Ana shifted uncomfortably in her chair. She soaked one hand in a little bowl, softening her iron nails if only just a little, while the other hand gently gripped at her round abdomen. The baby was kicking again, and hard.
This would probably be her last visit to any kind of salon in a while however, and she was determined to make the most of it. She'd picked out a hot poppy red color to match her summer wardrobe- which hopefully she would fit in sooner rather than later.
The polite nail tech was busy tonight, trying her best to field the unique customers to the more private areas of the small shop. Ana was, for the moment, alone with her thoughts.
This would probably be her last visit to any kind of salon in a while however, and she was determined to make the most of it. She'd picked out a hot poppy red color to match her summer wardrobe- which hopefully she would fit in sooner rather than later.
The polite nail tech was busy tonight, trying her best to field the unique customers to the more private areas of the small shop. Ana was, for the moment, alone with her thoughts.
The door pinged open once again, and a wolf entered. Mary was fed up. Her time in Bridgeport had already gone on for much longer than she'd expected, and the sunk cost fallacy was starting to take hold. Too much depended on her cousin being here for her to give up now, so, she'd decided to forget all about it for an evening, and treat herself. Her claws could certainly do with a good filing. Unthinkable for most werewolves, but she'd never been one for dirtying her own hands anyway.
This place seemed a good choice. Already she could pick up on the telltale smells of other supernaturals. A few careful words later, and she was shown to a far corner, away from any human clients. This irritated her a little.
It was an insult to be shoved to the side for the sake of humans of all people, but she was determined not to let it get to her. She took a seat near to a vampire, and meant to nod a quick greeting. She couldn't help a double take- it seemed somehow, the vampire was pregnant.
Mary smiled, in part to cover the brief lapse in composure. "Good evening."
This place seemed a good choice. Already she could pick up on the telltale smells of other supernaturals. A few careful words later, and she was shown to a far corner, away from any human clients. This irritated her a little.
It was an insult to be shoved to the side for the sake of humans of all people, but she was determined not to let it get to her. She took a seat near to a vampire, and meant to nod a quick greeting. She couldn't help a double take- it seemed somehow, the vampire was pregnant.
Mary smiled, in part to cover the brief lapse in composure. "Good evening."
Ana sensed her pause, the telltale sign of a stranger who wanted to talk to her. She was used to it. People always had something to say to a visibly pregnant woman.
But this stranger was different. She had to be, to be seated in this area of the salon, after all.
"Good evening." She said with a polite smile and nod. Before she could say much more, she let out a sudden grunt of pain. Baby wasn't done kicking, and it already seemed stronger than a human infant of its size.
"Excuse me. Someone is fussy."
But this stranger was different. She had to be, to be seated in this area of the salon, after all.
"Good evening." She said with a polite smile and nod. Before she could say much more, she let out a sudden grunt of pain. Baby wasn't done kicking, and it already seemed stronger than a human infant of its size.
"Excuse me. Someone is fussy."
It seemed that Mary had accidentally gotten herself into a conversation. It wasn't the worst thing in the world she decided- her neighbour seemed to be one of class and taste and it had been a while since she'd had a nice chat. She decided to go with it as she placed her own claws in a bowl.
"Oh, how lovely. When's baby due?" She accompanied her words with a smile of sympathy at the kicks. "I hope you don't mind me asking."
"Oh, how lovely. When's baby due?" She accompanied her words with a smile of sympathy at the kicks. "I hope you don't mind me asking."
"Not at all. You're more polite about it than most. She should be out in a week or two at most."
She smiled the warm smile of someone who was used to talking to strangers about her pregnancy, but still happy to gush over the new arrival with anyone who asked.
"Forgive me, most of the 'others' in this salon are regulars but I do not recognize you. I am Ana. Have you been in Bridgeport long?"
She smiled the warm smile of someone who was used to talking to strangers about her pregnancy, but still happy to gush over the new arrival with anyone who asked.
"Forgive me, most of the 'others' in this salon are regulars but I do not recognize you. I am Ana. Have you been in Bridgeport long?"
