Feb 21 10:31:09 106 PA

From Chronicles

The club is a liberal mix of modern and classic styles with a dark, warm lean to the hardwood and metal decor, dressed up with velvet and leather. Set up about the stage with attached DJ station and dance floor at the center, the entrance is set to one end of this, the bar to the other. The entrance itself is tightly controlled. There are always two well dressed people at the front, a bouncer to check each person coming in and another watching the drum and closet lockers that hold all patron weapons.

A broad , semi circular stage extends from the center of the widest wall, rising two feet, with lights rimming the edge and hidden in scaffolds high above. A rich red velvet curtain lies ready to sweep about and veil the stage itself from view. The DJ booth is set up right next to the stage, set into the same wall. With a thick window and biometric locks on the two side doors, one to the stage and the other to a set of stairs down, the equipment within is secure. Within a C shaped desk and racks hold the sound equipment, all linked into a central computer. All done up in sleek, dark cases, mixing well with the warm, wood paneling of the booth's exterior.

A dance floor is central to the club, laid out in a broad circle before the stage. Laid out in a semi circle opposite the stage side of the dance floor are a series of round tables, with smaller two person sized ones at the edge, with larger four person tables in the next row and a few grand six to eight person tables on the outer edge. All staggered to make for the best view for all to the dance floor and stage. To one side of this central focus is the bar, a broad affair taking up much of the shorter wall in width. The bar itself is a mix of modern and classic, with the simple, elegant hardwood design of the bar itself mixing with the display of alcohol behind it, opaque plastic shelves lit from within to highlight the wide selection of common and uncommon liquors for sale. The barstools themselves, lined up in a neat row, mix dark metallic stems with comfy red leather seats.

For the event, there are groupings of heart-shaped balloons in varying sizes, each tied with either a red or pink or white ribbon. They float merrily at the end of their ribbons, a small weight at the end holding them in place. The tables have been arranged to allow both more intimate seating and to allow groups, and all of them have been covered over with festive tableclothes -- the intimate ones are solid red, and the larger ones are white with a heart pattern to them, and the tables have white napkins for as many as are expected to sit there. Vases with red roses decorate the tables, as do small pieces of confetti in the shapes of hearts and cupids. There are also menus on each of the tables to announce what food there is to be had for dinner. The dance floor has been left clear in invitation of those who wish to partake of it.

Early hours, prior to opening the doors, and this is Aimee's time to herself. The cats are busy, leaving her to the silence and the quiet contemplation of the morning. Along with her cup of tea, the newspapers and what business letters she has, she is seated, lost in thought. Her table gives her a view of the entire bar, empty at this moment, silent of the music and chatter that normally fills it. The door is unlocked, ready for the staff to arrive, their habit of coming silently like ghosts, so not to disturb her...

Vixen still has a key to the front doors and she uses it discreetly, easing it in, unlocked and open with a light touch. Hanging back a little as she pops out her cig case and slips out one from within. There will be a soft flicker from the direction of the doorway when she lights it up and the soft snap of the lighter closing after, a moment before she strides out from the entrance to move into the club proper. Pausing once she's openly visible to lift the cig for a slow draw as she glances about.

Aimee sits back in her chair, no sign at first that she is aware of the others arrival. Then her husky voice sounds in the quiet club. "Now, I think, me, that you are not staff. If you come to rob us, you make a mistake. If you are job hunting, I suggest, me, that you return when we are open. If you wish to use the club, perhaps an appointment, it would be more suitable, non?" Then, finally, she turns her head, giving the other a thoughtful stare, one eyebrow arches, apparently unruffled.

Vixen grins as she spies Aimee, striding over to where she sits with without hurry and no visible weapons. Though that coat is nice or concealing. she casually unbuttons it as she approaches. You don't have to worry. I got my own gig going and I'm legit." Perhaps Aimee has listened to 'the View' before, perhaps not. "Just coming in to say hello and see what this place looks like without any people in it." She comes to a pause near the table, gazing at Aimee. Perhaps with a touch of expectation in her expression.

Aimee returns that gaze, any thoughts hidden well behind the professional mask, the hard expression holding well. "Your own gig, is it?" She replies softly, narrowing her green eyes thoughtfully. "I think, me, we have not been formally introduced. I am Aimee, me, I own the club and I think you..." A pause, and a glimmer of a smile in her eyes, "You are perhaps Vixen." She moves slightly, pushing the ashtray and a cup towards the other woman. "It looks good, mon ami." Softer, gentler.

