Oh Yes, It's Ladies Night! [Open]

[Deleted]

Madison reached The Violet Hour via taxi. She was planning on drinking and not necessarily going home tonight, so it was foolish to bring the car. She tipped the cabby and stepped out into the cool air of late evening. It was chilly but the sky above was clear, stars twinkling down, so there was little chance of rain. Which was a good thing, seeing as she didn't have an umbrella. Or a bag.

Madison was no fool to the night life and had her security effects carefully construed on her person. She wore a slim fit, white dress that ended high on her tan thighs and knee high black boots. The boots were her going out essentials. Comfortable to wear but fancy enough that she hadn't been turned away from a club yet. She carried only her phone. She had already removed her house key from her set and slipped it into the back of the phone case, and she had Android pay so no need for cash beyond the twenty she had slipped into her boot for a cab home.

Not a particularly girly-girl by nature, Madison went more for the stylish-messy and heavy eye make-up when she dolled herself up. She was lucky to possess easily tanned skin and the contrast between her 4th July bronzing and her white dress was startling. She figured she looked good when she flashed a smile and was let in by the bouncer ahead of the queue.

The Violet Hour was dark and humid with strobe lights flickering over the dance floor and a neon glow over the bar. It was busy but not uncomfortably crammed and Madison scouted about for anyone she knew - specifically the girls she'd invited, but upon recognising no-one she headed over to the bar.

"What can I get you?" The barman asked with a flash of his smile.

Madison returned it, taking a seat on one of the bar stools as she waited for the other girls to arrive.

"Well, it sure as shit wont be a Cosmo, so you can stop moving towards that cranberry juice." She stopped him with a grin and her tongue between her teeth. The barkeep grinned back and gave her his full attention. He raised an eyebrow. "Got any Westland Single?"

The guy's eyebrows shot up but he found the bottle at the back of the bar and poured out the appropriate measure to Madison's two raised fingers.

After being duly libated, she spun around on the stool, propped her elbows on the bar now behind her and nursed her whiskey while awaiting her lovely wing-ladies.

Outfit: link
Tagged: Jia Lei Yang, Mattie Chappel, @amberrae, and any and everyone else! Come have fun!

[Mattie Chappel]

Mattie wasn't one particularly for dressing up, nor for going to bars, or socializing much, for that matter, but since meeting Kev, she was finding that she was more open socializing, although outside was more to her liking. She could relax more, and better, she could wear jeans and boots...her 'dress-up' wardrobe was pretty limited.

Knowing she had to 'pass muster', she chose a mid-length, casual dress that had layers and pockets so she could carry her keys and some money without having to bother with a purse...seemed that she was always forgetting a purse, so it was better not to have anything that could be put down and left behind!

It hadn't taken much to pull her hair up and top it with a straw Fedora hat, an accessory that was almost a way to hide, although she would never admit to it.

Waiting patiently behind trendy teeny-boppers -- all right, young adults -- Mattie was just happy when she was approved to go inside, relieved to spot Madison by the bar and went to join her, smiling.

"Evening. Kind of feel naked without the dog!" She laughed then ordered a mojito before settling on a stool. "I toyed with bringing Koda and pretending to be blind, but then we couldn't assess other people's outfits, right?"

@zen2

[Deleted]

As soon as Madison spotted Mattie, she was waving possibly a little too enthusiastically. But Madison wasn't the kind of person who cared if she looked like a loon. She was genuinely pleased to see her. Of the three ladies Madison had invited out for the night, Mattie was possibly the one she had been most worried wouldn't show. Not because she was less close to her, or because she thought Mattie dull, but because a) she had the dog to sort and manage and b) she was perhaps the quietest of the game. Madison had worked with Mattie for while and knew that quiet did not, in any way shape of form, equal weak. It took a strong woman to make her way in police work in general, and an even stronger one to have the patience and perseverance to train police dogs. Madison knew the bomber dogs back in the army and had adored Lancelot, the one assigned to her unit for a while but she had never trained one. She was sure it was a lot of work for a very slow (if wonderful) pay-off.

"Mattie." She greeted with a smile and pulled the woman into a one armed hug. Madison had some very strong and complicated rules on hugging but if she instigated them, all was good. "I'm so glad you could come!" She grinned at her as she let the woman go and her smile grew wider as she look her in from head to toe. "You look so chiche! Gorgeous girl, love the hat!"

