by David Petrie
The woman approached the table with confidence, probably putting in the effort to compensate for the somewhat embarrassing way that they had met only moments ago. She ruined it by hesitating with her mouth open as if she had forgotten how to speak. After an awkward pause, she got out the words, "Call me Farn. Most people do."
Max stood as she offered her hand to shake. He took it, and an icon of digital ink flashed below the skull tattoo on his wrist indicating the addition of her contact information to his journal. He kept his attention on Alastair. "Okay, so we have a Shield. Now we, what, just invite the rest?"
"Sounds like a good place start." Alastair walked around the table to their side. "You’re in the eastern time zone, meaning you only have a few hours at best before logout, right? Can you get it together by then?"
"Yeah, I think so." Max let go of the Shield’s hand.
"Great." Alastair held out his hand to pass along his profile info. "Contact me if you need any form of support. I'll do anything I can." He shook Kira's hand as well before opening his inventory tab and selecting an item from the list on his forearm, its edges framed by a tattoo of decorative bones. A small rune stone materialized in the palm of his hand. He handed the new spell glyph to Kira. "Take this. You won't need to spend any upgrade points to learn it, and it will give you a new teleport destination that will take you to a command center that regular players can't access. Once you have your team together, take them there, and I'll brief them after they agree to the non-disclosure. Try not to say too much about the mission before then." He turned and walked toward the door as the tall Venom mage next to it, who had yet to say a word, took his place at his employer's side, making him look like a henchman.
“Time is of the essence, obviously, so I'll take my leave for now. Good luck. Now get going." Alastair slid back into his character's personality just before an orange shell of energy encompassed the two, leaving the three remaining adventurers in an awkward silence.
Kira clasped her hand around the rune, and a warm glow showed through her skin as the stone was consumed by the system, adding it to her character data.
Max turned to Farn. "Okay, we don't know you—" he stopped abruptly upon realizing how nervous she looked. A spattering of dark freckles ran across her nose and cheeks, blending with her skin as they spread down her face. They drew his eyes to hers, even if she was still avoiding making contact. He started again in a more pleasant tone. "Can we count on you to have our backs when things …" he searched for the right words, "hit the fan?"
She stuttered before answering, "Of course. As long as no one throws any more turkey legs in my face."
A wry smiled cracked across the fairy’s face as she opened her spell-craft menu. "I make no guarantees."
Chapter Six
Kirabell stood in the middle of the new party of three as they looked up at the Everleigh Club, which was located on Cresswell Street, just a short walk from the teleport point in the City of Lucem. People drifted around her on all sides, creating an exciting yet somehow relaxed atmosphere that, upon contact, was down-right infectious. Unlike Valain, with its suffocating entertainment district, Lucem was an entire city devoted solely to fun. The colorful streets were filled with theaters, casinos, arenas, and clubs. The sheer spectacle of the place gave everyone a reason to visit. Kira appreciated the effort.
Above hung the Grand Archway, its impressive length stretching across the sky as far as she could see, all stone and silver. According to the rumors, on top of being Lucem’s palace, the arch could also project a shield around the entire the city in the event of an attack. Although, there was no way to know if it was true - since the city had never been threatened thanks to a player, named Leftwitch, who had conquered it back when Noctem first launched. As Lady of the House of the Silver Tongues, she turned out to be a brilliant negotiator, keeping her territory neutral. Not all of Noctem was as lucky. The city of Torn seemed to have a new ruling house every month, but that was beside the point. Lucem was a place for everyone to play, and no one wanted to disrupt that. It didn't hurt that it was also pretty to look at.
Kira didn't go out for a night on the town much for obvious reasons, but if she did, this would be the place. Strings of lanterns ran this way and that, while every window shined down on the people below. Even the buildings, while nowhere near as tall as the ones in Valain, were magnificent. Each one looked like its own individual piece of art, woven into the tapestry that was the city as a whole as if there had been some kind of architectural renaissance. Although, as wonderful as the place was, Kira still might have avoided Cresswell Street where pots of red flames painted the buildings in a pink glow that made her skin feel hot.
"I thought we were getting a Coin?" Farnsworth asked.
Max stood with his hands resting on the butts of his guns. "Oh, we are."
"So why are we outside a brothel?" She grimaced as she looked up at the Everleigh Club.
Max spun to face her, his hands moving up to his hips. "Because the best Coin class player we know happens to work at a brothel." He held out his hand to her. "Shall we? I hope you like nudity."
Farn backed away with an awkward step. "Thanks, but no. I'll wait outside if that's okay."
"Suit yourself. Let's go. The women await," he said, excitement in his voice as he turned in Kira's direction.
It was clear to Kira that he was trying his best to imitate what movies had taught him about how cool guys should act. She cringed a bit but held in any jokes she might have had to make at his expense. He was already embarrassing himself all on his own. She followed his lead anyways but walked backward to keep her focus on Farn. It was obvious the new addition to their party felt uncomfortable. "Sorry. We won't be long." Kira gave her reassuring smile, getting a weak nod from the Shield, who had only stopped stuttering her sentences a few minutes ago on the walk there.
