive prey to his mouth! The only reasonable solution is to become an embittered old crone like myself before he makes a dishonest woman of you! Oh...and this old thing? It was originally my wedding dress, but it was very worm eaten so I patched up with some tape. Not what it used to be, I am afeared."

Shaking her head, Dawn declined the offer of champagne for now. Pointing out that the waitress was already heading back with her concoctions, she winked at Nic.

"You see, I made sure to select a waitress disinterested in the type of attention that I had greeted her with. The result is an increased haste and professionalism to distance herself from unwanted advances. Little does the poor thing know that I am merely using her close mindedness to more rapidly facilitate my inebriation. Usury, after all, is a hellish trait!"

Smiling at the arrival of her glowing neon green and shiny red drinks, Dawn broke her act. Pointing at her toxic looking beverage, she laughed. Simply virulent.

"Wooo! Check THAT out! And here's a toast, what! Chai yo! Cheers! Whazzaaaaap!"

Slamming back the drink hard, she winced. That one was a burner, for sure. Smiling toothily, she asked

"So how'd y'allz meet? I met Nic inna fountain - I was standin' innit, he was ridin'is bike thru th'park, so'm guessin'at yers wasn't too normal."

Listening to the speil about Nic being quite the fisherman had her giggling. Before she could retort that she was already an old 'crone' the young woman continued. Describing the outfit she wore as a wedding dress was highly laughable. Even moth eaten seemed to be going overboard and Livia covered her giggling mouth with a hand and shook her head. Nic was quite right, Dawn was very unique.

While the blue haired girl described her scheme for receiving her drink, Livia took a moment to slip her mask off her face. She simply did not think it would be possible to drink with it on. Still the makeup and dusting of sparkles she applied earlier should suffice. The beaded satin ribbons that had looped over her ears to hold it against her face twisted slightly as she laid it down so she fussed with it for a brief moment while their drinks arrived.

Livia blinked in shock as Miss Dawn changed yet again. While her comments were almost undistinguishable as words, if Livia tried to repeat it in her head, singsong, it could almost be deciphered. Choosing her words carefully, with great hope that she had figured out exactly the question asked, Livia tried to answer after sipping from her glass. She had initially raised it to clink with the others but found herself needing the fortification.

"I met Nic upon my arrival back home to Nachton. We live in the same building though I had been travelling for many months."

With a wink at her clanmate she smiled at Dawn.

"A fountain you say? Now was he in it at the time or were you?"

"Neighbors....riiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiight. That's wha'all th'ol' folks say when they dun wanna talk bedroom with the chilluns. Well, I'm no'yer chil', nor'm'i oneta keepya from yer funnin. Even fogies'a gotta giddit ON from time't'time. Clean th'dust from th'ol' pipes!"

Grinning wickedly, Dawn gestured to Livia.

"Y'seem kinda quiet, but I bet yer'a topper, ain'tcha?"

Winking, she went ahead and answered the question. It was kind of strange - made for a decent story. Realizing that Livia'd had a bit trouble with deconstucting her lingo, she cleared and slowed things up...a bit.

"I was out at Vesper Gardens...y'know, th'moon bloomin garden...but yer from here so y'alls prolly know it. Anyways, I was in that big ass fountain talkin' to Artemis. Well, her statue, anyways. She don't talk much even when she ISN'T a statue, so not much different. ANYway. So I'm there in th'fountain, chattin it up with her cuz we ain't talked before or nothin', so I said my bit, didn't get killed...oh, Artemis has a problem with the Goddess Dawn, so I jus' wanted t'make sure everythin' was kosher and whatall, bein' on her turf. So I'm there an' this guy comes ridin' his motorbike through th'park. I mean, talk about a disruptive influence. So insteada stealin' his ride, I let him buy me steak. I think that's it. Oh, and I got ridda that crotchrocket - my yammi's out here now."

Yup. Summed that up.

"So y'all's are livin' together? Is he a remote hog? Leave that seat up? I bet he doesn't. Pussy."

Winking at Nic, she sipped her red drink.

