InsaneJournal

Who: Flemeth and Raven.
What: Peace treaties.
When: 8/10 (Saturday) afternoon.
Where: Flemeth's shop.
Rating: PG-13.
Status: Complete!



After her intense encounter with ‘Zoe’, Irene aka Raven had decided she wanted to meet this mysterious woman with her fingers in all the pies. She knew that if she had any chance of expanding her own operations she’d have to pay her respects. And probably a bribe of some sort.

After some inquiry, she found herself in front of an odd little shop. She was impressed already, it was an unlikely cover.

Flemeth heard the bell over her door ring and walked out into the main room, cat in her arms. “Oh, hello. I’m sorry for not coming out sooner, I was just working on making some incense. How may I help you?” The older woman’s eyes appraised the younger woman in front of her. She quickly figured out that the new arrival wasn’t there for a deck of tarot cards or anything else she sold.

“I’m just looking around, thank you.” She had her hair up in a red bun. Respectful, but also indicative that she thought of herself highly, when it came to power. “I’ve heard quite a bit about this place.”

“Really. Everything good, I hope.” Flemeth didn’t advertise, and she didn’t get much word of mouth. She just raised one perfectly arched brow.

“Oh, everything quite fabulous, I assure you. Some of the things I’ve heard tell me that if one wants to acquire certain information, you’re one of the people to ask.” She rested her hands behind her back.

Flemeth just turned her back on the other woman, sighing loudly. “You get an F in subtlety, child. You may as well hire a brass band to play a song with the lyrics ‘we’re doing illegal things, news at eleven’.” The cat scampered off, perhaps knowing better than most when its mistress was irritated.

She chuckled. “Would you rather I speak in code, or just get down to the point? I could have avoided a social call all-together.”

“I’d rather shut the shop down before we speak. Don’t threaten me in my shop or I’ll rip your throat out with my teeth.” Flemeth smiled sweetly, moving to pat the girl on the shoulder while locking up shop and flipping the old-fashioned sign to closed.

“I like you,” Raven said, a little purring rumble in her voice. Either she was stupid, brave, or both. Or maybe she simply felt no desire to play games, for once.

“Speak.” Flemeth wasn’t stupid, she didn’t need bravery, she was just simply intrigued.

Raven turned her head to look at Flemeth. “I suspect our businesses overlap. I don’t want to step on your toes.”

“I doubt you could, sweetheart. Which business, I haven’t heard of you.” Flemeth was good at being underhandedly catty.

“Then I’m doing my work right,.” She brushed a stray bang back into her hair, and then plucked a small envelope out of her bra. “I’m an information consultant.”

“Oooh, you have a title.” Flemeth sat in a chair, sprawling out. “How impressive.”

“Oh yes. I like to deal in the things that I find from very interesting men...” She waved a hand. “One has to be picky in how they present themselves.”

“Mmhm.” Flemeth looked up. “Still doesn’t tell me why you’re here.”

“You’re the queen bee. I’m paying my respects. And I thought we could help each other.”

“I’m not a queen bee because there’s no organization to what I do. I serve myself. I don’t have drones. And what help do you think you can offer me?” Flemeth did her best to look bored, even though she admired the other girl’s pluck. Flemeth was reminded of herself in her youth.

“The sort of thing I’m good at,” Raven replied, raising her eyebrows. “Gathering information.”

“What’s in the envelope?”

“Information.” She waggled the envelope. “A gift.”

“You’re bringing me a peace offering,” Flemeth chuckled. “All right. What do you want in return?”

“A peace offering, yes.” She laughed. “All I really want is...access.”

“To what?” Flemeth was suddenly less interested in this girl.

Raven thought about that for a moment. “Maybe not so much access as being left to my own advices. Or perhaps we could share tips. There are going to be people I’ve no interest in that might be of interest to you instead.”

“Immunity is fine.” Flemeth sighed. “Honestly, I’ve been thinking about retiring for some time now.” It all seemed sort of petty after turning into a dragon and helping save Las Vegas.

“Retirement is a goal, eventually. I’d worry about getting bored.” It was Raven’s greatest fear. Becoming bored.

That made Flemeth laugh. “I’ve worried about that, but don’t worry about it. You’re in Orange County. It’s many things, but boring isn’t one of them.”

“So I’m learning,” Raven replied, nodding her head thoughtfully. “I’m positively vibrating with excitement at what might be in store for me.” Only she wasn’t.

“Your sarcasm’s showing. Careful, you’ll dream that you’re some sort of mutant slug or something.” Flemeth winked. “But I’ll talk to my girls, see how they feel about my retirement.”

“Mutant anything would be terrible,” Raven replied, unknowingly ironic.

“Don’t say that, you don’t know what you’ll be,” Flemeth smiled.

Raven seemed to consider that for a long moment. “I suppose you might be right. You never know. I might be gifted.”

“You might, you might not. Better not to worry about it.” Flemeth stood up. “Then again, I don’t know what I’d do if I retire. This isn’t just my job, it’s sort of my hobby, too.”

She nodded, and turned to head towards the exit. “Do the things you love, and fuck anyone who tells you not to.”

“Fuck, no. Tear to shreds, yes.” Flemeth smiled as the young girl started to leave. “Don’t worry, you have nothing to fear from me. The men who think they run this state have a great deal to fear from us.”

“My kind of woman,” Raven murmured, the door jingling as she left.