#as in a family member stole my identity and stole my money and racked up debt after debt after debt

[greyeyedmonster-18]

(conversations with friends about high yield savings accounts and ROTH IRAs recently, because were OLD and financial independence is truly one of lifes greatest privileges, especially as a woman, and i never take that for granted ever. ever ever ever ever ever.

literally i am the only woman in my family who has their own bank account. who has ever been able to live alone without a partner or without a roommate. and paige desorbo when she said “and i knew from the moment it happened to me that i would never let anyone tell what i am going to do and in terms of money. i was always going to have my own bank account. if i wanted to go somewhere i would go and if i wanted to leave somewhere i would leave” facts.)

[misshvariety1307]

Bad Luck? Or A Strange Twist of Fate?

Sitting in her dressing room, getting ready for her first number of the evening, Light felt a subtle wave of spark-ache pass through her spark. It had been a few months since the ill-timed encounter with Powerdrain, the big time casino owner/Deception mobster. And since then she had been missing her family and friends terribly. She knew that by now they would be absolutely sick with worry at where she might be. Sadly she could never tell them where she was and what she was doing in fear of them being slaughtered by her new boss and "keeper" for breaking her agreed silence.

Brushing on some gold glitter around her optics her thoughts drifted back to when she was brought to the casino once the agreement was made. She remembered feeling so..so out of place and so afraid of what she was going to be doing for what she thought was the rest of her life. Even all the costumes, clothes, jewelry, and other things Powerdrain provided for her felt so uncomfortable to use. But thankfully one of the more experienced dancers saw her distress and, after some strong convincing, took her under her wing to teach her and ease her into this way of life. She was sad though when she decided to leave for another club closer to home that was hiring. It just felt like she was alone all over again.

Then there was the day a month ago that she foolishly let Powerdrain discover her natural singing talent while despite trying to be careful enough to hide it. Apparently the safe spot she was using to hide in for solace wasn't as soundproof as she thought it was. Now that he knew about it he could clearly use it as a means to bind her even more to this place and this nightmare she was in. And boy did he. He was so smitten by what he heard he quickly made her up to be the new star of his casino. The first she sang in front of an actual crowd she received a standing ovation from the quickly amassed crowd that watched. Overnight she became a hit in the burlesque scene and was certainly an added value to Powerdrain's growing business and fortune.

With her quickly growing success Powerdrain only saw it fitting that she "expand her horizons", in a manner of speaking. Making a deal with the club his boss frequented he would lend her out to them in case they needed a last minute dancer to fill a suddenly vacant spot. Which to her meant that she trapped even more and it seemed like there was no way to get out. But....to be fair....it really wasn't that bad. The first few times that she went to the club she soon struck up a casual friendship with Knockout, the favorite of many a patron to the establishment. Soon the more they talked and got to know one another the more Light saw the fabulous red mech as a confidant and someone she could turn to when things seemed just a bit too dark to handle. Plus, the little tips and tricks he taught her certainly came in handy during her own performances back at the casino.

Once she had finished brushing on the last fleck of makeup Light let out a gentle sigh and stood up from her vanity. Walking over to the rack of costumes her processor glossed over those performances. Gliding a servo over each piece the memories of each one flooded through her, feeling the familiar rush and strange exhilaration that she got every time she performed. The moves, the song, the spotlight, the crowd…. It…it lit a fire within her she had never felt before and..and it felt so amazing sometimes. Looking up a bit she got a wistful look on her face, remembering one performance that felt so wonderful it was like she was in another world as she was performing. Closing her optics she started to relive the feeling until realization hit her and her optics snapped open.

W-wait…. Did…did she actually…like performing like this? Starting to softly hyperventilate she looked around, not wanting to believe this and started to remind herself why she was here. She was being blackmailed to perform so that her family and friends stay safe. The mech imprisoning her in this was a mobster and an evil mech that was just using her to keep his secret identity intact and exploit her for her talent. Nothing more.

Reaching up and holding her helm she shook it back and forth, feeling overwhelmed by her thoughts and starting to cry. It was as if her processor and her spark were trying to battle to be the better of the other. Unsure how to compromise she felt herself getting weak in the knee joints and stumbled over to her vanity chair, sinking into it before she collapsed to the floor. Leaning against her vanity she looked at herself in the mirror, wondering who she really was at this point and whether or not she was still the femme she was before this whole mess started. Crossing her arms she put her head down and continued to cry, wanting everything just to end at that point so she wouldn't have to feel anything and finally get some sense of peace.

