Cass had no time to prepare for the imminent pain. Rachel and Hilda were pulling him along and talking a mile a minute the whole way there.
"At least Tindra's soothing embrace is just across the street…"
The Surfside diner had all the Googie style you'd expect for a retro diner: Checkered floor, old-timey music, neon lights you could see from space, and great milkshakes. Cass had hardly said a word, and not simply because he was in immense pain.
"I don't know the first thing about either one of these girls. What the hell do I say to them?"
He couldn't remember the last time he initiated a conversation, excluding ones where he was after something or talking with Misha. Even around Tinda he was very quiet, it just never bothered him nor did it seem to bother her.
"Cass? You okay?" Hilda asked.
"Huh? Oh, yeah." He gave her a slight smile.
"Looks like you're sweatin' up a storm."
"Ah, I wasn't feeling well tonight. I thought getting something in my stomach might help."
"Aw, you poor thing!" Rachel slid into Cass's booth and leaned on him.
"So…what do you two like to do?" He asked.
"Anything ya want, big boy~" Hilda winked.
"Hilda!? Don't bully Cass!"
They giggled.
"Sorry! I guess I'm still in work mode." Hilda stirred her shake. "Like to do? You mean hobbies?"
"Sorry, we only see each other at work. I don't really know what you guys are into."
Rachel perked up. "I'm really into movies! I have a bunch of old ones I've collected over the years. You ever seen Sunday Funday Massacre? It's about a crazed rabbit who murders people and hides eggs in their body! It's campy and great!"
"Eggs? What does that have to do with a rabbit?"
"They explode when people find them!"
Hilda scrunched up her nose. "Eugh, Rach, how do you watch that stuff?"
Rachel scoffed. "Yeah right! You're totally a nerd too! That nerdy game you play!"
"Nobility and Knaves is a deep and limitless experience!"
"Nobility and Knaves? What's that?" Cass started to wonder if he was out of touch with modern culture.
"It's a tabletop game where you get together with friends and make your own adventure."
"I see."
"You can play as your own character and be a hero from one of the Great Noble Houses or a gutter rat looking to make a name for themselves. You can be whomever you'd like! And if you have a good DM…Ah! It's so much fun!"
Rachel poked out her lips. "What a nerd!"
Rachel and Hilda made faces at each other and laughed.
"We should totally watch a movie sometime, Cass."
"Nah! He'd rather play Nobility! Probably be good to get outta that apartment for a little while."
Cass gave a nervous laugh. "I take it Daniella's been talking about her experience living with me?"
"Oh god no. She never talks to me."
"Me neither."
He raised an eyebrow/ "Really?"
Rachel squeezed his arm. "What's it like? Livin' with the ice queen?"
"Hmm…You always know where you stand with her. If you annoy her, trust me, she'll tell you."
Hilda's eyes widened. "Really? I can never get a read on her, nevermind an actual word from her."
Rachel ate one of Cass's fries. "She kinda scares me."
"Can't really argue with that."
Hilda rested her arms on the table. "I'm kinda surprised Tindra keeps her around. She's one of our prettiest girls, but she never gets customers."
"More cash for us!" Rachel exclaimed.
Cass rubbed his head. "She seems to work hard at the tasks she's given."
"Yeah…still weird. I get an earful if I'm short on clients each week, but little miss priss…Ah, it's fine." Hilda smiled. "I'm just tired. Don't listen to me!"
Cass felt a little strange defending Dani. It wasn't too far-fetched, she was the girl he knew the best, even if it was by happenstance.
A dark grin crept onto his face. "I wonder if she'd do the same for me?"
"Doesn't she like that redhead guy? You're friends with him, aren'tcha Cass?"
"Yeah, they seem to get along well. I mean, I've never seen her bubbly and happy unless she's with him. All I can get out of her is disappointment and derision."
Hilda rested her head on her hand. "Huh…sounds weird."
"I guess living with someone gives you all kinds of insight into things you'd never see otherwise." Cass's voice trailed off.
"I wonder what she's learned about me?"
Hilda smirked. "Well, try to remember, Cass, Rudy's your buddy. So don't ruin his girl too bad if you decide to have some fun."
"Hilda!?"
She shrugged. "Relax! I was just joking with him."
