Brother, Can You Spare a Dime? [Dana Jackson]

[Mona Shepherd]

Mona would have married the man who invented the sleeping mask. They were the greatest invention since sliced bread as far as she was concerned. The man was probably rolling in dough anyway. Mona wouldn't have been opposed to helping he spend all that cash. He wouldn't want to be a miser after all.

It was so early, light was pouring into the hotel room she'd spent the night in with some fat cat. Not even the sleeping mask over her eyes could keep the light out. The man was a snorer anyway, which roused Mona at a much earlier time than she'd prefer. As she shifted in bed, so did he, the night of fun over for now. The splitting headache and grogginess the price for a shower of affection and passion and heat.

Somehow, in her morning stupor she managed to find her clothes, the rich mark, helping her back into her gown from the previous night. He wasn't much to look at, but he'd been tossing money around all week and Mona had been working hard to keep his attention. A little flirt here, a little tease, a little bit of poor, helpless Mona, and they'd made it back to his suite. She'd blacked out about half way through the night, but it was the mornings that really mattered in the end.

That was the business hour.

Unfortunately, as much as the fish was biting, he wasn't staying on the hook. The man she'd been working over was checking out today, heading back to the oil fields of Texas and his wife. No matter how much Mona nibbled at his earlobe, he didn't seem to want a Vegas plaything to come visit and take care of, just a romp for his one week away from his wife. If he'd wanted that, he should have gone to Roxie's.

Of course she didn't say that, though her lips were set in a pout as he set cab fare on the dresser for her. Men were fickle; sometimes they would come back.

Feeling a little defeated, Mona took the money and left. Maybe some time with his wife and he'd head back to Vegas for a little fun. Maybe by that time, someone else would be on Mona's arm.

Right now, she had another date to keep.

Dana Jackson was as fascinating a man as he was handsome. Too risky an investment for Mona to pursue, but fun and exciting nevertheless. How their little friendship came to be was simply fate, two thieves in their own right, though Mona liked to think her way was a bit more honest then just picking a pocket.

They got together just about every Monday morning for some coffee and laughs at the Flying Saucer. It was cheap enough that even on their lowest paying week they could still keep the date. Mussed hair and an evening gown from the night before was Mona's usual attire. There was simply no time to go home and change just for coffee with Dana.

When she arrived, having walked from the hotel, the blue eyed devil was already waiting for her, a steaming cup of joe at her spot across from him. She slid onto the seat, dropping her wrap and handbag next to her.

From her bag, she pulled out a flask and poured some whiskey into her coffee, hoping it would help with the hangover.

"Hair of the dog?" she offered, holding the flask out for him to take, a sly smirk on her lips. This morning just might be salvaged yet.

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[Dana Jackson Hope this works for you! I'm so excited! Wearing this!]

[Dana Jackson]

gonna play for the sky

He'd had the usual night. Viv was busy pulling a short con of her own, so he was left to his own devices. He had already been planning a new mask to run in High Noon anyway. Harrison Montgomery, a cattle ranch owner straight from Texas, that's who he had been last night. He needed to set down the ground work which started with the way it always did; with a night at the tables. It helped that the dealer was a pretty young bird and the pit boss off the craps tables was already in his pocket.

Dana observed before he participated, scoping out the players in a casino as he sat from a bar stool or half hidden under a hat and a four o'clock shadow. The pit boss had sticky fingers. He had a tendency to lift the sterling silverware from the suites and pawn them; a fact which Dana had been kind enough to make a note of it to the man's face. So, he rested easy when the boss approached his table and switched the dice. Dana risked giving the man a slight nod before he picked up the dice and rolled. Cheers echoed around him as he settled a win; it wasn't hard, considering he'd given the boss loaded dice.

The rest of the night had been spent picking up enough wins to make it a good night, but not good enough to get him noticed by casino security. Then the morning was spent in a mighty fine room with the delightfully sweet dealer. He'd left the room with a kiss and a wink from the might fine Mr. Montgomery. He had an engagement to get to with another sweet bird; although this one had a delightfully sharp beak.

