There is some strong language in this chapter.
I own nothing. I am writing this for shits and giggles.
~The Bartender~
In a dim-lit back room of the cabaret club, there are as many as fifteen people rushing in and out of a dressing room directly behind the large stage. All of them are in continuous search for anything to be imagined- props, shoes, leather, whips, hats, wigs, glitter, confetti filled guns, boa's, feathered tails, and makeup. If one can name it, it is being sought after by one of the many, many lovely ladies that make up the entertainment ensemble of M's Orchid. Because the lustful, yet tasteful shows are performed every single night, the back room atmosphere is always rushed and worrisome in the beginning of each evening. They all race the clock as they try to finish getting ready before their first number. It's so chaotic that no one is paying attention to who says what. Everything is mumbled in an endless cluster of anger and frustration.
"-I can't find that stupid pink bustier-"
"-Don't touch my eyeliner-"
"-This fuckin' wig never fits right-"
"-All the goddamn boa's are tangled!-"
"-Ow!-"
"-Hairspray, anyone?-"
"-I need a glue-gun-"
"-Shit-"
"-Use your lady words-"
"-I can't find my stiletto-"
"-Up yours-"
"-That's more like it-
"Hey," a girl with a very short black bob starts, "you guys hear about Cassie last night?"
"Everyone can hear Cassie at night." A snide comment is made. Laughter shortly follows.
"Nah, for real. I heard she got promoted last night." The black bob says to the group while gluing a set of eyelashes on her face.
"-Nuh-uh!-"
"-No she didn't.-" Various voices bleed through each other.
"Swear to God she did. Heard it from Marvin up front, today. He says he heard her talkin' to Monty and Michelle about it."
"-Is that why she's not here?-"
"-Well what the fuck-"
"-She's not even a good dancer-"
"What we're ya doin' talkin' to Marvin?" A redhead asks the black bobbed girl.
"None ya damn business, that's what." Her eyes roll.
"You know, I don't get it." Another young woman with white hair and dark skin suddenly changes the subject on the large group of women. "I am one of the sexiest mothafuckers in all 'a New York, right? I'm makin' good money, I'm not livin' in the shit side of town, and somehow, I still can't find a fuckin' boyfriend anywhere. What the hell am I doin' wrong?" Her strong New York accent is thick as she starts to put on her rosy red blush.
"-Well, what're you lookin' for on a man?-" Another dancer randomly asks.
"Somethin' decent."
"-Can ya be more specific?-" A third jumps in.
"Aww, ya know," the white-blonde's voice pinches at the room full of other New York natives, "nice, romantic, cute, but not too cute; faithful, yet flirtatious; Someone not incredibly stupid..."
"-There are lotsa guys out there like that.-" Another voice seeps through.
The blonde narrows her eyes. "And straight." All of the ladies groan in agreement, nodding and chuckling at the notion that this is apparently a rare thing to find around them.
The blonde continues. "I mean, why? Why's it so hard?"
"-You can always bat for the other team, ya know.-" in chimes another dancer.
The blonde's hair flips back. "The fuck you mean by that?"
"-You know..." a dancer giggles.
"Pet the rose-bud-"
"-Find a scissor-sister-"
"-Taste the rainbow-"
"They're telling you to become a lesbian, Constance." Says the dressing room ringleader Sarah Williams; a woman with a light skin and brunette hair. She smiles as she pushes through the crowd to sit next to the blonde looking for this sudden and crucial answer to life. "I say fuckin' go for it." The woman wiggles her eyebrows at the notion.
"Not exactly my area of expertise, Sarah." Constance's attitude points to her new voice of reason.
"I mean hey, "La Vie Boheme" and shit, right?" Sarah shrugs as she starts to twist her medium length hair into a makeshift knot to finish her makeup.
"Sarah, when the fuck did you get here?" The redhead asks as she leans in on Sarah's shoulder.
"What do you mean? I've been here." Sarah lies as she continues to quickly apply her makeup.
"Is that what you're gonna tell the evil M's?" Lola dismisses as she walks away.
"Sarah," Constance turns to the hourglass figured beauty, "what's your secret?"
"What secret?" Sarah pays careful attention to the mirror as she remembers the group topic. "Wait-are other women into me?" Sarah smiles shoving a shocked hand to her chest as she looks to the girls.
"There's only one woman in Sarah's life." A dancer giggles.
