Winterhair
06-21-08, 09:45 AM
The morning's first light came slowly in the distance. It started off as a slight brightening in the black sky, then grew to a dull gray/blue as the orange glow of the sun began to emerge from its hidey-hole in the stars. Light began to flood the dark streets of Radasanth, sending those who lived in the darkness scurrying away and opening the eyes of those who walked in the day. Slowly it crept along, making sure that all that could be brightened was, and every niche and corner was illuminated.
The Scarlet Lady was no exception to the light's unyielding rule, and soon it too was cast into light by the rising sun. Easily the size of a small palace or mansion, the rich and lavish quality of the bordello made it a sight for sore eyes of lonely men. The interior of the place was regal, filled with high ceilings, expensive carpeting, smooth wooden stairways and crystalline chandeliers. The walls themselves of the bordello, however, were a smooth marble stone, not unlike that which could be found at the Citadel not three streets away from the place. Elaborate decoration often left one thinking that this place was for the wealthy only.
However, contrary to popular belief, not only the wealthy came here to satisfy their urges. The Lady catered to all kinds, and was known for its diversity in its choice of women, making it easily one of the most popular bordellos in all of Radasanth. From the the high-class lady to the common whore, sex could be found at your leisure as long as you had the proper amount (of gold that is) at hand.
After his first Citadel battle, Vincent Winterscar had stopped by the nearest tavern, a creaky old place called the Dragon's Breath (for it sure smelled like its name), to get lodgings for the night, and had just about to head to bed after a couple drinks when he had overheard a few raucous men boasting and mentioning it. Curious as to what this place was that could make even the most somber man smile, Vincent joined them in conversation (and some heavy drinking) only to hear glowing praises of the brothel's efficiency.
You could say he was curious. It had been awhile since he had been with a woman, and was actually afraid that he had lost his potency as a man during the long wanderings. The next day Vincent checked the place out and was immediately stunned by the large size of the place and its imposing courtyard. It looked more like the living quarters of a duke than a brothel, but...
Stepping inside he was immediately greeted by a woman in a black dress and high heels, with long blond hair tied up in a ponytail above her head and gifted with a curvaceous figure. She looked to be an older woman, late forties or early fifties, yet she held an aura of sexuality and power around her that made him realize it would be a long time before she retired from the bedroom.
He had pinned her to be a figure of stature or power here by her advancing walk and body language, and when she spoke he knew he had guessed right. "My name is Madame' Leyer, darlin'..." Her voice held a heavy country drawl and she flipped the "r" in her name while extending her hand out in an obvious gesture to shake his. "...but folk 'round here call me Miss Ley. I'm the owner of this here establishment."
He took her hand and shook it, noting the slight callouses on hers. She had been some sort of worker before she had taken up prostitution, that was for sure, and he was impressed. It was not often that he met a girl who knew what a hard-day's work was. "You can call me Vincent Winterscar." He said softly, his deep voice grumbling in the silence of the early morning. He grinned at Miss Ley to show his abnormal canines. "I've heard a lot of good things about this place, and I hope I won't be disappointed."
Miss Ley chuckled at the subtle challenge and released Vincent's hand, beckoning him to follow her as her heels clacked on the marble floor noisily. "I'm sure we'll find some way to satisfy you, Mr. Winterscar." She grinned as she turned the corner and Vincent followed suit, his own grin plastered on his face like an idiot.
She led him to a huge ballroom, where to his surprise he found lots of people already moving around like a swarm of ants. Tables were set everywhere with white, clean sheets placed for dining, and men and women alike sat laughing and gesturing, speaking and grumbling, sipping red wine from thin glasses and even making love right there at the seats, a sight Vincent had seen rarely in his fifty-something years of living.
Miss Ley laughed at his stunned expression and explained. "Here at the Scarlet Lady, we allow freedom of choice and expression. We believe pleasure should not be hidden behind doors, but shared with every one else as to both give and receive." She took his arm as she led him inside the dining room, her short form a comical sight as she led the bearish man through, pointing at different people in the room.
