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"Here There Be Vampires" A Promise City, Arizona Story Hour
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<blockquote data-quote="orchid blossom" data-source="post: 2566779" data-attributes="member: 12815"><p><strong>Pulling the Strings</strong></p><p></p><p>Jake is downstairs chatting with customers when Ruby comes down. Dressed perfectly and brandishing a smile, she quickly drew the rooms attention. She seemed a bit nervous to Jake, but he attributed that to this being her first performance since the weekends events. He waves and waits until the she is not thronged with friends and admirers before approaching her.</p><p></p><p>"Hi Baby," Ruby says before kissing Jake's cheek. "It's busy in here tonight, we're going to do well." Not wanting to start a discussion unless Jake was going to force it Ruby keeps it brief. "Don't forget to get all the money at the poker table tonight! We have lots of building to do and I have expensive taste," Ruby chirps. "I should start singing early since we're so busy." She looks to the stage and to Kate, scans the crowd again then back to Jake. "Good luck tonight."</p><p></p><p>"Thanks. I'll do fine. Go ahead and sing, you always feel better when you are singing." Jake grins, "So do I." </p><p></p><p>After Ruby goes off, Jake goes about talking the poker players as they arrive. He continues to watch Ruby out of the corner of his eye.</p><p></p><p>A pair of eyes observed the common room of the Lucky Lady Saloon. <em>Not yet, the time is not right. Perhaps I shall wait for the sound of her voice, for at that moment everyone will be enraptured by the beauty of it and will not focus on me. I know my minion did her task well, of that I am confident. I chose my servant well. I can't stay here much longer but I will not leave without my prize...</em> </p><p></p><p>Ruby finds Kate places her hand on her friends arm, "Are you ready to play Kate? If you're not feeling up to it we can ask Harry. I doubt tonight's crowd will care..."</p><p></p><p>"I can play, why wouldn't I feel up to it? I certainly enjoy it more than serving drinks." She walked with Ruby over to the stage and sat down at the piano. "I'm ready whenever you are."</p><p></p><p>"Oh, you just seem a little... off tonight. I was just checking, I'd rather have you play anyway." She squeezes Kate's arm before heading up to the stage to begin her first set. She decides to begin the show with a haunting love ballad which she sings with passion and grace. </p><p></p><p><em>Come Live With Me </em></p><p><em></em></p><p><em>Come live with me and be my love, </em></p><p><em>And we will all the pleasures prove </em></p><p><em>That hill and valley, dale and field, </em></p><p><em>And all the craggy mountains yield. </em></p><p><em></em></p><p><em>There we will sit upon the rocks, </em></p><p><em>And see the shepherds feed their flocks, </em></p><p><em>By shallow rivers to whose falls </em></p><p><em>Melodious birds sing madrigals. </em></p><p><em></em></p><p><em>There I will make thee beds of roses </em></p><p><em>And a thousand fragrant posies, </em></p><p><em>A cap of flowers, and a kirtle </em></p><p><em>Embroidered all with leaves of myrtle; </em></p><p><em></em></p><p><em>A gown made of the finest wool </em></p><p><em>Which from our pretty lambs we pull; </em></p><p><em>Fair lined slippers for the cold, </em></p><p><em>With buckles of the purest gold; </em></p><p><em></em></p><p><em>A belt of straw and ivy buds, </em></p><p><em>With coral clasps and amber studs: </em></p><p><em>And if these pleasures may thee move, </em></p><p><em>Come live with me and be my love. </em></p><p><em></em></p><p><em>Thy silver dishes for thy meat, </em></p><p><em>As precious as the gods do eat, </em></p><p><em>Shall on an ivory table be </em></p><p><em>Prepared each day for thee and me. </em></p><p><em></em></p><p><em>The shepherds' swains shall dance and sing </em></p><p><em>For thy delight each May morning: </em></p><p><em>If these delights thy mind may move, </em></p><p><em>Then live with me and be my love. </em></p><p><em></em></p><p><em>If that the world and love were young </em></p><p><em>And truth in every shepherd's tongue, </em></p><p><em>These pretty pleasures might be move </em></p><p><em>To live with thee and be thy love.</em></p><p></p><p></p><p>As the words of the song float through the air they reach the ears of the man who was observing earlier. That was the sound that he was waiting for, the voice of an an angel. He can no longer resist the tempation. </p><p></p><p>Colin Turner, dressed in tailored dark grey wool pants, a matching waistcoat complete with gold pocketwatch and chain, a snow white button down shirt, shoes shined to a high polish, and carrying a jacket of some sort folded over his arm; enters the Lucky Lady. He moves quickly over to the bar, avoiding eye contact with everyone. He sits down laying the jacket on his lap and orders a red wine. </p><p></p><p>"The best red wine you have please, I'll take the bottle." He lays a $20 bill on the bar.