|
Post by Madame Tigris Dienno on Feb 22, 2010 17:34:51 GMT -5
After making a meal of the pastries I had gotten from the strange woman and her little companion, I had found myself a man who desired me enough to let me find solace in his bed for the evening. I was gone by sunrise, though he slept, fitfully too, reaching out for me, grumbling, snoring as I left him in the same dress I wore the day before, and for the past week prior to that. I missed about the City, finding doorways to taverns and boutiques to hide myself from the cold, though I had gone into one to buy myself a tankard of cheap ale to warm me from the inside. I was not one who succumbed to fitful drinking, but it did help on the colder days to have something substantial coursing through my veins other than blood.
It was in this manner that I passed the morning away, and found myself peering up at a brick building with the number 8 posted up on it, and a wooden sign that read "Bath House." This must have been the place, and if a bath house here was anything like how it was in Tiberium, then I was very confused indeed. Why would she need a woman in a place where men pleasured other men? And if such was the case, why would she invite me here? Did she own this place or was she a worker here? So many questions careened through my head, that I had to shake it to dislodge some of them and clear my head to remain alert in her presence. Afterall, I was securely on her turf now, and it would not do me well to have come all this way to this country and this City to let it all be thrown away because of some odd woman with concealed weapons and riddled words, and my own stupid curiosity.
I stepped up the steps and opened the door, peeeking my head in first, looking about with wide eyes, taking in as much as possible before I opened the door fully and stepped inside, closing it by pressing my back to it, not wishing to turn my back where it could be in danger.
"H-hello?" I murmured, far weaker than I would have liked. I cleared my throat quietly nd tried again. "Hello?" I said more confidently, my voice melodiously sweet but holding a hint of seductive huskyness, a quality it always had. I then ran my fingers through my less than perfect hair and peered about the foyer. I was not one for smiling, unless it came to me, which it never did, at least not lately, so I did not try to muster even a fake smile.
|
|
|
Post by Madam Beatrice Moreau on Feb 22, 2010 18:21:06 GMT -5
It was a little after noon when I heard a voice calling out from the front foyer; the day had been slow so I was allowing the girl that was usually up there to take a longer lunch break. Knowing that it was the girl from yesterday I made my way up to the front, dressed in my usual blue grey attire.
"Ah good, you came." I said apon seeing her, my hands clasped at my waist as where their normal position. "This way please." I then added as I turned back from where I came, heading back to my office. I reached my office and went inside, moving to the chair at my desk and sat as I began to pull out parchment as I waited for the girl to join me.
|
|
|
Post by Madame Tigris Dienno on Feb 22, 2010 18:44:58 GMT -5
She showed up out of nowhere, or so it seemed, not quite greeting me, nothing terribly conversational, and with a very peculiar look. It was as though I owed her for this visit for which I was invited. I followed her, not hastilly, looking about me and wondering if this was like some of those fairy tales I was told as a child, or the ones I told myself. I followed her into what must have been her office, two chairs and a desk denoted as much. She sat down, taking out parchment, and I furrowed my brows in confusion. Was I about to make a deal with the devil?
I stood in the doorway, taking one step in past it, but not making it to the seat. "Excuse me, madame, but may I ask... what is all this about?"
|
|
|
Post by Madam Beatrice Moreau on Feb 22, 2010 23:56:44 GMT -5
I didn't look up from my organizing, the sound of the girl standing near the door way told me much about her suspicious nature; not that I blamed her. "A job." I replied simply. "If you want one, I suggest you come sit down so we can discuss the specifics to get you into a warm bed and proper clothes. If not, I suggest you go away, I'm busy and I have plenty of girls that would love what I am offering you." I found the sheets I was searching for and moved them onto my desk, moving the incorrect ones back into the drawers that they belonged.
|
|
|
Post by Madame Tigris Dienno on Feb 23, 2010 9:07:51 GMT -5
She answered me simply. A either stay or leave its your choice sort of dilemma was presented, and I, instead of turning and leaving, lifted my head and approached her with as much grace as I had learned in my upbringing. I took a seat before her, silently, and watched as she sifted through her dockets.
"Every offer comes at a price," I said with a soft smile. I was not born just the day before. "What is yours?"
|
|
|
Post by Madam Beatrice Moreau on Feb 23, 2010 23:17:04 GMT -5
The corner of my mouth quirked for a moment at her statement, at least she wasn't stupid. "The deal is this," I began as I looked at her and leaned back in my chair. "This is a bath house and most of the girls who work here are prostitutes. Some by freedom of choice because they enjoy it, some because it is the greatest profit, but none of them are forced into it. My rates are no where near the cost of say... those at the Night Court, but that also means higher frequency of customers and virtually no rules." I rose from my chair, my hands going behind my back as I moved to the small window and looked out into the empty alley way.
"As I'm sure you noticed, this is a fairly large building, there are two more floors above us. The floor above us are private rooms for the girls, and the top floor is mine. If you decided to take my offer you will be giving one of these rooms as your own as well as three meals a day. In exchange I get half of what you make." I turned to look at her then. "This may seem like a lot but when you've come to work for me for five years things will change." I held my gaze with hers. "If you show me that you're loyal to my house, that you can be trusted, I will allow you to keep what you make outside of this house as long as you use your skills to convince your customers to come here. When you first start you will have a set price, but when you've worked here long enough I will allow you to set your own, I will also allow you to set your own schedule. But again, this is based on the idea that you will continue to boost the reputation of the bath house where ever you go." I turned, looking away from her and moved back to my chair, sitting I took out a quill and then turned my gaze to hers.
"Do you accept?"
|
|
|
Post by Madame Tigris Dienno on Feb 23, 2010 23:27:04 GMT -5
I listened to her closely. Three meals a day, a consistent room over my head, and a place to bring customers was what it sounded like she was offering, and for a very reasonable fee, considering. "But... what if it is a slow week or slow month and the girl is not bringing in much," I said, "will she be tossed out to fend for herself?" I asked. It was a valid question, and I wanted to be sure before I put my name to it.
|
|
|
Post by Madam Beatrice Moreau on Feb 23, 2010 23:51:39 GMT -5
"Business is business," I replied with a gentle shrug and looked at my hand as it twirled the quill between my finger tips. "Some times its up, some times its down." I looked at her then. "But I am not so cruel as to toss a girl out for something that isn't her fault. Make no mistake, I'm not the type to be your mother, and likely is you will never call me your friend; and I intend to keep it that way. If I girl breaks my rules, if she disrespects my house and the people in it; employees or patrons, she could very well end up back on the street. But I never through some one out simply because things are slow." I leaned forward and placed the quill in front of her. "If you sign the contract you'll be sure to have a place here. I don't go back on my word. Should business be slow, I'll simply find you something to do that makes up for what ever you're not bringing in. There are always things to be cleaned, sewing to be done; plenty to go around." I pushed the contract toward her. "Read it if you wish."
|
|
|
Post by Madame Tigris Dienno on Mar 6, 2010 15:06:46 GMT -5
I could not help but smile, then. She was not all hard lines and severity. No, she had a human side to her too, even if it was a business she was running. I drew the contract across the top of the table, bringing it closer to me. "Half of what I bring in," I murmured, tossing the idea about in my head, "but never having to sleep in a doorway again," I added, talking moreso to myself than to her. I picked up the quill, took a deep breath, closed my eyes and signed where required.
"Alright," I murmured after taking the leap of faith. "I am in."
|
|