Closed [Ruby's Sanctum] Lessons in Lust (Sophitia)

[Matthew]

43rd of Winter, 513 AV. Matthew adjusted the bow tie on his neck, blue eyes staring critically at his reflection in a nearby mirror. He wasn't so sure how he felt about the outfit yet, but it wasn't really his choice. The bow tie was the only thing he wore on the toned, sun-kissed upper half, while black britches hugged his V-marked hips. He had styled his hair in a swept-back look like normal, and added just a bit of a musky-scented perfume to complete the entire outfit. Ruby seemed to enjoy it when he added a few extra touches along with the normal outfit she required from her men, so he made sure to go the extra mile for her. He was on a break at the moment, having just finished up a busy lunch shift delivering food and serving drinks. His dancing and singing required some work still, so Ruby had kept him limited to floor work and bedroom work. He was seductive enough to make enough business working the floor, so she hadn't seemed annoyed at his lack of wisdom in other areas. He would learn in time. Turning from the mirror, he slowly made his way to a small table in a dark corner, a table that was traditionally used by the employees that were on break. It was out of the way and out of sight, allowing them to take a break in peace while searching out their next target. The Sanctum was fairly empty at this point, a lull in activity that always happened between lunch and dinner. They'd be swamped before long, though. With sickness and cold rampaging through Sunberth, people fell back on the more primal of pleasures. The Sanctum catered to this need quite happily. He moved gracefully, offering pleasant smiles to one or two of the women that were still here, also tossing a smile to a couple of the men just to test the waters. While the females beamed back at him, the men simply scoffed and turned away. No harm done, it just helped him know who not to waste his time on when his break was over. Sitting down in the corner, he lounged back, having chosen a seat that would still allow some nearby torchlight to flicker over him. His position showed off the definition of his upper half, and the heat from the nearby torch would eventually allow a small layer of sweat to build. It would give his skin a pleasant sheen, and he would just have to make sure that he didn't start to generate a bad smell. Perhaps he could catch some wandering eyes even while on his break. A group of men were nearby, and he tuned into their conversation, not turning their way to look but merely focusing his attention in their direction. It took some straining, but he could hear their words if they focused. It was the same old things that he had heard whispered a dozen times before in Sunberth, but he still made sure he was up to date on those things. The Doctor and the constant line that was outside his door, the Hound and his influence on the city, and how all the other factions were reacting to him. It was the same things he had heard just nights before. He turned his attention from the men, casting his light blue stare over the Sanctum. He glanced over every face, reciting names he knew and going over facts that were foggy. Eventually his attention settled on one of the girls who had apparently worked here for awhile. Sophitia, nicknamed Sophie. Friendly, seductive, a dancer. A bit skinny, but who wasn't in this town? Her figure showed off her skill for dance, legs and hips particularly toned. He settled his chin onto a hand, watching her curiously. He hadn't interacted with her much. Perhaps he'd have to change that.

[Sophitia Vinder]

This had just not been a good Winter for Sophie. Break ins, kidnappings, poisonings, unwanted touching, caressing, and contact. If she’d been anything but a Sunberthian, it might have broken her. The spirit of survival was all that the city really had going for it. A few thugs weren’t going to shatter her foundation, but a lack of coin just might.

Sophie had been struggling mightily to earn her wages. She’d been barely scraping by since she left her parents care to live on her own and make her own way. While they’d have preferred she found a different profession, that she was doing it for Ruby instead of being out on the streets gave them some peace of mind. The young dancer didn’t mind the sex, it could be fun, boring, painful, exciting, all depending on her mood. The reason she was here was for the stage. She loved to dance, she loved to perform, and there was no place else like it in the city.

The only problem was, she couldn’t dance and sing all the time. Sometimes she had to show off the wares, and that’s where she was having problems.

Her primary profession, that of a prostitute, was going horribly. There was something about her, about the way she carried herself that just wasn’t getting it done. She got enough to live, but she’d seen the bags of coins that the other girls sometimes left with. Sophie had never come close.

The young woman was determined to change her fortunes.

