Missy seemed pleased, but Victoria felt dirty. And that was saying something, for one who regularly spread herself for money. But at least whoring herself was on her own terms. Performing for Missy like her dog made Victoria’s skin crawl, and Missy’s enthusiastic response didn’t make it feel any better.<br/><br/>“I’ve never been called delicate, and I ain’t never been offered no fainting couch, much less used one.” She pointed out, distancing herself from Missy’s attempt at solidarity with her. “But, uh…” She shrugged, and offered a half smirk, “You think they let colored ladies vote up in Wyomin’? Hell, you think they got any colored ladies up in Wyomin’?”<br/><br/>That question earned a laugh from Vic, and another glass of whiskey. And while she poured that glass, Missy changed from the southern belle enjoying the latest bits of gossip to the calculating businesswoman.<br/><br/>“Which<b><i>is</i></b>my business, Miss Freeman. I am a solution. To many problems, the list of which I am still adding to. Vigorously. An investor, of sorts, if you prefer. Not of businesses or concepts or anything so pedestrian. But of ability.” She spouted off some pretty words that didn’t mean a whole lot to Vic, wasting a whole lot of breath for not much meaning. Vic took a slow sip of her drink, and slid into her own mask, the illiterate former slave.<br/><br/>“Hun, you’re gon hafta forgive me. I’m jus a simple colored lady, without the benefit of your fancy learnin’. If you want me to follow along, you’re gon hafta speak more plainly.”<br/><br/>And she did just that. “This land is worthless, Miss Freeman. Utterly worthless. Nothing will ever grow here, and the only beings suited to living in such miserable, inescapable heat are rodents and reptiles. And when that mine dies -and it will, I assure you, Miss Freeman- this town will consume itself. Until there is nothing left but scrap.”<br/><br/>“And who will they come to then? With pitchforks in hand and murderous envy in their eyes? The ...<i>colored</i>girl who’s been gathering money like they do flies?”<br/><br/>And that was the cruelest thing of all, because it true. Because a former slave could work herself to the bone and sell her very body to any passerby who came along, and all she could get for that was a plot of worthless land in a dying town.<br/><br/>Before Victoria could even speak, however, Missy turned that dire warning into an opportunity, because that’s what her kind did. Create the idea of a problem, and then offer to sell you the solution to it. And dammit if it weren’t working right now.<br/><br/>"For now, the whiskey is yours. All I have. I imagine you'll turn a better profit than I ever will. "In return, I'd like nothing more than to ...rent your establishment. For the evening.<i>For</i>the town -whatever is left of them anyhow."<br/><br/>“Well, I suppose I’d hafta be a fool to deny you,” Vic admitted, finishing off her glass. “But I can’t recommend lettin’ these men know they can drink without payin’. They’ll get ugly drunk then, and that’s more’n headache than even you could pay for.”<br/><br/><hr class="bbc-hr bbc-hr--3"/><br/><br/>The evening shift was in full swing by the time the two gentlemen from before arrived at the Belle, and Vic found herself quite pleased at their arrival. She changed for the night shift, shedding the veneer of respectability for corset top that showed off her cleavage, and a ruffled skirt that showed even more leg.<br/><br/>“Evenin’ fellahs. You wanna come join me for a drink upstairs?” she offered, motioning with her head towards the lone table at the top of the second-floor landing. She led the way, gripping her skirt tight against her so she wouldn’t step on it as she ascended the steps. “So, Onyx Landing excitin’ enough for you fellahs?”<br/><br/>An unopened bottle of good whiskey awaited them on the table, and three empty glasses. Vic made a show of leaning over to pour each one, and crossed her legs deliberately as she sat, and took a long drink of her glass. “I wish I could join you two for more’n just the one drink, but business calls. Don’t worry, though, I’ll leave you two the bottle to finish off.” She took another sip of her whisky, and giggled as the heat made it’s way to her head. “Though, if I’m bein’ honest here, I’d much rather be off my feet this evenin’ if you catch my meanin’.”