Scope The Place Out.

The Lace Place has a much smoother and cleaner look to it than most buildings around here. It has soft angles and large reflective windows that **** you to come inside if you want to see a show. Outside the entrance is a very large man wearing a visor you recognize as being a scanner not uncommon among law enforcement and military, and a small but powerful collapsible weapon slung on his shoulder. You look down at Reinna and smirk.

"I'm starting with a drink."

You step inside and she quickly moves to follow, offering a smile and wave to the doorman while you simply ignore him. The interior is even fancier than you would have thought. The lights are bright and offer perfect views of the colorful and soft looking interior as well as the workers who mill about the sitting area. Most of them wear dresses or suits, almost worthy of an oligarch's party, but with clearly lewd cuts. The skirts are short or simply missing the front, the vests have no shirt beneath them, and while the men and women are all fully covered the eye can't help but linger on certain areas emphasized by their clothing.

"Wow," Reinna whispers. "This place isn't nearly as sleazy as I thought it would be."

"Whoring is good business," you tell her. "Smart places use that money to improve their images, bring in customers with deeper pockets. If their really smart, they'll still cater to the little guy and make him feel like a king for a fraction of the price."

You find the bar, a long stretch of polished dark wood, and lead Reinna to it. Behind the bar is a woman whose attire is slightly out of place with the rest of the scene. She's wearing red latex, a much for her short hair that's flipped to one side. The ensemble is a tight top with no shoulders that shows her midriff, a pair of shorts that would be more accurately described as underwear, and big red boots with heels. She gives you a wink as you sit down.

"What'll be?"

You move to order then remember you have no money. Reinna offers to buy so you order two shots and down your own without a thought, enjoying the fizzy burn and bitter aftertaste. You look over at Reinna and see her eyeing her drink suspiciously.

"You don't have to..."

Before you finish speaking she's holding her nose and gulping it down. Her eyes bug out and she coughs with her tongue out and you half expect dust to come flying out of her mouth. The bartender titters and is already pouring her a tall glass of blue liquid, a Cleanser.

"Take this," she says. "On me."

Reinna grabs the glass with two hands and chugs the contents. She finishes with a long sigh that includes a faint blue mist common for this drink. It won't neutralize the **** in her system but it will help with the burning in her throat and any nausea as well as removing the taste.

"I'm sorry," says Reinna, eyes tearing up from the strain on her throat. "I don't usually drink hard stuff."

"I should have asked," you tell her.

"Well, aren't you two a cute couple?" laughs the bartender.

Reinna blushes furiously and starts about three different sentences at once.

"We're not here on a date," you say plainly. "I was hoping to speak to management about something."

"Management? Only Boss around here is Ms. Velvet. And she's an invitation only kinda gal."

"So how do I acquire such an invitation?"

The bartender pretends to consider for several seconds, tapping her chin and drawing it out.

"Let's see...I might know a way..."

You roll your eyes and turn to Reinna, "Got any more cash?"

Reinna starts to open her satchel but the bartender puts a hand on hers.

"Not what I had in mind," she says with a smile. "See, you're in luck. Tonight's a special night. Once a month we hold a special kind of contest to draw in the crowds. Winner gets an audience with Ms. Velvet, under guard of course, and even gets to ask for a favor."

You nod and ask, "What's the contest?"

"It changes every month. This time the theme is 'Dom and Sub'. Pairs have ten minutes to wow the crowd. And you two really do make a very cute couple..."

She licks her lips and stares right at Reinna who giggles nervously and looks away. You take her arm in yours and start to guide her away from the bar.

"We'll think about," you tell the bartender.

"That was pretty crazy..." Reinna laughs.

You glance around the main room and take stock. There are plenty of drunken customers who probably have very loose lips at the moment. But the workers are more likely to have information on this woman, and just maybe the drive you're looking for. You could pay for some alone time or make some "gentle" suggestions to the clientele, if you're careful not to get kicked out or shot.

"Don't worry," you tell her. "I'm not gonna **** you into something you don't wanna do. Wait here while I try and dig something up."

She puts a hand on your arm as you try to move away and asks, "Do you think you can find what you need?"

You shrug, "Maybe. It's always a bit of a crap shoot."

"Well I want to...help, that is! With getting father's stuff back! So, like, if this contest is our best option..."

Her face is so red that you can't decide if she's embarrassed at the thought of being in a BDSM contest or if she's just that excited at the thought.