Startup 27: Gig Economy

Arodus 15, evening

10pm, 0 girls

The bed, shrouded in black and yellow, was luxuriously soft. A little too soft for me, honestly. The whole room oozed a decadent, garish sort of glamor. The dresser, which I’d been firmly instructed not to touch, was covered in silver and crystalline dishware that seemed unlikely to get much use. A complementary bottle of wine was there for the customers, which I’d also been told not to touch. I was here to work, and none of my scheduled clients had time to get tipsy with me.

I’d arrived at the Siren’s Lash a few hours before dusk, my appointed starting time. Livdana had insisted that her clients see me first, and that they should see me in the evening. She’d only picked up about twenty women, but each of them were paying a premium for an exotic lover. I’d done an assessment with two of the priestesses, grading my sexual performance, and declared adequate. The words they used to advertise me were quite a bit more flattering than the ones in the report.

More importantly, I’m only one orgasm away from my next perk; just 91 girls to get to 100. Syl insists that I should at least try for 191, but that seems like a pipe dream at this point. Maybe if we’d waited until I could hire enough girls to form a goddamn assembly line, but that would have been absurdly expensive.

I’d been assigned an assistant by the name of Olga, a muscular orcish woman with resting bitch face so intense I was worried about my safety at first. She turned out to be perfectly professional and helpful, if taciturn.

“Remember. Client makes a mess on the sheets, you call. Your penis is not cooperating, you call.” She drilled me in an East European accent, “Client gets violent, you call. Anything goes wrong and you need help..?”

“I call.” I said, “I understand, just like the last ten times.”

“You are sure you do not need stimulant?” She demanded.

“Will they last 24 hours without causing serious damage?” I asked rhetorically.

“No,” she admitted, “but you have cleric girl.”

“Sandara has better things to do than heal me from self-inflicted poison.” I said with a groan, “We just need to stick to the plan.”

“Yes we do.” Syl agreed, entering the room. “Your first appointment is in about ten minutes. Are you ready?”

“Yes.” I said, “Any news on Sosima?”

“Somehow she got Nendra on a boat heading up the coast.” Syl reported. “Dierdre and those bat things are on standby, just in case Nendra breaks contract by attacking.”

“Probably too much to hope for,” I said with a shrug. “It’s more a precaution than anything else.”

By the contract, no one from House D’Lann is allowed to come after me except Nendra, directly or indirectly. If she’s dead or needs to be resurrected that’ll give me a serious head start. Even if she gets resurrected here instead of Heslandaena, my team will have more time to set up.

“Finish talking, then shoo.” Olga griped.

“Right.” Syl agreed. “We’ve got about fifty people signed up, but Sandara says there will be walk ins tomorrow.”

“Yeah, especially if a line forms.” I said dryly. “No one can resist getting at the back of a line.”

“Noted.” Syl said, jotting something down on her clipboard. “Remember, ten to twenty minutes per girl. If you go over an average of fifteen for too long, we are going to need to bring in groups somehow.”

She scurried out of the room, making space for an older Indian looking woman a few minutes later. I smiled, stepped forward, and kissed her hand.

“A pleasure to meet you, Madame.” I lied, “I’ve been eager to meet you all day.” (Bluff 17+13+5=35)

She smiled, and I began massaging her. Her clothes came off soon enough.

••••••••••

12:20am, 5 girls

“Oh yes, M’lady.” Sandara said, bowing, “He’ll be in to see you in just a few moments. His carriage was delayed, you see. Naomi here will be happy to get you a drink or some food, if you’d like.”

Naomi glowered at Sandara from just down the hall. She wasn’t much of a fan of the clinging translucent robes that temple servants wore, but the crew didn’t have enough people pretty enough to play the part and hiring real ones cost extra. She dropped into a neutrally servile pose as she entered the room, probably picked up from all the ****. Poor kid, shame she didn’t have anyone else ready to look out for her or any meaningful skills. If she did, she wouldn’t have to put up with this.

