Just because Riley didn’t drink, didn’t mean she disliked spending time in bars. Bars in New York City were the absolute best place to network, and the best place to people watch. Besides, approaching someone who could improve her situation while they were inebriated and she wasn’t…needless to say, put her at an advantage. At this point, Riley had been sitting in this particular corner of the room for a couple of hours and had observed no less than three people who would be beneficial to have conversations with.

It had worked twice since the travesty of a courtroom scene that had left Riley wondering if she’d ever work in this town again. Riley had been forced to be resourceful. All it had taken was some bar hopping, liberal amounts of alcohol in the right people, and she’d been able to book herself three shoots. Rent had been paid, groceries had been bought, and things were looking up, if only slightly. Everyone knew that Gerry was a creep…and it wasn’t too much of a stretch to convince a drunk photographer that the whole thing had been a misunderstanding that had gotten out of hand. Once she was in their good graces…the rest was cake. Two of the shoots had gone off without a hitch, and the third had been far easier to book. Riley was starting to think that maybe her name wasn’t as much mud as she’d originally thought.

Again, there were at least three she was planning to swoop in on, and one of them was well on their way to the proper level of drunk. Riley sipped her ginger ale. It was her drink of choice in this situation, it was easy to pass of as alcohol. Big eyes, batted eyelashes, and slightly bleary eyes were the only other things she needed in most cases. Maybe they wouldn’t even recognize her when they took her card. It had been over a month since she’d failed so miserably to stand up for herself in a courtroom.

Riley had learned a few things that day in the court room, and she’d studiously applied them to live since. Nobody was going make her a fool like that again. Riley crossed her legs and took another sip, watching and waiting for the right time to approach.

This was going to be a profitable night. She could already tell.

The meeting had been tense. The Russians wanted in. If they couldn't edge in they wanted a slice of Order territory. They thought because she was a woman and because she'd brought a woman as her back up, that they could be pushed around. Had they forgotten that their territory was guarded and inhabited by mutants? Lori's flat refusal meant that they had decided to push in tonight, during the meeting.

When the family head had received the call, his face had actually turned pale. Mutants could defend themselves. It didn't matter if they were Order mutants. It didn't matter if Lori was there or not. The Russians just couldn't use a traditional take-over. Not with the Order.

Then, Lenna and Lori had started their counter negotiations. In the end it had all worked out.

And now, tense and tired but totally jazzed from the adrenaline Lori needed to wind down. Lenna suggested a drink and viola. They'd ended up in a crowded place fighting for the bartender's attention. The stocky blonde bounced on her heels dressed in black skinny jeans and a grimy tee with the slogan "40 watt club" scrawled across the front it in black. Not exactly what someone would wear when trying to impress or intimidate, but anything more and she would have felt as if she'd been trying too hard.

"Jack and coke!" The dim lights flared ever so slightly as she raised her voice in order to be heard. Lori pulled Lenna closer for ease of ordering... The blond grinned to the other blonde. It was a good night.

The bartender eyed the dimming with veiled worry, but kept his focus glued to the customers as best he could.

Damned lighting... He'd paid the electric bill... did the lamps need replacement bulbs already?

He set down his rag in a safe place, and nodded politely to the ladies. He may have even cracked the faintest manly bartender equivalent of a smile. Lori pulled Lenna close, and that said something to him. He didn't voice what it said.

They were both blonds. One had her hair cut short in some sort of style he didn't know the name of. He wanted to call it after some masculine name. Fred, George, Bob? It wasn't quite a Bob, though. He wasn't well-versed enough in hair literature to name anything beyond the confines of a bowl. The blond with short hair was cute. She wore a black long-sleeve over a white tank top, brown steel-toed boots, and dark-blue jeans.

"Gimme a Rum and Coke," the blond ordered. She turned to her friend. "One of these days, I've got to take you to a classier joint. You know, they make a rum cocktail with edible gold leaves?" She laughed. "Can you imagine? They call it an an Aurum. I want me an Aurum..." She trailed. "Sounds yummy."

Aurum nearly choked on his drink. He sounded yummy?

From where he sat at the bar, he hadn't caught the full gist of the conversation with the ladies. He'd only heard his name. There were two of them, both blond. Were they talking about him?

Nah, couldn't be.

But still... hmph. They were good-looking. Maybe he'd talk with them... just as soon as he talked with the other woman at the bar who he'd been eying for a minute. He knew the face. He'd seen Lonnie screw her over in court. He hadn't liked the way Lonnie'd handled that one. He felt the need to apologize.

