Nightmare Dressed Like a Daydream [VIKTOR]

[Elaine Lyra Dupree]

Elaine was feeling pretty good about herself. She had a new recruit, the Order hadn’t found Harry Potter, the Ministry still had NO idea who was really behind the Ilvermorny attack nor the Beauxbatons and Durmstrang explosions, life was pretty good for Elaine Dupree. Of course, aside from the fact that her face was on every wanted poster in Great Britain, but that was just a minor detail. Elaine had become used to going out and about wearing disguises; for little things she would just transfigure herself into an old hag, but for bigger purposes, she’d use one of her mind-controlled faithful minions likeness in the form of a Polyjuice Potion so she could be out for longer and get more done. Tonight though, was all about Elaine having a little bit of fun. She had gone out many times as Anise; typically that would be her go to if she wanted to let loose with a few drinks. But she had gotten Sunny, her newest recruit, to agree to let her use her likeness - without using Mandrake root no less! - so she decided, why not?

Dressed in black leather pants and a red crop top, Elaine stepped out for the first time as Sunny into the dark streets of London. Club Indigo was her usual go to, and technically Sunny was the face of the real estate company that just bought the nightclub, so it would only make sense for her to come visit and party in her new digs. So in she went, relishing the loud thumping house music and colorful lights swirling from the ceiling. Aerick was still out, so she ordered a double vodka lemonade from the secondary bartender. Leaning her back against the bar, Elaine sipped her drink and surveyed the crowd, wondering who would make a fun plaything for the evening.

@vik

[Deleted]

As far as Vik was concerned, this week was a complete success. He and Rai pulled off a particularly tricky job flawlessly, which wasn't how they always went. Besides that, he spent some time checking out a few potential jobs and looking for people to potentially work with in the future. He couldn't remember the last time he'd been so proactive in his work, but he was happy about it. Happy, and feeling as though he deserved some kind of recompense for working so hard. 

Specifically, he wanted to have fun. He'd heard about Club Indigo from Rai, but he'd never been to the place. Tonight seemed like the perfect opportunity. He went to the Club, deciding upon entering the place that he liked it here. There was a casual, sort of fun atmosphere here and Vik knew he was about to have a blast. He looked around the room, an approving smirk crossing his features. This was definitely worth it. He went straight over to the dance floor, engaging with some girls that looked like they knew how to have fun. He flirted and before long was having a blast dancing with the pair. 

Looking up, he spotted a girl standing at the bar, looking across the room with seeming interest. He waited until she seemed to be looking his way, cocked an eyebrow at her and smirked before looking down at the girl he was dancing with at that moment. Of course, he didn't know this mysterious girl, but he knew that one way to get a stranger to come talk to you was notice them and then pretend to be busy. Besides, the girl he was with now wasn't a challenge. Getting her interest happened immediately. Maybe the other one would be able to hold his interest more.

Elaine Lyra Dupree

[Elaine Lyra Dupree]

Elaine spotted the man looking her way of course, especially since he had seemed to be waiting until her eyes wandered over to him. She turned her face slowly away after his smirk graced his lips before turning attention to the girl he was dancing with. He was playing a game; she had seen it in his eyes briefly. The age old pretend to be disinterested and they’ll come swarming towards you tactic. Elaine was well versed in this one, both before and after her rather spectacular reveal as the mastermind of the Purifiers. Of course, it was more suitable to her currently if she went out wearing anothers’ face; even if she did own Club Indigo, it was not an actual meeting place of the Purifiers. Indeed, she had seen several members of the Ministry who, in her mind, were likely fits for the dratted Order of the Phoenix. It would not be safe for her to go out as herself, not yet anyway.

Instead of playing into the mystery man’s game, Elaine busied herself by finishing her drink and grabbing onto the first somewhat decent looking man she could fine. “Dance with me,” she said commandingly, and he willingly obeyed, eyeing Sunny’s figure under the form fitting dress greedily. Elaine held back a gagging noise as he pulled her close; he was wearing far too much cologne for his own good. Still, a dance was a dance, and she allowed herself to get lost in the music. She could feel pairs of eyes on her and she twirled around so she could see the other man over his shoulder. Catching his eye, she smirked and raised her own eyebrow in response, before being spun around by the man who seemed intent on having her all to himself. As soon as the song ended though, she dashed all hopes of a night alone with her by peeling herself away from his silk shirt and making her way to the bar for a drink. Discreetly, she removed a flask from her dress and took a swig of the Polyjuice Potion sloshing around inside. Elaine was very careful when out in disguise; one forgotten moment and it would be all for naught. She’d have to get rid of the disguise, and find a new safe house, and she was pretty attached to her current one. She graciously took the drink provided by the bartender and sipped greedily, trying to get the taste of the potion out of her mouth. Sunny’s Polyjuice didn’t taste nearly as bad as Isolde’s had, but it was still rather unpleasant.

