In just your presence... [Tags: Keayah! History Thread]

Still finding it difficult to come to terms with the whirlwind of all that was going on around him, Yeoun struggled with great, inner turmoul. Keeping secrets was not hard for him, even around friends, because he'd always been the silent type, easily keeping to himself, internalizing many of his feelings; but that didn't mean he didn't feel like he hadn't utterly betrayed his friends of the Blood Moon Squad by bowing down to the rebel's leader and swearing himself to fulfill that destiny before him. Nor did it remove that sick feeling from his gut every time he thought about just what he'd devoted himself to.


Yeoun had laid in bed awake many nights since then, and on every one of his solitary walks late in the evening, as he usually did, those things filled his head.

After realizing that it was his own hand that killed his father, Yeoun wondered if he'd always been filled with the kind of hate that could kill a man? He'd almost completely forgotten that night, yet when Galedon reawakened the memory,... well, there was no denying some angry, murderous nature was alive within him.

Perhaps it was because he'd always been very gifted at things like combat arts, that Yeoun questioned his purpose with a blade; but more than that, he questioned his own character, as a human being. Was he really that full of rage? It made Yeoun's heart sink to consider it. He was beginning to lose faith in himself as a good person.

And if he really possessed that kind of hate within him, he understood what path he would have to take. He would form his resolve to follow his father's footsteps. And he could do it. That rage was buried within him; it had only been sleeping. But it was with that unkind intent that he could repay his father and try to live the life that his father dreamed for him. All the same, he would have to find a way to use that hidden, wrathful nature to protect what was dear to him. For, even if he had decided to follow a different path, his friends were the same; he would never be able to completely abandon them. Even if they didn't see things that way. Even if they eventually came to see him as a traitor and hated him, he would always do everything within his power to protect them.


It was all very difficult to swollow though, and Yeoun was still figuring out just how to deal with the mix of feelings and mixed devotions now that he lived some alternate reality. He was having trouble figuring out how to make the transition.

But... gradually, he was sorting things out, and so, gradually his heart's resolve was hardening into one of clearer focus.



Such a difficult thing to deal with it on his own, knowing there was no one he could readily seek advice from, was the reason that Yeoun sought solace -or peraps temporary company- from the women of Inamourata's Mask. Honestly... it was the only place he felt like he could go... to work through his troubles. To him, that was an odd thing. He'd never considered himself in the past as the kind of person who would learn to frequent a brothel. Then again, he'd never pegged himself as the murderous, wrathful type either -and look what he'd done to his own father.

More disappointment set in.

Nonetheless, Yeoun left his solitary evening path for one of more glorious fantasies, making his way to the Mask where he gradually became more comfortable with letting himself in. It was a strange feeling, getting to be a regular there -sometimes at odd hours of the day when patrons would never generally pay their visits.

It was evening now, however, and as he went up the steps to the large front door, noise inside seemed to indicate that it was a busy night for them.

Being led to a empty party room toward the end of one of the narrow corridors, Yeoun seated himself comfortably, awaiting the requested entertainment, food and beverage. Soon, he would be relaxed, and be able to finish working through the things that had been weighing on his mind.

Only a short time had passed before a knock came at the door.  It was followed by the portal swinging open to reveal the petite form of the dark-haired courtesan Yeoun had asked for when he arrived.  The robe she wore nicely set off the clear paleness of her skin, bright embroidery on a dark background.  It possibly looked almost too big on her shoulders, as if it could easily slip off, though that was likely more by design than a true lack of fit.

As if to keep the viewer's attention on that particular detail, the young woman's hair was tied high on her head with several bright ribbons, falling down her shoulders and upper back in curls, with a few strands left to frame her face artfully.  Clearly, women at this particular house of pillowcraft were well-dressed and of a higher class than others.

With a pleasant expression on her face, Kaeyah finally turned fully into the room and found Yeoun's gaze with her own.  Giving a bow of greeting despite the tray she carried in her hands, she said, "Good evening, my lord."  It wasn't the formal title given to a Lord Holder, but a reference to their roles at the moment-- her job was to serve and entertain, to keep him happy, or at least occupied, for the given amount of time he'd paid for.

As the door swung shut behind her, Kaeyah moved the low table provided in each room closer to her current client and set the tray down.  Now it would be clear that it held the bits of food he'd asked for, as well as a decanter of clear liquid and a glass.  It was very obviously not the sort of bottle one would serve water in, so it could easily be assumed to contain some sort of alcoholic beverage.  

