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Evony de la Longine

"Don't challenge me, darling."

0 · 788 views · located in Detroit, Michigan

a character in “The Midnight Lounge”, as played by LittleMissGeorgia

Description



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Full Name: Evony Charlotte Lorena de la Longine

Other Names: Throughout her life, Evony has had a array of different names. Professionally, she has been known as Miss de la Longine, Madam and Madam Detroit. Personally, she has been Mommy, and later, Mom. Evony believes a name defines a relationship. It's the basis to everything, the very first impression.

Gender: Female

Age: 39

Orientation: Straight

Hometown: Lansing, Michigan

Role: The Madam



Personality:


Image Evony de la Longine’s many talents have brought her far, but by far her most useful one has been her head for business. She has strong instincts, and follows her gut feeling, trusting it impeccably. It has rarely failed her, and whenever she has chosen not to follow it, things have not worked out for the best. She is also persuasive and a little manipulative, which always comes in useful when persuading men. Another aspect of her personality that has brought her far in her running of The Midnight Lounge is her ability to be harsh when required. She is cut-throat in her attitude and will not, under any circumstances, stand for people messing her around. She also isn’t afraid to let girls go. If they aren’t earning the money, they can’t stay. This is no business for any other than the very beautiful. Some consider Evony a bitch for holding this attitude; a reputation Evony is quite pleased to hold.

Despite Evony’s heavy involvement in an industry that is not considered savoury, she has not fallen into the traps that many others in her situation have, in a bid to make more money and further their careers. Every decision she makes on the well-being of her girls is influenced by her past and the time she spent on the game herself, so to speak. Her managerial style is also influenced by the man who used to be her pimp, and her past experiences with him. Evony considers herself a woman of certain morals, and won’t break them. For instance, she won’t allow anything to happen to her girls. All clients are vetted before they are allowed to book an appointment, security is employed to keep them safe and any client that is found to have hurt a girl is blacklisted and made to pay for what they did. Evony also won’t employ minors, or anyone who is being forced into it. She makes sure all the girls are well cared for, receiving meals and a bed.

When Evony was younger, she allowed emotions to rule her. She was easily influenced and impressionable, people found it easy to manipulate her, and Evony suffered as a result. But growing up has steeled her against this. She still likes to let go, to allow herself to feel emotions and act based on what she wants rather than what she should be doing. But now, it is her choice, not someone else’s.

Evony is a wonderful liar, a skill picked up through many years in this business. She’s also sarcastic, using a cutting comment to show others who is in charge. She is blunt in her comments and doesn’t sugar-coat it. Her manner is usually in this vain, but she knows when all serious is needed. By others, Evony is considered a glamorous woman. She dresses well and isn’t afraid to splash out on clothes. She is a relatively vain woman, and the way she looks is very important to her. Her whole demeanour, despite the life she’s lead, gives the air of good breeding and class.

Evony de la Longine cares deeply for her children. Despite the front she puts on, she has a very maternal aspect to her personality. She would do anything to ensure her children’s happiness and safety, and would be devastated if anything were to happen to either one of them. This maternal aspect also shows through in the way she treats the girls under her care.


Likes:


Image Her Job: Her job gives her a feeling of power that Evony enjoys. She loves running the business and seeing its success. Also, the large income she makes from it is easily a bonus. She’s proud of what she’s done with The Midnight Lounge and doesn’t have any plans to give up her job any time soon.

The Colour Purple: Something about it has just always appealed to Evony. Maybe the luxury it simplified, or the class, but she adores it.

Her Children: [The Madam’s Son] and Haley de la Longine are very important to Evony. She loves them both deeply and would never let anything happen to them. She likes to think she is a good mother to them, and hopes others see her that way too.

Champagne: Evony loves the way the bubbles feel on her tongue. In her opinion, the expensive champagne is the best, her favourite being Krug.

Sarcasm: It has been Evony’s default style of speech for a lot of years. Most have come to understand that it’s not her being a bitch, but just simply the way she speaks.

Henry Garmoyle: Possibly it was because Henry died before he’d had chance to taint himself in Evony’s eyes, but Evony always considers him the love of her life. She’s still heartbroken about the way he died, but has learnt to move on.
Fashion: The way she looks is all important to Evony, and she adores shopping. She won’t wear anything without a designer label, and in this respect she is still closest to her roots.

Cats: She used to own a black one as a child, named Midnight. Evony adored Midnight, but she was killed by her father who accidentally shot her while out hunting when Evony was thirteen. Evony never quite forgave him for it. In part, The Midnight Lounge is named after her childhood pet. She now keeps a cat called Whisper, who lives upstairs at The Midnight Lounge.


Dislikes:


Image Letting Girls Go: Evony doesn’t like it, but she’ll do it. She can’t have girls that aren’t making the money on her books and she has to be harsh in knowing when to let them go. They’ve usually earned enough by then not to need to return to prostitution, and she gives fairly big payouts. But it doesn’t make it any easier, knowing she’s casting them out and, technically, making them homeless.

Hospitals: There’s just something about those places that makes Evony feel deeply uncomfortable.

Her Roots: Evony is not proud of where she came from, and she’s certainly not proud of the family she had. She hates their demeanour and the way they treated one another. She hasn’t seen any of them since she was seventeen.

Guns: She's had bad experiences with them in the past. She allows her security to carry one, and she too owns one that she keeps in the draw of her bedside table. However, she will not carry it with her unless completely necessary.

Danny Dedores: Evony can honestly not say she has any fond memories of her old pimp. The man was cruel, lecherous and violent. However, she is grateful for what she learnt from him about how not to run a prostitution business.

Being Pregnant: Though Evony loves her children dearly, the process to get there was not a pleasant one. Both pregnancies were difficult; she felt sick, tired, uncomfortable and sore throughout. It’s not that she doesn’t want more children, but she’s glad she’s probably almost too old now to have anymore.

Misjudging Clients: Evony is a pretty good judge of character, but she is always worried she will make a mistake and one of her girls will get hurt. She knew she would feel solely responsible for what happened, which is why she has always had her trusted security employed at The Midnight Lounge.


