Exclusivity version 2.0 Chapter 2 (PG-13)
Posted: Wed Nov 18, 2009 4:27 pm
Disclaimer: The characters from Moonlight are copyrighted by CBS, and no infringement is intended. The characters from the WFS do not bear any resemblance to their online counterparts.
A/N: This work follows the events of "Within the Empty Reaches of the Night," and you might want to read that one first, if you haven't. If you’ve read this elsewhere, this is Version 2.0. The story originally reference events taking place in an RP long ago and far away, on another site. I’ve tried to rewrite to make it more my own. I hope you enjoy it…this is the last of my old stories to be reposted here. It originally appeared on MLL back in December 2007/January 2008.
Exclusivity
Chapter 2
Lucky hesitated at the door, hanging back while Felicity punched in the door code. She wasn’t sure she was ready to come back to Belinda’s place, but her friends had insisted.
“Look, just show up, drink a cup of coffee. It’s not healthy to hide in your apartment. And everyone’s been asking after you. Even the doctor said you ought to get out a little,” Felicity was relentless, and Lucky found herself wondering again about the doctor who took care of the freshies. What he’d told her was that if young people would insist on living as freshies, they needed to look out for themselves well. Of course, it seemed pretty clear that he was paid an enormous retainer to see that the freshies in this particular circle were healthy.
“Do you think—the boys—“ She didn’t even really know what she was trying to ask, whether she wanted to see them, or wanted not to. She especially wasn’t sure about seeing Mick. She hadn’t talked to him, not since that first visit, when she’d had to endure the humiliation of having the vamps inspect the wound she’d received at the fangs of her assailant. At least they hadn’t suggested trying to heal the wound; she could not have stood that, the thought of a fanged mouth there. She couldn’t have endured it. Josef, as always, Josef was a slightly different matter. He’d been by to see her three times in the past week, and put aside his usual snarky sarcasm for surprisingly civil and thoughtful conversation. Lucky loved listening to him; when he got out from behind the wall of attitude he’d built, he was fascinating. Wise, well-read, and articulate. She thought he was even a little taken unawares himself, to enjoy spending such—normal—face time with a freshie. She’d never known he could be like that, and she suspected even he hadn’t realized it.
She hadn’t mentioned any of that to any of the other freshies. It was hard to imagine the reactions of any of them if she told them that through this ordeal Josef had been her rock, had been the star that was lighting her way back from darkness. She actually wondered if he knew it himself.
It was time, though. Lucky took a deep breath and walked in. Five or six voices greeted her immediately, and she found herself on the receiving end of a hug from Cinda that nearly knocked her over. After that, someone put a cup of coffee in her hand, and she found herself in her familiar seat by the bookcase. And the slight awkwardness passed, as the bright flow of the usual chatter resumed. Lucky felt no great need to join in the talk, but nonetheless she felt included, felt safe and at peace again. She was among friends. More than she’d have thought possible, she felt like she’d come home.
&&&&&&
About a week later, she’d never have thought about doubting the wisdom of spending time at the Belinda’s place. She hadn’t seen much of either of the vamps around, although Josef had stayed in close touch with her outside of the salon, and via cell phone. If she didn’t know better, she’d think he was getting fond of her, that he was starting to expect to talk to her frequently. Nonsense, of course, she knew that. Even if he hadn’t been a vampire, he was important, powerful, way out of her league. And when you added in the other part…she knew he just felt guilty about the attack. He was being inexplicably nice to her, but it didn’t mean anything. And it wasn’t long before she thought she saw the proof of that.
One evening at Belinda’s place, the night’s complement of girls had just finished watching a movie when the door’s electronic lock beeped, and Josef came strolling in with a stunningly beautiful blonde on his arm.
“Evening, ladies,” he smirked, “Papa Bear’s here.”
Lucky and Ivoire exchanged a look. They’d never seen this girl before. She was expensively dressed, perfectly coiffed and made up, and dripping expensive jewelry. She had a vaguely dissatisfied look on her face, as though she were less than happy to be there.