There were a few other bottles, as well, smaller, thinner, with ball-topped stoppers-- items every courtesan brought with her to visit with a client.  The herbs used to make the oils had various purposes, some to relax, some to excite, some to soothe.  Sometimes they weren't used at all-- but they were still available, just in case.

Settling down on her knees beside the table as she'd been taught-- close enough to Yeoun that he could reach her, or she could reach him and take care of any needs he might have immediately-- Kaeyah again nodded deeply to the young man before her.  "I hope you are well since the last time I saw you, my lord.  As you requested, I am at your service."

Truthfully, she'd only seen him a few times, and the first one or two were only for short moments as Sorcha and Nayh attempted to find the right fit for him.  That he'd asked for her meant he had, didn't it?  He wasn't the first to request her presence specifically a second time, but when it happened, she knew she needed to try extra hard to please the man who had done so, to keep him coming back.  And maybe, just maybe, if she did that, she'd finally regain what she'd lost.

Member of the Blood Moon Squad, possessing no wealth, and still in his youth, Yeoun shouldn't have been the kind of person to frequent a place like the Inamourata's Mask, it being far too upscale for a young man in his profession. Yeoun came here though, not primarily for entertainment, but for information. Entertainment could be done without, most of the time, but most of his visits here, started with at least a quick chat with one of the ladies here who also served the interest of the Chorong.

Usually it was Nayh who came to see him, sitting with him before going back to other duties; Sorcha tended to keep a full schedule -though, unbeknownst to Yeoun just yet, it was probably on purpose that Nayh booked her clients like that when Yeoun was coming. Nayh had a certain affection for him. Whether Yeoun had begun to see it or not, he never let on.

Today, Nayh's visit had been quick, only peeking in to drop a note to him that'd been delivered by Swift, but then it was back to making preparations for the evening's guests. The place seemed more hectic than usual, so if Yeoun was to judge, he'd say that there was quite an event going to take place. At least Nayh had been kind enough though, to make Keayah available. Though it likely irked her that she herself was unable to see to Yeoun's needs, she would do anything that he requested of her, so loyal were her feelings toward him; even if it hurt her.

Toward Keayah, Yeoun only seemed to have a vague preference, but it was more preference than he'd shown for anyone else. His previous visits had been short, as he felt little need to stay much past the time that he spent talking to Nayh. Still, now that he'd avowed his allegiance to the Chorong, it had been made clear that he, as Galedon's deciple so to speak, was allowed to come and go as he pleased. Especially considering that in front of the other girls living at the Mask, he'd need to keep up the pretenses that he was a 'customer'. Thus, Nayh had suggested he extend his stay a little, and since he had much to think about, given his changing circumstances, he use the time to think through things and let himself relax without other distractions.

'You should learn to relax here. An instrument whose strings are strung too tight will make no sound.', is what she'd told him. Yeoun tried to be grateful for the chance, so for her benefit at least, he would stay for a while.


When Keayah came, he found himself somewhat grateful for her presence, as he could somehow feel more comfortable with her. New to frequenting such places of entertainment though, he we a also strangely uncomfortable at the same time, because he wasn't exactly sure just how he should act. He had no real idea if there was certain etiquette to be followed in the presence of such stately, artistic young women -though, he was also aware that they were Courtesans, and here for the pleasure of men, so.. perhaps there were no real rules involved? Yeoun couldn't bring himself to ask. It was all a little strange to him. The Inamourata's Mask really was like a whole different world apart from what lie on the outside of it.

Yeoun wanted to thank Keayah for coming to see him, and for remembering his preference for drinks, it seemed, but again, he was not certain that such expressions were necessary between them, granted their relationship as Patron and Courtesan, so.. he hesitated. It did make him feel a little rude though, considering his usual courteous self.


Vague about his answer to her, it might seem his words were partially in an attempt to be amusing, because the phrasing probably seemed a little odd. "My situation has not changed." Though, Yeoun did not offer the smile one may have expected after that, and his eyes did not meet her directly, right away. Perhaps he was a bit timid about being with her still, together like this.

Anyway, he paused briefly before requesting, "A drink first." Honestly, he simply didn't know what else to say just then.

"That is good to hear, my lord," Kaeyah replied with a deep nod.  It might have sounded rehearsed, but at the same time, he hadn't given her any further details to go on.  A simple response to his own simple answer.

