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>> Sollux, Nepeta and a prostitute.
>> A couple days after this
>> Bad kids.
Nepeta: Traveling between the different sectors was always a bit of a hassle. Not only because the pathways between them were riddled with thieves, muggers, monsters and unsavory sorts but also because of all the junk. The stuff was everywhere, thrown down here by the upper levels. It was a miracle that the entirety of the slums had yet to be buried in all it. Still, you never knew what could be found here. It was one of the many reasons Nepeta often came out here, and the train graveyard. The words 'one man's trash is another man's treasure' had never been more true.
Still they had business in sector six, which while a bit more organized and full of most of the commerce of the slums with it's Wall Street, was also by far the sketchiest of the seven sectors. It's where Don Corneo did a lot of his business, so unsurprisingly is where its red light district was located. Which is exactly why Nepeta was there, dragging one very unwilling psychic with her. It had taking a lot of pleading on her part, and gratuitous use of kitten eyes by she had finally convinced Sollux to come with her. She said it was simply because he was more perceptive than her, and two heads could find more information than one---and while that was most certainty true, for all her bravado Nepeta was scared about going alone.
"There it is." The Honeybee Inn was there target. Apparently this was one of Don Corneo's most visited spots. They probably should have figured that, but she had almost forgotten its existence with how much she tended to avoid and ignore the place. It was one of the largest buildings in the slums and at night could be seen from a large distance with its bright yellow lights flashing its name on and off.
Sollux: Sollux really wasn't a field guy. And by wasn't a field guy, everyone really meant he was a social shut in that generally just didn't deal will with the outside world. He was a tech specialist. He could run all of the computers, all of them.
He could strategize, theorize, and tactize the entire SCRATCH operation.
But oh god did he hate leaving HQ. Sadly he hated Nepeta's kitten eyes even worse. So one disgruntled half troll shuffled along behind Nep while he tried not to look at much else besides her back.
He looked up when they reached the Inn. Wow.
"Tacky."
Nepeta: Nepeta couldn't help but laugh a little
"I don't know the weird bee girls on either side make a nice touch, don't you think?" The sarcasm was practically palpable, genuine as her laugh was. Her eyes fell from the sign to the small crowd outside. There were some guards right outside the door who were checking people as they went in.
"I wonder what they are checking for. Weapons?" She had heard from some of their richer companions that there were a lot of rules protecting children above. Down here there were no rules so she doubted it could be for that. Maybe they needed a pass to get in?
She moved aside to lean against the wall of a nearby building so they weren't quite so conspicuous where they were.
Sollux: Sollux just sort of peeked over her shoulder a bit.
"Who knowth. Thith plathe ith thuper thkeevy. Weaponth, girlth, anything." He really wasn't all that impressed. But he very rarely was impressed with the outside world.
"Getting in through the front ith probably a thtupid idea. You'll probably have to thneak in."
Nepeta: Hmm. She eyed the entrance for a little while longer, then let her eyes fall over the rest of the building. One good thing about being so young is that onlookers would sooner suspect them of being overly curious brats than rebels of any sort. He was right. There was no way they would be getting in through the front entrance without having to pass by those goons. There were some windows on the second floor which they could get to if they scaled one of the pillars the bumblebee ladies were situated on. That would be a little difficult to do without being noticed however.
"Are there any other entrances?"
Sollux: Sollux had seen the schematics once before. "Back entranth. It should be eathy enough to get patht. Can't thay much for the lockth it might have. Try getting in when thomeone elth cometh out?"
He really hoped this was all scouting and she wasn't expecting him to actually get involved.
Nepeta: "Locks? Well as long as it isn't an electronic lock of any sorts that should be easy peasy." Cocky? Yes, but likely very true. Despite appearances Nepeta could be quite roguish when she wanted to be. Right now she mostly definitely wanted to get in just to get a better idea of how the place operated. It was one thing to read or hear about it, another to experience it.
