81 - The Bordello I

Having handled both the appliances and checking out the adventuring district, it was time for the final leg of Ari's shopping trip.

The … weirdest portion of goods Ari had available. One she performed alone, having sent Lori and Renna off with the day's purchases.

Ari had spent a few days rolling around with the various monstergirls of the forest, and she'd collected a smattering of intriguing items. Items that weren't suitable to be sold to the more regular part of the market.

Lewd items.

More than she could make use of, frankly. Or at least, many redundant items. Her carnal frolicking had given her a slew of various low-level items following a predictable theme: aphrodisiacs and lubricants making up the majority. Some more unique odds and ends, too … but Ari wasn't as willing to part with those. They could come in use in combat. Or … personal use. The reason she hadn't already was because of the sheer amount of other things she had on her plate. Ari's life had become very busy, recently. Not in the bad way, but busy nonetheless.

So, seeing how she needed money, why not explore other options? As much as spare armor and weapons would sell well … why wouldn't Ari's less-appropriate yields?

There was one place in particular that Ari knew would be receptive to purchasing these sorts of wares. Molehill was large, but not big enough to have a full 'red light district', as might be found in a place like Azure, the capital, or other larger cities to the north. But, a city of any size had establishments of indulgence. Molehill was no exception.

The Velvet Rose was, frankly put, a bordello, though it didn't advertise itself outright as such. But the name—and prominent logo of a lipstick red kiss mark—meant even a foreigner would understand the business's intent in a glance.

Ari had sent Lori and Renna back to base, lugging the items they'd purchased today, for a few reasons. First, because this particular debacle was best undergone alone, and second, because Ari couldn't help carry the unwieldy slabs of stone. Her two friends, however, had empowered strength and endurance—the more literal kind, rather than Ari's brand of endurance—to make carrying a burdensome load easy. Another downside to Ari's class. She supposed it was only fair it had those, considering how amazing it was otherwise.

She admired the exterior of The Velvet Rose. It was situated, reasonably, in the commercial district, though apart from the more reputable establishments like the theater. It was flanked by pubs and other working-class destinations … a good choice, considering who made up its most consistent clientele.

The building itself was three stories tall with a red brick exterior. Ari had never been, but she knew the bottom floor would be for drinks or other—sometimes less legal—chemical indulgences, where the top two floors would be where the courtesan's rooms were.

Indeed, steeling herself and walking in, the scent of smoke and perfumes assaulted Ari's nose … though undoubtedly less powerful than usual, considering the lobby was mostly empty, with only a few clients scattered about. Obviously, a bordello's busy hours weren't in the morning; it wasn't even noon yet. Rather than being in the swing of things, staff were going about cleaning and preparing for the activities of the following evening and night—though still entertaining the few men, and less commonly women, who were employing their services.

Ari's eyes barely had a chance to adjust to the dim lighting—and her nose to the powerful, mixed smells attacking her—before a woman had arrived to greet her.

She was shorter than Ari, but only by an inch or two. She had brown eyes like warm chocolate, and gave Ari an equally warm smile. "Good morning, ma'am," she said. "How can we help you?"

Ari took a second to reply. She was, of course, off-foot. She'd never been in a bordello before. And maybe she'd acquainted herself—shockingly fast for that matter—with various pleasures of the flesh, but she still felt odd, standing there in The Velvet Rose's lobby.

"I, um, was hoping I could talk business with the owner? If that's fine?" She probably should have tried to sound more authoritative. She wasn't a client, but someone hoping for a potential business connection.

Understanding dawned on the woman's face, and Ari wasn't exactly sure why. The look she gave Ari was unusually knowing.

"Right," she said. "Give me a moment, please. I'll let Madam Iris know. You came at the perfect time—I don't think she's busy. Come sit?"

Ari let herself be led off to the corner of the establishment. She had to keep herself from coughing as she passed one of the tables; whatever the man was smoking was strong.

She twiddled her thumbs for a few minutes, sitting there and trying not to gawk at anyone—particularly the various courtesan's attires, or rather, lack of them—before she was joined by, presumably, Madam Iris, the owner of The Velvet Rose.

Madam Iris was, unsurprisingly, an older woman. Old enough her hair was silver, though it didn't dampen her looks in the slightest. She had an air of refined beauty about her, and a sensuality different from the courtesans. A sensuality that came with age and experience. Ari found herself fighting a blush away, looking at the older woman … though maybe that was Madam Iris's blatant scrutiny more than it was her beauty.

"Hello, dear," Madam Iris finally said. "You wanted to talk business?" She gave Ari another long, appraising look, ending with a quirked eyebrow. "I'll admit, darling, I'm not sure how well you'd do. You have the looks, sure, but …"

The receptionist's earlier look of understanding clicked. 'Talk business with the owner'.

Ah … yeah, that'd been Ari's fault.

"Not that—not that kind of business. I don't want to … apply." Ari winced. Madam Iris seemed amused at the way Ari scrambled to correct her assumption. "I'm an adventurer," Ari explained. "I've got an, uh, career path already planned out. Not looking … for other work. But thanks." Ari winced again. Madam Iris seemed even more amused. "Here!" Better to demonstrate. And, she needed something to save her from the embarrassment she was making of herself. "This is the business I meant."

She dug out from her backpack a thin vial of lubricant and set it on the table. Madam Iris quirked an eyebrow at it, then her.

"Inspect it," Ari said. "You'll understand."