[OPEN] The sun don't ever want to shine

[vampire_barbie_girl]

1. Singing @ Rhapsody in Red (a night club in Hackney) - Sept 4, evening

Singing at the club was quickly becoming Caroline's favourite thing. She'd always love to sing and was very proud of herself for being able to job doing it - and all without turning to mind control to land it. And sure, the place wasn't the nicest club in the world but the money was good and the customers generally behaved themselves. But most of all, on this little stage she was able to just put her emotions out there and not feel self conscious about it.

So far, London had not been what she'd hoped. Instead of feeling free in her life, she felt more trapped than ever. Trying to figure out just what was going on in the Nest from one day to another was exhausting - let alone dealing with any of the other factions and their politics. Plus, she missed everyone back home desperately. She had expected to be a little homesick but it was hitting harder than she'd anticipated.

All these feelings somehow led to her singing better than she ever had before.

She was singing the last song of her first set, an original rather than yet another cover, called Why Don't You Stay. It was a fairly standard break-up song, but there were a few lines that just had extra resonance now ...

I never thought it'd be so hard to let go.

When it was over, she was definitely read for a break. And a drink.




2. Outside Guilty Pleasures - Sept 5, evening

Soon after arriving in London, Caroline had decided to spend her nights off exploring Nest territory. She'd done a pretty good survey of Hackney by this point, so tonight it was time to go to Tower Hamlets. She's already done the tourist thing and checked out the Tower of London and the Tower Bridge, so tonight she was hoping to find places of "local colour."

She's pretty sure it doesn't get more uh, colourful, than Guilty Pleasures. She was pretty sure she'd heard the name before, though right now she couldn't remember why. She also couldn't decide if she wanted to brave going inside or not. It was about as far from her usual scene as you could get. But that was old, Mystic Falls Caroline. New, London Caroline was still figuring out her scene.

She was out there thinking about it for awhile.



3. Wildcard (must be @ night in Nest territory)

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Comments

2

[freelife]

Evie wasn't a patron of Guilty Pleasures. Far from it, though she'd found herself there more and more frequently. That was what happened, she supposed, when you worked with the owner.

That was why she was there- she'd recently been made a Countess and thought it best to stop in tell JC the good news. That meant more power to their side. However, as it often was, her plans to meet with the owner of the club were waylaid when she noticed a young blonde outside the door.

"Trying to decide if you're coming in?" She asked softly. The girl was a vampire, she could tell. Young and pretty. And looking more than a little lost.

Re: 2

[vampire_barbie_girl]

Caroline laughed. "Is it that obvious?" She sighed and shook her head. She really might as well give it a try. She could always leave afterwards. But she still couldn't quite manage to make herself do it.

She looked over at the woman, who really didn't look like type of a person to be in a place like this. But Caroline knew appearances could be deceiving - because of the whole doppleganger situation, she knew better than most.

"What's it like?" she asked finally, hoping to find out something that might make this decision easier.

[freelife]

"It's... I haven't spent much time looking at the dancers, I'm afraid," she explains. "I'm an associate of the owner. But I suppose it's like any strip-club you'd find. Handsome men, pretty girls, loud music, but a little less neon and more velvet." They never really changed.

"If you're looking for someone to walk in with you, I'd be happy to escort you." Her words were formal, but kind.

[vampire_barbie_girl]

That really didn't sound so bad. Actually, parts of it sounded quite good, particularly handsome men and velvet. Also good: not having to walk in alone.

"That would be nice, thanks."

[freelife]

"Of course." She inclines her head, and gestures for her to follow her, before leading to the double doors. Evie gives the bouncer a smile- she's been here enough that he lets her, and Caroline, in without question.

"Welcome to Guilty Pleasures."

[vampire_barbie_girl]

Not having to deal with a bouncer was a nice extra bonus to having an escort. But Caroline didn't have much time to think about that, as her attention was quickly drawn to everyone else going on inside.

Her first thoughts were that Guilty Pleasures really was the perfect name for this club. Everywhere she looked, everything just seemed over the top, though it somehow managed the perfect mix between camp and class. And, of course, there were lots of half naked men. Who could complain about that.

"Wow." That was all she could say.

[freelife]

Evie can relates, and gives her a knowing nod. "it's very... something, isn't it?" It had never been her favorite place in the world, and it never would be. But she respected those that worked there- she'd gone out of her way to rescue one of the dancers a few months before. Which reminded her, she should probably stop in the back and see how Cherry was doing.

[stauncherhearted]

So, Nancy was avoiding the Angelo. She and Cesare had made up and all was well, but she didn't really want to look for customers there at this particular given moment. So she instead made her way to Rhapsody in Red. The atmosphere instantly made her seem like she was in some sort of 1940s crime drama. Stale cigarette smoke hung in the air as a pretty blonde crooned from the stage.

Nancy, as was expected, made her way to the bar and promptly ordered herself a gin. Give her something to do while she looked around for the sort of man who would likely want to bring her back to his hotel room. She wasn't hoping for vampires- now that they could feed freely, her business with them was slowly drying up. Human men were a bit less-likely to be out and about now with the high violence, but she had hope.

When the blonde stopped singing, and made her way to the bar, Nancy stopped her search momentarily to turn to her. "You were really great- you sing here often?"

[vampire_barbie_girl]

Caroline turned towards the redhead at the bar. "Thank you," she said. "I'm a regular singer here, though I only started a couple months ago."

The bartender had a rum and Coke waiting for her and she took a long drink and felt her nerves start to quiet down a bit. She turned back to the woman and smiled. "I'm Caroline, nice to meet you."

