We Like to Party (private, Stephan please)

[Whisper]

First cycle of Kalendryas, Winter, Era XV

A letter arrived at Stephan's enormous mansion one brightening, by way of young messenger boy. His robes were lined with a glistening silver material and his shoes were shined; this was no street urchin, paid a silver to run to Stephan's house. The letter was sealed with wax and a ribbon, all the fripperies normally reserved for letters of Imperial importance.

Should Stephan open the letter, he would read:

Master Leone--

My name is Favian Bronswick. We met the other darkening at the gentlemen's club. I am not sure if you remember me, so if you do not, please disregard this letter.

I have been speaking with some of my friends, ladies and gentlemen both, and those who have also met you are undeniably intrigued by your recent arrival and activities around our lovely island of Demios. We would all like to find out more about you, in particular some of my female acquaintances who have heard of your exploits concerning some other women of the isle.

We are having a party on Aslanica of this cycle which will include dancing, pracenda, and drinks. It is the most sincere hope of my friends and me that you will grace us with your attendance at my home. The address is enclosed.

Most sincerely,
Favian Bronswick III

[Stephan Woulofen]

It had been a rough morning, he had a bit of a hangover, and Aydyn was gone. That was solely the reason behind him having drowned himself in so much liquor the night before, so much that not even a woman had been sought to accompany his bed that evening. It was an incredibly odd and rare occurrence for his bed to be only occupied by him, alone, on any night. Rolling out of bed onto his feet he slowly stood and stumbled his way through the room, out the door, and into the kitchen where a bunch of empty bottle of wine and other strong liquor were empty. A bachelors pad like his went with very little cleaning, that was unless he was having company.

And then, a knock at the door, the rapping not very hard but it still rang far too loud in his ears and it seemed far too earlier in the brightening for someone to come to his door. Scratching the back of his neck Stephan walked through the manor, loose pants hanging on his hips, his body bare from the waist on up. He cared not who would see him this way for he had plenty to flaunt. Opening the door Stephan squinted for the moment due to the bright light of the late morning that it had to be. Even though it was winter with a hangover as bad as his it mattered not how decreased the Sun's intensity was to hurt his eyes. Taking the letter from the young, well dressed boy Stephan held up a finger as he turned and reached into his pocket. Pulling a single gold crown he flipped it to him before turning around and closing the door behind him.

As he walked he opened the letter, one of many he had received since coming to Deimos, obviously from someone of wealth. Walking and reading proved to be a stupid decision as he read as best he could while dodging corners of couches, chairs, and walls. Suddenly his foot connected with a glass bottle, sending it sliding across the marble floor and crashing into a table, Stephan not caring it if had broken as he cursed and stumbled from the pain it had caused. A steady stream of curses followed as he reached out and grabbed a chair, a guide to help him sit, or moreso fall into. Lifting his leg he began to rub his foot as he set the letter down on the table for a moment. Wincing in pain at least it took thoughts off of his headache for the time being until he lowered it and picked up the letter again.

Reading over it slowly Stephan certainly found great interest in it. However, it was a bit worrisome as well for he did not know what he would be getting himself into. But, Favian had been a pretty interesting fellow, even if they had both been a bit drunk at the time at the gentleman's club and he remembered not too much about what they had discussed. All he remembered was having fun, and he supposed that was all that counted. What was suggested in the letter was food, drink, wealthy people, and women, that was all that mattered and he was sold on the invitation.

Brightenings came and went until the brightening of the party, an event he hoped would be a very interesting and rewarding experience.

-----

Stephan was not sure exactly what he was expect to or not to wear for such an occassion. Considering it was winter and they would be inside he knew it would not be a more festive occassion, as were all outside events of Deimos; so, he decided to dress in his most common formal garb. Dressed in his loose dark black shirt trimmed in silver with a tight black undershirt that showed off his strong features, his pants were similiar as were the black boots as well. He was a man who, since the passing of his wife, dressed nearly solely in black. Black was his color, it added darkness to his medium length hair, which he made sure to comb back, and all the darkness brought out the very intriguing dark blue eyes of his.

