Blood & Bullets

[Fanged_Death]

Chance watched Angeline respond to his hired help and considered the hunger in her eyes and face.

"It has been a long journey for you has it not, Angeline?"

Temperance had always been a valued and efficient hand, her ability to handle almost every situation smoothly and the thought of losing her to provide a meal struck a wrong cord.

But for every problem there were always several solutions.

“Temperance this Lady is Angeline. She’s come a great distance and has chosen this corner of the world to rest for a time.In the few minutes we’ve talked I’ve realized we have much in common, the greatest thing at this moment being….you.”

Chance smiled at Temperance and the look on her face that held for a short moment. It wasn’t often she was caught off guard or held speechless and this was one of those rare times.

“I was about to invite Angeline to my quarters for a “nightcap” and now after seeing her interest in you I think it would be a grand idea if you joined us as well. What do you think, ladies?”

 

[MorbidIce]

Temperance cleared the table, shifting things around as she leaned over the wooden top, presenting a pleasant view for anyone behind her. Listening to Chance and his lady friend, Temperance glanced at Angeline from beneath a veil of dark lashes. The vampiress was certainly beautiful, no wonder Chance had snapped up the opportunity for her company.

“It’s a pleasure to meet you Ms. Angeline.” Temperance moved so that she stood straight, her pose languid and sultry – One had to act as if they were being watched at all times, and thus would be kept at the very top of their game. It was a race to ensnare men and their pocketbooks in this saloon, considering all the pretty women that worked there.

Her expression changed from placid to surprised, a slim brow arching heavenward at Chance’s words- “In the few minutes we’ve talked I’ve realized we have much in common, the greatest thing at this moment being….you.” Mischievous smile played across her lips, the waitress shifting her weight from one foot to the other, her hand perching on a curved hip. “How so, Chance?” Temperance purred, tilting her head inquisitively.

Temperance laughed, a low, sultry sound. “Of course, if it’s alright with her, I’ll come. I have a break coming up anyway.”

 

[shadowoftheheart]

Veronica softly places her arm around Nathan's with a small smile.

"Very well, sir. Lead on."

She happened to see Temperance greet Chance's new .. friend? .. and accepted an invitation to their room. Veronica smiled thinly in Temperance's direction, nodding once to her as she left in Nathan's company ....

 

[Wyld52771]

Samuel walked back to the small building off the back door of the saloon, a towel draped over his shoulder, and carrying a straight razor and a bar of lye soap in his left hand. His other hand remained free for quick access to draw his gun if need be. In a rough town like this, you never really knew what to expect, but that wasn't what made him wary.

Even though he'd had no trouble inside the saloon, the hair on the back of his neck had been standing on end the whole time he was in there. His intuition had kept him alive many times in the past...he knew better than to just ignore it. There was something very peculiar about the place. He couldn't put his finger on it...an almost palatable feeling of tension had filled the common room.

He opened the door and walked in, finding the bath house unoccupied. A kerosine latern gave off a warm glow that filled the small room. The water appeared to have been recently warmed, and although a bit murky, looked fairly clean for a public bath. He set the razor and the bar of soap on the stand next to the tub, noting a small mirror sitting on it...very convienient, considering he needed a shave badly. He unfastened his gunbelt, setting one of his Peacemakers on the stand as well...for easy access, in case he needed it. He took off his shirt and draped it over the gun so it would not be noticed by anyone who might walk in. His ribs were clearly visable, however, the shadows of the flickering lantern making them stand out in sharp relief.

He took off his hat and dropped it on the floor, and kicked off his boots and removed his socks. Unbuckling his belt, and removed his pants, with the exception of the crucifix he never took off, standing nude in the chill of the room. His body was a network of scars...an old knife wound here, a bayonet wound there, bullet grazes, but the largest, an old puckered scar under his left knee, was the one that had almost ended his life. That had been caused a carbine while fighting in Gettysburg. He had almost bled to death on the battlefield, and then later infection had set in, almost costing him his leg. Luckily, it hadn't come to that, but it had never healed fully. It still pained him, a constant reminder of the brutality of war....as if he could ever forget all the friends he'd lost there. Their faces still haunted his dreams.

