[Lady Libertine]First Night

[Zana]

1st Saun, 717

It was the first trial that the Lady Libertine was opening it's doors and they were all of them nervous. It was a good kind of nervous, though, the sort that set her tummy fluttering. They had worked so hard for this, the two of them together and the others too, and now it was here. Zana was quite sure that this was going to be a marvellous success, a venture like no other and, more than that? Well, it was going to be the beginning.

Just the beginning.

So, she sat in front of the dressing table in what was her working room and she looked at herself. She had stepped out of the bath, which she had put scented oils into, and she was wearing a robe. First, she used the talcum powder, the large pouffe-brush thing was perfect for applying this and so she doused it liberally and then applied it. Theo had spared no expense and the powder gave her skin a slight glitter, a sort of glow which sparkled.

Her stockings, then, were lace-topped and she smiled as she pulled them on. White and pretty, she thought as she dropped the robe and looked at herself with a critical eye. "Father, it's here. Our business. I'm going to be rich and it will be just the start. I'll make you proud." Getting her dress, Zana had chosen a white one for this opening night, a long skirted one with a gold-like sheen to it. Theo had spent a lot of money on fabrics and outfits for the girls and this one was her favourite. The skirt was long and sheer, falling to the floor in four distinct sections so that, when she moved, the sections shifted and moved with her, revealing the stockinged legs. The waist was tight and the top was a halter top which was, effectively, two strips of material tied behind her neck.

Zana put it on, tying the belt tight and she smiled as the ribbon fell over her leg.

Having checked all angles in the mirror, Zana sat down and began to apply her make up. First, she spent time on her eyes, ensuring that the ice blue feature which she was so proud of were accentuated. Light glitter, just a touch of gold on the corners of her eyes and kohl to focus attention. Then the slightest touch of rouge on her cheeks and a soft gloss on her lips. Even just those touches, she took her time with. It was too important for anything but her best tonight.

When she'd got out of the bath, Zana's hair had been in rags and now she took it out, untangling it. She'd washed it the night before and left the rags in and so her blonde locks fell down her back in waves and ringlets. The untying of the rags meant that she had her arms raised above her head for a while and then she brushed her hair with a soft bristled brush. All in all, just the act of getting ready (which was an act of devotion to the young woman) had taken a break and a half. She'd made sure the other girls were ready, too, but her focus now was on herself.

Zana was a conceited, arrogant woman and vain, like her father. So, when she smiled and stood, looking at herself in the full length mirror before speaking to the father she, literally, worshipped. "For you father. I love you. How I look, and all the money I will make tonight I do in your name. Zanik, this job, this business, this seduction of men and strength in beauty, I dedicate to you."

Then, slipping her feet into her high heeled shoes and finally sure that she looked as good as it was possible for her to look, Zana went downstairs to Theo's office. There, she tapped on the door and entered.

"Well, look at us," she said with a smile. "Hello, Theo." She said no more, giving him a chance to look and make sure that he was happy with how seriously she took their opening night.

I'll be your dream, I'll be your wish, I'll be your fantasy
I'll be your hope, I'll give you love, be everything that you need.

[Theo Nji'Ryn]

It was critical that opening night at the Lady Libertine went smoothly and was the sort of success that those who'd been invited to attend, would tell their friends and associates about in glowing terms, and for dozens of trials to come. There'd been a great deal of work that had gone into making that happen, that trial, and in fact was still in process just a break ahead of them opening the doors for the first time.

The place had been as busy as a hive with girls and handlers and laborers meeting each other coming and going, and with Theo wearing more hats that trial than he had in all of his arcs leading up to this night. A supplier had brought the wrong case of wine, Clayton had misplaced boxes of cigars and loose tobacco, and a tray of crystal glasses had crashed to the ground due to a clumsy laborer who'd been spending more time looking at the girls than where he was walking.

