The Heart's Delight

Foreword: In preparation for tomorrow's #MCchat on Twitter and the launch of Tiogair, here's a little story to know where the chat is taking place - The Heart's Delight, Cerulean Springs most prominent Pleasure House, for the night made into a normal nightclub for all the characters to meet up.

Needless to say, this is an 'alternate universe', non-canon with Tiogair, since it requires quite a bit of dimension hopping and time-space continuum breaking. Enjoy!

And remember: #MCchat is tomorrow, and along with Zoe, the other guest bartenders are gonna be:

-Thierry Adler, the smart-ass warlock from Avrin Kelly's 'Trigram' novel and

-Hayden Howell, the tough Charleston homicide detective from Hollie Hausenfluck  Deja Vu!

And you can see them both in the upcoming novella Coup De Grăce

Come one come all, let's get our characters together!

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There was still a bright daylight when the tigress walked towards the short corridor at the corner of the three story building. With the lights still on, she couldn’t see well the neon lights of the Pleasure House’s insigna: hanging over the corner entrance, it was a big red heart with the ‘Heart’s Delight’ stylized logo inside it. It was hugged by a buxomy pink feminine shape and a blue, buff, sultry shape, outlined in neon.

With her Augmented Reality vision on, the tigress spent just a second to admire the animated figures in that virtual layer, sensually hugging and caressing the motionless neon outlines, with their hands under the heart doing unspeakable things.

The tigress opened in a grin, shaking her head and heading inside. The corridor was dark, the spotlights on the floor that would usually give some atmospheric, warm glow unlit.

The small nook for the bouncer was empty, since the place was still closed to the public.

She sent a short message to the people inside, trying not to spend too much time outside and give people the wrong idea, and the sturdy, big wooden doors were opened from the inside by a muscular man dressed in a black shirt and jeans. The most prominent feature of his bald head the mechanical third eye in the middle of his forehead, scanning her mercilessly as always.

“Still no chrome, housecat?”

“Oh, feis ort Ludwig. It’s way too early for me to answer that question.” she greeted the head bouncer, shaking her head and moving inside.

“I’m just saying. Lots of redecoration to do for tomorrow. You could have used the boost in strength.”

“I can bloody move shit with my mind. I don’t need implants for that.” she replied in a showily annoyed tone. It was a typical conversation opener for them, the man trying his best to convert people to mechanical prosthetics - of which he already had quite a few.

“Bah. Suit yourself, housecat. If you’re looking for Paula, she’s in her office, sorting the invitations and the organization for tomorrow.”

“Thanks.” the tigress replied, taking off her jacket and remaining in her hoodie and cargo trousers. Considering she was going to help with the redecoration, at least she wanted to be comfortable.

Holding her jacket, she took a moment to appreciate the place. Despite being a regular, it was always a pleasure to be in the nightclub - the tall ceiling had soft, moody lights, giving the dark red decor of the walls, interrupted by tall windows capable of obscuring at a simple command to give a fumé effect. The ground floor was peppered with circular tables and comfortable chairs, surrounding the various pole-dance stages where the entertainers would present themselves. The AR integration was still showing the night before’s schedule and ratings to have some private ‘fun’ with them in the upper floor rooms, accessed from the stairs on the far right corner of the spacious floor. A longer catwalk and circular, bigger stage was dead center in the far side of the room, with the DJ booth closeby, used for main events.

On the lefthand side of the room there was the long, old-style wooden counter, with a glass countertop. A vast array of liquors was standing on the shelves mounted in front of a mirror.

Avoiding the various stools, the tigress waved at the other workers still redecorating for the big event night, the buxomy demoness making sure the access to the upper floor was closed. It was a somewhat clean event after all.

Zoe moved behind the counter, opening the door to the office - the difference was stark. Where the public space was atmospheric and geared towards entertainment and sensuality, the office was brightly lit and functional. Behind the glass desk there was the bulky shape of Paula, her muscular body relaxed on the comfortable office chair and her mechanical arm tapping its finger on the desk surface. A small icon in AR over her head indicated she was in a call, so the tigress took the time to check the protection seal she traced some time ago.

Luckily, the potted plant wasn’t there anymore, so she simply checked the runeset for any smirch or imperfection.

Satisfied, she simply waited for Paula to finish her call.

“I told you I need the catering by tomorrow, and if you know what’s good for you, you better get it. I swear, I paid good money for it, you don’t want to screw this up. Clear? Good.”

With a huff, the bodybuilder-built woman closed the call, readjusting her neon pink hair flowing down the right side of her head, the left side partially shaven in a stylistic haircut.

“Fucking unprofessional people. Speaking of which. Hey Tiogair.”