"The back. Hmm." Maybe if they waited a little more for clients to come--make sure the bouncers were occupied with checking them out. She was wondering if they wanted to risk it though. She would like something more consistent, something that would allow them to be there so she could do her espionage without having to worry about being caught and kicked out. If that happened this round then this whole mission would be over before it even got started.
Yet without knowing how the business operated they probably wouldn't be able to find a way to get in that didn't involve sneaking in. Somehow she doubted they could afford to get in as customers, and she didn't exactly want to explain to Karkat why she had just wasted got knows how many gils entrance cost on a brothel.
...though admittedly seeing his reaction would be pretty priceless.
She waited a bit more, before grabbing Sollux's wrist and pulling her along. "Lets go."
Whoa okay, Sollux was started to get worried this was falling rapidly into the get-involved category. Sollux was all kinds of not okay with this. Seriously how many times had he insisted he was not a field guy. Not A Field Guy. Auuughh.
"Nep you're not thneaking in there tonight, are you?"
Nepeta: "I just want to peek! Figure out a way that I can get in consistently so I can come each day, undetected while I try to catch the Don's attention. Other than, you know, Plan B." She really hoped it wouldn't have to come down to Plan B because she couldn't think of many jobs inside that didn't involve. Well. Having to do things.
Sollux: Bluh, plan B. Fine, Sollux gave a defeated grumbling sigh and ambled along after her. Karkat was going to kill them for this, but it was be a slower, far more agonizing death if Plan B happened and he found out.
"Fiiiine."
Nepeta: She smiled, keeping an eye on the bouncers, now occupied and hurried to the back. Her pace slowed once they were out of their line of sight so they could move more quietly. It extended far back quite some ways but it didn't take long to find the back entrance amongst all the trash cans. Those were a few Nepeta would restrain from digging through. Guh. She went up to the door, and then grinned
"Looks like we're in luck. Regular lock."
Sollux: "Wonderful." Could the go now? He didn't know how long they could just stand out here before getting noticed and everything back here was gross and oh man the trash reeked and fuuuu he wanted his computer back.
But promised he'd help didn't he? He did. And he was good for his promises. At least he could say he was good for that right? Its not like Nepeta had to actually take time out of her life to talk to him like she did. So yeah he was being stupid and selfish and he needed to be more helpful. Nepeta could decide at any time he wasn't worth the trouble after all. Because really, he wasn't.
Sollux visibly sort of perks up. "Are you going to take a look inthide?"
Nepeta: She slipped something out from her shorts--a tiny pin and began to work away at the lock, every now and then pausing to listen if anyone was coming from the other side. It was only a couple seconds before the tell-tale click sound was hear and she grinned.
"That should answer your question." She slowly pried the door open, wincing a little as it squeaked and peeked her head inside.
"No one's around, let's go!"
Yep, and here he was getting dragged inside. Okay, he could deal with this. Only he stuck out like a sore thumb. Oh man this was such a bad idea.
Don't mind him as he just. Carefully plastered himself up against a wall.
Nepeta: It was very hard to resist the urge not to laugh when she saw him like that. "Oh come on, Sollux, if you act like that people are going to know we didn't pay. Come on. We're customers. We own this place." she stood up straight and tall, tried to look bored even.
Sollux: "We're altho a little young to be wandering around whorehoutheth. Unleth that ith actually a thing rich kidth do." Sollux pondered on that for half a second and shook his head, peeling himself from the wall. He shoved his hands in his pockets and started looking around.
Eh, maybe the be costumes weren't so terrible. Bees were cool.
Nepeta: "I wouldn't be surprised if there were already girls my age working here." A depressing thought, but she supposed if it was between this and dying there really wasn't much of an option for some people. It was a reminder of the fact that no matter how bad some of them had it, there were still some people out there who had it worse. Her eyes began to wonder as well. They were in a bright corridor with a night plush red carpet. She found it rather ironic that this was the cleanest place she had seen in all the slums and it was a brothel. It probably shouldn't surprise her too much, considering how much money went into this place not only because of Don Corneo, but other customers.
