A Woman Scorned [Plot Post: OTA]

[baisant]

((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.

Comments

[outstandingbalance]

"You doubted us?" Natasha asks sharing a quick look and a quicker smirk with her partner in crime for the rescue. The fact was, either of them could have done it alone. No denying that it had been easier working together, though.

The smile doesn't last long. She puts on a good act, but it's clear to anyone who knows the signs that Natasha is tired and hungry. Animal blood doesn't go a long way when you have bullet wounds to heal. It hadn't gone a long way when it came to preventing them in the first place.

"The girl's back safe. Kidnapper, taken care of. No witnesses."

WOW THIS IS LATE

[freelife]

The smirk Natasha flashed was certainly returned, and Evie finds herself wishing she had a drink. Just a bit of celebration.

Natasha's thoughts are right- they could have done it alone, but tag-teaming, that had been nice. It'd been a long time since she'd had that opportunity. Maybe she and Natasha could make this an ongoing thing. If need-be, and unfortunately, Evie knew it would need-be.

"None," Evie agrees, and another glance at Natasha tells her she's not up to snuff still. Enough to worry Evie, despite their earlier conversation. "I told Cherry you'd be able to arrange a place for her to stay for a time."

ITS OKAY i'm being slow rn too <3

[baisant]

Jean-Claude inclines his head at her in turn. "But of course. I will see that she is well taken care of. And that no one else will harm her." And if those last words sound perhaps a little stronger, harsher, and more protective than the rest, that is because it is true. He regrets that he could not have done more. But that is not something that he will admit. Certainly not to these others who have had to help him do what he was not able to.

"Where did you find her?" he feels compelled to ask. "I trust that it was one of Millicent's followers who had taken her...?" He cannot imagine anyone else playing such a part as this after all.

[outstandingbalance]

If anything, Natasha appreciates the harshness he shows about protecting his own reassures her that she made the right choice helping him. She can see why sending others was the best choice, but she likes knowing it wasn't his first choice or an easy one for him.

"One of Millicent's follows had her in a warehouse." She shrugs, not mentioning any complications. As far as Natasha's concerned, there weren't any. "No sign that she was supporting it directly. Just Valentine and a few young goons."

[freelife]

"There were no witnesses," Evie adds, because people worried about these sorts of things.

She looks over at Natasha, who still doesn't look great. But she's holding it together remarkably well- whatever it is. Evie's curious, and more than that, she's worried, having found herself somewhat fond of the redhead in front of her.

[baisant]

Valentine. He should have known it would be someone like him. A coward seeking to rise in the ranks of Millicent's people and using whatever means he can think of to try and do so. He keeps his temper well-concealed, but he's certainly not happy to learn of the identity of the perpetrator.

"And what of Valentine himself, then?" he asks. "You said he was 'taken care of'?" Is he dead, or will Jean-Claude have to hunt him down himself?

[outstandingbalance]

"He won't be giving you anymore problems," Natasha says evenly, sitting a little straighter and casting a glance toward her partner in crime for the evening.. Evie had taken care of that particular problem.