[stauncherhearted]

"New in town, then?" She nods towards the blonde, recognizing the American accent anywhere. Nancy's own London accent, meanwhile, was twinned with dashes of Cockney. "Welcome." She raised her glass to her in a small gesture.

"Nice t'meet you, Caroline. I'm Nancy." She extended a hand, her jewelry fake. She wouldn't wear the good stuff out like this- no, that was for appointments, only.

[vampire_barbie_girl]

Caroline took Nancy's hand and shook it firmly. "Yeah, I just moved here a few months ago too, from Virginia."

Caroline looked forward to the time when it wasn't obvious she was new here. Maybe she should try and speak with an English accent. Except she'd tried that before, in acting class, and couldn't get through the sentence I want a proper cup of coffee in a proper coffee pot. So maybe she'd just have to deal with it.

"So, what brings you out here tonight?" As far as Caroline could tell, Nancy wasn't with anyone and she obviously wasn't a regular or she'd have seen Caroline here before.

[stauncherhearted]

"Well, I hope you like it." London was the worst. But it was also the best damn city, as far as Nancy was concerned. One thing was for sure: there was no place else in the world like it.

If she tried to speak with an accent, Nancy would never speak with her again, because that was honestly just embarrassing. It's acceptable if you're drunk, though. But you don't want to hear her awful American accent.

"Just trying out a few new spots, lately." Drum up some new clients. "Trying to get to know this area a little bit better."

[vampire_barbie_girl]

"It's more different than I expected, but mostly different in a good way." The reasons she was feeling down lately didn't have to do with the city, after all. That was all on her. "I've been doing a bit of that myself, trying to settle in. Find anywhere good yet? Other than here, of course."

2

[baisant]

Even the proprietor of such a place as Guilty Pleasures needs to get out every now and again. Jean-Claude had found himself with business to attend to and so he's left his front of house to watch the club for the first half of the night.

Not everyone knows who he is or what role he plays in the bar, even if they do know he has something to do with it. It means that he is afforded the luxury of being able to walk the line outside. At least before he breaks that spell and lets himself inside to be greeted as the owner that he is.

And thus it is where he finds Caroline, lingering outside the building. Noticing what she is as he makes his way up to her, inclining his head in greeting at her, before speaking up to ask, "Do you not enjoy the venue?" As soon as he speaks, his French accent is obvious, although it is pleasant and his English is obviously very good.

Re: 2

[vampire_barbie_girl]

A French accent this time, that was different. And it was attached to man who fit the tall, dark, and handsome cliche perfectly. Especially given where they were, Caroline was a little wary but she still smiled at him.

"I actually don't know yet, I haven't mustered up the courage to go inside."

[baisant]

Jean-Claude laughs slightly and the sound is deep, liquid, and sexual even though he really isn't particularly trying to be. Not at the moment at least. He's just amused to be standing outside of his own club, talking about it, with the anonymity of not having to reveal that it is his. Not yet, at any rate.

"Ah," he replies, in slightly knowing tones. "Is there something in particular that keeps you from such a venture, then?" he asks. Perhaps he will take notes, in an attempt to make it more inviting to all. Mostly he is just teasing. And she doesn't even know it yet.

[vampire_barbie_girl]

Caroline can feel herself blushing, which isn't something she does often. But she's also not usually talking to handsome strangers outside strip clubs either.

"Well," she said, a bit reluctantly, "I'm just not sure it's really going to be my scene, if you know what I mean."

[baisant]

Jean-Claude smiles slightly, tilting his head at her as he studies her inquisitively. He has to ask, of course, because this is his club after all. Even if he does understand what she might be hinting at.

"What sort of scene might that be then?" Is it the fact that they're all male strippers that makes her uneasy? He can always suggest she come in on a ladies' night, if so.

[vampire_barbie_girl]

Caroline gave him a look that said what kind of question was that? "It's never included stip clubs before," she said finally. "But that doesn't mean it couldn't start to."

1

[loveconquersdinosaurs]

"Nice voice," he commented, his own accent making it clear she wasn't the only American here. "I've never seen you around here before. Are you new?"

Not that Thomas had a lot of room to talk. He'd only been here for four months himself, although that still was enough time to get a sense of who was usually around. Then again, he also didn't come here that often, so he really couldn't say. In the end it didn't really matter, though, because he was really just trying to start conversation.

Re: 1

[vampire_barbie_girl]

It was interesting how the Americans in London kept finding each other. Caroline find it comforting too, since for a moment things could feel a bit like home.

"Thank you," she said with a smile. "Yeah, I'm pretty new. I started here a couple months ago."

Re: 1

[loveconquersdinosaurs]

"Huh. I only moved here four months ago myself." Making him almost as new to the area as she was to this job. "My name's Thomas, by the way. Thomas Raith."

Re: 1

[vampire_barbie_girl]

"That's one more month than me," Caroline told him. She gave him a good once over. He looked pretty good, all nice and muscly. A bit like Tyler, so definitely her type.

"I'm Caroline, nice to meet you. So uh, where are you from, before four months ago?"

Re: 1

[loveconquersdinosaurs]

"Chicago," he answered. "I liked it just fine, but my father wanted a change of venue, so here we are. And what about you?"

By father, of course, he meant sire. Or, technically, step-father would be accurate as well. It was a whole, big, complicated issue.

Re: 1

[vampire_barbie_girl]

"Mystic Falls, Virginia," she replied. "You probably haven't heard of it."

Her father was buried there, beside a long line of Forbes family members. She missed him.