lanshiang

[lanshiang]

belly of the beast

[lanshiang]

"Nice to meet you too, Mary. I know who to call if I need something promoted for sure."

Well, this day worked out spectacularly. She got a new house key out of it. Best not tell her other self about that one. Not yet, anyways. Ada could find out organically. And Mary might never find out. Who's to say?

"What kinds of things do you promote? Brand deals?"

She might be able to use it for something.

"Hehe, there's a first time for everything!" Now perfectly mollified, Mary Sue picks the nearest sUber driver on her app before turning to her roommate.

"Okay then. Nice to meet you, Ada!"

"I'm Maybelline Aurora Raven Yolanda Seraphim Ululani Eacret! You can call me Mary Sue for short though, that's what everyone does."

She digs out a cute little business card with pink glitter and hearts and offers that too. "I'm also a talent at Starberry's Star Streams! You can find me under the handle 'eusyram'—that's Mary Sue spelled backwards, see? If you need a promo or anything, I've got lots and lots of followers!"

[lanshiang]

"Sure. Sounds like a good time. Two birds one stone."

And one short length away from where she had to be in a few hours. She might even get to stop in and see some of the people who were making her current ambitions more aggressive. And she gets a copy of the house key. One leg up on the competition.

"Never took a sUber before. Guess I never lost a house key either, before."

A detour with this much positive reciprocity isn't bad at all.

"You want to start over? I was a mess this morning. Ada Wong."

"Aw, you don't have to be so modest!"

"It's our toilet paper, roomie~♡"

You know what, maybe her roommate wasn't so bad after all! She was just waaaay too worried over a lil' ol' piece of cut metal that they could cut again for the price of dustbunnies in this city!

"Oh oh, you know Golden has these awesome claw machine shops? There's some that just have keychains and they're all suuuuuper cute. I bet the ward has locksmiths too, so lemme take you there!"

Now it's Mary Sue's turn to take out her phone, typing one handed with impressive speed as she tracks down what they need!

"Wanna take a sUber? It'll be faster!"

[lanshiang]

"Mm. We can get your toilet paper on the way. You can pick it out, I'll pay."

A beat, she thinks a moment again, and folds her hands.

"Sorry again. I really am. A locksmith shouldn't take too long to cut a copy, I think. Maybe I should get a keyring for it this time. I'm still not totally familiar with the city. I'm sure we can find one on the maps."

.

Gaaasp.

Suddenly, the woman looks so sorry that even Mary Sue stops her ranting for a second.

"Really? Then the Stars are stupid, not giving everyone more than one copy!"

"We can make another copy with mine! And if some weirdo tries to get in with your key, we'll set a trap to beat 'em up! Oh, unless they're hot. Then we have to keep their face intact, at least."

[lanshiang]

"can you behave" yes, if I wanted to, but this is so much funnier

[lanshiang]

"Nope, sorry. I'm trying to figure something out."

A beat of silence. She sighs, the world weighing very heavily on her shoulders.

"Ah- you're right. Actually, I'm kind of embarrassed. I lost the key to our place last night. I haven't been able to get home at all."

She puts her phone back into her pocket.

"Nobody's answering me back about it. I think it might've been taken accidentally at the club. I didn't even notice until this morning. I'm sorry."

"Do you even remember the list of Top 10 Toilet Paper brands I left on the breakfast table for you this morning?!"

"I Spoogled searched reviews for soooo many last night before trimming down the finalists! Give a girl some credit, c'mon."

This lady kept looking at her phone. Was she trying to check her Spitter follower count or something?

"And for your information, there are better ways to beat the algorithm than just refreshing your page! You need to interact with people in the real world, like me!"

[lanshiang]

"Yep. You caught me."

She lifts her phone to save the attached number. Things needed to happen a little faster around here. She had obligations due at the end of the week and any reminder of banal daily life was an absolute headache. There wasn't any time for the bullshit of tasks that had nothing to do with her current objective.

"I was tired. No I don't remember that at all."

A sigh.

"Do you even remember my name?"