Sandara was having a ball, running up and down the hallway keeping a bunch of prissy rich women happy. They all knew they were paying for less than half an hour with a pretty boy, but they wanted an illusion laid over it. Each was paying enough money to pretend this was all some kind of illicit rendezvous with them alone. At that point, the fact that he was married to an exotic rich woman became a boon. A tawdry affair with an unsatisfied gentleman was so much better than a quicky in a back alley, even if they were functionally the same.

It really helps none of these prissy bints ever goes to a bloody pub, or they’d never be able to ignore the line forming behind them.

Sandara was keeping them all separate, shifting them from waiting rooms to bedrooms at just the right moment and dosing them with aphrodisiacs to make the Captain’s job as easy as possible. Ideally they would be so fired up that even Ratts could get them off by the time they so much as saw Emrys.

Syl and Rosie were in the lobby to intercept new marks as they came in, and everyone was very cooperative with one another. Everyone wanted the same thing, so they all worked hard to maintain the illusion.

“Ah, Sinkitah Du Bekyar,” Sandara said warmly to the next one, “I’m afraid you’re a little bit early. Don’t worry, we will let you know just as soon as Mr. M’Dair arrives. Would you care for something to drink?”

“Oh, don’t mind me.” Sinkitah said, waving a single white gloved hand. “I brought a book.”

••••••••••

1:42 am, 15 girls

“It was a pleasure, Lady Faizel.” I told the rich widow, sitting up in the bed, “Would you care for a glass of wine? I can’t stay long, but we can linger for a few moments. I understand you built your own business?”

“Thank you Emrys, and yes.” She said, pride bringing a languid smile to her face. “It’s amazing what you can do when you don’t have to worry about bureaucrats interfering.”

“It sounds like quite a journey.” I said, pretending to sip, “I’d love to meet you again, perhaps talk about it. I’m hoping to build a fortune of my own.”

I was careful to maintain the illusion for these women right up to the end. I didn’t want them to feel used after sleeping with me. They were people after all. Useful people.

Alright yes, I’m giving these ladies special treatment because they have money. I can’t afford to pass up on making connections. This woman is possibly richer than Dovnu, according to the dossier they gave me. She could pay my whole debt if she really wanted to.

I found myself taking over before and after the main event, trying to make a lasting impression and leave the door open for more. Porn isn’t really all that interesting when you aren’t horny. Autopilot handled most of the actual sex, largely to preserve my stamina and give me time to think. None of the early clients were ugly, of course. They were wealthy women, and in a world dominated by equal parts cash and magic that meant they looked precisely how they wished to. It wasn’t shocking to discover that a lot of rich women wished to look conventionally attractive.

There are probably some rich grannies out there comfortable with losing their sex appeal, but they aren’t going to be throwing away a pocketful of solid gold for a fifteen minute fling. I’m pretty sure I’m getting the women who specifically want to look and feel young and attractive.

I watched with a detached interest as my body quickly and efficiently brought these rich women to orgasm in record time, usually with deft fingers or his tongue. I am not a bad lover; as far as I know. My partners usually reach climax by the time I’m finished, and I’ll help them if they don’t, but I don’t do much in life that doesn’t benefit me. I kept an eye on the clock, and if there was extra time I always managed to slip in a few platitudes about meeting her again.

Of course, I wasn’t made of stone, I just acknowledged that I was playing a role. Whenever a lady entered the room, I autopilot already had Detect Sexuality running. Most of the time, the client wanted something I wasn’t overly excited about, and Autopilot could handle it better than I could.

We are trying to get them off as quickly as possible. Play into their kinks, make them cum, get them the hell out of here. If that means we are licking her asshole, by all the gods you are licking her asshole, buddy. I’m going to dissociate and think about plans while you do.

I stepped in when the lady wanted something that appealed to me, of course. A dwarven lady who oversaw customs just wanted to get pinned down and fucked just about as brutally as I could manage, and I was happy to oblige. She was cute, with a dusting of freckles and curly red hair. I’ve met girls as short as her in my old life, though none quite as curvy. She didn’t want anything fancy, or anything gentle. I let Autopilot handle the **** for the sake of safety; he was better at precision.

