Marseilles Madness IC
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Marseilles Madness IC
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Monday, March 22, 2077; 09:44
Orly Airport, Private Gate 2, Paris; Baku and IlienaBaku just shakes his head to Iliena’s inquiry. Partly because it is true, but mostly to hide the fact he didn’t even notice the tattoo. He is hoping she doesn’t see right through the deception used to hide his embarrassment.
“Come on! Get your drek together! This isn’t amateur hour…” He mentally whips himself for his failures.
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[Margot Freneau – 08:50, Monday March 22nd, 2077 – Marseilles] #3
>>Kynn [Margot]: Oh. There was a rather long pause after that >>Kynn [Margot]: I didn’t think what she was doing was so lively… Sure, seems fun. You already have my commcode since you’re calling though, right? As for a place to meet… Hum… There was another pause, but there was a different quality to it. Finally, after a couple of seconds, she finished >>Kynn [Margot]: Let’s say ‘Chez Océane‘ at thirteen? I’ll reserve a table under my name. For three, right?
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Baku – Monday, March 22, 2077, 0944, Orly Airport, Private Gate 2, Paris
Iliena nods and her voice is pitched low as she continues. “It is not obvious and I almost did not see it, either. It is a Vory tat and I imagine all three of them have the same one.” She looks cautiously back to where the three guards are standing then turns back to you. “Tell me the truth, Dominik. Did you know the security would be Vory?”
As you talk, there is a call on one of your ‘links. >>Baku. I am sorry that it has taken so long to provide you with information I should have had earlier. The name of your Marseilles liaison is Margot Freneau. The name of the other person I want you to work with in Marseilles is Pandora Lany. Margot is arranging a table for the three of you at Chez Oceane for 1300. You should make it there in plenty of time. Ciao<<
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Margot Freneau – 08:50, Monday March 22nd, 2077 – Marseilles]/B]
>>Chez Oceane it is. And yes for three. I did not wish to presume to give them this comcode in case you would prefer differently. I can do so now if you say it is alright to do so. Otherwise, I am prepared to pay you in advance for a week’s work to any account you provide to me.<<
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Monday, March 22, 2077; 09:44
Orly Airport, Private Gate 2, Paris; Baku and Iliena“Know? Not at all.” Baku shakes his head, but also looks disappointed. “But to be honest, I had several hints that I just didn’t piece together.” He was about to go into an apologetic tirade, but what he imagined Iliena would say to him stopped him. “What should we expect?”
Before he finished, his shadow comm buzzed in his pocket. He held up one finger to Iliena in order to signal “hold that thought,” as he hit the icon to record, and then the icon to answer in Public Mode which blanked the the view screen on the comm, and piped the feed to his earbuds and contacts, and pulled the input from his subvocal mic.
<<Rhea Kynn> Uh, Пока?>> Baku tries to interject, but Miss Kynn ends the call quick enough he might not have gotten the pleasantries in.
Baku closes the call, and ends the recording. He quickly pulls out his “datadump” datachip he has been using all day and transfer the recording to it before wiping all data off the comm and rebooting it.
“What was that?” Iliena asks curiously.
“My… Our employer. Must be having a busy day. I have the details of our, maybe just my, meet. Along with what to expect from them,” Baku thumbs in front of his chest towards the guards behind him, “What do you know about Chez Océane? What is the dress code like?”
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Baku – Monday, March 22, 2077, 0944, Orly Airport, Private Gate 2, Paris
Iliena scrunches up her nose, something you have noticed she does when she is thinking. “I do not know what to expect, Dominik. The Vory are organized crime on a very large scale. We Gypsies know them well and just like any organization, there are good and bad people. They have a mostly bad reputation in the Balkans, in Romania and other countries there. Other criminals do not go there to organize because everyone owes something to the Vory so they have a lot of influence in the area. The Gypsies do not always recognize local authority so they are sometimes on the outs with the Vory. It seems these men are acting more as security, not criminals, though.”