Strengths:


Image Evony is a wonderful businesswoman, and always has been. Her gut instincts, tactical techniques and cut-throat attitude gives her an edge that has made her very successful today. She’s proud of what she’s achieved and enjoys the steady flow of money.

Evony makes a pretty good cocktail. When she was trapped in her marriage to George Conrad, she had to find some way to occupy her time. And, in some of that time she decided to take a course on cocktail making. Now she knows the standard cocktail menu of most bars off by heart and can mix the recipes without hesitation.

She is also a great liar, a skill that has been very useful to her. She’s unsure quite where she first picked it up, and she’s not always proud of it, but she certainly wouldn’t give it up. She’s also persuasive, which goes hand in hand with her skill to lie and is just as helpful.

Evony is a good mother. Despite what others may think, she doesn’t believe bringing her children up in the environment she has has done them any harm. In fact, the way she sees it, she has given them valuable life experience that you can get nowhere else. Evony would do anything for her children, and truly cares for them.

Evony sees her contacts as a strength. She has served many of the most influential and wealthy men in the city of Detroit and can easily use the contacts she has accumulated over the years to call in favours.


Weaknesses:


Image Evony really doesn’t like guns, and in a business like hers it’s usually thought of as a good idea to carry one, just in case something might happen to you. But Evony rarely carried hers, in fact, she avoids looking at it at all.

Evony is no good at household chores. Out of pure boredom when she was expected to be a housewife for five years of her life, she offered to do them. But she could never seem to get the tasks done in a timely fashion and even then they were done badly. Eventually, she gave up and got the staff back in.

Although she has got much better, as a teenager she was very much lead by her emotions and did what she felt she should rather than what, reasonably, she should. With age, she has got much better. But she still occasionally falls back into old habits.

It could be considered a strength or a weakness, but most see it as the later. Evony is terrible for holding a grudge. She will hold the past against someone forever and she struggles to forgive.

Her children are a weakness of Evony’s. They could easily be used against her as she wouldn’t put anything above them and she’d see no price as too high for their safety.


Fears:


Image Evony is very afraid something might happen to her children. They are an integral part of her life and she would do anything to keep them safe. Her children are the only family she has and if anything were to happen to them, it would destroy her. She is always worried about her son, especially the way he flirts with the girls who work for Evony. But she is particularly concerned for Haley. She is young and beautiful, and around so many men something could easily happen to her. Evony is so concerned about her, she has asked her security to watch out for her constantly.

Evony is afraid of being arrested. She knows the business she runs is illegal and she has put up several precautions to try and protect herself from the law, but she knows they are already on to her and just looking for evidence to convict her. Evony is terrified she’ll go to prison, leaving her children and her business alone. But the fear isn’t enough for her to quit the job.

Being raped is something that featured heavily in Evony’s past. It happened at one of the worst points in her life and it took her years to get over. In fact, she still has nightmares about it on occasion. She knows she’s no longer the defenceless young girl she was all those years ago, but it’s still a very real fear to her that she would do anything to prevent.




History:


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The de la Longine family are descended from a long line of wealthy landowners. Originally from France, they’re thought to have moved to American somewhere within the mid-nineteenth century. No one is really sure where they made their money originally, but it has gradually been passed down through the generations. And through the years, it has been invested and multiplied, leaving each generation wealthier than their predecessors. The family is old money and always will be, with traditional values. Etiquette was everything and this belief has been passed down with the money.

Evony’s father, Desmond, grew up in the lap of luxury. His father wanted a boy, but ended up with three daughters. In a final attempt to produce himself a son, Desmond was born. In Desmond, he finally achieved this goal; an heir to carry on the family name. Desmond de la Longine wanted for nothing as a child. He was the prized son; adored by his doting mother, prized by his ambitious father. He grew up as the most important child of the de la Longine household, pushed through all the best education. He gained a degree from Harvard in a subject; no one could quite recall which. But he’d done as every de la Longine man had done before him, and he’d made the family proud. In time, his sisters were married off to various wealthy businessmen, politicians and people of power within the country. Desmond married a minor English noble, Victoria, whose father was a Viscount.

Desmond and Victoria de la Longine’s marriage was not a happy one. They married too young, to please their parents, not because they loved one another. It wasn’t that they fought; it was just that they never really loved each other. There was never any emotion behind it, they didn’t care about each other enough to fight. They seemed to tip-toe around each other, being polite, as if they’d just met. They never broke down those barriers and gained the comfortable familiarity that comes with love. They didn’t really want a life together; they were simply going through the motions. They had three children. The first was Evony. She was born on a cold day in the November of 1973, following as relatively easy pregnancy. Two years later, her brother, Thomas was born, and three years after that, her sister, Isabella.

But as Evony grew up, she began to see her family for what it truly was. The money and the titles had done them no favours at all. Their family had become obsessed by social graces and etiquette and what was β€˜proper’. They were self-serving and very much focused on the way they looked to onlookers. There was no real love between them. They kept each other at arm’s length, preferring to be cold and distant with one another. They did not believe in sharing how they felt or comforting each other. Secrets and personal affairs were expected to be kept just that, personal. Their family looked down on those with less wealth, believing they were unworthy of the attention of The de la Longine family. Evony, though young, knew that this was wrong. Families weren’t supposed to be like that.

Age seventeen, Evony became involved a boy named Henry. He was twenty-one year old son of the Garmoyle family, who were family friends. Though wealthy, well-spoken and connected, which was everything Evony’s parents wanted in a husband for their daughter, he was also a tearaway. The boy was reckless, he liked to party and sleep around. He flirted shamelessly with young, impressionable Evony, and filled her head with ideas. He talked about how the money both of their families’ possessed was evil, how all these manners and customs were hypocrisy, set out by the wealthy to control others, how they didn’t need the money and that they should make their own wealth, without all these shackles of an old-money family. When Evony’s parents forbid to see Henry, he convinced her to run away with him to Detroit, leaving their controlling families and the ties of wealth behind. And Evony, so in love with Henry that she would’ve done anything for him, agreed.

They persuaded a trucker to give them a lift east to the city of Detroit, where they hoped to make a life for themselves. In the beginning it was perfect. They went out every night, no longer held back by expectations and pleasantries. But just a month after arriving in the city, Henry got caught up in a bar fight and was shot. He died immediately.

