Hello all! It's me again, not wasting any time in starting a new fic! I know this chapter is short, but it's more of a prologue really.

For those of you who wanted a sequel to HC, you are in luck, because after a LOT of deliberation, I've decided to do one. I'm not sure when I'll write and post it, but it is definitely happening!

But yeah, this is something completely different for you all. I hope you like it. But it's going to be au, so will be ooc in areas, but I hope you give it a chance. Please review so I know if I should continue. And thankyou, lovelies who congratulated me on finishing hc. I love you all so much.

He watched her.

Frankly, it wasn't hard to see why. Pickings were slim at the Lusty Leopard at the moment.

This girl was different. She looked entirely out of place there, amongst the other fake tanned girls dressed in skimpy leopard print underwear, many of which were adorned with pink bows. They looked tired, bags accessorizing their mascara clad eyes. It would make any normal person feel kind of depressed, honestly.

Not Barney Stinson, though. Of course, he was way too awesome for those sorts of fine feelings.

But he watched this girl like she was something special. White skin, blue eyes, cheekbones that could probably cut glass. When the announcement system had declared that 'Sparkles' would be taking the stage, he hadn't been too anxious to proceed. After all, who was called Sparkles. The name sounded ridiculous, and that was saying something, since 'Baby-doll' was currently grinding into his chair from behind.

That girl, though. She treated the pole like it was her instrument. She was fresh faced, young, perfect. He couldn't take his eyes off her. Not just that. The rise and fall of her chest fell in perfect place with her dancing. Lips parted and crimson, as her matching heels hooked around the shimmering pole that took prize position center stage. He was so intoxicated by her that he had to put his cigar down for a second.

(Not that it was lit. He wouldn't waste a Cuban on this place. Still, it helped him think to hold it between his thumb and forefinger.)

He exchanged the cigar for his tumbler of scotch, pressing it to his bottom lip and letting the contents hit his tongue, sharp and refreshing. Kind of like her. Easily the hottest stripper he'd ever seen; hottest woman he'd ever seen, full stop.

"Hey, Ted." He nudged his friend who was sat next to him, head buried in an architecture magazine, trying to avoid eye contact of a leggy Asian girl called 'Bubbles'. The darker haired man continued to stare at the pages.

"What, Barney."

"See that girl." He gestured to the stage.

"I'm trying not to. Why am I here, again?"

"Um, because for one, this place is aw-some. And we are out here, in the world. Licking the liberty bell. C'mon Ted, we ditched the marrieds! This night is legen-"

"Nope, not legendary. And I seem to recall you saying that we were only coming here to, and I quote 'Lick Liberty'." Ted shuddered.

"Yeah. Or Belle. Take your pick. Libby's a screamer." He winked provocatively.

"No. I told you. I'm dating Natalie. I think she could be the one, so can we hold off on the strip clubs in the future."

"Why are you even here then?"

Ted sighed, and smiled. "Bro code article 78. Something about not ditching you."

"I don't think the bro code mentions names." Barney muttered, looking at the ground.

"Course it doesn't bro." Ted quickly moved his magazine up to obscure the sight of some boobs balancing shot glasses.

"So Natalie. Is she hot?"

"You saw her hours ago, Barney."

"Yeah, I have a short memory."

"She's beautiful. And she has these little tea-lights in her room…"

Ted started to drift off onto a tangent of all the wonderful things about Natalie. Barney let out a low groan.

"Please stop yourself before you explode into a cascade of wedding confetti…- wait. Is she the one with the bizarro sock monkey fetish?"

"It's not a fetish."

"You said." Barney tapped his finger on the side of his glass. "You said she had them on her bed."

"So you were listening!" Ted was gleeful.

"But does she have them. On the bed."

"Well, yes."

"Do they stay there when you're, y'know. Getting to the monkey business."

Ted shook his head in disgust at the innuendo, but remained oddly quiet after that.

"Oh. My. God. They do, don't they."

"It was one time!"

"One is enough, Theodore. Ditch the chimp. Go for an imp. Like Kandy here."

"Barney, I'm not breaking up with my girlfriend at the Lusty Leopard."