Leaving his manor with a bottle of Fine Charismean wine in hand Stephan strolled down the streets of Deimos heading for the residence of Favian Bronswick III. He still had little clue about the festivities and what seemed to be expected of him, or desired by the other guests, but he maintained his usual height of confidence in his abilities. Finally, after what turned out to be a much further walk than he had planned (and had him realize it would be a real chore to get home as he likely would be drunk and with a guest) Stephan reached the door of the large estate and knocked upon it a few times. While he waited he took a look around, knowing his surroundings, and remembering stories and thinking of new ones that he would have to tell.

[Whisper]

The Bronswick residence was much larger than the surrounding homes. Sprawling gardens in the front were decorated with colored paper lanterns, and the intoxicating smell of fine food wafted out from the front door when it was opened. The butler behind the door bowed, taking a cloak if necessary, then moved inobtrusively out of the way.

The foyer was resplendent, decked out in lavish peach and ivory marble with an enormous glass chandelier overhead. On the mindblowing amount of couches, divans, and pouffes that were scattered about the large entertaining room, nobles were sprawled with glasses of wine in hand. Lovely velvet and silk covered each lady, and every man wore a dark outfit not unlike Stephan's own. There was something different about these people, however... These were not the sort of nobles that Stephan might have socialized with in another city.

"Ah! Tristan, darling!" A blur of scarlet and chocolate came rushing up to him and immediately drew him into a tight embrace, planting moist little kisses on his cheeks. When the creature drew back, Stephan would be able to look upon the lovely figure of a beautiful young woman with deep brown, almost black hair, and bright green eyes. Her flawless skin was the color of coffee and cream, and a mysterious scent rose from her decolletage. She wore a dazzling pearl-trimmed blood-red dress that was cut low in the front and even more so in the back. As she spoke, she caressed Stephan's face with her smooth gloved fingers.

"I was so afraid you weren't going to remember me! You do, don't you?"

Perhaps in this guise, she wouldn't be as recognizable, but if Stephan began to imagine her wearing the frilly, skimpy outfit of the Lava Lights at the Gentlemens' Club, maybe she would seem more familiar.

[Stephan Woulofen]

As the door opened to allow him entrance into the lavish estate, that greatly impressed Stephan thus far, he handed over the cloak he wore and walked within the estate. Walking deep inside the estate he looked about the manor, taking in all the sights that he saw, most of them for now that of lavish designs and prices. Much of this surely cost a decent fortune. Moving into the entertaining room he saw multiple couches and chairs, of exquiste taste, and now occupied many male nobles and females closeby. They were all dressed in fine fashion and some more so than others. It was just as he looked among the nobles and others he heard an enthusiastic wlecome.

Barely with enough time to react and turn he saw a woman in dark rush into him, causing him to take just a step back as she hugged him tightly. Thankfully she was a smaller woman or his answer to her aggressive hug may have gone quite differently, like him dropping the bottle of wine upon the ground. As she embraced him her soft skin was comforting upon his own, her engaging perfume and scent invading his nose. Before her quick retreat, an enthusiastic one at that, she made sure to plant a series of kisses upon his cheek first. As she stepped back he looked at her with a bit of curiousity on his face, for he really had no time before to see who she was. It was as she stepped back and he saw the dark brown hair, and green eyes, among such flawless features that he realized that he still had little clue who she was.

Stephan had always been bad with names, but he knew her by physical appearance at least, and looking at her dressed as she was now caused him to slightly smile. He didn't want to over indulge her with a visual compliment from him, but he smirked with an obvious sign of admiration. As she reached up to stroke his face with her gloved hand his head and vision drew down to her own, but with what she wore it was impossible for his eyes to not trail to her bosom, so visible by how low cut the front of her dress was. Had the dress hung any looser on her he was sure he would get even more of a show, one he did doubt she would mind giving. Looking back up to her eyes as she questioned him on if he remembered he smiled, "Of course I remember you, I would be a fool to forget such a beautiful woman." He purposely left out calling her by her name, simply because he wasn't sure of it.

It was Mis... Was it Misan? The first woman from the Gentleman's Club he had visit him at The Leap of Faith who had given him a massage? It seemed to be her, and he had seen her in the Gentlemans' Club, but they had never been intimate. She had always been with other clients or too far away dancing for others. Truly he could not remember, too much partying, drinking, and too many women around...but he did know he was at least sure enough to call her by that name if he was truly under that much pressure. He could at least picture her in her other dresses, if that was what you could call them, within the Gentleman's Club establishment though, but he did not even seek to picture it for too long as what was real, and standing so close to him, was much better to occupy his senses with.

