Gold Scale

[beaconed]

Who: beaconed & mermaiding
When: 17th Feb
Where: Pleasure District...
What: Hawke is determined to make a man out of Jaune, unaware that this quest cannot be completed.
Rating/Warning: MA for Massively Awkward

---

[ It's not exactly a brothel, but a strip club might come close to it, especially the kind where one can hire themselves a private room with a worker... just like Jaune is in one of them now! How could he let Hawke talk him into this? All he ever wanted was a cute girlfriend to make mom proud about, he never asked for... this! Yet, Hawke is sure that this is the biggest hurdle Jaune must get over in order to be more appealing as a date.

Okay... just be cool...



Nope.

Jaune shifts nervously as he waits for a woman to come out. He has some work experience as a male stripper, but this feels far more intimate. It's too intimate!! M-Maybe he should just leave... uhh...... ]

Comments

[mermaiding]

[Oona isn't picky with her clients, really. She doesn't care about humans enough to be, so it didn't take much convincing to get her to agree to this.

Besides, money was money, and Oona liked taking her clothes off much more than she liked having them on in the first place. Her mind turns to a very pretty, sparkly necklace she saw on display in one of the higher end jewelry stores; if she saved up from this, she could probably afford it... And let it join the piles of pretty jewelry she already has and never actually wears whoops.

Right,head in the game here. Focus, Oona, focus! She slides the curtain aside and walks through, pausing to make sure Jaune's noticed her enter before she wanders over to him. Some girls lied to start the show right away, but Oona liked making small talk-- once in a while there was someone actually worth her interest, and Jaune had already managed to snag it just from the fact this had all been orchastrated by a third party.]

You are Jaune, yes? I am Oona. Paid for an hour. You have very generous friends. [Is she mocking him? ...Maybe a little. She certainly looks amused, at least.]

[beaconed]

[ He flinches for a quick second as soon as she comes out, but tries to cover it up with a fake cough. ]

Whoa... she's pretty... [ what did he expect????? ]

I-I mean, hi! Hey! Yeah! W-what's up? Jaune Bark! ....... Jaune Arc. I.. don't know why I got my own name wrong...

[ s q u i r m s ]

[mermaiding]

[She looks a little too smug--hell yeah she's pretty, and she knows it--but the coy look quickly becomes sort of... bewildered, uncertain. Was this guy for real...]

Bark? Like a dog? [She laughs and reaches out to ruffle his hair playfully.] Does that make me 'master'?

... [Okay she kind of pities him a little.] You are really new, are you not. [It's not a question.]

[beaconed]

[ Oh no, where's this going-- don't be a dog, Jaune, this isn't part of the manhood process!! Though the head ruffling is nice. He can handle that for an hour... --WAIT THATS ALSO A DOG THING ]

Pfft, n-no!? H-hahaha..... are you new here?

[mermaiding]

[She twirls his hair around her finger, making an attempt to keep the seduction up even as her enthusiasm rapidly dwindles.]

Do I look new? Have been here since first arrived. About, hmm, a year ago...? [A playful tug on his hair]

You are a virgin, yes? It is practically written on your face. Were you tricked into this?

[beaconed]

[ He covers his face, as if what she said was supposed to be taken literally, but it's also because he's trying not to blush. His eyes are still peeking through his fingers, but they really don't know what they should be looking at besides maintaining eye contact. It's the polite thing to do! ]

Spfhagdks--- oh NO! Miss Hawke was right! Is it really that obvious?! Hhngh....

[mermaiding]

...It is a little obvious, yes.

[She lets him go and rests her hands on her hips, tilting her head] What do you want from this? Just a dance? Sex? Do not think that will help you be... less you no matter what.

If you are not ready for these things, should not force it.

[beaconed]

[ Even a stripper is put off by his "virgin stench", or whatever Hawke calls it! Jaune just looks away for a moment, not sure what to do here at all. ]

Is that really okay? If I walk out of here now, everyone will know I'm a failure...

[mermaiding]

Hmm. [A thoughtful hum.] They would think such things, probably, yes. [Blunt...]

Eh... Well. Fine. [She doesn't care, normally, but she did get paid for the hour and she's not going to do nothing for it. So she stretches her arms above her head and steps back to sit on the floor. She leans back on her hands and tilts her head, adopting a relaxed, carefree pose] We can stay, until hour is done. They will reach own ideas.

However! [Here she holds up her finger as if to say 'wait a minute'] I do not tell lies. Ever. Will only say you spent time with me, and that we had good time. Will avoid details if can, but will not lie if someone asks questions that can not be avoided.

Is that deal?

[beaconed]

[ oh god, he's wasting her time... this is just getting worse. this isn't helping his confidence at all. ]

It's... fine...

