Reap what you sow [Billy Ray/Dakota]

[Margaret Rosier]

She needed to get a hold of herself if there was any chance of coming out of her situation in a helpful way. Margaret had been given a few more moments inside the interrogation room to finish eating before one of the technahuman came back in the cart her off to what would be her home for at least the next thirty days. Maggie refused to make eye contact or utter a single word as she was reminded of the rules and tucked away into a car to take her to Stoney's Rockin' Country Dance Hall. There was a prickling sensation all along her skin the entire ride and as much as she wanted to shake the feeling Margaret was unable to. She wanted to go home, curl up in her own bed and then wake up to the realization that it had been nothing more than a bad dream. Looking on the bright side wasn't something that she did, it was all about what was beneficial and as of yet- her gut reaction- there was nothing about the reminder of home that would do that for her.

Gaze locked on the passing scene of the city as she was driven to the outer edge where Stoney's was located, Maggie couldn't help that sinking feeling in her stomach. What she needed was a friend; someone to understand and tell her that everything would be okay. But for the past fourteen years of her life she hadn't been able to afford trusting anyone enough to form any friendships and with her father presumably dead for the first time in her life Maggie felt truly alone. She hadn't anticipated that it would be as difficult a insight to deal with. Letting out a soft sigh the ride was otherwise silent, not even so much as a throat clearing from her escort, armed escort at that. She was slumped in the seat- like that would make any difference if she made herself unnoticeable.

Pulling up to the dance hall Maggie took another peek out the window waiting for the escort to come around and retrieve her, knowing better than to make any move that she hadn't been previously permitted to make. He was gentle enough while handling her, didn't squeeze onto her bicep too tightly or yank her from out of the car, but he was still careless and nothing but professional in everything about him, from his stance to the look on his face it all indicated strictly business. Margaret was ushered inside to be greeted with the western style dïcor. It was a friendly scene but to her that was nothing more than a cruel ruse to what it truly was. This place was going to be her prison for however long Billy Ray saw fit. The mere thought of it made her blue eyes twinkle like diamonds as the moisture that was gathering reflected the light in the place.

Maggie carefully tugged her arm away from the VSF agent that was holding onto her. "Please, I'm not going anywhere." She informed, submissively, which seemed to loosen the man's grasp enough for her to be allowed to slip out of it. Instead his hand moved to the small of her back guiding her through the crowd to be taken to her new master. The thought of that was so vile, people shouldn't be owned. It seemed like a big tease to have the atmosphere seem so chipper when she felt as dismal as she did. Pausing at a door, whether it was an office or something else she didn't know and didn't particularly care because Margaret assumed that once they passed through it she would have to face her fate. The VSF man knocked upon it and Maggie was forced to wait trying to decide what was worse. Having to wait to see the face of her master or seeing it all too soon.

[Billy Ray Blackwell]

“What do I need with a blood slave!” Billy Ray demanded of his father. “I’m human, remember?” he never ceased to remind his father of that. “Or are you finally going to let Grandfather turn me…” He waited as he father ran his hands through his hair, with that look he always got when he wanted to say yes but the answer was no. “That’s what I thought.”

“You need human companionship.” His father told him, “And Matthew can feed on her instead of you when you need a break. It’s not like you haven’t done it before and you won’t let him touch another man, even to feed.”

Billy sat back and put his feet on the desk. “Well, I don’t like it, and I don’t have to like it.” He protested.

“No, you don’t have to like it, but you will deal with it. As long as you are human, you will let me keep you safe. Do you hear me?” His father scolded him like a child. Billy huffed and folded his arms over his chest as the knock came to the door.

He watched as his father opened the door and let the woman in but not the VSF guard. “You can leave now, this is not your jurisdiction, we will take it from here. “Yes Marshall.” The VSF simply turned and walked away. “I’ll let you two get acquainted.” Billy Ray sat up, flabbergasted. “You ain’t just gonna leave her hear!” he called after his father as he shut the door, leaving him with the woman. Billy Ray refused to look at her. “I don’t need a human companion.” He grumbled. “I do just fine with Vampires.”

