baby it's c o l d outside {amelia}

[gemma]

Gemma wasn't normally the preening type, she felt that nobody really needed to look at her- so she would do just enough to be polished, but when it came to work- at least here- she put a lot more effort into her appearance. It was all part of the act- teasing her hair and putting in luxurious waves, the dark eye shadow and bright lipstick- the false nails perfectly manicured and painted a candy-apple red. Her lipstick matched. Gemma sighed lightly at the costume, honestly she found it almost nauseating. She was used to over-the-top, it was what this profession demanded, but this she felt was too much.

Supposedly she was one of Santa's sexy helpers, the one that helped him deal with naughty grownups. Gemma hated the concept, but it would pay, and Christmas was just a few days away, and she needed the money. Unfortunately, she hadn't made enough to give them a real Christmas, there would be any presents the morning of the 25th, her mother's medical bills had simply gotten far too expensive. Though Gemma had gotten a healthy bonus from the apothecary for the holiday season, and she had put it into making them a nice dinner. All of the fixings were in the fridge, and she would prepare a fine meal that night.

They were going to have a turkey, potatoes, rolls, and Gemma was going to make some sort of pie- from scratch, like the ones mother had used to make before she got sick. It was so difficult sometimes, the woman had been bedridden on and off for the past few weeks, her condition was worsening and all Gemma wanted to do was cry. She might be the only witch in the family, but there wasn't anything she could do to improve their situation. She couldn't even take her mother to St. Mungo's, Gemma had tried but as her mother's illness had not been caused by magic, they refused to treat a muggle.

It was frustrating, and Gemma was scared to death that something might happen and she would be without her mother, left to look after her three younger siblings on her own. Granted, Riley was an adult, and Avery not far off, but Carlotta... She was still a child, barely fourteen. Pushing the frightening thoughts aside, Gemma did one last scan of her apparel, a red mini-dress with white false fur trim on the top and bottom- white fishnets secured on her thighs with emerald green garters. Of course, the dress wasn't going to stay for long, it would be removed to reveal the lingerie beneath...

Standing up, Gemma went to take her place on the stage, and as her hand wrapped around the pole, she felt her typical shyness and self-conscious nature dissipate. This was where she felt alive. Sure, she would rather not have to dance mostly naked, she would rather dance clothed and for the sake of art rather than cat calls and banknotes tossed onto the stage or threaded into her skimpy underthings. But this would do, it kept the bills paid. Or at least partway, just enough to get by with the bare-bones necessities. The lights snapped on and the music began and Gemma began her dance in time to the music, ignoring the sounds from the men, simply allowing herself to be free as she danced.

[amelia]

Amelia was exhausted, and wanted nothing more than to return home to her daughter and just block out the rest of the world. Being an author though kept her busy, she'd had 2 signings today plus a four hour meeting with her publisher discussing her next book and book tour. As much as she appreciated the woman's dedication to her career, Amelia had spent the last few hours persuading her to hold off on another book tour. She wanted to enjoy writing again, and she could only do that once the pressure of all these deadlines were removed. After all it was Christmas, she wanted to be with her baby girl, enjoying the holiday season.

Of course they were spending it alone. Hayden was with his wife and child, and her parents were away travelling, they'd found a new lease of life upon finding out Hayden was alive. Even if they didn't see him it seemed just the knowledge he was alive, and happy was enough to make them smile again. It was nice to see, after so long of watching them waste away, lingering in their grief, Amelia was just happy to have her parents back. Their family was a long way from normal or mended but at least she had her family back in some way, and that was more than she'd ever expected she'd have.

So yes, Christmas this year was going to be her and Beth as well as their dog Milo. It was simple but enough for them at least. Though she would admit she wished she had more, someone else to share holidays like that with. She'd had her fair share of one night stands, but she wanted something more substantial, something she could hold onto with both hands. Someone to fall asleep with at night. That wasn't too much to ask for was it? Her life was so busy, between taking care of Beth, and taking care of the demands of her job, she barely had any spare time and had to grab it where she could...like tonight.