This was already a surely much different party of nobles than he had ever attended. Granted she was a high-priced mistress, the best word for it, but Stephan had assumed that this would be a party of noblemen, noblewomen, and wealthy businessmen of the city. He should have known the man who had invited him would have invited women from the club, and obviously there were few that minded, especially the women, that was if there were any women here besides those women from the club. From where he stood, and with the woman before him keeping his attention, he truly was not sure.

[Whisper]

If the woman suspected Stephan of fudging his memories of her, she didn't show it. She smiled dazzlingly and clasped both of his hands in her own. "I'm so glad you could make it! After what I've heard about your life inside and outside of the club, I half thought you'd be too busy to make it to my little dinner party." 'Little' indeed. As she turned and let him through the hallway and into another room, he would see many more reclining, half-drunk, well-dressed folks draped about the place.

"Everyone, may I have your attention please!" she said loudly, and with a bit of a slur in her voice. It appeared that she had taken her own share of the fine wine in everyone's hands. "The last of our guests of honor has arrived!" The occupants of this room smiled and applauded. "Now, we can begin to eat! Come!" With Stephen still in hand, the woman led everyone to yet another large room in the estate, this one dominated by a very long dining table already laden with plates and tureens of decadent food. Stephan's companion took her seat at the head of the table, indicating that Stephan should take the place beside her.

"Quite a catch you've got there, Favi," said a lovely little thing who sat on Stephan's other side. She nonchalantly laid a hand on Stephan's thigh and asked him, "What was your name, again?"

[Stephan Woulofen]

He was quite happy that she had not pressed him further in remembering her, particularly in knowing her name, for he was not fully confident in doing so. All she seemed concerned about was staying close and touchy, which he did not mind, but it made him wonder a bit more to who she was. But, all that did not matter anymore, at least in these moments, as she took his hands in her and expressed her joy in him being here. Too busy to attend? So, it seemed there had been enough chatter around the island about him, and rumors about him as well. He was sure that there were good and bad thoughts about him amongst those who didn't even know him, but he was always quite good at deflecting harsh opinions to mold to a more friendly, and interested opinion in knowing more about him.

Stephan knew not what he was getting himself into, but would do his best to work his way among the people gathered for this little party. "I didn't even think of missing this party, I'm just glad I was invited. It is the first party I have been able to attend," he said, lying and refraining from jests about how he has had plenty of private parties, a party of two, with the elites of this island. This was actually the first party he had been invited to with a group of people, and he did not want to admit that as well, but he did not lie in his words. Whatever he could do to paint the best picture about him, he would do, to nearly any length. As she turned she seemed to press him on to allow him to continue down the hallway and into the next room where many had gathered.

Suddenly, quite unexpectedly really, the woman announced his arrival far too loudly, and a bit of slurring in her voice. She was obviously feeling quite good, not like he didn't notice that a few moments ago. But, what happened next was incredibly awkward. The applause were for artisans who had performed brilliantly, or for heroes being pinned with medals, not for a man who had arrived for a party. At least, that's how he looked at it. The way some looked at him it appeared that they were fascinated and knew who he was already, as if they had all been waiting at length, while drinking, for him, and him alone to arrive. With a slight nod of his head, a smile, and a wave in appreciation for the applause his hand was tugged by the woman who still held him tightly by. Looking over at her he allowed her to lead the way to the dinner table.

As she took a place at the head of the table and offered the seat next to her Stephan was already switching thoughts about her, trying somehow to remember her. She was sitting at the head of the table of Favian's table, for this was his estate, a realization that caused him a bit of worry. He was so confused right now, but decided to just go with it and do whatever he had to to make sure he did not cause a scene that made him look foolish. After they had all sat down, him taking a seat next to her, he looked around the table at the other guests, much easier to see them all now. As someone begun to speak next to him, saying the name of Favian, though using a shortened version, he looked, hoping to see who she was speaking to. But, just as quickly he felt a hand rest upon his thigh. Most men would have jumped at the sudden sensation of touch from such soft hands, but Stephan was not even a bit taken back by it.