Madison paused for a moment and waited for Mattie to get her drink and then laughed as she commented on feeling naked with the dog.

"Aw, it'll be okay. As much as I would have loved to play along, he might have scared off the guys." She wiggled her eyebrows at her friend.

"Speaking of..." She grinned wickedly at the K-9 officer. "I saw you looking chummy with the hunk at the beach on the 4th. So naturally, I did some digging - I am a detective you know - and discovered him to be the lovely Kev Allison." She took a tip from her whiskey and raised a demanding finger. "When, where, how. Needs the details, lady."

Outfit: link
Tagged: Jia Lei Yang , Mattie Chappel , @amberrae

[Mattie Chappel]

"Mattie."

Aware of what to expect, Mattie smiled and returned the hug, not at all minding the enthusiasm, it was just Madison, and Mattie didn't have problems with 'personal space'.

"I'm so glad you could come!"

"Of course!" Well, not really 'of course', but she was here and was going to enjoy herself and the company. These were people she knew, and no one expected anything of anyone, so what was there to be up-tight about?

"You look so chiche! Gorgeous girl, love the hat!"

"Thanks!" Grinning, Mattie struck a brief pose, tilting the hat at a cocky angle. "You, too. But again, a dog makes a good accessory."

"Aw, it'll be okay. As much as I would have loved to play along, he might have scared off the guys." She wiggled her eyebrows at her friend.

"Well, you've got a good point there," Mattie observed, shaking her head. "Men are likely to be put off by us anyway, if they find out what we do." She laughed. "Vicious dog won't help any."

"Speaking of..." She grinned wickedly at the K-9 officer. "I saw you looking chummy with the hunk at the beach on the 4th. So naturally, I did some digging - I am a detective you know - and discovered him to be the lovely Kev Allison." She took a tip from her whiskey and raised a demanding finger. "When, where, how. Needs the details, lady."

That caught her by surprise and she took a swig of her mojito as her cheeks turned bright red. "Kev?" She shrugged, then sighed. "He's a friend...we ran into each other one night after work at that little cafe across from the station, started talking..." Well, no reason to hold back...much. "He came out to the K9 trials and after we had lunch and played a little free-style golf." Oh, yeah, and saved two kids from drowning, but she wasn't going to bring that part up!

@zen2,

[Deleted]

Madison smiled encouragingly as Mattie relayed her story about meeting, greeting and getting sweet on Kev Allison. She might claim that they were just friends but Madison had a job where it was essential to be able to read people and she quickly caught the laughter in Mattie's voice and the sparkle in her eye. Friends... Yeah right.

Oh well, whether it was happily ever after or a short term burn, she was pleased that Mattie was happy. About a year after Madison joined the Chicago PD - about two years ago - Mattie had lost her family in a horrendous accident at her home. Madison had, at the time, been knee deep in therapy from the military, trying to get her life on track in a new city and already gunning for a position as a detective so she hadn't had a lot of friends back then - and she certainly hadn't known Mattie. She had heard through the office grapevine of course and while she didn't know any details, she knew that it was a tragedy the woman shouldn't have had to live through. So, if this Kev guy could give her a little spirit and a little happiness she was all for it. If alcohol could do the same she was backing that idea too!

Madison finished her drink and raised a finger at the barkeep who quickly poured her a second.

"There's a joke in there somewhere about love, gold and holes but neither of us are drunk enough for me to be that crude so I think I'll keep it to myself." She said with a grin. She then swizzled on her bar stool and looked out across the crowd.

"So... if you and Mr. Allison are just friends, help me pick my prey for the night." She encouraged, looking about. "See, he would be a good choice except he's clearly mentally retarded. Who wears sunglasses in a dark club?"

Outfit: link
Tagged: Jia Lei Yang , Mattie Chappel , @amberrae

[Jia Lei Yang]

Jia had never been the most outgoing but finding friends through work to go out with, the unfamiliar situation gave her a way to get out of her own head. There was no work, no fires to investigate, no life to think about just having fun which was what she had been sorely short of. Jia had been the sort to throw herself into work to forget about everything else which worked in the beginning but slowly she had started to realise there was a world outside of that. A world that yes she may not understand entirely but a night out with the girls was a great way to venture into it without being on her own.

