Chapter 1: Seduction

[EriChar]

The Disciplinarian's Handbook

Chapter One: Seduction

“Hah… Hah… Hah… Hah…” The slow, steady sound of strained breath was the only sound that dared to intrude into the silence of a dark and gloomy warehouse, sitting not far from the dock and shipyards of the glitzy and glamorous Amino Island, well away from the bright lights of it’s renowned Serine City. If one had heard the sound of these breaths and drawn into the large storeroom because of some sort of concern, the first thing that they would see when entering would be nothing; the room was filled with blackness, and only the loose panels and cracks in its outer wall permitted small, scared, strands of light into this stronghold of darkness where the sound of heavy breathing was the only thing to greet them.

As one spent time in this environment, this landscaped that looked as if it had been sprayed with the night’s sky, slowly, like the pace of that noisy respiration, the details that were immediately hidden by the transition into the shadows would reveal themselves to eyes adjusting to the almost non-existent level of light within the locale. Half empty, or half full, depending upon how one might choose to view the world, as the almost trembling, terrified level of light that crawled into the room and provided a view of its interior illuminated a viewing eye, they would see many stacked crates, a number that one would hate to have to count, but not enough to completely fill the space, leaving several areas that were bereft of any object at all, and one large one that had only one thing in it. Hanging from the ceiling, as the timid light washed itself over the glimmer of steel, the eye would be drawn either up or down; seeing the metal rope of a chain affixed to the roof one way, or the figure or a man, slumping down from the ceiling the other.

“Hah… Hah… Hah… Please-“ The steady timbre of the breathing broken, albeit temporarily by the intrusion of words, this unwelcome guest was quickly put into place by a hand; one wrapped in the same darkness that enveloped the room. Striking across the face of the figure that was suspended from the ceiling, those pleading words were batted away with ferocity of force that would no doubt signal to anything that once wanted to follow, that the path it intended on travelling was decidedly not a safe one.

“Who told you to speak?” Words unimpeded this time struck their way into the dark silence, ones that were much higher pitched than those that fell from the panting mouth, and filled with irritation at the happenstance of that deeper, unneeded pre-dialogue. These words of lighter resonance, the ones that impressed frustration, were born from a second figure in the room; one wrapped in far more wicked dark than the first, that almost seemed to gleam like the metal, and was shaped not like a human, but more like that of a demon. It was a humanoid shadow with clawing wings and horns protruding from its head; a very being that would, no doubt, make decidedly sure that such undesired utterances were not left unpunished for their intrusion.

“Such liberties taken when they were not offered, it would seem that I need to remind you of your position in this…” A slender but blackened arm lifting up something that was at the same time both brighter and dirtier than the body that held it, from which an equally lean finger danced around that naughty mouth, forcefully, aggressively, that offending orifice was occupied by the balled up form of a rotten old sock; unwashed and soiled with grime from whatever task it had been used for prior to becoming a gag.
“You are worthless; nothing more than the filth that dirties my boot, and you feel that this lowly existence, if you could call it that, entitles you to speak to me?” The words of this torturer, this devilish seeker of discipline barely having a moment to escape the mouth of their speaker, the softness of the silence was suddenly made far harder, far harsher by a loud sharp crack; the sound of a whip being struck against flesh, and the muffled, sobbing moan was all that could emanate from the plugged hole in the bound figure’s face.
“It does not.” The white frames of eyes snatching a beam of light and highlighting that this devil, this soft-voiced succubus, possessed eyes of deep, vengeful crimson as they shone like lanterns of lament over the still pained person who they had chained up. That almost silence resuming, this time not panting being the steady marker of the lacking noise but rather the sobs and snuffles produced from a gagged mouth, lingering in the environment for what seemed like a painful few hours, but was actually only the matter of a minute at the most, before being broken once more.

Jingling like the sound of an alarm clock, the uneasy atmosphere was broken by, of all things, an egg timer; alerting someone in the room that some amount of time had expired.
“Oh, looks like your time’s up!” The devilish shadow snatching up the alarm and shutting it off, her vocalization had the same sound as the words uttered before, but far less of their biting grasp, like the desire for vengeance and control had diffused. Rustling with unseen objects, the devil seemed to be packing some unseen collection away before bracing up and regarding it’s bound figure.
“I’m sure a few more lessons and you’ll make a nicely obedient little pet…!” Chirping, almost with a sense of giddy happiness, the devil then seemed to wave a limb at the body, and then move off from it, snapping hard heels into the ground like striking drums at it walked. The prospective ‘pet’, seeing it’s disciplinarian stepping off, began to wriggle and writhe against the metal that kept it bound there, vocalizations were attempted by the gag had not been removed, and as the demonic shape crossed the warehouse, away from its victim, all that happened was that indistinct moans were ignored. Unfortunately for the submissive in this little game, the words of pleading and want for pity had occupied the time that he had paid to be released, so he would have to be left to contemplate his lack of foresight until another soul discovered him, since the dominant had no intention of spending its own time for such a task. They had an agreement, after all, and the timer had told them that the time of its that he had bought was up, was it really this shadows fault that the time had been spent unwisely by its buyer? The devil certainly thought not.

With a rumble and the grating sound of heavy metal dragging across the floor, the devil-shaped shadow stepped into the sunlight, illuminating it’s form and revealing that this was no spectre or demon, but rather a woman. Bathed in light, the full form of this person could now be seen; a woman, or perhaps better termed a girl given the youthfulness with which she appeared, looking to be in her late teens, with white skin like a china doll, and rather energetic looking locks coloured like a gem of not blue nor green, but both. Amply proportioned, the long legs that this girl possessed made her seem taller than one might expect for a girl of this surrounding, being as tall if not more so, than the average man of these parts. Dressed in shadows, the black lustre of leather wrapped around her form, as a corset and highly cut shorts bound her body as tightly as the chains that she had left her victim in previously. Seeming to display only a small amount of flesh, but perhaps the most provocative areas she could, with long gloves and high boots, only the girls thighs, shoulders, chest and back was left exposed on her body, but little covered her face; out in the open with an imp-like expression of mischief abundant within her grin. Those horns, though, and the wings that had been seen in the shadows of the dark were not lost, instead they were seen more clearly; red hair ties with curving protrusions poking out of their top, and from her back, pointed crimson wings pushed out from her flesh, resting comfortably behind her arms. It was these appendages that took the girl, who looked largely human without their notice, and transformed her image into something that looked for crueller and corrupted.