She pauses and considers your question about the restaurant. “Chez Oceane? It is down in Old Port, the old part of the city. There are several hotels and restaurants that overlook the port from there. Some are very chic and very pricey. If I recall, Chez Oceane is somewhat in the middle range. Not too good or too bad. Still, it is for tourists and and we should almost be good with what we are wearing. But what do you mean by just your meet?” She puts her knuckles to her eyes as if crying. “Are we not partners? You would leave me outside a restaurant, staring at you through the window with my nose pressed to the glass, watching you as you dined on fine food and I am nibbling on a crust of bread that you thought to buy me from the stall near the place before you went in?” She gives a masterful rendition of a fake sob and covers her eyes.
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[Margot Freneau – 08:50, Monday March 22nd, 2077 – Marseilles] #4
>>Kynn [Margot]: Well, I don’t exactly have multiple commcodes, so if you don’t give them this one, it’ll be pretty hard to call… As for my account…err…wait… There’s some noise then, as Margot looked for said number: obviously, she didn’t know it by heart, and it took her some time to find what she was looking for >>Kynn [Margot]: Ok, got it. Here it is. she gave the number >>Kynn [Margot]: You got that?
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Monday, March 22, 2077; 09:45
Orly Airport, Private Gate 2, Paris; Baku and IlienaBaku looks to Iliena thoughtfully, trying to absorb everything she is relaying. He can’t help by smile at her act.
When Iliena finishes, Baku puts his hands on her shoulders and rubs them comfortingly. “Of course not,” he says soothingly. He then pretends to wipe away a fake tear. “I would never do that to you, dearest.” he continues in that some what soothing tone.
Baku then pulls Iliena in for a hug, and continues speaking to her not in a normal tone, but as a whisper. “Things are moving fast, and you have seen how well I… Wing it. I was informed I will be meeting two others at a reservation for three. There are a few options I see for us. First, we go in as tourists and we get a table. I leave you with money so you can eat all the fine food that you desire, as I go to the meet. The second is just like the first, but I am wearing a camera and microphone, and you are listening in networked with my contacts and earbuds. You get to be the voice of reason in my head. The third option I see is to both go to the meet, and see how that plays out. Not my favorite choice. Then of course, there is always whatever you come up with.”
When Baku releases Iliena, he speaks a bit louder, but still lower than typical. “So as far as they go,” Baku motions with his head towards the guards in time with the word “they.” “They are dangerous. And well connected. But right now someone, likely my… er… our employer, has them on a fairly tight leash. As long as we don’t do anything, stupid I think you called it, we should be alright – if not uncomfortable. That about cover it?”
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Margot Freneau – 08:50, Monday March 22nd, 2077 – Marseilles
>>Margot [Rhea]: Yes, Miss Freneau, I have it and your deposit will be in your account in fifteen seconds. Please check it and let me know if it does not show up. Good luck at the meeting. Remember that you are the liaison and are to do your best to assist the other two in their task. I will pass out your comcode and I will be in touch.<<
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Baku – Monday, March 22, 2077, 0944, Orly Airport, Private Gate 2, Paris
Iliena nods into your shoulder, her crying done but apparently not ready to break contact. “This feels nice, Dominik. I like the way you hold me.” She sits up and nods her head again. “Yes, I think that you are right about the security men. Even though they are Vory, they have a very strong attitude about loyalty and should not harm us unless directed to or if we are a threat to what they are guarding.”
“I also like your second plan, especially the part where I get to eat the nice food and listen in and watch so I can give you advice. I can be the unseen angel talking into your ear.”
You happen to be looking in the direction of the security guards and notice that one of them is approaching, accompanied by a tall woman wearing a business suit of knee-length tan skirt and white blouse. Physically, she is much prettier than Iliena would be, even if she dressed up. Except for the eyes. Iliena’s eyes are the most compelling you have ever looked into and this woman’s are only just beautiful. The woman says something to the guard who nods and returns to his post as she advances to where you are seated.
“Dominic Ripnu and Miss Iliena Czeszcu? I am Antoinette Sym, the EVO Corporation liaison at this gate. I am so sorry for the delay. We were not aware that Miss Czeszcu would be joining us for the flight, but as you are the only passengers, it is no problem to manifest her. If you are ready, i will take you out to the aircraft?”
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As the woman in the business suit walks toward the guards, Baku stands up and flattens out his clothes a bit. He turns to Iliena, and extends a hand to assist her getting up. He whispers to her “Sorry in advance, try to remain calm no matter what I say or do.”