However, he was surely quickly all the more interested in the hand and the woman behind it than acknowledging Favian, a man he could not even clearly remember or picture in his mind. When he had seen the name in the letter he had seemed to remember him, but now that he thought about it, he had met so many other fellows and ladies enjoying themselves he was not sure he could remember the man so easily. Turning to face the young lady he looked at her first with a very charming smile first, before answering her pressing question. Unlike her, his hands remained visual as he laid one on the corner of the back of her chair, the other placed on the table. Whoever spoke to him he always knew it was best to give them your full, undivided attention, especially if you wanted them to have a very good impression. Quite a lovely girl she was, quite Stephan's type as well for he had always an interest in smaller stature women.

"Tristan Leone, and who may I have the pleasure of meeting?" He smiled, brightly so, allowing her eyes to take in his enchanting eyes, as he awaited her response.

[Whisper]

The girl smiled alluringly. "Emilia," she replied. "I think we've met before, haven't we?" And if Stephan thought about it, he would remember Emilia also from the Steamy Lava Club. She was a dancer, though she'd never danced for him specifically before. In fact, if he took a moment to look up and down the female faces at the table, he would recognized most if not all of them as the club's Lava Lights. He didn't know it, but most of the men present were the Lights' equivalent: dancers, entertainers, and much more at Loincloth Heaven, the ladies' club.

"I've heard some very naughty things about you," she said quietly and breathily, leaning over to whisper in Stephan's ear. "I haven't had the pleasure of getting you to myself yet, but I've heard... stories from those who have." Though she was speaking too quietly for anyone else to hear, a few of the girls locked eyes with Stephan as they chattered and served themselves from the platters on the table. Stephan would recognize them all as those with whom he'd had his 'two-person parties.'

The other end of the table was as of yet unoccupied, but no one seemed to mind. One by one, the guests began to eat and drink, helping themselves to the fine wine and food. All along both sides of the table, with perhaps four or five of Demios' 'entertainers' between them, were guests who looked and felt a little bit out of place, like Stephan. There were six women and six men, Stephan included. As they ate and talked with their neighbors, their eyes flicked back and forth from various occupants of the table, to where the leading lady sat, to the empty seat at the other end.

What was going on?

[Stephan Woulofen]

She already had his full attention, and now she had even a brighter smile as she mentioned her name. It was that name that made him remember who she was. She was from the Steamy Lava as well. With that name and realization he remembered her vividly, it was hard to forget a body like that, which danced so well upon the stage she had been given. "We have not met formally, but this is the best of anytime to do so," he said with a smile, his body so attracted and lured to her. What he didn't know, was that she had much more to say, knowing much more about him than he had originally thought. As she came to whisper in his ear he smiled a bit, trying to remain cool despite how fast his heart beat.

Listening to her words he had to admit he did feel a bit odd by what she had to say for this was really the first city he had made his presence so public, and he heard about the chatter being spoken about him. Especially, when that chatter had been among escorts, dancers, or whatever you wanted to call the women in her line of profession. As she spoke, and ended what she had to say, he had noticed that there were other women who had been looking his direction, and now looked his direction as they surely saw his eyes scanning the table. Now that he looked about he realized something, there were not just a few women from the Steamy Lava, but there were pretty many, and many he had shared intimate times with as well. What was going on here? Stephan had surely gotten the wrong impression from the letter he received.

Looking back over at Emillia, who remained close, he smiled and leaned in to whisper his own reply. "Stories are not as enthralling as the reality of my company, I assure you, and I look forward to that time when you can truly get to me, and I to you," he said, his words so smooth and precise, to hit all the marks that would send any young ladies' heart aflutter, even a woman of her work as it had done the same to so many others like her. Giving her a smile he leaned back, not knowing how she would exactly react to that, but her hand had not yet left his thigh. As he pulled back to look around at the others again, as he acted as if he was interested in food at the moment, he noticed a bit on inconsistencies. Besides a collection of women he had seen at the club, a few he had not, the noblemen present, as he assumed they were, looked a bit off.

Amongst them there were those who seemed to be a bit nervous, out of place, just like he felt. And, amongst them there were men who looked anything but noble-like. As all ate though, Stephan was the only one who didn't. He did not even drink of his wine yet. For him to have not begun to drink was a very odd thing. Everyone at a time now and then seemed to look at the 'Lady' that sat next to him at the head of the table though, he did not follow, he instead looked at the other end of the table where there was a seat empty. Where was Favian? Why had Emilia used his name when Stephan did not see him here? Something was not right.

