Matt and Viola (A chapter from "Helping Out")

[Alice2015]

Matt and Viola

A chapter from "Helping Out"

Link to the Main IC Thread

Link to where this 1x1 started

Link to the OOC for both threads
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(OOC: This thread involves mostly 2 characters from the roleplay "Helping Out". We are writing it here for the ease of composing and reading; separation from the Main IC Thread means we can write minutes, hours, or days while the Main IC Thread advances at a different pace. No conflict between the two threads is anticipated.)

(Also: This first post is a word-for-word copy of the post in the Main IC Thread that led to this 1x1. It should be noted that the character "Matt West" is known to the townsfolk by a different name he using to hide his true identity, "Adam Smith". Only the three people living under the same roof as him know his true identity: the caretaker of the West Family Estate, Bill MacDonald; the Estate's housekeeper/Bill's caregiver, Rosie; and Lyra MacDonald, Bill's goddaughter and the woman who was falling in love with Adam Smith until he told her the truth of his identity, causing her to pull away and him to go looking for a drink ... or two ... or ten. If you wanted to read just the portions of the Main IC Thread that have to do with Lyra and Adam/Matt's morning at the Red Bluff Reservoir, you can start reading here and continue onward until you find the link to this 1x1.)

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The Black Hole Tavern
9pm

Wearing the exact same outfit she'd been wearing her first day in Toland, Viola Dean strode into the tavern to find it packed with patrons. Word had gotten around about the establishments rebirth, to the point that Viola had to weave her way through the throng to get to the bar.

The big man, Vance "Little John" Littleton was back there, of course, but he wasn't alone as he had been nearly every night for the past many months. To Viola's great surprise, Toland's resident high-end hooker, Sammi Rogers -- to whom Vance handed a pretty sum weekly for her services -- was slinging drinks; there were also three waitresses working the floor, and yet the five of them were barely keeping up.

Sammi got to Viola first, though, Little John did spot her and give her a wave and a yell. When the prostitute reached Viola, she smiled, a bit embarrassed, and said, "We thought we'd give it a chance ... me tending bar, I mean."

"And how's it going?" Viola asked, concerned about how the bar's patrons might treat her.

"Honestly, there aren't that many people here who know what I do..." Sammi said. Leaning in closer with a devilish grin spreading her lips, she clarified, "You know ... on my back or knees."

The two shared a laugh; Viola had learned of Sammi's primary profession just a couple of days ago when the two women and Vance were here in The Black Hole together at midday and Sammi confessed her sins to the new girl in town who'd saved her Regular's bar from closure. Sammi went on, "Those who do know aren't about to put on a moral crusade, though. You see, even for the ones who aren't paying me for that ... they know that I know where all the bodies are buried."

Sammi served another patron, then returned to gesture Viola's attention toward a table. "By the way, Marti Griggs was asking about you."

Viola collected her beer and made her way to the City of Toland's Chief Executive. The woman sitting with Marti stepped away at the latter's request, allowing Viola to sit. Marti handed out a manilla envelope, saying, "Your permits ... for the snow machines for the Winter Festival. The Mayor approved an emergency City Council meeting for Tuesday to discuss the Festival, and the words already getting around that there's going to be big decisions made there, so ... we're expecting standing room only. It's been a while since enough people cared enough for us to put out even a dozen chairs, let alone a dozen dozen."

They chatted a while about this, that, and the other thing. Sammi delivered fresh beers to the two, a visit during which Viola caught the glances that the other two women gave each other. After Sammi departed, Marti caught the smile on Viola's face and laughed. Hesitantly but not with any sort of shame, the public official confessed, "I really feel like a woman when I'm with her."

"I bet," Viola said, lifting her stein before her.

As Marti clinked her own mug to Viola's, she very forwardly asked as she nodded her head toward Sammi, "So ... have you ... partaken?"

Viola laughed. "No ... no I haven't."

Marti asked, "Is it because ... you know."

"Because she does it for money...?" Viola asked knowingly. "No, not at all. I have no problem with that." Anticipating Marti's next question, Viola said, "And no, it's not because I don't ... do other girls. I have ... though, honestly, I prefer men." She looked at another of the waitress's tightly gowned ass as she passed, saying, "But I could see myself going that way again ... if I found the right woman at the right time."

