[SE] Finding the sweet spot

Tal had done a little shopping, including a different shirt, some earrings and a hat. He waited for Sunjata outside the broad doors of the pleasure compound that was Mother Molly's with his hands in his pockets. The courier looked a little different than usual. His skin was still brown and he hadn't been able to change the color of his eyes on such short notice, but otherwise he had managed to cobble together a disguise that gave him a passing resemblance to one Sah Lovi of Halo.

And he looked mighty pleased with himself about it, too.

Sure, if someone knew the Wild Thunder well - or the Messenger, for that matter - the effect would fall apart pretty quickly. But Tal was counting on the fact that Sah had barely been to Stormbreak at all, and he had never gone past the back door of Molly's after handing over a delivery to whoever was in charge of taking boxes that day.

Boreal was nowhere in sight unless one looked up to the roofs to find a new, pale gargoyle lazing on a ledge high above and looking down with interest in the proceedings. Keen eyes picked out a familiar height in the stream of humans moving to and fro below and passed the information along to her human, who turned to scan passing pedestrians eagerly. The alcohol was still buzzing in his system, relaxing him and lending him its liquid courage, and he was looking forward to making some progress on his quest now that the Flood had allayed many of his anxieties about it.

we keep on doing this again and again
the same old things expecting something different

He doesn’t have to go and grab a disguise – sure that even if he had it wouldn’t work. So for now, the Flood traverses the streets – having stopped while Tal ran his errand to grab a quick bite for himself and Petronella, who prowls alongside him while the crowd gives a somewhat wide berth (though he can never tell whether it’s because of the scars or who he is). Regardless, Mother Molly’s appears before him soon enough, and someone standing and waiting outside of it captures his attention.

Of course, he knows it’s Tal, but after having just seen the Wild Thunder not that long ago, the Flood huffs a laugh in greeting. “Hey Sah.” Comes the gentle tease, giving Tal little time to decide whether or not he wished to continue the adventure inside the brothel, offering the courier a sly cheshire grin (one that purely showcased a glimpse into the reason he was the demigod he was).

Inside is just as dark and heady as the House of Midnight, but it screams Old, and there’s nothing but a note of surprise that hushes the entrance of the joint when his large frame steps in. The Madame isn’t at the front of the building, but the worker that is can’t help the wide grin that crosses her face at the sight of Sunjata, as if beyond excited that the sex-Frey demigod had decided to grace them with his appearance.

Sunjata flashes her the very same charming grin, rumbles a quiet “hey” before gesturing toward Tal to approach first. “He was here first.” Putting the Messenger on the spot out of pure curiosity of just how the younger man would navigate this particular thing.

but by now we know it's never gonna change
i'm not trying to complain, i'm just saying it's a waste

"Hey," Tal Sah called back to the demigod, grinning like a cat with feathers on his whiskers as his disguise was recognized. He was pleased as punch and clearly congratulating himself as he gathered his courage from both the alcohol still in his system and his Archon's presence at his side and headed inside beside the Flood. He couldn't stop himself from looking around with wide eyes, surprised at the sheer size of the place and how comfortably opulent it all was.

He was so busy trying to peek in every direction at once without looking like that's what he was doing that he almost missed the nudge that Sunjata gave him by putting him in the spotlight. He blinked and looked back to the hostess with a sheepish grin before remembering who he was supposed to be. He straightened up and licked his lips, shooting the Flood a glance of momentary panic before he managed to find his voice.

"Oh! Uh... Thanks," he murmured, trying to lower his voice without making it any gruffer. At least he knew Sah well enough to try and imitate his Outlander accent, and focusing on that helped him keep himself from overthinking what he was about to ask - just like Sunjata had told him, right?

"I was wonderin' - wondering - if you had. Um. Things for sale here," he tried, doing his best to look nonchalant.

The young woman gave him a warm and encouraging smile, her voice holding a delightfully musical lilt as she sized him up. "Many things," she assured him, "are for sale at Mother Molly's. If you can be more specific, sir?"

"Call me 'Sah'," Tal murmured, trying on a grin for size and surprised when it almost fit. "And I meant physical... things. For, uh, one person to enjoy?" He wanted desperately to glance at Sunjata for help, but somehow managed to keep his eyes on the hostess, who had raised one thin, elegant brow in surprise and pursed her lips in a delicate moue of thought.