Theo had done shifts behind the bar, organizing glasses and bottles of liquor. He'd moved furniture and eyeballed art on the walls to make sure it was straight. He'd had a parade of girls going in and out of his office for his inspection and had even needed to learn, on the fly, how to lace and cinch up a corset. That was after he'd needed to fish around down Brandi's bodice for an earring she'd dropped there and swore she couldn't get for herself without having to get out of her dress and back in again.

But Zana was right. He'd spared no expense. Not on the furnishings, not on a well stocked bar, not on clothing for them and not on a wardrobe for him. By the time she came downstairs and knocked on his door, he'd finally found the opportunity to sit down behind his desk and go over the guest list one last time before the doors opened. Behind him, the doors leading into the courtyard was open and there were laborers there lighting the lamps before they'd finally clear out and go. "Enter," he said when she knocked. And when he looked up and saw Zana there in the doorway, he sat back and smiled.

"You look fantastic," he said and gestured for her to come in, and shut the door behind her. He was taking a few bits to hide, get some peace and quiet after all, and an open door was just an invitation for another girl wondering if he'd seen her garters laying around, and could he please help her find them. "Knowing how much work goes into an opening night, pales in comparison to actually having to do it. Is everyone ready?" he asked.

[Zana]

Zana Delroth was a strange woman, in many ways. She had no lack in confidence, no concerns about what other people thought of her, yet when he said that she looked fantastic Zana grinned. She hid it well, though, "well, d'uh," she replied with a grin. "You've got two legs." It was a statement of the equally obvious, she thought and so she came in and closed the door. She was pleased, though, there was no doubting it.

Was everyone ready? She looked at him and shook her head, then she moved over to him, where he was sitting behind his desk. "Sometimes, I forget how young you are. Or how old I am, I suppose." Theo and all the girls here would be dust, after all, and she would still be young and beautiful. "No, dear heart, no one is ready but that's good." She moved to where she wanted to be and sat on the list of names, perching on his desk before she crossed one leg over the other, her skirt falling to reveal her stocking-clad leg. "Everyone is in a state of panic and bustle. But that's because they want it to be a success. It will be," one hand crossed another on her knee and she watched him.

"We have everything we need and almost everything we want. But until the doors open it's just foreplay and too much of that can be just frustrating. So, no, we're not ready." Zana lifted one hand to her own throat and then languidly trailed one finger down, between her breasts and down her stomach until she reached the waistline of her dress, where she took hold of the ties which held the thing together. "We're just at the point where we're so full of anticipation that our whole bodies are trembling. All of us, you and me and Clayton and Patrick. We're trembling and we're about to beg, we're ready to beg. Please... please Theo," her smile was cat-like and she watched him without remorse or shame. "Just open the damn doors. Greet the first customers, let's find out what happens tonight because we're ready."

With a wicked grin, she slid down off the table and put her hands on the arm of his chair, one on either side. Her nose brushed against his and she moved to kiss along his jawline. "Just think of all the money I'm going to make us tonight. Doesn't it make you tremble, my darling?" She grinned at him. "Just think how we feel. How I do. So, give me the best case scenario, Theo, and I'll do my best to beat it."

It sounded to her like a good plan and she grinned at him. "You've planned it to within an inch of it's life. Let it happen now, dear heart. When we fall asleep next, you and I? It will be because we are both exhausted after we have celebrated in our own, unique manner, the unmitigated success." But there was a more important question, she said, and that was the one that would make a difference to tonight, she was quite sure.

"Are you ready?"

We don't need instructions, baby. Don't you be afraid.
It takes a little friction, baby. That's how our love is made.

[Patrick]

There existed the unmistakable anticipation that lingered within the air as the time approached, the doors were going to be opened tonight and with it the entourage waiting outside. Their curiosity would be what filled their pockets with coin tonight, and the pressure to make it a riveting success was on as Patrick buttoned the rest of his shirt. He was used to fancy collared shirts from working at the Hound but quite honestly, Theo spared no expense in making sure his workers were well equipped in this establishment. Pat almost felt like a king here and he didn't even live in this place, just worked to service the prospect of pleasures to clients he'd soon have.