Zoe gave her a deadpan stare. “Haha. Hey. So, getting everything ready?” she asked, settling the jacket on the coathanger and sitting on the guest chair in front of the desk.

“Girls and boys have their couple days off, catering is gonna come through even if I have to go kick their ass personally and I arranged transportation for those guest bartenders...Thierry Adler and Hayden Howell. They seem nice. You three are gonna go along well.”

“I still can’t believe ISSTAR managed to pull this stuff off. We’re talking full dimensional hopping here.”

“I guess someone up there really wants to showcase their tech. And hey, this means more people will get to know our stories, doesn’t it?”

“Well yes, that’s true. Gonna bet on me on the next popularity polls?”

“I wouldn’t be caught dead doing that after last time. Sorry, Tio.”

“Bitch.”

Paula chuckled, and gave her a long stare, with a creepy smile on her lips. Zoe frowned.

She didn’t like that expression.

“You know” the Pleasure House owner started. “Funny thing you should say that now. ‘Cause I was just about to say that tomorrow you have the first two hours shift behind the counter at the event.”

The tigress laughed heartily, shaking her head. “Hah! Right, and there I was getting worried. Good one.”

“I’m not kidding, Tio.”

“...what.”

“You know” Paula continued “interesting byproduct of ISSTAR doing this whole thing? I saw that interview you had on...Twitter? That’s what’s called, right? That social media. That stool isn’t going to pay itself…”

“B-But it’s the big night!” Protested Zoe, taken aback by those news.

“I know. And I thought, what better way to have people like you and get to know you than you actually serving some drinks. And in the meantime repaying my stool.”

“It wasn’t my fault, that asshole was harassing me!”

“And that is why I have security staff. You broke the no violence rule, and you destroyed property. You’re covering first shift.”

The tigress tried to find some other point to counteract. She suddenly widened her eyes. “I can’t mix a drink to save my life!”

“Nice try, but no. You’re gonna log on the AR assistant. It’s gonna be easy as pie.” before the tigress could rebuke, Paula rose her mechanical hand with her index up. “Or, I tell Aisha about it.”

That last threat made it. With a defeated huff, the tigress slumped back on the chair. “Aight. Boss. Just this time, though.”

“Good girl.” Paula chided with a satisfied grin.

Zoe sighed. And smiled herself, shaking her head. At least it would be an interesting night.

#CharactersTell Secondary Characters - Interview with Nathaniel Adler

Welcome back #CharactersTell crowd! Our interview last week saw us speak with quite the charming and well-mannered antagonist, and today is no different!

And who wouldn't spend time with her with such a cute name!

Our guest tonight is Nathaniel Adler, from the novel 'Trigram' written by Avrin Kelly, and you can find her novels and anthologies on her Amazon store page here!

She's also present on Twitter (and you should absolutely follow her) and aside from being the main forces responsible for me getting into blogging. She has her own blog, Wicked Shorts, which is an amazing place to go to if you're a fan of the fantastic and the creepy!

But that's enough of us blabbering about, let's get to our honored guest!

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Good evening to you too, and welcome to our interview for the side character week! Can you introduce yourself, the book you’re from and your author?

“Yes, it would be my pleasure. My name, is Nathaniel Adler. I’m twenty four years old, and my brother is a Warlock. I’m from the novel “Trigram” (so I’m told) by Avrin Kelly. I’ve never met the author, but I’m told it’s a woman…with a man’s name evidently.”

Ah yes, reminds me of some ‘Andrea’s’ here in Italy. But let’s talk about you. So you’re the brother of a Warlock? Is he more on the ‘Main Character’ side or is he more on the ‘Antagonist’ side?

“Considering what I know about my brother, Thierry, he’s a bit of both. He tends to do whatever he wants in life, then, he turns around and preaches to me about right and wrong.”

*scoffs*

“He tries, you know, to be good I suppose. But I am the dutiful one in the family. As a Scholar, I’m immune to most magics (not Warlock magics), but, Thierry would never hurt me. I don't think.”

That sounds like quite the interesting family history you’ve got there. What’s a Scholar, and how did you find out you’re one?

“A Scholar is a man immune to magic. I believe Scholars were put on Earth to police the world of Witchcraft (as we are its polar opposite). No spell can touch us. Our name has been earned over the centuries. Scholars being the only entities on this planet strong enough to raid a coven of Witches and confiscate their most dangerous spells. If it weren’t for us, the world we live in now would be very different. Imagine if Witches could do whatever they wanted without consequence? They fear us. We, as Scholars can null their entire genetic line--- if our Council sees fit to do so.”

What was it like growing up with Thierry Adler?

“Growing up with Thierry was mostly fun. He was my best friend until he went off to boarding school in the States. He left me with our father, Samson Adler. Samson is the Luminary of the Scholarly Council, and as his son, I’m like a prince… in a way.”

