somethin's gotta g i v e | [ aaron ]

[Lane McClellan]

It was going to be a long night, Lane could see it now. As she walked down the steps of the saloon from the top floor, she looked at every single cowboy hat there. There were at least eighty in the small room. Lane made a face. What the hell was the occasion? She didn't know, and frankly didn't care. As long as she made a decent amount of money out of it, and no trouble was caused, she didn't give a damn about how many people waltzed in and out of the Blackbird Saloon. The dress that she wore was well fitted around her slim, curvy body. It was the color of dried blood; a deep red maroon that set off her fair skin, dark hair, and icy blue eyes. As soon as the toe of her heel touched the floor, the men closest to her automatically fixed their hungry eyes upon her. The dress was cut low, hanging off of her shoulders and exposing the plush swell of her chest, tightening at her waist to show her delicate curves and the roundness of her hips as they traveled down to her thighs. There was a slip in the dress, exposing her right leg; which was partially covered by a black lace garter.

Lane made her way around the bar, of course, letting everyone take notice of the sensual sway of her hips and the way her wavy, obsidian hair fluttered around her waist in shimmering lengths as she walked. Everything about Lane was seductive. Her full lips, her exotic blue eyes, the glow of her flawless skin, and the shape of her very womanly body. It's what kept her surviving though. Men loved the way she looked, and would pay bit for her to dance for only a little while as the music played. Men seemed to get the wrong idea about Lane though. She wasn't a whore; even though there was a brothel right down the street. If she wanted to, she could easily be, but that lifestyle didn't appeal to her. She liked to dance, and made just as much money as the girls down the street did. Lane would like to say she was untouched by a man, but sometimes, when you're young, you can't fight off a full-grown, druken man.

Like most of the women here, though, Lane had gotten many offers to be paid just a bit more than the other girls if she'd take a man or two upstairs and let them have some fun, but she refused. Other girls would do it, but not Lane. She has too much pride and too much spirit to let a man rut on her for a while, spit on her as he leaves, and leave her laying in regret and disgust. Reaching below the bar, Lane grabbed a glass, poured a touch of whiskey into it, and threw the shot back. It was routine for her. The warmth of whiskey seemed to loosen up her bones and make her feel more motivated to go dance for all the grimy men in the saloon, and sure enough, she was up on the barn in less than twenty minutes, dancing for every single set of eyes that walked into the Blackbird Saloon.

[Deleted]

The night was surprisingly cool and a breeze made it's way through the town. The nightlife was just starting, murmuring and laughing could be heard coming from The Blackbird Saloon as Aaron Anderson walked up to the door. Stepping inside he was met with a smoke filled, whiskey smelling dimly lit environment, nothing he wasn't used too. Keeping his hat on he weaved his way through the many tables of men playing cards, drinking and smoking. Ladies also made their rounds, draping themselves over the men's shoulders or refilling their drinks.

Aaron's blue eyes never wavered from the bar at the far end of the saloon. Once he reached it he slid himself onto an empty stool and leaned forward, he didn't say a word just held up two fingers. The bartender gave a nod before pouring a shot. Sliding it to Aaron who took it back without a moment's hesitation. Pouring another the bartender slid it towards the drifter before catering to another man that had sauntered up beside Aaron. He ignored the man as he downed the second shot. It burned his throat but it was a good pain, a pain that helped him forget. As the piano music started to fill the still rather loud saloon Aaron turned on the stool letting his eyes drift towards the large stage.

Letting his eyes take in a young woman with black hair and a dark red dress as she positioned herself inside of a makeshift wooden red prop barn, she was soon joined by two other girls, a redhead and a blonde. Aaron's eyes studied her as the music started to get faster. The hollering began and most men stopped the card games to take in the first dance of the night. As much as Aaron tried to turn back in his stool towards the bar and the whiskey he couldn't take his eyes off of the dark haired woman. Girl was more like it, she looked young, far too young to be here and away from her mama.

[Lane McClellan]

A girl Lane was not. She was all woman with luscious curves and a seductive look that a girl could never possess. A haughty grin fell upon her lips as she stepped down from the stage and began making her way through the bar, running her nails against the back of men's necks and brushing against them just to keep the show interesting. As she walked down the line of the bar, she saw a man sitting at the very end, watching her intently. She made her way towards him, not letting her own eyes leave his. She was bold, that's for sure. As she reached him, she walked behind him and plucked his hat off of his head, sitting it down on her own head. The shadow darkened her ice-blue eyes, but you could still see the glint of mischief lighting them up. As she turned to return towards the stage, she ran into a wall of flesh. Startled, she stumbled back slightly, bumping into the man whom she'd taken the hat from.

Irritation flared inside of her as she looked up at the drunk, swaying man that had blocked her path to the stage. C'mere, ya perty thang. he slurred, leaning down to grab her arm. She jerked out of his grip, and anger flashed on the man's face. I said c'mere ya bitch! he hollered. The piano stopped at the sudden ruckus, and the man lunged, getting a good grip on her arm. "Get off me!" Lane yelled, thrashing to get away from him. The man's hat that she had been wearing tumbled to the floor releasing her dark mass of hair. It fell across her face as she was picked up off of her feet. "No! Get your God-damned hands off of me!" Lane tried hitting him in the shin with her heel, but he had her too far off the ground. Well, she was screwed.

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[Deleted]

Aaron kept his calm, like he usually did in situations like this, or any situation, he wasn't a man to panic or get worked up etc. Keeping his cool his face placid as the young woman approached him here eyes never leaving his, and he made sure his never wavered from hers. When Aaron felt her behind him a faint smirk crept onto his strong features as she lifted the hat from his head to place it on her own. He watched his blue eyes unmoving before a large man cut off the young lady from the stage.

Aaron watched the situation unfold, but once the music stopped and shouting began Aaron was up and off the stool. walking up to the man he side stepped to avoid getting kicked by the young woman as the large man took her around the waist and attempted to make off somewhere with her. Aaron wasn't having any of it, true he wasn't a knight in shining armor, far from it. But he knew the right way and the wrong way to treat any woman.

"Ya'll better put her down now, less someone gets hurt" he reached out placing a hand on the large man's shoulder. "Push off!" he spat. Another man from one of the closer table's stood up, followed by the three that sat with him. In an instant they grabbed for the woman to pry her from the man, once they had her safe and on the wooden floor out of the drunken man's hands Aaron did not hesitate. He swag hitting the man square in the jaw, a crack could be heard as the man staggered backwards.

"Now I don't wanna hurt ya" Aaron cautioned before the cocking sound of a rifle could be heard, most of the patrons looked to the far back of the saloon, it was the bartender rifle in hand. "Now you just leave and there ain't going to be any trouble ya hear" he warned. The larger man looked to Aaron wiping at his bloody lip and spat a tooth onto the planked floor. He glanced to the bartender before wavering his way through the tables and left out the front doors.

Once the man left the talking began once more and the piano started up once again. The four men released the young woman gently before returning to their seats. Aaron glanced her over once before he turned and walked back to the stool at the bar, holding up two fingers. The bartender nodded and began pouring into two shot glasses.