[tCotR] - Angus McCann

[Cinnamon Cherrywhip]

CC was on the pole, spinning, bending, flexing and putting herself into all manner of positions that just shouldn't be possible. She was only able to move as she did, not because of her vampiric abilities, but because she worked her *** off to get to where she was in the dancing community. Usually she let herself disappear into the music when she was on the pole, her movements coming as second nature to her with the frequency with which she'd done each routine she'd created and choreographed herself. For the first half of her time in the spotlight, that's exactly how it had been - however the second half wasn't going quite as smoothly.

There was something going on out in the seating area, right near the bar. She could hear voices being raised - though she couldn't make out the words being said - and it was like there was some sort of tension in the air. She wasn't impressed and she was looking to see if Verbena was working tonight, hoping she could maybe pacify whatever was going on. However, she couldn't even remember if the woman was working tonight because she'd not done the rotas this week and had left it to Ginger to do.

A gunshot rang out and cut through all the noise of the chat and music, and CC dropped from the pole and was running and leaping from the stage - good god people stared at how far she'd jumped, but she wasn't going to think of the masquerade right now - towards where she'd figured it had come from. Gary was lying on the ground, bleeding profusely from a wound in his chest while Giselle was crouching by his side in floods of tears while trying to stop the bleeding. CC could see at a glance that he was dead already, and nothing could bring him back from that except for maybe turning him into a vampire. However, she couldn't think of that, and wasn't really keen on spending an eternity with the letch hanging around - because while he was good at his job, he was down right creepy and handsy.

"What in the **** happened Giselle?"

She demanded, and then listened through the sobs as she discovered that Giselle had a part time gig as a common street whore, that Gary was her boyfriend and that her pimp had just shown up having followed her, seen her working for someone else, seen her kissing Gary and had then gone ape.

"Craig, Dumpling and whoever the **** you are..."

She pointed to three bouncers as her rage flared.

"Get everyone out before the police get here. You know more than half the people here aren't going to want their names taken."

She then turned back to Giselle and then grabbed the woman by the hair and dragged her unceremoniously to the door and threw her out into the street.

"You. Are fired. So **** right off and do not let me see you again. EVER!"

Giselle was about to answer back defiantly through her tears as half of her weave was picked from under CC's nails. However a bus came by and didn't see her as she stumbled backwards and out from between two parked cars. So instead of words spraying CC, it was Giselle jam.

"Awww, ****. This is all I bloody need! Certainly one way to make sure I never see her again....."

She grumbled and grumped as the screams of people and the screeching of brakes filled her ears. This whole night, was completely fucked up and ruined. The stress she was under and the investigations that were going to happen would be costly and lengthy. The distant sirens rang in her ears, getting ever closer and she turned and stormed into the club to find the CCTV tapes and **** them up, after taking a copy for herself so she could find the ******** and make him pay for what he'd done in her club. She didn't care that Gary was dead. She didn't care that Giselle was dead. She cared that her profits had been affected - so that was what needed to be dealt with, because that was what was important to her.

[Cinnamon Cherrywhip]

Days. It had taken goddamn days and weeks for the damn police to let her open her club up again while they asked all manner of questions and poked around. They didn't believe CC for a minute when she proclaimed her ignorance, nor that the tapes for that night were the only ones that seemed to have an issue. However she just smiled sweetly and acted like butter wouldn't melt, all while paying off those she knew who came into the club. So while it had taken time - no charges had been brought and the investigation moved on elsewhere, letting her open her club once more.

This was the second night she'd been open since the incident and a lot had happened since then. Sangue had expanded and there were a load of folks she'd invited to come on by to meet - so she was glad they were now open again so that they could actually come in and meet her and see her at her best. Customers were returning, word of mouth spreading the fact that the doors were open and services were discounted for the first week only, just to get the business back that she may have lost.

CC walked around the tables, smiling to everyone and flirting with them where warranted, even giving a couple a little lap dance and another a pole dance, pocketing the cash as she wandered off into the crowd once more. She felt herself relaxing, back in familiar territory and back amongst the people she knew and understood and could control and manipulate. This was where she was comfortable and this was where she was happy. Centre of attention and making money - what could be better?

However, there was something niggling at the back of her mind. That man who'd come into her club like he owned the place and shot her bouncer. There was no way she was letting him off with that and she needed to teach him a lesson - the lesson that you didn't mess with her and you certainly didn't mess with her business. So, satisfied that everything seemed to be running smoothly here she excused herself to her office, sat down at her computer and slipped the DVD in that showed exactly what had happened - studying it closely and beginning to plot and plan.

