Disclaimer-Casey Kalle is also one of my OCs. I had planned to write her standalone before updating this but decided to compromise instead. (My muse was appeased.)
The spotlight was blue, the music she swayed to had a hint of jazz. Josephine cast her doey eyes into the audience, and sang.
Jocelyn sat at the bar, her shoulders tense, her absentminded gaze on her twin. Her thoughts were elsewhere, yet nowhere, rather like air. Partnered to the King of Gotham and his 'equals' - it was a future Jocelyn would never have imagined for herself, nor Josephine. Maybe especially Josephine. Yet here they were, Jocelyn an honored guest of the Iceburg Lounge and Josephine the main attraction. A sense of dread hung over Jocelyn. that Josephine seemed immune to and for that Jocelyn envied her twin.
With a minor scowl, Jocelyn averted her gaze from the spotlit stage. Almost immediately, she met the dark eyes of another female sitting diagonally across. She was rather unremarkable in apperance - even the red underlay to her black hair was easy to overlook. Jocelyn frowned as the stranger continued to stare at her.
"Not interested." Jocelyn stated.
The stranger shook her head once. "Think the old wives tale of twins are true? That if you kill one, the other knows it, no matter how far apart they are. If I were to stab you in the building of the Gotham Gazette, would Josephine feel it here?" she asked, in a flat voice.
Jocelyn's eyes narrowed. "Are you threatening me?" she hissed.
His rimless glasses flared from his sudden at the shoulder of the stranger, his attention scuring onto Jocelyn. "I believe introductions are in order. Casey Kalle, this is Jocelyn Sinclair. I'm certain I needn't explain who she is. Now Miss Kalle, I'd muchly appreciate if you apologized to Miss Sinclair."
Casey Kalle, reigned her neck in his direction. The motion allowed Jocelyn to glimpse the markings etched into the left side of Casey's neck. Thick lettering scarred the side of Casey's throat which spelled Z-S-A-S-Z.
An ugly snarl coated Edward's features, and one of his hands sprang onto Casey's face, his thumb indenting her cheekbone. "Did you not hear me, Miss Kalle?" he asked through gritted teeth. "You know I despise lack of manners."
Casey hooked her fingers around his wrist, tracing the length of his hand, until her fingers overlapped his pinkie. Then she twisted his small digit forcing him to recoil. She stood while Edward winced in annoyance. "Boundaries Eddie." Casey growled, relasing him as Victor Zsasz drew near.
Amusement was scribbled on Zsasz's face, though his eyes were epmpty. "You and Dent should join a support group Nygma. Might do all four of you some good." he greeted.
"Funny." Edward said crisply, darting past the demented duo who watched his every movement.
Oswald's voice resignating from beside Jocelyn, startled her. "Were you threatening Jocelyn, Casey?"
Casey shrugged nonchalantly. "I asked a question."
"Mm her questions often come off as threats. It's a fine line for Casey I'm afraid." Oswald responded with a hint of laughter to his tone. "Though she was supposed to be striving to do better, wasn't that right Victor?" Oswald added, his voice turning stern.
"Yes Boss." Victor answered automatically, swiveling his gaze from Oswald to Casey. He raised his pointer finger and prodded Casey's temple. "Deeper drilling." he murmured. An ill smile thawed Casey's frozen scowl. She almost seemed excited. Zsasz grabbed Casey by the chin, then manuevered his mouth onto the scarring on her neck.
The whole scene jarred Jocelyn, a shiver rutted down her spine. Oswald observed her uneasiness and cloaked a smile, as he pasted a hand onto Jocelyn's shoulder. She jumped, but Oswald pretended not to notice. "Are you cold Jocelyn? It's much warmer in my office." he offered with sincereity.
"No, I'm fine." Jocelyn said quickly, watching Zsasz and Casey exit. .
"Would you mind if I sat with you?"
"You don't have to ask..boss."
Oswald sat down beside Jocelyn with a polite smile. "I apologize for this unpleasantiness.I think Edward was trying to impress you." Jocelyn didn't react, didn't even met his gaze. "I hope you don't mind me asking Jocelyn, but how is it a Gotham reporter has accured such a meager social life?"
Jocelyn's grasp on her shotglass tightened, as she resisted the urge to glare. "Josephine does enough 'socializing' for us both, Oswald." she responded nonchalantly.
Josephine bowed her head, as the music ebbed to a stop around her. She fought to keep the smile on her face as the audience appalauded. Josephine waved as she walked off the stage. She was rightfully proud of her perfomance, but it bothered her that Jocelyn had been distracted. It was Josephine's first night onstage after all, yet her sister barely watched five minutes. With a frown hardening her features, and her gaze locked on her twin, Josephine skirted around tables. It was only when she heard Jerome's voice echoing that Josephine had seen him in the audience of course, he was a hard man to miss. However, she hadn't seen the handheld loudspeaker that he had resting against his, and which he was now using to serenade her.
"Josie-cat, Josie-cat, I've got flowers and lots of hours to spend with you!" Jerome sang, presenting a boquet of flowers from the innards of his jacket. "Josie-cat, Josie-cat I'm so thrilling and you're so willing to care for me!" At that, Josephine smiled, mirroring that wide grin Jerome bore. He handed her the flowers, bowed his head, and strutted toward the bar. Toward Oswald and Jocelyn. Jerome turned after a few steps, and began to walk backwards. "Josie-cat, Josie-cat, you're delicious and if all my wishes come true-" Jerome paused, swiveling his loudspeaker down from his mouth, as he himself turned in a circle. "I'll soon, be kissing, your sweet little pussycat lips!" he finished darkly, staring straight at Jocely with two fingertips pressing into the arch of his lips. A look of disgust wrinkled Jocelyn's face propelling Jerome to laugh. "What's new pussycat?" he greeted haughtily.
"Whoa-whoa." Oswald piped. "Have you finished your fun Jerome?"
Jocelyn's face flushed, both Jerome and Oswald saw it. Josephine saw it too, and if it weren't for the sense of europhia clouding her mind, she may've become upset. But ever since she had smelt the flowers Jerome had given her, Josephine wasn't feeling much of anything. In a daze, she sat down on one of the tabletops, holding the bouqet of flowers loosely in her lap. She watched how her twin's face changed hues of she began to laugh silently, her body seizing with each chuckle.
Oswald found it noteworthy that although her twin was in deress, Jocelyn did not rise from her seat. She did however, glare menacingly at the clown prince of crime.
"What did you do to her?!" Jocelyn demanded.
Jerome mimicked her glower, then innocently glanced over his shoulder at Josephine. "Oh, just a bit of Joker gas - nonlethal dose of course. All the buzz, none of the brainsplattering side-effects." he explained. When he met Jocelyn's gaze again, he grinned widely and plucked the flower from his breastpocket. "Wanna taste?"
Instantly, Jocelyn smacked his hand away from her face. "Why?" she asked tersely.
"Why?" Jerome echoed, his face scrunching in false bewonderment. "Beeeecaaausssee," he drew the word out."You're a sourpuss." Jerome laughed at the glower Jocelyn gave him. "Oooohhh you meant, why'd I gas Josie? Well." Jerome snaked an arm around Jocelyn's shoulders. "I'll be honest with you Joce. I don't have an answer." Jerome giggled, holding her tight.
Standing, Jocelyn shrugged free of Jerome, her hazel eyes on Oswald. "If you want this arrangement of ours to be a longterm thing, you'll keep this psycho away from my sister." she warned.
"Hey. Words hurt." Jerome responded. The minute Jocelyn turned around, Jerome whacked her on the back of his head with his loudspeaker.