Who: Jess Tailor and Teddy 'Dave' Orsini What: Jess wanders into a club because of the good vibes, ends up getting roofied and (briefly) kidnapped. No, really. Where: Club in Redmond, skeezy motel, 7-11. When: Friday, lateish. Warnings: Violence. Non-consensual drug use. Assault. Cursing.
This, she supposed, was not exactly what she had in mind when she’d come across from Musings, although her mother... Jess laughed, leaning up against the bar. Yes, bar. At a club. She shouldn’t laugh. Not when she’d walked by and barely been able to help herself-- so much of her day was surrounded by tired people, by unhappy people that she couldn’t resist.
Usually, Jess woke up, went up to Alex’s apartment to figure out her day, got on the bus, hated her life until she stepped off the bus, went to work, usually had somewhere between an okay and good time - depending on the mood of everyone else - either took the bus (more hate) or took the bus for part of it, then walked home (alright, except the occasional person walking by who’d either had the worst day ever or just got promoted - always through her for a loop when people walked past her.) Today was another bus-then-walking day. Shouldn’t be walking alone at night, but whatever. It was easier. Less drama, less miserable people.
She really needed to get a car.
That’s when she walked past the club, when she’d stopped outside and felt the energy slip over her in waves. Energy, joy, lust, the whole kaboodle, and Jess... Jess was high. She didn’t know it, but she’d laughed and managed to slip by the bouncer without even stopping, practiced in that little skill. She was old-hat at the club scene, and now - now with a drink in her hand and her coat shoved in a corner, she let herself just enjoy what was around her.
… That was, until the fight broke out. It was a crash - sudden and severe, when the crowd suddenly separated, pulling itself back from the brawl that’d erupted in the center of the floor - and Jess, overwhelmed by the rush of anger, of concern and anxiety and the sudden nauseating, splitting headache, backed away. She’d just wanted one night. One night where she didn’t have to hope that her neighbors wouldn’t have sex or that the creeps on the bus wouldn’t be having bad days, and now this - even when she backed away, her head throbbed as the anxiousness spread, the bouncer still trying to find fight his way through the crowd.
Teddy was on the edge of the crowed surrounding the fighters, soaking it all in. He’d been nursing the same beer for the last hour and a half, just observing and waiting the other club goers. Now he was all smiles as he soaked up the bad emotions rushing through the place. He moved to get closer to where he could tell people had stronger feelings about the situation.
As he was on the move, Teddy brushed past a girl with dark hair who looked and felt like she was having some kind of panic attack. He put a hand on her shoulder and tilted his head towards her, concern written on his face despite how upbeat he actually felt. “You okay?”
The waves of anxiety and anger were strong enough that she was swept up into it, her eyes watering from the pain in her head - but when he ducked to look at her, her spirit was somewhat buoyed-- The negative emotions still beat at her, but there was a high point, something bright in the darkness. She shook her head, her hand finding his arm. “No, I-” Explanation. She had to come up with an explanation. The spike of pain in her head was constant, but she could think around it. “I don’t- I can’t handle people fighting.” Let him think that she was just a wuss, or that she had some sort of crazy anxiety issue or something. It was mostly true, after all, wasn’t it?
“It’ll be okay, the bouncers will straighten it out. Everyone will calm down and go back to normal in a minute, you’ll see. Just ignore them,” he said with a reassuring smile. He gestured at a vacated corner booth with the beer in his other hand. She must have been a sensitive one if a little bar fight was bothering her this much, he thought happily. Just the sort of girl he was looking for. “There’s an open seat over there if you wanted to get away from these idiots?”
“Yeah,” she said, not even paying attention to him. “Yeah, open... yeah.” She had the heel of her hand pressed to the side of her head, and squinted in the dim club as she picked her way over to the booth, trying to concentrate. The further she got away from the guy who helped her - since he wasn’t touching her anymore - the more the mob made her head hurt and the sicker she felt. It was less than ideal; the anger had shifted from the guys fighting to the bouncers and management, and her fingernails were biting into her hands.
The booth got her far enough away that her power wasn’t working on all the people, just half. She ended up looking up at him, her eyes still watering. “I’m Jess, by the way. Thanks, I didn’t even notice there was an open booth or anything.”
“I’m Dave,” Teddy said with an earnest smile as he slid into the booth next to her and set his beer bottle on the table. It was a newer alias, one he used at funerals sometimes. Cousin Dave. Great-nephew Dave. No one ever gave such a common name much thought. “And don’t mention it. You looked upset, and I bet you didn’t come out on a Friday night to be upset by some jerks who can’t hold their liquor.”
She nodded, ducking her head. “I just-” She looked back out at the crowd, far enough away (and it was settling; the bouncer had thrown out the guys who were fighting, and even though it was slow, people were starting to get back to normal) that she wasn’t in the middle of all of it. “I get- I get panic attacks, sometimes,” she said, lying just so she could seem normal. “And there’s so many people here, so... you know?” She shrugged, looking at her drink with furrowed brows, then back up at him, chewing on her lower lip. “I just wanted a normal night.”
