Midnight in the Mindscape

Chess sat in his bed in the Hall of Shadows, the lair of the loose affiliation of thieves known collectively as the Uncrowned.  He had slept, with untroubled sleep, for a good twelve hours after the procedure with the Shadow Priestess Amere, who had attempted to heal his mind.

With admittedly mixed results.

There was no more Rook; the elements that had composed persona which had been given a measure of autonomy while the Dark Lady had tried to turn him into a Ren'dorei killing machine was gone, absorbed back into Jon Chess.  Chess felt regret that he had formed the persona in the first place; he should have accepted responsibility for his ruthlessness and cruelty from the beginning.  It was part of him, just as his hands were; he accepted now that Jon Chess was also more than a little bit of a bastard.

So be it.  Chess was in control, not the emotions, not the desires.  He was a street rat, and an assassin, but he was more than that.

His feelings toward Ren'dorei had been re-directed emotionally. The feelings had been transformed; where before, the thought of a Ren'dorei would fill him with rage, now it evoked a different set of emotions - an angry lust, a desire to possess the women and humiliate the men.

Jon was surprised at the transformation, but he was also relieved; controlling himself from his newfound deviant sexual desires was significantly easier than controlling himself from the irrational homicidal rages.

He also found that while the craving for the addictive Fel-laced narcotic Sa'Daiblo was still there, there was also a revulsion and aversion to feeding the urge.  He had not been able to bring himself to use the last of the supply; he anticipated crippling pain as he went into withdrawal, but he could find a dark hole and crawl in until he could function, if necessary.  Jon was no stranger to pain; he didn't enjoy feeling it, but he also had an unreasonable certainty in the belief that the withdrawal would not actually kill him.

And if he was wrong, well, people were welcome to tell his corpse "You were wrong!"

A Night At Stilletos

((My gratitude goes out to the owners and staff of the Stilletos Gentleman's Club on Wyrmrest Accord, for allowing me to use their characters and place of business for my story.  I have done my best to accurately depict them - any mistakes are 100% my fault! the dancers' routines are their own creation!))

Jonathan made his way to through the Elywnn Forest to Stilletos Gentleman's Club.  The Elywnn Forest was a vast woodland of stately hardwoods, bounded by the foothills of the Burning Steppes to the north, the Redridge Mountains to the east, and the Nazferiti River and Duskwood to the south. Located some distance away from Goldshire, the stone-and-timber building had probably once been a private hunting lodge, now purchased (r at least appropriated), and refurbished as it's current incarnation.

Chess had recently responded to an emergency call for medical assistance in Stormwind; a woman had collapsed at the threshold of the Emergency Response Unit clinic near the Cathedral, and all of the clinic staff were out on calls.  After taking care of the woman, Chess had found several other patients waiting, including an Illidari woman with a hairline fracture in one of her horns.

Chess had used silk bandages from his Field Medic kit and appropriated some plaster powder from the ERU supply cabinet.  While he had made a plaster bandage for the cracked horn, he and the Illidari had chatted, and being the nosey fellow Jon was, he had found out that she was a waitress in Lakeshire, and also a dancer at the newly-opened club. He had promised the Illidari that he would come and see her dance; although the Illidari had a fantastic body, it was not her dance routine that intrigued Chess (well, he admitted privately, he was not totally disinterested - he was male, after all). A private dance club like that would surely attract all manner of folk who lived in the shadows, out of the sight of the Stormwind constabulary.  It was an ideal place for criminals of all sorts to gather and socialize, relax, and conduct business.

In short, a perfect place for Jonathan to visit when he was looking for certain types of people.

Jonathan had been approached by a lady named Catherine Leland, a merchant who sold fishing supplies near the Stormwind Canals. She had walked up to the table Jonathan usually occupied in the Old Town tavern called the Pig & Whistle.

"Master Chess, I understand you find people what have gone missing?" she had asked, her short-cropped red hair a beacon in the dim light of the tavern.

Chess nodded and allowed that was indeed part of his business as a private investigator.

"My husband Arnold and I are worried sick about my brother-in-law, Ferdinand.  He's gone missing."

"Well, I can look... what does Ferdinand do for a living?" Jon had asked.

