@moonlightflower21‘s mafia AU has me WEAK

''Starting in fifteen minutes, miss. Don't be late on stage.''

Vee thanked the employee with a soft smile, although stress was starting to clench her guts into a ball. It wasn't the first time she'd perform on stage, oh no, but something about this place just seemed so out of touch...

She found the gig by pure luck. The payment was a good catch, but it seemed like people were avoiding this jazz club out of some fear. … Judging by the clientele, they looked like a rough bunch – people of many backgrounds and some with scars to match.

This club well-hidden in Harlem appeared frozen in time, its decor an hommage to the golden age of jazz noir and mid to late 1900's. A window to an era of mystery and drama shroudded in crime...

Vee turned back to her reflection, the mirror and lights around it giving her a good view of what was left to do to her looks. Her dark teal colored hair were assembled in a bun, allowing her to cool down once on stage. Her green eyes were safely hidden behind square black framed glasses, contrasting with the pale color of her skin. A simple dark purple dress was hugging her hourglass form, leaving the upper part strapless and exposing her collar bone area and arms to the world. She bore several tattoos on her arms and one to the left side of her chest, a testament to various chapters of her life.

A sigh left her lips. God, she'd give her soul for a good glass of red wine right about now – to boost her courage a notch.

''It's just a night like all the others,'' she told herself, hoping a pep talk would help. ''I go on stage, sing my lil' songs, close my eyes if I need... Fuck.''

Why couldn't she shake the feeling away? Didn't she like a good challenge once in a while? An adventure into the unknown!... Something was in the air, a silent call that was tugging at her soul and pleading her to go up there. A tingling feeling that was now starting to boil her blood and brought her hands to slightly shake – which was always a sign of stress.

She obliged herself up from her chair, trying to motivate herself as she brought a renewed smile to her lips.

It was time.

A band was already playing on stage, their tunes soft and never too extravageant, creating a nice mood for casual conversations. Vee remained at the backstage area, patiently waiting for their song to end.

And once it was her turn, the first thing she saw in the crowd after reaching the microphone was a pair of golden eyes, meeting her gaze.

In this singular moment, her world stopped and all her stress seemed like a distant memory...