Evony, realising how alone and lost she was, tried to return to her family. But they no longer wanted her, humiliated by her abandonment and antics in Detroit. She was forced to return to the city once more, living with a friend she and Henry had made in their short time there. She gradually sold the expensive clothes she’d brought with her to pay for the cost of living and a little rent to her friend. But no job wanted an unqualified seventeen year old. This was when Evony met Danny Dedores. He told her he could get her work, where men would pay to sleep with her. He told her this was a privilege, that she would have the easiest job in the whole city and yet still be earning more than most. Evony turned him down immediately, saying she wouldn’t sell her body to anyone.

Due to living such an extravagant life previously, Evony had no concept of saving money, and it ran dry quickly. Her friend was forced to make her leave, no longer able to pay for them both to live. Forced out onto the street, Evony’s future looked bleak. She knew she couldn’t live like this, she was going to die. She could no longer afford to be picky about the jobs she took, and she found Danny Dedores.

Immediately, he set her up with her first client. At first, the men weren’t so bad. They were no Henry, but they didn’t ask too much of her. But the men gradually became more aggressive. And when she begged Danny not to make her see her latest client, who’d been hitting her, Danny refused. He told her she was worthless, and that she had no choice; she would do as he said. And then, he raped her. Evony was trapped, being forced into things she didn’t want to do and being used by her pimp, to fulfil his needs sexually as well as lining his pockets.

But George Conrad was Evony’s saving grace. He was a businessman, in his late fourties, who used the service of girls under Danny Dedores’ management. But when he met Evony, he told her afterwards, it was as if he felt a true connection that ran deeper than the physical act they were committing. Evony, however, was not so taken with him herself. But to her, anything was better than the way she was trapped now. So George took her away with him.

They were married as soon as Evony turned eighteen, and she was pregnant with their first child not long after her nineteenth birthday. George was wealthy, and she became a kept woman once more, the way her parents had always hoped she’d be. In a way, she’d come full circle. She’d tried so hard to change her fate, and yet she’d ended becoming the very woman she never wanted to be.

In the September of 1992, Evony gave birth to a baby boy named [The Madam’s Son]. And, on August the 31st, 1994, she had a girl named Haley. She promised herself, then, that she would never become like her parents. She would always care for her children, make sure they were close and that she never ended up holding her children at arm’s length. But as her children grew up, Evony became more and more unhappy. She hosted Galas and dinner parties and she organised charity events for her husband. And as she and George became increasingly distant, she felt as if she had lost herself. She was turning into her mother day by day, her life and relationships paralleling that of Victoria de la Longine. Evony could barely stand to look at herself.

When her children were five and three respectively, and Evony was twenty-four, she caught George cheating on her. This was the end for their relationship. Looking back on it now, she realises if she’d truly loved him she probably would’ve worked it out and tried again. But she’d never really loved him in the first place, and they’d become so distant by now that she’d had no desire to fix things anyway. In the divorce proceedings, Evony took custody of both of the children, returning to her maiden name and changing their surname too. It wasn’t that she was proud of the family she’d come from and their roots, but she no longer wanted to be tied by name to a marriage that was never really going to ever work out. She had lost who she was between her days in prostitution and her failed marriage. And now, she felt she needed her name once more. She also received a large sum of money and property from her husband, in the settlement.

Now, Evony easily had enough money to create a nice life for her and her young children, but she no longer had a purpose. Her life had no drive behind it. Other than caring for her children, she had nothing to fill the days. Until, she met Danny Dedores once more. It was unexpected, that was for certain. He’d heard she was no longer with her husband, and wanted to know if she wanted to come and work for him again. Disgusted, Evony declined. But it made her think. There were so many girls out there on the street, being abused and used by men like him. She could change that. Besides, with the correct management and advertising techniques, being a Madam could be a fairly lucrative business. And so, The Midnight Lounge was set up.

Evony sold some of the property she’d received in the divorce proceedings to buy a bar just outside the main business district of Detroit. She’d got planning permission to rebuild the backrooms and build a whole upstairs to the building. And this, became The Midnight Lounge. At first, the business was small. She only had four girls working for her. But quickly, the classy club received a reputation and the type of clientele Evony was hoping for began to increase in numbers. She gradually took on more girls, changing the building and allowing it to grow with the business. She developed shrewd business techniques and sharp instincts, and soon, The Midnight Lounge was bringing in more money than Evony ever expected.

Now, the business is at the height of its success. Evony’s two children have both grown up and are helping with the day to day running’s. The girls currently employed are some of the best girls The Madam has ever had. It's thriving, and all only hope it continues.

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So begins...

Evony de la Longine's Story

Characters Present

Character Portrait: Natasha Ivory Peirce Character Portrait: Anneka Vanity Character Portrait: Evony de la Longine Character Portrait: Clara Jane Mason Character Portrait: Kaydence Dixen Character Portrait: Regan Monaco
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β€œThe Midnight Lounge, how can I help you?” Evony answered the phone crisply, her voice laced with smooth confidence and an air of business-like authority. It was a tone Evony had come to perfect over the years, as answering the phone seemed to be a constant staple in her life; sort of an occupational hazard that came with her line of work. It was exactly the tone a man wanted to hear when doing business in this field. They didn’t like to be pestered, or have to go through the formalities, especially her wealthiest clients. And Evony was well adapted to catering for those types.

”Miss de la Longine, it’s Lucian Norton.”

β€œAh, Mr Norton,” her voice oozed professionalism, β€œConfirming your appointment with Ray J, I assume?”

β€œYes, eleven thirty tonight?” he asked. Mr Norton ran a hedge fund in the city. He was in his mid-four ties, and had a wife who he lived with yet didn’t speak to, and four daughters in their teenage years. He had a regular booking with Ray every fortnight on a Wednesday evening. He was the kind of man who checked everything, even the tiniest things. Under his watchful eye, not a single appointment, figure or date went unchecked. He was a perfectionist, but he was wealthy and used her services, which was all that mattered to Evony at the end of the day. Of course, she liked to have some degree of knowledge about her clients but, to her, business was everything. She was cut-throat and she didn’t like failure.

β€œThat’s when I have you down for, Mr Norton,” she informed him.