His request for a drink was easy enough to handle, and the pillowcrafter lifted the decanter from the tray, pulled its stopper, and began to pour some of the clear liquid into the provided glass.  "As you wish."

She hoped it wouldn't spill.  And she also hoped he wouldn't notice the slowness with which she completed the task.  She didn't want to mess this up, as Nayh had impressed upon her the importance of this particular client.  So she was being extra careful as she poured.

"Your drink, my lord," she finally offered him, lifting the glass with both hands and holding it out with a bow.

It was a start, at least, and so far, so good.  Mentally, Kaeyah was running through scenarios, trying to compare what she knew of him so far to other clients in an attempt to determine what should be her next move.  But she couldn't come up with anything just yet, so she waited to see what he would request of her next.

[>D there. Short and sweet. Should be easy to reply to. lol. and finally im off to bed. uhg.]

Assuming he wanted a refill Kaeyah busied herself pouring another glass of the liquor while taking a deep breath to calm her nerves.  When she finished, she once again offered it as before.

"Yes, my lord.  Massage oils.  Each is different, mixed by one of the young women here."  Lifting one of the bottles, she held it up for easier viewing.  "Would you like to smell them, to see which you like?"  Of course, she didn't yet know which type to use for this particular session-- she was still trying to read him, and find out what sort of personal attention he desired.

Honestly, Yeoun wasn't really sure he cared what they smelled like, but he might after a few more drinks. He wasn't the kind of person that was overly concerned about if he smelled good or not -though he was a rather clean person for the most part. 

He almost sighed as he lifted his glass to take another drink from it, not replacing it upon the table again, right away. His gentle voice rose over the lip of the cup, "I'm not well educated on scents like these. Perhaps you could tell me which it is that you prefer? And what you use these oils for?" Tipping back the rest of the drink, the cup was placed infront of her again, for another refill.

"Of course, my lord."  Drinking the alcohol at the speed he was doing so, Kaeyah wondered if it was Yeoun's intention to get drunk.  It scared her the slightest bit, since she hadn't always been treated well in the hands of drunk men when she'd been given to them.  Then again, she'd been told for a long time to accept their behavior, requests, and demands, and she would once again be loved by the former manager of her home.  And the faint tendril of hope that perhaps he could be the one to finally love her kept her fears at bay for the moment.

Finished pouring, Kaeyah replaced the liquor bottle and gently laid a finger on each of the others in turn as she described their properties.  "This one smells mostly of mint, and is meant to relax tired and sore muscles.  This one's scent is citrusy, with a hint of spice to awaken the mind and body."  The next bottle was more square than the previous ones, though each stopper was different to allow the courtesans to tell them apart.  "This one smells of lavender and vanilla and is useful for helping one sleep well."  It wasn't often used, and had the most liquid inside.  On most customers, she used either the first she'd mentioned, or the next she would describe, due to the reasons for men to visit her or the other girls.  "This last oil smells of a sweet, exotic flower, and is meant to arouse the senses, especially when paired with touch."

For some reason, the last description made her cheeks warm faintly, though she ignored the feeling.  She had described the oils before, and used them as well.  Perhaps it was her desire to make sure she did not mess this occasion up, given Nayh's words to her earlier.

Either way, it was possible Yeoun had missed Kaeyah's lack of telling him her preference.  It was not her place to say which she preferred, as it was not her choice to determine what services she was to perform for him.

So that was it, after all. It was a little strange to him to think that a pillowcrafter offered such therapeutic service aside from her own body. Of course, perhaps that was just part of it. Again, he was new to this world of pillowcrafters and courtesans. And in truth, had no real intention of getting wrapped up in it. Not the way that most men would. 

In any case, he couldn't leave here smelling like scented oils, either. Someone would notice, and then question where he'd been. So, making no reply, Yeoun tipped back the alcohol cup one more time. Leaving it there on the table top though,the young man reached for the sword at his side, removing it from his belt so that he could lay back on the cushions around him. He'd agreed to staying here for a little while, so Yeoun thought hey may as well make himself comfortable. He didn't see himself capable of taking a nap in a place like this, so this would have to do. 

If Yeoun had been any less shy around the girl, he might have laid his head on her lap for a while, as many men seemed to find comfortable; instead, he folded an arm behind his head, leaving the other hand at his side, within easy reach of his weapon. 

Yeoun's eyes did not close, but stared upward at the ceiling, for the time being.

Kaeyah blinked at him for a moment, waiting for him to speak.  It confused her when he didn't, used to demanding customers as she was.  Perhaps he was just slow to speak, and was considering his options?