Aurum rose from his seat, and moved to sit next to the dark-haired woman. "Riley, was it?" The ice in his drink clinked as he set it down on the counter, leaning forward slightly a stool away from her. "Aurum." He casually gestured to himself. "From court?"

The right time announced itself in the form of two women, one of which Riley could claim at least general acquaintance with. She’d sat in the woman’s bathroom while she took a shower. Then the woman had paid her a pretty sum of money for a photo shoot. Maybe she’d do it again. Riley decided to wait a bit, and let the pair get a couple of drinks, it was all part of the big plan. She settled back into her people watching, eyes moving over the crowd and checking on the progress of her three targets for the night. Everything was progressing nicely.

Someone said her name, and Riley’s eyes jerked to the right to find someone sitting far closer to her than she would have allowed if she’d been given any say. Someone who knew her name. Someone who knew her from court.

The guy was good-looking, and as Riley gave him a casual once-over she decided that he definitely knew it. He gave his name, and it still took her a moment to place him. Where would she have met someone like this in court?

Recognition dawned, and a huge, bright smile spread across Riley’s features. ”Oh, right! So good to see you again.” she said, leaning forward as if to hear better in the slightly loud atmosphere.

”I’d hoped I would run into you or your boss at some point so I could give you a little something.” She smiled even brighter. Then dumped her three-quarters-full glass of Ginger Ale in his lap with every ounce of deliberate flounce possible.

”See! Wouldn’t it have been a shame if I never got to pass on that message?” she laughed, then pivoted on the stool to face the blonds. It was too early still, but that didn’t matter.

It was the laughter that caught her attention. Two parts amusement, one part derision and a hint of spunk. Lori had to edge onto her tippy toes to see past Lenna. Brunette. And adapted. Oh gee. Was this awkward? Full null, meet my partial null. Heh. Yeah. It was nothing like that.

"Ms Riley Summers, fancy meeting you here." She exchanged her cash for booze and just like that the electric elemental moved to greet the adapted. "Taking care of yourself, I see." Her eyebrows raised in a way that practically pointed to the man who now had an embarrassing moist patch in his trouser area.

"This is my," back up, second in command, left hand, lots of things passed through her eyes before she settled on one label that covered it all, "friend. Lenna. She's a bit like you actually." Between the three of them they had enough sass and brimstone to bring this house down. And that prospect was tempting. So, so very tempting.

Lenna followed Lori's gaze, sipping her rum and coke. It was a brunette sitting next to a hot guy. The hot guy looked just a tad wet. It didn't take a rocket surgeon to put two and two together. They were in a bar. Ladies had drinks. They often threw them at charming men who weren't as charming as they thought they were. This man had just gotten a free drink. He'd really lapped it up, too.

Lori introduced her to the woman who'd done the deed, and Lenna smiled politely. "Howdy."

A bit like her? What exactly did Lori mean? Was this woman also a mercenary? Did she also want to try Aurum? Or was it something else?

She poured a drink on him. It didn't smell like alcohol. Was it ginger ale? Well, that was unpleasant. She was kind of unpleasant. Why was he talking to the unpleasant woman again? Apologizing...? He might have deserved it though. No.

"I think Lonnie deserved that more than me..." Aurum decided. "And I would definitely, definitely pass on the message, if only it didn't cause me to lose my apprenticeship with the guy."

He tried smoothing things over and laughing it off. Haha, it was funny right? Aurum wasn't one bit ticked, right?

No. He was a little ticked. She was unpleasant, and she was ignoring him. He tapped her shoulder, hoping to get her attention once more. Aurum spoke over whatever loudness there was in the bar.

"I'm sorry. I have to think we got off on the wrong foot. I'm Aurum. I make Lonnie's coffee. I don't really agree with him, most of the time. Can I buy you a ginger ale in a vain attempt to make it up to you for my boss's jerkitude?"

Jerkitude was a good word. It was definitely a good word. It could not capture, however, the extreme dislike he had of the man. He was trying to be polite, though. Swearing at her or towards her wouldn't help her forgive him... would it?

Not that he needed any forgiving. He just wanted it known Lonnie was an asshole, and he did not approve.

Aurum knocked back the last of his alcohol and held up a finger for the bartender, snagging his attention. "Drink?"

Conversation was much more interesting in this direction, Riley decided. The only problem was that she’d lost her drink. She smiled thinking about it. Definitely worth $4.50.

Lori pointed out that it seemed like Riley was doing alright for herself. Riley was almost hurt that the woman had been paying so little attention to her life since they’d shared that intimate little 4 foot radius through a shower curtain…then she remembered that they were all supposed to be operating in the real world.