β€œPerfect. Good evening,” he replied, before hanging up.

Evony set the phone down on her nightstand, a beautiful little circular table crafted from a deep purple marble. It rested on three golden metal legs, arranged like the points of a triangle, beside her four-poster bed. The bed was adorned completely in white bedding; white duvet, white sheets, white throws, white cushions. Thin, white strips of material swept up towards the top of the bed, winding along the wooden columns that held up the canopy. The wood was painted in the same shade of purple as the nightstand. The style of Evony’s room was exceptionally glamorous, which fitted with the Madam’s general demeanour.

There were three floors to The Midnight Lounge. On the bottom floor, at the entrance, was the bar. Behind that, the building gave way to six individual rooms where the real money was made. Each room was themed in a different style, so as the customer could choose what feel they wanted. Above that was the second floor, which was the main living quarters. There was a main room in the centre, with a small kitchen and sitting room. The girl’s bedrooms came off that room, so they could live on the premises. Above that was the third and final floor, which acted as a home to Evony and her children. It wasn’t that they couldn’t afford a house of their own; Evony easily had enough money to buy several houses of her own. But businesses did not run themselves, and places like this which made high profits and catered to the entitled who easily had the ability to be choosey required a lot of work. Evony simply didn’t have the time to maintain and live in a house of her own. Their floor was considerably more spacious than the one the girl’s occupied. Each member of the family had an en suit bathroom and a large bedroom. They also had a sitting room of their own, and a small kitchen, but it was rarely used. Coming off Evony’s bedroom was a small office, where she ran usually ran the business from. The girls were strictly forbidden from entering the top floor, unless an emergency arose that required her urgent attention. After all, she had to maintain a certain degree of privacy. In the basement was a gym and a swimming pool. The girls were expected to keep their bodies in a certain condition, and if they were unable to maintain the looks she’d employed them for, they were gone.

This evening was a particularly busy one for Evony. She’d been booked by a wealthy senator, David Beaumont, for his retirement party. Evony’s girls were expected arrive towards the end of the evening and socialise with the guests. Then, as the party drew to a close around eleven and only his close friends were left, that was when their day jobs finally begun. They were expected to drench the men with attention and then, of course, sleep with them. Evony was escorting them, to make sure order was kept and they did their jobs correctly. Jasper was also coming along, to ensure their safety, and also Haley, to help manage business, but mainly because Evony didn’t want to leave her at The Midnight Lounge without the watchful eye of herself or Jasper. Because Ray J had a previous booking, she was the only girl not coming, but Evony had known Mr Norton a while and was fairly confident Jasper was not required in this situation. Anthony was also staying here, to keep the bar open, should any police or others come poking around. Evony knew leaving Anthony alone with a girl, especially one she knew he’d had his eye on recently, was just tempting fate, but she didn’t have much choice. She didn’t want to leave Haley to front the business instead. It wasn’t that Evony didn’t trust her daughter; it was just that she was often so much vulnerable than her brother. Though he was only two years her senior, he still behaved so much older than Haley. And frankly, despite his inability to keep his eyes and hands off the prostitutes working here, Evony trusted him to look after himself more. And so it was settled, that was their evening.

Evony stood up from the bed, bending back down to smooth the duvet and replace the cushions in their correct place before leaving her room to enter the family sitting room, where she knew Haley would be.

β€œHaley, darling?” Evony asked her daughter. β€œCan you please let the girls know we’ll be leaving in forty minutes, make sure Jasper knows too. And would you please be ready to go then as well.” Though her words were phrased politely, it was a question and not a statement. She’d used a term of endearment for her daughter, but she did not expect the girl to defy her mother.

Evony knew Haley wasn’t fond of the lifestyle she’d chosen for the family, and she wished she’d chosen differently. Evony had always been close to Anthony, their relationship had always been caring and he’d rarely held any resentment for her. But her relationship with Haley always felt slightly strained. Of course she loved her daughter, but she never seemed to quite connect with her in the same way she did with her son.

But tonight, Evony’s family issues were irrelevant. She dealt in sex; that was the plain and simple of it. People came to her to forget their issues and their problems. Her girls would take all that away, in their skimpy dresses and lacy lingerie. They gave the men what they wanted. They created a fantasy, a gloss of perfection that overlaid reality and erased it for a time. Evony didn’t just trade in sex; she traded in an evanescent mirage. The unattainable.

Characters Present

Character Portrait: Evony de la Longine Character Portrait: Anthony de la Longine Character Portrait: Jasper James Character Portrait: Haley de la Longine
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The previous night, Haley had been unable to sleep again. Obviously she had stayed up until at least two or three in the morning, just writing and listening to music. In case anyone could hear her, she decided against playing guitar, though she doubted anyone would have been able to hear her anyways. After awhile she ended up sneaking downstairs to see Jasper, just wearing a long, grey v-neck which she had no doubt he enjoyed. That was never her goal though, pants were just overrated. For a long time she had stayed with him, most of the time just laying there. Unfortunately she couldn't risk someone finding them, or even seeing her sneaking back up to her room, so she ended up having to leave around five. After that she'd passed out on her bed, curled up holding a pillow with a shirt on it instead of a pillowcase.

She didn't sleep for long, but she slept past the time that she was supposed to be up and down at the bar. Everyone there knew that when she actually did sleep, you really shouldn't wake her up. When she finally did get up though, which was around noon, she almost immediately rose and went to get changed. Black jeans, white button-down, and a pair of black sneakers. There was no point in putting on fancy shoes, or at least heels to make her look taller, she would be behind the bar with her brother. The only part they would see of her was waist-up, and the bar was naturally a bit above the floor so she would at least look normal height. Her brother still towered over her though, but that was a given. Then again, everyone towered over her, so it wasn't much of a surprise. It didn't bother her that much, except for the times she was teased about it.

It was around seven that night when she noticed Jasper leave, Not that she had been watching him or anything, but it was hard not to notice him when there was crazy, drunk girls hanging on him all the time. Alright, maybe it wasn't all the time, but it was a good portion of the time. There was nothing she could do about it though, and she knew that he wasn't able to throw them out for something as silly as that. She couldn't say she wasn't pleased when he got away from them though. About a half hour after he had left, to make sure no one even suspected that she was going up to see him, she excused herself from the bar. The man she had been speaking with, or more like flirting with, looked pretty upset that she was leaving.

