Breaking You Out of That Shell [private]

[Hanone]

The night was the same boring, bland mild as always. The cave's high ceiling was lit softly by dim purples and gray crystals, giving the cavern a look of nighttime. Many of the shops were closed for the night, people already in their beds or just crawling in with a good book. The brutish Jounin stood idly against the wall of an establishment called the Violet Ribbon with heavily tattooed arms crossed over his barrel chest. It was some fabric store he'd never been in before near the entrance of the Grand Palais. The reason he was there was simply; it was easy to spot (since it was at the very entrance of the area and was painted so brightly in 12 different shades of purple that no one could miss it). His brother, Roku had been invited to join him that night. He'd sent the boy (if he could still call him that) a letter several nights prior so the boy would be able to clear his schedule and appear on time. It had read;

Roku,

Meet me at the purple ribbon building on Wednesday after 11 Pm. Don't be too late if you can help it. I heard you and Sousuke have become acquainted too and it might do us all some good to get away from the shinobi shit for a night. I'm expecting you both should show up, so don't disappoint me.

P.S. Bring a lot of yen.

~Sae

After he'd delivered the letter for his brother, he'd managed to flirt with one of Sousuke-sama's aids well enough to get her to clear his schedule for Wednesday night. Saemon knew the man would be free so it was up to a letter. Seeing as he thought the boy was a little too... worried for his own good, he sent the letter to Sousuke only 6 hours before the meeting time so he would be able to get it and not overthink it. But that left what he would need to say to the kage to get him to come. In the end though, it was just a simple note. Maybe he wouldn't show, but oh well.. Roku fuckin' better.

Sousuke-sama,

It was good to be able to spend some time with you a couple of weeks back. I'd be nice if you could aid me in solving another mystery. If you're available, please meet me in the Grand Palais, near the Purple Ribbon, a fabric store around 11 PM.

Thanks,
Saemon

He figured it might work. Saemon stood waiting. It was almost 11 PM now. With a cigarette lit in his mouth and a pocket full of yen, Saemon waited for his company... should either of them make it.


[thread for Sousuke, Roku and myself. PM if you want to join, please don't just join if you're not either of them.]

 

[Takahashi Aki]

Sousuke received the letter six hours before the meeting time. Quite coincidently his schedule was quite clear. The Steward looked at his agenda with a furrow brow. Something was a miss. Wasn't he supposed to attend a small meeting with the manager of the bank to discuss the further improvements to the security system so as to prevent another situation like Shizune from occurring again? Sousuke flipped the page. The meeting was rescheduled for 6:12pm the next day. Usually he was informed of these things in advanced. The Steward thought hard. Well it was strange to have a meeting so late in the evening, it was perhaps for the best it was moved.

The Steward next attended the letter. It was from Saemon. Curious. The Steward held the envelope wondering what exactly would Saemon be writing to him about. Usually Sousuke could get a good read on people, but it was a little more difficult in the case of Saemon. Reading Roku was easier by far. The Steward's eyes looked over the letter. A mystery? Curious. From what Sousuke could overheard between Saemon and the Lady Haku Tomoko he could tell that Saemon was a minimalist in some regards. He did not enjoy the company of everyone, rather he enjoyed the company of a select few. Still though, Sousuke enjoyed a challenge that was promised with a mystery. Sousuke folded his hands and placed them behind his head as he was thinking of what to expect. Better prepare the Ebon Blade for a defensive fight, as per usual, and in addition better have the Mark I operating at exceptional levels.

***

10: 56:09pm. Four minutes and fifty-one seconds ahead of schedule. Sousuke came dressed as per his usual. His new lab coat was worn. In fact the Steward had it cleaned before heading out along with his usual wear of a white t-shirt and black pants. The Steward's eyes traced about locating the Purple Ribbon. It was a fabric store and a very different sort of place for Sousuke to be meeting someone. Eventually Sousuke found Saemon which he did by following a trail of cigarette smoke. A small cough came out of Sousuke, but not like his usual long ones. "Good Night Mr. Saemon."<i></i> Sousuke greeted in his usual monotone voice. The Steward looked about trying to detect anything out of place. As usual he employed his exceptional observation skills to have a look about. "Hrrm... man in the red shirt has a broken shoulder. He's trying quite hard to hide it, but has failed to do so as is walking slightly tilted..."<i></i> He began. "At the corner of Seventy-six and Forty-six there is a stakeout. An Anbu posing as a lady of the evening in an attempt to lure out predators and or pimps..."<i></i> He watched as either or of the aforementioned approached said Anbu. The Steward placed his hands in his pockets and simply stood there watching quietly. Things would certainly turn out ill, he expected the Anbu to deliver a few bone crunching melee blows. "Hrrmm... lovely evening indeed?"<i></i>

