Private Foot in the Door

[Malcoma Hesse]

Eden’s Club was rowdy, but that had nothing to do with the preceding fashion show. In fact, Mikka and her friends weren’t anywhere in sight. There were mostly men in attendance.

A suited security guard, whom the bouncer had called over as Miri was trying to enter the establishment, led her to a door hidden in the wall behind the main stage, vacant at the time being. It opened into a long corridor, at the end of which was a security door that he buzzed them into. He held this door open for her just long enough to point her to the left down another hall. “Have fun, ma’am,” he said as he left to return to the club.

At least this hallway was shorter and offered only one destination: an ebony door with a golden frame carved with ionic motives. As Miri neared it, she might start wondering if it was gilded or solid.

Miri Nimdok

 

[Miri Nimdok]

Attire: xxx

Her initial entry into Eden’s Club was a confusing experience. She didn’t see Mikka or anyone else who looked familiar there. Had she somehow wound up in the wrong place? Or was it all some sort of trick?…

But she soon caught the eye of a security guard who seemed to know who she was. Had they screened her beforehand, they would know that while she had been a Jedi, she had willingly left the Order behind within the past year. And anyway, what was a former Jedi doing modeling clothes for money, unless she had come on hard times?

The guard guided her onto the stage, where a hidden door revealed a hallway. Miri glanced over her shoulder at the guard as he gave directions, one brow slightly lifted. But she said nothing, and he left her there alone.

Turning the corner, at the end of the corridor she found a black door in what might’ve been a solid gold frame. This wasn’t exactly what she had been expecting, but she had to admit it was far more intriguing. Approaching the door, she took a deep breath before reaching out and rapping her knuckles against the wood.

Malcoma Hesse​

 

[Malcoma Hesse]

Indistinct conversation floated towards the door on the other side of it. Then, when it got to its loudest, the threshold opened to a familiar face. "Miri!!" Mikka exclaimed. "Come in!"

She stepped aside to let Miri do so. Afterward, she eased the door shut behind them.

"Super glad you made it. Sorry to send Damris rather than coming to get you myself. It's wild out there. After our night, the last thing I want is to be on show again, y'know?"

Miri Nimdok

 

[Miri Nimdok]

"Miri!!" Mikka exclaimed. "Come in!"

Miri released a breath she hadn't realized she'd been holding upon seeing Mikka. "Hey," she greeted. Crossing the threshold, she looked around before her gaze returned to the woman she had met at the show.

"I can understand that," she said, though her brow was slightly furrowed. Something clearly was going on here that she didn't understand. Not yet, anyway. "Do you own this establishment?" she asked, acting on a hunch. She had heard another voice from behind the door, but if they were still here, they had yet to make themselves known.

Malcoma Hesse

 

[Malcoma Hesse]

Mikka shook her head. "No, that'd be Malcoma," she replied.

As if on cue, an older, blonde woman rounded a corner out of the dining room after setting a platter of hors d'oeuvres on the table. Miri might recognize her as one of the audience members, though she looked a bit different now than she had then, what, wearing a sweater and skirt set with her hair let down.

"Malcoma, this is Miri, the model I met at the show."

Malcoma's gaze set itself on Miri, keeping her silent for a moment as she appraised her. If anyone would have looked into one of Mairéad's temps, it was Malcoma. She had even made sure to do it personally.

Then, Malcoma smiled a small, somewhat guarded smile. "Welcome, Miri," she began. "You girls did very well tonight." She glanced from Miri to Mikka and back again. "Please help yourself to some food. The others will be along shortly."

Miri Nimdok