@vik

[Deleted]

This girl was definitely not like the others, which made her all the more intriguing to Vik. She stayed away from him, finding some other man and dancing with him. He glanced over at her every couple of moments at first, trying to ascertain whether or not she was with the man, but he got the feeling that she wasn't. The other man was too excited and enthusiastic to be dancing with her. Of course he was. She was one of the prettiest girls in the room. Then she was looking at Vik, smirking at him and he realized that she definitely knew how to play this game and she absolutely was. Like a master. 

Once the dance was over, she went over to the bar, getting a drink and Vik decided to stay where he was. He momentarily debated going over to her and ordering a drink, but wouldn't he be doing exactly what she wanted if he did that? No, he'd rather stay here and surprise her a little by not following her around, even if that's what he wanted to do. He started to dance with another girl, smiling at her but still looking over at the one by the bar every so often. He didn't want to actually lose her in the crowded room. Mostly Vik was trying to determine his next move. He'd make up his mind after this dance, though he was starting to think that if she didn't approach him by then, he'd have to go to her. She seemed too intriguing for him to let slip through his fingers.

Elaine Lyra Dupree

[Elaine Lyra Dupree]

Elaine could feel the strangers’ eyes follow her, but he didn’t physically move. Interesting, usually Sunny had plenty of attention from both male and female admirers. He was obviously playing hard to get, as he had obviously noticed her though. Well, Elaine never bowed down to anyone, and she wasn’t keen on starting that any time soon. Watching him carefully, she whirled around the dance floor until she was next to him and the floozy he was dancing with. With intent purpose, she bumped into the couple. “Oops!” she exclaimed, and before either could react she twirled away. This was fun, she thought to herself. Being out dancing, enjoying some drinks, all while everyone else was completely unaware who she really was. One day she knew she would be able to go out as her true, beautiful self, but the gears in her plan were just starting to churn out their desired results; it would be a long time before she could accomplish that.

Elaine disappeared from the dance floors view, heading to the toilets. She had made sure she wasn’t seen by the mystery man before she had headed there; let him wonder for a few minutes if she had left. Entering a stall, she removed a flask from her sleeve, sewn in by the end of the left arm of her dress to hold her Polyjuice Potion. She was close to the hour the potion allowed her to maintain this disguise, so taking a deep breath she took a swig of the potion. Trying not to retch she cleared her throat and, slipping the flask back to its’ hiding spot, opened the door. She smiled widely at the girl who was staring at her, who immediately disappeared into a stall. Elaine let the smile wipe off her face immediately; rolling her eyes, she walked back out onto the dance floor, swinging past the bar to get another drink. She sipped slowly, swaying a little to the music, keeping her eyes closed so that wherever this mystery man was, it was obvious she wasn’t looking at him.

@vik

[Deleted]

Vik was actually enjoying himself immensely. Much more than he expected to, anyway. The thing was, this girl seemed to be just as stubborn as he was. He knew she noticed him; he could feel her gaze on him every so often. Then she bumped into him, a knowing smile on her face, but she was gone before Vik could do or say anything. He held back a growl, forcing a smile toward the girl he was dancing with. He was done with this now. He wanted to find that girl and end this ridiculous game. 

As soon as the dance was over, Vik nodded to the girl he was dancing with and headed to the edge of the room. Scanning it, he couldn't see his mystery girl anywhere and he frowned. She didn't leave, did she? He decided to wait a dance longer. If she did leave, he already knew he would be immensely disappointed. When he finally saw her, she was drinking and swaying from side to side, eyes closed. He smirked. So she wasn't looking for anyone, was she? Vik moved over to where she was, finally giving in. "Thought you disappeared there for a moment," he muttered in a low voice once he was standing casually beside her. He kept his eyes on the people dancing in front of him, not turning to see her reaction, though he was watching out of his periphery.

Elaine Lyra Dupree

[Elaine Lyra Dupree]

Elaine felt his presence before he even spoke; lazily, she opened one eye and looked at him appraisingly. “I didn’t know you were searching for me,” she purred in a low voice. “Otherwise, I might have stayed put.” Of course that was a lie; Elaine had known from the beginning he had set his sights on her, but simply was playing hard to get. She was never one to play into other people's hands easily; she was always in it for the long con. Just ask Ethan Johnson - oh wait, he had returned to the great beyond, so she supposed people would just have to confirm this on her actions alone. Not that Viktor had any idea who he was currently flirting with of course. She wondered briefly for a moment how he would react if he was made aware, but pushed it from her mind. One day of course, she would be able to walk into any place and be treated with reverence and respect, but that day was not today.