"Hahhhh?!"

"What do you mean, you don't remember? Don'cha know I passed by you in the kitchen this morning?"

Crossing her arms, Mary Sue narrows her eyes.

"...is this because you don't wanna spend extra for the Super Plush Xtra Comfort Quilted Ultra Soft rolls? We ladies have sensitive skin, you know! And it's even septic safe!"

[lanshiang]

What?

She doesn't react immediately to the complete stranger and what sounds like someone being far too familiar with her. Happened all the time, particularly here when she's trying to get some business done without getting shot.

Ada stops what she was doing, scrolling through her phone to find the address of this private enforcement company. A quick look over tells her almost everything she needs to know. The girl's dressed like a birthday cake in alternative fashion.

"I doubt it," she settles on saying.

"I don't remember dividing anything with you."

@lanshiang

The cutest girl in the world is prancing through the crosswalk at a rate of two skips per minute when she spots a suspiciously familiar figure across the street.

Then the woman turns and her doubts are all but confirmed: this is one of her roommates.

"Hey, you!"

"What's-your-name or whatever! We need to talk!"

In a flurry of skirts and platform shoes, she hurries up to the woman as fast as she can.

"You know, we're supposed to divide the chores separately in shared housing. It's your turn to buy the toilet paper this week!"

[lanshiang]

"That's right. I need people who have a propensity for the bodyguarding business."

And for the disappearing people business too. She had some thoughts on how to work around the virtual immortality people had withing this space. It seemed the creative ones were going to be the stakeholders here. Imprisonment was a decent contender, as was reprogramming, and she'd keep them like aces up her sleeve. Daud's right about the turf war. Her movement in ruffled some feathers. The money she was circulating would stay in Crimson Lane. She had no interest in paying tithes to a group she had no love for.

"Mm. He's right. If you're fresh off the market, you might not know of the Porter group. It's an enforcement racket. They "manage" Crimson Lane and are in charge of import/export business into the city. Unloading and loading, and the porter's union are part of their venues. As are quite a few businesses in Golden Ward."

Class warfare was a tale as old as time. Prostitutes tended to be on the bottom of the caste system, and it was still true here. Part of her intent was to completely change that cultural note in this fishbowl, but it would take time, and it would take persuasion of these powerful people.

"They absolutely can't stand a new upstart who is unaffiliated with their union. I already had a gang of six show up fully armed. Not only that, but a private investigation service has been hired. I imagine they were hired by the Porters to hound me. I haven't even opened yet."

What a mess.

"So, you've got your work cut out for you."

Ada leaned back in her chair, plucking a pen off the table to tap against her chin in thought.

"We've got capital to contend financially with these idiots. But what we really need is information. I'm sure you've been told, but nothing killed here stays dead. It's more effective to humiliate one's opponents rather than kill them."

So they need blackmail.

"I'm working on training all of my employees, escorts included, on gathering this information, but does that sound appealing to you, Cahara?"

She didn't peg Cahara as the type to talk about things he knew to keep quiet about.

"Daud, get him a contract."

@mutedaggression -> @dishonoredknife

It wasn't that the message had been unexpected - only that it came much sooner than Cahara was ready for. Work was work, but when he had allied himself with the Old Knife, he had been expecting more traditional mercenary work.

Instead, they wandered down what used to be Crimson Lane, their steps shadowed by the sounds of construction work. Even if times had changed (and according to Enki, they had done so drastically), the oldest profession in the world had remained the same as it ever was: tucked into a corner like a hastily whispered secret.

He wasn't sure what image he'd built up in his mind of the Madame of this place, but it sure wasn't what he was greeted with when he met Ada Wong. She was beautiful in a way that people waxed poetic about in books that would outlast their generation, the kind Celeste would have enjoyed reading with her feet kicking over the edge of their bed.

Cahara gave a grin that leaned crooked, that might strike someone as untrustworthy, and gave a half bow before he was instructed to take a seat.