"Wouldn't have it any other way," Vixen replies with a casual smirk. She doesn't glance towards the cup, but she does extend a hand, flipping a chair around before settling down astride it, arm braced against the back. She taps her cig on the astray lightly before both ares cross. "Would have come in to see you before, but I've been busy. Just now starting to relax back a bit."

"I thought perhaps it was so." Aimee seems unperturbed by this, and one of her characteristic shrugs is given. "Your radio, it is tres amusing. I heard you corner the people." The corner of her mouth quirks. "What is your word...Heh." She takes up her teacup, sipping it, watching thoughtfully over its brim. "So, did it make it all better, mon ami?"

Vixen arches a brow slightly and murmurs, "The Word is a powerful thing. You never know if something like that might have power. Especially when sent out to a lot of ears," she says. To the last she motions to herself. "You can judge by the results. I'm free. Of all of it. It's like someone else's life. So it doesn't touch me no more." She lifts her free hand to her hair, lips quirking a bit. "I miss my hair, though," she adds before her cig comes up for a light draw.

Aimee studies the other woman, her green eyes narrowed on her face. "And you do not miss her at all, the woman you left behind?" Satisfied, she nods slowly, her mouth curving into a smile. "Oui, your hair, it is different." She agrees softly, before she leans forward, resting her elbow on the table. "So, tell me about Vixen. What should, perhaps I know?" She rests her chin in her hand, observing Vixen through the smoke.

"I don't miss her." This thing said without hesitation, Vixen making a dismissive motion to the side with her cig holding hand. "She was going nowhere. I got somewhere to go." She smirks faintly. "Hell, I even got a boyfriend now." Light amusement lingering in her expression. She pauses then, perhaps considering the final question. She doesn't answer at once, but does take a thoughtful expression as she lifts the cig to her lips once more.

Aimee's eyebrows raise, surprise briefly in her eyes before it is hidden behind amusement. "A boyfriend, oui? Do tell?" She sits back in the seat, watching Vixen as if she was an amusing new toy, perhaps a performing creature. "I listen, you know. To your show. It is tres amusing." The comment is spoken softly into the silence of Vixen's thinking time.

Vixen glances at Aimee with an arch of brow. "Amusing, huh?" She then breathes out and says, "Vixen is.. better. She's not afraid of anything.. not anymore than anyone else. But she's.. adventurous. Always prepared, always moving.. doing something." She looks more squarely at Aimee. "She cares. Some anyway." She shakes her head and smiles. "I don't know her all the way myself. I'm still learning." A slyness touches her expression then, notably leaving a certain topic shadowed.

"Oui, amusing." Aimee agrees softly, no inflection to the word, as she returns the gaze, her own thoughts hidden well. "She sounds very different, mon ami. I hope, me, that I like her as well as I liked the woman before her." She leans forward, stubbing out her cigarette, watching Vixen through the cloud of smoke. "And this boyfriend?"

"I think you will," Vixen replies,, a casual confidence in that. She grins in response to the question, but again delays responding to casually take another draw. The smell of the smoke is the same as before, that relaxing weed. "Guy named Leo. Well, Leonard, but who wants to use the whole thing every time?" She smirks lightly. "He's nice. Sweet in a bumbling sort of way, but he's new to the game, so.." Her shoulders lift lightly.

Aimee sniffs, then laughs softly, shaking her head. "Perhaps somethings, they are not so different, mon ami." She comments quietly, pouring another drink for herself. A glance over as the door opens and a member of staff walks in, quietly, to avoid disturbing her. Aimee lowers her voice. "I will need that key, mon ami." She shrugs, as if the reason is obvious. "You, with an innocent? You are perhaps drawn to them, mon ami. Be careful you do not burn him, oui?"

"Not so different?" Asked as Vixen slips her hand into a pocket inside her coat, extracting the key. She doesn't ask why or hesitate, simply passing it over. "I didn't go looking for him, he came looking for me," she replies with a casual grin. "Wasn't even thinking that much about him until it was obvious he was thinking about me." Her shoulders roll a little and she grins, slipping the key towards her. "It's nothing serious. Just some fun and he knows that."

Aimee takes the key, sliding it into her pocket, with a small smile. "The smoke." She replies to the question, her eyes amused, twinkling. "Perhaps he likes the Vixen, non? It is sweet. Perhaps you will bring him here, to dance." She shrugs, not serious, her amusement showing. "And your other innocent? Does she slip and give you away yet?" Her certainty that this will happen shows in her voice.

Vixen shakes her head. "Cali is solid," she states. "Took her a moment to make the connection, but she handled it good." Approval in her voice. "As to Leo.." She shrugs her shoulders slightly. "Dunno how that's going to go. But we had some time last night. He learns quick and it's nice relaxing with someone again." She pauses then and notes, a finger lifted to waggle. "Nothing naughty.. yet. Feeling him out some before that, though I don't suppose there's anything wrong with him.. at least, nothing major."

