Mazatlán, Mexico
Part of the purpose of the meeting, at least for Holly, was indeed to get the most transparent, raw read of your reaction to hearing of the Latvian group.

But Holly was no mind-reader, neither was she really going to swing on a hunch either — it was just useful to keep her eyes and ears open, to pay attention.

And attention she did pay, in particular as you admitted your disposition along the timeline, how it perhaps evolved over the past few events, over the drain of your paloma in what she was hoping was a gesture of contemplation, rather than irritation.

If there was anything she learned from gigi, it was in having to divert some of her focus on mood-management for those above her.

"I appreciate the vote of confidence. There will never be a moment where you're left holding the bag, or paying my tab…" she spoke in clear, almost slow cadence. Her calculus never involved upsetting the Cartel… for obvious reasons, so while she probed to gauge your mindset, redoubling her commitment to not rousing this particular lethal scorpion simply maintained, but that was… well that was to be expected.

"If I sense even the beginnings of trouble with our new partners, you'll be the first to know," the point of that tiny fruit-saber impaled one of the remaining cubes at the inflection of her sentence.

the truth is I will call them off for the most part after tonight
it's important that you realize the dichotomy of your new existence
you'll be a valued cog in the Staff Benevolent Fund at work
but must realize you are just another slut when in your cell
I believe you'd understand the necessity of this, if I felt like sharing it with you...which in this case I don't

just bear with this one little tradition, and I'll keep them off you best I can for the next couple of years
it's not like those Japanese videos with a hundred guys, just a couple dozen
not so bad
which is easy for me to say

and I already know I'll miss you when the time comes
I see the start of a beautiful partnership
waving the empty flask
I'll see you get some booze too
Scotch? or another preference?

**I took the board from you and my small hand with tapering fingers smoothed over the document. My deep eyes looked at the words as I listened to you speak. I turned it over, the elegant calligraphy continuing on the back. Then I turned a bit so I could look at you, study your face, your eyes and listen to the tone of your voice. My eyes filled with the love I'd come to have for you over this past year. Oh, there had been times when I hadn't liked you very much, but I had fallen hard, much harder than I wished to admit.**

A lifetime is a long time, Tarik.

**I paused and looked back to the document, my fingers tracing absently over a few of the words. Then I moved my gaze back up to you.**

I want this.
Thank you, my Love.

NC Outskirts
"You're a good-looking chico. Don't sell yourself short." It's just not what Echo's into. If you had blue eyes, maybe...

As for the Paz/Iridia/Maul triangle, he nods his head for the empathy offered..."Gracias. And it's a giant mess of a situation. Maul was...very complicated. And so was Paz. But Paz was a puta and Maul just didn't know any better." The only tragedy in the entire debacle.

You're going to need better filters if you're hanging out with all of them. Eventually, once this is all dealt with, there will be a massive party at Fables. Shirts optional. He smiles when you start coughing before taking another sip from his bottle. That's the spirit, mano.

"I know it's a long shot. We don't have netrunners out in the wasteland. And Paz barely had anything on her. But...if you have any spare time..."

Haven was right to question his initial resistance to finding out more about November Fenix. Not knowing is more comfortable than knowing. But Echo was the kind of guy that had to know...

"Between here and the Republic of Texas. I'd check Arizona and New Mexico for her. They have strong Folk and Snake Nation presences there. Beyond that...I don't know. I have no idea who she is beyond the name."

He could hate her. They could try to kill one another. Or maybe his father was such a prick that he turned November away from life entirely.

peeks back in...

slips to the floor and tries to sleep

Just when I thought I had it all at the Ritz, it's like the info-merical that just keeps giving!

But wait!! That's not all! If you order now, we'll give you 2 free tubes of lube, a necessary towel and more perverts!

There's always a price to pay PC. Nothing in this life is free. Isn't how that song goes? We got bills to pay, we got mouths to feed, ain't nothin' in this world for free.....?

Oh. How kind. An initiation and welcome to the club. That's incredibly thoughtful of them to make me feel so..........welcome. And who knew they'd be providing snacks so late.

