InstaLoss Adventures - Jaina 1 - Ugly and Stupid

“How fares the city?” Jaina asked. She and the advisor she picked walked along the stilted, wood pathways in the lower levels of Boralus. The market was a charming location smelling of salt and fish, however the mud was so deep at some points that it was necessary to have a raised path.

“The city is recovering and we have you to thank.” The advisor complimented.
“The only criticism I would give you as Lord Admiral is that you need to rest more and work less. There is a 'healthy' balance, you know?”

“I know.” Though her lips didn't move Jaina smiled through her weary eyes at the man, taking his advice under advisement.

“I can't take a vacation. That sounds so... Awful. Still, I appreciate your concern.”

“Not a vacation. A break.”

“A break?”

“A small reprieve during the day for personal matters.” He explains, shocked that he had to explain the concept to her.

She lifted a hand to her chin. “I suppose that would give me time to work on-”

“Personal matters NOT relating to work of any sort.” He interjects.
“Perhaps even just minutes a day?”

“Time without work.” She remarked.
“Isn't that what sleep is for?”

“Goodness...” He plants his face in his palm.
“How much of THAT do you get these days?”

“Joking.” She claimed, stopping on the walk. The advisor continued a few steps, then looked back to see her staring at a sandwich board menu. It belonged to a bar. A popular destination for sailors and pirates. He could see her thinking.
“I could duck in here for a short 'break.' Why... It's so noise I hardly think I could get any amount of work done.”

The advisor eyed her with a lifted brow. Jaina was a mature woman, though her body barely matched her age in multiple ways. Stresses of rule and the harshness of the word were the dye that shifted her hair from blonde to a cold silver over time. The hair, braided and draped around her shoulder showed age but her skin was pristine and even the faintly dark bags under her eyes were temporary and even a little charming to compliment the deep blue of her pupils. Lips sitting in neither a smile nor a frown were subtly painted, giving color to an otherwise pale face. Her body looked sculpted, as if it was deigned that she be given an athletic physic despite never exercising, along with brilliant, modest curves. Her appearance was toned down. Simple white-over-blue robes that revealed very little, if not any of what was described. Regal and scholarly were the two words the elevated her above her predecessors; they were born to rule however the advisor believed she was that and she was fit for it to boot. It was why he gently warned her off of the idea.
“Not there, M'lady. That place is... Not for you.” He immediately regretted his decision.

Her nose crinkled in a way he was not familiar with and her lips twisted subtly. “Why not?” He knew right away that he had driven her into it, not away.

“Well... You see there are far better locations in the-”

Jaina lifted both brows. “Is that to insult this one?”

“In a way. For me to properly assess the value of this place, I think that it would be excellent for some sorts and less so for others... Like yourself.”

“Like myself.” She repeated curiously.

“Like a... Woman.”

She cocked her head inquisitively. “Like a woman?” She mused.
“Am I not more than 'just' a woman? Surely there are other things about me.”

“Why yes... That is not what I meant at all. I simply meant to say that-”

“For... Lords, would this pub be adequate?”

“It would.”

“For Admirals?” She questioned.

The advisor exhaled. “Yes.”

“I am Lord Admiral. It sounds as though it's right for me, then, no?” She jabs.
“Unless you think my womanhood overshadows my station?”

He slumped down in defeat. “Quite right. You are far more than that.” He stepped forward.
“At least let me accompany you then.”

“Oh? Why? A chaperon?”

He knew at that point there was nothing he could say. There was no reason for him to believe it would not be perfectly alright for her. He simply assumed she genuinely would dislike it. It also could have an adverse effect on her, and those running the place.
“A short break, My Lord?”

“Perhaps I'll take your advise and make it a long one. I'll have to see how it is.” She teased.

“Regardless. I will wait.”

“You won't.” She said frankly.

“You are dismissed for now. Return to the Palace for when I am done my 'break.'”

“Understood.” The advisor watched as she disappeared into the twin doors.

Jaina stepped through the twin double doors and within those was a small mud room, then another twin pair of beautifully hued red doors. She passed through those, her sensible shoes clacking on the tile. Stepping in was like stepping into a different world entirely. Smoke filled the roof as if a fire had been blazing for quite a while, but no one seemed to care. Booths circled the wide floor with many men seated within. The bar was a round counter surrounding a raised stage that sat within the smoke that she knew after looking was from cigars. There were single tables surrounding a stage where men gathered to gawk at a dancing woman.
“How unique.” Jaina complimented, resting a hand on an empty podium next to her. After waiting for a minute to be seated, the place that was deserted of male staff aside from the barman gained one more in the form of a large bald man that could have been half Ogre. She looked up at him.
“Could I-”

“I know. You want an application to work here.” He offered in a gruff tone.

“No no.” Jaina laughed.
“The direct opposite. I'm here to take a break. Do we find our own seats or...” She trailed off waiting for an answer.

“Men coming in find their own seats. Women get different treatment.” He grinned.

“How special.” Jaina nodded, glancing around. With her mind brought to the topic of working there, she observed the girls that seemed to be servers. They wore heels so high that they looked uncomfortable, along with string-like outfits that barely covered their parts. The only clothes that they owned that was allowed to cover any skin were stockings and the occasional fish-net sleeve or shirt.
“What different treatment?”

