^^ Hellen ^^

— Zenobia —

"Hey, what are the laws for prostitution in this city?" I poked Assam with my bare foot, laying across my lawn chair on the roof of my home, the building I'd remodeled from the remains of the original Entrance Hall, two weirdly short/long months ago. The rest of my property was actually invisible from here, except the portions where the glass roofing wasn't complete yet; those few small gaps would be filled in soon, and the sheer power of all the sunlight and heat that I was gathering with the magical solar panels was enough to power a dozen portals. Killing and Resuscitating the dragon had been child's play, but now I had a Dragon, and no one but Assam knew about it.

Assam blinked slowly, turning to look at me and closing her book. "Come again?"

"Prostitution! Is it legal to buy sex here? Brothels, Cat Houses, Sex Clubs, are they Legal?" I insisted, wiggling my cold toes under her shirt and tickling her stomach with my feet.

She writhed away from me with a shriek, and then fell out of her chair with a heavy thud. "Rude!!! Don't put cold toes on people's stomachs!!!" She snapped at me, sitting up indignantly.

"Oho, who are you snapping at, little girl?!?" I laughed, shoving my cold hands against her spine, eliciting another series of shrieks and wiggling from her. I could feel the gaze of the Succubi I'd contracted as I became mildly aroused by the situation, and at one point I saw one of them sitting to the side with a bowl of popcorn, probably for dramatic effect. She wore a simple set of bracers and greaves, as well as a scandalously tight set of panties and a curious attempt at a brassier; it covered the barest decency of her bountiful chest without seeming to be supporting or restraining it, and I was mildly intrigued by its design. Still, I ignored her presence for the most part, and once I'd had my fun with teasing Assam, I sat on top of her stomach and asked again. "Now! Prostitution! Are Brothels legal here?"

She huffed a bit, out of breath from the tickling, and wiped her hair out of her eyes, considering the question for a moment. "I don't recognize a lot of those words, but buying sex isn't illegal? Why would it be? Unless you mean buying a person, then that's illegal, but paying someone to sleep with you, no? There are the Yklahün, a sort of... I dunno, they're sort of companions who listen to your problems, but you pay them for sex? I guess? I haven't ever bought their services, I don't know!!!" She blushed at my perpetually innuendo-filled smirk, covering her face again.

I grinned and grabbed her hands, pinning them to the floor and looming over her to kiss her forehead. "Yklahün, Huh? Sexy therapists... I like that... where can I find them?"

She instantly stopped squirming in my grasp, looking up at me cautiously. "Are you... interested in their services?"

"Not particularly, I just have some questions for them, but... Would that bother you? Be honest." I leaned closer, raising an eyebrow and keeping an eye on her facial expression.

She frowned a bit, then hummed. "I mean... I guess I'd be disappointed, but not really surprised? You're a very... Sexual woman, and it's been two and a half months since you came here, so I wouldn't be surprised if you needed to... y'know... and you seem to be respecting the fact that I'm not comfortable with directly engaging in that kind of thing yet... so yes, it would bother me, but it would bother me a great deal less if you told me about it first."

"Hmm... alright. Well, I may end up buying their services, but that isn't my goal; I want to open a Brothel, and I need to be aware of all the laws involved in such a business." I explained, sitting up and returning us to her chair, her lounging comfortably in my lap.

"And a Brothel is... a place you can pay to have sex with people? I've heard of such places, like the Yklahün, but I've never been to one... it strikes me as odd to pay someone for that... so gross..." she hummed, looking confused and mildly disgusted.

I narrowed my eyes, confused by her reaction, and made a small judgement call. "Assam... you don't have to answer this question, but... have you ever had sex before? And... was it an unpleasant experience for you?"

"Well, I-I-I mean... tch-yeah? Who-what kind of adult do you take me for?!? Of course I have!!! And no, it was definitely not pleasant, it's painful and it makes it hard to-... Why do you ask?!?" She muttered under her breath after stuttering and blustering her way through that statement.

"Hard to-... what?" I frowned, my judgement call becoming more solid.

"That-well-y'know-" she stuttered once more, failing to speak clearly in her embarrassment, but I wasn't one to allow her to be embarrassed for long.

