Who: Dorian Gray, Vanessa Ives and Chuck Bass When: Backdated: Mid September Where: Victrola What: Checking out Victrola and making introductions Rating/Warnings: Family Friendly Status: Complete
Dorian had expected that he would have another dream at some point; after all he was planning a coming out party for Angelique, so he doubted very much that his dreams were over. He was glad though that the dreams had waited until he and Vanessa got back from their vacation to resume. Sure, it wasn’t anything horrible or crazy, but it was still nice to have had an uninterrupted trip unless you count the news article about the bodies of the construction workers being found, but he’d planned for that, so it wasn’t unforeseen. The dream wouldn’t really have been either considering all he’d done was go to Vanessa’s to hand deliver the invitations to the party and finally met Victor in the process. It was clear to anyone with eyes that there was still an attraction between him and Vanessa, but he’d been there because of Angelique.
In the waking world he was all about Vanessa and now that they were back in Orange County, he’d suggested they go to Victrola, Chuck’s burlesque club. He thought it would be nice date night and it would be nice to see his old friend and introduce him and Vanessa. Dorian had had a car bring them to the club and having told Chuck ahead of time that they were coming, they didn’t have to wait to get in.
Vanessa had been grateful for the time without dreams, it allowed her and Dorian to simply enjoy being together and they had definitely enjoyed it. She’d been surprised to discover Dorian had taken matters into his own hands regarding the workers they’d had in at home but not shocked or outraged as most would probably be. Vanessa herself would do anything to protect Dorian’s secret and so they had come to an understanding.
She too had resumed dreaming at the same point and couldn’t deny that she was glad there were no Angelique’s here. No, here it was her and Dorian as, she thought, it should be. When he’d suggested the burlesque club Vanessa had agreed, and decided that the dream outfit she had gotten would work for such an evening, the corset at least with a few more modern tweaks had been perfect. Following Dorian they entered the club and looked for his friend.
Victrola was in demand. The place was packed every night and there was usually a line out the door. Of course it was popular though, everything Chuck did was a success. His club was also an upscale burlesque club. A place for the wealthy, not for college students to party at. Even if he was college aged himself.
Despite how full it got Chuck always made sure there were a few booths set aside for when his friends or business partners wanted to stop by. Tonight there was a VIP booth set aside for Dorian and his girlfriend. Chuck himself was currently occupying it a bottle of scotch sitting at the table. When he spotted Dorian he waved him and the girl he was with over. “Glad you could make it,” Chuck said with his usual smirk as they approached.
This wasn’t Dorian’s first time in a burlesque club so he had known what to expect, but he was very impressed by Chuck’s club considering his age. Unlike Dorian, Chuck was very involved in what had been his father’s company. Dorian had put others in charge of his parents’ company, because business was the last thing he’d wanted to do with the exception of the occasional meetings he had to sit in on. All Dorian had ever wanted was a life of leisure doing whatever he wanted; which was exactly what he had been doing.
Spotting Chuck, he led Vanessa over to the table, smiling, “Chuck, I have to say, I’m impressed with what I’ve seen so far.” He wrapped an arm around Vanessa’s waist, “Chuck, this is Vanessa Ives, my girlfriend. Vanessa, this is Chuck Bass.” Of course Dorian had told Vanessa about Chuck when they had made these plans, but he was one for proper introductions.
Vanessa had never had a family business to go into but she had enjoyed her work in television production, however since the dreams following her natural talents in tarot work felt a much better fit. And Dorian’s influence was definitely becoming more apparent as she adapted to his more leisurely lifestyle.
“Please to meet you Chuck, you have a wonderful establishment” she said holding out her hand to him, “Like Dorian I’m also very impressed”
Chuck stood to shake Vanessa’s hand. “The pleasure is all mine,” he said with a smirk before sitting back down and motioning for them to do the same. He didn’t thank them for the compliments on his club. He knew it was impressive. Sure it was nice to hear, but Chuck rarely ever did thank yous. “You’ll have to come more often. Scotch?” he asked holding up the bottle to pour them some drinks. “Or if you’d prefer one of the bartenders can get you something else.”