Mary was grateful she hadn't been taken for rude. It was a rare feeling. Most new people she met were too far beneath her for her to care, but in a way it was nice to be in this position for once. For once was the important part, of course. She intended to never have to worry about such things when she was alpha.
"Goodness, that soon. I wouldn't thought." She considered the question for a moment before replying. This was time off after all, and her reasons for being in town felt all too close to work. In the end, she decided to keep it simple.
"It's good to meet you, Ana. Mary MacCarthy. I'm just here for a little family business. I hadn't meant to stay long, but things seem to have dragged on a bit."
"Goodness, that soon. I wouldn't thought." She considered the question for a moment before replying. This was time off after all, and her reasons for being in town felt all too close to work. In the end, she decided to keep it simple.
"It's good to meet you, Ana. Mary MacCarthy. I'm just here for a little family business. I hadn't meant to stay long, but things seem to have dragged on a bit."
"Bridgeport has a way of keeping people here. Forgive me if this is presumptuous, but would the family drama be pack drama, perchance?"
She grinned. "There is a very healthy population of the were-folk here and they have interesting gossip. I'm an outsider to it all of course but its wise to stay abreast of rumors in this town."
She grinned. "There is a very healthy population of the were-folk here and they have interesting gossip. I'm an outsider to it all of course but its wise to stay abreast of rumors in this town."
Mary let out a long breath and closed her eyes. She was starting to feel very relaxed.
"Not at all, it's a fair assumption. It usually is with us."
She wasn't about to ask how Ana knew. It was fairly obvious, after all, most likely the same way she'd known about her. Yes, teeth could be filed and corrected, but there was no disguising scent. Nor would she want to.
She shifted a little, getting more comfortable. "I couldn't agree more. A little information can certainly go a long way."
After thinking for a little, she added, "I don't suppose you'd know where I could find some of those werefolk? I haven't yet had much luck."
"Not at all, it's a fair assumption. It usually is with us."
She wasn't about to ask how Ana knew. It was fairly obvious, after all, most likely the same way she'd known about her. Yes, teeth could be filed and corrected, but there was no disguising scent. Nor would she want to.
She shifted a little, getting more comfortable. "I couldn't agree more. A little information can certainly go a long way."
After thinking for a little, she added, "I don't suppose you'd know where I could find some of those werefolk? I haven't yet had much luck."
"Well, that depends. Are you looking to make new connections, or looking for someone specific?"
She tilted her head. "Because I can suggest a few nicer establishments for carousing in to meet important people, but otherwise you'd do well enough finding any old werewolf by sticking to places with code words."
She shifted in her seat. "Places that have 'Moon' or 'Luna' in their name are generally under were-folk proprietorships in this town. Places that have 'Red' or 'Night' in their names, or start with the letter V are usually vampire establishments. It's all a bit corny but it does make it easier."
She smiled. "Sorry I can't be more specific. It's just such a hodge podge these days."
She tilted her head. "Because I can suggest a few nicer establishments for carousing in to meet important people, but otherwise you'd do well enough finding any old werewolf by sticking to places with code words."
She shifted in her seat. "Places that have 'Moon' or 'Luna' in their name are generally under were-folk proprietorships in this town. Places that have 'Red' or 'Night' in their names, or start with the letter V are usually vampire establishments. It's all a bit corny but it does make it easier."
She smiled. "Sorry I can't be more specific. It's just such a hodge podge these days."
"Moon or Luna you say?"
Mary was sure she'd seen a few establishments with such a name on her journeys through town, but they hadn't seemed promising at the time. More like kitschy human joints than anything a real werewolf would run, but perhaps people thought differently here. That was probably where she'd been going wrong. Even so, it was frustrating that such an obvious lead had gone unnoticed for so long.
"I'll make a mental note of that, thank you! That's already more than I've been able to find on my own."
Her claws began to drum a little, creating tiny ripples in the water. "Yes, I'll admit it's not what I'm used to. I've spent most of my life surrounded only by werewolves. But I suppose you live and learn."
