yourtruecolors

Company

katelpperkins@gmail.com — Thu, 16 Feb 2012 07:19:58 GMT

Anna was visiting Minnie and DJ again, playing the bass in leggings and a sports bra.

Minnie, still retaining all of her clubbing clothes herself, brought them each a drink when the song ended. "I've always had a soft spot for the Stooges," she admits.

katelpperkins@gmail.com — Sat, 26 Nov 2011 07:51:45 GMT

The club was rather plain-looking from the outside. There was no line, no velvet rope. That was sort of what 'private' meant, of course.

Once they get in, it's another story. The place is lavishly decorated, and the predominance of Italian suits for the very predominately male audience may make clear why Minnie recommended some of his nicer clothes. The performance space is, interestingly enough, in-the-round, surrounded by chairs with an aisle leading through from Elsewhere -- the Elsewhere to which Minnie retreats to change, first pressing into DJ's hands her newest choker and asking him to hold it for her, then smiling and scurrying off.

When some classic big-band music starts playing and she steps out, she's in a rather lavish midnight outfit.
She starts with a very classic burlesque routine, as well, focusing on the playful strutting, the posing, featuring the imminence of revelation far more than revelation itself, running the coy-petulant-gleeful gamut a bit while showing off the lines of her body in her movements against convenient staging scenery and, gradually, the curves of her body under just the right lighting.

katelpperkins@gmail.com — Mon, 21 Nov 2011 07:07:05 GMT

The tour'd gone off without a -- well, actually, there had been some hitches, but nothing that couldn't be fixed, usually by Minnie dragging the appropriate person off for a talk, so that Pauline and DJ could focus on the performance.

And the crowds loved them. A little effervescence, a little primality, a little food for thought. It worked. The album was selling such a fashion that it highlighted how much the 'hotcakes' idiom needed to be updated for the contemporary market.

The bus they'd acquired was quite comfortable, all things considered, but eventually, she'd booked a number of very small and basic, but clean and comfortable, motel rooms for them all, and headed to DJ with one after the show.

"You were all wonderful."

Special

katelpperkins@gmail.com — Wed, 09 Nov 2011 19:51:52 GMT

They'd been roommates for a couple of months now. Minnie hadn't received any word yet, but she paid her share of the bills with what she got for managing. Which had included all the bookings, ready and waiting, for the upcoming tour. They had a bus, enough venues to make it profitable, the right hotel reservations, and everything the band, particularly Pauline, needed to feel comfortable. Minnie had triple-checked obsessively and everything seemed to have come together, ready to set out next week. So they'd celebrated at the club tonight, at length in the DJ booth. And he'd promised, quite believably, that he wasn't done, so Minnie's very interested as they get home.

katelpperkins@gmail.com — Thu, 03 Nov 2011 07:27:02 GMT

It was good work, for now. Until her sweet master returned, well, now that she'd learned where the points were that the band should never do without, she dug in like a very stylish terrier with the venues and wouldn't let go of those points. She expanded their areas of performance, got some wider distribution for their CDs, played hostess for crew parties, and yet somehow DJ's apartment was usually spotless when she met him at the door, desperate for his touch.

Minnie had never been much of a slacker.

Losing My Mind

katelpperkins@gmail.com — Tue, 18 Oct 2011 06:10:55 GMT

Julian had been gone a while. Minnie was going crazy without him. She'd done without much longer before, but every time back with him just made it more tantalizing when they were separated again. So she threw on her knee-high stiletto leather boots and some black-leather-and-leather clothes which....used less leather than the boots and went down to where DJ Whedon was spinning.

It didn't take all that long for parts of the club crowd to part for the little whirling dervish who moved like she either wanted to kill something or fuck something. Which....was pretty much how she was feeling, except it would be completely inappropriate to kill someone. Minnie had energy to burn and generally believed that black lace required a little sweat plastering it to fit right.

While she dances closer to the DJ's box-thing, she doesn't try to go right up and say hi. She needs him to see her. Notice her. Want her, in all her burning frustration.

Flashback: Two years ago.

katelpperkins@gmail.com — Sun, 28 Aug 2011 21:10:59 GMT

The Red King was starting to nod off where he lounged. His associates thanked Minnie for her performances and for the 'joint operation' they'd participated in earlier together. They get her coat for her and show her out.
Minnie returns to her little flat and waits as instructed for the knock at the door. She's tired, but she can't go to bed yet. The Tall Lady is coming.