Going up to her room first, she took a quick shower before going out to read in the sitting room. She didn't want to get ready before her mother told her to, since she didn't want to stay in that uncomfortable dress for longer than she had to. Quicker than she thought though, her mother was telling her to tell everyone else to get ready, and then get prepared herself. "Alright mum," -do I really have to go tonight? There was no way that she wanted to be around tonights happenings, but she wasn't about to question her mother. When the woman had mentioned Jasper her heart has sped up, the same way it always did when her mum mentioned her secret-boyfriend. It wasn't healthy for her to be lying to her mother like this, but she wasn't going to get Jasper in trouble either.

She went into her room and slipped on a black dress and a pair of heels. It took her less than five minutes to get changed, since she hadn't wanted to go down to the girls rooms with a robe on. When she got to their floor she just yelled out that they were to be ready to leave within a half hour, figuring that would be easier than trying to find each and every girl. As she headed towards Jasper's room though, her heart seemed to speed up again, even though her mum had specifically told her to tell him to be ready. When she entered his room he was still in the shower, and though she knew she should probably have just left him a note, instead she went over to his bed to sit and wait for him to be out.

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Character Portrait: Natasha Ivory Peirce Character Portrait: Anneka Vanity Character Portrait: Evony de la Longine Character Portrait: Clara Jane Mason Character Portrait: Kaydence Dixen Character Portrait: Anthony de la Longine
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"Alright, Mum," Haley replied, standing up from her position on the sofa and skulking off to her room. There was no softness to the words, no care or emotion. It was clear Haley didn't want to be there tonight, and Evony hadn't exactly reasoned out to her daughter exactly why she didn't want her staying here without her mother or Jasper, but she still didn't expect such a seemingly cold reception.

With a soft sigh, Evony returned to her own room to get ready. After all, it wouldn't do for her not to be ready when she expected all the girls to be perfectly on time. She changed into a black dress. The garment was fairly simple and classic in style, clinging to her curves right the way down her body, only flaring round her knees to give it a touch of uniqueness. Evony was not usually the type to dress down. She loved picking out something glamorous, emphasising her assets and dressing to create an impression. But tonight was not about showing herself off. Tonight was business, and purely business. Though she needed to blend in with the wealthy feel of the evening, meaning she had to wear something elegant, she also had to remain looking professional. These types of parties were often where she picked up new clients. She was certain there would be men there tonight who's numbers she didn't have in her little black book, and she needed to create a certain image in order to lure them in. What she wore had to say a certain thing, and so the classic black dress was perfect for the occasion. Her jewellery was also simplistic and classic. On her wrist she wore a simple, thick, gold bracelet and in her ears rested studs in an identical shade to her bracelet. Her hair was pulled back off her face to create a businesslike impression, and her make-up was light and natural, except for her eye-liner, which was slightly thicker than usual and her eye-shadow, which was a very pale charcoal colour.

Halfway through applying a thin coat of natural lipstick, Evony froze in front of the mirror, catching the sound of a scream downstairs. She held still for a few moments, but soon she heard voices. She couldn't tell who'd been responsible for the scream, but it was clearly resolved. She slipped her feet into a pair of simple black heels. Though they couldn't be seen under the floor length dress, they gave her additional height on her already relatively tall five foot seven frame. Finally, she checked herself in the full-length mirror, looking herself down for any imperfections. In these situations, image was everything. It could make or break a night, be the difference between earning new clients or losing existing ones.

Remembering she was leaving her son alone with Ray, Evony decided to make certain he was clear on the rules. Besides, since her daughter was being particularly icy with her tonight and she certainly wasn't going to ask any of the girls, she wanted someone's approval on the outfit, and her son was always sweet to her. She exited her room into the main family area, crossing it and knocking on Anthony's door. But there was no answer. She made her way downstairs to find him. But when she reached the second floor, she discovered what the scene was all about. Inside Natasha's room, the owner of the room was standing up from the bed looking a little dishevelled, but thankfully dressed for the evening - which was more than Evony could say for certain other girls... Clara was holding up two dresses, obviously trying to get an opinion.

"The blue one," Evony said to the woman, announcing her entrance to the scene. The blue one would offer more temptation, and pull in the money much faster, Evony was sure of it. She paused before raising her eyebrows, "Is there a problem here?" But she didn't wait for an answer.

Kitten was also ready, and as the Madam flicked her eyes over the girl, taking in her appearance, she realised with a faint smile how much money the baby faced prostitute was going to make her tonight. However, her expression darkened as her eyes fell on Angel. Evony wasn't especially font of the new girl as it was, and her complete disregard for any kind of dignity only riled the woman further.

"Angel," she said coldly, "I hope you're not planning on leaving here like that... I'm sure the longer you spend in this business, you'll come to understand that it's all about temptation; something you haven't quite grasped yet..." Sarcasm dripped from Evony's voice like syrup.

She glanced at her son, the real reason she'd even entered the scene in the first place. "Anthony, a word, please?" she beckoned to him and left the main room to stand by the stairs, to give them some privacy. She didn't glance back to check he was following her, she simply assumed he would.

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Character Portrait: Natasha Ivory Peirce Character Portrait: Anneka Vanity Character Portrait: Evony de la Longine Character Portrait: Clara Jane Mason Character Portrait: Anthony de la Longine
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    The lack of balance in the room was evident; she could smell it. And its source? It came from Natasha. Anneka prided herself on noticing, on seeing the tiniest traces of instability. The girl hid it well, admittedly, but could anyone fool the master? She could even sense the revulsion at her nudity, but why should she care? She wasn't here to make friends; she was here to bring them all down. But on second thought... perhaps she needed their affections to pass suspicion. She needed to fit in. Madame wouldn't tolerate any 'funny business,' as Robert called it. He had warned her of everything. He was in charge of the Midnight Lounge case, which meant his career rested in her pretty little hands. Oh, if only she could let them crumble out, like ashes from her lips. But it would cost her more than his anger, it would most likely cost her her life. So Anneka made a small sympathetic noise and perused the room. "A spider? You poor thing." She kept her voice soft, rough and low and husky, smooth edges and all texture. Her normal voice was much more feminine, higher and girly. But she was a prostitute, and that wasn't the voice a prostitute ought to have.

