Parisian Masquerade

Parisian Masquerade (closed)

Verity walked around the stage as she looked around at the room they had set them up in. This was the first party she was performing at, normally she was in the club. She had built a name for herself there, and had her own regulars. Placing her hands on her hips she took a deep breath. Of course the stage shows were not the only shows of the night. She knew that. The stage was more there for crowd control then anything else. Sighing once more she shook her head softly. This should be interesting she thought to herself.

Walking off the stage and into what the boss was calling the dress room she looking in the mirror. Her curls were all in place and her corset was still just right. Picking up the black masquerade mask, that matched her outfit she put it on. Tying the silk strands in the back. Looking over herself once more she smiled. The party would be starting soon, and she would be ready.

Verity

The party was in full swing, champagne was flowing freely Lord Leon was taking full advantage of the Parisian hospitality. It was easy to spot the single women, their breasts were raised highter, their masks more flirty and again, Leon was taking advantage of the Parisain hospitality, copping a feel of a breast or a bottom every chance he got. He was one used to getting his way, and tonight would be no different. There were many to choose from in this raucous crowd. Then he saw her as she stepped out onto the stage, and all the other women just became background noise. Her dark curled hair, her corset, the way she carried herself. He had heard of Verity before, every man in France had, but the rumors, the stories, they didn't do her justice.

Verity took her time walking on the stage. With each step her hips swayed back and forth. The tiny shorts hugging her body like a glove. A soft settle smile graced her lips and the look in her eyes was of innocence and truth. In all that was what her name met Truth. Her eyes scanned the crowd as she finally made her way to center stage. Taking a seat in the chair. She crossed her legs. Taking the champagne bottle and glass from the table next to her she poured herself a small amount.

The music began to slow as the glass filled, the sounds infiltrating the room growing louder and louder. Setting the bottle back on the table she leaned back the in the chair and poured the champagne slowly into her mouth letting very little slide down to her chest. Setting the glass down she dragged her finger across her chest before sucking it into her mouth.

Her eyes popped to the crowd as the music finally came into full swing a look of shock on her face before she grinned and stood up. Her body moved slowly and seductively to the music. Walking to the end of the stage, her slid her hands down her right thigh to her ankle. The man in front of her leaning in to touch. Gently she traced her finger across his chin pulling his face up to hers. Grinning she shook her head teasingly before standing and sauntering back to center stage.

Leon slowly made his way towards the stage. Even with the mask, his thick shoulders, tall stature and jet black hair made him distinguishable from many in the crowd and many of his so called friends stopped to converse, some of the single women stepping in front of him to be his for the night. But it would not be for them tonight. He had other plans. He watched every subtle movement Verity made as he wound through the crowd.

When the man in front touched her, Leon felt a strong pang of jealous anger course through him. Who was the little creep touching his prize, but she shook him off and looked his way. He wasn't sure, but to him it looked as if she spotted him and smiled, maybe winked and in Lord Leon's world even just thinking that made it a surety and an invitation.

Slowly the music faded and Verity left the stage. Pearl took her place though keeping the crowd entertained. Walking to the dressing room she looked herself over again, making sure that everything was in place. Leaving the room she began walking through the people at the party. A few had tried to touch but learned quickly not to touch with out her permission first. She was not free and to give her a simple touch would cost.

A smile graced her lips as she made her way to the bar. Ordering herself a drink she smiled at Robert. He knew what she liked and knew just how to make it right to. Taking her drink she kissed him gently on the cheek and went back to mingle with the crowd. It was going to be a long night, but this was her job in all.

He followed her around the room, watching the way she interacted with the men, and the women. After she got her drink he went to the bar and tried to get information from the bartender but he was less than forthcoming. Normally, Leon would have had him arrested on the spot, but today was different and again, he followed her, catching her as she walked through a doorway. He placed his hand on her shoulder, knowing that she would try to shoo it off, or smack it in some way, but his grip was firm, if gentle and he held on, turning her around towards him. She was clearly the tallest woman in the room, and her figure in the brief clothes she was wearing was divine. He smiled through his mask at her, showing off brilliant white teeth, a full mouth of them, something rare in those days.

"Please, Verity, it is my pleasure to meet you." He let go of her shoulder, hoping that the frown would disappear, that she would join him in conversation, and more.

Verity

Verity grinned as she looked up to him. She was not use to looking up to a man, usually they were at her height or a few inches taller or shorter, but he was a lot taller than she was. Standing there her eyes looked to the hand on her shoulder and back to him.

