Helping Out

Golden Pussies, a massive two story house, were right in front of them. A large ship's wheel, nearly two meters across, was suspended above the entrance door, held aloft by ropes that had long since lost their original color. The ropes, knotted and frayed in places, barely supported the wheel, which had seen better days. Cracks had formed along its spokes, and crude repairs using branches and vines had only made it serviceable enough for its current use.

Above the wheel, a wooden sign bore the name 'Golden Pussies,' adorned with a carved black cat perched atop the letter 'G.' The cat, crafted with surprising detail, held one paw up as if licking it, its tail curled around the 'P.' Despite the charm of the carving, the cat's pose seemed to cast a judgmental air, as if it were eyeing each visitor with a wary gaze.

"Oh, man," Hyun-Ki said, his voice filled with nervous excitement. "Should I really just go in there?"

"Hmm," Soul replied absently, clearly not paying much attention.

"Do I smell weird? We trained so hard this morning!" Hyun-Ki continued, now sounding more anxious. "I mean, I bathed twice... I don't stink, right?"

"Hmm," Soul repeated, giving him a sidelong glance.

"Okay, deep breaths," Hyun-Ki said, exhaling slowly. "They're only super hot, super beautiful women. I mean... it's normal. Nearly every guy I know visits Golden Pussies. Even Key!"

"Hmm," Soul grunted, more interested in the people milling about than Hyun-Ki's dilemma.

"What should I say to them?" Hyun-Ki asked, now pacing slightly. "I mean, how does the whole thing work? Do I just stroll in there and say, 'Give me a woman, damn it!' or what?"

"Hmm," Soul said again, his attention drifting elsewhere.

"Okay… I've waited enough. I'll go. You come with me."

"Hmm… wait, no. I'll be outside. I'm not going to have sex with a woman I don't know."

"Please."

'This man. Don't you have any other friends?'

"No."

"Please! Come on, man!"

"Okay… if I got with you, would you consider this as me, helping you?"

"Yes, of course!"

"Okay, then." he said. "I'll go with you."

"Phew. Thanks."

It was a dimly lit brothel, with a round stage at its center. The stage was encircled by a tall, one-way mirror, which allowed the men on the other side to watch without being seen. The women, with their long hair and flowing dresses, sat on the sofas inside the stage, adjusting their makeup and whispering to each other. Some laughed softly, brushing their curls behind their ears, while others cast sultry glances toward the hidden audience, their red lips curving into slow smiles.

The room itself was draped in thick velvet, the dark shades of crimson and purple creating a sense of enclosed secrecy. Torches flickered along the stone walls, casting a warm glow over the women on stage. The light caught on their jewelry, reflecting off gold and silver as they toyed with their necklaces and bracelets.

In the dimly lit area beyond the stage, men sat on wooden benches, their eyes glued to the scene before them. From their vantage point, they could see the women clearly, but the women saw only their own reflections, which they often used as a mirror to adjust their clothing or perfect a coquettish pose.

"Nierman's tits…" Hyun-Ki gulped nervously, looking at the women. "Soul… I think I'm going to die."

"Just pick a woman and enter a room, Ki."

"Easy to say! You do that!"

"I'm not going to waste my gold on these women. Earning money is hard."

The women of the Golden Pussies dressed to seduce. Their clothing was designed to reveal and tease, leaving just enough to the imagination to keep the watchers enthralled. Their dresses were made from fine silks and satins, draped elegantly but cut provocatively. Deep necklines plunged low, offering tantalizing glimpses of cleavage. High slits ran up the sides of their skirts, showing off long, graceful legs with every step or sway.

"Hello, welcome to Golden Pussies." The woman behind the desk greeted them with a sultry smile, her voice smooth and warm. She was seated close to Hyun-Ki, leaning slightly forward as if sharing a secret. "What are you looking for today, dear customers?"