"How do I look Isabella?" He called to the harlot that passed by the room he'd dressed in, when she stopped and turned to look through the doorway, he straightened up some with his thumbs used to button the cuffs on the sleeves.

"Strapping." She answered as she entered to adjust the folds of his collar.

"You as well darlin'." He chuckled with a grin as she smiled at him. "Nervous?" Her shoulders only rose in a shrug for a response. "Nah, me neither. We're gonna own it tonight, make a lot o' money fer Theo." Pat stated confidently as he adjusted the sleeves finally, a quick check in the mirror came next as he fixed his hair with his hands. "Let's bounce." He encouraged as he escorted the lady out into the main lobby where the rest had gathered, from the sound of what he could hear Zana was talking with Theo. Whatever their chat had been about, he wasn't going to but in on it that's for sure. They were a dynamic power couple, emphasis on that as he knew it for certain. And the last time he'd tried to get involved with a couple, he only got himself burned emotionally in the long run.

"Heeeey Clay," Patrick greeted as he shook hands with the man, "looks like it's almost time in'nit?"

"Almost! I think Zana's itchin' for Theo to open the doors." He mused as he finished setting the bar with empty glasses. "You ready though? Think you'll have a handle on things?"

"Damn straight!" Pat's enthusiasm radiated within the bar. "Just feed me booze and I'll be fine." He was well aware that Clayton handled the setup of clients for him, thus Patrick made sure to get well acquainted with the individual earlier. Trust proved to be a matter of question when it came to Pat, but he well enough believed Clayton would play his role well just as everyone would. All that remained was opening those doors, once Theo deemed everybody ready for business.

[Theo Nji'Ryn]

No one was ready? Theo might have been bothered by that revelation, except that if he was honest, no matter how well he'd prepared, he couldn't rightfully claim that he was ready either. There was nothing else he could do at this point. He'd overseen every detail right down to the way the sprigs of greenery were placed in the floral arrangement at the entry. At this point there was a risk of overdoing it. And those were some very important and influential names she'd just sat on. "A few cases of nerves won't hurt anyone," he guessed, and smiled as he reached out and traced a path up her stocking clad leg.

The grin turned wolfish though when she continued to tease him. "But if don't stop that," he warned, "both of us will be less ready to open the doors than now, and we'll be giving our guests an eyeful." Not such a bad thing, except that he'd spent more time on his appearance this evening than usual. Than ever before, truth told. "The best case scenario, is a better night than either of us have had before." For him, it was bound to be. For her? Well, she hadn't been raised in the Dust Quarter, he'd need to raise his own bar much farther than she would. "Fine," he said in surrender and got up from his chair. "It's close enough, we'll open the doors." The last of the workmen in fact had cleared out after lighting the final lamp in the courtyard.

So offering his arm, he escorted Zana out of his office and into the great room where all the girls had gathered. Patrick, Clayton, everyone was there. "There you are Patrick. Right on time," Theo added with a pleased smile when he spied their lone male entertainer. Variety was the spice of life after all, and he'd been privy to enough hushed buzz in advance of opening, that there'd be genuine interest. Which meant of course, that Patrick might find himself just as busy as the girls this evening. "Look smart, everyone," he said then, and heading towards the front door, he opened it up in order to greet their guests for the evening and welcome them personally, each and every one.

[Zana]

His hand moving up her leg caused her to grin and his words, suggesting that the guests would see more than they bargained for, provoked a deep chuckle. "Don't flatter yourself. I'm far too professional," Zana touched her nose to his and whispered, "but later, I'll be off the clock and very unprofessional. Just remember that." She smiled then and took his arm as he agreed that it was time.