    She didn't mind that Clara ignored her. She would expect nothing less. And she hardly cared about the 'man' of the house, Anthony de la Longine. Just another pest of Madame's. Anneka would much rather dig her nails into the diamond of the house: Natasha. It was no use denying her attraction to the girl; it ran in her veins even now, this longing for possession of the powerful. Because that was what Natasha was: powerful. She was the top girl of the Midnight Lounge, the drawer of money, of attention and the hollers of men. She wanted to own Natasha. She wanted to be on top of her and make her scream, she wanted to know that she alone had the power to bring her to such divine pleasure. It was her nature, to seek the people at the very top. She would have gone for Madame, if the woman hadn't repulsed her so. The woman did not own Anneka. No one did. Not even Robert, the fool who believed he had conquered the untamed beauty.

    Well, speak of the devil, and he shall appear. Or in this case, a she. Anneka turned and found herself face to face with the Madame herself, in all of her icy splendor. She hid the immediate hatred that flooded her tongue and tossed her hair out of her face, lowering her chin in what would pass for humility. She stepped out of the way, making sure she headed in Natasha's direction, and gave the woman some room. This was her number one enemy, the woman at the top of her black list. She was the one Anneka was conspiring against, and she must not think anything irregular of her. But... well, she was naked. She knew Madame's type: the kind of woman who wanted perfection, rushed after it, would not stop until she attained it. And nudity wasn't acceptable, even for the prostitutes under her care.

    Madame's words proved her correct, but it still elicited a strong indignant in her. She quelled it and nodded her head meekly, meeting Madame's eyes obediently. "I'm sorry, Madame," she said dutifully, swallowing down her biting, bitter words gently. "I'll work hard to remember tonight, Madame. I will follow my peers' example." Even though I don't fucking need it, you bitchy serpent, Anneka added silently. Her face was carefully masked with a blank deference, and she maintained it even after Madame walked away. She would not lose control; she never did. She had no trouble flicking her true emotions aside, but this woman was bound to test her. Anneka would have to earn the woman's trust.

    She was up to the challenge.

    Anneka turned to the other girls and offered them a smile, albeit distant and a little detached. "Oops," she said calmly, shrugging her shoulders sheepishly. "I hope you girls don't mind about my, well..." Anneka motioned down her body with the back of her right hand, making a backwards J gracefully. "I was just a little worried about the scream." She knew how she was coming off: cool, confident, mysterious. She liked it that way. Let these girls wonder; perhaps it would draw them closer. She leveled her gaze on Natasha and smiled once more, adding a little warmth to her lips. Perhaps it would draw this girl closer. "But everything is okay, and I will go get dressed now. I'll see you all tonight."

    And with that, Anneka left. She entered her own room and touched up her make up, slipped into her dress, and smiled coolly at her reflection. Beautiful. Smoldering. And absolutely irresistible. As usual.

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Character Portrait: Natasha Ivory Peirce Character Portrait: Anneka Vanity Character Portrait: Evony de la Longine Character Portrait: Clara Jane Mason Character Portrait: Kaydence Dixen
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Natasha was standing awkwardly while everyone came into the room, exchanging remarks. Her cool hues rested gently on the floor, glancing every now and again to the bathroom. Clara held up two dresses, and Natasha glanced over both of them, considering and weighing the options of each. It was the Madam, though, that answered. "The blue one," Natasha had to agree. The blue one did look very nice, it cupped her breasts neatly and accented her curves. The Madam was right, as always. "A spider? You poor thing." Naty looked to Angel, her eyes narrowing suspiciously, and then softening. She's not the enemy. Natasha gave a little nod to Clara, to illustrate her agreement since words still seemed to stick in her throat. Natasha was going to say there was no problem, when asked by her boss, but the lady's attention was caught by Angel. "I hope you're not planning on leaving here like that... I'm sure the longer you spend in this business, you'll come to understand that it's all about temptation; something you haven't quite grasped yet..." Natasha winced a little. The Madam scared her. "Anthony, a word, please?" Saved... "I was just a little worried about the scream." Angel added gently. Natasha looked to her and found that their eyes met. What are you playing at? "Thanks, Angel..." softly.

With that, Angel slipped back out of the room. Natasha turned to Clara again, and looked her over. "Are you coming with me tonight for a foursome?" Walking over to her vanity, Natasha set about fixing the wild wisps of her hair that had escaped the perfection of earlier during her fall. Once she was satisfied with her appearance, she grinned at her reflection and turned back to Clara. The images were gone, her game was on. Confidence returned, she noticed Kitten was still in her room. Annoyance swelled in her chest and she rudely gave the baby-faced whore a once-over. "Don't you have something to be doing?" Her words were soft, in the way that razors are soft to the skin until you press too hard. "Oh, and Kitten... You look beautiful." Her words dripped like warm honey, hanging in the air in a chokingly sweet way.

"Stick beside me tonight, won't you Beauty darling?" With a few short strides, Natasha was across the room again and slipping behind Clara. "Allow me." Tenderly she helped the girl undress and slip into the gown of choice. As she stood behind Clara, her fingertips graced the small of her back gently before she pulled the zipper closed. "So fittingly named, Beauty." Natasha whispered in her ear, tenderly kissing the girl's shoulder. She didn't care, or notice if Kitten had left yet. Natasha smiled and walked a 360 degree around Beauty. "Sit with me in the car?" Natasha led the way out of her room, allowing for anyone left in the room to follow before she shut her door.

Noticing the Madam and her son having a conversation by the stairs, Ivory decided to go into the kitchen for an apple. Taking one from the counter, she leaned against the cool wall and waited for the signal that everyone was ready and heading out the door. She would stay by Clara tonight. If her visions aroused themselves, Clara would cover for her. Call her a screamer. Tell them it was a kinky game. Make it fun. Make it fake. Make it okay. Cause that's what Clara did. She made everything okay.

Natasha glanced back to Angel as she began to speak.

