Straight Lace & Whimsy [Phobetor, RedPhoenix & Wistful Dream]
<h1 id="title">Elliquiy Role Playing Forums</h1>
		<h2 id="linktree">Play-By-Post: Bondage, D/s, S&amp;M =&gt; Bondage: Human Small Groups =&gt; Topic started by: RedPhoenix on 21-01-2018, 21:05:49</h2>
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				Title: <strong>Straight Lace &amp; Whimsy [Phobetor, RedPhoenix &amp; Wistful Dream]</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>RedPhoenix</strong> on <strong>21-01-2018, 21:05:49</strong>
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				<div align="center"><span style="font-family: impact;" class="bbc_font"><br><span style="font-size: 36pt;" class="bbc_size"><span class="bbc_u">STRAIGHT LACE &amp; WHIMSY</span></span><br><br><span style="font-size: 30pt;" class="bbc_size">An <span class="rotate" style="-moz-transform: rotate(5deg); -webkit-transform: rotate(5deg); -o-transform: rotate(5deg); -ms-transform: rotate(5deg); transform: rotate(5deg);">EPIC</span> tale of <span class="rotate" style="-moz-transform: rotate(-5deg); -webkit-transform: rotate(-5deg); -o-transform: rotate(-5deg); -ms-transform: rotate(-5deg); transform: rotate(-5deg);">ESPIONAGE,</span> <span class="rotate" style="-moz-transform: rotate(5deg); -webkit-transform: rotate(5deg); -o-transform: rotate(5deg); -ms-transform: rotate(5deg); transform: rotate(5deg);">ROMANCE,</span> and <span class="rotate" style="-moz-transform: rotate(-5deg); -webkit-transform: rotate(-5deg); -o-transform: rotate(-5deg); -ms-transform: rotate(-5deg); transform: rotate(-5deg);">ADVENTURE!</span></span><br><br><br><span style="font-size: 24pt;" class="bbc_size"><span class="rotate" style="-moz-transform: rotate(-3deg); -webkit-transform: rotate(-3deg); -o-transform: rotate(-3deg); -ms-transform: rotate(-3deg); transform: rotate(-3deg);">SHE</span> came to <span class="rotate" style="-moz-transform: rotate(-3deg); -webkit-transform: rotate(-3deg); -o-transform: rotate(-3deg); -ms-transform: rotate(-3deg); transform: rotate(-3deg);"><span class="bbc_u">HOLLYWOOD</span></span> from a <span class="rotate" style="-moz-transform: rotate(-3deg); -webkit-transform: rotate(-3deg); -o-transform: rotate(-3deg); -ms-transform: rotate(-3deg); transform: rotate(-3deg);">LAND OF MISERY</span> to start a new life!<br><br><span class="rotate" style="-moz-transform: rotate(-3deg); -webkit-transform: rotate(-3deg); -o-transform: rotate(-3deg); -ms-transform: rotate(-3deg); transform: rotate(-3deg);">HE</span> came from <span class="rotate" style="-moz-transform: rotate(-3deg); -webkit-transform: rotate(-3deg); -o-transform: rotate(-3deg); -ms-transform: rotate(-3deg); transform: rotate(-3deg);">WASHINGTON</span> to <span class="rotate" style="-moz-transform: rotate(-3deg); -webkit-transform: rotate(-3deg); -o-transform: rotate(-3deg); -ms-transform: rotate(-3deg); transform: rotate(-3deg);"><span class="bbc_u">PUNISH</span></span> her for her old one!<br><br>What will the <span class="rotate" style="-moz-transform: rotate(-3deg); -webkit-transform: rotate(-3deg); -o-transform: rotate(-3deg); -ms-transform: rotate(-3deg); transform: rotate(-3deg);"><span class="bbc_u">WOMAN IN THE MIDDLE</span></span> do? Will she play by <span class="rotate" style="-moz-transform: rotate(-3deg); -webkit-transform: rotate(-3deg); -o-transform: rotate(-3deg); -ms-transform: rotate(-3deg); transform: rotate(-3deg);">THE BOOK,</span> the methods of her <span class="rotate" style="-moz-transform: rotate(-3deg); -webkit-transform: rotate(-3deg); -o-transform: rotate(-3deg); -ms-transform: rotate(-3deg); transform: rotate(-3deg);">MAVERICK MENTOR</span>, or follow her <span class="rotate" style="-moz-transform: rotate(-3deg); -webkit-transform: rotate(-3deg); -o-transform: rotate(-3deg); -ms-transform: rotate(-3deg); transform: rotate(-3deg);">HEART</span>? <br><br>You can only find out in the <em>stunning new romantic thriller</em> - <br><br><span style="font-size: 36pt;" class="bbc_size"><span class="bbc_u">STRAIGHT LACE &amp; WHIMSY</span></span></span></span></div><br><hr><br><br><div class="floatleft">(https://i.imgur.com/xesZAkk.jpg)</div>"These American title sequences, so gaudy." Veronika Arkhangelskaya sighed as she watched the voice over workers put the finishing touches on the picture she was filming. After they were done she would be up for her 'big scene.' She was starting to suspect that perhaps this wasn't the huge break that her manager had promised her.<br><br>What a weasel the man was she thought with a grimace. But when she had arrived here he was the only one who would take her as a client with some rather sketchy paperwork to show that she was the daughter of a Russian farmer in Aurora, Illinois (a place that Veronika had never been anywhere near) who was raised on her isolated farm and never managed to lose her accent. Truth be told Veronika could easily mimic a perfect American voice from three different parts of the country, but she preferred not to have to do that sort of thing anymore and instead had opted for a cover where she could just relax and speak with her more natural voice. Speaking like an American girl would come in time, she reasoned. <br><br>And so Timothy Flask, her agent who looked almost as much like a weasel as he acted, had sold her on her first 'big' role <em>The Atomic Monster of Bikini Beach</em>. A tragic tale of man's mad scientific hubris leading to the creation of a horrible creature that struck down the brightest and most beautiful in the flower of their youth! It seemed more like a cheap monster movie with a lot of gratuitous shots of girls running with a lack of support garments, but she had signed the contract and was stuck with her role. 'Carly Smith' was <em>supposed</em> to be a speaking part, the best friend of the leading lady, but the rewrites had chopped her down to one line - "help."<br><br>She felt like calling for help now, as she sat there aside the set waiting to be called on. The uncomfortable restraints on what little remained of her manhood reminded her that she had been in this bikini on set for what felt like half the day now without actually getting to do any acting. Looking around she was not the only one. Did the American directors simply use their power to keep scantily clad women about for their amusement? Bah, this land truly was every bit as decadent as Mother Russia said. Not that she minded, in fact it was quite thrilling, she just had seen herself as more of the leading lady (who incidentally was still in her comfortable trailer) rather than the eye candy extra. Next time. Next time, she promised herself, they must <em>notice</em> me as Timothy the rat keeps telling me.<br><br>Finally, it was time. She and the four other girls, all wearing similar swimsuits, got in position on the stage. The backdrop was a bright sunny day on the beach. The actual beach shots they would get later, this was just for the closeups.<br><br>"Okay, now - ACTION!"<br><br>A man with a bucket off set splashed them. The water was ice cold, the screams were not entirely fake!<br><br>"CUT! Good! Let's get a few more!"<br><br>The next half hour passed with having ice cold water splashed on her, dried off, then splashed again so that more and more screams could be shot for the editing.<br><br>"Good good, okay Veronika, your shot!"<br><br>She smiled. This was it. Her big moment, finally, her time to say the line that would cement her role as the innocent victim of the atomic monster in the hearts of moviegoers forever, the one line that she would look back and say this was the start of it all, this one little building block in - <br><br>"Oh nevermind, we've cut that line. You're done for the day girls!"<br><br>A round of claps went up. The other girls seemed happy and relieved. Veronika was aghast.<br><br>Furiously, she stalked over to the director. <br><br>"Hey good job babe," He said, giving her a congratulatory pat on the ass that she was getting far too used to.<br><br>"No no no!" She stamped her foot. "Don't you dare with the 'good job babe' to me, that was my ONLY line!" She huffed at him, furious. "How could you cut it? Where is my big break now!"<br><br>"Oh, well you know, if you're looking to have some doors opened sweetie..." the director grinned, his hand sliding up her arm.<br><br>"Pig." She snarled at him to the chuckling laughter of the men gathered around the director. She turned to leave, felt a pinch on her ass that made her squeal and turn with a glare to the even louder laughter now. The director shooed her away. Cheeks burning she stalked back to the dressing room.<br><br>Most of the other girls had cleared out already. Only the costume director, a nice American lady by the name of Sandi, or at least that's what Veronika called her, was still there. Sandi had been rather chatty and jovial with her, so much to the point that they'd started talking as friends. <br><br>"I cannot believe it!" She fumed, slamming the door shut leaving the two alone to talk. "That....that....brutish boor of a simpleton! That philastine lothario ignoramus! If we were back home I would..." She stopped. They weren't in Russia. She wasn't a spy-killer, she wasn't Norman Khramov, feared NKVD assassin anymore. That had all been left behind. After the war and the number of times she had nearly died fighting the Nazis and the Americans she had chose to embrace her real self, and when the doctor who had helped her along was arrested as a subversive she had fled before the doctor could give her up and she would be arrested herself. She hadn't had time to set up much of an alibi, but her dream of Hollywood glamour would not be denied.<br><br>She'd told Sandi a version of this, just replace being a farmgirl in Illinois with a spy-catching assassin on the Eastern Front of the Great Patriotic War, same thing really. Both situations she wished to escape to make it big. But it was going slower than she thought. <br><br>"The costume fit perfectly anyway, thank you Sandi." She sighed as she stared at her reflection. "What do you think, do I look amazing and will they demand me in every movie now once they see me do -" she mimed throwing her hands up and screaming, her wobbling chest the product of carefully position shoulder movements. She sighed as she stopped, knowing that it was a dream. <br><br>"I need better agent." She muttered as she stood to walk behind the dressing curtain to change. 
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				Title: <strong>Re: Straight Lace &amp; Whimsy [Phobetor, RedPhoenix &amp; Wistful Dream]</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Wistful Dream</strong> on <strong>06-02-2018, 02:09:48</strong>
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				<div class="floatright">(https://i.pinimg.com/564x/51/a1/58/51a158ea292ad600669c76f404d6e5aa.jpg)</div>Constance Patteron, Connie to her friends and family, wondered just how long it would take for her to get use to passing under an assumed name and working undercover as she jotted down notes about the Russian woman she had been observing under her mentor's suggestion for a few weeks now. A few weeks of working odd hours, playing off excuses to keep her new 'partner' from realizing she was ignoring the dismissive stance about the Russian spy in their midst that Captain Folsom had made very clear. <br><br>The only issue there was the fact that Connie had never been particularly good at following orders that ran counter to what she thought, though part of her lingering so long to watch Veronika Arkhangelskaya was a result of her mentor's encouragement, and very few men were as good at planting themselves and refusing to move as Peggy Carter, a very proud member of the SSR. Being the only woman who was a field agent outside of the famous Agent Carter meant that for Connie there was a rather high bar to meet. Not that most of the men in the LA office thought much more of her than a glorified errand girl, coffee fetcher and filing woman. They admired and listened to Peggy, after all that the other woman had done they could hardly not. <br><br>One day, one day, they would listen to her though. <br><br>Though if the price of getting them to listen to her was sewing for hours and hours it might not be worth it, she thought glumly as she finished off another costume adjustment on a bikini, the last of five. Her mother had taught her how to sew, and Connie wasn't ashamed of the fact that she was a wizard with a needle and thread, indeed making her own clothing had proven useful any number of times with hidden pockets in her skirts or slits in a dress bodice to carry a bit of paper or something else where no one would expect it. It just didn't feel like she was actually doing anything, and it might be far too easy to become comfortable as Sandra Thompson, fashion goddess and costume director. <br><br>Her mission though stormed through into the dressing room with an expression that made it clear she was none too happy after the days filming and Connie happily discarded both the bikini and her depressing thoughts as the door slammed and she adopted a look of concern that wasn't entirely a facade. Even if she didn't trust the Russian, aka Norman Khramov, she still found herself liking the girl, er, man. Hard to think of the slender blond as a man, considering the breasts that even now strained against the confines of the bikini top in agitation though. The rant gave her an inkling that it was the director that had upset the other woman, and the almost threat confirmed that the once spy and assassin was in fact still dangerous. <br><br>At the compliment to her work the redhead gave a shake of her head, "It's nice of you to say, but I understand the frustration. The world operates on men's views sadly." There was a hint of her own bitterness in her voice then, for the curvy redhead was constantly striving to prove that she could do everything the men of her unit did and just as well. But she was female, petite and feminine, and therefore lesser. It made her wonder why Norman had wanted to become a woman when there had to have been other ways of vanishing. <br><br>When the blond went behind the dressing screen she picked up the street clothes Veronika had arrived in and carried them over to offer around the screen's protection. "Well this is your first acting gig, right? Sometimes it just takes having one picture out to get other agents to consider." Being around the Russian had Connie increasingly conflicted, offering reassurance but also wishing the Russian would already do something to give her a chance to prove herself. Once this movie wrapped in a week or so she knew she couldn't continue her own facade. It would seem they were both living on borrowed time. <br><br>"Do you want to go for milkshakes?" The offer hopefully seemed innocent, though part of it was a gamble to try and gather more intel. 