Jia was also the sort who liked to be busy to facing yet another night with dinner, TV and a puzzle book it was a welcome change to head out to the Violet Hour. She had never been to the place before as she thanked the taxi driver for her ride before paying and stepping out. She wore her favourite little black dress coupled with black heels that the teetered on before finding her balance. It had been a while since she had worn them as she clutched the small black bag in her hand with her hair down instead of the pony tail she favoured for work. Her silver bracelet and necklace were just silver chain as she waited to see if she would pass the code to get in.

She knew she was late the minute she walked through and managed to see Mattie and Madison through the crowd, great just when she thought she was going to be on time. Jia simply smiled and waved as she made her way through the crowd of people. Her eyes saw a few of the faces there as she wondered if she should card them because either she was over age for the place or late teens early twenties was a distant milestone for her. No or rather hell no, she was still twenty something and even at forty something she was never going to give up the club ghost.

As Jia approached she caught the tail end of a conversation about Mr Allison and friends and a guy with sunglasses. “Woah woah... for those of us who are running behind. Who’s this Mr. Allison?” Jia asked grinning at Mattie for a moment before she glanced at Mr. Sunglasses in the club and chuckled. “How can he see in those? Maybe just forgot to take them off.” She mused before leaning against the bar and ordered a gin and tonic.

@zen2,Mattie Chappel,@amberrae,

[Deleted]

When Madison saw Jia, she gave a firm wave again, distracted from her ogling of male passerby. As she approached and ordered her drink, Madison complimented the stellar dress she had on and laughed at her comments regarding Mr. Ray Ban. She would have agreed with her except she couldn't understand how anyone would forget they had those things on. He couldn't have been able to see much, if anything. Then again, maybe he preferred it that way - like one-night-stand roulette. You didn't know what you were going home with until the next morning.

Call her crazy, but Madison was shallow enough to care what the guy she may or may not take home looked like.

"I shall let Mattie tell the story of her romantic rendezvous which is strictly platonic, I'm told." She then grinned as she added. "I like watching her get redder each time she tells it."

Letting Mattie tell her own story - one thing that Madison most definitely wasn't despite her social, friendly and chatty side, was a gossip. She let people tell their own stories, or choose not to as the case may be. Probably because she just about threw up at the idea of anyone passing on tales from her own past. No-way was she about to do that to someone else.

Instead, she focused on the dancers on the dance floor and the clubbers at the door, wondered where Casey had gotten to and sipped her whiskey, careful to only take the smallest of nips. The night was still young and as much as she could hold her drink like a trooper - no, seriously she had drunk troopers under the table - she wanted all her wits about her until the very end.

Outfit: link
Tagged: Jia Lei Yang , Mattie Chappel , @amberrae

[Mattie Chappel]

"There's a joke in there somewhere about love, gold and holes but neither of us are drunk enough for me to be that crude so I think I'll keep it to myself."

"Well, I do thank you for that!" Mattie laughed as she shook her head, able to imagine several quips that could be made, none of them suited to say aloud, and indeed, all of them better spoken well-intoxicated.

"So... if you and Mr. Allison are just friends, help me pick my prey for the night." She encouraged, looking about.

"Me?" Mattie laughed and took a sip of her drink. "I'll consider that a great honor that you trust me with something like that!" Shaking her head, she laughed again, scanning the room appraisingly, although she wasn't the sort to pick up men in bars...in fact, she really didn't have much interest in the type of men who haunted bars looking for a fun time.

"See, he would be a good choice except he's clearly mentally retarded. Who wears sunglasses in a dark club?"

"Someone trying to hide his pupils?" Raising an eyebrow, Mattie looked at her friend. A person's pupils could reveal a lot, in this case the presence of drugs, hence sunglasses.

"And look, here comes a second opinion!" Watching as Jia approached, she knew the other woman would probably think the same of Sunglass Man, and would agree with her at the end of the night that none of them was going home with a strange man.

“Woah woah... for those of us who are running behind. Who’s this Mr. Allison?” Jia asked grinning at Mattie for a moment before she glanced at Mr. Sunglasses in the club and chuckled. “How can he see in those? Maybe just forgot to take them off.”

