(no subject)
Claire seems to come by once every two days like clockwork, her patterns predictable by the amount of hurried chaos they inspire.
"Wake up," Amy presses, her hands rough as she shoves at Beth.
Cracking open an eye, Beth says, "It is not inspection day."
"Yeah? Tell that to Pullman. She's downstairs, wondering where you are."
With a sigh, Beth sits up and pulls on a sweatshirt and a pair of short shorts over her underwear.
"That's not fair." Pulling her hair up into a bun, she squints at Amy. "I pass muster?"
"What do I care? She just wants a roll call, I think."
Amy's stealing Beth's lipstick as she talks, sliding the pale pink over her lips and it looks wrong: wrong shade, wrong shape.
With another deep sigh, Beth walks out, down the stairs and into the room that acts as their 'sitting room.' Amy calls it the poaching ground. Mike calls it the gallery.
Beth is way too tired to care either way. She had a shift last night: it should totally be illegal to have roll call after a shift. The room is dark: heavy curtains over the windows for the vamps, she guesses. Claire hates sunburns, if the state of her skin is any indication.
Uncertain, Beth stands in the entryway, glancing around at the other girls for cues. Mike's leaning on a couch, and Beth tries to hide a grin.
If Les is any indication, Mike is so not Claire's type. Not even close. Claire glances over, like she has a secret sense when people are thinking about her mistress.
"Beth, good of you to join us," Claire says, her tone slightly critical, like she's got any right to be irritated. She checks something off a list, and then looks around. "I'll start interviews now. Beth, you're first."
Everyone turns to look at her, even the muscle that stopped trying to get in free fucks on off nights. There's a certain amount of pity from the muscle and Beth takes that as a very bad sign.
"Good luck," George whispers as he passes her. His meaty hand is a reminder that as with anything to do with Claire, resistance is futile. Most of the time, she's glad to know that Claire's, "Don't beat up the hookers" thing comes with George as a guarantee.
Uncertainly, Beth sits down in a chair next to Claire's. Claire is looking at her like she's dinner. Or at least, a light lunch.
"So," Claire says. "How are things?"
At first Beth wonders if Claire knows about Salah, if that's what she came to discuss, if she's going to...
Taking a deep breath, Beth says, "Things are good."
"Good," Claire says, after a pause. "You like working here?"
"Yes!" Beth nods. "It's a lot better than where I was before, so thanks so much for this chance, and I really appreciate opportunity."
The thing is, she does. Claire runs a clean operation and she likes the other people who work here. Sometimes it feels a little like what she imagines college was like, sleepovers and talking about important things and having sex.
If only Claire didn't... scare them all so much.
She glances nervously towards the stairs, but she can't see anyone else, so they must all be in the kitchen, or maybe their rooms.
"Have you met anyone else in Chicago?" Claire asks.
Automatically, Beth wants to say, "Salah" and explain how it's not hurting her work at all but he's so nice.
"I met Les," she says, eventually. "Um. Les who works for you?"
Claire's eyes widen and she leans forward. "You met Les?"
"Well, I went to the Wasteland? And he was there and we had a nice chat. A really nice chat."
...about him being Claire's kept boy. Oh, god, don't say that, Beth chastises herself.
"What did you talk about?" Claire asks.
"Oh, just about living in Chicago," Beth says. "And how it was really interesting here."
Claire nods.
"Well, you know if you ever have any problems, I want you to come to me first. The Doctor's going to come tomorrow, and an examination is mandatory."
Claire reaches into her briefcase and pulls out a red ribbon.
"If you're going to be going to the Wasteland, you should be safe."
Claire's skin is cool, but not cold, and Beth tries not to shiver as Claire ties the blood donor wrist band on.
"Remember, I'd prefer you tell me about anything you're uncomfortable with. Any... drama in the house that's making it difficult to work."
Beth nods, "Thanks, Claire."
