He'd said to arrive at eight in the morning. Anya did remember that much. It was for a job; a real paying job. A bartender even. She could use the money since she only had a little bit left and then she wasn't sure where the money she had came from. It didn't matter though. Her dwindling funds would soon have friends. She'd never been a bartender before as far as she could remember although there were still fuzzy places when she did try to recall events and things from the past. Maybe she had been a bartender. Some things felt familiar about the word but she couldn't place it; too many fuzzy places inside the chaos of her fractured mind. That part didn't even seem to bother him. Which part? The few memories or that she'd not been a bartender before? What had she told him? She couldn't place that either. It didn't matter. He said if she could read, she'd do fine and she clung to that part. He seemed to know things and that was something a little unsettling; like they'd met before at some point. She suggested it but he'd not been specific in answering for certain.

The little crystal statue he'd made for her was all wrapped up in a shirt inside the bag she carried over her shoulder. She didn't want to break it or mar it in some way. It was her first 'thing' that was hers and she wanted to take care of it. The little food box that the fox had loaned to her was just simply gone, just like the fox had said would happen. Something about it knowing the way home. Anya assumed it had gone home. She wished it hadn't. She was hungry but there was no time for eating at the moment. Her feet took her along the snowy road toward the inn that he'd said she should go to for the job. As she approached the end of the street; the dark brown building grew more intimidating. It had to be her imagination. Buildings were just buildings; materials and workmanship and that was all. Her lips pressed tightly as she surveyed what she could see from the outside. She noted that very few windows broke the monotony of the exterior. An oversight perhaps while building or something more specific? She didn't consider that more since that line of thinking would only make her stomach churn; instead she continued her path until she reached the door and pushed to gain entry. A watch on her slender wrist showed the time as just shy of eight by two minutes. Better early than late. Under her hand, the door opened with surprising ease.

The dark of the buildings interior was at odds with the bright white of the outside world. Her eyes adjusted to the darker interior within three quick blinks; a faint pain flaring briefly between her eyes as her vision adjusted. As the pain faded on the third blink, she could see more clearly the interior of the inn. She thought she felt a chill even through her heavy coat but put that down to nerves. The first day of any new job had plenty of nerves. She wasn't sure where that thought came from but it comforted her. Heavy boots on her feet, she made faint thumping noises when she walked toward the bar. She kept her chin up as she approached, a dialog inside her head suggested that looking confident as a first impression would be a good thing. Upon reaching the bar, she glanced around then back. Anya's hand snuck up to pull off her knit cap, her other hand quickly wiping over her head to release the static so her hair would lay more normal. Twin tails mostly were in place except for a few strands here and there. Her cheeks were pink from the cold outside but otherwise her roundish face was comfortably plain. The heavy coat hid her figure from shoulders to mid-thigh. Anya cleared her throat.

"I was told I would have a job here as a.." Her mind went blank for that critical moment. As what? She'd known just a few minutes ago. Her lips moved slightly and then the word came, "Bartender." She was supposed to add something else to that. What was it again? He'd been very clear that she should make note of something else. She felt another shiver, green eyes flicking down to the bar top for a moment then lifting with the memory. "He said I was to be an employee." Then a smile found her lips.

The red head did move fast and Anya soon found herself being more dragged than led around behind the bar and into the kitchen. Did the red-head ever stop talking? She nodded to answer as the kitchen doors swung closed behind them. The growling brought her up short.

?Don?t worry about him, Master Travanix keeps us safe from him. Come, let us get a uniform for you, and show you the basics! Today is to be a busy day as our Master will be selling of his recent collection of broken slaves!?

She didn't want to hear half of what the red-head was saying. She didn't want to think about slaves or selling or such. Although this girl seemed to be rather okay with her situation. Were they all like that, Anya wondered?

?Oh, by the way, what is your name??

Her eyes tore away from the kitchen troll, attention landing on Nori. "Anya." Her lips found a faint smile. "My name is Anya." She did remember that without much trouble although a doubt whispered in her head wondering if it was her real name or not. She chose to ignore it and simply adopt the name even if it wasn't her real one. She cleared her throat, brows knitting upward.

"What sort of um uniform is it?"

?That is a silly question! It?s the same uniform that I?m wearing!?

