Flashback Unadulterated Fun (Matthew)

[Nyxie Nadira Draer]

89th of Summer, 511 AV

A soft sigh escaped Nyxie’s lips as she rolled her shoulders back, bringing her legs out in front of her to dangle over the edge of the wooden dock. Her toes barely managed to skim the seawater. She placed her hands behind her and leaned back, soaking up the spray of crashing tides.

It was her last night in Syliras. Tomorrow morning, she’d set sail to spend all of winter in the city of illusions. Nyx was much more fond of Alvadas. The people here weren’t as friendly or exciting; choosing to occupy themselves with routine jobs and excessive alcohol. And the smell. Good gods the smell. Nyxie hated how overcrowded this place was. The harbor was the only place she ever truly felt comfortable.

The evening breeze sent untamed, cherry red strands flying in all directions. Nyxie let the wind play with her hair as she idly watched the sun disappear under the horizon. She had no real plans to work tonight. Spending the day helping her father load cargo back onto the casinor had nearly worn her out. She’d be in bed by now, if it weren’t for Kai. There was no chance that he’d take excuses from her, so Nyx couldn’t call it a night until she spent some time with him.

Arms lifted into the air to stretch, the tips of her fingers reaching as high as she possibly could. Tilting her head back, blue eyes looked up into the sky, imagining her hands touching the twinkling stars. She laughed to herself, realizing the impossibility, yet dreaming for such a reality. A reality where she could pick a star out of the sky and own it. The ultimate steal.

The wandering thought was broken by the sound of her growling stomach. Nyxie groaned in annoyance, knowing that she’d have to walk back into the city later. She resolved to get a bite to eat from the Broken Casket, since it was the closest place, even if the menu wasn’t exactly the kind of quality she preferred. The thought of dinner made her stomach rumble even louder. She’d have to distract her mind with a swim.

Nyxie brought fingers up to her chest, pulling at the strings of her simple red corset. A breath of relief was followed by slight shiver as she felt the cool, evening breeze on her skin, after slipping off the restraining piece of clothing. She left on the layer of cloth that covered any indecency, yet it failed to hide the swells of maturity. Nyxie hesitated to get up. She enjoyed her seat too much to feel the need to get up and take off her skirt. So instead, the redhead chose to sit a little longer, relishing the sight of Leth’s light reflecting off her bare skin.

Will Nyxie come across company tonight? Only time will tell...

[Matthew]

He was never sure why he wandered near the harbor. After a night of practice, he did need to wander. He needed to work out the kinks in his joints, stretch out the aches and pains that the hard and unique labor had caused him. He often worked muscles that he hadn't even originally known existed. He walked quietly and slowly, his graceful pace bringing him through the dark streets of Syliras. Lanterns hung from steel hooks, imbedded in walls of stone. Out here he could see the stars and the bright night sky, and in return the night sky lit the path for him. It was different in the actual Castle, where the sky was made of stone. The only light was the flickering light of torches and lanterns, and the harlot still wasn't exactly sure how he felt about the whole thing. He would be living here soon, perhaps next Spring. He would have to deal with it no matter what personal conclusion he came to. A black button-up shirt helped in blend in with patches of shadow that leapt across the harbor, though that was not his intention. The shirt was simply one of many that hugged him well, showing off his fit figure. It was unbuttoned, showing off smooth skin and defined lines, a symbol of Yahal tattooed across the V of his hips, a necklace with Yahal's symbol dangling from his neck. Considering his profession, it was a brazen show of blasphemy. He assumed that Yahal, bless his name, didn't really care. His customers seemed to like the show of naughty rebellion, though. The outfit was completed with simple black slacks and boots, the pants fitted to hang just a tad low on his hips, only doing that much more to show off the golden sculpted skin. Bright blue eyes shone in the moonlight, and styled black hair tossed just a tad with the summer wind. The harlot had specifically dressed himself to be a walking advertisement. His tall figure and graceful gait only helped matters. A flash of red stood out against the nearby horizon, the harlot pausing and blinking. Another flash of red helped his eyes focus on the exact point, and he soon moved in that direction. Soon the woman came into view, helping solve a few immediate mysteries. A red corset lay to the side, and her red hair was being tossed a bit in the wind. His professional mind reacted first, quietly approving of her choice in clothing. Her chest was just the right size to not be uncomfortable in the corset if it was pulled tight, and just the right size to look even larger when supported by the clothing. If her intent with the item was to show off, it was a good item to do it with. If not, it was still stylish. It went well with her wild hair and contrasted nicely with the color of her skin. Most notably was her boldness, though. The young woman was out in a somewhat open place, where a guard could perhaps wander by, and she was in a partial stage of undress? She would perhaps be well suited to his own career, though he knew there was more to it than that. He just knew she would be appealing to quite a few men. Matthew wasn't the shy sort either. He wasn't put off by her beauty, and wasn't ashamed to be here with her. He cleared his throat to get her attention, a safe distance away so she wouldn't feel threatened, eyes aimed up at the sky and the blue reflecting the stars. "Hello. I am Matthew. I apologize if I am interrupting you, but I couldn't help but notice you here. Do you mind if I join you? If not, I certainly won't linger around." He paused, beginning the descent into a very different persona, the skills required still quite fresh on his mind. The corner of his lush lips turned upwards a bit, the very slightest of smiles as his next words increased in obviously confident boldness. "Do you mind if I look at you, as well?" It was an odd mixture of polite and flirtatious. Certainly not so polite that he wasn't boldly forward, noticeably enough.

