Summary

set before the rise of The Tenderloins
Sal Vulcano is a determined comedian and a renowned Lothario who has no time for commitment until he meets the fun loving Libby, when she refused his advances Sal becomes determined to get the girl before realizing she is the daughter of a millionaire he doesn't stand a chance despite everyone looking down on him Sal and Libby form a bond and just when his comedy troupe are beginning to take off tragedy strikes and Sal comes to realize just how much he needs his four best friends around him.

If you haven't yet read Saviour because this is a prequel any one of them can be read first

So I'm back with a new story, new characters and a new adventure.

I'm feeling pretty good about it hope you all enjoy it.

This is for my IJ twitter family including..

My Emma boo

The QFT squad

The Lovely Impractical Ladies

My favorite Crazy Cat Lady Cindy

My ever loyal reader and reviewer Christal

and anyone else who makes my day a little brighter through talking and obsessing over our four fave Jokers

I love you all so very much.

Part one: Talk of Social Gatherings

Sal Vulcano closed and locked the door giving a sigh of relief, she had been a difficult one to get rid of the leggy blonde he had met in the club only hours earlier a few drinks and she was all over him but then he got her home she just wouldn't stop talking he honestly believed she would never shut up and get down to some action, she was decent enough he guessed she done the job.

Sal reached for his phone sending a quick text out to his best buddy Quinn who he had been at the club with. Q seen him leave with the blonde girl and held up 10 fingers giving a wink of approval. Sal punched in the letters

"Definitely not a 10 talked too much and asked for my number, lucky escape!"

A few minutes Qs reply came through "haha you're never satisfied dude you got laid at least, be over tomorrow see you then"

Sal gave a laugh it was true as much as he enjoyed sex he hadn't slept with anyone he would even think twice of seeing again. It was becoming a lot easier now to get the ladies into bed, his acting was just about taking off after years of trying to bring in the crowds the tenderloins comedy troupe were actually getting a little attention not a lot but enough. More people, more after parties, more ladies.

It also helped having Q as his wingman the easy on the eyes charmer could sweet-talk his way into anyone's underwear.

Sal changed his sheets and once satisfied with the cleanliness he got back into his bed alone but content.

Morning came as Sal stirred in his bed his phone buzzed a text from his sister looking for yet another ride somewhere, the sooner her damn car was fixed the better not that he minded.. Okay he minded a little but he did love Jenna an awful lot after Q she was his next best friend they had a good brother sister relationship sticking together and supporting each other after their parents' divorce.

He replied to her text telling her he'd be there in 20 and got up from the bed letting out a groan as he stretched his head was pounding maybe he had hit the bottle a little too hard last night but that's what life was for wasn't it?

Sal got dressed and headed out to his car it was a reasonably sunny day for the end of August but there was a chill in the air the sign of an early fall the leaves in the tree of his front yard were already starting to turn. He sang to himself as he drove through the streets thinking of what the day and night ahead had for him there was no solid plans. Q was coming over to do some sketch writing for a bit and then maybe they would head out for a few beers.

He pulled up outside his sister's apartment beeping the horn impatiently until she appeared. Dressed smartly and carrying a handbag almost as big as she was.

"Hey bro" she smiled as she attached her seatbelt "I need ya to take me to the dry cleaners I ruined my dress and I need it for the party tonight."

Sals attention was suddenly captured "Party?" when was he never interested in talk of social gatherings

Jenna rolled her eyes silently cursing herself for mentioning the P word on front of her brother "yeah the sorority are having a 10 year reunion tonight"

Sal almost hit the brakes hard he wasn't sure he heard her right "A sorority party? Jenna you have to get me to that party!"

"Sal I don't know…"

"Please? C'mon I'm running your errands for you aren't I?"

Jenna shook her head defeated "Fine! But you better behave"

Sal shot his sister a cheeky grin of course he wouldn't be on his best behaviour in a house full of whiskey and ex –sisters, who could even resist.

"Oh and Jen?"

"What?"

"Quinn's coming too"

"Great." Jenna rolled her eyes Q was as much of a brother to her as Sal was and she knew how much of a bad influence Sal was on him.

Jenna and Sal finished the errands and he headed home he stopped by a coffee house near his apartment to pick up an order for him and his best friend although Q had only officially joined the tenderloins around a few years before Sal had known him since they were in high school out of the four they were the most alike they could almost always tell what each other was thinking and their humour mixed and matched perfectly.

Q was already waiting on Sals door step when he returned sweat soaked and out of breath. "I had to walk here dude couldn't get a cab"

Sal laughed as he handed over the coffee, fiddling in his pocket for his door key "When are you just going to buy a car? It would be so much easier"

"When I start shitting money that's when."

"Well maybe if you stopped buying junk" Sal retorted stopping Q before he stepped inside to remind him to take off his shoes.

"Hey that junk happens to be very valuable comic books!" Q's booming voice echoed through the empty house

"I was actually talking about the vermin" Sal laughed making a quick duck away from Brian's hand flying at his face. It was no secret Sal couldn't stand Q's cats there was just something about them that freaked him out they reminded him too much of his uncles cat it attacked him once when he was younger and although long dead the hissing clawed beast pretty much still haunted his nightmares.

"Careful Salvatore else I'll be bringing Chessie and Benjamin over to Uncle Sally's for a visit someday"

"You do and you're a dead man" Sal warned he didn't mean it though and the truth of the matter was a 6 foot something fire fighter like Q could probably kick his ass in a fight.

The guys got down to work firing ideas back and forth at each other, Sal had wanted to be a comedian since before he could remember as supportive as his parents tried to be they persuaded him that going to college was a better option Sal didn't mind his job he was good at math so the accountancy was easy but here was a passion in him that made him want to be noticed for people to laugh at his jokes and recognize him in the street.

And more fame had to equal more chicks didn't it?

"Bro what are we doing tonight?" Sal asked

Q looked up from his notebook shrugging "few beers at Ziggys?"

Sal shook his head barely containing his excitement "Not tonight my friend I have got us invites to, wait for it…. A sorority party!"

Brian cocked an eyebrow at his friend "Dude.. A sorority party? You're 30! And clearly a bigger creep than Murray."

Sal laughed and shook his head violently at the comparison to his beady eyed creep of a friend "Never say that again! Ex sorority girls! Its Jenna's reunion and I got us both invited" he started to do a glorified happy shuffle at this apparent achievement but stopped when he seen Q wasn't sharing in his excitement. "Dude why aren't you excited?"

"Don't you think it's a little weird? Your sisters friends?"

"Q they're sorority girls I bet you the ones without husbands are super easy"

Brian rolled his eyes "You're gross man!"

"But you'll come?!"

"Well someone's gonna have to make sure you don't go home with the wrong chick AGAIN!"

Sal laughed at the true fact "Now get the hell outa my house, I've gotta get ready"

Q left the house a slight smile on his face as he looked at the clear sky thankful for the weather staying dry to walk home. He walked with his hands in his pants pocket optimistic about the night ahead. Brian replayed the last few minutes of his conversation with Sal a fucking sorority party he thought to himself the pretentious prick probably would never change his ways.