A life predisposed for greatness from an important bloodline, then. How did you take the news of Thierry being a Warlock, instead of a Scholar like you and your Father?

*Laughs bitterly*

“The news? No one told me anything. Everything I’ve learned about my brother I found out via my computer. Thierry abandoned our family when he discovered what he was. He didn’t say goodbye. He didn’t trust me with his secret. He just left us. Me. It took me months to find him, but when I did... well, that was as shocked as I’d ever seen him. Serves him right for being a coward.”

It must not have been easy to find out your brother went missing like that. Do you still feel resentful for what he did, or did you two manage to rekindle your friendship without a hitch?

“I’m still angry as fuck.”

*face gets red, but then, he collects himself*

“His absence taught me that---- no one can be trusted. You can only depend on yourself. Also, with his unique ability to Travel between worlds, I figure he can be useful. You see, I’m looking for a ring that has the same ability to Travel that my brother has. Thierry is the only one equipped to go out and find it. Now that his friend Io has gone missing, I’m sure he’ll be much more interested in finding the ring that ripped her out of this world. And when he does, I’ll be there to take it off his hands.”

Wow, yeah, still quite the sentiment. Have you ever envied him for his place in the world? You seem to speak about his abilities as something quite rare and unique. Do you think he’s the right person to wield them?

“That’s a hard one… Mmmm. I don’t envy him his powers. Most people think he’s a freak. Warlocks are made when a Witch and a Scholar have a male child together, and even then, it doesn’t always take. It’s damn near impossible. So when one is born, people credit it as being the will of the gods. That, if he’s here, then he’s meant to be.

“Should he have his powers? I don’t know, but if I had them, I’d be much more creative about using them. That's the problem with Thierry. No imagination. Just pure bull-headed willpower. I keep telling him to take the time to stop and think. But-----”
*taps his head a finger*
"He never does."

You could always manipulate him and try to give him ‘ideas’...

“Yeah. Have you met Thierry Adler? He's about as influential as a brick. And stubborn as a mule.”

Heh. Point taken. So your mother was a witch then? You didn’t mention her earlier.

*Takes a deep breath*

“My mother was a human woman. Thierry is only my half brother. My father drove her to commit suicide when I was still in diapers. That's the kind of man Samson Adler is. Thierry's mother was a Witch. But she's dead.”

Are you afraid you’re gonna become like him? Or...perhaps he is more like a role model? There’s something to be said about ruthlessness in such a position of power, after all.

“Thierry says I’ve turned into our father. That I’m becoming a monster, but he doesn’t know the truth. He’s not the only one on a mission. I have my own life's work: to free Witches and other supernatural creatures from the tyranny of the Scholarly Council. We should be a democracy. We should vote on the rules, not have them forced upon us by group of men immune to magic. Men like me.”

That’s quite the important and noble mission you’ve taken upon yourself. I hope the best for that...and speaking of which, let’s get to a lighter subject. You know what month it is in our world, right? And what was celebrated yesterday?

“Oh yes, Valentines Day. To be perfectly honest, I’ve got bigger fish to fry. But I do like someone. Quite a bit.”

Oh do you now~ And does this someone know it?

“No. I don’t plan on telling her either. She’s in love with someone else. I’ll give you two guesses as to who, and the first one doesn’t count.”

I’ve made mine, but we’ll let our readers play along. It’ll make it much more fun to find out in Avrin’s works after all. You seem quite driven though - do you see any romantic pursuits for yourself if/ when you manage to accomplish your goals?

“Maybe. I mean, I hope so. I’ve always wanted a family of my own. It's almost like, if I had a place to be and people I belonged to, a wife and a few rugrats, I wouldn’t feel so angry at Thierry anymore. Abandonment issues are a bitch.”

I hope you will manage to get through them and find someone to belong to, sincerely. But for now, our time is almost up - anything you want to say to our readers?

“Yes. As a matter of fact I do.

Those of you out there know who you are. You can’t hide. The revolution is still growing stronger by the day. We will rise. You shall fall. Zedd will see to that.

“Thank you for having me, Manuel, it’s been nice talking to you. Maybe once I take down the council, I can interview you… If I live.”

The pleasure has been mine! And I’m counting on that interview, so I surely hope you’re gonna live through this. Thanks for coming!

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What can I say, two out of three guests that haven't told me to go screw myself...Zoe still holds the record on that one.

It's been an absolute pleasure to have Nathaniel with us, and do remember, you can have your character featured in this blog too! This upcoming week is gonna be Background Characters week, which are amazing to get to know the worlds and settings you guys write about! And after that, we're back at Main Characters!

To partecipate, simply send me a Direct Message on Twitter!

See you soon!