VALERIA

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Remi chuckled, because it was probably true but right now that will do her some good is get into her shitty car and drive out of out for at least a few days — just so she could feel the air and relax, slowly let it sink in to what she has down and find a way to be okay with it, to move on to better and bigger things for the sinful ones. “I do work there, so unfortunately I can’t stay here forever as much as I appreciate the company.” Remi wasn’t there when the fighting happened at the club, she has already left — dealing with the the consequences of her actions so she suddenly remember that Valeria might have been there and god knows what she went through. “Are you alright? I cannot imagine what you went through there.” 

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It was hard for Valeria to understand how one became so tangled up in these things, despite herself being a good example of it. She wasn’t judging Remi, everyone had their reasons, that was something she had learn too young. And she couldn’t deny that there was something exciting at times about all of it, the rush of adrenaline, how alive it made her feel. Even being on stage was entirely different from what she thought it would be. “I’m sure the tips are good there too. People have been even more curious now,” she said with an encouraging smile. “I was lucky. I jumped behind the bar and hid like a good coward. Not even a scratch. But maybe I should sigh up at the gym for a boxing class or something.”

Valeria had been lucky, being able to get to somewhere safe as soon as the chaos erupted but her friend hadn’t the same luck. Val felt guilty, the two of them being together not long before it all happened. She was glad her friend was safe, even if hurt. The woman had the impression the other downplayed what happened to her, her injuries but it was no use pushing. And anyway, she preferred to spend time with her, make sure she was okay and that her mind was not dwelling too much on what happened. Valeria was still shaky about things and she could only imagine how Winter could feel about it all. Maybe Val had been a bit overbearing since the events, gifts basket and texts a bit too often, but it all came from a good place. “If you need us to slow down or sit down a bit just let me know. I can get us some warm drink and do some people watching.”

WHERE : sapphire WHO : @valerialcpez​

He’d been stationed in front of the dressing room tonight - making sure no customers followed any of the girls into the back, mostly - but that was fine with him. Truthfully, Wes liked being in charge of people’s safety, even if he knew his family would find that kind of responsibility laughable, if only just because… He was who he was. And he’d always be who he was. Offering the woman a bit of a tight grin as she approached, making her way off the floor, he reached to the stool beside him and plucked up a dressing gown - some silky thing mostly useless for anything beyond covering up, - before he held it up for her to slide her arms into. It was something he’d started doing as soon as he became a regular at the dressing room door, allowing the girls at least a little something more to cover up with so they weren’t totally freezing their asses off. Even he was glad that the bouncer uniform was long-sleeved, considering the temperature in Sapphire. “How you feelin’ tonight, Val?”

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There were few people Valeria liked and trusted among the Sinful Ones. Remi was top of that list but not far under was Wes. It hadn’t been by choice at first, her security depending on him but as she grew to know him, Val discovered a likeable person. It was in the little attentions, Wes being the first to offer the girls a gown as they walked off the stage. Someone might find it to be false modesty, Wes and many others having seen it all of them, but it was the gesture that mattered, if only so that they didn’t freeze after the rush of the stage. “Can’t complain,” she said with a sweet smile, one that was genuine for Wes. “The change in management has attracted a lot of people.” The words were said as she tied her hair, ready to take off her make-up and call it a night. “But there was a guy in the back that had his eyes a little bit off the stage.” The implications that the other was trying to find Wes was obvious. “Wonder what he was looking for.”

when: nov 14th where: sapphire who: @valerialcpez​ 

It was the ringing in her ear Remi could still hear that kept her at night, it was the shocked face on the old man that she drank to forget, being at Sapphire for a while and not Wonderland seem like a good idea considering everything that’s going on. “Thanks.” She smiled when Valeria handed her water. “I just feel weird, maybe I’m coming down with something.” She shrugged, knowing she couldn’t possibly tell Valeria the truth of what happened, but at least she was in the company of a friend, trying to pretend that nothing was bothering her and prolonging the inevitable. “You didn’t have to do that, I’m okay with my cocktail.” 

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After Wonderland, when Valeria saw the man walk into the club, like everyone else, when the whole place erupted in chaos and she took refuge behind the bar, things felt different. They felt real now, not that they hadn’t before, but it was like everything was now in either in HD or blurry, there was no in between. Valeria knew what the Sinful Ones could do, her family having fallen to them more than once. But it had always been stories, too often bedside hospital ones. “You need something that will do you some good,” she said with a warm smile. The dancer knew better than to ask Remi what was truly bothering her. There were many things Valeria preferred not to know. “I don’t think I’ll be going back there soon so might as well make sure you like coming here.” 

