When the Sinners Go Marching In

Vivian

New Orleans

As always, Vivian had a plan. And as usually happens to plans, it did not survive first contact. Vivian climbed out of the limo for her date, fully expecting and prepared for a stare down with Rhonda as she left hers. A rather basic ploy, but one designed to establish the upper hand with Rhonda. However, Rhonda’s phone was already beeping angrily to announce her time was up and she didn’t have time to engage. She shoved past Vivian without a word or a second glance to get into the car before elimination, knocking the blonde off her feet. Sat there on the pavement, Vivian momentarily entertained the idea that she should trip or hinder Ronnie, maybe holding her a few seconds over would be enough to take her out of the game entirely…

No. Ruby might reward that, but Michael would never forgive it.

It was Vivian’s own thought, but also somehow alien to her. Vivian had never been concerned with his forgiveness before, why now? Was it the magic they’d hit her with at the hotel? Concern for her position in the game? Actual human empathy? Results unclear, please perform diagnostic.

“Are you alright?” Michael asked politely, but did not extend a hand or any offer of support as she picked herself off the pavement. In fact, he wasn’t even looking as Vivian collected herself. Instead, he watched the limo drive off and shimmer away into nothing. Even without Vivian’s enhanced ability to read him, it was patently obvious he’d rather be leaving with Rhonda. And ditching Vivian by the side of the road in the bargain.

On to the second step, which Vivian had mentally rehearsed. First impressions are everything, after all. Of course this wasn’t their first meeting, but she’d hoped that putting forth the effort to look her absolute best would have drawn a reaction. Visuals, she’d thought, most men are visual creatures. However, getting shoulder-checked into the street by his ex is not the ideal opening.

“I’m fine, thanks for asking.” She smiled at him broadly, but he did not return it. She casually put her hair behind her ear to reveal the earrings she'd selected, smoothed out her dress to draw attention to her hips, casually pulled her arm across her chest to scratch her opposite bicep and emphasize her cleavage in the process. All for naught. Vivian was starting at the bottom of a deep hole and she needed to climb quickly.

Preparations, of course, had begun hours earlier. After Rhonda left with Michael, the others had all filtered out to the hotel’s various entertainments, leaving the common room empty. While thankfully allowing her some peace from Mallory’s drunken ranting and Sarah’s one-sided profanity-laden argument with a piece of rope, it also gave Vivian the opportunity to snoop around in Rhonda and Danica’s closets to get a feel for what they thought Michael might appreciate. Rhonda’s was a gold mine, as she had purchased her entire wardrobe at the hotel for the specific purpose of appealing to him. She’s got tight legs, I can see why she’d show them off. Vivian thought, pausing her search through Ronnie’s clothes long enough to eye her own legs in the mirror. Ever since Vivian had received her first transformation, she’d been comparing herself against the others endlessly, driving herself a little nutty. Mallory’s the youngest, but Janet’s taken better care of her skin. Sarah’s the most flexible, now anyway. Luciana can be strong or feminine. Danica’s been with him the longest, and those pills have given her the largest breasts… Vivian fought off the urge to blow her chips trying to out do all of them on every count, though given the amount of money she had it was a tempting option.

Work what I’ve got, and that’s style.

She pulled a maroon, ankle-length silk evening gown off of her own rack, one she’d worn to the symphony last year with an older client she wanted to impress. And it worked like a charm that night, she kept the dress on and still landed the deal. It fit like a glove, hugging the curves of her hips magnificently. Even Vivian couldn’t help but run her hands along them. Up top it was strapless, and held her breasts in tight. Just to leave no doubt, she added a diamond necklace that hung low, to direct attention properly. Matching diamond bracelets, earrings, and a white handbag completed the ensemble.

Her makeup was bold without being trashy. None of the others could pull that off. Vivian thought as she applied the last bits of eyeliner, recalling Mallory's efforts the night earlier.

