conman harkness (3:40:51 PM): It was the 70s. And he
wasn't yet a headliner, just one of the Cagelles in the
background. He was in his early 20s, sitting at his dressing
table with the pictures on the mirror in just his corset and
stockings. His table was a little more in the corner, with a
privacy curtain, as he wasn't as close with the others yet. The
opening act was on for another 40 minutes so he could take
his time. The star of the show, Serena, was late and you had
to stall. The two of you had been involved a little over a month
with some change. The other Cagelles talked excitedly
amongst each other, this was a big night. The who's who
amongst the entertainment world was out there. He didn't
know how you'd managed it, but ... he was leaning in and
putting his eyeshadow on, getting ready for the show.
a lot of million (3:48:27 PM): Scott was out on the floor,
surveying the show's activity as it were. It was going on
without a hitch, touch wood, and he knew scouts were out
there. This nightclub-slash-drag-revue venture of his in Soho,
London had really taken off, all thanks to the girls. Living just
above the nightclub on the penthouse floor, he had just put
Jean ("Jay") down to bed an hour ago and it was almost time
for the Cagelles to come out. And you. He checked his watch
before going backstage and standing in the door of the
dressing room, smiling to himself. The lot of you were getting
primped and powdered and transformed. "Okay, girls, it's that
time again." He came into the room and pulled the curtain,
looking back at you. You had something special in your eyes,
a fire that outshined above everyone, and he was damn crazy
about you, too. "Your stage awaits, Mr. DeMille."
conman harkness (3:54:05 PM): By the time you made your
way to him, he was zipping into his dress, having the makeup,
fake lashes and the wig on. He hiked a leg up to put his heels
on and looked over at you as you opened the door. He smiled
some and looked at you. The other girls were jealous, so to
speak, as he had landed you and they had been chasing for as
long as the show had been open. He started towards the
curtain, licking his lower lip. "That's miss," he said,
straightening your tie and patting your cheek with his fingers.
He winked at you and sauntered off towards the stage behind
the other girls. And he was just as crazy about you.
a lot of million (3:58:33 PM): He raised his brow and smiled
some before a flush came to his cheeks. He laughed quietly to
himself and shook his head, you always knew how to do that
to him. "Of course. My mistake, Madam." He pulled you to him
for a kiss and mumbled against your lips. "You know who's out
there tonight. I invited them because of you. Now go break a
leg, Zaza." He gave your bum a spank and let you follow on
stage with the other girls. He watched from the wings and
leaned against the curtain, invisible from the audience.
conman harkness (4:00:22 PM): And he was definitely
surprised by the kiss, humming against your lips. These were
the days before they made smudgeproof lipstick. "Oh, you've
got it, darling," he whispered, wiping the lipstick off your lips
before squeaking when you smacked his bottom. "Easy
cowboy," he said and started out onto the stage on cue with
the other girls.
a lot of million (4:08:34 PM): Scott crossed his arms and
pretended to be watching the show from the technical
standpoint. And certainly he was. He had a lot to see, really,
as he had taken on the role of director for the entire show,
which was his true passion. Directing. The nightclub was just
an offshoot of that. Yes, Scott was certainly doing his job,
watching every dance step and airkiss perfectly syncronized,
but he also had his eyes dead set on you. He was quickly
falling in love with you, if he hadn't already. You had truly lit
up his world, with or without the make up. And Jay was crazy
about you, too.
conman harkness (4:13:49 PM): And once the ensemble
number was over, he was the first one off stage. He hadn't
made friends with the other ladies, jealousy and any number
of other reasons, so he didn't stick around. He waved at you
and smiled some, winking before he started towards his
dressing room. He really was crazy about you, he didn't know
if it was love or what, but the way he felt about you was
nothing short of amazing. He pulled the curtain shut and
started to get out of the dress. He knew that the star of the
show was close to retirement and the scouts were looking for
the next new thing for their shows on the West End. He was
lost in thought, getting out of costume as the boys started to
file in.
a lot of million (4:20:07 PM): Scott followed in through the
dressing room and clapped his hands, laughing to himself.
"Exceptional job tonight, ladies." And like that, he pressed
kisses to each one of their lips, some of the wigs already off.
It was no wonder why his show was one of the best
up-and-coming drag shows in the better part of London. As he
came to you, his lips lingered, and he leaned back against
your vanity as you wiped away your make up. The other girls
chattered on as the make up faded away.
conman harkness (4:21:33 PM): He was in the corset and
stockings, the heels and leaning over the vanity to get the
makeup off. He smiled agianst your lips as he was mostly
clean faced. He took the wig off and reached to shut the
curtain. "So what's the verdict, boss?" he teased, winking and
leaning in to take the fake lashes off.
a lot of million (4:24:18 PM): "The verdict is in. You're hired."
He grinned softly before closing his mouth into a thin lipped
smirk. Night in and night out, this was his life, all so he could
get that boy of his through college some day, give him the life
he wanted but never had. He had been raising him since birth,
after one little act of indiscretion, believe it or not. He was in a
better place financially than the boy's mother, and according
to her, she wasn't fit to raise him. He leaned in again and gave
you a kiss before slipping a key into your hand. The real kind,
before electronic cards. "I'm going upstairs to check on Jean.
Meet me up there when you're done."
conman harkness (4:25:52 PM): "Hired for what?" he asked,
watching you and looked down at the key you slid into his
hand. He smiled some and nodded a little, putting the key on
the desk as he moved behind the changing curtain to get out
of the corset. "I'll meet you there in ten minutes, then you can
tell me what you're talking about," he said
a lot of million (4:34:10 PM): He laughed some and shook his
head. "Nothing. I was taking the piss. You're hired. For me. I'll
meet you upstairs." And like that, he slipped past the other
girls and told them to have a good night, that he'd see them
tomorrow. He then loosened his collar and stepped into the lift,
riding it up to the top floor. He knew the hotel owner and had
worked out a pretty profitable deal. They split the earnings
down the middle. He could stay at the hotel for free so long as
the show was turning a profit. He jiggled open the door with
his key and stepped in, closing the door behind him. He then
slipped into Jay's room and opened the door a crack, not
bothering to turn on the light. The boy was fast asleep, as he
always was. He sat down on the edge of his bed and brushed
his fingers over his sandy blonde hair. He looked a lot like his
mother, but he had quite a lot of Scott, too, maybe more than
Scott realized. He lied down beside him, and that's where you
would find him.
