Judgement – "Sir, your picadilloes are showing."
by Lieutenant Bridget Stapleton & Alderman Yolanthe Ibalin
Post Details
ON:
Edward walked through the lunch rush on the promenade, his freshly cleaned costume folded over one arm. He wore faded blue jeans, a long sleeved green henley that was almost threadbare at the elbows, and a black baseball cap. It was comfort clothing, his usual outfit when he was a taxi pilot.
He approached the doors to the Box and knocked, seeing one of the outrageously handsome young men within, who turned at the sound and stood with a quizzical expression on his face. The boy was just about to point toward the closed sign, but then he quickly recovered himself and came to let Edward in.
It was obvious to Edward by the barely suppressed grin and look in in the boy's eye, that there was a shared joke among the employees about the new guy. But he chose to ignore it, keeping in perspective the fact that the kid was just that. A kid. As he recalled, all of the employees he'd met were young enough -- or at least appeared young enough -- to be his own children. It made him wonder what standards the owner used for choosing the workers.
Ahjess was dressed in pants that looked more like they were clinging to his hips for dear life rather than actually being deliberately put on. "You came back!" He gave Edward a wide grin. "The granny brigade didn't put you off? You're braver than you look."
"Thanks." He let the sarcasm in his voice speak for itself.
"We told the boss what we did last night, after she sobered up. She wants to meet you." He gave Edward a sideways smirk. "Better get that kit on."
After she sobered up. So that's why he was hired by the boys rather than the owner. It led him to wonder what was going to happen. He hadn't done anything wrong that he could recall, but at the same time he didn't fit the cloth that the others seemed to be cut from. He pursed his lips, thinking that perhaps the young man who'd hired him had some ulterior motive for doing so, and that the owner wanted to see him to let him go. Well, at least he could probably get the janitorial job, if it was still available.
He went to the room with all the costumes and changed into his swashbuckler outfit. Looking about, he found a row of cubicles that looked like they belonged to employees. He put his neatly folded clothing and personal belongings into an empty one.
When Edward knocked, a throaty female voice replied, "Its open." Edward stepped forward, and the door obediently slid aside, revealing Yolanthe's office.
The office itself was a vision of monochromatic decadence. White carpet, black furniture with white upholstery, all decorated with curlicues and flounces to give the whole place the feel of a rococo salon rather than an office in a space station some six hundred years later. There were only two strange notes.
The first was the wall behind the ebony desk. Displayed there were an assortment of weapons, knives, knuckle dusters, even phasers and a disruptor. And sitting in amongst them was a gold lame posing pouch, and a small leather drawstring bag, hanging from hooks like any other trophy.
The second note was the woman who had invited him to come in. She sat at the desk, reading padds. She was a grey violet colour, like dawn fog on the mountain, and even sitting down Edward could see she was tall. She looked him over, and the violet grey became slightly turquoise. "Edward?" There was confusion in her voice, as if she'd been expecting someone else.
"Ma'am," he nodded. The color of her skin took him by surprise.
She examined him in silence, with a frankness that was both impersonal and unusual. Her eyes lingered on his chest, and then moved to his hips, then his crotch, and then finally back to his face. "You're the new boy?" Beneath the grey the colours flickered, aqua, yellow, blue, purple.
"Hardly a boy." He referred to her appraisal.
"Take a seat." she pointed to the chair in front of her. "How do you think you did?"
"I did well," he said as he sat. "Steady customers at my table all night. The house didn't suffer." He was careful to keep his tone neutral, though a slight elongation of the vowels betrayed his tension. He had the sense she was going to challenge him. A combination of the weaponry on her wall, her skin color changes and her manner. Whether it was first impression misconceptions or not, his mind went on guard.
"You're right," she said, consulting a padd. "The house didn't suffer. But it didn't sparkle either. Ahjess said you stuck to our older customers. Do you think you can flirt with everyone else?"