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				Title: <strong>Re: Straight Lace &amp; Whimsy [Phobetor, RedPhoenix &amp; Wistful Dream]</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>RedPhoenix</strong> on <strong>10-02-2018, 08:04:41</strong>
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				Veronika sighed as she changed back into her regular clothes and reached out to take the <div class="spoiler_container"><div onclick="hideSecond (this);" role="button" class="spoiler_header">Cute Flared Dress</div><div class="spoiler_body">(https://i.imgur.com/sTUHGcR.jpg)</div></div> she had come to work in and slipped into it. She stepped out with her back to 'Sandi', trusting the woman to button up the back of it as she always did for the actresses who worked here. <br><br>As she did she happened to glance down at her shoulder and gasped for joy. The fraying seam that she had been worried about was completely fixed, it looked brand new. "Sandi you fixed it!" She gushed, glowing with her happy smile. "You didn't have to do that that's, oh my goodness it looks amazing!" She gushed, the moment she was buttoned up she opened her arms and wrapped them lightly around the woman, kissing the air next to each of her cheeks in happiness.<br><br>She held her close for a moment, letting herself press momentarily against the luxurious curves of the redheaded woman. She was a little shorter than Veronika, but her curves were so soft and welcoming&nbsp; like a luxurious comforting set of pillows. "You will make wonderful wife some day!" She said warmly, staring at her with a smile that might suggest she was thinking of such a prize for herself. "For a man I mean!" She said quickly. "Of course." She let go and smoothed out her dress and became very interested in fixing her hair and lipstick in the mirror for a moment.<br><br>If she was still thinking like a spy she might have been worried about a listening device or a tracker being sewn into the fabric, but she wasn't. In her mind she had left all of that behind. No more espionage and murder, it was all glamour and spotlights from here on out. Well, as soon as she became a movie star. It didn't occur to her that she'd been made by her old shadow on the Western side of the great war. If she ever had an idea that Peggy Carter had sicced her protege on her, she might have acted differently. But she figured her biggest problems were overly amorous movie directors. <br><br>"Milkshakes?" She glanced up, holding her lipstick as she smiled, a very hopeful and excited look crossing her pretty face as she smacked her lips at the mirror and put her lipstick in her purse. "Oh my yes." She said longingly. "We deserve milkshakes." She sighed happily and wrapped her long slender arm around Connie's shoulder, "Let us go!"<br><br>Veronika was all smiles as the two women walked to the little diner down the street. She laughed as the two shared stories of the boorish actors and executives they had to deal with. Veronika didn't doubt for a moment that 'Sandi' was exactly who she said she was. <br><br>A few minutes later they were sitting just inside the window on raised stools sipping milkshakes. Veronika ordered strawberry and sipped it happily. "You know there is nothing like this where I come from." She sighed happily. "And for just a few cents too." She smiled. "Well, at least if I never play more than girl who screams at the beach I can afford milkshakes." 
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				Title: <strong>Re: Straight Lace &amp; Whimsy [Phobetor, RedPhoenix &amp; Wistful Dream]</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Wistful Dream</strong> on <strong>20-02-2018, 18:47:56</strong>
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				When the blond Russian emerged in that adorable little dress Connie inwardly sighed to herself, buttoning up the garment all the while trying to ignore the urge to touch the satin smooth skin it was covering. It was a welcome distraction when the other woman thanked her for mending a fraying seem and 'Sandi' gave a shrug of her shoulders as if to dismiss it, "It was hard a minute's worth of work, but I'm glad it..." arms wrapped around her, making her breath catch, and that almost kiss further dazed her. <br><br>"I'm glad it made you happy." There was something just utterly endearing about that eager delight. <em>It's all an act, Russian spy, remember that.</em> yet reminding herself of that was harder than she would have liked as Veronika leaned into her, all long legs and gentle curves. The comment about being a wife almost had her snorting, though the look in the starlet's eyes revealed that there was attraction there. So she wasn't the only one feeling the pull, even if she was the only one who knew both of their true names. Retreating to safety of her purse and fussing with her own skirt as Veronika applied her lipstick she let herself laugh at the notion. <br><br>"I have no intention to marry, and I find I disagree far too often with most gentleman to even find flirtation appealing." She had things to do, a name to make, just like her mentor. Peggy, right, Peggy wanted a report. Which is why she had invited the Russian for milkshakes, not because she wanted to experience another hug. <br><br>Placing a smile firmly on her lips the redhead settled her purse on her shoulder and then left the dressing room with the blond. Being together meant none of the crew tried to approach them to flirt, like they might have a solitary woman. It was a relief to not have to deal with that today at least, though sadly it wasn't much better at her actual office than on the movie lot. Still, listening to Veronika animatedly share gossip about the actors on set did have her laughing, and in turn sharing a few stories of her own. Her mother had been a starlet, and she had been a carefully kept secret, but she had always been around movies and the stage, which meant she had plenty of stories to share. <br><br>Entering the diner that time of day meant it was mostly empty outside of the waitresses, and together the two women moved toward the bar to order their milkshakes, with her choosing a vanilla. "In the Midwest?" the agent politely phrased the question, wondering at how utterly convincing he was as a young, feminine starlet with big dreams. If she hadn't been told otherwise she would have believed everything about Veronika. Connie stirred her straw thoughtfully, "There are certainly advantages. Do you miss your home though? You hardly mention it."<br>
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				Title: <strong>Re: Straight Lace &amp; Whimsy [Phobetor, RedPhoenix &amp; Wistful Dream]</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>RedPhoenix</strong> on <strong>21-02-2018, 14:29:33</strong>
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				Veronika sipped her milkshake happily, as if all of her cares and troubles were dissolving into a sweet strawberry haze.<br><br>"Oh yes the Midwest." She said casually, not at all aware that her date was keeping track of the minor inconsistencies in her stories. She said it idly as she was thinking of Russia as she described it. "So cold there, nobody has much but we are supposed to be so proud of it and look down upon, well," she let out a laugh, "decadent Hollywood girls like me I suppose." She said it proudly, and truth be told she was very proud of becoming who she was now. It had taken a lot of courage and sacrifice to give up one of the better politically and financially connected positions in her homeland to come to this.<br><br>"I suppose there are things to miss." She said, sounding more like she was conceding something than truly nostalgic. "Some parts are very beautiful. It is sad I will not see them again. And there are good people there but, well, they are not allowed to speak out against the way things are. So backwards and oppressive." The fact that this was how most girls who ran away from the midwest described it was just a lucky coincidence, in her mind she was clearly describing Russia.<br><br>"But I do admit," she said with a bit of a sigh. "When I left Indiana I thought it would be more like the movies out here." She accidentally said Indiana, not Illinois. If she was still a spy in her mind she would never have made such a mistake, but to her this was just a casual milkshake with the woman who was becoming her best girlfriend in the world. She didn't realize she needed to be deceptive. In fact she was already pondering telling her the truth. Not the whole truth of course, but just that she had actually fled from Russia. Maybe she would be a politician's wife who ran afoul of the NKVD. Something like that, she started to let the lie spin in her head. At least it would be closer to to the truth. She felt bad lying to Sandi, sweet as the girl was.<br><br>"You know how in movies all the men are charming and suave and strong and handsome." She moved her shoulders and her hands as she spoke, shimmying in a manner that indicated how interested she would be in such a man, "And they are there for you and treat you right and buy you diamonds." She sighed wistfully. "Well of course you know like you say here the 'gentlemen'" it was obvious from the way she said it the word was in quotes. "All have sausage fingers and won't keep them off of you."<br><br>She reached out a hand, slender graceful fingers quite the opposite of what she'd just described, and put it over Sandi's, squeezing tenderly. "You will meet prince someday." She said with a smile. "Someone who you can agree with and spend time with and enjoy and they will treat you right and buy you all of the things you deserve and.." she realized her hand was lingering and she pulled it back and glanced away a bit nervously. But then just as qucikly glanced back with a shy smile.<br><br>"As for me." She sighed again, "I will probably settle for ogre in a few years when my looks are going if I can't get big break." She grinned to suggest it was a joke but it really wasn't. She would just have to make sure she had enough money to go to one of the doctors who could make her a complete woman first beforehand. She didn't think most American men would react too kindly to what was currently in her panties. "Maybe our husbands will live on same block and we can still meet for milkshakes." She laughed.<br><br>"Besides." She shrugged. "It is not like handsome charming strong prince will just walk in the door and come in looking for us." She shook her head and giggled once more, unaware that her word would prove something prophetic. 
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				Title: <strong>Re: Straight Lace &amp; Whimsy [Phobetor, RedPhoenix &amp; Wistful Dream]</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Phobetor</strong> on <strong>04-03-2018, 16:38:27</strong>
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				<div class="floatleft">(https://imgur.com/lyBiKCC.jpg)</div> "There you are!"<br><br>There was a look of exasperation that crossed Trevor Hoyt's dark features as he spotted Constance Patterson, his 'partner'. Partner was a bit of a stretch, he thought with a touch of anger, regarding her and who she was sitting with. Ever since they had been named partners, Connie had been dodging him and it had taken a few days but Trevor had finally tracked her down. It was bad enough that she was enjoying milkshakes while she was supposed to be on the job, it was even worse that she was assaulting someone like Veronika Arkhangelskaya, an innocent girl from Illinois who Connie was adamant was a Russian spy. <br><br>The conversation he shared with Captain Folsom in the morning made him cringe, and he wondered - for the 100th time - why it was that he couldn't simply work in the police force like he had wanted all along. Except from the casual glances he received in the diner itself, he knew why. Because he was black and even though times had changed, the mentality of some had not. He wasn't welcomed.<br><br>Not in the police force.<br><br>Not here.<br><br>Clearing his throat, knowing that he could get into a lot of trouble if he raised his voice to two American ladies, Trevor walked forward until he was right between the both of them, his eyes moving from Connie in a warning manner before he looked at Veronika, the beautiful blonde bombshell that Connie was dead set on her being some horrible spy from the war. Was she blind? Did she not know that simply because someone came from Russian descent it did not make them a spy? "Good afternoon, ladies."<br><br>As much as he wanted to grab Connie and drag her out of the diner, he knew that would NOT be the best thing to do and so instead, he clenched his teeth and looked at her, his dark brown eyes under the hat he wore giving her a warning look. She either came with him or her cover would be blown. And he knew she had a cover because Veronika was enjoying milkshakes with her, there was no way that the young woman would be so relaxed if she knew just what Connie thought of her.<br><br>Gods! They were going to be the laughing stock of the entire department, all because she couldn't do as the Captain had requested.<br><br>It was difficult for Trevor to trust her, and it wasn't simply because she was a woman. Constance had something to prove and he knew it, and while he did as well, it wasn't going to jeopardize his job. A shadow came over them and a burly man with friends in the corner was giving him a hard look. "This...gentleman...bothering you, ladies?"<br><br>Ah. Of course. The 'Calvary'.<br><br>At six feet tall with a fairly firm build, he was considered a threat. But it wasn't because of his stature, it was because of the color of his skin. He wanted to tell the old man to mind his own business, but he knew the kind of attention it would draw, so he took a step back, a respectful step away from the ladies and raised his hands to show he meant no harm. "I am simply speaking to the ladies, sir. I am not bothering them at all." Perhaps he shouldn't have entered like he was gunning for them, but the realization that Connie was defying strict orders had angered him. And that had been dangerous.<br><br>Yet another reason why women shouldn't be allowed to work in the field that he was in. They proved to be too unpredictable, a hazard to all around them. 
