I really shouldn't have sat in the middle.
Val scrunched up and tried to make herself as small as possible. Yun-hee and Patti gabbed away like she wasn't even there, catching each other up on where they were at now. She wasn't sure what to be more afraid of: Yun-hee drunkenly spilling the beans to Patti about what they actually do for a living, or what would happen when they finally got to Patti's apartment.
It wasn't that she was afraid to go into trance. If anything, that was the silver lining of this whole encounter. Patti had proven that she was just as capable as Weiss when it came to putting Val under, so if nothing else Val would end up having fun. At the same time, she didn't know Patti the same way she knew Weiss. The relationship between the feisty, pink-haired woman squishing into her in the back of the taxi and the part-time supervillain Val had taken to calling Madame was worryingly vague. Val's mind raced with questions.
They've been friends for years, but how close are they now? Is Patti a partner in Blanc's crime spree? Does she know that I'm Violet Angel? Does Weiss even know?
A lightbulb went off in her head.
Wait, Weiss! She can probably get me out of this.
Val cleared her throat, trying to signal to the two other women that she needed to say something. They didn't seem to notice, so she yelled "Gals, wait!" as loudly as she could muster.
That seemed to finally get through to Yun-hee and Patti, who finally stopped talking. The cab driver breathed a sigh of relief.
"I just thought of something," Val said. "We should probably ask Weiss if it's alright for me to play with you. I dunno if she's okay with me doing hypnosis with other people."
"Oh, yeah!" Patti nodded. "Here, lemme call her, I'll put her on speaker."
"You don't need to-" Val tried to interject, but Patti was already dialing Weiss' number.
Within moments, Weiss picked up the phone. "Hello?"
"Haaaaaaaay!" Patti yelled, startling Val and making the cab driver wince. "It's ya gurl, here with your other girl!"
Weiss chuckled. "Hello, Patricia. I see you've been out having a good time."
"Yup! And guess who I've been having a good time with!" Patti looked at Val expectantly.
Val swallowed and said, in her inside voice, "Hey, Weiss."
"Oh?" Weiss didn't exactly sound surprised. "Why, hello, Valerie. I see you've been taking my advice and started hanging out with a bad influence."
Yun-hee giggled. "Oh, yeah, she's the worst!"
"Pardon me," Weiss said, "but I don't think I've spoken to the third voice in the room. Who might you be?"
"I'm Yun-hee, friend of Val's. And of Patti's, way back."
"Mhm!" Patti confirmed. "We just ran into each other at the bar."
"Well, congratulations," Weiss said, a little condescendingly. "But did you really call me just to tell me you ran into some friends?"
"Well," Val spoke up, "Patti's taking us back to her place. She, uh, wants to do some hypnosis with Yun-hee and I."
"Really?" Weiss replied. "That sounds lovely."
Val's heart sank. "...you think so?"
"Of course! I mean, just because you and I are a thing doesn't mean we have to be
exclusive
. I'm more than happy letting you have fun with other people, especially if it's someone I trust. But, on that note, are you sure you're up to this, Patricia? You're probably a little rusty. I could always come over and give you an assist."
Oh, please, no.
Yun-hee knew what Madame Blanc looked liked; even under Weiss' heavier makeup, she'd recognize her immediately. If Val was scared by the uncertainty of what Patti had in store for her and Yun-hee, she was
terrified
of the idea of Yun-hee discovering her relationship.
"No way!" Patti said. "I can handle this. Val's such a lightweight anyway, I barely even gotta do anything for her."
"Hm... if you say so," Weiss responded. Val breathed a sigh of relief.
At least I don't have to worry about
that
tonight.
The cab driver pulled to a stop and cleared his throat. "Ladies? This is your stop."
"Oh!" Patti exclaimed. "Gotta go, Weiss, take care!"
"You too," said Weiss. "And have fun, girls! I'm sure Val will tell me all the juicy details later."
"Thanks," Val said.
So much for that plan...
Patti hung up the phone and paid the driver. The three women got out of the car and stood outside Patti's apartment building.
"She seems really nice," Yun-hee said. "And she has a really cute accent!"
"Mhm!" Patti giggled. "She can be kinda intimidating when you meet her, but she's a real sweetheart. But enough about her, let's talk about
moi
and my dastardly plans for my two beautiful victims!" She let out a screeching noise that Val thought was supposed to be a witch's cackle, but sounded more like someone with lung cancer wheezing for air.
Yun-hee giggled. "You haven't changed a bit, Patti. C'mon, let's get inside, it's cold and I wanna play!"
* * *
Patti's apartment was the kind of dump you didn't want to say anything bad about. It was dingy and cramped, but there was a charm to it that was impossible to overlook, little signs of its occupant's personality strewn everywhere. There was just so much
stuff
: old books, family photos, that one
Reservoir Dogs