[Kennedy]

The days were long but she was focused. Training in the sewers and the catacombs to get stronger and be more beneficial to the family before going back to either her house on Sparrow or the apartment that Mordie had designed for her to continue training but on a pole, aerial hoop and silks. The pole was really her warm up now and it made her chuckle inside that something she had worked so hard to learn was now her warm up for the more advanced technique that she had moved on to for Mortll. She firmly believed that everything happens for a reason and she was sure that she wouldn't have gotten this opportunity from her boss if it wasn't for CC and firing her all because she fell in love. Love...well that was another interesting thing that she was still trying to figure out.

Stepping in the door and placing her blade on the rack where it belong, Kennedy flipped on the television to listen to the news while she made herself something to eat. She always got her blood for the day but her cravings always geared her toward food that she used to enjoy. As she made a sandwich and soup, the news moved on from the weather to talking about the incident at Silks's. It had mentioned that there were no new leads in the case and that the owner was free to open the club once again while HRPD continued their investigation. Kennedy shook her head as she could only imagine how fumed CC was and decided to pay her a visit to see if there was anything that she could help with.

Quickly choking down the unneeded food, she placed the dishes in the sink to wash up later and grabbed her jean jacket as she made her way for the door. Out of habit and reflex, her sword was instantly in her hands as she opened the door and locking it behind her as she closed it and left. The transit wasn't to far away and made it quick to get to Silks or the Saloon when she needed. The train was early which was a blessing as she would arrive to Coastside in record time. As she arrived to her destination, she stepped off the train, ignoring the men that were trying to proposition her as she clearly wasn't interested.

Making quick work on her feet, she slipped through the crowd and then ran the rest of the way to the club. With her blade clear as day on her back, she stepped up to the bouncers who knew her as well as the recent history between CC and her, her held up her hands in surrender and defense.

"I'm here to help CC, not cause more issues."

They nodded their head and stepped back, letting her pass. Looking around the club for the woman, she nodded to herself as she figured that she was in her office when not seeing her on the main floor. Climbing the stairs to CC's personal space, she knocked on the door before letting herself in.

[Cinnamon Cherrywhip]

She'd watched the DVD a few times now, and every time couldn't believe what she was seeing. The way the man had moved and the way he'd seemed to appear from nowhere.... he was a vampire. He'd managed to dodge the bouncers with a flexibility she'd only seen in vamps before, and there was that invisibility thing some could do that would explain how he'd appeared from nowhere. She'd pulled his face off from the DVD and printed it out as well as sending it to her mobile. There was one little thing left to do, and she decided to double check Crownet - just in case this guy had been doing something else that was stupid.

Her office door opened and DD walked on in, making CC's eyes narrow while her hand flew to her blade, feet pressing to the ground and lifting her to her feet in a fighting stance. There was silence in the room - other than the clattering of her chair as it hit the ground with the force of her standing up - as she glared and flexed her fingers around the hilt. She was waiting for the other woman to make a move, ready for anything to defend herself if needed. Meanwhile, she was trying to resist the urge to leap the table and stab the ***** - because all else had been forgotten and it was now filled with rage and disgust at the sight of the woman. She felt her eyes stinging, the force of her emotions bringing out the change in her eyes that made the demon the cult she'd grown up in had believed her to be, reveal itself.

However, the computer began to beep with a mini alarm thing and it broke her concentration and the urge to kill, slicing through the red mist that had descended. Her eyes remained changed, and she was glad she was in her office and it was only the traitor who'd seen them change, as she looked to the computer. Her eyes widened at what she saw, the man who'd shot up her club was on the CrowNet as one of those who broke the masquerade - with a lovely looking 5K bounty on their heads. Well, now she had two reasons to find the ******, both as good as the other. However, he was a vampire, and she had no idea how strong and dangerous he was. Perhaps she'd need help, or at least a meat shield..... She looked up at DD again and smiled thoughtfully.

"So.....?"