Following this hall led them to a rather crowded atrium full of clients and servers alike. The place was bustling---a good thing for her and Sollux.
"Jee will you look at this place?" she murmured in a hushed tone, keeping close to him.
Sollux:"Itth imprethive, I gueth." Sollux was a shut in, but he wasn't naive. He was surprised by the sort of things he saw in this place.
"Tho what are we looking for?"
Nepeta: Two things," Nepeta found herself staring at one red haired woman in a bee costume, before forcing her eyes away and back to Sollux, "first I just wanted to get a feel for this place. It's one thing to look at maps, but another to actually be inside. If I could, I would like to just be able to take a look around but this place is a lot more crowded than I expected it to be." Which...had been pretty stupid on her part, really. What else would she have expected?
"Second," now her mouth curled in mischief and she gave Sollux a hearty slap on the back, "I think it's about time we both become adults, huh?"
Sollux:...........
..........
That needed two ellipses, you know. Sollux just kind of stopped, turned and then stared at her.
"What."
Nepeta: Nepeta just burst into giggles. She tried real hard to muffle them but his face was just too perfect. "Heehee, the look on your face!"
Sollux:The biggest eye roll in the history of eye rolling was just given to you, Nepeta. He hopes you and 12 future generations of your family can feel its sting.
"Yeah, whatever, laugh it up."
Nepeta: She just gave him her usual cheery grin and was about to respond when they were approached by someone. A pretty girl, if a little on the thin side but that was the case with most. She was obviously a worker from the looks of it, and much as Nepeta had predicted she only looked a couple years older than herself. She looked incredibly nervous, and quite frankly it was obvious she was new to this job from the way she refused to meet their eyes and shifted about self consciously. "H-hello there, valued customer..s! Welcome to the Honeybee Inn. Is this your first time here?"
Sollux: Sollux blinked at suddenly being approached. Oh geez uh, what were they supposed to do. He was shit at talking to people so uh. Maybe Nepeta could take care of it. Yeah. He just kind of shifted his glance her way with a frown.
Nepeta: Oh. Awkward. Even Nepeta with how easily she could get along with just about anyone couldn't help but feel a little awkward. Still, it seemed like the other girl was more scared of them so she gave her a genial smile.
"Yea, out furst time. And looks like it might be yours too, huh?" She still couldn't help but be playful, as that was her nature but she at least tried to keep her tone moderate.
She cast a glance at Sollux, giving him a small nudge and the girl blushed further and nodded.
Sollux: Sollux glanced between them and tried to laugh. Act natural and all that, he told himself. Too bad it sounded a little too nervous and tinged slighly on hysteric.
Nepeta: Smooth, Sollux. Funnily enough it actually made the other girl seem to relax a little and she cleared her throat, clasping her hands firmly in front of her. "Then. Are you two...I mean are the both of you going together or?"
Strange how it only clicked now that they girl was trying to take them on as customers. Now Nepeta grew similar uncomfortable, and she she was already opening her mouth to decline when she realized this was a good opportunity. Made they could work out for both to of them. "Yes, we are."
Sollux:Oh well, that was good or something. Sollux rubbed absently at his arm and raised an eyebrow. were they both-- Oh.
Oh--
Nepeta what in the blinding hell were you thinking, were they about to get a-- ksdjfldhgsd Not response, just a slew of ridiculous faces.
Nepeta: Nepeta tried to ignore those lest she blow their cover any farther. CHILL SOLLUX. She totally had this. "So how do we do this?" Now that she had a plan, the discomfort had fled as quickly as it had come. The girl seemed a little unnerved by her sudden enthusiasm, but she just nodded meekly.
"Follow me." she turned and began to lead the way back into the corridor they had just come from.