Billy Ray had no love for humans. He found them to be arrogant and hateful toward the only people in his life he ever knew; his family of vampires. He looked over at the woman, “I suppose you’re hungry or thirsty or something.” He muttered.

[Margaret Rosier]

Maggie paused just inside the door looking back at the VSF as he was told to be on his way. Though so was glad to be rid of him it also meant that she was stuck in her surrogate prison. As much as Margaret wanted to close herself off both emotionally and physically to the pair of men she was now with, she didn’t move a muscle fighting the urge to fold her arms across her chest, turn away from them, and refuse to speak a single word. She didn’t want to be here anymore than, who she assumed to be Billy Ray, wanted her to be based on the protest that he was so adamant about. Maybe Maggie should have been offended that he wouldn’t even so much as look at her yet, but she wasn’t. She simply envied that he could show those emotions of defiance while she had to, for her own good, internalize her distain toward the situation.

So she was to be a companion for Billy Ray, not be fed off of? Getting a better look at him, picking up on the vibe that he gave off Margaret was surprised to find that he was a human. How very curious that was. He was a sheep within the lion’s den. On a level she had respect for that. Though Maggie had the feeling that their intentions were vastly different, she could still relate to that. Why would he have dislike for his own species though? It meant that he was self-loathing and Margaret didn’t see that any way to go through life. She had done a laundry list of things that she didn’t particularly like in her lifetime but she had never gotten to the point where she felt so totally and completely disgusted with what she had become. Maggie knew that it was for a purpose- her father had told her so since she was old enough to properly understand.

Finally she was granted his attention once the vampire had left giving them, as he had suggested, opportunity to let them get acquainted. The pleasantry didn’t sound all that pleasant coming out of Billy Ray’s mouth. Margaret took a moment to muse over how she was going to treat the situation that she was in. Thirty days wasn’t too bad, or at least it could be made bearable if she behaved herself. Burying her true feelings had been something that Margaret practiced for the past fourteen years and by this point she was an expert on it. She just had to stop her thoughts from being bluntly put out there for everyone to know, put on a smile, and pretend as though she were content to do whatever bidding Billy Ray saw fit for her.

Raising her gaze to meet his as he spoke to her Maggie shook her head doing her best to come across as respectable as possible. ”No thank you. I’ve just eaten.” Mathias had been kind enough, if that was his intention, to replenish her before sentencing. She had lied to him, yes, but at the same time she had been truthful. Still, whether she had been right or wrong Margaret was still in the position that she now found herself and there was no turning back. ”What would you like me to do, sir?” Being under his control didn’t set well with Maggie, being tasked to do things and pretend to be okay with it wasn’t anything that she wanted to do, but it was meant to keep her out of trouble so her sentencing wouldn’t be extended and get her back to what she rightfully should have been doing.

[Billy Ray Blackwell]

As much as Billy Ray didn’t like the situation, he couldn’t take it out on this woman. She was probably scared to death or at least uncertain about her future. He didn’t want to make it worse by being a hardass. All of his family was full of good ol’ boys and the sooner she learned that, the sooner she could relax.

He didn’t trust her, that he could never do, but the head blood slave usually kept track of all of the others. Besides, being out of the city limits with the only way back to the city proper being a shuttle through an unprotected zone, she wasn’t going anywhere so the blood slaves pretty much had freedom of movement inside the club and the surrounding area. He decided he would just deal with it.

Billy Ray sighed and shook his head. “My father and grandfather are the ones you call sir…I’m Billy Ray.” He said in a more friendly tone. “I don’t want you to do anything, Miss.” He got up straightened his shirt. “Unless you want a beer, then come with me.” He added and moved around the door, past her and out the door into the hall, he paused and turned back to look at her.

“Look, I don’t want you here anymore than you want to be here. But I have to do what my father says so you best come with me. Who knows, maybe you’ll have some fun, the club is open and the busy time is comin’ up.” He stood there waiting for her and ran a hand through his blonde curls. “Who knows, you might even have some fun. My brothers love to dance and they have a show, all of them sing. Come on.” Maybe a beer would make him feel better, especially with a couple tequila chasers.

