[Mercy Merchant]

Your call to Brandon Smart is a bit different.  A man answers on the second ring, "Mistress Gold.  I am so glad you deigned to call back.  I have been very naughty and need to be punished.  Can I see you tonight?"

[VegasRigged]

My breath catches. Mistress Gold? Does this man know me by another name? How many of me are their?

"Mr Smart, I believe you may have confused with someone else." is about as good as I can manage. I really hope this is a misunderstanding, I've always been pretty Vanila, and if Ni Ni needs these kinds of favors from me I'm going to have a lot less time to prepare for a power play.

[Mercy Merchant]

There is a slight whimper on the 'link.  "Please, Mistress Gold, this is always the number I call.  I have been naughty and need you to spank me and use your whip on me.  I have the five hundred like we agreed.  Please see me.  I must be disciplined.  You do it so well.

[VegasRigged]

This cannot be happening. I'm being... 'bootycalled' at my place of work. Even thinking the word makes me want to gag. And punishment? Is Marisa a Dominatrix?

I start to object, then the gears step in. Say it's true. Marisa was moonlighting, probably to settle her debts. That means she was in a very precarious situation. If anyone found out about her activities, she could be in serious danger. No. No Mr Smart could pose a threat with this kind of information. And their are more then enough threats going around. Time to clean up after the old tenant.

"You will be patient, Mr Smart. I will attend to you when it is  to my liking." I whip up past call logs, information on my 'other client' and on a whim a catalog of thee contents of my closet. If Marisa was moonlighting she'd have some leathers or maybe a whip.

[Mercy Merchant]

The man might be telling you the truth.  Marisa's call log has a special section that shows that she has a call to this man almost like clockwork every other week.  Further digging reveals four other people she has a similar record of calling.  Looking in her closet at the office, you find several revealing leather outfits and two whips.  A drawer holds a number of odd devices that might be useable in some sort of weird sexual ritual.  You also find a small ledger that lists a number of clients and the meeting times and places as well as the amount of money paid to Marisa.  It seems the standard rate for a dom experience is five hundred huyen an hour, although one of the clients seems to be paying a thousand for an hour of "special treatments".

[VegasRigged]

As I read the corp mage in me turns the mother of all judgy glares on the newly arrived decorator. It's suddenly clear how much poor judgement this women possessed. The clients might be discrete, but this was a liability as far as security, not to mention tantamount to prostitution. Still, the Mr Smart was to be the event of the evening, and once I dealt with him, one way or another, I'd be free to look further into the others.

I inform Mr Smart that I will be over in the next hour, and that he had best be ready. I can sell a little romance, I can play the sex card, but this guy is expecting something tailored, something intimate, familiar and highly specialized. Even as I agree and hang up I reach into the Astral for a spirit versed in such things. The right tank spirit might be able to at least teach me how to use a whip, maybe how to degrade someone sexually, god this is nasty chi business.

The gears remain impartial, they have little concern for my  comfort. They see a man willing to submit to my will, and they want to see how they can use him. I bury them for now, I have work to do.

[Mercy Merchant]

There is a small case for carrying samples in the closet.  Suspicious now of its purpose, you open it to find a pair of black stiletto boots and more than enough room to put a black leather outfit and the two whips in.  Neither whip looks like it could do any real damage, but they might sting a bit.  While you are packing, your spirit answers your call and gives some instruction on using a whip.  You have seen enough domination in the recent past that this should be a snap.  As you walk out of the office, Marie waves and tells you that she will forward her research to you.

A short cab ride brings you to the address provided and Mr. Smart opens the door to invite you in.  An hour later you are five hundred nuyen richer and have a better appreciation for dominance over men.  A hint of sexuality seems to be required, but Mr. Smart is not interested in having sex with you.  He is apparently a happily married man with a need for some kink.  He thanks you profusely as you change back into your clothes and call a cab.

You have received a text from Marie while working.  She outlines the club scene in Seattle, but recommends that you go to some to get more than what is listed on the matrix.  There is a list of twenty clubs attached to the message.  Your matrix search on the Barnhards is also waiting for you.  Thomas Barnhard is a successful real estate developer married to the former Miss Calista Dearborn, an influential political family.  An address is provided that matches what Thomas provided on the 'link.