 

[Raizo]

It was time to meet his brother and Sousuke, and unlike the Steward-Kage who seemed to hold a propensity to be punctual, he was not as prompt. Strolling along one of the sidewalks within the Grand Palais, Roku would take his time making it to the meeting spot. The location, the Violet Ribbon, was a very odd location and one that could easily be made a point of ridicule. The name itself did not evoke anything manly, which for those that lay their eyes on Roku's appearance might say the same.

Still clad in his regular formal attire, he would raise his right arm into the air and wave to the two gathered before him. It was always strange seeing the leader of the village out and about, and it was almost mildly troubling that this was something being instigated by Saemon. He loved his brother but neither of them could stay out of sticky situations. Would it be ok inviting someone with prestige like Sousuke into such an unsavory world?

Hell, he didn't know, but he did know it would be a damn interesting time.

"Hello, gents! Judging by the location I assume we are picking up a nice, pretty ribbon for you, brother?"

MFT - 205

 

[Hanone]

It was a relief to see the strange kage-steward to make his way to where Saemon was. The man couldn't know what was going to happen tonight, well unless he had spies on Saemon and in that case he might know. But the way the man investigated everything reminded him of a mouse or something else small and quick. "How'ya doing, Sousuke-san?" he asked, poking a new cigarette in his mouth and lit it. He was relaxed tonight, happy even. It was even possible it was because of the next face to show up, one he hadn't seen in months now.

The handsome blond man made his own appearance shortly after Sousuke's and Saemon pushed away from the wall and came over to embrace his brother. The rough hug was the only sort of affection he liked to give in public. Roku was the best man he knew. "I was planning on getting a nice pink one for your hair actually." he laughed and let the man go, dropping a hand to his shoulder instead. "It's good to see you, Roku. You look as pretty as a flower." he mocked in good nature. "But let's not sit around here, we'll have a lot of time to talk once we're inside. You too Sousuke, this way."

Saemon wasn't about to let either of them escape tonight and wasn't about to let them start asking questions either. The building they would be entering was only 3 more down and had a completely blackened front with the words "Delight" painted in fancy white letters. With a point, he directed them toward it. He was going to walk in last to avoid Sousuke's attempt to escape.

The place, if they pair did move along, would be loud the moment the heavy doors opened with dull lights, heavy music, perfumy smells and booze. There would also be a lot of men there and a stage that was empty at the moment. The nearest server girl, however, was wearing nothing but a shirt so small it barely covered her nether region from the front and two stickers on her chest for 'decency'.

 

[Takahashi Aki]

Sousuke swapped from glancing at Roku, and then back to Saemon. Getting a ribbon for Saemon? Not just any ribbon, but a pretty one. "I am operating at ... superior levels."<i></i> Sousuke answered when he was inquired as to how he was doing. As of late, Sousuke had been doing better. He was learning how to cook. He was getting better at dealing with people. He was even forced to participate in a Mr. Suna pageant. Of course his entry was slightly different as he had successfully struck out his name and image, and replaced it with something more ... acceptable.

The Steward watched as the two brothers hugged. Sousuke being an only child had no experience in the concept of brotherly or sibling love. To him it was a foreign concept. Such a concept would not come easily comprehendible, but perhaps... perhaps someday the Steward would get it after observing it enough times. Sousuke listened to Saemon's response to the ribbon and how he was going to get a pink one for Roku's hair. Sousuke toyed with the concept of seeing Roku with a pink ribbon in his hair. The Steward merely closed his eyes and twitched ever so slightly. It was a very strange image he had in his mind, and one that he did not wish to share with anyone else.

The Steward followed Saemon and Roku quietly. The Steward blinked twice when he looked up. Delight. This was to be the scene that held the mystery that Saemon wanted to have solved? The Steward entered, and the moment he did... well... there had to be something worthwhile here amongst the loud music, the smell, the dim lights, and the appalling sights. The Steward once said to Kitanai that he was not a lost man, oh how he was wrong about that. He was very much lost here. The Steward very much wanted to retreat, or as a very wise tatician once said 'we're not retreating, we're advancing in another direction'. Be it in the form of literally leaving, or encasing himself in his Mark I armour. When the server passed by, the Steward was somewhat in a state of shock. Decency? No. Try indecent. Indecent in the extreme. Did this place know modesty in some regard? Well aside from the lighting, that was too modest it was almost spiteful. Sousuke merely looked to Roku at first, and then at Saemon. Both times he had his eyes wide opened. Surely. Surely there was some work to be done here. Right?