Finally, having seen the size of Rhonda’s heels Vivian couldn’t resist choosing an even higher pair, a treacherous set of 6” white stilettos. Her outfit complete, she looked herself over in the mirror.

“I look stunning.” She said with earned confidence.

“I’ll say,” Al spoke from behind her, making Vivian’s skin crawl. “In that dress, your ass could stop traffic.”

“You can’t come into our bedrooms!” Vivian protested. Al had magically dragged her out of the shower naked that very morning and somehow this felt like a larger intrusion.

“Just came up to see if you babes needed any last minute advice on bedding Michael.” He placed his hand over his breast, as if swearing an oath. “I don’t want you just to think of me as your host, please think of me as a coach or a confidant.” He can’t actually believe we would come to him? …Right? Vivian’s ability was pinging something off about him, but either he was too skilled at deception or Vivian too novice at reading for her to make out what it was. He can’t know the truth, right? It must be my standard perv radar.

“Al, you absolutely don’t want to know what I think of you.”

“And you don’t want to know what I think of you. Not after that stunt you pulled in the Assassins game.” Even through the sunglasses, Vivian could tell his eyes were flaring. “But the rules are changing now, and it’s real important that you don’t half-ass this one, baby. All of you girls are all-in from now on, no more taking dives. But today’s a new day, another chance to play with your whole ass. Knock him dead, sweetheart.”

Despite Al’s unwelcome approval, Vivian had entered the date feeling quite sure about her ability to turn heads. Even Michael’s.

And then, after she had pulled out all the stops and presented herself at her most gorgeous, she’d bounced right off him.

“It’s been an emotional afternoon.” Michael said, but he couldn’t or wouldn’t meet her eyes. He looked at her feet and scratched the back of his head as he tried to extricate himself from the situation. “I’m calling it early, and I’d like to go back to the hotel.”

Ok, not only am I still in the hole but now he’s shoveling dirt on my head.

“I … understand,” Vivian hadn’t been following their date live, but given what she knew about Ronnie’s situation and the fact that they were standing outside a cemetery, she could put two and two together. “But I can’t go back this early, they might consider it a forfeit.” Vivian didn’t know that for sure, but she was already on thin ice with Al and needed to maintain the pretense a little longer. He can’t leave without my phone to call the limo, so I’ve still got some leverage here.

Michael grappled with that, taking a little longer than Vivian would have liked. “Fine, but I need a walk.” He looked at her high-heels, treacherous in any situation but positively suicidal on a New Orleans sidewalk, and apparently decided he didn’t care. He set off down the sidewalk without looking back to see if she followed.

Vivian set off after him at a trot. With her towering heels they weren’t far apart in height, but he had longer strides and she was struggling mightily to keep up. “Michael…?” She asked, but he ignored her. “Michael.” She tapped at his arm, to no effect. “Michael, can we at least talk?”

“I have nothing to say.” He nearly growled.

Vivian took a **** stab. They wouldn’t have come here just for a friend, this had to be family.

“That was about Rhonda’s… mom, right?” Vivian guessed, based on what she’d heard them talking about that morning. No answer. “I don’t know the whole story there, but things weren’t always easy with my parents either.” No answer. “She never seemed satisfied with things I accomplished. I was Honor Roll and I still got a lecture that I wasn’t Valedictorian. I went to Duke and she was mad because it wasn’t Vanderbilt, like her. I went into tech and she was mad because it wasn’t finance.” Vivian’s mouth was outrunning her judgment. She’d never shared details like this with anyone, but she was clinging to anything that might make a connection. No answer.

“Stop acting like a petulant little shit,” Vivian blurted out, which stopped him in his tracks. “We’ve all got crosses to bear. Don’t act like you’re the only one. And definitely don’t forget that I’m not here of my free will either.” He paused, still not looking but at least listening. This is good. Slight improvement. “You want me to leave, I don’t want to get eliminated for a forfeit. So let’s be adults and compromise. I’m supposed to take you to dinner, so let me buy you dinner. We don’t even have to say anything. Once we pay the check, we’re done here.”