[Margaret Rosier]

There was always a chain of command. Margaret had learned that at a very young age out at Haven and it followed her into the city. This outpost at the edge wouldn’t be any different. She would always be beneath someone else and as laid back as their establishment might have been Maggie doubted that she would ever truly be so comfortable here that she lost sight of that universal truth. Pecking orders were a natural part of life. As it stood, on the evolutionary chart she would be above normal human but vampires still surpass her and demons surpassed them. Once Billy Ray dropped his attitude and offered something a bit friendlier to her she found him to be almost soothing. Something about that twang of his accent seemed casual and trustworthy. Both were dangerous for her to indulge in.

He was a curious character. Those who owned blood slaves tended to put them to work in one way or another and she was skeptical about whether or not he was on the up and up of things. It was all good and well calling him by his given name rather than some official title, but who was his father and grandfather? From the way the vampire earlier had spoken to him and how Billy Ray had listened she imagined that he had been one or the other. She nodded deciding not to ask any questions about that. Instead observation would have to be key and treading carefully. If Margaret kept respectable no matter who she was dealing with, Billy Ray included she couldn’t go wrong. She nodded to show her understanding. Things would come together given time.

A beer? That would have been nice actually. Watching him move across the room to the door she stayed put though. Just as she was about to let her emotions betray her Maggie reined it in keeping a blank expression. Having fun? How was anything about her situation going to be fun? From what Bill ray said though she was getting the impression that she could just throw herself into the party of the crowd, dance, mingle, whatever she wanted. Needless to say, Margaret was more than a little shocked about the news. She responded to his beckoning venturing to the door to follow his lead. Despite their mutual dislike of her being there at least Billy Ray was trying. Giving him the cold shoulder didn’t seem like all that great of a tactic.

Looking up at him from underneath her long lashed she returned the friendliness. ”I’m Maggie.” The VSF hadn’t given them any information about her and she doubted that the chef had told them either so it was up to her to introduce herself. She assumed that he had told her about his brothers’ love of dancing for a reason, like she would be passed around on the dance floor between them if she decided to get out there. If they were anything like Billy Ray was shaping up to be- that good ole country boy type that treated women with respect and had a rough around the edges kindness to them then it seemed likely that it would be the case. ”What about you?” She questioned. ”Do you sing too?”

[Billy Ray Blackwell]

Billy Ray was glad she was not a spoiled brat like most of the city humans he had come into contact with, or a total closed minded bitch like the rebels they ran into a few months back. They had wanted to kill his family but they outnumbered them. They even went so far as to try to 'rescue' Billy Ray from the only family he had ever known. They had called him a traitor to his race. They were the traitors, what every happened to live and let live?

He was glad when she decided to come with him and he shortened his long easy strides so she could keep up with him. "Nice to meet you Maggie." he said cordially like a gentleman should. "Sure, I sing, just trying being raised by 13 crooning cowboys and see if you don't learn to sing." he said with a jovial laugh. He was starting to relax, maybe it was knowing he could relax once he started having a couple beers.

As they reached the bar, he saw one of his brothers chugging on a tall glass of blood. That didn't look good, not since it was Dakota. "That's my brother Dakota, we call him Koty." he said quietly to Maggie and slid onto a bar stool.

"What'll it be Billy Ray." the bartender asked with a toothy smile.

"Beer, make it two." he held up two fingers, "This is Maggie, Maggie, this here is my brother Jake." he smiled as Jake reached a hand out to her, "Nice to meet you Maggie." he said then quickly went to get their beers. He looked at the stage and smiled, "That's Lonnie." he pointed at the happy guy singing about checking his girl for ticks on the stage. The music was just ending and Billy Ray looked over as Dakota approached him with Beauford in his arms. He reached for the cat but hesitated when Dakota stared at Maggie like he saw a ghost. Suddenly the cat was thrust into his arms, a watch was pressed into his hand and Dakota was walking away. It dawned on him what was happening.

As Dakota got on stage, Lonnie got off and joined Billy Ray at the bar. Billy Ray motioned for Hank to come over. "This is Lonnie and Hank, also my brothers." he informed the girl. He held up the watch and showed his brothers, "What day is it?" he asked.

