Fade to Blonde (2/5ish)
Mar. 6th, 2014 07:19 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
amberfocusTitle: Fade to Blonde (2/5ish)
Author:![[livejournal.com profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/external/lj-userinfo.gif)
amberfocus
Characters/Pairings: Ninth Doctor/Rose Tyler, Jack Harkness, Donna Noble, Jackie Tyler, the Moxx of Balhoon
Genre: Detective potboiler, action/adventure, romance, alternate reality, noir
Rating: Teen
Betas:amyo67
Summary: An heiress doesn't come home and a mother is worried. What's she to do but hire the finest private detective on the Eastern Seaboard to track her daughter down? Set during an abolitionist period in an alternate reality.
Author's Notes: This might take more than 3 chapters. I'm having too much fun with it.
Previous Chapter: http://amberfocus.livejournal.com/592647.html
Chapter Two
Henrick’s was smoky, the heavy, acrid scent of cigars thick in the air. Probably Cubans, though I wouldn’t be able to tell if they weren’t. Never saw the sense of those things, but everyone has their crutch. Alcohol flowed freely and I was tempted to spill a bit of money on some high shelf bourbon. Mrs. Tyler had said she’d reimburse expenses and after all, dropping some serious coin in a place like this would get me noticed by the right people. Or the wrong people. It was the wrong people who paid the Captain’s bills when he wasn’t blowing his own horn.
Donna had entered separately from me and was already flirting her way through the bartenders looking for the right one; the one who would spill his guts. I had my own way of doing things. Asking too many questions or showing Rose’s photo around wasn’t the way to go here. I had to let them come to me. I gave in to my needs and ordered a drink. The bourbon went down slow and smooth as I surveyed the club. Aside from the bar and it’s long, gleaming mahogany countertop, booths spread across two walls and the highly polished floor in the middle was left open for dancing.
I saw him then, the one called the Captain. He was dressed in a grey-blue suit, a bowler hat fitted down over hair that was starting to curl up at the bottom. He was in need of a proper haircut. His lips were strong and powerful as he lifted his trumpet to his mouth and played it just enough to warm up. When he put his horn down it was to talk to a barmaid. His face dimpled when he smiled. Never trust a man with dimples, at least not a man as good looking as that.
I glanced around the room searching for the errant Tyler girl. I didn’t see her anywhere, but I waited patiently, biding my time. I did, however see Moxx Balhoon. I wasn’t surprised. Henrick’s was his most popular club, mostly because of the Captain and his magical trumpet. I didn’t like that he was here. Worse yet, he saw me. That could mean trouble. Especially for Rose Tyler.
Moxx was a small man, but a big time gangster and ran Peter “Big Pete” Tyler’s less than legal pursuits, not to mention a few of his own. Everyone knew he wanted to take over, wanted to hurt the big man badly because of a hundred imagined slights, and one real one. Donna had reminded me of it on our way here. Moxxie and Mr. Tyler’s sister had had quite a thing going for a while until the boss man put a kibosh on it, told him that it was either the girl or the business. Moxxie chose the business, but he’d never forgiven or forgotten.
Moxxie could hold a grudge with the best of them, which was one reason I didn’t like to cross paths with him. Not only was he Donna’s uncle, but he was her godfather as well, which made things difficult on both sides. Still, it was probably the only reason I wasn’t wearing concrete shoes somewhere at the bottom of the river. I’d run afoul of him on more than one occasion, working cases that came into direct conflict with his businesses. I would be sleeping with those fishes despite Donna if I wasn't careful. Some days I just didn't care enough to be careful.
He was surrounded by his thugs, all dressed the same, all alike in facial features to the point where a generic description given about one would match any of the others. He whispered into the ear of one of his men and he made his way over to me. “Mr. Balhoon requests your company,” the man said. His tone left no room for argument and I could see the outline of his weapon bulging under his suit jacket.
I swallowed down the last of my bourbon in a hasty gulp. It’s not the way bourbon was meant to be drunk, but considering what I’d paid for it I wasn’t about to leave it behind. I followed the thug over to Moxxie’s table and he indicated I should sit down.
“Not a good place for you to be tonight,” he said amiably.
“Sometimes a man needs a drink.”
“Sometimes a man needs to be snug and warm in his bed at home.” His voice had lost its warmth.
I frowned. “It’s not like you to seek after my comfort,” I said.
