<div class="floatright">(http://img535.imageshack.us/img535/6793/001jjm.jpg)</div><br/>Once Smiley got the response, a combination of joy and sadness came over her.  Although she loved to get to do a new job, meet new faces and make friends, she usually took the effort to at least show up in the meet for the very first job with a particular Johnson until she knew who would be coming.<br/><br/>Having to show up in the meat meant a number of personal grooming details which bored her.  Filling the bath was easy enough, she wasn't so poor that she couldn't afford that, but the water was freezing enough to numb most of her body and leave her nipples harder than rocks.  The sudden rush of physical sensation was a little overwhelming, yet a necessary enough way to have to deal with reality once again.<br/><br/>Someday, she would be rich enough that she'd never have to come out of VR.  Trained specialists and drones would watch over her meat, keeping her fed and healthy while she was constantly jacked into the Matrix.  Having to come out of it reminded her how small her breasts were, how she was somewhat pretty but not nearly attractive enough to really draw the crowd and claim attention, especially when she didn't have the money to spend on extravagant clothes, makeup and perfumes.  Enough money had been saved up for if she ever needed to hide out for a month, but not nearly enough for her true dream.<br/><br/>Her own message had been mostly similar, but with one addendum:<em>Make sure your Wanderer has a seat for a troll.</em>That was little issue: she had but to put in an order, send her vehicle around to her mechanic friend and have it installed.  She could do that while shaving off all the fine hair which had grown over her legs and crotch since the last time she fixed herself up.<br/><br/><hr/><br/>When lunch came around, Smiley's Crysler/Nissan Wanderer was ready to pick up anyone who needed a ride.  She could grab people regardless of address: most people walked a few blocks so that she had no idea which apartment complex was theirs, but she was fine with that.<br/><br/>As normal for the plush SUV, the seats were made out of expensive leather, with the car currently showing a yellow motif that perfectly matched her jumpsuit.  Discreet gun ports sat upon each side, and the steering wheel had been removed, leaving Smiley in VR in the driver's seat.  The front passenger side's seat had been removed and replaced with a much larger chair of plush leather, large enough even for a troll to sit comfortably.<br/><br/>Once there, she sent out a wireless signal, and her Segway hopped out of the trunk, driving up to let her strap in and lay back into it.  The car was more than capable of driving and parking itself after letting out the other passengers, especially with her direction.  She rode the Segway up to the table, but from there she had to stop, leaving VR for a much longer period of time.<br/><br/>Nervousness showed through as soon as she came back from VR.  She didn't like having to spend too much time in the meat, even if she knew it tended to be necessary for a first meeting.  "Hey."  She glanced briefly at the assembled people, then sat down and looked down at the table centerpiece.  The Segway wheeled up against the wall, out of the way but ready at a moment's notice for Smiley's needs.<br/><br/>At least there were two people she knew already.  That was good; she wouldn't have to try to do a lot of talking and getting to know people again.  She thought about popping out her icon to do the overly cheerful and friendly meet and greets, but it always felt childish outside the Matrix, like a little kid begging for attention.  In the Matrix, it was just home, where you could be anybody you wanted to be, not what your flesh forced you to be.