It looked like he was the first to arrive, so he settled in with a hot cigarette and a warm cup of coffee; and one waiting for her too. He removed his stetsons hat and placed it on the table beside him, donning the clothes he wore last night too. He was chewing on a toothpick and halfway through his cup a joe when she entered. He knew he would never get over how stunning Mona was. She was as dangerous as as a hungry lioness, but she never failed to be just as beautiful as one. Someday he was sure they'd fall into that kind of dance. He knew she'd make for a jazzy weekend but would be worrying for a steady dive.

Wordlessly he watched her sit down with a grin on his mug. They made a funny pair, sitting in a two cent dinner dressed to the nines. "You have to ask?" He said. He took the flask and poured some life juice into his cup. He sat back and sipped on the improved black tar. "You got anything to show for last night? Besides that pretty, old dress. You know, if you lowered the neckline and shortened the hemline you'd have more to show for it." He returned the toothpick to his mouth, "If you have trouble getting out of that dress I happen to know a fella who could help. He's kind of an expert in the matter." A lot of whiskey and a little bit of flirting was the perfect way to start out his morning.

NOTES: Thanks for starting. | TAG: Mona Shepherd

[Mona Shepherd]

Anyone looking in might have thought they had planned their attire. They looked like they were headed to the Terrace Room or one of the nicer casinos. For them, Mona didn't think it was unusual. They both tended to work long hours, especially over the weekend. Mona herself was accustomed to watching the sunrise and sleeping until the sun was setting.

She took a long sip of her coffee, letting the liquor work its magic on her migraine. Dana's handsome mug didn't hurt either. They were two peas in a pod when she stopped to think about it. As much as she would have loved to take the man up to a hotel room and not let him leave for the whole weekend. But Mona's mind was set on the long term. Maybe once her future was secure, she'd spoil him. Right now, she was content with flirting over a cup of coffee every Monday.

"An expert would be nice. I can think of a number of better uses for my fingers anyway. Maybe he and I can compare notes." She lifted her mug to her grinning lips as she took a sip of the concoction.

But as she set the mug back down she sighed.

"I don't think looking like a girl from Roxie's is going to help net me that whale." She reached into her handbag and let the coins clatter onto the table. She stopped one quarter from spinning and began mindlessly sorting them.

"Only made out with cab fare again," she bemoaned, an irritable trill to her voice. "I'll never understand the logic behind a good old fashioned weekend romp and back to the wife and kids. Why settle for one weekend when there's loads more fun to be had?"

It was a question that had been plaguing Mona for the last few weeks. She just couldn't seem to snag that benefactor she was looking for, not for lack of trying. She'd played Helpless Harriet more times than she could count, yet the majority of her earnings were mediocre at best. Luckily she had a job to keep her afloat for now. But she'd much rather just have everything taken care of. And she needed a powerful man to do that. She'd be good to him, she knew that was for certain. All that was missing was the man.

"I'm sure you did much better than me," Mona said, scooping the coins back into her bag. She leaned in close, a smirk on her lips. "Rumor has it your tongue is an expert too." She settled back, fingering her mug. Dana was always good for a story, even if it didn't have a happy ending.

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[Dana Jackson My pleasure! Wearing this!]

[Dana Jackson]

gonna play for the sky

"Sure. He'd have a couple idea what those fingers of yours could do too," he retorted with his usual smirk. Just the simple act of return quick flirts was already doing enough to shed the last hold exhaustion had on him; and the punched up coffee wasn't hurting either. He shrugged his shoulders, "Might not hurt either." Truthfully he just wanted to see her in those shortened hemlines. He didn't care about what those whales wanted. He shook his head and clicked his tongue in disappointment at that sad sight of change in front of her. It made him realize the relative success of his night.