"You got that right." Sarah praises. "And she gets to relax in bed with friends over while I get to work my ass off." Sarah's smile can be seen as she opens a large compact of colorful eye shadow.
"-You love it!-" Another shouts.
"Well... I love her," Sarah admits as she slows her makeup movements, "but... fuck this job," she scoffs as every voice in the room roars in vigorous agreement.
Constance continues, "Sarah, men are crawlin' all over ya, night in and night out."
"Yeah," Sarah's eyes roll with an exasperated sigh. "They're all over you, too."
The other girls start to raise their voices. "-Nope.-"
"-Not like you, they're not.-"
"It's just..." Constance grunts in frustration. "Like, why do you get all the boys when you don't give a shit?"
"Because she don't give a shit." The redhead enters the conversation. "And she's an utter bitch."
"Damn, Lola." Sarah looks offended to the redhead.
"What- is that a lie?" Lola looks to Sarah with attitude.
"Hey, I give a shit..." Sarah says as she continues to finish her eyes. "I give a shit for that promotion." All the girls clap and snap at her proclamation of truth.
"Sarah's a fuckin' beast." another girl chimes in. "You know how she's always treatin' the men like trash and throws men out and shit? Men love it when women treat them like crap."
"I do not throw them out."
The whole room buzzes in disagreement. "-Oh! Please!-"
"Okay fine- there was that ONE time..."
"-What a fuckin' lie.-" The comments continue to buzz.
The girl with the black bob enters. "Sarah, none of us even knew your name until you broke that one guys nose and threw him out on the concrete after he slapped your ass. Remember?" Laughter ensues.
"Sarah, you might as well be a bouncer here." Lola says as the small crowd of women roar in giggles.
"Alright alright-" Sarah calms them all down. "-yet, for some stupid reason, they keep commin' back for more." She looks to Constance in disgrace of their clientele.
"-Yeah, it's wired in their tiny little stupid-ass brains.-"
"See?" Constance slaps her knee in frustration. "That's what I'm talkin' about!"
Sarah flips her hair to toss and style it. "Hey. You want 'em? You can have 'em!"
"-Well we would if you didn't hog all the lead roles.-" a disembodied voice adds.
"Hey!" Sarah points to the culprit of the last comment. "Say it with me- pro-mo-tion." Sarah pronounces each syllable.
"We all want that promotion." Lola finishes.
"Do ya still think any more promotions are gonna come out after Cassie?" Constance asks as she finishes her mascara.
"Dunno," Sarah shrugs, "I still haven't been able to figure out this little promotional pattern," she admits.
"Yeah. It's like they just give them out whenever they want." Lola dismisses.
"And they're hire whoever they want, too." A comment was shouted from the group.
"What does that mean?" Sarah turns to the voice in the crowd of women.
"Haven't met the new guy, eh?" Constance shakes her head distaste.
"Oh, God." A girl with blue hair face-palms at the comment.
"New guy?" Sarah's interest is peaked. She can't wait to hear how bad this one is.
"-He's our new bartender.-" The whole room groans, much to Sarah's surprise.
"Oh, you have GOT to catch me up." Sarah looks to the blue haired girl with a grin.
"Oh, you mean the pompous blonde dude with the obnoxious accent?" A girl with pink highlights chimes in.
"Heard he was Monty and Michelle's cousin from outta town." Constance adds.
"Yeah?" Sarah's evil grin perks with her brow.
"Okay ladies," booms a very familiar and hated voice from the other side of the dressing room door. "Are we decent?" the voice continues with a knock at the door. More groaning can be heard through the room as the door swiftly opens. Montgomery stands in the doorway. "I sure hope not," his smile is lecherous and lacking in charm. Everyone rolls their eyes as he waltzes on in to the girls' space. "Chop chop, my little turtle doves. We have a full seven minutes until curtain is up." He says as the girls shove him one way or another, clearly indicating that they do not want him in this room. Waltzing on through, he continues, "Aah, this room is just radiating in love. Whatever is an owner to do?" He tries to grab a hug or two, but he is avoided and even hit in the gut. Shaking off the ladies, as they are clearly playing hard to get, the tall charcoal haired man notices Sarah within his eyesight and smiles as he lingers his way towards her.
"Marking your territory again, Monty?" She doesn't have to see him in the mirror to know that he is approaching her.
"Was that a pathetic attempt to harm my emotions, Ms. Sarah?" He slowly approaches her chair and leans his body weight on it.