"Indeed, the very one who he spoke of. I wasn't anticipating to land a gig like this so soon, but I'll admit it's not one I'm unfamiliar with."

He tilted his head a bit to Daud, just to indicate him.

"He mentioned you were looking for muscle to keep this place safe?"

@dishonoredknife -> @lanshiang

[lanshiang]

i hate it when clones die

[lanshiang]

Ada Wong hadn't been in a fantastic mood, but at the same time, she was never more engaged than when she had a problem that needed solving. This was normal for her.

There was a lot to do before she could even consider herself cemented and burrowed in to Crimson Lane.

Last weeks' debacle of a chase was a fresh memory and demonstration of force. Her power was, unfortunately, recognized quite quickly. In this kind of game, it didn't pay to show truly unbelievable force immediately. There were six Porters sent to the hospital in absolute agony, and eyes from the top of Golden Ward were on her now. It pushed her timetable up in terms of getting everything done. Extra speed was now absolutely necessary. As were a few meetings she personally scheduled with the people up top.

Ada had doubled construction forces and pushed for faster, and had electrical done and double checked in the bones of this place already. In the skeleton of her space there was still construction happening even at the waning hours of sunlight. They could push construction til' sundown was done. Inspection could go on for longer. They had no neighbors that weren't late night spots.

She was in the midst of laying out her weekly schedule when soft soled footsteps broke up the muted noise of contracted electricians bantering. Her "office" of the evening had an old rickety table, and a couple folding chairs that had been dragged in.

The woman standing to work at the table over quite a bit of paperwork was the picture of the kind of beauty Crimson Lane was known for. She was lean, with the kind of muscle buildup on her shoulders and core that suggested strength training. She was curvy with intentions to invoke old pinups, and she was wearing very little clothing. She'd ditched her shirt in the mess, opting instead for a sleeveless ultramarine half jacket that invoked a blazer over a frill-less satin bra. She wore dress pants and heels, and a kerchief around her neck that was as red as the lights outside.

"Good," she said, "Welcome back, Daud."

He'd kept up his end of the bargain for sure. The beautiful woman looked up to greet two men. One, the old wolf with a taste for tobacco, and a new young guy that had the look of exactly the kind of rogues she liked in her subordinate ranks.

"Hi there."

Her face was smooth of pock marks and scarring, with monolid eyes and a faint glow to her. She wore red, light eye shadow and maroon lip smear that gave her a sharper appearance.

"You're the one Daud decided to pick for hiring, huh? I'm Ada Wong. Sit down. Let's hear who you are."

@mutedaggression -> @dishonoredknife

Night falls over the waterfront of Crimson Lane, the street lamps casting a red glow over the pavement and river. Daud walked toward a section of buildings that had a mass of broken brick, cobble, and debris in rented metal dumpsters, and machines for construction still outside.

He'd walked in tandem with his guest, Cahara of the South, to meet with their prospective employer this day, the mysterious Ada Wong, who's aim to become a Madame on this lane was clearly only part of her ambitions.

The rest involved consolidation of power from other major players that were there long before any of them.

So, caution and the skills of trained professionals were necessary traits. And he'd only observed them in this other mercenary.

Daud stepped inside the buildings, the open space with support beams and tarps over areas to catch debris. He led the mercenary to the far end at the back of the space.

"I've brought the mercenary I spoke of," he calls out, "Cahara of the South."

@lanshiang -> @mutedaggression

[lanshiang]

You know what, sure! What's his rating Ⓐ

impressions

Attractiveness:

repulsive || hideous || ugly || not attractive || unappealing || not unattractive || meh || no preference || ok || mildly attractive || nice looking || cute || adorable || attractive || pleasant on the eyes || good looking || hot || sexy || beautiful || gorgeous || hot damn || would tap that || perfect || godlike || holy fuck there are no words

Personality:

grating || irritating || frustrating || boring || confusing at best || awkward || unreasonable || psychotic || disturbing || interesting || engaging || affectionate || aggressive || ambitious || anxious || artistic || bad tempered || bossy || charismatic || appealing || unappealing || creative || courageous || dependable || unreliable || unpredictable || predictable || devious || dim || extroverted || introverted ||  egotistical || gregarious || fabulous || impulsive || intelligent || sympathetic || talkative || up beat || peaceful || calming || badass || flexible