Alex had left club E after being more then a little bored, tying her mask back on she just grinned at the bouncer, blowing him a kiss she made her way inside of club Babylon, checking out the crowd a big smile formed on her lips, O yes this was REALLY much better, picking up a glass of champagne from a passing waitress she patted the girl on the butt as she walked off.

Heading into the most naughty part of the club she took a seat, watching an almost naked guy dance in a cage she licked her lips, taking a sip of the bubbly in her glass she smirked, O yes.. much much better.

Livia was quite shocked at the young woman's reaction to how she had met Nic. Even if she could not decipher half of what she said the disbelief was something she wanted to clear up. Maybe latter she would ask just what a 'chilluns' was.

"The Meridian Towers house a lot of people. I was returning from my tour of Scotland and Ireland one evening. Nic was gallant enough to assist me in getting my luggage to my apartment. Of course he did procure a promise to call on him in the future, so perhaps he was more devious than I first thought."

Her last comment was accompanied by a wink to her clanmate, hopefully to let him know that she was joking. His undisguisable honor was clear for Livia to see. When Dawn called her a topper, she pondered just what exactly that could mean and her brow furrowed in confusion. Another word she had no clue the meaning too. Listening to Dawn was quite a linguistic challenge. Thankfully the young woman slowed down a bit to describe her own meeting with Nic. Confusing as that was in and of itself.

The fact that Dawn was in the fountain did not come as a surprise to Livia. Nic did not strike her as the type to randomly climb into sculptures, unless of course it was to rescue someone in need of assistance. She added several more words to her growing list. Finally Dawn took a breath but before Livia could ask her questions the cheeky wench calmly commented that she believed Livia was cohabitating with Nic. Blinking in surprise she could only shake her head. With a glance in Nic's direction she giggled slightly.

"Well you did say she was unique."

Turning her attention once more to Dawn she tried to look serious but the smile was probably plain in her eyes for all to see.

"Now, what exactly is a 'chillun', a 'topper', a 'yammi'? I find it quite apropriate that he bought you dinner after finding you cavorting about in a fountain, Nic is very chivalrous. While one might wish to know if he is a 'remote hog', unfortunately he has evaded all my wiley attempts to lure him into my lair. Thus I live alone like an old spinster aunt."

Switching to her favored English accent, Dawn shook her head sadly.

"Ah, a tour of a lesser isles, I see. I suppose they too have their benefits and worthwhile sites, but the time surely would have been better spent within the seat of our power, my dear. And then to wind up in the Colonies when all was said and done...tsk tsk! And you simply CANNOT trust those American rogues...they pantomime the fine behaviors of their English betters, but sully it by being FAR too forward and...dare I say...vulgar."

At the vocabulary list, Dawn smiled and sipped daintily at the drink. This could go either way. Opting to keep the vocal facade of an Englishwoman, she continued.

"Oh...oh dear, oh dear. Well, I suppose I could explain those to you. A Yammi is a motorbike crafted by those clever Japanese chaps at Yamaha Motors...chillun are simply children...and a topper is a female who takes control in a relationship, as evidenced by their being on top during sexual relations. Oh goodness, now you have me blushing."

Fanning her face in mock embarrassment, Dawn couldn't hold it. She cracked, and started chuckling. Sipping her drink, she reigned herself back in.

"Okokokok...done playin' fer at LEAST thirdysekinds. Gotta serious question 'ere. So...iffin' yer nottan item...what're ya doin' takin' all THIS in wit'each other?"

Gesturing specificly, Dawn pointed to a stripper, their waitress wearing assless chaps, a couple doing everything short of penetration to each other on the dance floor, an impromptu jumble of bodies that could possibly include penetration of some form caddycorner to them, an exhange of funds between a woman holding a whip and a starch collar businessman in a full face mask...

"Y'know. Just curious."

Smiling, she sipped her drink once again. The response would be interesting, she was sure.

Much as he had done upon their initial meeting, Nic just listened to Dawn until she came up for air. Some of the things she said, specifically those addressing the relationship between Livia and him...and the 'topper' matter, almost made Nic blush. And Nic rarely blushed.