She prayed to Delroth, her father, that this night would be one where they made an obscene amount of money. It was very much her hope that they did for all sorts of reasons and she walked out with Theo and caught sight of Patrick. It was time to turn on their professional personas, so she gave Theo a last squeeze of his hand and leaned to just whisper in his ear, "it's the first step, Theo. It will be great."

Then, she moved over to Patrick and wrapped an arm behind his neck, "well, don't you look delicious?" Zana smiled at him and nodded. "You look great. Excited?" She knew the kind of place Theo had built here, what he wanted and what they all needed it to be. So, she leaned against Patrick, kept one hand raised and behind his neck, playing with his hair. Watching them as they came in and as Theo greeted them, each one.

Some of the most influential people in Rharne were here for opening night and Zana watched Theo as he worked. He could turn on the charm and do so with ease and aplomb and she? Well, she turned her attention from him to watch as the first of the guests came in. Brandi moved forward to meet them, but Zana didn't. She stayed back, watching them. Her ice blue eyes were appraising, watching and her gaze moved around the room. She was, after all, Zana Delroth, daughter of an Immortal and the best they would ever have. The people who came first would undoubtedly be keen, but she knew enough to hold back. She and Patrick were more than able to add to the ambience, especially together.

After a short while, though, a man walked in and she could tell by the way that Theo's eyes shifted colour, just slightly, the way his shoulders tensed just a touch that this was one of those on the list who he'd hoped would visit, but didn't think so. Zana watched the man as he spoke to Theo, his handshake firm and his gaze around the room like he owned it. "Mine," Zana purred to Patrick and she met the visitor's gaze. The other girls batted eyelashes, looked from behind fans and under their lashes, but not her. Her eyes locked with his and she lifted her head and raised an eyebrow.

She stood, having been leaning against Patrick and, as Theo motioned for her to come over, she did just that. Her eyes didn't drop and she held the man's gaze and she offered a prayer to Zanik, dedicating the next breaks with this man to him. "Hello, I'm Zana," she said as his hand trailed down her shoulder. With a glance at Theo to check, she looked up at the man in question and smiled. "However long you think you want me for" she exuded confidence, and meant it, "you'll want to double it." Taking his hand she led him to the bar and made sure that he had a drink, cigars, every little touch he might want.

And then, she got to work. Judging by Theo's reaction to this man, she knew that he was someone important. That was more obvious as she got closer to him and she had given Theo a reassuring smile. So, she made sure that she performed her absolute best and when, at the end of the break he'd paid for he said that wanted her company for the next five also, Zana wasn't surprised. Not at all. In fairness, the confident mortalborn would have been shocked if he'd been prepared to walk away then. He could still walk, after all and she'd promised a number of other activities each of which would take time. So, she rang the bell which meant that this was organised.

In a way, she thought, it was a shame. By the time she re-emerged from the room where the high-ranking member of the Merchants' Guild had experienced things he didn't know were possible, Zana was bathed and dressed. She imagined there were still some breaks of work to be done, so she made her way to the front of house and sought out Theo. It was nearly midnight, but they were used to working into the early hours. So, she looked around to see what was happening.

Off Topic

Very happy to miss a round if you two want to have a shorter time frame, let me know in you posts!

Don't touch your lips, don't wear your hair like that, I feel your presence all around me.
Don't get too close, or move your eyes like that. Because they're deep enough to drown me

[Patrick]

"Naturally," Patrick replied with a grin when Zana approached him, "You as well love. I've been excited all day." He mused with a chuckle as his arms remained crossed, his eyes watched as Theo came out to prepare to open the doors. It had been about time those damned things were ready to allow customers in, since they'd spent the entirety of the day setting up the place. Moving furniture around and setting up curtains, making sure accessories were prepped at the bar, all that stuff had been the hassle involved in the grand opening of this place. Yet Patrick was happy about it.