</p><p></p><p>Even though his piano playing is chaotic and undisciplined compared to Katherines, Jake's ear is still that of a piano player and he clearly hears the two notes that are incorrect in Katherine's piece. In a saloon that would seem normal, but not for someone of her ability and determined practice. Jake looks over, but sees nothing amiss with Katherine Kale. <em>’Still, that was odd,’</em> he thinks.</p><p></p><p>Turner accepts the bottle and waits for it to be opened and the first glass to be poured. While waiting he turns towards the stage and focuses his attention first on Kate. He watches her fingers as they float above the piano keys. Once the wine is poured he samples it by taking a small sip. He smiles slightly and takes a full swallow before returning the glass to the polished bar. He turns back to the stage but this time focuses on Ruby West. He locks his eyes on her waiting for any sign of acknowledgement.</p><p></p><p>As Ruby continues to sing she senses those eyes watching her, boring into her, searching her out. She looks to Kate, who seems to be playing less than perfectly. She glances at Jake, seemingly engrossed in his card game. Both couples of Minerva and Nanuet and Chester and Clarisse were wrapped up in each other. </p><p></p><p>Ruby gathers all her courage and lifts her eyes to the spot she just knows he is waiting. She tries to keep her own wits about her as she locks eyes with him. She smiles confidently, hiding the fact that she is nervous, and keeps her gaze on Colin Turner.</p><p></p><p>Colin smiles as Ruby's gaze meets his own. He waits until the song is wrapping up and then he stands, never losing eye contact with the object of his desires. As Ruby finshes the song she feels a strange compulsion come over her. <em>'This is how Jake must have felt when he said he couldn't move,'</em> she thinks. She finds herself walking towards Mr. Turner, unable to change her direction or stop. His smile widens as he holds out his arm and Ruby loops her own in his. Together Ruby West and Colin Turner take a step towards the door.</p><p></p><p>Ruby smiles up at Colin like he is the only person in the world. Calm and confident no one would suspect that anything was wrong. </p><p></p><p>Inside her another story is being told. Ruby is screaming for help, trying to will her limbs to stop walking towards the handsome man. She calls out to Jake, hoping he can hear her but her lips don't move. She tries to catch the attention of her friends, the ones so wrapped up in each other, but they don't see her. Her vision stays fixed on one man. </p><p></p><p>To the patrons of the Lucky Lady, singer Ruby West is just taking a regularly scheduled break. But to Ruby, she was turning her back on the life she loved and walking towards a new one; one not of her choosing.</p></blockquote><p></p>
[QUOTE="orchid blossom, post: 2566779, member: 12815"] [b]Pulling the Strings[/b] Jake is downstairs chatting with customers when Ruby comes down. Dressed perfectly and brandishing a smile, she quickly drew the rooms attention. She seemed a bit nervous to Jake, but he attributed that to this being her first performance since the weekends events. He waves and waits until the she is not thronged with friends and admirers before approaching her. "Hi Baby," Ruby says before kissing Jake's cheek. "It's busy in here tonight, we're going to do well." Not wanting to start a discussion unless Jake was going to force it Ruby keeps it brief. "Don't forget to get all the money at the poker table tonight! We have lots of building to do and I have expensive taste," Ruby chirps. "I should start singing early since we're so busy." She looks to the stage and to Kate, scans the crowd again then back to Jake. "Good luck tonight." "Thanks. I'll do fine. Go ahead and sing, you always feel better when you are singing." Jake grins, "So do I." After Ruby goes off, Jake goes about talking the poker players as they arrive. He continues to watch Ruby out of the corner of his eye. A pair of eyes observed the common room of the Lucky Lady Saloon. [I]Not yet, the time is not right. Perhaps I shall wait for the sound of her voice, for at that moment everyone will be enraptured by the beauty of it and will not focus on me. I know my minion did her task well, of that I am confident. I chose my servant well. I can't stay here much longer but I will not leave without my prize...