Voices Carry-Open

[Dominique]

Cloves was the scent that had Dominique leisurely scanning the space around her in the nightclub for the source of its aroma. It likely was coming from behind her a couple tables back. Turning around completely to confirm it would be at the very least rude to the company she was currently with. Beneath the dim lighting the she teetered on the seat beneath her looking over the fire red tressed female that was rattling off the numbers to go with the inventory that was being discussed. The amount and availability was registering and being retained even as the Dominique finished the assessing once over with her chocolate hued orbs. The female finally went silent and that hooked and reeled in Dominique's attention once more to the curvaceous mid-twenties woman who held her iPad like it could save her with the way it was positioned across her chest. Such a thing brought a sense of security to her? Dominique shrugged her inked shoulders that were missing the jacket that was currently resting over the back of the chair behind her. Whatever got a person by was fine by her. It just sent off more flags than she figured the woman truly intended on waving in the patron packed club.

“I will get back to you after I look at what I have in stock and what I will need if anything at all.” The sound of a sigh sifted through her lips. “I was not exactly counting on being approached tonight about a competitor getting excess parts in a delivery and wanting to make some extra cash off of them. Pretty much what it is coming down to right?”

Dominique felt the chill fill her from her own narrowed eyes meeting across the table and pinning on the green set that were blinking a little faster than before as she spoke. Of course she needed a lot of items for projects beyond vintage auto parts. Those parts being offered for a quick sale would be great. She was waiting on the arrival of two parts from California that she was beginning to think were never going to arrive unless she drove down to the state and picked them up herself. There was a purpose, however, to her being where she was sitting and it was to figure out something beyond what would make her business easier to complete once she left.

The redhead gave her pale chin a lift upward and the sound of the chair moving with the nudge of her hips backward followed. Dominique cocked her head a little to the left and the business card that landed in front of her was instantly pinned down with a inked finger. The letters that formed the right half of her permanent ‘HOPELESS’ message across the tops of her fingers tapped on the table and business card beneath.

“It has been getting really hard to get things this winter. The storm recently didn’t help.” The woman finally dropped the protective iPad on the table. Her words slowed with her activity at hand as she pulled the pea jacket from the chair she had been warming up. “I imagine that winter isn’t great for your type of business.” The red waist length hair spilled over the top of the charcoal wool that would fit the woman in a snug wrap. “Then again winter wouldn’t bug your kind, right?”

Dominique watched the female’s hands pause briefly leaving the jacket short of covering the pink angora covered shoulders as the saleswoman waited for some sort of reaction to the baited question. So, this was how it was going to be? A dark and naturally shaped brow slowly lifted as did the position of Dominique’s relaxed lean into the chair beneath her. She realized early on how smug some humans could be when aware of how things were in Harper Rock. Hell, she was one of them. Part of her had spent so much time in limbo that perhaps she had been oblivious how this particular one had been trying to use it to her advantage. She, however, had never been on the receiving end of the current energy now being directed at her from a complete stranger. Family and friends, yes. Not from a complete stranger trying to push for sale.

The fact was that Dominique had a healthier complexion than the redhead watching her like a teapot expected to whistle and steam any moment. The petite shadow also blended in perfectly with her seemingly mortal aura. She could smile wide and no sharp points would be seen. Only thing that made her stand out in a room full of average pulses and sweaty wanna-be dancing stars was perhaps her excess permanent ink. Even that was no huge flag warranting the insinuation. Was this a half *** threat to strengthen the woman’s goal of getting those extra parts sold as soon as possible?

“Be careful.” Dominique’s eyes wrapped around the shoulders that now were covered with the jacket completing it’s travel upward. The pale plain fingers fidgeted with buttoning the front of the jacket with increased speed. A smile slowly surfaces on her own lips noticing that perhaps the woman was surprised her words were not enough to shake her as originally intended. “It may be colder outside than you expected.”

Dominique took the business card in her fingers and glanced at the embossed information as her hand continued to move towards the drink tray passing by with a waitress. The card went with the round of whiskey shots and import beers while Dominique reached for her own jacket. She was confident that her words had not fallen on deaf ears. The slide of the satin sent a welcome caress over her bare arms as the inside of her leather jacket glided up and came to rest over her own shoulders.

