The Mermaid Tavern was one of the most exclusive "clubs" in the city, a speakeasy visited by some of the wealthiest and most powerful men- and, begrudgingly, an occasional woman or two- in Detroit. Walking inside, Keats immediately felt at home; the decor, the atmosphere, even the tones of voice being employed reminded him of Oxford. There was the same elitist, exclusive vibe to the place. If it had been open to the public, there would have been a line outside on the sidewalk to get in. With only members being welcomed inside, there were on lines of the page of the waiting list for membership.

This, thought Keats, was the single most important sale of his hopefully burgeoning career as a distiller. If his whiskey became a regular feature here, then soon politicians, wealthy businessmen, and anyone with a taste for the finer things in life would be sampling it. And if they were interested in private sales, well... he'd be happy to oblige them. But first, he needed to conquer whoever made the purchases for the tavern.

With the bookstore ready for launch any day, Keats found himself accompanying Aurora_Mastrosimone inside The Mermaid. Art of that particular fantastic creature abounded within the club. Aurora, who'd had some connection to get inside, met him outside and led him in. Keats was dressed in perfectly arrayed formal attire: a green coat with a matching bowtie, a gleaming white shirt, and black trousers. As he and Aurora took their seats in a small booth in the corner, Keats glanced at the wall... and saw a grinning mermaid seemingly emerging from the water to greet a sailor. The sailor seemed just as excited to see the mermaid, whose ample assets were on full display.

Aurora glanced up to see Keats' eyes gleaming and a grin on his face that matched the mermaid's.

"This," he said very seriously, "reminds me so much of our first meeting."

Aurora glanced at the mermaid and her ... vast tracts of land.  She shook her head, "Your incorrigible.  How is it you've managed to miss a proper introduction to my very large, very intimidating, husband?"    

She shook her head, trying her best to look annoyed, but the ghost of a smile tugged at the corner of her lip.  In another life, she would have given her father a run for his money in the drunken lechery department.  Sometimes, in quiet moments, she imagined what that life might have been like. 

How had he put it... drinking, fucking, and killing?  

She glanced at Keats from the corner of her eye, hoping he didn't notice.

It might have been fun.

She looked away from him and out across the room full of men who thought themselves the real power-players in the Motor City.  Most of these men, whether they knew it or not, owed their positions of power to her birth parents.  They'd come into their own under Salvatore's reign and never left.  If any of them knew more about her than they did - more than just the Byrne name which had gotten her into this room - it would either have opened the backrooms up to her (ones that she knew existed here) or surely locked them for good.  Depending on their view of 'The Devil' who so many of them had once made deals with and (very likely) still owed debts to.

"Now, between the two of us, I think it's clear who has the more talented tongue."

Aurora instantly regretted putting it that way and winced. 

"You know what I mean.  So, I'll let you do the talking unless I'm addressed.  I was your golden ticket into the room, but what you do combined with the amazing quality of the product... well, this should be an easy deal to close.  Eyes on the prize.  I'll be here if you need bailing out, but I promise if I'm this deal's last best hope we're probably well and truly fucked."

Again she winced.  What was it about this man that made her feel like she spoke only in sexual innuendos when she really did not mean to!?!

"Well, logic would dictate that his largeness, his intimidatingness, and his husbandness, in some order, would factor in there," smirked Keats, "but I'd still be happy to meet him. In fact, once we're able to handle a handful of things, I should be up and running at full speed."

Keats grinned, but let the "talented tongue" remark slide by. Or did he very subtly lick his lips? Aurora couldn't tell, precisely.

"We'll be meeting with him in... five to ten minutes or so, according that guard. Long enough for us to catch up, a bit. As I said, you'll have to visit the bookstore soon; everything is nearly in place, and your money has been well spent. What have you been up recently? The city is treating you well, I hope?"

Keats rested comfortably in his seat across from Aurora_Mastrosimone. He always looked so damn comfortable- another quality that he shared with Will. 

"Well enough, I suppose."  She shifted in her seat.  "The city was my husband's home a few years ago so he has a lot to keep him busy here and, when my mother was my age, she lived here.  She left me a few businesses that keep me distracted when I'm not at home with the kids."

She drew a breath, she didn't suppose there was any point in not talking about the two most important people in her life.  "Brigitte just signed up for dance classes and Gavin is rolling and dragging himself all over the place.  He'll be sitting up before long.  I figure from there, we're pretty well screwed.  Once the kiddo gets started really moving, it's all downhill from there... if what I'm told about raising a boy can be believed."

She smiled, secretly excited about the prospect.  "Granted," her smile faltered, "Some boys are more cerebral.  I'm not sure what I'll do with a boy who likes books more than baseball bats.  Buy him books I suppose, but if I'm being honest, I'm hoping for one who likes to get rough and tumble.  A kiddo who won't be afraid to wrestle around with me and just cut loose."

She shrugged.  

"I suppose I hope he's like his dad."

She startled then as she realized the implication of what she didn't say. 

"I don't mean to say that Billy's not smart.  Of course, he is.  He's very smart really, but maybe not as well read as some men I know." 

There was one other man who did this to her, she realized... Billy.  She'd been just this way when trying to date Billy.  Every word and phrase came out wrong or sounding like a proposition for sex.

"So, I've been buying up properties and businesses by the Riverfront and renovating them."  She looked around, "Doesn't this place have any waitresses?"  She wondered aloud impatiently, clearly wanting a drink as a respite from her own foolish tongue.  She kept her voice low as she went on to explain her newest project.

