#fenixtj

Jessica nods to him.

"This is Jess, she needs a job, and she's got the goods. She doesn't take shit, but she doesn't blow her fuse easily" Delfina explains. "I know you're running short since Jazmine got knocked up."

"Yeah well, Jazmine still thinks she could do the job while 8 months in but lord... " Joey shakes his head 'No. just no. Now...ah, Jess, is it? You try to escort trouble makers outside as nicely as possible. The Boothbabes will tug on their right ear lobe if they're getting some creeper on them, and the female bathrooms give the same signal to cosplayers that go in there. So be on the look out. We got a few C lilst celebreties here,but they've each got someone with them. If one of THEM gives trouble.. ugh.. what a nightmare that is, just interpose politely, tell me, and I'll thank them for coming and shoo them out."

Jessica nods.

"Thanks. Pay is usual, she tell you what it is? " He asks "or was she hoping to collect for you both and skim off a ten percent finder's fee?" He smirks at Delfina

"ONE time, and I had needs" She grumbles

"A supersized hammock is not a need" He states

"It is to some of us, short stuff" She looks down at him.

"It's fine." Jessica says quietly.

"It's 15 dollars an hour, if you stay all 8 hours, you get an additional 50... if somehow I get no complaints and no fights, then that 50 becomes a hundred." He says anyway

She nods. "I'll do it."

"Okay.. oh, I got a form for you to sign where you don't sue me if you get hurt. You good with that or do you want this under the table in which case I deny it anyway?"

Jessica actually thinks about this. "I can work legally here." she admits.

"Legal? I don't know from legal... I just know some folks are shy and speak other languages" Joey says then looks at Delfina "She's not going to get give Coco trouble is she?"

"No no.. " Delfina says

"No trouble." Jessica agrees.

Things are signed, and she starts up.

With Delfina to advise, this job turns out to be a breeze! Oh sure, there are a few jerks who eye ass, but few do anything about it. When one booth babe tugs her ear... Jessica walks up, gives the guy a look, and he backs off.

She might even have fun. There are Dreamers here. One inventive woman has made a Steampunk/Western Punk outfit with hoopskirt laced up in wiring and coil that makes it look like she might launch. It's a surprisingly detailed effort. The Bonnet with radio antanae is a nice touch.

Indeed, while some of the ladies are wearing things on the floor Jessica wouldn't wear in a bed room, a few have outfits on she might like. There's one woman wearing an outfit that's a tribute to the Vikings TV show that looks like her adopted mother's best finery, elegant, simple, Nordic style.

Jess keeps her stoic expression, even if she does feel a little wistful.

Two middle aged women walk by, the costumes on them well designed. And hand crafted? They speak in Spanish, though one is paler than she is.

Jessica, by now, automatically translates to herself; she's worked hard to become truly bilingual over the years.

(Translation) "I hate this. Everyone raves about how good our work is, our designs, but we'll never make a big break if we can't get our wares in bulk out" //"How are we supposed to do that? The drivers are locked up, contracts sealed... where are we going to find someone who delivers from our home in Tijuana to here? "

"¿Legalmente?"

The women turn the one who looks more likely to be from Mexico (or at least of that heritage) smiles "Si. It is... but our rival has something of a monopoly of late and..."

It turns out, Jessica knows these two women. Designers themselves, yes they take advantage of Cheaper labor in the TJ area... but 'advantage' is a loose term. As they actually pay a fairer wage than some, and don't treat their workers like shit. They give classes in advanced costume techniques figuring that it only improves their workers, their workers are not molested, and get well, maybe not much in the ways of health insurance but time off for sick days . The problem is, they're pisssing off some of the dirt cheap slave drivers in the same business who make lower quality goods but money hand over fist. To the point that the criminals are paying some companies for exclusive distribution. In short, they're cutting the newer nicer company out of even competing in Cali

"We could sell our souls to Amazon or something, but.. ugh"

"Yes, I understand." She murmurs in Spanish. "You need delivery services? Tijuana to here?"

"Yes, actually.. you have a truck?"

"at this point I think we should show interest if she has a wheelbarrow" the other says

"What about la 'migra?"

"It's not illegal so it s' not a problem. " The other nods "We sell clothes. not fruit" a few chuckles at that

Jessica considers this. "I have a car, for small loads... but if you need a truck I can try to find one. A little at a time is better than nothing at all, at least to start with, right?"

Agreements then "We might be able to give you a bit of extra money on top of your pay if it goes to transport" /"We'd pay for fuel for certain Only fair. "

Jessica nods and gives them a way to reach her.

Contacts are made

And then she sees another lady tugging on an ear

" 'Scuse me." She heads over.

There doesn't appear to be a guy here, but the cosplayer explains "My friend was getting hit on by this guy, nothing bad per se, just a bit of a jerk. But he kept eying her. Well, she went to the bathroom.. or I thought she did, but she's not there.. and both she and that guy are missing. She was dressed like an orc. But she's really hot in it and I guess Im worried but..she's not answering her smart phone either. The guy was dressed like a smurf. blue body paint?"

"Great." Jess mutters, and gets a little more info (name, description, age, etc) before notifying other security (as best she can) and heading to the bathroom to look, branching out from there.

She gets it, but in the bathroom she finds, shoved in the bottom of the garbage, a lot of greenish body paint... and an orc costume. HE's switched her costume

"Crap." Jessica alerts the other guards and checks one more time for any additional info in the room, then out and she scans the crowd. If he changed her costume, she was probably unable to protest or act. She's looking for a woman who's out of it.

Lots of outfits...no smurfs, did he change his too? There's two clowns, both swaying drunk together. There's a guy dressed like patch adams moving a patient under a sheet on a gurney, and a there's a fellow dressed like marc antony carrying a carpet over ashoulder

2 clowns in typical baggy jumpsuits, maybe. Patch Adams is mostly covered... Marc Antony in a toga or gladiator gear, too much skin, too great a chance of showing blue body streaks. She heads for Patch Adams.

One thing her father taught her, it's not just guilty people who scurry, but scared ones often do. And what ,she may wonder as she moves, does Patch Adams have to be afraid of? For he picks up his pace the closer he gets to the exit. Not a problem, she's got long legs. And soon is onto him. He washed his face, but.. there's blue behind his ears. Always wash behind your ears. She learned that one as a kid.

Longer legs assisting, Jess gets in front of him, blocking his way to the door. She stops the gurney. "Woah, there.... Let's see patient, doc."

"Ah, sorry? Oh uh.." he shoves the gurney at her, and bolts to run

But at least he's not carrying away whoever or whatever. ANd, with the door blocked...