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Character Portrait: Natasha Ivory Peirce Character Portrait: Anneka Vanity Character Portrait: Evony de la Longine Character Portrait: Clara Jane Mason Character Portrait: Kaydence Dixen
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Kaydence was brought into the room by Beauty, she had no intentions of entering the room but at that point she didn't exactly have a choice in the matter. Seeing that Beauty came to Ivory's rescue she planned to leave, she knew Natasha couldn't stand her, hated her for some reason but as she turned to leave Anthony and Angel, the new girl, were in the door way. She was staring right at Angel who was completely nude and she had a hard time taking her eyes off the girl No wonder they call her Angel she thought. She dropped her gaze to the floor and decided to just keep quiet.

Natasha said the reason behind the scream was a spider, she looked over to Natasha and wondered how a spider could make someone so freaked out but she didn't question it. Clara went on about getting an opinion on what dress to wear for the night. She liked the blue one but Clara didn't ask her opinion so she wasn't going to speak up.

Juat the the Madam was at the doorway, she told Clara to wear the blue one. She then felt Madam's eyes on her and that made her feel very self-conscious at that moment. She was glad that the Madam didn't say anything to her, she wondered if the Madam not saying anything meant that she approved of what she was wearing, but she wouldn't ask. The Madam then remarked on Angel's nakedness then left as she told Anthony she needed a word with him.

"I hope you girls don't mind about my, well..." she heard Angel speak ans her eyes drifted back to the woman in the doorway. No I don't mind at all.. she thought to herself but said nothing. Angel then left leaving the doorway opened, this was her time to be able to escape from where she was unwanted but she found her eyes going back to Natasha, who has now moved to her vanity. As she was staring Natasha looked at her with a look of annoyance "Don't you have something to be doing?" Kaydence slightly cringed at Natash's words, she turned to leave without saying anything in response but Ivory decided to say something more "Oh, and Kitten... You look beautiful." Those words she never thought she would hear come out from Ivory's mouth, she was glad she wasn't facing Natasha anymore because she was clearly blushing.

"Th..thank you, I am glad you are okay. You look beautiful also" with those last words she walked out of the room not waiting for any response. She went to the living room area and sat down in a chair to wait. She felt alone at that moment, everyone seemed to have someone to talk to or go to, well except maybe Angel but she was still new. Kaydence just wished there was someone she could tell everything to but while she was working here she had to keep everything about her real self bottled down inside her and just keep on living this lie.[/size]

((ooc:I am unable to tag characters, once I can I will. Natasha, Clara, Angel, and Madam were all mentioned in the post))

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Character Portrait: Natasha Ivory Peirce Character Portrait: Anneka Vanity Character Portrait: Evony de la Longine Character Portrait: Clara Jane Mason
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"Now why on earth would I -of all people- know that, Anthony?" Clara asks him, batting her long eyelashes innocently but hardly containing that playful smile of hers at the act. He merely smirks at her and quirks up an eyebrow dubiously, though no clever remark parts from his smiling mouth, as the next person to speak is the woman whose scream called this little medley of people together into the hallway. Natasha, known as the sexiest girl in the lounge and the top money-maker of the girls, laughs a little bit at the miniature exchange between Clara and Anthony, a rather out of place sound, before offering a simple explanation for her little cry. Simple though it may be, and technically completely believable -or at least feasible- the Madam's son is no fool, and he recognizes it as somewhat suspicious. After all, it takes quite a bit to spook Natasha, known for being a bit of a psycho, though many of the customers only think of her as being hotter for it- like some gorgeous demon from hell or something like that. "I saw a spider and tripped. It was an accident. I'm fine, honestly," her emotions and expression are perfectly sincere looking, and Anthony would have fell for the excuse immediately if it didn't sound so out of place. Natasha? Tripping? still, his smirk never wavers and his arrogant gaze never falters, for he doesn't really care too much as to what gave Natasha enough of a spook to make her scream, as long as it isn't troubling to him or the lounge. He does have some things in common with his mother, the pair having a better relationship than Haley and she, and one of them is a surprising focus on the success of the Lounge. He's grown up in it, after all, and rather adores the establishment, with all of its grandeur and other means of beauty. "The blue one, Clara," he adds offhand.

Speaking of beauty, he does not fail to notice as the newest addition to the Lounge's lineup, Angel, as she struts down the hallway towards them in her nameday suit. His eyebrows shoot up with amusement, though it is a far cry from the first time that the young man has seen a beautiful woman naked, and he is briefly reminded of Irene Adler's appearance in the BBC show Sherlock. "Wearing your battle dress, I see," he comments smoothly, not missing a beat at her slightly off appearance. Although he may have been confused for the briefest of moments, such things melt away in an instant. He may not be one of the girls here, but he was raised in the Lounge, and has more experience than the rest of them in things such as sex, beauty, and the kind. Just because he isn't a prostitute doesn't mean that the young man doesn't know how they often may think, though of course no one is the same, even when lumped together under some vague catagory. Someone's looking to make an impression, he muses with that cocky smile of his, bringing out the slightest dimples. And making his blue eyes seem to crinkle the tiniest bit, as though the sea has been folded over.

A brief moment after his own comment, he hears his mother's voice as she suggests the blue one -just as he had moments ago- to Clara, before her cool gaze slides over the group. "Is there a problem here?" his mother asks, her voice calm and restrained- the very image, or perhaps sound, of what the madam of such an establishment should sound. Call him a momma's boy, but Anthony has nothing but the greatest respect for his mother, and wouldn't hesitate to attack the first person who hurt her. Though he may seem loose and indifferent at times, the young man puts a very strong emphasis on family, and is more protective over his mother and sister than people might tend to assume. He glances over towards Angel as she responds to his mother's scolding, and hesitates for a moment at the demure appearance of her, thinking that it contrasts far too much with her current state. The girls of this Lounge are magnificent actors, for the most part, but fooling others is rather hard when you have put up evidence against it. She doesn't really seem like the streaker type, anyway, he thinks, remembering the tiniest glint of hunger that he had seen in Angel's eyes when she looked towards Natasha.