 

[Raizo]

The brotherly embrace was always a weird tradition for those that knew Roku. For Saemon he would openly show a sign of affection, even if it sometimes broke down into a squeezing test of strength, while others he would be more reserved. He kept his distance and shut down a lot of people but for Saemon he was back in his child-like mode. His older brother was his idol, even now with him encroaching the start of his young adulthood.

Then there was the Steward-Kage. He was always a bit of an odd duck and that might have been why Roku was growing more fond of him. The guy was strange but also didn't care that he was 'different' than the majority of those around him. A respectable trait, whether he meant to be that way or not. Just knowing that he operated differently than what you'd consider the norm was proof enough that he didn't try to hide who he was, and with his past conversation on how he was bullied as a child; he had a respectable quality to him. He was also naïve, which he loved and he could only imagine how Saemon would play with that quality.

"One of us has to be attractive, can't deprive all the ladies of the sand from our bloodline." Without needing to say more he would follow the group onward to their next location. Keeping in line with what he was expecting, the location looked sketchy beyond all belief. Blacked out with the word 'delight' painted onto the front. Within his mind this was either a freaky dive bar or a rotten strip club, and in either scenario he felt welcomed. Booze and women, was it his birthday and he didn't know it?

Being the first, as Saemon hung back, Roku would walk in and be embraced by the smell, the dim light and server who was about as dressed as a naked person could be. With childlike wonderment he would turn around to Sousuke, looking like a caged animal, and Saemon and would proudly announce, "First round is one me!"

MFT - 351

 

[Hanone]

Saemon was sure to keep the steward from escaping, if he tried and smiled amused-like at the way he reacted. His brother wouldn't have any issue here; he was a lady magnet and as far as he knew, loved the ladies himself. Sousuke was another matter.. and to keep the guy here, he'd have to keep playing it off as if there was a mystery. Hiding his grin swiftly, Saemon entered the building and put a hand on Sousuke's shoulder.

When he spotted the man was looking from Roku to himself, Saemon tried to steel his expression, coming back to a neutral mask. "Come on, it's this way. I'll explain the issue. Roku, bring some Kiri-Blue Sake for me, we're in the corner." he had to speak loud over the noise to be heard and started toward the left. There was a decent path to walk down, but on either side of the path were women of every shape and size, wearing just as little as the first Sousuke had encountered. And each of them was carrying a tray, or drinks or sitting in mens' laps.

Saemon had to tune out his strong nose to the smells some of the men had, knowing it was a hazard of being in a place like this. Their table was open. It had been reserved for them, as Sae had planned all of this in advance. The huge man slid into the plush seat (there were 4 very nice ones with heavy padding and smelled of jasmine when you sat on them). Roku was hopefully ordering the drinks and wouldn't be long. Sousuke, he hoped would follow him and he began to spin the story. Leaning close to the shorter man, Saemon's gravelly voice uttered, "There's a rumor that one of these women here tonight is actually the daughter of a well known noble from Fire Country. She's been missing for almost 2 years and they've tracked her to this place. But we don't know what she'll look like or who could be watching. Rumor has it the man who took her is keeping her working here under the threat of death or something. All we know for sure is she has one light brown birthmark in the shape of a flying bird on the femoral triangle."

That should do, and he was still forced to hide his amusement.

He leaned back in his chair and said a little louder, not pretending to worry about being overheard. "You'll need to be a normal patron to go unnoticed, which is why I invited Roku. He'll look at home here, me too." The stage had been empty and just then a lithe looking woman with curly blond hair and very long legs strode up. She was wearing a pretty red dress, nothing too outlandish, but began to dance on the stage. She swung her hips in time with the new music and batted her eyelashes at the men at the table next to their own. A man there tossed her three yen and she popped open the first button..


[ooc both of you can make up females as well if you want, imagine there are a LOT of them.]