It is up to you if you wish to play the dom role or if you want to get out of that business.

[VegasRigged]

Most of the evenings activities are a blur. From the first crack of the whip to now seems like watching a movie, someone else pulling the strings and making things happen. at a certain point I realized I haven't given the cab a destination. I have no idea how long I've been here, but that auto-drive is patient and devoid of judgement, so I give it the first address I have on hand; a bar from the list.

The cab speeds away and I stare out the window. This morning I was pleased to see a new city, now I don't see anything.

The cab informing me of my arrival prompts me to pay and get out, I wonder at the insignificant task, my hands going through motions I no longer fully understand.

I'm at the bar now, the bartender begins to ask me what I'd like, then sees my face. A moment later a bottle of something cheap and strong is placed before me, accompanied by a shot glass. I fill it. I drain it. I fill it. I drain it. I fill it. I drain it. I hesitate.

For the first time since the whip cracked I look around and begin to see. I'm in a dive. The walls are gratified, with a few holes. The Bartender is an orc with a dozen tattoo's and the clientele are equally adorned in leather and spikes. A few have already started watching me. I fill the glass and drain it again. How did I get here? where am I? Why can't I remember? The bartender walks back and leans over to talk to me, but I can barely understand him.

"Lady, I need you to leave. This is not a good place for you and I don't want trouble."

"I.... I don't .... "

I fill the glass and drain it again. Somethings wrong. Why can't I-

Someones grabbing me, pulling on me, forcing me around. I'm back in a cell. I haven't slept in days, or weeks, the guards want me to confess but I haven't done anything wrong. I haven't done anything wrong. I Haven't done anything wrong! "I haven't done anything wrong!"

A troll leans in over me, the scent of leather and beer heavy on him, a sadistic grin splitting his face "I don't care."

I think he hit me. I'm on the floor and theirs blood, but i still feel nothing. I turn, trying to understand and this time I see the blow coming as he kicks me into to bar. I gave up trying to defend myself, the mage cuffs made it impossible and security would have recaptured me. I'd never escape.

But maybe I could vanish. I scrambling through the pain to find the energies I need, wrapping myself in layers of deception until neither man nor machine can perceive me, and I bolt for the door, only barely registering the concussion of gun-blasts and the splatter of blood.

I'm on the street now, and its finally making sense. I'm in shock. Covered in blood, drunk, broken ribs. I'm in shock.

[Mercy Merchant]

In a daze, you do not know how long you are on the pavement.  You do realize when it the light drizzle turns to light rain but do not have the energy to move.  You hear voices.  Feel hands.  You can hear the rain falling, but it is not falling on you anymore.  A woman is saying something and you can make out some of the words but not all of them.  "Take care...........be back.........Solace."  Gentle hands pick you up and carry you somewhere as a different voice, also female, is giving instructions to someone to drive to Solace.  You feel pricks of something and a warmth suffuses your body and the pain goes away, along with consciousness.

Ping...............ping.............ping   Consciousness returns to the sound of something pinging near you.  Opening your eyes you see that you are in a hospital room.  A woman is standing near an instrument of some kind, frowning.  She looks up as you stir and smiles.  "Ah.  Back among us, are you?  Good."  She looks over her shoulder at someone you cannot see and says, "Her vitals are good, but she should be resting.  Please do not get her too excited.  You may have five minutes......or less if you rile her up." 

The nurse steps away and you see Sylvia come from behind her.  She puts a hand on your arm and the other on your forehead.  "So, care to tell me why I found you all broken on the pavement outside that dive?"

[VegasRigged]

"No." I respond groggily. My head is a haze, my limbs feel puffy and as I sit up theirs a sharp pain in my side.

I levitate my medical sheet from the foot of the bed and examine it. Three cracked ribs, bruising around the eye, though that was being countered with magic in a little while. Apparently someone had gone and called for a Glamour to be on hand too, in case the bruising persisted after the healing spell. Sylvia was looking out for my good looks, that was nice of her. She's nice. Nice. nicenicenice.

