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Lyss looked away for a moment, shrugging. She understood why the Coven was sick of the beach, but it beat a crowded mall or public bar. Plus, Miami beaches were so much better than Tampa’s.

She looked back at Claud and crossed her arms in front of her before taking a seat in their little dine-in area. She took a small breath before releasing it from her nose. 

[color=D3D3D3] “I think we should talk about the Dollhouse before we meet with them… privately.”[/color] She glanced over at Claudette before turning her full attention onto her co-leader. [color=D3D3D3] “I think you have just as many reservations as I do walking into this.”[/color]

Oh boy, Claudette knew that this conversation was coming, so the Afro-Canadian woman scooted her legs over the edge of the bed until she was sitting down. Lyss had Claud’s full attention as she said,

“I do,” Claudette started, “So many, I do not know where to start… so what’s the biggest concern on your mind, Mademoiselle.”

Lyss nodded. [color=D3D3D3] “Well… While I’ve never been to the Dollhouse before, I have heard of them.”[/color]

[color=D3D3D3] “I’m sure we’ll get what we ask from them, but I’m not sure that they’re just after money.”[/color]

“... I have a feeling they don’t just want money either,” Claudette softly answered, followed by a sigh. “I have a feeling that Madame Kimberly left something out, or is ignorant to the true nature of the Dollhouse, either way, I don’t think it’d be worth it if the Dollhouse wants something like… one of our souls, or bodies.”

While she talked her gaze drifted away from Lyss off to the side, and then she centered it back on Lyss as she finished. “Wouldn’t that just be causing yet another problem? However, I have little to no knowledge or experience in the criminal underworld… even with my… interesting experiences with the Coven.”

Lyss pressed her lips together. She was standing on a line, but she didn’t know if it would help them at all if she told Claudette about her past. She didn’t know anything about this Dollhouse.

[color=D3D3D3] “I, uh… I have a history with the black market. Nothing like the Dollhouse, but I understand how things work.”[/color] She watched Claudette, a little worried that this would cause further problems with her sisters. [color=D3D3D3] “If they ask for anything more than money, I’ll be able to figure something out. Something that won’t cost any of us any more than Blake Schmidt’s bribe money.”[/color]

Part of Claudette wanted to ask why or what experience she had with the black market, however she also knew that she would likely get an excuse from her at best. Claudette decided not to pry for once, and answered, “I want a cure for myse- sisters, as much as anyone,” Claudette started, “However, if they want anything other than money then I suggest we do not deal with them at all.”

However, she came up with a way to subtly ask for Lyss’ experience in the black market [i]without[/i] asking directly. “... What can you tell me about the black market to [i]prepare[/i] me for dealing with them?”

Lyss nodded. She could tell Claudette was curious, but she was glad that she wasn’t asking her outright about it. [color=D3D3D3] “Well… In my experience, a request was made, a price was negotiated, and then we completed their request. Usually, things went smoothly, unless one side had greedy intentions. The way I worked, I never went back on my word. Most market deals aren’t like that, unfortunately.”[/color]

She cleared her throat and sat up a little straighter. [color=D3D3D3] “When I left the market, things didn’t end well. So… I’d appreciate it if my history isn’t mentioned in the meeting. It’s best if we play the dumb card, and then I can help us get out of there if things go south.”[/color]

Claudette wasn’t going to mention to any of the sisters for a large variety of reasons… especially since she found it hard for some of them to shut up. Claudette sighed. 

“I’m just worried about what will happen if they get greedy,” Claudette started, “I don’t want to leave here empty-handed, but I also don’t want to play into whatever sick plan they may have.” 

She shook her head, “I’m also worried about the sisters, it might be best to leave some of them out of the meeting… but I’m still not sure what the Dollhouse even wants. How do we know that they won’t do something to our sisters while we’re distracted?”