"It is a lot of peoples pleasure to meet me tonight. But thank you just the same..."

She said to him softly. She would play nice, at least his hand was on her shoulder and not her bottom or her breast or hip like the others had tried. So for his mild respect she would return the same to him.

"Your reputations precedes you, but it does not do you justice." His fingers slid down her arm and off her. He noted that unlike the other men, she did not look upon him with disgust or disdain, but unlike what he was accostomed to, there was no look of awe either.

"I know that it is your job to be here, but I would like the pleasure of escorting you out after the party has finished. Robert," He made a gesture towards the bartender and began to lie "Has told me some things about you that have interested me, but I want to hear them from you as well. Would you do me the honour?"

Hearing him talk about Robert she chuckled softly to herself. Arching an eyebrow up to him she placed her hands on her hips and looked at him coyly.

"And just what did Robert tell you about me.... I know Robert very well... I doubt he told you very much. But as you are a guest and I am the entertainer. I will entertain you and allow you to get to know me a bit better over conversation. Just understand that is as far as it will go."

She was direct and a bit blunt for a woman, but she made her point. She had learned at a young age she did not have the luxury of silence not if she wanted to keep her self alive and well. Standing there her eyes glanced around the crowd and then men and women. Looking back up to him she smiled softly as she stood there waiting for his response.

He knew he was caught, and decided, at least for the moment to swallow his pride. "He told me your name and that he couldn't tell me anything else about you as you are a dear friend." Her name meant honesty and he hoped she'd appreciate his. There was a young couple sitting at a table near where they were standing and he waved them away. They got up quickly if reluctantly and he pulled the chair out for her.

"Please sit with me until your next show. I want to know everything about you Verity, and I will be as honest with you as my position allows."

Verity took the seat, she knew he was a man of worth now, he spoke of his position and the other women here seemed to all but throw themselves at him. She could feel their eyes burning into her back but that only excited her all the more. She had no care for what people thought of her because regardless of what they thought most of the ones here tonight desired and wanted her. Looking over to the stage she saw Pearl leaving and Coco taking her place. Coco would get the crowd rowdy. Licking her lips she looked back to the man before her now.

"Alright, just understand soon I will have to work the crowd again once more for crowd control. The woman taking the stage is known as Coco and she tends to get the men a little rowdy, you will see why in a moment."

As she spoke she watched her pick out a woman from the crowd and pull her to the stage. Shaking her head and laughing softly she put her attention back to the one before her.

"So do I get the honor of knowing your name...or for that matter what should I call you?

She said to him simply as she sat there. Her legs crossed but her body relaxed.

He followed her gaze to the stage, recognizing the daughter of an old but nearly broke Baron being pulled to the stage. The girl was barely 18 and betrothed to some Italian in a cross border deal that was to lead to the Baron not having to relinquish his seat, he then looked back at the vision across the table from him.

"Most would call me Sir or Lord, and those that wouldn't" he shook his head solemnly, "Well, you can imagine their fate, but please, you may call me Leon" Leon was far from relaxed. His normal calm confident demeanor was showing slight kinks. The confident woman sitting across from him, his match perhaps.

"As for the crowd control, with a wave of my hand or two, I can handle it, that way you need not leave me, my dear Verity."

A soft chuckle erupted from her as she listened to him. So he was a man of power and money she thought to herself. He had that type of control he had to be. Sitting there her back straight against the char and her arms relaxed on the table. Pulling the feathered fan from her garter belt she used it to cool down. It was warm and the room seemed to only get hotter as time pressed on. Nodding her head as she looked at him.

"Alright...Leon it is.."

She all but purred to him. A waiter one of Robert's men no doubt bought her, her favorite drink smiling to the waiter she laughed softly.

"Tell Robert thank you for me.."

She said before the young man walked away. Looking back to Leon she sipped her drink.

"The luxury of friends...."

She said to him....Leaving the statement open as if there was more to it then that. She had no relationship with Robert other than friendship and an ongoing agreement. If he kept her and her girls safe and taken care of she would not let it slip who is family was. In all he came from wealth and riches from Italy and there for he should not be working behind a bar. Then again there was the advantages of their agreement. Not only did Robert keep them safe from customers he kept them safe from the boss. The Boss seemed to show him favor so he had a lot of pull with the man.

Which in turn allowed Verity the luxury of running the show the way she wanted it. Which made the boss more money along with the club. The girls were owned and so was she, but in all due honesty she had nothing to complain about. With her nothing went beyond a dance, and that seemed to bring in more money then anything else. They knew it was just a tease with her but they couldn't stop.

