After an entirely silent car journey I stood in another foyer. I couldn't tell if Yaru was happy with how things had progressed that afternoon. And I wasn't sure how I felt anymore. I didn't even think I wanted to feel. I wanted to be back in the safe cocoon of a body that couldn't move. Where no one expected anything of me.

"Yaru. You didn't tell me you had another new courtesan under your guidance," a man said, sauntering over. "When you asked where I'd be I thought you were just coming to say hello. Maybe ask for a favour."

"No, no favour. This is Auralia. She's a sweetheart, and I couldn't refuse Daniel once I'd met her."

The man came over and stopped right in front of me. Taking my hands in his, he looked me over. Unlike some of the others, he appeared more fatherly, his eyes coming back to my face and lingering there the longest, searching my eyes.

"The first day being introduced is a shocker, isn't it?" he asked eventually. I found myself nodding, my shoulders sagging a little, almost relieved at the caring tone he used.

"Well, come sit in David's diner. We'll get you a decent lunch and you can take a moment to gather yourself again."

"Thank you," I said, letting him sweep me along into the room ahead. It was kitted out just like American diners of old, but a bit darker, with a long bar at one end of the room. Just like in the social room Tomichii had taken me to, courtesans mingled with other men, but no one was doing anything quite so exotic as before. The most anyone was doing was kissing and copping feels, tucked away in booths, hidden from prying eyes.

"Come, you can rest up in here. Yaru will show you how to order, no doubt. Meal's on me today, my dear. Just stick around until my shift is done and I'll come find you."

"I nodded, feeling my eyes prickle with the threat of tears. His kindness and manner felt so normal after so much strange new future."

"Thank you," I said again to Yaru as we slipped into a smaller booth out of the way near the back of the restaurant.

Yaru merely smiled and tapped at a small picture on the corner of the table. The wooden look faded away and then writing appeared, showing the menu to both of us. My mouth fell open, earning me a chuckle.

"I must confess, I do so love bringing my thawed charges here. You all react the same way. Society may have changed for the worse in some ways, but technology continues to make our lives easier."

I grinned, not surprised that it was the sort of thing he took amusement in. The interface was intuitive, my order placed not long after.

"That didn't take you long," Yaru said, still trying to choose something."

"You have no idea how long I've been wanting to eat a cheese burger," I replied.

"Ooo, about two hundred years, perhaps?"

This time I laughed. He was right, even if that hadn't been what I'd meant. By the time they'd frozen me they had been feeding me through tubes, my food mushed on spoons long before even that.

"Well, then, I'd best not keep you waiting much longer." Yaru tapped a few times, completing his own order, and then he sat back.

The food arrived in less than five minutes, the same man as earlier bringing them.

"There you go. Get stuck into that," he said as he put the plate down in front of me.

I groaned in delight as I took the first bite, the taste exploding in my mouth.

"That good, huh?"

"Better," I replied when I'd chewed and swallowed. He threw his head back and laughed.

"You can come back anytime then, my dear. A man always likes to have his cooking appreciated."

With that, he walked away again.

While I ate I took the time to study the room, noticing he seemed to be running the restaurant almost single-handedly, only one other person taking the dirty plates away again.

Once I'd finished I noticed Yaru was taking his time, eating more delicately and evidently enjoying his food as much as I did mine, even if I'd wolfed it down.

"What did you think of Tomichii?" he asked when I put my cutlery down for the last time.

"I liked him, I think."

"Good. We'll go back tomorrow. I want you to grow more comfortable with such public displays of courtship."

I nodded, not sure how to respond to that. The atmosphere had made me uncomfortable, but I was curious about Kioshi. I wanted to understand why he reacted the way he had to having me there when everyone else seemed to be comfortable with what I was.

"Most importantly, Tomichii seemed to like you. Watch out for Katrina, though. She's more than a little possessive of him."

"I could tell that. I've heard Anastasia is worse, though."

"Perhaps. If she's crossed. The men are aware she can be a... handful, however. They put up with it less. Katrina is more subtle when she wants to be."

"Right. So, what now?" I said when there was another silence. "What do we do while we're waiting here?"

"We mingle, of course."

He reached into his top again, pulling out a small device with a thin wide screen and a handle. It looked a bit like a shaving razor from my pre-frozen days, but smoother.

"Keep this on you. Scan the business cards of any potential clients, but don't get it out until one is offered to you."

I nodded, taking the small device, surprised by how light it felt.

"You need to find at least four, preferably six, men willing to come to your unveiling. They've got to want to spend obscene amounts of credits on deflowering you. While many men will admire you, few will be willing. Or have the pockets deep enough to provide the figure you're going to need to aim for."

I let out a shaky breath, my mind serving me several imaginings of what that might look and feel like. It took all my self-possession to hold my emotions in check and merely nod.

"If not everyone has deep enough pockets, do you know of anyone here who does?" I asked. "The sooner I earn back my debt the better."

Yaru nodded, swivelling to the side. It was only as I did the same that I realised, not only were we tucked away from everyone else, we had been given a table with a good view of the other patrons, especially those drinking by the bar, meals either finished or not required.

I found myself wondering if Yaru had planned this. If he'd expected to sit here and point out potential companions for me. It was a very lucky coincidence if not.

"Hmmm," he said. "There are a few here so far who might be willing to part with the credits, but getting them to like you will be another matter."