"Most of the people here have stayed here for a long time, for we believe that each and every person, even the customers, should be treated like family." She spoke as she drew him deeper in, people not giving the two even a second glance before returning to whatever they were doing. "We still have our share of customers who only come and go, but we still try to make them feel as much at home as possible." She stopped an pointed at one man, a thin man with a dark suit and raven hair to match who was sipping wine while talking animatedly with another woman with red hair. "See that man? That is the Duke of Elken'brail. He's been here for five years now, and has run his estate through his second in command, all from here. The lady next to him is his wife: she used to be one of our girls until she paid off her contract and got married to him."
Vincent listened intently to the woman's words, impressed despite himself and slightly worried. This was obviously a high class establishment, and he wasn't sure he had enough in his purse to afford the girls here. Before he could voice his complaints, however, Ley turned to him and grinned. "I know what your thinking: Your not the first. I can see by your body..." She licked her lips as she gave him a once over. "...and your body language that you are most likely a mercenary of some kind...and that you aren't the richest boy around are you?"
He blinked. She was good. She laughed at his expression and continued. "I've been in the business a long time, darlin', and I've seen all types. Don't worry: we have all types of girls here, not just the ones like the Duke's wife. Money is never a problem...just as long as you have some." She arched a thin, blond eyebrow at him.
He grinned in answer. "I think I'm going to like it here." He replied, and she smiled back before taking his arm again and leading him to an empty table.
"I'll be back in a bit, darlin'..." she told him before gesturing for him to sit. "You just wait right here and I'll find a girl who'll...satisfy you." She winked heavily before walking off, her heels still clacking noisily despite the loud murmur in the air of the crowd.
However, he didn't have to wait till she came back to find someone for him. He had turned around to survey the room like a predator, his silver eyes sweeping the crowd, when suddenly his gaze caught on another's. She stood by one of the huge paned windows, the light from the early morning casting a glow upon her slim frame, and was holding a glass of wine to her lips when her dark, spanish eyes caught his, the two stopping their movements instantly. He felt a shiver slide down his spine, a shiver not unlike those he felt in the Citadel when he was in danger. But this shiver was not one of apprehension, no. It was a shiver of excitement, for he knew that he was viewing another predator like he.
Her soft, red lips touched the rim of her glass as she continued to stare back at him, her raven hair falling forward to hide one of her eyes from view. He felt a grin start to slide itself upon his lips and tried to control the animal-like lust that was building within him at the sight of this beauty but to his surprise the woman too was smiling, turning her body to him so he could fully view the shape of her curves through the black, slinky dress she wore.
Without another moment he got up and went to her, sliding an arm around her waist as he whispered in her ear. "Want to get out of this place to somewhere more...private?" He ended with a growl, and felt a shiver make its home down her own spine.
She whispered back, "Love, I've been waiting for someone decent to ask me that for a long time now." She grinned coyly at him before taking his hand and leading him up a long set of stairs to a room lavishly built like the palace itself, with a balcony that oversaw the entire city of Radasanth. The Citadel peaked out like a beacon from the buildings and despite his lust Vincent appreciated the view the room gave. But soon all that left his mind as his and her own clothes seemed to melt away in an instant, and the two proceeded to make love all through the day and into the night.
Until the next morning, where he learned her name before going to battle the machine woman named Shadow in the Citadel. Samantha. Samantha Evershire.
It had been over three weeks since he had first came to the Scarlet Lady and met Samantha. Every day and night he had returned to her and talked to her, enjoying the actual conversation and her opinions on several things. And the sex was never boring: every time was there was something new about her, some aspect of her that made itself known and the animal inside Vincent roared in glee as every evening grew rougher, harder, more animal-like. Despite himself, he enjoyed her company, and a slight possessiveness was making itself known in his mind, even though he tried to tell himself over and over again that she was just a whore. A beautiful, intriguing, and mysterious whore, but a whore nonetheless. Alas, for some reason, Miss Ley's words about the Duke and his wife had stuck in his mind, and he could not fathom why.