AU: In Service

katelpperkins@gmail.com — Fri, 26 Aug 2011 01:07:12 GMT

Minnie was taking notes in her head. She was doing this beside the chair of the Lady ... Lord Imperial -- grammatically, it ought to be Lady, blast it! -- of the Hellfire Club. She was doing it from her knees beside said chair, because she liked it that way. And Tina didn't object. Minnie was wearing her diamond choker and bracers and...well, a little bit else, and she was carefully cataloguing everything Tina needed to be done.

Flashbacks

katelpperkins@gmail.com — Fri, 29 Jul 2011 03:17:34 GMT

Minnie was twelve. Mom had let her bring the juice out to the patio where Julian was waiting. As she did so, she tripped over a loose brick, and the pitcher and glasses went tumbling despite her usual good balance.
She stood there holding the tray. She'd spilled it. She'd spilled it all. She'd let Julian down. She was clumsy and worthless and ... Minnie burst into tears. "I'm sorry."
And Julian was immediately standing, hand on her shoulder, giving her a handkerchief. "It's just juice," he said. He reached to scoop up the dishes, making the tray hover a little as he set them down on it again. He squeezed her hand. "We'll get some more." And they did. Minnie smiled.

Minnie was twelve. She was finally, finally allowed to go en pointe, even if she'd felt she was physically and mentally ready long before. She had new shoes and everything -- Julian was so nice. Mom and the staff and Mr. H all agreed she was great. Julian said she was fantastic. Her feet hurt. It was wonderful.

Minnie was 17. She was dancing for Julian. Stripping, in fact, eagerly asking "May I, please?" before each article of clothing came off. As she pressed and spread herself against the wall, writhing with desire, she reminded him that she was legal now. That she'd gone to the doctor. That she trusted him. That she needed him. Presenting her naked body, she begged to have him inside her. And soon she did. Right there, against the wall. It was amazing. A little bit of pain, if she was forced to admit it, but mostly the satisfaction of finally being entirely his.

Minnie was 17. She was on her knees before Julian. "Remember, the object of the game is to keep your focus and keep your control," she said as she nuzzled against him before beginning. Minnie chuckled slightly around him at the sound of the metal rattling on the shelves, and redoubled her efforts when he managed to stop it. It was fun!

Minnie was 20. It had only been a little more than a month, but she missed Julian dreadfully. She stared out from the chorus line on a little Berlin stage, where she'd quickly been moved to the center because putting the most talented dancer on the end threw off the line. As it was, she was constantly asked to rein it in a little so as not to eclipse the main act, so she did. It was tough, not dancing her absolute best; she thought of Julian and his diets, his learning to hold back .... Minnie tried to get her head back in the game. She noted the audience. She spotted the colors that stood out. Two mutants. She memorized their appearances -- at least the ones they were using right now -- ready to recite later as assigned. If she could get names, or a look at their IDs, after the show, she would. Just like the last night and the night before.

Minnie was 20. She'd been shown how to seal her picture into the blank passports. She had learned to forge a good enough cover identity to get a job working with numbered bank accounts in Zurich. And when she found one of the bank's customers, who'd been involved in very minor machinations against a certain American entertainment company, she lured him somewhere private, beat him senseless, and received a critique on her technique afterward.

Flashback: Learning experience

katelpperkins@gmail.com — Thu, 28 Jul 2011 04:10:28 GMT

A fine performance, if she did say so herself. A little flirting. A little chloroform. A good bit of sabotaging security cameras. And a very interesting dance through a field of criss-crossed lines most people could not have seen, first to the box, then back with it.

Minnie had carefully left one or two clues in line with the modus operandi of a known thief of similar artifacts. To avoid too much fuss, you know?

When she arrived back at her little apartment in Prenzlauer Berg, she made the call to Her. The Goddess, The Black Queen, the Dark Priestess, Lady Selene, Ms. Arlene, or, as she generally still remained in the childish depths of Minnie's mind, the Tall Lady.

"Ma'am? It's done."
And there was that voice like dark silk velvet. "Very good. Bring it to the usual contacts."

"Yes, Ma'am." Pause, as she screws her courage. "My Lady, may I speak to him, please?"

"He has gone to the United States, and is quite busy. Perhaps later, if you continue to do well."

"Yes, Ma'am. Thank you." She does her best to keep her voice steady. "Any further instructions?"