"What about him?" Marti asked, again nodding her head, this time toward Connor Evans. (OOC: Street clothes.) "I hear the two of you had an interesting interaction a while back. He let you out of a ticket ... for a dance?"

Viola laughed, turning to look at the Deputy and his tight-fitting jeans. "Well, it wasn't quite like that, but ... yeah, I could see myself getting naked with him ... if the time was right. As she was looking that direction, Viola caught sight of another handsome man just walking into the tavern. She casually said, "Or him."

Marti laughed as well, saying, "Good luck with that." When Viola looked back with an inquisitive expression, Marti said, "He's staying out at the West Estate, with Bill MacDonald and his granddaughter ... Lyra. Goddaughter, actually, but the same thing basically. Adam Smith's his name."

"And you say good luck because...?"

Marti smiled wide as she stood up, turned away, searched a wall full of color and black-and-white pictures, and pulled one down. Turning back, she handed it to Viola, saying, "Third girl from the left, front row." As Viola searched the picture -- it appeared to be some sort of family reunion or community picnic picture -- Marti said, "The ginger. That's Lyra MacDonald. Most beautiful creature I ever wanted to spend time with naked."

"Is she...?" Viola inquired as sensitively as she could.

Again, Marti laughed. "No, unfortunately. That's why I say if you want that guy, you might want to move quickly." And then, almost as an afterthought, Marti added, "Oh, and by the way, her last lover was Deputy Evans."

Viola looked shock, which caused Marti to laugh. The two of them gossiped about it a bit; Lyra and Connor's romance had been anything but a State secret. Marti admitted, though, "Since they broke up some three years ago or more, I couldn't tell you anything about her love life. Still, if the two of them are living under the same roof together..."

Marti stood to return the picture to its nail in the wall, then politely excused herself, explaining, "I have my sights set on someone who won't tell me to just leave the cash on the light table when we're done.

The Chief Executive departed, and as Viola watched her depart, she caught Adam Smith looking for a place to sit. She caught his eye with a wave and gestured him to the now-empty chair at her little table.

 

[Qwertymaker]

The Black Hole Tavern
9pm

Matthew West could tell that something had changed about The Black Hole well before he stepped into it. Between the many cars parked out front and the sound of many voices and music coming filtering out of the tavern, Matt knew that it was going to be busy. He wondered what had changed in less than a week to cause everyone to want to come for a drink tonight. Maybe there was an event? Someone famous or influential came into town to the tavern? He just hoped he'd be able to get his drink quickly. As far as he knew, the only one working there was the owner, Vance Littleton.

As he stepped through the doorway, he found the tavern transformed. Gone was the scantily furnished, sad excuse for a tavern and its place was a thriving, lively place with a small throng of people. Some were playing games; pool, shuffle board, pinball. Others were dancing. Most were sitting at a table and enjoying drinks with companions. He looked around the room, he noticed a pretty woman he hadn't met pouring drinks and trio of waitresses serving customers. A he continued to scan the room, he noticed a familiar face. Viola Dean was sitting with another woman he didn't recognize. He also noticed He was glad to see life back in at least a little piece of Toland but he wondered where Vance had gotten the money to fix things up so fast. He wasn't going to look a gift horse in the mouth though.

His plans for a quiet night of getting shitfaced by himself were shot and he thought about turning around and heading back out into the night. He thought might just get a few quick drinks and head to The Modern to talk to Maxine and sleep off the booze. He went back to searching the room for a seat and he noticed Viola, now alone looking straight at him and waving him over. I guess drinking with a friendly face is better than drinking alone. He sauntered over to the table and sat down in the chair Viola gestured to.

"Sorry I'm late." he said as he sat down, "Been waiting for me long? Traffic is a killer out there and the boss had me stay late, polishing all his trophies. I just couldn't get away. These nights away from the kids are always nice. We should do this more often." He listened to her response as he flagged down a waitress. "I noticed you found a friend while I was away. Should I be jealous? Are you about to run off with some hussy?" Matt ordered a couple shots of whiskey and a beer. They bantered back and forth until Matt's drinks arrived. Before the waitress had even set down the last of his drinks, Matt had already downed one of the shot glasses and was reaching for the other.