So as the sun rose up on the city of Radasanth that day, Vincent did not open his eyes as the light flooded into the lavish room. Rather, he did not open his eyes because they were open already, having sat on the edge of the bed contemplating his own thoughts and confused at his own feelings. Looking to the side, he watched Samantha sleep, her breasts falling and rising with each breath she took, her legs crossed as to hide the evidence of their activities not a few hours earlier. Her skin was like the marble of the bordello itself, yet was still flushed with life, and her hair was as dark as a raven's wing, falling over her face in an unconscious picture of beauty. Had Vincent been an artist, he would have painted the way she looked right now and it would have been a masterpiece simply because of the subject herself.
He stared at the prostitute with his swirling silver eyes, trying to think. It angered him, slightly, that he was so confused as to what he felt and thought: his anger coming from the fact that his instincts could not help him at the moment. He started to stand up from the bed to get dressed for another day when she murmured; "Vincent..." and rolled over, grabbing his arm. At first he thought she was awake, but when he saw her closed eyes and her breathing, he knew she had just talked in her sleep. Stunned and rather uncomfortable with the fact that she had muttered his name, he gently removed her hand, careful not to wake her up, and proceeded in getting dressed, moving his weapons and traveling sack aside.
For such a savage and violent man, it seemed he still held compassion, an odd paradox indeed. It had been years since he had last held feelings for a woman...and he remembered how that had turned out. Nearly laughing out loud cynically at the memory, he gritted his teeth as he grabbed the hilt of his nodachi, leaving the misty scythe he had gained from Citadel and his traveler's bag behind as he walked out the door, dropping a few coins on the bed for Samantha.
Love? Of course not. He had sworn to himself never to let himself be used like that again, not by anything or anyone. And so with these dark thoughts in mind, he walked out the door and slowly shut it behind him, not noticing Samantha's eyes opening and watching him with interest. Neither did he see her get up and reach underneath the large bed to bring out twin swords, each sheathed in smooth scabbards, and proceed to draw them out slowly.
The Scarlet Lady was no exception to the light's unyielding rule, and soon it too was cast into light by the rising sun. Easily the size of a small palace or mansion, the rich and lavish quality of the bordello made it a sight for sore eyes of lonely men. The interior of the place was regal, filled with high ceilings, expensive carpeting, smooth wooden stairways and crystalline chandeliers. The walls themselves of the bordello, however, were a smooth marble stone, not unlike that which could be found at the Citadel not three streets away from the place. Elaborate decoration often left one thinking that this place was for the wealthy only.
However, contrary to popular belief, not only the wealthy came here to satisfy their urges. The Lady catered to all kinds, and was known for its diversity in its choice of women, making it easily one of the most popular bordellos in all of Radasanth. From the the high-class lady to the common whore, sex could be found at your leisure as long as you had the proper amount (of gold that is) at hand.
After his first Citadel battle, Vincent Winterscar had stopped by the nearest tavern, a creaky old place called the Dragon's Breath (for it sure smelled like its name), to get lodgings for the night, and had just about to head to bed after a couple drinks when he had overheard a few raucous men boasting and mentioning it. Curious as to what this place was that could make even the most somber man smile, Vincent joined them in conversation (and some heavy drinking) only to hear glowing praises of the brothel's efficiency.
You could say he was curious. It had been awhile since he had been with a woman, and was actually afraid that he had lost his potency as a man during the long wanderings. The next day Vincent checked the place out and was immediately stunned by the large size of the place and its imposing courtyard. It looked more like the living quarters of a duke than a brothel, but...
Stepping inside he was immediately greeted by a woman in a black dress and high heels, with long blond hair tied up in a ponytail above her head and gifted with a curvaceous figure. She looked to be an older woman, late forties or early fifties, yet she held an aura of sexuality and power around her that made him realize it would be a long time before she retired from the bedroom.