There's a smile that tells you, if you give me the rules of the game, I'll crush it. You'll make your money, I'll make my money and I'll be out of your hair in no time.

You'll get your yacht you know. And a pause, while green eyes make full contact. And you're gonna miss me when I'm gone. There's a full smile with that.

Kitchen Area
She knew that her words were hurting you and usually she cared, but right now she couldn't care less. She wanted them to hurt was glad they did

"I know you never wanted to hurt me Zach but sometimes it just happens that way."

She folded her arms in front of her defiantly and just glared at Zach, waiting for him to tell her more

"You are right there Zach I probably dont understand, might not ever understand, But at least I will have the truth from you and that might eventually down the road make a difference."

She saw that pleading in your eyes and for now ignored it, but she did listen to you she listened carefully to every word. Even though she might make snide remarks she still heard your words

"Wow...she understands you in ways no one else ever has, and that includes me. What the hell do you mean she has been in the same places you have been, her steps have stepped where yours has.

"What the hell Zach thought you said you met her in Laramie how the hell can hers be like yours in those ways shouldn't she be from Covell for that to happen?"

A single brow shot upwards

"Excuse me? but did you say her name is Liberty Walsh? damn ain't that an interesting name.

You got that right Zach it is a hell of a lot to take in."

Her mouth hung upon and she just blinked at you for a few seconds

"Seriously Zach you brought her back here to Covell Canyon with you. Oh my god so she is here like not in the Respite but here on the ranch. You could not bear to be without her ohhh that is rich really it is."

You reached out to with a trembling hand to brush that stray lock of hair from her face. Damn you cause you know how much she loves when you do that, that one movement reaches deeply within her.

She heard the pleading in your voice but it was that name that you said that had her halting and for the first time she thought she was understanding and she really listened to what you said next

"She is a native...she can reach down inside you farther than even I can. You slammed that door shut many many years ago, yes I remember saying that and that is exactly what I did, I thought that one day that door might open again and it has. So she can help Ni'a be'he'pa p'e hi'a in reclaiming that part of himself. I know I can not ever touch you like that for I have not been through what you have. Oh sure I was there when the other children and even adults made fun of you and stood by your side, but I could never really understand what it was like for you to go through that like she can. SO it was Ni'a be'he'pa p'e hi'a that brought her here to be with him. You know I always knew that there was two of you your white half and your native half. I guess when you shut the door on your Native half I thought that was that. I know I have the white side of you have ever since the first day we met.

I am glad she is here for your native half you have always been more native than white anyway. I am still needing to work through all of those so I do not want to meet her just yet, and as for you I am still working everything out with feelings and such. Since she is here I am assuming the only place she can be is in the guest house."

She looked up at you the anger still there just not as prominent

"You can see the twins if you wish but tonight might be best if you slept over there."

looking in

long day
so sorry i missed you, little minx

tucks a palmful of kisses here
and slips on up the stairs

Mazatlán, Mexico
He listens and he isn't happy that there could be any sort of overlap between this Latvian group and the Russian Bratva. He's had to have little conflicts for control in areas previously. Some his interests came out on top and other times they had to know when to cut their losses and seed territory.

He was the veteran of several cartel battles and he wouldn't mind having to avoid anything that looked vaguely similar.

He lifts his drink and drains most of it as you ask if there's any questions or things he'd like to smooth out.

"Holly, I'll be honest. Your rise to power was not something I saw happening. At least not for a while. I've been happy with the process so far. So my deseo is for you maintain all of the positives of the business."

He takes another sip, draining the glass, leaving behind only a couple pieces of ice.

"I have a feeling hermanita, that you are going to have ideas on how to improve things. I can give ou some room to innovate, but never to the point where it impacts the bottom line. ¿Comprendida?"