Who was this girl? Why, she was Domina Helens, a travelling ‘Mistress of pain’, and to her, there was an overwhelming lack of ‘sin’ in this city of serenity…

[Deleted]

It was a relatively calm day in the red light district, an oddity, usually the streets were filled with the hustle and bustle of residents and their clients alike, but today the crowd was unusually subdued. Of course, subdued for this district meant that there were still many people wandering the streets, buying or selling, it merely lacked the frantic busyness of a usual day. While outsiders may wonder why a normally thriving community was so uncharacteristically peaceful, locals knew the reason for the silence, flying low on the radar themselves for that very same reason. The missing people, the community had dubbed the event, citizens abruptly gone missing with no trail to follow. People were just up and vanishing, leaving everything behind, and no one was keen on becoming the next victim of this mysterious curse.

One street, however, was about to be disturbed.

The doors to a shady establishment abruptly burst open, and out flew the screaming figure of a large male. As he hit the dirt, a looming shape appeared in the doorway, revealed to be a tall, stunning woman as she stepped out into the light. "And STAY out!" the woman roared at the man attempting to crawl to his feet, desperately trying to save face. "Bitch! I-I'll be back," he sputtered, "then you'll definitely regret this!" Her face was impassive as she stood nonchalantly, one hand resting on a jutted-out hip while the other easily gripped a large polearm, a fierce-looking staff topped with a wicked curved blade. Quick as a flash, she struck with the steel-encased butt of the weapon, thumping him soundly in the side of the knee, causing him to go down with a howl as he clawed at the area, his leg now unnaturally crooked. The imposing woman rolled her eyes, turning around to go back into the brothel before she called over her shoulder, "Relax, it's just dislocated. I barely tapped you."

Leaving the pirate to scream curses at her back, she approached a shadow in the doorway: a small slip of a girl, hugging herself nervously as she eyed the angry male. "You okay, Jasmine? He didn't hurt you?" Concern laced the female's voice as she bent over to examine the much-smaller woman for any injuries, face reflecting her worry. "Oh no, I'm fine, thank you, Akane. Just bruises. I used that pinch you showed me, worked like a charm. He sure let go fast." Akane made a tutting noise, gently taking the girl's wrist and turning her arm over to expose the angry purple bruises in the approximate shape of a man's splayed fingers digging into one's arm. "Foul beast." she muttered, turning to glare at the man with half a mind to beat him some more, but he'd already scampered off, beating a hasty retreat back to his ship where, unknown to the girls, he planned on rallying his crew and coming back to stir up trouble.

The woman was tall, exceedingly so, Amazonian by stature and breeding, with soft, tanned skin and a tangle of lustrous red hair cascading down her back. Braids and beads ran through her mane, which was kept tamed back in a ponytail, save for two pieces that framed her elegantly chiseled face, accentuating her high cheekbones, sculpted brows, narrow jaw, and strong nose. Full lips with a neat cupid's bow were painted the same vibrant shade of red as her hair, bringing out the sharp gold of her expressive eyes. Her figure was muscled with the lean, long musculature of a dancer, giving strength to her wicked curves, her body flaunted by the skimpy dancer's outfit she wore, exposing a taut belly decorated with a jeweled piercing. The look was completed with a series of bangles on her ankles and wrists, as well as a twined golden snake armband on her upper right arm. Quite plainly, she was beautiful, a breathtaking sight to see, quite literally larger than life with her imposing height. This combined with her show of power made her seem all the fiercer, subtly threatening but still impossibly seductive, a dangerous combination indeed. It made it difficult for the men (and women) watching the spectacle to decide whether her great beauty was worth the danger she presented as a fierce fighter or not. And that was just the way Akane preferred it, she appreciated bravery in her clients, it was a worthy trait.

"Well, back to your regularly scheduled afternoon!" the red-haired temptress announced brightly to those who had stopped to witness the fight, causing those with senses of shame to redden and move on with their days. Just another semi-normal day in the red light district.

[EriChar]

There was an air of mischief, of childish tomfoolery present in the young woman named Domina Helens, which was never even lost in so simple an action as moving from one place to another; strolling along the streets of the isle by the name of Amino, from the dank and dingy dockyards toward the lights of its main attraction, the Serine City, the devilish young woman couldn’t help but almost subconsciously wish to cause trouble. Like a young boy might pick up a stick and drag it along the fences he passed on the way to and from his school, so too did Domina currently have a bit of a habit that brought her some mild amusement. Dressed as a mistress of pain of the highest degree, her ensemble would not be complete without some form of implement to inflict such physical distress on another, something that usually sat at her hip and had been named ‘Kumiho’. Exactly where the name came from, the demonic girl did not recall, she seemed to remember it being the name of some sort of monster with nine tails in a land she had read about, or perhaps even visited at some point. A beast with tails numbering nine seemed to perfect moniker for her armament, given its identical number of woven leather straps; a crimson whip of ultimate destruction, it was a useful tool for her practice and a fun toy to play with when she was bored, but more often than not, little more than that. For real combat, the mistress of pain had far more powerful prospects that she could utilize, but for the time being, the whip was enough to distract her from the doldrums of traversing a path filled with individuals distinctly lacking in interesting features. The tips of her whips lashing around like hands on a clock sent into a panicked frenzy, as the feisty young woman whistled a jaunty tune related to the transport of alcohol, her ‘toy’ was twirled around at her side like a baton, with no large amount of care given to those who might cross it’s path. Several times already, on this journey of only a handful of minutes, there had been several near-misses and locals scrambling out the way of the painful path of the lashing’s destruction, and all that had been returned to the angry glares that the girl received was the occasional, insincere ‘Whoops!’.

Her whip still whirling around and around, as she entered the town, whilst many of those who visited this island might have been drawn to the attractions and beacons that the Serine City offered, Miss Helens was not; the bright lights and big promises were the place where people went to have a good time, and those kind of people were not what this woman desired. What the devil girl wanted was a different, far from those who wished to enjoy themselves in the kinds of ways that the island publicised; Domina was looking for those who wanted a ‘bad time’, or what they would think of as an extremely good time. The focus of the island, the glitz and the glamour, these were not where the truly satisfying instants would be found, no; for all the promises that the bright lights made, it was the shadows and out of sight alleyways were the real ‘fun’ was had, and that is where our leading lady was now heading. Why that the impish belle was heading there? Well, whilst is could not be said that this young woman didn’t enjoy her ‘play’ at being a dominatrix; she had more pressing concerns right now. She could make a living doing what she did, and have a fun time pleasing her own sadistic delight in trampling all over the willing, at the moment she had far wickeder intentions for the product of her ‘discipline’. If, by some ‘chance’ someone of wealth and power happened to find their way into one of her ‘dungeons’, and also had the misfortune of being recorded, it would make for a far more comfortable pay day for the girl. Whilst many a woman of similar trade would have promised that the proceedings were strictly confidential, this devil girl did not stick to that principle so strictly that a chance for a big break could be ignored. However, having been here for a few days, contrary to her expectation, not a single juicy little fly had been trapped within this darkly-dressed spider’s web, and that is why she had decided she might have to dip into a dark corner to see where they were all hiding.

