Roses Have Thorns IC

[Diachronos]

"Roman might. Maybe he's got his own reasons to want the guy removed, too."

[NeoSeraphi]

Verimia nods. "Okay. Should we head over to the Guild now, then? He might have another job for you, too."

[Diachronos]

"Yeah." Rose heads to the guild to speak with Roman.

[NeoSeraphi]

Roman is sitting behind his desk when Rose enters. He sighs and sits up. "What do you want, Red? I've heard that you were accepted into the Red Mantis."

[Diachronos]

"Yes, I have. I was hoping you might have some information on Sharmi Doonce."

[NeoSeraphi]

Roman raises an eyebrow. "I have dirt on everyone in this city...but why should I share it with you? What do I get out of that?'

[Diachronos]

"Oh come now, Roman. Surely you've got some ideas of how to profit from Doonce Lumber getting knocked from its perch at the top of the lumber industry..."

[NeoSeraphi]

Torchwick raises an eyebrow. "...I certainly do. But that is my personal skill coming into play here, darling, and it's not like I can't profit from him being on top either. Information is a luxury in this town, so you better get used to paying the tax while you're still wet behind the ears."

[Diachronos]

"Fair enough. What's the tax for this bit of information?"

[NeoSeraphi]

Roman thinks about that for a moment. "One of the girls at the club I own had to go on maternity leave. Why don't you pick up a few of her shifts, maybe...two nights a week, three hours each? You'll get paid of course."

[Diachronos]

Rose gives him a skeptical look. "What kind of work would I be doing, and how long would this be for?"

[NeoSeraphi]

"Serving drinks, dancing, making sure that rich and powerful men leave my club wanting to come back. And I just need a month to find a more permanent replacement."

[Diachronos]

"I think I can manage that."

[NeoSeraphi]

Roman smiles. "Excellent. I look forward to our partnership. Now then, about Doonce. He's a brilliant businessman, but finding peoples' weaknesses is what I do best. And as it turns out, this man's weakness is...very fine liquors. Not the type of stuff that you're going to have in your cabinets, no no. Imported. I happen to keep one bottle behind my desk, along with other weaknesses I need to exploit. You can have it, but you'll need to come up with a story for how you got it. Like I said, this isn't something that even a rich girl like you would have sitting around the house. It hits hard, too. Be prepared to either fake drinking, or just accept that you're probably going to end up in his bed. Not that that would necessarily be a bad thing, it would certainly drop his guard for you."

[Diachronos]

Rose nods. Maybe she can concoct a slow-acting poison to dose him with when he drinks the alcohol? "One night won't kill me if it means being rid of his ass..."

[NeoSeraphi]

Roman chuckles. "You know, there are other ways to promote your brother's business as well.."

[Diachronos]

"Like sleeping with the ones he has to go through? Maybe, but this will also get my mother off my back."

[NeoSeraphi]

"No. I meant by buying a competitor...and then agreeing to a merger."

[Diachronos]

Rose considers that. Would it give Chrys enough of an edge to compete with Doonce and the other major lumber industries?

[NeoSeraphi]

She decides that it probably wouldn't, but it seems like Roman is suggesting she do it in addition to the assassination, not in place of it.

[Diachronos]

"I'll consider it." She takes the alcohol and heads out. Ideally, she'll need to come up with some way to get into Doonce's home without anybody else knowing she's there... or she'll need to find a way to get him alone while he's out in town.

[NeoSeraphi]

Rose heads back to her home and finds Blake sitting on her bed. The catgirl smiles as Rose walks in. "There you are..." She starts to purr.

[Diachronos]

Rose smiles at her. "Fancy running into you here. Are you here on business, Blake?"

[NeoSeraphi]

Blake smiles and shakes her head. "Not at all. The only reason I'm here, aaaaaaaaaaaaaaall by my lonesome on this big, comfy bed, is to see you, Rose."

[Diachronos]

"Oh, really?" She smiles and sits on the bed.

[NeoSeraphi]

Blake slides a bit closer. "You seem to have pulled off your application with great aplomb...thanks in part to me, no doubt. Is there...some way you wanted to thank me for that?"

[Diachronos]

"I can think of a few ways..."

[NeoSeraphi]

Blake chuckles and draws closer.

In the morning, Rose rolls over and wakes up suddenly. The catgirl is snoozing lightly next to her, and Rose has one hand wrapped around her waist.

[Diachronos]

Rose smiles and gets up to get ready for her day.

[NeoSeraphi]

Blake yawns and sits up. "So, I was wondering if you wanted to join me and a few of the other girls for ice skating later?"