Club Paradise Lost
Downtown/Hampton Green
Hampton Green SW HL
The place was Club Paradise Lost, favorite hang out spot of many of the privileged, young and influential blue pills of Mega City's upper crust. It is housed on the 31st floor of the monolithic twin towers in the affluent Hampton Green district in downtown. Being located so high above the hustle and grind of life on the streets below, Club Paradise Lost offers its patrons the chance to escape to a decadent world that exists above the troubles of their daily "reality". Though it is one of the more classy hot spots to go clubbing for those with deep pockets, high social standing, or positions of power, the same vices can be found here as can be found at the grimiest of underground clubs in the worst areas of the city. The only difference here, is that these vices remain hidden.... in most cases. A majority of the patrons come here simply to have a good time and Club Paradise Lost does not disappoint in that department.
This club is one of the clubs, which I and many of the Carpe Diem crew frequent for three reasons: to chill out, to develop contacts, and to monitor blue pills known to be working for other organizations. Tonight was one of those semi-working nights.
GrimKitten, Sared and Myself were lounging at the bar after getting our drinks, scanning the sea of faces in the crowded club for the usual suspects and potential red pills or contacts. Kayda and Midnight were mingling elsewhere, most likely doing the same...or worse. The DJ had the heavy techno/electronic heartbeat of the club throbbing as usual and I could tell Grim was just itching to get to the main dance floor. Then again, Capt. Grimkitten was always an explosion of energy just waiting to happen.
Tonight, she was sporting an especially hot variation of the Angels' dress attire: short, white nubuck skirt with a split that...well provoked thoughts about our Captain that were not exactly appropriate, a matching cut off top and knee high white boots, all topped off with a white fedora worn at just the right angle as to give a subtle hint of the attitude that was bottled up inside the pint-sized powerhouse. Her white crocodile trench had been left at the coat check. Sared was sporting sharp, deep indigo suit, with a long suit coat, black shirt and black tie. Me? I was rocking a pair of black dress pants, a gold pizzazz shirt that I borrowed from Vinzeru until I could get my own made for me, and a black leather jacket.
Sared must have noticed me watching a certain dark haired vixen that was sitting at a table not far away and had caught my attention. Much of her jade colored outfit was sheer in just enough places as to stimulate the imagination of anyone and anything with a pulse, but honestly, it was her face that caught my attention first...honest. I have to admit that I'm a sucker for green eyes. I first noticed her when our eyes met briefly and she gave me shy smile.
"If you don't go talk to her, I'm going to do it myself," Sared said, nudging me and giving me a smirk. He had that wicked twinkle in his eyes, so I knew he'd do it. Not being one to back down from a subtle challenge like this, I had to do something. I glanced at Grim and flashed her a big apologetic grin. She shook her head and rolled her eyes in mild disgust. I winked at Sared, grabbed my drink and started to make my way toward the gorgeous vixen.
Now, just so you understand the gravity of the situation, getting involved with blue pills for any other purpose than "official", was forbidden for any red pills loyal to Zion and even more so strictly prohibited for Zion Operatives....not that it didn't happen....from time to time....but not with any Carpe Diem crew.
Anyway, as was my nature, I circled around through the crowd to allow me a less direct approach to my "target". I preferred to catch my "prey" off guard in this manner. I approached her from behind, observing her glance toward the bar where I had been previously. She misses me already and we haven't even met, I thought smugly. I was just preparing to say something interesting when she spoke.
"Taking the scenic route?" She asked, without even turning to face me.
Ok, caught off guard! Don't panic, I told myself. You've gotten yourself out of worse situations. It was then that I realized that in those "worse" situations, I usually had an operator to assist me, a few guns and the ability to fall back on my hand-to-hand combat skills, complete with the kung-fu grip; none of which were appropriate to my current dilemma. So, I blurted out something I thought would get me off the hook.
"Well, I didn't take you for one to be here alone, so I had to make sure the coast was clear first."
"So, is it?"