There was something indescribable presence of the district of debauchery that would tell someone in the know, someone like Mistress Helens, that they had crossed the ‘red line’; even if they had been blindfolded, and any sign or sound of the activities that these areas were famous for had been perfectly concealed, for some reason, there was a kind of unnoticeable scent that would leave most feeling unknowingly unsettled and agitated. A pheromone, perhaps? Something that harked back to the days of the primordial and signified that ‘the season’ had arrived, but in places like this, there was no fall for the ‘summer of love’; it lasted the whole year. Without even paying a great deal of attention to her surroundings, it was this unseen clue that told Domina she had arrived in the place that she was looking for, and brought forth a small but wicked smile to crease her lips.
What’s this? Looks like they’re putting on a show… Turning a corner that looked dark even in the daylight, the woman with the wings of a demon couldn’t help but feel even more amused by her locale as her eyes settled on the scene of an undesirable being batted around like a rag doll.

Oh? That one looks different from the rest… For some reason, while the sadistic qualities of our favourite devil girl found a focus in the scene of a male being so effortlessly brought to the ground, this was not what inspired the silent sense of awe within the Demonian; it was the person doing the beating. Magnificent in her stature, there was something about the woman that was invisible, but all the same, to the right eye very obvious; superiority. While, in her various excursions to these kinds of locales over the lands, Miss Helens had a chance to view various Madame’s and Pimps defending their ‘talent’, there was something that set this one apart; anyone could beat up those who were perceived as a threat to what they saw as their ‘property’, but with this woman, there was a passion, a pride in what she did. There was a sense of disrespect; the women in this brothel, protected by the redhead, were far more than simple means to an end, they were family, family who were to be protected. A person who excelled in pulling out the ‘real’ side of people through her methods, the insight of Domina Helens into the character of those around her was impeccable, and she had long been able to quickly and completely size people up. What the devilish young woman with the grin though of this woman was simple; for all the strength and seduction that this ‘Madam Red’ showed, more powerfully what was seen from even so short a display of power and compassion was something very simple; motherliness. The devil girl from the Grand Line had no idea if the scarlet haired female had birthed a child, but she could see that she certainly was a mother in every other respect.

Tall with pride, as well as physique; I wouldn’t mind breaking her in… That sadistic, dominating side of the devil girl stirring a strange kind of twisted lust within her, the Mistress felt a strong desire to at the very least, make the acquaintance of this powerful Madam.
“Some people just have no respect for the house rules, do they?” Stepping proudly and talking loudly, Domina Helens stepped across the distance between herself and the brothel, by no means accidentally happening to swat the stumbling foe with ‘Kumiho’ on her way…

[Deleted]

It was just one asshole after another, wasn't it?

Though she did not show it on the surface, on the inside Akane simmered with carefully controlled rage. Men. It was times like this she could understand Amazon Lily's strict no-male policy. They disgusted her, men like him, men who used their strength and power to hurt, to taint. That was why she took such pride in her job- her strength and talents utilized towards turning the tables on such despicable specimens of humanity was a sacred duty, one she relished. Inside her lived the bloodlust of a warrior's spirit, bloodlust that was gladly sated on unworthy creatures like him. Since her mother had arrived at this brothel all those years ago, it had become protected by an indomitable spirit, and the child had continued her mother's legacy, taking up the mantle of protector proudly. She would defend these girls with her life, teaching them how to defend themselves in the process. The red-haired woman was fiercely proud that the small courtesan had used defensive moves that she herself had taught her. The girls were learning. It was times like this that reminded her why she never regretted leaving her motherland.

Much of the crowd had dispersed, going back to whatever they had been doing before the Amazonian had interrupted their days to throw a dirtbag into the streets, leaving behind only those who had already been lingering before the commotion was caused. And one other.

She was sizing her up before she arrived, recognizing that, for whatever reason, this woman's destination was the brothel Akane called home. Tall, taller than most women of the Blues, though not quite as tall as the 6"3 dancer herself, the other was most likely Grand Line born and bred, the extra appendages of wings and horns only adding to this hypothesis. Her seafoam green hair was bound up into twin childish pigtails, but her outfit was anything but childish, a revealing leather ensemble that the (slightly) perverted prostitute approved of. A whip completed the look, cementing in Akane's mind the fact that this woman was a dominatrix, one of her ilk, a fellow girl who provided a certain sort of "company" to the rich and the willing. This immediately made her feel a kinship with this stranger, a sort of connection brought about by one lady of the night recognizing another, a familiarity in knowing they were both cut of the same cloth. Still, the positively impish expression and the devilish glint to the dominatrix's lovely red eyes warned her to expect the unexpected and keep her guard up.

Red eyes. Akane liked the color red. She thought them lovely, as lovely as the woman possessing them. And that was a dangerous line of thought.

"Such people soon learn to respect the house rules around here." Flashing a flirtatious smile, the taller female leaned casually against the doorframe of the small mansion, eyes lidded in a way that was easily mistaken as desire. My name is Akane, Akane Cobrana. And you are? she lilted, voice absolutely dripping with playful sexuality. "Akane," the miniscule lady lightly smacked the Amazon on the arm, earning her a wounded look, "you know you aren't to be so flirtatious to those that aren't customers!" Akane took her scolding gracefully, having the decency to look properly repentant for the benefit of the girl she considered a little sister. "Flirtatious? Me?" The vermillion-headed female asked, a mischievous smirk playing upon her lips as she gazed out at Domina from beneath beckoning fluttering lashes.

[EriChar]

“Hee hee hee, from your little ‘show’, I can certainly appreciate that.” Smiling mischievously at the retort given by the red-haired beauty, and also nodding her head toward the deadbeat whom had happened to be flattened by Domina’s whip only moments before, as the devilish-looking young woman had opportunity to view the towering, amazon-like woman, she could certainly understand why those would seek to quite literally ‘spend’ time in the company of fellow female. Golden eyes and high cheekbones lent a decidedly feline aspect to the amply attractive appearance of this strong looking woman who ‘worked’, but the power she displayed; both in her previous action, and her countenance, told Miss Helens that this was no simple housecat. Fierceness shone in the protection of her ‘cubs’, a ferocity that glowed like those irises, whispering to those who would take the time to observe that this woman was no domesticated ‘pet’, when the time called for it, she was a tigress.