Sollux: Okay, well. fine. If this all ran south like a fat man chasing a hotdog on a wire he would just. blame it on nepeta yeah that would show her. Okay. Once the girl was ahead of them he shot Nep a "what are you even" glance.
Jacob? He didn't look like a Jacob, did he? Where did she get that name from.
He did manage a half grin at 'Charlie'. Poor thing it seemed like she was just as uncomfortable as the rest of them here. It was an understandably shitty job, not to mention Don Corneo frequented this place, bluh.
"So did herth." And he pointed to Nep. "Alex" indeed.
Nepeta:Someone has been reading shitty romance novels provided by a certain seamstress, Sollux. Shhh, just be glad she didn't go with Edward and Bella.
She gave a shrug and grin when Sollux pointed at her. "The truth. And speaking of truth."
She pulled out a small pouch of money from seemingly nowhere, and tossed it Charlie's way.
"That's what we'd like to buy from you, along with your silence."
Charlie fumbled for a moment but managed to catch it and she looked at it, then between Sollux and Nepeta, seeming more confused than anything.
"I don't understand."
Sollux: Oh, so that's what the plan was. Sollux stayed slightly behind her but did manage to cross his arms and shrug.
"Jutht ath she thaid. We have a few quethtonth, if you can help uth, thath all yourth."
Nepeta: "All of it?" she sounded incredulous as she looked at the pouch and Nepeta felt her chest constrict. It...really wasn't that much. It reminded her once more how fortunate she really was in comparison to other people. She had Karkat to thank for that. As difficult as things were, he never left her in need.
"All of it." Nepeta nodded.
Charlie looked uncertain, a bit scared even but after some debating she nodded. "Okay. What do you want to know?"
Sollux: Sollux frowned a little but then of course looked pleased enough that she agreed. Good now this entire mess won't be for nothing and maybe they can actually find something Nepeta could work with.
Nepta: Nepeta began her questioning. First, she confirmed some things they had already learned. When Don Corneo came here, how often he selected girls from this brothel to go to his mansion. Quite often, and just as he did from the girls he picked directly off the streets he always left the bright red envelope at the homes of the families to let them know where their girls had been taken. Nepeta had sometimes seen them attached to door--almost all belonging to houses whose shutters had been shut tight. Either to block out the sound of the grieving relatives, or block out the shame for giving their daughters and sisters away.
From there she got new information--about what exactly the procedure, information Charlie knew from girls who had eventually been let go and returned to work at the Honeybee in. At the beginning of each month he selected a bunch of girls at once, took them back to his mansion to pretty them up and at the end of each week he selected one while the others went with his some of his workers. That would be helpful for her. It meant she wouldn't have to rush to get the information and get out from the get go.
That was about all Nepeta could think of for now, but she looked at Sollux. "Do you have any?"
Sollux: Sollux took all of this in, letting the wheels turn in his head for potential plans, skematics, blue prints. He would make a mission out of this yet. Now he was starting to think more technical.
Though thankfully all of the major questions she'd askedh e could work with. The procedure was important. That way they could track him better. He shook his head, he'd heard all he needed.
"I think you covered everything."
Nepeta: Nepeta nodded, and thought for a little bit more. "One last thing. That door in the back---is it always kept open?" That gave Charlie a nonplussed look, and she shook her head. Well that was unfortunate. Nepeta have considered asking Charlie if she would be willing to open it up for them, but then closed it. No, she'd rather not get this girl involved, and she had helped enough as it was.
"Well that'll be all. Thank you for your help, Charlie."
Sollux: Sollux nodded to her, too, in thanks and turned towards the door. "Leth get out of here while we can."
Mission complete as far as he was concerned and the longer they stayed in this place the more they risked getting caught and that would pull the plug on the whole affair before Nepeta even got the chance to carry out her plans.
Nepeta:She nodded, and followed Sollux out, giving Charlie one last wave. They were one step closer to making this plan a reality.
