November 15, 1956
"Good as Gold," Johnny muttered to himself with a snorting scoff. "We'll see about that." He continues his stroll around the corner his fingers stroking those his recently trimmed beard. He had gotten used to the warmth around his neck, but he had to at least offer a semblance of sobriety. It had been 4 days since he last took a "Pep Pill", and though he was almost literally itching for it, he was sober for a change, the worst days had already passed.
He stroked the guitar case he held in the opposite hand, it was his baby the only one he never sold. It had been his home ticket, it was his pillow and his only friend. Today, he hoped it would open a new door for him, he heard a private club was looking for a musician, and he knew too that most people were looking for a man in a suit that played the piano or the sax.
Johnny was hoping his charm might at least get his foot in the door, a doorman, a bouncer. He thought continuing to stroke his beard realizing the tick he shoves his hand in his pocket just as he reached the door. He offered two short knocks, one hard knock, and two short knocks.
When the little speakeasy hatch opened Johnny repeated the password he was told, "Midnight in the moonlight." He says as the door opens for him, the man behind the door said nothing only waved him inside. He didn't have an interview per se but he did have a name he walked over to the bar and ordered beer of whatever they had in a bottle, he had to keep his wits about him.
"I am lookin' for Rayna, I was told she was in charge here." Johnny offers to the bartender patting his guitar case as if that explained everything.
"Good as Gold," Johnny muttered to himself with a snorting scoff. "We'll see about that." He continues his stroll around the corner his fingers stroking those his recently trimmed beard. He had gotten used to the warmth around his neck, but he had to at least offer a semblance of sobriety. It had been 4 days since he last took a "Pep Pill", and though he was almost literally itching for it, he was sober for a change, the worst days had already passed.
He stroked the guitar case he held in the opposite hand, it was his baby the only one he never sold. It had been his home ticket, it was his pillow and his only friend. Today, he hoped it would open a new door for him, he heard a private club was looking for a musician, and he knew too that most people were looking for a man in a suit that played the piano or the sax.
Johnny was hoping his charm might at least get his foot in the door, a doorman, a bouncer. He thought continuing to stroke his beard realizing the tick he shoves his hand in his pocket just as he reached the door. He offered two short knocks, one hard knock, and two short knocks.
When the little speakeasy hatch opened Johnny repeated the password he was told, "Midnight in the moonlight." He says as the door opens for him, the man behind the door said nothing only waved him inside. He didn't have an interview per se but he did have a name he walked over to the bar and ordered beer of whatever they had in a bottle, he had to keep his wits about him.
"I am lookin' for Rayna, I was told she was in charge here." Johnny offers to the bartender patting his guitar case as if that explained everything.
Rayna had fought tooth and nail to whip this once pathetic bar into shape. She had been born a mistake, but she had fought for respect, and for the place she justly deserved. However, this did leave her cold as stone, and sharp as a razor. She was quick-tongued, judgemental, beautiful and successful, and she took all of that and turned it into liquid gold for the Golden Crest pack.
Today, Good as Gold was a highly sought after casino and bar. It was not a strip club, but activities happened in the back rooms at all hours for any price agreed upon. Rayna was aware of this, along with every other aspect that lived within here. While on paper, she did not own it, she still ruled it with a ruthless iron fist. Nothing happened here without her knowledge, and to entertain herself, she would sometimes join the onstage entertainment, a collection of singers and musicians carefully chosen.
Upon this night, Rayna was in her office, but she was aware the new arrival had come. He had the password, which was fine, and she normally wouldn’t have checked it out twice until her sharp ears heard her own name. That was curious, as it didn’t happen that much anymore. The tall black haired beautiful stood and stepped around her desk. Her blood red dress stopped at her thighs, and around her calves, boots of the finest quality were wrapped. Her bright eyes were curious as she moved from her office. Those cold eyes moved over Johnny, impatience already moving through her at the audacity to address her by name. “I am she.” Her accent seemed slightly different than the other wolves here, and nobody knew exactly why. Her voice was also softer than one might except, but it held dominance inside of it. “Who are you, and what are you doing asking for me?”
Today, Good as Gold was a highly sought after casino and bar. It was not a strip club, but activities happened in the back rooms at all hours for any price agreed upon. Rayna was aware of this, along with every other aspect that lived within here. While on paper, she did not own it, she still ruled it with a ruthless iron fist. Nothing happened here without her knowledge, and to entertain herself, she would sometimes join the onstage entertainment, a collection of singers and musicians carefully chosen.