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				Title: <strong>Re: Straight Lace &amp; Whimsy [Phobetor, RedPhoenix &amp; Wistful Dream]</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Wistful Dream</strong> on <strong>11-03-2018, 06:00:45</strong>
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				Constance found herself well and thoroughly caught between the guidance of her mentor, who she admired more than any other woman she had met, who helped her believe in herself and the fact that she could make a difference; and the gut feeling that while Veronika was hiding more than just her country of origin and true sex she wasn't actively spying on the US for Russian intelligence. For one thing, being a 'decadent Hollywood girl' wasn't exactly the best place to pick up intel; well unless she became a plaything for one of the directors; but <em>he</em> couldn't do that considering the transformation hadn't been completed back in Russia. Still, some things just weren't adding up, like why a man with the type of power and influence the spy had possessed would give it all up to come be eye candy on a Hollywood set. <br><br>Unless being a starlet, lovely and blond and slim and perfect, was truly what the Russian wanted. <br><br>The slip up of which state the blond was suppose to be from dragged her out of the moral conflict, a slight tensing of her eyes noting the shift. No, the spy was slipping up, which meant that she was doing her job well. And this might just be her big break, her chance to prove to everyone at the SSR that she had just as much value as Peggy, that her mentor wasn't the exception to the rule, just the trail blazer. Like she would be. <br><br>It was surprisingly easy to laugh at the dramatic upset Veronika displayed for the notion of a strong, handsome man who would seep her off her feet. The laughter was only partially suppressed, hidden behind her hand as she tried to control herself. "I suppose sausage fingers would be one way to put it...." And she had experienced her fair share of that both on the set and in the office of her actual job. As if she were nothing but a token to appease Peggy, and eye candy at that. <br><br>The redhead found herself blinking in surprise when the Russian lay a soft hand over her own, speaking so earnestly that she would find a prince one day. There, beneath the girlish affections Veronika sometimes over did was an intense, fierce passion, and having it directed at her made her aware why Norman Khramov had been so dangerous in some ways. "I... have no intention to settle down like that. I'm more than what a man would make me." Though Peggy had spoken about how a man didn't negate a woman's strength, that the right male could compliment it. Like Captain America. Or Sousa. But there weren't many men like that in the world, she knew that from her part in the war. The only reason she had come to Peggy's attention was her daring flight paths and the fact that when her plane had been shot down within German occupied France she had managed to land and blend in with the locals so well no one knew who the Allied pilot was. If she could fool Nazi's for weeks and pass along information in coded letters while being hunted surely she could prove she belonged in the LA division of the SSR. <br><br>"There is more to life than belonging to a man you know...." Connie trailed off mid sentence as the familiar, if not welcomed, sound of Trevor Hoyt's voice broke through the air. Instinctively she turned toward him, a smile on her lips that would have fooled most people into thinking he was a long lost friend while her bright eyes glinted with a silent rebuke to shut the hell up. <br><br>Being assigned to the man as a partner had been a curse; he was a by the book tight ass who never wanted to do anything that would ruffle Captain Folsom which was ridiculous. If Sousa was still the Captain here it would be different. But instead she was stuck with the only other person in the SSR who was as marginally accepted as she, a black man who had served with honors in the war but wanted to prove himself so badly he would never do anything unless the Captain signed off. In other words a dead weight. "Mr. Hoyt." The look he gave her was enough for her to know he wanted nothing more than to drag her out of the diner, but she was a white woman and he a colored man who was pressing his luck coming in here for all that California was far more progressive than other states. <br><br>When a rather large man who looked like he would be comfortable with heavy machinery came to their part of the counter the redhead widened her smile and then her eyes to go with the look of confusion. Just as he hadn't given up her cover yet, she wasn't going to let him get tossed out of the diner just because he had acted out of frustration. Besides, if he owed her a little then perhaps he wouldn't go bleating to the Captain. <br><br>"Bothering us.... oh, no, no not at all. Mr. Hoyt is a good friend, and one of the best driver's to be had." Trevor would likely be furious with her later for that, but by implying that he served her it allowed her privilege of fair skin to extend to him. Hopefully he realized that, the hot head. It wasn't fair that he was so damn handsome, not that she had ever vocalized that particular opinion to anyone outside of her cat. <br><br>With an exaggerated glance at the clock on the wall she gave a little gasp, acting every bit the flighty woman Trevor no doubt thought her. "Oh, I totally lost track of time, I do suppose we will be late now. I didn't mean to worry you." slipping off the stool she withdrew the change to pay for her milkshake and tip, giving Veronika a hug, "Forgive me? I must run, we'll catch up again soon, yes?" Because handsome or ill tempered, there was nothing Trevor could do to get her to give up the task set for her. Perhaps he was worried about impressing Folsom, she was more concerned with Peggy Carter and the men who had the wisdom to listen to her. 
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Straight Lace &amp; Whimsy [Phobetor, RedPhoenix &amp; Wistful Dream]</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>RedPhoenix</strong> on <strong>13-03-2018, 04:08:41</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				The two girls laughed easily enough, although Veronika felt a bit tense at times. She had conflicted feelings for "Sandi." On the one hand, she greatly enjoyed the woman as a friend. She was so warm, open, and just as soft in her personality as she was snuggly in body. There did not appear to be a malevolent drop in her, and she was the sort of woman who Veronika would have loved to known when she was still pretending to be a man. But on the other hand, she still had those sorts of feelings for women as well. Even though in America, as in Russia, it seemed socially forbidden to act on them. But the thought of waking up to that charming face and gorgeous body every morning just set her on fire and made her pray for the strength of her lower bindings - not that much still happened down there, but if any would could ....<br><br>But from a completely different angle, she was a very good seamstress and costume maker and keeping a professional contact could be all the world of difference in getting that big break she desired so much. The last thing she wanted to do was throw it all away for a probably unwanted romantic advance. She sighed a little inside as she realized she must never act on her urges, but keep them repressed, so that Sandi never suspected how she really felt.<br><br>She was just coming to terms with this when the two giggling girls were interrupted by the exact opposite, a very stern man strode across the little diner to them. Veronika looked amazed as he approached. Not only was the man in excellent shape, with a very regal face, but he was black! There weren't any black men in Russia, at least that she had ever met, and most of her nation had never spoken to one. She had heard all sorts of rumors about their bestial nature, propaganda about how they were horrifically mistreated in America, and read books that said they were no different than anyone else. She didn't know what the truth was. She'd seen several about of course, but having never spent much time in America before her defection she had only the experience of passing a few on the street to rely on. And here was one, walking right for her? What should she do?<br><br>She would look nervous as he walked over to her. What was he after her for? Was he a big casting agent? No, his clothes were too straight laced for something like that. Oh no was it some sort of problem with her apartment? With her paperwork? She looked a bit more nervous as he approached and - oh he was here for "Sandi." She breathed a sigh of relief.&nbsp; "Good afternoon Mister." She said with a smile that was a tiny bit flirtatious as he greeted them.<br><br>She was about to say something more when they were yet again interrupted. A lummox of a man came from behind her and challenged the black man. Veronika gave him a very skeptical look. She wanted to say 'and if he was what would <em>you</em> do about it?' The lummox was not as strong, more flabby, and from the way they moved not nearly as formidable as the black man. But she knew that as much as a black man standing up to a white man was considered rude, a woman standing up to a man was even worse. Thankfully Sandi seemed to know how to handle this.<br><br>She glanced between them after Sandi's announcement though. "What?" She stammered. "This I don't believe at all." She put her hands on her hips and glared at them. Had she seen through this act? Was she onto them? Were they busted? No.<br><br>"They give you <em>driver</em>!?" She said to Sandi, sounding shocked and dismayed, her hands and shoulders falling at once. "They tell me I am not even allowed to eat more than one sandwich." She looked a bit upset at learning where she fell on the totem pole. She glanced at the man quickly, as if worried what he might think. "And it is not for waistline." She said, remembering to stick to her exaggerated accent. "I do aerobics every day." She said, straightening her back a little so that he could see all the hard work paid off.<br><br>She felt a bit foolish showing off like that, but she didn't want him thinking she was on some sort of forced diet either. How embarrassing would that be?<br><br>"Well, it was lovely to have milkshake with you Sandi." She said with a smile and a hug to her friend. "And lovely to meet you Mister Driver." She said, holding out a hand to him as they moved to leave. 
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Straight Lace &amp; Whimsy [Phobetor, RedPhoenix &amp; Wistful Dream]</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Phobetor</strong> on <strong>18-03-2018, 15:33:32</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				A driver. Trevor clenched his teeth at the demeaning job she threw upon him and if it wouldn't have raised even more questions, he would have called her a liar then and there. But, he was quickly coming to find out, that was the way of Connie. She lied as easily as she breathed. He was certain that she had been taking care of other business, but no...here she was, defying the Captain's orders. If he could bend her over the knee and swat her, he would have. Except that, it would land him in very hot waters, especially with the curious looks from everyone in the diner.<br><br>So focused was he on Connie that when Veronika spoke, Trevor turned to bid her a simple hello before he paused and let his eyes linger on her for a few moments. My, she was beautiful. The smile he offered her was much softer, almost gentle as one might speak to a respectable woman as he bowed his head respectfully, "Ma'am."<br><br>That Connie thought this woman to be a man was simply ridiculous and he wanted to rant and rave at her but he knew that now was not the time. They were in hot water - well, <em>he</em> was in hot waters - and they needed to come out of this without their cover blown. His as the 'driver' and her as...whatever the hell she was lying about. Gods above when they had placed them as partners, he hadn't understood why it was that no one wanted to work work her. Well, he had simply thought it was because she was a woman but no, no it was because Connie considered herself a junior version of the infamous Peggy Carter. Whom she said she knew and had trained under.<br><br>He was pretty sure that was a lie too.<br><br>"What she means to say," Trevor smiled as he looked at Veronika, ignoring the other man entirely, "is that I am a good friend and I am a driver...but I am not HER driver." He looked at Connie and then at Veronika before he finally looked at the other man and said quietly, "We are just leaving, sir. I am sorry to disturb your lunch."<br><br>When she straightened her back, Trevor's eyes almost glanced down to the breasts she was puffing out in display but he caught himself in time and stammered quickly, "I am sure you do." If his eyes strayed down or even lingered a little too much, the other men in the diner would think he was being forward an he would land in even hotter waters. Gods Above, it was exhausting being surrounded by such bigotry day in and day out. <br><br>Shaking her hand politely, he squeezed it as he offered her a smile, "It truly was a pleasure." Feeling like at any moment he would be kicked out, he turned and strode out of the diner expecting Connie to follow him. Oh, once they were in the car he would give her a talking to, but right now, he had to play it calm and casually. It wasn't the first time he had dealt with such ignorance and it wouldn't be the last, though sometimes he wondered why he didn't just go work and be around people who wouldn't question him because of the color of his skin.<br><br>Because you're here to make a difference, he told himself as he stepped outside of the establishment and took a deep breath of fresh air. Because no one, not even Connie Patteron, would stand between him and his dream of making a difference. <br><br>Now if she would only calm do and do as she was told, then they could work well as partners. 