He rolled his eyes, irritated at Ted's lack of party spirit. He decided to annul the conversation now that Ted had gone back to pouring his heart out to some Edwardian ballroom photograph. His eyes wandered back up to the pole, but it was empty. The sparkles girl was gone.

He downed the rest of his scotch, trying to convince himself that he didn't care. However, ten minutes later, she still hadn't come back out. Twenty minutes passed, then thirty, and he made up his mind to search for her out back.

Barney wasn't disappointed. The minute he'd walked out to the dingy back alley, he saw the girl. There were two guys walking quickly away from her, and she was slumped against the red brick wall, sat on the paving.

"You okay?" He asked, finding it slightly odd that he was genuinely concerned. The guys leaving were tall, broad and looked like they could easily take her down. She didn't look up, false eyelashes completely concealing her eyes.

"Yeah, I'm good. Scared them off."

"Were they bothering you?"

"Oh yeah, I'm sure you'll fight them for me." She droned sarcastically, dragging a cigarette out of her pocket. Her outfit was quite a lot different from the rest of the girls. She was wearing a short, pink shirt with a matching crop top, finished off with a sleeveless jean jacket. Her wrists were adorned with brightly colored jelly bracelets. In the dark, they contrasted even more with her pale skin.

"Well, I might've." He defended.

"Mm. Sure. They weren't bothering me though. Guess I'm just too awesome for them."

"They looked bothersome."

"What sort of a word is bothersome?"

"What sort of a name is Sparkles?"

"A fake one." She monotoned.

"Wanna grace me with your real one?" He asked coyly, licking his lips.

"No."

"Oh, c'mon. What, did your folks name you Muriel or something."

"You're awfully talkative for somebody I just met, you know that." Her voice was cold, more defensive.

She looked up, finally. Her eyes flickered, running up and down his body. She pulled out a lighter and lit her cigarette, leaving the lighter on just a little bit after to watch the orange flame dancing around the almost black sky.

"Yeah… well. You're awfully weird. I don't meet a lot of chicks that sit in alleys in stripper clothes watching flames and talking to strangers."

"You can't have met many good girls then."

He sat down beside her. She seemed startled at this advance at first. But she didn't stop him or get up. Instead she shut her eyes, and blew out a ring of smoke.

"I guess not. Barney, by the way. Barney Stinson."

"I know."

"How? Are you stalking me? I bet you're a stalker. You got that look to you."

"What, the lurking in alleys around people you've never met before look." She challenged.

"Well played."

"So, do I get your name now."

"No."

Indignation rose in his voice. "Totally unfair! I deserve answers. What do I call you?"

"Nothing, since you're probably never gonna see me again."

"You underestimate my stalking powers."

"Ha. I knew you were a stalker." She took one final drag of her cigarette, then stubbed it out under her heel, which appeared almost maroon in the absence of sunlight. She got up, dusted off the flared skirt and pulled it up, well aware that she was showing off her extremely long legs.

"Have fun stalking."

"Sounds far too like a goodbye for someone you're gonna see again. I got a feeling."

"I got a feeling I'll be seeing you on the news. Probably arrested for your stalking tendencies."

"You'll still see me though."

"I won't." she promised, flicking her waves of blonde hair behind her. She walked away. Barney listened to her heels clicking against the sidewalk. She didn't even catch her stilettos in the cobblestones; she walked smoothly and evenly, not turning back.

He glanced down at the cigarette butt on the floor, still slightly colored at the ends. Tiny red embers against a predominant grey background. Briefly, he heard music coming from inside, but then the door was closed again, cloaking him in silence.

"Hmm." He thought about what she said. Implying that he, Barney Stinson of all people, couldn't get her to see him again. Preposterous. He always got the yes.

"Challenge accepted." He grinned.

He sauntered immediately back inside, nudged Ted up from his seat and gestured to the front door. Just before they were about to leave, Barney tugged on Ted's blazer and pointed to the bar. Blonde hair and a jean jacket could be seen perched on one of the stools.

"Ted, see that girl." He nodded.

"I see the back of that girl. Why? Do we at least get to get out of this hole yet."

"Yeah, fine. Hail a cab."

"What about the girl, though?"

A smirk spread across his face.

"Don't you just know she likes it dirty."