What was going on?

[Whisper]

Emilia merely smiled at Stephan's reply as she took a small sip of wine. She gave his thigh another squeeze, but removed it when the lady at the table's end began to speak again. By this time, everyone had had most of their fill. Some utensils still clinked as the young woman spoke, but most turned their full attention to her. She stood and cleared her throat. There was no hint of a slur in her voice this time.

"I am sure that you, my guests of honor, are wondering why you are here. You probably received a letter like this." In her hands, she held two letters. Since Stephan was sitting fairly close to her, he could read the first one:

Mistress Sylvia--

My name is Favian Bronswick. We met the other darkening at the ladies' club. I am not sure if you remember me, so if you do not...

And so on. It was nearly identical to the letter that had been delivered to Stephan, except for the names of the recipient and sender.

"Perhaps you are wondering where your host, Favian Bronswick, is to be found. Well... you are looking at her."

And indeed, if Stephan thought about it, there was nothing in the letter which indicated any sort of gender on the writer's part. 'We met the other darkening at the gentlemen's club' was really a euphemistic way of describing what Stephan and Favian had been up to, but truth was truth.

The lady smiled and began to walk very slowly around the long dining table. "I was lucky enough to have been given a name which could easily be mistaken for a man's. My friends call me Favi... it's a bit more feminine, don't you think?

"But you..." She paused behind the chair of a squat old man with a trim little mustache, placing her hands on his shoulders in what looked intimate but was really a very tight grip. "You are not my friends. You, my guests of honor, have abused the privileges that we have so kindly bestowed upon you." She began to walk again. No one was eating now. "We lowly dancers, entertainers... We may be dressed like nobles, but I think that you all see us as lowly, worthless items, to be twisted and used in any way you see fit.

"Mistress Sylvia, for example..." Favi came to an older lady dressed in a dark blue gown, "has repeatedly denied her escorts at Loincloth Heaven payment, until they complete a ridiculous series of tasks. When they are done, she pays them only half of what she promised." Sylvia had turned ghostly white and was clutching the arms of her chair very tightly. The Loincloth boys sitting near her were glaring at her hatefully.

Favi continued to walk around the table, revealing the despicable sins of each guest of honor until she came to Stephan.

"And Master Tristan Leone, owner of one of the largest estates on the island, has brought many of the Lava Lights there for a night of fun and games, in addition to about 90% of Demios' nubile young ladies. Merchants' daughters, officers' daughters... even some mothers too, or so I heard." Her eyes sparkled as she gave Stephan a cold smile. "Did you think that you could simply have your pick of company, Tristan? Helping yourself like some sort of buffet? We may dance under red lights for a living, but that does not mean that we are totally void of emotion. Pain. Jealousy. Even love, though most of your exploits don't usually last long enough to show it."

She returned to the head of the table, regarding each of the twelve guests with that same chilling glimmer in her eyes. "Now... What do you suppose we do to remedy this situation?" The Lava Lights and Loincloth boys had now turned to face their nearest guest of honor. Emilia had her hand on Stephan's thigh again, but it was in anything but a cuddly and flirtatious manner.

[Stephan Woulofen]

The smile from the young, and very beautiful, woman at his side was rewarded with a smile of his own as she gave a squeeze of his thigh and downed some wine. He had such skills with making a woman flustered, but he didn't exactly find that this was the case with this one, though she did hide something behind the smile and grasping for the wine. Thinking little of it as he had already devoted to much thought of other things going on around him, he turned his head slightly to see Favi rise from her chair. Finally, it seemed like they were getting somewhere to what this whole event was about, how awkward it had become to an observant participant such as Stephan.

Able to see the letter the woman discussed he noticed that it was indeed very similiar to the one he had received as well. However, what came next from her lips was only the cherry on top to his confusion. How drunk had he actually been when he met her? He did not remember her, well he thought so, but he swore he remembered a male Favian as well. Surprisingly, Stephan only now really reached for the wine at the table to downed the glass as she began to walk behind him. She did not even need to say anything else for Stephan to determine he had already gotten himself into yet another bad situation. Both, the result of women. First, the Swift Claws. Now, Favi, a woman he may have bedded and yet he wasn't exactly sure, which made it worse, only made further troubling when it seemed she knew he did not truly remember her.

