A Slow Night In High-Garden

The smell of soap and perfume invaded my nose. I was half-naked and slightly confused. Mind still wondering if this was some sort of test of character that Jisoo wanted me to pass. She took me out somewhere and I expected it to be a bar. Didn't think that she'd take me to this strange establishment in High-Garden.

I followed her like a fool. Thought that there was some sort of wonderful place. Turns out that she took me to one of the places that she likes going. A bathing place where two beautiful girls would bathe you for a price.

I almost wanted to question her. She paid already so I took my clothes off and wore the undergarments that they prepared. Jisoo wore this swimsuit that she covered with her towel.

"Look away."

"You say this but you take me to this place. What gives?"

"It's a deluxe service. They'll clean you and give you a bath massage. There is nothing wrong with it. It is a relaxing service."

"Sure."

"You don't believe me?"

"I actually do. Unless I actually misjudged you and well in any case I'm not losing anything here. Neither money nor the beautiful view."

She snorted. Pretty sure she mouthed pervert and I had the mind to say it back to her how much of a pervert she is for taking me to this kind of establishment. I followed the Masseuse who led me to this shared communal bath. I turned to Jisoo with a dumbfounded expression.

"Seriously?"

"What?"

The two Masseuse went out of the bath.

"Why are we bathing together? Do you want to see me naked, friend?"

"No?"

"Then why?"

"I bought the couple package. We can relax together, and pay less. What's there to worry about? Or do you have any deformities that I should look away from?"

"I'm glad that you have confidence in your body, but seriously? How much did you pay anyway?"

"Ten K's."

"Good fucking lord, you could have just given me half of that instead of taking me into this damn bathhouse."

"They are professionals. After this we'd get more service, calm yourself, Nikolai. Be a goddamn man."

"I'm going to stare at your damn tits."

"Well, I doubt you can."

She said with confidence. I dipped myself into the bath prepared for me. The well-endowed Masseuse told me to relax and just let her bathe me. I did pay for the service and I didn't want to waste it.

The woman was a goddamn magician with her hands. She first started with my limbs. Moved to my neck and before I knew it I was feeling the weight off my shoulders being lifted by her magical hands.

I glanced at Jisoo and she was blushing red. She bit her lower lip as the Masseuse caressed her all over her body. The Masseuse in-charge of me straightened my view to the wall and prevented me from seeing Jisoo's lovely face.

"What did I tell, yah."

Her moan at the end made me tingle. The Masseuse sat on the side of the tub and started washing my limbs. Once in a while she would cup her hand on my arms before moving back once more. Maybe it's the soap and the perfume. But I felt intoxicated for a moment. I switched to third-person for a moment and then switched back to first-person personally after.

"You tensed up suddenly, Sir. Was there anything wrong?"

"It's nothing. It was me."

She looked down on the bath and looked away holding her cheek.

"You are very healthy, Sir."

"Thank you?"

I don't know what the fuck she meant. But the Masseuse was a professional lady. After the supreme bath that they gave us. We moved to the spa where the two insisted for us to lie face down.

"You have a very wonderful body, Sir."

"Thank you."

"No wonder Miss Kim wanted to bring you here."

I pretended not to hear her last comment as she massaged my back. She was quite forceful in her massage. It seems like she was focusing on the areas that are repeatedly used. Jisoo ordered a full-body massage so it'll take about sixty to ninety minutes before they could be done.

Kneading, rubbing, and vibration and tapping. Jisoo was clearly enjoying this massage more than I do despite her being augmented. These girls are quite masterful at their craft so I kinda understand why the massage is quite expensive.

I could just purchase a different kind of service which actually would bring pleasure to my lower areas. Nonetheless this wasn't half bad considering that it was a full service done by professionals who knew their craft. Not to mention that the aroma around the room makes one feel relaxed.

After thirty minutes the Masseuse told me to lay on my back. She started on my glutes and then worked her way around my head before focusing her hands on my upper body and around my stomach.

She stared at my abdominal muscles for a moment before caressing and kneading it. Maybe it was part of the service or maybe it's not. But the Masseuse took her time doing my stomach before she moved her hands to my upper body and massaged my shoulder blades.

It was honestly quite distracting since on my side Jisoo really was moaning. The Masseuse was advising her to work on her body since it seems like whatever she was doing before the job. She had sustained some injuries or bruising that she didn't even notice until the Masseuse took care of it. After thirty minutes of kneading and rubbing. The Masseuse told me to sit upright as she started working around my neck. Tapping and digging her elbows around some parts of my back. Said that my Teres Minor was unusually stiff that she needed to elbow it since she didn't have enough strength. After working on that part of my back, she moved her hands on my trapezius muscle before finishing her massage with a kneading on the sides of my head.