Insulting the Master -3

“Fine. I think we passed a sandwich place.”

Vivian shook her head and crossed her arms. “If I’m buying, I’m choosing. I booked us a table at Commander’s Palace.”

“...Really? How did you pull that off?” Slight hostility, but also interest…

“The Hotel has a concierge, they can do a lot for you if you just ask.”

Michael mulled this over. Vivian could tell by the small movements of his face that he was going to do it even before he agreed out loud. This had better be worth what I paid for it. She grumbled, but good information usually was.

“Fine, but only because you’re paying.” He tried to sound like he was doing it for her benefit, but she could read his genuine curiosity. Most men are visual creatures, but all are ruled by their stomach. She repressed a smirk as she called the limo to carry them across town.

Commander’s Palace has been a New Orleans staple since the 19th century, the concierge had helpfully told Vivian, though she hadn’t asked and didn’t particularly care. After her conversation with Al, Vivian had simply sought out the woman at the front counter and demanded a table at the best restaurant Michael and Rhonda had discussed but never visited. It took a sizable payment to get that kind of information and that table, but if the Hotel could use their voodoo nonsense against them, then they could use it for her benefit too. Apparently, one of Rhonda’s friends waited tables there and never shut up about the place, so of course Rhonda had wanted Michael to take her there someday. Besides, Vivian taking the small steps of outdoing Rhonda’s heels had triggered something in her. She had a need to upstage Rhonda now, and it was gnawing on her brain like a dog chewing a bone.

As a Southern fine dining institution, it naturally had a dress code and Michael’s casual dress didn’t meet it. And why do his clothes smell like a swamp?! Vivian wondered. Fortunately, she could also have the Harem Hotel limo bring one of his suits, and she turned her back to allow Michael to change on the drive. She even resisted the urge to peek at his reflection in the windows.

Her second grand reveal went better than the first, and she enjoyed the inquisitive and jealous looks of the other patrons when the pair arrived in a limo. That couldn’t be too exotic given this restaurant, but Vivian was looking a knockout tonight and it was rewarding for someone to notice, given Michael’s stubborn refusal.

And his refusal wasn’t limited to looking. Michael kept strictly to their deal, unwilling to talk except to mumble his orders to the waiter. He took the wine list, and scanned all the way down to the most expensive listing.

“I’ll take that one, bring the bottle.”

“Sir, have you chosen an entrée? It is customary to-”

“I'm not concerned with pairing.” He passed the wine list back to the waiter and returned to ignoring Vivian. At least he shared the wine. Vivian groused as the waiter pouted them each a glass.

This quiet dinner was my idea, Vivian conceded, but the reality of it wasn’t working out. She’d hoped that he’d loosen up slightly once she got him here, had a glass of wine, smelled some of the food as it passed the table, maybe she could make some progress. According to Ruby, Vivian would have to spend a night in his suite soon and if this was all she could get, then that was liable to be a hellish experience. Time passed in tortured silence. Even when the entrées arrived, there was no change.

Vivian gripped the side of the table with her free hand, a large part of her magic-influenced brain screaming for his approval. Stop it. Stop it. She stared at him, willing him to look back. Needing him to. But he would not, he continued to quietly eat his food. Another half-hour of this? Fuck it. Vivian went straight for his jugular.

“Do you know why I took your clients?”

Outwardly he maintained his poker face, but rage flashed. Subtly, so little that she wouldn’t have noticed it without Ruby’s transformation. But he does want to know. He won’t be able to resist. At this point, any attention is good attention. And we’re in public so that should keep a lid on things.

Vivian waited and continued to sip her wine, without breaking eye contact. She’d made the first move, she needed to let Michael come to her now. To take the bait. If she continued without a prompt from him, she’d look **** to explain herself. Weak.

