Pret a Pret Mon Chat

[Naomi Hilton]

He was a charmer to be sure and she grinned " you are most welcome"

Then back out to the couple she paused to check on them. " So my darlins how are we for drinks? Need a refill?"

She wanted to get Sev alone to ask him what he was but knew it would be just a hair sketchy to do so in front of Ricky. " If you'll lend me your big strong muscles I'll pour you a pitcher of our local craft beer to share on the house my treat."

Walking over behind the counter and putting in her code she made tips and hourly as dance captain so their beer was cake to cover. Pouring from the tap a honey-colored hoppy refreshing sort of thing with a very light head. Handing him the pitcher and two glasses but before he could go back she leaned in" You smell like a lion but not like any one I've ever smelled. It's interesting, I'm a jag if you didn't guess yet, and she smells hmmm nice"

Peeking out of the corner of her eye at their resident male contortionist who also happened to be a wolf and in incredible shape. He made bending and flexing to music something else for sure. If she hadn't seen his act before Nomi would be spellbound. He was not going full out tho more just running through marks and beats. Looking back to Severin." So I have to go get ready soon but can come visit between preformances if you like.. just let me know"

[Yates]

Sev and Ricky watched chit-chatting as she picked around his shields. She’d perhaps had always been doing so but now he was in the know and he found it annoying but cute. It was like a nervous tic. She did it when she was avoiding some thought or fighting her natural urge to bounce off the walls. Even in her sleep especially if she was having a nightmare, she’d be a bundle of energy a psychic radiator she ran hot and put out a near constant heat. Much like he did physically now. She was a very good lover, but he’d kept things light for ow as while confident in himself the last thing he’d want was to accidentally infect her. The chances of her losing her gifts was one he wouldn’t risk until he was more sure of himself. As such their talk centered around her ideas for broadening their play habits and raming things up.


He was all for it. Always had been but wanted to be certain that she was not merely testing him. Most women he’d dealt with temporarily or longer somehow always ended up with the notion for all his flirting and many previous partners that he couldn’t be with only them. Which while nominally true as he always had friends and play sessions, he never crossed the line if he was in any semblance of a relationship. As a kid who to his way of thinking lost two fathers he didn’t and wouldn’t ever do that to a partner. When not in a semblance or actual relationship he played the field and danced around from partner to partner but they each and everyone was aware. He insisted on honesty and full disclosure. He also played extraordinarily safely. The risks were too high especially now.

But luckily Ricky had explained herself she knew ath when she was with anyone that she was with them and there was no sin as long as there was honesty. Which was how they worked even as they shouldn’t there were things, she couldn’t tell him before and there were things he hadn’t decided to tell her now. They’d decided that when he was ready to talk about the things that had changed for him, they would. They also agreed if she could find out specifically what flavor of fur on her own with no help from her family members that they’d talk sooner.

So as Naomi came trotting back hips on a swivel Ricky almost pushed him into helping her. She liked watching him flirt. The idea of him with another woman didn’t challenge her it excited her so long as it was with someone they could share. As they’d said over again no old personals added into their newness which made her girlfriends and boyfriends of the past off limits as much as his. Not that either had any significant exes in the area but travel time was a funny thing the greatest distance meant nothing under the right conditions.

Smirking as he helped and she gently attempted coaxing an answer with he directness. He smiled almost actually laughing as she pegged it but tried shooing herself away. “You’re right. Definitely lion old strain maybe making a comeback.” He shook his head ta the last bit. “Not many Jaguars in New York I think there are some over in Pelham Bay. Didn’t stay there long enough to find out for sure. If you haven’t guessed I’m kind of new to this.” He smiled a toothy grin that said new but not unlearned. He’d been brain dumped on by Monica and Samuel repeatedly and while the old man as everyone called Abel, behind his back, caught on quickly he’d been slower on the uptake. He hadn’t the lifetime of working with and against groups to put names to faces. In fact most of those he worked against rarely had a face for long. Though he did manage enough knowledge to pass muster with them eventually.