I shake my head. I hurts, which wakes me up a bit. She knows  got knocked out and somehow she found me. She's also being very nice to me, so for the moment we're going to roll with that. Like I have an alternative.

"I can't tell you how I ended up on the pavement, I-" Perhaps this can be turned into an opportunity "I was at the office, making calls, and I remember having coffee and talking to a Mr Barnhard, then feeling faint, and then being here. Where did you say you found me? Any idea how this happened?"

[Mercy Merchant]

Silvia looks concerned and a bit surprised when you levitate your chart to look at it.  "Well, OK, that is nice."  She looks over her shoulder and speaks in what you think is German and the nurse responds in the same language, explaining the accent you thought you heard when she spoke to you.  Silvia turns back to you.  "I am told that you will heal completely."  The nurse gives her a pad from behind and she looks at it.  "Hmmmmm.  You had a mild dose of knock out drug in your system.  That could explain a few things.  I had tried to contact you but you were not answering your comm, so I had a friend trace you and she found you at a most inappropriate place.  After giving you over to Gerta's capable hands, I went into the bar to ask about you.  A rather rude Troll and two of his Orc chummers gave me the whole story and tried to show me exactly what happened.  Trust me when I say that they will not bother another woman......ever.  I did take a couple of sticks from them before I left and gave them to the barkeep to cover damages, who had been polite enough to stay out of everything.  My question to you is how you ended up there in the first place.  Do you remember at all?"

[VegasRigged]

I screw up my face in mock concentration, then shake my  head and wince "Maybe their was another call, I'll go through my records when I get back to the office. In the mean time we should look into who might have drugged me. The coffee might have been dosed on it's way to me, and I'd rather look into that option before investigating my assistant."

In my head I'm considering what I do remember. Somewhere around Mr Smarts 'playtime' I started feeling despondent, I don't remember leaving, but I almost remember getting drunk and beat up. Something sent me into a strange place, something messed with me. Perhaps Mr Smart drugged me, though I can't imagine why. In any case, I'll need to look into him more exstensively. Having Sylvia vet my sole employee will be a handy bonus while I look into this.

[Mercy Merchant]

Silvia nods as she hands the pad back to the nurse, thanking her in German.  She ten walks to the other side of the bed and takes a seat in a chair she pulls forward.  'Well, you are safe here.  I will see about looking into your employee.  My five minutes are up and I know not to cross Gerta in her domain.  You should remember that or you may find yourself on the messy end of an enema.  It is all for your own good.  Now, it is early morning.  Do you have any appointments this morning that you cannot cancel?"

[VegasRigged]

I contain my scoff when she says I'm safe here, but her mention of the time causes another jolt of alertness. "I'm meeting a client at two this afternoon, it's the final sell of a major deal. I hate to ask after you've done so much for me, but can you get me there?"

The gears are unpleasantly happy with all this, it shows that Sylvia isn't above checking up, which confirms all kinds of suspicions. She also isn't aware of my magical potential, which means my tricks are still unknown to her, and as long as I can get a few moments alone with ms phones while shes out, I can know for sure that she's trustworthy. Or that she needs to find a new line of work.

I'm also looking forward to questioning Ni Ni, albeit subtly, about whether she's aware of the side-job. It seems unlikely, but still worth checking.

[Mercy Merchant]

Sylvia looks across the bed at the nurse and talks to her in German and the other woman nods and replies.  Your friend (?) looks back at you.  "Greta says that you will be out of here in plenty of time and without any marks to show for your argument with the Troll."  Another woman enters the small room and comes to stand near Sylvia. She is taller than Sylvia but more slender, too.  Sylvia stands and talks to her in what has to be Italian before turning back to you and saying, "This is Bonita.  Now, she is not much of a nurse, but she is a pretty good mage and has already healed you, so be nice.  She will try to keep you from casting too many spells and doing damage to yourself.  I will come by in a bit to take you to your meeting." 

She stops at the door and turns.  "I don't think that the clothes you wore yesterday will be appropriate for your meeting, what with all the rips, tears, and blood.  If you allow me to, I can bring you something from your closet.?"