Ho? That sounds pretty fun… The connotations drawn between the beauty in front of her, and the animal that was resembled by this redhead, began to stir a little of the ‘hobbyist’ mentality within the psyche of the demoness. An image forming in the mind of the dominatrix, of this woman being led around on a chain like a wild beast forced to be tame, the sadistic imagination of Domina Helens that made her so good at her little ‘pass time’ rousing her spirits all the more, and broadening the soft smile that she shone into far more of a grin. Whilst her eye for spotting ‘talent’ had developed itself, it could not be said that this was entirely a positive thing; when the Devil girl saw someone who stood out from the crowd, largely what she observed was how much taller she, herself, would feel when she stood above them. Like the wings on her back and the horns she wore, the inside of this girl was just as corrupted as the appearance she proudly wore.


’Aka'-ne? Not entirely lacking knowledge of the names and cultures of other lands, the exotic flavour of this woman’s name matched her unusual but alluring appearance in more ways than one, the mistress thought as the woman before her led with the introductions. With the words that this tall woman spoke, the devilish girl was not deaf to the teasing tones produced, inferring to the young visitor to the island that a sense of desire might not have been entirely one sided between the two; but for what specifically, Domina suspected, there might have been a stark contrast.
“Mistress Domina Helens. It is most certainly a pleasure…” Putting a slight emphasis on her title, ‘Mistress’, the leather-clad woman began from her introduction to lay out the nature of her position, as any good lady of domination should. No time should be given for prospective ‘playthings’ to acclimatise to being on equal standing with them, no matter how impressive they were; it would set a bad precedent for future engagements.

To the disappointment of devilish Domina, however, the chirp of an angry little bird seemed to dampen the focus that she could lock this ‘Akane Cobrana’ within, with the impressively figured lady of the night being interrupted by one of her charges.
“Why, whatever leads you to suspect that I am not in need of your custom, my lady?” Condescension abounding as the demon miss regarded the intruding companion of Akane, the words did not lose a whole lot of their suggestiveness as Miss Helens sought to not immediately part from the budding connection growing between herself and the red-headed Amazoness who also seemed to display a flirtatious desire to continue ‘bonding’. In truth, a part of Domina wondered whether the affectionate attention that she received was part of this woman’s ‘ploy’, or if it was genuine, but in reality; it mattered little. Regardless of the source of such displays, they were certainly something that could be worked to Domina’s advantage, if played right.
“Surely, you don’t think that the charms of this fine establishment are effective on only one side of the spectrum?” Her act in full swing by now, the devil girl’s lips were moistened as she spoke, regarding the intruder with her words, but intending them for the redhead who had caught her attention, somewhat like flirting by proxy. Of course, what she spoke of, her desire to engage the service of one of the girls in this establishment was largely lies; while it was an inviting thought, it was not really in the ‘style’ of Domina Helens. As a true mistress, the promise of herself and what she could offer was a motivational factor, but largely a mirage all the same. The thrill was so often in the hunt, the chase, and if she gave herself away that would end, and all the advantages that were held would be lost in a moment of lacking discipline. As a dominatrix, Mistress Helens could absolutely not be shown with such a decline in restraint. What sort of example would that set?

“I’m sure these walls hold all sorts of treats within them, don’t they?” Glancing past both the redhead and her killjoy of a companion, Domina peered curiously within the brothel behind, not looking to satisfy a conventional lust but something else. After all, she was here for the ‘dirt’, not the chance to roll around within it, and this devilish girl was sure that this was the place to start her search...

[Deleted]

The red-head's suspicions were confirmed when the woman introduced herself. Foreign name, Grand Line, check. Dominatrix (and fellow lady of the night), check. This pleased Akane for some reason, drawing similarities between herself and the newcomer, finding they had things in common. It was always nice to find a fellow kindred soul. Giving a sharp, simple nod of her head, the woman acknowledged Domina's compliment (for she considered it so) towards her fighting prowess, no more words were spoken of the broken man dragging himself off to lick his wounds, she didn't consider him worth talking about any more than she had to.

It was amazing what information could be exchanged with naught but a few simple words and body language. The Amazon noted that the demoness was quick to assert her dominance; posture, tonal inflections and words screaming royalty, carrying herself with a superior air that demanded immediate respect and obedience. Akane could give her respect, and gladly did so, but obedience was going to be a little harder to wrangle out of the feral feline of a woman. She matched Domina's commanding air, but did not challenge it, instead choosing to merely exist on equal levels with the spitfire of a girl. She'd have to work hard to turn the regal tigress into a purring kitty.

A feral grin decorated the prostitute's features as she received the dominatrix's introductions, gleefully falling into the playful dance that was as familiar to her as the back of her own hand, "The pleasure is all mine, Mistress Domina." She put the same emphasis on 'Mistress' as the winged female had, perhaps in respect, perhaps in defiance, the interpretation would be left up to Domina to define.

Jasmine interrupted their wordplay, and the Mistress responded in kind. Akane felt the need to defend her fellow courtesan, but the words died on her lips as Jasmine spoke up in defense of herself, "Well, you're clearly one of us!"

"She's right. You're no customer. You're not from around here, either, I know everybody, and I'm sure I would remember meeting someone as lovely as you," Akane demurred, producing a fan from somewhere amidst the silken scarves decorating her skirt and opening it with it a snap to cover the lower half of her face in glaringly false modesty, so you're new." She fluttered her lashes over the top at the fan at Domina coyly, playing her hand. "So, what brings you to my humble district, hmm? Aside from the obvious. Or are things exactly as they seem?" The Amazoness was curious, was this woman just another new prostitute making her life here, or did she have ulterior motives? Somehow, an instinct told Akane that it was the latter. How exciting.

"Treats? Treats indeed..." the tall woman chuckled, flipping her fan closed with a resounding snap and resting the tip against her mouth pensively, tossing a raunchy wink in the green-haired female's direction. This day was shaping out to be quite interesting indeed!