Maybe because this had been a major step up from where he was, a completely better position of employment compared to where he used to be. "You look... ravishing." He muttered in a hushed whisper to Zana, his smile a playful one when he looked from her to the crowd. Now came the time to stand around and look pretty, and thankfully with Clay being the bartender, Patrick could focus more on the game rather than the drinks. With his first glass in hand Patrick took a seat at the bar, near Clayton since he also played the role of Patrick's handler. Once Zana had made her claim on someone secretly known to him, he encouraged her with a wink and watched her with a smile. She'd moved elegantly as one would expect her to, already driven to court someone into business with her.

A few ladies and even couples had entered with their attention first found at the bar, likely curious to find what sort of catering was available there. It would be then Patrick engaged with subtlety in their present conversations, and promoted a few suggestive liquors for them to drink as some got comfortable. The place had only just opened for business, and already Patrick felt eager to engage in the social graces of the people gathered around.

[Theo Nji'Ryn]

If Theo had understood from the beginning, what went in to the process of establishing a house such as the Lady Libertine, he'd discovered very quickly from the process that he'd been ignorant to many of the little details and nuances. There'd been obvious investments to make, like the building itself, clothing for the girls and Patrick and Clayton, even himself, a well stocked bar and fine furnishings. But the more he'd immersed himself in the process, the more surprises he'd come across. All of them had cost money but each made a difference. Things as seemingly unimportant as sprigs of green in the flower arrangements, the touches of gold in the picture frames or the particular shade of red chosen for the carpets. Even his own nails had needed professionally trimmed and buffed. It was all those little details that the most discerning guests would notice, and gave depth to the overall picture.

Theo had been raised a world away from all the social graces, and yet his knack for putting on a good act was serving him well in this case. He was able to present himself in a way that implied he wasn't just comfortable in the presence of the rich, the powerful and the influential. But moreover, in a way that suggested he belonged there. And he'd been more than pleasantly surprised to discover that all their hard work had yielded results, in that some he'd thought might take a wait and see approach, rather than accepting that first invitation, had decided differently that night. After he'd ushered them in, Brandi was quick enough to approach and that was exactly as planned.

The girl he'd pulled from the alleyways of the dust quarter had been transformed to a large extent. But there was still a bit of that in her. Those street smarts. The way she smiled or the particular way her hips swayed when she approached. And no matter how well heeled the guest, there were those men who liked that and would never admit it outside walls like these. And they'd certainly never venture into the sorts of places where girls like her were more plentiful. She'd get plenty of business that night, as would the other girls and a couple of guests who clearly showed interest in the lone male among the entertainers, who'd seated himself at the bar. Theo glanced Patrick's way, a silent message that he might want to give that handful some special attention.

As for Zana? She was a goldmine and knew exactly how to proceed. And when he glanced her way, she knew that this particular guest, a very valuable one, might just monopolize the bulk of her evening. Just as he'd hoped would be the case. Not that he'd have encouraged it had the man struck him as dangerous in spite of his value as a connection. He'd been hard pressed in fact to allow it. But as it happened, this particular facet of the plan was falling perfectly into place. Brandi too would be busy, along with the other girls and Patrick. And Clayton would have his work cut out for him, tending the bar and keeping an eye on his own girls.

By the time Zana returned from upstairs, she'd be met with a room that had thinned out, but not completely. Theo had joined a pair of lingering guests seated in a grouping of upholstered chairs where they were smoking cigars and enjoying a snifter of brandy. Brandi was seated on one of their laps and Emma was beside another on a small couch. These men presumably had already enjoyed their time upstairs, and were just enjoying a drink and some conversation before heading home. From the look on Theo's face and how relaxed he seemed, clearly the night had been a great success. And a lucrative one too.

