fallen princess

Laying a tender, barely-there kiss atop the girl’s hand, his steely gaze flickered up, catching that momentary discomfort on her features. It wasn’t anything new to him. As soon as anyone heard their last name he could observe the blood draining from the vessels lining their faces. It was almost laughable. He placed his glass in front of a member of his entourage, wordlessly demanding a refill. 

“If you’re interested,” he began, relaxing back in his seat. “We’re having a little card game later. Not often we extend our invitation to outsiders, but since you have nothing better to do,” he continued, the last few words rising like what could’ve been a demand more than a question. A misleadingly warm smile pulled at his mouth. “Stakes are high, lots of champagne. Equal footing. All that good stuff.”

ana gave him a small, shy smile as he kissed her hand. she’d hoped that she hadn’t offended him or anything. he seemed nice enough so far. and she hadn’t really known much about what her father had been involved in. she shouldn’t assume that he was sketchy. she forced herself to relax again as one of his people got up to get him a refill.

she tilted her head. “what kind of card game?” she asked curiously. she wondered if it had been her imagination when she heard the demanding undertones to his words. she allowed her smile to widen - a little more genuine than a few moments ago - as she nodded. “well i suppose it would be rude to turn down such a nice offer.”

“‘Fraid I can’t let that happen, little darlin’,” he chuckled, stepping out from the shadows masking his face. “Think you have somethin’ of mine lingering in that bustier of yours.”

ana backed up a little as he stepped into the light. she had to admit that she was a little fearful. “w-what? no i haven’t taken anything of yours,” she stuttered slightly.

Kobra held the deepest secrets of New York’s underbelly. It was a classic kind of place complete with vintage fixtures and ranged from jazz-like ambience during the weekdays to full EDM on the weekends. It housed his gang and only a select few knew of the terrors in the basement. He liked to keep himself above ground, tending to his patrons as business-as-usual went on downstairs. The loud, populous crowd and heart-pounding music made it virtually impossible to hear the screams down below. Even if they were heard, he doubted anyone would question it. Kobra was the Blackshaw sanctuary where the worst of the worst of his gang could do as they pleased.

“Lorenzo Blackshaw,” he nodded towards the female, offering his hand. “Pleasure to meet you, Anastasia.”

anastasia hadn’t ever been to kobra before. her “friends” had wanted to go some place new. some place nicer. and the brunette hadn’t objected. it was nice to be in a club that seemed pretty immaculate and well taken care of. she was blissfully unaware of the secrets involved with the club. that was, until she heard the last name. she froze for a moment. blackshaw. the people her father had worked with before he went to prison. 

she took his hand, trying to hide her nervous smile. he seemed nice enough. “pleasure to meet you too.” 

With her evening coming to an end, fake lashes and a dark red slingshot had been lazily tossed in a worn backpack and traded for a leather jacket and low ponytail, so, of course her coworker didn’t recognize her in the dull light the buzzing street lamp looming over their heads.

Letting out a small, defeated giggle, the apples of her cheeks jumped as slender shoulders shrugged. “Figured I’d walk with you, but hey, I get it.-”

Begrudgingly stepping to the side, she offered a soft, understanding smile. Trying to force someone into doing something they didn’t want to never worked, no matter if you meant well or not. “The last thing girls are here for is to make friends.”

anastasia let out a relieved sigh. “vanessa,” she breathed. “i didn’t recognize you. they really should put more light in these alley’s, huh?” she asked with a small smile. the brunette was one of the meeker employees so seeing her co-worker was a relief to her. “oh...no i didn’t mean it like that. i’m sorry. i guess i’m just more tired than usual. i’d like it if we could walk together,” she offered. “well i wouldn’t mind some friends.”

“Don’t mention it,” he insisted, taking his shot in tandem. “Place’s mine. Those girls you called ‘friends’ try to get anything free, including some poor, desperate dude trying to buy their drinks for them, they’ll be turned down.” He chuckled. “If worse comes to worse and they attempt to buy their own drinks, we’ll hike up the prices. You didn’t hear that from me, though,” he mused, winking conspiratorially towards the small brunette. “In the meantime, help yourself. Play dumb if you have to. F’you need anything else, you know who to ask for.”