"Anyway... going to be the next big thing.  Five miles or so of pure profit.  The most amazing boardwalks, shopping, food, clubs, and of course a shit ton of goods coming in under the cover of darkness and getting traded out to our friends in Canada.  If you're free some afternoon, I'd love to give you a peek at some of the places we're refurbishing."

"I assume that, by Gavin, you're referring to your son and not the whiskey appreciating gentleman I met on our cruise?"

He grinned as she clarified and began speaking about raising boys.

"Well, if you ever need to wrestle with anyone, you know where to find me."

As Aurora_Mastrosimone spoke about her husband, then quickly changed the subject, Keats maintained a respectful silence.

"You mentioned your Riverwalk plans; I am excited to be a part of it. Happy to hear that you're expanding your plans; I'm sure my bookstore will be able to handle the extra foot traffic."

When questioned about waitresses, he glanced around the room and shrugged. Aurora was drawing a few glances from a mostly male crowd; Keats had one or two as well, both from a gentleman and his female companion. A valet in a tux approached their table with a grave expression on his face. Before the man arrived, Keats took Rora's hand and placed a very small metal flask into her palm with a wink.

"Open in case of emergency?"

Standing, they both followed the valet back into a private chamber, where a friendly-looking middle aged man in a mustache nodded to them from behind his desk. Aurora would recognize him as Stephen Gray, a businessman connected through an uncle  to one of the first investors in the Ford Motor Company. Gray was clean, not particularly involved in the mafia, as violence and scandal were bad for business. Still, he seemed to have at least some fascination with the criminal element of his city, and he knew its history well. When he was hanging around the famous "public enemies", he moved in high society, and he often seemed more occupied with pursuing status rather than more money. After all, it wasn't like he could fail to purchase just about anything he wanted.

"Good afternoon, Mrs. Mastrosimone. I must confess that I'm surprised to see you here, although you are very welcome."

Gray chuckled lightly.

"Of course, it makes good business sense for you to be welcome. A Luciano, a Byrne, and a Mastrosimone? I suspect if I'd tried to politely deny you entry my door would be in splinters. Not a good look for the president of this little social club. Well, what can I do for you today? And who's your friend here?"

Keats smiled and glanced at Rora. He may have the more skilled tongue, but it was obvious who Gray was more interested in hearing from.

Aurora shifted slightly at the mention of Luciano.  Mr. Gray, it seemed, had been doing his homework.  Aurora didn't like going into situations where the person across from her knew more about her than she knew about them.  Perhaps the only detail he had was her heritage?  It was hardly a state secret.  Still, it was more than she'd counted on him being aware of and to a person who felt talking was sometimes more dangerous than shooting, it was unnerving to not be in control of the situation.

"Splinters?"  Aurora arched an eyebrow, "No.  I generally only kick in the doors of people who don't like me Mr. Gray and so far as I know, we're still on good terms?  I think your door might live to see another day."

Aurora found herself chuckling though she could hardly say why it just felt like maybe she should? 

"And please, call me Rora, nearly all of my friends do."

Aurora smoothed out her dress as she took the seat across from Mr. Gray.  Leaning back in the chair, arms draped across the back of it, she crossed her legs in her best imitation of Aunt Tara.  In truth, she'd begun to look at Mr. Gray as if he were...  well, Mr. Bear.  It was silly perhaps, but why should he be any more intimidating than the little bear she would broker deals with as a child?  Hadn't she played that game a thousand times with Aunt Tara? It wasn't as if she'd had a lot of other experiences to draw from.  After all, most of her negotiations were done at gunpoint.    

Of course, this was different than her childhood games.  Tara was forgiving and stupid things said never hurt when it was her loving Aunt hearing them.  She never was afraid of playing those games so... maybe she could just get through this if she pretended now too.  What else could she do?  She couldn't pawn off this man onto Keats without a proper build up at least.  Gray was clearly enamored with her... maybe with the life itself.  If he was, if that was her leverage, then Keats would never prove half-so-interesting.  He'd have no power to close the deal.  God, this really was on her!

"Please, allow me to introduce my business partner, Mr. John Keats.  Mr. Keats is fresh off the boat from England, but don't let his country of origin or his fancy education fool you, he's got very American dreams.  Entrepreneurial dreams.  And unless my tastebuds are off, and considering my family's rarified tastes I don't think that they are, well... even in these dry times Mr. Keats may well be the Rockafeller of illicit beverages."

Aurora's smirk was 100% her father, but that last bit of what she said - the way she said illicit beverages, that was more her mom than Tara.  She'd only seen Bella at work a few times but her mother had a way of making everything she did with men seem as if she were flirting with them.  For Bella it was effortless, Aurora was sure her mother was just born that way... sweet but a little sexy.  Innocent in the eyes but all danger everywhere else. 

Aurora worried her efforts appeared too practiced.  As if she was trying too hard.  She had to think about what she was doing and how she was doing it, the same way she carefully sighted in prey.  She made certain every muscle in her body did as it should.  Too much and the reaction would be adverse either enticing attention she didn't want or repelling the man utterly.  Too little and he might not notice her temptations at all.  That sweet spot though, if she could hit it like sighting in a bullseye, then he might be intrigued. 

Focus.  I can do this.  Know your prey.  What does it want?  What does he want Roar...

Something told her that this man was eager to dip his toes in with a bad crowd.  He didn't want to be a mobster but he liked the thrill of it all.  Illegal hooch was a 'safe' way to be 'naughty' and if he wanted to play bad boy with real dangerous people... well, Keats' liquor might offer him that opportunity.  Added bonus that it included a chance to spend time with her and might open doors to her husband or her father.