He lifted a 'menu' in front of her face. The items read:

Part-time – 50 Gold per 4 hours.

Full-time – 70 Gold per 8 hours.

Permanent (Room and Board) – 1k Gold Per Day.

She looked at it. “Are these good rates to be paid at? I was expecting a food menu, or a drink menu, or... Anything of that sort. This looks like an application.”

He snorted. “Those are for the male customers. For girls, all the food and drink are complimentary with any of these packages.”

Jaina put it together in her mind, but it was still hard to believe. “I see. So those numbers aren't pay they are-”

“What you pay US to 'work' here.”

Jaina laughed heartily. “That... That is quite a good joke!” She stopped to notice he was not laughing.
“You're serious? All of these woman are paying that much to be here and work? Why would they do that?”

“That's just the market, honey. We don't set the prices. It's what you girls are willing to pay.”

“I don't believe that at all.”

“Go ahead and talk to any of the girls to see for yourself.” He offered.
“But don't bother the paying 'customers' too much.”

Jaina did just that. She spoke to various woman and acquired various quotes and opinions. The first was a dark-haired woman no older than Taelia.
“Every time I get a paycheck I come here and spend it to do a part-time shift. It's such a GREAT way to unwind after a long day.”

“What do you do?”

“Oh, I'm an officer candidate.”

“I'm sorry?” Jaina blinked.

“Yeah! We've met before. I love coming here because it's like a break from all the hard, taxing work I have ahead of me.”

“Oh..” Jaina moved on to another woman. She was a bit older and had a seasoned look about her.
“What do you do?”

“Me? I actually take the full-time package because it saves gold in the long run.”

“Outside this place.”

“Oh! I'm a captain.”

“Why would you want to pay to work here full-time after leaving a full-time shift as a captain?”

“It's not that bad. What it actually is is I come back from deployment and have no work so I spend all my money here.” She chuckles.

“Why?”

“Oh, you don't know? You take the recruitment package for startup customers and it'll show you everything you need to know about why. I gotta get back to it. Bye!” She waved.

Jaina asked another girl who explained. “The startup package? Yeah, you just gotta ask for it. It's quite the experience. I was skeptical at first, as well. I'm a tidesage but now I basically make this a second home. It feel AMAZING to have a place where people no longer treat me like I'm their equal.”

“Wait, what?” Jaina felt confused, but that woman also broke off to continue working. She asked another to clarify.

“Outside, it's like... Why was I even born a woman if everyone is just gonna treat me like I'm a man and can do everything a man can do? It's great for society but sucks for... Everything else. I just wanna be treated differently, you know?”

“I do not.” Jaina remarked.

“Sounds like you need the startup package. Ta honey! Good luck.” The girl walked off, leaving Jaina in the dark. She returned to the podium and eyed the menu. There was indeed a:

Startup Package – Free

“Hmm.” She was humming and hawing out loud as the man returned. She looked up at him.
“What is the startup package? It comes highly recommended.”

“It's a full immersion experience that begins the moment you sign our guest book the first time.” Jaina glances over at the open book with several signatures already scrawled inside. She glanced back at him as he continued.
“It doesn't stop until, well... You'll have to find out.”

“Okay.” She walks over to the book and grabs the pen.
“How bad could it be?”She bent down and scrawled her name in an open space beneath the last. As soon as she did a heavy hand swung down in a wide arc. The thick palm placed a smack on her rear. Her back straightened, then arched back as she looked over her shoulder to see the bald man. Jaina opened her mouth to complain, but his hand lingered and two fingers sunk into her robes and pressed, rubbing her cunt.
“What- what are you doing!?” She turned and glared at him. In response he hooked two fingers into her collar and pulled down. One by one strings snapped and buttons popped until her breasts were close to falling out. Jaina seethed at him and covered her chest.
“What is the meaning of this.”

“Just as I thought. First thing we need to do is alter your taste in men.”

She shook her head. Ridiculous... How do you plan on doing that?”

He reached under the podium, activating something. Jaina felt an odd buzzing. “We go back through your memories and just minorly adjust a few things. Nothing too big that it's noticeable.”

“No way.” She remarked.
“How?”

“I keep talking and talking.” He held up his finger and moved it back and forth. Her eyes followed it without realizing.
“Performing very mind actions that are super out in the open and obvious, but they occupy your brain and so do my words.” He taps her shoulder. She turns but he quickly gets her attention again.
“No no, look back.” He moved his finger forward and back.

“This... Is not working.” She said, furrowing her brow.

“It may not be but the reality is, if I just keep talking and doing stuff to occupy your mind you're gonna change your mind and say something stupid like..” He mocked her voice.
“This didn't work at all. Then I'll agree with you and you wont even think about how your brain just got washed in a subtle way.”

Jaina smirked. “This didn't work at all.” She knew what he was saying was complete bull.

“Damn.” he rubbed the back of his bald head.
“I guess you got a stronger will than most.”

“So what was the point?”

“Usually it's all we need to trick a broad. Once they feel good about ugly, stupid guys treating them badly it's all down hill from there.”

Jaina gulped. “What did you say?”

“Ugly, stupid guys?” That thought triggered something in her. She tried not to show a reaction.