"I have had quite the week today," he said shortly before the second shot went down his throat, "What I really need is some good alcohol and some witty conversation. I know where I can get the former, but do you have any idea where I can find the latter?"

 

[Alice2015]

The Black Hole Tavern
9pm

"Sorry I'm late," Matt said as he sat down. Viola's expression probably revealed her confusion, but he went on, joking about traffic and boss's and the silly things with which they sometimes stick their employees.

"I noticed you found a friend while I was away," he said, speaking about Toland's Chief Executive. "Should I be jealous? Are you about to run off with some hussy?"

Viola laughed, saying, "Not tonight. Another night maybe, but no, just too much going on right now to be dealing with that."

She watched Matt down two shots in quick succession, saying, "Slow down, cowboy. I suspect tonight might include some great entertainment. You don't want to be shit faced before it all comes down."

Matt told her he needed alcohol and witty conversation, asking, "...do you have any idea where I can find the latter?"

"Well, I can try, I guess," Viola said, laughing again. She sat back in her chair to study him; the shift in body position tended to better display and emphasize her beautiful bosom, not that that had been her expressed reason for striking the pose. "So, where do we start? How about ... what brings you to this little wayside in the middle of nowhere...?"

Toland wasn't really so much in the middle of nowhere, of course. Just 60 miles to the west was the State Capital. Viola continued, "Or maybe ... what exactly turns a single pretty Saturday into a long week of work and woe...?"

She had an idea that that question alone could result in a lengthy conversation. But just as Matt was about to open his mouth, Viola hit him with, "Or how about ... what are you doing here alone, when you have a beautiful young ginger living under your roof who, I am told, is quite the looker?"

Viola had met Lyra MacDonald, of course, so her comment about I am told was a bit misleading. Once again, Matt parted his lips to speak, and once again Viola cut him off by saying, "I'm sorry, Adam. You were asking for witty conversation from me, and all I've done is ask you to talk about yourself, your problems, and why in the world you aren't dancing with one of Toland's most eligible bachelorettes."

 

[Qwertymaker]

The Black Hole Tavern
9pm

"So, where do we start? How about ... what brings you to this little wayside in the middle of nowhere...?" Matt barely heard Viola's question as he had been momentarily distracted by the way her breasts really popped as she changed position. She was a beautiful woman that he found easy to look at and he suspected every straight, red-blooded male felt the same way. Probably even a few of the ladies. A jolt of guilt rushed through him a moment later as he thought about Lyra, and what she would think of him looking at another woman, mere hours after she had confessed her growing love for him. Just as his brain caught up to what to where the conversation was, and he started to formulate a response, she threw out another question.

"Or maybe ... what exactly turns a single pretty Saturday into a long week of work and woe...?" What should he say? That he'd royally screwed up with Lyra? Ruining they're time together by dumping his trauma onto her? That for the last few days he'd felt like his life had finally slipped into a certain degree of stability that he'd been missing and he'd blown that all up in a single conversation? At least now there was one less lie hanging over his head, waiting to drop. Now he could at least move forward without having to worry about it and deal with whatever fallout came. He was about to answer with some vague bullshit about poor choices and mistakes from the past when she shot a third question his way.

"Or how about ... what are you doing here alone, when you have a beautiful young ginger living under your roof who, I am told, is quite the looker?" That took Matt by surprise and he felt a little panic. Did she know about his relationship with Lyra? Did the whole town know? She didn't mention them being together so maybe she was just assuming. It wouldn't be that much of surprise if there were rumors going around about. The handsome stranger mysteriously moving with the beautiful young woman. The two occasionally being seen together off of the estate. It would actually be surprise if their weren't some tales being spun. But what should he say? What could he say? Viola was practically a stranger and he doubted Lyra would want him talking about their relationship, whatever it was. She cut him off before he could speak again.

"I'm sorry, Adam. You were asking for witty conversation from me, and all I've done is ask you to talk about yourself, your problems, and why in the world you aren't dancing with one of Toland's most eligible bachelorettes." Matt would love nothing more than to be dancing with Lyra at this point, but he knew that possibility was still away off. Matt paused, waiting to see if Viola had anything else to interject, before he took a big drink of his beer and responded.

