18073/Working For A Living

Working For A Living
Date of Scene:	26 May 2024
Location:	Third Floor VIP Suites - Hellfire Club
Synopsis:	Vanessa gets a taste of the Hellfire Club before Harry comes by to check on things.
Cast of Characters:	Vanessa Carlysle, Harry Leland

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Vanessa Carlysle has posed:
Vanessa Carlysle rises to her feet and heads into the suite's bathroom. The sound of a playoff game being displayed on the enormous TV is the only one coming from the room as she swings the door mostly closed behind her.

She dabs at her face with a wet towel, careful not to mess up her makeup, then checks herself in the mirror. "Really stroke gold," she murmurs to herself.

The fancy sports car had been unusual to see so close to New Lots. When it pulled over to the curb and the driver motioned her over, Vanessa could only hope. Behind on rent, this might be an opportunity to catch up financially.

And it had been. Agreements were made, some money changed hands, and before long Vanessa found herself entering the Hellfire Club on the man's arm. The luxurious decor wowed her though she kept it from showing.

The man, a CEO of a Wall Street hedge fund company, was interested in her and interested in the playoff games. And also in a lot of alcohol. She can't even say how much he consumed in the hours they were there.

Opening the door she steps back out. "So what are the chances of getting something to eat?" she asks the man. Only to find he's passed out cold. Head on the couch back behind him, snoring. A glass of bourbon that costs more than Vanessa's entire wardrobe in his hand.

She moves over to relieve him of the glass, taking a sip before setting it aside. "Ok, so... do they have room service?" she asks herself as she starts to walk around the suite, looking things over.

A fact that is probably noticed by the security men in the Hellfire Club's security booth, observing on hidden cameras. "Looks like we have an unattended one," one of them says to the other. A nod is given back. "Should probably alert someone," he agrees.

Harry Leland has posed:
And seeing as how Tessa was in closed session with the Black King (hardly unusual, that) and the lesser ranks of the Black Court were not currently on the premeses, the security teams defaulted to notifying Leland himself of the potential issue.

"Yes?" Harry said, irritated that he'd been interrupted in the middle of a fairly complex legal argument he was trying to tease apart, the best to find a way to demolish it in court. Stupid Saudis and their stone-age mentalities. This was America, they had rules that had to be obeyed. "And is ... ah, I see. Well, very well. Give me the location and I'll be right down to handle the issue. Have a man on standby in case I need him." he said, then stabbed a finger at his desk phone to kill the call. With a heavy sigh he heaved himself to his feet, grabbed his cane just in case, and locked his computer before walking away to go deal with the interloper.

Vanessa Carlysle has posed:
Not realizing that the security are aware that the Club member who brought her is currently snoozing away, Vanessa looks about the suite. "No food, but obviously this place takes care of their members," she says, pausing to look over at the landline in the room. Her host had called to order up the booze. "But if I call asking for a cheeseburger is it going to cost him $200?" she asks herself with a soft laugh.

For a moment a train of thought flits through her head, though Vanessa quickly quashes it. Different times that she'd rather not think about.

"Ok," she says, pausing and resting her hands on her hips. "I can stick my head out and find someone or... something. Or else call." She goes over and picks up her things, making herself more presentable again. Smoothing her blouse and skirt, she checks herself in the mirror. Then heads over to the door, intending to open it and peek outside.

Harry Leland has posed:
The elevators in the Club were speedy and blessedly quiet. He wanted a drink but he suppressed the urge for now. Business first, then he could have a drink. It didn't take long at all until Harry was on the correct floor, and as requested, there was a plainclothes Hellfire security man waiting for him.

"Right. Well, this shouldn't take long." he said as the security man gave him an efficient sitrep. "Stay here. I'll call you if I need you, but this should be a relatively simple matter to resolve." he said with a bland smile.

Harry noted that a brunette had poked her head out of one of the lesser suites, presumably in preparation to go violate someone's privacy or attempt to rob them blind. Neither would do, not at all.

Vanessa Carlysle has posed:
Vanessa's leather skirt and revealing top won't leave too much guesswork as to her occupation. Not all that uncommon for a VIP to show up with guests, whether business connections to be schmoozed, or girls to make their stay better if they don't feel like making use of what the Hellfire Club makes available to her.

So as Vanessa steps out into the hallway and looks each way, it's probably pretty obvious what she's doing there. She looks to her left first, and sees no one. Then she looks back to the right and sees Harry and the security man approaching, the latter hanging back.

Her clothing is quite pleasing on her, but the garments are clearly not designer brands. Not to the likely discriminating eye of Harry Leland. But she has a beautiful posture to her. A grace that could make her fit in among men of power and royalty, even if clearly she comes from somewhere waaaay south of that.