"I shall let Mattie tell the story of her romantic rendezvous which is strictly platonic, I'm told." She then grinned as she added. "I like watching her get redder each time she tells it."

Rolling her eyes, Mattie finished off her mojito, then ordered another before explaining. "He's a lawyer that I met after work one night, and we've...gone to lunch a couple times." Grinning, she shrugged. "Not a date when you have sandwiches and just play golf, that's my story!"

Then, to deflect attention, she said, "And Madison wants us to pick a gentleman for her, although it looks like pretty slim pickings! And I don't know that 'gentleman' is an appropriate term." She took another sip of her drink. "And besides, isn't this a girl's night?"

Tagged: Jia Lei Yang , Mattie Chappel , @amberrae

[Jia Lei Yang]

Jia smiled and nodded a thanks to Madison when she complimented her dress. It had taken her long enough to find something to wear as going out clothes were somewhat of a nightmare for her at times. She was unfortunately one of those women who took forever when it came to special occasions and tonight was exactly one of those occasions which meant hours of trying to find the right dress.

Hiding pupils, the tell tale sign that someone was having a night of forbidden interests. Drugs and alcohol, it was amazing how people found both in a club at times as she eyed the guy up for a moment. “Yeah serious case of don’t want to know what he’s been on.” Jia said with a light smirk tipping her glass the guy’s way for a moment. Being a cop at times sucked when you had to jump to the first bad thought of the evening when likely it was one hundred percent correct about it.

Jia chucked and raised her brow at Mattie before rolling her eyes a little. “Serious... strictly platonic is what every girl who likes the guy says when it’s not strictly platonic. Right Madison?” Jia said as she listened to what Mattie explained about this Mr. Allison. “Not a date, lunch a few times and golf and meeting after work... sounds pretty much like a date to me.” Jia added chuckling, she had been out of the dating game for a few years but it still was mostly the same. Lunch was never just lunch and golf and after hours meeting well that was just, not just lunch.

Jia took a sip of her drink almost choking on it the minute Mattie spoke about gentleman. “Are we sure she’s looking for a gentleman because like you say... I’m not getting that vibe. Are and specifics you want us to look out for?” Jia chuckled before she took another sip from her drink as she glanced around the place. “Girls night it is because I’m pretty sure most of the guys in here are far from princes.” She said as she glanced between Mattie and Madison. “Besides if one of us already has a Mr. Right then we can’t go losing another one out of our group.” Jia said with a sigh before she grinned. “So either we need to catch up or Mr. Allison the lawyer is going to steal her away.”

With that Jia furrowed her brow, lawyers he was one of those as she decided to ask the question of a cop. “So do we need to do background check and is he a good lawyer or defence?” Jia asked curiously. If it was defence then Jia would have to make sure this guy was a decent sort and if he was on their side, serious background check and invasion of privacy was on the horizon. Friends were hard to come by so a guy had to be good enough in her mind.

@zen2,Mattie Chappel,@amberrae,

[Deleted]

"Someone trying to hide his pupils?"

“Yeah serious case of don’t want to know what he’s been on.”

"Oh no..." Madison denied, holding up a firm hand. "No work talk. I'm trying to forget what I do for a living tonight so that I can indulge in a little excess." She raised her eyebrows at them. "I do not want to have to arrest myself."

"And Madison wants us to pick a gentleman for her, although it looks like pretty slim pickings! And I don't know that 'gentleman' is an appropriate term... And besides, isn't this a girl's night?"

Madison grinned as she took a slip from her shallow glass. The whiskey burned as it went down and she could feel the warmth of the alcohol already spreading to her extremities. It loosened her muscles and make her neck and shoulders feel less tense.

"Oh this is absolutely a girls night, Mattie." She told her with a nod of her head. "And you have my attention for as long as you want this evening. However-" She held up a finger. "I'm not interested in going home alone tonight and, as much as I love you both and think you look fabulous, neither of you are my type so forgive me if I window shop while we gossip." She grinned at them mischievously over the top of her glass. "Don't worry - I'm a fantastic multi-tasker."