[Nyxie Nadira Draer]

Nyxie turned her head just slightly to the right, at the sound of a throat being cleared behind her. Petch, a guard?

“Hello. I am Matthew. I apologize if I am interrupting you, but I couldn't help but notice you here.”

Her nose crinkled in amusement, and a faint smile played at her lips. She was relieved to know that the stranger was of the polite variety, and not a drunken mess of vulgarities, as that was occasionally the case when a grown man approached her. The Svefra brought a hand behind her neck to sweep the red strands in front of left shoulder. It made it easier for her to see the source of the sultry voice, though she failed to realize that it would expose her back to the man. A swirl of colors started to trail up her arm and down her spine, settling into a blue-green image of crashing waves.

“Do you mind if I join you? If not, I certainly won't linger around."

He paused, giving Nyxie time to stare in awe at the beauty standing behind her. Cerulean eyes moved down from his face to trace the chiseled contours of his muscles, until they landed on a mark that she didn’t recognize, along the V of his hips. The symbol matched his necklace. Did it have significance? Her brows rose, and a sharp intake of breath was enough to signal her obvious approval of his looks.

"Do you mind if I look at you, as well?"

The question earned him a smirk, along with an immediate pink tinge in her cheeks. She couldn’t help but admire his forwardness. Nyxie had a feeling she’d enjoy his company.

“No, not at all. So long as you don’t mind compliments; ‘cause mate, you’re petchin’ gorgeous~” she chuckled as she spoke, hoping the man would catch onto her unabashed openness. “The ladies must love you,” a quick wink suggested her playful nature before she pat the deck on her right, inviting him to take a seat. “Matthew, was it? Hi, I’m Nyxie. Nyxie Nadira Draer,”she held out a hand for a friendly shake. “A pleasure to meet you.” It really was. The redhead tilted her head and smiled, taking a moment to stare into his pretty blue eyes. She quickly shifted her gaze to the left in an attempt to not seem so overly infatuated, watching the tides get higher as the night fell.

“I was actually about to go for a swim,”she said, eyes still on the horizon. “A friend of mine is waiting for me in there,” pointing into the sea, Nyxie smiled. “You could join me, if you like. What brings you here, anyway?” The question was posed out of genuine curiosity. What was such an elegant man doing out on the harbor front? He didn’t seem like the usual merchant or sailor. Was he a foreigner like herself, or did he live around here? Nyxie turned to glance back at the man who was now sitting so close to her.

The night was young.

[Matthew]

