Imprints in Stone [AU]

[Varric]

"Sure. Name, description, address or general location and a basic run-down of what sort of trouble you're having with him," Varric replies briskly, studying the newcomer carefully. Still got some Detect Thoughts left but no need to be sloppy (let's see what this one needs)...

[GamesMaster]

"He thinks he owns me, yah? I want out. But he ain't gon let me go easy. He'sa merikos summit, long blonde hair, pale grey eyes. Big dude. Goes by Roc."

[Varric]

Roc. Really? How... imaginative. "Not easy as in bluster and such, maybe some threats, or not easy as in he'll need to be shot a time or two?" Varric asks curiously, almost more interested in what she doesn't say as what she does.

[GamesMaster]

"Roc's not the threat type." He makes good first, talks second. "Beat me silly when I asked fer a second day off, an' made me pay for the healer."

[Varric]

"So it's a Bianca job. Fair enough. Where's he hang out, ah... didn't get your name either," Varric points out.

[GamesMaster]

Bianca? "Brianne. I'm Brianne." Her tail sways behind her, showing her displeasure. "'m working tonight, planned to tell 'm then."

[Varric]

"Alright, I'll come with then," Varric says after a moment. Wait, Brianne? As in Beth's- damnit girl, really? I knew her other friend (or whatever) Ari was part of the gang but... "Any of the other workers here work for Pebble?"

[GamesMaster]

She snickers. "Pebble. I like that. No, jus' me 'n Elle, and Elle's gone."

[Varric]

"That's the girl that... had a family emergency last night, yeah? She'll be back in a bit," Varric assures her. "So might as well explain things to Pebble about both of you. I'll even start nice and offer to buy out your contract. I'm sure he has one of those, right?" The dwarf smirks a little, well aware that there's no contract and that offering will just make the pimp mad, thus helping lead to 'justifiable self-defense.'

[GamesMaster]

Brianne flinches, her ears flicking back by instinct. "Yah, yah. Might be less mad iffin we tell 'm yer my new pimp. Yer sturdy, he might back down."

[Varric]

Varric purses his lips for a moment, then sighs. Less fun, more practical. "I'll bring along a pair of over-sized bookends as well. Got a few warehouse workers that'd be up for a bit of extra coin." His eyes unfocus for a moment and then sharpen again as he decides. "Probably Dethis and Morgan. Nothing takes the fight out of a bully like being faced with a seven foot merikos troll and a four-hundred pound, full-bloodied minotaur." Even if Dethis is actually a real nice guy. Morgan is a cast-iron lady though, so that balances out.

[GamesMaster]

She whistles. "Alright. You pull that off, we're solid. Oh, but I want a raise." 

[Varric]

Varric raises an eyebrow. "How? Beth already explained how the place works, the brothel only takes a cut big enough for operating expenses. Hopefully business picks up enough to cover the extra frills of going legit, thanks to the extra frills of being legit. That'll start more money in your direction by itself."

[GamesMaster]

"Sure, but Beth's been mostly in charge of organizing and pimping, and I've been advising her. With her out of the picture, that means my duties just doubled, which means I want a bigger cut." She stares him down, daring him to challenge her logic. 

[Varric]

"One, Beth is stepping back but I'm filling in as needed on her behalf, either personally or by proxy on my copper. Two, this brothel was founded on 'equal shares for all' so if others are pulling their weight, they need to be helped step up. And finally, three, by going legit, the need for a pimp drops considerably. Put out a marquee- a sign- out front, spend a couple of silver a week to spread word and that's sorted really." Varric shakes his head. "No, I'll be putting together a formal contract for everyone, now that things are going above board, but I'll be sticking with what my daughter intended- a cooperative commune, where each producer gets an equal deal and the bulk of their own profits, with the business itself only taking enough to keep operating and make what group improvements are decided on jointly."