"The question is,"  She produced the flask from her purse where she'd shoved it after Keats had stuck it into her hands earlier.  She shook it in front of the man with a hint of mischief in her amber eyes.  "... can I interest you in sharing a sniff with us?  Or... is it too early for you?  I don't want to push you into doing anything you're not comfortable with.  We are... after all... friends."

Gray sat down simultaneously as Aurora did, with Keats quickly following them. As Aurora began to speak, Keats rested comfortably in the chair, sneaking glances at Aurora. Whereas Gray would seemingly only see him paying attention to the conversation, Aurora_Mastrosimone could tell when someone was looking at her- and Keats was looking at her. True, he seemed mostly occupied with her dress and her shoulder, but still. As Aurora introduced him, however, he leaned forward, flashed a winning grin, and earnestly shook Gray's hand.

When Aurora proposed a toast, Keats had two more small flasks in hand almost immediately. Handing one to Gray, he kept one for himself and raised it into the area.

"Well, here's to new and rewarding friendships."

They all drank and, this time, in addition to savoring the taste of the whiskey on her tongue, Rora was additionally able to enjoy Gray's reaction. The way his face changed when he sampled the whiskey? Well, it looked like his secretary was about to emerge from under his desk. Rora and Keats shared a quick glance of triumph while Gray kept his eyes closed, processing the experience.

A sincere grin broke out on Gray's face as he nodded.

"Well, Mrs. Mastrosimone, you certainly have an eye for talent. Or perhaps the tastebuds, yes? It's clear that you have quite the product here."

Gray halted, drumming his fingers nervously against the edge of his desk for a moment.

"My assumption, of course, is that you're looking to provide your product here at the tavern. As club president, I would a fool not to purchase your product..."

He studied them carefully, and it was clear that Gray was a keen businessman in his own right, not simply connected to the right family.

"But, liquor like this... I would have heard about it. The only explanation is that you're looking to make your initial foray into the market. I would be happy to help with that. In addition to purchasing your product for the club, we'd host an entire special evening for it. Everyone who knows anything about whiskey will, of course, want to get their own. And those who don't know anything about whiskey will be so impressed by the ones that to that, no doubt, they'll fall in line. No, I'd be happy to sponsor that evening for you here... but I would like a favor in return."

Gray's eyes flicked to Aurora for a moment.

"Two favors. The first, Mrs. Mastrosimone, is that you and I share dinner sometime; I'd be so curious to hear some of the stories you could tell me! The second is, well, a less personal request, I suppose."

He sighed.

"The Mermaid Tavern has been the most exclusive club for libations for years, but we've developed a handful of imitators. One organization considers itself our main "competition", though I don't see that word is particularly appropriate; this "Dry Society" has been poaching our members with style, rather than substance. They parade in 'special guests' from the silver screen out west and the Broadway stages in the east. I don't blame our members for being curious... well, I do. These meeting places are supposed to be for culture, aren't they? Not for parading around the Latest Thing. I mean, look at this."

Gray shook his head as he removed a flyer from his desk and handed it to Aurora, who glanced at it quickly.

"Although I suppose if any of those stars wanted to come here, it would excite our members even more."

Gray leaned forward at his desk.

"Regardless, I'd be happy to do everything in my considerable power to aid you- if there's something you can do about this Dry Society."

Keats nodded, noting Aurora's silence. He waited for her to say something, but when Aurora seemed thrown, Keats deftly ended the conversation.

"Well, Mr. Gray, I have no doubt that we'll be able to handle that for you. Give us a few days, and expect to hear back from us." With a grin, Keats produced another tiny flask, which he handed to Gray. "In my experience, most people who sample this particular beverage start to question themselves. 'Was it really that good?' This, Mr. Gray, will help you answer that question and reassure you. It was very nice to meet you."

Aurora had recovered enough to take her leave from Gray in a charming manner, but as they exited the club Keats looked at her with curiosity, "You were wonderful in there to begin, Rora. You were playing him like a fiddle. What happened? Was the whiskey too good?"

Aurora handed Keats the flyer they'd received from Gray. Prominently featured was one of the two or three most attractive women that Keats had ever seen in his life; the blonde figure was also very familiar to him. After all, she'd burst onto the movie scene in the last couple months with a few featured roles and, if rumors were to be believed, she'd be headlining her next film.

"... I don't understand, Rora."

"I know her."

"You know Hazel Harcourt? How?"

Aurora stared down at the likeness on the paper, remembering a hotel room, a dance, and another dead friend.

"Hazel..."  The name brought back memories, not scenes that played through her head so much as sounds.  Oh, the sound of her breath!  The smell of her.  The feeling of her...

"we... it's complicated."  Aurora swallowed, and instantly crimson rose in her cheeks but her eyes were sad, a strange contradiction but these days it was becoming increasingly more common for Aurora to feel two very different things at the same time.  It wasn't just the memory of the woman she never allowed herself to enjoy... but the man as well.  Silvio.  Silvio was lost to her that night, she'd made that choice, not him.  Driven further away by Billy's return and then his wife's arrival.  No.  They were never meant to be and yet... sometimes when Aurora saw the stars in the sky she couldn't help but think of that night in the desert.  She didn't love Silvio, not in so many words, but he had helped to save her twice... once from her sorrow & again when she and her family needed time to escape Vegas.  

