Harder than Expected

[Ashton]

Almaz hadn't turned out like he'd expected.  First Jaxen Marveet recognizing him, then him disappearing, and then the monsters in the fight with the mark.  How was he supposed to kidnap a guy who can kill monsters?

There had to be an angle.  Ashton decided that it was best to hit Kallisti next.  At least that was more his speed.  He could compete with selling sex.  

The lines were a little longer than he expected.  But it had been worth the wait once he got inside the opulent show room.  The bars were fully stocked, the servers and bartenders more than enough eye candy.  The stage was full of beautiful performances.  The one on now was a faux strip tease.  The performer was behind a screen pulling of alluring outfits with various lighting and dance moves.  The music was etherial and it was a beautiful seduction.

But it was the guy standing against the wall that drew his attention.  His mark stood stoic.  He had seen Ashton at the Almaz.  Seen Jaxen disappear.  He didn't seem to eye him anymore than anyone else but he saw the look that said he was going to watch him.  Which was good.  If he was watching him, it meant he'd be able to see his reactions to those he interacted with.  There had to be an angle to this guy, some way in, something Ashton could use against him.

And it didn't take long to find that thing -- or rather that someone.

Ashton sat down at the bar.  The bartenders came and went and when one finally stopped he saw the man on the wall tense up.  It was the barest hint of movement.  But Ashton knew how to read a person.  Whoever this bartender was.  He was something to his mark.

[Ashton]

Ashton smiled at the man with brown curly hair. "You should smile more." Ashton said in his sing song voice filled with all the happiness he could muster. There was no need for lust or sex when he looked like nothing -- like he was going through the motions. Ashton added, "I'll take a Boulevardier." The man gave Ashton a smile that he hadn't been wearing before.

He looked over at the man standing on the wall, he'd flinched and now was decidedly not looking at him and the bartender. He danced from foot to foot and then put a finger to his ear and Ashton read his lips. "I'll handle it." Two other guys looked around and then back at him as Nox left the wall to go handle whatever it was that needed handling. It might have been strange, but Ashton was glad to have rattled the guy. Hopefully with a little more of a shove he'd confront him.

[[ooc: Raffe modded with permission]]

[Ashton]

Ashton went to Kallisti every night for three days straight. And each night, his mark stood on the wall carefully not looking his direction. He never approached. Never even looked at him and that was disappointing. And the fourth night -- the forth night he wasn't there. Didn't stop Ashton from flirting with his now favorite bartender. He came to see him, to make him smile as much as he came to provoke the guy his Mistress wanted in their clutches.

The fifth night was a Sunday and things were slow at the club anyway and Vivian took him to another party someplace else that she didn't want to go alone to. He obliged her with his presence as he always did. She was his favorite person.

Monday came and still Nox was not there -- some other man held the whole thing together. Ashton didn't ask, but there was a different air about the place. It wasn't fear but it was unsettling. Nothing had changed. Just seemed more tense.

Ashton didn't manage to make it back to Kallisti for another week after that night. He had to actually put food on the literal table. Serve up some person to the monsters he lived with. They wanted a fresh meal -- nothing from the stores or freezers and they hadn't wanted to wait. So they sent Ashton out for their precious dinner plans. Was the Mistress' anniversary or some such bullshit but Ashton did it. Last thing he wanted was to be the one on the table. His continued compliance was the only thing keeping him alive.

And when he did arrive back to Kallisti. Things felt better, but still the man standing on the wall was not his mark. What the fuck?