After that strange but relaxing experience. We got invited to this porch facing the skies of Pacifica City. High-Garden had a different kind of feel to it compared to the districts. Perhaps because the district is so well-guarded that anyone who finds trouble here is easily decimated by the local security. Security that comes with a well-armed militia.

I sat on the right and she sat on the left with drinks on hand. It was some kind of mix that she likes. Don't know what it is, but it was good enough for the tongue that I couldn't care less. I feel relaxed however. Been long time since I felt like I didn't have to do anything at all. Didn't think that my relaxation would come with being bathed by a lady and then massaged until every muscle in my body stopped being tense.

An aerial vehicle flew quietly. There were drones being flown around gaps between the buildings. Myriads of lights mixed into this spiral that made you wonder how many buildings weren't lit. I drank my mix. Settled my back on the chair while keeping an eye on the orbital station barely visible in the sky.

"You know, Veda," I went on. "It has been a strange month for me. Been shot at. Been doing awful things. Driving and flying folks around the city. Met people that are both strange and busy. Didn't really know what to think of it."

"So am I part of the strange people you mention?"

"Course you are. Who the fuck brings someone into a packaged service like this? I mean if you are kind of a playgirl who brings innocent boys like me into this kind of thing then I ain't judging."

"Innocent boy," she genuinely spat on the side. "Someone who has been hanging around women all time is innocent?"

"Now that is plain unfair. I might hang around women, but it doesn't mean that I have such deviant reasons in doing so. I am simply not that shy when it comes to women. I… Well, I only loved once."

I thought of the old flame lingering around this body. It was a flicker that barely could light a fire in my heart. If anything this heart's been broken by her that it was not surprising that it held some sort of grudge and dismay at being left.

"You got silence. Didn't think you'd be someone who'd think of past affairs."

"Well, I was loyal."

"Are you not loyal anymore?"

"Not to anyone for now."

"Oh my, I thought no one could break that stone on your face. Who knew that Nikolai Orlov would have let this out."

"Sorry I ain't hiding the stony face. For once I like being relaxed."

"Are you going to tell me about her?"

"No."

"About him?"

"Fuck no?"

"You are a boring and silly man, Nikolai."

"I'd be a boring man thanks."

Her face simmered down to coldness.

"You saw me kill on that ship?"

"I did."

"What did you think of it?"

"Awful. I think you are a murderer. But I understand that not everyone feels the same way as I do when it comes to killing."

"If a man threatens to shoot you. Would you shoot back?"

"I would. I ain't a saint. I just try not to kill anyone when I can. And is this really something you'd wanna discuss right now?"

"No. I don't think so. Feel free to call me disgusting if you can."

"Are you that bothered about what I think of you?"

"No. I'm not. I just want to know."

"Then let me bare my soul for you to see. Who does that? Look, I have no problem with you, Veda. We keep each other's business. I mean I'm glad that you're taking me out like this, but come on why is this kind of talk?"

"Alright, I'm just asking."

"Asking. You're stressing me out, man."

"Hmm, you are such a fragile soul, Nikolai."

"I like to think that I am. Makes me feel special about my damn self."

"Okay fine, I'll keep quiet. You grumpy and moody man."

I took a sip of my drink and calmed my nerves by exiting out of my body and switching to a third person view and giving a middle finger to Jisoo. I felt juvenile and immature doing so, but it calmed my nerves. I went back to my body and took a drink again.

"So really why take me to this place? You must have another reason, right?"

"I need to make sure that they are doing their job well."

"No shit?"

"It's quite a business that earns a lot, Nikolai. There are many businessmen and folks who come here and purchase privacy as part of the service. They pay more than ten-k here. And you need to have rep and the credits to be allowed service. You can come here if you like. The girls liked you, Nik."

"I mean you were familiar with this place and ladies so I guessed you're a regular customer. Do you usually bring your job partners here?"

"I don't. Nik, I liked you. I don't know why but you know how to talk to me. I thought you read a dossier of me or got a hold of my psychological profile… but I feel like I can talk to you."

"Wow, that's quite paranoid of you."

Even though I said that. I feel bothered that she felt that way. I made sure to speak what she liked to hear and also catered to some of her interests. If anything I was barely able to make sure that she liked me enough not to kill me.

She stared at me.

"I mean you could be trying to seduce me for information or something."

"Miss Kim Jisoo, if I was trying to seduce you. I'd sure as hell be trying harder than this. I'd treat you like a damn lady you'd be sickened of me."

"I'm already half sickened by you, Nik."

"See? We get along well. That's why I keep hanging out with you lately and totally not because of other things that you'd expect."

"Is that so?"

She said with quite a glare.

For once, a night in Pacifica City passed without anything happening.