"I guess we're a playing twenty questions then," said responded as he put down his drink, "Didn't come down here to be grilled on my woes, but I suppose you do deserve to know why you're drinking companion is a sourpuss tonight. The morning started out great. One of the best days I'd had since I'd come back here to Toland. But then I said some things that ruined the the whole day. Things that had to be said and I knew it were a long time coming, but that doesn't mean I had to enjoy it when it happened. Right now, I just want to forget it ever happened and deal with it after the hangover." He took another deep drink from his glass, almost emptying it, before he continued.

"As for me and Lyra," he said as he signaled the waitress to get a refill, "You're absolutely right that she's gorgeous and I'd love to have a dance together. But we're not together." Yet, he almost added. He wasn't ashamed of his relationship with Lyra, but he didn't want the town to know his personal business and he didn't think Lyra would want him talking about it either. Eventually, if things worked out, everyone would know. But until then it was a private matter. "I'm," said, pausing to look down at his left hand, where Viola had recently pointed out his missing ring, "I'm not looking for love right now." He finished off the last of his beer before letting out a deep breath.

"You asked before about a Mrs. Smith," he said, staring off at the couples dancing, "I was married until a few weeks ago. My ex-wife and I," he paused, glancing at Viola to gauge her reaction, "Divorced after a lengthy process. I loved her deeply and I thought she loved me. Turns out she only loved my money." He was cut off by the waitress returning with his new drink. He thanked her, and waited until she was out of ear shot to continue, "Getting away from her and the life we had together is one of the main reasons that I sought out the peace of a small town like Toland." He sipped from his new glass as he looked towards Viola.

"That's three questions answered by me. I think that entitles me to three questions of my own," he quickly rattled off his questions, not giving her time to respond, "Why so much interest in why I wasn't here with Lyra? What are your plans for your life here in Toland? Why Toland of all places?" He sat back, sipping his beer as he listened to her answers, thinking things my be more interesting than he thought.

 

[Alice2015]

The Black Hole Tavern
A bit after 9pm
"I guess we're playing twenty questions then," Matt said when Viola finally gave him a chance to speak.

"As for me and Lyra," he told her, "You're absolutely right that she's gorgeous, and I'd love to have a dance together. But we're not together."

Viola could see that there was far more to the story than what Matt was saying, but she wasn't going to pry. It wasn't her place to dig into his life or anyone else's; she certainly didn't want anyone prying into hers.

"I'm not looking for love right now." he said, talking about Mrs. Smith. Again, Viola knew there was far more there to be learned, but she would only learn it if Matt offered it.

"That's three questions answered by me," he said after downing another drink. "I think that entitles me to three questions of my own."

Viola laughed, raised her shot glass in toast, and said, "Go ahead, shoot!"

"Why so much interest in why I wasn't here with Lyra?" he began. Matt, too, spat out his questions before Viola could answer the first. "What are your plans for your life here in Toland? Why Toland of all places?"

"Okay, first: you and Lyra," she began after sipping from her own beer. "Lyra is a beautiful woman. You are a handsome man. It just seemed right.

"My plans here in Toland," she continued. She reminded Matt of the source of her money; he'd been at one of Maxine's dinners when Claudia accidentally spoke of it. Viola's response had been just that she'd won some money. "I never wanted to be rich, like most people. I only bought the ticket because I'd been having a good day and thought, What the heck, why not?

"I grew up comfortable," she went on. She repeated what she'd told others already, that she'd decided to help people who hadn't had it as good as her. "When I read about Toland on the internet, I knew that I wanted to come here." She smiled. "That one answers two questions: my plans for Toland and why Toland."

Another pitcher and two more shots arrived, this time courtesy of Sammi Rogers. Viola looked the beautiful prostitute up and down, something Sammi caught and to which she returned a smile before departing with the empty shot glasses and near-empty pitcher. Viola watched the woman disappear into the crowd, then looked back to Matt. She sipped at her beer, set it aside, looked back toward Sammi again, then leaned in close to Matt.