"Yes, we do. Will you want a demonstration of any toy in particular, Sah?" she asked, eyes flicking from the young man in front of her to the demigod behind him with bright speculation.

we keep on doing this again and again
the same old things expecting something different

The glimmer of panic that’s shot toward him is only met with a charming and incredibly relaxed smirk – one that almost seems to prove that the Flood could be at home easily in any kind of brothel. Which… Isn’t entirely wrong. He’s visited plenty of them.

But, Sunjata watches as Tal approaches, almost feeling the anxiety as it bleeds from him with the questions, spying the attempts at being nonchalant, yet seeing through the cracks a little. It doesn’t matter though, given that the woman at the desk is warm and encouraging, kind in a way to not ward off anyone’s first time.

He can see when the disguise starts to settle easier on the courier and the grin that nearly almost fits. He’s distracted only when the question erupts and an accented chuckle slips from him and he steps forward to stand beside Tal, Sah, to meet the woman’s gaze. “Perhaps giving him an idea of what they all are would be better so he knows which he may want a demonstration of.” He suggests, glancing down toward Tal briefly before looking back up at the woman, leaning against the desk easily. “Maybe something that screams Frey might be best.” While sure, they all could and often do relate to his deity, he knows enough to assume there had to be ones that were uniquely crafted in their ideals.

He should know, after all he was a product of such. While he doesn’t change his appearance the way Frey does, Sunjata’s scent does change, one that appeals to what everyone most desired when around him – a smell that wafts toward the woman as he leans against the desk and one that hovers by Tal with how close beside him he stands.

but by now we know it's never gonna change
i'm not trying to complain, i'm just saying it's a waste

Sunjata might have been completely at ease and enjoying himself, but not even the alcohol could entirely cushion Tal's sudden certainty that he was so far in over his head that he didn't know which way the surface even was. So when the demigod joined him at the desk and recommended a general overview he shot his Archon a look of relief--

That quickly fell to dismay as the other man continued, rumbling a 'helpful' suggestion that had the hostess brightening as much at his voice as at his scent. Not even that weirdly enticing blend of aromas that washed over the courier could stop him from a swiftly stuttered: "M-maybe not screams. Is there something that just, uh, mutters Frey? Or like... uses an inside voice?"

To her credit, the hostess didn't laugh at his discomfort. Though that might have been at least in part because her attention was on Sunjata, and she had to make an effort to focus on Tal Sah again. "Why don't you see for yourself?" she suggested, smile never fading as she took in the skittishness beneath his attempts to look worldly and experienced. "Varian?" She reached out to touch a bell, but a handsome red-haired young man, lithe and draped in thin silks, was already emerging from a curtained doorway. A soft chiming accompanied every step from the bracelets on his ankle and wrists, and he flashed Tal a winsome smile and Sunjata a far more appreciative one as the Flood's reputation proceeded him. With a hand over his heart he gave the demigod a small bow before turning to the hostess with a raised brow. "Could you take Sah to the toy room? He's looking to make a purchase, but doesn't know what he wants yet." She paused and then tilted her head at Sunjata, her smile growing brighter as she took a refreshing breath. "And as for you, our most esteemed patron? Will you be joining them?"

we keep on doing this again and again
the same old things expecting something different

A deep accented rumble slips from the Flood, a grin flashed the hostess’ way while Tal tries to minimize the effect of what the toy might have to offer. It doesn’t bother Sunjata any, at least, so inherently focused on charming the woman to alleviate any worries Tal might have over his questions. Of course, when the next person approaches – Varian – Sunjata’s attention slips toward the young man and the Flood offers him just as charming a grin back.

As the question arises, though, Sunjata’s gaze slips back toward Tal, something amusing within his face that’s hard to place when he shakes his head. “No, I think I might see what services you have to offer.” He pauses, looking back toward the hostess entirely, leaning a bit closer as he adds a little “once they’re done, please send Sah up to my room.” Ever the charmer, it never is more clear how much Sunjata can get away with, with his charm and charisma, than when he’s standing in a brothel.

He flashes Tal a wink and rumbles a gentle little “don’t have too much fun without me.”

but by now we know it's never gonna change
i'm not trying to complain, i'm just saying it's a waste

When the hostess asked her question, Tal wasn't sure whether he wanted Sunjata to say yes or no. Either way he was going to end up torn between relief and anxiety, and sure enough when he realized that he was losing his chaperone he sent the Flood a final, pleading glance when he thought no one else was looking.

"Of course! I'll escort you back myself," the hostess decided at Sunjata's request, reaching out to ring the bell in truth this time to bring someone else to the desk. She was already stepping around it and offering the Flood a shapely hand to lead him deeper into the compound. Tal could only give his Archon a weak and somewhat wavering grin that was half silent plea for help as the tall demigod took his leave with a wink.