After assisting Iliena, Baku turns and they both stand to meet the woman. “Good morning Miss Sym.” He makes it a point to look her over, but quickly to feign discretion. “I apologize for the unexpectedness, both of my colleague, and of our early arrival. Miss Czeszcu is fulfilling my clients suggestion of knowledge of the Russian language. I am a quick study, but fortunately she returned earlier than expected to help assist that. As for our early arrival, that is my fault. If it wouldn’t be any trouble, we would happily head out to the aircraft now. Will you be flying with us today?” He smiles at her warmly.
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Baku – Monday, March 22, 2077, 0946, Orly Airport, Private Gate 2, Paris
Antoinette smiles at you and spares a quick glance at Iliena and motions for you to accompany her. “No, Dominik, I will remain here. Besides the aircrew, you will have the cabin to yourselves.” She walks you through the security checkpoint with a nod at the three men there and heads to a small office area where a man in a service uniform is waiting. “You may give your bag to Bernard, Dominik. No bag, Miss Czeszcu?” She gives her head a turn and winks at you. “My, Miss Czeszcu, you do travel light.”
She waits as Bernard steps forward to take your bag. Iliena walks to the window and looks out at the rain that has started up since you came into the building. “Will the plane be able to take off, Miss Sym?”
Antoinette barely acknowledges the question as she gives you an almost predatory look. “What? Oh this. Yes, this rain will not stop the plane.” She turns back to you and gives you a meaningful look. “Unless you want the flight delayed, Dominik? I have been told to help you as much as I can.”
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In the office, Baku looks at Iliena’s backpack after Antoinette gets catty before he could stop himself. He recovers in time to see Miss Sym wink at him and he smiles in return. He is reluctant to hand over just about everything he owns to the man Bernard, but does so with any outward sign of it.
When Antoinette devours him with her eyes, he smiles broadly. Baku now slowly looks Miss Sym over, while he says “How… accommodating.” All signals of his arousal are completely genuine as he speaks. “It is clear your hospitality is as warm and inviting as it is a rare honor to be offered. Unfortunately, my client has requested speed. So. Unless the weather works more towards my favor, we should leave if we are able.” He takes the opportunity to look her over once more, “Should the offer stand, I will take you up on it when I return.”
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Baku – Monday, March 22, 2077, 0950, Orly Airport, Private Gate 2, Paris
Antoinette gives you a warm smile. “Unfortunately, I do not have much pull with the rain gods. This way, please.”
She walks to the door Bernard had left the building through and points to an umbrella stand as she lifts a rain jacket from a hook. There are plenty of umbrellas to choose from and you are soon out in the pouring rain. You can see two large jet aircraft on the tarmac, but she does not head in their direction, instead heading off at an angle past them to where you can see a Hughes Stallion WK-4 waiting. The large luxury helicopter has its running lights on and several men standing about in the rain doing some sort of pre-flight checks. Bernard is placing your bag into the large cargo compartment.
Antoinette walks over to one of the men, who is standing near the steps leading up into the aircraft and hands him a tablet as he nods to you and Iliena, his eyes lingering on the Rom girl. Turning to assist her into the helicopter, you see why he might have been looking as the rain has dampened her blouse and it has formed to her body, revealing that she has decided to not wear a bra. Once aboard, Antoinette motions to the luxurious amenities. “Everything you could want. There will be no air steward on the flight, but the serving cart for food and beverages is right over there. A full bathroom with shower is through that door and a small sleeping compartment is just beyond that. The seats are wired with all the latest matrix toys and there is a full range if trideos and music to select from. The flight cabin is off through this door here and is the only portion of the aircraft that is off limits to you during the flight. If you have no questions, I will be leaving you here. I believe that you are being cleared for an early departure. Have a nice flight.”
After Antoinette has collected the umbrellas and left, Iliena turns to you, a look of concern on her face. “You wanted her, didn’t you? She is very beautiful, much prettier than I am, and I am sure that you could have had her if you wanted to, despite the ring on her left hand. It is OK to say yes, but it makes me wonder if we should establish boundaries. From your earlier words, I feel that I am not just a whore you are bringing along to fuck when you like but I am not sure if your words mean we are together? If we are together, are we together, as in monogamous, or are we together as in we can have sex with anything we want or is there something in between? I am an uneducated girl and a Gypsy, so I am used to that and it will not bother me if that is how you want it. I just need to know the way of it before I get hurt.”