"Listen ... I don't know you ... and you don't know me," she said, barely loud enough to be heard over the music and crowd. "I'm going to make a suggestion that ... might be inappropriate ... so if it is ... don't be offended ... or think me a horrible person, okay?"

She paused to see if Matt had a response, then -- leaning in until there were only inches between her mouth and his ear -- said, "Maybe what you need is to forget all that other shit ... the ex-wife who, I assume, fucked you over ... the beautiful housemate who, from what I'm hearing, is nothing more than that..."

At that moment, Sammi passed by to deliver a platter of shots to a nearby table. Viola fixed her gaze of the woman's tight ass and long legs, made to appear even more so by tall, spike heels. Looking back to Matt to ensure that he'd seen where her attention had been -- maybe even he looked, too? -- Viola continued, "Maybe what you need is a little ... release ... that doesn't involve any sort of ... feelings ... you know, other than feeling."

The two women met each other's gaze again as the waitress/bartender/whore returned for the bar. Viola said softly, "If you're against paying for it ... I'd be happy to cover the cost. You may have heard that I came into some money that I'm wanting to spend on making the residents of Toland happy."

Viola leaned back, a wide smile spreading her lips as she lifted the shot and downed it.

 

[Qwertymaker]

The Black Hole Tavern
A bit after 9pm
"Well that's very noble of you," Matt responded after hearing her tell her story. "Most people after winning that much money would be blowing it on fancy cars and luxury vacations. I don't think I've ever met someone who would spend that kind of money on random strangers, myself included." Matt briefly looked around the room again. Toland wasn't very big and had been shrinking since even before he'd left. Almost everyone in town was either someone who lived in the town when he left, or the children of the people who were living here. He was raised here. He knew these people. They weren't strangers to him. He even recognized a few faces of people in the room that night. He'd be willing to drop that kind of money on Toland. But not some random town he'd never been to. He looked back at Viola with new appreciation. Both the face and the heart of an angel.

His musings were interrupted by the same woman he'd seen before at the bar, now acting as a waitress and dropping off a pitcher. He got a good look at her at this point and realized that she was another shockingly beautiful woman. They seemed to be popping up like weeds around Toland. He appreciated her beautiful smile as she set down their drinks and her beautiful ass as she sauntered away. As she disappeared from sight, Matt caught himself and looked back at Viola with a twinge of guilt. The way Viola looked at him, he thought she might have caught him looking.

"Listen ... I don't know you ... and you don't know me," she said, barely loud enough to be heard over the music and crowd. "I'm going to make a suggestion that ... might be inappropriate ... so if it is ... don't be offended ... or think me a horrible person, okay?"

"After what you just told me about doing with your money," he responded with a chuckle, "It would take you suggesting murder for me to see you different. I sure hope you're not suggesting we kill someone. I think I'm going to be too drunk to bury the body."

She leaned in and whispered just loud enough that Matt could hear, "Maybe what you need is to forget all that other shit ... the ex-wife who, I assume, fucked you over ... the beautiful housemate who, from what I'm hearing, it nothing more than that..." She looked over at the passing waitress/bartender and Matt could see a definite lust in her face. He turned to get another good look at the woman, taking in her great legs, beautiful breasts and the confident way she carried herself. She was just the kind of girl Christie had liked. Viola continued once they'd both had their fill, "Maybe what you need is a little ... release ... that doesn't involve any sort of ... feelings ... you know, other than feeling." She generously even offered to pay for the whole experience.
"Well, you see," Matt fumbled as he tried to think up some excuse. Had she offered a week, even a few days, earlier he'd have taken her up on her offer in a heart beat, though he would have paid for it himself. Now? He wasn't in a relationship with Lyra officially but he felt, he hoped, that was the direction things were going and he didn't want to do something that could make a mess of that.

"I'm absolutely flattered," he finally said, as he found his words, "I think she's an absolutely gorgeous woman and I think any man would be absolutely lucky to find her in his bed. But I think I'm going to have to pass. It's a tempting offer and I do like helping out local businesses but that's just not what I'm looking for at the moment. Maybe another night. For now, I'm just looking to get drunk."

 

[Alice2015]

The Black Hole Tavern
A bit after 9pm

"Well that's very noble of you," Matt responded regarding Viola's story that she was spending the money on Toland without any previous connection to the town.