He stepped into the water, slowly lowering himself in, and then proceeded to wash the dust and dirt from his body. Once that was done, he pulled his shirt, pants, and socks into the tub with him, washing the grime out of them as well, scrubbing with strong smelling lye soap. Once that was done, he lay them on the stand to dry, and grabbed the mirror and razor. He looked at his reflection, barely recognizing himself. Once, long ago, a handsome and cheerful man had looked back from his reflection....now, he saw a man with hollow circles underneath tired eyes, a gaunt face framed by long black hair streaked with gray, and the beginnings of a heavy growth of curly black beard. "Well," he thought, "I reckon I can take care of one of those problems." He began to slowly shave, his thoughts looking forward to tomorrow, when he'd be able to talk to this friend that Sue had mentioned.

 

[Fanged_Death]

Chance poured a second glass of blood wine and sipped at it slowly, his eyes looking the eager waitress over carefully as she openly flirted with the pair of them.

"Temperance be careful, flirt with the devil and you may get more than you bargained for."

The warning didn't deter her it seemed, instead Temperance only smiled and bent lower, her full breasts become even more obvious under the cut of the dress and drawing a few whistles from behind her as well.

"Angeline my suites are beside where yours will be for the duration of your stay with us. I'd consider it an honor to show you to them as well as to share Temperance's company with you."

 

[Elayne]

The auburn haired vampiress looked the other woman over briefly as she flirted with the pair of Kindred. Angeline could practically smell Temperance's blood.

Turning her doe brown eyes to chase, Angeline smiled her cruel, velvety smile, a flash of wanton hunger playing over her face as she slowly rose. "Indeed, I am feeling a touch... out of sorts... from my journey."

Angeline smoothed her skirt and continued, "I believe retiring to the suites for a quick night cap and then a nap might be... most welcome, yes?"

 

[MorbidIce]

Eager to please as Temperance might have been, she knew when to back off – She wasn’t a whore after all, just a friendly person out to make a buck by flirting when appropriate. Fortunately for Chance, she trusted him – He had never failed one of the ladies before, why would he now?

"Temperance be careful, flirt with the devil and you may get more than you bargained for." His statement rang warning bells, although Temperance merely smiled and dipped lower for the moment before moving upright. “My Ma use to say that Chance,” She purred, “But she also said that I could be Satan’s spawn at times, so it seems I’m quite safe.”

Such confidence in herself, it was no wonder why Temperance wasn’t broken to saloon life as of yet. Stepping back, Temperance winked at Chance. “Just let me go tell Seamus that I’m going on my break and I’ll be right up.” With that said, Temperance sashayed her pretty little bottom over to the bar, putting her elbows on the bar top as she waited for Seamus undivided attentions. “Seamus,” Temperance called in a sing-song voice, “I’m going on break, don’t be too cross with me if I’m a few minutes late getting back, hmm?”

 

[Rufus the Mad]

The old barkeep, having nodded his goodbyes to those seeking their night-time meal, was cleaning the bar glasses in a sink set behind the bar for that purpose. His hands worked quickly with the pour-formed glass, his hands displaying a surity of skill that one can only get by working a long time to get it.

He looked up as Temperance came bouncing over, gleefully chiming on about taking her break, and warning him in her off-handed way that she might be a bit late getting back. Looking past the bubbly girl, the old war horse locked eyes with Chance and raised one eyebrow, his brown eyes flicking minutely toward the half dressed girl between them, and then slipping sideways to indicate the room. If anything happens to her, he seemed to say We would lose a useful tool for keeping these animals in line...

