A Dangerous Game (H 1.6)

The doors quickly open and the woman you spoke with earlier appears. Wells holds up the fork and she hurriedly walks down the space between the long tables to take it gently from him. Her steps swish across the carpet, the only sound in the room for what feels like several minutes. She turns and exits the room at the same brisk pace, but she doesn't close the doors.

Wells crosses his arms but otherwise waits patiently for Clarissa to return. She swishes back across the carpet holding a fresh, clean fork, and places it on the table by the cake. She turns to exit again without hesitation.

I exhale a silent sigh of relief when he seems to approve of my decision. The stretches of silence while the new fork is delivered feel eternal, and when Clarissa drops it off, I murmur a quiet thank you before I take my seat again. It feels very much like being under the spotlight as Wells watches over me, and now I wish I’d eaten a bite before he got here so I could enjoy it uninhibited. Of course, uninhibited is probably exactly how he wants me now.

I pick up the fork and cut a bite that is equal parts cake and frosting, lifting it slowly toward my mouth. The aroma makes my mouth water in anticipation before I take the bite, closing my eyes and letting the bite just sit on my tongue while the flavors dance on my palette. It is music in every sense. A chorus of ever-blossoming harmonies, a sweeping melody that demands attention.

The sound of pleasure that I sigh is involuntary and almost startles me. I open my eyes again, swallowing the bite and once again remembering that I’m here in dangerous waters.

I give a small, close-lipped smile to Wells and say only, "Divine." Then I go for another bite. This is a song that needs a reprise, no matter the audience.

I can feel the sugar in my blood, the rushing zing of it tempered by the richness of the butter and chocolate until it is all syrup and joy. Even what I know my answer must be to Wells' question can't stop the thrill of it.

"If I had the freedom to do that, I might try, but I'm not a free member of the Sipps, and sending them back without me would only invite a fight. I don't want to make it look like you're trying to steal me." I push out a short laugh, but it dies quickly and I grow more serious as I look over at Nuport for a moment. Then I turn back to face Wells. "Besides, I brought Nuport inside with me as a thank you to her. She saved my life, and took the beating that was coming to me herself." I stand and brush a casual hand over the smooth skin of my neck, my skin clear and Nuport's mottled by bruises. "She doesn't need to stay with us, and I would love to visit the dragon I hear you keep in the basement." I mention the dragon with a tone that says I don't buy it, like this is a joke Wells and I share now. "But maybe her sacrifice to preserve this," I let my hand fall from my neck in a brief gesture to the rest of my body, "is worth a quiet afternoon with a piece of cake all to herself." I pause, watching him. "But I'll let you decide what I'm worth."

Wells offers Nuport so much more than a quiet room and cake. I have to admit, it fiercely fuels my appetite for further fancies of my own. I think of what Kiwi told me the day he died - how we're too pretty for the Belly, that we should go get jobs in the Tower. Then I thought there was no way I'd do anything of the sort, but now...maybe I owe it to Kiwi somehow. I don't care if Nuport is right in her assessment - Wells IS trying to impress me, and it's working. Of course, I showed up in part to impress him, and that seems to be working so far too.

"If it's a bribe, then you should take it Nuport. Enjoy it." I look at Wells. "I'm curious though. If that's her agenda for the day, what's ours?"

"Pine to return to me" he says. I hear it more plainly than anything else -- not pine to return to the Vault, not pine for another visit, no. Pine to return to him. I already knew Wells to be possessive, but I realize now more than ever before that the longer I spend with him, the more possessive he'll become. I just hope I can spin it to my benefit when the time comes.

I look at Nuport. "Stay here," I tell her, trying my best not to make it sound like the kind of command you would give a dog. She gets enough of that already. "Let them treat your wounds, take a bath, feel whole again. I'll find you again before we go." I don't say it, but I give her a nod that says I'll be okay.

I am careful not to look at the cake still sitting there just begging to be eaten and instead start walking around long U of tables to meet Wells at the other side.

Wells actually invites me to walk with him, with his words, and it makes me think of how Lucky never actually tells me when he wants me to follow him. The contrast is so stark, just like every other part of this place. But I can't help but wonder if Wells ever sits on the rooftop at night and watches the water and stars, worrying over his people and how to lead them well.

I keep pace with him as we move through the hall, not missing a step when he asks about my approach in the VIP room. "You have," I agree, "and it was." I look over at him as we walk. "I guess you wouldn't believe me if I told you it really was just a play to get a sip of the good whiskey." I take a breath and look ahead again. "I have a...business proposition for you. But I had to make sure you were interested first in what I have to offer."

I'm glad he seems to have fond memories of our interactions last night. If I'd known then that I'd be here today, I probably would have been even nicer, but hindsight is only there for regret, and regret is only unnecessary weight for the future.

"Truthfully," I tell him, "I don't know who paid for the whiskey. The Sipps pulled me away early, so if it wasn't you, then it was either Mikkie or me." Or maybe Parcher forgot to keep the tabs straight and it was truly a free drink all around. That's my best hope, because if Parcher, or Blackjack, put that drink on me, then not only are the Sipps going to be upset when my/their paycheck is zero, but I'm probably going to be in debt to more than one person. A flicker of a frown crosses my face at the thought. My finances run about as deep as Karo's subtlety. There are too many fancy clothes to buy and never enough jingle to pay for them, but even a pauper in a pretty dress may be perceived as a princess. Look at me now.

I don't know exactly how I went from "beneath notice in the Belly" to a date, but Wells' forthright christening of our meeting isn't what I expected. Unless, of course, he "dates" every woman he finds attractive until the deed is done and the books are settled. But the look in his eyes seems so serious, I'm not sure if that scenario makes sense for this. Of course, what do I really know about Wells?

For some reason, I think of Regal sitting out there in the boat, just baking in the sun and waiting for me. I don't suppose this being a date is any different than it being a mere opportunity to seduce gifts and favors from a wealthy benefactor, but it gives me pause anyway.

After a quiet moment of processing his words and the look on his face, I reach out and loop my hand around his elbow like I've seen some of the Tower girls do with their dates on their way to the VIP room at the Belly. "Then let's put business aside for now and just enjoy the date."

First vault, he calls it. I suppose for a building called the Vault, there would be more than one, but it's hard to imagine needing that much space to house my holdings.

I let go of his arm when he takes out the key and moves to the door, watching with curiosity as the door swings open and the lights flicker on. My lips part as the lights illuminate the shining bars of gold which glint like a thousand fireflies. I pace a few slow steps forward, moving between the rows to better understand the expanse of the space. I have no idea what something like this is worth in our world - does a brick of metal compare to fresh ammunition or a safe place to sleep anymore? - but I do know this...it is deliciously beautiful. I don't think I've seen anything shine in quite this way before. I am a moth drawn to the fire of the gold's surface and I reach out to touch one, then draw my hand back, not sure if I will get burned.

I turn my head to look at Wells. "What is it all for now?"