“Nightclubs have their time and place,” Winter hummed, head cocked to the side curiously as her gaze roamed the crowds around them. “As cool as this place might be, I think it’ll get a little bit quieter after tonight. I mean-” One of her eyebrows raise as she settles her gaze on the other, small smile on her lips. “Clubs are nice, but for me, nothing will compare to making eyes at some guy in leather and pretending to be bad at pool so he comes over to ‘show me how to play’.” Making a faint hum in the back of her throat, the blonde slid her hand into Valeria’s so they wouldn’t be separated, before setting off towards the bar, ducking and weaving around bodies where she could. Being only five-foot-two, she tended to be able to slide through crowds without much resistance, and it wasn’t much effort for her to get them both where they wanted to be. “Well, I could always show you how I get guys to buy my drinks, if you’re curious. It’s actually kind of a fun game.”

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A clear laugh escaped Valeria at Winter’s words. She had seen the other in action and knew how easy it was for whoever the sucker was to fall and in how much control Winter truly was despite it looking otherwise. “I’m sure you can find a victim here too. You look just perfect tonight.” Winter always looked perfect and Valeria had no idea how she did, all of it looking effortless to her. “All eyes will be on you as soon as you step on that dance floor.” There was something about the petite blonde that made Val feel special and she had no trouble believing that anyone in the club would rush to buy her a drink if such a thing was possible. “You know I love a good game.” And watching the master in action was never boring. She knew the stereotype, the fact that she got naked for a living and how sex and sexuality should be her whole persona. It was the preconceived idea, one that she had been guilty of in the past. But stepping in a strip club as an employee really had shifted her perceptive and she was comfortable with not always trying to play the femme fatale, turning on that button only when asked. It didn’t mean she was still showing her whole self, but it was closer to who she was at times. “I’m sure they feel like so good doing it too. Stroking their ego and all.”

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“Sooner rather than later,” Mateo replied with a grin. If only Valeria knew what this night was truly about, the vice-president wasn’t so sure she would still all smile. The woman was like a little broken bird to him, one he tried to keep in a cage as much as possible. She was usefull, more than her father or brother had been before her. Mateo could only hope she wouldn’t turn like them. “Always so skittish Val. I was only asking.” As if the big bad wolf ever only asked. “There’s a lot of important people tonight. You should find a way to use that,” he said, a finger trailing along her bare arm. The gesture was cold, akin to possession more than anything else.

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“If you say so,” Valeria said with a shrug. It felt like there was something more in his words and she wasn’t that interested in knowing more. The less she knew the better, her sleep too often being disturbed by the Sinful Ones. There was an impulse to remove her arm as soon as Mateo touched her but Valeria knew that it was not a good idea and so, she let his finger trail as she brushed away the coldness that took her over. “Of course. Anyone in particular you have in mind or should I just go after random people and hope I strike gold?” Valeria was being sarcastic and she knew she was opening the doors for Mateo to push her in the right direction, something she really hoped wouldn’t happen tonight.

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“Oh, I’m not disagreeing. Yeah nothing like free booze to bring a crowd in.” His words were truthful but obviously known to him and others the real reason behind wanting a large crowd of people. Or perhaps even an audience. “I think you could handle yourself if the situation called for it.” He mused back but chuckled with subtleness at her own musing. “Who really wants to be the damsel anyways?” Well, Cale was sure some people wanted to play the hero. To him - the idea of the villain was always more alluring. “How are you enjoying the festivities so far? If anyone is too much of a pain in the ass, let me know alright?”

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“Love the confidence, you’re a real ego booster,” Val teased him. Maybe she could handle herself if push came to shove, it was what she was currently doing after all. But it felt good to have someone say it, even if the other barely knew her. She just felt so lost in this world, the one she choose in order to protect her family. It wasn’t like Cale was seeing her, it was more the kind of things one said, but still, it felt good. “I’m sure there’s a lot who wouldn’t playing the damsel tonight.” But he was right, there was nothing appealing in being a damsel in distress. It implied a certain lack of choice or control and it was among Valeria’s fears, to no longer be the one in control of what happened to her life. “So far so good. It’s not exactly my scene but I’ll forget all about once I’m on that dance floor.” Valeria paused for a moment, her head cocking to the right as she took in his words. “And what if I let you know? Don’t tell me you’ll turn into the savior kind, we just went over that.”

