Once the swelling in her ankle had reduced enough to walk on Gwyn was discharged from the school’s infirmary.
Before her big party on the weekend she needed to check in on the purchases she had made for it, namely good food and copious amounts of booze. Tatiana had recommended her own club in the city to do the catering, the hefty friends discount was certainly a factor in her choice.
To get to the vast city of Winterfield from the school campus was just via hover-rail, the school itself was heavily guarded and isolated from the city proper. With only one entrance and exit it was easier to control who entered.
Hover-rail was another latest in cutting edge technology that the school had access to, it still amazed her everytime she rode on it.
When she arrived at the station she did need to present her identification in the form of a school badge that was linked to her DNA on the school file, the badge itself was a gold ring fitted to her index finger that could project a simple hologram.
Once she did so and verified her identity the station security were highly respectful towards her.
She mused that with the amount of high profile individuals sending their daughters to learn here it was probably a good idea to be extra respectful to everyone in order to not offend the wrong person.
Some of her more arrogant classmates came to mind.
Entering the hover-train Gyn searched around for an empty seat, unlike the city’s public transport the hover-train had private booths. With it being the end of the week the train was fairly packed, eventually she did find one booth that had only one other girl inside and neither of them minded sharing.
Soon the sight of the city engulfed her vision as they left school grounds, towering sky-scrapers and dense arcologies built up the city’s skyline. Glowing lights and glaring holograms danced and lit up the darkening skies above, casting color down on the lively population below.
She always marveled at the sight no matter how many times she saw it.
Shortly after that the train docked at the city station and Gwyn was quick to get off of it, only having to stop and present her ID once again to the intense security on this side.
Throughout the week Gwyn stayed at the dorms on school grounds but on weekends she either stayed at her own small apartment or over at Tatiana’s estate.
Her parents had rented an apartment in one of the city’s archologies so that she had somewhere to stay off campus. She was thankful for it but was suspicious about the reasoning, her parents never did something that wouldn’t benefit them in some way.
She suspected it was simply about their reputation, it wouldn’t do for the respected authors to have their daughter not to have her own place. Whatever the reason was, it gave her a place to be alone when she truly needed it. This would be the first time she brought anyone over.
Gwyn moved quickly along the city’s crowded streets, past street stalls selling aromatic foods and loitering gangsters and thugs that eyed her uniform warily, it’d be too much trouble for them to take whatever meager funds she’d have on her. Finally after a lot of walking she reached Winterfield’s bouncing club district.
Without delay Gwyn made her way over to the crowded entrance of Tatiana’s club named The Dancing Crane. Judging by the long line of club goers awaiting for the club to open she figured it was a fairly popular nightclub. It felt strange and awkward to Gwyn to be able to walk past the line of people and be admitted into the club with but a glance, she guessed it paid to know the right people.
Entering the club she was hit with heavy metal music as the club was getting ready for the busy night, Gwyn wasn’t a clubbing kind of girl so she wanted to be out of here before the club properly opened. The only staff member she saw was the bartender who was organizing the glasses and bottles behind the counter, so she waved him down.
“What can I get you?” The bartender asked her cautiously as she was still in her school uniform thus most likely underage.
“I was told to ask about a delivery for Tatiana.” she spoke as confidently as she could.
There was an immediate change in the man’s expression and posture at her mention of Tatiana.
“Everything is here as promised.” the bartender spoke softly as he slid an envelope over to Gwyn.
Glancing inside showed it to be stuffed full of money, much to Gwyn’s confusion.
“What about the order?” she was here after all to make sure she had enough booze for the party.
“It’ll be delivered as requested.”
The man before her was sweating rather heavily as they spoke, even though it wasn’t that hot in the club. Gwyn pocketed the envelope as she’d give it to Tatiana later, it was most likely for her anyway.
Turning to leave the club she noticed a furious looking Tatiana stomping her way towards the backrooms, the rest of the staff nervously trailing behind her like sheepish ducklings. Gwyn did contemplate going over but she didn’t want to interfere with her business or get in her way when she was mad, Marion did that enough at school and she’d seen the results.
Before she could leave the club however she was stopped by a large muscular individual that she recognized as one of the bouncers.
“Hello?” Gwyn shyly asked as he stood before her.
“Tatiana asked for everyone to go to the back.” he spoke with a deep timber that shook her bones.
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“She wants to see me as well?” Gwyn was a little confused as they had just seen each other at school and surely she could have told her then.
“She said everyone.” he just shrugged in reply.
Gwyn was ushered into the backroom by the hulking bouncer, her way back blocked by his bulk.
Once in the back she took a careful glance around, it was just as boring as she expected. Stacks and stacks of boxes and crates were packed up against the walls of the space, most likely holding the stronger liquor for the club. However, what wasn’t boring was Tatiana’s throne. Gwyn’s rather mature friend had a large luxurious looking fainting couch placed along the back wall, it sat upon a raised platform so that she could overlook the gathering.
Gwyn had to admit that Tatiana always had style.
Right now her friend was sitting imperiously on that throne in a long flowing black dress with a deep plunging neckline, her heels rested upon a low coffee table as she swirled a glass of whiskey in her hand. Occasionally she’d tap on it with a long steel talon on her index finger, creating an ominous clink as she waited.