"Let me worry about that part," I replied. He chuckled.

"As you wish, my dear, but I warn you, men with money and a willingness to splash it out often have higher demands and expectations. If you truly wish to earn back your debt quicker than Daniel can increase it you must be...

"Perfect," I suggested.

Yaru tilted his head on the side, considering my word. "Willing. Willing to give them their every fantasy and more."

"Then so be it," I replied, gulping nonetheless. I wouldn't break. I'd be strong. This couldn't be worse than being trapped inside myself day after day.

"See that young fellow over there, two courtesans hanging off his every word?" Yaru asked, not pointing, but glancing at a pale man. He looked to be barely above twenty, his chin smooth and his clothes loose. He wore a large shirt, unbuttoned over a less than muscular but lean chest. Tight black jeans adorned his lower half, hung low on almost non-existent hips.

"The emo?"

Yaru raised his eyebrows but nodded.

"He richer than he looks, then?"

"Very much so. Daddy has a veritable empire. A business over several planets. But our boy here has very little desire to do anything constructive."

"Doesn't want to take over the family business?"

"Won't get a chance to, even if he did want it, for several hundred years. We live a lot longer now, remember. Daddy had him young."

"Right." My mind tried to keep up. I was once more grateful I had a guide in this strange new world.

"The important thing is, he has money, and he likes women."

"Where's the catch?"

"So cynical..." Yaru gave me a look.

"There would be more than two courtesans hanging off his every word if there wasn't a catch," I replied, not mentioning that I had every right to be cynical given the last thirty-six hours of my life.

"Good point. The catch... It's rumoured Keaton likes control. And he's not very forgiving."

"A dominant?"

"Something like that."

I nodded, feeling a chill run through me, noticing how the two courtesans interacted with him. The body language was subtle, but they were acting submissive, letting him control the conversation. Could I go there?

"He's not the only possibility in the room, however, although by far the richest."

Yaru continued to extol the virtues of several more men of varying ages, evidently going in order of wealth, until he stopped and looked at me, but there was one more who had caught my attention.

"The guy over in the round booth, leather trousers, bleached blond hair, the grunge, punk sort of look. Courtesans all talk to him, but he's been nursing that scotch alone the entire time we've been here," I said, hoping Yaru would understand my unspoken query.

"Ah, yes, another resurrected."

"A male courtesan?"

"No, but an interesting idea."

"So how did he get a sponsor?"

"He didn't. He was wealthy enough and someone in his family line managed an investment on his behalf. The benefit of being a famous actor before he got sick. He had fans the moment he was healed."

I opened my mouth to ask more questions, but nothing came out. There were too many.

"He's an actor now, but a little down on his luck. The novelty of seeing a resurrected on the big screen has gone."

"So, not a good option."

"Not if you want to make enough money at your unveiling. He doesn't have it. I'd also caution against being seen spending too much time with any male resurrected."

I raised my eyebrows, hoping Yaru would explain why that might be a problem, but he never got a chance.

"So, Yaru, you going to keep this young woman here all to yourself all night, or let someone else have her time?" a man said, one Yaru hadn't mentioned yet, as he came swaying up to the table. He made a beeline for me, his eyes lingering far farther below my face than I was comfortable with.

I felt myself freeze to the chair, but Yaru was on his feet far faster than I'd have thought possible. His hand came out, grabbing the wrist of my would-be assailant and stopping him in his tracks.

"She's veiled, and under my care," he said, his tone a strange mix of ice and politeness. The drunk blinked his surprise, his mouth still shut as his eyes looked between us.

"Oh," he said a moment later. Yaru slowly let go, and my eyes were immediately drawn to his wrist. There were white marks where Yaru's fingers had dug in. The man rubbed at them with the other hand, almost absentmindedly. It appeared Yaru was also stronger than he looked.

Although I'd been threatened, something about the result lent me a calm I hadn't expected. I was in good company, and for now, at least, I had a sort of defence against the unwanted attention of other men.

Despite the man staggering away almost as quickly as he'd appeared, Yaru remained on his feet and held out his hand to help me to mine.

"Time to mingle," he whispered as he did. "You need to gain the interest of at least one of the men here tonight if you want to succeed."

"No pressure," I whispered back as I moved as gracefully as I could beside him.

"Be yourself on your best day," he added before he was too far away to talk, making it clear I was to do this alone. I found myself wondering what kind of advice that was. I'd heard the first part before, but not the second.

But I didn't get time to ponder on the reason for the elongated instruction. As soon as Yaru was gone from my side, men looked my way, some of them more subtly than others, some evidently hoping to get my attention.

One man flicked his head to indicate the empty seat next to him, another pulled a chair out, and even more smiled. I was the centre of attention for almost the entire room.

For a second I froze again, my feet refusing to budge from my tiny section of the patterned diner floor.

You can do this. You know how to read people. How to get them to like you.

As my eyes continued to rove over the crowds, they caught the gaze of Mr Loaded Emo. The corner of his mouth twitched up just enough, the courtesans beside him ignored, one of them unable to hide her annoyance despite continuing to appear meek and submissive.

Before I could stop my body, it moved, bearing me towards him as I held my line of sight steady, fixed on his face. I returned the slight smirk.

Let's see what he makes of a confident woman.