"He fishes the Canals and sells his catch to the local food merchants. He has recently hit a rough patch, and was complaining about how easy the Defias have it - Arnold and I... we fear that he may have gone off to join them.  We can't ask the Stormwind Guard for help - they'd throw him in the Stockades!" she explained, her composure beginning to break down and become desperation.  "We don't have much money, but you might be our only hope!"

Jonathan had accepted the case, and told her that he'd do it for a good fishing pole in trade; she couldn't afford his rates, but she needed help, and besides Jon had always wanted to learn to fish.

A strip club isolated in the Elywnn Forest would be an ideal place to start; every Defias with a little coin to spend would probably be there.  In any case, it sounded like an excellent place to start.

The building was easy to find; the dancer's instructions had been very good.  The club opened its doors at the seventh hour of the evening.  Jon was met at the door by a bouncer, who collected the 20 GP entrance fee and let Jon pass ((The actual club is by invitation only - contact for details)) after making him sign the waiver and rules of the house.

((Player OOCly and ICly must be at least 18 years of age. This is an Adult themed roleplay weekly event in a controlled environment. Under no circumstances will touching of the dancers be permitted ICly. Strictly for viewing pleasure only. If you are caught by a bouncer touching one of the dancers, you will instantly be thrown out of the establishment for the duration of the evening and your name goes on a list. If the rule is broken a second time on a separate occasion, it will result in a ban from the establishment. As well as any kind of fighting, or trouble caused within. Please be respectful of the dancing girls and other patrons.  There is a 20 Gold cover charge, either IC or OOC gold left up to participants discretion (OOcly we are comparing it to $20). The dancers will be accepting real gold tips at any time, but this is not required. VIP lounge will be open for private dances, all you have to do is ask a dancer! The dancing girls are not required to do this, it is up to their discretion. They will -always- reserve the right to say NO without fear of backlash. If backlash occurs it will result in an instant ban. This is a topless club only, not a brothel. We DO NOT sell our girls here for sexual favors. That is strictly prohibited. No minors allowed in the Discord (https://discord.gg/k4mJ8N) or in the IC establishment. Thank you for your time and we hope you enjoy the shows!))

Jon Chess passed into the main room.  The building had plenty of room, with tables and chairs spread out for the patrons of the establishment.   There seemed to be three stages where dancers performed in rotation, with the main stage up front.

Jonathan found himself a chair facing the main stage, while the announcer announced the next dancer, the "luscious and incomparable Luci!"  Jon recognized the dancer as the Illidari woman who he had helped at the clinic.  Her body was long and rangy, well-toned.  her dark purple hair cascaded down over her shoulders and back, contrasting with her light purple skin and glowing eldrich tattoos. She wore a black lace blindfold over her eyes.  A skimpy black thong framed her hips and barely covered her pubic mound.  Her breasts were confined by a matching black bra, several sizes too small and pushed her breasts up high on her chest.  She looked like the perfect avatar of the Shadow, and Jon almost felt guilty at how attractive he found her.

Almost.

Walking up to the main stage, Luci held a shy look, and kept her head down, looking at the floor. her garments were tight and revealing, only covering the most sensitive bits of her body, and seemed like they could pop off at any moment.  Her breasts and butt were very well proportioned her slender body. Her dark magenta skin made it easy for her to hide in the darkened room, only to be betrayed by the violet, glowing runes that wrapped around much of her body. She took a firm grip on the dancing pole, hiding her gaze from everyone.

As the music started to play, she’moved her body to its rhythm, Pressing her chest into the pole so it was pressing the string of her bra between her boobs, Luci spun around, simultaneously sticking her butt out to the crowd and giving a few more playful shakes. She took a quick twirl to show everyone her bright and seemingly innocent smile.  As the lyrics started to talk about trying something new, Luci slid her hands up her stomach to the straps that locked her breasts away from full view and give them a gentle tug, teasing the audience with the thought of what she was hiding underneath.

After a few tugs, Luci ripped her bra off and tossed it towards the crowd, to be forgotten or taken by an appreciative customer. She moved her hands up to cup her breasts, giving them a little lift for the audience, slowly swaying her hips. She droped to the floor until practically on her knees, legs spread for balance.  Luci kept her sweet, innocent, and hopeful look, and once the beat took a rise, she spun around while rising, simultaneously sticking her butt out to the crowd while giving it a few playful shakes.  She turned around and took a brisk walk towards the crowd, dramatically swinging her hips from side to side. Her breasts and butt bouncing with each step.

