Ranma double-checked that the hanger with his bunny costume was hanging on the 'to be cleaned' rack with his nametag properly attached. One nice thing about the club was the owners insistence on handling the care of the uniforms. "Thank God I don't have to ask Kasumi about it."
"Ranko!"
Ranma paused on the way to the door, glancing at her boss who was striding toward her. "Yes?"
"There's something I need to talk about with you. You don't have any pressing appointments, do you?"
"Um, no. . . but. . ."
"Great, we can get this cleared up fast then. Come on, we'll talk in my office." He turned and strode into the back.
Sighing slightly Ranma followed.
"Ok," The Boss commented as he shut the door. "You don't mind if I make Tea, do you? I for one am parched. And you must be even worst, what with the water cooler in the changing room on the fritz. I'll make you a cup too." With that, he walked to a set up on the wall, took the lid off a squat iron teapot, and started spooning in leaves from an adjacent container.
Ranma opened her mouth to protest, then shut it with the realization that she actually was pretty thirsty.
Ranma blinked, feeling a strange sense of uncertainty. She and her boss had talked a bit about her coping with the job, she had tried some of that tea, the boss had started talking about the patterns glazed into the cups, then. . . Nothing. She tried to rise to her feet, then blinked with the realization that she couldn't. She looked down, searching for some sort of restraint.
"Ok, you can stand." Her boss said casually as he took a sip of tea.
In response Ranko suddenly jumped into the air like the chair was red hot. "Wha. . ."
"Sit down again." Ranma suddenly found herself back in the chair. "Oh and just listen for a little while." Ranma's protests lodged in her throat.
"Ok, your probably wondering what's happened to you? The fact is my family has long passed down a ton of mind controlling secrets. Shiatsu Points, methods of suggestion, incense," he held up his cup, "Tea." He casually took another drink from the cup. "Thought this one only works in combination with a herb I added to the iced tea that we put in the employees room as an apology for the broken water cooler. A few sips, and your suggestibility rose to the point where I could talk you into a deep trance and place a few suggestions."
Ranma found her attempts to rise and throttle him failed, tried to scream every curse she knew, and when her lips refused to move, she settled for glaring angrily.
Her boss noted the glare and nodded. "Ah, your probably thinking of me as a monster, a traitor, and a pervert. I'd actually agree with you on all those points. Except the pervert bit. The fact is, I never much liked my family's traditions, and I've made it a point never to use them except in dire need. And at the moment my needs pretty dire.
"You see, a few nights ago I was contacted by some really unpleasant types. They passed along some information on what they'll do to me unless I agree to use my special skills to 'influence' some of my more important customers. And that's put me in a bad situation. They've know enough about my skills to take me out before I even try influencing them. I can't go to the police for obvious reasons, and while I do know some members of the Yakusa I can't approach them either because they'd want to tap my skills as well. I think you see why that's not an option."
Ranma just looked at him.
"Oh sorry, talk."
"If you had this sort of problem, couldn't you have asked me about it without resorting to spiking my tea!?"
"I couldn't take the chance you'd say no!" The Boss responded. "Besides I want this resolved with as few people as possible knowing what I can do. Ok, Full Awaken."
Ranma blinked, then suddenly bounced out of the chair. "Huh?" she thought looking down a moment. Then she scowled and grabbed her boss by his lapels. "Alright you!"
The Boss looked calmly back at her. "There are still three suggestions that are influencing you. You can't hurt me, you can't tell anyone else my secrets, and if I die you'll be compelled to do something truly horrific for you."
Ranma glared a moment, the let go.
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(Posted Wed, 20 Aug 2003 18:15)
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