"Aw dang it..." Lonnie exclaimed.
"Now just hang on, we gotta be sure." Hank, the eldest of the boys held up his hands.

When the saw started they all cursed under their breath. It was sad and soulful and left tears in the eyes of some of the patrons. Billy let the kitzy sniff his beer before he chugged it down. "This ain't good." he muttered. They all watched Dakota, "Why does he keep staring at Maggie?" the question was answered shrugs and 'I dunno's' All they could do was wait.

With the song finished, Dakota approached them. That same dumbfounded look was on his face when he looked at Maggie. Suddenly Lonnie and Hank had one of Dakota's personal items and something was being pressed into Maggie's hand and Dakota was walking away.

Billy Ray pressed Beauford into Maggie as he moved toward Dakota, "Get him boys!" he commanded as they took off after him and tackled him to the ground. "Oh no you don't, no daywalking! Pa said!"

The struggle was short lived as Lonnie and Hank subdued him and carried him without a struggle to his room. Billy Ray returned to Maggie, nursing a rug burn on his elbow. "Sorry about that, sometimes...Dakota ain't right in the head." Billy turned back towards the bar as the room suddenly forgot anything had just occurred.

[Dakota Blackwell]

((Possible romantic interest for Maggie? Let me know.))

Dakota sat at the bar, his hand wrapped around a tall glass of thick red liquid, his black hat pulled down enough to hide his eyes. The taste of whiskey in the blood of the drunken blood-slave was a warm comfort for the old cowboy. That day of the year was coming soon, two more days to go. He prayed he could beat the darkness this time. He prayed he didn't wake up chained to a wall with his aching head laid in his Pa's one of this brother's laps, wondering how he got there. The more of the alcohol laced blood he drank, the better. It helped the hurt hide deeper so he didn't have to feel it. He prayed one day he could get over it and move on with his life but he doubted that would happen since it had been 150 years. He sighed and downed his drink as he heard his brother finish his set. He always had the crowd laughing and singing along by the end of his set, this particular song, "Ticks" was a favorite in the club. Koty had no idea what he would sing today. He had nothing in his heart other than hurt. He felt a familiar vice-like grip climbing his back and reached back just in time to scratch a furry critter on the head. "Hi there." he muttered as the tiny thing that looked like a small cat with three reptilian type fingers on each paw, two going forward, one going back made it to his shoulder and sat down, wrapping its black tail around its legs.

Koty sat there with the cat looking down at him until a voice snapped him out of it. "Oh, hey Billy Ray." he reached up and took the kitzy off his shoulder and cuddled it for a moment, scratching it behind the ears, "Take Beauford, will ya? I gotta get on..." he froze as he looked up to see that Billy Ray had a woman with him. Not just any woman, she was the spitting image of his Sarah. How could that be? Who was she, where did she come from? He broke his stare as his name was announced, "...stage." he shoved the kitzy into Billy's chest, much to the animals chagrin. The kitzy mewed then hissed at Koty who ignored him. "Hey, I want you to have this." he removed his watch and put it in Billy Rays hand, "Gotta go." he hurried on stage. He waited for the clapping to die down and the music to start before beginning to sing.

He kept looking at the blonde woman who was with Billy Ray and wondering who she was. He couldn't help but think she was some kind of cruel joke by God himself. He noticed Two other brothers had joined Billy Ray and were watching him. He turned his eyes away but they kept coming back to the woman as much as he tried not to look at her. It was like seeing a ghost after all these years.

Before he knew it, his song was over and he was descending the stage stairs. As he returned to the bar, he began taking things from his pockets. "Lonnie, glad I ran into you." he said quietly with a displaced smile on his face. "I think this is yours." he placed a small pocketknife in the man's hand then moved to the next brother, "Hank, hang onto this for me." he placed a silver locket in his hand that when opened, showed a picture of him with his wife. He didn't even notice the looks that his brothers were exchanging. He moved past Billy Ray and stopped at the woman. He stared, she looked so much like Sarah, it made him ache. He suddenly plucked the gold wedding band off his finger and pressed it into her hand. "Won't be needin' this." he murmured and turned to walk away.


