[Sodium_noir] Back to the store/enter a man in black

[Alyson Young]

At 05:57 AM 5/19/2006, you wrote:
Panic, Two-Tone, Rachel
Magi, Lasombra and a Gangrel
Leaving Suzy Wong

 > "Hey .... Hot stuff .... nice to hear that voice."

"I hope so."  She fought to contain the urge to tear his throat out.  Was 
it his possible value as an ally, his probable powerful friends, or his 
prowess in the bedroom - which was so ponderous that she still couldn't 
actually remember anything specific?  Hard to say.  Somehow her world just 
plain still needed Panic in it, and she'd be damned if she'd go against the 
needs of her world.

Then again, she thought, I'm supposedly damned anyway.

 > "I'm on my way back to the ... back home, now. Got some nine to five to
 > sort out first, but after that I'm all yours. Say in about an hour?"

"An hour is fine.  See you then."

Rachel gestured to Two-Tone, and headed out without waiting to see his 
reaction.  She had learned to be attentive from her first pack priest... to 
stay in the moment, be part of the team without being coddled.  And now 
that she was in charge, well, she owed her underlings the same favor.

She climbed on the bike, started it, and was proud of herself for not even 
looking up as a Two-Tone-sized person settlied in behind her.  She kicked 
the engine into life, roared off into the distance...

She double-parked in front of Kinko's, finally turning to verify that her 
passenger was Two-Tone.  "Go in there and make a full copy of this," she 
ordered.

While Two-Tone made the copies, Rachel let her engine idle while she 
cleaned both arms thoroughly, and debated whether she could reach a leg 
without tipping the bike.  She drew some interesting looks from passing 
strangers, but none of them stayed for more than one baleful feral glare.

Why did Panic have such a hold on her?  He wasn't blood, wasn't Pack... he 
was a means to an end at best, a dangerous complication at worst.  Engaging 
in a tryst with him had been a calculated risk from the start, and allowing 
it to break down would probably be better for all 
concerned.  Simple.  Elegant.  Clearly the right choice.  So why couldn't 
she make it?

Two-Tone returned with two nearly identical documents - the new one a bit 
warmer, and on better paper.  "All set, let's... Rach?  Hey, 
Rachel?  RACHEL!"  She snapped out of her reverie.

"Sorry... lost in thought.  Let's go."

Minutes later, but still a good twenty minutes ahead of the hour quoted, 
Rachel returned the bike to its underground parking spot, walked around to 
the front of the Chaste Dragon, and took a seat at the bar.  She gestured 
Two-Tone to take the next seat.  "Make yourself useful... keep an eye out 
for any chink Janes that come in here."

She settled in, as she had so often lately, to wait for Panic.

[I look into the mirror... the tag is all I see]