"No, I don't. Why don't you tell me?" I shut down the blustering, looking her in the eyes sternly.

"...y'know..." she cleared her throat and motioned to her butt.

"Ah... right... honey, don't take this the wrong way; when you had sex, was it with a man?" I asked clearly, turning her so she sat in my lap facing me. She didn't blush this time, but rather turned a little green, before nodding. "And he put it in your butt, without much preparation, Lubrication, Cleaning... anything?" I smoothed her hair out of her face, and took her silence for an affirmative. "Alright... well, Anal Sex is indeed a form of sex, and one that can be quite pleasant when done correctly; however, it is generally done, -between consenting partners,- with a great deal more care and preparation. Oral or Vaginal sex are easier, and require little to no preparation, but Vaginal requires at least one of the participants to have a vulva."

She tilted her head slowly, confused by the terminology. "A... what?"

I casually gestured between us, down to my cootch; currently I was wearing a g-string bikini and trying to tan, so it left very little to the imagination. "What I have, dear. Not all women do have them, though the majority do. Any... questions?"

She stared at me with wide, confused-yet-entranced eyes for a few minutes, and then eventually, she hit me with a question that I tried, -and failed,- not to bust out laughing at. "Okay, but... like... how do you pee?"

A long and embarrassing (for her) conversation later about my personal anatomy, I managed to avoid further laughing at her Naïvety, and answer all of her questions. "So... any more questions?" I asked gently.

She hummed softly, then shook her head. "No, I think I understand... so if I'd had the same stuff as you, sex would be different, and wouldn't hurt?"

"That's-... well... okay, the gentleness of your partner is always a factor... but generally, vaginal sex hurts less than anal, yes?" I answered carefully, not wanting to alienate her or make her feel weird unnecessarily.

She nodded slowly. "Alright... so, in a purely hypothetical situation, in which you went to see the Yklahün, you would want a... Woman? Or a Man? To entertain you?"

"I like both anatomies, if that's your question, though I prefer those who are female-presenting... also, being honest, a gorgeous ass is my one-true-weakness." I smirked and pinched her butt mischievously, making her squeak again. "Also I'm something called a Sadist, and I enjoy teasing my partner. Some sadists like to spank people, degrade them, or force them to lick their boots, but I just like to tease... and those other things as well." My grin grew as she shifted uncomfortably in my lap, and she halted, realizing that was my intention.

"So... when you tease me... you get off on it?" She asked, sounding curious, and also intrigued.

"Very much so." I answered simply and honestly, then tilted my head. "Does that make you uncomfortable?"

She shook her head, cuddling down into my chest. "No... but it's nice to know there are ways for us to... do it... without... y'know... even though I don't have the right stuff..."

I frowned at her, then made her look directly at me with a hand on her chin. "Assam, whatever equipment you have is the right kind, whatever it is. You are a perfect and beautiful being, and I would not be even considering you as a potential sexual partner if I didn't think so. Do you Understand me?"

"I..." Now she blushed again, refusing to look me in the eye for a number of minutes, and when she finally did, I kissed her sweetly on the lips.

"There, that's taken care of... now, if you're still curious, I can take you with me to these Yklahün, and you can watch and learn? I'm sure they'll accept that sort of arrangement, it's not very uncommon." She covered her face, refusing to answer, and I grinned, taking that for an affirmative again. "Good... well then, let's be off!" I grinned and stood, pulling my pants and jacket back on, as well as my holsters full of three wands; one bone, one wood, and one crystal.

"Wait, seriously?!? You want to just go have sex with people, just like that?!?" She hissed, confused, and then flinched when I turned back to face her.

"Absolutely! Or rather, we're going to sit to the side and watch for a while until you're comfortable taking part, and then we'll be having sex with people. Do you have a preference, male or female?" I asked casually, fixing her clothes and throwing her over my shoulders so she couldn't run away as I walked downstairs.

"Female!!! Definitely female!!!" She squealed, then went limp on my shoulders when I patted her butt.

"Uhm... do you need a Guide, Miss Zenobia?" The Page (who I learned had actually been living here while we were away, keeping the place clean; he was apparently a permanent fixture in the home,) set a book aside and stood to attention, waiting for my answer while only sparing one confused glance at Assam over my shoulder.