He had been here for three years. In that time he had buried six men, and replaced two girls that just seemed to have vanished... He may not understand exactly what was going on, but one thing he was certain of was that Chance Devon was at the center of it. He had seen his share of the slave trade, and knew almost to the penny how much a girl like Temperance would fetch. He had heard the rumors about girls leaving in shame, pregnant with an unwanted child of so and so, but didn't put much stock in that. He had heard wild speculation and outright lies about the strange disappearances in this town, and the truly feral gleam in the eyes of the beautiful Miss Angeline set off a warning flare behind the old mans gaze. Yet, in the end, she was a free woman, and this was not his bar.

He let his gaze slip to the left, returning to the dirty glasses with a shake of his head, and already replanning the work schedual around her "absence",,, no matter how long it might end up being.

 

[Rufus the Mad]

*bump*

 

[shadowoftheheart]

OOC: I believe this will get going again after the holidays..

 

[wildxfire]

Sue watched the grizzled gunfighter follow the directions back to the rooms used for bathing and then the interplay between Chance, his lady guest and Temperance.

"I'm going to take a break Top. If that's okay?"

The crowd had thinned, the heaviest drinkers satiated for the moment and the pile of dirty glasses was down to a minimum thanks to her and Top's efforts.

She skirted behind the bar and moved gracefully the up the steps, her room and Chances being both on the same level, or so everyone was led to believe.

Chance had never taken a soiled dove other than Sue to his private rooms, much less a guest, and for good reason.

A reason Sue knew Temperance was quickly going to learn, and a reaction that Sue wanted to be there to see.

 

[Wyld52771]

Samuel sat in the lukewarm water, soaking his tired muscles and weary bones as his clothes dried next to him. he looked at his face in the mirror, a small self-depreciating smile appearing on his face. Although not as handsome as he once had been, at least now he looked almost civilized...although his exhaustion must have been greater than he'd realized. It'd made him clumsy when shaving. He'd nicked himself...a small trickle of blood running down his jawline. He absently wiped it away.

Once his clothes had dried enough for him to get dressed, he did so, strapping his gunbelt back on, sighing in relief...the weight of the guns at his hip making him feel secure once more. He'd worn them for so long now, that he just didn't feel safe without them at his side anymore.

"Well," he thought to himself, as he placed his dusty, beat-up hat back upon his head, "I reckon I best go back inside and see if I can scrounge me up a meal...and maybe another snort of whiskey a'fore I hit the hay." He opened the door, the cold night air, making him shiver. He looked up at the sky...and he stopped staring, a look of anxiety on his face. The full moon had come out from behind the clouds, its surface looking almost as if it were washed in red. "A blood moon," he thought, this time shivering for a reason other than the cold.

When he was a child, his Pa had once told him that a blood moon was a bad portent. His father had always been a superstitous sort, and he remembered his father's words well as they'd looked up at a moon just like this one long ago. "Son," he'd said, as he pointed up to the crimson orb in the sky that night, "That there is a blood moon....bad bus'ness. It means either someone has done died this night, or someone soon WILL be about leavin' this world shortly. A bad omen, son. A blood moon is proof that death is comin' to claim his due." Those words echoed from the past into his thoughts tonight, and he found himself instictively doing something he hadn't done in years...whispering a prayer as his hand caressed the crucifix hanging around his throat. A prayer that his daughter was safe, and that the red moon in the sky wasn't meant for her.

He stood there unmoving for a few moments, and then his hand left his throat reluctantly. With a last glance at the glowering moon above, he continued on his way back into the common room.

 

[Rufus the Mad]

Snapping his eyes away from his esteemed Boss, the stump-legged booze slinger flicked his gaze back toward Sweet Sue as she wriggled her way out from behind the bar. He shook his head again, his bald head gleaming dimly in the light of the oil lamp chandeliers as he craned his neck around to check out the room. He was glad to see that the majority of the hicks and gophers were well and truly into their cups by now, and there really wasn't much for him to do except top off the odd mug now and again. That is until the sound of breaking glass reached his ears.