>> A couple days after this
>> Bad kids.
Nepeta: Traveling between the different sectors was always a bit of a hassle. Not only because the pathways between them were riddled with thieves, muggers, monsters and unsavory sorts but also because of all the junk. The stuff was everywhere, thrown down here by the upper levels. It was a miracle that the entirety of the slums had yet to be buried in all it. Still, you never knew what could be found here. It was one of the many reasons Nepeta often came out here, and the train graveyard. The words 'one man's trash is another man's treasure' had never been more true.
Still they had business in sector six, which while a bit more organized and full of most of the commerce of the slums with it's Wall Street, was also by far the sketchiest of the seven sectors. It's where Don Corneo did a lot of his business, so unsurprisingly is where its red light district was located. Which is exactly why Nepeta was there, dragging one very unwilling psychic with her. It had taking a lot of pleading on her part, and gratuitous use of kitten eyes by she had finally convinced Sollux to come with her. She said it was simply because he was more perceptive than her, and two heads could find more information than one---and while that was most certainty true, for all her bravado Nepeta was scared about going alone.
"There it is." The Honeybee Inn was there target. Apparently this was one of Don Corneo's most visited spots. They probably should have figured that, but she had almost forgotten its existence with how much she tended to avoid and ignore the place. It was one of the largest buildings in the slums and at night could be seen from a large distance with its bright yellow lights flashing its name on and off.
Sollux: Sollux really wasn't a field guy. And by wasn't a field guy, everyone really meant he was a social shut in that generally just didn't deal will with the outside world. He was a tech specialist. He could run all of the computers, all of them.
He could strategize, theorize, and tactize the entire SCRATCH operation.
But oh god did he hate leaving HQ. Sadly he hated Nepeta's kitten eyes even worse. So one disgruntled half troll shuffled along behind Nep while he tried not to look at much else besides her back.
He looked up when they reached the Inn. Wow.
"Tacky."
Nepeta: Nepeta couldn't help but laugh a little
"I don't know the weird bee girls on either side make a nice touch, don't you think?" The sarcasm was practically palpable, genuine as her laugh was. Her eyes fell from the sign to the small crowd outside. There were some guards right outside the door who were checking people as they went in.
"I wonder what they are checking for. Weapons?" She had heard from some of their richer companions that there were a lot of rules protecting children above. Down here there were no rules so she doubted it could be for that. Maybe they needed a pass to get in?
She moved aside to lean against the wall of a nearby building so they weren't quite so conspicuous where they were.
Sollux: Sollux just sort of peeked over her shoulder a bit.
"Who knowth. Thith plathe ith thuper thkeevy. Weaponth, girlth, anything." He really wasn't all that impressed. But he very rarely was impressed with the outside world.
"Getting in through the front ith probably a thtupid idea. You'll probably have to thneak in."
Nepeta: Hmm. She eyed the entrance for a little while longer, then let her eyes fall over the rest of the building. One good thing about being so young is that onlookers would sooner suspect them of being overly curious brats than rebels of any sort. He was right. There was no way they would be getting in through the front entrance without having to pass by those goons. There were some windows on the second floor which they could get to if they scaled one of the pillars the bumblebee ladies were situated on. That would be a little difficult to do without being noticed however.
"Are there any other entrances?"
Sollux: Sollux had seen the schematics once before. "Back entranth. It should be eathy enough to get patht. Can't thay much for the lockth it might have. Try getting in when thomeone elth cometh out?"
He really hoped this was all scouting and she wasn't expecting him to actually get involved.
Nepeta: "Locks? Well as long as it isn't an electronic lock of any sorts that should be easy peasy." Cocky? Yes, but likely very true. Despite appearances Nepeta could be quite roguish when she wanted to be. Right now she mostly definitely wanted to get in just to get a better idea of how the place operated. It was one thing to read or hear about it, another to experience it.