”Things are just peachy-keen. You look to be holding up well enough yourself.”

The friend at the bar was introduced, and Riley smiled at the brunette in attendance on her former (and hopefully future) employer.

The woman said ‘howdy’ …actually said ‘howdy’ in a bar in New York City. Riley would have laughed under different circumstances. Instead she gave a bright, sweet, smile.

”Hello there. If Lori says we have lots in common, I’m sure she’s telling the God’s honest truth.” her own voice dripping with the sincerity she was supposed to be feeling. Had this Lenna woman replaced her as Lori’s shower facilitator. She was about to ask that very question.

Then. Someone tapped her shoulder.

”One sec?” she said to the other women, rolling her eyes over her shoulder.

She turned around.

It was still the lawyer boy.

Riley tried to look even more bored with his conversation than she really was. That folks, was a feat.

Bluh bluh bluh…wrong foot. Bluh bluh bluh…Lonnie. Bluh bluh bluh….coffee. Bluh bluh bluh…Ginger Ale.

He was offering to buy her a Ginger Ale after she’d just deposited one in his lap?

Maybe he’d get the idea after round number two.

Riley smiled that same sweet smile. ”Make mine a double?”

”You know. I think you are right. We did get off on the wrong foot.”

Lawyer boy was obviously used to women falling all over themselves when his pretty self spoke. Why, that apology had very nearly been condescending. Lawyer boy was in a for a rude surprise where Riley was concerned.

She smiled vapidly and waited.

> ”Hello there. If Lori says we have lots in common, I’m sure she’s telling the God’s honest truth.”

Tweety Bird put it best when he said 'You don' know me vewwy well, do you?' Luckily, Lori was saved from exposing her Looney Tunes gusto when the handsome stack of man interrupted them. He was handsome, but he was the kind of handsome that seemed caught between sincerity and insincerity. If he could have just picked one, he would have come off a lot more... sincere.

"Persistent lil bugger isn't he?" As much as Riley could handle herself, wouldn't it be more fun if they took mister handsome for a ride?

"Is he your type, Lenna?" He wasn't really Lori's but she made exception every now and again. For now, she just needed to watch and see if he was Riley's type. Because she wasn't one to intrude where she wasn't needed, but if Riley wanted... she would absolutely love to intrude.

"Aaaaaand... your friend?" Bar stools couldn't scoot, more's the shame. Lori stepped up next to Riley, but still slightly behind the girl. She had the lead here with this one. He was on her hook if she wanted it.

One cue to scram and Lori would disengage. Probably. Well... if it was no longer fun.

Sure, he was hot, but...

"I dunno..." Lenna trailed mischievously. "No Texas accent, soggy? Doubt he even knows how to handle himself in a bar fight." Pretty faces were the ones that most-easily got dented. If not 'most easily', then 'most often' would have to do. Lenna hardly knew him, and she hardly knew Miss Riley, but if Lori or the other woman gave the word... well... he was no John Wayne, no Clint Eastwood. He wasn't pretty enough or charming enough not to get hit. If he asked for it, she'd just have to oblige. That is, if this 'Riley' did not beat her to it. If the woman was 'like her', then perhaps that was the area in which she excelled?

"Nope," She decided. "Not my type..." ...although he did know how to get himself in lots of trouble like other men who were her type. That did not count.

She tilted her glass and watched ice clink together. Lenna curiously observed the scene, watching to see whether he was the other woman's type, and whether or not she had more in common with her than simply good fashion sense.

The ordered drinks came just in time. Aurum scooped up his beer and took a swig for confidence (not that he needed any). He left Riley's whatever-she-wanted to her. A 'double' Ginger ale... right. She was being smart. The bartender had rolled his eyes a little. Aurum hadn't, physically. Mentally? Well, that was another story. He had his eyes on her. She'd already dumped one drink into his lap. Something told him she wouldn't draw the line there.

She... was something else.

Aurum still wasn't sure what.

Her actions didn't match up with the look on her face. She was insincere, sincere, smiling and glowering all at once. He wasn't an idiot (something she probably wanted to prove otherwise). He got that she was openly hostile to him. Really, he did. He was not the type to think that just because he was good-looking, people opened doors for him. It happened, yes, but he opened his own damn doors too. He couldn't blame her for wanting to get back at him and Lonnie, but he wanted her to understand now, it wasn't on him.