“Panic attacks are nothing to be ashamed of,” Teddy said and took a small sip of his beer. Everything was calming back down in the club and Jess was calming down with it all. It was a shame, like getting interrupted during sex before you could get off. Tonight, though, Teddy had a plan. And he was determined that his “Christmas shopping” was going to pay off before the night was over. He gestured to Jess’s drink. “Do you want a refill? I can go get you something and you can guard our table.”
“Really?” She smiled, and then bit her lip. “Can you grab me a glass of water, too? But yeah. Thanks.” She tugged out her phone, thumbing through her contacts as he went back to the bar. He didn’t think she was weird. He seriously, didn’t think that her whole reaction to this... mess... was weird. “I should say they’re panic attacks more often,” she mumbled to herself, tugging out her makeup mirror and checking just to make sure she didn’t look like she was totally dragging herself from work.
Nope. Safe enough. Awesome. Maybe this could sort of end up being like a date, or something. Seemed like things were looking up.
Teddy ordered the drink and a glass of water for her, but before he headed back he dropped a little something extra in her drink. He’d only recently considered the help of something like a roofie. Then again he’d only recently realized just what he was capable of getting away with.
Everything.
He didn’t use a whole dose, just a half of one. It wouldn’t be any good if Jess was unconscious. No, he needed her to at least be partially aware of what was going on. He wanted her to fight a little. Wanted her make up to run down her face as she cried. He wanted to take everything she felt.
But first things first. He arrived back at the table and set both glasses down in front of her with a smile. “Here you go,” he said. “Hope it helps.”
She grinned, and it seemed like her night had turned around, and not a little because of Dave’s help. “You know, I almost didn’t come in here. Almost just went home and went to bed.” She shrugged, shaking her head. “Obviously, coming here was the right choice.” She made small talk as she drained her drink and her water - riding high on the euphoria from the crowd’s good mood, and it wasn’t until she went to stand up that she wobbled, catching herself on the edge of the table. “Wow, I... how much did I have to drink?”
Man, she didn’t want Bly to see her this drunk. Not again. Not after what’d happened at the Masquarade.
Teddy hadn’t finished his beer while they’d talked. He’d kept up with the chit-chat, flirting without laying it on too thick. Playing the part of the perfect gentleman. And so far everything was going according to plan. He stood up next to her and grabbed her arm to safeguard against her falling down.
“You okay? I think you might’ve had a little too much,” he said, titling his head to look down at her with a concerned semi-smile. “You didn’t drive here, did you?”
“No, I walked because I didn’t want to take the bus.” She squinted at the table, then looked back at him. “I hate taking the bus. I always feel so horrible when I’m on it.” She laughed, then, and shrugged. “But I have’ta take it now, don’t I? I mean, I can’t just walk home like this. What if I ran into a cop?” Jess turned into him, her forehead pressed against his shoulder. “Y’know, back home, I’d want to call my mom, but she wouldn’t have come to get me anyway. Y’know that?” She tipped her head back, her brow furrowing, then she smiled widely. “I know! You can take me home. Please.”
“I can do that, it’s no problem. I wouldn’t want you to get lost in this weather,” Teddy said and slipped an arm around her. Oh yes, Christmas shopping was going perfectly well so far as gifts for himself went. He lead her carefully through the club to the exit and down the sidewalk to where he’d parked. There was no rush, and he took his time to make sure she didn’t fall and make a scene. Once they were away from the music and noisy crowd he could finally ask her the obligatory but entirely unimportant question. “So where do you live?”
“I live up in Redmond,” she said with a laugh as she leaned into him, her mouth finding his cheek. “Y’know, I never thought I’d live in Redmond, but my roommate’s prettttty awesome.” She made a face. “I don’t want him knowing that I’m drunk. Okay? Because we sort of said we wouldn’t do that.” She stumbled as it seemed like her sneakers and the sidewalk were a weird combination, but he caught her. Apparently, that’s who Dave was tonight, her knight in shining armor.
She didn’t really remember when he’d poured her into the car, but she’d leaned against the window, watching the lights of the highway fly by, a smile on her lips. “They’re all so pretty, don’t you think?”
“Yeah, really pretty,” Teddy said, even though he had no clue what she was talking about. It was perfect. She sounded so out of it. And was acting out of it, too. They were almost to the motel, he could see it up ahead, and here was the part where he hoped she wouldn’t freak out too badly until he got her in the room. Not that it would matter much at a shit hole like this one. A different motel from last time, but just as dumpy. He’d rented the room in advance and made some preparations before he’d gone out for the night. This time he was prepared. He turned into the parking lot and parked in front of the motel room.
“Where are we?” Jess’s brows knit, and it took her a little too long to sit up, her fingers fumbling for the seat belt. “D’you need to get gas or something?” She twisted, and saw the motel, her brow furrowing. “Are we in Redmond, still? It’s okay if you’re lost. We can ask them for directions.” She thought she was being helpful, but soon all sorts of helpfulness became second to the fact that she apparently couldn’t figure out how her seatbelt worked.