As she sauntered way he glanced back to Ricky before calling a little louder behind Naomi, “I think we’ll do just that.”

The show was starting and he knew for a fact Ricky had managed t read both their lips as much as she tried not too. She was habitual at times. He chuckled and headed back to the table.

["Ricky" Merchant]

The ask for help had Ricky’s eyes twinkling with mischief. She nudged Sev up to his feet even as she knew part of him would have shied away. He was a pretty lowkey guy for someone who was naturally deadly. He always tried to be the less sexy version of himself when they were out. She found it cute but she really liked what she saw in Nomi. She had the shape and spirit that made Ricky’s internal compass go a bit haywire. Definitely trouble and as far as she could see fun in a very fun-sized package.

AS they talked at the bar she split her attention between them and the guy wamring up. He was a certain sort of fun as well. And even as he was nominally clothed what he was doing with himself would easily be deemed indecent if the right sort of older person was around. She was glad there weren’t any of those wet blankets in the building. Attention divided as it was she looked over as fought with herself to not read their lips but gave in. She always gave in. It was force of habit. Both the fight and the capitulation. Hmm she thought immediately setting her mental alarm clock to follow up on that information. As it would look like she’d win their arrangement. Lion but not. She’d research what there was to find and when Sev was ready they could talk about what he was willing to share. For now as he moved towards the table his eyes sweeping the room for danger even as she was sure that all the biggest dangers were whom she was planning on defiling vigorously.

Eyes twinkling as soon as he got closer she asked, “So I was right, right? Big cat strain and hot as August with no breeze right?”

[Naomi Hilton]

" I only ever met Jag in warm places I think it's just a thing for us, but yeah"

Noted and smile looking him over the things she could get into, had her wanting to purr. As she walked away and he shouted toward her she laughed and let them see her wink as she quickly went back behind the stage. Soon enough they would start filling up and as she went towards her dressing space the bartender came in and she filled him in on what all had gone on. He shook his head at her over the pitcher but understood.

Her ears well tuned she heard the shuffling of feet and murmur of voices as the place started to fill. she made sure all the curtains were tight so that her last practising dancer could get her warm-up in behind them. Then to her space taking a deep breath. Freshening up and then putting on her thigh highs and the roaring 20's inspired fringe and swavaraski bra and bottoms. Covering it with a marabu wrap and the matching headpiece to her outfit.

Heels strapped on and then makeup light but accenting her cat-shaped eyes and full lips. She got her notice to get to her place and shook out her jitters. Taking the bejewelled feather fan it's gorgeous white shade was stunning against her skin tone. Climbing into the hoop and having it lift her off the floor out of sight.

As her MC welcomed the audience and asked them to sit and be respectful. The hush went over the crowd and the curtains opened. Her hoop came down part way and her perched sexy pose looked comfortable but death-defying. Her smokey well-trained tone rang out "What good is sitting, alone in your room? come hear the music play! Life is a cabaret, old chum! Come to the cabaret! Put down the knitting, the book and the broom It's time for a holiday
Life is a cabaret, old chum! Come to the cabaret! Come taste the wine Come hear the band Come blow your horn Start celebrating Right this way your table´s waiting."

Moving through her spinning of the hoop and changing the pose with the music, till she landed and winked at the crowd.

[William James Christopher]

Bill took Nomi’s willingness to leave for what it was. She’d felt her Bosses raised aura checked to insure it was nothing worth noting and no longer curious left. The drink smelled of potency even to his vampiric nose. And so he was a half a step ahead of the curve but went along anyway.

Melli regaled him with the origination of the bottle and its contents. He’d suspected as much he’d heard of the NOLA kiss having a hand in producing a drink potent enough to suckerpunch a lycanthrope and for those that could consume things aside from blood amongst the kisses of the world sufficient enough to have even them laid low with enough ingested.