"You will be informed when there are." A click.

Minnie sat in her room in the dark, and wondered if she'd ever be good enough to be back at Julian's side again.

Keep your friends close, and your enemies closer.

katelpperkins@gmail.com — Sun, 24 Jul 2011 07:11:14 GMT

On the way to Whitman's place, Minnie was still worried about Tina, but she'd have to be okay for now.

Tina had implied Minnie's hunch about Whitman's being up to something wasn't groundless, so she was going to get in well with him the best way she could.

She kept her interested eyes on him every moment they were in the car, squirming in her seat just a little. If he'd wanted a playing-it-cool queen of perfection, he'd have gone after Tina. Best to be the little tease with fire burning in her for a real man that she normally was. A.C. didn't know he wasn't a Real Man.

Flashback: Once upon a December.

katelpperkins@gmail.com — Sat, 23 Jul 2011 04:45:01 GMT

It was cold. Too cold, but adjusting the thermostat wasn't what Minnie had in mind.

Julian was out, for the moment. He hadn't been sure what time he'd be home, so she wasn't allowed to worry yet, because he wasn't later than he said.

So Minnie, in her thick, soft dressing gown, went looking for Tina.

Isn't it grand? (Bendytimed)

katelpperkins@gmail.com — Sat, 16 Jul 2011 06:11:32 GMT

Minnie strutted out under the eyes of the crowd to the opening strains of "Nowadays." She struck a pose, then leaned to set her hands on her knees and slide them up her body in quite the little presentation. Soon, she's pulling off her gloves with her teeth, one by one. Then she turns and slowly peels the rest of her outwear, slowly unveiling her corsetry, her hips carefully in rhythm.

When I think about you....

katelpperkins@gmail.com — Thu, 14 Jul 2011 23:11:19 GMT

((Note: Explicit content))

Minnie sat alone in Minerva del Garda's room, her dressing gown wrapped around her, her hair still wet from the bath in which she'd attempted to relax from the disgust of the day. Her fingers caressed her empty throat, aching with loneliness after the brief month or two with Julian gave her a taste of what she'd missed for so long. Then her hand continued down, to personal jewelry that was a little less... publicly displayed. !00% surgical steel.

She relished what Julian could do with that, the power it gave him over her body, even from across the room, even with outsiders present. Minnie had the self-control to suppress whimpering with need when necessary, even if she couldn't always stop a slight little twitch in her hips.
She ran clean fingers over the jewelry, and pictured getting Julian alone again. Sinking to the floor, crawling to his feet, begging for his touch. Begging as she hadn't since they were teenagers and she was pleading to be taken for the first time. She wanted again to offer her tight little body as the best gift she had for Julian -- Julian, who could grant her ecstasy without lifting a finger.

Lisa's body jewelry was all fake, Minnie could tell, but she wondered if they ever had that kind of fun. Perhaps they did. But it couldn't be the same, could it? Lisa couldn't want to give herself as deeply as Minnie did. Lisa couldn't love Julian more. And Julian... he couldn't possibly care more deeply for the flighty little model he showed off for the cameras than for his Minnie, who tried so hard to serve him.

Right?
...Right.
... Good.

As Minnie let go of her anxieties, she mouthed Julian silently. She had to keep quiet; screaming out the name of the 'enemy' wouldn't be good for her cover.

'Character Trailer'

katelpperkins@gmail.com — Thu, 14 Jul 2011 00:56:21 GMT

Close up on Minnie's smiling face.

"It's all about finding your place, when you get right down to it," she says. "In this world of strangers, if you belong to someone, well, knowing whose you are counters any worries about who or what you are, doesn't it?"

Images flash of the human mutant conflict on all sides. "So many of the things people fight about, it's all too bad, really. And in most cases, left to my own devices, I wouldn't pay it much mind."

Pan out, showing Minnie in outline, behind a seated outlined figure, clearly holding something tight around his neck. "But like the song says..."

The scarf comes away and the body audibly drops, suffocated, as the close up comes in on Minnie again "I won't regret what I did for love."

Flashback: If you love them... (Age 16)

katelpperkins@gmail.com — Wed, 29 Jun 2011 06:25:51 GMT

"So what is it?" Minnie asked, standing upside-down on her hands in her Danskins, but looking at Julian rather seriously nevertheless. "Are you hungry? 'Cause I'm feeling fine, you can... Julian what is it?"