Two drunks, miners both, had gotten it in their heads to start talking about the best way to put in a new shaft, and it had, of course, turned ugly. One was now bellowing about timber placement and shoring techniques, and the other was whining the worm boring through good stone was better. Stomping toward them, Top sized them both up quickly, and made the immediate decision that they were just drunk enough to cause real trouble, but not drunk enough to pass out yet... With his teeth set, and his mustache standing out against a face grown suddenly flushed, the thick-armed barkeep grabbed each of the squabbling patrons by the backs of their necks and slammed their heads together with a resounding "THWOCK"!

He really wasn't in a mood to be fucked with right now!

Throwing the pair back across the table, he made a point of emptying their wallets where everyone could see him doing it, pocketing the pitiful amount before trudging his way back toward the bar. He had a standing rule here, and he applied it faithfully. If you screw up in here, you get a headache for your trouble, and you get cleaned out. Simple. Effective. Cruel.

He had very few instances of repeat offenders...

 

[Fanged_Death]

Chance rose and took the arm of each lady and walked them upstairs.

"The entrance to my room if you please"

Opening the door for them he followed both and closed it, allowing them to look about the tiny confines of the bare room lit by a single, feeble candle.

"Not very much for such a well heeled gambler Chance, do we do it on the floor?"

Chance smiled and chuckled at Temperance, her words stating the questions on her face and in her eyes as he moved to a wall and placed a hand upon the lever protruding from it.

"It would be a shame if we did Temperance, for this is not my room, only the entrance to them."

The room lurched as the handle moved and it quickly became evident the trio was inside a freight elevator that was lowering itself to an unknown destination.

"The saloon was built over an abandoned mine, a fact kept quiet and leaving me with a secure and conveniant way in and out of my rooms below."

The ride was smooth and in several minutes it stopped, the solid wall of rock and timber changing to a wide open tunnel lit by a row of lanterns over a cobblestone path.

"This way ladies"

Chance repeated the words and moved to a set of double doors and swinging them open.

Behind the doors Chance's room loomed, a large cavern segmented into different areas, the lanterns overhead casting light that created eery shadows on the furniture and stalagmites below as well as the stalctites above.

"This is my room Temperance,Large enough to accomodate hundreds it extends almost a half mile underground and is al hundred feet wide in some areas, except for the miners who abandoned it there hasn't been another human being down here for years."

 

[MorbidIce]

Temperance had caught the odd look that Sue had aimed their way before the other waitress had scuttled off upstairs. Sliding an arm through Chance's, she followed him upstairs, an occasional glance spared to his lady friend.

Dark gaze was passed over the small room, a brow arching -- She hadn't known that Chance had stayed above the bar.

Or, below it, as she was about to figure out.

"Not very much for such a well heeled gambler Chance, do we do it on the floor?" These words were very much a joke, seeing as though Chance knew that Temperance didn't turn tricks for people; she was a simple girl making a living with flirting, no more, no less.

"It would be a shame if we did Temperance, for this is not my room, only the entrance to them."

Having let go of Chance, Temperance watched as he meandered over to the lever, pulling it, the room lurching. Her expression was priceless; a mix of surprise and curiousity as Chance explained he had rooms below as well. Below, where?

Her question was answered by the sudden shifting of the wall, leaving it open so that they could step out into the slightly colder room. A breath was inhaled after he'd opened the double doors, the serving female moving forward -- pausing at the doors -- so that she could get a better look.

"This is my room Temperance, large enough to accomodate hundreds it extends almost a half mile underground and is a hundred feet wide in some areas, except for the miners who abandoned it there hasn't been another human being down here for years."

"Except you," She guessed, "Do you know usually bring guests down here?" And if so, where were those guests now? No one would hear another scream down there, that was for sure. "It's lovely," She added.

 

[Elayne]

Angeline smiled slowly as Chance graciously offered his arm. She slipped her own arm into the crook of his and let him lead her upstairs, presumably to his chambers.