Her chest clenched thinking of poor Silvio, shot down by gangsters, unable to use that peashooter of his much better than Brigitte could have.  It wasn't fair.  Another person she'd failed.  Another dead loved one.

"I need some air." 

She deftly made for the door.  Once outside she moved away from the door and stepped into an alleyway to have a moment.  She covered her face and tried to hide the tears she'd not shed for the man who had died saving them.  He had deserved better, so much better!  Did Hazel even know?  

Aurora tried to compose herself the moment Keats' shoe rounded the corner into the alleyway, but it was no good.  He'd, no doubt, seen her moment.  "I'm sorry..."  She muttered.  "I haven't talked to or thought about Hazel since before our mutual friend of ours ... was murdered."

She pulled a kerchief out of her purse and dabbed her eyes, "The thought of her, it caught me off guard... I just... give me a moment would you?"  

Aurora took a breath or two and once she was sure she had herself under control she asked Keats, "When is she supposed to be at that club?"

As Aurora expressed her need for air, Keats silently followed her outside. He was about to make a joke when he noticed Aurora_Mastrosimone covering her face. Keats would have pulled any other beautiful woman into an embrace, but he gave Aurora her space.

"The thought of her, it caught me off guard... I just... give me a moment would you?"  

"Of course."

Leaning against the brick wall, Keats glanced up at the night sky.  He tried to focus on the stars, the moon... but his gaze kept flickering back to Rora before bouncing upwards again and again. When she addressed him again, he pretended that nothing had happened.

"When is she supposed to be at that club?"

"This weekend, apparently. Saturday night. Tonight, of course, is Thursday, so it gives us a day and a half or so to track her down. I don't suppose there's a number you could just call her up on? If not... well, we could try to see when private planes would be flying in. Or hotels? I suppose she could be here already."

Keats paused, pursing his lips.

"My guess is that you'd rather focus on business than speak about your friend. Still, if you'd like to talk, please know that I'm very willing to do so. I have received many compliments on my tongue this evening, after all."

His offer was spoken with sincerity, but his smirk seemed to also offer a way to lighten the mood as well.

"No.  We weren't that sort of friends, so I don't have a number for her."  Aurora found herself feeling a bit odd then, what if Hazel didn't remember her?  What if that moment in the hotel was a drunken blur to the other woman or so unimportant she didn't reflect upon it much at all?  Aurora had felt this way about men before, but not about a woman.  It was strange to fear a woman might not find her all that memorable... especially in that way.

"I think we'll have to rely upon some gumshoeing if we're going to get a word with Hazel between now and then and even if we do convince her to make a stop at The Mermaid Tavern rather than keeping her date at the Dry Society, something tells me that's really not the end of what Mr. Gray wants from us.  The Dry Society will simply bring in another famous name and keep pulling membership away from The Mermaid Tavern.  I suspect, for that to stop, we may have to cook up something a little more damaging than simply sniping their featured guest for an evening."

Aurora smirked, "Although, I bet someone has to be scouting and recruiting all these famous people for them... and Hazel would know who that is seeing how she was asked to come to be a guest at the Dry Society.  If we had the identity of the person pulling in talent for them, perhaps I could convince them that their efforts were better spent helping The Mermaid Tavern instead?"

"I have friends at the airport, I can inquire about Hazel's flight.  If she's already in the city there's only a handful of hotels that someone as classy as her would be staying at.  We'll track her down the old fashioned way.  If she's not yet in the city, well, maybe I'll take you for a flight on my private plane Mr. Keats... have you ever flown on a private plane?  I strongly doubt you've been to LA before... I wouldn't know the first place to look for Hazel on my own but luckily I know a few people out west, and even if my friends fail me... well, maps to the homes of the stars are a dime a dozen on any street corner in Hollywood.  Question is, would you be up for a little adventure?"

With a raised eyebrow Keats quipped, "Well, you know 'gumshoeing' is my specialty. However, as a better than average chess player, I agree with your strategy here. Miss Harcourt is our short term 'win', but it doesn't change the balance of power... well, the balance of status is perhaps the better phrase... for longer than a week or two. I like the idea of flipping the recruiter; that's quite good. And I like the idea of hitting her before she even gets here. With the way the studio wants to capitalize her, I'm sure they'll have her shooting Monday through Friday at least."

He smiled cheerfully.

"As for me? I'm always up for adventure. We just may define 'adventure' slightly differently. But a private plane and trying to win over a beautiful woman? That sounds precisely like my cup of tea."

"It's settled then, I'll pop by my apartment and make a couple of phone calls.  I'll let my husband known the situation and our plan.  I'll grab an overnight bag, say goodnight to my kids and then you and I will be on a flight to LA." 

She smiled at Keats. 

"Just meet me at the hotel lounge, say in about an hour?  Dress comfortably.  Oh! And if you want to bring his majesty along, it's not a problem.  I don't want him to be lonely."

Aurora got into her car and then she was off.  Just over an hour later, in the hotel lounge, she appeared.  The blonde was now dressed in denim slacks, a t-shirt, and a leather jacket.  Her hair was no longer done up but kept in a simple ponytail.  Her make-up, however, was still perfect, as if she'd not taken the time to remove it.

"This way," She gave a nod in the direction of a set of doors leading outside and she began to walk. 

As Keats joined her she began to explain what she'd done in their time apart, "I've got plans in the works for my dinner with Mr. Gray.  My husband, while we're gone, is going to look into who is supplying the Dry Society with their illegal hooch.  While we come at this from trying to find who is securing their talent he's going to be looking for ways to make their Dry Society a little drier - ideally forcing them to do business with us for a very increased premium."