What happened next caused everyone else to stop eating, drinking, and look completely shocked. However, not Stephan. All Stephan was feeling right now was really ticked off, at his own stupidity for getting himself in these ridiculous situations. Just what he needed right now, ticked off whores. And yet, he had never called them that, or viewed them as such, until right now. He had always overpaid, for everything, given free gifts, drinks, and so on, never did he stiff them like the vast majority of the others gathered, or sought some very awkward requests they had given their companions for the evening. Around the table Favi walked, telling each sin of those gathered, causing great embarrassments, but all were acting so meek and mild right now. What pathetic nobles. If she expected the same out of Stephan, a shut mouth as she poured such ridiculousness on him, she did not know him one bit.

Her eyes sparkled and she smiled after introducing him to everyone, speaking of his exploits, obviously prepared to say more. What she had to say he so wanted to hear, wanted to hear how he had done them all so wrong, how he had treated them so badly and paid so little that this woman could afford such a lowly home. This was preposterous to lump him in with these people. How dare they treat him as such when he made them all very wealthy. The charges against him were expected for he did not know what else she could gripe about, but they were ridiculous still. He said nothing in immediate reply, however like he really had to when she could see the look he was giving her. If these women had emotional issues, they were in the wrong line of work.

As she finally put a question forth to everyone under the 'trap', Stephan looked at Emilia who had turned to look at him with disgust. The only reason he could see she would be angered by him was he had never bedded her, nor fill her pockets with riches. Her squeeze of his thigh would have to be far harder to even attempt to hurt him, she was far too petite and weak to think it would have any effect, but that did not mean he was going to take it. Grabbing the wrist of her hand that was on his thigh he held it tightly, looking at her intensely. He didn't squeeze it to hurt her, which he easily could have, but wanted to get the impression across that he was not going to simply take it like most others gathered had. Leaning in he looked at her closely before turning to look at Favi.

"This is the most ridiculous thing I have ever heard of. I suggest you either get out of your line of work or learn better business practices. That sounds like the most sensible thing to me. Ask for money upfront, if they don't pay, no play. And, if you can't keep your emotions in-check it's time for you to go. I have never stiffed any of the ladies, I have always given liberally, and not once did they express disgust or disapproval of my life. And, it isn't even their authority to do so! If you have issue with me tell me like an adult, I am not souless as nor are any of you," he said, looking at Favi, but now directing it all more towards everyone. "What power does this woman have that you give her so much liberty to speak for all of you? Do you all have homes as extravagent as this, do you all live in luxury? She is a foolish woman. You all who invited us here under false pretenses are in the wrong, and should be ashame of yourselves. This is not the road you should have taken, even though the others did you wrong. Seek what they owe you, and never serve them again. You all are not slaves, you have free will and you get paid well, and it is because of the people here you live well."

Stephan was getting a bit angry, though he was at the same time surprised at how naive these men and women were. He didn't know what they all had planned for those gathered, but Stephan surely wasn't in the mood to deal with it. His hand, still on Emilia's wrist, continued to hold without any sign he planned to let go unless she was going to make real issue of it. He had no desire to hurt her, just intimidate and show he was not going to cower.

[Whisper]

No one spoke for a while. The other nobles around the edge of the table were white with fear, trembling in their knickers. When Stephan grabbed Emilia's wrist, her little "eep!" was the only sound in the room. As he began to speak, Favi turned towards him, and her determined stare and frown began to fade. It seemed that she was realizing that her dramatic speech wasn't having all the effect that she hoped it would.

"Don't for one minute think that your charity furnished this," she said, albeit shakily, gesturing to the lavish curtains and chandelier of the lush dining room. "I inherited my wealth, and if you think that all of my friends were able to buy their own cloaks and gowns tonight, you're wrong about that too." Some of the Lights and Loincloth boys looked down, blushing. "I became a dancer because I love to dance and entertain, and because I wanted a little fun. If I wanted to sit around my estate all brightening simply amassing money, I could. But I enjoy what I do, and I don't like ungrateful customers ruining everything for us entertainers."

"Do you really think that we're just being emotional?" said a curvaceous girl who was practically popping out of her ivory and green dress. She looked towards Favi uncertainly before continuing, "I think it's a basic human right to be treated with respect, no matter one's occupation."