He had pinned her to be a figure of stature or power here by her advancing walk and body language, and when she spoke he knew he had guessed right. "My name is Madame' Leyer, darlin'..." Her voice held a heavy country drawl and she flipped the "r" in her name while extending her hand out in an obvious gesture to shake his. "...but folk 'round here call me Miss Ley. I'm the owner of this here establishment."
He took her hand and shook it, noting the slight callouses on hers. She had been some sort of worker before she had taken up prostitution, that was for sure, and he was impressed. It was not often that he met a girl who knew what a hard-day's work was. "You can call me Vincent Winterscar." He said softly, his deep voice grumbling in the silence of the early morning. He grinned at Miss Ley to show his abnormal canines. "I've heard a lot of good things about this place, and I hope I won't be disappointed."
Miss Ley chuckled at the subtle challenge and released Vincent's hand, beckoning him to follow her as her heels clacked on the marble floor noisily. "I'm sure we'll find some way to satisfy you, Mr. Winterscar." She grinned as she turned the corner and Vincent followed suit, his own grin plastered on his face like an idiot.
She led him to a huge ballroom, where to his surprise he found lots of people already moving around like a swarm of ants. Tables were set everywhere with white, clean sheets placed for dining, and men and women alike sat laughing and gesturing, speaking and grumbling, sipping red wine from thin glasses and even making love right there at the seats, a sight Vincent had seen rarely in his fifty-something years of living.
Miss Ley laughed at his stunned expression and explained. "Here at the Scarlet Lady, we allow freedom of choice and expression. We believe pleasure should not be hidden behind doors, but shared with every one else as to both give and receive." She took his arm as she led him inside the dining room, her short form a comical sight as she led the bearish man through, pointing at different people in the room.
"Most of the people here have stayed here for a long time, for we believe that each and every person, even the customers, should be treated like family." She spoke as she drew him deeper in, people not giving the two even a second glance before returning to whatever they were doing. "We still have our share of customers who only come and go, but we still try to make them feel as much at home as possible." She stopped an pointed at one man, a thin man with a dark suit and raven hair to match who was sipping wine while talking animatedly with another woman with red hair. "See that man? That is the Duke of Elken'brail. He's been here for five years now, and has run his estate through his second in command, all from here. The lady next to him is his wife: she used to be one of our girls until she paid off her contract and got married to him."
Vincent listened intently to the woman's words, impressed despite himself and slightly worried. This was obviously a high class establishment, and he wasn't sure he had enough in his purse to afford the girls here. Before he could voice his complaints, however, Ley turned to him and grinned. "I know what your thinking: Your not the first. I can see by your body..." She licked her lips as she gave him a once over. "...and your body language that you are most likely a mercenary of some kind...and that you aren't the richest boy around are you?"
He blinked. She was good. She laughed at his expression and continued. "I've been in the business a long time, darlin', and I've seen all types. Don't worry: we have all types of girls here, not just the ones like the Duke's wife. Money is never a problem...just as long as you have some." She arched a thin, blond eyebrow at him.
He grinned in answer. "I think I'm going to like it here." He replied, and she smiled back before taking his arm again and leading him to an empty table.
"I'll be back in a bit, darlin'..." she told him before gesturing for him to sit. "You just wait right here and I'll find a girl who'll...satisfy you." She winked heavily before walking off, her heels still clacking noisily despite the loud murmur in the air of the crowd.
However, he didn't have to wait till she came back to find someone for him. He had turned around to survey the room like a predator, his silver eyes sweeping the crowd, when suddenly his gaze caught on another's. She stood by one of the huge paned windows, the light from the early morning casting a glow upon her slim frame, and was holding a glass of wine to her lips when her dark, spanish eyes caught his, the two stopping their movements instantly. He felt a shiver slide down his spine, a shiver not unlike those he felt in the Citadel when he was in danger. But this shiver was not one of apprehension, no. It was a shiver of excitement, for he knew that he was viewing another predator like he.
