Chapter 7:A Beauty That's Thin, White, and Rich

[Alexei Nacharade]

Alexei passed the lounge and went outside. He found a quiet place where nobody vould listen and quickly groped for Dinari's number. He finally found it, then called him, leaving a message.

"Mr. Dollar, it's Alexei. Remember? From the cafe with Tuvi. Anyway, I talk to the boss, and he's willing to help you out with the rebels. You tell me whose giving you trouble, and I'll take care of it, simple as that...however, since we are protecting you, it's going to cost you a little something extra. A thousand rand a month and we keep Cuba out of rebel hands. Call me with your decision, and further instructions."

He hangs up his phone and walks back to the lounge, yawning.

[Maeve Cullen]

Maeve smiles happily, glad to finally have a chance to be alone with Hilja. She is glad she thinks good of her. She gets the section of her back ready. "Aw, thank you. I like you too, you have an adorable personality." She picks her inking gun, hoping Hilja wouldn't think it was too painful. She decides not to say anything, fear makes things seem more painful.

Since it was just some text, Hilja wouldn't need to come back for a color fill or anything... She begins to tattoo the word onto Hilja's back, talking to distract her from any discomfort. "You should be more careful about who you tell you're a rebel. I wouldn't trust that Alexei guy, either."

[Dinari Dollar]

Dinari calls back right away and leaves a frantic message. "Sure, that's no problem. Just keep those rebels under control. There's a problem right now. Someone attacked my textile factory in Allwhere. We don't know who was behind it. Peter was going to investigate! Maybe Allwhere needs protection too!" Dinari says in despair. He could invest in more soldiers, but the mafia might be a cheaper route. He will have to weigh the costs.

[Hilja Kukkanen/Sasha Pisarev]

"I am not anyone important, but you could be right. I was just excited." I reply to her. I wince a little when she starts. It feels like someone running a sewing machine on my back. It doesn't hurt too badly, just quick pricks from the needle. That's why it reminds me of a sewing machine...but instead of thread it has ink. The pain feels strangely good. I feel warm on the back of my neck and tingly in my face. I close my eyes and indulge in the feeling. It would be peculiar to enjoy it too much, but the pain feels strangely intimate.

[Alexei Nacharade]

Alexei listens to the message and nods thoughtfully, trying to decide what the next step is. Route out leaders. The mafia wasn't equipped for wars or battles, their strength lay in quick, organized hits.

[Maeve Cullen]

Maeve notices Hilja is seeming to enjoy the pain, and wants to just give her a giant hug. Obviously, she couldn't, so she continues with the tattoo. She wanted it to be perfect for Hilja. "Every human is important. We all have power in us." She states, before adding, "Though not being important in the eyes of the Manalist is probably a good thing. I can't imagine you in some of the places I've been."

Mental images of Hilja in various situations she's been in arises, and she shys away from them instantly. They made her feel angry and sad. "Do you think homosexuality is a sin, like the Manalists? You're a rebel, so I don't think so."

[Hilja Kukkanen/Sasha Pisarev]

"I don't really think anything is a sin, since the idea of sin is something that society creates. I suppose there is right and wrong, but it is what I decide is right and wrong based on the impact of the ability of large groups of people to live and have their needs met." I say. "So, in short, no of course not."

"My plan is to...just go unnoticed. Maybe I can do more if I seem unthreatening, silly, and mediocre." I say quietly. I think about many things then. I do hope that my brother erases Alexei's memory of things I said, since I would hate to get into trouble.

"I think most things that the Manalists believe are wrong. I think most of who I am is wrong by their standards. I mean, I like women. But then again, I have never felt very happy being one myself." I state and sigh. I have stopped noticing the pain now, but, at the moment I do feel stronger. I know I acted foolishly and now I must think of a way to deal with Alexei.

[Alexei Nacharade]

Alexei glances at his watch and remembers he has business. He writes a quick note, and leaves his number and contact information.

He writes: I had to be going, but any of you should feel free to contact me. I may even drop by for a new tattoo every now and then! Hope you all have a good time.

You friend, Alexei

He leaves the note outside the tattooing room, and bids the doctor fellow goodbye, before strolling out.

[Maeve Cullen]

Maeve turns Hilja's statements over in her mind, agreeing with most of them. She liked being a woman, though. "I've always been defiant, so I can't imagine going about life the way you do. It sounds like it'd be a good idea, though. I like women too, but men are easier to find, for obvious reasons." She sighs softly.

