Fenix - A bar

[Admin Account]

OOC: It's okay, I understand completely! I've been a little clumsy with my posts as well.
-------------------------------

Ursula smiled at the barman and she nodded her head in a way to silence his explaining. She did not care how many women he'd slept with before; this was not a commitment they were about to make. Nor did she care about the shoddyness of the arrangements, as long as she was getting paid. The man must be proud of his own quarters to be bringing her there instead of going to her shuttle, and she was interested to see why.

'Never say anything that you'd be too frustrated to write,' echoed the voice of her mother in her head. She'd always been taught to be a woman of little wording, always taught that babbling was a mark of poverty and that a woman's word was best read when not uttered. She kept this in mind as she smiled at Ashley and held an elbow out to him.

"Your place it is," she mirrored quietly. 'let's see this place you're so keen to have my positive opinion on.'

[ashley]

Ash led her to one of the slightly nicer, but no less full of danger part of town. It was basically just this "side of the train tracks" and though it was nicer it didn't mean that a crime or murder didn't happen here at all. It was just better covered up or the authorities were paid off or bought altogether.

Ash opened the door of a small hotel/apartment complex for Ursula to enter the foyer and went to the front desk. Some of the room were rented out on a daily basis where those that could afford it lived here. It was a perfect situation for Ash except he hadn't been here in a while. Ash smiled at the woman behind the counter who gave him a sweep over and typed something into her computer console.

"Thumb print please."

Ash knew the woman didn't look familiar as he reached into his pocket and produced some platinum for the woman. "Right here?" Ash questioned as he slipped the platinum closer to the woman with that look in his eye.

"Oh yes. Thank you, sir. You're room..."

"Zero-5-9," Ash whispered to so that Ursula couldn't hear. "The room that I've always had here," Ash continued goading the woman to catch the hint.

"...was just cleaned. If you need anything else..." the lady trailed off as she discreetly passed Ash a small magnetic key that would unlock his room door.

Ash returned to Ursula and smiled. "I just wanted to make sure everything was cleaned and tidy in there." It was an easy lie that passed through his lips as they rode the air lift up to the 5th floor and into his room. "Well, this is it. Not as grand as what you're used to I assume, but it's good enough for me."

This room is one of the finest and I hope she doesn't ask anything I can't explain. So...when do I ask price?

[Admin Account]

Ursula followed Ash into the building, and watched suspiciously as he spoke to the woman at the front desk in such a low tone that she could not comprehend what he was saying. Of course, she knew this was intentional. He had something to hide, and she was curious as to what. But, she knew, that was not her business. She would not meddle in it--not as long as she was getting paid.

He explained that the room needed cleaned, and Ursula wanted to roll her eyes but simply nodded and smiled instead. If he had simply wanted the room to look nice, he wouldn't need to be so secretive about it. But again, she wouldn't meddle. She wouldn't care, because that was not her job. If Bartender-Joe wanted to have a second life, she could shrug that off. Who in this damned 'verse didn't have two faces?

He showed her the room and Ursula's gaze swept quickly over it. It was nice; of course not what she was used to, as he said. But it was definitely nothing an ordinary barman could afford, that was for sure. Ursula looked to him, her brown eyes sparkling in a seductive way that was trademark of Companions. They had that look and knew how to use it.

She took the first few steps into the room as a way of letting him know that it was acceptable, that she would not mind working here. After another moment of quiet contemplation, she turned to him, a warm look in her eyes that was reserved only for clients. Stoot would usually be met with a much colder gaze.

"This is a more-than-suitable place, thank you." She said. Since she was under the impression that he was no ordinary barman, her previous worry about payment was soaring out of the window. If he could afford a place like this, he could afford her. If he could afford to be so secretive to a simple desk clerk at a hotel, then he definitely had enough money to afford her. Perhaps not clean, bloodless money, but Ursula could not care less about that. Money was money.

She seemed to glide almost as she walked forward towards Ash, taking both of his hands in hers and leading him into the room, already making herself comfortable on his turf. She rubbed the tops of his hands with her thumbs, bringing him closer until they were almost touching. The ritual was officially beginning, there was no point of return.

"Why do you live alone, Ash?" She asked quietly, almost at a purr, beginning the first phase: getting him to open up. "You're perfectly charming, you live comfortably, and you are nothing short of an intelligent man. Is there a reason for such a person to have not yet found companionship before me?"

Being a Companion was not simply sex. It was more than that, a connection between two people for an entire night. The sex was the highlight, but there were steps that must be honored before getting to that point. After all, these men were not paying so much money for something they could get from any easy woman. They were getting companionship, an experience, a real lover for one night. Well, that's what her trainers had ground into her head, anyway.

So, phase one. Get Ash to open up a little about himself. Ursula would find something to relate with him on and they would form an emotional bond. Then she would get him relaxed; touch him and massage him in a way he had probably never been rubbed before. Phase three, she would get him worked up to a point where he would be to the point of begging. Hopefully she would never actually push a client that far, though, not if she chose them right. Phase four would be the sex, and then commencing the other phases would go on from there.