He sat silent for a moment. Everyone else - that was ambiguous enough that it could mean almost anything. He recalled meeting Ai'lani last night, and the effect the Deltan's pheromones had on him. He blushed in reflex. If she asked him to flirt with other males, they were going to have a problem.
"That depends on what you mean by flirting with everyone else."
"I mean everyone else," Yolanthe replied. "The point of a dabo boy, or girl, is to be as distracting as possible, but in a pleasant way, which usually means sex. If you want to stay, you need to be a passable flirt with anyone you think will respond to it."
He traced his lips with thumb and forefinger, drawing them around the corners of his mouth and down his chin - an unconscious habit he had when he deliberated something, the outcome of which he already knew was going to be unpleasant.
"No."
"Sorry?" Even though she had been away from home for three years, she had so few men say no to her, she wasn't used to it.
"The older women - the granny brigade, as Ahjess calls them - sure, I'll flirt with them. They know I'm not out to get into their panties, but they appreciate the attention anyway. So the flirting is harmless." He paused a moment before going on, folding his arms across his chest. "I would wager you have a hard time getting your Dabo boys to flirt with the granny brigade. They tend to gravitate toward the prettier, younger customers. But you probably know already that the grannies are traditionally the most affluent demographic in any population. Steady incomes, no dependents, and lots of discretionary funds in their budgets. If tapping that resource has previously been an issue, then perhaps you've got a solution on your hands."
She looked at him a long time. So long Edward wondered what was going to happen next. Eventually she said, "Actually, the boys and girls do flirt with anyone. It's getting a response that's harder. And you're right, the older people tend to be more frivolous with their money, but being buttered up by boys young enough to be their children tends to ring a bad note, and it doesn't go down as well."
She tipped her head on one side, considering him. "And you're right, having an older boy might be a solution. But shifts are variable, and I can't promise to keep you to the little old ladies. You may well have to do something you don't like doing."
It was Edward's turn to be silent for a long time. considering her words. It was almost as if their non-verbal parries were as potent as their verbal thrusts. He appreciated an employer who had a firm grasp on what was required of their employees. He'd seen too many wishy-washy bosses who didn't have the faintest idea what they were doing and had no business managing people. That didn't appear to be the case here.
But at the same time, there were standards of behavior that he'd committed to, that he believed in. Monogamy, for one thing. And he was old enough to know he had limitations where it came to temptation. Any spouse who believed they were so much in love that they were immune to having their head turned by a pretty face was just a fool.
"I'm a happily married, heterosexual man. So while I can appreciate the necessities of the job, I'm not going to violate my conscience in order to do it. I've got too much invested in my marriage to put that at risk. Now, if that disqualifies me for the job, then so be it. But if you want to keep me on, then I won't flirt with males or young women. Period."
Yolanthe folded her hands, and tapped her lips with linked fingers. "Stand up. Turn around."
He didn't hesitate. Standing, he stepped to the side of the chair and faced her, making a slow pirouette. He was having to stretch to keep his cool about it, though. Feeling like a side of beef before a prospective butcher, he turned in place and regarded her with a level gaze, his eye challenging her to find fault with his physique.
"Alright, I'm going to talk to the others, see if we can accommodate your special requirements, but I'll be honest. Everyone is expected to do The Duty; I won't take you on if the others think that's unfair."
"I understand. Do you wish me to ready the Dabo table? Or is there something else you'd want me to do while I await your decision?" He had a fairly good idea what the young men would say; he was a novelty in their world, a fossil, a throwback. They'd vote to keep him on, if for no other reason than entertainment.
She smiled, pleased with his initiative. "Why don't you go see Ahjess, he can set you some work whilst I talk to the others." She got up from the desk, and Edward saw that she was of a height with him, slightly taller due to the high heeled boots she wore.
"Lets go through."