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Straight Lace &amp; Whimsy [Phobetor, RedPhoenix &amp; Wistful Dream]</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Wistful Dream</strong> on <strong>25-03-2018, 04:04:09</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				Watching the blond turn her charm onto Trevor reminded Connie why she needed to be careful; part of her wanted to believe that Veronika was just what she seemed but this was a good reason to realize she wasn't. Too easily she was sparkling for another. Or perhaps she didn't want to admit she was attracted to the other woman, er, man, and that she was jealous to see that bright smile go to someone else. <br><br>Of course the actress's display about her having a driver threw them all off, for a moment she had feared Veronika had been able to tell that Trevor was an agent, not anything like a driver. "Oh, oh it's not through work." The words trailed off, forgotten when the blond arched her back a little and made her lovely chest all the more apparent in the sweetheart neckline of the dress she wore as her accent deepened. The first response the redhead had wasn't something she could name easily, but what came second was a reminder that this was all just a long running facade. She couldn't fall for this, she had to be smarter, stronger. <br><br>'Sandi' returned the hug the Russian offered, trying not to be upset at the mild flirting exchanged between her partner and her target. Was she upset because it was her investigation or because Trevor had never spoken to her so politely, seeming to find her vexing on principle, or because Veronika never flirted with her so openly? <br><br>So with one last hasty kiss to the Russian's cheek she followed Trevor out of the diner and toward the car where she sank into the passenger seat without a word and clipped her seatbelt. His anger was almost tangible, but she was tight lipped herself, shaking her head as her temper strained against her control. The car started, and she held her tongue, aware of the man still watching them out the window, that Veronika might see them and for now everything had to hold. But once they pulled away from the diner, into the flow of traffic she turned to look at him with frustration bright in her eyes. <br><br>"I know you don't believe me, and you think I'm as much an idiot and waste of space in the office as everyone else. Trust me, I get it. But I am meant for more than fetching lunch orders and filing. Surely you chafe at the same things, you aren't an errand boy but they won't give us an actual case!" Passion flushed her cheeks, made her eyes sparkle, all but vibrating with the intensity of her emotions as she unintentionally gave him an eyeful of heaving breasts against the bodice of her dress. 
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Straight Lace &amp; Whimsy [Phobetor, RedPhoenix &amp; Wistful Dream]</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>RedPhoenix</strong> on <strong>26-03-2018, 03:34:56</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				Her big warm smile went great with the pretty dress, and she marveled down at his hand as her took hers. She had never seen dark skin so close, and never thought it would be touching her like this. It felt so .... normal, which was a bit of a letdown from some of the stories she'd heard, but also better than others. His hands were calloused, hard, the hands of a working man, or one who had worked hard to get to where he was. Hers had become soft, dainty, gentle things that completely masked all that she had done with them. Aggressive cutting edge beauty treatments by her Russian doctors had set the bar, and she'd continued them with all the wonderful products that were freely available in Los Angeles.<br><br>She squeezed his hand just a bit as he greeted her and said goodbye. What a gentleman! She thought to herself, almost giggling nervously as he spoke to her - but settling on the smile instead. What a handsome, well-built gentleman. As the two of them turned around she could not keep thoughts from her mind. Thoughts of those dark hands exploring her pale skin and her new curves, squeezing, applying that obvious strength to fondle and grope, almost to the point of pain, maybe just past the point of pain - visions danced of her trying to protect her secret, but her found out, oh yes he found out, and then he bent her over and raised his hand to deliver a sharp punishment of - <br><br>Her grinning at his departing form was interrupted. Horribly interrupted by the return of the lummox. "Well looks like you're all alone." He said, stepping into her field of vision.<br><br>For a moment she could not see the Driver, just Sandi. She felt guilty momentarily for her fantasies, but it was not like she was attracted to men, right? If her mind had a studio audience it would have burst out laughing at that thought, but without them to give her the cue she continued to believe it. And double besides, Sandi would likely reject her and then she would lose a friend and seamstress! But still...the thought of her model's curves smooshed against that soft embrace and - <br><br>"I said -" the lummox interrupted again, this time provoking a hiss and a scowl from Veronika who finally glanced up at him. "-hey there gorgeous." He leaned in over here. "How about you and me -"<br><br>Whatever banal grotesquerie he had in mind in mind Veronika interrupted by raising a finger and pressing it to his lips, her painted nail visible over it as she smiled at him. She slowly stood up, pressing her body against his as she did. "I just remember, I must go give quarter to parking meter." She smiled at him. "You wait for me here I be right back?" <br><br>He nodded eagerly and took her seat as she squeezed by him and began to walk back to the studio.<br><br>A half a block away she glanced over her shoulder and reached into her purse. She pulled out a man's wallet. "So much easier as a woman," she mused without a trace of the exaggerated accent she put on earlier, "They practically hand it to you. Well Mr. Sonderberg." She said, pulling the cash from the wallet, "You will have a hard time paying for our milkshakes with no money." She grinned as she rifled through the rest of it quickly. "Hmmm." She pulled out a card. "Free hot dog with next visit." She raised her eyebrows and nodded happily and pocketed it and the money, tossing the rest into a trash can she walked past.<br><br>She had to attend to meeting at the end of the day with the director. He always wanted to meet with the cast, and then some of them individually. She hoped he didn't pick her again. Little did she realize that a very different sort of confrontation was taking place between her best friend and the gentleman who had been so charming earlier. <br><br>&nbsp;
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Straight Lace &amp; Whimsy [Phobetor, RedPhoenix &amp; Wistful Dream]</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Phobetor</strong> on <strong>26-03-2018, 04:10:50</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				He said nothing when they got in the car and drove off because he knew that if he spoke in anger or if he pointed a finger at her, the man 'knight in shining armor' would chase after them. Cop or no cop, he was a black man first and that could land him in more trouble than he could handle. Once more, the frustration which he knew a lot of his friends did not deal with because they remained within the confinements of what society allowed them. That hadn't been enough for him, it would never be enough for him. <br><br>When she turned to look at him, Trevor felt her frustration and could relate. Of course he wanted to be treated with respect, of course he wanted an actual case. These were all things that he had wanted from the moment he had become an Agent but it wasn't simple and she wasn't helping with her behavior! She acted so...completely unreliable!<br><br>"So you think that doing what you want, that going against the Captain's order is the way to show them that you're more than just the coffee girl?" Trevor snapped, wishing that she could see how foolish her actions were. "You are damaging whatever reputation you had that offered you this chance in the first place!" Why did he have to spell it out when even he knew that the best way to fit in was to do as one was told.<br><br>He shook his head with a sigh, his knuckles turning white as he gripped the steering wheel firmly, "Stop with this belief that Veronika is someone else. Leave her alone. You're getting us in more trouble than it's worth, Connie."<br><br>At the mention of Veronika, Trevor had to pause as he considered the young woman. She was beautiful, very nice indeed and she seemed completely oblivious to his skin color which was a breath of fresh air. The way she had been so polite and kind to Connie had made him feel guilty for he knew what Connie thought of her. Or rather, of him. Which was completely and utterly preposterous. She was going to make a fool of herself and because she was his partner, it would make him look completely idiotic as well.
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Straight Lace &amp; Whimsy [Phobetor, RedPhoenix &amp; Wistful Dream]</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Wistful Dream</strong> on <strong>08-04-2018, 19:02:33</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				It was clear by the tone of his voice, the tension in his handsome features that he saw her as idiotic. Connie's lips compressed, her jaw clenched as frustration sparkled in her expressive eyes and her fair cheeks heated to a color not too far from the vivid hue of her hair. "I think keeping eyes on a threat is something, and it's not like they even notice I'm gone. Last time I tried to help on a case Jackson groped me and then slapped my ass after he asked for a coffee." The anger from that moment flustered her all over again, as if she were nothing more than eye candy, as if she had no thought in her head. It hadn't been like that during the war. <br><br>Oh she hadn't been on the frontlines like Peggy, or like Trevor even, but she had been the head of a team that worked on deciphering codes, and creating them. During the war she had earned another three degrees, and she was so often the most intelligent academically in any room but none of the men at the office listened to her input on anything. <br><br>The only reason she hadn't been sacked from this job or turned into a receptionist for it was due to the fact that she knew too many classified secrets. And they still used her to translate or decode; but more like they would use a tool than as a part of the team. He spoke as if she had a reputation, as if the office respected her, but that was a lie. Perhaps he had to tell himself that for his own peace of mind, just as much on the fringe as she was in terms of being treated as part of the office team. <br><br>When Trevor insisted she leave Veronika alone she snorted, "Norman, his name is Norman and he's a spy killer." Though sometimes it was really hard to remember that, Veronika was like sunshine, sweet and bright, and so gorgeous. The redhead forced her thoughts back on focus, inhaling to try and find patience. <br><br>"Look, if you want me to give it up then give me one night where you are my partner, where you help me investigate. I don't have the field experience you do. If you help me, with an open mind, then if we find nothing I'll give it up. That's how sure I am that this is a real lead." Desperation was part of what had her offering up the deal, but also confidence. The intel was good, she had cracked the damn message herself about Norman fleeing to Hollywood. If he would just give it a chance, look at it with an open mind surely there would be something that pointed to the truth. <br>
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Straight Lace &amp; Whimsy [Phobetor, RedPhoenix &amp; Wistful Dream]</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Phobetor</strong> on <strong>16-04-2018, 04:52:08</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				No. No, he wasn't going to give up everything for her, not for this foolish mission. As Trevor drove them towards their office, he was silent as he contemplated her request and even though a part of him was adamant that he needed to say no...there was a part of him that hesitated. IF she was correct and they were the ones to catch this killer, then the department would have no choice but to give them the honor and the respect that they both deserved. The idea was so tempting that there was a war inside of him - logic vs desperation. Because just as there had been a touch of desperation on Connie's voice, there was one that he felt too.<br><br>Oh he knew just how frustrated she was to be groped, asked for coffee and blatantly disregarded because he struggled similarly like her. Oh not the groping, of course not but the dismissal, the jobs that were asked that should be reserved for someone who didn't have the kind of experience that he did. Trevor was damn good at what he did, she was right; he was known to have the best field experience.<br><br>Not that his boss saw that. No, he was given menial jobs and when he offered his services it was as if he had sprouted three heads right before their very eyes. <em>'No Trevor,'</em> he often heard them say with side eye grins to one another, <em>'I think we got this one.'</em><br><br>This could work in his favor, though. If she was correct, then they would bring down a big time spy killer and they would have to be recognized. If she was incorrect, then she would give up this foolish mission and he would get her back in line and then his boss would be happy with him because he would have finally tamed the ever frustrating Constance Patteron. He paused, was silent before he looked at her and said quietly, "When this proves to be nothing but a fool's chase, I want you to promise me Connie that you will never go against the Captain."<br><br>He needed some kind of guarantee that she wasn't going to find another 'tip' and do this all over again. So he looked at her before they parked in front of their office. "Enough is enough, Connie. We might not be respected like we want to be, but this doesn't mean we do as we please. One chance. And when you're wrong, you will let go of your 'source' for good."