He didn't get 3 steps before his brothers were onto him. He was too deep into it to care and just let them subdue him. He stared at Maggie as Lonnie and Hank dragged him off. Who was she? Was she worth staying alive to find out? Maybe...he kept his eyes on her until his view of her was blocked.

[Margaret Rosier]

((It could be very interesting. She’s be reluctant to the feelings at first but sounds like a plan to me))

This place reminded her so much of home and it didn’t sit right with her that some vampire dwelling could pluck that particular heart string with her. Maggie tried not to let it show, a placid smile adorning her lips as she laughed lightly. ”That’ll do it.” She didn’t have any experience with it herself, no one in her family had been musically inclined and neither was she but you always seemed to pick up traits from the ones that you were around the most. Music seemed to be a big part of these people’s lives. It was easy for her to slip into a role- all she had to do was separate herself from any emotions that might creep up on her. As Margaret took a seat on the bar stool next to Billy Ray she crossed one long leg over the other leaning forward slightly to prop her elbows on the counter in anticipation for that ice cold brew that had been ordered.

Once she had it Maggie sat back up pulling a sip off it and scanned the bar taking in the crowd. The consumption of blood had always made her cringe but she held the reaction at bay as her gaze passed over the man Billy Ray pointed out as Koty. Shaking hands with Jake she offered him a friendly smile. ”Nice to meet you too.” Sweeping her attention over to Lonnie a small chuckle came out at the words to his song. It was plenty to take in and there were even more of them that she had yet to be introduced to. Still, she set the names and faces to memory confident that she would be able to recall them when necessary. Koty joining them Maggie could feel his gaze roaming over her hard. It was a little intrusive, making her look down into her lap, which was an oddity for her. She was used to people staring at her for whatever reason they had but something in his gaze was different almost longing and that wasn’t anything that she had experience with.

Off he went though as soon as Lonnie got off the stage taking the other man’s place. ”Hi fellas.” Giving them both a nod of acknowledgment she was lost as to what the inside information concerning Koty was all about. He seemed disheartened though and in part she felt like it had been because of her in some way or another. Listening to the conversation between the brothers Maggie continued to nurse her drink, eyes fixated on Dakota while his song was playing. It was a drastic mood change from the upbeat, comedic song that Lonnie had just played. Maggie found it to be sad but beautiful. The crowd seemed to be moved by it with tears gleaming in their eyes and a mutual sweep of melancholy blanketed over them like Koty’s emotions were crashing onto them like waves. She felt it too.

Swallowing, clearing her throat to make sure it didn’t crack when and if she was spoken to again Margaret watched his progress off the stage handing out things to his brothers. When he reached her Maggie didn’t know what to say. Beseechingly she looked to Billy Ray for an explanation but none was given, instead the cat was shoved into her lap almost making her drop whatever it was that Dakota had given her. Glancing down at the cat and what she then noticed to be a wedding ring her confusion increased. To avoid losing it Maggie slid it onto her finger for safe keeping and held the cat to her chest rising from her seat to follow Billy Ray but stayed put when she saw them tackling Dakota and dragging him off.

She held his gaze as he was toted off to wherever slowly taking her seat back on the barstool. Naturally, Maggie wanted to know what had happened. Once Koty was out of sight the bar picked back up as though nothing had happened and she was left wide eyed and apparently the only one who didn’t know what was going on. She sighed at Billy Ray’s explanation gently stroking the cats back with the hand that sported the ring. ”What do you mean by that?” Was he was he a danger to others or just himself? There had been something shouted about no daywalking. Was that what Koty had set out to do, giving away his personal belongings to the people that mattered to him? But then why would she have been handed his wedding ring? Margaret looked down at her hand only to curl it up and tuck it underneath the cat to support its hind legs and get it out of sight. Why? She didn’t know except for that strange tingle in the back of her mind that suggested that she wanted to keep it at least until she herself could give it back to Dakota.