There was only a moment's pause on his part as he had to mentally adjust to her exotic nature, yet again. "Ahjess. Right." He gave a short nod and gestured for her to lead the way, his old-fashioned manners automatically kicking in to give a woman deference to pass through a door first, regardless of the fact that she was taller than he was in those dominatrix boots, and could probably beat the hell out of him in a fight.
She either didn't notice or didn't understand the gesture, but walked through to leave him with Ahjess, who gave him boxes of chips to distribute to the tables, and then hurried off to join the rest of the staff who were huddled in the opposite corner. Every so often he caught sight of a head rising out of the huddle to look at him, before returning.
It was some ten minutes later when Yolanthe signalled for him to join her on the sofas in the window of The Box. "We've reached a decision. My staff are prepared to cut you some slack on the patrons, if you're prepared to pick it up in other areas. We're going to give it two weeks. If you can bring in 15% more than the others just from the older demographic, and everyone else still feels comfortable with you not pitching in fully, you can stay. Is that all right?"
"Fine with me," he said, although he had is doubts whether or not he'd be able to pull it off. He'd always had better tips from elderly women who'd ridden in his shuttle taxi; but that was comparing apples to oranges. Nevertheless, he liked to challenge himself, and this was as good an opportunity as any. Worst case scenario, he'd just go look for another job, or barring that, take up knitting.
"Good." Yolanthe looked him up and down again, this time, there was more aqua in her colour. "To be honest, I have no idea if this is going to work. I'm not comfortable with letting you off the hook. But if I end up with more money, and the rest of my people can stand it, everyone wins. So we'll see how it goes. And whatever happens, have fun."
He saw the color change in her skin and wondered what it meant. Kindof reminded him of the old mood rings that kids wore in his childhood. "I'll do my best."
OFF:
Edward Stapleton
Dabo Boy, The Box Of Delights
(NPC by Charlene)
&
Yolanthe Ibalin
Owner, The Box Of Delights
by Lieutenant Bridget Stapleton & Alderman Yolanthe Ibalin
Post Details
| Title | "Sir, your picadilloes are showing." | |
| Mission | Judgement | |
| Author(s) | Lieutenant Bridget Stapleton & Alderman Yolanthe Ibalin | |
| Posted | Thu Jan 20, 2011 @ 3:28pm | |
| Location | The Box Of Delights | |
| Timeline | SD36 - 1130 |
Edward walked through the lunch rush on the promenade, his freshly cleaned costume folded over one arm. He wore faded blue jeans, a long sleeved green henley that was almost threadbare at the elbows, and a black baseball cap. It was comfort clothing, his usual outfit when he was a taxi pilot.
He approached the doors to the Box and knocked, seeing one of the outrageously handsome young men within, who turned at the sound and stood with a quizzical expression on his face. The boy was just about to point toward the closed sign, but then he quickly recovered himself and came to let Edward in.
It was obvious to Edward by the barely suppressed grin and look in in the boy's eye, that there was a shared joke among the employees about the new guy. But he chose to ignore it, keeping in perspective the fact that the kid was just that. A kid. As he recalled, all of the employees he'd met were young enough -- or at least appeared young enough -- to be his own children. It made him wonder what standards the owner used for choosing the workers.
Ahjess was dressed in pants that looked more like they were clinging to his hips for dear life rather than actually being deliberately put on. "You came back!" He gave Edward a wide grin. "The granny brigade didn't put you off? You're braver than you look."
"Thanks." He let the sarcasm in his voice speak for itself.
"We told the boss what we did last night, after she sobered up. She wants to meet you." He gave Edward a sideways smirk. "Better get that kit on."
After she sobered up. So that's why he was hired by the boys rather than the owner. It led him to wonder what was going to happen. He hadn't done anything wrong that he could recall, but at the same time he didn't fit the cloth that the others seemed to be cut from. He pursed his lips, thinking that perhaps the young man who'd hired him had some ulterior motive for doing so, and that the owner wanted to see him to let him go. Well, at least he could probably get the janitorial job, if it was still available.