There hadn’t been a doubt in Winter’s mind, that she’d be venturing to Wonderland on it’s opening night - though the blonde enjoyed just about every other bar in town whenever the mood struck her, she wasn’t opposed to expanding her horizons, especially not when the new place was called Wonderland. Down the rabbit hole and everything, right? Even if that’s not actually what the owners were going for, she was content enough with the vision in her mind to go along with it. “I think whoever it is, is just trying to butter us up. Probably hopes we’ll become repeat customers because someone tries a bartender’s special and decides they just can’t live without it even though it costs twenty bucks,” Winter hummed, mischievous grin spreading over her perfectly painted lips. Despite the crowds around them, not a hair was out of place on her head, not so much as a gleam on her forehead to hint at how hot it was in the crowd. She never was one to let herself look anything less than perfect. “I don’t know about you, but I fully intend on making whoever it is regret the open bar policy by drinking myself silly.”

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It would have been a lie if Valeria had said that Winter was not inspiring her in same way. The glamor of it all, always looking her best, perfect, it was not something she had cultivated before the Sinful Ones came knocking on her door. But her whole life was now on display, or at least, her body and there were expectations that came with it. And Winter, well, she was Winter and always looked like she had just stepped off the pages of Vogue. “Of course it’s going to attract people after tonight. I mean, look at this place, even without the open bar it would be a hell of a night,” she said with a laugh. A club like this was not something Lancaster knew. There was Soif who was upscale as well as a few restaurants but this was a full blown nightclub and not just some bar. It changed the scene and the portray of the town. “I’m not even sure I can make a dent into their supply but that won’t stop me from trying or at least enjoying it as much as I can.” The music was loud, Valeria could feel it in her bones, moving inside of her. It was numbing and she loved it. All she wanted was to loose herself on the dance floor. “Drinks then dancing? Let’s see how many offers us drinks, when we all know they won’t pay for any of it.”

Appearances are deceitful, but so long as they are, there’s nothing like having them deceive for us instead of against us. To say Cale was ready for the show would be an understatement. But you wouldn’t know with the act like he was playing. This whole scheme was like a chess match. Even if he got a little dirty in the prior day. Instead he enjoyed the atmosphere but with subtle nature, he looked around in observation. “Incriminating yourself already huh? If you’re a light weight you may want to be a little more discreet.” A small hint of a smile was etched on Cale’s lips. She was familiar which would be the only source of that reaction. “I’m sure there will be a lot of people who can’t handle their liquor, so you might not be the only one at least.”

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It was true that Valeria was a light weight and she also didn’t plan on drinking that much. Most of her words were scripted, a need to appear a certain way. People were often more liberals in what they said when they suspected the other might not remember or care. “With an open bar, it’s to be expected, no? I can’t even imagine what it will cost but I guess it’s great publicity.” It was strange, of so Val thought, that such a huge event would give away the drinks, considering the profits they would have made from a huge opening night but she was certain there was a reason behind it. And it was something that didn’t put her entirely at easy. “I might need some white knight to escort me later,” she teased the other. Her role within the Sinful Ones was mostly as a distraction, to be pretty and alluring to others.

Lancaster wasn’t that big, not that it showed tonight with the number of people in the club. Having been in town half a year, she had memorized most of the frequent ones, those who went to Sapphire, the regulars after 9pm at the general store, those who were the first in lines at Aroma Mocha and such. It was what they wanted from her, not only to dance to repay her family’s debt but to get close to those that mattered. The members of the Wild Coyotes, those who hated them and everyone in between if they could be useful. And the man next to her, as far as she could tell, held no importance but that didn’t stop her from noticing him and it wasn’t just because he towered over almost everyone in the club. “What a change from the usual,” Valeria said as she fanned herself quickly with her hand, beads of sweat having forms while she danced. “I’ve seen you around before but I can’t place where.” The naivety of her words were faked. Valeria was adaptable and she had to do just that, adapt, in order to survive. She had forged a persona, one that make her feel empty, a bubbly and care-free woman.