[Billy Ray Blackwell]

Billy Ray didn't know where to begin. He didn't know much about what happened and pretty much only those who were there knew much of anything. "Well, I wasn't there so I don't know exactly what happened. But before Koty was turned, he had a family; a real big family." Billy Ray picked up his beer and took a long draw off it.

"They was murdered by these bad guys and he was made to watch it." he shuddered at the thought of being forced to watch his family get murdered like that. "Pa says that his heart was broke in a way that it might never mend. All we can do is love him and keep him going during the dark times. Tomorrow is the anniversary of it happening. Every year its the same, he gives all his stuff away and tries to walk in the sun." He reached over and scratched the little kitzy on the head then ordered another beer. "Lonnie says that love can mend any broken heart."

"That's right, it can. It's a true story." Lonnie's voice carried over to them as he came back with the locket in his hand. "He wouldn't take these back, how about you hang onto them for him till after tomorrow." he said as he handed them to Billy Ray. "I gotta get back up on stage and fill in for him. He'd have the whole place cryin' if we let him back up there."

Billy fiddled with the items as Lonnie walked away, causing the locket to pop open. He glanced at the photo then closed it. Suddenly he nearly dropped the thing as he realized what he just saw. He fumbled to get it open and looked again. "Well, I'll be..." he whispered the held the locket out for Maggie to see, "That's him and his wife...who's that look like, Maggie?"

[Margaret Rosier]

It was a horrible thing to go through, she imagined. When it came to family and even friends Maggie had been taught that though mourning was acceptable to a point, if anything was to consume you it was to be vengeance. As far as she knew her family was dead, which wasn’t truly the case with her father, but she was clueless as to his true fate. She had gotten word a few years into living in New Vegas, around the time that she was eleven years old that her mother had been lost to the wastelands. Her father, who delivered the news to her had stood over Maggie as she wept a hand on her shoulder giving her all of five minutes to grieve before he told her it was time to get back to business. He was a cold man on the outside, all about compartmentalizing your emotions, using them as motivation but not letting yourself be swept up in them to the point that they were what drove you that was when you were most likely to make mistakes.

Though she smiled sweetly at Lonnie’s theory, Margaret didn’t know too much about the concept on a personal level. The way she was raised, though affection wasn’t taboo, you had to separate yourself from those kinds of things, be detached from the emotional aspects because it clouded your mind. Think rationally not from your heart that was a common quote that her father had repeated over and over again to her throughout the years and Maggie had stuck to it. Was it possible that a shared emotion could heal all wounds? The rational part of Margaret scoffed at the idea of it. My mother kissing your scraped knee couldn’t make it heal any faster. But in that there was some truth. It made the child think they felt better and on a psychological level the theory was able to be fact.

Glancing down at the locket Billy Ray was showing her it was surreal. She felt like she was looking into a mirror. Gently running her finger over the woman’s face it was eerie how similar she looked to her. It was also frightening. Maggie wasn’t sure how she was supposed to handle that information, the realization that the day before the anniversary of Dakota’s wife’s death she had shown up like a ghost from his past to bring the depression a day early. Maybe she should have been happy that she could cause that kind of thing without even trying- one less vampire in the world to worry about- but she wasn’t happy. Her brows furrowed trying to figure out why it was bothering her so much. She closed her hand over Billy Ray’s making him shut the locket. For some reason Maggie could bear to look at it anymore.

”Would you like me to stay away from him then?” She intentionally didn’t answer him because saying it out loud would have just made it undeniable. Instead Margaret wanted to see what the ground rules were now that they had an explanation as to why Koty had been staring at her and acting the way he had a day before schedule. Her thumb ran over her ring finger where she had placed the ring Dakota had given her but realizing this she quickly put a stop to what would have otherwise seemed like an idle action.

[Billy Ray Blackwell]

Billy Ray noticed what she did with the ring. He hoped she was keeping it to give it back to Dakota. He would check to make sure later. If she had not returned it, he was sure that Dakota would come looking for it. It was a bit of a prop on Dakota. He could often be seen twisting it on his finger when he was thinking.