Aimee's doubt doesn't show at all, and the smile is amused, a cat watching a mouse at play. "Me, I would jump into bed, see if it works." She shrugs lightly, "If not, you have lost nothing, non? And perhaps, gained a little fun." Her amusement flashes in her eyes once more and she shakes her head, "But you, you are not me, and so, you are cautious."

"I'm not in a hurry," Vixen corrects, tapping on the ashtray again. "I am seeing how he works.. just not in the the physical.. yet." She grins faintly and adds, "Besides, I don't think he's going anywhere. He seems pretty infatuated. Had to make sure he knows that I'm not in a settling mood. That things are light right now. He didn't pitch a fit, so I'm thinking he'll be alright."

"Oui, it is good to have perhaps a puppy following you around." Aimee is teasing now, amused by the change in the woman opposite her. "And now, see, mon ami, my staff, they open the bar. And me, I need to do nothing. Am I not the best owner? Non?" She is laughing at herself, glancing around as the staff turn on the lights, open the doors and let the early birds in. "It is good to let people know where they stand but sometimes, mon ami, they say the one thing and feel the other, non?"

"Yeah, you got all your stuff lined up neat," Vixen agrees, glancing around a moment. "Wouldn't mind having some staff myself, but I don't trust no one with my work." She grins, looking back to Aimee. She then shrugs her shoulders faintly. "Usually you can tell if you pay attention.. and I'm thinking I'd be able to tell with him. If not now, in time." She seems confident of her assessment of the man. "Besides, I've pretty much told him to be bold.. to tell me things straight. He has a problem with that sort of thing."

"Not always, mon ami. Mon chat, we were not able to tell. It is not as if I had been a sweet innocent when I met him." She shrugs lightly, dismissing the heady and passionate tumble into love the couple had had. "He is the shy type? Oh mon ami, this, it is priceless. Perhaps the most cynical person I know and a sweet innocent? I shall have to seek this child out..."

Vixen laughs lowly and shakes her head. "She was cynical." That past she. "I'm a realist. Good and bad, it's out there. And the impartial eye.." She digs into her coat's external pocket, pulling out the hand sized video camera. "..it sees what it will see and speaks truth without bias." She slips the little recorder back into her coat casually. "He is sweet though. Not a lot of guys are content with some cuddling and music, then going home alone. He didn't flinch."

Aimee nods, amusement in her eyes. "It sees what is shown to it, mon ami. Some things, they are hidden." She shrugs lightly. "I think, me, I would not be content with that." A feline smile curves her lips and her eyes dance, amused for a moment. "Bring him here, oui?" Not truly a question, more a command, a regal order.

Vixen gives her shoulders a casual roll. "Eventually. I'm letting him have some lead for a bit.. see what he does. Him showing up at my door last night shows he's got some initiative. Tough maybe the drink he had was what got him going." She chuckle slowly, taking a soft draw off her cig again, half done. Her attention dips and she carefully stubs out the cig without disturbing that left untouched by the flame.

The amusement deepens and Aimee shakes her head, about to speak when a member of her bar staff approaches, dropping a word softly into her ear. A flash of displeasure followed by a quick smile. "Oui." All she says before the staff member leaves once more. "So, mon ami...Where are you living?" the question is casual, but apparently important. "I keep my old flat, if you need it, perhaps."

Vixen grimaces faintly. "I'm set up at the Happy Days. Got no interest in the Cheapo," she says, her tone firm. "I'm fine where I am. A little close those quarters, but they work. And I can broadcast from there fine enough. Wouldn't mind a more secure location to live and work, but discretion is as good as a lock on a door. Sometimes better."

Aimee tilts her head, a little thoughtful as her gaze rests on the other woman. "Well, you know where I live, mon ami." The comment holds much unspoken, discretion the better part of valour. "I must work, ma petit. Perhaps bring your boy toy to the bar, and I can meet him? I am not so scary, non?" She offers a warm smile, putting the cups on the tray but leaving it to the staff to clear.

Vixen smirks faintly at that and lifts her hand to wave Aimee off before drawing out her cig case. "Eventually," she says. "I know where you live, yeah. But don't worry. I'm not poor off. Just have to start building some capital. Consider where I'm going with things." She slips the half burned cig into the case before it is snapped closed and put away.

Aimee rises and, with a nod and a smile to Vixen, returns to work, taking her papers with her. She pauses at the bar, exchanging some softly spoken words with the staff there, before she vanishes into the office.