[Sodium_noir] End of Thursday for Rachel

[Alyson Young]

Rachel, Two-Tone, Panic
Two Vamps and a Magus
The Chaste Dragon

"If you're staying here, I hope you brought cash.  And you'd better find a 
decent parking spot."

Rachel hopped out of the car, trusting Two-Tone to meet her when he 
could.  That's how you get subordinates to trust you - you trust them.  Or 
so she hoped.

Stepping into the Chaste Dragon, she pulled up a barstool and flashed her 
fangs to the man behind the counter - who proceeded to serve her an empty 
glass and a shrug.  Checking it from the side, she noticed that it looked 
like a half-empty drink - nice illusion.  More than a vamp in a non-vamp 
bar had any right to expect, she guessed.  And it wasn't like she was starving.

Looking around, Rachel spotted the camera overlooking the main room, and 
waved.  Just about that time she realized that she was still wearing a 
kimono-style dress, that wasn't intended for sitting at all - much less in 
the style of a barfly.  Checking to make sure it hadn't been harmed 
(lucky!), she carefully rearranged herself and proceeded to wait.  For 
Two-Tone.  For Panic.  For dawn.

Two-Tone won.  "I found a spot in the back.  Says employees only but I 
don't think Panic will bounce us."  She nodded and absently sipped at her 
empty glass.

"Hey, since when can you drink that stuff?"

Rachel looked down and saw that the illusion on the glass had changed - it 
looked about a sip's worth emptier.  "Oh.  Wow, that's impressive.  See, 
it's empty... but it's a pretty nifty illusion."

"Thanks."

If the voice hadn't been Panic's, Rachel might have jumped out of her seat- 
and her dress.  Fortunately, she was used to the idea that the mage could 
do just about whatever he wanted in his sanctum.  "What brings you here, babe?"

"Panic.  This is Two-Tone - part of the posse.  He's with me tonight, and 
we need to talk turkey about some tail trouble."  Alliteration?  Where the 
hell did that come from?  Panic brought out such unexpected things in her...

"Sure.  Private?"  "Yeah."  "Come up."

Sure enough, suddenly the door was visible.  Just when she was starting to 
think maybe it had been visible all along, she heard Two-Tone mutter under 
his breath... "Man, when did that door get there?"

The three gathered on a cusioned bench seat.  "So here's the thing," Rachel 
started.  "We're taking charge of Chinatown, as you know.  Chinatown runs 
some street trade, as you know.  And as you know, the street trade are 
always looking for a better shake.  Word is that some of them are coming 
here and trying to join the house, and that no matter how rarely they get 
the nod, the possibility is making it hard for the chinks to control their 
janes."

Panic nodded - three times.  "Okay, yeah, I can see where that's a problem 
for them.  Somehow I get the sense you want me to fix it."

"Well, not necessarily... but I was thinking more of a mutual 
backscratching thing.  I mean, you know there's a difference between street 
trade and house trade.  A price jump, if nothing else, and the johns get 
what they pay for.  I've told the chinks to raise their rates - they should 
be doing much better than they are right now, and more money will cut down 
on the departures."

Panic continued nodding.

"What I'm hoping you might be willing to do is discourage them from signing 
on here.  Most of them aren't up to snuff anyway, it shouldn't be a big 
loss... and if they don't think they have another option, they'll be less 
inclined to get out of hand for the chinks."

Panic stopped nodding.  "Not bad... but the part you're missing is that 
once in a blue moon, one comes along that is up to snuff... and not 
everyone is happy with just chocolate or vanilla.  Come on, Rachel, you 
know I need some of every flavor if I'm gonna stay in business.  And if I 
can't hire any chink street trade, well, that makes it harder.  Not 
impossible... just harder."

Rachel's turn to nod.

"Now, I'm willing to accomodate you... but obviously it costs me something, 
so I want something in return."

Rachel kept nodding.

"I want you staying here."

Rachel stopped nodding.  Her jaw dropped in most unladylike 
fashion.  "Um... well, I..."

"I know you need to spend time with your pack.  I know Titus is ambitious 
and wants to put you in charge when he moves on up.  I'm down with 
that.  But I want you here, if not every night, at least every other 
night.  You want to change how I do business, you gotta make it worth my 
while... and you're worth my while."

Rachel started to smile at the compliment, then frowned.  "So you're buying 
me.  So I'm just another whore, after all."

"Hey, if that's how you want to see it, I can't stop you.  But try this on 
for size - I've been running this place long enough to have pretty much 
zero interest in anything I can buy.  I wouldn't want you if I thought 
you'd put out for cash.  And I wouldn't be willing to change how I do 
business, especially in a way that costs me more, for just anyone.  But I'd 
do it for a relationship... and if you can commit to one, then there we go."

The smile came back.  She didn't smile this much before, did she?

"Well... obviously I gotta ask the boss.  But I'm convinced."

"Good enough.  Hey... it's getting late.  Ask him tomorrow.  Two-tone is 
welcome to a room downstairs, and company if he can afford it."

[tag pretty much nobody]