How likely they would have sex with them:

not if they were the last person on earth and the world was ending || fuck no! || never || no way || not likely || not sure || indifferent || he's gay || maybe || probably || it depends || fairly likely || likely || yeah sure || yes || would tap that || hell yes || fuck yes! || wishing that could happen right now || as many times as possible || we are already having sex

Level of Friendship:

never in a million years || worst of enemies || enemies || rivals || indifferent || neutral || acquaintance || friendly toward each other || casual friends || friends || good friends || best friends || fuck buddies || bosom buddies || practically the same person || would die for them || true friends || my only friend ||

First impression of them:

I hate them so much || I don’t like them || I don’t trust them || they annoy me || they’re weird || I’m indifferent || meh || they seem alright || they’re growing on me || truce || I think I like them || I like them || I’m not sure if I trust them || I trust them || they’re cool || they’re genuine || I think we’re going to get along || I really like them || I think I’m in love || oh fuck they’re hot || I love them

Current impression of them:

I hate them so much || I don’t like them || I don’t trust them || they annoy me || they’re weird || I’m indifferent || meh || they seem alright || they’re growing on me || truce || I think I like them || I like them || I’m not sure if I trust them || I trust them || they’re cool || they’re genuine || I think we’re going to get along || I really like them || I think I’m in love || oh fuck they’re hot || I love them

How good of a kisser:

worst kisser ever || terrible || bad || awkward || just okay || alright || pretty good || good || makes me moan || excellent || exciting || oh god they’re good || I dream about it || fucking amazing || absolute perfection || we haven’t kissed

[lanshiang]

Ⓐ looooooooool

impressions

Attractiveness:

repulsive || hideous || ugly || not attractive || unappealing || not unattractive || meh || no preference || ok || mildly attractive || nice looking || cute || adorable || attractive || pleasant on the eyes || good looking || hot || sexy || beautiful || gorgeous || hot damn || would tap that || perfect || godlike || holy fuck there are no words

Personality:

grating || irritating || frustrating || boring || confusing at best || awkward || unreasonable || psychotic || disturbing || interesting || engaging || affectionate || aggressive || ambitious || anxious || artistic || bad tempered || bossy || charismatic || appealing || unappealing || creative || courageous || dependable || unreliable || unpredictable || predictable || devious || dim || extroverted || introverted ||  egotistical || gregarious || fabulous || impulsive || intelligent || sympathetic || talkative || up beat || peaceful || calming || badass || flexible

How likely they would have sex with them:

not if they were the last person on earth and the world was ending || fuck no! || never || no way || not likely || not sure || indifferent || I’m asexual || maybe || probably || it depends || fairly likely || likely || yeah sure || yes || would tap that || hell yes || fuck yes! || wishing that could happen right now || as many times as possible || we are already having sex

Level of Friendship:

never in a million years || worst of enemies || enemies || rivals || indifferent || neutral || acquaintance || friendly toward each other || casual friends || friends || good friends || best friends || fuck buddies || bosom buddies || practically the same person || would die for them || true friends || my only friend ||

First impression of them:

I hate them so much || I don’t like them || I don’t trust them || they annoy me || they’re weird || I’m indifferent || meh || they seem alright || they’re growing on me || truce || I think I like them || I like them || I’m not sure if I trust them || I trust them || they’re cool || they’re genuine || I think we’re going to get along || I really like them || I think I’m in love || oh fuck they’re hot || I love them

Current impression of them:

I hate them so much || I don’t like them || I don’t trust them || they annoy me || they’re weird || I’m indifferent || meh || they seem alright || they’re growing on me || truce || I think I like them || I like them || I’m not sure if I trust them || I trust them || they’re cool || they’re genuine || I think we’re going to get along || I really like them || I think I’m in love || oh fuck they’re hot || I love them

How good of a kisser:

worst kisser ever || terrible || bad || awkward || just okay || alright || pretty good || good || makes me moan || excellent || exciting || oh god they’re good || I dream about it || fucking amazing || absolute perfection || we haven’t kissed

[lanshiang]

💭 + the color red

It's your favorite color, with ultramarine blue following behind in a close second. It's one of the colors you can see very clearly, too. It's also the color of Ada Wong. Despite your utter saturation of red, to the point where you could wake up and taste it, it's still your favorite color. It's funny. You don't think she has the same attachment to red that you do.