“Well, are you just going to stand there, looking out at the throngs of dancers, or are we going to join them?” Elaine questioned him with a soft indigence. Not waiting for a response, she sauntered out onto the dance floor and began to dance on her own. She had forgotten how freeing it was to just, as the the older adults say, let her hair down. Of course, she was letting Sunny’s hair down, but no matter. It was still her in this body, and she swayed to the music, allowing herself to be lost in the music. She locked eyes with the mystery man, daring him to come join her on the floor, and show her what he’s got. She twirled around, pushing her now sweaty hair off her forehead. “You coming?” she called, her voice barely audible over the pulsing music.

@vik

[Deleted]

She opened her eyes and looked at him and Vik smirked at her response. "Oh, didn't you?" he asked, his voice low like hers. "I got the impression you were moving around on purpose." Mocking him, and he wasn't a fool so he knew that she did it on purpose. Calling her out on it, well ... it just made the whole situation more interesting. Add to that the fact that he wasn't sure how she'd respond to him being so blunt. It was much more fun this way. 

He lifted an eyebrow when she asked if they were going to dance. "I was waiting for you to be ready, my lady," he said with an easy smile, but she was already headed out and Vik followed her immediately. Might as well make sure the others left her alone for the time being because he was fully intent on having some fun. "Oh, I'm right here," he told her as he moved closer, wrapping his arm around her waist as he began to dance with her, following the music.

Elaine Lyra Dupree

[Elaine Lyra Dupree]

Elaine smirked as Viktor called her ‘my lady’; if only he knew that her followers referred to her as that on a regular basis. “Do I give off the impression of a high class noblewoman?” she purred in his ear, settling her hands on top of his as they moved and swayed to the beat. Sunny was relatively new to her operation, and this was just the second time she had worn her visage as a disguise out in the open. The first had been business related; Sunny had actually been ill with a fever at the time she was supposed to meet a client with Ondina, so Elaine had stepped forward to take the meeting. Needless to say, the client agreed to sell them their business quite quickly.

Noticing her drink was empty, Elaine turned around quite suddenly so she was face to face with this mystery man. “I’m on empty, time to refill. Don’t go anywhere,” she spoke, her voice barely audible. She grazed his lips with her own - something to keep him occupied for the moments it took her to get a drink - and slithered away. She weaved her way expertly through the crowd, immediately being waited upon when she arrived at the bar top. She ordered herself a drink, but took her time mincing her way back through the crowd, her eyes fixated on Viktors’ as she slowly approached him. “Sunny, by the way,” she said when she was close enough, arching a delicately thin eyebrow as she looked at him. He hadn’t had the audacity to introduce himself, and technically she wasn’t either. Sunny was not her real name after all. She was curious as to who he was, and if he’d give her a real name; she’d have to have him looked into when tonight was over.

@vik

[Deleted]

She was obviously enjoying the playful teasing and Vik found himself even more intrigued by the mystery woman. She was interesting. Inviting, yet distant at the same time and it made him want to make sure he enjoyed his time with her as much as he could. He smiled, shrugging one shoulder at her question. "You give the impression that you could be whatever you want to be ... I just haven't been able to read quite what that is yet." Which was part of the reason why he was spending so much time with her. Sure, Vik was interested because she was beautiful, yet different from the other women around, but he also could tell from a glance that she would be harder to figure out than the others and he liked a challenge. 

He was taken aback slightly when she spun around, mumbling that she needed a drink and telling him not to move before giving him the faintest of kisses. Vik smirked as she moved away, staying where he was and continuing to dance, though he kept his eyes on her the entire time. Once she got her drink, their eyes met and he watched hers as she returned at a leisurely pace. Yes, she was definitely not like other women here. "That suits you," Vik commented when she gave her name. "I'm Vik," he replied simply. It was a common enough nickname that he generally felt comfortable giving it in whatever situations he found himself in. He didn't feel the need to be overly cautious right now though. "You want to dance again?" he asked smoothly, stepping closer to her once more. 

Elaine Lyra Dupree

[Elaine Lyra Dupree]

Elaine was glad she had turned around as Vik commented on the impression she gave off. He had no idea how close to the truth he was, and she reveled in that knowledge. She had taken her time getting her drink, long enough for him to wonder when she was coming back, but quick enough for his attention to still be completely on her. “I love to dance,” she replied simply to his comment, draining her drink and putting it on an occupied tabletop. She took both of his hands in hers and led him out onto the dance floor. Elaine kept her eyes trained on him as she danced just barely out of his grasp, swaying her hips for a precarious few moments before letting herself get close to him, wrapping her arms around his neck as they moved to the extremely loud bass thumping from the stereos. It was a strange idea, Elaine Dupree in a club, in public even, but of course she wasn’t really out in public - not as herself. She relished the idea of being able to venture out as her beautiful self one day in the near future. She would be patient though; plans could not be rushed if she wanted to succeed. All she wanted to do right now was find out a little bit more on this charming man in front of her. “So tell me, what do you do for a living?” she asked, cocking her head to the side to stare up at him. It was a move Elaine had seen plenty of women pull with success, so she figured she might as well give it a go.