“Yeah, ok.” Michael blinked first, and his seething resentment came through in every syllable. “I do want to know that. I brought you in, made you my right-hand, and then you fucked me. Why did you fuck me, Vivian?” The waiter, arriving to drop off their entrees, raised an eyebrow at that comment. Vivian made a mental note that he’d opened with a sexual double entendre. But, back to the matter at hand.

“Because I could. Because when I see an opportunity, I seize it. And I thought you were the same.”

“I’m disgusted that you ever thought we were the same.”

“Me too.” Indifference, even feigned indifference, was the killer. Anger, she could work with. “Do you remember when we met? At the conference in Seattle? You commanded the room.” Build him up a bit. “I saw a lot of potential for us… together.” He started the double-talk. Leave my response ambiguous, let him fill in the gaps.

“So your plan to screw me started the day we met?” Perfect, he threw the ambiguity right back at me again.

“Of course not, I wanted to succeed. You, Axiomatic, you were that opportunity.”

“Then what?”

“You got scared of something, and I could never figure out what it was. I kept working my ass off, but you started scuttling my deals. Canceling contracts.”

“You were chasing lottery tickets, Vivian. You can’t build a business like that. There are no shortcuts.”

“Shortcuts?! Michael, I spent six months taking night classes in Mandarin to close that Chinese deal, and you killed it in the crib!”

“That company was a hollow shell, the checks would have bounced and we would have been out hundreds of thousands.”

“I closed that same deal with Solar Flare, so far it’s made us $1.6 million and counting.” Vivian poured herself the last glass of wine in the bottle before Michael could claim it, and leaned back to wait for his reaction to that. Given the state of his company Ruby described, that deal would have been a game-changer. She managed to avoid a smug look, but the implied ‘Fuck you, I told you so’ hung over the table regardless. The two went silent again, breaking it only for Vivian to order them a pair of gin-and-tonics before Michael could speak. Another cheap power move, but an important one. Each held out for the other to crack and admit they were wrong, and the brinksmanship continued.

Meanwhile, in another room of the restaurant, out of view of the pair, Al sat at the bar drinking a mint julep and enjoying the reactions of the people griping about his cigar.

“You can’t even smoke in the Big Easy anymore, baby. This world’s gone to shit.” Al complained to the bartender, who was clearly deciding that no tip was worth dealing with this asshole. The bartender smiled politely at the foul man on his stool, and tried to shimmy away to another customer. But when Al called him back, his feet involuntarily walked him right back to pour another drink.

Michael’s waiter came and went from the service station with their order, and Al flagged him down as he was leaving.

“Hey, baby, you got a table with a couple out there? Guy that looks like he’s got a stick a mile up his ass with a lady that looks like she’d sell her own babies?” Al waved his fingers and the waiter’s eyes went glassy. When he answered, it was in an unsettled monotone.

“Yes, those are my patrons. They do not seem to like each other.”

“You don’t know the half.” Al reached into his coat, and pulled out a small bag with pills lifted from the bottle on Danica’s nightstand - Aroucin. But that name meant nothing to the waiter. “These oughta help loosen things up over there.” Al casually dropped a pill each into Michael and Vivian’s cocktails, and they quickly dissolved into a flavorless, odorless mixture.

“You can’t do that!” The bartender hissed from behind them, but as Al waved him off his eyes took on the same vacant expression as the waiter.

“Mind your own business, these idiots both deserve it. In fact…” Al cracked another pill in half, and added it to one of the drinks. “Give that one to the blonde. I’m not letting her toss away a win twice.” Once the waiter was on his way, Al downed his drink in one gulp and casually made his way towards a side door. The bartender regained enough of his faculties to demand payment for the large number of drinks the fat man had consumed in an alarmingly short amount of time.

Al passed a redhead seated on a stool, who leaned away from him with a grimace as he passed. She reminded him of Ruby just enough, so he pinched her on the ass without breaking stride. “Put ‘em on her tab.” Al slipped out the door and back to his own limo, whistling as he went.