[color=D3D3D3] “Maybe it’s best if we leave some of them here at the hotel.”[/color] She sighed softly. [color=D3D3D3] “I’d go alone if I knew I could handle it, but it’s been a while and I’m not sure I’d remember each of the cures our sisters need.”[/color]

She sat back in the chair. [color=D3D3D3] “So who do you think we can take along? We need to bring the girls that can watch out for themselves, and won’t be too chatty or vocal. If the Dollhouse is shady, they’ll pounce the moment that they sense that we’re unsure of what we want.”[/color] 

“Hmmm...” Claudette had to think carefully. “That is a tough one because I like to have someone tough who can cover the rest of us… which is why the first person who comes to mind would be Madison.”

Then she thought about it a bit harder, but it started feeling like it’d be easier to cross off who [i]not[/i] to bring and work from there. “Herik [i]also[/i] comes to mind due to his abstraction, but… as strange as the two are I think we should consider Mariah and Isla. Only due to how useful... their abstractions are. And I have a feeling Kimberly’s friend’s going to want to tag along whether we want her to or not.”

Claudette shrugged.

“But we also know that some of the sisters won’t follow instructions regardless of how hard we tell them.”

Lyss scoffed softly but smirked. [color=D3D3D3] “We’re all stubborn in that way.”[/color] She pursed her lips. [color=D3D3D3] “I definitely think that Emily should stay back. Her abstraction is new… and you saw what she did to the gas station clerk.”[/color]

“Well, I was kind of unconscious when that happened...” Claudette grumbled.

[color=D3D3D3] “I think Herik, Mariah, Isla, and Madison is enough. If we bring any more, the Dollhouse could feel threatened. More people might make it easier for them to distract us, too.”[/color]

“Very well,” Claudette started, “However… I think we should have everyone else at least nearby in case anything goes wrong… we were meeting them in their club, right?”

Lyss nodded. She was already uncomfortable that it was a club. So many people, most likely black market, in a poorly lit place. This was going to be… stressful. [color=D3D3D3] “Yeah. We’ll have the rest of the girls wait outside in a car. At least half a block down, so they aren’t seen with us.”[/color] She tapped her fingers with one hand on the table next to her. [color=D3D3D3] “If anything goes wrong, we should have a buddy system in place. Everyone looks for the way out with their buddy, and we’ll meet at the car.”[/color]

“Sounds good,” Claudette affirmed Lyss’ statement with a quick nod of her head. “Is there anything else you want to discuss about this?”

Lyss bit her lip for a moment, considering all possibilities. [color=D3D3D3] “If someone recognizes me… I want you to get the girls out first. Don’t worry about me until they’re safe.”[/color] She looked Claudette in the eyes. [color=D3D3D3] “I don’t want anyone getting hurt because of my past.”[/color]

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[b][code]The Beach House.[/code][/b][hr][/center]


Thankfully, after that previous incident with Vashti, the rest of the day went [i]swimmingly[/i] as Vashti kept to herself. Kimberly did the same as she was on the lookout for Annabelle and Saul. Though, Kimberly couldn't help but feel a little guilt about sending in the Coven into the Dollhouse blind. They were dangerous, they were cunning, however, if they went about it with any [i]sort[/i] of common sense: they should be fine.

Right?

Rowan was sleeping in a separate room, which was Kimberly's suggestion given that she didn't want to give Vashti the wrong idea. Well, it would technically be the [i]right[/i] idea because there's no doubts or ambiguity about two young adults sleeping in the same room - in the same [i]bed[/i] - but that was neither here nor there.

Like before, Kimberly was in her little room, using her laptop. She had taken a shower and gotten clothed because she didn't want to run outside to Vashti wearing nothing but underwear! Kimberly wondered what Vashti was up to. Rowan was still outside relaxing... and maybe they can have some fun if Vashti has something to distract herself. 

The Ghost Hunter walked out the door as she looked around. She then called,

"Vashti! Whe- what are you up to?"

Vashti was making good on her commitment of being useful. After carefully cleaning up her mess from the day before, except for the wine stain which she just solved by covering with a blanket, she continued diligently throughout the rest of the beach house. The stacks of old dishes left behind by the Coven were no more, now left in a dishwasher which she'd one day figure out how to work. Sand had been swept, towels had been hung to dry, and Chompy had been given a bath. She had just finished up throwing all of Madison's empties into a trash bag when Kimberly had called for her. Vashti chucked the trash bag down the stairs with a loud crash and stampeded down after it. 

