"Glad you both like it," Yrael says, grinning. Ampersand is just a place to perform, for her, but like anything of quality one uses for a length of time, she has grown slightly fond of it.

The manager and customers have both gotten used to their slightly odd, semi-regular performer who doesn't sing music that is quite a home in a techno-club setting. But the management agrees: they have her under contract, and she brings in the people. They'll make use of her.

And she'll make use of them and their patrons. It's just good business.

"You two remember which table you picked out?"