But his concern for Livia's sensibilities was found to be unnecessary, when his date quickly understood most of what Dawn had tossed her way. And the parts Livia was unclear on she graciously turned back to Dawn to clarify.

Nic just sipped his champagne, and sat by in amused silence. The two women seemed completely capable of taking the conversation in a sundry of directions, and it tickled him to hear how they did just that.

"Livia IS my neighbor, and while the idea of more developing there is definitely in my own realm of desires, I think it might be a good idea if we have a little more time getting to know each other. You know, that remote thing can be a big factor in whether or not a relationship has the ability to withstand time."

And with that Nic slipped back to the role of quiet observer, again until he found a spot to wedge another comment in. He did nod slightly at Livia's wink, glad to see she really didn't think him devious. Though there had been times when he had wondered at his motives, with Livia the reasons were pure and simple. He enjoyed her company.

"Livia is definitely a woman of strength, and would find it, I'm sure, easy to slip into the role of mistress whenever necessary. However, she again has shown nothing but grace while spending time with me, and there we find sharing the responsibility of decisions...and the like...more harmonious."

Livia was definitely a topper in Nic's mind, but that thought stayed there for now. It was something he intended to find out, just at a later date. And though he didn't doubt for a moment that Livia wouldn't have held her own with the sexual innuendo, he found the need to offer protection stronger than the desire to see.

He hoped his answers didn't sound too pompous, but when a lady's reputation was being discussed, he could only tease so much. Kids these days had no qualms about discussing anything in public, but his old values were too hard to just toss to the wayside. This wasn't to say he didn't enjoy jumping into the sexual revolution that had begun thirty or forty years ago, but that was when he enjoyed the company of women who were raised during that time. Livia had not been, and to Nic's mind, couldn't be treated as if she were.

"As to why 'I'm' here, I think the answer is obvious. How could a man pass up the chance to escort such a lovely woman to such a fun event, and miss the opportunity to find out just how she handles the whole 'remote' issue at the same time.

But I'll have to let Livia answer with her own reasons."

He wasn't entirely sure he should have left Livia open like that, from the persistent point of chivalry. From the point of the strength he saw in her, he didn't think he could do less.

Deciding to check out the rest of the club Alex began to walk around, holding her champagne in one hand she used her other to take off her mask, as she felt it was no longer needed, why would she hide her face from anyone, if people wanted to see her.. let them.

She stood by the podium watching the band play for a while, the music wasn't that bad if you liked that kind of thing, smirking she walked on, putting her now empty glass down on a nearby table she looked around, her purple hair moving in spiral curls behind her, moving her hands up she took out the pins holding it up making it tumble down her back.

"Much better... stuck up nonesense"

Shaking her head at all the dressed up people she walked on towards the more private booths, maybe she could find a private spot to sit down and watch the silly people around her for a while.

Ellis graced the waiter with look as he set her drink down in front of her. He turned to move away when she reached out and grabbed his arm, causing him to look back not a little unsettled.

'One second.' She took her drink, a tall flute of champagne, and downed it. 'I'm feeling a bit alcoholic, so one at a time just won't do.' Ellis let go of his arm and he scurried off to refresh her drink. On his way he passed an interesting little girl with Suzie q curls. Ellis wasn't near as drunk as she'd like, she decided. Still, she could squeeze a little business in with pleasure, not that she was having any after Carol's display with Simon. That genuinely inflamed her sensibilities. Ellis wanted so badly to heave her bat at Carol, hopefully knocking her off the stage but she refrained from the fantasy. She'd choose her time a bit more wisely. However, she picked up her spiked bat again and nudged the fair Alexandra who was casually walking by with an air of superiority about her. The hopeful new protege' that Tai had been testing. Where was Tai, she wondered. Oh well.

'It's Alexandra, isn't it?'


(OOC - permission to touch Alex with her bat)

Turning her head apruptly as she felt something sharp poke her side Alex turned her head in the direction of the person holding the bat, coming face to face with a dark haired woman dressed in a very interesting costum she raised an eyebrow, this person knew her name.. but who the hell was she?