Mary was sure she'd seen a few establishments with such a name on her journeys through town, but they hadn't seemed promising at the time. More like kitschy human joints than anything a real werewolf would run, but perhaps people thought differently here. That was probably where she'd been going wrong. Even so, it was frustrating that such an obvious lead had gone unnoticed for so long.
"I'll make a mental note of that, thank you! That's already more than I've been able to find on my own."
Her claws began to drum a little, creating tiny ripples in the water. "Yes, I'll admit it's not what I'm used to. I've spent most of my life surrounded only by werewolves. But I suppose you live and learn."
Ana nodded knowingly. "I know how you feel. I've been fairly isolated myself, even to within my own clan. It's been just me and my husband for so long, and then our underling, and finally eventually children. But that isn't much of a social circle."
She sighed. "Lately though we've been forcing ourselves out quite a bit more. I don't want the kids to grow up in total isolation, I think it will stunt them. I admit I've found branching out to be more difficult than I first thought."
She sighed. "Lately though we've been forcing ourselves out quite a bit more. I don't want the kids to grow up in total isolation, I think it will stunt them. I admit I've found branching out to be more difficult than I first thought."
"I'd be happy to do this again sometime perhaps, if the thought appealed to you. If we're both looking to branch out, it seems to make sense."
She let out a long breath and leaned back, finding for the first time in a long while she felt truly relaxed. She gave some words of polite acknowledgement as a nail tech began to file her impressive claws. They could almost be called talons, were it not such a strange word to apply to a werewolf.
Mary decided she liked Ana. She wasn't one to easily give away trust and wasn't prepared to even now, but that had nothing to do with it. She could always use friends with certain connections.
She could offer the same in return of course, although- and the words were unpleasant to think- she wasn't sure how much worth connections to a pack from the other side of the country would have to someone who had nothing to do with it.
She let out a long breath and leaned back, finding for the first time in a long while she felt truly relaxed. She gave some words of polite acknowledgement as a nail tech began to file her impressive claws. They could almost be called talons, were it not such a strange word to apply to a werewolf.
Mary decided she liked Ana. She wasn't one to easily give away trust and wasn't prepared to even now, but that had nothing to do with it. She could always use friends with certain connections.
She could offer the same in return of course, although- and the words were unpleasant to think- she wasn't sure how much worth connections to a pack from the other side of the country would have to someone who had nothing to do with it.
"Of course, you seem very pleasant. If you can tolerate me and my husband, we could go for drinks, maybe ignore a bit of responsibility now and then." She smiled.
"Of course, I do not 'drink' at the moment but in a few weeks time I should be up for it. I'm trying my best to make positive connections in this city. I've made enough enemies and I think now I am done having them. Too much trouble."
"Of course, I do not 'drink' at the moment but in a few weeks time I should be up for it. I'm trying my best to make positive connections in this city. I've made enough enemies and I think now I am done having them. Too much trouble."
"Oh I quite agree. Sometimes enemies can't be avoided, but it's best to keep the number low. Uncooperative people can be quite a pain."
Even when she disliked someone, Mary preferred not to let on. Always. A person who liked her, or at least thought they could get something from her could usually be persuaded to act in her interests. Social ability had thus far proved her best weapon.
She lifted a hand and inspected her claws, filed to a smooth arc. Perfect, the sign of a wolf of high status indeed.
"I think I would very much like to join you and your husband for drinks. Perhaps you can show me one of those nice establishments you mentioned."
Even when she disliked someone, Mary preferred not to let on. Always. A person who liked her, or at least thought they could get something from her could usually be persuaded to act in her interests. Social ability had thus far proved her best weapon.
She lifted a hand and inspected her claws, filed to a smooth arc. Perfect, the sign of a wolf of high status indeed.
"I think I would very much like to join you and your husband for drinks. Perhaps you can show me one of those nice establishments you mentioned."
"Of course. I know you're in town on business and all, but don't work too hard. The city does have some amenities worth taking advantage of."
The nail tech quietly worked, coating Ana's claws in a layer of deep red shellac.
"Do not work yourself too hard, Mary."
The nail tech quietly worked, coating Ana's claws in a layer of deep red shellac.
"Do not work yourself too hard, Mary."
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