She smirked.

"We'll make money with both hands, the Dry Society will have to pass their increased expenses onto the membership and that should slow how quickly they're pulling folks away from The Mermaid Tavern.  And, if we manage to find flip the person recruiting big names for them... well, that should send their new members running back to their old social club."

Aurora went up the set of stairs and into what had once been Tara's plane.  It was the first time she'd been on it since they used it to escape the massacre of Las Vegas.  It had been cleaned up, and Tara's personal effects taken off of it, but still Aurora felt like any moment Aunt Tara was going to emerge from the office and join them in the main seating area.  

"Make yourself at home."  she said putting her bag down and settling in for the flight.

Keats smirked, "It's a wonderful sentiment, but Tibbs is a creature of routine. He hated the Atlantic crossing, and I gave him my word that I'd try not to overly disrupt him. Besides, I'll have Kates there to care for him. Oh- I've hired a young woman to help me out with the bookstore. Katherine, goes by Kates for some reason. She's a little shy, but with the right sort of tutoring and a better wardrobe, she'll be excellent in sales. She's also capable of keeping the books. I mentioned there were three small bedrooms on the second story? I'm letting her stay in one of them, factoring it into what I'm paying her. Saving me a great deal of money, frankly, but it's doing the same for her... and you can't beat the commute."

Noticing the look in Rora's eyes, he grinned and nodded.

"Yes, Tibbs has the other room. You'll have to come by for a visit."

When he joined her at the hotel lounge, he was struck by how much more comfortable Aurora_Mastrosimone seemed in denim. She'd managed her earlier exchange deftly... perhaps she just needed a few more of those wins under her belt. 

"Ah, your plans with the Dry Society... what a stupid name... well, your plans sound excellent. Almost as excellent as your plane here..."

He raised an eyebrow appreciatively. 

"Make yourself at home."

"Well, I hardly think your husband would appreciate that level of comfort, but I appreciate the sentiment."

He seated himself with a catlike grace, crossing one leg over the over as he reclined. Aurora had told him to 'dress comfortably', but he was wearing the same formal wear from earlier in the evening. He seemed entirely at ease, fixing a curious look at Rora.

"So... how do you like our odds of converting Miss Harcourt to our purposes here? I don't suppose she owes you a favor or two?"

"Depends entirely on how fondly she recalls that evening we spent together in LA."  She admitted.  And how mad she is at me for Silvio's sacrifice.  She'd have to tell her, at some point, but maybe it would wait until the end of the meeting?

"I like to think we ended the night on good terms and that our reunion will be a happy one for the most part and that means, as a friend, she might be willing to assist me... but if not, I may have the good fortune to be able to offer her something to help her with her career."  She smirked and reached into her pocket and pulled out a small scrap of paper and passed it to Keats.

Fred: Hollywood, CA 5073

My husband's first job as a teen was guarding the stage door for Broadway productions.  He was a big guy even then... and things in his home weren't so great so he spent a lot of time at the theater even when he wasn't working.  One day he sees this guy dancing and it's the most amazing thing he's ever seen.  A man moving with the grace of water on glass... he's floored.  He emulates the guy and starts spending time watching the man practice his routine, day in and out.  Well, the man eventually realizes my husband is there all the time and that clearly he's not going home a whole lot.  He tells my husband he's really grateful to him for the job he's been doing and offers to give him a meal or two here and there and a few lessons, if he'll stick around.  Really it's a nice gesture on the part of the guy to help out a street kid who got a raw deal in starting out."

She smirked.

"Flash forward to my meeting my big oaf of a husband, and here I am out on the dance floor with this incredibly good looking man who later in the night would try to kill me... but that's another story... anyway Billy cuts in on our dance and we finish out the most amazing tango you've ever seen.  I NEVER would have thought a giant like him could move the way he did.  It was... magic."

She smiled the sort of smile only a woman infatuated ever smiles for a man.

"Well, he tells me this story about his friend Fred and I'm thinking he's bullshitting me.  I mean, who the hell can say they've learned to dance from the great Fred Astaire?"  She laughs.  "Only he knows him as Fred Austerlitz and when I take him to see a picture with Fred in it... he's stunned.  He had no idea Fred made the big time."

She laughs and her smile touches the corners of her amber eyes.

"My Billy is a bit thick sometimes, but he's the most honest man I know ... next to my father."  She sighed.  "Well, he and Fred have since reconnected and occasionally they speak on the phone and this phone number is the number I can call to reach him.  Granted he's with RKO right now, but that doesn't mean his name and star power can't help our dear Hazel.  If Hazel gives me the name of the talent scout who got her tied up with the Dry Society... I'll put in a call to Fred to get her a meeting with him. It's the sort of thing that could really put jet packs on girl's career."

Keats listened attentively noting, in no particular order, that Rora's husband learned how to dance from Fred Astaire and was "a giant". Those were both interesting developments. Still, he listened with a raised eyebrow and a smile. 

"Well, seems like perhaps arranging a connection between your friend Hazel and your husband's friend Fred could be a lucrative one for everyone involved, then."

He tapped his fingers on his knee, pondering as he studied Aurora_Mastrosimone. Even during the first night, when they'd met in a compromising position, Keats had never reached for her romantically. He flirted shamelessly, but he seemed to have a clear respect for Rora's commitment to her marriage. Still, sometimes he looked at her and she felt like she was a statue in a museum or a model on the catwalk- his piercing green eyes seemed to drink her in.