The Everleigh Club was a large five-story building containing a bar and stage area in its lobby. Kira's ears were greeted by music and the sounds of festivities from within as soon as she stepped through the entryway, which had a strong art nouveau look to its design. She was also scanned by an invisible barrier that confirmed and logged her identity to ensure that she was of legal age to enter such an establishment. At the same time, the scan began processing a cover charge of twenty-five dollars that was subtracted from her bank account upon entry and deposited it in the club's before she was even through the threshold. Unfortunately, that was when she realized that she should have just waited outside and saved her money. Max didn't need her help anyway. Then again, the crumbling facade that he wore to look confident while walking into the place told her otherwise.
When Noctem was originally released, it revolutionized how the world did business in many ways. The adult entertainment industry was no different. With no threat of danger or disease, few cared about streaming videos online anymore when an evening beyond their wildest fantasy had become so easily within reach. Driven by temptation, legislation was passed, and a new golden age of adult entertainment was born. It also created a new, high-paying job market with massive demand. Student loans got paid, and people got their heads above water instead of drowning in debt. That was, as long as they were willing to seek a somewhat different kind of employment.
Kira hid a grin as a bead of sweat betrayed Max, forming at the edge of his forehead from the sight of barely clothed women. They were everywhere! To the left a burlesque show, to the right waitresses serving drinks in an almost nonexistent skirt. His eyes kept moving as if both trying to avoid staring as well as take in the view at the same time. It was obvious he didn't know where to look. Needless to say, it was not the kind of place that he frequented. He may not have been mister popular in either world, but she knew he would never feel comfortable paying for that sort of company. Not to mention the fact that she also knew that he didn't have that kind of money to begin with. They had to share the rent on their apartment in the real world after all.
Kira was a little less terrified of
their surroundings, but only a little. The female form wasn't a mystery to her. She had never taken the time to find out what her own body looked like under her clothes, though now, her surroundings did make her a bit too aware of what she was, which left her feeling a bit vulnerable. She tugged on her dress, making sure the slits on the sides didn’t ride up.
Alone with each other for the first time since leaving the Hanging Frederick, Max tore his attention away from their surroundings long enough to lean down to Kira as if to tell a secret. "Hey, what do you think of Farnsworth? I mean she's cute, right?"
Kira glared at him. "Don't go gettin’ all creepy on her. You just met, and she seems nice."
"I know. I know. That's what I mean. She seems nice," he repeated her words, holding his hands up and palms out.
Kira tilted her head in consideration. "She does have an interesting face, I guess."
"What's that supposed to mean?" He stepped to the side staring down at her sideways.
"I mean, most people try too hard to make their avatar look like a model. But she looks like she put a lot of effort into crafting a character that feels unique, and that makes her seem real." Kira paused, remembering how she had spent hours designing her own character back when she had started for the same reason. "She's interesting is what I'm saying."
"True. Maybe that's what's making her stand out." Max shrugged. "Anyways, I messaged Ginger on the way over. She said she couldn't join us tonight because she was about to put her profile back in to pick up a client before logout."
"That kinda sounds like she turned you down."
Max grinned. "Not if I buy the rest of her night. She can't say no if I'm paying for her," he explained as he approached a row of kiosks by the wall, each bearing a glass screen similar to the inspector in the back of their player journals except bigger.
"Oh, God, that's your plan? I can't imagine any way that could backfire on you."
"Well, I don't really have time for adequate planning, and we need a Coin, so I'm going for it." He ran a search of the club's system for her name. "Nice! Found her, and she's still available.”
A profile picture appeared on the glass surface, showing a gorgeous brunette with green eyes wearing a matching dress and an inviting smile on her face. She looked like she'd smell like cinnamon. Text ran underneath: Name: GingerSnaps. Age: 23. Not true. Likes: reading and watching movies. Dislikes— "Blah, blah, blah," Max said out loud as his finger searched for a checkout button. "Oh!" He stopped, his finger hovering above a tab that read additional photos.
Kira cleared her throat. "Didn't we just talk about not being creepy."
"Hey, it's been three years," he reminded her as she continued to bore a hole in his head with her eyes, trying her best to push away his thoughts of misconduct. Eventually, he pulled his finger away from the photos tab. It looked like it took some effort. He hit the button reading ‘Request’ that brought him to an options screen. "Woah!" he exclaimed, looking at the price which started at just over three hundred dollars per hour. "We better get the payout on this mission." He accepted the amount without adding any of the additional services that made Kira blush just by skimming the list. He pressed the submit button.
The request was processed by the club and cross-referenced against a list of banned users to make sure that he wasn't someone unsavory. Then it was sent to a room upstairs where the requested employee had the option to decline.
"How much you wanna bet she bounces you?" Kira joked, causing an expression to wash over Max's face that made it clear that he had not known how the transaction worked.
"I thought she would just be surprised when I got up there." His eyes widened. "Oh, God! She knows it's me down here requesting her?"
Kira nodded with a smug grin. "Yup. You basically just asked her to sleep with you."