[color=darkcyan]"Just cleaning!"[/color] said Vashti as she appeared in the living room, jacket around her waist, as she struggled to lift the bag of Madison's bottles.  [color=darkcyan]"Hey, do you know how a dishwasher works?"[/color]

"Not a clue!" Kimberly shouted back at her after that hellish cacophony of broken glass and other trash. She tried to trace Vashti by that sound alone and saw Vashti trying to heave the bag. Part of her wanted to help but it benefited her if Vashti spent as much time cleaning as possible. Not giving a single damn, Kimberly turned around on her heel as she said, "Okayyou'rekeepingbusylettmegob-"

When she finally pivoted, she noticed a strange blue glowing albatross perched above the fireplace that [i]totally[/i] wasn't there before. It was... was it an Apparition. Kimberly put her hand up towards Vashti as a gesture not to move before she pulled out her camera onehanded...

... before [i]another[/i] bird flew by and snatched the camera out of her hand. The second bird flew right in front of Vashti. Even if Vashti was fast enough to catch the camera from the pilfering bird, which she likely wasn't, she didn't dare to defy Kimberly's hand gesture. She stayed frozen in place, uncomfortably bent somewhat over the trashbag that she had been trying to drag, and stared at the weird, glowing bird. Her eyes narrowed. Everyone knew that the birds were little more than government drones. 

"Aw, what the hell?!" Kimberly shouted as she realized she was disarmed rather gracefully.

[color=darkcyan]"We're being burgled by birds,"[/color] whispered Vashti. She tried to recall the old Hitchcock movie her dad had made her once watch where birds had held these people, hostage, in their own house, seeing if she could come up with any solution to their current predicament. What was it called again? She couldn't remember. She threw a psst at Kimberly and said, [color=darkcyan]"Do something.[/color]

"Without my camera, I can't-" Kimberly tried to say before the door audibly unlocked and Meifeng Liao was the first thing that Kimberly saw. She never has seen this woman before in her life and she wasn't sure if she should pull out her pistol or not.

At her sides were Cindy and Helena... and the latter stuck her hand out and the hawk that nabbed her camera flew up and perched itself onto her arm. Holding the camera in her beak.

"Kimberly Walton... and friend," Meifeng said as she slid her hand in her pocket. "I didn't take you for being a member of the Lesbian Sex Cult." She shrugged.

"I guess everyone gets freaky from time to time," Cindy chuckled as she teased Kimberly.

"You heard all the stories about just [i]what[/i] famous people get into," Meifeng added on, still teasing Kimberly.

Kimberly got a defensive stance as she moved towards Vashti as her other abstraction activated. The insects nearby were slowly but surely gathering together... she just had to stall. However, Meifeng pulled out her badge.

"I don't know if the sisters told you about me, but I am Agent Liao of..." Meifeng looked to the right, then to the left. "... The DENS. Don't get me wrong, I come in [i]peace[/i]."

The bird dropped the camera into Helena's hand and she tossed it back. "Sorry, I didn't want you doing that little trick to one of my birds... they don't like getting caged."

"Can one of you tell me what the Coven is doing in Miami, or planning on doing? I can never know with those people."

[color=darkcyan]"How did you know that?"[/color] asked Vashti, still side-eyeing the bird, still frozen over the bag. So, they were spies after all. She knew it. [color=darkcyan]"I mean, they aren't in Miami."[/color] Good save. Smooth. Extremely natural. She wasn't about to narc the Coven out to the feds, although these feds seemed to always show up just in time to take the girls to the hospital. She smiled guiltily. Maybe she should ignore her kneejerk reaction to distress anybody with a badge and a gun. 

[color=darkcyan]"Uh, but if they were, why do you all care? They aren't doing anything wrong,"[/color] said Vashti, quickly adding with a nervous laugh,[color=darkcyan]"Hypothetically speaking, since they might not be in Miami."[/color]

"Cut the shit, sugar," Meifeng quickly and sharply answered as she decided to have a seat on the back of their couch. "We've been tracking you all since we first made... contact." She looked at Trevor and narrowed her eyes as he stepped in and he awkwardly pulled at his collar.