Angeline raised a thin eyebrow as the elevator led the trio into the depths of the earth. It was certainly an impressive feat of engineering that he had arranged and the caverns showed a certain flair for the dramatic that she appreciated, even though Angeline herself preferred more understated and urban quarters for her own infrequent havens.

"Most impressive," she murmured softly as she looked around the massive, vaulting chamber.

Angeline turned slightly as the mortal continued to chat away, as mortals were wont to do. "Lovely? Mmmm," Angeline commented in a velvety tone. "I suppose it measures favorably against the attractions of... how did you phrase it? Doing it on the floor?"

Angeline gave a low, wicked laugh that echoed off the odd curves of the former mine.

 

[Fanged_Death]

"I suppose it measures favorably against the attractions of... how did you phrase it? Doing it on the floor?"

Chance smiled and waved a hand towards a corner, the furniture arranged to create a "sitting room" of sorts, with a large oak coffee table in it's center.

"The furniture is not to the European standards, but each piece is of the finest quality and quite well built, the work was done by a pair of Dutch natives before they.....moved on."

In the center of the table stood several decanters and a trio of matched, long stemmed glasses.

"This will be a night to remember for years to come. A night to celebrate, and a night to toast. A new friend comes to my humble home and for the time since I've met her I find the chance to see if Temperance is as true to her words as she claims she is...or all bluster. To new friends and new truths."

He poured Temperance’s glass from one decanter and then Angelines and his from a second, handing each Lady their own and waiting for them to drink first.

"You wanted to play Temperance, what say we show you what kind of games Angeline and I enjoy the most?"

 

[MorbidIce]

Temperance offered the other lady a sweet smile and a raised brow, as if to say she was just joking. There had been many a time that she had turned down customers for a roll in the hay -- She wasn't that sort of girl, she just liked to allude to the fact she was.

All talk and no show, but it kept the customers coming.

"This will be a night to remember for years to come. A night to celebrate, and a night to toast. A new friend comes to my humble home and for the time since I've met her I find the chance to see if Temperance is as true to her words as she claims she is...or all bluster. To new friends and new truths."

Fingers were threaded through her long hair as she listened to Chance's pretty words, the glass accepted gracefully and raised to the toast before she sipped at the liquid within.

"You wanted to play Temperance, what say we show you what kind of games Angeline and I enjoy the most?"

"Please do, although let's hope they aren't card games," Temperance jested, "For we all know who shall win."

 

[Elayne]

Angeline followed Chase into the sitting room. A dark smile flitted over her soft lips as he mentioned the craftsmen had moved on. The emphasis made her think he had drained them dry or else turned them. Either pleased her.

Angeline took her glass and raised it to her nose, inhaling the bouquet of its flavour. "Delicious," she murmured softly. "An excellent vintage..." As she spoke, Angeline's eyes lingered over Temperance, following the serving wench's curves in a way that put it in doubt whether she was talking about the wine or the other woman.

"I have no taste for cards," the vampiress commented as she sat on one of the couches, crossing her long, slender legs with a ruffle of her skirt. "I prefer games of cat and mouse," she continued, flashing the other woman her slow, wicked smile.

"What sort of games do you like to play, my dear?"

 

[PredatorX]

Nathan took one last look at the tall stranger before he led Veronica out to the chilly evening. Her arm in his made him feel like a gentleman. Something he never had been. With an ironic smile he thought of how he could get used being one.

As they walked in a slow pace down the street towards the restaurant he suddenly awoke from his dreams and came back to reality. The sight of the tall man, standing in the middle of the street only ten feet in front of Veronica and Nathan was a very good way to sober Nathan up from his dreams.

Knowing what was gonna happen he gently pushed Veronica to the side of the street, never removing his eyes from the man. "Go back to the saloon." He told Veronica quietly. Gone was the gentleman. in his place was the killer who had put several men under ground.

"So Cox, who is the whore?" The tall man said with a cruel smile as he moved his hand close to his Colt navy.

