The Mechanic and The Secretary.

"Sorry miss, you don't have enough money for a ride."

"How would you possibly kno-oh right. Game." The cabby almost seemed to nod in agreement, quirking his mouth apologetically.

"Alright guys, someone else needs to cover the fare. I'm broke."

Cathrine eyed her purse, "I thought you said you didn't have a purse? Where the hell did you even stash that? Those aren't even real pockets!"

Crystal waived her hands mystically and the tiny purse vanished as it passed behind her arm, "Stash what?"

"Fucking... game... witchcraft..."

"Oh come on, that was cool! C'mon, admit it!"

"I got it. Least I can do." Evaline pulled an equally improbably sized purse seemingly out of nowhere-"Ooh I love how it matches your dress!"- and stepped up to the cab.

"Take us to the... mechanic's." The door popped open and the cabby waived them in. No sooner had they sat down that it seemed they were getting out at an old timey but well equipped car shop.

"Man, I love this game's fast travel. The perfect speed is being there."

"It took time, just not for us." Jenna pointed at the sun, which had dipped further towards the horizon. Crystal pursed her lips, "Would have been nice to know we were on a timer. I hope Dahlia's ok, I feel bad for ditching her."

"If it's anything like our highschool it'll probably just bore her to ****."

"That's the thing though: these things are based on stuff from over 20 years ago. What if she gets bullied?"

The group paused, feeling guilty, "Don't worry, we'll go pick her up right after we get these jobs taken care of. Which room did she say? 345?"

They walked in through the door and Catherine stepped up to the desk, popping the bell loudly, "In back!" Came the reply. Shrugging, the group followed Catherine into a small garage. A large looking man's legs were visible from under a beat up pick up truck, "What can I help you with?"

Catherine squatted down, disregarding the dust that stuck to her green skirt like glue, "I'm looking for a job."

A loud clanking emanated from beneath the truck, "What!?"

"I said I'm looking for a job!"

The clanking stopped and a sweaty, heavily muscled man slid out from under the vehicle. Crystal couldn't help but bite her lip and she saw Jenna start to play with her hair while Evaline made a low noise in her throat. The man squinted and raised an eyebrow when he saw Catherine, "You? You want a job here?"

Catherine, unaffected by his oiled up muscles, narrowed her eyes, "Yeah. You got a problem with that?"

The man smirked, rolling back under the car, "Sorry honey, I don't need a secretary right now."

"Oooo..." The three friends took a step back, looking to see how Catherine would react. For a moment Crystal was sure she would grab his legs and haul him back out but she quirked her head and actually smiled.

"Y'know, it sounds like you're working with the drive shaft. It making a weird clanking noise?"

The man slid back out, giving her a curious look, "Yeah... the-"

"U-lock needs replacing, I know. You take out the bolts in the back yet?"

"Uh, no I was just ab-"

"Pass me that wrench."

The man passed her the wrench and watched as she got down under the back of the truck, her friends wincing as the green skirt suffered the oil/dust amalgam that was the floor.

"Oil pan."

The man grabbed a tin off the counter and passed it to her, so intrigued that he didn't notice the three lovely women watching them. There was a loud clank and a draining noise, accompanied by a cloud of dust. Catherine slid out from under the truck, got up and dusted herself off, and handed the stunned man his wrench. Cocking her head, she took a combative tone, "Want to help me get it out or should you just tell me where the removal kit is?"

The man grinned uncertainly, "Ha, uh... you wanna change first? Think I got an extra set of overalls I had when I was a kid." He motioned towards a locker in the back.

She glanced over her shoulder, giving a wink to her awed friends, "Hope the crotch isn't too tight."

"Holy shit! I've never seen her like that! I mean, yeah she mouths off more than all of us put together but oh my God that was amazing!" The three remaining friends had left Catherine to her new job and hunk of a boss/coworker/underling.

"Why can't we have as many hunky guys on the outside as we do in here? All that hot sweaty skin..."

"He was wearing body oil honey, don't kid yourself. Where are we heading next?"

"Well, we're all taken care of except for you Jenna. I guess it's either secretary or maid... sorry we left you for last."

The raven haired girl shrugged, "It happens. I guess I'll go for secretary over maid. You said it was in the Mayor's office?"

Moments later they stepped out onto a well kept sidewalk in front of a domed building with actual columns. Crystal looked up in awe as they passed through the front gates. It was the first place they had been, aside from her house, that seemed to radiate class and cleanliness. She felt a little out of place in her sweater/jeans combo. Following Catherine's example, Jenna strode up to the front desk. Instead of causing a scene though she leaned in and and began conversing in hushed tones with the receptionist, who began to slowly began to pale.

"What do you think she's saying?"

"Can't be that bad, Jenna's always such a sweetheart."

But the longer they looked, the more the woman looked like she was about to start crying. Crystal was about to intervene when she suddenly held up a hand and buzzed Jenna into the elevator. Jenna smiled reassuringly at Evaline and Crystal, confidently disappearing into the elevator. The receptionist took a steadying breath and straightened her hair.

"...maybe we should keep an eye on Jenna."

"Agreed."

Jenna strode up to them after about half an hour inside wherever the elevator went, "Ok, all good. I'm the mayor's secretary now.""What the hell did you say to the receptionist? She's been trying to calm herself down for the last half hour!"

"What? No..."

"Jenna, she flinched when you walked by."

"Ok... so you know how my 'quest' was to find a cover? Well, as it turns out, I or Dixie I guess, was briefed on all the higher ups and their immediate underlings. That woman," She jerked a thumb over her shoulder, "Is having multiple affairs with the politicians that come through. I just... used what I knew to smooth over the job acquisition. Same as Catherine."

"Jen, did you threaten her?"

"No... I implied some things. Maybe."

"Jen, be really careful about using your avatar's skills like that. You're kind of scary when you're channeling Dixie."

Jenna frowned, rubbing her head, "Yeah... I guess you're right." She glanced around, "I don't start till tomorrow and I know you guys are free. What should we do? We probably have at least another couple hours before Cathy or Dahl will be free."

"....think we can go shopping?"