Pushing her thoughts away she looked back to Leon and smiled gently taking another drink from her glass.

"So what would you like to know about me?"

She asked him in a flirtatious yet matter of fact and to the point way. Her demeanor was relaxed and calm as she sat there. She had years of practice of not letting her emotions or thoughts affect her much. So there she was.

He watched the exchange, the bartender had obviously sent the waiter over to check on the girl, to make sure that she was safe and could handle herself, although, Leon thought, this was entirely unnecessary. Every movement she mad had an air of grace. This was not the type of woman who should be dancing, this was the type of woman who should be taking down empires.

"I really only have one pertinant question, Verity, although I will ask many more leading to that question. Your skin is not that of a Parisian and your stature as well. Where do you come from?" He was tempted to remove his mask, to show her how handsome he was, but there was something about the anonimity that he enjoyed as well.

She smiled at his manner of which he spoke. Sitting there she glanced around before returning her attention to him.

"Different places I suppose. Here or there..."

Her answer left many options but wasn't direct. Her parents had been of worth before they were murdered, needles to say she went into hiding after her sisters had been killed as well. No one knew who she truly was, except for Robert. All knew her as Verity. She was truth but she was mysterious all the same. No one needed to know who she was, or how much she was entitled to. Taking in a deep breath she looked into his eyes as she took another drink.

"Where do you think I am from then?"

She asked him coyly, she had only been here for two years. The death of her family only happening a year prior to her move. Sitting there she took a deep breath. She knew the ones who had killed them were still looking for in, in all they had been after her all those years. Pushing the thoughts aside she composed herself once more as she sat there.

"You have the skin of the Mediteranean, but your eyes are not. If I could see yuor face, perhaps I would know more. The ottomans are tanned as you are, with full eyes, and even the height you possess." He waved this off, as if it was nothing, something now non-important. "Your name is Verity and yet you dance around the truth, throwing off half answers and no answers at all."

This was all new to the Lord, he was not accostomed to young women not throwing themselves at him, but the more she did it, the more he needed to know, the more he became aroused by her. He could hear the sounds of a ruckus behind him, hooting and hollering and he saw her eyes turn to the stage, and his followed.

Verity watched as Coco all but stripped the girl and did her right there on stage. Coco always did prefer the women, and well the men didn't seem to mind that fact at all right now. Standing up she looked down at Leon a soft grin on her lips.

"Excuse me for a moment."

Was all she said before walking towards the stage not giving him the time to respond to her. Making her way there she caught Coco's attention and grinned and she climbed on the stage. Crawling across the floor she watched coco slide up the girls body straddling her head, the girl seemed to love being the center of all the attention. Making her way to the girl she spread her legs and dove in. At least that is how it appeared to the men. The roars grew louder and louder.

Finally the music slowed. Coco and Verity helped the girl off the stage. As soon as she was safely back where she should be Verity took Coco by the hand and to the chair. Sitting her down Verity straddled her wrapping her legs around her waist and the back of the chair. Their bodies moving sensually as one together. Bending her back, back she rested her hands on the floor looking out to the crowd. The lights began fading and the crowd roared for more. Finally the curtain came down and they made their leave.

A voice boomed over the speakers informing everyone that the girls needed a momentary break but to be expectant for next was Diamond the Virgin. Again they roared. Verity began making her way back over to the table slowly. Finding it a bit more difficult now. The room was packed wall to wall now. The men hands seemed to find her however. Pushing them away she finally made it back to the table with a few follower who seemed to be a bit pissed..

"Did I say you could walk away from me girl"[/b]

The voice came from behind. Spinning around she grabbed the tiny dagger she kept hidden within her corset, pressing herself against him the dagger to his groin she grinned up to him.

"I didn't ask now did I... Walk away or loose it."

She said her words as cold as ice as she did.

He watched, standing and applauding the show as it came to it's conclusion. He marked the Baron's daughter, knew she'd be ripe for the taking. Besides, his land could come to good use someday, especially if his daughter didn't show up a virgin on her wedding night. The family would be disgraced, and he'd already have an offer on the land. The screen closed and a waiter brought a drink to the table for him. He raised it in half salute to the bartender, but didn't drink it. The champagne came strait from the bottles and was safe, and after not a few attempts on his life, he wasn't ready to take a chance.