More Memories

katelpperkins@gmail.com — Mon, 27 Jun 2011 05:06:39 GMT

She was four. Mr. H. was in the parlor with the Tall Lady, kneeling down to kiss her hands, like a prince and princess. It must be a game! Minnie scrambled out of her hiding place and sat up on her knees as well, grinning.
"Hello!" She said cheerily to the boy next to the Tall Lady.
"Oh, she has good instincts, my darling," said the Tall Lady. "You two run along and play."

She was nine. Julian was bandaging her feet while she tried to assure him the blood was no big deal, and must be perfectly normal, because every said it was supposed to hurt a bit at first, and they could get it out of all the socks easy, but wasn't she good at en pointe? Wasn't she?

She was eleven. Mr. Buckles was...ashes. In the carpet. Minnie hugged Julian tight, told him it wasn't his fault, and no, she didn't get it either, but he'd figure it out, then went to get the vaccuum.

She was fourteen. She was the best her teacher had ever had, dancing rings around the girls whose lessons were financed by their parent rather than an employer. And Julian was her biggest fan.

She was sixteen. Julian clutched her tightly. She had to get his mind off of this. So she kissed him, passionately.

RP challenge meme.

katelpperkins@gmail.com — Sun, 26 Jun 2011 20:02:58 GMT

the rules:
1. Truth or Dare: Post a scene idea as a dare. It can be in-canon, or it can be AU. You can challenge any of mine with any of yours. I can take the dare, or turn it down, by offering an honest in character answer to any question you want to ask. If I take the dare, you can set up the scene and we'll play through it.

2. Putting the 'R' in RP: So most of the time, rp comes down to casual social or big mod-run plots. This is neither, so let's spice it up. Your dare-scene challenge must involve either A. gratuitous violence, B. gratuitous nudity (I'm willing to play out sex scenes if they make sense, or hint at them) C. gratuitous crack. - because these aren't going through moderation, they can't really change anything, no new powers, no big item acquisitions, but gratuitous hero battles or villain of the week-ish stuff should be ok. Multiple choices from A, B and C are also possible.

3. Pay it Forward: As usual, if you take this challenge and post a scene idea, you also need to put this up in one of your journals, and offer some or all of yours up for scene challenges. Now the tricky part - if I take a dare, I will temp at least one of the npcs needed, if any are. I will not require you to NPC for me, no. Instead, you must temp at least one npc in any dares you take.

Gwenny Lou Sabuki
Lulu Sheppard
Kev Kinross
Giovanna Bennet
Vernique Denning
Bea Dayspring
Kristoff Vernard (two versions)
Mac Rider
Starbridge Xavier Neramani
Amiko Kobayashi (Yashida)
Leech
Pauline 'Fantasia' Argosy
Cindy Lord
Exodus
Moira and Danielle Hrimharisdottir and Douglas Hrimaharison
Melanie Hall
Sylvia McCoy
Corey Drake
Sally Roth
GK Walker
Ruth Morgenstern
Minnie

and, in noncomicdom, Sal Smith.

But when the music started; something drew me to your side

katelpperkins@gmail.com — Thu, 23 Jun 2011 05:07:30 GMT

Minnie couldn't sleep. And going to Julian wasn't an option, as he was...occupied. So she put on her club clothes -- not the performing kind, but they resembled them in many ways -- and went out.

She'd met NICH Machinegun in passing; Julian had quickly introduced her as his assistant, and they'd moved on. But she'd reviewed the personal schedules of all of X-Factor extensively. And she decided to watch DJ Whedon spin.

AU: Next of Kin

katelpperkins@gmail.com — Mon, 20 Jun 2011 05:58:13 GMT

Julian Howard was called down to the morgue after enough investigation. He identified his tiny dancer's body. There's some reluctance, looking at his expression, to tell him all the details the autopsy revealed, all the details of what had clearly been done to her, but Julian coldly demands it. He signs for the body, saying he'll handle the arrangements for the cremation Minnie would have wanted.

She isn't the only one who'll be ashes by the time her memorial service is held.

Set List

katelpperkins@gmail.com — Fri, 17 Jun 2011 05:40:18 GMT

Minnie dances to a lot of things. Often classic vintage burlesque songs, of course. And plenty of modern things, too. But there's a selected set of songs that she never dances to. A few relative strangers familiar with her style find this strange when they encounter a case, for the song always seems just her style.