As the song came to a close, Luci settled her dancing to a calm rhythm she kept in her own head, swaying her butt lightly from side to side, her bosom bouncing with each motion her body made. Calmly using her hidden strength to hoist herself up, she spread her legs so that her thong slipped off. Now fully exposed to the crowd while upside-down on the pole, Luci paused. until her next song began to play. Luci's runes started to release small purple lights that sparkled, making the dark area of the stage look like a universe in microcosm. Luci closed her eyes so that it seemed as if she was asleep while upside-down on the pole. Fully suspended into the air, the magic blips of light started to flow around her, forming lines to manifest as a lined barrier around her, each strip of dots two feet apart at the widest and slowly narrowed as they reached the pole on either end.

Luci spread her legs wide while slowly turning herself right-side up. Her movements were slow and graceful, easy to watch as Luci twisted and turned her hips and stomach. her hands explored her own side, teasing herself with a featherlight touch to her skin. The glowing globes coiled lightly around her, encasing her in a spiral prison. She grabbed the lines, which seemed to solidify at her touch. Pressing herself tightly against the limits, she slid down playfully and flipping onto her back.  Her back bent upwards, reaching for a circlet of the globes and pulling herself up slowly. Never stopping, her hips playfully shook along with her freely bouncing breasts.  The dancer came to a slow stop as the song ended.  She turned around to shake her delightful rear end to her audience. She waved happily to the rapt crowd, ending her dance with a bow.

Chess shook himself from where he had sat staring, and immediately checked his coin purse; he had been so oblivious, enraptured by her dance, he would have been easy prey for a thief.

Jon tossed one of several small sacks of gold he had prepared ahead of time onto the dancing platform; while Jon didn't know the specifics of this establishment, he knew that in many places the dancers worked for tips, not receiving a set wage.

Focusing on the business at hand, he looked around the room.  Th place was getting crowded and clearly many of the audience were members of the Defias Brotherhood, wearing their trademark not-quite-a-uniform leather clothes.

Jon spied one of the dancers sitting off in a corner, clearly taking a break.  Feeling a little guilty about interrupting her break time, Chess approached her. The woman was a Draenei.  As Jon approached, she looked up at him and smiled.

"Private dance, sweetheart?" she offered, her voice pitched low and seductive, and Jonathan flushed.  "My name is Therapy Goat".  The dancer seemed to be a little over seven foot tall and had light purple skin with dark purple lipstick.  Platinum white hair spilled down her back like a silken waterfall. She was missing her left horn, and the right horn was itself damaged.  The remnant of the horn was quite festive, festooned with small golden bells and piercings, which matched more piercing and bells on her long, shapely tail.  Her eyes were luminescent, and an almost sky blue.  They seemed to be aglow with astral magical energy.  She wore only smooth black thigh-high stockings and brief soft Mageweave bottoms.  Jon loved the way Mageweavwe felt, and his fingers longed to stroke the firm body beneath through them.

"Perhaps later, Miss,  My name is Chess.  Jon Chess.  I am a private investigator," explained Jon.  He held out the sketch he had made of Ferdinand Leland.

"I doubt it... you see, I am blind," she said in an amused voice.

"Oh..I am sorry, I..." Jon trailed off, his face radiating heat from his embarrassment.

"Nothing to be sorry about, Mister Chess.   I channel both the Earth and Wind elements. The vibrations from the Earth let me get a sense of someone's footing - you have an unusually light tread - and how fast they move, and the Wind element tells me about movements near me, and whether or not something is solid, like a wall.  So in many ways, it is like having sight; unfortunately, it is not useful for things like this."

"Still, my friend Tootsie is about to do her last set... tip her well, and I'll ask Toots to see if she has seen him.  That sounds fair, yes?"

"Most kind of you Miss Therapy Goat.  You have my gratitude."  Jonathan left the sketch with the Draenei woman and took his seat to watch Tootsie perform.

Toots took a deep breath as she entered the spotlight of the third stage.  Her red hair seemed like fire dancing in a forge as she slowly walked up to the dancing pole.  She sent a wink to one of the patrons before slowly gripping the pole and pulling herself up high, wrapping her legs around it. She leaned back and wiggled her voluptuous ass while her thong glittered like diamonds under a light.  The blacksmith twirled around rather slowly as she showed just how aerobatic she could be before gracefully landing.  upon landing, she bent forward as her hands moved between her thighs.  Her fingers traced a design on her asscheeks for a moment before she once more mounted on the pole, ensuring that the audience was focused on her apple-shaped ass and ample breasts.