"The back. Hmm." Maybe if they waited a little more for clients to come--make sure the bouncers were occupied with checking them out. She was wondering if they wanted to risk it though. She would like something more consistent, something that would allow them to be there so she could do her espionage without having to worry about being caught and kicked out. If that happened this round then this whole mission would be over before it even got started.
Yet without knowing how the business operated they probably wouldn't be able to find a way to get in that didn't involve sneaking in. Somehow she doubted they could afford to get in as customers, and she didn't exactly want to explain to Karkat why she had just wasted got knows how many gils entrance cost on a brothel.
...though admittedly seeing his reaction would be pretty priceless.
She waited a bit more, before grabbing Sollux's wrist and pulling her along. "Lets go."
Whoa okay, Sollux was started to get worried this was falling rapidly into the get-involved category. Sollux was all kinds of not okay with this. Seriously how many times had he insisted he was not a field guy. Not A Field Guy. Auuughh.
"Nep you're not thneaking in there tonight, are you?"
Nepeta: "I just want to peek! Figure out a way that I can get in consistently so I can come each day, undetected while I try to catch the Don's attention. Other than, you know, Plan B." She really hoped it wouldn't have to come down to Plan B because she couldn't think of many jobs inside that didn't involve. Well. Having to do things.
Sollux: Bluh, plan B. Fine, Sollux gave a defeated grumbling sigh and ambled along after her. Karkat was going to kill them for this, but it was be a slower, far more agonizing death if Plan B happened and he found out.
"Fiiiine."
Nepeta: She smiled, keeping an eye on the bouncers, now occupied and hurried to the back. Her pace slowed once they were out of their line of sight so they could move more quietly. It extended far back quite some ways but it didn't take long to find the back entrance amongst all the trash cans. Those were a few Nepeta would restrain from digging through. Guh. She went up to the door, and then grinned
"Looks like we're in luck. Regular lock."
Sollux: "Wonderful." Could the go now? He didn't know how long they could just stand out here before getting noticed and everything back here was gross and oh man the trash reeked and fuuuu he wanted his computer back.
But promised he'd help didn't he? He did. And he was good for his promises. At least he could say he was good for that right? Its not like Nepeta had to actually take time out of her life to talk to him like she did. So yeah he was being stupid and selfish and he needed to be more helpful. Nepeta could decide at any time he wasn't worth the trouble after all. Because really, he wasn't.
Sollux visibly sort of perks up. "Are you going to take a look inthide?"
Nepeta: She slipped something out from her shorts--a tiny pin and began to work away at the lock, every now and then pausing to listen if anyone was coming from the other side. It was only a couple seconds before the tell-tale click sound was hear and she grinned.
"That should answer your question." She slowly pried the door open, wincing a little as it squeaked and peeked her head inside.
"No one's around, let's go!"
Yep, and here he was getting dragged inside. Okay, he could deal with this. Only he stuck out like a sore thumb. Oh man this was such a bad idea.
Don't mind him as he just. Carefully plastered himself up against a wall.
Nepeta: It was very hard to resist the urge not to laugh when she saw him like that. "Oh come on, Sollux, if you act like that people are going to know we didn't pay. Come on. We're customers. We own this place." she stood up straight and tall, tried to look bored even.
Sollux: "We're altho a little young to be wandering around whorehoutheth. Unleth that ith actually a thing rich kidth do." Sollux pondered on that for half a second and shook his head, peeling himself from the wall. He shoved his hands in his pockets and started looking around.
Eh, maybe the be costumes weren't so terrible. Bees were cool.
Nepeta: "I wouldn't be surprised if there were already girls my age working here." A depressing thought, but she supposed if it was between this and dying there really wasn't much of an option for some people. It was a reminder of the fact that no matter how bad some of them had it, there were still some people out there who had it worse. Her eyes began to wonder as well. They were in a bright corridor with a night plush red carpet. She found it rather ironic that this was the cleanest place she had seen in all the slums and it was a brothel. It probably shouldn't surprise her too much, considering how much money went into this place not only because of Don Corneo, but other customers.