“It is your loss.” Red hair twirled around with the woman’s sudden departure.
“Of course it is.” Dominique spoke softly and shook her head as her gaze followed the woman weaving through the partying bodies towards the establishment doors.

Just when the idea of spending the winter night indoors had lost it’s appeal the sound of a voice increasing with it’s own dilemma caught her attention. Usually Dominique would be the last one to hang around and listen to what was clearly not any of her business. She was huge on respect, privacy and keeping her nose out of what did not involve her. However, what was being said and building within earshot was incredibly hard even for her to ignore. She froze where she was and blinked slowly.

[Seiji (DELETED 6165)]

He hadn't meant for it to come to this. It had been such a simple, easy plan, and surely if trouble were to arise it would have been at the start. Before he could get so involved and locked in. Not here, not now, where the wall met his back and left nowhere to turn, angry faces staring him down with certain harm intended. Then again, what else could he have expected? Fortune, fate, could they even be counted as ever having a hope to smile on him? Of course it was his fault in part too, taking such a risk.

He'd only wanted a few moments free of the biting chill outside. Just a breather, was that so bad? But without funds, not many places would allow a man of his odd appearance and tattered attire to step foot within their walls, even with a fair amount of cash with which to purchase something from within. He could hardly pretend to look at clothes he couldn't afford, and food places were too immediate. The nightclub had been just right, though. With its busy bodies and loud style, who would notice just one more to the crowd? Even his patchwork style might fit in with the odder crowds that gathered.

Or so he'd thought. The greatest challenge had been getting in. The bodybuilding wannabe's at the entrance had been a quick deterrent. The open window on the side? Not so much. A rock thrown in a nearby window was enough to draw the original room occupant away, long enough for him to slip inside and down the hall. No trouble had even blinked at him as he trot downstairs and slid into a seat in some corner, away from sight. For once it had seemed that fortune was giving him a day off.

Until a girl passing out drinks had taken a bit too much interest in him. He'd politely declined any beverage, but that had only further fueled the girls interest. When she'd caught sight of the fact he had no entrance tattoo, the bartender was called over before he could even finish bumbling an excuse about accidentally washing it off in the bathroom.

Now here he was, backed against the wall with a few of those buff buffoons, the bartender, the waitress, and a number of accusing stares as he tried to calm the situation. He'd even offered to leave, since he hadn't drunk anything he could hardly be held too responsible for payment right? The tender, however, would have none of that, and quickly had the lanky boy off his feet by the scruff of his collar. The lavender haired lad choked out an apology and another plea, but the man wouldn't have it, drawing back a fist. Resigned, Seiji snapped his eyes shut and braced for an inevitable beating to join the few blows he'd already taken.

[Dominique]

Dominique wondered how a place stayed open operating with the way this one was. A few thick necks appeared to be holding up a body to the wall. She caught sight of purple hair quickly drowning behind the wall of muscle she was looking at. Her eyes took inventory of the two that were getting a little rougher than needed in her opinion. Nothing pissed her off more than over kill in the muscle department when dealing with a situation that clearly called for a whole lot less. Her feet began stepping towards the situation and her mind already worked up several acceptable reasons she could be crashing in on the punching party going into full swing. Her lips parted and out came the announcement that she had an issue with the current count of several against one. She heard a voice apologizing and saw the log size arm curl back ready to take a punch.

“Think you have enough to do the job or do you need some help?”

Dominique was pretty sure this was going to come down to two things. Just two. One, they realized how ludicrous they all looked ganging up in public on one person and backed off. Or, two, she just invited herself to a fight that clearly had the odds not in her favor. She was banking on one if the meatheads and cheering squad had any clue how ridiculous it looked. Two would pretty much suck. Her petite body wedged past the the waitress who was not impressed to lose her place. Dominique winked at her and was given a sour look in turn. The heat of the bodies that were gathered around and pumping adrenaline was making her think two was possibly going to happen more than one. She had the shittiest luck.