••••••••••

3am, 21st girl

I downed a glass of water and tossed a few mixed nuts in my mouth while I read the next dossier. Important to keep the energy up, and this world didn’t have Gatorade. Behind me, Olga efficiently remade made the bed, magically drawing out any fluids left from my last coupling. She’d already finished cleaning me off and straightening my clothes. My role was that of a dashing rogue; I couldn’t possibly arrive looking rumpled.

“Sinkitah du Bekyar, widow,” I mumbled to myself, “has half a dozen known lovers, owns a fleet of 4 trading ships inherited from her husband… damn, she’s actually only twenty two? Gotta respect the hustle. Expected to inherit her father’s business when he dies…”

The rest of the file, I knew from experience, was mostly about her finances and political affiliations. I let Autopilot flip through and pick out any relevant words, but if I spent even an extra minute on every dossier that would lose me two girls worth of time. I was on track, but I wasn’t ahead.

Slavery, Rampore Isle, suspected responsible for husband’s ****. (Appraise 3+2=5)

Black widow, eh? I think I remember the name Rampore. Best to be safe.

“Olga, just in case, can you make sure Sandara is waiting outside the next room when you’re done here?” I said, heading into the hall. I waited just long enough to see her look up and nod, then walked down the hallway with my best smile.

The girl inside, Sinkitah, was very dark skinned and very fully dressed. She sat next to a full glass of wine, skirts carefully arranged, reading by candlelight. She held up one finger as I entered, waiting nearly a full minute to reach a stopping point in her book. Naturally, I gave her a once over to be careful. Well, I suppose it was more like a thrice over. First with my own eyes, then I got Autopilot’s readouts.

Is it weird I expected the **** trade empire princess to be a hell of a lot paler? Eh, then again Kwame got kicked out of the frat for making too many racist jokes.

She was wearing a layered white and blue outfit, which seemed to be tied on in about a dozen places. She had a pretty face, accented with glasses that gave her a faintly studious appearance. Her hair was a mass of shiny black curls, which must have gotten a lot of care to not become a tangled mess. Her dress was shaped to give her an hourglass figure, but I pegged her as probably having around the same body type as Sandara. Notably, she didn’t seem to care much that she was wasting my time.

https://postimg.cc/hQz53NDb

Then again, if I’m right, she might be here specifically to waste my time. Nendra can’t sick any attack dogs on me, but send a Karen to demand special service? Possible.

She has invested magical energy into her glasses, gloves, corset, and wristbands. It still seems connected primarily to her, but whatever magic she has is likely connected to those articles of clothing.

So she is rich and loaded down with magic items?

No. She’s using normal items to store excess energy for later use. I believe she might be capable of setting us ablaze with the energy stored in the gloves, for example. (What a Man Can Do)

Get her naked before letting my guard down, got it.

Why let your guard down at all?

Point taken. What is she into?

Homewrecking. Giving, and very vehemently not recieving. She likes to take that which rightfully belongs to another. She also enjoys establishing dominance, as she is doing right now, and her most private interest is in mindless rutting. The kind done while magically compelled, or heavily ****.

Surprising that she didn’t drink the spiked wine then. Worrying, in fact. Well, it’s been almost a minute.

“My lady,” I said contritely, “I feel the need to remind you that time is limited.”

“Oh yes, of course.” She said, smiling into her book. “I was just at a particularly engaging passage. I suppose I will simply need to reread a few pages next time.”

She placed a silk ribbon in between the pages and daintily placed the book into her satchel. She was still clearly in no hurry. I suppressed my irritation and focused on the task at hand: heading off whatever her plan was. I would have preferred to ask her to leave, attractive or no, but she’d paid the temple for my time. I couldn’t back out without paying nearly a hundred gold as a penalty.

Can’t kick her out without paying a fine. Can’t use hostile magic on her yet if I think she’s Nendra’s agent or I’m in breach of contract. I do have one tool left in my arsenal: a seduction check. I normally feel a little bit skeevy given how easy it is to make just about any girl fuck me with one, but it should hopefully distract her if she is here to fuck me over. Make it so, Autopilot.