I'm really sorry about this. [ He joins her on the floor at least. ] You're nicer about this than I thought you'd be.

[mermaiding]

Could use break. It is nice, sometimes, to not be, hmm... obligated? [She's not sure how to word it, actually, so she abandons the line of thought]

Am still being paid. So, this just means, get paid for doing less work! Am not nice, only lazy! [She laughs even though it's not entirely a lie]

Why are you doing this in first place? If you do not want it, it is rude of friends to force you. Where I am from, there are strict, eh...things-- rules? No, not rules... Different thoughts about this. [Oona gives a mildly frustrated sigh]

Eh, sorry. Sometimes choosing the words I want is not so easy even after all this time.

[beaconed]

My friend thinks it'll help me find a girlfriend if I know how to... you know! I dunno, I mean, she's trying to help me, s-so I don't think she's rude! She's really cool, actually! But, ah... I noticed... I-I mean about your words... you're definitely... uh...

...as exotic as they get!

[mermaiding]

...That is now how it works. It is not magic trick. You can not change personalty and approach to things just because you have sex or see a naked woman dance. [She eyes him thoughtfully] Ah, actually, for my people, someone like you is sought after. Hair could be longer, but it is pretty color, and your face is nice. Your stuttering is cute. My sisters would be begging your parents to give you to them.

[She doesn't mention that this is because he comes off as weak, shy, and needing protection or anything because shes learned that most guys don't like hearing that. Weird.

But she looks proud at his comment about her being exotic] Of course! Am not human, after all. Am mermaid! [And Oona pauses, clearly expecting him to know what that is.]

[beaconed]

[ That's definitely encouraging! He perks up visibly, and will get back to the part about him being attractive soon, but not before he has to address her other thing. A mermaid! He... strangely does know what that is. ]

Aw, c'mon! You? I mean, you're pretty, but... Don't mermaids have to be like half-fish? How would you even, uh.. you know... unless the top half is a fish... oh man, that would be gross...

[mermaiding]

Am stuck in human form, for now. [She lifts one leg to indicate it] Tail does not make it easy to walk in city with no waterways.

[She sends him an amused look] But yes, have fish tail from waist down, normally. Sea creatures have sex too, you know. Have all parts necessary, human form or mermaid form. [She leans towards him with a coy look] Do you want to check and make sure?

[-- But then she leans away again and laughs] Am only joking!

[beaconed]

[ Jaune sputters as he straightens his back, his heartrate going almost as high as when he fights giant monster bears... except there's no way to fight through this situation, although he would more likely flee in battle unless he had to protect someone. Run and Live... yes, that seems like a viable strategy here, and he's almost ready to run away screaming until she reveals her joke. What a bold woman!! He quickly turns his little squeak into a nervous laugh. ] H-hahah, that's... ah, you-- oh, you! That's... definitely a new one, hahah... Look at you, you funny mermaid.

[ RELIEF. ]

So if you really are a mermaid, then you must miss the ocean, huh? Well, I guess we all miss home...

[mermaiding]

[She laughs again-- Jaune's amusing, though she's not sure how much teasing he can actually take before he gives himself a heart attack or something.] You are funny human.

[Approval...?? Whether that's a good thing or not, however, remains to be seen.

His question make the smile fall into a contemplative look, eyeing him thoughtfully as if trying to gauge how serious he was about the question, and if he truly wanted an answer. After a moment she hums in acknowledgement]

It is not same. Do not miss that planet--do not care. But miss the ocean, yes. Is like... missing a limb, in a way. If there was an ocean here, would not find this place so bad. [Oona shrugs. Having her tail back would also go a long way, but that went without saying] It is stupid and has too many humans, but it is...shiny. [She grins a little]

Bright lights and things like that that distract and pull you in. Like angler fish, almost.

[beaconed]

You... don't like humans? I'm sorry... [ Jaune Arc, apologising on behalf of all humanity. ]

What about ViViD? Have you tried swimming inside a simulated ocean for now?

[mermaiding]

[Squints...] Why would you apologize? [WEIRDO...

But Oona sits up a little because, no, she totally hadn't thought about that actually.] Ah-- No. Do not go into ViViD often, if at all. Have not found it very fun before. [She considers this a moment]

Ah, though, last time went on that tour and went in. There was giant dog, turned into a monster.Afterwards, got one of those,hmm... buddy things from CERES. It was monster dog, but small. Very cute! [love dat terrifying hell puppy.]

But... Maybe there is an ocean in there. Visiting might be... okay. [She looks a little apprehensive about it though]

[beaconed]

At least your tour wasn't too bad...