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Straight Lace &amp; Whimsy [Phobetor, RedPhoenix &amp; Wistful Dream]</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Wistful Dream</strong> on <strong>19-04-2018, 22:18:30</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				While his response wasn't the eager accord she had been hoping for it was, at least, something she could work with. The redhead glanced down as he pulled into the parking lot in front of the building that housed their organization. She had proposed the deal but he had taken it further. Not just dropping this one thing about Veronika, but rather never going against the Captain. It seemed like too high a price, considering that Captain McDougal was a rather backward thinking man who would never look at her as anything more than a pain in his rear regardless of her service to their country. To him it didn't matter that she had been on the front lines, that she had survived her plane being shot down and turned spy within the Nazi borders. All that mattered was that her makeup was done properly and she was there to fetch his coffee with just the right amount of cream. Connie's hands clenched, her ire at the balding, pauchy male something she struggled to choke down every day she came to work here. <br><br>But she knew she was right, she knew that Veronika was not what she seemed. And her gamble to make it clear that she would put everything behind it was paying off. Trevor was a brilliant agent in the field, thorough and meticulous, his mind holding information like a steel trap. If she could convince him, get his help, then they both would win a lot of respect and perhaps a chance to be something more than the office unwanteds. Inhaling she turned to face him, offering out her hand to shake on the deal. <br><br>"I don't do as I please, I do what's right. I'll agree to no longer go against the Captain if I'm proven wrong as long as you swear to whatever you hold most dear that you will keep an open mind rather than going into this looking to prove me wrong. I heard all about your ability to unravel a scene, gain the truth in the war; I want that Trevor Hoyt as my partner." A soft blush tinged her cheek at the word partner because it made her think of dancing with the man, who was undeniably handsome, and then what might happen after dancing. Like a kiss. Too bad he had never looked at her the way he had the blond earlier, but then she was petite to Veronika's leggy figure, and she dressed more modestly than the starlet, she was also curvier compared to the Russian's slender grace. <br><br>Jerking her mind back to the present she darted a look at the building, sitting so quietly and looking like nothing more than a costume shop. "Not a word of this to anyone else, until twelve hours has passed it's just you and me against the world. And since there's a time limit I think we should head back to the movie lot; the director has the girls attend him after hours so it's a good time to watch Norman."
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Straight Lace &amp; Whimsy [Phobetor, RedPhoenix &amp; Wistful Dream]</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>RedPhoenix</strong> on <strong>20-04-2018, 22:53:03</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				The end of the day meeting between the director and the cast was just as tedious, not to mention long, as Veronika had feared. He went on and on praising the leading man for the wonderful job he did fake-fighting the atomic monster, praised the special effects guys for painting such an amazingly realistic looking mutant octopus - even though the machine that was supposed to power it had broken down and the star had just wiggled the tentacles around himself while pretending to be fighting it - and forecast an amazing return for everyone and all sorts of increased star power for his leading men and lady. <br><br>No apology for cutting her only line, Veronika noted, fuming all the while as everyone pretended to be happy with all of this. Sure, she could have most likely fixed the monster's engine in a few minutes but she wasn't supposed to know how to fix machines. And besides, she certainly wasn't getting paid enough to do this man any favors. This movie could flop for all she cared since nobody would be asking who she was afterwards! <br><br>She was getting up to leave at the end of the meeting when the director called out several names of actors he wanted to speak to personally. She froze and swore under her breath as her name was the last one called. She sighed and returned to her seat and waited as he spoke to everyone one by one in his office.<br><br>She made small talk with the others who were waiting while he took his time with each one. Some he was obviously yelling at. Some he was praising. Some he was begging to return in the sequel, which he was sure the studio would green light when they saw how amazing this first one was. Finally it was her turn. With a sigh of dread she stepped into his office, leaving the door open. Not that that gave her any real security, they were practically the only ones left in the lot now.<br><br>"So babycakes," The man said. "We need to talk branding. Now I know you're sore about losing your big scene but I think we can make it up to you in the sequel but we gotta have someone we can market a little more. I mean your last name it's a bunch of commie consonants that nobody wants to hear so, listen to this, <em>Atomic Beach 2</em> starring Vicky Angel. What do you think?"<br><br>"Vicky Angel...I..." it honestly wasn't so bad but she didn't like it coming from him, still she couldn't protest too much, "well I guess is not horrible - wait, you said starring?" All other thoughts left her head.<br><br>"That's right babe. Starring. I like what I've seen from you. And I know the cameras love you. So all you gotta do is show me you've got the chops to be a leading lady and we're set."<br><br>"Yes, yes of course I do, uh." She paused. "How do I-"<br><br>"Well let's try out one of the scenes. Okay, in this scene you've come to see your boy toy at work, he's a bigshot banker who never has time for you, that's why you end up at the beach, see, and you're doing your best to get him to appreciate you. Let's say i'm the boyfriend. Okay. Action!"<br><br>Veronika, Vicky she supposed, instantly was in character. "Oh Bobby!" She cooed at him, using the name of the hero from the first film, strutting around the desk, all trace of a Russian accent gone instantly. "I thought maybe you and me could go out on a picnic today, what do you say?" <br><br>"I dunno doll, I gotta lotta work to do here." He said.<br><br>"Oh but Bobby it will be like when we first met, you remember?" She lifted his hands from the papers on the desk and slid into his lap, kicking her legs up over the side of his chair and smiling a dazzling smile at him. "Out on the beach, lots of sun, everything so beautiful and free and -"<br><br>"Oh baby that does sound nice, maybe just today.." he leaned in to kiss her.<br><br>All the while though, Valentina's spy instincts had never left. Her eyes were everywhere, constantly, and she'd been reading the notes on his desk while pretending to be fixated on him. Several of them were jumping out to her. There were marks for what to do with each actor and actress. She noted quickly that Bobby's girlfriend from this movie was noted as coming back for the sequel. And she noted that next to her name it said - cut, too lippy. She narrowed her eyes. This wasn't an audition at all!<br><br>"Wait!" She said bringing a finger up quickly to put between their mouths before he could kiss her. She couldn't do anything about the hand on her ass, but she grabbed the other one before it could reach her breasts. "I want it in writing." She said sternly.<br><br>"What?" The director seemed stunned.<br><br>"This new part. I want it in writing." She glared at him, struggling with his hand as it did its best to push past her own and reach her breasts. <br><br>"Now that's not a great attitude. And you were doing so well too."<br><br>"Yes, doing well at being a sucker." She tried to get up. His hand around her legs gripping her backside wouldn't let up as she struggled. "Let me go!"<br><br>"Oh I'll let you go all right, just after I've had what you're here for." He dove in for a kiss again, she did all she could to keep him off. But if she really hurt him she knew she'd be done in Hollywood, and if she revealed how good she was at fighting well there would be some hard questions. But if she let him have his way, then, well there might be some harder ones if he got that hand around to the front of her waist...<br><br>She was considering just knocking him across the head and trying to black him out when she heard footsteps. Someone was still here!<br><br>"Help!" She called out. "Help!" Her second scream was muffled as he finally pushed her hand aside and kissed her full on the lips! "Mmmmf!" She protested, praying that whoever was coming was actually going to help her and not just leave her like this, where she'd be forced to either disable him or come to some even less pleasant arrangement! 
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Straight Lace &amp; Whimsy [Phobetor, RedPhoenix &amp; Wistful Dream]</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Phobetor</strong> on <strong>22-04-2018, 20:25:17</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				The flush on her cheeks made Trevor pause and realize that Connie was quite a beautiful woman, and he wondered why it was that he had never realized that until now. Perhaps it was because he had often been so preoccupied with himself, so focused on making sure that he did what he needed to do to win the favor and acceptance of the people he worked with. He knew that having an African American partner was not what most desired, but he was a hard worker and he was proud of all the things he had accomplished in the war.<br><br>Like Connie, he deserved recognition.<br><br>When she mentioned wanting the Trevor Hoyt that he was in the war, he felt his chest warm and he couldn't help the small glint of pleasure that came into his dark eyes. As much grief as she gave him, Connie appreciated him and that...that meant a lot. It meant more to him than he wanted to admit, and he wasn't quite sure why that was. Why did her acceptance of him matter?<br><br>"Very well," Trevor responded quietly and he reversed and headed back towards the movie lot that Connie had been undercover in. They drove in silence, more so because Trevor was lost in his own thoughts. She confounded him and he didn't understand why. He understood her need for acceptance, the grating on her nerves that people didn't see her as she was just as they perceived her to be...but that was life. There was nothing they could do about it.<br><br>By the time they made it to the movie lot, he noticed that the meeting had ended by the look of the actors filing out of the building. He frowned slightly, not seeing Veronika and opened the door, "Well, come on. Lets start this." The sooner they did this, the faster it would be over. And while he was ready for this 'mission' to be over, he had promised her that he would give her the kind of attention that it deserved. Which was why he was suspicious at the fact that their 'suspect' was not with the other actors.<br><br>They entered the building quietly, looking around for anything that seemed out of the ordinary. Trevor spoke quietly, "Where is the meeting often held?" He headed towards where she directed, the two of them moving almost in unison as they scouted the area around them and he had to wonder why a movie set would be so quiet. Wouldn't there be people around? He knew that the day was over but there had to be someone working late...some job that still wasn't done. <br><br><em>"Help!"</em><br><br>Trevor paused and frowned when he heard the noise coming from a closed office door.<br><br><em>"Help!"</em><br><br>Adrenaline punched through him in a heart beat and as he ran towards the door he removed his weapon and clipped the safety off, leaning in to see Veronika with a older heavy set man trying to stuff his tongue down her throat. He was about to aim the gun at the other man when he remembered - just barely - that Connie was undercover and if he called out 'Police' he would blow the operation. "HEY! Stop that!"<br><br>Since he was still halfway out the door, he quickly tucked his weapon back where it belonged and rushed inside, pulling the man off of Veronika, pushing him away roughly. <br><br>"HEY!!" The man sputtered, glaring at Trevor, "What do you think you're doing?"<br><br>Trevor glared at the man, snapping, "Saving this young woman from your grubby hands." He looked at Veronka, asking gently, "Are you alright?"