That, of course, was painfully ironic. Just as Matt had a previous connection to Toland, Viola had one, but hers, of course, had been indirect, through her father. She wanted to tell Matt the truth, so that he would understand that she wasn't just some silly lottery winner blowing someone else's money. But it wasn't time for the daughter of Robert The Rapist Richardson to be revealed yet, and -- as Viola had been telling her for over two years -- it might not ever be.

"Most people after winning that much money," Matt said, "would be blowing it on fancy cars and luxury vacations."

Viola laughed, telling him what he might or might not have known, "Well, I did buy a luxury sedan, though, it is second hand ... and I am having an entire floor of The Modern converted into a penthouse for myself and a PA."

That last part wasn't entirely accurate, of course. Viola was only have half of the square footage of rooms on the 3rd floor turned into a penthouse, with a quarter of that set to become the private apartment of a yet-to-be-selected Personal Assistant.

"I don't think I've ever met someone who would spend that kind of money on random strangers," Matt told her, adding, "myself included."

"I dunno," Viola countered, lifting her shot out in toasting fashion. Without knowing that he, too, had money backing him up, she said about him, "I'm willing to be that if you had the money to help out someone in need, particularly here in Toland ... that you'd step up and do the right thing." She downed the shot, slammed the glass down, and laughed, saying, "But then I don't know the first thing about you, do I, Adam Smith?"

If only Viola had known that, like herself, Adam Smith was not who he said he was.

She made her pitch about stress release, but Matt politely turned her down.

"I'm absolutely flattered," he said. He complimented Sammi's beauty but finished, "For now, I'm just looking to get drunk."

Viola laughed again, waved to the nearest waitress, and said, "Then drunk you shall be."

She ordered more shots, then stood and called out at the top of her lungs, "Next round's on me!"

As expected, there was a loud cheer across the tavern. Seemingly a third of the patrons headed straight for the bar, to ensure that they got their free drink, while the rest remained where they were to ensure that the additional waitresses working zones got to them. Still standing, Viola grabbed Matt by the hand, saying, "Let's dance!"

If he joined her -- during what at the moment was a moderately slow song but not particularly one filled with words of romance -- she would dance with him while asking him more about Toland; she knew that even with the amount of stories she'd already been told, that a resident like him would have something more to tell her. If he chose not to dance, Viola would grab the hand of Mark Zane, just happened to be standing nearby laughing it up with friends.

Either way, she would excuse herself to take a walk to the ladies' room after the song, and while she was away, Sammi Rogers would again arrive to drop off two more shots and smile down to Matt. She could tell by even his casual, tavern-hopping clothes that he was a man with style, a style that required money. She'd never been all about money, of course; if she had been, she would have left the failing town of Toland a long time ago for bigger and wealthier pastures.

But she also knew that if she was going to get acquainted with someone new -- with a potential long-term patron -- she was going to do it with a man or woman who could afford her rates and drop a significant tip on her lamp table afterward without hesitation. This Adam Smith seemed to be such a man.

"Your friend ... Viola ... she's made quite a splash during her time here in our quaint little town," Sammi told Matt, leaning over him just enough to make the comment personal to him and not those around them; she had to remember that there were always men -- and even women -- eyeballing her almost all the time, not just because of her beauty but because a portion of Toland's population was very aware of or suspected how she made her living, and it wasn't slinging drinks at The Black Hole.

"She seems to enjoy spending her money making people happy," she went on, gathering up the empty shot glasses and an empty pitcher from the adjacent table. Not knowing whether or not this other stranger to Toland knew of her true choice of careers, Sammi hinted, "It always pleases me to see people spending their money to create happiness ... for others ... or for themselves."

If Matt said something -- or nothing -- that gave her the indication that he wasn't going to soon be a new client, she would simply smile and wander off to continue her work. If he did the opposite, she would come up with a way to advance a meeting between the two of them in a more private situation.

Either way, Viola would be standing off out of sight, watching to see if she needed to give them space and/or time. She would only return to her table when the waitress/prostitute departed.

