#✦ champagne nights & faded dreams ˏˋ°•⁀➷ int: brooklyn ✦

[billiethrills]

billie’s grin spread wider, a flash of teeth, as she listened to brooklyn’s determination. there was something in the way brooklyn spoke now — less weighed down, more defiant — that billie couldn’t help but admire. she gave a slow nod, swirling what was left in her glass. “that’s what i like to hear,” she said, her tone edged with approval. “you’ve got more fire in you than you give yourself credit for. and when you take those steps — when it all starts falling into place — don’t forget what it feels like right now. this? this moment where you’re deciding it’s time to stop playing small? that’s the kind of fuel that’ll keep you burning bright.” she leaned against the bar again, posture relaxed but eyes sharp, locking onto brooklyn’s. “and you’re damn right they didn’t take the best parts of you. they never will. they're yours, brook. and when you start wielding those? the people who doubted you won’t know what hit them.” billie paused, a flicker of genuine pride crossing her face. she drained the last of her drink and set the glass down with a satisfying clink, brushing her hair back as brooklyn teased her. billie let out a soft laugh, shaking her head. “oh, you wanna see how it’s done, huh? alright.” her smirk returned, sharper now, as she turned toward the stage, already pulling on that air of untouchable confidence she wore like a second skin. billie shot her a playful wink over her shoulder. “but remember this, sweetheart — i don’t just give them a show. i make them believe i’m the best damn thing they’ll ever see, even if they couldn’t touch it in their dreams.” with that, she strutted toward the stage, the sway of her hips deliberate, commanding, as the room seemed to hush in anticipation. she didn’t look back, but her voice carried just enough for brooklyn to hear, tinged with amusement and encouragement. “keep making those moves, babe."

Brooklyn watched the shift of her stance and she too leaned against the bar before waving over a bartender. She was mostly done for the night besides some private dances so she would have a drink to take down some of the edge she was feeling. Brooklyn listened to the girl's words, she had a good point. "Yeah, I get that." She exhaled, "I thought they took the best parts of me already but I don't think they have." There was so much more to her than her body. She had a sharp mind and she was creative. She was starting to work with Giada and learn. She was starting to model too and she liked every second of it. Billie always gave her the best advice and it was one of the reasons she valued working with her and being her friend. "You really would?" She let out a small laugh, Billie was always so supportive and never looked at her with judgment. The bartender passed her a drink and she brought it to her lips. "I plan on making them a fool of themselves. I am going to go all the way and when I look back they will still be here, throwing their money at the next set of girls they bring in here." Brooklyn hoped the shit that happened to her would not repeat itself. With Oxana in charge, she knew she was safe here now. "That is the plan. I have a few things in motion that are some first steps, nothing set in stone yet to share but I'm done with just surviving. I am gonna start living for me." It was a promise she was holding herself to. "I'm sure you will have something for us to toast too, but if all goes well, I will too." She said with a smile, Henry was working on setting everything up for her to go back to school. "I'm sure I'll be okay, but I'll let you know if I need anything. In the mean time get that pretty little ass of yours on stage and show me how it's done."

[billiethrills]

she leaned back against the bar, her gaze steady as brooklyn laid it all out. the casual smirk that had been playing on her lips softened into something more thoughtful, her dark eyes catching the dim light as she listened. she didn’t interrupt, didn’t brush off the weight of what brooklyn was saying. instead, she took another sip of her drink, letting the burn of it settle in her chest before responding. “you know,” billie started, her tone quieter but no less sharp, “there’s a difference between being what they want and letting them think that’s all you are. and you?” she gestured at brooklyn with a tilt of her glass, her expression firm but not unkind. “you’re not just some headline they think they’ve got figured out. they want to buy you? let them think they’re getting their money’s worth. but you keep the best parts for yourself. that’s power they’ll never touch.” her voice carried a certain conviction, a weight that came from someone who knew how to live in a world that constantly tried to define her. she gave brooklyn a long, measured look, her lips twitching into a half-smile as the other woman spoke about being underestimated. “damn right it was a mistake,” billie said, her voice dropping just enough to match the defiance in brooklyn’s words. “and i’d pay good money to see the looks on their faces when they figure that out.” she pushed off the bar, stepping closer and lowering her voice. “you’ve got more strength than half the people in this place combined. don’t waste it on proving anything to these bastards. let them choke on their own assumptions while you do what you do best — survive, thrive, and make them regret ever doubting you.” billie’s grin widened at the mention of the wine, the spark of amusement back in her expression. “then it’s a deal. you get the wine, i’ll make sure we have something to toast to. something tells me you’re about to give us plenty of reasons to celebrate.” she gave brooklyn a light nudge with her elbow, her smirk softening into something closer to solidarity. “and if anyone gets too bold out there tonight, just say the word. i’ve got a mean heel and no problem using it. you’ve got more people rooting for you than you realize. don’t forget that.” with that, billie took a slow step back, her gaze sweeping the room once more, always alert but always composed. “now, let’s go give them a show they’ll never forget.”

Brooklyn shrugged, "That's usually what happens when everyone finds out you're a whore for hire." She had been coming to terms with everything. She went through denial, anger, and depression and now she was on to acceptance. Regardless of what she had done in the past, Sera was gone now, dead and she couldn't make her do it anymore. She was free. "They are probably wondering what price they could name to get me to sleep with them. So I guess fear is out of the question. I'm what they want and they are willing to buy." She always hated the backroom. It made her feel dirty and gross. She spent many nights going home and crying over it, but some experiences weren't as bad as others. "Of course I am. I could walk in here dressed as a nun and these dirty fucks would still want me bent over something. It's gross really." But since the expose she had been wearing more covering items. Again, she didn't have to put out anymore for Sera. Brooklyn took in her words, she was right of course. The past two years she had these men, specifically Dante, in her ear degrading her down until there was nothing left but a vessel. He broke her, brought her to rock bottom and shattered her like she didn't even matter. But now, she realized she was worth something. "I think they are all about to find out what I am made of, underestimating me was a mistake." She said with a small smile. "Works for me. I can get my hands on a bottle." She said with a small nod. She liked how Billie wasn't involved in the other world, the crime part that operated this club. She liked having connections outside of this. She gave her a small nod, "I won't, not anymore." She was strong, stronger than she gave herself credit for, but Billie wasn't the first to point that out in the past couple of weeks, maybe it was time she started to believe it.