[Kennedy]

Kennedy watched as CC quickly stood and hand her hand on her sword in a speed that would be considered supernatural. She didn't reach for the blade on her back but just stood there and rolled her eyes as she knew exactly where CC was going as she watched her. Her stance was defensive and she was prepared to attack. Trying hard not to laugh at her, she stepped foward and took a seat in the spare chairs on the other side of the desk. Honey brown globes looked up at the woman and she tilted her head. CC hadn't changed any no matter how she seemed on the Sangue board. She thought that she was getting better and being more friendly and accepting to family but it seemed that she had been wrong which didn't surprise Kennedy...she had been wrong about a lot of things lately.

"Put that away before someone gets hurt. As I said, I am here to help."

Her attention perked when the mini alarm went off. Quickly she leaned forward and looked at the computer as she caught a glimpse of a man. Watching CC's reaction, she quickly turned the monitor and took in what the man looked like, memorizing his features even watched how he moved and interacted with other patrons and employees. Once she knew that she could pick him out of a crowd, she was instantly on her feet and pulled her blade from her back. Her gaze moved over to CC as she caught the smile and she perked her brow.

"What's the plan??"

[Cinnamon Cherrywhip]

She relaxed her stance ever so slightly as DD sat herself down in the chair across from her, but she in no way relaxed fully. However when her computer screen was turned she snarled and fumbled with the keyboard, flicking to a porn video she'd been watching of one of her new girls in action, using the Ctrl Tab command. The sounds of sex filled the office as DD stood up and asked what the plan was - and CC simply stared at her and sat down, rubbing at her eyes to make them stop stinging as the tears lubricated them.

She pulled the screen back to herself and quickly paused and muted the video that had begun playing as soon as it was the top screen, and then flicked back to Crownet and the DVD. She remained silent and simply left DD standing there for a few minutes as she thought about it. Then it slowly came to her. Giselle. She'd had a locker here which hadn't been cleaned out, and she'd never told the cops about the link between the dead stripper and the shooting. She'd simply made out it was in the melee and panic that Giselle had run out into traffic. She got up again and went down the stairs, not caring if DD followed or not, and made her way through to the changing rooms with her master keys.

It didn't take her long to remember which was Giselle's, cause hers was the one covered in the sickly sweet pink love hearts. She opened up the locker and pulled everything out, tossing things into the bin that weren't important or useful and keeping a hold of the things that were. Finally she found what she was hoping for - an address book - which made her grin. She rammed everything else back into the locker and then turned and headed towards the bar, where there was a phone. DD had seemed to follow her down, and was currently being stared at by the older employees while the newer ones were trying to work out what was so interesting about this woman everyone was staring at.

CC sat herself at the bar and began going through the little address book, looking for the name she'd seen on Crownet. She didn't have to look for long, or flick too many pages. Because Giselle had organised the book alphabetically by first name. There it was, the man's number and his address even. She jumped up and turned to leave, finding DD there again. She scowled and looked up into the woman's eyes.

"Well, I'm obviously not going to ******* lose you am I. You planning on coming? Come. You get killed, leave a note to say it wasn't my goddamn fault right! Last thing I need is that numbskull boyfriend you've gone all slut over coming for me!"

Than she headed out the door with the book in hand, passing it back to DD so she too knew where they were going.

[Kennedy]

She couldn't help but roll her eyes again as she watched CC and the sudden porn that filled the room. Kennedy had already seen what she needed to given what she looked at on the monitor. The reaction alone with the man and CC was enough for her to know that something was wrong. Tilting her head and perking her brow at the type of porn that CC had been watching and it made her snicker as they had different tastes in such entertainment.

Kennedy's eyes looked CC up and down as she watched her closely, taking in every minor reaction to the situation before she continued to give her thoughts. There was something that was going through CC's mind and clearly wasn't sharing. When CC began to move, she followed after her because the cops were useless and they could take care of the situation themselves which is what she had planned to do the moment she saw the man.

Walking into the back room where the girls hung out and stored their items in lockers, DD leaned back against the lockers behind CC and watched her shift through the items. Tilting her head as random items went into the trash only to hold her snickers because this girl had an insane amount of crap. She ignored the stares from the other employees who would never be as good as she was and they would just have to deal with the fact that they were sloppy and lazy. Placing her sword back on her back, she continued to follow CC around as if she owned the place.

When CC stopped long enough to flip through the book, she waited until she found what she was looking for. Nodding her head as she listened to her words slither thorugh her ears, she smirked at the woman as she repositioned her sword on her back and threw her hair up into a full pony tail of curls.

"No you aren't going to lose me...you never have but damn straight I am coming with you. This will be fun and don't worry about Mordechai, everything will be taken care of there but I don't foresee dying...he seems sloppy. Fledgling for sure."