Draining his glass he set it aside waiting on her to do the same. She however attempted sipping and supposedly savoring. He was having none of that folderol. If they were going to dance then they’d dance to the devils tune together. It took some manipulating and playing the fool but he managed to get her to agree to the terms with a little editing of her own. Drink for drink. Whatever happened between them stayed here in this office. Each drink finished demanded an answer to a question. The slowest to finish would remove an article of clothing. When all articles of clothing were removed the matter was settled and they’d part ways.

Fair enough save he didn’t let on that he was even more proof against toxins of all sorts. His former master had insisted in testing various poison on his childer. Bill survived where many others didn’t. The supposition being that the many infections he’d survived during his living days had made him hardier than his thin frame should dictate. It wasn’t public knowledge as save certain elusive substances no toxin had a major effect on vampires.

All the same well into the opening of the stage show Bill sauntered out of the office closing the door behind him slipping back on his shirt and jacket. A bit of a stagger to his step not that any save the most wary would notice. He slipped out amongst the crowd finding a table and righting himself as he ordered as directed before Melli decided she needed to be alone to think the special reserve. It was a coded message for one of the decanted freshly retrieved servings of vitae. Correcting the order to two he quaffed the first and sipped he second as Nomi wnet through her routine that had the entire of the club transfixed. All eyes were lasered in on her. The background dancers not even as much as an afterthought. She was the heat that kept many imaginations and fantasies fired up. He relaxed into the seat watching as everyone else did. His nose alighting with the scent of magic and lion his eyes immediately scanning the crowd as the local would be Rex was a target to be removed as he was intransigent to change and had begun campaigning against the idea of an unrotating leadership. The would be rex saw the notion as a declaration of war and a curtailing of his businesses.

[Naomi Hilton]

Nomi used the fan to cover most of her self as she shed the wrap using the spin of the hoop to fling it to the stage manager and teasing at the now exposed save for very strategic places body. singing over her back up off to dress for their own acts as she went through the rest of her routine. At one point in her wiggle and tease the top unclasped in a flourish and shown off. The large plumes the only thing blocking her bare peeks from view.

Fanwork teased and flashed brief microseconds of all of her but she never let it all hang out and eventually twirled off stage to replace the top. Stepping back out to bow coquettishly" Bienvenu and good evening I wish to welcome all you gorgeous babes to the Moonlight Merlot and its weekly cabaret show. On the other nights we have singers and dancers depending on the theme for the evening but once a week we go all out for your pleasure"

That last said with an obvious sexual purr causing some chuckling in the crowd. " We have all manner of talented individuals for you this evening from our lovely human pole personas to our very own sexy wolfman. you come because you know we are about class and a good time we hope you stay because you fall maybe just a little in love... I am Naomi and I thank you.. please tip your tender and waitstaff well. On to the next bit of fun this evening"

Bowing she handed over the mic to the Mc to introduce Rachel and she went to snag her wrapper. There were 8 acts before her own second appearance for the evening than the one before the show close making it 10 total and at 3-5 minutes each they were done in just under an hour normally which left the resat of the night at the club for socializing among the crowd and drinking or ..other activities. As she headed out to the floor still in her costume but covered to make her rounds people called to her and touched her hands or hips one old man patted her bottom. She just smiled at him and slid away, spotting bill she grinned and got close enough to him to speak" Well Im the cat but you look like you had the cream"

Having sniffed him a bit and wanting to scent mark him so bad as she loved the way Mellie made people smell to her like nip or candy.

[William James Christopher]

He’d seen better temptation dances. He couldn’t for the life of him remember when however. And as such while still as nearly mesmerized by Nomi’s routine his senses stretched out floating through the building seeking out the spark of leonine energy that had his antenna attenuated. He now knew the source was not the local Rex in fact not one of the local lions at all.