Her music continued to play as the light surrounded her for a moment.  She stood in just her sparkling thong and matching bra, which strained to hold her magnificent breasts up. The woman blew a kiss before turning around and squatting down, moving her ass to the beat before moving forward onto the floor.

She ever so teasingly ground her hips down before turning around onto her ass. She flicked her hair back and moved her hands upwards to remove her bra. Her arms covered her breasts before anyone could see as she moved with grace and beauty.  She stood as she teased the removal of her thong.  The began to shout and whistle in hopes that the woman would give them what they so desperately wanted.

Just before the music ended, Toots smirked as she slowly yet teasingly removed her thong and threw it out for a patron to take home before doing a bow and gracefully moving off the stage.   Jon approached her before another patron could engage her for a private dance.  Jon felt his eyes begin to stray to her muscular form before he focused his will and maintained eye contact.  She seemed to notice the conflict, and her smirk grew larger.

"A most enchanting performance, Miss Tootsie," complemented Jon as he handed her another one of his small tip sacks.  "Please, would you be so kind as to help me with a small matter?"  Tootsie laughed and said, "Oh, I'm sure it's not small, my good sir..."  The two of them walked over to Therapy Goat, where Tootsie looked at the sketch.

"Sure, I've seen him... but not here," Tootsie explained.  "Earlier today I went to Goldshire to buy some supplies for the bar, and I saw this guy passed out in the common room.  Is he a criminal?  Is there a reward?"

"No, milady, I fear that he is not a wanted criminal - just missing.  The only reward here is my own, for I have been privileged to watch you and Luci perform, and experience the pleasure of meeting Miss Therapy Goat," said Chess.  "If I can ever be of service, please seek me out."

Chess handed Tootsie and Therapy Goat his business cards, although he was so flustered by them that he had not thought where they might put them.  He exited the club and headed for Goldshire, the music of the next dancer's performance swiftly fading as the trees absorbed the sound.

Ferdinand Leland was remanded into Chess' custody, and he saw the lad safely home.  Chess thought of returning to Stilettos, but the hour was late, and Jon decided to save his next visit for another case.

Maybe he could bribe Ferdinand to wander off again... 

The Mithril Rose of Ironforge

"Why in the bloody Fel can't the dwarves build a tramway to the top?" mumbled the detective Jon Chess as made his way up the sloped road to Ironforge. he had flown his griffon from Blackrock Mountain, the home of the Dark Iron Dwarves. Centuries ago, the Dark Iron Dwarf clans, under their leader Dagran Thaurissan, had claimed their home in the volcanic depths, worshipping the powerful Elemental demigod Ragnaros.  Ironically, their current ruler was the daughter of Magni Bronzebeard.

Queen-Regent Moira Thaurissan (born Bronzebeard) was the daughter of King Magni Bronzebeard of Ironforge and the widow of Emperor Dagran Thaurissan of the Dark Iron clan. As such, she was both Princess of Ironforge as well as Empress of the Dark Irons. Her infant son Dagran Thaurissan II, for whom she was regent, was the current heir to both thrones. Moira was the Dark Iron representative of the Council of Three Hammers that had been set up to rule Ironforge following the petrification of her father, and Moira had personally led a force of Dark Iron dwarves against the Burning Legion.

It was this air of uncertainty about the future which had prompted this client, a Dwarf named Snorri Galdirborn to hire Chess.  Snorri had lost a family heirloom to a Dark Iron thief and wanted Jon Chess to recover it from the Black Vault, the bank located inside Shadowforge City. the Dark Iron dwarven capital city.

Jon had done this and was now on his way to deliver the heirloom - a pair of Bronze Baby Booties - to his client.  He had parked his griffon Silvermane in the town of Kharanos, at the base of the Ironforge mountain, as Jon was not sanguine about flying his griffon through the access tunnels of the mountain itself.