Smiling thinly Nathan did not respond to the insult, he held his hand close to the peacemaker.

"I heard you where dead Ryker." He said with the cold voice that had made many men regret that they had challenged him in the first place.

 

[Rufus the Mad]

(ooc: OoooooH, a Gunfight!)

 

[PredatorX]

(OOC I love them, my favorite historical era are the wild west )

 

[Fanged_Death]

"What sort of games do you like to play, my dear?"

Chance smiled wolfishly and licked his own lips, the arousal of his guest coming as clear to him as his own.

"Yes Temperance. Tell us what lies under that tough exterior. Is it all an act or are you as delicious a peice as you present?"

If it was an act Temperance was about to come to a rude awakening. Despite his repeated warnings she was here, and yet Chance had no wish to see her drained and tossed away.

"Angeline"

Chance drew Angelines attention to him and smiled, letting his fangs flare in the light of the overhead lamp long enough to know they'd be seen by all before he continued.

"Temperance is a rare prize. One I have cherished as a dear employee and saved for long years, thinking of the right time and place to savor her.

In all ways she is a virgin.

In body and blood.

She has placed her trust in me. Night after night on the saloon floor above and in coming here with us.

She can not stop what is about to happen but she still has choices to make. Choices that will make a dramatic difference in her life......

or life afterwards."

 

[MorbidIce]

Temperance had seated herself as well, comfortable enough to do so, although Angeline's words made her arch a brow at the other as she[Angeline] looked in Temperance's direction. "Indeed."

"I have no taste for cards," most ladies didn't, Temperance included, although she knew remotely how to play. "I prefer games of cat and mouse," Temperance smiled politely, musing inwardly over these words. Angeline didn't look the type to tempt and tease, then give in -- Perhaps tempt, tease and then walk away? Or was there more to it?

"What sort of games do you like to play, my dear?"

Games indeed, her every working day was a game -- If she went home unmolested, it was a point for her. If not, then it meant she was set back one point.

"Yes Temperance. Tell us what lies under that tough exterior. Is it all an act or are you as delicious a piece as you present?"

"I was raised to present a tough front when needed," Temperance replied, somewhat defensively, "but aren't all women ladies at heart?"

"Angeline"

The sudden change in Chance's tone drew her attention to him as well, dark gaze catching sight of the fangs as they suddenly came into view. Lips parted slightly, expression surprised and mystified, although she said nothing as of yet- Simply pressing herself farther into her corner of her seat.

"Temperance is a rare prize. One I have cherished as a dear employee and saved for long years, thinking of the right time and place to savor her. In all ways she is a virgin. In body and blood. She has placed her trust in me. Night after night on the saloon floor above and in coming here with us. She can not stop what is about to happen but she still has choices to make. Choices that will make a dramatic difference in her life... or life afterwards."

His words were enough to make it feel like her heart had stopped, although it was actually fluttering against her ribcage like a scared birds. "Excuse me?" She asked in disbelief, having so far kept her cool -- It was an absolute surprise to hear Chance speak of her that way, especially infront of another; and how the hell did he know so much about her? "I think, loves, this is my cue to leave. This has just gotten a whole lot odder than it needed to be." She stood, eyeing Chance, a frown of displeasure on her lips.

 

[Elayne]

Angeline waved magnamiously. "Far be it for me to waste a cherished pet as travel food," she murmured in dark amusement.

She slowly looked Temperance over as the mortal rose from her spot on the couch. "Do you really think this little dear would cherish the gift of eternal youth?"

Angeline herself had sought out vampirism long, long ago. Having strove so hard to become Kindred herself, she didn't often chose to bestow the Embrace on just anyone, prefering to drain her victims dry and only turn the rarest people who's unique and often cruel traits attracted her specific interest.

"You cherish your pet so much you want to keep her forever?" Angeline teased Chance mildly as she sipped her wine, then flashed a dark smile to Temperance.