Both Gala and Dian walked down the evening streets eating kebabs the just got from a street cart. They had just spent the afternoon buying things and even visiting a circus. The sun on the horizon behind them.
Gala chewed through a piece of meat while Dian watched in slight horror and curiosity as this bird of prey scarfed down her meal. 'I wonder if she eats live mice like a regular owl. Does she make pellets too?' They finished their snacks and disposed of the sticks.
Gala stretched her arms above her head and let out a groan of release. "Man, this has been a fine day. We even got to see a circus! It was really cool; the lion looked like it was gonna eat that guy!"
Dian scoffed. "You call that a circus? You must have not been to a lot have you?"
"Only one other, but they did things a LOT different."
Dian's curiosity was peeked. "Do tell."
"Yeah they kidnapped people, and the ringleader lady tried to turn me into a sex slave." Gala said very nonchalantly as if being kidnapped and trafficked was just par for the course.
Dian slowly cocked her head at Gala with a wide eyed expression. "Ex-fucking-scuse me?"
"Honestly I was a little tempted..." Gala had an embarrassed expression. "...but my best friend at the time stopped it before anything happened. It's sad he later died killing a giant sea beast single handedly."
Gala then made a solemn religious hand gesture at her chest. "May his soul eternally rage in Thallen's Storm."
Dian could only stare with a blank expression. The words 'What The Fuck' written across her face; bold, italicized, and underlined. Dian got the sudden realization that Gala's either the most elaborate liar ever, or... quite possibly the most interesting woman she's ever encountered in all her 300+ years. She needed to know just how deep the lies go, or what stories she has to tell.
"So... Got any other friends that I should know about?" Dian asked fishing for lies in Gala's speech and movements. It was pretty hard to read an Avian. Or maybe just hard to read Gala as she went off about her friends.
"...and then there's the one who got his soul put into a doll, and then the one that was just a skeleton in a suit of armor, and then there was this goblin--" Dian snapped her fingers to get Gala's attention.
"Any with an actual name attached to them?" She questioned.
"Oh...uh... I guess I just have Mortis and Tifa right now." Gala said with pensive expression. "Oh and everyone on the team to!"
Dian smirked. "Ave too?"
"Actually, no. I don't think he likes me."
"I wonder why..." Dian said sarcastically. "So let me guess. Mortis is some vegan vampire, and Tifa is some assassin with time manipulation powers or something."
"Pfft." Gala snickered. "Sorry they aren't that cool. Mortis in an Avatar of the God of Love and Light, Hagin, and Tifa is his Pontifix, leader of his central church, and my wife." Gala stated with a smug pride before realizing the bombshell she didn't mean to drop.
Dian's lilac eye twitched. "Your wife?" Dian asked with bit teeth and a silent fury.
"Oh yeah, hah... uhmm..." Gala was trying think of what to say when she was interrupted by a distant agonizing scream. "Did you hear that?"
Dian snapped her fingers again to get the bird's attention. "Don't try to change the subject! You're married!?"
"Ye-yeah..." Gala said sheepishly.
Dian stopped their walk to take a moment to digest the information. She looked down at Gala with crossed arms and a scornful glare. "What do you take me for?"
"Wha--"
"I may be an exotic beauty that can make any man or woman pine for her..." Dian shamelessly flaunted with a raised voice."...but I'm not a homewrecker, and I DON'T DO ADULTERY!"
Gala raised her hands in a naturally defensive manner. "Wait, wait! You don't understand! We're polygamous!" Her words seemed to tame the savage beast as Dian's demeanor calmed.
"Poly, you say?"
"Yeah. You can't really expect the god of love to only care about monogamous relationships, right?"
Dian let out a begrudgingly understanding sigh. She's been in her own love triangles before, what's another? Dian unfolded her arms placing her hands on her hips giving Gala an annoyed gaze.
"Are you mad?"
"Pissed."
"Why?"
"Because you should have told me sooner."
Gala let out a dismissive huff as she clasped her hands together at her rear. She gently twisted, turned, and swayed keeping her head to the side so Dian was just in her peripheral vision.
"I just thought that since we are in a new world together that it didn't matter mentioning...
...because you'd have me all to yourself."
Dian felt a sudden urge in her body rise once again. A predatory need to tease and ravage this tantalizing little owl, but she knew if she did it now with how angry she was; she just might break this dainty little bird...
Plus she wasn't fully into exhibitionism. Especially not on these dirty streets. She's pretty sure there's a small pool of dried blood at the edge of this building. Yep, the metallic scent lingering in the air proves it. Dian looked up at the sign above the building's door and annoyingly exhaled through her nose. "Of fucking course."
The Moonlit Musician.
"Oh, we're here!" Gala got back her usual cheery tone. She relinked her arm with Dian's and led her inside. "Come on!"
They were met by a beautiful foyer with dark blue carpet, murals of bands playing music and women dancing. At the far end was a reception desk with two doors at either side. Everything was dimly lit by faded blue light gems in the ceiling.