"You wouldn't do something like that, would you, Cass?" Rachel giggled as she spoke.
"That's what they think of me…? Well, it's my own fault again. At least they don't think I'm collaborating with demons."
Cass rubbed his neck. "If you don't mind me asking, what made you decide to work for Tindra?"
Hilda smirked. "As opposed to....what? Another brothel? Or are you asking why we're prostitutes?"
Cass blushed…Or maybe his fever was getting worse.
"It's okay, it's a valid question. To put it simply, my mom's sick. There's no better money around here." She folded her hands under her chin and smiled. "Or maybe I'm just so cute it seems that way~!"
Rachel made a suggestive noise in approval. "It's fun! I get to party and have sex for cash!"
Hilda gave an exasperated sigh. "Really? You like ALL your customers?"
"Hmm…Well, there was this one guy who asked me to-"
"Rachel! I don't think Cass wants to hear any gory details."
"Oh! Right! Thanks, Hilda! Sorry, Cass!" She hugged his arm tight. "Cass, your jacket is like…so soft!" She rubbed her face against his jacket and giggled. "Like…REALLY soft."
"Hey!? Careful! At least wipe your runny nose first!"
Hilda laughed uproariously. Overall, it wasn't a bad night. Cass could even see himself hanging out with them longer…once they returned to Tindra. Unfortunately, he had some work to attend to. He returned to his apartment and pulled out some parchment he'd purchased earlier. His goal was simple: make scrolls using sorcery. Carving runes was the easiest way to get a spell to work. He didn't fully understand, but the more 'permanent' the runes, the more powerful they were and the easier it was to channel mana through. Dhall's and his men's tattoos would be less effective if they'd been drawn on with a marker, for example.
"I still haven't quite figured out why paper is less effective than the floor or walls…I better before Dani kills-"
"I see you're finally using the parchment you bought for your art projects."
"Speak of the devil."
"I am. I thought you might want a personalized piece by yours truly. I-"
He froze.
"What?" She shifted her weight and looked around.
"Nothing. I've just never seen you in casual clothes before."
"I was at the gym. It's not like I can wear a dress there."
"The gym? This late? Isn't the closest one all the way downtown?"
"Not that one. I'm not paying for a membership and walking there at this hour. I'm talking about the one Tindra put in. The one in the basement."
Cass smirked. "Ah, that one. I'm sure Tindra worked hard putting that together. How was it?"
"Serviceable. There's a bit of an odd smell and the equipment looks like it was sent through a wood chipper...Oh and it's erratically placed in the room with no thought towards convenience or order. Nothing under the machines to prevent scuffing the floor…"
"I'm sorry I asked."
Daniella went to shower and Cass went back to work. A few minutes later there was a distinct knock at the door. When he finally answered, Cass was greeted with a package.
He sighed. "Sorry, Tindra. I have to make up Henry's tab somehow."
His delivery went off without a hitch. Cass never peeked at any of the package's contents nor did he ever see who delivered them to his doorstep. That's the way he preferred it. It wasn't only criminal scum who used the underground delivery service…just mostly. Prying into their business wasn't a good idea—even finding the job in the first place had been nerve racking. One of those gigs not posted on the slum job boards, one you had to venture into seedy bars and gang territory to meet contacts. Once he was approved, he never had to do any of that again; packages showed up and he just had to deliver them and collect the money, easy as.
"Ah! My…everything hurts. I certainly earn my money."
The next day he was back at Henry's place. It didn't go much different than last time, except for the fact that Cass had managed to coax Henry out of his stupor long enough to answer some questions.
"So…did you have to sign a contract to work at the factory?"
"Contract?" He chortled. "Hell naw, man! I ain't signin' any of that shit. Did you?"
"No. Festus tried to get me to, but it had sorcery on it."
"Smart move." He crammed some chips in his face.
Cass cut his eyes toward him. "Do you know how to make that sorcery? The one on the contract I mean. I couldn't really tell how they did it."
Henry's eyes narrowed and a smile wormed its way onto his face. "Oh? Interested in that, huh?" He giggled. "So much potential. What kinda fun plans ya have?"
Cass smiled. "A secret."
Henry raised his eyebrows. "Naturally. I'd say the same thing. A spell where you're obliged to the holder…I can think of so many uses."
A sinister grin stretched across Henry's face.