“it’s a nice place,” she said, looking around. much better than some of the other clubs she’d been dragged to. and much better than the one she had to work in sometimes. “thank you. i guess we’re not really friends. they just wanted to add someone else to come out. i work with them at one of my jobs,” she replied. somehow she didn’t want him to think that she was really friends with those kinds of people. “guess that will teach them not to bail on their group, huh?” she asked. though she did feel a little bad for them. they’d come out for a good time. but so had she. “mum’s the word,” she said playfully, holding her finger to her lips. “thank you again. i do. i’m anastasia.”

“Fuck ‘em,” he atoned with a dismissive wave, pulling the chair out for the poor discarded girl at his side. In any other case, he would’ve walked away the moment she’d opened her mouth and busied himself with his initial intent on monitoring the bar. It wasn’t like him to extend hospitality to any of his bar-goers. Frankly, he didn’t care and his reputation of ‘not-taking-shit’ preceded him. Snapping his fingers, he gestured to a passing waitress, signalling his table. She returned with two shot glasses, a bottle of Grey Goose settling between them. “They’re not the ones who are gonna be getting free drinks tonight,” he added, pouring a generous amount before passing one her way. He eyed her momentarily, pausing. “Unless you’ve got something better to do.”

anastasia couldn’t help but smile a little when he told her to forget them. it wasn’t like she was best friends with the girl. she’d just been suckered in for the night. but she nodded and sat down as he pulled the chair out. she didn’t want to completely waste the evening. her eyes widened ever so slightly but her smile widened a little as he told her she’d be getting free drinks with him. “i definitely don’t,” she replied with a smile, getting more comfortable in her chair. “thank you.” she pulled the shot glass closer to her. 

                          ~~~anastasia rosalie woods~~~

( DANIELLE CAMPBELL + FEMALE ) —  Hey, were you just talking to ANASTASIA WOODS ? The TWENTY-FOUR year old is a CIVILIAN ( SKATING TEACHER / EXOTIC DANCER ) who resides in BROOKLYN. SHE has been living in NYC for TWENTY-FOUR, and is known to be CARING  and HARDWORKING, but can also be GUARDED and NAIVE.   

        Lorenzo usually swept in like an unseen tsunami, Italian leather shoes sounding against grey-brown linoleum on their way to join the rest of the cesspool in front of him in ordering a drink at his very own  K o b r a  N i g h t c l u b . His entourage carrying themselves across the foyer to an unmarked table as they waited for him to join them— nothing out of the ordinary for a typical Saturday night.

Enzo Blackshaw enjoyed making an entrance. It was usually on-brand for him to make his presence known. Dazzling suits tailored to his every dip and curve of his muscular torso; icy hues so sharp one could cut themselves merely looking at him, and always paired with the alluring scent of Guilty by Gucci. Daring, mildly audacious, and absolutely dramatic, he enjoyed being looked at.

After chatting with the usual patrons he often rubbed elbows with on their way in, he promptly excused himself to the bar, a desperate need for something that wasn’t entirely thought-numbing as the mindless chit-chat of the Real Housewives of New York. He’d often busy himself here during the weekends, always hitting their quota before last call. Business was good.

“You waitin’ for an invitation? Sit the fuck down.”  

@nycfallingstarters​

anastasia had been dragged out to the club by one of the other girls she worked with. the other girl had been desperate to go out and have some fun. anastasia hadn’t been so sure about going out but since she’d bailed on her the girl half a dozen times before, she figured she owed her at least one night out. 

but the brunette was a little uncomfortable. despite where she worked as a waitress on the weekends, she wasn’t really used to clubs and didn’t always have the personality for it. she was a little more on the shy side. at least more so than her friend who had practically abandoned her for the attention of rich older men. 

anastasia looked around, realizing she was standing by someone’s table. she blinked before letting a small blush dust her cheeks. “sorry,” she muttered, perching in the seat, unsure. “i kind of got bailed on,” she added, looking at where her friend was now flirting.