Heartland Who: Penny/Shelly What: Means to an End Where: Las Vegas, Iris When: Present Ratings/Warnings: Low, some suggestive content
Shelly was irritated. She had been going stir-crazy in her apartment, having run out of new episodes of her favorite reality shows. It wasn’t like she had been planning to go out, but it seemed like the only thing to do to offset the restless feeling that nagged her. Then it seemed like nothing in her closet was suitable. Dresses draped over hangers and zipped into dry cleaning bags littered her bedroom floor.
The blonde had settled on a shiny, striped Missoni mini and black pumps. The glossy red undersides of her shoes flashed as she exited the Uber. She looked up at the entrance of Iris, a place she had been taken to recently on a date and had enjoyed. Shelly had watched the aerialists then, transfixed with the rest of the audience as her companion tried to make conversation and failed.
Now, she entered the club alone, no specific target in mind, but feeling strangely combative for no apparent reason.
Iris was usually bumping at any hour after its doors open to the public. Music, festivities, the performances. Being ostentatious wasn’t unheard of in Vegas nor was it frowned upon there. Something the siren liked about Iris was the fact that anyone could simply blend in if they chose, or stand out if they wanted to. The tide of movement was as unique as the upright beings twisting within it.
Penny was not working tonight.
Work had been set aside so that she could clear her head and figure her way through the confusing situation with Derek. Plus she wanted some air. Familiarly was welcomed. Maybe she shouldn’t have been in the place where she had first met the vampire but then this was her place. It had been and would be still.
The little black dress she adorned hugged her features. Black, see thru fabric wrapped around her arms to the shoulders. Diamond stud earrings weighed on her earlobes but no rings circled any of her fingers.
On her own feet were black suede platforms to compliment the outfit, and a clutch the size of a small envelope tucked into one hand. Penny leaned casually against the bar to test the atmosphere.
Shelly slipped through the crowd and made a beeline to the bar. Most people who came alone to clubs hovered there, and it was very much a fish and barrel situation, which didn’t always yield the choicest results, but it was a good easy start to the night. As she pressed in and took her space, she noticed another blonde standing there, and her red lips parted in faux surprise.
“Penny! What are you doing here?” She looked up at the DJ booth, which was occupied by someone else. “Did they fire you, honey?” Shelly held up a finger when the bartender turned around.
Oh Penny’s expression read upon seeing Shelly approaching the bar. It’s you.
She made herself smile, straightening herself up as the other woman made it over. “No, I don’t work every night,” the siren explained, amused. That would’ve been slave labor, and even though she wasn’t quite sure of every law in this country, enough of the dancers backstage commented about being worked to death without a break.
Iris had a wealth of independent entertainers who came through in an effort to bring people in. It was the way the club scene and the music industry operated, or at least that was her observation. “So no worries. How have you been?”
“Oh, you don’t?” Shelly raised an eyebrow, puzzled. “I guess I assumed that was how you afforded those adorable little dresses.” With a smile shot Penny’s way, she placed her drink over with the bartender before turning around, resting her elbows on the bar behind her as she surveyed the scene before her. “I’m amazing, thank you for asking,” the blonde answered finally, as if finally remembering the question asked of her.
She tilted her head toward the other woman. “What about you?”
Penny’s grin widened but she offered no comment. There was plenty of cash to go around, enough that she didn’t have to work, but she liked it. She needed the distraction from the boredom and now from the loneliness, but a night here and there to herself was also good.
“I'm glad,” the siren offered.
As before, she leaned up against the counter again, surveying the people within the range of eyesight. “I’ve been better. My husband and I have split up.” She didn’t know why she offered that to Shelly, but it was the truth. Penny turned to look at the other woman. “Which means I suppose there’s room for fun.”
Shelly placed a manicured, sympathetic hand on the sheer sleeve of Penny’s arm. “I’m sorry, babes. That’s awful.” Her drink was placed on a delicate cocktail napkin next to her and she plucked it up with her free hand. Taking a sip, she zeroed in on a group of slightly older men in suits taking up residence in an expansive booth. “Do you want to have some fun?” she asked the other blonde with a mischievous, red-lipped smile. “I might have some ideas.”
She fished out a 20 dollar bill from her own handbag and pressed it onto the counter of the bar before nodding toward the booth, letting Penny know that she could follow.
It was awful. But it couldn’t be changed and she couldn’t find a reason to shut herself inside any longer when the world called to her core. She was a creature of nature, being kept inside even by her own accord was difficult.
So she swept up the drink set by her elbow and followed after Shelly. Whatever the woman had in mind had her curious, though her friend/enemy did know how to get a good time started.
Shelly stood at the edge of the booth, taking her long straight blonde hair and pushing it back behind her shoulder. One of the men on the edge looked up at her and Penny. “Can we help you ladies?” he asked with a satisfied smirk. The other three looked up, too, but said nothing.
“You can keep us company,” she answered, then grabbed Penny’s hand and held it. “My sister and I just got to Vegas, and we’re looking for all the fun people. We haven’t had any luck at all.” Shelly turned to the other woman. “It isn’t like the movies, is it, Shannon?” she lamented with a pout and a pointed stare.