"And if not their authority to tell you that they have a problem, then whose?" This came from a young man at the other end of the table. "I think Favi is absolutely right to speak for all of us when we say that being used is far beyond anything that any of us should have to endure."

Another young woman sitting right across from Stephan spoke up next. "And it's not just us. In my last visit to the town market, I heard you had married not just one, but three or four of the merchants' daughters! Good thing they were all manning their own shops, or else they'd have been at each other's throats."

"You ask us to seek what we are owed?" Favi asked, encouraged by the others. "We are owed fair payment." She pointed at the guests who had not paid. "And we are owed respect. Look at what you're doing now! Holding poor Emilia like that." The pretty girl had held her tongue throughout all of this, lest Stephan tighten his grip. "What do you think you're going to do to her? Break her arm unless we step aside and say 'Of course, Mr. Leone, we're just dancers, you have the right to treat us however you want'?"

[Stephan Woulofen]

As the girl yelped in surprise Stephan watched as Favi turned to see what was the problem. It was then, as she did, her demeanor changed when she saw he was not shaking like the others, that he opened up and broke into his verbal spar with her. Someone needed to talk reasonably, the woman was a nutcase, she was speaking nonsense. What was wrong with this city, was everyone nuts? When he was finished he gladly allowed for her to have her reply and watched her closely as she did so. He was not going to become white and a total wuss by the words of a whore and some beefcakes that were providing the only real threat to the group.

Stephan scoffed with a brief laugh as she spoke that she came from wealth and went on to tell a pity story. Like it was going to put her in a better light and her line of work as well. "Dancing for art and entertainment, for respect and pride isn't exactly what you do." It was then a curvacious woman decided to break in with a few words of her own, a question put forth towards him. Looking at her he shook his head, how could one talk sense into people that lacked sense and were obviously not the brightest of folks in the Empire. And yet, he socialized with them more than any other types in the Empire, especially in the last few months, and what did that say about him? This was now not the time to criticize himself, and finally, pulling away from it, pushed forth with the question she had asked.

"Yes, your emotions are making you act unreasonable. Look at this situation we are all in, does this seem normal to you, what normal people would do?" Looking at the young woman closely he had an idea that he knew her, quite well in fact. He had not been hostile yet nor did he look at her with hostility as well. Unlike the others, those who cowered, and those who were angry, he held back all signs of the visual anger he had at being put into this whole affair. Why he got lumped in with all of these others he did not know. What he did know was he wasn't going back to that club again.

Just then another jumped in, a male at the other end of the table, and Stephan turned his attention to him. What? The man made no sense, well that wasn't true. He made sense, but it was such a stupid point to come to. "Listen, like I just said, this was not the way to do it. Bring the issue with the owner of the club, for it is they who owe the establishments getting ripped off by those who do not pay. If a client will not pay, do not entertain. Doesn't that make much more sense than this?" He looked around at them all, signifying the situation they were all in, he raised his free hand to add effect to it. "This was not the proper way to do this. I understand all your gripes and anger, but this is not the right way."

Another spoke up, just as he finished, a young woman sitting just across from him. The attack was now on his own character and action, and he had expected such. Favi had made a point to bring it up before, it was only inevitable it would be brought up again. "I am no saint, nor have I ever claimed to be, but I am the most sensible person here right now! I have done many wrongs in my life, and I shall pay for them all, but I suppose all of you here have all done nothing but good and right. You are the good while the rest of us here are the sole evil?" He knew that not to be true, these woman had jobs selling their bodies in more ways than one, physically or visually. And, he knew beyond that they had done more, many had pasts likely even worse than his own, be they in drugs, crime, running away from something, or whatnot. Stephan knew these types of people.

It was Favi's turn to return to the leadership role she had so taken, and so gathered this group of entertainers to hold hostage some of their clients. Again, he laughed at her outright. Foolish woman, obviously well off, bringing very susceptible people under her control. She was the one really using them. As Favi lead the way again to charges now directed solely at him, as if he were speaking for all the nobles here, he looked over at Emelia as Favi suggested he intended to harm her, break her arm, and use her as he so wished to. Instead of sending back the same anger and attack she had directed at him he shook his head. Keeping his eyes on Emelia, not even looking at Favi, he spoke, loud enough so everyone could hear. "I am only holding onto her wrist, not forcefully at that,"