The negotiations went well. Gretta had come back with Vision’s entire crew. She had practically floated as the thieves set up, so Red must have offered her a big cut. That, of course, meant smaller cuts for everyone else and Vision caught a few grumbles from her peers. She dared not utter any herself, not while Red watched her with his dark, hawkish gaze. She retreated back to Celia’s room, where she would prepare.

Early evening found her still in the courtesan’s room, applying the last touches of her makeup. She had been groomed as a courtesan for most of her youth, so she was quite capable of playing that particular role. It made her uncomfortable – she may as well paint a target on her head – but part of her was pleased as she looked in the mirror. She liked the way she looked. She was beautiful. She loved the golden hair that spilled to her shoulders, shining as though it had captured sunlight. She loved her tanned skin, and especially, her jade eyes. Her mother’s eyes.

In the privacy of her own mind, she liked that she so closely resembled her mother, from head to toe. It made her feel closer to the woman, whom she scarcely remembered. In truth though, the resemblance caused a lot of harm. She was too recognisable. Because of the way she looked, she would never be safe in any of the respectable parts of Awnn, her parentage was too easy to guess. Although he’d never mentioned it, Vision always worried that Fox resented her for that. He himself did not much resemble their mother. He could have been more than he was, if not for the little sister he’d been burdened to care for.

Celia gasped softly as she came into the room.

“I swear I’ve seen a ghost. You could be Irida.”

Vision clutched the pendant at her throat, and smiled sadly. Celia squared her shoulders and then pursed her lips in professional consideration. When she spoke again, her voice was dry.

“And yet you refuse to work here.”

Vision glanced down at herself. She wore pale green, with a daring neckline and a hem that reached her ankles, while concealing scarcely anything. She’d been uncertain about it. Long hemlines were not standard fare, but the green had matched her eyes so well that she’d decided to try it anyway.

“It’s fine?”

Celia nodded, “You’re ready. For better or worse.”

Taking a deep breath to steady herself, Vision nodded and then made her way out to the bar. She hadn’t done a job like this for her current crew and little prickles of anxiety travelled down her spine as she considered Red catching sight of her. She paused at the mouth of the corridor and looked into the main room. Glass was present, in deep conversation with Fox. It sounded like they were arguing and she turned her attention elsewhere. Fists was listening to whatever Gretta’s bouncer was saying, wearing a deep frown of concentration. Vision did not know the bouncer; it had been a different man when last, she had been there. Lefty wasn’t there. He wasn’t needed for this job. Red and Gretta talked in hushed voices in the corner. Bones was there too, leaning against the bar nursing a mug of ale. He wrinkled his nose between sips. He was an interesting man to look at, with angular features, save for a badly healed broken nose. His hair was a curious blue-grey and paired with his easy, roguish smile, he was positively lupine. She forced the smile that had come to her lips when she’d seen him away. Bones had always made her feel safe, but that was wrong. Dangerous, even. A couple of years back, he’d been kicked out of the crown’s army for insubordination and a lot of the soldier’s habits that had been drilled into him had stuck. Perhaps something about his manner reminded her of hazy childhood memories.

Bones was the first to notice her, where she hovered in the doorway. He flashed a toothy grin and whistled appreciatively. She found herself smiling again, and she held her arms out as she completed a small turn, showing off her appearance. She told herself it was just because she needed to be friendly with the men she worked with.

“What do you reckon? I clean up okay?”

At her words, the others noticed her. Glass was suddenly overcome by an inexplicable coughing fit. Fox raised a derisive eyebrow at him and they continued their bickering. She shivered as Red’s eyes found her. She was pinned for a moment, a field mouse watching an owl descend. Was it hungry? Bones stepped forward, breaking her view of the crew leader and the spell was broken.

“You look alright, I ‘spose,” Bones said, “Not as nice as me, of course, but that’s hard to do.”

She snorted, “Is that right?”

“Yep,” he in a droll tone, “We’ll call you a close second, if you like.”

“You’re awful,” she teased, “Go away and do your job.”

He bowed gallantly, “As the lady wishes.”

Then, he brushed past her and walked down the hallway where Gretta’s girls conducted their work. He paused about half way down.

“Got your drugs?”

“Only if you have my antidote,” she called, but her stomach clenched in painful anticipation.

“Surely do,” he said with a wave.

He didn’t turn to look back at her again, just made is way down to nearly the end of the corridor.

“If you go too far and make it to the girls’ living space, you’ll lose an eyeball” she warned, still trying to master her nerves.

She was careful to note which side room he disappeared into, because that would be where she did her own work. The other girls would have already been warned not to use that room. She turned her attention back to the main room and found Glass staring at her. It wasn’t in a way that made her think he was admiring her, it was more agitated, and sullen. He didn’t like her talking to Bones. He always warned that the other man was dangerous, and she didn’t disagree, but she wasn’t naïve. Danger to her person wasn’t really the reason that Glass wanted her to keep her distance.

Fox clapped Glass on the shoulder with a sneer, and then made his way over to the bar. He grinned at Daisy and slapped a coin down for a drink. Glass’ lips twisted in a silent snarl, and then with a sour glance at Vision, he left. Now that everything was set up, not all of the remaining men were necessary. That must have been their argument, which of them would leave, and Fox had won, unsurprisingly. She felt a brief flicker of disappointment – it might have been nice, to hear her lover tell her how beautiful she was tonight – and then dismissed the thought. If she’d had to pick someone to keep her safe, it would have been Fox. Red settled into a chaise lounge in the corner and set to watching the people around him. Vision had hoped he would leave, but hadn’t really expected it. It was okay. She would be protected by the fact that he needed her to work. Probably. Hopefully.