Standing, she sketches an awkward wave before heading back to her room. No way she's getting any sleep after this.
"Wake up," Amy presses, her hands rough as she shoves at Beth.
Cracking open an eye, Beth says, "It is not inspection day."
"Yeah? Tell that to Pullman. She's downstairs, wondering where you are."
With a sigh, Beth sits up and pulls on a sweatshirt and a pair of short shorts over her underwear.
"That's not fair." Pulling her hair up into a bun, she squints at Amy. "I pass muster?"
"What do I care? She just wants a roll call, I think."
Amy's stealing Beth's lipstick as she talks, sliding the pale pink over her lips and it looks wrong: wrong shade, wrong shape.
With another deep sigh, Beth walks out, down the stairs and into the room that acts as their 'sitting room.' Amy calls it the poaching ground. Mike calls it the gallery.
Beth is way too tired to care either way. She had a shift last night: it should totally be illegal to have roll call after a shift. The room is dark: heavy curtains over the windows for the vamps, she guesses. Claire hates sunburns, if the state of her skin is any indication.
Uncertain, Beth stands in the entryway, glancing around at the other girls for cues. Mike's leaning on a couch, and Beth tries to hide a grin.
If Les is any indication, Mike is so not Claire's type. Not even close. Claire glances over, like she has a secret sense when people are thinking about her mistress.
"Beth, good of you to join us," Claire says, her tone slightly critical, like she's got any right to be irritated. She checks something off a list, and then looks around. "I'll start interviews now. Beth, you're first."
Everyone turns to look at her, even the muscle that stopped trying to get in free fucks on off nights. There's a certain amount of pity from the muscle and Beth takes that as a very bad sign.
"Good luck," George whispers as he passes her. His meaty hand is a reminder that as with anything to do with Claire, resistance is futile. Most of the time, she's glad to know that Claire's, "Don't beat up the hookers" thing comes with George as a guarantee.
Uncertainly, Beth sits down in a chair next to Claire's. Claire is looking at her like she's dinner. Or at least, a light lunch.
"So," Claire says. "How are things?"
At first Beth wonders if Claire knows about Salah, if that's what she came to discuss, if she's going to...
Taking a deep breath, Beth says, "Things are good."
"Good," Claire says, after a pause. "You like working here?"
"Yes!" Beth nods. "It's a lot better than where I was before, so thanks so much for this chance, and I really appreciate opportunity."
The thing is, she does. Claire runs a clean operation and she likes the other people who work here. Sometimes it feels a little like what she imagines college was like, sleepovers and talking about important things and having sex.
If only Claire didn't... scare them all so much.
She glances nervously towards the stairs, but she can't see anyone else, so they must all be in the kitchen, or maybe their rooms.
"Have you met anyone else in Chicago?" Claire asks.
Automatically, Beth wants to say, "Salah" and explain how it's not hurting her work at all but he's so nice.
"I met Les," she says, eventually. "Um. Les who works for you?"
Claire's eyes widen and she leans forward. "You met Les?"
"Well, I went to the Wasteland? And he was there and we had a nice chat. A really nice chat."
...about him being Claire's kept boy. Oh, god, don't say that, Beth chastises herself.
"What did you talk about?" Claire asks.
"Oh, just about living in Chicago," Beth says. "And how it was really interesting here."
Claire nods.
"Well, you know if you ever have any problems, I want you to come to me first. The Doctor's going to come tomorrow, and an examination is mandatory."
Claire reaches into her briefcase and pulls out a red ribbon.
"If you're going to be going to the Wasteland, you should be safe."
Claire's skin is cool, but not cold, and Beth tries not to shiver as Claire ties the blood donor wrist band on.
"Remember, I'd prefer you tell me about anything you're uncomfortable with. Any... drama in the house that's making it difficult to work."
Beth nods, "Thanks, Claire."
Standing, she sketches an awkward wave before heading back to her room. No way she's getting any sleep after this.