Upon this night, Rayna was in her office, but she was aware the new arrival had come. He had the password, which was fine, and she normally wouldn’t have checked it out twice until her sharp ears heard her own name. That was curious, as it didn’t happen that much anymore. The tall black haired beautiful stood and stepped around her desk. Her blood red dress stopped at her thighs, and around her calves, boots of the finest quality were wrapped. Her bright eyes were curious as she moved from her office. Those cold eyes moved over Johnny, impatience already moving through her at the audacity to address her by name. “I am she.” Her accent seemed slightly different than the other wolves here, and nobody knew exactly why. Her voice was also softer than one might except, but it held dominance inside of it. “Who are you, and what are you doing asking for me?”
The moment Johnny's eyes set upon Rayna he knew he found the right person. She was stunning, to say the least, and he couldn't help the way his eyes started from her toes and slowly moved upwards. He was smart enough to at least let his eyes end on hers, and didn't continue to stare at her in such a manner.
Johnny offered a rather warm smile rubbing his palms against his pant leg before offering it out to her. "The name is Johnny Two-tones. I was told you were the Mistress of this realm." His lips curl into a rather charming smile his hand still extended out, but if not taken, he would casually slide it away to reach down and pick up his bass and place it on the bar.
"I heard you could use some new talent, maybe a different sound around here?" He says glancing at the piano that was always at a place like this, after all, who was bringing a piano with them? He took a sip of his beer out of nervousness, the feeling of that cold beer running down his throat was soothing, too soothing in fact, quickly realizing he shouldn't have even had a little.
Johnny offered a rather warm smile rubbing his palms against his pant leg before offering it out to her. "The name is Johnny Two-tones. I was told you were the Mistress of this realm." His lips curl into a rather charming smile his hand still extended out, but if not taken, he would casually slide it away to reach down and pick up his bass and place it on the bar.
"I heard you could use some new talent, maybe a different sound around here?" He says glancing at the piano that was always at a place like this, after all, who was bringing a piano with them? He took a sip of his beer out of nervousness, the feeling of that cold beer running down his throat was soothing, too soothing in fact, quickly realizing he shouldn't have even had a little.
Rayna’s cold dark eyes scanned the man infront of her, and she raised her eyebrow at the name given. She was impressed he was bold enough, or stupid enough to offer her his hand. You could get it cut off for less around this place, but regardless, she was impressed enough to take it. It also gave her a sense of how quick his pulse was, along with other vital signs. She sensed the addiction beat immediately, but she gave nothing away as she pulled her hand back.
“You’ve heard correctly. I am indeed the Mistress of the realm.” She placed a hand on her hip as she watched him pick up and place the bass upon the bar. She scanned him a few times, very clearly judging him as she was raised and taught to do. She saw so many problems, but she also saw talent. And he was kind of hot.
Rayna then watched him take that sip of beer and heard the rush of excitement for it sear through his system. She would have to be cautious with that if she chose to hire him, but for now, she couldn’t do anything. She clicked her tongue in thought once before she swept her hand to the empty stage. “I have a few minutes. You have as long to impress me. Don’t waste my time.” She told him as she moved to sit at her regular and permanently reserved table where her drink would be there before she was.
“You’ve heard correctly. I am indeed the Mistress of the realm.” She placed a hand on her hip as she watched him pick up and place the bass upon the bar. She scanned him a few times, very clearly judging him as she was raised and taught to do. She saw so many problems, but she also saw talent. And he was kind of hot.
Rayna then watched him take that sip of beer and heard the rush of excitement for it sear through his system. She would have to be cautious with that if she chose to hire him, but for now, she couldn’t do anything. She clicked her tongue in thought once before she swept her hand to the empty stage. “I have a few minutes. You have as long to impress me. Don’t waste my time.” She told him as she moved to sit at her regular and permanently reserved table where her drink would be there before she was.
Though more than a little nervous, and not exactly sure why. That didn't dampen that smile that crossed his lips, or the gentle almost caress to the way his hand let her go. He did lean from one foot to the other under that gaze of hers, but he didn't wilt as he opened up the case and displayed his bass.
It had been too late after one drink and when she asked for him to play he quickly grabbed the beer once more with a very long drink almost killing the rest of the beer in one tip. He set it back down with a small thud as he gave the liquid courage a moment to travel down, as he grabbed the bass by the neck. He took a step back and swung it expertly into his arms cradling it like a woman, and with a reverent touch that was the same.
Without a word she started to strum eyes closed with no music or even a beat to go off of he just started and lets the music start to fill the room. It was a slow cool jazz sound clearly something that might be played at a club such as this. Letting it slowly build into something faster and faster with the same feel, something that someone might almost be able to dance to.
He didn't exactly stop but instead, let his fingers pick a low strumming sound almost like a background sound as he opens his eyes to look at Rayna for any sort of reaction.
It had been too late after one drink and when she asked for him to play he quickly grabbed the beer once more with a very long drink almost killing the rest of the beer in one tip. He set it back down with a small thud as he gave the liquid courage a moment to travel down, as he grabbed the bass by the neck. He took a step back and swung it expertly into his arms cradling it like a woman, and with a reverent touch that was the same.