Gwyn hid behind the bouncer as the last of the staff filtered in, she didn’t want Tatiana to see her before she found out what this meeting was about.
“Disgraceful.”
The biting cold of Tatiana’s voice silenced all the conversation in the chamber. Gwyn had never heard her use that tone of voice before, it sent shivers down her spine and butterflies into her stomach. She’d never admit to her friend that she found it rather sexy.
“So slow, so lazy!” Gwyn recognized the sound of Tatiana launching into a rant.
“I called this meeting to discuss your inadequacies!”
Was this just an employee review?
“Quotas are down across all income revenues, customers have stopped paying for protection in our northern sectors and the NorthGate gang is muscling in uncontested.”
This was more like it.
Gwyn wondered if Tatiana should be ranting about sensitive matters like that out loud, there could be snitches or spies in here. She was a prime example.
While Tatiana began ranting away once more Gwyn tuned her out, just like she did at school when she and Marion went at it and began surveying the room. For the first time since she got it she started actively using the system, she checked over everyone in the room.
It was surprisingly accurate, it was able to identify everyone in the room and catague them providing her with their names and occupations. Most people in the room worked at the club in some way from bartenders to servers, there was one exception besides herself.
Hanazawa Mitsue NorthGate Gang Informant
Gwyn didn’t know what to do, if she left him here he might hurt Tatiana but if she told her friend she didn’t imagine it’d go well for the nark.
She was a pacifist at heart but her friends were her world, they were all she had. She shuddered to imagine what would have happened to her without them, her life before them had left a scar upon her heart.
What was more important to her? Her principals or friends?
She’d choose those goofy and dumb friends of hers any day.
However there was one problem, which was that Tatiana was still ranting and she tended to get huffy if interrupted. Also there was how she’d explain herself and her knowledge but that was easier to deal with than an upset and pouty Tatiana. She’d just have to go for it and deal with the consequences later.
“Uh, excuse me? Tatiana, can I talk to you for a moment?” Gwyn nervously called out from behind the mob.
“Who said that? Who dared to interrupt me?!” Tatiana whirled angrily on where Gwyn was hiding.
Gwyn reflected on her selfless choice now that she had made Tatiana even angrier. She was left suddenly alone as the mob escaped from Tatiana’s displeasure to the sides of the room.
Upon seeing Gwyn standing nervously in her secret meeting, she left out a half-choked gasp of air. “What are you doing here?!”
“I came to check on my order and I somehow ended up here. Can I talk to you for a second?” Gwyn spoke as respectfully as she could in the moment.
“Yes, get up here!” Tatiana was suddenly more nervous than before.
Once Gwyn had gotten to the sofa throne she softly spoke to Tatiana “uh, I think you’re doing great, they look like they really respect you."
Gwyn hated doing any sort of public speaking, the fact Tatiana was so good at it impressed her.
“Thanks?” Tatiana blushed at the praise while still looking at Gwyn in confusion and worry.
“I just wanted to tell you that I think one of these guys is a nark, I saw him recording just a moment ago.” Gwyn thought that this story was more plausible than saying what she really saw.
“Which one?” Tatiana's voice went as cold as ice, Gwyn felt a tingle in an area she’d rather keep private.
“The bald one with tattoos,” Gwyn peeked over her shoulder, “the one with a tattoo of a green snake.” There were a few guys with bald heads and tattoos in the room.
“I’ll deal with the fucker.” Her voice was still icy and still doing interesting things to Gwyn’s body.
“Language Tatiana.” Gwyn didn’t like it when her friends used bad language.
“Sorry.” Tatiana muttered embarrassingly.
The regal appearing girl turned and motion towards one of her larger hulking employees, when he arrived she whispered something quietly to him. Gwyn offered a small prayer to the snitch as the bouncer vanished into the crowd,but her friends came first.
“Thank you Gwyn, that was very helpful.” Tatiana smiled brightly at Gwyn which made the green haired girl’s heart skip a beat.
“I didn’t want you to get in trouble.” Gwyn shyly spoke as she lowered her eyes.
“Well I greatly appreciate it, have a seat!” Tatiana chirped as she patted the sofa beside her, it was only large enough that Gwyn ended up pressed against her side.
Not that either minded.
The employee meeting continued with Tatiana a lot less tense. To Gwyn it appeared that she was trying to show off to her by extolling the positive aspects of her businesses rather than raging on about the negatives, much to her employee’s relief.
As the night dragged on Gwyn realized that it would be far too late to walk home as the city got more dangerous the later it was. Turning to her friend she quietly whispered “can I get a ride home?”
“Of course, oh I know! You can stay at my place again.” Tatiana beamed at Gwyn so beautifully she didn’t have it in her heart to say no.
“Oh! I just remember I was given this, I think it’s for you.” Gwyn handed over the cash-filled envelope to Tatiana.
The dark haired girl looked at it for a while before burying her head in her hands, a large heaving sigh escaped her. Gwyn didn’t quite know why but she had days like that too, she gently rubbed circles on the exasperated girl’s back in comfort.