If he noticed her admiring him, he didn't let on. He wasn't the sort to pay attention, not like a normal man would. He automatically assumed that most women found him attractive, but not in a prideful way. He held traits that most would find attractive, it was as simple as that. It wasn't because of much effort on his part. It was something he had been lucky to be born with, and he didn't think that sort of thing was something that he could ever be prideful about. He did have some level of pride in how he took care of his appearance though. He had a morning ritual that involved cleaning both body, teeth, and hair. He applied an oil to give his flesh a nice scent, chewed an herb to freshen his breath, used a product to style his normally unruly hair. It gave his mind some level of satisfaction, and he also felt it set him apart in a certain way. With her permission he glanced down, exposing the Svefra to another unique trait of the young harlot. While she now knew he most certainly wasn't shy with his words, she would now find that he wasn't at all shy with his eyes either. She had given him permission to look and the young Matthew looked with a great amount of care. Bright blue eyes took their patient time stroking over every inch that could be seen, caressing bare shoulders and barely covered back, skirt-covered curvy hips and brilliantly-colored red hair. Her shake went un-noticed for a short time as Matthew simply stood there and appreciated it all without a single bit of shame appearing on his beautifully-painted features. Then blue eyes glanced down and he gave a slow smile, reaching out a soft hand to shake her own. "A pleasure, Nyxie. Thank you for the compliment, you are quite gorgeous yourself." He stepped closer at her invitation, lithe body gracefully sitting down next to her own, toned hip lightly brushing the curve of her own waist as if innocently planned that way. At the mention of a swim he paused, blue eyes glancing down into the water. "I am not a good swimmer." He paused a tick longer, gears obviously turning within his pretty head, the corners of his lips slowly upturning as he made a silent decision. "I suppose I won't ever be one if I don't practice, hm?" He reached down to the folds of his shirt, his catlike arch seeming to be completely nonchalant as he somehow made a show of simply sitting there and removing his shirt. It'd be almost cheesy if it didn't seem to be so natural, like it was just how he happened to strip himself of a shirt. He recalled her words, remembering she had mentioned a friend. Out there, in the ocean? The harlot glanced at her, taking a moment to study the tattoo that stroked her body. He wasn't familiar with it. She seemed so... at home here. He had thought most people were like him, filled with a healthy fear of the ocean. She seemed almost thrilled just to be near it, though. He remembered her question at the last moment, tilting his head to glance over to her as he tossed his shirt to the side. "I had just got off work and took a walk to stretch my limbs. I am a harlot by trade, and it can sometimes leave me sore." It was a sudden confession, but not as much a confession as... a fact. He stated it casually. He was slowly revealing himself to be almost a force of sexuality, but in such a way that it seemed like the most normal thing in the world for him.

[Nyxie Nadira Draer]

Unlike her quick but relished once-over of him, Matthew’s thorough bodily appraisal didn’t go unnoticed. The redhead shifted awkwardly in her seat with cheeks growing redder by the tick as she waited for him to take her hand. Once he took it, she gave him a firm Svefra shake, meeting his smile with that of her own.

The returning compliment came with a surprise. “Oh, um-mmm,” she bit the inside her cheek to try and contain herself, seeing as how he’d just so happened to find a particularly ticklish and sensitive spot on her body. “Thank you. You’re too kind,” she added, supposing that he was just being polite. Though she appreciated the comment, and welcomed it, it wasn’t as if she tried very hard to look her best tonight. It’d been a workday, so her hands were still dirty and calloused, with smudged kohl under her eyes. Nyxie would certainly admit that she was attractive in some standards, but she never really took that much time to make herself stand out. She knew other Svefra girls who went out of their way to look ‘gorgeous’ every single day. Sure, make-up and shopping certainly brought her pleasure, and she absolutely wasn’t opposed to adorning herself on special occasions. But for Nyx, those things were only secondary to the pleasure of working for mizas.

Eyes widened as the shirt slipped off with ease, slowly nodding absentmindedly at the exquisitely sculpted body sitting next to her. Nyxie was nearly entranced by his allure before being snapped back to reality when he answered her question.

A harlot?

She blinked. It took her a tick to process the statement. Then slowly, a bubbling feeling rose from her chest, breaking into a short chuckle. But it didn’t stop. She started to laugh, and couldn’t stop. The Svefra knew it was incredibly rude of her to react this way, but it was hard to cover her apparent amusement. It took her at least ten to fifteen ticks to settle down. In the very last fit of giggles, the redhead placed both hands on the harlot’s arm and looked up at him,

“Oh gods, I’m so sorry for laughing, I really don’t mean to offend you, I swear!” Nyxie’s face was almost crimson in embarrassment, but she knew she had to explain herself before he thought ill of her. She still smiled, but it was earnest without any indication of sarcasm or aversion. “I was just caught off guard; I just… I didn’t expect that.” She paused, trying to sort out the barrage of questions in her mind. Her words would follow slowly but surely, having zero discretion. “I have no problem with your profession, Matthew,”she said it with a hand over her heart. “I respect you, in fact. As I do respect anyone who makes money through honest trade. You provide a service that’s in demand,” she smirked slightly, “and brings people pleasure. A fine job, if you ask me.”Nyxie brought her hand up to head, scratching it lightly in thought. “I suppose I laughed because I’m actually just a tad uncomfortable with discussing… sex… so openly. I’ve never done it before.” Nyxie meant that she’d never spoken about it before, but blushed when she realized what she said. She decided not to correct herself, since it was true either way.

