First Plunder (3)

They downed a third drink they hadn't even noticed a waiter had brought, a rarity in the low area.

"If one of them would notice me, just once. If… I'm also educated! I can talk well! I could maybe interest one longer! But even if just once!"

"They say their code is to reward generously for services given!"

(Some do, Yang added another comment only in his head, and some ship off one night stands into the hottest fighting areas. Or "survival skills test" zones.)

"I thought, I just thought…"

"You're a good kid, Feng," they went on in a maudlin tone, rather drunk by now, "but you really need to smarten up. You kinda look good yarself. You shoulda do my way, too. Looka you chances, get with comers, like me with ya at the present… presentation today. Just don't tonight, okay? Don't spoil ma game. Now, I - I'm a go dancing!"

"I… see," Yang - he was completely Yang now, the Duan persona gone - said slowly.