Apex Club

(FOR MIKEY AND MATTIE)

1926

In the back alley way on the side of the Apex club at the corner of 330 street and 35 east, Jeff was bringing up the night's required amount of illegal hooch, several glass canisters of bath tub gin, whiskey, and good old Tennessee moonshine for the customer who required the strong taste. Even though he was delivering, he still made sure to look his best in dress slacks, polished shoes, a long vest and a long sleeved button down shirt. His long hair was a distant memory- a distinguishing characteristic he had to get rid of. It was now shorter, long enough to be wavy when he didn't slick it back like he had it now. He grew some facial hair, keeping it trimmed impeccably. He used his foot to bang on the iron door leading to the club.

"Password... please."

Jeff rolled his eyes at the fake pleasantries sullying up his young charge's voice. "James, it's me. Open the dang door, it's hard to juggle this stuff."

"Password please, Jeff."

He sounded amused which only served to tick Jeff off more. "God DANG IT James, open the door or ah'll light your moonshine on fire."

"Ooohh don't do that Dub-J!" James blinked and quickly opened the heavy door for him. "Ahm sorry, do ah still get mah moonshine, huh boss?"

"So ahm the boss when ya want your hooch. Ya open the door for me when ah got your dang hooch. Ah get it loud and clear." Jeff sighed struggling to hold the tray of glass canisters, but he some how managed to get one out for James before heading down the little flight of stairs to the club manager's office. Once he finished his transactions, he counted out the money as he came back up the stairs. He had to chuckle- James looked so uncomfortable in the club's mandatory suit with his long hair pulled back from his face.

"Hey boss- ya gonna enjoy the club for once tonight?"

"No James, no club." He muttered and shoved the money in his pocket. "Ah gotta get back to mah place- don't want to be seen-"

"What the heck are ya'll so afraid of anyway? We're in a completely different city." James made a face. "Before ya'll ALWAYS would have fun in the clubs, back when you was entertain'."

"Times change. Come on now James, get your butt outta the way ah wanna go-"

"Jeff! There ya are!" Debra's sweet voice caught his attention. His old partner, their act was the most popular around. They called themselves Southern Birds, and had an act full of comedy, jokes, stunts, and music. Their most popular bit was knife throwing- but Jeff's vaudeville days were long behind him since that morning in 1906. He had been on the run ever since. She still looked just as beautiful, curvy, and proud of her large breasts at a time when they were unpopular in fashion (but still just as popular with men...). She was wearing a to the knee gown and had her hair pulled back into long curls. She grabbed her old partner's arm and yanked him into the club.

James snickered. "Bye boss! Have fun!"

"Oooohhhh J's, ya'll should see the band. Even if it's jus' for a moment they're so good!" She directed him to sit. "Ohh the trumpet player is mah favorite. But you know how much ah love trumpets the sound, the way they carry a-" She paused watching him look nervously around the club. She smacked him on the back of his head. "HEY. Knock that off, it's safe. Jus' try and enjoy yourself."

Jeff gave her a look that said he'd be doing anything but, slumping down in the chair.

(Okay guys, feel free to do whatever )


(((the password is "old sod")))

Chris chuckled softly as he watched James quickly open the door for Jeff and get his bottle from him, offer James a drink or bottle and you could him to do almost anything. Chris quickly poured a drink for a customer before turning his attention back back to the room, smiling as he watched Debra talk to Jeff and get him to sit down. Chris poured Jeff's favorite drink and walked it over to them "Hello Jeff." he greeted as he set the drink down in front of him.

Jeff jumped nearly a mile, whipping around quickly to see who it was only to relax when he saw Chris. "Oh Christ Chris! Ya'll scared the heebie jeebies outta me." He picked up the drink and nearly chugged the whole thing.

"Forgive him, Chris- he's on edge tonight. Ya know how bootleggers are. Every time there's a siren they go runnin' for the dang hills." She smiled sweetly up at him.

Jeff sat the empty glass down, forking over the money for the drink and a tip for Chris. "Thanks a bundle for that though, Chris. Ah needed it. Gotta relax some how."

"Please- it'll take a whole galleon of that to relax him." Debra shook her head and sat back in her seat. "Oh!" She pulled out some money from her purse. "Chris, could ya'll make a drink for James and give it to him? He was real sweet to me helpin' me with things earlier."

Chris watched Jeff down the drink before smiling and saying to Debra "Yes ma'am i know." He took the money and the glass before saying "No problem Jeff, you looked like you could use it." Chris smiled as Debra asked him to make a drink for James "Sure thing ma'am i'll go make one for him now." Chris said as he went back to the bar and fixed James a drink before taking it over to him.

Mike stepped into the club, his nose crinkled up as he looked around. He was in his plain black work shirt, he had just be hired for a job as the muscle in this place. He was just here to keep the peace, something he was good at but he was better, and more likely to start some sort of riot. That was Mike Mizanin for you.