The theme for the young whore was red. Long, red stockings, crimson silky panties, and a tight red corset was all that she needed to show off every curve and line of her long, lean body. Until she walked out on the floor, her confidence was sky high. From that moment on, that very same confidence was shattered.

She’d been called all kinds of horrible things. Whore. Slut. Tramp. But it never got easier than when she was so utterly rejected as she would be this day.

A group of men were near the stage, entertained by one of the dancers. Her movements were smooth, and well trained, several more years of experience showing their value. She was much better than Sophie, and had certain ‘assets’ that the young harlot lacked as well. It didn’t deter her from trying.

Adding a sway to her moves, Sophie allowed her long legs to announce her presence as she almost glided across the floor towards the group. Licking her lips before she arrived, she gave them a slight shine on top of the painted color that made them contrast noticeably against her pale skin. She recognized one of the men as a common patron of the place and quite mistakenly chose him.

As she walked by him, she let her fingers slide along her back before wrapping an arm around his neck to aid in pulling herself up onto his lap. ”Hey there, love,” she whispered sweetly in his ear, letting her lips brush ever so gently against his flesh. ”Why look when you can touch?” She offered him, well, herself, suggestively, biting her bottom lip after she spoke.

The man took one look at Sophie and shoved her to the ground. ”Get off of me you worthless whore. If I wanted a skinny, titless slut like you, I would have asked. Now petch off!” The rest of the men let out hearty laughs and turned their attention to the well-endowed woman on the stage, ignoring the young dancer. Sophie wasted no time in retreating away, pulling herself to her feet while fighting off the tears that wanted to come. It had only taken a quarter chime for her to be completely humiliated, and it would take less than that for her to run.

Sulking, her hands on her face, the brunette walked quickly towards the corner of the room, trying to give herself a few moments to regain her composure. It wasn’t until her brown eyes lifted from the ground to meet light blue ones looking at her that she realized someone else was already taking a break. Her cheeks flushed red as she turned away from the stranger. He was another employee of the Sanctum, though she hadn’t caught his name yet. Seemed quite popular already, though, much more successful than she had been.

What was worse was that he had perfect view to what had happened from his table in the corner. He’d surely seen the whole thing.

”Can we pretend like that didn’t happen?” She grinned sheepishly, running her left hand through her hair as she tried to suppress her embarrassment. ”I’m Sophie,” she said, assertively sticking out her hand. While her poise had been shaken, she wasn’t about to let herself breakdown in front of a complete stranger. ”What’s your name?”

He was a handsome enough fellow, but there was something almost unnerving about his gaze. She couldn't quite put a finger on it, but it seemed almost empty, emotionless. As she contemplated it, she caught herself absentmindedly staring at the stranger's face. Upon that realization, she turned away with a nervous laugh, letting her brown eyes scan the floor once again.

"Pretty tough crowd out there tonight," she stated, trying to redirect the conversation away from her stare. "Pretty tough crowd every night. For me," she said, conceding her reality quietly to herself.

oocSo sorry for the delay! Let me know if you need more to work with.

[Matthew]