They both watched the screen. Nothing happened. A torturous moment went by, too slow for Max, judging from his face, which had lost all color. Then a message appeared on screen: ‘Approved.’ Money was transferred from one account to another, and an elevator nearby covered in delicate gold leaf designs opened to grant him access to the upper floors.
Max looked back at her.
"Have fun up there." Kira shooed him inside before giving him her most obnoxious grin. "Looks like someone likes you."
Max swallowed hard. "Yeah, this was definitely a bad idea." He took a breath and tapped a button inside the lift. He looked terrified as the doors slid closed.
Kira made sure her taunting smile was the last thing he saw.
With Max gone, she became conscious of the fact that she was standing in front of a selection kiosk in a brothel. She backed away as if she couldn't get away from the thing fast enough. Then, turning in haste, she bumped into a man in mid-level Breath mage gear. She apologized, avoiding eye contact. He accepted in a polite manner and attempted to place a hand on her shoulder as if to steady her. She must have looked shaken. She shrunk away before he could make contact, forcing a smile so that she didn't seem awkward, or worse, scared. She apologized again and made her escape down the hall.
She debated leaving the club altogether but felt like that would've been cowardly, as if she would be admitting some kind of defeat. So, instead, she made her way to the bar area, her bare feet padding across the red carpet until she found a place against a wall next to a large potted plant that had a view of the stage where a beautiful elven woman danced.
The woman waved a pair of large fans on the raised platform while tables of patrons filled the floor below. Music played as the newer employees served drinks and flirted with the grateful public in hopes of picking up a client.
Kira did her best to blend into the background as she watched the dancer's slow, seductive moves, fans waving in sync with the music. The tempo sped up, and the fans burst into flames. Flames that traveled to the dancer’s clothing, burning them away, leaving only the smoldering fans to provide cover. The routine was well practiced, keeping most of the performer hidden, but flashes of skin sent a chain of reactions through Kira's body that made her skin feel warm. She fidgeted with her item bag and lowered her head to hide her face, letting her hair fall to the sides. She felt eyes fall to her as a couple of the patrons' views shifted away from the stage, which only made her burn hotter.
A man stood from a table that he shared with a group and began to approach, sending her heart into her throat as a familiar panic began to set in. Fortunately, he was headed off by a waitress, who seemed to have been sent by an older woman that now approached Kira in his stead. "Hi there," the woman said, her voice sounding kind and reassuring.
"Hi," replied Kira in a tone that was a cross between grateful and suspicious. She looked up at the tall woman and tucked her hair behind a pointed ear on one side with a nervous hand, revealing her eyes.
"Wow," said the woman. "Not the place for such a magical creature as yourself, huh?”
Kira gave an awkward nod. "Not so much." She paused. "Sorry, I was just waiting for a friend. He's upstairs. He shouldn't take long."
The woman let out a laugh at Kira's apology, making her aware of how the words ‘he shouldn’t take long’ were interpreted, bringing a smile back to her face.
"No need to apologize. Can I get you something from the bar? On the house, of course.” The woman gave her a kind smile, but the offer of free drinks informed Kira that she wasn't being rescued at all. She was being recruited. The woman must have been a floor madam. It made sense. She was older and attractive but not so much to draw attention. Definitely not a student working herself through college, that was for sure. She must have acted as a conduit between the company that ran the brothel and the women that worked the lobby, and she had just marked Kira as a potential employee. "No thanks. As I mentioned, I shouldn't be long," she answered, sounding almost formal, trying to decrease her appeal a bit.
The woman laughed, showing a small number of teeth. "Now what would your friend want upstairs when he has something like you waiting down here?" she fished for i
nformation. Her words sounded like a compliment but also referred to Kira as a thing. It was clear what was going on.
Kira remained polite, not wanting to make a scene. "He's just a friend, so—"
"Just out of curiosity," the madam interrupted, not wasting any time. "Have you ever considered working at a place like this?"
Kira tried to act surprised at the question, despite knowing it was coming. "Oh, well, no," she answered with an unintentional innocence that must have made her more marketable.
"Yeah, I know. It's definitely not for everyone," the madam said in a way that was somehow both praising and condescending at the same time. "Although the money is amazing, and someone with your unique qualities would be in high demand."
"Yeah, but I'm not really experienced in the field, if you know what I mean," Kira responded, which was sort of true in a way.
"That's no problem. We have training programs for new employees that need a little instruction," the madam offered like she had given the pitch countless times.
Taken aback by the idea of training, Kira hid behind her most comical blank face to express that she was not taking the conversation seriously. "Oh, wow. I am very uncomfortable with the line that this conversation has taken," she said in a flat monotone.
The madam laughed at her response as if it was refreshing to hear. Then Kira noticed the woman's eye repeatedly glancing at the second caster on her wrist. The gear Kira wore was all high-level, and like most high-level equipment, it tended to be simple and unimpressive, more function than form. The result was that it was sometimes hard to tell a high-level player from a low-level one. A second caster, however, was unmistakable. After all, dual casting wasn’t available until level ninety, and even then, it required the completion of several difficult quests.