“But… shyke, Matthew… can I call you Matt? I’ll stick to whatever you prefer.” Taking her hand off his arm, she folded both in her lap before continuing.

“…Is it even enjoyable for you anymore?”

She wondered if her meaning was unclear. Of course she knew that the act was quite pleasurable in itself. But she wondered if Matthew still felt the pleasure of being desired by someone.

[Matthew]

If he was at all put off by the appearance of her make-up, he sure didn't seem to give any sign of it. He was personally impressed that women were able to utilize make-up in any shape or form. He already had enough trouble applying hair creams and toothpastes in the morning. Taking care of his body was something of a chore and he could only imagine how much extra time would be added to the daily process if he had to apply make-up as well. Some women applied such complex layers of it as well. It was practically a form of art, one that he wouldn't mind learning at some point in his career. He once again was oblivious to her admiration of him, most of his actions practiced so very much that they were now instinctive second nature. That passive and polite look remained on his face until she managed to break it with her bubbling giggle, which very quickly broke out into outright laughter. Bright blue eyes blinked at her, not at all offended, merely confused. At first he backtracked through the few words he had spoken so far, checking to make sure there hadn't been an accidental joke. He was horrible at jokes, and apparently he sometimes made them without even noticing. His forearm absentmindedly flexed against her fingertips, pushing firm muscle against the clasping fingers in another instinctive show. It only became clear when she finally caught enough breath to speak, a bright blush coloring her features as she hastily explained. He tilted his head and kept his gaze steady, ever the patient man. He briefly glanced at her hand as she brought it over her heart, then back down at the one she had on his arm. She spoke with her hands. It was an interesting detail to remember. He shook his head at her apology, waving a hand dismissively. "No apology needed. I understand you didn't mean it in an offensive way." Gingerly biting his lower lip, a bad habit he regressed to whenever he fell into deep thought, he carefully pondered over her questions before slowly answering. Well, sort of. First, he had a question. A genuinely curious queston. "Why are you uncomfortable with discussing sex openly? Stripped down to very simple terms, it is a purely physical act. More involved than, say, kissing, but still a very simple sort of thing. Is it because of the social stigma that seems to surround a woman or man who openly admits an enjoyment of sex?" It was something he struggled to understand, but he knew that he was a bit different when it came to these sort of things. Pausing a moment to allow her the time to think it over and answer if she wished, he then continued on to the rest of her inquiries. "As for enjoyable... it is physically enjoyable. I am a man and still can be aroused, and I still experience pleasure from stimulus." He sat an elbow on his knee and propped his chin up on his palm, gazing steadily at the girl, blue eyes unblinking. "However, there isn't really any other sort of enjoyment to it. There never was. I enjoy learning something new about the act, I suppose. I've studied, but there is plenty more to learn. Otherwise, no. Does that answer your question?" He hoped he had managed to sate her curiosity. He knew the feeling of being tormented by questions that he needed answers to. Another polite smile was offered, his head tilted in the other direction now, another small habit. "You may call me whatever slips the easiest from your lips." Matthew mostly meant that she could use whatever name she was personally most comfortable with. There were other subtle implications though, should her mind dare and wander there.

[Nyxie Nadira Draer]

Nyxie breathed a short sigh of relief, pleased to know that he’d taken no offense. She watched him intently, recognizing that the harlot was unaffected by her admiration of him, yet was reacting to her touch in a way that seemed automatically natural. Zero hesitations.

The Svefra raised an eyebrow at his remark, contemplating her beliefs on the matter of his question. She took a moment to think, entwining her fingers behind her neck, arching her back to stretch herself out. “Is it purely physical? Hm. I can’t imagine sex being very fun, if it’s ‘just physical’ ”. The response was followed by a slow exhale, feeling muscles start to relax. She realized that she didn’t answer his question, so she quickly backtracked, bringing her hands back down to grip the edge of the wooden dock.