She comes to you and it is hard not to watch her breasts in the clinging and nearly invisible blouse as she moves, but you manage to tear your eyes away as she gets close, looking up to her face and those eyes. She has the most amazing eyes; eyes that can entice a man to lose himself and drown in them, eyes that can threaten to suck at your soul, eyes that may already be sucking at yours. She is smiling as she puts a hand up to the side of your face. “Listen, Dominik, I am not angry. I know that it is normal for a man to want beautiful women. It is much more normal than to want to keep me around, as my looks are fairly ordinary. I just would like your honest thoughts of where I stand with you.”
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Lany- Monday, March 22, 2077, 06:00, Avenue de Frais Vallon Subway Station, Marseilles
“Ah, France,” was all Lany said after wiping a bit of sweat off her brow, still flushed from the scene she had just witnessed. More than any other place she had been, intimacy was worn on your sleeve here; and it could be quite distracting.
As she exited the station, Lany noticed the little girl on the blanket with the violin stirring. She had seen her here many times before, and had often wondered where she slept or who was helping her maintain the violin that was likely her only worldly possession. Not wanting to wake her, Lany quietly bent down and put a few coins in her case, enough to at least get the girl a hot meal, as well as an orange she had picked up at the market earlier that day.
Afterwards, Lany continued out of the Subway Station to her apartment. It was a simple studio, nearly Spartan in its setup, save the vase of fresh flowers she kept on her kitchen table. She stripped out of her club clothes and turned on her shower, getting herself cleaned up and ready to meet with Ms. Kynn’s associates.
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Lany- Monday, March 22, 2077, 06:15, Avenue de Frais Vallon Subway Station, Marseilles
The shower feels good but your mind keeps going back to the young couple in the subway car. It has been a bit since you have been with another person for that sort of release and watching the boy and girl has affected you a bit more than you had thought it would. The temptation to take matters into hand is limited only by the amount of hot water you are rationed for today and you reluctantly step from the shower to the steamy room. Using a towel to wipe at the small fogged-up mirror, you look at yourself and shake your head. Parties are great but they will eventually leave their marks. Too much excess is just too much, but being forced to lie low here is grating on your nerves and you use the parties to relieve some of the stress of enforced inactivity. Perhaps the opportunity that has been dropped in your lap is just the thing to help you get out of the doldrums.
You review what you know about Rhea Kynn and it is precious little indeed. She is some hotshot EVO Corporation suit, but she apparently has a dark side. Not only is she asking for what is likely going to be something best kept in the shadows, but she has asked for you. just how did she know you were here and available and how the frag did she know how to contact you?
Those thoughts brush aside the earlier feelings from the couple on the subway. They still bother you a little bit as you crawl into bed and for the next half hour. Then, realizing that there is little you can do about it right now, you will yourself to sleep.
Lany- Monday, March 22, 2077, 0958, Your Apartment, Marseilles
The rather annoying beeping of your ‘link wakes you and lets you know you have a text waiting. You look at it as you go to the small bathroom to use the toilet.
>>Pandora Lany [Rhea Kynn]: I hope that you have had some rest. Your Marseilles liaison is Margot Freneau. She can be contacted at the attached comcode if you need talk to her. She has made reservations for three at Chez Oceane for 1300 your time. This is a three-star, mostly tourist establishment so the dress code is minimal.<<
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Monday, March 22, 2077; 09:50
Orly Airport, Hughes Stallion WK-4, Paris; Baku and IlienaBaku smiles at Antoinette Sym and thanks her for all she has done. He makes sure to watch her leave.
Then Iliena starts to speak, and Baku’s heart breaks. “She didn’t get the hint. Shit.” He stands upright, almost defiant, and lets her speak her mind. He hopes she can see how sorry he is by his eyes. When she finishes what she needed to say, he takes her by the shoulders again, although not in jest this time, and sits her into a seat. She tries to fight a bit, but he persists and sits her down leaning over her in a manner he hopes looks like a parent tending to a pouting child if any are watching a video feed of them.