Without a word she started to strum eyes closed with no music or even a beat to go off of he just started and lets the music start to fill the room. It was a slow cool jazz sound clearly something that might be played at a club such as this. Letting it slowly build into something faster and faster with the same feel, something that someone might almost be able to dance to.
He didn't exactly stop but instead, let his fingers pick a low strumming sound almost like a background sound as he opens his eyes to look at Rayna for any sort of reaction.
Rayna’s gaze didn’t shift, and didn’t move. She stared Johnny down with that harsh look of something under her shoe, mixed with something of sheer curiosity. After sweeping her hand to the stage, she went and sat at her table, picking up and drinking the smooth whiskey in the glass. Her long legs crossed as she leaned back to watch the show she was about to get.
Her head tilted as he started, watching the way his hands and body moved. He was jolty, fidgety, but when he started to play, something happened. He was quite talented, as she had suspected, and he seemed to have enough of a stage presence to overcome those signs of addiction as he played. Her eyebrows rose in interest as she watched him, dark eyes moving all over him as she gathered her thoughts.
Slowly, her glass was emptied, because she also wanted to gauge endurance. She had other ways as well, but it did get quite busy for long periods of time, and the wolves usually demanded entertainment. Together with Ric’s new pet, who she had heard was an unimaginable songbird, Rayna could imagine putting together quite the show. When Johnny’s eyes opened, Rayna was staring directly at him. Her hand raised to stop him, and then turned to beckon him to her with her fingers. “That wasn’t bad. But you should know that working here is....not easy. The clientele is quite....feisty at times, and the owners are,....” She thought of how to say it without sounding too rude of her pack, and only one word came to mind. “Demanding. Can you handle that?”
Her head tilted as he started, watching the way his hands and body moved. He was jolty, fidgety, but when he started to play, something happened. He was quite talented, as she had suspected, and he seemed to have enough of a stage presence to overcome those signs of addiction as he played. Her eyebrows rose in interest as she watched him, dark eyes moving all over him as she gathered her thoughts.
Slowly, her glass was emptied, because she also wanted to gauge endurance. She had other ways as well, but it did get quite busy for long periods of time, and the wolves usually demanded entertainment. Together with Ric’s new pet, who she had heard was an unimaginable songbird, Rayna could imagine putting together quite the show. When Johnny’s eyes opened, Rayna was staring directly at him. Her hand raised to stop him, and then turned to beckon him to her with her fingers. “That wasn’t bad. But you should know that working here is....not easy. The clientele is quite....feisty at times, and the owners are,....” She thought of how to say it without sounding too rude of her pack, and only one word came to mind. “Demanding. Can you handle that?”
Johnny couldn't miss how Rayna looked at him almost with contempt, as the first signs of sweat formed on his forehead. His scent shifted not to something of fear but determination, and that need for something to take the edge off. Little did he know he had it within him the entire time, and Rayna could see it with her own two eyes.
When his fingers slid crossed the strings and the first notes were plucked, he let out a soft contented sigh that had all scent of desperation carried off with the first notes, all but forgetting that hunger for something stronger as he lost himself in the music. Body swaying with it, foot tapping the ground adding that bit of drum it was lacking, his head bobbing and dancing from side to side at times. His eyes were closed forgetting everything around him and just losing himself in the music, allowing it to consume him, and in turn those around him.
It was only when he started to make for a third transition that his eyes opened enough to see Rayna's hand lifted for him to stop. The flat of his palm pressing against the strings silenced them rather respectfully so she wouldn't have to talk over the final notes.
Johnny's lips lifted, and despite that scent of desperation returning, that need for something more, something stronger in his system. It turned into a knowing and even approving grin that put his white teeth on display. "I came here lookin' for work, not a handout." He says confidently with a casual sideways nod, that sort of nod that asked, "Do I have the job?"
When his fingers slid crossed the strings and the first notes were plucked, he let out a soft contented sigh that had all scent of desperation carried off with the first notes, all but forgetting that hunger for something stronger as he lost himself in the music. Body swaying with it, foot tapping the ground adding that bit of drum it was lacking, his head bobbing and dancing from side to side at times. His eyes were closed forgetting everything around him and just losing himself in the music, allowing it to consume him, and in turn those around him.
It was only when he started to make for a third transition that his eyes opened enough to see Rayna's hand lifted for him to stop. The flat of his palm pressing against the strings silenced them rather respectfully so she wouldn't have to talk over the final notes.
Johnny's lips lifted, and despite that scent of desperation returning, that need for something more, something stronger in his system. It turned into a knowing and even approving grin that put his white teeth on display. "I came here lookin' for work, not a handout." He says confidently with a casual sideways nod, that sort of nod that asked, "Do I have the job?"