"I'm just warming up for my alcohol-induced audience." Sarah switches makeup instruments. "Michelle will kill you if she sees you trying to peek in this hen house with your carnivorous, dog-like eyes." Her tone is less than amused.
"Mmm, kitty has claws tonight." He playfully scratches in her direction. "Good."
She doesn't even give him the satisfaction of looking at him. "You're past your prime, Monty. You wish you could get the action in here." Sarah has no shame with her words.
"Are you trying to hurt my feelings?" He dramatically side steps to her direction in sarcasm.
"Can't hurt the feelings of a heartless carcass." Miscellaneous voices around them catch her burn.
"Ooh," he hums as he dares to lean in closer towards her. "Someone's in a good mood tonight."
"It would be even better if you got the hell out of my mirror." Her words pierce his ears as she elbows him out of the way.
"Aren't you being a little bossy to the person that writes your check?"
"You don't write my check. Your sister does." Her sass clears the misunderstanding. "But if you value the hand you write with, you will make sure it will stay away from my ass before I break it off and shove it up yours." She looks down to see his hand exactly where she thought it'd be.
"But I do have a word in who gets the yearly promotion." His grin grows exponentially as he looks to her through the mirror. He sees her demeanor change in an instant. Everyone gives the same reaction when he brings up that magic word. "Though, I do love it when you talk dirty."
Sarah scoffs in disgust. She bites her tongue as she keeps all of the other derogatory comments she has in store just for him. Giving in, she turns to him, hatred oozing from her body language. "What do you want?"
"Oh, giving up so soon?" He stands fully erect, holding onto her shoulder as if he just told his pet to heel. "Can't I just come up and express my love to all my lovely ladies of the night without any condescending presumptions?"
"No." All of the girls shout in unison.
"Okay fine." His grin falters. "Because you are all such good little girls, I have come to offer you all a deal."
"A deal in which we flail our bodies at some investor that you want us to help make feel right at home?" Sarah's voice rises in anger as she steps away from the mirror to finish dressing. "We are not some slutty telegrams for your sleazy rich investors out there, you son of a-"
"Sarah!" Constance calls her out from behind. Sarah turns to see her mouthing the word 'stop', warning her to cool it. She looks to Lola behind Monty mouthing the word 'promotion' as an incentive to shut her mouth.
"Would you like to listen?" Monty's voice remains calm. He locks eyes with Sarah. She remains silent. "I am asking a different kind of request."
"Yeah," Sarah scoffs, "What would you like us to do?" She crosses her arms.
His smile holds a darker tone. "I take it some of you have met our new recruit this week?" He looks around the room as ears perk at the question.
"You mean your "cousin"?" Lola asks, quoting with fingers in the air.
"Yes."
"Yeah I met him," Constance says with regret in her voice. "He's an undercover European Prime Minister that asked for my hand in marriage."
"What?" Monty's eyes grow, as does the chatting in the room. "Is that what he told you?"
"That's funny," Lola steps in, "because he told me that he was a famous author that was lookin' for inspiration for his new romance novel, then asked ME to marry him."
The girl with pink hair becomes vocal, as well. "He told me he was a musician and could play twelve instruments. Then he asked if I wanted to be his thirteenth." The girls laugh at that one.
The girl with blue hair adds her experience. "Well he tried to tell me that he was a Buddhist monk. Apparently he has been celibate for years and wants to find a woman to bear his children so they can continue the incredible and important tradition." The girls continue to bicker. The stories don't seem to end.
Montgomery is dying of laughter, holding his gut in remorse. "This is bloody glorious."
"How long was I gone, exactly?" Sarah looks around the room.
"Sarah," Monty looks to her as he tries to settle his laughter, "I would love it if you could welcome him in the only way you can." Monty lowers his gaze to her.
Her eyes meet his as her brow perks."...You mean-"
"Total and absolute sabotage." Monty makes his words clear. "I want you to make him regret ever walking into this building."
Sarah's demeanor changes from ravenous to surprised at the sudden change in her boss' attitude. "Well, you gotta love family." A smile returns on her face. "Remind me never to marry into yours." She purses her lips at her own statement. "But I am not in the finale tonight. It's my early night remember? I have to get home to-"
"Oh... You can't stay away from your... pet for more than a moment can you? God's know that you spent enough time this whole damn week with it." Sarah looks to him with a perplexed look on his face.