As the man in the booth addressed them, Penny gave her best casual smile, letting Shelly take the lead. Her eyes went from one to the next, studying them.
Fingers held onto Shelly’s and she turned when addressed with the fake name, pushing her bottom lip out in a pout. “Not at all, Kelly,” Shannon said. She shook her head, turning her attention back to the gentlemen in the booth.
“We came here looking for more fun than we get back home in Wisconsin,” Penny added, adding a bit to her voice to give it a touch of a northern accent.
“From the heartland,” the one nearest to Shelly remarked, and the one next to him snickered. “Why don’t you join us?” he added, and the other moved to make room for the two women. Shelly chose the end seat next to Heartland. Her fingers ran over the sleeve of his dark blue suit.
“I love this material,” she told him. “Is it bespoke?” Her fingers slipped down to his knee on the pretense of touching more of the fabric.
“Uh, yeah,” he answered with a slow grin. “I like that personal touch.” Shelly obliged a laugh, her hand moving up his thigh as she leaned forward and held her free hand out to the man next to him.
“Hi, I’m Kelly,” she said, shaking his hand while the other slipped into Heartland’s pocket and relieved him of his thick, leather wallet.
At the remark, Penny smiled and nodded as if she agreed with what the man had said. She moved to take the place at the other end of the booth opposite from Shelly, settling into the cushion. A sip taken from her drink and then it was sat down, momentarily forgotten.
“I don’t think I’ve seen a finer group of gentlemen in my life. What do you think, Kelly?” Penny remarked, batting her eyelashes at them. “I’m Shannon, by the way. I love that color suit on you.” One of the men looked down at himself admirably.
“I’d have to agree,” Shelly confirmed, absolutely amused. It was already too easy, but there could always be more of a challenge later. “I have to use the ladies’, but Shannon, you’ll keep our new friends entertained while I’m gone, won’t you?” She gave Penny a quick wink and stood, walking toward the bathrooms.
Entering a stall, she examined the contents of her prize. Nevada driver’s license, Gavin, 43, very clearly lied about his height. Amex black card with the signature Roman soldier on the front. A thick stack of what must have been a hundred single dollar bills, along with a few 50s and 100s, crisp and bank-fresh. “Ew,” she muttered, shoving the cash into her bag, anyway.
The blonde tossed the depleted wallet in the metal trash can attached to the stall’s wall before washing her hands and ambling back out to the club. “What’d I miss, boys?” ‘Kelly’ asked as she resumed her previous perch.
A nod coupled with a wave and Penny turned her attention back to the trio of men. One of them had begun to tell her a story about himself - of course - and she listened willingly.
Another round of drinks later and Penny smiled as Shelly slipped back into her place.
“Oh, Gavin was just telling me about his new luxury SUV he just bought last week,” ‘Shannon’ replied, motioning to the one who Shelly had gotten a bit handsy with earlier.
“I really like the name Gavin,” she whispered in his ear. “Tall, handsome, Gavin.” Shelly grinned mercilessly as she made brief eye contact with Penny. She leaned forward and grabbed her drink. “My lovely sister here needs cheering up,” she announced to the group at large. The blonde smiled around the rim of her glass. “She just had a bad break up.”
Her brown eyes widened, a brilliant idea occurring to her. She set the glass back down. “Shannon, I have the best idea. Take a selfie with all of us and send it to your ex. Showing how much fun you’re having works every. Single. Time.” She tugged on her new friend’s tie.
“Right, Gavin?”
Penny offered a brief wink to Shelly, turning her attention to one of the other guys in the semi circle. And then she nodded as all three men began to look sympathetic, pushing her bottom lip out into a pout again. “It’s true. He said he couldn’t love who I am anymore.” While that wasn’t the entire truth it skirted the important aspects of it.
“That guy has to be dumb,” the man on Penny’s left said, shaking his head.
Penny could only shrug her shoulders. She didn’t think that idea was for the best, Derek could be sensitive but part of her wanted to. Just because it sounded fun. Impulsive. More like herself before meeting the vampire.
“Scoot in everyone!” ‘Shannon’ exclaimed, slipping her phone out of her purse.
“Yes!” Shelly exclaimed happily before sliding onto Gavin’s lap to get in closer. She motioned for the man next to Penny to put his arm around her. As they posed for the photo, she beamed excitedly.
After it was done, she got up to move next to Penny. With a comforting hand placed on the woman’s back, she said in a lower voice only the other blonde could hear, “He really is an idiot, you’re a total catch. Make sure you send it before you lose your nerve, and also, could you send that to me, too?”
Penny leaned into the man whose arm was wound around her. After everyone smiled she took the picture. And then she felt that hand on her back and turned to her ‘sister’. “Thanks.” She meant it this time.
The photograph was texted to Derek and Shelly, and with a bit of triumph the phone went back into her purse and Penny settled back into the evening.
Shelly grinned. That photo was going to make for some amazing Gavin blackmail, judging by the photos of his wife situated in the trash wallet. She returned to the other side of the booth. “So,” she began, taking a long, triumphant drink of her cocktail, “Where are you going to take us next?”