Following this hall led them to a rather crowded atrium full of clients and servers alike. The place was bustling---a good thing for her and Sollux.
"Jee will you look at this place?" she murmured in a hushed tone, keeping close to him.
Sollux:"Itth imprethive, I gueth." Sollux was a shut in, but he wasn't naive. He was surprised by the sort of things he saw in this place.
"Tho what are we looking for?"
Nepeta: Two things," Nepeta found herself staring at one red haired woman in a bee costume, before forcing her eyes away and back to Sollux, "first I just wanted to get a feel for this place. It's one thing to look at maps, but another to actually be inside. If I could, I would like to just be able to take a look around but this place is a lot more crowded than I expected it to be." Which...had been pretty stupid on her part, really. What else would she have expected?
"Second," now her mouth curled in mischief and she gave Sollux a hearty slap on the back, "I think it's about time we both become adults, huh?"
Sollux:...........
..........
That needed two ellipses, you know. Sollux just kind of stopped, turned and then stared at her.
"What."
Nepeta: Nepeta just burst into giggles. She tried real hard to muffle them but his face was just too perfect. "Heehee, the look on your face!"
Sollux:The biggest eye roll in the history of eye rolling was just given to you, Nepeta. He hopes you and 12 future generations of your family can feel its sting.
"Yeah, whatever, laugh it up."
Nepeta: She just gave him her usual cheery grin and was about to respond when they were approached by someone. A pretty girl, if a little on the thin side but that was the case with most. She was obviously a worker from the looks of it, and much as Nepeta had predicted she only looked a couple years older than herself. She looked incredibly nervous, and quite frankly it was obvious she was new to this job from the way she refused to meet their eyes and shifted about self consciously. "H-hello there, valued customer..s! Welcome to the Honeybee Inn. Is this your first time here?"
Sollux: Sollux blinked at suddenly being approached. Oh geez uh, what were they supposed to do. He was shit at talking to people so uh. Maybe Nepeta could take care of it. Yeah. He just kind of shifted his glance her way with a frown.
Nepeta: Oh. Awkward. Even Nepeta with how easily she could get along with just about anyone couldn't help but feel a little awkward. Still, it seemed like the other girl was more scared of them so she gave her a genial smile.
"Yea, out furst time. And looks like it might be yours too, huh?" She still couldn't help but be playful, as that was her nature but she at least tried to keep her tone moderate.
She cast a glance at Sollux, giving him a small nudge and the girl blushed further and nodded.
Sollux: Sollux glanced between them and tried to laugh. Act natural and all that, he told himself. Too bad it sounded a little too nervous and tinged slighly on hysteric.
Nepeta: Smooth, Sollux. Funnily enough it actually made the other girl seem to relax a little and she cleared her throat, clasping her hands firmly in front of her. "Then. Are you two...I mean are the both of you going together or?"
Strange how it only clicked now that they girl was trying to take them on as customers. Now Nepeta grew similar uncomfortable, and she she was already opening her mouth to decline when she realized this was a good opportunity. Made they could work out for both to of them. "Yes, we are."
Sollux:Oh well, that was good or something. Sollux rubbed absently at his arm and raised an eyebrow. were they both-- Oh.
Oh--
Nepeta what in the blinding hell were you thinking, were they about to get a-- ksdjfldhgsd Not response, just a slew of ridiculous faces.
Nepeta: Nepeta tried to ignore those lest she blow their cover any farther. CHILL SOLLUX. She totally had this. "So how do we do this?" Now that she had a plan, the discomfort had fled as quickly as it had come. The girl seemed a little unnerved by her sudden enthusiasm, but she just nodded meekly.
"Follow me." she turned and began to lead the way back into the corridor they had just come from.