@vik

[Deleted]

He grinned as Sunny said that she loved to dance. That was obvious, but he was still glad for the fact. He was definitely having a good time with her and he was not ready for that to stop yet. "That is definitely a good thing." He followed her out to the dance floor, smiling as they danced. At first she stayed just out of his reach, but then she was in his arms and Vik held her close, dancing to the beat of the music. He was definitely having more fun than he'd had in a while, which was something he loved. She asked what he did and Vik looked down at her, smiling. "I'm a surveyor of antiquities," he answered smoothly. It was true, and his favorite explanation for his jobs. He didn't keep the items he stole. At least, normally he didn't, but he did find their value and find someone who would want them. "What about you?" he tried to get her to talk a little more. Vik liked the sound of her voice.

Elaine Lyra Dupree

[Elaine Lyra Dupree]

Elaine raised an eyebrow questioningly at him; though she fully understood what he meant by surveyor of antiquities, she imagined Sunny wouldn’t pick up on it right away. “Oh? What kind of antiquities?” she purred, letting her arms drape over his shoulders as she moved closer to him. “Me? I’m in PR - public relations. I work for a real estate company called Refined Holdings Inc. We actually just completed the purchase of this little club right here last week,” she told him, waving her hand at the expansive space that was Club Indigo. She rested her hand on his waist this time, pulling her still closer to him. “So with your job...you wouldn’t happen to get any leads on places that might be looking to sell would you?” she asked innocently, letting her gaze drop demurely for a few moments before meeting his eyes again. “It would just put me in a wonderful standing with my boss, and I’m sure I can make it with your while,” she flashed a pearly white smile at him, cocking her head to one side as thought studying Viktors’ face as she awaited his answer. This chance encounter could perhaps be more beneficial to Elaine than she initially thought, which would be good for more than just her.

@vik

[Deleted]

She responded the way he was generally used to people responding to his job. Most people didn't know what he meant by "surveying antiquities" but that was fine by him. Meant it was harder for him to get into trouble. He shrugged at his question, smiling as she drew nearer. "All kinds. I love the really old artifacts the most, they're my specialty, but I'm pretty good with anything. I'm also good at finding the value for more modern pieces as well," he threw out, part of him hoping she would give something away for a place he could visit soon. He was itching to do another job and was certain that Rai felt the same. He smiled as she explained her own work, "Oh, that's cool. Do you normally come to visit places you assist in the selling of?" he teased, smiling as he pulled her closer. He pursed his lips at her next question, thinking about it until she said she could make it worth his while. "Oh, I'm pretty sure I could find something for you," he answered with a smirk. Looking for buildings wasn't really his style, but he could probably find something if he tried, and it definitely seemed like it would be worth it to try for this girl. "What are you looking for, exactly?" That would definitely be something he needed to know in order to help her at all.

Elaine Lyra Dupree

[Elaine Lyra Dupree]

Elaine’s eyes visibly brightened as he mentioned loving the really old artifacts. Oh really now? She assumed his interest was in mostly magical or cursed artifacts, and that was something she would find VERY useful. She had been searching for something, something big that she hadn’t even whispered to any of her followers yet. Perhaps this delectable boy was the answer to her problems. “They wouldn’t happen to be magical artefacts would they?” she purred, batting her eyelashes at him. “The thing is, I am just SO fascinated by the ancient relics of times gone by, and would simply LOVE to at least see some of these,” she added by means of an explanation. Of course, her motives were ulterior, but Viktor didn’t need to know that.

Elaine shrugged demurely at his next question. “Some, if they’re a particularly hard sell and they need someone like me to help persuade them.” She grinned, and siddled herself closer to him. “People seem to like me,” she added with a soft laugh. She pulled away then, polishing off her drink. “Refill,” she told him as she sauntered off; always leave them wanting more than they can bargain for. She did return, taking her time with the two drinks she held daintily in her hands. “Cheers, to potential new business deals,” she said as she handed him his glass. She bit her lower lip as she pretended to think of what she was looking for. “Really any place that is a failing business or property; we’re of a mind to refine and reshape the businesses and reopen them better than before.” And under Purifier control, which was even more important. “Got anywhere in mind?” she asked, one brow raise as she sucked her drink slowly from the straw.

@vik