“Let’s just take it easy. I heard an apology.” A sigh escaped Dominique’s lip. She took the chance nothing would happen as her open palm pressed upward at the hulking chest that was attached to the wadded up fist that was cocked back and ready to fly. ‘HOPE’ was facing her eye level on her own hand like a message or a warning. Either way she was invested in what would happen next just as much as the body connected to the purple hair that was behind her. The chest beneath her hand was throbbing. “How about two thirds of you back off and go break up the impromptu swing party in the VIP room instead using all your energy busting up one face?”

Now Dominique counted the beats of the heart that could be silenced beneath her hand. She tried to ignore the nauseating cloud of hours old nachos and jalapeno slices that was forming around her. Jalapenos were great but nachos always had a habit of making a come back a couple hours later. The music started up and a few bodies dispersed leaving a few less to keep track of if her unlucky number of two was drawn. In that case her fingers would curl up and perhaps a few bodies would hit the floor. She was not lost on the possibility once could very well be her own.

[Seiji (DELETED 6165)]

A flush of air skimmed past the young mans face as the fist pulled short. Seiji had not immediately registered the other voice interjecting, but as his heart settled back into a regular beat, he became aware of a change in atmosphere. Attention diverted enough to give him a sliver of uneasy hope for some meager survival from the dismal situation.

A blue eye cracked open, skimming over to the small but assertive female slipping into the midst of the scene. Her words were rather snarky, but confident, and they left Seiji with a flicker of hope. Ironic considering the words splayed across the hand planted against the beef of a tender that was currently rather fixed on giving Seiji a piece of his mind.

Her words held an odd sense of logic. He wasn't sure what he'd been expecting, but a redirection of focus really hadn't been part of it. Even though, now that he thought about it, it was actually a great and pretty basic idea. He swallowed thickly, gaze leaping to the group to see what they would decide. Fortunately the tactic worked. A grunt and toss of his head from the tender like a disgruntled mare sent much of the group dispersing, but it still left an angry tender and waitress remaining, the former digging his fingers against Seiji's collar until they left bruises, earning a strangled squeak from the slighter built male. The latter, meanwhile, had begun to grow bored, plucking out a file like some waitress from the 80's and working on her acrylics.

"Y'satisfied, doll? I got a bone to pick with this freeloader, an' he ain't yet learned 'is lesson." The man spoke in a befitting gruff growl, beady eyes narrowing as he huffed his chest against the hand in a warning manner. This earned a thick gulp from the boy who pried limply at the fingers, struggling to get a clear breath outside of the wheezing ones just barely managing to slip past. His eye snapped back to the girl almost pleadingly. He was no fighter, but he prayed the girl was. Or at least a decent runner that could nab him out of this terrible mess.

[Mordechai]

Mordechai silently glided through the side streets and alleyways near the slum lands. The massive killer had no agenda in mind, just surveiling the changes to the area, and picking up an occasional discarded syringe. The wee blonde that followed Pru around seemed to be able to do something with them, and he had time to kill, so figured he might as well gather a few for her. Turning a corner, he saw the neon of a new night club. Slowing to a stop he looked it over, then decided he might as well slip inside. He didn't imbibe alcohol, but the rumors one heard in these places often had important tidbits of information valuable to his business.

Mordechai paused in the doorway, no bouncers or doorman were in evidence. Odd. Especially for this area of town. Cover charges were the norm to keep beggars out. Shrugging slightly he slipped through the door, moving quietly along the walls listening into the conversations, an empty bottle in his hand as camouflage. He caught a few rumors he hadnt heard before, when suddenly a high maintenance looking red head in high heels came storming out of the main bar area. It probably would have been to her benefit if she had been looking forward instead of angrily stabbing at her Ipad. This most likely would have allowed her to not run into the seven foot one, three hundred thirty pound killer sipping on the empty beer bottle.