Vivian and Michael barely broke their staredown to collect the drinks when they were served. The waiter, hoping to get his money before the blowout that seemed inevitable, left the ticket as well. Vivian pulled chips from her purse and casually counted out the large amount necessary to cover it. It was an eye-popping number, even by her standards, but she couldn’t let his simple manipulations appear to wound her. So she placed the stack on the tray and smiled at Michael. Can’t get to me.

Once again, Michael broke first. I knew he would. Vivian thought, but instead of engaging, he withdrew.

“Well, I did what you asked, even though you didn’t deserve it. Call the limo and we can end this farce.” He picked up his drink and began to down it quickly. Vivian cringed to see someone almost chugging a gin drink, but her own competitiveness made her do the same. The **** burned furiously on the way down, even top-shelf liquor was not meant to be consumed like this. She tipped her head back and finished it in several very unladylike swallows, then slammed the tumbler to the table in a triumphant move. Michael sat there, grinning, having paused in the middle and finished the drink normally. That asshole knew I’d try to keep up with him. That I had to.

“That was childish.”

“Maybe a little,” he said, enjoying his small victory. “But I meant what I said, let’s go.”

“Fine.” Vivian tried to pull out the hotel-provided phone from her handbag, but was having a surprisingly hard time doing so. Apparently killing half a bottle of wine and speed-chugging a cocktail were too much for her these days. Just hold it together… She thought. Don’t want to give Michael the satisfaction of seeing me drunk.

Vivian wasn’t a practiced drinker, but this seemed… wrong. Her heart was racing and her cheeks flushed. Despite the amount of skin exposed by her dress, she suddenly felt very warm, more than even New Orleans’ heat could justify. But paradoxically her nipples were perky and pressing through the fabric. She grabbed at the ice water on the table and drank quickly, the excess spilled out from the sides of her lips and dribbled down her chin to her breasts, flowing down into her cleavage.

When she came up for air, she looked at Michael again and he appeared a completely different man. He was barely able to tear his eyes away from the liquid running down her heaving chest. Men had given Vivian thirsty looks before, but this was more than she’d ever received. Behind his eyes she could still see some of his anger and hatred, but there was something new there. And much more powerful. Raw, animal desire.

“Call the limo. Now.” He ordered, and a chill ran up Vivian’s spine. Nobody’s made me feel like this before… How come I never saw this potential in Michael?

She bit back the urge to respond ‘Yes, sir,’ but she obeyed all the same. She stood to leave and Michael gripped her bicep and guided her. She’d never have allowed this possessive behavior from a lover, but she felt like putty right now. The limousine was waiting at the valet stand, and the door popped open as they approached.

Now, lacking any understanding of these two or the human condition, observers such as the stunned guests would be hard-pressed to tell if the pair were passionate lovers or locked in mortal combat. To the two participants, there wasn’t much of a difference. Michael shoved Vivian into the door, and she landed on her back on the rear bench seat of the limo. Michael pounced on top of her immediately, their lips met and his tongue pressed into her mouth. All this before the door had closed and the limo slid away from the curb.

Vivian pushed him away and slapped him across the mouth.

“How dare you?” She demanded, but with a wide grin. She tried to slap him again, but this time he caught her wrist.

“I saw an opportunity, and I seized it.” He said, moving in for another kiss. Vivian, laying along the seat, wedged her leg against the back and rolled both of them off the bench and to the floor of the limo. She slapped him again with her free hand, then dove in for another kiss - this time with her own tongue doing the invading. She bit his lower lip slightly as she pulled away. Vivian twisted her arms free of his grip and then pushed her weight forward onto his shoulders, pressing her breasts onto his face and pinning him to the floor of the limo with no leverage.

“Come on, Michael! Are you a lion or a house cat?!” She taunted, dragging her breasts across his face.

