Sarinah had told Scarlet to find Cook the other day. She was supposed to of gone there the other night, but was unable to, due to 'legal' reasons. She had just hoped her new friend's offer was still open.

Peering inside she was welcomed by a plethora of sites and scents. She almost lost track of what she was doing by getting distracted by a dancer. The read head then shook her head for a second to get rid of a couple naughty thoughts.

She then started to look around for Sarinah while trying not to look at anyone directly. It was hard for her not to stand out, but she tried to blend in as much as possible. She had even removed her scarf and sash so that she was a bit more color coordinated.

<Sorry to Sarinah for taking this long to make this thread.>

Sarinah sat at the edge of the hotpool, casually chatting with a few of the regulars whilst convincing them to go and find the little blonde in the room out the back. Laughing lightly, she patted the cheek of one man as he asked her if she would dance tonight.

"We will see kov. I'm not really a dancer anymore, but if your willing to pay premium gold for it, we'll see what I can do." She ran her finger along his jaw and smiled. Looking up briefly she saw a familiar face. Excusing herself from the patrons, she stood and sauntered over.

"Hesta! I wondered if you were going to come after all." Her arm snaked through Scarlets and she pulled her out of the open and off to one corner.

"How are you chip?"

Scarlet wrapped her arm around Sarinah, not at all disturbed by the girl being friendly, "I've been just benny. Sorry fer not comin' in last night. I had some trouble. Yer offer's still open, I hope?" she asked.

Scarlet had been unsure of whether or not pets could come into Cook's Place or not, so she had Tilley hidden in a tree, tied to a branch. The reptile looked in at it's master through a window, before it started to chew its way free from the leash.

Sarinah smiled slightly and sighed.

"It is chip, however, there has been a change of hands here. Cook is gone, Alioe know's where, and the new Madame Mulm, I barely see her. So, at the moment, you are talking to the effective 'one in charge'." She squeezed her arm supportively.

"What do you want to do Scarlet? If you want in on the resistance, I can still get you in through other directions. You can either hang around and wait for Mulm or I can send you to another place I know of. It's your choice chip."

"Cook's gone? What are ya gonna name the place?" Scarlet asked, slightly humored at her luck. However she did not wait for an answer before continuing, "That's okay. I really ent got any plans on staying too long. How long til Mulm gets back and what other places can I go?"

Sarinah looked at her with a lopsided grin. She truly hadn't thought about it. For as long as she remembered, Cook's had always been Cook's. Maybe it did need a name change.



The brunette pursed her lips and tapped them with one finger.

"I ent really sure chip. She's been gone all day. Usually she gets in around this time, but all I can suggest is to sit around and wait for a little while. If you want a drink, I can get one of the girls to get you something. I will possibly be dancing later, so if Mulm isn't here by the time I've finished, I'd say come tomorrow evening." She nodded to herself and rested her hand on a cocked hip.

((Augh, sorry guys. Life's rough and time is short. I'll try my best to interject myself and help out the story. ))



As though on cue, the polished door of the business banged open, and a package-laden Mulm squeezed through the opening. She'd been taking advantage of her new second-in-command these last few days, leaving Sarinah in charge while she took care of business around the city. In only a few days Madame Mulm had made the acquaintance of many a shopkeeper and seamstress, and every evening she returned to Cook's with more beaded draperies, gleaming candlesticks, and other such items for sprucing up the look of the place. The business may well be under Cook's influence again someday, but Mme. Mulm firmly believed in leaving her own mark wherever she went.

The night's customers glanced up as she stood framed in the twilit doorway, and Mulm took a moment to throw her hip into a seductive curve while she glanced over their faces. Most belonged to the usual ruddy-faced johns, but one stood out: a girl standing in the back, arm in arm with Sarinah. The older woman smiled indulgently at the men and as they looked back to the much younger and more scantily clad ladies at their sides, Mulm sauntered to the back to meet the unusual caller.

