harley westward

No black magic can control me and no curse can let you own me

Harley was not about to argue that any information involving this little 'errand' DID concern her. He got her back right up when he told her to shut up and do it. Darcy's award winning personality shone through rather quickly as she had learned. Harley's gaze narrowed her inner feline hissing internally. There was only one thing worse than a vampire, a humourless one. She plucked the ice water that was clearly untouched, knowing all too well that blood was the only thing that would interest him. It was a cocky move, a bold one that she should have probably refrained from doing. Yet Harley was not... a being meant to be shackled. Others had failed before him and she was sure that he too would fail. Why did she need to provoke him though? It was better than lowering her gaze and following like the blind leading the blind. She could see that dangerous ire that swam just underneath his skin like a shark circling the first drop of blood. It would seem.. Even outside of Syn he was just as much as a tight ass.

Those vague details were offered to the woman after being handed those drugs that she was what? Supposed to stab into some poor guy's neck? Ah, once again she felt that existential dread, questioning every last one of her life's choices.

She ignored the dangerous glare of Darcy's mismatched eyes as a snort left him. So he had a name for her, she could not deny she wasn't mildly curious to find what he had picked. He seemed almost amused with that name, Harley far more focused that he spoke it with ease in comparison to her actual name. There was nothing to argue on it, the damage was already done. Cadence. She simply nodded from over her new glass of ice-cold water, accepting the losing battle when she sensed it.. Well almost until she opened her mouth to question who was paying. She had no desire to foot a bill when she was forced here. It was normal to require compensation for work. This was... work was it not? It was a better way than looking at what it actually was. The whole slave and master thing really.... Never was her thing... even though vampires seemed so keen on it. Darcy abruptly rose to his full height and Harley felt that need to stand... to feel larger than she was even though the woman was considerably shorter than Darcy standing. Cool, malicious confidence radiated from him when he closed the distance and set the raven-haired spitfire immediately on edge. Surely he could not do anything in public with so many people watching. It would be impossible to murder ever last one of them, right? Oh fuck she hoped she was right. The icy touch of his fingers cradled her chin, roughly, the woman forced to look him in the eye. To anyone else it looked almost intimate.. Oh, how she knew better. He lowered down to her level, that violence radiating from him. Nearly suffocating her. She need not dare struggle, to make a scene that would risk others safety. How quickly she could have been trapped beneath that gaze and yet she forced that eye contact on her own accord. Maintained that boldness she had strut in with. She could see the flash of his sharpened fangs as he uttered his backwards logic. She was about to explain what reimbursement was.. Especially when someone does something in their name and yet.... With this particular proximity, she thought better of it. He questioned her. It was useless trying to argue with him. She knew it. She could see it the way he all but dared her and there would be hell to pay. The vampire gestured toward the drink but all she could manage was to shift her eyes. "Thats free.. What I am about to do for you is not.." She neglected the part that he felt he owned her like some slave girl to call upon whenever he felt like. That her purpose was to serve him whenever he damn well wanted. That possessive vampire arrogance simply corrupted any sort of human social rules. She all but grumbled at Mr. Killjoy who ignored her, his intensity didn't lessen as he suggested flirting up her supposed mark. Harley could not help the scoff that escaped her. If he were anyone else she would have slapped him senseless or maybe she would have placed a sloppy wet kiss on his scowling feature just to watch him scramble. His next words, however, made her frown. He suggested seducing him?

"I am a lot of things, Darcy, but I am not a whore." She refused to.... think on the definition of a whore here an now.... He released her simply, her neck straining from that hold, she swore his ice fingers could still be felt where he all but branded her skin. All those lines she once though she had.... Were all but tread into ruin from all those times she crossed them. Her hand rose to rub her chin as though she could wipe away the feel of him.

Yet all of this could be avoided. The dinner... the act... the need for her. It made no sense. Why not just hijack the guy? Darcy was causing bodies to drop far before she entered the picture. With one look of his paralyzing eyes, she watched vampires fall. The thought made her shudder. Why was Darcy being so careful, was he dangerous? That final question was spoken, just as Darcy turned to leave. She at least needed to know what she was up against. Unless he wanted her to fail simply so he could be rid of her. Surely he was bad news if those vampires wanted anything to do with him and were frightened enough to send their little unproven cat into the field.

