FSE

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As the group finally gets themselves dressed, Komodo, who herself wears a smart business suit and sports a pair of stylish glasses, waits for them by the entryway. "You boys go ahead. I want to talk to Arya a minute, just us girls. Arya slithers on up to the imposing figure, sitting higher on her tail to match the woman's height. The dress the snake wore in her human disguise clings tightly to the snake, making the discomfort only that much more annoying. She waves to the others, and they exit the door to the warm sun-lit vista beyond. "What is it?" the snake asks.

"You've got a good head on your shoulders, Arya, and you really show some restraint. That sort of thing is important, especially in leadership roles. You have an aura of command, Arya, and I'm not talking about the snake thing you got going on." "Why do I get the feeling you're going to ask me something I'm not going to like?" Komodo runs her hand through her frills. "That obvious, huh? Well, just hear me out, and you don't have to think about this. But I'm no spring chicken. Goodness knows I have plenty of them working during these parties, and I can hardly keep up. To me, the business side is pleasure in its own way. I get what I can take now of the carnal desires, but I just want to see people happy, and I think you want to, as well. We've got connections, and we got power."

"We've talked about this already," Arya says, the tip of her tail twitching. "You're going to help us, and I accept that."

"It's not just that, Miss Snake," Komodo says. "I want you on board, not as some drone and not as some sex-crazed fool. I want someone in the managerial position, running their own chapter and perhaps even taking my place one day."

Arya shakes her head and slips on past her. "Not interested. Too much happening." "And once this is all over? Once you get your happy ending? What will you do then?" "I guess..." Arya says, holding onto the door. "I guess I'll have to think about that part." "Then promise me this," Komodo says, holding out her hand. "You'll think about my offer because it's an open invitation. You're always welcome here, just say my name."

"Right... tell them Komodo sent me at some dive and get backroom access, right?" Arya says, rolling her eyes, but still taking the reptile's hand. Komodo gives her a firm squeeze and a grin, saying, "No, tell them Caileen Edling sent ya." Arya pauses a moment, a brief twitch in her eyes and a slight flicker of her tongue, but she pulls away and says, "alright... I'll consider it." On the outside, the men all wait for Arya, despite having come on their own without her. When the snake slithers out, Jay walks up to her, hands in his pockets. "Alright, so we figure we should probably do something about the distribution. I think a smear campaign would be best, but we can get the details in later. Want to meet back at Uma's bunker, or get to one of the Society's outposts closer to your Uncle's HQ?"

Looking off towards the sea, Arya shakes her head. "Huh, sorry? Y-yeah, let's go closer. THere's nothing here for us now." The doors burst open, and, standing on the threshold, fully dressed and panting, is Uma.

The group all waits with bated breath for the young woman to say something, but all that seems to want to come out are those taxing breaths. There's a slight watering in her eyes as she looks cautiously over her shoulder to where Komodo still stands, just out of sight of the others. Arya slips to the front of the party, waiting expectantly at the base of the stairs. The two are eye-to-eye at this moment, yet both are speechless. "Wait, I..." she's desperately trying to say something, but it is just too difficult. She is too scared to get her throat to commit to the oath behind those words. A slight tapping on her shoulder breaks her out of it, and Komodo, looming over her, just smiles as she whispers to the rodent. "Go," that deep, tender voice blows into her ear. "If you didn't have the choice to leave or stay here, it wouldn't be a pleasure, now would it?" Uma finally cracks a quick "Yeah... but..." "I'll be here waiting for when you get back," the other voice speaks up. It's Star, leaning in the opposite doorway. Uma's face slowly lights up as the support from both of them. She gives the reptile a big long hug, which is returned with a firm embrace and a pat on the back of the head. To the horse, Uma rushes up and jumps itno her arms. Star holds onto her as the two lock lips for a moment. "Go... get that bastard, and do it right." Uma pulls hesitantly away, rushing out the door. "Wait up, please, wait up! I'm coming with you!"