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There was more that met the eye at Wonderland, not that Mateo was in any position to say such a thing. Few knew what this night was truyl about, Valeria included, her rank among them barely mattering. Still, there was always something almost contagious about her, and Mateo laughed at her words. “Yes, he really outdid himself,” the man mused aloud, his words bearing another meaning. “Are you alone tonight or you’re working?” There was more to her utility to the Sinful Ones than earning money to repay the debt her family had, there was an information role that she also had and from he gathered, she worked best with such crowd.

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All she knew about the nightclub was that it belonged to the president of the Sinful Ones and was part of their bigger plan into coming into the town. Valeria was far from suspecting exactly what that entailled, as if witnessing the chaos of these people for as long as she could remember had not been enough for her to understand that their intentions was never good. “He’ll probably have the other places close down sooner than later.” The hint of a shadow passed in her eyes at his question, the ever present reminder that her life didn’t truly belong to her. “I haven’t been asked to do anything particular, if that’s what you’re wondering. But I guess the networking will be great for you guys.” There was something slightly bitter in her words.

The opening of Wonderland was something the whole town had seem to talk about and Valeria was excited, the establishment unlike anything else in Lancaster. There had been some special energy coming from the crowd as they waited outside. No one had to tell her, tonight was a great opportunity to get close to certain people. Valeria had the party girl act so perfect that no one suspected the sweet and quiet nature that hid deep into her. The weight of her family on her shoulders, she was expected to use her charms and body to help the Sinful Ones. There were times when she even believed herself, loosing trace of who she used to be. “Open bar?” she half asked to the one near her. “The owner really went all out.” There was a soft laugh that escaped, one that lost itself under the volume of the DJ playing. “Future me won’t be happy, but that’s a problem for tomorrow, right?”

𝐍𝐀𝐌𝐄: Valeria Lopez 𝐆𝐄𝐍𝐃𝐄𝐑 & 𝐏𝐑𝐎𝐍𝐎𝐔𝐍𝐒: cis woman & she/her 𝐀𝐆𝐄: 31 𝐎𝐂𝐂𝐔𝐏𝐀𝐓𝐈𝐎𝐍: dancer at Sapphire 𝐀𝐅𝐅𝐈𝐋𝐈𝐀𝐓𝐈𝐎𝐍: Sinful Ones 𝐑𝐀𝐍𝐊: Hangaround 𝐅𝐀𝐂𝐄𝐂𝐋𝐀𝐈𝐌: Ana de Armas

+ charismatic, generous, adventurous - naive, closed-off, fearful

𝐓𝐖: 𝐃𝐑𝐔𝐆𝐒, 𝐀𝐋𝐂𝐎𝐇𝐎𝐋, 𝐕𝐈𝐎𝐋𝐄𝐍𝐂𝐄, 𝐌𝐔𝐑𝐃𝐄𝐑, 𝐂𝐀𝐍𝐂𝐄𝐑

It’s a sad, sad world and Valeria Lopez learned that fact as she entered this world. The first part of her life was spend in Havana, in a poor neighbourhood. Her famly was barely scrapping by and the cartels were breathing down their neck at every turn. Valeria’s mother had enough and when Valeria was 12 years, they moved to Phoenix.

They thought things would be better in the States and they were for a little while. But Valeria’s father could not keep a job and her mother had to work two jobs to keep a roof over her kids’ head while the patriarch drank the day away. And then, the drug problem came.

It took a couple of years for Valeria’s father to crank up a debt so high with the gang that they came knocking down their doors. A good beating in front of his tearful family had him swearing everyone he would pay it all and never touch it again but these were only lies.

They found him barely alive when Valeria was 17. Her father passed away three days later in the hospital. The Lopez now had a debt toward the gang and a hospital bill so high they didn’t know how they would do it. That’s when they learned that Valeria’s twin brother took after their father. But instead of running from the gang and his debt, he was on the path to join them and he dragged Valeria right along with him.

Valeria wanted her brother out of the gang, knowing that his addiction would only get worse if he stayed there. She took a job as a housekeeper, working full time and taking all the extra shift she could take but it wasn’t enough to pay all the bills and soon enough, she was taking odd jobs from the Snful Ones as well.

Everything came crashing down in 2016.  Her brother ended up in jail, 20 years. Valeria always keep her head down as much as possible, but when her father was arrested, she knew she couldn’t walk away.