"What do you think about our approach to Miss Harcourt? Sneak in to see her near the end of the day's shooting and hope that she recognizes you before security tosses you? Or do you have a connection to get us on the lot?"

"No, I don't have much sway in Hollywood.  We'll probably have to take a tour of the lot and hope for the best." She smirked.  "I might send her flowers or something.  Maybe deliver a note to her and let her know I'm in town and how to reach us?  Might be a good way... granted she might be so important now that she has people handle such things for her now."

She shrugged and noted Keats staring at her.  

"If you think I'm pleasurable to stare at Mr. Keats... I fear I may lose you forever to Miss Harcourt.  Perhaps you'll pack up your cat and whiskey and leave the Motor City for the bright lights of Hollywood so you can stare longingly at someone of true beauty."  She chuckled.  "It's not just movie effects you know?  She really is built like Aphrodite herself and the way she dances... goodness!  It's a wonder to see really."

Aurora put her elbow on the arm of the chair and rested her chin on the heel of her hand, "I wonder why she changed her last name... surely she hasn't married someone already?"

Keats shrugged.

"I'm an unapologetic aesthete. What can I say? I'm looking forward to meeting Miss Harcourt for a number of reasons. As for the name... well, lots of actors go by a nom de plume, or the stage equivalent, do they not? Perhaps she wanted to protect her 'real' self or preferred the way it sounded. Or got married, as you said." 

He rested his head comfortably back and grinned.

"I suppose we'll see when we get there."

______

Keats was still grinning at Aurora_Mastrosimone as she walked away from the check in desk at the hotel. Just one room available- and both of them were too tired to call a cab to go hunting for another hotel. The more annoyed Rora seemed to get, the more he chuckled, and the more he chuckled, the more annoyed she seemed to get. As they made the slow, tired walk to their room, Keats blinked occasionally and would propose a thoughtful question that just seemed to dawn on him.

"Do you sleep on the left or the right side?"

"Big spoon or little spoon? Stupid question. Who doesn't like to be the little spoon?"

"Wait- what would you like for breakfast?"

As they walked into the room, Aurora pointed emphatically at the chair, saying "I'll take that" before heading into the bathroom. By the time she'd emerged, Keats was wearing only his undershirt and his trousers. Barefoot, he lounged mostly comfortably in the chair.

"Don't be silly, my sense of chivalry would never allow it."

______

As dawn broke on Los Angeles, Rora turned in the bed and... kicked something. Her first thought was Brigitte. Remembering she wasn't at home, she reached for the gun under her pillow- a habit she'd picked up from her father. Cracking an eye open, she saw Keats curled up at the foot of the bed like a cat. Groggy and annoyed, she kicked him off the end of the bed and heard him satisfyingly thump onto the floor. Closing her eyes and pretending she'd done it by accident, she heard a sigh emanate up from the floor, followed by a whispered voice.

"My back... it wouldn't allow it. That chair is a medieval torture rack..."

Not saying anything, Aurora heard him sigh again and trudge off to the bathroom to prepare for their day in the city of angels.

Aurora and Keats were out in the LA sunshine in a matter of thirty minutes.  No big breakfasts this morning, Aurora grabbed a bagel and an apple in the hotel lobby insisting, "You know we'll have some amazing lunch if we're dining with Hollywood elite.  Just, eat this,"  She tossed him the apple.  "You'll be fine."

Hailing a cab, the two were on their way.  "Warner Brothers please."  She smiled at Keats.  "Let's try something new.  Let's ... try to do it legit and see how that goes?"  She arched an eyebrow and smirked as she bit into her bagel.  After swallowing she added, "Worst that happens is we get a big fact 'buzz off' from the powers that be and we have to sneak in.

Aurora finished her bagel off before the car pulled up at the Warner Brothers studio lot.  She stepped outside and paid the cabbie before thanking him politely and letting him drive away.  Walking up to the gate she gave a friendly smile to the man at the booth. 

"I know you probably get people wandering up all the time with crazy claims but... is there a procedure for having a message delivered to an employee here on the lot?  You see I'm in town for a day or two and I'd love to take an old friend of mine who works here out for dinner... but I just don't know how to go about reaching her.  I haven't seen her a while so I can't just call her up.  However, if I could have a message taken to her... well, I'm sure she'd reach out to me on her own terms and time.  Is it possible to make something like that happen?  Just pass along my information to her?"

"Who are you wanting to get a message to?"

"Hazel Harcourt."  She said her old last name knowing that it was possible the woman might not know her as Mastrosimone.  

The man made a disbelieving noise but to his credit he passed her a memo pad.

Aurora wrote a short message:

Hazel,

I'm in town tonight.  Thought we might get dinner or drinks and reminse about dancing in sea-side hotel rooms with handsome Italians?  Give me a call, okay?

Aurora Byrne
555-555-5555 - Seaside Hotel Room 522

PS:  I'm going to be on the studio lot tour this morning... if you get this note soon enough!  I'll be keeping an eye out for you.  :)

Aurora passed the note back to the man inside his booth.  

"I'll pass it along."  He said.

"And where would we go to sign up for the tour?"  she asked with a smirk.

"Front entrance.  Near the parking lot."  The man gestured to where Aurora could see a small herd of tourists gathering.

"Well," She looked to Keats, "Shall we go enjoy the tour and see some movie magic in action?"  She looped her hand around his arm as if she meant for him to escort her.