“I thought we were going back to your house, Josef,” she said with a charming little pout.
Josef unbuttoned his suit coat and seated himself on the couch, and the newcomer sat next to him, but not snuggled in the way most freshies would. Josef caught Lucky’s eye—Ivoire was studiously looking the other direction. “Lucky, would you mind scaring up a couple of drinks? Scotch for me—Julian, what are you drinking tonight?”
Julian smiled at Josef. They would find quickly that she saved most of her smiles for Josef, and all of whatever limited charm she possessed. “Bourbon, neat,” she said. “Josef, you were right, Belinda really has a fantastic decorator.”
“Yeah, well, with this crew she redecorates about once a week.”
Lucky brought over the drinks. “Good to see you, Josef. Julian, it’s nice to meet you. I’m Lucky.”
“Thanks, doll,” Josef replied, but his eyes were busy devouring his new find. Julian chose not to respond to Lucky, and if Josef noticed, he didn’t comment.
Over the next week or so they saw little of Josef, and less of Julian. Gradually, they learned she was indeed exclusive to Josef, and that they one and all despised her. Josef did encourage her to hang out Belinda’s salon from time to time, but every time she set foot there without him, it was clear that she came reluctantly, feeling it beneath her interest to talk with lowly non-exclusives. Even with Ivoire and Felicity, who were almost at exclusive status with Josef, she seemed standoffish. And she certainly never pitched in to wash a coffee cup, or brought treats. She’d come in, exchange a few words with Belinda, usually, drink a cup of coffee, and decide it was time for her manicure, or that she needed to go shopping for a new outfit to wear to whatever expensive restaurant Josef was taking her to that evening. Usually, she managed to announce that Josef had given her a credit card, and carte blanche to spend whatever she wanted. “Because I understand he likes to be seen with a truly stylish woman on his arm.”
Lucky agreed with Felicity and Ivoire that Julian was bad news, and that Josef needed to open his eyes. Even Belinda thought she was not a good addition to the regular crew. “You girls have always been friends here. Like sisters,” she said one afternoon when Julian had swept out with another flash of Josef’s credit card. “but that one—she’s trouble.”
A/N: This work follows the events of "Within the Empty Reaches of the Night," and you might want to read that one first, if you haven't. If you’ve read this elsewhere, this is Version 2.0. The story originally reference events taking place in an RP long ago and far away, on another site. I’ve tried to rewrite to make it more my own. I hope you enjoy it…this is the last of my old stories to be reposted here. It originally appeared on MLL back in December 2007/January 2008.
Exclusivity
Chapter 2
Lucky hesitated at the door, hanging back while Felicity punched in the door code. She wasn’t sure she was ready to come back to Belinda’s place, but her friends had insisted.
“Look, just show up, drink a cup of coffee. It’s not healthy to hide in your apartment. And everyone’s been asking after you. Even the doctor said you ought to get out a little,” Felicity was relentless, and Lucky found herself wondering again about the doctor who took care of the freshies. What he’d told her was that if young people would insist on living as freshies, they needed to look out for themselves well. Of course, it seemed pretty clear that he was paid an enormous retainer to see that the freshies in this particular circle were healthy.
“Do you think—the boys—“ She didn’t even really know what she was trying to ask, whether she wanted to see them, or wanted not to. She especially wasn’t sure about seeing Mick. She hadn’t talked to him, not since that first visit, when she’d had to endure the humiliation of having the vamps inspect the wound she’d received at the fangs of her assailant. At least they hadn’t suggested trying to heal the wound; she could not have stood that, the thought of a fanged mouth there. She couldn’t have endured it. Josef, as always, Josef was a slightly different matter. He’d been by to see her three times in the past week, and put aside his usual snarky sarcasm for surprisingly civil and thoughtful conversation. Lucky loved listening to him; when he got out from behind the wall of attitude he’d built, he was fascinating. Wise, well-read, and articulate. She thought he was even a little taken unawares himself, to enjoy spending such—normal—face time with a freshie. She’d never known he could be like that, and she suspected even he hadn’t realized it.