And so it was that Jon found himself trudging up the steep road.  As he reached the blessedly-flat caravan marshaling yard, he saw a human woman with long red hair, dressed in the manner of Ironforge residents. A long leather blacksmith smock covered a voluptuous figure.   She was sitting on a bench, away from the caravans of wagons.  She was sobbing into her hands, clearly in distress.

Jon recognized the woman as the dancer from Stilettos he knew by the stage name of "Tootsie". Jon debated for a brief second on whether or not to approach her; she might well want to be alone, but his compassion, and he admitted, his nosiness won out, and he approached the woman, making plenty of noise upon his approach so as to not startle her.

"Miss Tootsie?" Jon asked, ready to pretend that he was mistaken if she declined to be recognized.

The woman looked up and nodded.  Her eyes were red from crying.  She nodded and said "Oh, Mister Chess... I hadnae expected to see you here!"  her usual husky voice was heavy with the accent of a native Ironforger, something he had not remembered from Stilettos.  Jon supposed that when performing, she had taken pains to minimize her charming accent.

"I see you are troubled, Tootsie," Jon said.  "Is there anything i can do to help"

"Och, sit ye duin here," she said, indicating the bench.  "It's... well, I am a-crying because one of thae patrons at Stilettos brought a business associate tae the place, a Dwarf."

Jon sat beside her as she continued.

"Well, thae long and thae short of the matter is that thae fellow recognized me, and told me... he told me thae I should be fair ashamed of myself, bringing disrepute on my clan for being,.. for acting like a human hoor!"  Tootsie started crying again, and Jon reached over and pulled her to him, letting her - quite literally - cry on his shoulder.

Jon made soothing noises as he stroked the fine red hair and held her while her latest crying jag let itself out.  Then he spoke gently to her as if she was a spooked animal. "Tootsie, do you trust me to tell you the truth?"

Tootsie pulled away and looked Jonathan in the face.  Aye, I suppose so..." she said, bracing herself for more condemnation in her moment of doubt and pain.

"Good... now, you know I am a private detective, but what you don't know is that I also work for the Alliance military forces.  And, like you, I have a secret, one that I'm about to tell you."  Tootsie nodded.   "Tootsie, the Alliance has me kill people.  Not in honorable battle, but behind the front lines. I assassinate people, I sabotage as directed... i once released a captive beast in the Suramar Zoo, which killed hundreds of civilians to provide a distraction doe an Alliance operation."

Tootsie's eyes went wide, her own concerns forgotten for a moment.

"First of all, you are not a whore..." Chess said.  "You are a dancer, which is quite another thing altogether, yes?  The rules at Stilettos are very clear!"

Tootsie gives him a hesitant nod, acknowledging the point.

"Second, the idiot who said those things... he was there of his own free will. What kind of a patron goes to Stilettos, and then tries to shame the dancers?  What a sanctimonious, hypocritical prick!  Nothing he has to say has any value, Tootsie."

Tootsie took a moment to Ponder his words. "I suppose ye hae the right of it, Mister Chess.  I shouldnae let his words hurt me so, but they did."

"Well, let me say one final word... Tootsie, you are a wonderful, talented woman, whose expression through dance brings happiness to your audiences.  There is no shame in what you do; all you do is make people smile.  Now, what I do?  Slaughtering people?  Even under orders, that is something to be ashamed of... not what you do.  Not making people happy!"

"Ach, Mister Chess!" Tootsie exclaimed, beginning to cry again, but this time in relief.  Jonathan hugged her to his other shoulder.

"You can call me Jon, you know... It seems ridiculous, you being formal after this, yes?"  Jon stroked her hair, comforting the dancer.

Tears were sometimes the perfect water for the growth of a flower of friendship - in this case, between Jonathan Chess and Tootsie, the Mithril Rose of Ironforge.

Client Report: A Lost Draenei

Aresia,

I have taken the sketch of the missing Draenei warrior you described to the area formerly occupied by the city of Dalaran in Northrend, as you specified.  I found no trace of her in the area, and so I traveled to K3, a goblin base camp located on the southern base of Storm Peaks.  I showed the sketch to the guards and merchants, but nobody remembered having seen her.  I then went to the Argent Vanguard base near Icecrown, none of the Argent Crusade still manning the camp recalled her either.

As those are the major northern alternatives, I continued the investigation south, to Fordragon Hold in Dragonblight.  Fortunately, with the threat of the Lich King somewhat lessened, travelers are somewhat more scarce than previously, and a pretty Draenei warrior traveling alone was memorable. According to the Innkeeper, a Draenei warrior answering the description passed through on her way to Valiance Keep.