“I like you, Doc,” I cringed at the nickname, “despite your alliances. You take good care of my Donna so I’m giving you fair warning. There’s a war coming and it starts tonight. You should leave. And take her with you.” His eyes followed my secretary as she charmed her way through the musicians, but avoided the Captain altogether.
“I’ve never been one to do what I should do. I’ll leave when I’m ready,” I said with narrowed eyes.
“So be it,” he said. He settled back in his chair. “Have you heard the Captain play?” he asked. “He makes the night…explosive.”
I didn’t like the way that sounded or the evil grin on his face. Moxxie had a reputation for blowing things up and not getting caught. I wouldn’t put it past him to blow up his own place if it suited his needs.
I saw her then as she strolled across the dance floor and all of a sudden I stopped caring about what Moxx might do. Rose Tyler. Her photograph was nothing compared to the real thing. She was drop dead beautiful. I wasn’t the only one who noticed. Moxx was on his feet and across the floor in a heartbeat. He grabbed Rose by the arm and spun her around.
“I told you to be here an hour ago, doll.”
I don’t know what possessed me, but I was there before I even noticed I’d gotten up. “Unhand the lady,” I said.
“Back off, Doc,” he said as Rose twisted out of his grasp. “She’s hardly a lady.” To Rose he said, “If you know what’s good for you, you’ll get up on that stage and start singing.”
“Don’t tell me what to do,” Rose said, her eyes flashing with fire as she put her hands on her hips and glared him down. She hadn’t even bothered to look at me, her angry focus completely on Balhoon.
I wasn’t the only one to notice the commotion and the Captain rose from his seat and casually strolled over. “Sit down, Moxx,” he ordered in a voice that seemed not to care whether or not his order was followed. “The lady’s with me tonight.”
“Just get her singing,” Moxx said, but he let go of Rose’s arm.
Rose turned angry eyes on the Captain. “I’m not with you, Jack,” she said. “I think that’s Millie. Or Grace. Or Laura.” Her eyes narrowed. “Or Felipe.”
“And,” said the Captain with a smug smile. “Not or.”
Now she finally glanced my way. “Well, hello,” she said, her voice turning to the soft purr of a kitten. She looked me up and down in a way, that to be honest, I’d only ever seen men do to women. Then she smiled. “Now don’t you go anywhere,” she said. “I’m going to want to talk to you after I sing.”
She followed the Captain back to the stage, sauntered more than anything, a bit more sauciness in her hips than I think is normal for a woman in polite company, but there was nothing polite about this place. I grabbed another bourbon and made my way to the booth closest to the stage.
The orchestra finished tuning up and Rose stepped up to the giant microphone. They began to play a familiar song, the fancy Captain’s trumpet leading the way.
“Soon, my dear,” she sang staring directly at him. “You’ll never be lonely.”
I smiled and she gave me a cheeky grin in return.
“Soon you’ll find I live for you only.”
Donna sighed and sat down across from me in the booth, but I didn’t take my eyes off of Rose.
“When I’m with you who cares what time it is?” Rose crooned. “Or what the place or what the climate is?”
I watched her take in a deep breath, her fitted red velvet dress straining for just a moment in an eye-popping way. “Oh, soon…our little ship will come sailing, home through every storm, never failing. The day you’re mine this world will be in tune…let’s make that day come soon.”
I kept staring at Rose, but said softly to Donna, “What did you find out?”
“I’m not sure.”
“What do you mean?”
“Well, the girl isn’t dating the Captain, though not for lack of his trying. She had a thing for him for a while, but got annoyed when she saw him going into a back room with a couple of the bar maids a couple of weeks ago,” Donna said.
“So why is she hanging around this dive?” I asked.
Donna stirred her straw around in her drink. Condensation rolled down the sides of the glass and onto the table. “Moxxie’s got something on her. Everybody implied it, but nobody would come right out and say what it was. Whatever it is, though, she’s too independent to go home and ask her parents for help. Or too scared.”
Rose swayed her hips as the music rose again on an instrumental riff and I swallowed hard. “Let’s make that day come soon…”
Rose finally broke eye contact with me as the band moved into a new song and she began to sing again.
“What did you find out?” Donna asked in return.
“Moxxie doesn’t want me here, but that’s not unusual. He doesn’t want you here either.”
Donna laughed. “Poor old Uncle Moxx, as if I’ve ever done what he’s wanted.”
