<div class="floatleft">(http://i132.photobucket.com/albums/q15/doogieporker/94uqfb7x0ihp3724e256.jpg)</div><br/><strong>Character: Desmond King<br/><br/>Location: Lola's Saloon - Bar<br/><br/>Time of day: Night<br/><br/>Tagging: Lola<br/></strong><br/><br/><br/>Desmond smirked at her reply, watching her move around him toward the bar, the bartender handing her a glass of something that looked far too sweet to be in any way enticing. Still, he stood quietly, watching the tonic pass her lips, and for the briefest of moments, he envied the glass in her hand. He listened as she spoke, his dark eyes studying her own, his attention only briefly taken from her by the ruckus the young saloon girl caused when she fell squarely on her backside. Desmond eyed the girl sidelong for a moment, then turned back to Lola, his amused expression surely informing her of his thoughts before he could speak.<br/><br/>"Ah, but change is everything," he said, leaning against the bar as he watched her. "Towns like this grow and become cities, proper bastions of civilization, instead of hole in the ground dust holes like this. The silver this place is known for will run out, sooner or later, and where will the saloon be then? Eventually, your customers will pack up and leave town, headed to brighter pastures. The supplies will stop coming. The law will stop seeing support from the government, and hungry cowboys will descend on this saloon like a pack of wolves on a wounded deer. They'll tear it apart, whore out your girls, and I hesitate to think what they would do to you."<br/><br/>Desmond turned away from her then, puffing on his cigar again, the smoke framing him like a murky halo. The hustle and bustle of the place seemed to have quieted somewhat, those closest to him to hear his offer having listened to his words afterword. The somber sentiment of Lola's no longer being their home away from home was a lingering threat, many of them knew, and even Hank, for all his cheer, stared hard at Desmond, but said nothing. They all knew how the west worked. Towns like Silver City came and went, with only barren, abandoned shacks left to mark their passing.<br/><br/>"But we could avoid all that, here and now," he said, lifting his hat to run his hand through his long, dark hair before settling it back on his head. "With but a signed contract and a simple transaction. You can save these girls from a life of misery and abuse. Some of these gals look like they've already lived that life to one degree or another. The blonde there, and the indian girl. They've got a few miles beneath their feet, I can see that. Do you want them to have to go back to that place? Or your new girl there..."<br/><br/>He turned, looking to Babydoll as she came near, his dark eyes passing over her fresh, young body before he turned back to Lola.<br/><br/>"What about her?" he asked, lowering his voice and leaning in closer so that the young girl did not hear. "She'd be quite the catch for a band of cowboys that have been out riding herds for three months. What do you think would happen to her pretty young face? They'd probably cut her up just to keep others from wanting her. You really want to put her through that kind of abuse?"<br/><br/>Desmond did not back away as he finished speaking, lingering close to Lola. He loomed over her, like a vulture over fallen prey. He was a hungry mountain lion and she was a skittish deer, and every ounce of his being radiated that predatory nature. His demeanor was calm and relaxed, however, without a hint of malice. He reached out, one hand brushing her dark hair, and he stared at the creamy skin of her slender neck, carnal thoughts passing through his mind. She smelled like a woman should smell, he thought, fresh and pampered, ready for a man to have his way with her. His fingers toyed with her hair for a moment, before he pulled his hand back and settled back to his place at the bar.<br/><br/>"Nobody wants to see that happen, Lola." he said. "I'm trying to protect his town. I want to see it grow and prosper, and the only way I can do that is by working with the locals. But you're different. This saloon caters to everyone, as long as they can pay. There are secrets passed here, stories told over drinks, men bragging to your girls about this deed or that to try to impress them. And where secrets are shared, men like myself can make a profit. If you won't sell me this saloon, then I'll make you another offer. Be my partner. Together we can make sure that Lola's Ladies don't end up the slaves of some ruthless cattlemen passing through, or scalped by the indians. Help me get to know the secrets Silver City has to offer, and we'll both become very, very rich."