This is my first AU story, so I hope it doesn't suck. >
House of Cards
Shuffle the Deck


"Girls! Wake up! It's almost dawn!" Princess yelled up to the rooms above the bar. There was some shuffling upstairs, and then the pounding of 6 pairs of feet coming downstairs. They lined up for examination under the scrutiny of Princess' eyes. Looking them over once or twice, Princess suddenly barked, "Eries, take off that shawl and be a little more revealing, you look a like a nun in a church. Nariya, see if you can help tighten Eriya's corset, she looks like a heifer. And saints alive, Yukari, do something with that rat nest you call hair. The rest of you, you know what to do."

The girls who were berated sullenly stomped upstairs as the others breathed a sigh of relief and went to busying themselves. Princess suddenly tugged the back of the neckline of one girl's dress and whispered in her ear, "Come into my office."

Her 'office' was actually a large closet under the stairs, but Princess didn't call it anything else. Lighting the oil in her lantern, Princess ushered the girl inside and closed the door. "Darling, the reason I called you in here is because I need to talk to you, considering that you're new and all. Now what's your name again? Hitomi, ain't it?"

"Yes ma'am, Hitomi Ka-"

"Sugar, I don't need to know your full name, just Hitomi will do. Now Hitomi, I know this is your first week here, and I don't count care what your life was before joining us, but now you belong to me, do you understand? I've been allowing you to be only call girl for a couple days, but if you don't make some real money at the end of the month, I'm afraid I'll have to kick you out."

Recognizing the look of horror on the girl's face, Princess couldn't help but chuckle. "Gawd, it's not as bad as you think it will be. You'll get used it."

"But...but I have no idea how to!"

Opening the door, Princess ushered Hitomi out. "Ask Merle to help you. She's been here probably as long as I have. Good luck honey."

Hitomi turned back to face Princess only to have the door slammed in her face. Sighing, Hitomi sat down on a stool and promptly rested her head on the bar. "How the heck am I supposed do THAT?"

"It's quite simple actually, and I'll explain it to you, as soon as you lift your head up so I can finish wiping off this counter," a voice answered, belonging to a woman Hitomi identified to be Merle. Although humans with animalistic features had been commonplace for a couple years, Hitomi was still shocked by Merle's cat-like features. "You'll help me with....with THAT?!"

"Yes, THAT," Merle mimicked, a grin on the other girl's face. "You haven't been in this type of profession long if you still refer to it as THAT."

"No, I guess not," Hitomi responded solemnly, looking downward. Merle lightly titled Hitomi's chin and exclaimed, "Cheer up, or you'll bother the customers. Now, the trick is to find a man you have a fancy too. Lucky enough, there's plenty of handsome men in this town that can't contain themselves in their pants. For example, the Sheriff is a favorite here, with his good likes and manners, he has every girl under his beckon and call, including Princess herself, though she'd never admit it."

Not knowing how she would possibly be able to remember this all, Hitomi reiterated, "So, find someone I like, and then what?"

"Well, try to get him to buy your services, of course. But if he has no money, drop him immediately. And Hitomi," Merle warned, "never fall in love with him."