[billiethrills]

billie’s smirk deepened, her eyes narrowing slightly as she took in brooklyn’s response. she tilted her head, swirling her drink with a lazy kind of grace, the ice clinking softly against the glass. “territory or not, you’ve got more eyes on you than most,” she said, her voice a smooth drawl that carried an undertone of something sharper. “you know what they say, though — people only watch what they’re afraid of or what they want. you’ve got them wondering which it is.” her gaze flicked over brooklyn’s outfit, taking in the lace gloves and bodysuit with a subtle, knowing nod. billie could read between the lines, even when the story wasn’t being told outright. “whatever it means, you’re still pulling it off,” she said with a shrug, her tone casual but edged with sincerity. “but if you’re fine, you’re fine. not my place to argue.” for a moment, her expression softened, the practiced mask of indifference giving way to something quieter, almost thoughtful. “you’re not wrong, though. this place makes sure none of us are more than what they want to see. but...” she trailed off, her lips curling into a slow, deliberate smile as she glanced out at the crowd. “doesn’t mean we can’t make them regret underestimating us. there’s power in being what they don’t expect.” when brooklyn mentioned the wine, billie’s brow arched slightly, the corner of her mouth lifting in amusement. “a night in, huh? i’ll hold you to that,” she said, her tone light but firm. “you bring the wine, i’ll bring the good company. just make sure it’s red — something worth savoring.” she straightened up, her dark eyes scanning the room once more before landing back on brooklyn. “but you’re right. too many ears, too many eyes, too many people who think they’re slicker than they are. keep your guard up, brook. and don’t let them wear you down. not everyone in here’s got your grit.”

Brooklyn lazily shrugged, trying to feign not a worry. "There are always eyes on me, guess it comes with the territory." Now more than ever people were watching her, waiting for her to crack. She was nearly there but she pulled herself together and decided to push through. Some time had passed since everything went down and it hurt less each day. that's the thing about dealing, it takes time. "Soft?" She asked with a raised brow, "Yeah, well go with that, whatever that means.' Maybe it was the less provocative set she was wearing, but she didn't need anyone to know about the walk home and had to keep the wound clean. Besides, she stabbed that guy and got away, she was fine. "Yeah.. I'm fine." She was right though, since the Sera and backroom stuff came out Brooklyn retreated a bit. She wasn't sure what details Billie knew, she wasn't in any gangs but Brooke did like working with her. "We all are, B." But that's all they were ever seen as in this place, an object. That's what bothered Brooklyn the most but it was all Dante's doing. What he did and said to her after two years wore her down and made her hate herself. But she was rebuilding, coming back from it all. "There are to many ears in this place to talk about anything, but maybe we can have a night in with a bottle of wine sometime soon." She was right though, they were being watched, Brooklyn could feel the eyes on her at any moment.

[billiethrills]

she leaned against the side of the bar, her glass resting lightly in her hand as brooklyn approached. her dark eyes swept over her coworker with the practiced ease of someone who noticed everything, especially the faint remnants of the rough week brooklyn had endured. billie wasn’t one to pry, but she had an uncanny way of reading people — the makeup covering a bruise, the slight adjustment to hide something underneath the surface. it all spoke volumes to her, even when no one said a word. "good’s one way to put it," billie replied, her voice smooth and low, carrying just enough intrigue to make someone lean in to catch the words. she tilted her head toward the crowd beyond them, the thrum of music and the occasional roar of laughter filtering through the room. "good crowd means good money, but it also means eyes on you, even the ones you don’t see." Her tone was casual, but there was always a sharpness to her words, a hidden edge. she let the silence stretch for a beat before taking another sip of her drink, her lips curling into a sly smile as she nodded toward brooklyn’s bodysuit. "you clean up nice, though. almost makes me think you’re getting soft on us." her smile widened just enough to let the other woman know it was a joke — mostly. but billie wasn’t one to leave things unsaid entirely. "you alright, though? you’ve been a little quieter than usual. and you’re not exactly the quiet type." her eyes softened just a fraction, a rare glimpse of sincerity breaking through her carefully constructed mask. "if you’re looking to unload, you know where to find me. i’m good for more than just a drink and a show, you know." she straightened up, brushing an imaginary speck of dust off herself, her smirk returning in full force. "but don’t take too long. you never know who’s watching in a place like this."

Slowly, Brooklyn hated coming to work less and less. The initial shock of the truth of Seduction came and went and when the crowds realized they weren't getting that out of her they eventually thinned back out a bit to the normal flow. Besides, Brooklyn had other work to do. She had product she needed to push and lord knew the Ghost Riders needed the income. The evidence of her little run-in the other day was fading. The black eye was covered by makeup, the knife cut on her abdomen still bandaged and she stuck to body suits for the week. She found matching lace gloves to cover up the road rash on her arms. Even in hiding, she was still feeling more confident in her own skin since the backroom stopped. Coming off the main stage, Brooklyn walked to the side where she noticed Billie. The next dancer was already taking the stage for her set. "It's a good crowd tonight." She said with a soft smile.