Issue 1 Downtime

Clad in the little black number that Claire seemed to like so much, which only served to accentuate her white skin, Victoria charmed their way past the bouncer and into the pounding beat and the flashing lights of the club. "Now THIS is more like it," she shouted over the bass beat to Claire.

Claire smiled, swaying a bit to the beat, "It certainly has some nice music, I'll give you that."

"Usually a little bright for my taste, but everything can't be dark." She flashed Claire a grin. "Shall we, darling?"

"After you," Claire says, smiling back.

Victoria might have been trying to put on a show for Claire as she headed out onto the floor. Whether it worked or not, she certainly drew eyes as they made their way out there. And appeared to be enjoying it quite a bit.

She certainly had Claire's attention, although to her credit Claire tried to be subtle and avoid outright staring. As they reached the dance floor Claire started dancing next to Victoria, maintaining a proper amount of distance.

Victoria hadn't danced in a while, so it was refreshing to cut loose. All the same, she also kept her eyes out, reading the body language of the people around them and, when one of them seemed to be ready to make a move on Claire, sliding their way to intercept them, figuring Claire wouldn't want to burn any over-eager boys that tried to grind on her (although Victoria somehow thought that she wouldn't mind if they got burned). The end result was that in the end, Victoria seemed to be dancing with all the people around them in turn, always coming back to Claire before long.

At first, Claire seemed to be having a great time. She really seemed to enjoy dancing. Not to mention watching Victoria dance.

As time went on, Claire's dancing became a little more subdued and a little less enthusiastic. Finally, as a song ended she forced a smile at Victoria.

"I'm going going to go get a drink," Claire said.

Victoria nodded, not shouting over the music, but followed her off the floor and toward the bar. "Oh good, I was getting ready to punch the next local that decided I wouldn't be able to tell who was grabbing my ass if they tried," She mused as they approached the bar.

"I know, right?" Claire says, standing in line at the bar, "They're just awful. Bunch of grabby little pervs."

When they got to the front, Claire ordered a whiskey, quickly draining the whole thing in one drink.

"I know! At least feel up someone you know," she griped, glancing back at the floor. Perhaps it was the line pushing her, but when she got up to the bar, she brushed against Claire, still as cool as when they'd entered. "You want to be the one fending the off this time?" she asked, leaning closer to Claire's ear as she said it. To be heard better, of course.

Claire shivered a bit at how close Victoria was.

"Probably not a great idea," Claire says, taking a deep breath to control her shaky voice, "I don't do subtle very well. Likely to burn someone's hand clean off."

"Mmm... and that would be a shame, I suppose," Victoria mused.

"It would at least cause a scene," Claire says.

"Mmm, true." Victoria's nails brushed along Claire's back as they waited for another drink. "And I really could do without getting attention from everyone else tonight," she admitted.

"You don't enjoy the attention?" Claire asks in a disbelieving tone.

She shrugged. "It's flattering. It would be nice if they were just looking. I can't say I want everyone's hands all over me, though."

"Your reputation says otherwise," Claire teases.

"Well, I could let them, if that's what you want," Victoria admitted.

Claire quickly tries to cover up the involuntary frown.

"I just want you to have fun," Claire says, handing Victoria another drink, "Do what you want."

Victoria cocked her eyebrow. "You're sure?"

"Not like it bothers me," Claire says, lying through her teeth.

"Well, if you say so. I just don't want to do anything to upset you."

"Victoria," Claire says, "I'm not going to get upset. Really. Have fun."

"All right," Victoria said brightly. "Just tell me when you're ready to go back out."

Claire finishes off her drink, leaving it at the bar.

"Whenever you are."

"Mmm, good," Victoria said, flashing Claire a wicked smile. As she headed back out to the dance floor and started dancing, it was fairly apparent that she was cranking it up a notch. It was also fairly apparent that she was intent on maneuvering Claire into a corner where groping boys couldn't come up behind her.

Claire was a bit out of her league at this sort of maneuvering. It didn't take long before Claire was backed into a corner, dancing with Victoria.

She didn't exactly look upset about this. Maybe a little flustered.

The two of them were obviously getting a bit of attention, as Victoria started dancing closer to Claire, the air around her a bit cooler than the rest of the overheated club.

Claire's dancing got a bit awkward and nervous as she glanced around the club.

"Don't look at them," Victoria whispered, moving a bit so that her lips were close to Claire's ear. "Forget all of them. They're not dancing with you, don't pay them any more mind than I am. Who cares about them?"

Claire blushes, looking back at Victoria, "...Sorry."

"Don't be," Victoria whispered back, dancing closer as the song changed. "You're not letting them stop me from enjoying myself, you're letting them stop you from enjoying yourself."

It's just dancing. You've already done much worse then this.

Hesitantly, Claire starts to drop her inhibitions a bit and just enjoy dancing with Victoria.

"Now," Victoria whispered. "Look around at all those other girls dancing together. Do you think they're more than just friends? Of course not. It's all whatever you want it to be." Granted, her lips were a bit closer to Claire's ear this time.

"What if I don't know what I want it to be?" Claire whispers, her hand on Victoria's hip.

"Well, darling," Victoria answered, her hands on Claire's as they danced, much to the delight of all the onlooking boys, "Then in that case you just do what feels right. We're just dancing right now... you don't have to worry about this."

"I guess I don't..." Claire says, body pressed against Victoria's as they danced to a pounding beat.

"You do enough worrying as it is. Just enjoy yourself. You can trust me..."

Claire leans back, letting Victoria press her against the wall as they dance.

"Is that a promise?"