Hyun-Ki felt the heat rise to his cheeks. His laugh came out nervous and unsteady. "I – uh… I'd like to get a room with a... a woman. A worker. I mean, a female worker."

"Sure thing," she replied, not missing a beat, her eyes twinkling with amusement at his flustered response. "Do you have someone in mind, or would you like to see your options? And are you planning on staying for an hour, or just one session?"

Hyun-Ki glanced around, then back at her. "Just one session, please."

She nodded, her pen poised over a ledger. "Okay, now just choose the woman you'd like to spend your time with." Her smile grew a little wider, her gaze patient and expectant, as if she'd seen it all before.

"Okay, I'll..." Hyun-Ki looked at the book she handed him. It was filled with photographs of the women who worked at Golden Pussies. Each photo was accompanied by a brief description. "I'd like her. Elser."

"Good choice," the woman behind the desk replied with a knowing smile. "That'll be ten gold for a session." She then turned her attention to Soul, who had been standing quietly beside Hyun-Ki. "And how about you, sir?"

"I'm good." He said with a boring tone.

"Okay. Just so you know, watching the girls on the stage is eight gold." she said, her playful smile still intact.

"Eight?" Soul asked. "One session is ten gold. That doesn't make any sense."

The woman chuckled softly. "Well, then pick a girl!" she said with a sly wink. "Or just enjoy the view on stage. Either way, it's worth it."

"I'll exit."

"Don't you dare, Soul." he whispered urgently, his fingers fumbling through his pouch as he counted out the ten gold coins. "Don't bail on me at the last second. You said you'd help me."

"Hmm… I'll pay the eight gold."

"Hey, man – if you don't have the gold I can back you up." suggested Hyun-Ki.

"I don't want to lose my virginity in a brothel, Ki. You go ahead."

"Well… okay, sure."

Soul paid the eight gold coins, his expression as unreadable as ever. As the woman behind the desk tucked the coins away, she gave him a puzzled look, watching as he made his way past the stage area without even looking at the women behind the one-way mirror. Instead, Soul found a small table in a shadowy corner and sat down, folding his arms across his chest. The muffled sounds of the harp music and the subdued murmur of men conversing filled the dimly lit brothel, but Soul seemed uninterested in it all. He closed his eyes, tuning everything out, and drifted off to sleep.

Soul was easily the most boring and dull person in the brothel. The others in the brothel chatted, flirted, and drank, but Soul remained the embodiment of apathy, utterly out of place in a venue designed for excitement.

Twenty minutes later, Hyun-Ki burst through the door, his steps uneven and his grin stretched from ear to ear. His hair was messed up, and his shirt was buttoned up incorrectly, but he didn't seem to notice. He glanced around the brothel, his eyes wide with a mixture of excitement and disbelief.

"Man," he said, almost breathless, "I can't believe it! I mean, it was... wow!" He looked around, seeking out Soul, and found him asleep at the table. "Soul! Hey, wake up!"

Hyun-Ki walked toward him.

Soul opened his eyes, blinking as he sat up. "You're done already?" he asked, sounding unimpressed.

"Yeah!" Hyun-Ki replied, his voice filled with awe. "That was... I mean, I can't even describe it. She was amazing! Like, I feel like a whole new person now. I mean... wow!"

Soul nodded, rubbing his eyes. "So, you got what you wanted?"

"Oh, yeah!" Hyun-Ki said, still grinning from ear to ear. "But man, I didn't think it would be so intense! She was, like, a professional, you know? And she knew exactly what to do! I was a little nervous at first, but she just... made everything so easy."

Soul gave him a flat look. "I don't need the details."

"Man – that was awesome!"

'Don't kill him, Soul. Don't kill him. Don't kill him. Don't kill him. Calm down.'

Soul shook his head, standing up from the table. "Good for you," he said, his tone even. "You ready to go, then?"

Hyun-Ki nodded eagerly. "Yeah, let's get out of here," he said, his excitement still evident. "I can't wait to tell the others. They're not gonna believe it!"