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Straight Lace &amp; Whimsy [Phobetor, RedPhoenix &amp; Wistful Dream]</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Wistful Dream</strong> on <strong>24-04-2018, 17:35:12</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				The redhead didn't even try to contain the rush of delight that filled her at the gleam in his eyes, the hint of a smile on his lips as he agreed to her proposal, all of it. Even such a small taste of victory was heady after months of chafing at being a glorified coffee girl. Not wanting to ruin the spell she kept her silence though outside of letting him know which movie lot to head to. Part of her itched to give him every bit of the intel she had, the things that just didn't add up about Veronika, but she controlled her impatience and decided to let him make his own opinion now that she had extracted his promise to be open minded. But of course sitting in silence made her realize that now that she finally had a decent chance of catching Norman... she didn't really want to give up Veronika's friendship. <br><br>That was an unexpected complication. <br><br>When he parked the car she glanced up, frowning to realize that everyone else was filing out but the leggy blond was no where to be seen. That was odd, normally Veronika was one of the first out the door with how much the director annoyed her. If it were another young woman she might have thought the actress remained behind to bribe the director, but Ver...Norman didn't work like that. Probably because of the risk posed should his incomplete transformation be revealed. Connie slid out of the car, shutting the door behind her while grateful that her cover meant she wore practical flats rather than heels and she had every right to bustle into the building as if she had a purpose. Costume designers did come and go at odd hours. <br><br>"Normally in the director's office, this way." With her voice hardly above a whisper she indicated their path, her nerves sharpening because the movie set was a ghost town. This wasn't normal, typically there would be back stage crew hands, custodians, and an assortment of others bustling around. Now it was just she and Trevor, bringing back the instincts that had kept her alive on the other side of enemy lines during the war. She didn't draw a gun, anymore than she had while in German occupied France, but instead stayed light on her feet with sharp attention to detail. <br><br>The cry for help had her pausing, glancing at Trevor before giving a nod to the door that lead to the director's office. Their target it appeared was in there, and under some duress. Trevor was moving swiftly, all deadly elegance as his gun came out of his holster and he clearly was ready to act only to pause at the last moment and recall her cover. She almost wanted to laugh, her operation was at an end the next morning anyway, but it meant something that he cared enough to do that. Not that he resisted the damsel in distress, hiding his weapon and rushing into the office to pull the sleaze of a director off Veronika. Now things became difficult, after all Jack Thomas wasn't use to being interfered with, and it was the word of a woman and a black man against his own. Well, two women, as she stepped into the office as well, ignoring the pang that filled her at the gentleness Trevor showed the Russian. <br><br>"Mr. Thomas, we heard distress and were just trying to help." the director's gaze swung to her, his costume designer with strong connections in Hollywood. Her word might not hold up in an argument, but she at least could make things difficult for him. It was part of why though he had eyed her often he had never acted on his impulses with her. She would really have to thank Peggy for the air tight background they had created for 'Sandra'. <br><br>"Get the...." Whatever Jack was about to say was cut off the moment four armed, muscled men walked into the office and Connie retreated behind the desk with a curse even as the director made a staying motion with his hands to the men, a smile on his lips that wasn't at all sincere. "Gentlemen, you're early. I'm not really ready for you yet..."<br><br>"Too bad, the boss wants what you promised. Now." The leader of the men, his accent hinting at Italian origin had swarthy skin and dark eyes that flickered through the office before landing on Veronika with a grin. "Is this the one? You are certain she won't be missed?"<br><br>Missed. <br><br>Connie frowned, trying to understand the implication before cursing mentally. The director had singled out the young Russian because she had no family, no one to notice if she vanished. Italian muscle meant the mob, and that meant she and Trevor had unintentionally saved the blond from being treated like so much property. It also meant they had landed themselves squarely in a situation. Glancing at her partner she wondered how he would want to proceed, keeping the civilian pretense or using their skills. The look at Trevor meant she wasn't prepared for when one of the thugs took hold of one of her arms, bruisingly tight and jerked her forward. "I think the boss would like this one, redhead and all." Connie attempted to jerk her arm free, glaring up at the man.<br><br>Jack at this point was sweating heavily, "You can't, she's my costume designer and connected." <br><br>The man holding her grinned, "You could always just say she ran off, why you stalling?"
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Straight Lace &amp; Whimsy [Phobetor, RedPhoenix &amp; Wistful Dream]</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>RedPhoenix</strong> on <strong>26-04-2018, 02:11:06</strong>
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			<dd class="postbody">
				Everything happened so fast. One moment she was being pressed down against Jack's desk, his mouth all over hers, his hands up her sides and zooming dangerously for her chest, and then the next thing she knew someone had rushed in and thrown him off! How heroic! She had expected maybe a cleaning person to shake their head and keep walking and then she'd be stuck trying to wiggle out of this (probably literally) on her own! But no, an actual hero! Amazing! <br><br>She gasped and stood up, straightening her dress and turning to see who she had to think. She blinked several times. The driver! Sandi's driver had saved her, but then where was, ah there she was, stepping in all strong and confident like the amazing woman she was! Veronika wasn't sure which of them she loved more in that moment, and the look on her face as she beamed at them showed.<br><br>But she still worried she would scare off Sandi if she showed too much affection, good American girl that she was, and conveniently Trevor was standing nearer to her anyway. He'd practically thrown Jack off of her, and the director had staggered several steps back against the far wall, leaving the two of them rather close.<br><br>"Oh Mister Driver!" She gushed, throwing her arms around Trevor like the damsel in distress she had practiced to be so many times in preparation for a scene that was cut! "Thank you so much you've saved me you - " She didn't finish her sentence and just kissed his lips in gratitude! The sort of kiss a hero deserved, pressing her bikini-ready curves into him happily as let the kiss linger for perhaps a moment longer than she should before she pulled away.<br><br>She could tell he had been shocked, and couldn't help but smile just a little as she pulled back, proud of herself for startling such a man. Even in her not-short heels he still was a good few inches taller than her and his arms were more than three times as thick around. Quite the man! She hoped Sandi took advantage of his services! Oh no! Would Sandi be upset that she'd kissed her servant without asking? Uh oh! She glanced the seamstress's way quickly. <br><br>But before she could gauge the temperature of her best friend four rather rough men walked into the room! Unlike the lummox at the cafe earlier, or Jack, these men looked mean and capable. Like they may be a match for Trevor just one on one, let alone all four. Uh oh. She'd never seen these guys before in her life but she realized quickly as they started talking that Jack had meant for them to...to...to...WHAT?!??!<br><br>She gasped and put her hands on her hips staring at the sniveling director. "You WHAT?!??" She screamed outloud, for once her inner and outer thoughts perfectly matched. He hadn't just taken her for some airhead who would fall for his lies about a bigger part, he'd thought he could get away with trading her to the mob?!? What was he going to tell her? That they were some sort of casting agents? Or was he just planning on letting them drag her away kicking and screaming while he counted the cash they paid for her? She glared at him, and he smiled as he held his hands up and backed further into the corner furthest away from her.<br><br>Her mind raced as she glanced around. There were four of them. She could take four goons. She might not be as pretty afterwards but she could take four goons. But why now? Maybe she should let them take her away and figure it out on the ride back? Surely she could escape from them in time to - but then they grabbed Sandi. They grabbed Sandi! They wanted to take her to! Oh no, no no no, not sweet Sandi! She wasn't about to let that happen. Her eyes narrowed and time seemed to slow down as it always did for her. She quickly scanned the room taking into account everything. Everything. There had to be a way....oh yes.<br><br>"You rat! You fink!" She screamed, whirling at Jack and stabbing a finger in his direction. She bent down and took off her heels, picking one up and holding it in the air like a club, as a furious housewife might, "How dare you do this to me!" And she ran at him like she intended to beat him to a pulp.<br><br>The mobsters laughed as she rushed past them and did indeed begin laying into Jack with her shoe. She made sure not to penetrate his skin with the heel, but she didn't hold back much else. The creep deserved it!<br><br>"Ow! Ah! Dammit! C'mon fellas get her off of me!" Jack squealed dropping to the ground in quick defeat at the furious female blows.<br><br>"Okay, alright, that's enough Natasha." One of the men said after a few minutes of chuckling. "Okay seriously doll." He walked over and wrapped his arms around Veronika's slender waist and hoisted her up, grabbing the shoe away in the same motion and tossing it aside as he set Veronika down, now between him and the wall. "They're just gonna love your spir-" he froze.<br><br>"Hey c'mon Gino, what's wrong?" One of the others realized the man was stiff as a board, wide eyed.<br><br>"She...she's got my gun Johnny." Gino responded, slowly raising his hands up.<br><br>Indeed, in the fracas Veronika had slipped her hand inside his coat and pulled his gun out and was now holding it with both hands, staring at him with furious intensity as the gun poked right into his chest. <br><br>The mobsters chuckled again, still rather amused. "Haha goddamn Gino you let that commie get the drop on you?"<br><br>"I am not communist!" Veronika said pouting at the man around Gino's giant frame. <br><br>"Yeah? Then you probably don't know how to shoot. Show 'er what's what Gino." One of the other mobsters shot back.<br><br>"Say, that's right!" Gino said, his frozen fearful shock turning into a grin. "You don't know what you're holding there do ya babe?" His hands slowly lowered. <br><br>"You keep hands up!" Veronika snarled, feeling a bit trapped. "And you back away to your friends!" <br><br>"Nah I don't think so." Gino smirked, feeling more confident now, his hands falling to his side and then moving to wrap around the girl.<br><br>Veronika was now the one to panic. She couldn't just shoot him. Then she'd have to shoot three more shots. And getting lucky and grabbing a dull and distracted goon's gun was one thing, killing four mobsters with four shots in a murderous rampage was far less explainable. But they still had Sandi and - goddammit was this mobster really going for her ass during a standoff? <br><br>Yes, yes he was. His hands slipped down around her statuesque rear and squeezed, roughly, big hands easily taking it up. <em>Ooooooh!</em> she fumed internally. She was going to slap the next person who told her men and women had it equal in this world. She very much doubted Marlon Brando would have had to worry about this if she was a male movie star in this situation!<br><br>"Smith and Wesson revolver is what it is!" She snapped angrily, the sheer vitriol and volume of her voice, "And if you don't take hands off my ass I put all six in you!" She snapped furiously, sounding rather unhinged, which to be fair, she was feeling rather unhinged, but remembering to keep up her exaggerated Russian accent. <br><br>The man's hands let go of her ass but just barely. He was frozen now. Not wanting to lose face in front of his crew, not wanting to get shot either which he was increasing convinced was a real possibility. The wheels ground in his heads as the two faced off. <br><br><em>Dammit.</em> Veronika thought. <em>Back off dumbo, I don't want to shoot you!</em> But she couldn't say that.<br><br>So instead, she just let her hands start shaking. She kept excellent control over the trigger, but you'd have to really know what you were doing and have the right vantage point to realize that. Gino didn't. His eyes widened again as he realized this damn blonde might just shoot him by accident! He had to make a choice....
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Straight Lace &amp; Whimsy [Phobetor, RedPhoenix &amp; Wistful Dream]</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Phobetor</strong> on <strong>06-05-2018, 20:37:08</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				What the hell had happened?!<br><br>One moment they had saved Veronika and the next moment chaos exploded and there were men coming to take her away. He looked at the interaction almost in disbelief, wondering if this was a scene that they were acting out in their movie. Trevor wasn't a man who went to the movies too often so he didn't know what was real or what would be considered 'acting'.<br><br>Except...the moment they grabbed Connie, Trevor frowned and realized that this was very much a real thing happening. He had heard of this sort of thing happening in the past, mobsters picking up girls who were easily forgettable and making them disappear. It was actually a case he wanted to work on but the Captain had told him it was a little too high profile for someone with no experience.<br><br>No experience...that had been one of his specialties! Scouting and finding soldiers who had been taken or who had simply gotten lost and needed to be rescued. <br><br>"Hey!" He reached for Connie but before he could, Veronika flew into a rage and went after the director with her shoe. While the other men were distracted with Veronika, he quickly grabbed Connie and jerked her away from the one closest to them. He pulled Connie behind him, keeping her between him and the mobster who had his eyes on her. There was no way they were going to take his partner.<br><br>Eyes flickered to where Veronika was and he blinked when he realized she had a gun. Suspicion crossed his eyes for a split second before he covered the reaction and instead alternated his expression between Veronika and the goon squad. <br><br>This was going to end bad.<br><br>Very bad.<br><br>"Gentlemen," Trevor spoke up and eyes switched to him, thankfully. He looked around and shook his head, "I'm afraid that you can't take either of these ladies."<br><br>"Oh? And why's that?" The one who seemed to be in control shot back with a smirk.<br><br>"Well because Gino," He nodded towards the man whom Veronika was holding at gun point, "is currently about to get shot by an actress who I'm pretty sure doesn't know how to use a weapon. And C--Sandi," He quickly corrected himself, "works closely with a lot of people. She would be missed."<br><br>"And who are you?" One of them snapped.<br><br>"Well," Trevor smiled faintly as he raised a shoulder in a half shrug, "I'm just the man the ladies call when there's trouble." <br><br>Without hesitation he punched the man closest to him, the one who tried to take Connie and pushed him back hard towards the other mobsters. He rushed the other men before they could pull their weapons and fell on top of two of them, fighting for control over the guns they had. This was stupid. It was going to get them killed in some kind of way.<br><br>But he had to do something.<br><br>A punch landed square on his jaw and he saw stars, but he continued to fight, grappling for the weapon just as they heard sounds coming from the stairs, "HEY! Who's up there?"<br><br>A security guard.<br><br>"Come on!" The mobsters called out to one another, quickly grabbing their weapons and each other and pushing themselves towards the door. The one who was in charge looked at Jack with narrowed eyes, "You owe us." His eyes shifted to Veronika, Connie and Trevor and he snarled, "This ain't over." Just as the guard rushed into the office, the mobsters rushed out.<br><br>"Is there a problem here?" The security guard looked at Jack before his eyes moved to the unlikely trio before him. 