“He’s making her sing.”
“You sure about that? She’s got the pipes. Maybe she’s just wanting a little walk on the wild side,” Donna asked.
“It sounded like she didn’t have much of a choice. He was upset with her for being late.”
Donna frowned. “I could go talk to him.”
“He’s in a bad mood,” I said.
“I can still try.” Donna got up determined to do her own thing.
I’d barely realized that the music had stopped when I felt a hand on my arm and looked up into pure loveliness. Rose Tyler.
“Care to dance?” she asked
“There’s no music,” I said dumbly. She held out her hand anyway and I took it, rising to my feet.
“Hit it, Captain,” she said giving him a saucy wink. Harkness gave her one more look full of…regret, maybe, before retreating to the stage. A moment later the music struck up, and the opening bars of “I’m in the Mood for Love,” filled the club. Suddenly I had an armful of soft and pliant young blonde.
“I’m Rose Tyler,” she said.
“I’m Doctor Smith.”
“So formal,” she said. “What’s your name?” I shrugged and she laughed. “A man of mystery. I like that.”
“Your mother hired me to keep you safe.” It was the wrong thing to say. The girl stiffened in my arms, but she didn’t pull out of them.
“Why does everyone think I need to be kept safe?” she demanded. “Maybe I like an element of danger.” I noticed Moxx and his thugs leaving and all of my senses went on high alert.
“More than an element here,” I said and she laughed. “You should let me take you home,” I said.
She laughed again. “You couldn’t handle me, Doctor,” she said. I blushed furiously. I could feel my ears turning pink.
“That’s not what I meant. Your mother--.”
“Oh, my mother is an over protective nervous Nellie,” Rose said. “And I’m an adult, if you hadn’t noticed. You are ruining a perfectly good dance.”
I shut up then, and Rose snuggled closer. It felt strange holding her, like I’d done it before a thousand times. There was something right about this dame’s body next to mine. We’d both relaxed completely when the rat-a-tat of a Tommy gun echoed from outside.
The next thing I knew the club was full of smoke and screaming and Rose was pulling away from me. I couldn’t lose her in the chaos, but before I even had time to think about it she was gone.
Ch. 3:
Author:
amberfocusCharacters/Pairings: Ninth Doctor/Rose Tyler, Jack Harkness, Donna Noble, Jackie Tyler, the Moxx of Balhoon
Genre: Detective potboiler, action/adventure, romance, alternate reality, noir
Rating: Teen
Betas:
amyo67Summary: An heiress doesn't come home and a mother is worried. What's she to do but hire the finest private detective on the Eastern Seaboard to track her daughter down? Set during an abolitionist period in an alternate reality.
Author's Notes: This might take more than 3 chapters. I'm having too much fun with it.
Previous Chapter: http://amberfocus.livejournal.com/592647.html
Henrick’s was smoky, the heavy, acrid scent of cigars thick in the air. Probably Cubans, though I wouldn’t be able to tell if they weren’t. Never saw the sense of those things, but everyone has their crutch. Alcohol flowed freely and I was tempted to spill a bit of money on some high shelf bourbon. Mrs. Tyler had said she’d reimburse expenses and after all, dropping some serious coin in a place like this would get me noticed by the right people. Or the wrong people. It was the wrong people who paid the Captain’s bills when he wasn’t blowing his own horn.
Donna had entered separately from me and was already flirting her way through the bartenders looking for the right one; the one who would spill his guts. I had my own way of doing things. Asking too many questions or showing Rose’s photo around wasn’t the way to go here. I had to let them come to me. I gave in to my needs and ordered a drink. The bourbon went down slow and smooth as I surveyed the club. Aside from the bar and it’s long, gleaming mahogany countertop, booths spread across two walls and the highly polished floor in the middle was left open for dancing.
I saw him then, the one called the Captain. He was dressed in a grey-blue suit, a bowler hat fitted down over hair that was starting to curl up at the bottom. He was in need of a proper haircut. His lips were strong and powerful as he lifted his trumpet to his mouth and played it just enough to warm up. When he put his horn down it was to talk to a barmaid. His face dimpled when he smiled. Never trust a man with dimples, at least not a man as good looking as that.