“Are we sure she’s looking for a gentleman because like you say... I’m not getting that vibe. Are and specifics you want us to look out for?... Girls night it is because I’m pretty sure most of the guys in here are far from princes... Besides if one of us already has a Mr. Right then we can’t go losing another one out of our group.” Said Jia and Madison was already shaking her head.

"Fear not, my friend. I'll leave the prince charmings and happily ever afters to Mattie here. I have no interest in finding Mr Right. Mr Right Now will do me just fine." She laughed. "As for specifics..." She glanced out at the crowd. "Who here looks like they'd look good in fluffy handcuffs?" She asked, jokingly.

What she said was true. Madison wasn't looking for Mr. Right. She never was. In fact, the nights out she spent with or without the ladies generally included a seeking for the exact opposite.

Madison had only ever had two serious partners in her life. Two partners that she had truly cared for and let her heart get tangled up with. One was her long term high school boyfriend. Back when she's been a straight A student and into track and field. Back when she had had the general naivete to believe that she would never lift a rifle, take a life or spend her days hunting missing people who generally ended up dead. He had been a nice boy. Darren, had been his name. They had broken up when she had enlisted.

Jump to three years later and her second long term relationship ended even worse. Callum had been the serious love of her life. He had also had a serious hole through his middle when she had last seen him. That had been a week before The Colonel reported to her of his death.

Madison swallowed the remainder of the whiskey in her glass and called the bartender over. She ordered a JD and coke and removed the straw, before drinking directly from the glass. She hadn't thought about Callum in a long time. Mostly because it painful, secondly because it reminded of her of the following weeks where she herself had left the military.

The memories had no place here. Not now.

"So, what about you Jia?" She asked, curiosity sparking in her eyes, chasing away the shadows of her past. "Any masculine element causing issue in your life, nowadays?" She turned the attention onto the beautiful woman, knowing that Mattie might appreciate the reprieve of interrogation. If they were going to give Mattie a joking time for her not-relationship with Kev, at least they could return the favour and let her question them.

Outfit: link
Tagged: Jia Lei Yang, Mattie Chappel, @amberrae

[Mattie Chappel]

“So do we need to do background check and is he a good lawyer or defence?”

"Well..." Mattie shrugged as she took a drink. "He's both?" She did know the reputation of defense lawyers among law enforcement and honestly, she felt the same, although now that she'd met Kev she was seeing some of the other side. "But hey, the dog likes him, and what better advocate is there, right?"

Fortunately, Madison diverted attention onto Jia...Even though she knew she was with friends that would look out for her and knew that the needling was in fun, she was still a little self-conscious talking about her personal life, and especially romance.

"So, what about you Jia? Any masculine element causing issue in your life, nowadays?"

"Do tell!" Grinning, Mattie took another sip of her drink as she raised an eyebrow then scanned the room, looking for any prospective men for Madison, although he hoped she'd settle for leaving alone tonight.

@zen2, Jia Lei Yang,

[Deleted]

Tag(s): @zen2 , Mattie Chappel , Jia Lei Yang

Word Count: 285

Note: Sorry for the lateness & shortness. Hope this doesn't sound lame. Lol

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Casey messed with a loose lock of her hair as she gazed at her reflection in the mirror. While she didn't think she was the most stunning woman in town; she was at least satisfied with who she was as a person. She wore a simple blue dress with matching earrings and shoes and her hair was half up and half down. She wasn't overly dressed but she hoped that she didn't look too down to Earth either. Not that she would care if she did. Casey could count the many times she had gone out on a night of town on on one hand; and that didn't include going to movies. 

Tilting her head; she wondered for the umpteenth time why she had agree to go to this event. Sure, she had no issue with hanging out with people; but she really wasn't one for the bar scenes. She preferred going on picnics and to the drive-in movies where she could just enjoy the weather and be herself. She never thought that she would hang around a bar; but then again, that one night she had had been to one had been pretty fun. Smirking at the memory; Casey grabbed her belongings and made sure her door was locked before heading towards their agreed meeting place.

Sometime later, Casey found herself just outside of the Violet Hour and stepped inside after making sure that her hair was still neat. After a few moments; she spotted the others and walked to them and caught the end tale of the conversation.

“Evening ladies. Apologies for the tardiness” She took the seat that was empty before glancing to the others. “What's this about masculine elements?”