Mulm assessed the girl with eyes that knew a woman's virtues like a shepherd knew his stock's. She noted in particular the cascade of auburn hair and smokey, smoldering look to her eyes. If Sarinah had brought a new woman into Cook's employ, Mulm approved. The madame raised her eyebrows slightly in question to Sarinah.

"Miss Lissden...?"

Sarinah looked up as the door to the Place opened. Just like it was meant to be Mulm was there, arms full of the things she had been slowly buying to adapt Cook's to..well Mulms. She looked at Scarlet and smiled encouragingly.



The brunette pulled Scarlet forward a little.

"Good evening Madame, let me introduce Scarlet. She's a friend of mine, and she has a few things she wishes to discuss with you. In private rosh." She said with a cocked eyebrow, hoping Mulm understood what she was implying. The resistance wasn't something you openly discussed in such a public place, especially with the galdori man in the hot pool. Letting go of Scarlet, the dancer reached out in an offer to take the items from her employers hands.

<Sorry. Pawned the laptop and I am attempting this on a cell phone. Please bear with me. Big text, little screen.>



Scarlet smiled at Mulm, unable not to notice the older woman was checking her out. Unfortunately she was not here for job, though the visual compliments were flattering.



"Hesta! It's benny to meet ya. Madame Mulm I'm guessing?" her smile became a little unsure of how to greet a woman like this. "I was wondering if ya'd be nice enough to let me talk to ya in private?"

Suddenly she heard several wistles her way and she figured that she had quickly better make something clear, "Although the kovs here are, um... flattering, I'm not here fer employment. It's a little more important than that."

<PS - No biggie person playing Mulm. I have had hardly an ounce of time for this as it is. >

"Thank you, Miss Lissden. Be a dear and take those things down to the basement so I can sort them later." Mme. Mulm unceremoniously dumped the parcels in her arms into Sarinah's.

Unburdened, Mulm turned to Scarlet and smiled her oily smile, warmly taking the younger girl by the arm and steering her into a side room that was unoccupied. When the door was closed behind them, Mulm put her hands on her hips and appraised the young woman again, this time knowing that it wasn't a life of tumbling Scarlet was after.

"Sarinah tells me you have business with me, so I suppose you had better be out with it, darling. What is it that you want?"

Considering the last few times she had mentioned the resistance, Scarlet was actually a little nervous to approach the subject with the strange woman. After taking a quick breath to consider what to say for once, she asked, "I am looking for a friend and I believe someone in the party may know her. I figure she is probably already dead, but I would still like to know if she is still around, for a friend's sake."

Scarlet actually didn't care too much about the girl, after all she had only known her for a day. However her one true friend, Annie, needed to know. Scarlet know what guilt was, and if Emme was dead, she didn't want her friend to bear that kind of guilt.

As soon as Mulm had swept the young woman into the empty room she took on an expression that looked light a fire had been lit behind her eyes. If she wasn't here for a job, then there were few other reasons this girl would be in to see the madame of a whorehouse. And Mulm doubted that the wick wanted fashion advice.



That little flame died abruptly.

Ever since those golly meddlers had come knocking on her door after Radamus' death the thought of striking back at them had practically driven her mad...and since she had found those resistance pamphlets in Cook's safe...well, the very mention of the Party was a bit thrilling. Every second she had spent outside the business Mme. Mulm had been straining her old eyes to see into Vienda's dark corners, hunting out those faces that she should remember for future use. But unfortunately for Scarlet, Mulm was still a stranger in this town, and those faces meant nothing to her -- yet. She had no information for this girl.

"I'm afraid you came too late, darling. The link between Cook's Place and the party was, of course, Cook -- and he's on vacation." Mulm replied flatly, frustrated that Scarlet had come seeking information rather than bearing it. Her tone turned cold. "If your friend was involved in the party perhaps you shouldstroll up to the Seventen holding dens and see if the gollies've seen them."

((Not really sure where to take this! Mulm hasn't made any contacts in the city, she doesn't know anyone in the party but herself, hahahaa.))