"I like the color red."

[lanshiang]

Ⓐ

impressions

Attractiveness:

chewy || repulsive || hideous || ugly || not attractive || unappealing || not unattractive || meh || no preference || ok || mildly attractive || nice looking || cute || adorable || attractive || pleasant on the eyes || good looking || hot || sexy || beautiful || gorgeous || hot damn || would tap that || perfect || godlike || holy fuck there are no words

Personality:

grating || irritating || frustrating || boring || confusing at best || awkward || unreasonable || psychotic || disturbing || interesting || engaging || affectionate || aggressive || ambitious || anxious || artistic || bad tempered || bossy || charismatic || appealing || unappealing || creative || courageous || dependable || unreliable || unpredictable || predictable || devious || dim || extroverted || introverted ||  egotistical || gregarious || fabulous || impulsive || intelligent || sympathetic || talkative || up beat || peaceful || calming || badass || flexible

How likely they would have sex with them:

not if they were the last person on earth and the world was ending || fuck no! || never || no way || not likely || not sure || indifferent || I’m asexual || maybe || probably || it depends || fairly likely || likely || yeah sure || yes || would tap that || hell yes || fuck yes! || wishing that could happen right now || as many times as possible || we are already having sex

Level of Friendship:

never in a million years || worst of enemies || enemies || rivals || indifferent || neutral || acquaintance || friendly toward each other || casual friends || friends || good friends || best friends || fuck buddies || bosom buddies || practically the same person || would die for them || true friends || my only friend ||

First impression of them:

I hate them so much || I don’t like them || I don’t trust them || they annoy me || they’re weird || I’m indifferent || meh || they seem alright || they’re growing on me || truce || I think I like them ||I like them || I’m not sure if I trust them || I trust them || they’re cool || they’re genuine || I think we’re going to get along || I really like them || I think I’m in love || oh fuck they’re hot || I love them

Current impression of them:

I hate them so much || I don’t like them || I don’t trust them || they annoy me || they’re weird || I’m indifferent || meh || they seem alright || they’re growing on me || truce || I think I like them || I like them || I’m not sure if I trust them || I trust them || they’re cool || they’re genuine || I think we’re going to get along || I really like them || I think I’m in love || oh fuck they’re hot || I love them

How good of a kisser:

worst kisser ever || terrible || bad || awkward || just okay || alright || pretty good || good || makes me moan || excellent || exciting || oh god they’re good || I dream about it || fucking amazing || absolute perfection || we haven’t kissed

[lanshiang]

Ⓐ ok spam done

impressions

Attractiveness:

chewy || repulsive || hideous || ugly || not attractive || unappealing || not unattractive || meh || no preference || ok || mildly attractive || nice looking || cute || adorable || attractive || pleasant on the eyes || good looking || hot || sexy || beautiful || gorgeous || hot damn || would tap that || perfect || godlike || holy fuck there are no words

Personality:

grating || irritating || frustrating || boring || confusing at best || awkward || unreasonable || psychotic || disturbing || interesting || engaging || affectionate || aggressive || ambitious || anxious || artistic || bad tempered || bossy || charismatic || appealing || unappealing || creative || courageous || dependable || unreliable || unpredictable || predictable || devious || dim || extroverted || introverted ||  egotistical || gregarious || fabulous || impulsive || intelligent || sympathetic || talkative || up beat || peaceful || calming || badass || flexible