[ashley]

Ash watched Ursula's face expectantly. He knew this room was decent enough, but he already had the lies ready. He was waiting for the questions, but they didn't come. He was almost suspicious of her than. Maybe she was a plant. Maybe someone knew that he wasn't the simple barman, but the man himself that ran most things on Persephone. When she exclaimed she liked the place Ash almost grabbed her and asked what was going on? But than wouldn't that be suspicious on his own to behalf. What if she was just thinking who cares.

Ash continued watching her and he let her pull him closer to her. He liked how her eyes lit up as though he was the reason they were on fire. Like it was all about him. Ash knew it was a companion trick, but it was a good one. He felt wanted, needed, cherished, and that almost killed him. Ash shook his head forcing those feelings away.

Her mouth opened and Ash was again ready for the lies, but she threw him for a loop. Ash stared down into her brown eyes. He gaze at her and wondered how to tell her. He hadn't married, because he doesn't let himself get close to any female. He won't let himself get close because his parents were crazier in the verse than any family. That a normal woman would want to know all that and once discovered he'll either be pitied; something he would never want, or they'll run. Run away from his past and what he had become.

"I haven't found the right girl." An easy enough lie that could be considered true. He hadn't found the girl who was strong enough to look past his scars, to be able to stand beside him when things got rough, and to know him truly. No, his mother was right. He's a worthless piece of crap that not even a mother could love. Ash didn't feel pity for himself. It was simple truth.

"And why haven't you found a man who would make you his one and only companion? You're charming, pretty, and seductive enough. Any man would love to keep you all to himself." Ash smiled and it belied the turmoil inside.

[Admin Account]

Ursula smiled at his short, simple answer. So the barman was holding out for the 'right girl'? She had heard that one before. Many times. It was usually a man's excuse for not trying at all, or for being a bad boyfriend.

He then reversed the question onto her, and the blonde gave it a moment's contemplation before answering. Mainly she hadn't been offered permanent companionship because she had only recently started working outside of the guild. She looked into his eyes before walking around behind Ash, placing her hands gently on his shoulders and beginning to massage them. "I've had offers," she whispered in his ear. Of course, she wouldn't tell him that she was a newly-graduated Companion; and it was not a total lie. She had had offers, just not as many as she played it up to be. "A companion's life is made easiest when only having to service one man, that is for certain. But we give up our personal freedoms once we accept permanent Companionship--we work the clock all hours of the day. I suppose that, like you, I am holding out for the right one. Even Companions believe in love, you know."

Well, Ursula wasn't so sure on that part. She had sort of lost faith in the notion of love, but letting Ash know that she desired the emotion would stimulate him to try and earn it. It was the way of men; they wanted to break the ice around the princess's heart. To achieve an unachievable task.

She lead him over to the bed and motioned for him to sit, so she could continue to rub his back. This was good--they were having a conversation, they were connecting on an emotional level. That would make the physical connection much more enjoyable.

[ashley]

Ash was sure she had offers. She was beautiful and though he knew companions were ... well "knowledged" he didn't want his girl to be well "knowledged" with others. Like the old saying went a lady in the streets, but a freak in the bed. As crude as that old saying is. Yes, Ash was thinking that if things were different he might have asked Ursula to be his permanent. Ash didn't think any other woman would know his life, his secrets, and keep them. BUT a companion well she would be paid to stay quiet, to not divulge anything.

Yes, Ash was liking this companionship thing more and more. He wondered why he didn't think of it before. Of course he wasn't going to treat her like some sort of slave, but he would expect her (if she chose to be his and only his) to hopefully understand him and not divulge his life or any of his secrets. Perhaps she would even have a child or two of his.

Ash blanched. What the heck? When did he start thinking about family and settling down. That wasn't him. This wasn't him. Ash wasn't like where his thoughts had taken him. "That makes sense. You want to make sure you're getting the best deal." Ash went over to the bed and sat down upon it. "So how long have you been on your own?" Ash started to unbutton his shirt ready to blow off the thoughts that his mind had wandered towards with some good old fashioned physical stimulation.

[Admin Account]

Ursula grinned to herself as Ashley began removing his shirt. So he was ready to just get to the point. She could handle that. It was her job, after all.

He asked how long she'd been on her own, and Ursula reached a fork in the road. Lie to him, or tell him the truth? Well, she turned each situation over in her mind. To lie and say she had been on her own for a long time would make him expectant of a great time. That was alright; she would be giving it to him. However, to tell the truth and admit that he was her first real client since leaving the guild...well, knowing he was the first one on this turf would make him feel superior, a feeling she wanted her client to experience. He would also be expecting her to be not as good as other Companions...and this would give her the advantage, because she would most certainly prove him wrong.

Ursula hated telling the truth, but in this case, she felt it would work to her advantage. "You'll be my first," She whispered in his ear as she laid him down on the bed, helping him remove his shirt the rest of the way. "How does that make you feel?"

---
OOC: when we get to the sex-part, which will probably commence after your dialogue in your next post....we will skip over the sultry details. Rather, we will skip to the 'after-sex' activities, whatever they may be. I think that would be the most appropriate, yes?