"The Best Little Whore House in New York"

[highprices]

[The black fabric of her dress drapes gracefully over the beautiful curves of her body. The back is open for all to see the mark tattooed at the base of her spine while the collar is cut low. Her shoulders are back and her chin held high as she leans against the bar with a sultry smile. A crystal clear liquid is poured into a martini glass before it's placed in front of her.]

Thank you. [There is a soft curl to her lips as she places the money on the counter and lifts her drink to her lips. The liquid only brushes against her upper lip when she hears the curt call of a man behind her. She places the drink down, her smile neatly set in place across her lips. She has no interest in this interruption.] What can I help you with? [Her voice is soft and silky like a deep red wine.]

[The man is stout in comparison to her, more so with the heels that raise her a few inches higher. Her posture never wavers however her smile falls, replacing the expression with an defiant stare as he begins to spout off a rabble of words in a loud booming voice.]

Come now! I know what you are. I have enough for tonight whore so show me and my friends a good time.

[As if on cue two other men join him at either side. The bartender pauses his work, his gaze on the gathering as he waves them to take it outside. This is a nice place and they aren't above calling the police, which is something she prefers not to deal with.

Leaving her drink at the bar she turns, her lips returning to their usual smirk.] I was just about to leave anyway. Your only company will be each other tonight boys. [She walks passed them but her response clearly didn't thrill them. They seethed with anger and after downing the drink she'd left on the counter they followed clumsy after her. She's almost able to hail a cab before she feels a harsh pull on her wrist. The tallest man of the group, a lanky figure who rises to Crystal's eye level has her securely held by the wrist and is dragging her towards the alley along the side of the bar.]

We can do this the easy way. [The man chuckles darkly, as he begins to pull of his belt.] Or the hard way.

[Even while being held against the wall her posture suggests dominance. Her eyes glare down at the man, her lips playing into a coy smirk that's been perfectly practiced a thousand times.]

Is it really so hard?

[She asks in a singsong tone. This was the wrong thing to say. The third man steps forward now, looking more burly than the other too. His breath and beard reek of alcohol and with the silent command spoken he raised his hand to strike her in the stomach. They won't damage a whore's pretty face.]

Comments

1

[highprices]

[He has a cute smile.]

I was born in Barstow, California.

2

[alittlebitofhell]

[He nods. He's not exactly sure where Barstow is, but he's not going to waste a question asking, seeing as he could just google it.]

Why'd you come to New York?

2

[highprices]

I wanted to act on Broadway.

[Simple enough dream and without the sad story behind it.]

3

[alittlebitofhell]

[He nods.] And, since you were getting roughed up by three shmucks in an alley, I'm going to assume you're not acting on Broadway.

[He pauses for a moment.] What do you do when you're not working?

3

[highprices]

[It isn't a question so she's not going to elaborate but she is technically acting on Broadway.

She smiles at him.]

It depends. I'm not working tonight.

[alittlebitofhell]

[It's his turn to raise an eyebrow.]

Wait, so, hang on. Let me make sure I'm understanding this right. I saved you, I was a good sport with your game, and now you have to play so you're gonna clam up.

[highprices]

[Crystal laughs.]

I'll lose my mysterious allure.

[Her smile remains wide when she finally answers.]

I read or watch movies or do laundry. It's not that exciting.

4

[alittlebitofhell]

[Considering how eventful his life has been, and how eventful it's going to keep right on being until he gets things sorted out...]

None of that sounds boring to me, and I don't think you could lose it if you tried.

[And he'll even throw her a bone.]

What are some of your favorite movies and why?

4

[highprices]

[She shakes her head assuming that he's simply being nice.]

Les Misérables because I enjoy the interpretation on war.

Luck Number Slevin for obvious reasons.

Now You See Me because I like magic tricks.

[alittlebitofhell]

[He finds himself smiling at her responses...because aside from that first one, those are some good movies.]

That's an interpretation of war?

5!

[highprices]

[Crystal raises an eyebrow.]

Yes.

[She's counting that as a question Clay.]

Are you saying the French Revolution doesn't count as a war?

so rude, fine 5

[alittlebitofhell]

[He shrugs.]

I'm saying I don't know much about the history, but it wasn't much of an uprising, and they lost, didn't they?

<3

[highprices]

Not exactly. A lot of people consider it one of the most important events in human history. It lasted ten years and started during the later expansion of the French Empire. I'm sure you've heard of a man known as Napoleon.

It was a turning point replacing monarchies with republics and liberal democracies.

[She smiles at him and waits for him to ask more.]

You're on question 7 now.

7

[alittlebitofhell]

[He chuckles, because he likes her style.]

You sound like a textbook. [He shrugs.] Sure, I've heard of Napoleon.

What do you read? [Not that he's going to know most of it. If he actually sat and read, he'd absorb it like a sponge.]

[highprices]

[She sounds like a textbook because she owns some books on the French Revolution and it's one of her favorite conflicts in history. Spurred by the American revolution.]

All sorts of books. I enjoy history as I'm sure you've noticed, government and studies. Culture and anthropology. My favorite place to read about is Brazil and the people who live there. I read fiction as well but that varies more.

8

[alittlebitofhell]

History, huh? [And he's going to waste a question here, because he's just curious.]

What kind of fiction?

[They'd be getting to the bar soon anyway.]

[highprices]

Yes, History.

[She smiles a little wider.]

The Catcher in the Rye, Angels & Demons, The Alchemist, The Book Thief, Harpist in the Wind, Ender's Game, Symphony of the Ages... [Her smile widens.]

Naming Authors might be a shorter list but I think this is all going in one ear and out the other.

[alittlebitofhell]

...pretty sure Angels & Demons is a movie. [He pauses.] I read the Catcher in the Rye in High School...

[He smiles sheepishly.]

I, uh, never really got into reading. [Or had the opportunity...]

[highprices]

[Crystal laughs her light musical laugh. She doesn't remember ever laughing this much around someone.]

It was adapted into a movie though I have yet to see it and I believe that Catcher in the Rye is still a book required by most High Schools.

[Reading had been her escape through school.]

That's fine. You still have some questions.

[alittlebitofhell]

[He nods.] Yeah, I'm pretty sure Tom Hanks is in it. [He looks thoughtful for a moment.] Yeah. It's it a sequel to the Da Vinci Code? [A pause.] That's not one of my questions, by the way. We're still talking about books and stuff.

[highprices]

[Crystal shakes her head.]

Yes, which is another good book. I did see that movie though and I liked it.

So what's your 10th question?

[alittlebitofhell]

[He nods, smiling.]

I appreciated the smart car chase. You really gotta stay American for a good chase scene.

[He looks thoughtful.]

What were you doing at Fusion?

[highprices]

[Crystal is decently versed in cars as well but she'll leave that surprise for later.]

Doing nothing of consequence. I'm off tonight but I needed to pick up something from Fusion. I thought it would be nice to have a drink.

[She exhales looking over at Clay.]

I never did get my drink.

[It doesn't even sound like she was almost assaulted.]

11

[alittlebitofhell]

[And he notices very well she acts like she wasn't almost assaulted, but he'll overlook it for now.]

That's a damned shame. We'll have to do something about that.

[But she'd piqued his curiosity.]

What do you do?

11

[highprices]

[Her smile widens, she'd been waiting for this question.]

I am an escort.

[Which is her official and legal job.]