 

[Takahashi Aki]

The Steward wondered what Roku meant by first round. First round of what? Was a fight going to break out? The Steward as he paced by curled his hands into fists as he prepared himself for a fight. At will he would unsheath the ebon blade and defend his two friends. Yet as they passed through to the table, the Steward did not find himself having to do so. Instead he found more and more indecent sights. The Steward merely tried very hard not to stare, thus he had peripheral vision. The Steward did stop from time to time to look around. When he did he noticed surroundings, not the nearly naked ladies or the ladies in their wet t-shirts. When they approached the table Saemon took a seat and the air was filled with the smell of saffron.

The Steward approached the seat. He didn't sit down just yet. He reached out and pressed down on the seat. The smell of saffron coming out once more. He pressed down again this time with much more force and even more saffron came out in stronger amounts. The Steward was acting like a child... mainly because he had never dealt with such a thing before. After some time of playing with the seat, he sat down. He turned his head to Saemon and listened to the reason why they were here. The Steward blinked twice and nodded his head. "Understood. Allow me to even the playing field then..."<i></i> The Steward took out a kit from his lab coat. He took out three ear pieces similiar to the one Saemon had seen earlier. The Steward removed some fine tools from his kit and began to work on them. Every once and a while he would look up and notice something strange like the man throwing yen notes at a woman to undo a button. "Hrmm... what is going on over there?"<i></i> He watched for a moment before returning to his work. Within five minutes the Steward had modified the three ear pieces to work on a frequency between himself, Saemon, and Roku. The Steward passed the ear piece to Saemon. "Slightly modified, like the last model, you know how this works."<i></i> The Steward next placed on his ear piece, and then pulled out from his pockets a pair of neon sun glasses. He placed on the sun glasses and looked around. "Anti-Genjutsu lenses. Works for me and ... me only due to my dark eyes. I employed this technique before... during a large conflict with a being with a planet sized ego."<i></i> The Steward explained as he continued to look about. "Let's see..."<i></i>

 

[Raizo]

Sliding through the bustle of people, Roku made his way up to the bar. Behind the counter was a scruffy, fit man that gave the impression that he had been in a couple of tussles. With a figure like that controlling the booze it made a bit more sense why there was no bouncer at the front door. The guy looked like he could easily handle your typical drunk. Now the itch of getting into a fight was start to nag at the back of Roku's mind; just how much of a fighter was the barkeep?

"Can I get three glasses and a bottle of Kiri Blue sake."

A nod would be the affirmation on the drink order. While the bartender started the placement of his order, the blonde man's eyes would begin to wonder around the room. Scoping out all of the potential women in the joint was always a good first protocol, well after securing the first round of drinks. His eyes wouldn't need to travel far when he noticed, sitting down adjacent to him, a lovely lady with long red hair. The female had a rather full figure and piercing blue eyes. "Well hello..."

"50 yen."

Before he could make his introduction, the man behind the bar would send a tray with the bottle and three glasses down his way. What was meant by "send" wasn't what you'd expect, just simply sliding the tray down the smooth counter top, no this man literally tossed, like a discus, the tray with the items on it. It would land, without spilling or losing any items, perfectly next to the arm of Roku. It was a skill of precision, control and skill; the bartender might be more than just a bartender.

Turning his attention back to the red head, he would notice she had already gotten up and walked into the mix of people. Letting out a frustrated sigh he would pick up the tray and make his way to Saemon and Sousuke. Placing the tray down he would immediately start to fill up the three cups before ultimately chugging his own cup down before the others had a chance to even touch their glasses. "Boys, I'm on a mission tonight!"

 

[Hanone]

Sousuke was such a boy...

He played with the seats, puffing up plumes of saffron scent purposefully. Saemon couldn't help but watch with a half amused expression on his scruffy face, like watching a hamster running in it's wheel. His amusement was hardly stalled after the man sat down finally and hurried along to get earpieces for all for them and funky glasses on himself. Poor thing was probably a virgin, of that Saemon had no doubt.

But he couldn't say anything, just accept the gadgets. After all this was all a charade to keep him from bolting out the front door and hiding under his bed for an eternity. Tits always did a man some good, even strange little men in metal suits like the steward. It was about then, Saemon's better side came strolling over with drinks. The man moved with ease in a crowd and slid into the seat on the other side of Sousuke and placed the drinks down. His own lasted milliseconds.