I glanced around the room searching for the errant Tyler girl. I didn’t see her anywhere, but I waited patiently, biding my time. I did, however see Moxx Balhoon. I wasn’t surprised. Henrick’s was his most popular club, mostly because of the Captain and his magical trumpet. I didn’t like that he was here. Worse yet, he saw me. That could mean trouble. Especially for Rose Tyler.
Moxx was a small man, but a big time gangster and ran Peter “Big Pete” Tyler’s less than legal pursuits, not to mention a few of his own. Everyone knew he wanted to take over, wanted to hurt the big man badly because of a hundred imagined slights, and one real one. Donna had reminded me of it on our way here. Moxxie and Mr. Tyler’s sister had had quite a thing going for a while until the boss man put a kibosh on it, told him that it was either the girl or the business. Moxxie chose the business, but he’d never forgiven or forgotten.
Moxxie could hold a grudge with the best of them, which was one reason I didn’t like to cross paths with him. Not only was he Donna’s uncle, but he was her godfather as well, which made things difficult on both sides. Still, it was probably the only reason I wasn’t wearing concrete shoes somewhere at the bottom of the river. I’d run afoul of him on more than one occasion, working cases that came into direct conflict with his businesses. I would be sleeping with those fishes despite Donna if I wasn't careful. Some days I just didn't care enough to be careful.
He was surrounded by his thugs, all dressed the same, all alike in facial features to the point where a generic description given about one would match any of the others. He whispered into the ear of one of his men and he made his way over to me. “Mr. Balhoon requests your company,” the man said. His tone left no room for argument and I could see the outline of his weapon bulging under his suit jacket.
I swallowed down the last of my bourbon in a hasty gulp. It’s not the way bourbon was meant to be drunk, but considering what I’d paid for it I wasn’t about to leave it behind. I followed the thug over to Moxxie’s table and he indicated I should sit down.
“Not a good place for you to be tonight,” he said amiably.
“Sometimes a man needs a drink.”
“Sometimes a man needs to be snug and warm in his bed at home.” His voice had lost its warmth.
I frowned. “It’s not like you to seek after my comfort,” I said.
“I like you, Doc,” I cringed at the nickname, “despite your alliances. You take good care of my Donna so I’m giving you fair warning. There’s a war coming and it starts tonight. You should leave. And take her with you.” His eyes followed my secretary as she charmed her way through the musicians, but avoided the Captain altogether.
“I’ve never been one to do what I should do. I’ll leave when I’m ready,” I said with narrowed eyes.
“So be it,” he said. He settled back in his chair. “Have you heard the Captain play?” he asked. “He makes the night…explosive.”
I didn’t like the way that sounded or the evil grin on his face. Moxxie had a reputation for blowing things up and not getting caught. I wouldn’t put it past him to blow up his own place if it suited his needs.
I saw her then as she strolled across the dance floor and all of a sudden I stopped caring about what Moxx might do. Rose Tyler. Her photograph was nothing compared to the real thing. She was drop dead beautiful. I wasn’t the only one who noticed. Moxx was on his feet and across the floor in a heartbeat. He grabbed Rose by the arm and spun her around.
“I told you to be here an hour ago, doll.”
I don’t know what possessed me, but I was there before I even noticed I’d gotten up. “Unhand the lady,” I said.
“Back off, Doc,” he said as Rose twisted out of his grasp. “She’s hardly a lady.” To Rose he said, “If you know what’s good for you, you’ll get up on that stage and start singing.”
“Don’t tell me what to do,” Rose said, her eyes flashing with fire as she put her hands on her hips and glared him down. She hadn’t even bothered to look at me, her angry focus completely on Balhoon.
I wasn’t the only one to notice the commotion and the Captain rose from his seat and casually strolled over. “Sit down, Moxx,” he ordered in a voice that seemed not to care whether or not his order was followed. “The lady’s with me tonight.”
“Just get her singing,” Moxx said, but he let go of Rose’s arm.
Rose turned angry eyes on the Captain. “I’m not with you, Jack,” she said. “I think that’s Millie. Or Grace. Or Laura.” Her eyes narrowed. “Or Felipe.”
“And,” said the Captain with a smug smile. “Not or.”
Now she finally glanced my way. “Well, hello,” she said, her voice turning to the soft purr of a kitten. She looked me up and down in a way, that to be honest, I’d only ever seen men do to women. Then she smiled. “Now don’t you go anywhere,” she said. “I’m going to want to talk to you after I sing.”