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Straight Lace &amp; Whimsy [Phobetor, RedPhoenix &amp; Wistful Dream]</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Wistful Dream</strong> on <strong>07-05-2018, 03:00:52</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				Connie tried not to wince when Veronika referred to Trevor as 'Mister Driver', sure she was going to hear no end about that eventually. But any guilt she felt died at the sight of the kiss the Russian pressed on his lips. Her lie had put him in a perfect position, after all but dealing with the Italian goon holding onto her arm now was the issue without destroying her cover. Dealing with Jack had been one thing, a mobster was another and she had no intent to be helplessly dragged off to who knew what sort of life. If she hadn't let the Nazi's stop her then mobsters weren't going to have any better luck. Just as she was about ready to stomp on the man that held her's foot Veronika shrieked in anger, drawing her attention to the spy killer. <br><br>Who really was doing a very brilliant impression of pissed off starlet who was betrayed by her director. Had she really been wrong this whole time? Norman surely wouldn't beat a man with a shoe, he would eliminate the threat. The disgusting weasel proved true to form, calling for help from the muscle, which left one of the men distracted as he bodily hefted the blond.. <br><br>Gino trailing off and moving back to reveal that the Russian had managed to get ahold of his gun banished those thoughts of doubt for the redhead. Veronika, the ditzy blond who just wanted to be a star, wouldn't have managed the lift that neatly. A Russian spy would have. And further confirmation came when she rattled off what the gun was, the intensity in her blue eyes, the rage making no sense unless... unless not all of it had been a lie. Unless the other woman, no, man, actually cared for her as a friend to some degree. <br><br>Which made Connie's heart twist at the notion. Was she perhaps not the only one who had gotten a little too deep undercover? <br><br>Trevor's hand closed around her arm then, pulling her out of danger and behind him which was something she was about to protest when the mobster turned toward them and her partner decided to make himself a focus. Stupid, stubborn men, if they were focused on her then he could have done something unexpected, could have taken them by surprise yet she was still oddly touched by the fact that he was driven to protect her even known what he did about her past and that she frustrated him so profoundly. <br><br>He was brave, she would give him that, as he played off not being important and then set about punching one of the Italian men. Connie moved behind him, scampering to look like she was trying to get out of the room and go for help but actually tripping the man who had been reaching for his firearm to help out the two rolling on the ground fighting for control. She was not going to let Trevor get shot in the back because she had walked them into this mess. Though he was the one who had rushed in without getting all the facts. They could argue about blame later. <br><br>Relief came in the form of David's voice, the security guard she had brought coffee for several times, and the threat that it wasn't over as the Italian's left had her almost wanting to laugh. Without Veronika around to observe they would have found themselves in a lot more trouble. But now they were left with questions, and Jack, sniveling over in a corner. <br><br>The redhead pick herself up from the floor, flashing a smile at David even as she moved a step closer to him and made certain her arms rested just so to draw attention to the fullness of her breasts. He did like a well blessed woman after all. "Oh, Mr. David thank you. There were some rough men who showed up while we were talking about Ms. Veronika's role in the next film. Our poor director is quite overwhelmed but we will see to him. Can you make sure they are truly gone?" He blinked, the threat to his 'domain' enough to pull him away from the simpering redhead even as he nodded and adjusted his belt, and truly his jeans to settle himself before touching his hat.<br><br>"No need to fear Ms. Sandra, I'll make sure the lot is safe." <br><br>And with that he was gone and she turned, shutting the door to level a look at Jack that expressed every bit of her fury. "You sir, have a lot to answer for and I wouldn't try to leave town with them watching. You are a deplorable man for what you attempted to do." 
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Straight Lace &amp; Whimsy [Phobetor, RedPhoenix &amp; Wistful Dream]</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>RedPhoenix</strong> on <strong>10-05-2018, 05:23:37</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				The large goon standing in front of her took up almost all of her field of vision. She didn't see any of Connie's fancy footwork, and she didn't see most of Trevor's heroics. She was just aware the man had thrown himself at three other men and somehow come out the victor. <br><br>Gino got this sense took and slowly backed away, hands up, giving Veronika a look that said he wouldn't be caught like that again. As the security guard appeared and the men scattered, Veronika breathed a sigh of relief and dropped her hands as she finally relaxed. She was okay, Sandi was okay, her driver was okay, and she hadn't had to kill anybody and blow her cover.<br><br>"Yes." She said softly, patting her hair to make sure it was still okay. "I believe we were discussing our future." She said with a look to Jack that spoke volumes. There was no longer a gun in her hand. What had become of it? Nobody had seen.<br><br>"Oh yeah, yeah, definitely!" He squealed, getting up and scurrying over to his desk. He began frantically writing. "I'm writing you a recommendation at the highest level to the production company! You take this with you to any casting call and show it to them and you'll get the part in a cinch!" He put on a rather disgusting smile that was supposed to be winning and convincing and held it out to her.<br><br>She looked at it, noted it addressed her as Vicky Angel, and smiled, taking it from him gently. It was like taking gold from the devil, but it was hardly a line she hadn't crossed before in her career. She folded the letter and placed it reverently in her purse. It was everything she had dreamed of condensed into one little piece of paper. She also slipped something else into her purse. Something not very big and definitely not a gun.<br><br>"One for Sandi and her driver too." She said sternly. <br><br>"Yeah, yeah of course." Jack stammered, writing it out quickly. He only addressed it to Sandi, and just included 'her driver' as an unnamed person in the course of it. <br><br>She stared at him for a second. It would be so easy to walk away. But there were questions burning in her. How much was she going to go for? How many times had this man done this before? Here? In the land of the free? Where there were no concentration camps, no gulags, where the government did not take and disappear people, just Americans doing it to themselves....the thought made her furious.<br><br>"Sandi why don't you have Mr. Driver take you home now?" She said turning to her friend, genuine concern in her eyes. "You have been through so much. You need your rest."<br><br>While her concern was genuine, she wanted them out of there for what she was pretty sure was going to happen next.
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Straight Lace &amp; Whimsy [Phobetor, RedPhoenix &amp; Wistful Dream]</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Phobetor</strong> on <strong>28-05-2018, 21:02:53</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				The exchange between the director and Veronika made him almost smirk to himself. Clearly the director realized when he was out of his element and he had pushed the wrong buttons. It was almost amusing to see how the high and mighty could fall. Trevor had seen it on more than one occasion in his life span and he was pretty sure it wasn't the last time he would see it, either. <br><br>It was on the tip of his tongue to refuse the paper that the director was scribbling, wanting no association with the man but he held back. It would do no good, the man was clearly willing to do anything and everything to get out of the sticky situation he was in. <br><br>Veronika's next suggestion cause warning bells to go off in his head and he couldn't help the slight frown that creased his forehead. Just earlier she had been screaming for help, before the goons arrived and now she wanted to be alone with him again? Why? What had changed from earlier to this moment? It was almost strange how one moment Veronika could act so helpless and the next moment, there was almost a calculating look in her eyes.<br><br>He spared a glance towards Connie, and once more wondered if perhaps there was merit to her tip.<br><br>"I don't think that's a good idea," He found himself stating out loud, giving Veronika a polite but stubborn look. "I think there has been enough excitement and we three should leave. I'm sure the director has many other things to do." Oh, it hadn't slipped his mind that the director had tried to make Veronika disappear and he would return to deal with him...but once Connie and Veronika were safe.<br><br>"Yes!" Jack all but squealed, "I have a lot on my plate and I should...should work on them."<br><br>Trevor gave him a disapproving look but his eyes went back to Veronika and he offered her a smile, "I will be more than happy to take you home as well."<br><br>There was no way he was going to walk away and leave her alone with Jack, not when there was an uneasy feeling settling in his stomach. His eyes ran along her figure thoughtfully and he wondered once more upon Connie's accusations and couldn't necessarily see the truth of it...but he trusted his instincts. He knew there was something more to Veronika than she was letting on.<br><br>And it no longer had anything to do with what Connie said. It was now what he believed too.<br><br>"Come ladies," Trevor nodded towards the door, "We should go, yes?" The sooner they had Veronika home, the sooner he could discuss his suspicions with Connie and then come back and deal with Jack. 
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Straight Lace &amp; Whimsy [Phobetor, RedPhoenix &amp; Wistful Dream]</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Wistful Dream</strong> on <strong>03-06-2018, 18:55:07</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				Glancing back at Veronika, rather Norman, after David left revealed that the gun she had held was mysteriously just gone. Her lips thinned, but she wasn't going to push it, not with realizing that she cared about the woman, man, whatever the starlet was. Which complicated everything. She could just let it go, but now Trevor likely had suspicions as well and Connie wasn't sure what to do. So she stood quiet, thoughtful as Jack started writing recommendations that would at least see Veronika's dream realized. <br><br>Did she really have the heart to ruin another's dream, while fighting so hard for her own? <br><br>Veronika's insistence at letters for herself and Trevor surprised her, a level of thoughtfulness that hinted at her mattering. Or maybe she was just trying to see what she wanted in the other woman's actions. The look of concern in the blond's eyes, when her gaze moved to her, caught her breath though and she found her throat working, uncertain what to do. Play along, or refuse, because the reason the Russian wanted to be alone with the director would likely be the very thing to confirm all her theories. Yet suddenly she wasn't okay with the thought of attaining her own dream at the cost of another persons, particularly when even if he <em>was</em> Norman he hadn't done anything on American soil that was a crime. <br><br>The redhead glanced at Trevor, catching the hint of a frown on his dark, handsome features as he caught likely the same warning flags she had. Their eyes met, and she could tell he was considering that she might have been telling the truth. Wonderful. <br><br>She turned to Jack though, stepping closer to the director with a sweet smile on her lips that paired oddly with the fierce light in her eyes, "Don't you go trying to disappear now, because there are still some things to discuss." And if he did she was certain she and Trevor would track him down. Jack though wasn't like the Russian, or even herself or Trevor. He wasn't use to vanishing completely into a role, to packing up a life and moving on to something new. No, he was a fat cat, having built a comfortable life and likely reluctant to leave it. <br><br>Turning, she caught Veronika's arm with her own, a familiar gesture with how they had moved earlier that very day and started tugging the Russian toward the door and out into the night. "I think it's best if we all relax. And you can stay with me tonight, if you like, Veronika. I'll make dinner for all three of us. It will be fun, I promise." <br><br>Dinner wasn't a bad idea, it would give them time to subtly question the blond, and... well, she wasn't sure she wanted to examine her other motivations. 
