Page 336 of Light Leech

“What’s your pick?” he asked.

I looked up at him.

“Still here, du? Maybe get you something to calm yourself the zeg down.”

“Then you’ll show us around, right?”

“Of course! Here, let me choose a favorite for you from the vast selection they have so kindly offered.”

I smirked. “Only if I can choose yours.”

“I dunno–”

“Weak shac.”

He laughed loud enough for me to hear his smokers wheeze as he smacked my back. “Fine, but let’s find a place to chill, you plug?”

He nodded. “You hittin’ a fix, Neon Idol?”

She shook her head.

He leaned in and I could smell the alcohol in his breath. “That means we can go all out if you’ve got a guide home. Don’t worry, Idol, I can take any fix this guy throws at me and still hold a conversation on business. Setting up a Republic stream for The Red Geisha isn’t that possible, but if you treat me right, I’m sure we’ll find a solution that makes the both of us happy.“ He pointed down one of the many halls. “Follow me, dus. We’ll settle in for a nice ride. I’ll give you a tab no Medislav has ever even imagined.”

I laughed with him and turned to Naoma as he left the way. I whispered, “I need you to guide me for a sec.”

“Why?”

“I need to ask Ral something in my neurospace.”

“Be quick, I don’t want to waste a breath on this shac.”

“We’ll get rid of him soon enough.”

“Are you sure?”

Kell waved back. “Come on, du! You’re dragging major!”

I pressed ahead and switched sides with her to put her between him and me as we caught up. “Sorry, do your best to keep his attention away.”

She linked her arm to mine and I entered my neurospace. She started speaking with him, but I couldn’t focus on the words as I opened my messages. What he said didn’t matter, the tone was enough to tell me that she was keeping him occupied by stoking his ego.

Petya: I’m at a party and I need to feed. I’ve got access to any kind of fix. Target is a cocky du who deserves it. We decided to give each other fixes.

Ralia: So you’re in the Dynasty guk?

Petya: We’ll chat later. Naoma’s distracting the shac and I’d rather not have that continue for too long.

Ralia: I plug. I’m assuming you need a place to drop the body?

Petya: Yeah, and a way to feed without making it look obvious. Should I go for a euphoritab to put him in a daze?

Ralia: No chance you have one.

Petya: This is the top of the Violet. These are the people who make the rules, not keep them.

Ralia: Euphoritab, you really want to leave him on a high note like that? If he deserves it, why not go hard with a final punch?

Petya: I guess.