"Anthony, a word, please?" his mother addresses him, and the young man winks at the girls before smiling fondly at his mother and nodding. "Of course," he says, almost as a little lordling would, before following after Evony, obedient as you like. Yes, call him a momma's boy if you please, but it is with good reason. His mother demands respect, after all. When both have come to a stop, he leans against the wall and smiles at her.

"So- what is it that you wish to say?"

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Character Portrait: Evony de la Longine Character Portrait: Regan Monaco Character Portrait: Anthony de la Longine
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"I'm sorry, Madame. I'll work hard to remember tonight, Madame. I will follow my peers' example," Angel replied. Her tone held nothing but the deepest sincerity and her expression was completely blank of anything that may say otherwise. But that was the thing about the girls here. They hadn't just been employed for their exquisite looks and beautiful bodies, but also for their acting skills. Evony highly doubted, although she never stopped to ask, that any of these girls wanted to spend their evening purring in the ears of old, overweight, unattractive men with wallets, undoubtedly, much larger than what lay beneath their expensively tailored suit pants. But these girls had years of experience, learning just the right way to say something, just the right demeanour to maintain, in order to deceive the men into thinking they actually wanted to sleep with them. Their looks may have been instrumental in getting this job, but their acting skills were what kept them in it. And that's why, despite the sincerity of Angel's lovely voice, something about the apology did not ring true in Evony's ears.

"Good," Evony responded, her voice crisp and clear. She raised her eyebrows a little as the single syllable to the word rung out, giving her words the same basic insincerity that Angel's had.

"Of course," her son responded to Evony's request for a moment of his time. Although, in truth, Evony did not make requests, simply demands, and you'd be damned if you failed to recognise that. But Anthony was an intelligent boy with charm and charisma, and respect for his mother, which was something Evony valued, and he did exactly as she asked.

She allowed Anthony to take his place, leaning casually against the wall. She remained standing, not using anything else as a prop, but she shifted her weight a little, so she was sitting into her hips. She folded her arms, shaking her head and smiling at her son, who was already giving her his own smile.

"So- what is it that you wish to say?" he asked.

Evony paused for a moment, smiling at him, her voice gentle. "The dress, is it alright?" There was a certain vulnerability to her tone, one you rarely heard in the voice of the Madam. In fact, it was a vulnerability the girls never saw, and was rare to her children too, although Haley more so than Anthony. She wasn't concerned about selecting her own outfit, of course she knew how to dress herself perfectly well, after all these years. But she did value having someone's approval, and Anthony was always the sweetest of her children to her.

She paused again, giving him chance to answer, before moving on to the real reason she did need to speak with him in particular.

"It's about Regent Monaco." Evony usually called the girls by their stage names, but she felt she needed to take a slightly more professional stance on this with her son, not that she expected it to make the slightest difference. But she hoped, somewhere in the back of her mind, the use of her full name would sober Anthony from his perception of the girls as his playthings; an attitude she wasn't entirely happy with. Though Evony got on better with her son, and had always felt as if the boy held less resentment for her than Haley, this was one matter on which they frequently disagreed.

Evony sighed, deciding to abandon skirting around the problem and simply address it. This was her son after all, he deserved her frankness. Things didn't need to be sugar-coated for him.

"I know she's been a particular favourite of your's recently, but the rules are as they always have been, Anthony. She's here to work, not to entertain you. So keep your eyes on the bar and off Regent, are we clear?" Her words were not cruel or sarcastic or unnecessarily harsh. They were firm, yet reasonable; as she always attempted to remain with her children.

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Character Portrait: Evony de la Longine Character Portrait: Anthony de la Longine
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The pair are silent for a moment, simply smiling warmly at each other before Evony speaks once more, though what she says seems slightly too trivial to be the actual reasoning for the woman to have pulled her son to the side. After all, she might have simply asked the question in the hallway, though that can be reasoned away with her not wanting to have her girls see any doubt in the Madam. The very thought, however, is something which Anthony can dismiss immediately, knowing that his mother would never have any sort of insecurity. Even among all of these women, beautiful actresses, she has the most confident and powerful presence every time she walks into a room, and he knows that his mother is well aware of this. Were he a female, though he is rather glad to not be, Anthony imagines, or perhaps hopes, that he would be similar to his mother. While his sister is sweet enough, she doesn't have the same dominance and control. Besides, what kind of person would want to be like their sister, regardless of any justification? There is the slightest amount of vulnerability in Evony's question, despite the fact that Anthony doubts the legitimacy of it, which reveals the close relationship that he has with his mother. They get along far better than Haley and Evony do, anyway.

"You look gorgeous as usual, mother," Anthony responds with a smile, "The clients will wish that you were working, rather than your girls." His mother does not fully respond, instead addressing the matter which she has clearly pulled him to the side with the intent to speak on. His suspicions, though they were more knowledge than guesswork, are confirmed as she changes the subject from the little opening question. It isn't that surprising, the topic she chooses to touch on, because the matter of his relations with some of the girls is one of the few on which he and his mother occasionally find themselves disagreeing. It is an explicit disobeying of her instructions, something unusual for the young man, but one he carries on with nonetheless. After all, how can one expect an artist surrounded by paint to not use it, or a musician given breathtaking pieces to not preform? Anthony has been raised among beauty, and raised to appreciate it. How could he resist the girls of the Lounge, when they represent some of the best?

"Regan? What about her?" Anthony counters with a smile that makes no claim towards innocence, but also holds no obvious guilt. His mother's attempt to affect him with the use of the girl's full name fails, if only because he, himself, prefers to use her full name. After all, he isn't one of those wealthy, elderly men who visits the lounge, now is he? Unlike his mother, he tends to use the girls' real names, unless he is working, and then only so as not to kill whatever image they choose to create. Evony merely sighs, and quits dancing around the subject. Anthony realizes that he should respond seriously, for she is giving him that courtesy, but the smile still dances on his mouth, the corners of his lips twitching with a desire to be stretched out to a larger smile, rather than the restrained one they currently form.

Anthony sighs in return to his mother's words, though the sigh seems to hold less sincerity than that of his mother's. He raises one hand with three fingers up, replicating the girl scout gesture. "I understand, mother, scout's honor. But, how can you place a wine-enthusiast in a first class cellar, and not expect him to sample?" he asks, genuine in the question.