The courier was already being whisked away in a different direction as Varian's arm had somehow hooked through his, and the graceful man purred questions about preferences, shapes, and sizes that Tal Sah struggled to answer without stuttering or blushing. He almost managed to hold his own, at least until they reached the shop for patrons who wanted to take home a souvenir of their time at the brothel.

Then he had some questions of his own.

---

It was a slightly dazed and bemused courier who let Varian lead him through Mother Molly's ornate doors and soothing grottos afterwards. A couple of bags hung from one hand, fingers curled tight around the drawstrings, and his other arm remained firmly tucked within the redhead's hold as Varian's light chatter earned the occasional nod or shake of TalSah's head.

They finally reached a door deep within the heart of the brothel, an intricately colored marker outside of it meaning something to those who worked there apparently because Varian paused and then knocked lightly before calling out: "Varian and Sah, come to join the fun!"

we keep on doing this again and again
the same old things expecting something different

The entire goal so far is to get Tal to think that he’s doing something behind the doors. Which isn’t a difficult thing to do, given the sounds that seep from the rooms in the halls, making it impossible to hear whether or not it’s his that it’s coming from. In reality, it’s a little playful trick – aiming to trick Tal into thinking he’s getting into something way over his head.

Luckily for him, they’re gone long enough to make it seem like it counts.

Varian’s voice rings out from the other side of the door, and Sunjata shuffles to the door – looking a bit roughed up (clothes a hint askew, a haziness to his gaze, hair ruffled). He opens the door, stifling a small yawn as he steps aside to let them in – the interior warm and inviting, the bed absolutely messed up, a beautiful woman with dark hair and a bronze hue to her skin wearing a thin satin blue outfit lounges in the bed. “How’d it go?” He asks, voice hoarser and thicker with the accent – all for adding to the trick (even if he’s literally only just woken up).

It really sells the point.

As does the way his gaze briefly flickers across Tal before drifting toward Varian, reaching out toward the lithe man with a gentle touch, inclining his head toward the courier. "Find anything worth trying?"

but by now we know it's never gonna change
i'm not trying to complain, i'm just saying it's a waste

It wasn't hard to mislead Talyson Seawright in a brothel. Not even when he was pretending to be Sah Lovi! As Varian led him with perfect confidence towards the chosen door, the sounds emerging from the other rooms they passed started to pull the courier from his daze. The heat started to rise in his neck and ears and he carefully kept his eyes on the floor in front of them until Varian pulled him to a gentle stop in front of one door in particular.

"W-wait--!" Unable to tell exactly which sounds were coming from the room in front of them, Tal suddenly realized that maybe the demigod of sex Frey was in the middle of something that the Messenger really didn't want to interrupt.

Or be invited to participate in!

But it was already too late. The door opened to reveal an Archon as tousled and effortlessly seductive as the courier's worst (or at least, most colorful) fears, and a woman who looked kind of like a female version of Tal - if the courier was way more attractive - on the bed. A garbled noise escaped his throat as he tried and failed to tug his arm free from Varian's hold. The pale-skinned courtesan was slender but stronger than he looked, and he was too busy leaning into Sunjata's touch like a cat begging for another caress to notice his wayward patron's attempt to escape.

"Oh, our Sah found several things," the redhead purred cheerfully, patting TalSah's captured arm proudly as he tugged the reluctant courier fully inside the room. "We decided to work our way up to 'screaming' a bit more slowly, but everyone has to start somewhere. How have you been enjoying your stay at our humble pleasure house, dearest Flood?"

we keep on doing this again and again
the same old things expecting something different

It is quite the scene, but one that Sunjata plays into for as long as he can before the game is up. One that has him absolutely focusing more attention on Varian as his questions are aired and the poor courier is pulled into the room, the door snicking shut behind them. The woman in the bed seems tired, curled up against the bed with the blankets strewn about, uncaring that Sunjata’s focus lingers on the red-head, nor that Varian keeps Tal trapped in his arm.

“Several things, hm?” Sunjata purrs, scarred lips quirking in an amused smile, glancing over to Tal as Varian continues and Sunjata gives into the attention that the courtesan seems to be craving. His hand lifts a bit, spreading more across the exposed skin and shoulder of Varian. “It’s been wonderful.” Sunjata purrs, flashing a toothy grin before he withdraws fully and stretches with an exhale. “Landry has been very doting.” He glances back over his shoulder toward the woman who still lazily lounges while Sunjata casts a glance toward Tal to see just how much he might squirm before the game is up.

but by now we know it's never gonna change
i'm not trying to complain, i'm just saying it's a waste

Pale eyes darted to the bed surreptitiously from time to time, taking in the details with a quiet sense of anxiety that he'd interrupted - well, Varian had interrupted - something that wasn't any of his business. Really, really not his business, what the Flood did in his spare time.