"Yes I suppose I will be needing one; lead us to the Guild, if you would?" I smiled, tossing him a silver coin and allowing him to lead us to the familiar tavern.

"Here we are, Miss Zenobia! Anything else?" He asked, glancing at a group of pages his age who were playing a game of cards, it seemed.

"Go visit your friends, Ecton." I tossed him another silver, and he grinned happily, running over to them while I approached the bar. "Barkeep! I have a question about the city? When you've got a moment." I set Assam onto the bar, flagging down the bartender, and she nodded, filling a tankard and sliding it to her customer, before sidling over.

"Oh, it's been a while, Mage! What'cha need?" She asked, leaning against the bar and smirking up at Assam.

"Firstly: Where would I find a Brothel, in this city? Secondly: Where would I find these 'Yklahün'? And then Finally: I need to turn in... several contracts. How do I do that?" I asked, squeezing Assam's thigh and keeping her eyes on me, a clear challenge that she failed to meet, as she looked away and scooted a bit away from Assam.

"Ah... alright... well, the Guild Master accepts all Contracts that are more than Fifty Gold... and as for the Yklahün and Brothels, your best bet would be in the White Cauldron, the southern portion of the city... We have a few pages who frequent the area because their parents works there, so one of them can guide you around if you'd like?" She nodded to another customer who was asking for a beer, and her twin quickly got him his drink.

"Alright... the White Cauldron... thanks a bunch! Two more questions; One: where do I turn in contracts less than fifty gold? And Two: how much money would I need for a very long, very luxurious night in the White Cauldron? Ten gold? Fifty?" I asked, looking to create an expectation of the prices so I didn't get cheated.

She stared at me for a moment, and nodded slowly. "Right... Ah, well, Assam will know how and where to turn in lesser contracts, as that's her usual area of operation, and... for reference? That silver piece you tossed that page when you came in is enough for him to feed himself and four other people for about a month. A gold piece would get you into wherever you needed to be, in the White Cauldron, and five gold would be their-... y'know, their Star Attraction, or whatever you want to call them."

"Their Best Girl, Hmm? Alright, so I'll take Fifty Gold... it's my first time in this city, I want a little fun. Assam, go turn in our contracts to the Guild Master, please, and inform her that I would be alright with a Credit, that wouldn't be a problem, and I'll only need 50 Gold of our rewards dispensed today." I patted Assam's hip, handing her the stack of contracts, all completed except the Articulated Wyvern contract, (we hadn't been able to find it,) and sent her off into the upstairs portion of the Guild Hall. "And some of your 'Sour' for me? A full glass for me to sip on, I'm not sure how long that process will take."

"Right away, Miss!" She nodded and poured me a tall glass of wine, setting it in front of me and then wandering down the bar to talk to someone else.

'How curious... are you sure this is how it works, Amelia?' A sexually-charged voice appeared in my mind suddenly, belonging to one of the two remaining Succubi I'd Kept, after feeding the others to them. Their Lesser Demon Minions were put to work helping Aconitum with the completion of my home, currently.

'I'm sure, Hellen, this is how you contact the Mistress... but she is not responding?'

'The Mistress is currently in the middle of a Demon Hunter's Guild, So be Brief!' I hissed at them mentally.

'Oh! Sorry, Mistress!!!'
'Yeah, Sorry!!!'

'What do you need?' I sighed, sipping my wine slowly.

'Hellen and I were wondering why the Mistress is going to a Brothel? I mean... if the Mistress needs someone to tickle her fancy, we are the ideal candidates, are we not? Have we displeased the Mistress?' Amelia asked carefully.

'No, but I wanted Assam to have some experience with the regular thing, before I blew her mind with a pair of Savants.' I chuckled, and looked up as Assam reappeared in the doorway, waving me up after her insistently. 'Also I need to know the laws for brothels, here, so my establishment meets all the Codes required of it. Silence now, we'll speak later.' I took my glass with me, walking up the stairs with Assam. "Is there something the matter?" I asked her softly.