"And how I know this? I've been working... very closely with your sisters," Meifeng tilted her head a little as she continued to narrow her eyes. "And she said a few things, but left out the details that [i]really[/i] matter."

"Okay, hold on!" Kimberly quickly shut Meifeng down. "Who... what even is the DENS? Because I heard it thrown around a few times but no one ever informed me."

"Simple," Meifeng shrugged, "We're the Department of Extra-Normal Security. You aren't the only one going after deviant Extra-Normals, Ms. Walton. And you're looking at the special task force that was made to stop Annabelle Heart..."

"So we have a common goal here."

"Yes, all I want to do is stop her and... I will do anything to help you all," Meifeng sighed, "I just want to know if there's anything we [i]can[/i] do to help because the clock is ticking. She kills more people each day and gets stronger, and the one person that's strong enough to stop her is... out of the game."

Meifeng explained the situation.

"So... please, let me know what's going on."

Vashti's lip drew thin as she straightened herself up, letting the bag of Madison's garbage clank to the ground. Considering the Coven's track record of being inconsiderate, Vashti couldn't help but be concerned that something bad would happen to them regarding their dealings with the Dollhouse. Her dark eyes flicked over to Kimberly in search of some kind of approval, and then she turned towards Meifeng. 

[color=darkcyan]"They're going to meet with the Dollhouse to buy us some cures for a couple of our cursed members,"[/color] said Vashti, slowly, in case Kimberly wanted her to shut up. [color=darkcyan]"They're also going to get one to try and use on Annabelle."

"Um, you said you'd do [i]anything[/i] to help, right?"[/color] asked Vashti. She took a tentative step forward and rubbed her hands. [color=darkcyan]"Would it be possible for you all to just watch over them from a distance? Just in case things go south?"[/color]

"... Vashti!" Kimberly whisper-yelled at Vashti to get her to shut up.

"... And who in the world is Dollhouse?" Meifeng crossed her arms as she looked at Vashti. There was a slight tilt to her head as she asked that question. "Going off your tone, I take it they're dangerous?"

"Uh, no ma'am," Kimberly quickly answered, "They're fine... they're just a group of Extra-Normals that make magical tools and cures and stuff!" She bullshitted to the best of her ability.

Meifeng raised her eyebrow and Kimberly glanced over towards Vashti. She subtly shook her head as a desperate gesture to get her to be quiet.

[color=darkcyan]"I don't..."[/color] Vashti's eyes darted between the two as she screwed up her face and shrugged. [color=darkcyan]"I don't really know anything about them?"[/color] It was mostly true. [color=darkcyan]"But it's just...we have a really bad track record."[/color]

"Sounds like you don't have a lot of faith in your friends... [i]friend,[/i]" Meifeng just said. "Then again, it took only two of my agents to beat all of you." She shrugged. 

Vashti's eyes narrowed. She was about to say how it only took one of her to beat their stupid police truck but didn't have a chance. 

"Vashti, can we have a quick word?" Kimberly said as she pulled Vashti away and she knew that this looked suspicious to the feds. She made sure to whisper. "You don't know them; the Dollhouse yeah? I do, and who knows what would happen if they find out the Feds are on their side... if they're on their side. I honestly don't know these people or what the hell they even want!"

[color=darkcyan]"They would've found out anyway,"[/color] whispered Vashti, her mind turning to how close Maya seemed to Trevor. [color=darkcyan]"Look, I normally don't trust the government, but for some reason, they find the Coven an asset and have already helped us twice."[/color]

"Well, um," Meifeng shrugged. "Either way we were instructed to remain here in Tampa... but I can see if I can sway the boss..."

"... You mean me?" Cindy chuckled.

Meifeng sighed.

"Cindy can sway the boss to let us go out there, but for one catch...." Meifeng smiled. "... You let us relax here for a bit."

[color=darkcyan]"[i]Seriously?[/i]"[/color] laughed Vashti. What, were they going to go hang out on the beach and drink some mojitos while waiting for the red tape to be cutaway? More likely they were going to bug every surface of the house so they could creep on the Coven more than they already did. Not like it mattered: the Coven wasn't subtle. She grumbled in defeat.[color=darkcyan]"Fine, but you have to follow three ground rules. One: don't touch our alligator. Two: don't do anything to startle me. And three..."[/color]

"... You have an [i]alligator?[/i]" Cindy tilted her head. "I'm half tempted to call animal control."