Her soft, red lips touched the rim of her glass as she continued to stare back at him, her raven hair falling forward to hide one of her eyes from view. He felt a grin start to slide itself upon his lips and tried to control the animal-like lust that was building within him at the sight of this beauty but to his surprise the woman too was smiling, turning her body to him so he could fully view the shape of her curves through the black, slinky dress she wore.
Without another moment he got up and went to her, sliding an arm around her waist as he whispered in her ear. "Want to get out of this place to somewhere more...private?" He ended with a growl, and felt a shiver make its home down her own spine.
She whispered back, "Love, I've been waiting for someone decent to ask me that for a long time now." She grinned coyly at him before taking his hand and leading him up a long set of stairs to a room lavishly built like the palace itself, with a balcony that oversaw the entire city of Radasanth. The Citadel peaked out like a beacon from the buildings and despite his lust Vincent appreciated the view the room gave. But soon all that left his mind as his and her own clothes seemed to melt away in an instant, and the two proceeded to make love all through the day and into the night.
Until the next morning, where he learned her name before going to battle the machine woman named Shadow in the Citadel. Samantha. Samantha Evershire.
It had been over three weeks since he had first came to the Scarlet Lady and met Samantha. Every day and night he had returned to her and talked to her, enjoying the actual conversation and her opinions on several things. And the sex was never boring: every time was there was something new about her, some aspect of her that made itself known and the animal inside Vincent roared in glee as every evening grew rougher, harder, more animal-like. Despite himself, he enjoyed her company, and a slight possessiveness was making itself known in his mind, even though he tried to tell himself over and over again that she was just a whore. A beautiful, intriguing, and mysterious whore, but a whore nonetheless. Alas, for some reason, Miss Ley's words about the Duke and his wife had stuck in his mind, and he could not fathom why.
So as the sun rose up on the city of Radasanth that day, Vincent did not open his eyes as the light flooded into the lavish room. Rather, he did not open his eyes because they were open already, having sat on the edge of the bed contemplating his own thoughts and confused at his own feelings. Looking to the side, he watched Samantha sleep, her breasts falling and rising with each breath she took, her legs crossed as to hide the evidence of their activities not a few hours earlier. Her skin was like the marble of the bordello itself, yet was still flushed with life, and her hair was as dark as a raven's wing, falling over her face in an unconscious picture of beauty. Had Vincent been an artist, he would have painted the way she looked right now and it would have been a masterpiece simply because of the subject herself.
He stared at the prostitute with his swirling silver eyes, trying to think. It angered him, slightly, that he was so confused as to what he felt and thought: his anger coming from the fact that his instincts could not help him at the moment. He started to stand up from the bed to get dressed for another day when she murmured; "Vincent..." and rolled over, grabbing his arm. At first he thought she was awake, but when he saw her closed eyes and her breathing, he knew she had just talked in her sleep. Stunned and rather uncomfortable with the fact that she had muttered his name, he gently removed her hand, careful not to wake her up, and proceeded in getting dressed, moving his weapons and traveling sack aside.
For such a savage and violent man, it seemed he still held compassion, an odd paradox indeed. It had been years since he had last held feelings for a woman...and he remembered how that had turned out. Nearly laughing out loud cynically at the memory, he gritted his teeth as he grabbed the hilt of his nodachi, leaving the misty scythe he had gained from Citadel and his traveler's bag behind as he walked out the door, dropping a few coins on the bed for Samantha.
Love? Of course not. He had sworn to himself never to let himself be used like that again, not by anything or anyone. And so with these dark thoughts in mind, he walked out the door and slowly shut it behind him, not noticing Samantha's eyes opening and watching him with interest. Neither did he see her get up and reach underneath the large bed to bring out twin swords, each sheathed in smooth scabbards, and proceed to draw them out slowly.