He tries to keep his eyes soft, even though his body language should read as stern, and whispers to her. “Be calm. I am going to cast a spell that will allow us to communicate without any overhearing. If you have not been a part of a mind linking spell, it will feel weird at first. We will not be able to read each others thoughts, but we can broadcast – of sorts – to each other. I find that most people find it easiest to grasp if they imagine they are using a comm and calling the other person. Are you ready?”
Iliena scowls slightly, since this is pretty far from the talk she wanted. Baku tries again. “Are you ready, and willing?” Iliena’s gives him a hard look, and after a few ticks nods hesitantly. Baku closes his eyes, and focuses on himself then on himself linked with Iliena.
Baku then tries sending to her over the Manasphere. “Can you understand me? If you can, shake your head as if you were indicating “no.”” Iliena’s eyes go wide, and she looks almost as if she has seen a ghost, but that strong fighting spirit of hers guides her back to a cool exterior. She gingerly shakes her head to one side, then to the other. “Good. Now try sending to me. Remember, just like your were using a comm.”
It takes a few seconds, maybe a quarter of a minute, but Baku receives a faint “Um… Like this?l” He suppresses a smile, but if she can read his eyes they beam with pride for her. “Good. Now if you are alright to continue in this fashion, Act like you can’t talk to me anymore. It shouldn’t be difficult. Raise your voice to me a bit, and slump off to another part of the helicopter.”
Iliena narrows her eyes, and for a moment there, Baku was not sure she wouldn’t haul off and punch him. But then she pushes him away and snaps “I’m done with this!” and storms off to the other side of the cabin and sits with her back to Baku as much as the seating will allow. Baku lets out a long sigh, and takes a seat as far away from her as possible. He pulls out his comm like he is surfing the ‘trix.
“Alright, I was not planning on doing things this way… But when I saw Sym I realized something.” Iliena cuts in with “How much you want to bed her?” She was coming through strong now. She was getting the hang of this mind linking stuff. “No. Well, yes. Eh, it is complicated.” Baku stammers back to her. He can feel her pain through the link. “Damn… She has instinctively learned how to send her emotions. This just got tougher.” He did wish things had gone differently.
Baku settled in for a long flight. Seems like no matter how much he just wants to get to work, Iliena is always pulling him away some how. “When our employer was terse with me on the comm earlier, it had happened only after I showed up to the airport with a woman. With you. I didn’t think of it at the time, but seeing Sym caused it to click. Our employer is a woman. And our past relationship has been… Well, “flirty” isn’t quite a strong enough word for it. I could very well be overthinking things again. But I thought it could be that our employer was a bit scorned, maybe jealous. Then it occurred to me, that she and her employees had to think you didn’t mean anything to me. That way you would not be in danger of being used as leverage against me.” Baku licked his lips as they were suddenly as dry as sun baked desert. He went over to the refreshment cart to get a sake if they had it, or settle for a beer if nothing else.
“Wait… So you are trying to tell me you practically took her on the desk… For me?!??“ Baku could feel her disbelief.
With drink in hand he returned to his seat and continued. “Essentially, yes. I promised you before that I would be completely honest with you, and I am about to. I ask that you reserve judgement until I signal I am finished. Then you can let loose with all you want to say.” Baku took a long draw of his drink. “Sym is beautiful. She is attractive. And yes, I was attracted to her. If I had the opportunity, I am sure I would find fucking her enjoyable. Once. She is a pretty package. A doll. Once the novelty of a one night stand with her had worn off, she would barely hold any interest to me after that, should I not be desperate to get off with someone other than myself.” Baku resisted the urge to send Iliena his sincerity. He hadn’t explained how that worked yet, and it would be difficult to come back from that afterwords.
“I had to show you meant so little to me that I was willing to seduce / allow myself to be seduced right in front of you. Right now, I suspect Sym is spreading all the juicy gossip to her coworker – our employer.” Baku let out a sigh. “You say you aren’t angry, but I did hurt you. I pulled a 180 on you with very little warning. I am sorry. I know my quick message of “sorry in advance” was not enough warning… But, as it seems typical lately, I was not prepared. Before I finish, you are absolutely correct. We need to discuss boundaries. We can do that now if you want, or later. I will maintain this spell until we exit the airport in Marseilles, or you tell me to do so, whichever comes first.” Baku let out another breath he hadn’t realized he was holding. “There. I am finished.”