Matthew watched her interaction with the group of men, blue eyes absorbing every detail. He had bedded a few men himself, but it was far less common than bedding a woman. This usually left him to watch his fellow coworkers bed all the men, so he had sort of picked up on the ins and outs of it all. He recited some of these tips in his mind, making sure he was up to date on the art of seducing a male. It wasn't like Sophitia was unattractive. She certainly looked good in the red lingerie that she had decided to wear. The harlot's eyes flitted over it, analyzing it and then filing away a few ideas in his mind. He saw things here and there that his coworkers could do to improve their act, and already one thing had become obvious to him. He hoped he would have the opportunity to bring it up. He only wanted to better the people around him so that he in turn could be bettered, but some didn't see it that way. Some saw it as stuck up, perhaps arrogant. He never meant it that way, or at least he didn't think he did. Confidence wasn't a bad thing, right? All things in moderation, he supposed. Sophitia's rejection was almost painful to watch. He briefly wondered what she had whispered into the ear of the man before she was roughly shoved to the ground. He nearly rose to go help her, taking a healthy amount of offense to that sort of treatment when it came to a fellow prostitute. It was part of the business, but that didn't mean it had to go by unpunished. She rose herself quickly though, her face flickering through a multitude of emotions as she headed away. Right toward Matthew, to be exact. She didn't look aware that he was here, her face buried in her hands. When she looked up though, her eyes met his and her cheeks burned red. Why, he wondered? Ashamed? Perhaps that was it. Ashamed of the show she had just given. He gave her a polite smile and a shake of his head, rising to firmly grasp her hand. His skin was soft to the touch, nails well kept. "We shouldn't. Failure is a part of the learning process. It'll make you better." He tilted his head, pausing for a moment, hoping he wasn't accidentally being arrogant. After a brief lull, he slowly continued on. "I am Matthew. It is a pleasure." He continued to stand, slipping hands into his pant pockets, blue eyes continuing to watch her closely. He wasn't put off by her staring, didn't even really notice it. He was content to quietly study her face, and he assumed she was doing the exact same thing. Then there was that laughter of hers, filled with something odd. He couldn't put a finger on it. He had such a hard time reading the tone of things. "A corset was a good choice." He was sudden and abrupt in his compliment, eyes passively glancing down at her cleavage and then back up to her face. "Sort of. It helps show off what you do have, but at the same time it brings attention to the fact that you still don't have much in the way of a chest. Not that this is a bad thing. Do you have your lingerie here, or do you keep all of it at home somewhere?" He was quiet and forward with his questions but didn't seem awkward about it at all. It was two individuals talking about work, at least to him. As a prostitute, he assumed she felt the same way. "So, if you don't have much in the way of a chest, you don't want to draw attention to it. What should you then draw attention to instead?" His eyes glanced down to her hips, her legs, even the barely visible (from this angle) curve of her rear; a subtle hint. "Certain clothing choices can help with this. Your stockings were an excellent choice, but you can take it a step further. Do you own a garter belt? The straps of a garter could hug the cheeks of your rear, showing them off even more. For every man that enjoys a large chest, there is another man that enjoys a nice set of legs and a good bum." He talked quickly, not quite letting her answer if she had lingerie nearby before moving on. "Also. Your lips. Can you pout your lips for me?" Finally he paused, blue eyes watching her patiently. Apparently she was about to get a lesson, even if it wasn't asked for. He wanted to help though, and this was his way of showing it.

[Sophitia Vinder]

oocSoooo sorry for the delay. I understand if you don't want to continue.

Oh Gods. He didn't just say that.

She'd meant it as a joke, a way to lighten a terribly embarassing situation. She was practically throwing herself on them. Well, no. She was throwing herself on them. Desperate for success and desperate for coin. Neither of the two came terribly easy. "It's nice to meet you, Matthew," she replied, now refusing to meet his cold gaze.

It should have been the end of things. A couple of co-workers exchanging a few words and then moving on about their business. Unless you were performing in one of the big groups on stage, this was a solo business. Ruby's name brought in the men and women who looked for companionship, and they offered that very thing. For a modest fee, of course. As a result, Sophie didn't have much in the way of friends; her mediocre success did her few favors.

The young harlot simply stood there, almost gawking at Matthew as he picked apart her clothing, actions, flaws and (few) positive qualities. "I-I have a bit here and a bit home," she stammered, unsure what to feel of his assessment. She was mostly comfortable with her body; one had to be to make a living in her profession. Men of all types had sampled her flesh. Disgusting, sweaty, and vile. Somehow none of that bothered her. As Matthew spoke, though, there was an oddity that she struggled to pick out. It felt sterile. It felt like an examination. There was nothing sexual about the way he watched her, and that made her more uncomfortable than she'd been in some time.

He's just trying to help. He's just trying to help. He's just trying to help.

She repeated her little mantra again and again in her head as he offered suggestions on just what she should have accentuated. "My legs are already awkward and long," she said quietly. Much of her height came from them, less so than from above her torso. "It won't look strange?" The brunette was surprised by her own question. He made her feel uncomfortable, but there was a difficult to ascertain quality about him that was almost magnetic, as though she wouldn't have been able to leave even if she'd wished to. Which she kind of did.