 

[Qwertymaker]

The Black Hole Tavern
A ways after 9pm

Matt shook his head with a chuckle when Viola bought everyone a drink. He watched most of the patrons cheer and many rush to the bar get their free drink. He was about to reach for his own drink when his hand was intercepted by Viola's. "Let's dance!" she shouted over the din of the excited crowd, as she gently pulled his hand in direction of the dance floor. He grabbed his drink with his other hand, took a quick swig from the glass and let her help pull him to his feet and drag him towards the dance floor.

When they made it to there they had a few seconds to dance next to each other to an upbeat song before another, slower song took its place. Matt hesitated, taking a step back but Viola instantly moved forward and grabbed him by the shoulders. Matt slipped his hands to her waist and they loosely held each other as they danced. Matt briefly looked around and noticed that they pretty much had the dance floor to themselves. Almost everyone had left to make sure they got their drink. As the two of them danced Viola asked several nonchalant questions about his time in Toland that he tried to answer to without saying something he shouldn't, but he could already feel that first shot starting to cloud his mind and wasn't sure if had slipped up. The song wound down and Viola pulled away, excusing herself to head to the ladies' room, leaving Matt alone on the dance floor. He decided that he didn't want to dance alone and made his way back to the table.

He'd barely sat down when the same woman that had served their last drinks, a woman Matt would later come to know as Sammi, dropped off another two shots. Matt thanked her and reached for his drink, assuming that she would immediately leave to get back to serving more customers. Instead she stood for a moment before leaning over and speaking him. "Your friend ... Viola ... she's made quite a splash during her time here in our quaint little town," she said in a voice that wasn't a whisper but with how loud tavern was it might as well have been. With the way that she leaned over him it put her shapely breasts right in his view. She wasn't leaning so far forward that he could readily look down her top, but it did make the sight of them hard to ignore.

"She seems to enjoy spending her money making people happy," she continued as she stepped away to clean off the next table. As she did so she leaned over the table more than she needed to, giving Matt an excellent view of the arch of her back and her great ass. "It always pleases me to see people spending their money to create happiness ... for others ... or for themselves." Matt's heart pounded and his blood rushed to his lower body at her displays and the seductive tone of her voice as she talked about spending money for happiness. Given her actions and Viola's previous comments, it was obvious to Matt the kind of happiness she was selling. When Viola had offered before, he'd turned her down out of fear of what Lyra might think. He didn't know if it was seeing Sammi show off for him, the dance he'd had with Viola, or just the alcohol but at this point he was just thinking about getting the kind of release he'd been missing since Christie had left him.

"I agree with seeing people find happiness where they can is a great pleasure," Matt said, "I too have some money of my own that I love to spend with local businesses, assuming they offer the right goods or services. Right now I'm not looking to make any long term investments but I would love to get a taste of what all the town house the offer. Maybe later on you could introduce me to a few of your favorite services that someone can enjoy around here." Matt thought about how if Viola, a stranger to town knew what Sammi did, there wasn't much chance the rest of the town didn't at least suspect. "Of course, I wouldn't want the rest of the town to know that I'm looking for a guide. Wouldn't want to get swarmed by people looking to help me part with my money."

"Of course," Sammi said with a knowing wink, "I'm all too familiar with the need for discretion. Some business is better left private. I'm just about to finish up my shift here. Once I leave you just wait a few minutes and then follow after me. Then I can show you the services that I'm sure you'll love." Matt nodded his head and she sauntered off, his eyes glued to the way her ass bounced as she strutted away. He was sure that she was intentionally was walking in a way to give him a show, and he couldn't get enough of it. Matt of course had know way of knowing that as he watched Sammi leave he had his own audience of one.

When Viola returned to the table, they continued to drink together and maintained a benal conversation that Matt had a hard time focusing on. All he could really focusing on was impatiently waiting for the time to slip by as he kept a watch on Sammi's movements through the tavern.

 

[Alice2015]

(Continuing the conversations above, I'm going to make a slight change in what Sammi said. It's no biggie.)

The Black Hole Tavern
About 9:30pm

Sammi smiled when Matt confirmed her suspicion that he had money; he just seemed the type. "Right now, I'm not looking to make any long-term investments, but I would love to get a taste of what all the town has the offer."

Her slight smile became a wider, knowing smirk as Matt used all the right words to confirm that he not only knew what she did for a living but was interested in partaking of what she did.