"Hello," she says, giving Harry a soft, hopeful smile. "My... friend, seems to have dozed off. I was wondering if you could tell me if it's possible to get some food somewhere?" she asks, that hopeful smile still shining as if looking to Harry to save her from becoming famished.

Harry Leland has posed:
"Ah, hello my dear! Of course we can arrange something if you'd like a bite to eat. We here at the Club pride ourselves on our hospitality and accomodations." he told her. "My name is Harry. May I ask yours?" he said gallantly, holding out a hand towards her in a friendly greeting.

Vanessa Carlysle has posed:
Vanessa Carlysle's pretty brown eyes quickly take in the sight of Harry Leland. Rotund, but in that impeccably tailored suit. He might not be the image of a Greek god physically, but his bearing is one Vanessa has experienced before. That of a man of substance and power. Used to commanding the situation around him.

She gives a soft smile at his answer, eyes briefly lowering before his gaze before lifting back to his gaze again. "Oh good. You're my hero, Harry," she says, offering him her hand. "Vanessa. I'm a guest of Jim's," she says, motioning towards the door. A little flicker of uncertainty there. Just Jim, doesn't know his last name most likely. "I figured I could probably call for something, though I didn't want to misstep," she says, Vanessa's eyes flit about the obviously expensive decor even in the hallway, as if to show she has an understanding of how much she might not fit in here. Or, might.

Harry Leland has posed:
Harry gallantly took her hand and kissed the back of it. "Vanessa. Charmed." he said as he let her hand go. "Of course, of course. Jim is a not-infrequent guest of the Club. Let's get you settled out, shall we?" he said and gestured back to the suite she was just trying to leave. "May I inquire as to what you might desire?" he asked blandly. Could mean anything, that.

Vanessa Carlysle has posed:
The charming introduction from Harry isn't lost on the younger woman. It draws a soft, pleased smile, and it's easy to read from her reaction that Vanessa probably isn't to being treated so. "Of course," she says as he motions back to the suite, moving over but letting him open it before she steps inside with him.

"Anything really. A sandwich of whatever sort. We've been here a few hours and nothing but bourbon," she says to him as they step into the room. Jim is still reclining on the couch. He's known for drinking to the point of passing out, and probably will be several hours before he wakes. His phone is already diverted to his assistant back at this office, should his wife call, and some excuse about meetings was made before he came.

Harry Leland has posed:
Harry spared one look for the passed-out Jim and then put him entirely out of his mind. This was far more interesting than Saudi barbarism or escorting a companion to the door. "If it should ever become relevant again, you can reach the concierge by dialing 0, then 1." he told Vanessa. "They can likely get you what it is that you desire. Just tell them who you're here with and they'll handle the rest." he said. Foos, booze, drugs, boytoys, girltoys, all of it charged back to poor Jim.

Vanessa Carlysle has posed:
Vanessa Carlysle gives Harry a soft smile. "Thank you," she tells him with a little nod. She glances over at Jim briefly as he gives a little extra snore before settling back into just noisy breathing. "We just met, so I don't know if I'll have the opportunity again," she confides to Harry softly. From her expression, Harry can read easily enough that she knows he understands the nature of her connection to Jim.

"So I'm guessing you're not just familiar with the Club here from being a client?" she asks. "There's something about you that... well, you seem to belong here. And it belongs with you. In a way that he didn't. Was more like he was stepping into Wonderland to escape the world when we came in. But I don't get that same feeling from you," Vanessa comments to Harry.

Harry Leland has posed:
"In a manner of speaking. I'm part-owner." he said with nearly zero boasting in his voice. Many other men, they'd use the Hellfire Club ownership as a club or as a wedge to pry women out of their clothing. Harry did not seem to be interested in playing the game in that way. From him, it was a statement of fact. "Jim there, well, he pays us handsomely to be a part of Hellfire. To him, he's desperate to be seen as a 'player', so to speak." he said. "He never will be, of course, but we cater to aspirants and dreamers of all sorts." he said modestly.

"Now then, Miss Vanessa, is there anything else I can do for you?" he asked pleasantly, and took a moment to look her up and down. For street-meat, not bad. Not bad at all.

Vanessa Carlysle has posed:
Perhaps it's that Vanessa notices the lack of ego or boast in Harry's comment that registers with her. The real deal doesn't need to try to convince you that it isn't the real deal, after all.

The young woman glances over to Jim. With his car that costs more money than she'll probably ever accumulate in her life. His job at a company that she imagines is worth many millions if not more. Much, much more. And he just wants to be a player at the level of the heavyset older man.

The respect is there in her eyes as she looks back to Harry Leland. "If he's going to be out for a lot longer, and it looks like he is, I suppose a ride home. Or at least help me get a cab?" she says with a grateful smile.