[EriChar]

“Oho ho ho… Unless you told me what these ‘things’ seemed, I wouldn’t be able to confirm nor deny, would I?” As she moved to a state of coyness now with the response she gave, contrary to the flirtation that had been so prominent before, Domina sought to change the pace of the game to better suit her style. Whilst the Devil Girl had been enjoying the back and forth between herself and her new friend, the insight that this black-wearing woman had, and the replies received, whispered that she was not the only one in this duet who was skilled in deduction. It wasn’t really surprising, given the commonality between their trades; both women skilled in finding the pleasure of others, if their methods were different, the results were the same. With that acknowledged, it was easy to see that this little game would go on for a long time without any real sign of a winner, with honeyed words and suggestive connections all amounting to nothing ultimately. While the dominatrix was not someone who gave up easily, she was also a person who liked to be working toward something, and at the moment, that something she was working toward was not charming her way into the undergarments of the delectable beauty that stood before her, but instead her brain, and the door behind her.

Sorry, my beauty, the end of this dance will have to wait until I have the time to fully enjoy it… Not exactly falling out of the poor house with the finances she kept, money was still a concern for the woman, and so she needed to find some piece of intelligence that she could exploit in order to make this less worrisome. As fun as it was to dance around in a war of words and looks with the woman in front of her, whilst it might satisfy certain other desires within the Devil, it would not be the action that would put food on her table.

“Though, I suppose that you seem like a woman that I could come to be honest with, so I shall tell you the truth…” With the path of dishonesty and duplicity being less than effective on such a seasoned and honed set of senses, there was only one thing for it; go in the other direction, go to honesty, of sorts. Trust could not be built on a foundation of mystery and second guessing, and if charm was not what was going to get her way, then Domina would have to rely on other things. As a Dominatrix, one had to be skilled in gaining the confidence of others, and with it their trust. A person would not let anyone clap them in chains willingly if they did not have some level of assurance that despite the situation, they were safe, and so it could be said of relationships. If Domina were ever to profit from a bond with the woman before her, or the establishment she barred, they had to reach an understanding.

“My purpose here, both on the island and outside this establishment, is to help myself to the dirty secrets that this land has to offer, so I might use them to my own advantage.” Grinning like the truly mischievous imp that she was, there was a certain degree of glee that bloomed in the expression and tone which the Dominatrix displayed the details of her intent. Fond of ploys and gambits in order to achieve her ends, there were times when a pack of lies would be most advantageous to oneself, and then there were times when the honest truth would have been the perfect weapon, when used right.
Confronted with a woman who, given enough time and observation could, in the Devilish girl’s estimation, find the truth eventually, it seemed futile to try and evade what intentions she had, and completely unbecoming. Domina Helens was not some snivelling wretch who had to scrape and bow to get what she wanted, she was a proud and mighty mistress; if she wanted something, she took it, regardless of the defences that guarded it. Forewarning this lady of the brothel would not terribly affect the ability of the dominatrix to take what she wanted; if need be, Miss Helens could have simply bested this woman in combat and gained entry into the brothel and the misdeeds occurring within, but that was not what she wanted. What was wanted here was for the other woman to respect the grace of such a mighty figure in being honest, and meet it in kind; surely, as a lady of quite similar mind to Domina, this ‘Akane’ could have been counted upon to steer the winged woman in the direction of what she wanted to find? This was a prostitute, after all, someone who would do everything in their power to peacefully bring joy to those in her company, so wouldn’t providing the mistress with what she needed be an extension of this?

“So, would you care to help me create a little mischief, Akane Cobrana?” With a wink, a new statement and a new intent was born from the honesty that Miss Helens had earlier shown, one which was somewhat spurred in the moment, and entirely outside the usually calculating style of the demonic damsel. Her change of devious direction leaving her open to impulsiveness, the Devil Girl gave her conversational companion an invitation, perhaps that earlier desire that had been observed getting the better of Domina, and striking out to find some way to keep the tie between them alive despite the turn in their topic of conversation. It certainly would be a shame to leave the continuation of their connection up to the fickle fortunes of fate, the mistress considered, as she playfully offered her hand to Akane with a devilishly delicious chuckle meant only to further entice…

[Deleted]

"No, indeed you would not," the Amazoness agreed readily with Domina, so it would be unfair of me to withhold my views on how things seem." A tongue twister, a fair mouthful of words that served no purpose to further the conversation, instead only dragging out the sort of foreplay the pair were currently engaged in. Akane paused, smirking coquettishly before continuing on to the meat of the banter, the answer to the question that the red-eyed demoness had asked. "It seems to me that you seem to be, quite frankly, a fellow whore, one dealing specifically in domination. A Mistress, if you will. And what need would a prostitute have for seeking the services of another prostitute?" She looked expectantly at the other woman, snapping her fan closed on the word 'Mistress' as if to emphasize it further. One perfectly plucked red brow arched delicately, her facial features carefully schooled to represent a wry sort of mild disapproval, the suspicious look a (perhaps sexy) school teacher gives to a naughty school boy (perhaps being seduced).

The femme fatale was no sucker, and she knew when she was being played. She could tell from their exchange that the Mistress had been around the block a few times, but Akane was no stranger herself to this game of cat-and-mouse. They were each worming their way to a point, each trying to get something from the other, interrogating with suggestive words and sly smiles, both seemingly equally skilled at defending themselves from such an affront. Something had to give. Someone had to be the first to break, and fortunately for the worldly whore, Mistress Domina was that someone.

Still, Akane didn't feel victorious when the green-haired beauty cut to the chase, a mild disappointment instead welling up with her. A pity. And we were having so much fun... Somehow, something told her this wouldn't be their last exchange, however, and so she accepted the sudden directness. "Will you now." The redhead drawled playfully, getting in one last jibe before she, too got serious. Tanned, muscular arms crossed over her generous chest as she listened to Domina lay all her cards on the table, weapon held securely in one hand, tucked into the crook of one elbow.

Her already raised brow seemed to raise even higher (if that were possible) at the smaller girl's words, allowing her surprise to show on her face. The woman was shocked that it seemed as if she'd opted for the truth. Laying all her cards on the table, indeed! Intriguing, this Domina Helens was intriguing. As much as she felt like a fly being caught in a black widow's web, Akane Cobrana couldn't help but want more of this fascinating, beautiful woman. Now this, this is fun...

A slow, positively devilish smirk spread over her face as a few moments passed in silence, allowing the other girl's proposition to ring. "I think you'd better come inside. Can I offer you tea, Mistress?" the vermillion-haired vixen positively purred, turning around and opening the door to the establishment, looking over her shoulder at Domina expectantly. If mischief was her game, Akane was ready to play.