The collision planted the red head firmly on her back, Ipad flying, the buttons of her snug wool coat torn free and flying through the air. Her head hit the floor rather hard as her feet flew up into the air, all dignity, gone for the night. The laconic killer just shook his head as he stepped over the woman who looked like she had hit a brick wall, "Nice thong". Moving into the bar room proper, his roving eyes were drawn immediately to a confrontation ongoing in the corner. Instinctive reflex had him innediatly scanning all the participants. The apes were human, as was the multi colored punk plastered to the wall. The small woman was a different matter. A few tattoos peaked out, recognizable ones. A low growl passed his lips, ''Paladin" he spit out. Flexing his arms he moved forward then froze. His telepathic assessment changed everything. Ex- Paladin. She was a vampriss, even though he knew immediately that she was well trained in the arts of combat, his warped sense of chivalry had him stepping up beside her. "Greetings ma'am, is there a problem?"

[Dominique]

Dominique was not expecting the beefy hand to release the one behind her just because she set five digits of her own on the wall of a chest in protest. Nothing was really ever that simple. So now what? She heard some had an extra charm or power about them that could pacify a human into putty and have them bending to one's will as if it was their own. Dominique had enough charm to cover her pinky finger and that was about it. Two was still appearing to be in the running for a possible outcome.

"Never." Dominique answered his question as to if she was satisfied. He asked and she was pretty damn honest. She gave a slight shrug of her shoulders as if she could afford to do so at her leisure. She eyed the shirt beneath her hand as her fingers felt the flex of muscles as work. “I think you need to pick on someone your own size. Quit using excuses not to raise the bar on what you can handle. Hmmm?”

It clearly was an odd statement coming from Dominique. Then again it was one of those things she was missing in her new wiring. Learning to keep her limitations in mind. She was shorter than the one behind her. She was sure of that. Set on finishing what she started she eyed the one she was taking an issue with. As difficult as it was she also ignored the annoying she-bop female running the emery board across the tips of her nails like she was playing the artificial set for an audience. The heat was increasing as was the tension and she could could hear the sounds of discomfort over her shoulder from the one she hoped made it out with less bruises and marks than she likely was about to earn.

That was the moment a cool presence came with a hat and a skyscraper tall cowboy that made the meatheads Dominique was dealing with seem like miniature clowns at best. The visual comparison between all involved reminded her she handled far bigger than what was beneath her hand. Her head turned with the man’s approach and she nodded up at him.

“I don’t know.” Dominique gave a brief flash of a smart-*** smirk to the excuse for security in her face. She hoped like hell dead or alive that the new arrival ready to toss his hat into the ring was going to see things as she did. If not she was screwed. She gave a firm and likely unexpected series of pats to the mans chest then looked up to the one who required her to **** her head back to see his face. “Seems the odds in this party needs some balancing. Unless…” Her dark orbs lowered back to the one in front of her. “You think you are finished?”

[Seiji (DELETED 6165)]

A scowl permeated the tenders features at her brash reply, teeth grinding with an audible creak, even over the base thrum of the nightclub music. A tense moment passed, and it was fairly debatable on the decision the bartender might make. One could practically hear the greasy gears turning behind that mug, and maybe a cobwebbed spider crunching under them. Dark eyes settled on the new face quickly, tensing his grip until he earned a strangled squeak from the still pinned boy, whose feet slid against the wall, looking for any footing to ease the pressure on his windpipe. A single, bright blue eye snapped to the new figure as well, bearing a flicker of hope.

The burly tender gave a short, animalistic grunt. The more things drove on, the quicker his testosterone for the moment was dropping, and something just didn't click right with him about the pair. Whatever the reason, he pulled the boy back, giving him a decent shove against the wall. Enough to knock the wind out of him before he was tossed unceremoniously like a bag of barley at the pairs feet. "I don' give a rats arse, just get that little turd outta my club. He' yer problem now, girly."

With that, the tender would turn to go, leaving Seiji to grasp at his throat, sucking in mouthfuls of air like he thought he'd never have the joy of oxygen again. Rubbing at bruises that were bound to show up in the morning, the teen scrambled to his feet, expression quickly brightening despite how close he'd come to a certain pounding. "Thankyou, both! If it hadn't been for...ah..well thanks!" He offered them both a clumsy bow, nearly toppling over from the action. His voice held no trace of his Asian heritage, speech fully Americanized, and instead held a certain softer but relatively clear and sincere quality.