The kitchen began to swim when she heard that. She was sure she could not wear anything quite like that and not dash for cover at the first sight of anyone. She felt herself pulled to the storage closet and wondered if it wouldn't be a quicker, more painless death to let the troll get her. She watched as Nori pulled dress after dress out until she found on that would probably fit. She wasn't sure that it would. There was barely anything to it!

?Did Master say if you had room and board as well??

Anya shook her head slowly left and right. "He didn't say. I .. I have a place at the inn." Her lips pressed together as her eyes wandered over the little uniform. She felt a bit of nausea but swallowed it down. It was a job. She was going to earn money. It was going to be all right.

"Are you sure that's my size?" Her face looked like she seriously doubted that bit of fabric and few ribbons would really fit her.

That's what she was afraid of .. stretching in the right places. She shuddered a little and then felt herself dragged again back through the kitchen toward the main room. Nori went on again and Anya only caught part of it. 'out shortly' .. 'restrooms' .. 'come dressed' .. say what? Her lips pressed together as she looked around the main section of the bar. Like hell!

She swallowed and looked in the direction of the restrooms. Might as well not put off the inevitable. She offered a bit of a faint smile and then clomped off to go change.

It was quiet for several minutes before there was a startled gasp and a 'oh no way' from the bathroom. She was going to need a coat or something. This was just way too .. or rather way not too much to wear. She couldn't do this! She was about to strip it off when a thought came unbidden to mind.

Hooters.

She didn't know what that meant for a long moment but as she remained still, she felt memories settle into place. A bar where girls dressed all sexy and usually got fairly good tips because of it. They weren't expected to do anything, just look real pretty and serve the guests. She blinked at herself and wondered if she would be able to do that. She did need the money. Anya bit her lower lip and felt a resolve she wasn't sure was her own.

She could do it. She would do her best.

She shoved her clothes into her bag, carefully protecting the pretty crystal statue even more. She slung it over her shoulder and took another breath before exiting the restroom and heading back toward the bar. Her feet made almost no noise as she moved, the shoes of the uniform were comfortable too. Her petite frame moved with innate grace.

"Nori, where do I keep my bag?"

A brow furrowed Anya's forehead. Sell her personal items? He better not. They weren't his! She didn't have much time to say anything of the like before Nori was once more doing her leading the blind routine to drag Anya back through the kitchen. Her bag found a home among the other items that seemed treasured enough to be hidden by these girls. Why did they have to hide their things? A curious look lifted but again, before she could vocalize the question, she was yanked off and out through the kitchen after the statement of meeting the other girls.

Excited? Whyfor? Who'd told them she was coming? Had she missed something? It was entirely possible but she hadn't thought she'd forgotten anything yet. She let herself be led, still feeling distinctly out of place in the hooters-style show-more-than-enough-to-tease outfit. "Other Girls?" Her twin tails swished over her shoulders as she glanced around.

Another question fought its way out. "Does it ever warm up in here?"

Anya turned at the words, brow lifting. That rush of feeling 'out of place' grew briefly before settling a bit. Her vague unease at being in a strange place standing in almost nothing left her with a shiver. Or maybe it was this cold he so eloquently described that caused the barest of shivers to race over her skin. She found herself repeating his words in her head, a smile almost tugging at her lips. They sounded almost like a poem although he didn't seem the sort to be spouting poetry at random intervals. Her eyes slithered to the side and down, chin turning and dropping a little to find where Nori went.

Her eyes flickered back to her employer as he received his status report from the kneeling Nori. Did he seem almost bored with the moment when he spoke? His tone was a bit .. off. Anya's nose twitched a little while Nori replied to answer the question posed. Why in the world had Nori gone down like .. oh. Anya almost nibbled her lip at an uncomfortable thought. Her eyes caught his attention shifting. The thought was tucked away and a smile was present on her face Travanix looked back in her direction.

She shifted one foot to the other when he looked her over. It felt .. weird. Her smile almost faltered for reasons unknown but an indrawn breath bolstered it. "Um .. yes. It's a little tight." Her shoulder shifted slightly before she glanced at Nori briefly. Within a heartbeat her eyes were back on Travanix. "Nori's been a great help, yes. Thank you."

"I am glad that you have enjoyed your time with her." He turned from her, and walked back towards the front of the building. "Have you had a chance yet to get familiar with the bar?" He said, walking towards the business side of the bar. Without waiting for a response from her, he already knew the answer. "This is where you will spend most of your time. You will need to help make sure that glasses and plates are removed from the tables."

