Lady Katherine does not rush back to Milliways, since that gives off the wrong impression, but she moves quickly, making long strides that seem more elegant and poised than hurried.
"I do believe I should discuss this venture with our governor before getting too excited. Would you terribly mind waiting before we set to work, Nimo?"
They go back to hunting things.
People are betting on whether she will win. Someone offers her a beer.
Aren't there negligent death laws or something?????
She'll pass on the free drugs while she's trying to win this game. Is the person offering the beer also betting against her?
This is no longer the imperial government's problem. They can bother the state or the city.
Nope, he's not betting at all and seems kind of annoyed now. His buddies make fun of him.
They express the opinion that the Imperial Government is useless and evil. They go complain to Lady Katherine again. She gives them a thorough overview of the new safety standards and a lot of money and is genuinely sympathetic - but in the end, it was an accident. That administrator is paying for a lot of their compensation money, which calms them down some. There's a funeral. The first grave in the church graveyard is tearfully filled.
She keeps playing. It's kind of a lot of fun. Maybe if someone makes her an offer she'll quit and get to work, otherwise she'll just keep going.
The imperial government declines to do anything yet about the really concerning misconception that it's useless.
By some unspoken agreement nobody makes her an offer or brings up sex. Though a couple might be flirting? A bit hard to tell. They'll play darts with her all afternoon though.
After a few hours she figures she found the wrong place and offers a ring if someone can tell her where the people looking for human women are. Not that she minds the game, it's great.
No, this is the place, you're just not supposed to- It's a pub, it's for drinking and games. It'd be a completely different sort of place if it were a place to buy sex.
"Maybe so."
"I'll make you an offer..."
Bartender speaks up. "Shut up, Carl. Not in here, you hear me? This is a respectable establishment."
"Fine, fine."
Bartender looks suspiciously in her direction often. Bartender decides not to make her buy something or get out since she's encouraging other guys to stay.
One guy says quietly, "I'm thinking of opening a place for, uh, your job. Private rooms, discretion, comfort, security. And it'll be a place for that line 'o work, so the men won't be so very hesitant, you'd get good business at your own pace. Sound like a bright idea?"
"Maybe? I'm not sure if it'd be an improvement... are we even allowed to have this conversation here, because I really don't want to get kicked out."
"I think they'd be happier about it, more relaxed, willing to pay more. And, enh. I don't think he'd kick you out, but anyway, we can talk later."
"Well, you'd know these people better than I would."
She'll try to talk with him when they're both leaving.
"Hey."
They talk business. He opens a brothel - it proves popular among the New Dover visitors, though plenty of them stick to the pub or just wander the city too.
Well, the guy who this kid says is his dad is not currently pastwatchable. Last seen going into a big apartment complex that's covered in one giant ward two days ago.
Katherine shows up and finds Valanda, looking deeply concerned.
Some imperial police pay a visit to the apartment.
Valanda would like to know if she knows about any other kids that no one is responsible for or if these are the only ones that anyone knows about yet.
They don't know the code for the electronically locked door. All the locals avoid them.
"I know their parents, all four of them. We have a list somewhere. Some people, the fools, tried to hide or obfuscate it. To make a point, or something."
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