[Deleted]

Madison looked up and grinned as Casey joined the group. As the redhead joined the group, it happened at the same moment that Madison was taking a mouthful of her drink so she waved the tips of her fingers at the girl enthusiastically. When her mouth was free she smiled.

"Hey, there you are." Madison looked the girl up and down and winked her support. "Love the dress, hun." She then waved off the girl's apologies for being late. "No problem at all. We were just discussing the unfairer sex and their recent interruptions to our otherwise perfect lives. Mattie has dished on the dishy lawyer that's seduced her dog and seems to be moving on to her." She turned devilish eyes on Jia. "Jia was next in line to confess." She giggled and took another sip of her drink, looking big-eyed and imploringly at Jia.

Madison was careful to keep an eye on Casey as she knew the girl was a cadet and might not know the others very well. Madison might be a good out-for-the-night kinda girl but she was also considerate. Alcohol and guys were definitely top of her list on evenings like this but she didn't ever want anyone she had invited along to feel ostracized.

"You need a drink, my darling." She told Casey, waving her closer to the bar. "What'll it be?"


Tag: Mattie Chappel ,Jia Lei Yang ,@amberrae ,

[Jia Lei Yang]

Jia chuckled as she took a sip of her drink; no Madison was far from her type either though going home with a guy. It was a fifty fifty prospect for her, she was hardly looking as the last guy she had dated and intended to marry she had buried a while back. Getting into things with another was far from her style though you never knew when Mr. Right appeared she guessed she would know. If it was even a possibility for her anymore.

“Oh so just Mr. Right now, I think I can see a few of those about but when it comes to the hand cuffs...” Jia stated thoughtfully before she smirked, “I’m unsure if they would be afraid or simply too drunk to remember.” Jia was a big believer in the conscious partner then again so far she hardly had to worry about that for work when she worked by herself anyway. It was better that way, people had broken her heart before so arms length was always a fantastic option for her.

However it had never stopped her from window shopping because on occasion the window could look pretty good. Jia listened to Mattie, a good lawyer well that went a long way and at least the dog liked him. She was sure that if the dog had an issue then they would show it and Mattie would find out what kind of person the lawyer really was. Dogs were amazing so anyone who had anything against them was hardly worth sticking around with.

As she took another sip of her drink the line of fire seemed to catch her as she coughed for a moment. All she could think of was thank the lord for Casey turning up, it gave her a moment to compose herself as she grinned and shook her head. “Glad you could make it Casey.” Jia said smiling at the woman, she was a cadet and that came with a general level of care. Sure Jia had every confidence that Casey could watch out for herself but sometimes it was just one of those things, you looked out for those who you worked with.

“Masculine element... oh sure I’ve got one at home right now.” She said smiling, “He’s no trouble at all, loves swimming, spends all day staring out of the window and you only have to feed him once every other day.” So to her a fish counted as her masculine element especially when the thought of one terrified her.

“Pet fish called Rex.” She stated grinning, “Now how about this lawyer... does he have any friends worth looking at?” Jia asked lightly in an attempt to divert the conversation away from herself and her lack of a man issue as she glanced at Casey. “And what about you Casey, any guy in your life right now?” Better to quiz the others about it rather than stick with her own case of men issues as she took another sip of her drink.

@zen2,Mattie Chappel,Jia Lei Yang,@amberrae,

[Mattie Chappel]

Mattie shrugged, her cheeks flushing red. "Hi, Casey, you're just in time for the confessions." Then she glanced at Jia. "We haven't gotten to the involving friends stage just yet but we are planning a camping trip."

Well, that probably hadn't been the best thing to admit to, she was certain that there was going to be plenty of teasing and joking, so she quickly added, "Just camping, no...you know."

Man, she wasn't very good at this any more, not that she'd ever been much of a social butterfly. But since losing her family, she hadn't really put in any effort, or cared to. Not that she didn't enjoy her friends, but life was so hectic, there was so little free time, and that, she preferred spending in a hammock, reading!

"Besides, I wouldn't really know what to do with a man any more." The tint in her cheeks deepened. Truth was, the only man she'd ever slept with had been her husband.

@zen2, Jia Lei Yang, @amberrae,