(1.3.35 midafternoon) Pretty Little... (O)

[Israna iba Dalali]

Milk and Honey was the best place for food locally, and Israna was tired of the crumbling, bitter fare she had to share with the other girls on the floor. So, dressed in her most comfortable wraps, she pinned up her veils and waded out into the seething masses of the teeming Danava. Mid-afternoon was the busy time, and normally she’d have to fight through the crowds and wait for her meal. But today was special. Today Tanirsh was working the kitchens and the two of them had always had a good rapport, especially since his wife decided to become as frigid and uninhabitable as the world below. It helped that Tanni liked his women older and confident; he was a good patron, and very willing to share that generosity even out of the whorehouse.

Shrugging on her shawl, she ducked through the floor’s clogged passageways and ignored the growing of her guts. Soon, soon. The strip-joint had to keep its workers happier than those of the whorehouse, mostly because of the turnover rate. Therefore, the food was nicer, the area better lit and cleaner. The patrons were also generally the rougher crowds, so there was ample support for the workers. Smiling as she entered, she bowed shallowly to the woman at the door.

“Hello, and wellness to you.” Israna wafted along the walls, keeping her eyes on the kitchen doors. Oh how she was hungry, she’s already yelled at four girls and had two customers of her own. Her stomach grumbled as she caught the scent of frying food. Mmm.

[Nalin ibu Avani]

Nalin ibu Avani had wanted so badly to be a dancer! Swishing around a pole, all greased up and glowing from the inside like a pearl, hot purple lights on you, all those people roaring about how pretty you were! And the vouchers, oh Khida! The vouchers spilled out of every orifice! So much money, just for dancing around and having plump thighs.

But no!

His plump thighs were put to another debase purpose entirely. Nalin was a waitboy, his whole purpose was to manifest out of darkness and serve up drinks, wink and giggle a little for the customer, maybe let them squeeze his alya a little, but ultimately he'd disappear into the shadows of the kitchen again.

He wanted to string Rai-erhi up by his pretty pierced ears for the uniforms he made them wear! Not that he didn't like it kind of kusu clothes, but this was flat out painful to wear. Little black sarong cut dangerously high, showing the hem of his underwear whenever he didn't stand rail-straight. A sleeveless shirt of clear plastic, nipples hashed off by thick Xs of black electrical tape. Black ribbons criss-crossing his thighs, tied by nimble hands of one of the stripper girls, packaging them up like presents begging to be unwrapped. His alya looked so stupidly huge, and that sarong too small for his stupid hips and the stupid tie left a stupid big gap down the side of his stupid alya and the ripe top of his stupid thigh.

Stupid Rai-erhi.

Tonight was so busy, stupidly busy. All these people dragging their stupid friends out for New Year parties, guzzling down amrita and throwing vouchers at naked people and demanding so much damn curry the chefs hands were caked yellow and red with seasoning. Nalin was ducking and weaving inbetween all the other servers and cooks, a serious-faced little thing on a mission to deliver his tray of warm beers to table A6.

When the kitchen doors swung open, he shuddered to a halt, the slim-necked beera tipping precariously on the tray. Nalin squeaked in surprise and stopped them from falling by using his arm as a bumper. He blinked up in suprise and pursed his lips balefully. This woman certainly wasn't a chef or a ---

Oh, Khida damn everything. It was her, the demon of the whore house. Stupid Rai-erhi's paid hole, he guessed. They were married, or something. Nalin bobbed his veiled head into a swift bow, careful not to disturb the tray.

"Sa'eeda, iba-Dalili-erha!" he kept his voice sweet and bubbly as possible. "Welcome to Milk and Water! Your pleasure our pleasure! What do you require?"

It was a stupid job, but it was money.

[Israna iba Dalali]

"No need for that, I'm known here." She smiled beneath the dark and covering veils, hazelnut skin coming out in fine lines. It was somewhat freeing, being in the back of establishments that Rai owned. They were neat, orderly, efficient, always the same. It didn't matter much where she was, so long as she knew where her place ways. Generally, it was on bottom. Today, maybe she'd be a little more on top. After a quick scan to see that Tanni was not working today, Israna sighed. It might turn into a more difficult matter getting free food than anticipated.

Turning to the boy, she saw his laden arms and moved out of his way. "You may tend to the actual customers first, but then come back and serve me once the worst of the rush is calm." Her voice was kind, but held no argument. She would be served back here, there would be no fuss, and that was how it was going to be.

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