Slight, almost but not quite boney fingers tugged at his ratty coat, straightening it a bit on his lanky form as he spoke. "S-sorry if I caused any trouble for you both, but really, thanks again." A sheepish laugh as he rubbed the back of his messy locks.

[Zodiac]

The sound of something small sliding across the ground as it is batted about breaks the stillness.

"Stop it." the gypsy demanded, only to hear it again a few seconds later. "I said stop it before you make yourself sick."

"Meow," the cat looked up from its game of batt the needle in typical feline confusion. The girl scooped the cat up from the ground and placed her on her shoulder. Ginny rowled in protest, but the idea of the cat managing to stick itself with a discarded needle with god knows what on it Zodiac could not shake. She decided to get her business done and get out of this area of town as soon as possible.

She walked along the less than pristine street then turned into a alley. In the darkness, she paused before a metal door and tapped out a series of knocks. Eventually a set of eyes peeked out from a slot. "Ah, The Violet Witch. Welcome, " a voice said as the door opened with a painful grind of rust. The girl slipped inside. Almost an hour later she emerged with a gym bag now in hand. Some of the items required for her particular talents and craft were not mail order friendly so other market options had to be explored. The foam box holding the assorted jars of various venom's, pollens, and animal parts rode easy in the bag. She looked ahead and blinked as a familiar wall of blackness passed across the entrance of the alley and continued on its way.

"Now what is he doing down here?" she wondered to herself as she moved without a sound. The levitation helped when she wished to move quietly about. She peered around the corner and saw Mordechai step into one of the local clubs. She decided to follow in case the man mountain needed back up, although truth be told the odds highly favored Mordie bailing her out of a spot instead, but the self delusion pleased her at times. Zodiac made her way to the door he had used and stepped inside.

"Excuse me," she thought to herself as she stepped over a person laying on the floor and slipped into a chair at one of the tables that gave her a full view of the room. She placed the gym bag on the floor after looping the handles around her foot and took in the curious scene in front of her. There was Mordie, some guy bellowing his lungs out and a pair of goons holding another person. Obviously the guy was about to experience a bum's rush out the door for some reason. One eyebrow arched in surprise as she saw who else was in this little gathering. Without a word, she pulled her iPhone from her purse and sent a text to her assistant manager, Jennifer.

Note for accounting. Dock Dominique one weeks pay.

A few seconds later a reply came.

Can do! And about damn time!

She smirked at the reply. Too many of her people were getting sick and tired of covering for the girl at work. Absently she reached up and stroked Ginny who sat on her shoulder like some bizarre vulture as she tried to guess what was going on here.

[Mordechai]

The situation defused, or rather fell apart with Mordechai's arrival, some combination of his size, humans natural fear of him, and the evening of the odds seemed to have made the employees of this little hole in the wall think twice about continuing the harassment of the punk and the petite. The punks attempt at an apology let the massive killer know that tho they would have won easily, the odds were not as even as he had first thought. This one couldn't fight his way out of a paper bag. Mordechai simply nodded an acknowledgement to the young male before turning towards the diminutive ex-paladin. His eyes studied her, head to foot as tho committing her physique to memory, which of course he did, but he was looking for any familiarity to her. To tell if they had crossed swords in the past. No glimmer appeared at all, and thoughtfully he nodded to her as well, extending a hand. "Mordechai." His eyes traced her face once more, then he turned back towards the open room, and silently began to stalk its perimeter once more.

He was hearing more and more of this new crime family, the Lionelli. Perhaps he should look a little deeper into there appearance and pans for his city. Pausing as his eyes caught a familiar sight, the killer stared a moment, before offering a salute to the black cat sitting on the shoulder of a violet haired woman. Ginny. And Zodiac. Mordechai moved closer, weaving slightly between tables, but in no way held up as the crowd parted before him. What the hell were they doing down here in this shithole masquerading as a night club. It was a place for dark deals, and the vermin of the city to socialize, and not a safe place for the more esoteric, and genteel of society. "Is this seat taken?" he queried telepathically as he pulled back the chair opposite his sireling, the infamous madam Zodiac. Settling in the seat he kept his eyes on the tattooed female and the colorful human she was entertaining. He wondered what the story was between them.