He went to the room with all the costumes and changed into his swashbuckler outfit. Looking about, he found a row of cubicles that looked like they belonged to employees. He put his neatly folded clothing and personal belongings into an empty one.
When Edward knocked, a throaty female voice replied, "Its open." Edward stepped forward, and the door obediently slid aside, revealing Yolanthe's office.
The office itself was a vision of monochromatic decadence. White carpet, black furniture with white upholstery, all decorated with curlicues and flounces to give the whole place the feel of a rococo salon rather than an office in a space station some six hundred years later. There were only two strange notes.
The first was the wall behind the ebony desk. Displayed there were an assortment of weapons, knives, knuckle dusters, even phasers and a disruptor. And sitting in amongst them was a gold lame posing pouch, and a small leather drawstring bag, hanging from hooks like any other trophy.
The second note was the woman who had invited him to come in. She sat at the desk, reading padds. She was a grey violet colour, like dawn fog on the mountain, and even sitting down Edward could see she was tall. She looked him over, and the violet grey became slightly turquoise. "Edward?" There was confusion in her voice, as if she'd been expecting someone else.
"Ma'am," he nodded. The color of her skin took him by surprise.
She examined him in silence, with a frankness that was both impersonal and unusual. Her eyes lingered on his chest, and then moved to his hips, then his crotch, and then finally back to his face. "You're the new boy?" Beneath the grey the colours flickered, aqua, yellow, blue, purple.
"Hardly a boy." He referred to her appraisal.
"Take a seat." she pointed to the chair in front of her. "How do you think you did?"
"I did well," he said as he sat. "Steady customers at my table all night. The house didn't suffer." He was careful to keep his tone neutral, though a slight elongation of the vowels betrayed his tension. He had the sense she was going to challenge him. A combination of the weaponry on her wall, her skin color changes and her manner. Whether it was first impression misconceptions or not, his mind went on guard.
"You're right," she said, consulting a padd. "The house didn't suffer. But it didn't sparkle either. Ahjess said you stuck to our older customers. Do you think you can flirt with everyone else?"
He sat silent for a moment. Everyone else - that was ambiguous enough that it could mean almost anything. He recalled meeting Ai'lani last night, and the effect the Deltan's pheromones had on him. He blushed in reflex. If she asked him to flirt with other males, they were going to have a problem.
"That depends on what you mean by flirting with everyone else."
"I mean everyone else," Yolanthe replied. "The point of a dabo boy, or girl, is to be as distracting as possible, but in a pleasant way, which usually means sex. If you want to stay, you need to be a passable flirt with anyone you think will respond to it."
He traced his lips with thumb and forefinger, drawing them around the corners of his mouth and down his chin - an unconscious habit he had when he deliberated something, the outcome of which he already knew was going to be unpleasant.
"No."
"Sorry?" Even though she had been away from home for three years, she had so few men say no to her, she wasn't used to it.
"The older women - the granny brigade, as Ahjess calls them - sure, I'll flirt with them. They know I'm not out to get into their panties, but they appreciate the attention anyway. So the flirting is harmless." He paused a moment before going on, folding his arms across his chest. "I would wager you have a hard time getting your Dabo boys to flirt with the granny brigade. They tend to gravitate toward the prettier, younger customers. But you probably know already that the grannies are traditionally the most affluent demographic in any population. Steady incomes, no dependents, and lots of discretionary funds in their budgets. If tapping that resource has previously been an issue, then perhaps you've got a solution on your hands."
She looked at him a long time. So long Edward wondered what was going to happen next. Eventually she said, "Actually, the boys and girls do flirt with anyone. It's getting a response that's harder. And you're right, the older people tend to be more frivolous with their money, but being buttered up by boys young enough to be their children tends to ring a bad note, and it doesn't go down as well."
She tipped her head on one side, considering him. "And you're right, having an older boy might be a solution. But shifts are variable, and I can't promise to keep you to the little old ladies. You may well have to do something you don't like doing."