"Welcome to the Moonlit Musician, how may I pleasure you today mistress?" The receptionist ask with a greeter's tone. She was an elf barely taller than Gala in a white revealing dress. Orange hued skin, long and wavy radiant blonde hair, two amber eyes that glowed in the dark, and her ears just a little pointier than Dian's.
Before Dian could get any question off Gala was already dragging her to the desk. "Yes. I have a reservation with Duke Soverin."
"Ah yes, we've been expecting you. Take the door on my right, up the stairs, and take the third booth on the left."
"Thank you!" Gala said politely before leading Dian to the door and up a flight of stairs.
"Gonna tell me what this place is yet?" Dian asked still quite agitated.
Gala only let out a pleasant chuckle.
The two went through the doors and we're greeted by more beautiful scenery. An expansive loft with a central mezzanine over looking the restaurant and stage on the first floor. Five curtained off booths sat in the back, left, and right wall with an expansive bar along the front wall. A large breasted cowfolk woman stood mixing a drink.
"Wow! I've heard of minotaurs before but have never seen one." Gala exclaimed.
"I have, and I gotta say that cowbell choker she's wearing is really on the nose." Dian replied unimpressed.
The two made their way to their designated booth, which was the only one in use, and knocked on the wall to get the occupant's attention.
"Come in!" A familiar male voice called.
They moved the curtains to reveal a circular cushioned booth with a matching table in the center. But more importantly Duke Soverin straddling a human girl on her stomach as he messaged her lower back. Her white dress ridden up to her chest exposing her derriere and lacy panties.
"Are we interrupting?" Gala asked nervously; not sure if to look away or not.
"Oh not at all!" Soverin reassured. " In fact we-- are almoooost-- DONE!" Soverin's voice was punctuated by the sickening crack of the girls back as she let out a pleasant moan. "Oooooh, gods, yes!" She panted. Soverin scooted off of the girl to let her up. She raised her head to reveal a gnarly scar that cut diagonally across her face which caught both Gala and Dian by surprise. Behind it, she was still quite attractive. "Thanks master. I needed that."
She got her dress back in working order and made her way out of the booth, but not before dragging a flirtatious finger under the Duke's chin. "Any time, Abby." He replied.
All while this was happening, Dian couldn't fully keep her eyes off of Soverin. It was her first time seeing a void elf, but even then she couldn't help but be a little repulsed by his demeanor. Deciding to seize the opportunity she sat down in the booth next to Soverin to block his exit.
"So... Duke Soverin..." She said his name with a hint of disgust. "...mind telling me what we are doing here? Since my date so happens to like withholding all relevant information."
"Oh gladly!" Soverin got a bit giddy as he cleared his throat. "Welcome to the Moonlit Musician, my own personal hostess club!"
"Hostess what-now?" Dian cocked her head not sure if she should be more disgusted or not.
"A restaurant and bar that serves to men and woman who all have a common need; sweet feminine company." He grabbed a wooden tablet that was sneakily embedded into the table. "I would like to order please." He said as the back side of the tablet lit up with a ridiculous amount of sigils that somehow made this thing 'turn on' as the wooden face molded with words and pictures.
"That's so cool! Is it like a menu?" Gala asked as she sat up next to the Duke opposite of Dian.
"Yep. With this you can order food, drinks, and our hostesses." He pressed his finger against the tablet causing the thing to remold itself again with a named list of all the hostesses, their portraits too.
"Here you can search for any girl that might peek your interest. Rather it's by race, personality, orientation, or even more specific details. For instance Abby, the girl you just saw is a favorite for our clients that have a thing for scars."
"Let me stop you right there." Dian interjected. "This all just sounds like a fancy brothel."
"Oh not at all!" Soverin said dismissive with a laugh. "For our normal clients we have a very strict 'no touching' rule. And in our VIP lounges, which we are in now, we have at most fondling, petting, and kissing, but no sexual acts. All hostesses always have the right to refuse service if they feel threatened."
Dian was generally relieved and actually quite impress. Frankly she wished she thought of this type of business venture. She let out another annoyed sigh. "Fine, I guess, but that doesn't explain why we're here."
Gala finally spoke up interrupted Soverin. "Cause what better place to get to know someone. What kind of food they like, the drinks they like, the kind of woman... they like." Gala once again got a bit sheepish as her eyes locked with Dian's.
Dian clicked her tongue. "Damn you're sneaky." She took the tablet out of Soverin's hands and started browsing.
"Well, I hear some of our other VIPs showing up, so I'll leave you ladies to it, oh and, everything is on the house tonight. Enjoy yourselves." He scooted past Gala and shuffled the long way around the table as Dian refused to move.
Gala shifted over closer to Dian to see what she was looking for, but Dian wasn't looking for anything specific. That was until a catfolk caught her eye. "Hey, look at this."
"Oh, are you into cats?"
"No, their tongues are rough and hard to make out with."
Gala took a mental note.
"Look at her patterns. She looks just like Bounty, but kind of rust colored."
"She does... and she's got a wicked name too. Color-of-Blood."
"Interesting."