“My Lady Sinkitah, it is a pleasure to finally meet you.” I said, pulling off her glove so I could kiss her hand, “I hope it doesn’t make things awkward between us, but have you spoken to my wife in the last few days? I hope she isn’t taking our conflict too hard.”

That’s your idea for seduction? Seriously?

She smiled, looking directly at me for the first time since I entered the room. She tossed her hat onto the bed with a single deft motion.

“Oh, she is furious.” Sinkitah purred, “Absolutely livid.” (Seduction using target’s homewrecking kink 19+9+5=34. Success)

Sinkitah Du Bekyar has been successfully seduced.

Ok, fair. Start reading her mind. No harm in being overly careful.

While autopilot peeked into her mind, I helped her undress and she did the same for me. Her skin was smooth, recently shaved, and only slightly paler than what she kept exposed. She winked at me when I tried to take off her glasses, which remained as the only magical reservoir on her by the end of the process.

“Well there’s no harm in having a bit of fun while I’m here.” She thought, “The look on Nendra’s face alone will be worth it, even if he is a bit skinny. Why give the next girl all the fun? All I need to do is prick him with my nails and he will be right where I want him.” (Enemy Will Save critical failure)

Kinky. Let's see if we can turn that around? If she tries to scratch us, that’s an attack and we are in the clear. Hold an action to grab her and make her scratch herself. If it’s a poison, Sandara can fix it up, and if it’s something to disable me we can probably ask her a few questions.

Emrys used Total Defense, +4 to AC

She struck when I was otherwise occupied, pulling my undershirt over my head. I twisted to the side, tearing my shirt as I slapped one arm down to pin her hand between my torso and elbow.

“Sandara! Olga! Get in here!” I shouted, then took over my body and pressed Sinkitah’s hands against her own bare belly. I’d been wrong; she didn’t have Sandara’s build. Sandara had a bit of muscle.

I locked eyes with Sinkitah, trying to beguile her with my gaze. No such luck; she rebuffed my mental **** easily. (Enemy Will Save Critical Success)

She surprised me then, smiling and pressing her nails deep, drawing tiny beads of blood from her own skin. Her pupils shrank to pinpricks as she stared at me. Moments later, as my backup entered the room, she surged forward and slashed my arm with shocking strength and speed. I barely felt the pain, but I immediately heard a ringing in my ears.

Sinkitah used Rapid Onset; ignore delay

Fortitude Save vs Mad Passion ****

3+1=4 Emrys is Enraged

Enraged: +1 to attack and damage, +2 strength, must use actions for physical ****

Mad Passion special effect: Enraged status allows lust and **** equally.

I pushed the female back onto the bed, pinning her down. It took a few attempts to thrust into her as she squirmed and hissed her defiance.

I couldn’t quite take control of the body. I could make decisions, but autopilot ignored anything unrelated to fighting or fucking. Given the context, I didn’t really want to kill this woman in front of witnesses. I tore my eyes away from Sinkitah long enough to look at Sandara.

“She **** me, and herself.” I said raggedly. “Something called Mad Passion.”

While some madness possessed me and **** me to inform my woman of the situation, I called forth my puppet. The shadowy copy of me coalesced and was able to grapple the darker human with brute ****. It pinned her, face down, leaving her immobilized. Easy prey if I could only control my body.

Autopilot’s influence over the body slipped while he used the shadow puppet to manhandle Sinkitah. I could barely process the rapid discussion between Olga and Sandara through the rising heat in my loins. I needed to relieve the pressure, and any of the three women would have been sufficient.

“No. I recognize this one.” Olga said, lf it is in her nail polish it would be risky to flush his system before they are separated. It will turn into an orgy if uncovered people get in close.”

“I can think of worse things,” Sandara said, “So we just let them have at it until you get someone in here that can separate them?”

“They will only be like this for a few minutes before the effect fades.”

