From: aaron@helios (Aaron Humphrey)
Subject: [MI] Alfvaen[Yirma's]: The Frontal Approach
Reply-To: aaron@space.ualberta.ca
Organization: University Of Alberta, Edmonton Canada
X-Newsreader: TIN [version 1.1 PL6]
Date: Tue, 6 Oct 1992 03:26:38 GMT

Leaving Little Rat to try the back entrance, Alfvaen, Delmara and Queriche
readied themselves for a frontal approach.  Alfvaen dug an eyepatch out of his
pouch.  "Here, Q.  Put this on.  No, really--I got it specially made in Delta
City.  Completely transparent from the inside, but opaque from the outside.  I
was going to use it for a 'one-eyed archer' persona, at one time.  Still might.
You're too recognizable to go in there undisguised."

Queriche strapped on the eyepatch warily, then blinked as he discovered that
Alfvaen was right.  "Good trick," he said.  "Probably won't work, though," he
said, indicating his many tattoos.  "Will give me an advantange, if nothing
else."

"Okay.  Now, Delmara.  Yirma should know you.  Will it cause trouble if I
bring you into her place for the...usual reasons?"

Delmara shrugged.  "She won't like it, but if you're obnoxious enough, she
might get a kick out of my embarrassment.  I think I can play my own part in
this.  All we have to worry about is one of the Spiders connecting me with
Aditi with Elstree."

Alfvaen nodded.  "Then let's go.  I'll be drunk.  And remember--if necessary, I
have claim on you.  Got it?  Oh--and call me Lushrike."

Delmara blushed slightly.  "Got it."

Alfvaen went into a drunken slump, half-supported by Queriche on one side and
clutching Delmara in the other arm.  "Let'shee if I c'n do you in here, my
shweet," he said in a loud slurred voice as Queriche kicked the door open.

In Yirma's, this caused less of a stir than one might think.  Some of the girls
turned dull eyes their way, but the only one with any spark of life was a lady
well past her prime, but dressed as if she hadn't noticed.  "Yirma," whispered
Delmara.  There were few patrons downstairs--apparently all were in rooms
already, and one was carrying an unprotesting girl over his shoulder up the
stairs, banging her head on the wall a few times.

Yirma stopped before them and sneered when she recognized Delmara.  "Well, if
it isn't the Silken Whip-Bitch.  Whatsamatter, Trawm kick you out of his bed?"

Alfvaen turned his drunken gaze her way.  "Shcuzhe me, but izh you in charge of
this here fine eshtabli--place?  I picked up thish little number a wayzh back
and thought thish looked like a place with nishe clean beds to do some..."
Alfvaen made crude sign language with one hand.

Yirma sneered with delight at Delmara's feigned discomfiture.  "You want a
room, then?"  She took in Alfvaen's clothing, and judged how much she could
milk from him.  "Ten gold," she said finally.

While Alfvaen fumbled with his coin-pouch, Yirma's eyes turned to Queriche.
"Hey!  What're you doin' in this part of town?  Thought you got canned at the
Ram!"

Queriche shrugged.  "I been doing bodyguard work for rich folks like Lushrike
here.  Good pay, eh?"  He winked at her.

"You want a girl too?  You'll be getting a better deal than he is, that's for
sure."  Alfvaen laboriously counted out coins, losing track around seven or
eight and having to start over.

"No, I'm working tonight.  No offense, Yirma, but I'm gonna have to stand
outside Mr. Lushrike's door, just to make sure.  His father's paying me good
to make sure nothing happens, eh?"  He leered.  "Maybe I'll be back tomorrow
night.  How much you going for these days?"

Yirma giggled in delight.  "You do flatter a girl, Queriche..."  Inside, she
was frantically trying to remember.  Had Noctu told her something about
Queriche, something to do with that girl he'd left upstairs?  Oh, well.  Not
like >she< cared what happened to that bastard.  Left her high and dry to face
the Guard when they come, eh?  She'd just send 'em on to him, she would.

"Ten gold!" Alfvaen said, holding up a handful of twelve coins.  "Now where's
thish room?"

Yirma led the stumbling Alfvaen up the stairs.  "Any one you want that's not in
use, hon," she said, "and even one that is--extra if I kick someone out, and
even more if you want them to stay."

When Yirma's gaze was distracted, Alfvaen's eyes were noting details of the
doors they passed, his pointed ears were cocked for any familiar sounds, and
his nose was seeking any unusual odours...

--
---Alfvaen(Canadian SF Quasi-Activist)
"I'm a few bricks short of a load, but a full load always hurt my back."
   ---Barenaked Ladies
Current Album--Nightnoise:The Parting Tide
Current Read--Nicole Luiken:Running On Instinct