"Maybe Miss Harcourt will track us down."

Keats bit into his apple with a sigh. It was far too early in the morning to- blinking, he decided to vocalize.

"It's far too early in the morning to be awake right now. And legit? Everything I do is legit. Mostly."

He fell asleep in the cab; obviously the previous night hadn't been particularly restful for him. Rora, smiling to herself, kicked him awake for a second time when they arrived at their destination. With another dramatic sigh, he lurched out of the car and began following Aurora_Mastrosimone. As they made their way through the crowded lot, Aurora did a double take while checking back on Keats: somehow, he'd acquired a pair of sunglasses and a coffee. Noticing her stare, he shrugged innocently. He stayed quiet during Aurora's chat with the guard.

"I don't think," said Keats, "that I like the odds of that message reaching your friend. They may get another half dozen of those in the next hour... but I suppose it has a chance to work. Still, I'd rather not bank on the message. The tour, at least, will let us scope things out."

As Aurora linked her hand in his arm, she experienced one of the only times that he seemed uncomfortable- but it only lasted a moment. Soon, they were strolling around together, and it felt eerily familiar to walking around on the arm of her father or brother- especially the latter. They joined the crowd of tourists and spent the next thirty minutes or so watchfully listening to their tour guide. There were a few interesting tidbits: the history of the company, some discussion about the switch to talkies, a long, long list of name-dropped stars with Hazel's about two thirds of the way through... but mostly, Keats and Aurora just kept their eyes open.

It was his ears, however, that twitched as Keats pulled Aurora down an alley. He'd heard shouting, and as they silently approached... still ready to pretend that they were lost if needed... they heard the end of a particularly emphatic bit of direction.

"-don't fucking care if she broke her ankle. I NEED A WOMAN! Now! I've got a dozen fucking monkeys in there- literally! I've got a goddamn jungle! I've got everyone ready to go, and you're telling me that we need and even number of fucking spear carriers?!"

"I just thought-" protested the assistant of some sort.

The director's voice quieted; fortunately, Keats and Aurora were close enough to hear.

"Don't think. You have twenty minutes to find me a woman, get her in costume, and get her out there. I'm not going to hold our the whole damn productive just to balance off the fucking extras. Get a woman or get out of the way."

"I HAVE A WOMAN!" yelled Keats from behind Aurora. "I have one! Here she is!"

The two men in the alley seemed surprised, and Aurora once again felt the sensation of being a work of art hanging in a museum somewhere. Her eyes flashed to Keats, who shrugged unapologetically.

"Muscular enough build... fine. Her. She's better than those twigs you tried to pull from the secretary pool. Twenty minutes- no fifteen!" yelled the director as he made his way back inside. 

The assistant-type seemed like he'd been spared from a public execution; he took Rora's hand and led her inside.

"You want to be in a movie, yes? Of course you do. No lines to worry about. Just standing there and looking confused and angry." The assistant glanced at Aurora. "Perfect! Just like that! I'll take you to wardrobe, your friend can watch- take the front door, sir. Goodbye! Okay, right this way. Through here. Nope, no one else in here- everyone else is on set. You can leave your clothes right here. Just put these on, please. What movie is this? Well it's a story about the Amazons? You know the Amazons? Of course you do. Well, this particular shot requires Queen Hippolyta flanked by her eight best warriors. And we just had one of our girls get sick. Puking her guts out. Anyways. Are you married? Boyfriend? Yes? Okay, between you and me... I'll let you keep this whole get up when you leave today, just for helping us out here. Name's Peter, by the way. Of course, I'll let you change for a bit."

Aurora felt like she'd been picked up by a tornado and deposited in an alternate reality. The "costume" had obviously been designed by a man... it was leather 'armor' operating under the seemingly immortal rule that female armor effectiveness was based on how revealing it was. Granted, it wasn't THAT bad. Bare arms, bare shoulders, bare midriff. There was a skirt that looked more Ancient Greek than anything... Aurora stared at the get up for a moment and sighed. Peter was pacing outside the dressing room, and... well, the director had mentioned Hazel was in this particular scene. At least she'd guarantee that they were in the same room together.

And, when this was over... well, perhaps she would keep the Amazon costume for Billy. 

________

Keats was doing his best to stay as far back as he could, avoiding any sort of attention that might get him kicked off set. Besides, he had plenty of things to keep him interested. For example: Hazel Harcourt was standing twenty feet away from him wearing a leather outfit that seemed extremely impractical. It matched the seven women behind her... and there was Aurora, stalking out and looking more like an Amazon than any of the other women. No, the other women were dancers pretending to be fighters... but watching Rora walk, it was clear who the only warrior was on set. 

Well, Rora and the giant, shirtless beefcake they had playing Hercules. As Aurora was led to the back of the scene, Hazel didn't turn around; the director had been speaking to her.

"Now, this isn't a titty bar of the ancient world here, Hazel. You're dancing gracefully, you're showing off your athleticism as a challenge and an invitation. Flanked by her elite warriors, Queen Hippolyta shows Hercules why she is the queen, yes? So, we'll try plenty of takes here. Just dance. Show this brutish Hercules that here with the Amazons, he may be welcome, but he will receive no deference- nor equality, until he proves himself."