Did he have anything beyond that he was aiming to accomplish here? Was there a motive to his madness? His continued chatting with the woman who'd dumped drink on his trousers? He really didn't know. Frankly, he didn't care. Whatever was keeping him stuck in his seat the way he was, it didn't matter. He was buying her a drink. That was the end of the story. People needed to stop reading into his actions. People... needed to stop evaluating him. People... well, frankly, people had been up to these tricks far too long, walking around like they owned the place. People needed to be brought down a peg or two.

Aurum took another drink. People... He smiled at the nice ladies, thinking once again... People..

"Hi," He said to the ladies. His focus shifted back to Riley. "So anyways, as I was saying... Lonnie's an ass."

Very poetic, Aurum. She'll definitely fall for you for that one, his inner critic chided. The inner critic flew across the bar counter. Aurum kicked it.

Buzz off.

”Mm hmm.” Riley said, when Lori pointed out how persistent Mr. Aurum was. Interesting she couldn’t help but think. He really was planning to stick with the whole apology thing. Part of her, a large part, wanted to laugh in his face for that. Surely a guy that good-looking had more self-respect than to put up with her shenanigans.

Then again. Maybe he was being sincere.

Riley didn’t know how to deal with the second one, so she reconciled her mind to the fact that he simply had an ulterior motive that hadn’t become obvious yet. At the same time, Lori asked if he was Lenna’s type, and Riley chuckled, picking up her drink from the bar and giving Aurum a significant look. She took a drink. No need to waste more good Ginger Ale. She took a moment to see what everyone else was drinking. Whisky and rum for the ladies, beer for the gent. Interesting. Hard liquor indicated that Lenna and Lori were on a mission, beer provided more of a slow burn.

Lenna decided that Aurum was not, in fact, her type, and Riley rose an eyebrow at what was. One thing was for sure, they’d never have to worry about going after the same type of man. Cowboy boots. Really?. She smiled over her shoulder at the woman and turned back to Aurum just in time to get an introduction request from Lori at the same time Aurum pointed out the obvious about his employer.

She stirred the ginger ale with the tiny straw the bartender had included with the drink, considering both comments from both people. How could this situation be turned to an advantage? Lori had seemed interested enough, but Aurum hadn’t paid either of the other woman the slightest bit of attention beyond a polite salutation.

”This is Aurum.” she said, just the tiniest bit begrudgingly.

”He’s a stripper.”

Wow. Where had that come from? Riley supposed it was the name…who had a name like that who wasn’t a stripper? Besides…lawyer, stripper, same thing.

”And yeah. Lonnie is an ass too.”

Boy, all that ginger ale was really going to her head.

Lori wasn't used to getting flat out ignored. Oh sure, guys picked someone else more often than her more and more these days, but pretending she didn't exist? That was a sure blow to the ego. In fact it was a little worse than flat ignoring. It was stepping on her words with a so anyways, like I was saying only to you and not to these rude interlopers comment.

He was a real class act.

A fact neatly confirmed by Riley and the echo of shock on his face. The stripper was out of the bag. He really was too nicely dressed to be much else. And his stage name made Lori imagine that he got a dusting of gold powder before he went on stage. It wasn't a bad place to be imagining. Lori rolled her lips under and bit down on them in order to keep from snicker-spittaking rum and coke all over the pair.

And Lonnie? They weren't saying piece of ass so surely he was management instead of another stripper.

After she managed to keep her liquor where it was supposed to be, she managed to speak. "Do you care about Lonnie?" She Asked Riley because, well... she didn't care. "Leave your boss at work, golden boy, and man up to your own inadequacies." He so obviously was shifting blame so that he could get on the good side of Riley. He was trying so hard. But why?

Why does anyone send a stripper to seduce a specific woman?

"He's not one of the Russians is he?" Lori had turned to Lenna confidentially. It wasn't uncommon for Russians to be blonde. Lori was an American through and through. She really couldn't differentiate bone structure or anything to place someone ethnically or regionally. So she had to ask to be sure.

A stripper, was he? Lenna snerked.

"Gonna do a lil dance for us then, Stripper-boy?" She turned to Lori. "Look, he's already oiled up."

It was a shame. Now, she couldn't take him seriously. All she could do was objectify. Mr. Good-looking, soggy, ignorer-of-womenfolk, stripper Jones.

Lori told him to leave his boss at work. Lenna shook her head, eying him. She took a swig of her drink.

>> "He's not one of the Russians is he?"

"He isn't trying to get in bed with you, is he? I doubt he's with the Russians. He'd probably have better taste in alcohol, too. Can't well get drunk on that stuff." She pointed at his beer, and held up her glass. "Real men drink rum."

He wasn't a real man, therefore, he wasn't with the Russians. Her logic was without flaw.