Except...

Tal caught his lip between his teeth as he gave up on escape - not with the door now shut behind him, at least - and his brain began to spin up again out of the daze he had been in after being introduced to the colorful (in so many meanings of the word) world of pleasure tools and toys. Sunjata's purring sent a shiver down his spine that he couldn't tell if he liked or not, but that was damned uncomfortable when it was Ru's boyfriend causing it--

Fuck. Ru!

"Does, uh... does Ru know... I mean, is she okay with you, uh... bein' 'doted on'?" Tal asked in a voice that was only slightly strangled, finally looking at Sunjata squarely for a full three seconds before his gaze desperately shifted up to the ceiling. Varian looked between the two men, pleased at the attention his demigod was giving him but faintly puzzled by Tal's reactions.

we keep on doing this again and again
the same old things expecting something different

It works, and with the added benefit of Varian being more than content with Sunjata’s attention, a grin spreads across his tired face, tugging awkwardly at the scar that carves out his cheek. He feels eyes on him, Tal’s to be exact, squarely looking at him before he looks up, the question aired one that honestly doesn’t matter a lot.

They’d talked about it before, and if he were to come home and say he spent time in Mother Molly’s, Ru wouldn’t think twice about it. Demigod duties and all that. But for Tal’s comfort, the grin remains and a low chuckle slips from him as Landry stirs a little and sits up, her hazel gaze landing on Tal Sah with nothing more than a hint of boredom behind them. ‘I highly doubt she’ll have a problem with it.’ Comes the sultry voice from the woman as Sunjata’s hand drops from Varian to turn toward Tal.

“Relax, all I did was take a nap.” He waits to see if the trick lands, taking a moment to run a hand through his dark tousled hair, trying to get it back into a somewhat presentable state as he tacks on an amused addition, “you look like you swallowed a jar of nails thinking about it, though.”

but by now we know it's never gonna change
i'm not trying to complain, i'm just saying it's a waste

The lovely lady courtesan's voice surprised Tal into looking down again and over at her. His brow began to furrow, the first hints of his usual scowl threatening to steal over his face like a thunderstorm over Mourn, but then Sunjata's words rumbled out from beside him and TalSah twisted back to stare at the demigod in surprise.

"That's some fuckin' nap!" he protested, gesturing to the Flood's tousled appearance, the rumpled covers, and the general everything of the room around them. "What was I s'posed t'think??" The flush stayed high on his neck and ears as he crossed his arms, looking nothing so much like a cat that had stepped in snow and was miffed to find it both cold and wet.

And damn embarrassed to be seen looking so silly!

It was Varian who patted his arm soothingly, hugging it closer for a moment as the ginger shared a hidden grin with Sunjata before he spoke. "Not every service here revolves around sex," he said in explanation to the inexperienced Sah. "Pleasure comes in many forms. Music, food and drink, pleasant companionship and a listening ear... Though sex is our most popular offering." He winked at the young man in his grip, his unfailingly cheerful coaxing finally drawing a wordless mumble of understanding and reluctant interest from the dark-haired young man, whose attention had turned to the floor between them. "Is it the same at the House of Midnight?" the pale entertainer asked the Flood next.

we keep on doing this again and again
the same old things expecting something different

“I was shifted.” Sunjata says simply, as if it offers all the explanation necessary. Shifted as a panther, curled up on the bed, while Landry gave quite possibly the best pets Sunjata’s experienced in a long while. Regardless, he can’t help the grin that spreads as he continues to draw amusement from Tal’s reaction, listening as Varian explains further and asks a question of his own.

The Flood’s attention returns to the courtesan with an easier smile. “It does, yes.” Though in terms of the majority of the business, it was certainly sex for them too. But with rooms that changed to whatever whim someone held, it was certainly the more popular choice for getting away with it wherever one wished. Companionship, while there and offered, wasn’t requested quite as often.

But his attention does flicker back toward Tal with an easier, more forgiving smile. “As an aside, though, Ru and I have talked about it before. She wouldn’t have had a problem with it even if I had indulged in something more.” Not that he really has to explain it to Tal, but he deems it necessary in the moment.

but by now we know it's never gonna change
i'm not trying to complain, i'm just saying it's a waste