Following her to the door, she took the book as it was handed to her and looked at the address. It was simple enough to remember so she continued to flip through the book. Names upon names on each page and most of them being men. A chuckle slipped passed her lips as she shook her head.

"Damn...did this woman ever come up for air??"

[Cinnamon Cherrywhip]

"**** off DD."

She snarled.

"You know for a fact I lost you. But it's fine. You've been replaced. In all ways, and more and not missed at all. As for dipshit - I hardly worry about him. I just can't be assed missing more work cause of his stupid little temper!"

She then walked out of the changing rooms, snapping at the rest of the girls.

"Get back to ******* work. There'd better be a decent profit on the books by the end of the night or one of you is ******* getting fired. DD, Giselle ******* worked and worked hard. Something you don't have a goddamn clue about."

She smirked, knowing that they knew that 'fired' didn't always mean 'fired'. Not in this business anyways. It was far too easy to simply, disappear for writhing against the wrong person at the wrong time and hearing something you shouldn't or seeing someone with someone they shouldn't be with. So as the faces all dropped and paled and the people all busied themselves, CC left and headed for the door - no doubt with DD in tow.

"Dylan, I'm going out. Might not be back tonight. Tell Ginger to lock up and put all the cash in the safe. I'll sort it tomorrow when I come in. Ok?"

The guy nodded his head and moved aside to grab a guy coming in with a bottle. CC's lip curled and she wanted to grab him, take him round the corner and beat the **** out of him for thinking he could pull that sort of **** in her place. But Dylan had it in hand and she needed to find this Angus man. He had a lesson coming to him and no doubt.

She paused a little way down the street, just outside the High Noon Saloon, and let DD catch her up. If the stupid cow was planning on tagging along, then she might as well tag along properly and stop falling behind.

"Look. I don't want him dead. He apparently runs some street pros. Might be a good business to take over. But it means he needs to stick around to make sure they know who's the new boss. Not to mention so we can find the fuckers. You kill him, I will ******* end you. Permanently. Understand?"

[Kennedy]

"********, CC...you quote, unquote lost me because you chose that. You can't accept change when it happens. You can't handle it especially when it's not something that you want. You don't like that I am happy with my choices and it left you alone to your own accord. You claim that I was replaced, sure...but she's not all that good. I have watched her and she's sloppy. She doesn't put in the work that she needs to and you are just covering for her because you have no other option. I do kno about hard work and to be honest...I have advanced so you can your damn poles and shove them up your girls' ***. As for you and Mordie...I don't want to get into it because I really don't want to fight with you..."

She rolled her eyes as she addressed the women about their jobs and the importance of money because God forbid that there was anything else in the world that mattered. Kennedy took the address book and started out of the club knowing full well that CC would catch up when she was finished. CC had proved her thoughts right as she caught up and then passed her. Kennedy didn't rush after her because she just didn't care right now. She walked passed the bouncer as CC was talking to him but the woman was always in a rush so she had taken off once again. Kennedy decided to pick the pace so that she could keep up with the high-strung woman.

Catching up with her at the Saloon, she stopped and listened to her as she spoke. Nodding her head as she listened to every word. Kennedy completely understood. "Okay so added business with a slobbering slug in the corner. Well I hope this works or it would be all for nothing if we didn't kill him. Though we could always kill him if it doesn't work and then they have no choice but to see you as their new boss."

[Cinnamon Cherrywhip]

"You know I have no issue with ******* change when it's for the better. But devolving into...."

She waved her hand up and down, indicating DD's form.

"That? No. That's not a good change. And if you're happy, bully for you. Just remember, it's all because of me - your happiness. You'd ******* well have nothing if it weren't for me! As for Ginger - **** right off. She's more loyal than you ever were and has a better head for numbers. She doesn't even ******* dance, so whatever it is you think you've seen? Dream on."

She smiled slyly and shook her head, walking off in the direction of the guy's hovel after getting her bearings.

"You're just upset you're so easily ******* replaced and you're not as damn specal as you thought you were!"

Mosside wasn't too far away, though it was far enough away to need a train. So her feet headed round the corner and to the station, checking her watch as she went. ****, a train was due in about 30 seconds. So with a wink to DD, she used her celerity and ran like the wind to catch the train, expecting DD to follow and keep up. She got onto the train and collapsed into a feet with a chuckle, looking around to see if DD would make it or not.