[Zana]

It had been a good evening, a lucrative one and one where Zana had learned a lot of things. Theo had given her pointers on how to gather information and she had done just that from her client. Six breaks together, the two of them, Zana had made the most of every bit of that time and had a very satisfied customer who was over 400gn lighter in his pocket after he had paid for her and the drinks they had shared and the herbal performance enhancer he had taken. He was a happy man. So much so that he was wanting to meet Theo tomorrow to discuss the Lady Libertine and how business opportunities might be arranged to mutual satisfaction. Or so he'd said. Zana was sure that Theo would be pleased, after all this was one of the men he'd wanted to court because of their position. When this was done, she would be speaking to Theo about Patrick. When she'd leaned against him earlier, lifted her hand to play in his hair he'd sat, arms crossed and more or less ignored her. That wasn't good, it wasn't good for business and Theo would deal with it, or she would. She had no doubt, Theo would be better at it because she was livid.

However, now was not the time for that and when she saw the men sitting with Theo, accompanied by Brandi and Emma, Zana gave a slight smile, pleased to see how relaxed Theo looked. That must mean that they'd had a good first night, she knew, and she briefly considered if she should join them or keep away. Having considered it just long enough to let her gaze trail over each of the men seated, Zana walked over.

One of the things Zana knew was how important it was that Theo was well liked, popular and respected. His role to this place was the single most important one; he had to provide a libertine lifestyle and in order to provide it, he had to be seen as someone who lived it. That had been what had decided her to make her way over to them. When she got there, the mortal born moved and kissed Theo deeply, her hands roaming over his chest and on to his shoulders. "Well, hello." she spoke quietly, her hands staying on Theo although she looked at the two men.

She inspected them, those men and from the way that they looked at her, both of them, Zana knew that there was money still to be made here, pleasure still to be given. Not tonight, but then it was important that they wanted to come back for more. Sitting next to Theo, Zana crossed her legs, allowing her dress to fall to the side and reveal her stocking. The man who was with Emma watched her and Zana smiled at him, her gaze unashamed and showing her desire. "Has everyone had a good evening?" When she asked that question, there was a slight pause and then she added, "so far?" As her finger curled in Theo's hair, she leaned into him and played along with however he chose to play this situation. It might be that Theo would want to make sure that they came back and so wanted to put on a show here. It might also be that he'd want to get that business now, in which case there would be a different sort of game to play.

Either way, Zana was more than prepared to act in whatever way possible and to the very best of her not inconsiderable ability.

I hear you call me and it's needles and pins,
I want to hurt you, just to hear you screaming my name.

[Theo Nji'Ryn]

The night was winding down and the crowd had thinned out. But it was late, and Theo was pleased. The Lady's opening night had been a grand success in more ways than one. Between the girls' conquests, the liquor, the tobacco and more exotic substances, the coffers were bound to be overflowing with profit. But along with that came contacts and prospective friends who in the end could be all the more profitable still. All of them had been busy and the end of the night was bound to find them exhausted. Though when he looked back, he wasn't sure how Patrick had been filling his breaks. Theo would ask Clayton about it later. Among his other duties he was also Patrick's handler, and would have kept an eye out.

The small handful of men who'd lingered over drinks and cigars, were courted due to the very fact that whatever their reasons, remaining had less appeal than going home to their wives just yet. And they'd been big spenders too. These were the types of clients Theo hoped to attract more of. If they came to view the Lady as a home away from home, not just a place to seek satisfaction, but a place to meet with each other and socialize, then all the better for the Lady's long term profitability. Zana had played her part in that too, since as he was leaving at the end of the evening, the man she'd entertained for so many breaks asked to meet with him for a chat at a later date.

But he, and she, could discuss that later. When she joined him, kissed him and let her hands roam where they would, Theo smiled and responded in kind. She sat, bared a leg and within plain view of their guests, once she settled he toyed with the strap of her garter, high up on her exposed inner thigh. What they did, there in the open had its intended effect. And though there might be no more meetings upstairs arranged on this particular night, it was clear from the men's reactions that they'd be back.