"Of course, I wouldn't want the rest of the town to know that I'm looking for a guide," he went on, speaking of the discretion that they would both want if they were to through with any transaction. "Wouldn't want to get swarmed by people looking to help me part with my money."

Sammi agreed with Matt about the need for privacy. She leaned in, pretending to be doing so to wipe down his table while actually simply wanting to speak quietly to him under the sounds of the tavern. "Out the door and up Main one block ... on the right is the 150 Main. It's the apartment building in which I live ... apartment 222, on the left at the end of the hallway."

She told him she'd be off soon, and returned to the bar; Sammi let her ass swing tantalizingly along the way. She told Vance that she was checking out, which disappointed the tavern's owner. But she'd already told him that she wouldn't be working until closing, and Vance had understood why. As she headed toward the backroom to hang her apron, Vance looked around the tavern's main area, wondering whether she'd made a hookup with one of his patrons.

Viola had been standing off to the side, watching the interaction between Sammi and Matt. She followed the prostitute to the backroom, reaching out a hand to take one of Sammi's; she pressed folded hundreds into her palm. "This is just to ensure that Adam leaves your place fully satisfied, love."

Sammi looked to the bills; her expression revealed her surprise at how much was there. "He was hinting that he was fully capable of taking care of me on his own."

"I'm sure he can," Viola said. "Still, I wouldn't want you to have to even bring up dollar amounts, so ... just in case he wants something more--"

"Oh! This will cover just about anything I imagine him asking for," Sammi said. "And ... if he tips me?"

Viola laughed. "Are you asking me if I want a refund?" She shook her head as she turned for the backroom's exit. She answered simply, "No. We're good."

"Maybe..." Sammi started, going quiet until Viola stopped at the exit to look back. "Maybe we consider this pre-payment?"

When Sammi didn't give any specifics of who that pre-payment might be fore, Viola looked the beauty up and down, smiled, and told her, "I'll keep that in mind. But ... for now ... that's for you."

Viola returned to the table, finished off the shot Sammi had delivered, as well as the rest of the beer, then said, "Well, I'm calling it an evening. I have some people to say goodbye to first, so, it was great sitting and talking with you, Adam. Let's do this again soon."

 

[Qwertymaker]

The Black Hole Tavern
After 9:30pm

Viola returned to the table, finished off the shot Sammi had delivered, as well as the rest of the beer, then said, "Well, I'm calling it an evening. I have some people to say goodbye to first, so, it was great sitting and talking with you, Adam. Let's do this again soon."

"I've had a lovely evening as well," Matt responded, "I'm just about to call it a night as well. This has been a great way to end an otherwise unpleasant day. If all our evenings together can be this lovely, I'd love to repeat this often. You have yourself a wonderful night." Matt took in the pleasant sight of watching her leave on her business before turning his attention back to watching for Sammi to leave while nursing the last of his beer. He didn't have to wait long before he saw her without her apron and strutting toward the door. As she walked she turned and briefly looked straight at him, looking him in the eye, before turning back and walking out the door. Now they both knew he'd seen her leave and the rest was a waiting game.

He decided to wait for a couple more people to leave the tavern so as to not be seen immediately following her. He knew it wouldn't take long because plenty of people had started trickling out, headed for their beds, more partying, or just to get away from the crowd. After five minutes and two small groups leaving the tavern, Matt finished off the last of his beer and followed her out into the night. There was few stragglers left in the parking lot, drunkenly shouting at each other and carrying on. Matt walked out into the night, parallel to his destination until he was just barely able to hear their slurred shouts. He turned towards the address that Sammi had given and him and briskly walked directly towards it. He'd put the address in his phone in case he needed it but he'd spent enough time in his youth in the area so he knew exactly where it was he was headed. The night air was still brisk and he wished he'd brought a jacket. He picked up the pace to get out of the cold as quickly as possible.

Matt hesitated as she started up the old stairs to Sammi's apartment. This would only be the third time he'd done something like this and it had been years since the last time. His thoughts turned his last experiences and his blood rushed from his head and he found himself in front of the apartment door. He gave the door a quiet knock and it almost immediately opened up and a feminine hand pull him inside.