A/N: Hi everyone! After my last story, Stars Come Out At Night, I became obsessed with a song in my playlist, Animals by Maroon 5, and I thought of writing a new AHS story, this one regarding Dandy. This universe is separate from SCOAT's universe, so Dandy does not have an OC twin sister in this one. Enjoy!

CHAPTER 1

"Wow, Olivia, you have certainly outdone yourself this year." Gloria muttered as one of the butlers placed some finger sandwiches on her plate. You could cut the sweetness in her voice with a knife. "This is a better reunion than the one you've hosted last time."

"I'm glad you like it, Gloria." Olivia said with equal sweetness. "We must have a party in your place soon."

Why? Are you planning to pilfer more silverware? Why don't you just go back to the slums, you tart. Gloria smiled and gave a polite chuckle. She used to have so much respect for the Hetheringtons…until Dwight Hetherington dumbly married some middle-class nobody just because he got her pregnant. Now he follows her around like some sick puppy and not as some former showgirl in Vegas.

"Mmm, these are divine, Liv!" Sara Pendleton gushed. Gloria would have given her soul to the devil just to leave this noveau riche-infested party, but she was a Mott and she would be damned if a Mott would ever be the first to leave a party.

"Speaking of divine," Eleanor Hemmings piped up. "Odette was amazing on Broadway—Charles and I saw her last week."

"Oh, my Odette is a natural performer," Olivia accepted the praise casually, glancing slyly at Gloria, whose only son's talent would amount to next to nothing compared to her own children. "But don't count Darius out just yet—he's as much of a performer as his sister!"

"Just like their mother," Gloria muttered loud enough for the only other pure old money in the party, Katherine Hart, to hear. Katherine quietly sniggered, pretending to stifle a cough.

"Katherine, are you quite all right?" Olivia raised an eyebrow. Katherine smiled politely, lowering her teacup, before he continued. "Anyway, Darius will be performing in Starstruck's play this year."

"It's already been confirmed?" One of the ladies asked. "No," Olivia shrugged. "But it's pretty obvious that Darius is a shoe-in for Romeo, isn't he?"

The group laughed, apart from Gloria. Starstruck was Jupiter's best theatrical troupe for amateur performers, and she remembered Dandy begging her once (or a million times) for him to join. Maybe…Gloria thought. She wanted nothing more to see that smug smile wipe of off Olivia Hetherington's face.

"Really?" Gloria noted loudly. "I think my Dandy's got a running shot."

The room was obscenely quiet. The new moneys glared at Gloria, who looked haughtily back in an innocent way. The ones whose bloodlines could be traced to older families—and distantly related to Gloria's—looked down in discomfort.

"Oh really?" Olivia smiled as though she seemed amused to entertain one of the oldest ladies in the party. "You think Dandy could be the lead in Starstruck's production this year?"

"Is Dandy even part of Startstruck?" Eleanor chimed in.

"I don't think I've even seen him in the backdrop!" Sara said crudely, and the entire table jeered.

Gloria willed her cheeks to not turn red. "No, because Dandy has taken care of a few business deals before he can pursue his passion—the family business comes first, as his father has taught him." That quieted a lot of the women, reminded that Dandy was still a catch for their daughters with the Mott Industries in his pocket…and the fact that half of them didn't even have companies of their own. Ha! Gloria thought triumphantly.

"Well, I guess Darius will be…seeing Dandy around, won't he," Olivia said sweetly. She knew the power Dwight's money and family name brought her, but growing up in the middle-class streets of Nevada, she knew when to back down from a fight, and when it came close to whose family had more power, she had to back away from Gloria Mott as soon as possible, to save as much face as she could. "Now, more cakes, anyone?"

Gloria took a crumpet and smiled as she took a nibble. Tastes like victory—my favorite flavor.

Inside, she froze. Now I just have to get Dandy ready for his new hobby.