"No, " I replied. By this time, I'd moved around and was standing to her left. I'd noticed a trio of "gentlemen" keeping an eye on me as I'd moved through the crowd in her direction. She finally looked up at me and smiled a sly, almost mischievous smile.
"I'm impressed," she said, seemingly genuinely surprised. "Even the smart ones don't usually spot the bodyguards." She held my gaze with those jade eyes of hers as if sizing me up by my eyes instead of my physical appearance. In one fluid motion that was, for some reason, incredibly sexy, she tossed her highlighted, shoulder length brown hair to the side with the slightest of head movements and offered her hand to me. "Elise Winter." I took her hand gently, yet firmly in mine, noticing the French manicured nails. I loved French manicured nails on a woman. It was simple and elegant without being gaudy.
"Zannder Kayne," I replied, using my blue pill name.
" Well, have a seat, Mr. Kayne," Elise instructed. "Its good to meet you." I dutifully took the seat she offered. She must have read the unanswered question on my face. "You're probably wondering why the bodyguards?"
"The question did cross my mind," I said. Without losing a step, she answered.
"They're here incase anyone has a problem with my decision to practice abstinence." That did it. I actually choked on my drink with that response, which earned me a hearty, yet feminine laugh from Ms. Winter. I think that if my skin were any lighter, she would have noticed me turn a bright shade of red. Ms. Elise Winter was turning out to be quite the handful.
"Im sorry," she said after she was done laughing at me. "I'm actually heir to the Turtle Wax dynasty."
"Turtle Wax? Like what people use to polish cars?" I asked incredulously.
"Well, we've long since expanded into other products now, but yes." I had to chuckle at that one. "You'd be surprised what people will try for a buck or few. Kidnap is still a lucrative business for professionals."
"I guess you're right," I had to agree. Just then, Grim's voice came over my nearly invisible earpiece, interrupting my rather awkward rendezvous.
" Lets go, Loverboy. Midnight just spotted one of Mervy-poo's errand boys talking to a couple of neck-biters." That got my attention right away, so I had to make an exit as graciously and quickly as possible. I was a little disappointed, but also a bit relieved. I had a feeling that Ms. Winter found it amusing to keep me off-balance, but in a masochistic say, I almost enjoyed it.
"Well, Elise," I began, standing up and finishing off my drink. "I must take my leave. Duty calls."
"Duty?" she asked.
"Yes," I replied, simply, then changed gears. It was a cheap "victory", but I couldn't let the night continue with her having "won" the battle of wits. "I wish I could stay longer. Maybe next time.... I'll have the bartender send you a proper drink. "
"I have one right here," She replied gesturing to the nearly untouched Cosmo in front of her.
"If you're referring to that god aweful fufu drink, you haven't touched it since it was sent over to you by that spiky haired frat boy across the room. You don't strike me as a Cosmo kind of woman though." I said as I winked at her and turned to leave.
"I suppose you think you know what kind of woman I am?" Elise shot back in a challenging tone.
"I do." I replied confidently. I didn't. However as I walked back to the bar, I contacted our operator on a private channel and had him find out. When I got back to the bar, I summoned the bartender, and had a Sex on the Beach sent to her table. Sared gave me a sour look.
"Ok King Ding-a-Ling," Sared said sarcastically. "You know it only counts if you got her number, right?"
I gave him a look as if I were hurt that he would even doubt me. Almost as if on cue, I felt a tap on my shoulder.
"Mr. Kayne?" I turned to see one of Ms. Winter's bodyguards towering over me. He discretely handed me a business card. "From Ms. Winter," he said without expression and disappeared back into the crowd. I turned back to Sared with an I-told-you-so expression on my face. He scowled at me.
"You're a *CENSORED* bastard," he said in mock disgust.
"Lets go you silly **jerks**," Grim said heading away from the bar area, deeper into the club. I took one last glance in Elise Winter's direction before I followed. It was time to switch back into work mode, but something told me I'd be seeing Ms Winter again and not in a personal context either.