Alright, I knew she was wanting me to say it out loud, so that those that were around could hear and that sure, she wanted to bask in its wonderful illuminance that was our forever. I handed it over to her, so she could turn the page, and so, as no doubt you would do this I began to say, "This is our forever, no more yearly renewals, that from here on out, that me and you are going to be companions till one of us has crossed the bridge to the city of dust. I was serious when I told you I wanted this, and have for a long long time. The terms and conditions are of mutual respect and that, anything I have, anything you have are ours together. You worked hard for what you have and I have designs to take from you anything. It does state that if we have a son that when he comes of age he will be taken to Treve to follow in my steps, and till that time, he is yours to love and to hold, and to teach him the right way to speak to Ladies and that respect is ever present. My mother did that with me, till my time came to join the ranks so,.. obviously she did alright because I'm here with you, still, after a year has slipped by so fast. I don't want to have to look at a calendar all the time, I don't want to have to think that one day this will all be gone. This is a contract to end all contracts from here on in, and that, you will forever be with me.. because I love you, so much, and I can't fathom a reason why we would ever part. This is your choice, but I know we talked about it, time and time again, and I'm tired of talking about it, .. we can do the yearly thing, but then, there will always be the ticking of time that will always remind us, that we're running out of it"

if you prefer hot water showers, by custom you pay by blowing the shower Guard
there's other customs too, a bit more onerous for a big shot like yourself

shrugging because even the mighty PC can't be everywhere all the time
fact is, you are a fine looking woman
the Guards have noticed
they have a little custom, tradition, what you may call it, for new fish
they'll come late tonight to have a bukkake party on you

"Hi there."

Smile.

"When the location is announced, will there be more details about the party in terms of occasion/reason/details, etc?"

peeks...

looking in

NC Outskirts
That gets a bit of a chuckle. "Oh, I mean - no offense taken. I don't really think I'm sexy either." It does seem a little reckless. But er, you're not allowed to get hurt, because Haven would kill him.

A slight furrow of his bow. "Yeah, she mentioned Maul. That you were friends, and he - um, I'm sorry you lost a friend. That's - that's hard." The empathy is real, even if it comes across a touch awkwardly. "Jealous? I mean, um, could be. I don't know enough about - well, any of them to say?"

A small smile. "I'd like to. So far, you've only introduced me to amazing people. She's pretty great as Fox. I haven't seen much of her since the Gang War kicked up, though."

He'll clink bottles with yours, then, a cheers of sorts. Peer pressure, super effective, even ambient peer pressure, apparently. He has a taxi home. He's never really needed great filters before this.

A tentative second sip, followed by more coughing. It's going straight to his head, but maybe it gets better if you sip more of it?

November Fenix. She was in the file. He stays quiet, though, letting you say it out. "I'll do my best for you, Echo. My reach is pretty limited to the Net, but Paz had her in her files. So there might be more.

"Do, um, do you have any information on her beyond what Paz had? I'd like to help you find your sister, so uh, anything you have to point me in her direction, it might help." Though he's also thinking, "I don't come across a ton of Nomads. Net access is, I guess, hard to come by outside of the cities." What you were thinking. It doesn't seem likely.

Catching the tube, eyeing the label. Of course.

Thank you.

Give thanks where thanks is due of course. This Judge should be something else to encounter. I wondered just how many of you Men there were here that needed.............entertaining.

Green gaze is lifted again, listening, and believe you me, I am very good at listening. I don't even blink when you tell me the Shower Guard charges blow jobs for hot water.

You said 'shower privileges by custom', I'm sorry, I'm not clear on what custom means?

Glancing back at the cot I'm seated on, pleased to hear I'll be getting an actual mattress. So much better for the back when one's trying to catch sleep.

Oh. A new mattress. Thank you.

Waiting to hear about 'custom'.

You're being all sugary, Tarik.

**I smiled softly and my fingers followed yours when you tucked the flower behind my ear. I then let my hand drop into my lap. I felt your arm behind me and felt the affection in your voice. It warmed me and made me smile softly again. I looked to the scroll board you had, seeing the elegantly written document and I admired that handwriting.**

And what have you brought me, hmmm?

**I knew what I hoped it to be but I'd learned long ago that hopes were meant to be dashed upon the rocky shores of Thassa, and so I just showed curiosity at the board.**