The brute reached out and took his own glass as well, bringing it to his lips for a quick drink. "Oh that's a good idea..." he thought before nudging the steward's glass toward him as well. "People will be suspicious if you don't." he said calmly, as if his reasoning was sound and the kage should take that advice. "Yea, but we shouldn't bring attention to that fact. Stop being a loudmouth." he said. Roku, who was still not privy to what Saemon's whole plan here was, flickered his eyes toward Sousuke and let the edges of his lips come to a smirk for just a second before he dropped them back to a neutral position. Roku and Saemon could speak without speaking and he hoped they would still have that sort of connection.. one that Sousuke did not notice either. He couldn't be sure, but even if he did notice the action, he doubted Sousuke would even understand what he meant at all.

Saemon leaned back in his chair and looked out over the growing crowd. There were at least 40 working women on the floor right now, maybe three times that many patrons. The club was only getting started for the night and the ladies were all active and scouting those with yen to burn. The one on the stage was getting down a layer and her bra was almost sheer.

A woman approached their table, her big violet colored eyes welcoming and inviting. Not surprisingly she couldn't stop looking at Roku. "Hey there boys, how are you all doing tonight?" She was a tall woman with very long legs and beautiful curves, ones she was trying to make more obvious with the skin tight, tube style dress she was donning. A beautifully manicured hand pushed through loose, wavy, auburn tresses, moving them over to the one side. "I see you have your drinks already, how about something to eat?" the woman then stepped up, putting her strappy black stiletto onto the seat between Roku's legs, an inch from his pants. It slid up her dress so high her lacy black panties were quite visible to the blond who was right in front of her. But she wasn't interested in the yen of just one man and she turned slightly to give Sousuke a lavish wink, also taking the chance to nibble on her plump, red colored bottom lip. This would usually drive any other man crazy.

Saemon was actually more interested to see is Sousuke even noticed.

 

[Takahashi Aki]

Sousuke eyed the drink that was set before him. He leaned forward a bit. He didn't even sniff it so as to identify it. "Kiri Blue Sake. Imported. Aged slightly ... no less than three years. No more than five. Expensive imported. I saw the price on the bottles a while back when I had to advice the LCBS on their exact numbers for imports."<i></i> The Steward's eyes narrowed at the drink. "Never tried it though ... but it should be ... what is the term to use here... promising?"<i></i> The Steward simply reached forward took the sake glass and downed the imported drink in one gulp. The Steward stared at the empty glass before looking to Saemon. Well. Would Saemon too gulp down the drink? Sousuke expected him to do so, but every once so often, sometimes Sousuke found himself surprised by people... except not today. Saemon downed his too in an instant. "This is well worth the import price, and should there be an embargo, then the fee to pass that too would be well worth it."<i></i>

Roku went to declare himself on a mission. Saemon then proceeded to scold him in a way that the Steward was left staring back and forth between the brothers. Sousuke observed Saemon's expression and ruled in his mind that Saemon was speaking to Roku through expressions. Either that or ... Saemon was a psychic and so was Roku and that the two of them had great psionic potential. Kuro once suggested that Sousuke himself was a psionic, but when Sousuke tried to practice alone, he just couldn't get things going properly. Saemon's gaze shifted back to the stripping woman from before. The Steward too shifted his gaze trying to find this tattoo that Saemon had mentioned. The layers of clothing were coming off, but not to the point where Sousuke could see the tattoo. "I thought what I saw earlier was a ... genjutsu or something but clearly that woman is being paid yen to remove her clothing."<i></i> Sousuke looked to Roku, and then he looked to Saemon. "That is really happening, and that is really a thing. I thought it was a sort of joke of sorts, but no... that actually appears to be a way of acquiring a livelihood..."<i></i>

The Steward was cut short by a woman who approached their table. She made quit the entrance which was directly aimed at Roku in particular. For a moment Sousuke thought that she was going to attack Roku with that shoe of hers. Whereas Sousuke thought she was directly talking to Roku with all the questions he was given a wink. The thought of Kitanai when she broke into his office. The Steward's eyes shifted back to Roku. "I am... operating at regular levels."<i></i> He answered hesitantly. He wasn't trying to give himself away here on his mission. "Ah... no. I already acquired enough sustenance to maintain regular functioning levels."<i></i>

 

[Raizo]

Slamming his cup back down on the table top he would listen to Saemon, apparently carrying on with a conversation he was having with Sousuke while he was away. The two things that caught his attention were being called a loud mouth, or at least feeling like he was called a loud mouth, and then the smirk his brother gave him. The first drew his attention to the latter. The smirk was the kind they would do when running "plays" for one another, but what play could they be possibly wishing to run with Sousuke in their group. Sousuke then started doing his strange talk again, and suddenly it started to piece together. They were on a mission.