Sollux: Okay, well. fine. If this all ran south like a fat man chasing a hotdog on a wire he would just. blame it on nepeta yeah that would show her. Okay. Once the girl was ahead of them he shot Nep a "what are you even" glance.
Jacob? He didn't look like a Jacob, did he? Where did she get that name from.
He did manage a half grin at 'Charlie'. Poor thing it seemed like she was just as uncomfortable as the rest of them here. It was an understandably shitty job, not to mention Don Corneo frequented this place, bluh.
"So did herth." And he pointed to Nep. "Alex" indeed.
Nepeta:Someone has been reading shitty romance novels provided by a certain seamstress, Sollux. Shhh, just be glad she didn't go with Edward and Bella.
She gave a shrug and grin when Sollux pointed at her. "The truth. And speaking of truth."
She pulled out a small pouch of money from seemingly nowhere, and tossed it Charlie's way.
"That's what we'd like to buy from you, along with your silence."
Charlie fumbled for a moment but managed to catch it and she looked at it, then between Sollux and Nepeta, seeming more confused than anything.
"I don't understand."
Sollux: Oh, so that's what the plan was. Sollux stayed slightly behind her but did manage to cross his arms and shrug.
"Jutht ath she thaid. We have a few quethtonth, if you can help uth, thath all yourth."
Nepeta: "All of it?" she sounded incredulous as she looked at the pouch and Nepeta felt her chest constrict. It...really wasn't that much. It reminded her once more how fortunate she really was in comparison to other people. She had Karkat to thank for that. As difficult as things were, he never left her in need.
"All of it." Nepeta nodded.
Charlie looked uncertain, a bit scared even but after some debating she nodded. "Okay. What do you want to know?"
Sollux: Sollux frowned a little but then of course looked pleased enough that she agreed. Good now this entire mess won't be for nothing and maybe they can actually find something Nepeta could work with.
Nepta: Nepeta began her questioning. First, she confirmed some things they had already learned. When Don Corneo came here, how often he selected girls from this brothel to go to his mansion. Quite often, and just as he did from the girls he picked directly off the streets he always left the bright red envelope at the homes of the families to let them know where their girls had been taken. Nepeta had sometimes seen them attached to door--almost all belonging to houses whose shutters had been shut tight. Either to block out the sound of the grieving relatives, or block out the shame for giving their daughters and sisters away.
From there she got new information--about what exactly the procedure, information Charlie knew from girls who had eventually been let go and returned to work at the Honeybee in. At the beginning of each month he selected a bunch of girls at once, took them back to his mansion to pretty them up and at the end of each week he selected one while the others went with his some of his workers. That would be helpful for her. It meant she wouldn't have to rush to get the information and get out from the get go.
That was about all Nepeta could think of for now, but she looked at Sollux. "Do you have any?"
Sollux: Sollux took all of this in, letting the wheels turn in his head for potential plans, skematics, blue prints. He would make a mission out of this yet. Now he was starting to think more technical.
Though thankfully all of the major questions she'd askedh e could work with. The procedure was important. That way they could track him better. He shook his head, he'd heard all he needed.
"I think you covered everything."
Nepeta: Nepeta nodded, and thought for a little bit more. "One last thing. That door in the back---is it always kept open?" That gave Charlie a nonplussed look, and she shook her head. Well that was unfortunate. Nepeta have considered asking Charlie if she would be willing to open it up for them, but then closed it. No, she'd rather not get this girl involved, and she had helped enough as it was.
"Well that'll be all. Thank you for your help, Charlie."
Sollux: Sollux nodded to her, too, in thanks and turned towards the door. "Leth get out of here while we can."
Mission complete as far as he was concerned and the longer they stayed in this place the more they risked getting caught and that would pull the plug on the whole affair before Nepeta even got the chance to carry out her plans.
Nepeta:She nodded, and followed Sollux out, giving Charlie one last wave. They were one step closer to making this plan a reality.