"Monty. I can't."
He pulls out a wad of cash from his pocket. "There is an extra grand, for each and everyone here tonight, if you can make him cry."
"Jesus," Sarah says as she goes to the mirror to straighten out her bustier, "What did this guy do to you?" She asks as she plucks the bulk of cash from his hand and sticks it in her bra.
"The clod is here saying that my sister and I have inherited our... "family business." Monty's attitude spills out of him. "Sadly for him, I'm afraid that isn't going to be possible."
"And what business is that?" Sarah leans in on a hip as she crosses her arms.
"Does it matter?" Monty asks, mimicking Sarah's stance. "I want him to see what my business can do, and why Michelina and I are not available for barter."
"Monty I-"
"Hell, I'm in." Lola says offering her hand out for pay.
"Me too," Constance says copying Lola.
"Same here-" Almost every other girl agrees as they all offer their hands out for payment. Monty looks to Sarah in a shrug.
"What do you say?" He asks as he pulls out a bigger wad of cash from his chest pocket. Sarah looks around the room full of the ladies who have been shamelessly hit on by this con-artist. Sighing in irritation, she lifts her hand up to her forehead for an upcoming headache, and wearily gives in. "And did I mention the potential for advancement?" Monty adds. "There just might be a promotion in this."
'Damn it.' Sarah can't afford to turn this down. "What's his name?" She sighs.
Monty's smile is the most irritating thing to Sarah. "Call him Jay."
"Oh, fuck me- alright ladies. Let's come up with a plan. We have a whole... 3 minutes to come up with something good-" Sarah gathers the girls in for a huddle.
Monty's work is done as he smirks his way out of the dressing room. Bursting through the double doors into the main hall, he blends himself right into the dozens of people that crowd the room. The temperature from one area to the other drastically changes. The volume of voices almost numbs his ears as he sees many familiar faces. He waves his hellos and pats the backs of many a friend and foe. He rushes around the room to everyone he can possibly know and plays the lovely host to the many rich people that populate the most expensive seats in the house. Looking up, he sees the sound and stage men giving the ready sign that the show is about to start. Monty nods in agreement as he makes his way back towards the bar.
Montgomery immediately regrets going to the bar. "Jareth." The male twin forces a smile upon seeing his frustrating cousin.
Jareth's tone carries the same demeanor. "Would you like a request?"
"This was your idea, Jareth. You don't have to be here- two gin and tonics."
"Oh, yes I do." Jareth says as he grabs two glasses to prepare.
"Don't you have something better to do with your life?" Montgomery looks to his cousin with disdain.
"Like what?" Jareth asks as he garnishes the drinks.
"Oh, I don't know... Running a Kingdom?"
"There are many that require a kingdom to be run, not just me." Jareth grabs a big bottle of gin. "You would know that if you grew up and did your job."
"How about stealing babies?"
"I'm sorry, but I don't desire to steal from your bed." Jareth mixes the alcohol with a sly grin.
"Causing the extinction of numerous vile creatures?" Montgomery grits his teeth.
"Is that what you call your customers?" Jareth places the drinks on a tray.
"Some ruler you turned out to be." Monty says grabbing the tray.
"Well, if you think you could do a better job-" Monty walks away before Jareth can finish his sentence. Watching the young one walk away, he slowly shakes his head in disapproval of the irresponsible little git and moves on to other matters in his mind. He needs information, and he needs it now. Jareth has already wasted two days and has gotten nowhere. He needs to find what he needs and fast. He has tried going about this all alone, but is painfully clear that one person can not do it alone in this human hell. He needs help. But where does he get it?
Jareth slowly taps at his chin with a pen at hand. His head is turning in a thousand directions. He is lost in thought as a waitress comes up.
"I need three Cosmos. And hurry, I needed them five minutes ago," she says, through the verbose gum chewing in her mouth. Waiting on the order, she pulls over a newspaper that was sitting on a seat next to her to look at the front picture. Looking to her, Jareth darts his eyes to size the room, and decides to try a different approach.
He rests his elbows on the bar right in front of her. "Hello there-"
"Oh please," Her whole body rolls away from him.
"Might I ask you a question?" He is persistent.
"Let's see if I can answer any. No, I don't want a 5 star massage, I am not attracted to secret agents, I am not looking for my lobster, and I have a boyfriend. So do us both a favor and make the damn drinks and oogle your beady little eyes onto something that isn't my ass, mmkay?" She shoves the paper right in his face as she turns her gaze towards the crowd to avoid his face.