Since the nanny was still on the clock, Amelia figured she deserved a drink before heading home. So upon leaving her publishers office she'd headed to the nearest, best looking place which just so happened to a strip club. Of course she was sure going to enjoy taking a few moments to admire the beautiful women likely to be dancing on stage, she was more there for the drink. So after paying the guy on the door she headed into the darkened club and made a straight bee line for the bar, barely paying attention to to the disgusting comments the men where coming out with about the women in the club. Shaking her head she settled on a seat at the end of the bar and smiled at the bartender, "Double vodka sweetie." she said, sliding the money across the bar.

The music started up, the cat calls grew louder, the comments cruder and she sighed. Her eyes fixating on a beautiful brunette heading into the back as she swivelled around on her chair, her drink in hand. Smiling softly she lifted the glass to her lips and focused on the bar, finding herself instantly fixed onto the blonde beauty now dancing on the stage, dressed in a very sexy festive costume. Biting down on her lip she tilted her head slightly, crossing her long legs getting the nagging feeling she knew the dancer...from somewhere. Leaning forward slightly she let her eyes moving over the beauty before it hit her, catching sight of her face....it was Gemma!

Outfit

[gemma]

Gemma swayed her hips, walking around the pole as she danced. She was a professional at this by now, anyone who knew her outside of the club would be so shocked if they knew this was what she did- the shy, gentle, and caring young woman who had hardly a sliver of confidence- suddenly capable of strutting around in nothing more than the skimpiest lace items, a mistress of seduction. It seemed very uncharacteristic of her. In a way, it was, she had never dreamed that she would be capable of something like this, or more that she would have to stoop to this level to keep the bills paid.

It wasn't exactly an honest living, she had decided, but it paid well for what it was. Depending on how many hours she had and how busy the club was, she could make anywhere from double to quadruple what they paid her at the apothecary. And tonight it looked like a full house. Gemma would put in her hours, throw in a few lap dances to men that looked like they would pay well, and be on her way, with likely a couple hundred pounds. Gemma knew it was shady, but she never reported the tips she made, nobody in the club did- Lord knew she didn't need the government dipping their hands into her pockets.

She gave enough as it was, this cash was going to be hers, and hers alone. Gemma continued her dance, slowly and suggestively removing the mini-dress that didn't even completely cover her lower half, barely contained her breasts. The collective whistles, cheers, and crude words of the men in the crowd grew louder as the piece of white fur-trimmed red fabric fell to the stage, revealing almost the whole of her body. Today's lace was definitely skimpier than normal.

It was cold outside, so management had felt the need to turn up the heat of their acts. Gemma at first had been uncomfortable, she was used to the corsets that at least held her in, rather than these small strips of lace that hardly covered everything. At first, she had been concerned that she would end up showing everything. Though as she immersed herself in her dance the thoughts of complete exposure left her mind- it was her time to be free.

Her mind wasn't even on her siblings or her ailing mother, as it almost always was. For the time being, her thoughts were blissfully muted, all that mattered was moving her body and the music. And also, though it was a very small thing in the back of her mind, the banknotes hitting the stage. Her routine ended with her typical finale, coming to the edge of the stage to allow the patrons to thread cash into the strap of her thong, or otherwise taking it from their hands with her breasts.

Her hips swayed and she offered seductive winks, it was as if here she had none of her awkwardness- had suddenly found a boatload of confidence...Gemma slipped off the stage to prowl through the crowd for a man who looked like he had a lot of money to get rid of, though the sight of a familiar face at the bar made her stop dead in her tracks. All her time working here she had never spotted anyone she knew, which she was grateful for. She lived in fear that Riley, a young man of almost twenty, would show up with his mates and find out the truth about her profession.

Her confidence had evaporated as soon as it had come. Gemma tentatively approached Amelia, trying to speak, but her words were lost and she was suddenly very aware of the fact that she was a few strategically-placed pieces of lace away from being naked.