"That depends on who's asking"

Looking the woman up and down she gestured for a passing waiter to hand her another flute of champagne, crooking her head to the side she motioned to the strange woman to join her, she noticed that she was already sipping her own glass, but anotehr wouldn't hurt, after all this was a party.

The arrogance of youth. Ellis looked at Alexandra with less than enthused eyes. This one was Tacharan, but just barely by the sounds of it. She performed her tasks within the normal parameters and she seemed opened to doing more business, but right now Ellis just wanted to see what she was like.

'Tai's told me about you and I'm fairly certain he told you almost nothing about me, so my name wouldn't really matter.' Ellis pulled her bat back, leaning it against her chair. Lifting her chin, she motioned to Alexandra to sit and be merry.

Livia listened with a laugh held back with a hand firmly over her lips. Yammi now made some sense along with chilluns. Topper had her eyes poping open huge and her laughter hiccuped into a gasp. While she tried to think up some sort of coherant comeback, Nic was quite clear in his defense of her honor as well as his belief in her strength. Especially after his flattering comments of desiring more had her blushing shyly at him for a moment. Something to perhaps discuss at a later time in a much more private locale.

Taking a sip of her champagne she smiled at Nic. Since Dawn had asked a very clear, amazingly enough, question Livia answered as clearly as possible.

"The event sounded like an amazing party and I was more than thrilled to accept Nic's invitation to attend the parade with him. While we do happen to be in the more licentious club, I do not have a problem with other people's displays of affection. Though I am not the type to partake in public myself, I dont believe its wrong per se, just what others may enjoy. For being an old 'spinster aunt' I am quite open minded!"

Her last comment was a joke and she smiled mischeviously. Sipping from her glass once more she relaxed slightly in her seat. Of course her posture did not change thanks to the corset but she settled her spine a bit more comfortably. Eyeing Dawn she gave the young woman a curious look.

"Now tell me, why exactly are you here? For the wholesome values or to catch something more interesting, young lady?"

At the mentioning of Tai's name something clicked in Alex's head, so this was the person who had hired her to kill the hitman.. how interesting... as she motioned for her to take a seat she put her mask down on the table, taking hold of her skirt she sat down elegantly.

"So you're the woman behind Tai, good to know that behind every strong man stands an even stronger woman"

Smirking she took another sip of her champagne, after the job Tai had given her it had been very quiet for her, she had done some loose jobs here and there (after all a girl's gotta make a living) but nothing like the one she had gotten, it would be interesting to get to know this woman.

Pleased with the gaiety of the reaction, Dawn smiled.

"See?! Proof he's upta no good! He invited y'to a PARADE an'ere we're in a STRIP CLUB modeled after HELL. I think he'sa bad influence on ya! An'ol spinsters go to heaven unless they jab chillun wit' their knitting needles...so there must be some dark secret in yer past."

Grinning at the question, she sipped her drink and nodded.

"Yup! Y'gots me all figgerd out! I'mma spokesperson fer Heaven here lookin' for other clean souls t'get them outta th'fire 'fore they get too crispy'r come rezdints. SO gitya t'eaven, yo!"

No matter how often Dawn referred to the location as hell, Nic saw nothing to indicate anything he might have construed to be evil. Of course sitting right next to Livia would make such an idea impossible. The twinkle in her eye led Nic to believe that while she did appear angelic on the outside, there was a core of fire inside her.

And lo how he longed to see that.

For now he was still content to listen and watch the two women he sat with banter back and forth. It was clearly more entertaining than what was going on around their table, and with each friendly jab by one, he waited expectantly for the responding parry, or thrust. And it seemed for each poke at Nic's character that Dawn tossed out, Livia had a more than sufficient comeback.

But he was getting a little uneasy with all the talk about his chivalrous virtues from Livia's point of view, just as Dawn's teasing in the opposite vein was a tiny bit annoying. A little such attention went a long way. Besides he would rather the focus of the evening be on the women.

The only way Nic could see of diverting further discussion, was to dance, which he longed to do anyway.

"Heaven...hell...anything wrong with living in a little of both?"

Nic pushed his chair back a little and stood up.

"Dawn, my dear girl, I would love to dance with you, if you think you might not be too embarrassed being seen with an old fogey?"