She followed the Captain back to the stage, sauntered more than anything, a bit more sauciness in her hips than I think is normal for a woman in polite company, but there was nothing polite about this place. I grabbed another bourbon and made my way to the booth closest to the stage.
The orchestra finished tuning up and Rose stepped up to the giant microphone. They began to play a familiar song, the fancy Captain’s trumpet leading the way.
“Soon, my dear,” she sang staring directly at him. “You’ll never be lonely.”
I smiled and she gave me a cheeky grin in return.
“Soon you’ll find I live for you only.”
Donna sighed and sat down across from me in the booth, but I didn’t take my eyes off of Rose.
“When I’m with you who cares what time it is?” Rose crooned. “Or what the place or what the climate is?”
I watched her take in a deep breath, her fitted red velvet dress straining for just a moment in an eye-popping way. “Oh, soon…our little ship will come sailing, home through every storm, never failing. The day you’re mine this world will be in tune…let’s make that day come soon.”
I kept staring at Rose, but said softly to Donna, “What did you find out?”
“I’m not sure.”
“What do you mean?”
“Well, the girl isn’t dating the Captain, though not for lack of his trying. She had a thing for him for a while, but got annoyed when she saw him going into a back room with a couple of the bar maids a couple of weeks ago,” Donna said.
“So why is she hanging around this dive?” I asked.
Donna stirred her straw around in her drink. Condensation rolled down the sides of the glass and onto the table. “Moxxie’s got something on her. Everybody implied it, but nobody would come right out and say what it was. Whatever it is, though, she’s too independent to go home and ask her parents for help. Or too scared.”
Rose swayed her hips as the music rose again on an instrumental riff and I swallowed hard. “Let’s make that day come soon…”
Rose finally broke eye contact with me as the band moved into a new song and she began to sing again.
“What did you find out?” Donna asked in return.
“Moxxie doesn’t want me here, but that’s not unusual. He doesn’t want you here either.”
Donna laughed. “Poor old Uncle Moxx, as if I’ve ever done what he’s wanted.”
“He’s making her sing.”
“You sure about that? She’s got the pipes. Maybe she’s just wanting a little walk on the wild side,” Donna asked.
“It sounded like she didn’t have much of a choice. He was upset with her for being late.”
Donna frowned. “I could go talk to him.”
“He’s in a bad mood,” I said.
“I can still try.” Donna got up determined to do her own thing.
I’d barely realized that the music had stopped when I felt a hand on my arm and looked up into pure loveliness. Rose Tyler.
“Care to dance?” she asked
“There’s no music,” I said dumbly. She held out her hand anyway and I took it, rising to my feet.
“Hit it, Captain,” she said giving him a saucy wink. Harkness gave her one more look full of…regret, maybe, before retreating to the stage. A moment later the music struck up, and the opening bars of “I’m in the Mood for Love,” filled the club. Suddenly I had an armful of soft and pliant young blonde.
“I’m Rose Tyler,” she said.
“I’m Doctor Smith.”
“So formal,” she said. “What’s your name?” I shrugged and she laughed. “A man of mystery. I like that.”
“Your mother hired me to keep you safe.” It was the wrong thing to say. The girl stiffened in my arms, but she didn’t pull out of them.
“Why does everyone think I need to be kept safe?” she demanded. “Maybe I like an element of danger.” I noticed Moxx and his thugs leaving and all of my senses went on high alert.
“More than an element here,” I said and she laughed. “You should let me take you home,” I said.
She laughed again. “You couldn’t handle me, Doctor,” she said. I blushed furiously. I could feel my ears turning pink.
“That’s not what I meant. Your mother--.”
“Oh, my mother is an over protective nervous Nellie,” Rose said. “And I’m an adult, if you hadn’t noticed. You are ruining a perfectly good dance.”
I shut up then, and Rose snuggled closer. It felt strange holding her, like I’d done it before a thousand times. There was something right about this dame’s body next to mine. We’d both relaxed completely when the rat-a-tat of a Tommy gun echoed from outside.
The next thing I knew the club was full of smoke and screaming and Rose was pulling away from me. I couldn’t lose her in the chaos, but before I even had time to think about it she was gone.
Ch. 3:
![[identity profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/openid.png){kind=small}
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Date: 2014-03-07 04:37 am (UTC)no subject
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Date: 2014-03-09 05:50 pm (UTC)AHHH! What a cliffhanger! Looking forward to what ever happens next!