Brought more firmly back to himself as Nomi’s routine ended. She disappeared form the stage to a round of applause and adulation that stated not only a job well done but that she had in fact managed to connect with the audience in a way the other performers had not. As she appeared once more working and winding her way through the tables and booths greeting, glad handing, and otherwise continuing to entertain it was clear Melli had in fact chosen very well in the young jaguar.

Standing as worked her way near his table. Slightly bowing with an incline of his head he said, “That I have darlin and it was well worth the effort. Even managed to gain another of your performances. Can’t say I’ve seen better unless you’d like me to lie to you…"

[Naomi Hilton]

Her grin was wide and warm" No need for falseness, I appreciate the praise and am glad you liked it"

Sticking close near him she purred" I try not to be to forward but you smell.... delicious at the moment"

Hands sliding past his chest" I have made some friends and need to go check on them but I hope you are staying for a bit."

As per her usual need to be chased she didn't stay to let him fully answer and instead was already toward Sev and Ricky in two and a half wiggles of her hip. He was, of course, free to fallow it was a free country mind you. Coming to their table and she sat grinning " So havin a good time sexy's?"

[Yates]

As they watched the show, nibbled the appetizers Ricky ordered, and conversed Sev did his best to keep his shields in place. It worked to a point. There was a rush of energy that didn’t actually touch him but in its wake there was unsettled space. Even in passing it was clear the owner had all intentions of harm but it was a seeking energy all the same. Searching for its prey yet willing to settle. It reminded him so very much of a colder more masculine form of Nomi’s.

No sooner had he thought of her than the lady of the hour arrived at their table. She was hosting her heart out. She literally flitted through the room staying just long enough to keep their attention. SH slowed long enough to speak with them. "I hate we haven’t come down more often. You run a great show…"

["Ricky" Merchant]

Ricky had fallen into the easy brutally direct conversation patterns they had with each other. They enjoyed each other’s company but more than the great physical relations and all that came with it they were friends. So they were often far more fraternal than most couples had a right to be. So easy-going were they that she’d without meaning to had been acting as a buffer between Sev and the swirling auras and power in the building. It was a self-preservational habit that he’d been included in even prior to his infection... She paused doing so as Nomi approached. She’d suddenly gotten a bit of danger from the woman who’d beguiled the audience and was still radiating a palpable heat.

Her smile unbroken Ricky started to agree with Sev as one of the tallest most rangy cat like vampires she’d seen in quite sometime appeared at Nomi’s elbow. Not quite struck to silence she immediately closed her shields with a big bag of nopage. She at the same time rested her hand on Sev’s bicep pushing calm at him as if their lives depended on him being his smiling easy going self and not the badass she knew he was elsewhere. " Nomi you know you got it in a bag and you bring party favors with you…" She said motioning with her head towards her pale shadow. “Whats not to love…”

[William James Christopher]

Bill smirked in response. Even with his aura tamped down to a manageable light burn along the skin their potential connection was obvious. She was his flavor of fur. He’d thought as much and had planned on exploring but the combination his and Melli’s energies pushed that potential connection closer to the fore. "Hadn’t planned on it. Not my thing even when a little subterfuge would go further…"

Resting a light hand against her forearm he leaned in saying, “I completely understand as you smell good enough to devour…" As she established her space eh leaned just away keeping her hand against his chest. He winked at her meeting her eyes allowing a bit of the connective metaphysics lingering in the air between to coalesce a little more clearly. Smirking all too feline like he said, “let us meet these friends of yours. I am sure they are as enlivening as you are.”

Allowing her to dance away gossamer like and phantasmal in her grace he followed quickly on. A shadow to the ghostly strength and grace she plied as an armor and magnet to the crowd around her. Arriving at the table she marked as her fiends he was pleasantly surprised to see nearly rex level lion of sorts and a mage, witch of sorts. Smirk dipping into a full blown smile he inclined his hat by way of polite bow and said, “While normally I am more of a people watcher I would be honored to spend time in your actual company as Nomi here rates you all high enough to be considered friends.”