Sighing a heavy sigh, he regains his composure as he pulls the paper from his face. News travels fast in this world. He wanted to sound like he wasn't accomplishing anything to throw his cousins off guard, and Jareth has learned that with gullible humans, it is an easy feat to look stupid. He is never going to live any of this nonsense down. He wonders what he is doing with his life. Why does he have to stoop to this level to protect his case? Is Jareth really this desperate to find out what he needs to know? If his life weren't on the line, he would just go home, but he just can't. Shaking his head in disappointment of himself, he gazes down to the paper at hand.
"Wait..." he speaks to himself, eyes squinting at the image in front of him.
It is to Jareth's surprise that M's Orchid is apparently the main headliner of this week's paper. Opening the page, his eyes grow.
He sees the titles as well as the pictures that follow.
Just as he starts to read the title "M's Orchid's Freshly Picked Leading Lady" the lights dim throughout the building. Jareth knows through learning the club's routine that this means the show is about to start. He folds the paper up and hides it under the bar knowing that he will not be able to see anything in it once the show starts.
This cabaret club is something of little interest to Jareth. Though he can enjoy a promiscuous show moment every so often, he is quite old fashioned and set in his ways. These little shows prove to be boorish and thoughtless as women parade their bodies around the ravenous and mindless human pigs as they throw money to their feet. They don't get paid because they are talented, but because they show just about everything that has been given to them under the sun. He thinks that it is quite disrespectful to women out in the human world, and he starts to remember why the human perception of females is the way it is.
He has little respect for these human women, even less of the men.
He is about to doze off into his own thoughts to plan his next move right before the luscious red satin curtains open to show the girls- er... girl.
Usually the evening starts with an entire ensemble of partly nude dancers, but tonight the show starts with only one woman, and with the loud roar among the audience, Jareth assumes that this is a well loved creature, indeed.
"Guess who's back?" The single woman speaks.
Jareth's jaw drops, ever so slightly. He... He knows this girl...
Wait, no.
He knows this woman.
'It can't be...'
She starts to sing. It is a slow song with each note riding on every word. The lyrics murmur through her deep vocal chords about how "men don't do right" and it is hypnotizing. She leisurely walks with a long and dark shimmery dress that perfectly silhouettes her gorgeous figure as it reaches to the floor. As she takes her long strides down the stage, the train of her dress rides behind her like the rippling tides of the black sea. Her stage presence, along with her apparent indoor fame causes utter silence in the building, with the exception of a whistle or two. This is not something that Jareth has witnessed during the duration of the two days that he has had to survive here. He is quite perplexed by the utter silent attention the audience pays to...
"Sarah." He, too, catches himself unknowingly watching as she glides from one gentleman to another in the front row seats. As soon as a hand nears her, she playfully slaps it away as she dances around the guests.
"Don't think you'll get anywhere with her." The waitress spins back around. "Her right hook will make you fall flat on your face- you got my drinks yet?" Her chewing gum disgusts Jareth as he scoffs. He decides to just walk out and away from the bar. "Hey! Yo! What the hell are they payin' you for?" The waitress flips him off for leaving his post to talk to the other bartender.
Jareth needs to get away from here.
As he passes the twin's office, he hears some muffled voices, but one of them does not sound too happy. This naturally causes come curiosity, as he slows to a halt. Though fighting definitely is not foreign to these two, he can't help but wonder what Montgomery did this time to warrant this tone from his sister counterpart.
He can hardly contain himself. Giving into his urges, he leans up against the door to listen in.
"Of all the thoughtless... idiotic..." Michelina throws her hands up in the air
"What's wrong with it?" Montgomery asks in a similar rage.
"What's wrong with it?!" She asks with rage in her eyes. She forcefully pulls up a newspaper and continues to read on, ""M's Orchid" is among the latter of all things nocturnal and naughty. It is not just any Cabaret club that can be found among any stormy street in New York City, but the greatest underground city that is filled with drink, smoke, and endless entertainment, for those who can afford it -" What in the seven hell's were you thinking?!"
"We ARE a form of entertainment! It is needless not to put ourselves out there. Things are different now. We need people!"
"I know we need people!" This causes her to slightly pause. "But this is- it's- Gods, this is absolutely moronic. How are we going to fix this?"