Anya pursed her lips when she was not given an opportunity to answer. Someone was a little bit in a rush. She glanced toward the various tables at the statement that she would need to bus glasses and plates from the tables. Why didn't the the servers take care of that, she wondered silently to herself. Did they just dump food at the tables and then run off ignoring the patrons after that? Seemed a little sloppy in policy to expect the bartender to sling drinks and clean up after the patrons. Sure, she could keep the bar tidy of course but the tables? That had her a little worried. So now she was supposed to be bartender and hooter girl waitress to clean up the mess? She wasn't sure she liked that idea. She followed a few steps behind, taking it all in while she contemplated things.

He turned and began walking the length of the bar. "All supplies are on the back side of the bar, or in the kitchen. I am having an auction of 4 slave girls today, and I am expecting a crowd of around 50 patrons through out the day. Will you be able to keep up with that?"

Auction? Her eyes flicked back to the man that Nori was following as if a good little puppy. Anya lifted a shoulder. "Serving drinks for that number shouldn't be too hard. Picking up after everyone at the various table and such while serving drinks to that many? That might be a stretch." Her chin lifted, brow up. Might just as well be honest up front and not set unreachable expectations.

One more guest showed up for the great slave auction. A bony Asian woman with deep wrinkles, who picks an assortment of pretties from the girls on the auction block. She bid wisely, letting some of the more hotly contested girls go when their price overreached her budget. She was purchasing on behalf of the Bonny Corporation. She was not at all what she appeared.

Though Lord Travanix had never seen this woman before, he would undoubtedly have recognized her - if he were able to see the souls of vampires. As it is, she is a stranger in the crowd. Just another associate of the Corporation, an agent who will never be seen again in this world.

She opened her mouth and then closed it once more. Anya decided not to bother with more questions just yet. Perhaps later. Her eyes widened when she saw the various preparations being made. She chose to review the little cheat sheet thing behind the bar to try to figure out some of the more popular drinks that she would be called upon to make.

Anya was not sure if she could do the work but as time passed and drink orders came, she would find it much easier than she expected. Her hands moved as if she knew more than she could recall which was a bonus for her. The quicker she could sling a drink, the better for the patron and herself.

Right? Of course right!

She did her best to ignore the auction, Anya's focus remained on filling drinks to ensure customers were happy. Happy customers wouldn't complain and that would make everyone's lives a whole lot easier. She kept things tidy too, somehow. Economy of motion and nimble fingers ended up being her friend for the day as she went through the motions of her tasks.

Did she relax? Not a whole lot although her hands did seem to loosen up. She deftly managed the bottles and mugs, glasses and chalices without spilling or breaking anything. Again, a bonus as far as she was concerned. Nothing was too fancy although when she almost fobbled a bottle, a flick of her wrist and turn of her shoulder had her catching it backhanded as it slid downward. She kept herself nonchalant as if that was what she'd planned all along. Never no mind the rapid beating of her heart at the close call.

It was hard to concentrate on what she was doing. She had to tune it out, ignore the goings on in that area completely. Anya found that she had a talent for selective hearing. She kept her focus on the tasks of tending the bar, eyes avoiding the activities elsewhere. A turn and duck, a slung mug of ale .. mix this, deliver that.

She did not keep track of the hours that she worked except for the fatigue in her feet. She would be thankful when the day was concluded and she could sit down - better yet, so she could change back into her own clothing. She shivered unconsciously as she poured a tankard of rich mead. It was delivered with a faint smile. Yes, it would be nice to feel warm again.

"Well well, my dear. You seemed to have survived the day." She turned toward him a little when he spoke to her. Her eyes rested on him as he continued. "I am impressed. I even had a few compliments about your skill and personaility. Of course, several also inquired as to the price they needed to meet so that they could purchase you from me."

His chuckle caused her brow to lift, eyes widening a bit before going the opposite direction and narrowing on him.

"Tell me, my dear, what do you think?"

She didn't have to think much before answering. "You can't sell what you don't own." Her chin lifted a little. "That's what I think."

Her wide eyes followed him as he moved away. A pay increase? She felt a wash of satisfaction flood through her. That was a good thing. She licked her lips and glanced around the inn for a moment before exhaling a sigh. As soon as the last of them left, she could also leave but not without fetching her things. She didn't own much but she cherished what she had.