Her voice softened as she earnestly asked, [color=darkcyan]"Could one of you help me figure out how to run the dishwasher?"[/color]

Meifeng sighed and rolled her eyes.

"Good grief," Meifeng said, "Don't you have parents for this?"

She looked at her before she uncrossed her arms and stood straight.

"Good grief, I'll show you [i]once[/i]."

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[b][code]Miami Merchandise Mall[/code][/b][/center][hr][center][hider=Gorillaz - Feel Good Inc][youtube]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i3fP6_n_apg[/youtube][/hider][hr]
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The neon sign announced their little club as the music blaring could be heard from down the street. So it must be blaring inside of the place. Madison and her little group were across the street from the club as they saw people chatting outside. Seemingly their little strippers out having a smoke and chatting it up with their future... clients. Along with poor horndogs getting conned out of their money with just a smile. Madison knew how it looked because she was one of those girls doing it not a super long time ago. Still, it was sadder when she was the one outside looking in for some reason, but she wasn't going to overanalyze it...

[i]... Though they did have some real bad bitches working here, Usually, one chick gotta gut out[/i].

Madison herself was wearing a [url=https://i.etsystatic.com/11502736/r/il/c1fa24/2333385350/il_794xN.2333385350_y2rm.jpg]purple minidress with silt that revealed quite a bit of leg[/url] that she had bought the day before. Honestly, now that Madison was [i]wearing it[/i], she looked a little slutty in it ([i]hehehe what black girl says [/i]slutty?). She had on purple high heels, which she had thought a whole lot about. She thought about wearing sneakers in case she had to start fighting, but the heels blended in a bit more. Her whole idea was selling the "clubber" idea so they can go in, get what they need to, and then get out.

"... You'd think they wouldn't announce their crib to the fuckin' world," Madison thought out loud as she slapped a hand onto her hip. "Then again, sounds like they hidin' in plain sight!"

Claudette was nervous for a [i]lot[/i] of reasons. That thing could go very, very, very, wrong, very, [i]very,[/i] fast. That the Dollhouse [i]did[/i] sound too good to be true and there was a catch. That the [url=https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0020/4236/4017/products/KOZUE-DRESS-ELECTRIC-BLUE7192_1600x.jpg?v=1578555527]dress[/url] Madison picked out for her makes her look slutty. Goodness [i]gracious![/i] What part of "I don't have the curves for it" does Madison not understand? Also, she was [i]too tall[/i] for it, it ended not too far away from her crotch and she kept feeling the need to pull it down or she'd be flashing[i] everyone.[/i]

"Um," Claudette said as everyone was looking at her. "We're all on the same page as far as the plan goes?"

"Let's not hang around out here for too long," Madison said as she leaned up against someone's car. "Trrrrrrrrust me when I say that the [i]second[/i] we walked up they noticed us, even if they ain't actin' like it."

She subtly glanced over her shoulder at the girls and looked back at the group.

"They're gonna think something's up if we don't walk in soon," Madison shrugged. "So, let's make this quick."

"We're going to go in, say the code phrase their liaison gave us to one of the bartenders, and they're gonna let us into the VIP section," Claudette explained the plan as she gestured for them to come along with her as they all walked up into the place. Opening the door; they saw a girl in a black dress with black hair and South-Eastern Asian features and behind her was another set.

"Hey, how are you!?" She greeted them with a smile, "That'll be fifty twenty-five dollars per person." 

"... We gotta pay even if we here for a meeting?" Madison muttered underneath her breath. "Some fuckin' ripoffs they are."

They gave her the money and walked in. The second they opened the door they were assaulted by the [url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NxxjLD2pmlk]music[/url] head-on. To their left and right were neon lights and stripper stages that had a wide range of exotic and attractive women dancing on stage. Men were tossing money at them at the boatloads as they were getting drunker and drunker. It looked like a party... but they had to stay focus on the mission.

Maybe this is what they meant when they called it the [i]Dollhouse.[/i]