Klay finished applying powder on her now porcelain white face and changed the preset on her tattoo. The golden mantis on her arm morphed into an animation of a snake wrapped around a beautiful woman with unrealistic proportions, it slithered and flexed its muscular body around the cartoon girl, causing her curves to nearly spill out of its embrace.
She admired the animation with a smirk and continued on to her lipstick. The waxy stick smeared a clear coat across her lips and was activated when she rubbed them together causing a rapid seizure inducing cycle of neon colors.
The small hut began to shake slightly with the rhythm of feet stepping up a ladder followed by a knock at the door.
Klay turned back to her vanity mirror, her eyes scanning her reflection. Face? Check. Tattoo? Check. Outfit? Check. Shoes? Barefoot. Hair? It'll have to do.
Cracking her neck she eased into a saunter, loosening her hips with each step. She opened the door- Finger tips on the door frame. Head to the side. Eyes down. Chest up. Butt out. One tip toe. She looked up, flipped back her hair, pouted her lips and raised her sultry half-open eyes at her guest.
"Ha ha ha ha!" laughed a short red head, covering her mouth with her hand. Hanging from her necklace were large gold plated letters that read 'Sheri'.
"Oh It's you. With such heavy steps I assumed it was Commissioner Glorpman," Klay said rolling her eyes.
"You bitch. How long have you been practicing that pose?" said Sheri.
"I've been perfecting it for the last two years. Trust me, it works. After all, I'm the best whore in this brothel, perhaps even New Terra," she said smiling to herself.
"Easy for you to say, your johns are disgusting and fat!"
"And you snort when you laugh! My johns have the most information. You toy around with rich little snots from City Center," Klay said.
"You are truly a hero," said Sheri.
"What did you want? Or did you just climb all the way up my ladder to make fun of me?"
"There's a meeting, new message from The Mantis."
"I'm expecting a client," said Klay.
"He can wait. You have to come to the meeting like the rest of us."
The pair climbed down the rickety bamboo ladder and walked across the dirt clearing. Raised huts and shacks were scattered around and encompassed by a thick green bamboo forest with ancient stalks.
The office was a fairly large structure consisting of a hodgepodge of materials - grass, bamboo stalks, stone, steel, wood paneling, and concrete. A faded sign hung above the entrance that read "The Sanctuary Brothel - Serving New Terra for over 100 years."
The girls walked through the back room of the office into a temple with a vaulted door. A boy in a loincloth shut the heavy door behind them and locked it with a large clank that reverberated off the metal walls and polished stone floors. Faux columns reached the tall ceilings and worn but well kept tapestries adorned the walls. Two large gold mantises graced the sides of the main altar, one holding the other's head. Between the statues the rest of the staff was huddled around a large crystal dome.
"You're late," said a dark skinned woman in a black skin tight jumpsuit. She towered a foot over the tallest escort, a bearded man of formidable stature and muscular build.
"Didn't you hear the bell?"
"Sorry Madam Phyra. It won't happened again," said Klay bowing her head as she joined the others.