“I told you this one was going to be trouble.” I heard Sandara grouse, “if this meaningfully disrupts the ritual, I’ll expect recompense. You’ll be hearing from Tessa Fairwind and Admiral Oala both if you **** my hand.”

I was pulled back to the task at hand when my shadow shoved me to the side. Apparently I hadn’t been proactive enough for autopilot. It was getting harder and harder to think of reasons not to join in, my dick burning with need.

Sandara and Olga are handling it, right? I can take care of myself.

My shadow had Sinkitah pinned down, pumping into her and slamming her down into the bed. In the rising haze, I could only conjure one thought.

Well she has another hole, right? Not the mouth, she seems like a biter.

With a mental command, my monstrously strong doppelgänger rolled over onto his back and allowed Sinkitah to ride its cock, bouncing wildly as she clawed into its back. She demanded more, usually in broken monosyllables if she could even manage that. With the last of my willpower, I dumped a small bottle of faintly yellow oil onto my cock and mounted her from behind.

Even with lube, it was an agonizingly slow process to enter her from behind. Likely the pretty princess didn’t get a lot of business through the back door. Lucky for her I hadn’t been bestowed with a monster cock when I arrived here. I sandwiched her between me and my shadow, immobilizing her enough to push in an inch or two at a time, eventually pressing my hips against her ass. She let out a series ragged gasps as I did.

“You like that?” I demanded, “Is this what you had in mind?”

We all fell into a mindless haze of rutting, the heiress getting pounded from either side and scratching me a few more times in her own frenzy. I slammed into her repeatedly. It slipped out, and I pushed it back into a much wetter hole. Another male was using it, which annoyed me. This was mine. I glared at him, and he backed down immediately as I knew he would. He pulled out, and began using her mouth. He grasped a handful of her hair and fucked her throat.

The next several minutes passed in a haze until I exploded within her, releasing jets of sticky white directly into her womb. Pleasure and euphoria flooded my brain, and the berserker strength left my limbs. I fell forward onto Sinkitah, herself nearly unresponsive after her first orgasm. I was distantly aware of the puppet continuing to ram its cock into her mouth until it faded from reality as my mind fell into blackness.

Mad Passion has faded. Side effects.

You have gained a level of fatigue

You have gained a level of fatigue, upgrading fatigue to exhaustion

You have gained a level of fatigue, upgrading exhaustion to sleep

You are ****.

••••••••••

3:30am 22 girls have been seen

“… Ear-lie in the mor-nin.” Sandara’s voice cut through the blackness, pulling me from the void. “Alright Captain, wake up.”

Sandara cast lesser restoration

Asleep has been reduced to exhausted

That’s strange. I don’t feel all that tired.

I opened my eyes and sat up, still in a slight daze. I looked around and surveyed the absolute mess of the sheets, including spots of blood and a shattered bottle I hadn’t even noticed knocking over. Olga was rushing around the room in a frenzy to clean up. Sinkitah was nowhere to be seen.

“That was… something.” I groaned, “What the hell happened?”

“You got ****.” Sandara said, pulling me to my feet. “Olga says you probably won’t be able to get it up again until I can restore you a few more times. This might be a problem, since I didn’t prepare three restorations. How do you feel about seeing groups of two and three once dawn comes along?”

“Fuck.” I cursed, “we can’t let the momentum stop for that long. I’m not losing four hours just because I’m tired. Can we get another healer? This was their fuckup.”

“Technically it was sexual aid.” Olga said stiffly. “Not disallowed by your contract or temple rules. You will have to pay if you want healing.”

“Fuck off Olga.” Sandara said at the exact moment I uttered “bullshit.”

“We might be able to appeal it, especially if Cog can get another high priestess to argue on our behalf.” Sandara explained, “I’m thinking that’s more a payout in a few months than anything that we can rely on now.”

I tested my body as she spoke, jogging in place and doing a few squats. The grogginess fled immediately.

Alright. Autopilot is exhausted, not me.

“Well then, I’ll just have to see what I can do in my current state.” I said with a sigh. “I’ll move to the other room; it’s time for the girls who bought normal tickets now, right? We’ll lose them if we make them go home now.”