Insulting the Master -3
Assaulting the Master -5
Come on though, he’s totally into it +9

Michael was stronger than Vivian, but she was straddling his torso and he struggled to get his arms under him. Instead, he reached above his head to push off, sliding underneath her. Then he grabbed her hips and hoisted her off so that he could climb free. The two scrambled into a kneeling position, panting like animals sizing each other up. Vivian’s thoughts were jumbled and superficial, moves and countermoves lost to an overwhelming surge of lust. The tent pitched in Michael’s pants was a clear sign that he was riding that same wave.

They lunged simultaneously, wrapping their arms around each other. Vivian yanked and tugged at Michael’s sportcoat, then clawed across his back. He grabbed her hair and pulled her head back, exposing her throat so that he could rain kisses upon it.

“Yes, Michael! YES, MICHAEL!” She yelled. When he broke the kiss, she slapped him again. He shoved her to the floor and out of slapping distance for a minute’s reprieve. Vivian licked her lips in a long slow motion, never breaking eye contact with Michael. Their staredown had taken on a completely different dimension now. Still competitive, still filled with the need to take victory, but upon a whole new battlefield. Vivian slowly rolled over onto her hands and knees, pulling up the rear of her dress to expose her soaking thong underwear. Still staring at him over her shoulder, assuming a submissive position but with a confident wink all the same. The implication was clear: This is your opportunity.

Michael seized it.

Ruby

Ruby could barely watch through the gaps in her fingers. How had their date gone so horribly fucking right?! From the very minute the two laid eyes on each other, she figured the only way this could have ended was in a fight. But not with them fucking in the middle of it?!?

On the screen, Michael knelt behind Vivian, fucking her from behind with primal energy. He gripped a fistful of her hair and used it to pull her back onto him with every thrust. And the look on her face was no less orgasmic than his. My best laid plans up in smoke, and now Al’s team is gonna-

Sex with Master +10
Hate Sex +7

“Goddamn it.” She said under her breath as Vivian casually slid up the leaderboard into first place. Al chose that moment to saunter into the VIP lounge.

“Sorry, had to give my girls some final pointers. Mallory was surprisingly hard to track down. What’d I miss?” He said, though his giant smirk was clearly visible through the smoke clouding his body.

“Don’t pretend like you don’t know.” Ruby whined, jumping from her chair..

“I don’t know what you’re talking about.” Al shrugged, his punchable face hung tantalizingly just within Ruby’s wingspan, begging for her fist to knock the taunt right off.

“Michael and Vivian were ready to stab each other with the butter knives and now look at them!” Ruby gestured at the screen, where the two had shifted position and continued to hammer away at each other.

“Ah, I see my advice worked! Don’t blame me if you couldn’t see their love connection.” Al flopped down in his easy chair, gesturing for Ruby to move as she was blocking the television.

“You can’t be fucking serious, Al. This is obvious cheating! A forfeit!” Ruby gestured wildly at the tangle of limbs and genitals on the screen. “Just look at them!”

“I would if you could get yourself out of the way.” Just because he told me to. Ruby planted herself dead center of the screen, arms crossed, Al stopped trying to look around her. “Come on Rubes, if you’re gonna kick a hornet’s nest you’d better prepare yourself to get stung. I think the Producers would be real interested to know why Ronnie ended up batting top of the order with Mallory on clean up. I am preeeeeetty sure those girls agreed to a different arrangement.”

He doesn’t know the whole story. He can’t, or I’d already be… She couldn’t even finish the thought. But she felt like Wile E. Coyote, out off the cliff, floating in the air just as long as she didn’t look down.

“Take the L, sweetheart.” Al says, tapping the lounger meant for her. “Have a seat and relax, we still got a whole night with Mallory ahead of us.”

There was nothing, no activity on Earth or anywhere else, that Ruby wanted to do less than sit with Al and watch the rest of Michael’s day. But, as long as she sat here in the room with him, she could at least be sure he wasn’t out making things worse. So she glumly sat down, balled her fists, and watched Vivian and Michael continue fucking each other’s brains out.