"Fix what? Nothing's going to happen. We're just a club."
"WE are not just any regular club, you imbecile!" Michelina up and slaps her brother upside the head with the paper. "Did you forget that we have a little something called MAGIC? We can't be this thoughtless."
Montgomery remains calm, grabbing his hysterical sister by the shoulders. "Do you have any idea how much this will help us?" He slows his speech to try to make her understand.
"That's what you say every damn time you do this, Montgomery. And every time, something happens to us!"
"We're going to be fine. I have a few alibi's. It won't be like last time."
"Or the time before that, or the time before that," she huffs. "This just great, Montgomery because with all of this business flowing in from this hell begotten world, you also just added another huge target on our backs."
"You let your biggy-wiggy big brother take care of the big baddies, okay?" His baby talk makes Michelle gag as she pulls herself away from him.
"I am so close to killing you, it's not even funny."
"Everything's going to be fine."
"If anything happens to this place-to my girls, I am going to kill you."
"Noted," he finishes as a knock is heard from their door. They both deeply inhale to end their discussion upon the noise.
"What is it?" Michelina has no desire to deal with workers.
The door opens to Jareth. "Good evening, my adoring loved ones."
"Gods, just what I needed," Montgomery dismisses with a hand through his hair as he sits in his chair.
"I trust that you two are having a splendid night," Jareth says as he leisurely makes his way to one of the guest seats available.
"Oh yes, just peachy." Michelina darts her hate ridden eyes to Monty.
"What do you want, Jareth?" Montgomery holds his head for an upcoming headache.
"You sure do have a full house tonight." Jareth says motioning towards the door.
"Well, Saturday's tend to have that effect here." Michelina says as she pulls out a plan to start working on something to get her mind off of their fight.
"What's the matter, old chap? Can't keep up?" Montgomery asks as he leans back in his chair to get comfortable.
"I just experienced something very interesting," Jareth adds as he, too, makes himself comfortable.
"That makes two of us." Michelina eyeballs her brother as she can't seem to let go of their argument.
"And what was that, Jareth?" Montgomery urges him to continue.
"I just had the honor of seeing tonight's leading lady," Jareth crosses his legs with ease, "and my goodness, I seem to feel a little bit of a Déjà Vu."
The twins look to one another, previous grudges shoved away in an instant. "Is that so?" Michelina asks.
"Tall, lovely brunette creature out there commanding everyone's attention?" Jareth sits in thought. "She does look eerily familiar."
"Does she now?" Montgomery asks as he tries to hide a smile.
"I was hoping that you two could help me jog my memory a bit." Jareth looks to him with the most knowing face, and eyes that could kill.
"You mean Miss Sarah Williams?" Montgomery starts.
"Well known as "The Hen Mother", with the girls around here." Michelina continues.
"Been working for us just under five years, now."
"Has she?" Jareth slowly nods. "Then why is she just now showing up, not just on stage, but apparently in the paper as well?" He nods his head towards the newspaper on their desk.
"She has been away on personal leave." Michelina states
"This is her first night back in a week." Montgomery finishes with a smile.
"This is an interesting change in events, isn't it?" Jareth can plainly see through their innocence.
"Why is that?" Michelina shrugs.
"You don't... happen to know one another, do you, Jareth?" Montgomery sarcastically asks.
"Why, this is very serendipitous, indeed." Michelina can't help but to chuckle.
Jareth nods in understanding. "And exactly how long were you going to let this farce commence before telling me this information?"
"We thought it'd be best to leave it up to fate." Michelina's smile finally creeps up.
Jareth's face lowers, "Is that so?"
"MONTGOMERY!" A very sudden and brash voice shouts from the hallway. There is little time to prepare for the unexpected open burst of the office door.
In storms Sarah in the same gown she stood in on stage. "What the living fuck is this?!" She has, yet another copy of the days paper crumpled up in her hands. She slams the article down on the desk to show her boss.
"Ms. Williams, how kind of you to-"
"We had a deal, Monty! When you spout pointless shit to the paper, you leave me the fuck out of it! I told you!"
"What?" Michelina looks to him in shock.
"Ms. Williams, you need to stay calm-"
"No!" she refuses Montgomery's rebuttal. "This is a breech in my contract! I told you that I wanted nothing to do with this! You said what if I kept this shit to myself that I would NOT be added to this goddamn article! You are a liar and a sleaze and I fucking quit!"