Teddy exited the car without saying anything, walked around to the passenger side and helped her with her seatbelt. “Take it easy,” he said in a reassuring tone as he manually moved the seatbelt across her so it wouldn’t smack her in the face. The last thing he needed was for her to get a bloody nose or lip in his car. He helped her down out of the passenger seat and made sure she was steady enough on her feet before he closed the door and locked it. Then he lead her to the motel room door and fished the key out of his pocket with the hand that wasn’t wrapped around her to keep her steady.
As soon as he had her in the room he locked the door and pinned her against it, his hands pressed against the door on either side of her shoulders. “I don’t think I’m lost,” he said, smiling again finally. He had her right where he wanted her. “You might be.”
“But you said you’d take me home,” she said, her brow knitting. “This isn’t home. I don’t live here.” She blinked muzzily. “Do you live here?” She looked at the lock and shook her head, turning in between his hands, reaching for the lock. “I don’t think I want to stay here, Dave. I want to go home. I’ll call a cab, I just- Okay? Just want to go home.”
Teddy grabbed her around the middle and pulled her away from the door. She was freaking out again, just like that. His plan was working out perfectly and he reveled in the fact that people were so stupid and predictable. So easy to manipulate. And even easier to deal with when they’d been drugged.
“I just want you here with me, Jess,” he whispered into her ear, but the gentle tone was gone, replaced with something dark. “We were having fun together. Weren’t we? And now we’re going to have a lot more fun.”
“I want to go home.” She couldn’t stop the tears that welled in her eyes as she swung back to hit him, twisting as he easily caught her hand, the grip on her wrist painful to the point that she could feel the bones grind together. “Let me go. Please, just let me go, I won’t tell anybody, I swear. Just wanted to go home.”
She was still trying to get away, and didn’t even think - her nails raked his cheek, the smell of blood suddenly in the room that’d been nothing but motel before.
Teddy was so shocked by her scratching the shit out of him that he let her wrist go so he could touch his face. He looked at the blood on his fingers. It wasn’t enough to drip, but the little wounds stung and now she had his DNA under her damn nails. But his emotions on the issue were immediately mixed. She still had a lot of fight in her, and that was very good, but now he had more clean up to worry about before he let her go.
She was digging through her purse, knowing that she had it - of course she had it, but she couldn’t find it-- lipstick and pens fell onto the worn carpet, her eye makeup streaked from where she was crying. “I just want to go home.” She was repeating it, knowing that the second her back was turned, to get the lock and get out - he’d have her again, bleeding cheek or no. Her hand found the black plastic, and she would have thanked God, if she wasn’t too busy trying to get the safety off.
Teddy laughed a little at her fumbling, crying and whining. He didn’t even spare a thought for what she might be digging for in her purse. She was drugged, intoxicated and meek. And the panic and fear she gave off was too heady. He had to repay her for hurting him. Fair was fair. He punched her with the hand that didn’t have his blood on it, not bothering to hold back.
Jess fell into the wall, pain exploding where his fist had connected with her face. She could feel it from him, could feel that he was enjoying this, and it beat at her like a moth to a light. She was stunned from when he hit her for too long, she thought - far too long, too long, he was going to hit her again, was going to hit her and hold her down and worse--
And then the little red piece of plastic that stopped the mace going off in her purse slipped into place, the deathgrip scrambling finally doing some good. Two more seconds - just two more, and she waited until he bent over her. When he was close enough that she could see his face even though her own tears, she sprayed pepper spray in his face.
“Motherfuck!” Teddy growled in shock and pain. Shit! He couldn’t see with his eyes watering and screwing shut against the assault, and he was trying to breathe but it wasn’t exactly working save for him going into a coughing fit. His hands went to his eyes automatically, but trying to wipe the spray away did no good. It was too late. Everything was fucked.
She scrambled to her feet, wobbling as she tried to get the lock to turn, as she pawed at the deadbolt and finally it clicked and she yanked the door open, running into the hall. She didn’t know how she managed to get to the 7-11 across the street - she’d stumbled into several walls, somehow managed to cross the street without getting hit by a car, and she pressed herself back against the dairy cases, her head tipped back as she tried to breathe. It wasn’t until the clerk tentatively asked her if she was alright that she realised where she was and what she was doing, and Jess got the address so she could call a cab.
She didn’t know what to do. Where to go. Who to go to. She couldn’t just go home - and Alex had enough to deal with.
She’d locked herself in the bathroom while she waited for the cab company - washing her hands again and again, staring in the mirror, her face already starting to swell and bruise, the skin split at her cheekbone. She had to get home. She couldn’t think past that, past that she had to go home, and somehow everything would be alright. Everything-- She didn’t know this would happen.
She jumped when the clerk knocked on the door, the doorknob rattling. She’d backed up against the door without even thinking about it, only unlocking the door when she told her that the cab was there.