[Dominique]

Dominique’s hand was left to the air that now offered nothing to support it’s weight. Left hanging she allowed it to drop to her hip as the one behind her was released. The security workers parting words of wanting the male behind her out of the club received a slow shake of her dark head. It was the sound of limbs quickly moving that announced the one in harms way had survived the excessive man handling. Her body turned on her heels pausing to look up at the tower of flesh that remained long enough to give her and the one getting his voice back a look over. A large hand extended towards her that appeared capable of claiming a skull with little effort. Her eyes took in the size of her inked and petite own as it gravitated to meet his half-way.

“Dominique.” Her voice offered up her name as her mind whirled with recollection of all the times in the past she had given numerous aliases to keep her own hidden. The cool center of her palm met his and soon was dwarfed by the grip of his. Her dark eyes tracked his until they left her. “Thank you.”

The matter was appearing to absolved without further incident. Dominique found her eyes now left taking in the male that was the center of attention. He was tall, colorful in his own right and appeared to be relieved for the intervention as he spoke. Finishing the scan at his shoes her eyes popped up to meet his and she smiled softly.

“You are welcome.” Dominique knew full well what getting tossed around and having your back against a wall felt like. More often than not she had put herself there by not heeding the warnings given in advance. She hoped the one she was looking at would take what she about to say far more seriously than she had back in a small diner from the man who delivered them to her. “You really need to keep your eyes open around here. It is a rough and unpredictable indoors just as much as it is outside. Never take your surroundings for granted. Stay safe. If you choose to stick around I will pick up the tab for your drinks.”

Dominique stepped back giving the male room to gather his breath and a sense of clear passage. She figured anymore that she said would be lost on human ears as preaching the unknown. She had left her soap box back at home. It was collecting dust after abandoning it in October. Her speeches were over. What Dominique had been taught and believed in had not changed in any incredible amount. She still believed in fair odds. She was still drawn to do the right thing despite the monster she had become. Monsters could still have heart. Right?

Dominique did the unusual for her. She bent at the hips and bowed in turn to the male. Her petite form lifted and revealed a smile that widened as she met his eyes with hers. It was her hope that he lost nothing in his stay in the city and continued to add his awkward and unique charm to the places that needed it most. Without a word Dominique turned and made her way towards the bar. If he chose to take up her offer of the free tab and to stick around it was his call.

Dominique scanned the room that was still full of sweating and alcohol fueled dancing kings and queens. She arrived at the bar and wiggled her fingers on the surface to the beat of the music that was not entirely her first choice to listen to. Patiently she stood instead of taking a seat on the stool next to her. Her eyes followed a waitress wrapped in neon necklaces and carrying a tray with a rainbow of neon tinted shot glasses.

A tall bottle was positioned in the middle. It lifted above the random heads of those who lost the desire to look where they were weaving around in an attempt to get to the dance floor. Up and down the black serving tray went until the unmistakable vision of her boss clarified. Zodiac? The black ball of wonder was never far and so she was not surprised to see Ginny looking like a velvet patch beside the woman under the nightclub lights. Dominique winced and looked to the bartender who was eyeing her neck while balancing his weight with his hands on the edge of the bar.

“Monster?” She nodded up to signal that cooler behind him displayed several cans lined up.

Dominique gave up the whiskey after it left her hung over and stuck in that Batgirl suit. Thankful for Kenlie’s mercy and the scissors in her hand she would never entertain the amber liquid again if she had a say in it. She would stay with what worked even if she could no longer taste it. The effects would still cast the benefit. The can was slid across the surface between her and the bartender. A press of the amount of the black and green frosty can and then some was left where she was tapping out the beat of the song. The hip swaying thumping ended as her steps carried her towards the table where the cowboy calling himself Mordechai and her boss were seated. Her colorful fingers curled around the can possessively as she arrived.

“Evening.” Dominique nodded to the male then shot her dark eyes to the gypsy mystic who reminded her of many things that needed tending to. Her free hand gave the black feline and caress . “Zo, Ginny.”