"I don't, no..." She had a rather robust selection of clothing but could not count garter belts among them. "You'd think a near naked woman would be enough to get a guy going, but when you've got a buffet of choices..." Matthew didn't need to ask her to pout, for her own self pity often did the job for her. She craved attention and limelight, but it eluded her so. Her lower lip, light pink paste bringing out her natural color, jutted out as she looked out over the floor. It wasn't fair how easy some people had it. To Sophie it seemed that a few of the women simply had to jiggle their cleavage and the men would come running. Why couldn't she have the same effect?

[Matthew]

If he noticed her sudden discomfort as his demeanor he gave no real indication of it. He was aware that his persona was a bit offputting to some, but it was also interesting to others. He was just another personality (or lack of one) that people reacted to in a variety of different ways. He would have trouble understanding so many different displays of personal preference even if he wanted to understand. He had long since grown okay with not knowing, though. As a man dedicated to his work, Matthew only made sure to try his hardest to read the social nuances when it came to his customers and his customers alone.

The Harlot certainly focused on the girl, however. She was given his full attention, bright blue eyes staring steadily upon her and ears soaking up the few words that she had to say. He took a moment to practice basic meditation techniques that he had learned over the years, recently learning that it helped improve his focus and the amount of information he absorbed, especially when it came to a noisy and crowded place like the Sanctum. The Harlot slowly stripped away the rest of the world, centering his focus upon the two of them and their little corner of the world. He tilted his head as she gave a natural pout, eyes glancing down at the lips that she offered up for attention. He studied them for a few ticks, considering what she had to say and the little subtle things her body had said as well. He found himself starting to hum as he thought, quickly cutting off the noise before it even started. There were only a few more ticks of silent consideration before he slowly shook his head, eyes glimmering.

"A near naked woman is certainly enough to get a male aroused, you are correct. You are also correct about the buffet of choices being a complication. Even if you are the one to arouse them, they have quite the choice of men and women to actually put that arousal to work on. You seem to have a certain lack of confidence in yourself and it shows. To me, at least." He gestured to her body, pointing at her legs and curvy hips. "You have long legs, something that most men find to be attractive. Your rear and hips are curvy, something that almost all men find at least a little attractive on an instinctive level. While you may not consider yourself attractive, while you may think your small chest leaves you handicapped... do not show it. Always hold a sense of confidence in your body and what you can do with it. No matter if you are to act modest, arrogant, shy... never act like you have no idea what you are doing. Never act like there is a better choice. If someone decides there is a better choice, do not get offended. Do not get discouraged. Silently move on, but be sure to sway your hips to remind them of what they are missing. They will think back on it later on." He paused, knowing that he had just piled on quite an assortment of new information. He gave her a few ticks to process it all, waiting any questions or comments that would come. He wouldn't even be offended if she claimed he was wrong. While he was experienced, there was always room for error. He would be quite pleased if he learned something new out of all of this.

While most of the people in his profession were loners, Matthew looked to change that. The culture was too set here in Sunberth, written in stone too long ago to change now. He had always thought that they could be so much more effective at their craft if they worked as a team. They could learn, grow, evolve, conquer every desire thrown their way and make people desperate for more.

"Also, don't think that you have to make the sale right then and there. You can always merely plant a seed. Step past a man, brush his hand with your swaying hip, toss a wink over your shoulder and keep going. Make him wish he could have what he sees. He will readily approach you when the want starts to make him ache. Do you understand?" If she did not understand or disagreed, the Harlot would be more than willing to explore her questions or statements. If she claimed to understand then he would take it to the next step without a moments hesitation. "Would you like to try to seduce someone again?"

[Regime]

Matthew
Grade Withheld
Grade withheld: Reason as noted here.
Fix your CS and repost the thread for your grade.

Sophitia Vinder
Grade Withheld
Grade withheld: Reason as noted here.
Fix your CS and repost the thread for your grade.