“I’d love some scotch. Thank you.” Dorian would rarely turn down the offer of a drink and waited until Chuck poured one for him before taking the glass and taking a sip, “It seems that Victrola has become extremely popular.” Judging by the turn out, Dorian could tell that Chuck was doing well in this endeavor, “What are the chances of half the patrons still waiting outside even getting in tonight?”
“Scotch is fine” Vanessa smiled as she sat with Dorian, sipping her drink as the boys spoke. She watched the people enjoying themselves and couldn’t help thinking what a good thing it was, to be able to offer people that happiness. She waited for Chuck’s response, it was truly impressive to be so popular in such a busy city.
“I’d say maybe a fourth of them,” Chuck said proudly as he poured a glass of scotch for each of his VIP guests. “You’re lucky you have connections,” as in him. But that was mostly a joke. As much of a joke as Chuck did anyway. “So Vanessa,” he began taking his seat again. “What do you do?”
“I consider myself very lucky,” Dorian smiled at Chuck as he took a sip of his scotch then glanced at Vanessa as the question was asked. Dorian could have easily answered the question for Vanessa, but he didn’t want to be one of those guys who didn’t let their significant others speak for themselves. Besides, she was better explaining it than he was.
“I’m a tarot reader” Vanessa told him, watching his reaction. Vanessa had discovered most people didn’t quite know what to say when she told them what she did, not that she could blame them of course. “It’s a rather new occupation, previously I was a producer for television so as you can imagine it was a big shift in direction”
Chuck raised his brow. Tarot reader? Seriously? It all sounded like a scam to him. Even living in Orange County and having dreams, he still didn’t believe in that sort of thing. But if she found a way to make money off poor saps who believed in it, more power to her. However, being a television producer was much more impressive to him. “Why would you want to switch careers?” he asked looking from Vanessa, to Dorian as if he could explain, then back to Vanessa. “I would assume it would go the other way around.”
Dorian wasn’t the least bit surprised that someone would be skeptical about Vanessa’s career path; tarot readers were usually scammers, but in Vanessa’s case she really did have a connection. Dorian didn’t understand it exactly, but he knew it was a result of the dreams and it intrigued him just as it had in the dreams. “She’s extremely good at it. When she’s reading them, the cards never lie.” He took another sip of his drink, smirking.
Vanessa gave Dorian a smile and slipped her free hand into his, “The show I was producing lacked...honesty and it just felt right to make the change. Luckily Dorian has been extremely supportive which helped far more than anything else” Vanessa could handle the skeptics knowing that he believed in her.
Honesty? Really? Something else Chuck didn’t care too much about. “Sometimes you have to be dishonest in business,” he shrugged. “But good for you, I guess.” Both she and Dorian seemed happy, so hey whatever worked for them.
Had Vanessa had her cards with her, Dorian would have suggested she do a reading for Chuck, because he was fairly certain that one reading and he would be a believer. “While I do agree with you, there are some people who prefer honesty in their professional lives.” He squeezed Vanessa’s hand then brought it up to his lips for a brief kiss on her knuckles before turning his attention back to Chuck, “And just how dishonest are you when it comes to this particular occupation?” He smirked.
Vanessa wasn’t naive enough to think everybody was an honest person but since the show she’d been working on was a fake psychic show once her dreams had started it hadn’t felt right to stay. And with Dorian and others encouragement using the talents she had developed seemed like a good idea. She smiled at Dorian’s question, waiting for Chuck to respond.
“Just the right amount,” Chuck replied with a smirk. It wasn’t like his business was built on lies, but the occasional fib or exaggeration of the truth happened in order to get things done. “Now let’s stop talking abou business and enjoy the evening.”