"So, has he been briefed, brother?"

Not being too sure what the end game was yet, he figured he would keep his words vague. It was time to figure out just what sinister plan his brother hand in mind--boobies! Women and boobies suddenly appeared, and well that was all that really seemed to make it to Roku's mind.

His head would turn up towards the waitress as a pearly smirk would appear on his face, "Sorry, but I didn't catch your name?"

Time for a 'side' mission.

 

[Hanone]

Debriefed, yes. Saemon nodded once at his brother, before the woman took the blond's attention away. His own attention was drawn back to the scatterbrained steward. His eyes were set on himself and he divulged his surprise that women actually took their clothing off for money. If he were a woman, he might have d'aww'ed at him for thinking that was a myth and his startled realization upon learning the truth. But he was not, so his eyebrows only raised half an inch.

When the smaller man looked back to his brother and was signaled at lustfully by the woman before Roku, Saemon leaned back in his own chair and looked up to the stage. The woman on it was beautiful, enticing in her movements and obviously not new to her work. His eyes took in the way her hips moved and how her strong her hands and arms were and he realized.. she was a shinobi usually. When the thought dawned on him, it became only increasingly obvious. Such a shame too. But he wasn't all that surprised. Shinobi didn't make enough regularly to own more than basic things. Not everyone was happy with this sort of hum drum life. She was doing what she needed to, to pay her bills and then some.

The woman standing before Roku brought her leg back to the ground and turned to she could seat herself on the youth's strong thigh. An arm slipped around his neck as she tossed her hair over her shoulder once more. "Oh, then I'm sure we can find you some dessert, if you want." she said, her eyes peering over at Sousuke just for a moment, so he would know she was talking to him. Then with her free hand, she reached up and tapped the end of Roku's nose with her index finger. "That's because I never gave it to you, handsome. I'm Sayuki. You are?" her voice was smooth like soft butter and had a seductive edge.

Saemon bet she was good at her job and wasn't just interested in Roku because he was a patron here.

The tall man's eyes wandered from the stage and landed on a table across the room. There were four men there, all looking rather grim despite the location. One of the working women was trying to get some attention, but she was batted off. He found the whole thing very odd so as he sipped his liquor, he kept his gaze on them.

 

[Takahashi Aki]

The Steward's attention was running all over the place. One moment he was watching the stripping woman, another moment he was keeping an eye on the present company, the multiple scantily clad women all about, then there was Saemon and Roku. The Steward's shades were darkened so that one could not easily track the constant movements. Because he was sitting beside Saemon the eye movements could be seen. The Steward's eyes were swapping and warping all over the place. All in all the Steward was in what one would call a mess. Information overload? Quite possibly. The Steward himself would not call it an information overload, just that he would require a minute to process it. To counter this, the Steward removed from his lab coat a pen and pad of paper. He was writing down his observations at lightning speed in a sort of shorthand which was full of strange shapes. Rectangles, triangles, percent signs, arrows, coloured in triangles, and various sorts of numbers. Within seconds the Steward was on the next page writing down details, but now he was resorting to different signs and letters.

It took the Steward a moment to realize that he was being spoken to. His eyes snapped shut in the form of a blink as he very calmly turned his head to face the woman who was speaking to him. All the time though was he still writing things down and cataloguing things so that his mind could displace it so he could continue his observations. "I am most certain you can."<i></i> He would begin. Two thoughts came from the Steward. The first of which would result in Roku probably not talking to him for a solid week and revealing some features of the woman before them. The Steward was an expert at observation, and could probably pull out some very nasty secrets from the proverbial closet full of skeletons. Like the simple fact she had already engaged in three incidents already tonight. Such was evidenced by the very fresh make up and dress she wore as she was attempting to keep her midriff not visible. "Ah..."<i></i> He would pause for a moment. A very disturbing concept entered the Steward's mind. It was time to put something to test, in the name of science and ... other matters. This Steward simply hoped that he would not regret this action later as it would be... somewhat disastrous for the outcome of the mission. "One double fudge brownie with extra cream... should my friend here wish to partake order one for them as well. If my friend here is quite famished for a second dessert then perhaps he too would like one."<i></i> The Steward would acquire his wallet, and slip over a very crisp yen note across the table. "I suspect that you are out of vanilla correct?"<i></i>