[/I] Ruby finds Kate places her hand on her friends arm, "Are you ready to play Kate? If you're not feeling up to it we can ask Harry. I doubt tonight's crowd will care..." "I can play, why wouldn't I feel up to it? I certainly enjoy it more than serving drinks." She walked with Ruby over to the stage and sat down at the piano. "I'm ready whenever you are." "Oh, you just seem a little... off tonight. I was just checking, I'd rather have you play anyway." She squeezes Kate's arm before heading up to the stage to begin her first set. She decides to begin the show with a haunting love ballad which she sings with passion and grace. [I]Come Live With Me Come live with me and be my love, And we will all the pleasures prove That hill and valley, dale and field, And all the craggy mountains yield. There we will sit upon the rocks, And see the shepherds feed their flocks, By shallow rivers to whose falls Melodious birds sing madrigals. There I will make thee beds of roses And a thousand fragrant posies, A cap of flowers, and a kirtle Embroidered all with leaves of myrtle; A gown made of the finest wool Which from our pretty lambs we pull; Fair lined slippers for the cold, With buckles of the purest gold; A belt of straw and ivy buds, With coral clasps and amber studs: And if these pleasures may thee move, Come live with me and be my love. Thy silver dishes for thy meat, As precious as the gods do eat, Shall on an ivory table be Prepared each day for thee and me. The shepherds' swains shall dance and sing For thy delight each May morning: If these delights thy mind may move, Then live with me and be my love. If that the world and love were young And truth in every shepherd's tongue, These pretty pleasures might be move To live with thee and be thy love.[/I] As the words of the song float through the air they reach the ears of the man who was observing earlier. That was the sound that he was waiting for, the voice of an an angel. He can no longer resist the tempation. Colin Turner, dressed in tailored dark grey wool pants, a matching waistcoat complete with gold pocketwatch and chain, a snow white button down shirt, shoes shined to a high polish, and carrying a jacket of some sort folded over his arm; enters the Lucky Lady. He moves quickly over to the bar, avoiding eye contact with everyone. He sits down laying the jacket on his lap and orders a red wine. "The best red wine you have please, I'll take the bottle." He lays a $20 bill on the bar. Even though his piano playing is chaotic and undisciplined compared to Katherines, Jake's ear is still that of a piano player and he clearly hears the two notes that are incorrect in Katherine's piece. In a saloon that would seem normal, but not for someone of her ability and determined practice. Jake looks over, but sees nothing amiss with Katherine Kale. [I]’Still, that was odd,’[/I] he thinks. Turner accepts the bottle and waits for it to be opened and the first glass to be poured. While waiting he turns towards the stage and focuses his attention first on Kate. He watches her fingers as they float above the piano keys. Once the wine is poured he samples it by taking a small sip. He smiles slightly and takes a full swallow before returning the glass to the polished bar. He turns back to the stage but this time focuses on Ruby West. He locks his eyes on her waiting for any sign of acknowledgement. As Ruby continues to sing she senses those eyes watching her, boring into her, searching her out. She looks to Kate, who seems to be playing less than perfectly. She glances at Jake, seemingly engrossed in his card game. Both couples of Minerva and Nanuet and Chester and Clarisse were wrapped up in each other. Ruby gathers all her courage and lifts her eyes to the spot she just knows he is waiting. She tries to keep her own wits about her as she locks eyes with him. She smiles confidently, hiding the fact that she is nervous, and keeps her gaze on Colin Turner. Colin smiles as Ruby's gaze meets his own. He waits until the song is wrapping up and then he stands, never losing eye contact with the object of his desires. As Ruby finshes the song she feels a strange compulsion come over her. [i]'This is how Jake must have felt when he said he couldn't move,'[/i] she thinks. She finds herself walking towards Mr. Turner, unable to change her direction or stop. His smile widens as he holds out his arm and Ruby loops her own in his. Together Ruby West and Colin Turner take a step towards the door. Ruby smiles up at Colin like he is the only person in the world. Calm and confident no one would suspect that anything was wrong. Inside her another story is being told. Ruby is screaming for help, trying to will her limbs to stop walking towards the handsome man. She calls out to Jake, hoping he can hear her but her lips don't move. She tries to catch the attention of her friends, the ones so wrapped up in each other, but they don't see her. Her vision stays fixed on one man. To the patrons of the Lucky Lady, singer Ruby West is just taking a regularly scheduled break. But to Ruby, she was turning her back on the life she loved and walking towards a new one; one not of her choosing. [/QUOTE]
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