Bending to Livia's ear, he brushed his lips agains the curve of her jaw and whispered.

"Please don't go anywhere, as I'd like to have the next hundred or so dances with you?"

Whether he should have asked his date first, or the woman he'd invited to their table, Nic couldn't determine, so he went with what he thought was the easiest avenue. A quick turn around the dance floor with Dawn, so as not to be rude, and then return and pick up with Livia, Nic would make up any perceived slighting to his date in any fashion she'd choose.

He then presented his hand to Dawn, and bowed slightly.

"Shall we?"

Ellis noted Alexandra's response with a soft snort and muttered, 'Riiiight.' She had to consider her options, which were few when dealing with regrouping. Ellis no longer had an entire clan at her disposal - in fact she had 1 loyal subject and 1 questionable one who wasn't keen on betraying his family - Panos. So with Alexandra, a relative newcomer to Nachton and the clan, she would take what she could get. All three were young and inexperienced though. With a reluctant sigh, Ellis fingered the handle of her bat and spoke softly to Alexandra.

'Is Simon aware of your side dealings? I would imagine he is not. If and when he finds out, your ties to the clan will be severed. Are you aware of this? Clanless isn't a warm and comforting position to be in and I've no time to babysit.'

Laughing shrilly, Dawn shook her head.

"I'd be more'n glad t'dance witcha, but I'm not sure we get down th'same way. Call it a hunch. But I'd be more'n'appy t'keep th'seats warm while ya twirl yer date old school like. Mebbe I'll even learn a thing'r two about them proper dances."

Holding up her nearly empty glass, she smiled.

"'Sides, I'm not NEAR wasted 'nuff t'dance yet. Gotta loosen up first, what! Y'alls have fun."

Snapping her fingers at the waitress, she ordered Val's drink - a Snakebite. It seemed to be calling to her tonight, which was odd. Maybe she'd see if Val was about in all this mess.

Grinning back at her she took another sip of her champagne, this woman had a certain air about her, something very dangerous and letal, she liked it.

"No Simon isn't aware and even if he is and I do get kicked out.. so be it.. quite frankly, I don't give a fuck, I never fitted in to that clan to begin with, I can take care of myself, I always have, sounds arrogant I know and I probably am, but hey what do I have to loose other then my life.. or unlife in my case"

Smirking she sat back, twirling a purple lock of hair around he finger as her foot moved to the beat of the music, this was going to be a very interesting conversation.

"I find that Life, is what you make it. Despite the trappings this club is what we believe it to be. Someone less inclined to see the good in life may find it resembling Hell. Myself, I find it more just a study of human passion, playfullness and nature. Of course I gave up the belief in the afterlife years ago."

Rather than expound on why she called herself a spinster, Livia just smiled serenely. Since she was a spinner the word always appealed to her. Of course in her mortal life she had been considered extremely old to be unmarried, thus a spinster or firmly on the shelf. She had never let labels bother her, instead choose to see the good in her situations in life.

Livia did not for one moment believe Dawn's claim to be trying to save people from Hell. The girl simply did not quite seem the type. Shaking her head and clucking her tongue at the young woman's claim, she let it go at that. Nic had quite the right idea, good or bad, one could not enjoy the best to its fullest without at least once experiencing the other.

His offer to dance with Dawn was charming, as was the slight brush of a kiss. The warm shivery feeling that accompanied his comment held her in its grasp until Dawn waved away his offer.

"Are you sure you would not mind? While I am completely confident in Nic's ability to adapt I would not pass up the opportunity to enjoy his dancing skills."

The drinks came back and more followed for at least another hour. She checked her cell phone for the time. Pulling the pink Motorolla out of her small purse she saw that it was getting to the exspensive point of having a babysitter.

SIghing she stood. It had been good to get out and relax. The mask made it even more easier. She would go a for a walk this evening before heading home. Her skin itched with the anxiousness to be outdoors.

She stood and placed her tip money in the hands of the very prompt stripper waitress. She took a last look around at the beautiful place and self conciousness hit again. She shook her head and went out the doors.

ooc- out