After weaving through another crowd of foggy-brained nudists, I made it to the back corridor that led to that dreaded restroom. I always hated going down that hall—it was a visual reflection of how scummy and gross The Inverse really was. The floor was made up of red tiles that had so much dirt and grime between them that if you tried to pick something up you dropped, chances are you'd get chunks of dark grey filth caught in your fingernails. The corners were especially bad—those were where you'd find the club's immortal ant infestation coming in and out from the tears in the walls. Not to mention the dried-up bodily fluids giving the red tiles a nice, crusty look to top off the sense of depravity. What made the area worse was how dimly lit it was. The only source of light was the flickering, low hanging lamp from the ceiling. I never had any idea what I could have been stepping in whenever I went over there. Or maybe I did know, and maybe that's what was so repulsive about it.

Despite how much I hated walking through there, I knew it'd be worth it with my next encounter. A very awkward encounter beyond the beige door that simply read "BATHROOM" in black letters that protruded in its center. One door. No other door next to it or across from it. No gender specification. No stick figure. No stick figure wearing a dress. None of that—just a public bathroom for all to share. I rolled my eyes in preparation for whatever may have been waiting for me inside. I thought about taking a deep breath, but quickly realized bathrooms stink, so I held it instead and pushed the swinging door open.

Ironically, the bathroom itself appeared pristine compared to the hallway leading up to it. The walls were totally white and it shone so bright it almost made my eyes hurt. It was huge enough to have ten silver stalls lining up either side of the room with five urinals on each side at the far end. There was even a diaper changing station at the opposite end near the sinks. Before I could start pondering how insane a person could be to bring a baby there, my attention finally returned to why I was there in the first place. I looked to my left to find them leaning against a closed stall, like she said. Of course, my gaze had to land on the square, ghostly buttocks that I can only describe in detail because the image was forcibly implanted into my brain. I took my eyes away from it as fast as I could before I could find out what was lurking in the darker-skinned one's pelvis. I didn't feel much relief staring at their attempt to devour one another as their hands ran up each other's backs. I know it sounds like I was being homophobic, but that's not the case. I tried guys before. Never again.

I exhaled in exasperation and marched towards them. I kept my head held high to keep from seeing anymore unwanted sights, and I looked towards the tan guy facing my direction. "You two," I blurted, standing a few feet away from them. They stopped kissing at the sound of my voice, apparently startled by it as they turned to me with wide eyes. With their focus on me, I finished with a firm, "Out."

The tension in the tan one's eyes loosened upon seeing me and he scoffed. "Who's gonna make us? You?" They laughed as his boyfriend turned to face him again.

I knew I wasn't all that imposing with my scrawny physique. All I had going for me in the intimidation department was the lifeless look in my eyes, so I didn't mind the response. I expected it, actually. The thing is that I didn't go in there to scare them out at all. I had something much easier to use. Right before their lips met, I blurted, "What's your cash tags?"

As expected, that was what got their attention. The pale one turned back to me and his boyfriend peered over his shoulder with wide eyes. It's the one thing in this world that not a living soul would deny.

One thing I neglected to mention earlier was that the only thing the nudists normally wore were their wristbands—otherwise known as omni-bands. Although their bands were usually flesh-colored, I could still see the tiny, black touch screens in their centers. The bands were made of a versatile metal material invented by the leading company of technology, who dubbed it omnitanium. Despite it being a metal, it was elastic and felt comfortable against the skin—so much so that often times you could forget that you were even wearing it. I knew that much because I had an omni-band of my own adjusted to my left wrist, except mine stuck out with a maroon color. I looked down at their wrists to confirm that they were wearing their omni-bands and rose mine to chin level.

With their curious looks locked onto me, I nodded my head and commanded, "Beatrix, pull up my account summary." The AI spoke back the order in a British accent as a ridiculous number of digits and commas projected itself before me in a dark green, holographic font. The men gasped and looked at each other in disbelief. To ensure that they were seeing the numbers correctly, I touched the corner of the projection with my index finger and gave it a light push. In doing so, the numbers rotated so that they were facing them instead of me, and just to make it even clearer for them, I used my thumb and index finger to expand the projection. Their eyes scanned the numbers relentlessly as the corners of their open mouths began to rise with excitement. With the reality of the situation dawning on them, I explained, "I got a lotta zeros with your names on 'em. Long as you're willing to leave afterwards."

***

The lovebirds gave me their cash tags without hesitation. As soon as they pulled up their own omni-bands and saw that the money was really coming to their bank accounts, they dashed out of the restroom accordingly. Once I was out, I caught a glimpse of the pale one brushing past the lady of the night, to which she flinched and sidestepped away from. She was standing at the end of that disgusting hallway, squeezing her legs together for dear life. Though it was apparent she was creeped out by the naked couple that just ran off past her, all the tension in her face was released once she saw me walk out. Not necessarily because she was glad to see me, of course, but because our departure meant that I got the job done. I walked out with my head held high and a casual smirk so that there would be no doubt in her mind that I managed to pull it off. Though she was likely more excited to relieve her bladder problem, there was definitely a hint of intrigue on her brow. "Coast is clear!" I confirmed, gesturing a shoulder towards her long-awaited destination.

She narrowed her eyes with suspicion. "How did you—" Before she could finish, her eyebrow shot up and her hand rushed toward her inner thigh. She bolted down the hall, almost knocking me over. I had to catch myself by pressing a hand against the repulsive wall to my left, forcing me to consider burning the hand off later. Even in her haste, though, the girl stopped and called, "Sorry! A-and thank you!"

"Don't mention it..." I replied in a dryer tone, rubbing my hand against my pants with a grimace.

She turned to rush to the bathroom, but she paused once more to look back at me and ask, "Could you make sure no other guys come in? Please?"

I regained my composure at the sound of her continued gratitude, turning back to her and replying with a playfully smug, "Anything for you, dear."

Her lips parted and her lashes fluttered as she gave me a quick nod, finally storming through the swinging door ahead of us. That bit of softness from her was a clear sign that the egg was cracking. All that was left was to exchange a few words once she was done. Whatever would happen after that all depended on her, but I knew the end result of our encounter would be the same as long as I played my cards right—and I always did.