[EriChar]

So, how will you play it…? Wearing a smile that guarded unease and expectation, rather than happiness, Domina Helens waited on tenterhooks for the response that Miss Cobrana might give. Whilst one palm was extended to her ‘new friend’ in a display of something akin to friendship, the palm of the devil girl’s second hand faced away from the red-headed woman, hiding away the first few links of a short but thick chain. Anticipating that the revelation that was passed on could have ‘gone either way’, toward a successful partnership or a damning disagreement, the careful woman in leather had seen fit to hedge her bets, hiding away the beginnings of a weapon to defend herself with. Having already seen the strength that this Amazonian woman could easily boast of in her earlier display, having snapped a man’s leg like a twig without a second thought, regardless of how confident the dominatrix was in her own skills, she knew that the leather ‘toy’ she carried wasn’t going to be sufficient this time. Sprouting from the glove on her hand, the linked length of dull gunmetal seemed to be sourced from nowhere in particular, as if a length of chain, with loops numbering scarcely into the plural, was being pulled from within the body of mistress herself. For one who happened to spy what was happening within the hidden palm of the woman, it must have been something of an odd sight to behold, the likes of which would make one take the scene in at least twice, to confirm that the eyes are indeed not telling lies. However, for Domina, this was nothing out of the ordinary. Having had her Devil Fruit power for some time now, she had become largely acclimatised to her abilities; the simple action of activating her powers had become as natural for her as moving a limb or a digit.

Expecting with around fifty percent of her mind that the proposition that she had offered was going to be met with the swing of a spear at her skull, it was with a sense of relief that the devilish young woman recognised her counterpart curling her lips into a smile stained with sin that even someone with wings and horns like those that Domina herself possessed, would have been proud to bear. Equalling the expression that the small proposition had been met with, the wrist of the demonic girl curled around to show a hand no longer concealing the beginnings of a steel chain, as she had ‘sheathed’ her arsenal when met with success.

“That sounds like a lovely offer, which I’d be happy to take you up on…” Smiling like a cat who had to assume from the scenario was about to receive their cream, the sultry succubus stepped after her new ruby haired companion, following the woman into the house of sin behind her. Whilst there had been discussions earlier, which were dismissed quickly from both parties really, on the matter of Miss Helens having the chance to indulge herself within these walls, she had to admit that the temptation only grew stronger once she had stepped inside. Like so many who had traded a portion of their wealth for the illicit pleasures that this shop offered, the powerful pull to satisfy a carnal desire was only heightened, probably because of the scent which the winged woman had previously picked up on; that invisible, indiscernible pheromone that promised pleasures to sooth even the hottest of flesh.

I could have some fun in here... Fanning herself with her hand, partly playfully and partly to provide a relief from the warmth of excitement that these kinds of places brought her, as she made her way into the building, certain kinds of cravings began to rear their heads within the heart of the devil. While some were the same that would by proxy bring the people of this building their wealth, what was overriding within the spirit of Mistress within these moments was a burning desire to ply her trade; the walls around seemed like they would certainly make for excellent acoustics for the screams and moans that she could create, and while she didn’t want to pigeonhole herself too much, it could be fair to say that in the line of work that this devilish beauty had become accustomed, she was a workaholic. While it seemed a minority of people in the world seemed to actually enjoy their jobs, the leather-clad lady certainly was within that lower number; her lust for the pain of others only making every moment spent with slaves at her mercy all the sweeter to taste.

Spying the sight of a currently unoccupied armchair in one of the lesser occupied rooms of their locale, the devilish young woman made a line for it. Conscious of the fact that the practices within these walls were willing her to join in, Domina knew it was perhaps best to root herself to some piece of furniture as quickly as she could, to anchor her in a room away from the temptations, and such a grand leather chair seemed a fine throne for herself in this place.
“So, is there something that springs to mind you’d like to discuss…” The blackened flesh of animals that made up her clothing creaking ever so subtly as the woman with wings slid herself into the seat, there was no waiting for beverages to be bequeathed before a bit of her banter began.
“Or would you be happy to let me poke my head in a few doors and see what takes my fancy?” Winking at her companion playfully, Miss Helens allowed herself to recline a little in the seat as he feet were swung skyward in a carefully slow arc, and found themselves at rest on a small table in front of the chair…

[Deleted]

Akane smiled a tiny grin to herself with her back turned to Domina as she led the woman through the double doors, smirking in quiet triumph as they emerged into a spacious grand foyer. As the doors swung shut behind them, the bright glare of the sun abruptly cut off, leaving the low lighting of the brothel to illuminate the room, setting a sensual mood. Dim lights glowed from elegant sconces, hidden behind paper lanterns and evenly spaced out along the walls of the room. The floor was composed of oak tiling, but was mostly covered by a massive oriental rug, red in hue with gold patterning woven into the fabric, matching the sconces in the vaguely Asian theme. Twin winding wooden staircases spiraled up on either side of the room in the back, leading up to a balcony tiled in the same wood as the floor and railings, a matching rug lining it to boot. Lounging couches surrounded a low but large table in the center, occupied by a few prostitutes and their clients, pouring drinks and laughing and flirting, filling the air with the sounds of merriment. The calming sound of a stringed instrument known as a shamisen served as background music, played hauntingly by a beautiful girl on a raised wooden platform in the very back, a small stage built directly into the room. Four doors other than the double entrance doors were in the room, one at the top of each staircase, and one set in behind each staircase, partially hidden from one's view if standing at the front of the room. It was through the lower right one that the red-haired woman led the demoness, nodding a friendly greeting to the other girls in the room without interrupting their work.

The door led into a long hallway, lined with more doors that had brass nameplates, though a few had none at all. The hallway was lined with identical sconces to the grand foyer, casting a soft glow on the red carpets and plain, but neat white walls. Near the end of the hallway was a door marked with a nameplate bearing the Amazonian's name in looping black cursive. Said woman plucked a small silver key from between her breasts and inserted it into the lock, unlocking the door with a gentle twist of her fingers. "Welcome to my humble abode." she introduced, opening the door and standing aside to let Domina enter the room before her.

The Asian theme of the foyer and hallway abruptly ended when one entered the room, instead replaced with more of a jungle feel, very much Amazonian. The floor was the same oak as the other room, but it was covered with a large throw rug depicting a Jaguar lounging on the branch of a tree in a rainforest of some sort. The walls were a deep shade of jade green with no other decorations, allowing the furnishings to do the talking. The bed was the main attraction of the room, a sumptuous affair, large and generously furnished with mounds of plush silken bedsheets and several beaded throw pillows, in shades of browns, golds, greens, and oranges. Wine red curtains surrounded the bed, but were currently pulled back, revealing the currently tidy state of it, it had been made before Akane had left the room. Beside the bed, a pair of twin hooks rested on the wall, their purpose unknown until the tall female placed her glaive securely atop them, the weapon nestling neatly into its resting place.