How likely they would have sex with them:

not if they were the last person on earth and the world was ending || fuck no! || never || no way || not likely || not sure || indifferent || I’m asexual || maybe || probably || it depends || fairly likely || likely || yeah sure || yes || would tap that || hell yes || fuck yes! || wishing that could happen right now || as many times as possible || we are already having sex

Level of Friendship:

never in a million years || worst of enemies || enemies || rivals || indifferent || neutral || acquaintance || friendly toward each other || casual friends || friends || good friends || best friends || fuck buddies || bosom buddies || practically the same person || would die for them || true friends || my only friend ||

First impression of them:

I hate them so much || I don’t like them || I don’t trust them || they annoy me || they’re weird || I’m indifferent || meh || they seem alright || they’re growing on me || truce || I think I like them ||I like them || I’m not sure if I trust them || I trust them || they’re cool || they’re genuine || I think we’re going to get along || I really like them || I think I’m in love || oh fuck they’re hot || I love them

Current impression of them:

I hate them so much || I don’t like them || I don’t trust them || they annoy me || they’re weird || I’m indifferent || meh || they seem alright || they’re growing on me || truce || I think I like them || I like them || I’m not sure if I trust them || I trust them || they’re cool || they’re genuine || I think we’re going to get along (aggressively) || I really like them || I think I’m in love || oh fuck they’re hot || I love them

How good of a kisser:

worst kisser ever || terrible || bad || awkward || just okay || alright || pretty good || good || makes me moan || excellent || exciting || oh god they’re good || I dream about it || fucking amazing || absolute perfection || we haven’t kissed

[lanshiang]

*throws you this guy too*

Ⓐ

impressions

Attractiveness:

repulsive || hideous || ugly || not attractive || unappealing || not unattractive || meh || no preference || ok || mildly attractive || nice looking || cute || adorable || attractive || pleasant on the eyes || good looking || hot || sexy || beautiful || gorgeous || hot damn || would tap that || perfect || godlike || holy fuck there are no words

Personality:

grating || irritating || frustrating || boring || confusing at best || awkward || unreasonable || psychotic || disturbing || interesting || engaging || affectionate || aggressive || ambitious || anxious || artistic || bad tempered || bossy || charismatic || appealing || unappealing || creative || courageous || dependable || unreliable || unpredictable || predictable || devious || dim || extroverted || introverted ||  egotistical || gregarious || fabulous || impulsive || intelligent || sympathetic || talkative || up beat || peaceful || calming || badass || flexible

How likely they would have sex with them:

not if they were the last person on earth and the world was ending || fuck no! || never || no way || not likely || not sure || indifferent || I’m asexual || maybe || probably || it depends || fairly likely || likely || yeah sure || yes || would tap that || hell yes || fuck yes! || wishing that could happen right now || as many times as possible || we are already having sex

Level of Friendship:

never in a million years || worst of enemies || enemies || rivals || indifferent || neutral || acquaintance || friendly toward each other || casual friends || friends || good friends || best friends || fuck buddies || bosom buddies || practically the same person || would die for them || true friends || my only friend ||

First impression of them:

I hate them so much || I don’t like them || I don’t trust them || they annoy me || they’re weird || I’m indifferent || meh || they seem alright || they’re growing on me || truce || I think I like them || I like them || I’m not sure if I trust them || I trust them || they’re cool || they’re genuine || I think we’re going to get along || I really like them || I think I’m in love || oh fuck they’re hot || I love them

Current impression of them:

I hate them so much || I don’t like them || I don’t trust them || they annoy me || they’re weird || I’m indifferent || meh || they seem alright || they’re growing on me || truce || I think I like them || I like them || I’m not sure if I trust them || I trust them || they’re cool || they’re genuine || I think we’re going to get along || I really like them || I think I’m in love || oh fuck they’re hot || I love them

How good of a kisser:

worst kisser ever || terrible || bad || awkward || just okay || alright || pretty good || good || makes me moan || excellent || exciting || oh god they’re good || I dream about it || fucking amazing || absolute perfection || we haven’t kissed