Raising his gaze he met the space just below their eyes stating as he took in the deep brown of their eyes, “Friends call me, Bill or Pleasure.” He joked offering his hand.

[Naomi Hilton]

Hs flirtation back had her both intrigued and wanting to not make her second show but that was for later. For now, she just smirked as he followed behind. Hearing Sev and then Ricky she grinned and then like a cat seeing a cardinal through the window she caught on to something. Oh they were uneasy glancing at Bill she looked him over, not seeing the reason to be uneasy but perhaps they saw him differently than she did. When he made his joke she chuckled softly as she had started that joke.

Yes, she was wanting to make friends with these two for both personal and curiosity reasons. Besides knowing a local strong lion and a witch could come in handy. Settling on Sevs side of the table to put Bill next to either her or Ricky. " See there all cosy like"

Licking her top lip as she watched them with earnest fascination. " ya'll ben any of the other clubs or casinos in here? they got alot of them but I still think we the best obviously"

[Yates]

Sev smiled despite himself and shook the vampires hand. It was a bit of nothing and yet everything in that moment both men doing their abject best to not squeeze either physically or metaphysically. It was such a thing that most lycanthropes avoided touch partially as each meeting was a metaphysical tig of war to see who was stronger. Not as much with vampires directly but it happened when the strongest met. It spawned a sort of natural flex and an unnatural one in it being a mark of true strength in not tossing ones weight around accidentally.

The men being of a height made it an interesting thing as they bookended not only each other but the ladies at the table as well. Light and dark. It was interesting in the look of things as well as how laid back Bill was but being this close it was apparent that Bill or Pleasure as he introduced himself was in fact William J Christopher the present Master of the Union. Not only Master of the epoch but also of the city itself. Having the run down on the state of things from Samuel and Monica he knew how dangerous a Master of the city could be as well as how dangerous one would have to be to even consider taking on the other masters of the area to declare himself the permanent master. A smirk even as he felt Ricky at his elbow a soft squeeze of warning at his bicep all the while reaching out to touch danger.

Bill moving to Ricky’s side of the table didn’t trigger him as close as he was there would be nothing to do save mourn and use the energy to find the upper hand. It also made good sense as it seemed there were fireworks between all of them and Nomi. She was definitely a feast for the eyes. And they all seemed bit peckish. “Cozy for sure. What would you suggest we drink too?” The timing was impeccable as the waiter brought what was clearly Nomi’s ritual mid show cocktail. As no one had ordered and yet here it was.

["Ricky" Merchant]

Ricky was pleasantly surprised to not have to witness the usual shows of dominance between the two clearly powerful men. She knew witches often did a similar ritual where the one who got away with slipping inside the others shields was viewed as the stronger. Though the truth it was more about speed and slight of hand more times than not. She refused to play those games and generally kept her shields high and tight. Even as they were on their better behavior she could tell Sev’s mind was working a mind a minute. Even with the change he’d clearly gone through some things hadn’t changed. His brown eyes were not actually brown unless he was at complete peace. When in thought or stressed the usually hidden blue in his eyes shown through clearer and clearer the more he was from his center.

She found the proximity of the vampire something intriguing. He was all cool and placid but not cold. More of a summer breeze not an artic tundra. She knew that meant he’d fed recently but she couldn’t feel any life loss about him or the scent of blood. That was even more interesting to her. “If it was my toast I think we should drink to Nomi or is it drink Nomi either one would definitely work. I think…”

[William James Christopher]

Bill smiled as he was sized up by both the witch and the lion. It was a mental joke he ran through ‘The Lion, The Witch and Nomi’s Wardrobe’ The thought was so amusing that he nearly missed the denouement of act on stage. Not nearly as impressive but he didn’t lean towards androgynous men, talented or not. Smiling as he shook hands and settled next to the witch he raised his glass at the suggestion.

“I’ll drink to that she does seem delicious…”