Folding her hands in her lap, she waited for him to say something for another couple of moments.  But she soon found it difficult to simply sit and do nothing-- he'd paid for her, hadn't he?  And it was unlikely he'd paid for her to remain quiet in the room with him.

"Have you decided, my lord?"  Prompting him probably wasn't the proper thing to do, but she preferred his possible anger over questioning him to what he might do if she used the wrong oil-- he did have his sword close at hand, and she wasn't sure why he would keep it so if he'd come here for her services.  "Perhaps you would prefer more drink before making a choice?"

Unable to compromise himself by going away smelling like mint or bouquets, Yeoun was still an unwilling subject for her ministrations. He hated to have her feeling useless however, and didn't want for her to go complaining to Nayh later, about him not finding her suitable -certainly that could ruin a girl's confidence- but at the same time, he felt too uncomfortable about the whole pillowcrafter bit to know quite what to do. The entire situation was awkward for him.

"Another drink would be fine. And then, if you don't mind, forget about the oils. You won't need them tonight."

He hesitated then, not sure if his next words would come across to her as being cruel, because generally a man would engage in the pleasure he desired, yet Yeoun had no such intentions with this girl, and she couldn't know his real purpose for attending the Mask.

"If you cannot simply sit with me, then perform a song or dance."

As soon as he'd spoken the words, Yeoun brought his eyes down from the ceiling to gaze upon her. Truly, Keayah was a pretty girl, and he'd had to make her feel so worthless, simply because he wouldn't let her put her hands on him.

Kaeyah started to reach for the bottle, intent on refilling his glass, but her hand drew up short at his last words.  Her attempts to school her expression were failing, she knew, but she was still too puzzled over what he said to rein herself in.

She wouldn't need the oils?  And he wanted her to sit with him?  And nothing else?  It didn't make any sense, not when he'd handed over marks for the services she was to provide.  "Surely my lord has given payment for more than my presence," she blurted, before realizing what had come out of her mouth.  Bowing quickly, she stammered out an apology.  "I-I I'm sorry, my lord, I should not question your desires.  I am here to please you as you wish."

Trying to cover her shaking hands, she reached for his glass and started to refill it again, slopping a little onto the tray in the process.  Worried that her performance was going to be rated poorly, she hurriedly set the glass back on low table near him and settled back on her knees.

"What sort of song would you prefer, my lord?"  Not that she could think of any at the moment.

Having half-expected her to be startled and even insulted by his request, he also half-expected the girl to try to find a way to warm him up to her attentions more, later. She was so apologetic though, he began to second-guess the latter assumption.

The momentary hint of a smirk pulled up at the corner of tiers that had yet to taste a woman's lips or touch upon such soft flesh, so it wasn't as though her offers weren't tempting.

"For now, your mere presence is enough to put me at ease." If anything, he didn't want her worrying on his behalf.

As for his preference in music, Yeoun had to wonder, since he tended to keep himself busy otherwise. So, he had to pause to ponder.

"Something soothing."

The words were quietly spoken, making him seem tired, perhaps even troubled. Certainly then, a request for gentle music wasn't wasted. It could only do him good.

Afterward, Yeoun reached to take up the cup that had been refilled, bringing it to his lips to wet them.

Though she had been practicing often lately, Kaeyah had yet to find an opportunity to use her voice in front of a client. As a result, she wasn't entirely confident in her ability to sing, and had no tunes at the ready for such an occasion. Plus, she hadn't brought an instrument with her-- one of the small lap harps, or a set of pipes, which would certainly be soothing in their own way.

Stretching her hands out on her knees and trying not to clench them too hard and betray her nervousness, she stared sightlessly down at her lap as she tried to come up with a song. It might have taken longer than would seem necessary, but her mind had gone blank.

What could she sing that would be appropriate? None of the bawdy tunes she mostly rehearsed, nor some of the children's songs she was being taught to help fill in the gaps in her education left by the former Master of the House. So what would work in this situation?

The only thing that came to mind was an old ballad, sad in its story of star-crossed lovers. The melody was certainly soothing, and if one didn't pay attention to the words... But it was all she could come up with at the moment. Hopefully he wouldn't be offended.

Taking a deep breath and lifting her head, she hesitantly started to sing, the words almost too quiet to hear at first. But she was able to push more air through her vocal chords as she progressed, and though the tune was still soft, it was audible.