some days you amaze me┊INTRO (O)

[TATIANA.]

[align=center][div style="width: 350px; text-align: justify; font-family: times new roman; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 1.4; color: #6B6953;"]when tatiana had join the badlands a few months prior, it had been before the new leadership changes when the group had been in a small drought of activity, living in desolation from the rest of the world. it was just quiet enough to where other groups didn't pay much attention to it and with the notorious name that once gave it so much power, many people didn't seem all that eager to try and mess with it, so it was a safe place to stay, which was something the young woman was searching for. the first month or two of her being there were peaceful, most of the time there wasn't a lot going on and every stuck to their own routines, but she did have to admit that things did start to get a bit more dull and boring with the longer time went on like that.

initially, of course, she had her concerns when the administration first showed up and began to take over. it helped that it was a clean take over, they didn't need to do much to gain control and that meant there wasn't any need for violence. there had still been times when she was a bit caught off guard and uncomfortable with the crime aspect that they revived when they began to transform the group once more, but turning all of her time and attention to dancing definitely helped anya with the process of getting use to all of the changes. if she wasn't completely forced into anything regarding it and just got to do what she loved, she would make do.

tonight, like most nights, was spent dancing in the casino for all of the people who came around to check out the "new" badlands. as usual, tatiana was always unsure of her dancing still, she never really danced in front of people before this, but slowly, she was starting to grow more and more comfortable with it as each night passed. once she was done for the night, she retreated to the back for a little period of time to freshen up and catch her breath while she made small talk with the rest of the people who were doing the same.

eventually, the tall brunette made her way back into the main part of the area, carefully maneuvering through the crowd of people. once she reached the bar, after passing out the already ordered drinks, the bartender turned their attention to her, so she lightly smiled. "hi! um, a shot of-" she paused briefly, her dark brown eyes quickly flickering around at the drinks other people were holding, only to not recognize any of them off the bat. "a shot of anything that you would recommend?" she didn't mean to make the end sound like a question and mentally pinched herself for it, but continued anyways. "please." she quickly added, offering another sweet smile to the bartender.

once the bartender turned to go get her drink and some others, anya turned around to face the room, eyes scanning the crowd hopefully for any familiar faces.

[TEDDY.]

[align=center][div style="width: 430px; text-align: justify; font-family: verdana; font-size: 6pt; letter-spacing: 1.5px; word-spacing: 0px; line-height: 12px; color: #262626"]The dream was coming together with two firm eventualities. Either they’d make it, or they would soon fizzle out. It was the risk that came with business and enterprise, but Teddy knew how to minimize those risks. It came with enough charisma and ambition to grapple at every goal he wanted to achieve, and everything that stood in his way would come down with sheer, brutal force eventually. When would he reach the peak of this enterprise? Had he already passed that time or was it looming in the near future? He only assumed the latter, every night becoming more glamorous and bustling with guests with every passing day.

He never took the feelings of older Badlands members into consideration. He was often too selfish for that.

Tonight was another one of those nights dedicated to mingling with important people. These would be the people that Teddy would leech off of until he could eventually become more successful than them. Most of the evening was spent sat at a booth, laughing and joking around with people until they were convinced that they were ❛ buddies ❜ with the silver tongued man. It was all a lie, however. But, as the performers soon took to the stage, Teddy stumbled upon a sight for sore eyes. Eyes narrowed ever-so-slightly — curiosity — as he watched the way the woman danced so gracefully. He wished that the performance could have lasted all night; she was truly captivating. But, as the performance eventually ended, the woman disappeared to the back.

The evening was slowly coming to an end, and eventually Teddy found himself alone at the bar. It wasn’t often he’d find himself without the company of another but, as the crowd found themselves too intrigued with one another, it gave time for Teddy to reflect on his night. Just as he went to finish off his drink, a voice captured his attention. Eyes darted over to the side to see that very same dancer, this time a couple of feet away from him as she ordered a drink for herself. Teddy looked towards the bartender, lifting his hand to catch his attention, before he added, ❝ Make that two drinks. ❞ The bartender nodded and then went to prepare the drinks. Teddy hesitated, gaze following the man before looking towards the dancer.

❝ You should dance more often. ❞ God, where had his charm gone? He searched her features, nodding his head to the side before flitting his gaze away. ❝ Y’caught the attention of a lotta guests tonight. That’s good for business, ya know? ❞ That was some way of introducing himself, he grimaced to himself as he looked towards the bartender returning with two shots. He lifted his glass up, holding it out to clink his drink with hers, ❝ Cheers. ❞ And, without hesitation, he tipped the drink back with a light wince. He never had trouble impressing women and capturing their attention but, for some reason, he felt as if this dancer was simply not that easy to intrigue. That scared him yet interested him all the same. ❝ What’s your name? ❞ He asked. It’d be a name that he’d not forget after this night.