As Domina invited herself into one of the seats surrounding the low coffee table in the room (a deep brown with leafy carvings decorating it), the prostitute sashayed her way to a large sliding section of the wall, pulling it aside to reveal a counter, fridge, sink, stovetop, and a vast wardrobe of clothing. Removing a tea kettle and a matching set of cups and dishes from a cupboard built into the counter, Akane poured water into the kettle and set it to heating on the stove. After the water had boiled, she removed the container from the stovetop, placing it back onto the counter and drawing two packages of tea leaves from a cookie jar, opening the top and popping the tea bags inside. She replaced the lid and waited for the herbs to steep, humming softly to herself as she did so. After a sufficient amount of time, the redhead placed the kettle and both teacups with matching saucers onto a tray, opening the fridge as an afterthought and removing a wrapped plate of assorted cookies from inside, placing that on the tray as well before she took the whole thing over to the coffee table, setting it down squarely in the center, moving aside a small metal statue of a striking cobra as she did so. "May I offer you some refreshments?" the woman stated politely, already moving to serve the green-haired girl as she did so, pouring her a cup of tea, allowing her to simply take from the biscuit plate as she desired. Akane poured for herself, then draped herself seductively on a leopard-print lounging couch, picking up teacup and saucer as she did so, taking an elegant sip. "So, Mistress Domina. How can I help you?"

[/color][/size][/font][/justify]

[EriChar]

“So, this is the place where a woman like yourself hangs up her… ‘hat’, is it?” With a slight cheeky chuckle, Domina offered a small piece of playfulness at the image of a prostitute coming home from a long day’s work, like they were some accountant or cleric. Taking in the environment, the woman with wings and hair like the sea couldn’t help but feel impressed by the décor. In many of the places like this one which this devilish young woman had received the opportunity to poke around in, the domicile’s of the desired seemed like little more than a man-made cave; drab and broken walls which would never be seen, for the customers first focus on the femme, and force to flee once the deed was done, made the chance to take in any other sight one that was never given.
Not just any common whore, are you? With this in mind, the fact that the apartment of Akane Cobrana was so charming spoke volumes of the woman who owned it. Cave-like, but not by disrepair but rather design, this certainly wasn’t the room of a woman who saw herself spending the rest of her ‘good years’ in a humble brothel, no, this room was a testament; a testament to a desire to see something that one could not currently view. Was this a reminder of her home, or a first step toward a future goal? One of the two, perhaps even both could have been achieved depending on the character and motivation that lay behind. It wasn’t just the looks and strength of the red-headed beauty that seemed to attract Miss Helens now; having seen what could have been called a small window to the soul, the story behind this woman, not just her past but also her future, was filled with intrigue.

“Oh my, I suppose it would be rude of me not to accept your hospitality, wouldn’t it?” Grinning, as she scooped up the teacup, the devilish young woman couldn’t help but think of a different kind of generosity, inferred from the less than modest position with which her companion seemed to come to rest. Even in the short time of their contact, time and time again the dominatrix had been impressed with the allure that this woman seemed to exude, and she had little doubt that had there been a less steely soul in this arm chair now, everything that they had and more would have been offered to spend just a moment or two in passion with this temptress. While it may have been humbling to admit, the casual charisma that this girl exuded exceeded perhaps even Domina’s own abilities as a temptress, and in that regard, the winged young woman did not relish any sort of prospect of competition between them. While she was confident that she had the scarlet-locked seductress beat in a number of areas, in terms of sheer, unbridled allure, she may very well have been beat.

“Ah yes, the business…” Finding that perhaps even a little unintentionally, her gaze had been settled a little too long on the form of her new friend, the mistress spat a pointy tongue out of her mouth like a mischievous child, and then decided that it was time to discuss matters of more importance.
“While you may have assessed me as something of a ‘whip for hire’, I don’t think that’s entirely accurate…” Lifting the china chalice to her lips, the devilish young girl was pleased with the well-chosen beverage with which she had been presented, its rich aroma enticing one to taste it, which seemed to match the woman who owned the variety.
“Really more of a hobby, that helps to pay my way.” Peeking over the cusp of her cup with eyes narrowed slightly to show the playful wickedness beneath, Domina sucked in a sip of the tea slowly, allowing the words she had cast in the air immediately before, to be digested by her companion.

“My real role and intent tends to vary depending on my mood, but honestly...” Subtly smacking her lips together in a pleasant smile of satisfaction at the brew, the devil girl was sure to leave frequent but small pauses in her speech, like a cadence of her own design to hypnotise with her words. As a Dominatrix, she had to leave the subject hanging off her every phrase, her every word even. If this wicked and winged woman wanted to enrapture this target, it would be good to add in her own little traps. Having the woman wanting to know more, but be presented with only what Miss Helens wanted to give, when she wanted to give it; this was good practice to for future withholdings.

“Of late, I’ve found myself a little bit on the bored side.” Her outstretched legs now brought back from their rest on the table, to create a sense of intimacy, the devil who was not without her own means of instilling desire, now rested the tip of her chin on a curling finger, which lashed at her lips to draw attention to them.
“I’d like some manner of excitement to fall in my lap…” Now hushing her voice in these words, like a confession made to someone who was a cherished friend or lover, for a moment, the Mistress spoke with barely a whisper, aiming to draw her conversational companion into the trap she was laying. For a dominatrix, the fun of the job was not necessarily in the delivery of punishment, but rather, in the spell they could weave that would have their partner accept it so willingly. Domina was a huntress, and what was more enjoyable for a hunter than the thrill of the chase?
“Hee hee hee, and something I might be able profit from at that.” Chuckling softly, and taking a metaphorical step back to see if her prey might follow, and jump into the predator’s mouth of its own accord, Domina rested herself back into the chair, pulling a single strand of her hair and tucking it behind her ear, as she shone a smile that was aimed to seduce Akane in more ways than one…

[Deleted]

"My hat... Among other things." she chuckled richly, her voice taking on a low timbre that seemed to ooze sexuality, the sentence in itself becoming suggestive. Contrary to her attitude, the woman sipped her tea docilely, golden eyes never leaving the face of the younger female, studying her intently. Akane had no doubt her cunning brain was currently madly analyzing her surroundings, probably learning much of the red-haired courtesan. She wondered what sort of tidbits of information Domina would be able to glean, and what she would further think of those tidbits of information. The prostitute knew more than anyone how important first impressions were, and she couldn't help but ponder what sort of first impression she was making. "I suppose it would, yes. Very offensive." A smirk on her features showed that she was just teasing, she felt like the green-haired vixen was the sort who could take a joke.