Leon saw her walking back and new he had at least had part of the effect on her that she had had on him. She handled herself well, smiling graciously as she removed hands from her body, slapping a few that were a bit more frisky. And when the drunk approached her, he saw the flickr of the blade, he knew she'd have, but she was quick with it, like the ottoman's had been. He rose as she approached the table, and slid the drink to her.

"Robert sent this over, but I think I'd be best if I stuck with champagne, can't have any horrible hangovers in the morning, or a flare up of the gout." He smiled at her as they both sat, watching her Lithe movements. "That was quite a show you put on up there Verity. The dark skinned girl, Coco, is quite the animal."

Taking her seat she smiled. Looking over the drink she pushed it off to the side. Then looked back to him nodding her head graciously.

"Thank you but that is all that it is, it is simply a show, and so many seem to forget that, that is all we are doing up there, when we dance. A dance for a lover is by far different then what you see us do on stage."

She said to him simply. Getting the waiters attention she asked him to bring her, her drink from Robert. Ironically the drinks Robert served her had no alcohol in them at all. The one that was bought to Leon was nothing but alcohol. Smiling she sat there looking at him and waiting for the waiter to return with her drink.

Even as she slid the glass off the side, the crystal clanging off the floor, but not breaking, the drink splashing on several of the other patrons. The women looking down on Verity with contempt, some disgust and of course Jealousy. The men with longing desire, but she was sitting here with Leon. "And have you danced for a lover, Verity, or is this all show."

He was hoping the question would have the desired effect, to shock her, or at least catch her slightly off guard. He watched closely for her reaciton, as the waiter brought her a drink. As he placed the drink on the table, he told the waiter to bring him a bottle of champagne, unopened, then looked back on Verity... "One can never be too careful, can they?"

Verity smiled at his question. Taking the glass she took a drink before answering him.

"Leon... why should I tell you if I have or have not. What you see on stage is a show. One I love and put a lot of time and passion into but it is a show."

She said to him. Sure she had danced for past lovers, only because her virginity was the only thing she still have from her past life. The one where her family was alive. Until she could start a family of her own she would hold on to that innocence. Of course all the men here thought of her as a whore or an escort. But she was neither. She was an entertainer, a dancer. She was Verity.

"Because I asked." There was an underlying anger, sinisterness to his voice now. It didn't show in his face, just in the tone he used with her. "How can we converse if you do not provide me with answers to my questions, or even ask questions yourslf. I see that you are taking everything in, you may not know who I am, but you know what I am and the power I hold and yet you are, how shall we say, insolent."

The waiter came with the champagne, and he opened it, taking Verity's drink and dumping the contents on the floor, pouring the champagne into the cut crystal. Taking a long sip of the beverage before looking back, having regained his nerves, he smiled. "Robert wouldn't poison you."

Looking at him she licked her lips and leaned back in her seat. Her eyes never leaving his for a moment. She allowed the silence to sit for a few moments before she spoke.

"I feel no need to tell you about my personal life. Regardless of your rank or your title, I do not have to tell you what I do behind closed doors. You want to know me fine. Then get to know me, but if you would like this conversation to get past the cat and mouse games then I suggest a little respect with your questions. I have not asked you about your personal life now have I...no...Although I am just about positive that with your demeanor and the way the women flock in around you, you have no problems having any lover you desire..."

Leaning forward on the table her eyes filled with a spark now. Life showing deep within them as she stared hard into his.

"I will tell you this....I am not just another woman your going to take to bed and conquer. Dear Leon."

Her words were softer that time as she spoke them. Leaning back in her seat she took her glass and sipped the champagne. Her grace ever present with each move. Her face once again set back into her calm and relaxed demeanor. The sultriness of her pouring and radiating naturally from her body.

He smiled at her, taking the glass back and sipping the champagne, tasting her lips on the glass. He finished the glass of champagne and refilled it from the bottle. "Honestly, I don't need a bed for most conquests, but I already know you are different. So, shall we begin with what you are willing to tell me?"

He sat back in the chair, watching her and the goings on behind her. Many a man would walk by and stare down into her cleavage, or bump against her shoulder, some were even a bit less subtle, but she just took it in stride, never wavering or losing her temper.

Sitting there she smiled and shrugged softly before responding to him...

"Well lets see... I have been here for two years... Been dancing ever since I can remember... I have no family... Or husband for that matter. Hm.. Dancing is all I really have The girls are my family I guess you could say... I am a woman, who knows how to get where I need to be and to get what I need to survive."

She sat there and watched him as she spoke waiting for his response to her honesty.