He stopped to peer at her, Harley turned within her chair to face him, twisting her body with her arm placed on the back of that chair. He toyed with that fang again as if choosing what to tell her. He all but shrugged claiming he hated musicians before simply leaving her with absolutely nothing of use. Bullshit. Fucking bullshit. "Fucking vampires.." She cursed underneath her breath before she shifted back into her seat, drawing in a full breath. How was she going to pull this one off? Harley grumbled, grasping her now decidedly too costly 'free' glass of water before sipping its cool contents. If only it were something harder. She thought about the best tactic to lure... that unsuspecting musician. Those thoughts were worse than the one before. She was no better than the vampires set to lure... their prey. It felt all too predatory and even despite being a feline... it hardly sat right within her.. Even if the guy was likely to be just another asshole. Harley sighed... deciding on winging it... she was far better at thinking on the fly than a careful script she was likely to botch. She would simply have to take... pleasure in knowing that Darcy would be the spider in wait.. For her... on her time. She could hardly help but amuse herself with the idea... That the vamp put himself on a time out.

Of all fucking names he could pronounce right it had to be Cadence, he could say that no problem. But Harley? Noo.. She had to admit, she was grateful for the moment alone, Darcy and his toxic masculinity somehow made even the patio claustrophobic. It was a rare gift to make an open space seem like you were jammed in a tight spaced, sealed box. She had no idea when this Arlo was supposed to show up.... The woman content to people-watch in the meantime, maybe he wouldn't show. That thought amused her momentarily as she casually glanced around as though she were looking for someone. There was a couple fighting over there, if she focused a little she swore she heard the words 'she'.. Oh someone was in trouble. She toyed with the side of the menu as she curiously heard an interesting conversation between two friends about to share a secret. She had forgotten all about Arlo and her job, after a quick google search, unsure if she even got the right Arlo.. He wasn't that Arlo was he?

She was almost caught off guard when the actual man of the hour found her, Harley hadn't known a single thing about the man other than he was a musician... his name was Arlo and Darcy was wary of him. Needless to say, Harley was curious of this supposedly terrifying man. Her mind snapped from her reverie when she was approached by nothing at all what she was expecting. She pictured an overly thin, tall, thick ass hipster beard and skinny jeans that might have been too tight for her own ass to fit into... When her vibrant eyes landed upon a casual kind of good looking clean-cut beach boy with tattoos and piercings she could not hide her surprise that overtook her features.

He spoke her name, well the one he had been given. Cadence. She did not look like a Cadence. "The one and only. You must be Arlo." It took her a second to register the name that sounded way too southern for her liking. Cadence the cowgirl.. Noooo that hardly seemed like the persona she wanted. No she was Cadence the cool music chick. Maybe she could blame that other persona for committing this crime. Yay for healthy coping mechanisms. She saw his hand gutted out to her with a pleasant eagerness. He was not what she expected at all. She assessed him, it was a habit to look everyone she met over. Her mind had a way of memorizing every face she met. Now.. a face from the magazines or billboards, those were forgettable.. But she never forgot a face she met. A byproduct of being painfully astute she was sure. She shook his hand, firm but she nearly recoiled the moment she was met with coldness. Darcy didn't mention a vampire. Wonderful. She wasn't sure about how pale he was in the warm light that added to the atmosphere of that patio. Fuck. Darcy was having her lure a vampire? Great.. All she had to do was flash her neck around... She tried to conceal that distinct concern and immediate dread. Of course Darcy would pit her against a vampire. That handshake, fortunately, didn't linger, even though his own grip seemed lighter than her own (she was not squeezing the life out of his hand), Harley somehow managing to find.... Her bravado in the most... concerning of positions. This was no different. After all, she had vampire clients. She would treat him the same. So long as he kept his fangs to himself. After her lovely prelude with Darcy, it was almost conflicting to see this warm smiling being before her. It had to be a front for something. But then he spoke.... The man almost seemed flustered. A flustered vampire... what? This was the big bad that Darcy himself was wary of? Harley could not help but stare at him almost confusedly as he explained the blunders of google maps. She didn't have superspeed and yet how many times had it lead her down the street only to get the dreaded recalculating.