He watched as she examined the photograph and let her look at it as long as she wanted. He knew it must be weird for her because it was weird for him to see it. He could only imagine how she felt. "People say there is an uncanny resemblance between me and my Pa. You saw him when you came in. People think I was born to him; think I'm a vampire offspring, but he found me when I was three." He let her close the locket and tucked it in his pocket.

He heard her inquiry and knew the answer right away, "I wish I could tell you to, but with you being a blood slave and all, if he wants to feed on you, you gotta let him." he answered her sympathetically, "It ain't so bad, they are all real gentle and use their glamor so you like it, or if you want they can make you not remember it. Pa don't reckon a human should have any more trauma than the world already provides." He took another draw off his beer, "I like it, to me, it feels real good. And if you ask for it, they can give you a taste of their blood, its like the best vitamin you ever took." he smiled and looked at the kitzy, "You OK holdin' him, or do you want me to take him?"

[Margaret Rosier]

Maggie nodded, a bit absently, though she fully comprehended what Billy Ray was saying. She had seen his ‘Pa’, heard what he had said to Billy Ray regarding her and the initial reaction to it. The vampire must have been Stoney, the fine owner of the establishment that would be her new home for a while and still keeping in mind that she was to refer to him as sir. That explained a lot though, about Billy Ray at least. This life was the only one that he had ever known. Three years old was plenty young enough to mold his mind and influence his feelings about their kind, instilling loyalty to their family. It was extremely difficult to break those bonds and Margaret had never even bothered to try. There was such a thing as a lost cause and she didn’t have any shame in admitting that to herself.

For those few minutes of friendliness and the shock that came from the puzzle pieces of Dakota falling into place Maggie had almost forgot that her purpose here was to sate their thirst. She looked down at the kitzy in her lap trying not to show her frustration with just the mere idea of it. It wouldn’t have been the first time that she was fed off of. It came with the territory of her job as a call girl, but she had never liked it. At first she thought that maybe her expressions had betrayed her when Billy Ray went on to say that it wasn’t so bad, but that wasn’t the case. The kitzy was purring in her lap, curled up comfortably with its eyes closed enjoying the petting that she was giving it. She didn’t like that anyone had the ability to trick her mind into thinking she liked something that she didn’t. It was far too much of a violation she felt nor did she think it was okay for anyone to take away any memory that she had even if it was traumatic.

The world was a traumatic place because that was the way that they had made it, generations upon generations. Them feeding off of her would make Maggie weak, weaker than a normal human and she wasn’t sure if it would simply be written off as her being anemic or something else, maybe even leading to the discovery of what she really was. Those at the blood bank never saw her crash because she forced herself to make it home to deal with it, but today had been different. One mistake had led to something that could potentially ruin everything. Maggie closed her eyes for a moment pushing all those thoughts away to be mused on at a later time. Billy Ray liked it? ”I…don’t think any of that will be necessary.” She didn’t want to be glamoured or have her memory taken away. She didn’t want to taste their blood either. ”I’m okay.” Margaret assured him glancing up for the first time since he had started talking again, now offering a small smile. The kitzy was comforting.

[Billy Ray Blackwell]

Billy Ray didn’t know what to say to her. From what he heard, Mathias just needed the posse to keep an eye on her. He didn’t like something about her. Billy Ray was a little naïve about humans so he had no idea what Mathias could have seen. But if she wasn’t safe, his Pa wouldn’t have let her alone with him. He just sighed and shook his head, “I don’t think I want anyone biting you anyway, they can draw your blood the old fashioned way.” He said emphatically, “They said you was mine anyway. ‘Sides, Matthew ain’t bitin’ anyone but me.” He said under his breath.

Billy finished his beer and stood there looking at the kitzy. There it was, one of the first from the lab. He reached a finger out and it did like it always did; it reached its little chameleon like hand out and gripped his finger, it yawned and mewed then let go, settling in to sleep. “oh no you don’t little critter, that’s my dance partner there and she can’t dance with you there.” He put his hands on his hips and looked at Maggie, “You gotta do what I say, right? Then I say you put that little rascal down, or on your shoulder or something cuz I wanna dance.” He wondered what she thought of that since she knew nothing about him. He hoped she didn’t think he wanted more than a little innocent fun. “Don’t worry, I’m gay as the day is long. I ain’t gonna try nothin’ with ya.”