I traveled to Valiance Keep, and discovered that an un-named Draenai warrior signed up as crew with a merchant ship called the Kvarch Narr shortly after arriving in the Keep.  My suspicions are that the subject of the search is now employed as a merchant guard onboard a ship.

Regards,

Jon Chess

Rescuing Joe Brandstone - Epilogue

The rescue of Joe Brandstone had been accomplished by a rescue team from the Achor Trading company, supplemented by several others, including Jon Chess.  Jon had released tigers from a pen to provide a distraction so the assault force could penetrate the mine where Brandstone had been held and then helped the snipers and the Kal'dorei rogue Miss Moon secure the mine entrance, killing a patrol which had threatened to expose the rescue.  During the rescue, mine slaves had been released and had escaped into the Stranglethorn Jungle.  After Brandstone and their prisoner had been teleported to Dalaran for medical treatment, Chess had returned to the mine complex, to see if he could track the escaped slaves, and help them back to Alliance lands.

While he was trailing the slaves, Jon ran across the corpse of Shadowmaw panther.  The wounds on the body of the panther were made from human weapons; slain perhaps by the escaping slaves or by the bandit patrols from the mines.  Who had done the deed was irrelevant to the panther cub who sat in mourning for her slain mother, keening her distress and gently poking at the corpse in a hopeless attempt to wake her.

Jonathan Chess felt his heart break for the panther cub. Taking a packet of his lunch - Deeprun Rat Kabob - from his pack, he tore the meat into small pieces and slowly approached the panther cub.  Consumed by her grief and hunger, the cub did not notice Chess approach until it smelled the food Jon offered her.  The cub took the first piece almost reluctantly and devoured it with a growing enthusiasm.  By the time Jon had run out of meat, the panther cub was sleepy, it's stomach round with her consumption.  Jon rigged his cloak to act as a sling pouch and gently moved the cub into it, stroking and petting the wee little beast.  

The panther cub needed a new guardian, and Chess had an idea...

Dye Job, Part II

While Jon Chess waited for his new client named Dye to return, he sent letters to Lynesia, hi Ren'dorei mage lover and to Phredaria his forensics mage colleague, to inform them os his current case.  He had just posted them when his client returned. 

"Ready for a teleport to Dalaran?" Jon asked.  Some time ago, he had spent a fortune on a Kiron Tor-enchanted ring which allowed him to teleport himself and a few companions to the levitating city of mages.

"I am," Dye replied bravely, her composure seemingly restored. She carried a large haversack which Jon assumed was full of changes of clothes and other essentials.

Jon took Dye's luggage, placed his hands on her shoulder, and activated the teleportation magic in the ring. Once in Dalaran, it was a short jaunt to Phred's residence. Phrediara opened the door before Jon could knock.

"Well, you wasted no time!" said the gnome mage.  Phredaria was typical of her race in that she seemed far too cute to be real, with large blue eyes in a pretty face.  She had short red hair combed to the left.  Even her scowl looked cute and adorable.  

"Hello to you too, Phred... is this not a good time?  i can stash my client in another..." Jon had started to offer but was interrupted by Phredaria.  "No, its OK, Jon... I'll put her in the room you sometimes use, if that suits you."  Phred shot him a look that forestalled any objections or questions Jon might have made.

"That will be fine, Phred, I appreciate it," replied Chess.  He was grateful to have a colleague and friend like Phredaria.  

"You know the way.  I'm in the middle of something at the moment, so I'll let you get her settled in," Phred said, vanishing into her workroom.  Jon shrugged, and guided Dye to the bedroom she would use for the duration of her stay.  the room was dominated by the large four-poster canopied in the center of the back wall.  There was a chest at the foot fo the bed.  Jon entered the room.  Dye followed along dutifully, her eyes downcast, a small bag of sundries in hand. 

"Here we go.  You will sleep on the bed, I'll guard from here, next to the locked door," Chess informed her.

"I... you... I'd feel bad if you had to sleep on the floor. Maybe you could take the other side of the bed?" She offered in a deceptively chaste manner. 

"I won't be sleeping.  I'll be facing the door, on guard, in a chair," Chess informed. 'I can at least give you that much privacy,  I apologize I can't do more."