Just then a sudden knock came to her door and from behind it an all too familiar voice spoke in its recognizable sultry yet chilling tone. "Oh my little trinket, are you ready to shine on stage?"

Softly gasping and leaning up Light looked at the door in a frightened panic, not expecting Powerdrain to arrive so soon. Looking back at her vanity and seeing that her makeup was somewhat messed up she quickly cleaned herself up to the point where she was almost done just a few minutes prior. Grabbing what she needed she reapplied what was missing while she spoke up. "J-just about, sir!"

Softly chuckling Powerdrain opened the door and stepped in, closing the door behind him before walking over and approached from behind. "Good, little one. Good." Seeing what she was doing he gave her a curious look while stopping and leaning down towards her. "Usually you would have been done with your makeup by now, my dear. What's taking you so long tonight?"

"Oh, I...I didn't like how part of it came out so I had to redo it. It was a late minute decision, I'm sorry." Looking up at him through the mirror Light tried very hard to keep calm and act normally. She didn't want to give away any hint that she was having a practical meltdown right before he showed up.

"I see. Well, I think that it was a very good decision to make, my pet." Smirking at her response Powerdrain nodded while reaching over and placing his hands on her upper arms. Softly and sensuously pulling them up he rested them on her shoulders then rubbed his thumbs around in a light and tender massage. "After all, I prefer that you look as perfect as possible when you're out performing. It heightens your appeal and makes you all the more...desirous to the patrons." Then reaching up with his left hand he gripped her chin between his index digit and thumb and tilted her head to look at him as he leaned in a bit more with a persuasive look in his optics. "You wouldn't want to disappoint them with imperfect looks, would you? Or worse yet…disappoint me?"

Her breath hitching for a brief moment when she felt his touch Light softly gasped and shivered. Venting heavier as she felt his hand slip up her arms a soft moan escaped her audials as her mind started to swirl. Shaking her helm she softly blushed when he took her chin like that and looked up at him with a slow forming guilty look in her optics. "N-no sir. Not..not at all. I….I know that's the last thing I can't…I can't let happen. Especially to you…"

"That's right. You've learned well over the time you've been here." Smirking at her answer Powerdrain chuckled and leaned in closer still, their faceplates starting to be mere inches from each other. "Who knew by that unfortunate encounter that I would have found my best money maker since starting this casino. And all it took was a little…coercion on your part to make it happen. Plus, who knew that you are such a natural with that graceful and limber body of yours?"

Her blush getting deeper the closer his faceplate came to here Light felt a cold chill go through her when he said that. It was as if he knew that she almost had that meltdown and was just twisting the knife further into her. Then when he mentioned that she bashfully flushed and softly shrugged to say that she agreed. "Y-yeah, who...who knew?"

Noticing her flush Powerdrain smirked and stole a quick glance down her body, looking back up into her optics with a playful and persuasive look. Letting her go he leaned away and walked over to her rack of costumes as he continued to coax her. "Oh don't be so bashful, my trinket! You need to be proud that you have a delicious body to use at your disposal. Consider it a means to reach a goal. After all, isn't it every little femme's dream to be a star? Well, this is certainly your chance to take it. Just let go of that modest thinking that you've been brainwashed with and finally take a chance to live like you are truly meant to!" Looking through her costumes he stole a quick glance at her. "And once you do, you'll see that you'll have the potential to be a queen of the burlesque scene. Plus get all the perks and pleasure of being one too."

As he turned back and looked through the assortment Light looked down at the floor for a few moments and considered his words. Was…was he actually right about what he said? Was she so wrapped up in keeping her modesty intact that she was missing what was right in front of her? Was…was this the way for her to finally do what she always wanted to do, even though it was considered by her family to be a most unsavory profession? Looking at herself in the mirror she started to think back to when she was with her family last and the discussion that they had about her preferred career choice. She remembered how sparkbroken she was when they thought that she wouldn’t make it and would be much happier staying where she was and married off to a prominent member of society so that she could live the rest of her life as a proper sparkmate. Looking away from her reflection she then begin to wonder if running into Powerdrain that night was really just an ill-timed accident…or fate showing her the way to what she truly wanted. Powerdrain’s words still ringing in her processor she still didn’t want to believe them but at the same time they…they made so much sense. Like before with her helm and her heart her sense of morale and her guilty wants and pleasures were wanting to war within her for control. She just didn’t know if she wanted to commit and really see this as her true way of life.