Michelina looks to Sarah with a small and apologetic grin. "Nice try, Ms. Williams, but there will be no cuts in anyone's contracts today." Her voice robs Sarah's previous tone of any importance. "Besides. Aren't you trying to get the promotion available?"
"But Michelle this is-"
"No buts," her kind voice quiets the young woman, "he has already had an earful from me. And he is going to getting much more after we are done with one of our meeting-" she points to the gentleman in the chair that sits directly behind Sarah. Jareth's grin at the situation brings Montgomery's blood to a boil.
"Now, please leave. We are in the middle of a meeting." Monty's voice bleeds through his teeth.
Sarah's anger grows even more. How are they not more angry with her? Her anger boils her blood. "Oh, am I interrupting something?" Sarah doesn't even bother to turn around to see who's behind her. "I will formally apologize to your guest after I hang you by the-"
"Say all you want, Ms. Williams. You're contract is not being terminated, tonight."
There is a brief moment of silence in the room. "Ugh!" Sarah screams as she quickly storms out of the room completely missing whomever the hell had been sitting behind her the whole time. She mutters something under her breath about murder and needing a cigarette and slams the door behind her.
Jareth's eyes are wide and full of surprise. He looks to the door and back to the twins as Montgomery's head seems to throb in pain.
"See what sneaking around does, Montgomery?"
"It lengthens the leashes on all of the bitches."
"That one will kill you. I'll give her a raise after we hide the body."
"Well..." Jareth chimes on in. "Things certainly have become more interesting." The gears are steadily turning in his head.
"Why is that, dear cousin?" Michelina asks.
Jareth decides to keep his thoughts to himself. "I'll see myself out. There are plenty of people out that need an instigator for their disgusting drinking habits." He leaves in an instant, leaving the twins to their sinister thoughts and evil grins. He's right where they want him, and he he knows it.
x+x+x+x
Backstage, Sarah bursts through the door in rage. Her anger can be felt all throughout the building as she rushes to her coat and searches through all the pockets. Her mind is filtering out every bad word to scream, and every single scenario she can possibly think of to do with Monty as soon as she has the chance to. "I'm screwed. I'm so screwed. I am never going to get that goddamn promotion. Why do I open my big mouth? I need a cigarette."
"-Yo, Sarah. Chill the fuck out.-" One of the ladies shouts.
"Does anyone have a cigarette?" She dismisses whomever just spoke as she starts to search through some cubbies by the coat rack.
"-Sarah, you're gonna be fine. Just calm down.-"
"Does. Anyone. Have. A. Cigarette."
"You don't need a cigarette." Constance says pushing Sarah away from her coat. "Nothing's gonna happen. You're gonna be fine."
"Quit feeding me bullshit and please get me a cigarette."
"You're trying to quit, so no. We don't have a cigarette for you." The white haired girl speaks.
"Don't you think you're being just a little bit of a drama queen?" Lola asks. This question causes Sarah to immediately twirl into her direction.
"I know you're really not feeding me that B.S. after the shit you pulled in Starbucks today when someone failed to use soy in your motherfuckin' latte." Sarah finds her purse to sift through. "I know exactly what's gonna happen. And I am NOT putting Ellie through that bullshit again."
"-Oh, Sarah she's gonna be fine.-" Another girl dismisses her.
"And you know she loves the attention." Constance rolls her eyes as she readies for the next number.
"Yeah. Until someone tries to follow us home and try and take her away from me like last time- Jesus Christ, does no one in this room have a goddamn cigarette?!" Sarah's hands fly up through the air.
"Here," Lola says whipping one out from a pack stuffed in her bra.
"Thank you." Sarah plucks it from her fingers as Lola also gives her a lighter.
"Lola!" Constance swings to Sarah's arm.
"What? It'll shut her up."
"Sarah no-" Constance tries to pull the cigarette out of her hand.
"Constance, I really don't want to gnaw off your arm."
"-You're worryin' about nothin', Sarah.-"
"Yeah. Look, why don't you bring her here for a while and she can just hang out with us?" The blue haired beauty asks.
Sarah grabs her coat as she heads towards a back entrance to the club. "Because she works during the day, and she works very hard."
"-Naah, you're just scared that she'll like it here and run away with one of us.-" The girls chuckle in and out.
Sarah fights a smile at the truthful statement. "That, I am definitely afraid of." She pushes the back door exit open in to the night.
-S+Stardust-