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Straight Lace &amp; Whimsy [Phobetor, RedPhoenix &amp; Wistful Dream]</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>RedPhoenix</strong> on <strong>04-06-2018, 03:42:41</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				Veronika kept her icy glare on Jack. The man trembled before her, as if the Siberian winds that she had trained years, decades, ago when she thought she was training for an <em>osnaz</em> detachment. As a saboteur dropped behind enemy lines, they figured that if she could survive alone in Siberia she could handle anywhere. They were right. She willed those icy winds to blow over this man through her eyes, and the way he trembled, she might have been succeeding. <br><br>She glanced to Trevor, her eyes not nearly arctic, but still cold, as he suggested they should leave. Come Ladies, he said. Once upon a time the spy-killer in front of this man would have shot him, shot his lady friend, and shot everyone who tried to stop her walking out just to ensure that her target died. And that would only be necessary if the many ways she could kill without her target ever suspecting he was being threatened. But no, she was not that man anymore. Now, she was indeed a lady. And she did not want to kill him. Or Sandi. Her eyes softened a little.<br><br>It was almost as though she was at a crossroads. One way, she told her friends to leave, or she forced them to, and she hurt this man, probably killed him. No, definitely, she would kill him. Or, she could go have dinner with Sandi. She glanced down, a moment of uncertainty. She wanted to be in charge. She was not used to being the least threatening one in the room, well, other than Jack. She glanced his way again, but this time it was a look of mere disgust, not an icy stare of death.<br><br>And then the snow in her eyes gone, a soft, warm, summer light shining form them instead as she turned back to Trevor and Sandi. Her soft lips turned up, a gentle, delicate girl once more. "Oh thank you." She said, hand over her heart, purse adjusted on her shoulder as she walked towards them. "Yes, let us have dinner together. We have to celebrate our next movie." <br><br>And that was her life from now on, she realized. Making movies. Getting fondled by directors. Being saved by other people. <em>Not</em> murdering anyone afterwards. Probably.<br><br>She slipped one hand into Trevor's arm, the other into Sandi's. <br><br>"I love American dinner." She gushed. "Are we making cheeseburgers or macaroni?" She said, naming her two favorites. This was nice, she thought to herself. Having friends, people who cared about her. She had not begun to suspect that they were the ones who had the advantage on her. Why would spies possibly be watching a young movie actress? She would soon wish she had considered that possibility. 
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Straight Lace &amp; Whimsy [Phobetor, RedPhoenix &amp; Wistful Dream]</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Phobetor</strong> on <strong>18-06-2018, 05:08:04</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				When Veronika turned her eyes to Trevor, the chill in her eyes made the hair on the back of his neck prickle with uneasiness and he wondered if she would fight them. The doubt within him grew even more, for no Hollywood actress trying to make it into the world would want to be alone with the man who had almost sold them to the mafia. There was something more about Veronika...something that she was hiding.&nbsp; For the second time that day, Trevor wondered on Connie's suspicions. <br><br>Was she right?<br><br>Veronika turned to look at Jack once more and Trevor almost took a step towards her to grasp her elbow and lead her away when she seemed to come to the conclusion on her own and linked her arms with both Trevor and Connie. The man turned and made his way towards the door with the other two ladies, turning his head just slightly to make sure Jack didn't try anything foolish but the man had gone through enough.<br><br>As they made their way out of the studio, it was then that it hit him that Connie had invited him to dinner as well. It was his turn to hesitate, to wonder on the intimacy of such a setting especially with a partner that he was struggling very strongly with. But could he leave her alone with Veronika? There was more to the story and he needed to know what it was. <br><br>Thankfully the vehicle he had picked up Connie in was his own personal car, so it wouldn't reveal that they were agents.<br><br>He opened the passenger side door and the back door for both women and chuckled, trying for some light amusement, "Cheeseburgers or macaroni are not the only dinner staples of America, Veronika. I am sure that Connie can make something else that you will enjoy." His eyes went to Veronika and he let his eyes wander along her frame, curious as to the accusations Connie made towards her -- or him, if they were to be believed.<br><br>More and more Trevor was believing her, which made him unsure as to his initial reaction to Veronika.<br><br>She was a beautiful woman, and she seemed to gush with such excitement and gusto but if she were really Norman...what did all of that mean? Confusion glittered in his eyes as he walked around to the driver side and slid in, getting them the hell out of the empty lot. He almost wished that Veronika wasn't coming to dinner with them, there were so many questions he had for his partner. 
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Straight Lace &amp; Whimsy [Phobetor, RedPhoenix &amp; Wistful Dream]</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Wistful Dream</strong> on <strong>27-06-2018, 23:54:46</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				Her traitor heart skipped a beat when Veronika looked at her, her blue eyes thawing from the glacial look they had held to something softer, warmer. Constance knew that it was likely an act, yet she still felt a twist of giddiness flood her when the Russian gave in to her suggestion, letting herself be taken from the director's office and through the movie lot. The redhead focused on putting one foot in front of the other, letting her mind spin through what she readily had on hand to cook, and found herself laughing when cheeseburgers and macaroni were suggested. Her giggle spilled out into the open night air as they reached the parking lot and from there Trevor's car. <br><br>"I was actually thinking about spaghetti, I have some meatballs I made up this past weekend. My grandmother was Italian, so I normally cook with an influence from her. Nona taught me well." She gave Trevor a smile when he opened the door and chuckled himself. It was odd to realize it was the first time she had ever heard him laugh, and that she rather liked it. Today was apparently a day for discovering things about her partner, and her target who was also a friend. And maybe more. God help her. She took the front seat, as it was her house they were going to, and settled her skirt around her knees in an attempt to do something to sooth her nerves. She was far too aware of the woman, er man, at her back, not to mention Trevor when he slid into the car beside her. <br><br>"If you want to head to west Hollywood, I'll guide you from there." This of course meant she was going to reveal just where she lived, and potentially her family connections far sooner than she had planned to with Trevor. She spared a moment to pray he wouldn't be like some of the other men she had known and make quips about her family's wealth, her mother's fame and how she should have followed in the older woman's footsteps. Veronika at least should be happy, once she realized that 'Sandi' was really Constance Patteron, daughter of the Hollywood goddess Gabriella Patteron. Thankfully her house was several blocks from her parents, and having a famous mother gave her a very good reason to have a fake name. <br><br>Sucking her breath in she turned as Trevor pulled into the street and glanced at Veronika with a uncertain smile on her lips, "Before we arrive at my home there is... well there's something you should know." Connie was gambling on Trevor being able to cover his surprise about her mother, she had never brought it up in the station and the Captain hadn't realized it. Thankfully. Her father's military career was all he paid mind to. "My name isn't really Sandi, well, Sandra is my middle name. I just... don't like to gather attention, due to who my mother is but I have things from her in the house and I live near my parents." She bit her lower lip, wondering why in the world she was so nervous. "My mother is Gabriella Patteron, and to my family I'm Constance, or Connie. I don't like most people to know, they treat you differently, or expect you to treat them differently if your family is famous, but that's <em>Madre</em>, not me. I want to get by on my own as much as I can, not ride on what my parents have done."<br><br>It came out in a rush then, her eyes fixed on the back of the seat as the redhead finally trailed off and found her cheeks flushing with color. 
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Straight Lace &amp; Whimsy [Phobetor, RedPhoenix &amp; Wistful Dream]</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>RedPhoenix</strong> on <strong>28-06-2018, 21:10:19</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				Veronika walked with Trevor and Sandi to his car, noticing how the gentleman slowed his pace to accommodate for the ladies and their heels, and how both the firmness of his muscles and the softness of Sandi felt very nice. It was quite the pleasant place to be, she reflected, between these two. She began to wonder if Sandi had ever used Trevor as more than a driver. Or would it be the other way around? She was still getting used to American social customs. <br><br>She slipped into the backseat happily enough, glad that she hadn't had to attempt to move for it first. While she had calmed herself down, she was still on edge, and wanted everyone where she could see them. She sat directly behind Trevor. Not that she was planning to do anything to him, but just out of force of habit. If she needed to take control of the car, this was the only position she could realistically try it from - a surprise attack around the neck. With his strength, she'd never overpower him from the driver's seat. Sandi, well, poor sweet Sandi would likely just scream and do what Veronika told her afterwards. The spy, in other words, was quite fooled by Connie's act.<br><br>She watched the two in the rear view mirror, paying attention to them but also her surroundings as they drove by. She hadn't ever been to this part of town before, so after they got away from the studio plots she found herself wondering about little stores and buildings they passed by. She paused as Sandi told her she had something to tell her. Her grip tightened on something in her purse. And then it relaxed as she heard the story. She let out a sigh of relief. <br><br>"Oh Connie." She said, reaching out and giving the woman's hand a gentle squeeze. "How can you keep this from me? I thought you and me were friends!" She pouted a little, playing it up in a light hearted manner. "Did you think I would care that you are rich? It is not something to be ashamed of." She smiled at her. "Connie." She said again, repeating the word as if getting used to it. "Connie. It fits you better." She said appraisingly, with a smile. "But you know I think Sandi was more fun." She laughed.<br><br>She squeezed her hand once more and gave her a friendly smile. Then she turned to Trevor, a twinkle in her eyes. "And what about you big man?" She said with a playful grin. "What secrets are you keeping from us?" She said with a teasing lilt. "Are you truly the King of Mexico and taking us to your harem now?" She said, enjoying her jokes. "I warn you." She lifted a finger and pointed at him, "I do not take part in any production unless I am star!" She laughed, both at the idea that she had the sort of influence to make such demands, and at the thought of being a black man's favorite concubine in Mexico. Now that would be an interesting way for her story to go. <br><br>Ah, but no, sadly it seemed spaghetti in West Hollywood was more the plan for the evening. Ah, reality, so dull sometimes, the woman with the most dramatic lie of all thought to herself. 
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Straight Lace &amp; Whimsy [Phobetor, RedPhoenix &amp; Wistful Dream]</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Phobetor</strong> on <strong>02-07-2018, 04:27:35</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				His face remained expressionless when Connie revealed the truth about her family's history, something that he already knew about. She had never shared with him the truth but Trevor had found it out anyway. The morning that the Captain had told him that he would be paired up with her, he had spent most of the first day researching her and finding out as much as he could about his new partner.<br><br>It surprised him that she revealed so much to them, but then again, they were about to visit her house so it made sense that she would want to divulge such information. He didn't spare her a glance and thankfully, he didn't really have to. Veronika shifted the conversation to him and he couldn't help the laugh that escaped him. It was easy to think that the young woman was just who she said she was...if it wasn't for the suspicious activities that had caused the hair at the back of his neck to prickle with unease.<br><br>As he drove, he looked through the rear view mirror at Veronika and couldn't help the wink he tossed her way, "I can assure you that I am not the King of Mexico." Flirting with her was proving to be almost second nature and that was even more confusing that the idea of her being a man. It should disgust him that this woman was being impersonated by a man, that he was being flirted with by someone who could be of his same sex. It should bother him and yet, he was quickly realizing that there was a disconnect with his mind because it didn't register.<br><br>She was far better at this than he had anticipated, clearly. It couldn't be that he found the person attractive knowing they could be male.<br><br>Trying to shift the wanderings of his mind, he decided to be relatively honest in his answer, "I come from a small family, we're simple folks who like to make a difference and be equal in every way. My parents are still alive but I don't see them as much as I should." It was true, all of it. They hadn't had much and even now when he had 'made it' his parents refused to move from the neighborhood where he had grown up in. It wasn't the best neighborhood but the families there knew each other and kept a watchful eye over one another.<br><br>Shifting his eyes towards Connie, he asked for further directions, before he glanced back, his tone friendly while his brain worked quickly, "So, Veronika, what about you? What are the dirty little secrets that you're keeping ?" He looked at her and added with a touch of seduction, "What must I do to learn about the real you?"
			</dd>
		</dl>
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