undergrounds | A Woman Scorned [Plot Post: OTA]

((ooc: plotting thread here, for reference!))

Because of the nature of Guilty Pleasures itself, Jean-Claude had not noticed that anything was afoot at first. Saturdays are Ladies' Nights (not when they invite the ladies as clientele like most other clubs would use the term, but rather when they invited the female dancers to participate as well). For a weekend, it brought in a larger array of people and thus more revenue for the club itself. And thus because Cherry was not due for another full day yet, it was not until he was pulled aside by her on again, off again lover and fellow dancer, Zane, that he understood what a grave error he had made indeed. For Cherry was not answering Zane's texts, and even though they were not currently sleeping together, she would never go the day without at least letting him know why she was so quiet.

It did not bode well. The fact that Millicent had issued the statement earlier in that day that in celebration of her victory, her vampires were given permission to hunt, feast, kill, and turn whomever they so desired, and the ensuing chaos that had begun in the wake of that is hardly a coincidence. Nor is the fact that Cherry, Jean-Claude knows for a fact, had been the dancer he'd chosen to play Millicent in his little display of politics the month previously.

No, it doesn't bode well at all, and after Jean-Claude's own attempts at contacting her are met with a phone call gone straight to voicemail and text messages about payroll left unanswered (which would never happen for anything short of a disaster), he knows that he has a kidnapping on his hands. And he need not exercise too much imagination to understand who it is that might have taken her. The trouble is, how to get her back without landing himself in even more trouble with the Duchess herself. The answer? Crowd sourcing.

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"I heard the girl's name is Cherry. She's a dancer who works for you," she inclines her head slightly as she says that, since Jean-Claude just admitted as much himself. "I heard she went missing. No one can get a hold of her, not you, not her boyfriend... And I the rumor was that it was retaliation from the nest for something you did."

That's where Natasha's information got a little sketchier. This had the scent of vampire politics all over it, and those were something that she's spent the past two months doing her best to stay out of. She wasn't old for a vampire—better than a newborn, but that was about all as far as most truly old vampires were concerned. Still she felt like she'd seen enough of nest politics and infighting in fifty years to last the next five hundred.

But here she was because some girl who wasn't a vampire herself was getting dragged into the mix. Stark reminder of the times that she'd been the one grabbing human pets and lovers.

Guilt can be a pretty powerful motivator, it seems.

"I'd love to hear just what you did that made her a target, and who exactly I'll be pissing off if I help."

Other than her own current employers, if this got out. Luckily, she didn't have any intention of telling them.

Jean-Claude lets out something of a sigh in response to the question. He does not like pointing out the fact that this is his fault, but if it will help get her back...

"Several weeks ago, we had an election theme night. Here at the club. Perhaps you had seen the advertisements." He pauses for a moment, steepling his fingers on the desk before him. "Different dancers represented different nominees for positions. Cherry was our Millicent. She is... Not unlike the Duchess in height and build, but she is blonde." Obviously there were wigs and costumes involved.

He looks back at Natasha, the expression on his face unreadable, for he does not want her to recognize his guilt. "I have been demoted to the title of Baron for the time being as penance for my choices. I thought that such was my punishment for the choice. But now that Cherry has gone missing..." He shakes his head slightly. "I do not think that Mllicent herself has done this. But it does not take a mastermind to connect the dots. Someone has done this on her account."

Natasha doesn't judge. There are more important to deal with than that. Her face stays neutral, gaze level, as he explains. She does huff a little sigh when he explains the context—shes both unsurprised by the reaction and disturbed by it. Natasha doesn't know Millicent at all, but her pattern of behavior is familiar and unsettling.

"I see," she says when he finishes.

At least Millicent wasn't acting directly.

"Any ideas what they might do with her? If there haven't been any demands yet and no displays..." Her lips tighten slightly. "Is there a reason to expect she's still alive and unturned?"

Jean-Claude shakes his head slightly. "I do not know," he answers honestly. "She is a shapeshifter. That in and of itself is cause for concern." He flicks his eyes up to her once more -- if she knows anything about the politics in the city then she should know that vampires have something less than a positive opinion of shapeshifters here. It could mean anything. They could have turned her for the hell of it. They could have killed her for the same reasons.

"Millicent has given her people the run of the city. If she had not, I would be more certain that she might be found alive..." But because of this invitation for celebratory bloodshed, that is far from the case.

"So I hear. I've been trying to stay out of that," Natasha says, sounding tired as much anything. She doesn't try to hide her feelings about Millicent's celebration of her victory. Somehow, she doesn't think that Jean-Claude is going to judge her harshly.

"Only one way to find out, I guess."

She leans back thoughtfully, considering just how bad of an idea it is for her to get involved. The question isn't whether or not she will. She just needs to be prepared for what the potential fallout might be.

Jean-Claude watches her think, trying to determine what she might be thinking about. Despite being a flirt, he's clever. He needs his dancer back, alive. It will not do to let people think that they can harm his own without consequences. And it will not do to let his people think that he does not have their back.

"I cannot go after her myself," he admits. "There are people that need me here. And Millicent's people would welcome the opening. When the cat's away..." He shrugs slightly, letting the rest of the saying to speak for itself.

"Makes sense," she says, still professional. It does make sense to her, and at his age, with his position, he has to think about his organization. He has to consider that he's just made himself a target for anyone looking to curry favor with Millicent. If he leaves himself open, if he looks weak and like he can't protect his own, then this probably won't stop with one dancer.

Natasha drums her fingers twice before inclining her head in a short nod.

"Let's say I help you out with this, I don't want the word getting out. I can't have people thinking I'm available to clean up just anyone's messes for money." No telling how her current employers would take to the idea of her freelancing on the side. "The circle stays small."

Jean-Claude inclines his head in response to her words. An acceptance of them. "Forgive me, ma chère," he says, "but I would not want it getting out that I was not able to defend one of my own people in such a way either. It does neither of us any good if word of this should spread."

He raises an eyebrow, giving her a direct look in turn. "Are we in agreement?" he asks. He needs to know for certain. He knows better than to let this opportunity go by, or to assume that she has agreed when no such thing has happened. He recognizes Natasha for the professional asset that she is. He will owe her for this. And he will remember that.

She studies his face for a brief moment, considering how much she trusts him and how much she has to trust him for this to work. He's right that it wouldn't benefit him to have word getting around either, and she can't conceive of a likely reason for him to betray her.

Finally, Natasha extends her hand.

"It looks like we are."

A Woman Scorned [Plot Post: OTA]

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