It was Edward's turn to be silent for a long time. considering her words. It was almost as if their non-verbal parries were as potent as their verbal thrusts. He appreciated an employer who had a firm grasp on what was required of their employees. He'd seen too many wishy-washy bosses who didn't have the faintest idea what they were doing and had no business managing people. That didn't appear to be the case here.
But at the same time, there were standards of behavior that he'd committed to, that he believed in. Monogamy, for one thing. And he was old enough to know he had limitations where it came to temptation. Any spouse who believed they were so much in love that they were immune to having their head turned by a pretty face was just a fool.
"I'm a happily married, heterosexual man. So while I can appreciate the necessities of the job, I'm not going to violate my conscience in order to do it. I've got too much invested in my marriage to put that at risk. Now, if that disqualifies me for the job, then so be it. But if you want to keep me on, then I won't flirt with males or young women. Period."
Yolanthe folded her hands, and tapped her lips with linked fingers. "Stand up. Turn around."
He didn't hesitate. Standing, he stepped to the side of the chair and faced her, making a slow pirouette. He was having to stretch to keep his cool about it, though. Feeling like a side of beef before a prospective butcher, he turned in place and regarded her with a level gaze, his eye challenging her to find fault with his physique.
"Alright, I'm going to talk to the others, see if we can accommodate your special requirements, but I'll be honest. Everyone is expected to do The Duty; I won't take you on if the others think that's unfair."
"I understand. Do you wish me to ready the Dabo table? Or is there something else you'd want me to do while I await your decision?" He had a fairly good idea what the young men would say; he was a novelty in their world, a fossil, a throwback. They'd vote to keep him on, if for no other reason than entertainment.
She smiled, pleased with his initiative. "Why don't you go see Ahjess, he can set you some work whilst I talk to the others." She got up from the desk, and Edward saw that she was of a height with him, slightly taller due to the high heeled boots she wore.
"Lets go through."
There was only a moment's pause on his part as he had to mentally adjust to her exotic nature, yet again. "Ahjess. Right." He gave a short nod and gestured for her to lead the way, his old-fashioned manners automatically kicking in to give a woman deference to pass through a door first, regardless of the fact that she was taller than he was in those dominatrix boots, and could probably beat the hell out of him in a fight.
She either didn't notice or didn't understand the gesture, but walked through to leave him with Ahjess, who gave him boxes of chips to distribute to the tables, and then hurried off to join the rest of the staff who were huddled in the opposite corner. Every so often he caught sight of a head rising out of the huddle to look at him, before returning.
It was some ten minutes later when Yolanthe signalled for him to join her on the sofas in the window of The Box. "We've reached a decision. My staff are prepared to cut you some slack on the patrons, if you're prepared to pick it up in other areas. We're going to give it two weeks. If you can bring in 15% more than the others just from the older demographic, and everyone else still feels comfortable with you not pitching in fully, you can stay. Is that all right?"
"Fine with me," he said, although he had is doubts whether or not he'd be able to pull it off. He'd always had better tips from elderly women who'd ridden in his shuttle taxi; but that was comparing apples to oranges. Nevertheless, he liked to challenge himself, and this was as good an opportunity as any. Worst case scenario, he'd just go look for another job, or barring that, take up knitting.
"Good." Yolanthe looked him up and down again, this time, there was more aqua in her colour. "To be honest, I have no idea if this is going to work. I'm not comfortable with letting you off the hook. But if I end up with more money, and the rest of my people can stand it, everyone wins. So we'll see how it goes. And whatever happens, have fun."
He saw the color change in her skin and wondered what it meant. Kindof reminded him of the old mood rings that kids wore in his childhood. "I'll do my best."
OFF:
Edward Stapleton
Dabo Boy, The Box Of Delights
(NPC by Charlene)
&
Yolanthe Ibalin
Owner, The Box Of Delights