She hadn’t mentioned any of that to any of the other freshies. It was hard to imagine the reactions of any of them if she told them that through this ordeal Josef had been her rock, had been the star that was lighting her way back from darkness. She actually wondered if he knew it himself.
It was time, though. Lucky took a deep breath and walked in. Five or six voices greeted her immediately, and she found herself on the receiving end of a hug from Cinda that nearly knocked her over. After that, someone put a cup of coffee in her hand, and she found herself in her familiar seat by the bookcase. And the slight awkwardness passed, as the bright flow of the usual chatter resumed. Lucky felt no great need to join in the talk, but nonetheless she felt included, felt safe and at peace again. She was among friends. More than she’d have thought possible, she felt like she’d come home.
&&&&&&
About a week later, she’d never have thought about doubting the wisdom of spending time at the Belinda’s place. She hadn’t seen much of either of the vamps around, although Josef had stayed in close touch with her outside of the salon, and via cell phone. If she didn’t know better, she’d think he was getting fond of her, that he was starting to expect to talk to her frequently. Nonsense, of course, she knew that. Even if he hadn’t been a vampire, he was important, powerful, way out of her league. And when you added in the other part…she knew he just felt guilty about the attack. He was being inexplicably nice to her, but it didn’t mean anything. And it wasn’t long before she thought she saw the proof of that.
One evening at Belinda’s place, the night’s complement of girls had just finished watching a movie when the door’s electronic lock beeped, and Josef came strolling in with a stunningly beautiful blonde on his arm.
“Evening, ladies,” he smirked, “Papa Bear’s here.”
Lucky and Ivoire exchanged a look. They’d never seen this girl before. She was expensively dressed, perfectly coiffed and made up, and dripping expensive jewelry. She had a vaguely dissatisfied look on her face, as though she were less than happy to be there.
“I thought we were going back to your house, Josef,” she said with a charming little pout.
Josef unbuttoned his suit coat and seated himself on the couch, and the newcomer sat next to him, but not snuggled in the way most freshies would. Josef caught Lucky’s eye—Ivoire was studiously looking the other direction. “Lucky, would you mind scaring up a couple of drinks? Scotch for me—Julian, what are you drinking tonight?”
Julian smiled at Josef. They would find quickly that she saved most of her smiles for Josef, and all of whatever limited charm she possessed. “Bourbon, neat,” she said. “Josef, you were right, Belinda really has a fantastic decorator.”
“Yeah, well, with this crew she redecorates about once a week.”
Lucky brought over the drinks. “Good to see you, Josef. Julian, it’s nice to meet you. I’m Lucky.”
“Thanks, doll,” Josef replied, but his eyes were busy devouring his new find. Julian chose not to respond to Lucky, and if Josef noticed, he didn’t comment.
Over the next week or so they saw little of Josef, and less of Julian. Gradually, they learned she was indeed exclusive to Josef, and that they one and all despised her. Josef did encourage her to hang out Belinda’s salon from time to time, but every time she set foot there without him, it was clear that she came reluctantly, feeling it beneath her interest to talk with lowly non-exclusives. Even with Ivoire and Felicity, who were almost at exclusive status with Josef, she seemed standoffish. And she certainly never pitched in to wash a coffee cup, or brought treats. She’d come in, exchange a few words with Belinda, usually, drink a cup of coffee, and decide it was time for her manicure, or that she needed to go shopping for a new outfit to wear to whatever expensive restaurant Josef was taking her to that evening. Usually, she managed to announce that Josef had given her a credit card, and carte blanche to spend whatever she wanted. “Because I understand he likes to be seen with a truly stylish woman on his arm.”
Lucky agreed with Felicity and Ivoire that Julian was bad news, and that Josef needed to open his eyes. Even Belinda thought she was not a good addition to the regular crew. “You girls have always been friends here. Like sisters,” she said one afternoon when Julian had swept out with another flash of Josef’s credit card. “but that one—she’s trouble.”
He needs a wake-up call!! 
I love this story and can't wait to see what kind of trouble Julian will cook up... 