Billy stood back and held out his hand, waiting for her to deal with the kitzy so he could have his dance. He looked up as Dakota was escorted back into the dance call by Hank. He could tell they were arguing about whether he was OK or not. Dakota stopped and looked at Maggie before looking away and returning to the bar. “You’re fan is back.” He whispered and gave his hand a shake as if to remind her that it was there. “Come on, let’s cut a rug.”

*tag Maggie*

[Margaret Rosier]

Either way vampires would be drinking her blood but something about that method was better accepted by Maggie than having their teeth sink into her. Perhaps it was because she had spent so long having her blood drawn for the taxes in the city that she had become accustom to it. If that was the case though it meant that she was indeed capable of becoming okay with such things and it led to the idea that if she dealt with it long enough she would be able to accept a vampire drinking directly from her. That notion didn’t sit too well with her. It also posed the question, hearing what Billy Ray had mumbled under his breath, which was worse; being kept by the thing that you had been raised to hate or by that of your own kind. ”I appreciate that.” They could force her to do anything that they wanted so Margaret at least counted herself lucky in that circumstance.

It was sweet of him to reassure her that his intentions were purely for nothing more than a dance, but she hadn’t been worried in the first place. Doing what she did she was used to being an object rather than a person and her father had told her that it would play to her advantage. If people didn’t see you as anything more than what they could use then they didn’t suspect you to be a danger and if they had their guard down and underestimated you then you had a better chance of getting things over of them. She wasn’t sure how that would have played into her advantage with the Blackwells but that didn’t mean that Maggie wasn’t going to keep an open mind about it. Removing the kitzy from her lap she placed it on the bar giving it a final pat and rose to her feet slipping her dainty hand into Billy Ray’s.

She didn’t have any negative feelings about him being one-way or the other. Maggie had become bi-sexual over the years having deal with both sexes. Dancing would get her mind off of things, or so she hoped and that was more than enough motivation to oblige in his request. Well do as he said without any reluctance. ”Are you going to teach me to line dance?” Margaret questioned smiling at Billy Ray only to find that his attention was elsewhere. Following his gaze and seeing Dakota back out it was difficult not to look at him, to take in the expression that etched his handsome features and try and decipher if what he seemed to be arguing with Hank was true or not. Tearing her gaze away though she returned it to Billy Ray. ”Lets.”

[Dakota Blackwell]

Dakota watched from the bar as the two moved to the dance floor. He locked eyes with the woman for only a moment before Billy Ray spun her onto the dance floor. He could not understand the overwhelming sense of jealousy that threatened to consume him. He wanted to rush across the floor and pull her away from the dancing cowboy. He wanted to claim her by saying she was his. At that point there would be trouble since he would not be challenging Billy Ray, but his Grandfather, who she really belonged to, legally. He would be dead in seconds if he challenged him in such a way.

Dakota looked away and shook his head. He couldn't do that. It wasn't Sarah, her name was Maggie. Frustration was welling up in him and he wanted to break something. The slight breeze from the two moving bodies send her fragrance his way, invading his senses and oddly, it calmed him. No one put out the fire in him once his temper was up, not since Sarah was killed. But now, here was this woman he never met that looked so much like his Sarah and had the same effect on him.

He had to get to know her. He had to show his freaked out mind that she was not the same person. It was just an odd coincidence and she probably wouldn't remind him of Sarah at all once he got to know her. His brain needed to slap his heart around a bit to bring it to his senses. This was not as cut and dry as he was trying to make it out to be.

One foot in front of the other, he began walking across the dance floor. The short trip seemed to take eternity, like his boots were moving through wet concrete and weighted down with gold bars. He stopped just behind Billy Ray and gently tapped him on the shoulder. "May I cut in?" he drawled slowly. His posture and expression were unchallenging and hopeful so Billy Ray would not be threatened.

Dakota watches as Billy Ray turned to the woman, his expression guarded, "Do you mind?"

Koty waited with baited breath.

((tag Maggie))