That's because she likes them a little too much to share them with just anybody. Minnie keeps a Mix CD marked 'Private', the she plays and performs to only for Julian.

Let Me Dance For You
Faithful Forever
I Saw Her Standing There
Wherever You Will Go
Supernova
Unworthy of Your Love
Show Me All You Are, And I Would Be Your Slave
True Colors

AU: But behind the jewelry counter, not in front.

katelpperkins@gmail.com — Wed, 15 Jun 2011 01:55:23 GMT

Why was it the Ladies always went in the drawing room and the men to the den? Why couldn't the Ladies go into the den? There was brandy in the den. That would make it so much easier for Minnie to deal with Ladies.

Minnie did her best to look busy with... stuff. Oh Goddess, there was nothing to look busy with. Why had it been insisted that she had to be here? Tina could handle any information issues.

And then that plastic twit made what was obviously a veiled, pretentious insult to the household. To Julian and Tina! Minnie, with perfect grace, 'accidentally' spills punch on her.

Favorite Audience

katelpperkins@gmail.com — Mon, 13 Jun 2011 00:12:24 GMT

Minnie has danced many times for members of the household with amused pride in their eyes.

She's danced for instructors who at first tried to convince her mother she was wasting her money (or Mr. H's money) ... until the music started.

She's danced under the piercing but apparently approving gaze of the Tall Lady, who directed most of her comments to Julian and spoke of the future.

She's danced with her nerves burning for a madman who decided he wanted her legs at a different angle and quite literally played her like a puppet rather than make requests.

She's danced for corrupt officials, celebrities, and crimelords, people with money and information.

But there's one cherished little Mix CD that she never breaks out for any reason but one: when she's alone with Julian. And that's when she dances her best.

Flashback: Nearly six years ago.

katelpperkins@gmail.com — Thu, 09 Jun 2011 13:53:53 GMT

((Warning: Unpleasant subject matter discussed))

Minnie came home from the gym to find a different color pattern than she was expecting leaking through the door. It was still a familiar color pattern, but fortunately without he sickening gray ruined patches that had recently become familiar as well.
Minnie was still blinking as she closed the door. "Tina?" What was Tina Frost doing on Julian's couch?

Flashbacks.

katelpperkins@gmail.com — Wed, 08 Jun 2011 19:16:23 GMT

Minnie was 11, though strangers tended to assume she was 8. And at the moment, she couldn't move. She hadn't been able to move since the Tall Lady said 'Hold Still, Child.'. Now the Tall Lady was talking to Julian.

"You've been improving, my son, but you still have such difficulty stopping. I'm beginning to suspect that is because the last person you practiced on was so big, and didn't really matter anyway. Stopping is a skill you must learn, Julian. And so here we have it. You are hungry. You need to feed. But you must stop after a little, and if you cannot stop, you lose your playmate. She /can/ be enough for you right now without harming her, but you /must/ press yourself into stopping."

Minnie was understandably frightened, but it was Julian. If he didn't /have/ to hurt her, he wouldn't hurt her, even if hurting her would be easier.

And he didn't! She was so glad. Boy, that felt funny, though. But the colors around him looked so much better after it happened.

Minnie was 16 when Mr. H. died, and Julian became master of the house. Master of a lot of things, really. Mrs. H. and the others seemed to be out of the picture. There was lawyer talk about it. But the important thing was that Julian was sad, and Minnie was going to be there for him. She tried to make sure he was getting enough rest, and nourishment, and chances to relax, and anything else that would get his mind off his troubles. Her comforts were affectionate and often physically experimental, but he always ended up stopping her at certain points. Did he not want her? Did he think she was too tiny and frail? She was strong! She'd been en pointe since she was 9; she could perform on parallel bars; she could bring a man to eye level with her in pain. She wasn't delicate. He assured her he knew, but it still took a year before he was willing to really put Minnie through her paces in private. When he did, they had a lovely, wonderful time. Julian, dear Julian, was so sweet, so lovely, and so happy with her.

Not long after that was Minnie's 18th birthday. And it was beautiful. Julian took her out by the lake for a picnic. He'd eaten well the night before, and his colors rivalled the sunlight. And she'd opened her present, and it was beautiful. As he'd put the choker on her, she felt so right with him ... but it was precarious. Things could go wrong. She could fail him somehow. She couldn't live with herself if she did that. She would work harder. Train more. But today, he held her as the sun set, and she danced for him in the twilight to music she would play for no other man.