The director and Hazel shared a few more quick exchanges before the lights and the camera were ready. As the camera began rolling and Hazel walked toward Hercules, who'd been bound to a chair for trying to sneak into their country, she did seem to be royalty. Hope began to dance, and she'd taken her director's words to heart; she was graceful and powerful without trying to seduce- and that became the most seductive thing of all. Keats found himself staring, and four takes passed by in what seemed like the blink of an eye. In between takes, he made eye contact with Aurora and smiled at her; each time he did it, she seemed more comfortable. It seemed clear that she'd have a chance to catch Hazel back in the dressing room, whenever this scene had ended. Keats rested comfortably against the wall, snacking on popcorn. He, at least, was in no rush. 

How the fuck did I end up here?

Aurora stood in the place she was put and found her anger and confusion changing into nervous energy as she noted the huge lights and the cameras.  She could almost hear her brother William cackling with laughter just off the set in the shadows that her amber eyes couldn't quite pierce.  

"QUIET ON SET!"  Someone yelled and things began to quiet down.

Aurora glanced to Keats who smiled at her.  She gave him what was surely a glare in response.  

This is all your fault!

"AND ACTION!"  The director's voice cut all the non-essential sound.  Somewhere in the room, a soundtrack played loudly and Hazel began her dance.  

Once again Aurora found herself in a trance.  It was hard to remember to keep an intimidating look on her face, but luckily her face rather defaulted to that when she was working so... she just, let herself scowl a bit.  Though she wondered if maybe she wasn't a bit more aggressive looking than some of the other women whose scowls almost looked... pretty?  

"CUT!  SET IT BACK UP, REWIND THE PLAYBACK!  HAZEL..."  The director spoke quietly with Hazel, giving her instruction.  Aurora looked to her fellow Amazons and considered them.

How the hell do you make a scowl look pretty?

Then she looked back to Keats, who was looking at her.

You're enjoying this FAR too much.

He just smiled at her like Tibbs with a canary in his jaws.

"ACTION!"  

Again she moved and Aurora watched her muscles tense and relax, pulling her across the floor in a way she'd never seen anyone move before.  It was a thing of true beauty.  She lamented Billy's stance on the topic of Hazel now, of course, she'd never tell him that, but no small part of her was more curious now than that night in the hotel room when her dance was meant to entice.  This dance, it was altogether different.  It was a display of her prowess and while Aurora had watched powerful men moving like that before... to see a woman doing it, she wondered if it was how she looked.  Was that what others saw in her when she worked out?  Her pulse quickened.

"CUT!  Okay, I need someone to move that boom, this isn't working... Hazel, I'm sorry love that was perfect, can you take it back and do it just that way again.  REWIND THE PLAYBACK!"

Aurora looked to Keats who's eyes she could feel all over her.  Some part of her wondered if the man could read her thoughts if he knew what she was thinking about Hazel ... remembering.  She looked at the floor and smirked.  That was foolish.  Although, it was also funny.  A smile tugged the corner of Aurora's lip then and a devilish smirk emerged.

"YOU!  IN THE BACK... NO SMILES.  COME ON NOW!"  The Director sighed and she immediately forced the scowl to return to her face.  "ACTION!"

This time the whole dance played out in its entirety.  Truly it was something to watch.  It was nice to know that such a performance would be viewable for all time on film.  Aurora would most definitely have to take Billy to this show... and secretly go back to watch it a dozen times by herself. 

"Alright folks that's the one, let's get this set taken down, girls get an early lunch and we'll pick up with the scene on the beach just after noon."  The director called out.  Aurora followed Hazel and even before they'd gotten to the door of the dressing room, a flurry of women began taking off costumes.  Aurora paused just outside the door, almost shocked.

"Hazel?"  Aurora called out before the other woman could go in to join them.  "I don't know if you remember me but..."

"Aurora."  The woman said with a smile.  "What are you doing here?  I didn't know you were in the business."

"I'm... I'm not."  She laughed.  "Your extra got sick I guess and they saw me here trying to get a word with you and thrust me into this... get up."

Hazel looked her up and down appreciatively.  "You look good."

Aurora blushed and looked at her feet putting her hand through her hair.  "Thanks... um... I was... that is to say, hoping that maybe you needed Dinner tonight?  I mean, I know you need to eat dinner but that maybe you were able to, if you didn't already have plans that is, maybe you'd like to join me?  My treat... anywhere you wanna go.  Here in LA, or the world.  I got my plane at the airport and I'd fly you to the moon if I could."

Hazel was staring.  Though she'd worn less before, Aurora felt naked.

"Are you asking me on a date?"  Hazel asked in a near whisper.

"Um... well, no I mean I have a friend with me.  He's over there."  She nodded in the direction of Keats.

Hazel looked towards Keats and smirked.  "He's pretty."  She remarked.  "And friends didn't stop you from picking me up before."

"Oh... I didn't pick you up... that was Silvio."  She chuckled nervously.

"Really?"  Hazel said, clearly as amused as Keats earlier.  "Hm.  All this time I thought I agreed to go with Silvio to spend time with you."

Aurora looked up and met the other woman's eyes and her breath caught in her chest.  

Oh... shit.

"Of course I'll go to dinner with you."  the other woman said with a softer smile.  "And your friend, if it makes it easier for you."

Aurora swallowed.  Billy_Mastrosimone was never going to be in a room with Hazel if she could fucking help it.  Ever.  

"You wanna pick me up here at the studio at six?  The back gate?"

Aurora nodded dumbly in response.

Hazel took hold of Aurora's fingers and lead her into the dressing room.  "Come on... let's get you out of this getup."

Aurora's cheeks were on fire again and she did something she rarely ever did... Aurora Byrne-Mastrosimone, The Lioness, giggled.