Mike wasn't sure who he was supposed to go to, he hadn't met anyone but the man who hired him and all they did was take one look, deem him strong and tell him where to be and when to be there. Of coarse Mike was late though, Mike was usually always late to his jobs. Behind him was an old girlfriend he still happened to be good friends with. Colbie was a pretty girl, always able to obtain what she wanted, driven by cheap liquor and a feisty attitude.

The women was only here to party, she bypassed Mike, making her way to the bar. She hopped up on a stool and slammed her fist down. The brilliant woman fanned her chest, crossing her legs and sighing.
"If only I had a man to buy me drinks and...walked me home." She giggled as men surrounded her. She was of coarse more interested in females at the moment but she adored attention.

Mike rolled his bright blue eyes, scratching his head and cursing, wondering around in hopes of finding the right man. Just in Mike's luck...well..not really. Mike was very clumsy and he tripped over a man, drunk and slumped on the floor. He fell right onto Jeff and Chris, string of curses spewing from him as he was drenched in alcohol.

Debra yelped loudly when the scene unfolded in front of her. Jeff fell to the ground and the drink he bought for James spilled all over them and the floor. Jeff's eyes were as wide as dinner plates as she made her way around to help the two gentlemen.

James watched the drink Chris had fixed for him sail through the air. He didn't know it was for him before it met it's tragic end all over Mike. "Damn!" He frowned and went over to help Chris. He grabbed some towels from the bar, whipping up the drink from the floor. "Man, that was a tragedy. Ah well. Everyone okay?"

Jeff blinked slowly. The sudden movements coupled with being on the ground made him originally freeze up. But once he realized it was just an accident from a guy he didn't even know, he carefully worked himself out the shock. "Ah... yeah. Ahm okay."

Debra came back with towels for Mike. "Here honey." She offered him the towels and helped Jeff to his feet.

Once he was to his feet, Jeff offered his hand to help up Mike. "You okay there? Nothin' broken but pride, right?"

Mike was like a deer in head lights for the first few moments, his body rigid and cold, drink in his lap. He stared at everyone around him and felt like a total idiot. All he could to was stutter out half sentences until he finally took a deep breath and regain composer.

"Yes sir, Im alright, just....clumsy." He tried to smile as he took Jeff's hand. "Thank you." He gave a curt nod, looking around the establishment, his cheeks a dark red, the drink that had spilled on him making him look as if he pissed himself.

"I am new...I am looking for my boss. I have no idea where to go..." He trailed off, scratching the back of his head while Colbie got up from her chair to laugh at him.

"Mike pissed himself!!" She announced, pointing to his damp groin as she laughed. Mike took the towel offered to him, smiling politely at the woman and trying to dry himself off.

Chris sighed as he looked at the mess "Sorry James." he said as he wiped his wet hands on his pants. "Well it could on be worse." he said with a small smile. before heading to the bar to make James another drink "Here James thanks for helping cleaning up." he said as he handed the drink to James.

"Naw, it's okay Chris. Accidents happen an' that drunk layin' on the floor is a real hazard. Hang on a moment, would ya? Ah gotta get him outta here." James went back to the drunk on the floor and picked him up, disposing of him outside in the hallway. He shook his head and sighed, heading back up to the bar. "Damn, well- all in a day's work ah suppose. Thanks for the drink!" He winked at Chris and downed it. "Ah've been achin' in all the wrong ways for one a these!"

Debra made a face. It really did look like that. She winced at the loud accusation from Colby and sighed. "Oh honey, it don't look TOO bad. It'll dry quick, ah bet." She checked the clock and sighed. "Ah better go! Ah gotta mah tush on stage!" She scuttled off toward the stage, slipping in back to get ready for her show.

"Oh hey- no problem. Come on- ah'll take ya to him. He's a decent guy so don't worry about it." Jeff nodded and patted Mike on the shoulder. "Come on, follow me." He offered and started toward the hallway he came in from, making a left. It was a long narrow hallway with several doors. Jeff stopped in front of one with a blank bronze plate on it. "This is the door. You'll be fine!"

Mike wasn't sure what to think now. He had never met anyone with such thick accents before but that aside he didn'r really wanna go in that room it seemed a little......scary? Sure Mike was not easily scared but this was a new town, big club, new job, weird red neck people. He was scared shitless.

"Ummmm....Maybe not. I might be in the wrong business after all." He muttered while his eyes remained fixated on the door that looked like it had come straight out of a mobster movie or something scary, maybe 'See No Evil' that was what it seemed to keep bringing Mike back to, or a SAW movie.

He didnt like the thought of either....

Colbie blinked at her and smiled, taking her seat back on the stage and waiting to see some kind of show. Colbie loved live entertainment, the tv didnt do anything for her. She preferred to be there in person. Plus this women seemed rather interesting to her. She waved all the adoring men off and watched the stage, alone with her drink.