"Yeah don't get me started.. To think google plans to make self driving cars, its only going to have everyone driving in circles. But its going to be the future.. So naturally we have to reinvent the wheel." She could hardly keep her sarcasm at bay, how was she going to pull this off?

Arlo flipped his phone over, fully focused on this supposed business. If she were actually on a business meeting it would have been... admirable.

He spoke about his wariness of vampire.. Hell.. him and her both.. But... a vampire wary of their own kind? Now that was interesting. "You speak like you aren't one...." She raised a curious brow, yeah buddy, she knew. A vampire wary of other vampires that had to be a first. This was an act... it had to be. She thought they preferred their own company or none at all.

"But.. To clarify... There has been a recent change in management. Vampires... for the most part... no offence... are bad for business, they eat all the other clientele and now with corona... humans are staying and home and the vampires are hungry. I suppose you can say we are rebranding after the previous owner... ran into some trouble with another bar. Real ugly shit." Harley's lie was then cut off by a waitress, her squeal brought on.... All the eyes of everyone here. Oh great.. Fucking witnesses. Harley could hardly help that cringe that drew across her features. That polite smile...flashed across Arlo's features, his fangs flashed. Definitely... vampire. It was startling to her... Well it was less startling at the way the waitress seemed to swoon, clearly starstruck. Arlo was.... Truly kind or just a damn good pretender. He was hardly bothered by the overzealous fan, not even a hint of irritation flashed upon his features. But she couldn't help but stare at those fangs. She could hardly help the way her heart threaten to elevate. She did not want to get bit. To make matters worse, the woman squealed again before scurrying off to get who the hell knows what. The woman hadn't even taken their order. Fangirls... she was decided that they were worse than arrogant musicians. Fangirls wanted to marry you and had their lives planned out..... In depth.. Musicians only wanted to get into your pants. Arlo seemed to laugh goodnaturedly over the whole transaction after the girl left, his attention returned to Harley once more.

He wondered if she was coming back. "I hope not, my ears are still ringing from those squeals. I thought she was going to molest you." She could hardly help that amused laugh. "You know.. You are lucky... I was sitting here for who knows how long and I only got a water." Harley shook her head... maybe they had... avoided that table from the vampire before. Hell, she could hardly blame them. Darcy was hardly an inviting creature.

"Corona has... messed with a lot of business for bars and venues.. A lot of them are closing up. It would seem the vampire bars are not immune to this either.. Unfortunately, another man's loss is another's gain, which is where I come in... Did you know.. The beer... corona is actually... doing better than ever before? Everyone and their corona parties. Fuck, I will just be happy to have another live gig again. Come on.. Tell me you don't miss it. The adoring crowds..the feeling you get on stage when you enter that zone. Creating something that someone can connect to... There is nothing like it. There hasn't been any shows, for what... 7 months? You can't tell me you don't miss it, the feeling you get, the buildup, all of it. My stage could be yours.. For the night.. All you have to do is show up, I'll take care of the rest." She was already leaning it, describing only something a musician could understand. Hell, she almost missed it talking about it. Those gigs were addicting. Alright.. Okay... looking back... her words sounded far... more sexual that perhaps she intended... She straightened, leaning back into her chair. "Look.. Don't make up your mind yet.. Lets enjoy some drinks or whatever first. It's been a while since I've even sat at a restaurant let alone.. Had... Social interaction... I'll do my best to woo you and you can make up your mind at the end... If you can flash another one of those grins at the waitress I am sure... we might actually get some decent service. The menu says vampire... friendly. So I bet there is something for you." Good, the idea of making Darcy waiting in the shadows...seemed appealing. She was certainly in no rush to go running to him. Arlo... she was sure was not about to threaten her in a public place. In fact, she wasn't even sure he had it in him. Maybe time would tell.