"I like you as a woman, but I'd like you even if you were a man." She states confidently, beginning to finish up the tatto. She adds the final touches to it before applying a bandage to it. "I hope it turns out perfect for you. I have an informational sheet on how to care for it and the such.

Since it's your first tattoo, and I like you so much, this one's on the house... as long as you promise we can hang out some time! You can come by and visit anytime you want, too... all of the other artists and most of the regulars are rebels, too." She adds the last bit with a lowered tone, though Hilja was poor and probably didn't have free access to booths like she did.

[Dr. Lonnrot Kukkanen]

I sit in the nearby room and read a magazine article about the advances of Crest Mining.

"Don't even think about it, or I'll know immidietly," I telepathically tell Maeve.

[kaleb]

Not like he was having much better progress, Kaleb begrudgingly followed Anthony while keeping his attention focused on hearing anything from the celing, or hear any reports from the other guards who were also failing miserably. With so much security, no one was able to find Virgil which was astounding to Kaleb.

[Taylor Jones]

"I'd like to think that vampires are misunderstood people." Taylor states, still pondering the whole blood sauce issue, of course she doesn't believe in such things as that, in her mind the only race on earth was the human race, but it was always fun to pretend. "I mean, its not like they mean to hurt people...they're just hungry."

She regains her composure, and returns to being serious, she nods, agreeing with Eva. She isn't really certain if she can trust her or not, but she seems nice enough. This is all very confusing and somewhat stressful for Taylor, but she doesn't show it.

"Rebels are incredibly brave people. I can't help but feel a bit...envious of them." She hesitates for a moment, then casts her gaze down at the ground, before speaking again. "I've always been afraid to speak up or go against whats right. I guess its scary for me because theres so much consequence."

Taylor looks back to Eva, feeling a bit more confident in herself. "Producing a newspaper may seem like a small feat, but if they can actually circulate it, then they're showing people that there are other ways to think than what the Manalists are trying to brainwash us into thinking."

She realized that she had probobly said more than she should have, having just met this woman, and she wondered how she was going to react. But she hadn't said anything that directly stated that Taylor was, actively or not, a rebel.

[Alexei Nacharade]

Alexei woke the next morning on the floor of his hotel room. Hookers and local small time drug dealers he had hired to help out were passed out similarly throughout the room. He could feel bits of cocaine on the tip of his nose. He grunted and wiped it off.

His pistol sat on a nightstand with his balisong in it's wrist sheathe by a bed with several people passed out on it, in various awkward positions. He noticed he was already naked, so he went off to the bathroom and locked the door. He started the shower and sighed, standing there as the water ran down him, running a hand through his dirty bond hair.

After cleaning up he dressed in a new, clean suit, his balisong holding wrist sheath strapped on, and his pistol tucking into the back of his waistband. He left the room still full of passed out associates, and began to make plans.

He started bribing and reasoning with anyone who seemed remotely connected to nonRed Infinity affiliated rebel groups, working his way up. Sometimes he resorted to threats, but he avoided it if at all possible.

He got the names of a few benefactos, people who secrelty funded these groups, and leaders. He did his best to remain unnoticed never asking anoyne TO important. He was very careful not to give his real name, or his reason for looking. Slowly, he added names to the list. It wasn't a death list, just a list of people who could be trouble.

[Lena Eva Aysel]

Lena gazes slightly upward as she walks, pursing her lips thoughtfully. "They are, but there is a variety of types of bravery. Some work in the shadows, aiding the movement without anyone ever really knowing. Those must be the hardest to do." She states slowly, trying to illustrate what she meant with her words.

"Like I said, many people disagree, but like you... they're scared. And I don't blame them. It's a scary thing. Anyone who does anything is certainly brave beyond measure, since with the Manalists..." She shook her head softly. She had heard of the things they did to people. Hell, they beat up people just for being in debt.

[Taylor Jones]

Taylor nodded again, then sighed. She realized that they were still walking, and her feet were getting kind of sore in her heels, which she wore often so she didn't feel so short.

"I think that the people that are really up front, and put themselves out there are the most difficult kind of brave. They share their opinions with the world...and then have to manage to evade authorites and consequence." She shook her head. "That is something I could never do."

She turned her head, looking at Eva. "What about you?" She asks, then realizes her question probobly doesn't make much sense. "I mean, do you work with the rebels? Against them? Or do you just kinda go with the flow?" She adds.