[ Jaune's was traumatising in a way, but he's trying to put it behind him. He's not so sure about monster puppies either...

The more he listens to her talk about the ocean, though, he starts to wonder how much of an outcast she might be feeling like. That sense of not belonging in a place, it's a familiar feeling, despite their wildly different circumstances. ]

W-well, if it's not too unprofessional or anything... I could go with you! To look for an ocean simulator, I mean. I... doubt I'd be much good in it, though. Actually I'm not a good swimmer at all, hahah...

[mermaiding]

Tour was fun. Watched giant monster dog an other giant monster creature fight to death.

[Blood sports! What's not to love about them?

She tilts her head curiously, wondering what professionalism has to do with any of this, before she suddenly pins him with an alarmed look] But, know how to swim, yes? Everyone should know how.

Besides, is fine. If you die, you just wake up out of simulation, yes?

[beaconed]

[ He nods to her question... yeah, he can swim somewhat. He's athletic enough to manage that much. ]

I dunno, the last simulation I was in turned out to be... pretty real. [ he suffered burns from dragonfire. ] B-Besides, don't say it so casually! Dying sucks in a video game, too! Though I suppose I'd jump in if you were in some kinda trouble... o-or if your sister wanted to say hi.... was that true, by the way?

[mermaiding]

You would try to save me? [She's amused at that, because in her head all she can see if him bellyflopping and then slowly sinking beneath the waves. Maybe it'd provide a good enough distraction though...

Oona tilts her head, humming thoughtfully.] My sisters are not here. Doubt they would be in simulation world either. But, if you mean, 'is it true sister would like me' then yes, it is true. If you grew your hair very long, combine with personality... Yes, you would be good catch to mermaids.

You are pretty enough, I think. My sisters would fight over you. [She smiles at the thought of her sisters and imagines how much Jaune woudn't know what to do with their over-enthusiasm]

[beaconed]

[ When she says that, all he can relate to is his own sisters fighting over him, although it's not quite the same. Still, it's a fond image to have, enough to make him smile. ]

A-Ah, I guess I was born in the wrong species, huh? [ He says it jokingly enough, he obviously loves humanity enough to fight for it, for better or worse. ]

Y'know, I'm starting to think coming here was good for me after all.

[mermaiding]

Mermaids can mate with any other species. So, not all is lost. Find other mermaids, you will be, eh... What do they say? 'Set for life'? [She laughs, then sits up some, hugging her legs loosely to her chest.

He's a good kid, she's decided. Human, sure, but cute in a dorky little-brother kind of way.]

Am glad. [Here Oona hesitates a little, for the first time looking a little awkward and uncertain] I am... not so good at comforting others, but if you do not think this was a waste, than I am glad.

[beaconed]

That's funny, I don't think I'm good at making others glad they talked with me. [ He laughs at his joke. It's not entirely true, he has that charm of a natural leader, he just happens to be friends with a lot of tsunderes and family members who give him wrong social advice. ]

And you're so good at your job! [ she wasn't doing her job??? ] I should come here more often! [ you know, just to talk for an hour. ]

[mermaiding]

[She tilts her head, puzzled] Why? You are not so horrible. You are nice. Weird, yes, but most humans are. [She shrugs]

If you are seen coming here a lot, people might get a different idea about you. Suppose that is what you want. [Oona looks amused and laughs a little; there's no telling just what, exactly, said idea would be but hey! Maybe people will start thinking Jaune's a lady's man!

....Yeah, anyway.] But, will not say no. This has been... nice. If you will continue to come and call on me, will not be displeased. It is a nice break from the usual work!

[She checks the time with a small hum. They've still got some time left, but they weren't kidding about time flying when you were having fun, huh?] What will you tell your friends?

[beaconed]

Eh, let them think. [ He shrugs, it's not the first time he put friendship over potential public embarrassment. ] I think this whole quest for a date... w-well, I've been going on about it the wrong way. It's myself I gotta respect first, before anyone else can.

...
Besides, it's not like anyone would believe that I'm friends with a mermaid here. [ Equally, nobody would think that Jaune is getting any kind of service. His virgin game is strong, apparently. ]

[mermaiding]

[She blinks slowly and tilts her head, regarding him thoughtfully. Maybe there was actually more to this kid than she first thought?]

...Yes. They say you can not love another person until you love yourself. Or something like that. Think that is a little true. Same with respect. Respect yourself, respect others, and it will be returned in kind. [A thoughtful hum and she looks pleased, like Jaune's gotten the right answer on some big test.] Ah, see, you are growing already. You are not such a lost case.

[Oona laughs a little and hums again, reaching over to pat and ruffle his hair] You are good person. If you do not lose sight of that, then you will be fine.