Emerald sighed in contentment as she flopped onto the bed, the silken comforter embracing her body as the lien and jewelry she'd acquired scattered across it. Idly kicking off her heels, she flexed her stocking feet for a moment as she pondered the sparkling baubles she'd collected over the course of the evening.



Her new life was certainly an upgrade from scrabbling on the streets as she'd been doing for years. She'd raked in big riches when she'd learned how to properly apply her semblance, and the new Lampwick Casino in downtown Vale had given her a perfect venue to exercise her talents for her new benefactor.



In exchange for her unique services, she'd been well-rewarded.



The bed she now lounged on was one of them. Her apartment was modest, tucked away in the "employees only" section of the Casino where her boss conducted "private business," But it was a palace to her. Besides the memory-foam bed with satin and silk sheets and down pillows, she had thick comfortable chairs, a small but fully equipped kitchenette, music players, and perhaps most cherished of all, full climate control. She would never have to brave a Vale winter in whatever rags she could scavenge again.



Her eyes flicked to her closet, full of long coats and fur-lined gloves, tailored blouses and name brand skirts, silk stockings and polished shoes, and dresses that cost more individually than all the lien she'd ever had in her life. The shimmering green snake-pattern dress she wore was one of the "simpler" things in her wardrobe, worn with plain pantyhose and a modest pair of heels, but the outfit was one of her favorites. She blended seamlessly into the crowds of young clubbers and Beacon students out to unwind.



And after all, a simple ensemble was that much easier for the average person to forget.



Her stomach was still full from the meal she'd charmed one of her victims into paying for, and the anti-intoxicant pill she took daily ensured she could pound drinks down with the best and not feel more than the mildest buzz. The pile of Lien that was now liberally scattered across her bed was testament to her success. Between her looks charming half-drunk casino-goers and her acting skills letting her play the part of the sobbing, bankrupted girl who'd been swindled out of her cash, She'd not even had to use her semblance half the time.



A small part of her, the part she assumed held what was left of her conscience, sometimes still nagged her, saying such things were wrong, that she should get away from all this before she got in over her head.



She shook her head, her jade-colored hair fluttering about her face.



"Nice clothes, a comfortable bed, succulent food, and surrounded by riches? A girl could do worse." She mused to herself, idly wiggling her toes as she admired a necklace she'd finagled right off a debutante's neck. The girl and her companion hadn't noticed even as she'd walked away.

She knew she couldn't KEEP the baubles, nor most of the cash beyond her stipend, but fancy jewels and obtuse riches mattered little to her compared to the living space she now had.

Her benefactor had gladly obliged her request for lodging when she'd first come to work for him.



"Mr. Torchwick's been good to me, This the least I can do for him."



As she pondered rendezvousing with Neo to scope out the big Welcome Party for the Atlas Academy officials that the Vale high council had organized at the Convention Hall attached to the Casino, her mind briefly flickered back to but a few months before.



She dared not think where she would have ended up had that raven-haired Huntress who had pursued her after she'd robbed the Jewelry store had caught her. It was the first time she'd ever been that close to prison, or worse. That recalled....



Emerald laughed aloud to herself as she remembered the woman had actually tried to chase her while wearing High heels.



"As if!" she chuckled to herself, even as her own feet sought out her discarded pumps and slipped them back on "She's either got ankle bones of solid steel or she's more concerned with looks!"



[=]



Thank you so much for doing this! She looks absolutely amazing.