Smooth Sailing

The two journalists spent a few days hashing out cover stories and contingency plans: Marco and Ellie were a couple, who had begun planning to move to Principalia. They had wanted to see what a master/**** relationship was like for them before making the commitment. They had heard about the club in online forums while doing their research.

Satisfied their preparations were sufficient, they made their way to the club. Marco wore a dark shirt and blazer. Ellie wore a white bodysuit and jeans and, much to her discomfort, a thin leather collar. Having gotten to know Marco over the last few days, however, she trusted him. He hadn't so much as even looked at her with any sort of lust or malice. They approached the entrance, Marco paid the cover, and they entered the club.

Having been to the odd strip club for a Bachelorette party or two, the surroundings were familiar to Ellie. The club was dimly lit, with loud, thumping music. There was a very packed bar on one end of the room. On the other, a series of stages, where the girls plied their trade; dancing and, given where in the world they were this was unsurprising, having sex with the men paying for attention. As Ellie scanned the room, she realized with a pang of anxiety that she was quite literally the only clothed woman in the room.

Marco turned to Ellie. "I see a couple paths to the information we need. We could ask around at the bar, or..." he pointed to a hallway behimd the stages, "we could take one of the girls into a private dance and ask our questions there. What do you think?"

Ellie considered the options for a moment.