Making a decision and picking out a black costume with jeweled chains that would match Light’s makeup shades Powerdrain turned back and saw her deep in thought. Raising a curious optical ridge at her he walked over and reached down, lifting her head up by her chin again. As he did he gave her confident look that may or may not have bordered on his hypnotic one. “I know that you want to try and hold on to whatever you had left of your previous way of life but it’s time to forget it, my pet. You belong here now, deal or no deal, and there’s no way of going back. Best to just make the decision now and not let that pesky moral compass lead your life for you anymore. It’s time that you led yourself for a change and do what you want to do." Handing over her costume he pleasantly smirked as he caressed the corner of her dermas with his thumb then let go and stepped away towards the door. "Well, better hurry up and get dressed, my dear. We have a good crowd tonight so we can't keep them waiting. I'll see you out there." Giving her a wink he stepped out and closed the door behind him, heading off take care of other business.

Madly blushing from his caress she took her costume then watched as he headed to the door, nodding in understanding to what he said. The show had to go on, after all. Once the door was closed she looked down at the costume and softly sighed, running her digits over the silky fabric. If he was right and she needed to let go of her compass to be free to enjoy her chance at stardom....would she be the fool to let it slip by if she let it continue to control her life? Getting up she went behind the changing screen and slipping out of her robe she put on her costume, letting the fabric hug her supple curves and assets. Shivering a bit as the chains touched and settled against her protoform she pulled the zipper up then stepped out. Walking back over she sat down once more and pulled on her fishnet stockings and clipped them onto the attached garter belts on her costume. Making sure that they were secure she reached over for the pair of heels nearby and slipped them on, zipping up the backs of them while making sure the cuffs were sitting just right. The last thing was the somewhat long tulle and feathered train that she attached at her hips that swayed with every hip swing.As she was getting the last of her jewelry on she looked up into the mirror again and sighed, feeling herself coming to a decision at last. As she was changing she was continuously thinking about the last words Powerdrain told her before he left. If…if he was right and she should just…let go and embrace this new life….would she be able to come to terms with the consequences of her family finding out and disowning her? Remembering that conversation one last time she hesitated for a few moments as a realization slowly made itself known to her. No…no matter what she tried they wanted her to be what they wanted. They would never understand how her desire to be a singer was what she wanted to be and never accept her as anything else but as an obedient daughter who stayed in line and followed their morals. Looking away from her reflection she had to see that…that Powerdrain was right. This was her only chance to live her dream and be the singer she dreamed of being. Even if it meant that she had to become the one thing her parents never dreamed of her being then so be it.

Standing up from her vanity that familiar fire that she craved lit up within her and began to surge like never before. Ready to get things started she gathered up her train, slung it over her arm, and headed to the door. Stepping out she closed the door behind her she headed to the stage, confidently strutting as she did to get ready to perform her number. Time for the star of the casino to sing once more.

Watching her from the nearby shadows Powerdrain smirked and quietly chuckled as a victorious smirk crossed his gaze. Seeing how confident she was when she came out he knew that his little prodding and convincing had worked like a charm. Plus adding just a tinge of his hypnotic power to seal the deal worked to perfection. Knowing that she would be a liability the longer she feared being there and yearned for the possibility of freedom he had to do something to persuade her to stay and truly become his shining diamond. And to keep his mob identity perfectly intact.

Pleased that his plan had worked he stepped out and continued to watch as his prize disappeared around the corner. Deciding that he needed a well deserved break he headed out to the bar, got himself a much needed drink, then went over his reserved booth. Sitting down and relaxing he waited for his star to shine once more and enjoy the show.

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A little drabble that popped into my head while working on the colored versions of Cops and Mobs AU Light and Powerdrain XD. Hmm, is there more to Powerdrain’s plan? What more could he have in store for Light in the future? I just might have to write a sequel to find out!

This au is so much fun to be a part of! I hope you all like it! 

Cops and Mobs AU belongs to @pastelpaperplanes