"The rewards... for all the contracts... add up to double the guild's Yearly Budget." Assam informed me quietly, looking lost and dazed as she led me past the lines of people seated along the walls, glaring at us as we walked straight past them, and into the Guild Master's Office.

"Hello, Guild Master! What seems to be the issue?" I asked the woman casually, taking a seat and kicking my feet up onto her desk, all while staring her down and sipping my wine.

Assam stood to one side nervously, unsure of what to do and where to be, while her mother stared at me for a few moments, deep in thought, before answering me. "Assam tells me you want to be Baroness of this city?"

I raised an eyebrow slowly, and whistled incredulously at the directness of the statement. "Is the sum we're being awarded that massive?"

She sighed. "Well, think carefully; two dragons, which were Adolescents, not Babies, equals 1000 gold pieces on its own. Two extra Succubi on top of the one we were aware of, with a Coven of Lesser Demons Each, and a whole Town under their spell, much less an important mercantile town like Ridge Town, and all of the Guild Members who were saved when you defeated them? Another 600 Gold, from us, and 320 more from the town themselves, instead of the guild. The total reward from the Guild for all these contracts is 2511 gold pieces, plus the 320 from Ridge Town."

I frowned slowly. "Tell Ridge Town to keep that Gold and use it to rebuild. I refuse to accept money that I specifically ordered them to use to better themselves."

"I appreciate your conviction and morals, and even share them, but the money they sent was the gold they scraped off their Mayor's House, and he delivered it himself; it was money that had been given to them by the enchanted Tax Collectors, who had been embezzling for a number of years. They refuse to touch it, believing it to be cursed with Greed. We've had it melted down and made into proper coinage." She shook her head at my refusal, and removed a sack of gold from under her desk, tossing it to Assam.

I sighed, smoothing my hair back slowly. "I understand that point of view, I suppose... fine... well, you'll be happy to know I only intend to cash in 11 of those gold pieces, today... and the remaining 2500 will be Credit that I'll draw on over time, I suppose. Does that work for you?"

She released a heavy breath, chuckling. "Honestly, that's the best case scenario; we couldn't even try to get that much gold from the Capital... but if you'd like to petition for the Barony, that could be done?"

"Ehhhh... I mean, it depends on the responsibilities for such a thing... I mean, I would love the title, and I'm sure it would be useful in my eventual negotiations with the Capital and the Guilds..." I tapped my fingers on my glass of wine, considering the concept seriously.

'A title? Ooh, I like this... a Barony isn't much, but it's a stepping stone... and a powerful card to keep; a Barony in the Old Capital would be quite useful... especially as you make this city more powerful and important...' Aconitum chuckled softly in my mind.

"Well, it wouldn't be much, seeing as we don't currently have a Baron... ours lived in the estate you currently own, and we haven't gotten a new one in a long time. Each city has the ability to put forward candidates for Titles to the Emperor, and most cities require a sizable donation to that effect... I've never been one to accept Nepotism and Bribery, so I've never even entertained the option, but... 2,500 Gold is No Joke." She let out a stressed sigh, sitting down and leaning back in her chair.

"And you'll still owe me that much after you petition for me to receive that title, but don't worry, I won't collect all of it at once, and when I do, it will be in the Capital, not here. Assam tells me you don't like the guild master there for some reason?" I asked, a plan sparking in my mind.

She raised an eyebrow at Assam archly, frowning. "You mean my Husband? Yes, you could say that... he's been 'sleeping on the couch' for a number of years now... but that is a private familial matter, not for other people to interfere with."

Assam found the patterns of imaginary dust on the floor suddenly intriguing.

"Alright, so a brief bit of a monetary headache for him would bring you a small amount of joy and relief, because it isn't your problem anymore?" I clarified, filing away that tidbit of information.

She glared at Assam for a little longer, before sighing and meeting my gaze once more. "I imagine so, yes, and the favor you do me by not calling it in here is why I will petition the emperor for your Title?"

"Sounds good, but I prefer the reasoning being my heroic demeanor and grand intellect, which you thusly deem fitting for a semi-elected leader of the city!" I gave her a mischievous wink and stood up to leave. "Oh!!! Last thing!!! Where's the best Brothel to be found in this city?"