"You're preaching to the choir here." He wished he could give her some bit of advice that she could take to sink that hook she desperately wanted, but he was about as clued in on all of this as she was. "Look, us fellas are a tough bunch. I couldn't even tell you what we were thinking if I tried. But there's only one part we think with and maybe if you didn't give that part so much attention so quickly, the cats you're with would want you stick around longer. You know, to see if they'd eventually get that attention." He picked up the flask again and poured more liquor into his cup.

It was a hell of a lot easier for him with dames. They fell in love with him at the first compliment he threw their way; hell, sometimes it was hard to get rid of them. He chuckled, "Scoot on over here and you can see yourself if those rumors are true." He patted the table beside him playfully, knowing she would never take him up on the offer; at least not now. "Or you can see how," he reached over and grabbed his cowboy hat, placing it on his head. He tilted his head up, "Harrison Montgomery, pleasure to meet you."

He reached his free hand up and spun a chip, a $50 dollar High Noon chip, onto the table. "Here, sugar. Mr. Montgomery's got enough to spare." Mr. Montgomery was rich enough to let go of fifty dollars without a second though. He supposed he'd have to get used to that. It was the least he could do for Mona when he'd actually had an enjoyable evening. "Does it have you sold?"

NOTES: I hope this gives you enough! | TAG: Mona Shepherd

[Mona Shepherd]

Mona curled her lips into a taut smile and she shook her head at Dana's comment. She brought her coffee to her lips once again, allowing him to finish his advice and invite her over to his side of the table. She wasn't going to join him--especially not Mr. Montgomery, who she imagined was even more trouble than Dana. She wouldn't join him, but the wonderful thing about being in dire straits was that she didn't have pesky things like pride getting in the way of her taking his money. She slid the chip back toward her, with a thank you for him.

It wasn't that she was bothered by his advice, simply that she didn't agree. Even though she might have been a little hung over still, Mona still knew what was best for a man, namely her.

"For a man, you seem to know so little about you sex," she observed, not mockingly, just in a nonchalant sort of way. "Most of the big fish I'm trying to catch have their little wives sitting at home, cold as ice and not jumping the prospect at their husband's attention." Her voice had dropped, not wanting to call much attention to the subject they were discussing. "Then I come along. I pine. I pout. I blush like a schoolgirl when their hands 'accidentally' touch where they ought not. A man like that isn't looking for another wife to make him wait. He needs a plaything. He needs someone to assure him that even if he's the ugliest son of a bitch, he's still a god among mortals."

She moved back in her seat, topping off her coffee with a little more whiskey. Luckily she managed to hide the flask under her thigh by the time the waitress came around with more coffee for the pair.

"Poor Mr. Montegomery doesn't need my help there," she lamented, her lips curling back into a puckered smirk as the waitress moved away. "Seems to me he's the type of man who's very blessed in that department."

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[Dana Jackson Hope I've given you enough! Sorry for the wait! Wearing this!]

[Dana Jackson]

gonna play for the sky

He shrugged his shoulders. "Never claimed to know a lot." It wasn't like he sat around thinking about his fellow man. "Well then, he's always gonna need you around isn't he? I mean, he's always gonna have that ice queen at home." He wasn't sure if he was giving her anything she'd take for later, so he decided he'd drop the topic; although, he was convinced his words were quite brilliant. Still, he wouldn't give his life for hers. He didn't have to think so hard about what made women tick.

He tilted his hat once more, "Why you're too kind, little lady." He put the toothpick back between his teeth. "You know, you could find out for yourself how blessed Mr. Montgomery really is." He patted the seat beside him again, knowing that she would stay firmly in her seat no matter what he said.

He chuckled and removed his hat, "Dames really go for this cowboy thing." He ran a hand through his hair and ruffled it, though he still chewed on his toothpick. "I could help you with your problem sometime. Use Mr. Montgomery to make your gentlemen friends jumpy. I do know nothing makes a man more hungry is the idea of getting some other man's old lady."

NOTES: Again I hope this gives you enough! | TAG: Mona Shepherd