Her gaze wandered to the wings upon the other woman's back. Were they functional? That would be a useful sort of thing, being able to fly. They looked a bit too small to bear her weight, but Akane knew from her occupation that size doesn't always matter. She resolved to ask the Mistress if she could fly later, perhaps at a more prudent time. Right now, however, it was time to get down to business, as Domina had put. "Go on." the Amazoness prompted, raising a brow in carefully constructed curiosity as the demoness began, debunking the assessment the red-haired woman had so casually made of her. She'd had a feeling there was more to the leather-clad pixie than meets the eye, and she'd been right. This piqued her curiosity, Akane was forever drawn to the mysterious and fascinating, and the green-haired girl was no exception to this rule.

"A hobby. I must confess, I feel a similar way about my job." Speaking glibly, she assumed a small smile, revealing a shared kinship. They were alike in many ways, yet different in many others, and the Amazonian found herself quickly liking the other girl, she couldn't help it. This was the most fun she'd had in weeks! Truth be told, Akane was a little bored, too. She was never one meant to settle in a place for very long, a born adventurer with the call of the sea in her heart, just like her mother. And yet she'd found herself living here for the past several years, stuck in one place. At first it had been because she no longer felt she could return to Amazon Lily, and this place was home to her, then it was because she wanted to train the girls here to defend themselves. Now? No opportunity had presented itself, and truth be told, she really didn't know where to begin.

Excitement sounded good. Profit added to that sounded even better, for Akane was a lover of money and living the good life. Still, there was that to consider. An upset look flickered across her face as she sighed, placing her teacup and plate back down on the table before her yellow eyes sought the other woman's red ones. "As fun as that sounds, I'm afraid I feel obligated to warn you as a newcomer. Here might not be the best place to play those sorts of games right now. Every district has its dark little secrets, and I'm afraid ours is a good deal scarier than most." she began, her voice taking on serious tones for the first time. Akane liked this person, and felt that Domina deserved to know what she was getting into before she dove in.

[EriChar]

Ah, so there is some fun to be had around here? Smirking softly over the lip of her cup and taking another sip, the dominatrix was not daunted by the prospect of danger lying behind the ‘fun’ they might engage in, and in actuality, was a little excited by it; part of her desire to find something interesting in which her beak could be made wet was for a thrill or two. There seemed little point in branching out of one’s comfort zone if there wasn’t a little bit of jeopardy involved, and as they saying; the greater the risk, the greater one’s reward. And so, the issue became not whether the job could be done by Domina, but rather one of convincing the courtesan that it in fact could be achieved; plainly there was something alluded to, something that this red haired woman would seek to have settled, but little could be done about it unless the task was offered.

“My, my, you flatter me, Cobrana, to be concerned of my well being…” Chuckling as she spoke, the head of the demon girl reared backward as she considered the outlandishness of such a suggestion; a strong woman both of body and mind, those who underestimated the devil were usually proven wrong, and in many cases, dramatically so. There was not a single doubt in the mind of Domina that whatever might be thrown her way by the beauty draped across the other side of the coffee table, she could take it in her stide.
“But I rather think it is unwarranted. The wings on my back are only the first sign that separates my constitution from the whimpering weaklings of these lands…” With a shake of the head, and the upward climb of her pupils, the woman dismissed any concept of danger in this land or its surroundings. It had actually been something of a surprise when she had left her homeland to see how lacking the locals of other lands actually were in strength; raised in a volcano, among people of similarly demonic heritage, Mistress Helens had always assumed that the level of power and endurance exhibited by the people was ‘normal’. In her homeland, this winged woman had been far from the strongest warrior in the land, but as she had weaved her way into this blue sea, it certainly seemed she had become close to that in the lands she had set foot in. Almost alarming was the absence of attributes in this blue sea, like this dominatrix had stepped from the world of adults and into a land of children, powerless in their ability to protect themselves from the threats of the land. The demon had no doubt that the Infernian Guard could make easy work of all the rogues in this section of the sea; even the whelps fresh from their training could probably achieve it.

“Whilst I might seem to some a delicate rose, you must not forget my thorns. There is nothing to be concerned with, and in fact, I welcome the prospect of a little challenge.” Thinking of her strength, there was a shiver of the skin that surged through the demon damsel, as she suppressed the urge to utilize the power she alluded to in their earlier confrontation. Sometimes it felt almost as if the power of the devil that she had been gifted with had a will of its own, wanting to be used and pushing itself into her mind whenever even a small amount of battle lust was felt. There were times when it seemed more of an effort to restrain the instinct her power had, than it did to utilize it.
“My days have grown a little too comfortable of late, so a chance to stretch myself out a litter further would not be a bad thing…” Giving a slight shrug as she dismissed her recent endeavours as little more than playtime, the devil sat back in her chair with her arms wide and welcoming. Toying around with the children of the northern ocean, Domina had to confess that if this Akane Cobrana thought there was something worthwhile, something dangerous, it would help to polish her skills even further; able to stand above the average man in terms of ability, the devil girl was by no means satisfied with her own level of strength. If she was going to dominate all in the world, the Mistress would have to be a whole lot stronger than she was now; she relished the prospect of finding a few stepping stones to her success.

“…Not that I expect there to be any real threats in this pond of small fish.” Chuckling again, the confidence that this winged woman showed did not particularly border on arrogance as much as it crossed into the realms of overconfidence without regard; while it was natural for someone with such a domineering style to self-assured, it would have to be said that the level of esteem that this girl possessed was rather excessive. The pride she had in her skills made for a high position to fall from if ever knocked from her podium.
“Though, perhaps if you feel it is such a danger, I might do well to have a strong arm by my side?” Relaxing a little as she set her cup down, the devilish young woman opted to use even the prospect of threat to draw her current prey closer to her; this was no simple task of finding a job to pay her way, but rather a chance to indulge her greed. Domina wanted everything, to not only find an amusing way to profit, but also drag this magnificent woman along with her, and dye her in the colours of the demonness. Travelling alone was becoming a little dull; she needed a little bit more spice in her life, and so she offered her hand both metaphorically and literally for the fiery-locked lady to hold onto…