"Guarding... what, exactly?" she questioned. "I mean... I thought, the goal was to keep me from wandering off... if nobody has come after me in a week, they're not coming, right?"

"I don't take chances with my clients.  I can sit on the other side of the door if you like; the room has no windows."

"Not at all. No..." she frowned. "It's hardly a chance, we're in a mage's home, behind a locked door. You can sleep. Honestly." She rolled her eyes. "So... what's the plan now?"

"It is not that I won't sleep for your sake," Jon explained. "it is that I can't sleep at all."

"May I ask why?" she inquired.

Jon Chess ignored her question and answered the previous one. "The plan is I am going to ask some questions at the docks and see who paid off the guards to stay away; follow the money.  I will be sending copies of the sketch of the tattoo to my informants in SI:7 and the Kirin Tor.  Phred will, with your consent, perform some non-invasive diagnostics to learn more about the enchantments - what kind of magic, how powerful, and so on." having completed his answer, he addressed the other question. "As for why I cannot sleep... some time ago, I was captured and tortured by a group called the Crimson Cabal.  They had a shadow-priestess that did things to my psyche.  I can't sleep without nightmares, mostly." He omitted to mention that the shadow priestess had been trying to set Jon up as a weapon to kill Ren'dorei in Stormwind; there was no reason to needlessly alarm her.

Dye nodded her head. "Of course, whatever Phred needs." Dye paused. "I did... I do know... the name of the man the drugs might have been bought from..." She took a breath.

"Anything you can tell me would be helpful, Dye," said Chess.

"Wait... I have a..." she said, pausing again. "Firstly: I have a friend... maybe she can help with the sleeping. She's a very competent shadow-priestess. Secondly: the man's name might have been Clyde. All I know is that every Friday he's down on the docks selling drugs. Thirdly: you... um... one... effect of the tattoo is... I can be a bit... loud... at night... I apologize in advance."

"I will endure, Dye," Chess said. "Don't worry about me.  I may take you up on the offer of help after the case.  For now, lets focus on helping you."

"Thank you again," said Dye, nodding in acknowledgment. "I'll find a way to repay you, I promise. If not money, then something else."

"Let's worry about that after, too," Chess said.

"If you say so, sir. Anything else I should know?" Dye asked.

"yes.  No more 'sir' - my name is Jon."

She nodded her head. "Yes sir," she offered with a smile.

"...Jon. I think we're already a little too... intimate at this point for needless formalities, don't you think?"

Dye flushed darkly, her skin turning dark with the reminder. "I... yes... of course."

"Do you need anything?  Books?  A favorite drink?  Anything to make your segregation more bearable?" Chess asked.

She paused before answering. "Well... a... um... a toy would be nice... to take the edge off," she confessed. "I brought a book, and... a bottle of bourbon if I could talk you into it?" She fished around, dragging out a small coin-pouch. "At least let me get you something for expenses."

"Put your coins away; you might need it later," Chess said, and asked, alost shyly, "What book? I collect books."

Dye tugged the tome free from her bag, the thick text written in Thalassian and bearing an image of a dented and rusted crown on the cover. "A history of the kings of Silvermoon." She admitted.

"I wish I read and spoke Thalassian," commented Chess. "Well, at least it would last you a bit longer than my books, like [A Steamy Romance Novel: Of Elven Bondage]."

"I could... read my book to you? Tonight? Since you don't sleep anyway? It might be a nice distraction for me, too."

Chess smiled. "I would enjoy that, Dye"

Dye flushes quite darkly at that title of the book Jon had referenced. "I... I might borrow... that... later."

"I am happy to loan it to you - I have almost the complete set of Spearshaker's series of romance novels."

"Did... did you learn anything from it?" she asked bashfully.

"Yes.  That the author has never had to tie anyone up for real," Chess replied.

"That... wait... have you?" Dye questioned.

Chess nodded.  "I was a... scout during the Northrend campaign."

"Well... maybe... maybe you should tie me up when you leave... that way you wouldn't have to worry about me running off to try and... um... give in..." she suggested.

Now it was Chess' turn to blush.  "Well, let's try it the more comfortable way first."

Dye Job, Part I

(WARNING "Dye Job, Part I" is an adult smut  NSFW story, 18+ only!)

Dye Job, Part I