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[Margot Freneau – 08:50, Monday March 22nd, 2077 – Marseilles] #5
>>Kynn [Margot]: I’ll show them around, sure.<<
Margot shook her head. That was so weird. Maybe she should reconsider her position regarding college. She had always viewed it as merely a good way to be introduced to interesting people…alright, interesting men…but maybe there was more than that. Caroline had been away for what? Half a day? And they were talking about spirits, assets, investigations… And a lot of money.
Not that she really needed the money itself – even if it wouldn’t hurt, maybe she could buy that little dress she had noticed last week? – but it seemed like it could be fun. And what could realistically happen after all? Armand was a showoff, and Caroline had said he was all talk and no bite. She likely would only have to get a nice meal, introduce what she know of the man, tell those two people where he could be found – which was hardly a problem – and that would be it. The only downside of the simplicity of it all was that it wouldn’t take more than a couple of hours, which meant a single day of work…and pay. But given the amount in question, it was pretty good already.
Humming, she jumped into the shower, already considering what she would be able to do. In addition of the dress of course.
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Baku – Monday, March 22, 2077, 0950, Orly Airport, Charter Helicopter, Paris
“OK. I am calmer now. Thank you for making me wait until you were done. It is just that I am a Gypsy. Gypsies can get very emotional. When Gypsies get emotional, knives come out. When Gypsy knives come out, parts of people come off. So a warning for the future. If you still want me in your future after this, that is. I am sorry that I was miffed. I saw this beautiful woman, who is much prettier then I am, and I saw how much you wanted her right in front of me and I was jealous. Oh so jealous! But I had no right to be jealous. I do not own you and I have no claim on you. It is just that the words you spoke to me earlier gave me hope that perhaps I had found a man who wants me as his woman. I perhaps read too much into those words. After all, I have heard them before from other men and why should you be different?”
“But I felt that you ARE different and I allowed my hopes to cloud my mind and make me jealous. The silliest part is that I was most jealous because I was not invited to participate. It is very silly, I understand, but there it is. Now, yes, I think that we should set boundaries. I think it is very unreasonable to expect a man to see a beautiful women and not want to fuck her. It is built in our brains to want to have sex with people we see that are attractive to us. Saying that, I have two assumptions that I think are important. The first is that I am your woman and you are my man until such time as we tire of each other. That means that no matter who else we fuck, we return to each other. The second assumption is that we have no sex secrets. No hiding a lover behind the back. We talk about our sex with other people and tell each other what happened. We do this beforehand, if possible, and afterwards if we are apart and it happens.”
“I think that these are important assumptions. If we can both agree to them, I see no problem having sex with other partners. And that means both of us, but as a part of that, I will stop taking money for sex, as that is something different. I will accept presents but will tell you of them. For me, sex with others will be just sex because you are the best I have ever had and that was just in a car. I am sopping wet from wondering what you are like in a bed or on the floor. So, is my idea too strange for you or can you agree to my assumptions. I am willing to negotiate the assumptions or add to them if you want to talk about it.”
“Most importantly, I want you to know I am sorry that I was jealous.”
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Lany, Monday, March 22, 2077, 10:05 Lany’s Apartment, Marseilles
Lany added Margot Freneau’s info to her commlink, responding to Rhea Kynn’s text with a simple, >>I’ll be there.<< She got dressed in a simple jean skirt she could run in, a black T-shirt, and the German military waistcoat she got while she was in Berlin. She gathered her tools & spare mags in her backpack, concealed her Predator and her Streetline special on her, and put on her armor vest under her shirt. She tied her hair back in a single braid, and applied the minimal makeup necessary. Satisfied with her appearance, she left her apartment and locked the door behind her.
She went down to the cafe below her apartment to get her morning soykaf latte and muffin, and watched the elderly couple who ran the place bicker back and forth like they did every day. “That’s Amore'” Lany said with a laugh, sipping her latte and waiting for the time of her meeting.
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