“But yes, it’s definitely because of the social stigma. I’ve never been able to talk about sex or admit anything about it with someone before. There’s no way I could’ve brought it up with my family… Though, if my mother was still with me, I suppose I would’ve discussed it with her.”

Nyxie surprised herself with her offhanded mention of her mother’s death. The surprise didn’t show in her face, apart from a couple quick blinks. She continued the conversation without skipping a beat, not wanting to linger on the thought any longer.

“Besides, even if I did express my enjoyment of sex, I’m not sure if most people would be willing to engage in a rational discussion about it. They’d laugh or make jokes or be oddly repulsed. It really is quite a taboo subject, unfortunately.”

Listening to the rest of his answer, she slowly brought both her legs up to rest on the edge. His unblinking gaze matched that of her own as she slid her hands over the light white fabric of her skirt. A soft “Mhm,” was the only response he got before the redhead pushed herself up to stand beside the seated harlot.

Nyxie looked down, a sparkle of mischief behind her blue eyes. “Interesting. So you’ve never experienced an intimate relationship, then?” She paused, then turned to look out into the sea. “I can only imagine what it’d be like to have sex with someone. But I know I’d want both the physical pleasure of sex, and the… emotionally intimate pleasure of it as well”

Fingers slid under the edge of her skirt, slowly leaning over to pull the material down to the floor. Pale ivory skin was exposed, as a swimmer’s muscular legs and a woman’s curve emerged from the flowing fabric. Such a show was far from natural for the redhead, but it was fun. Nyx found a certain pleasure in showing herself off, and it excited her. Stepping out of the skirt, she kicked it aside.

“Matt, I just… I don’t think I’d have any fun if I knew my partner wasn’t having fun, or wasn’t enjoying himself with me,” she said, while walking over to stand behind him. She crouched down to a squat, then started to lean forward, “It wouldn’t be fun if I couldn’t make them…” lips inched closer to his ear, lowering her voice to a soft purr,

“…desire me,” she placed her hands on his shoulders, slowly smoothing down his back,
“…and then be able to…” reaching the middle, she brought her voice down to a whisper,

“…satisfy their needs.”With one hard shove, Nyxie pushed him off the edge of the dock, letting him splash into the sea below. She waited for him to find his bearings while she bubbled with playful laughter.

“How’s the water, luv~?” The question was asked in the midst of a fit of uncontrollable glee, so she wasn’t sure if he heard her. Nyx didn’t stay for a response. She dove gracefully into the sea, disappearing underwater.

She swam deeper, making her way a little farther out. Ten ticks passed by with no sign of her, before a flash of red burst through the surface. The Svefra flipped her hair back, raking through the wet strands with her fingers.

Nyxie grinned at her new friend with lively blue eyes.

OOCLol, can we assume that Nyx has enough strength to push Matthew off the edge~?

[Matthew]

He tilted his head, contemplating her answer to his answer. It wasn't as much an answer as just a comment to what he had said, but she soon seemed to realize this and continued on. He didn't react to her confession that her mother had passed, instead continuing to gaze at her with that same focused look, showing that he was paying a close amount of attention to every little thing that she spoke. If he was anything, he was a good listener. While his thoughts sometimes ran away on their own, he would always do what he could to bring them back to the topic at hand. Listening was perhaps one of the best and easiest ways to learn. He paused, nodding quickly, not much hesitation in his voice. "Yes. It is purely physical. I find a certain level of satisfaction in puzzling out a specific customer's needs... like solving a puzzle, you could say. The secret cravings of a man or a woman are certainly some of the most hidden and complex puzzles there are." Matthew watch as she stood, blue eyes still studying what she showed him. His eyes naturally dipped, intense in their scrutiny of each bit of flesh she exposed. If she was eager to show off, he repaid her by giving her the attention that she rightfully deserved. He was still not a bit shy, taking his time in examining every bit of long leg and pale curve. His gaze was different than most. If she had ever had a man stare at her, she might be able to see the difference. He wasn't admiring her and then leaving it at that. No, there was calculation in his stare. He wasn't just looking, he was looking and planning. He was surveying her body and mentally inking a map over it, drawing fine lines over every single curve. He worked his craft with a plan always in mind. If her body was a kingdom, his bright blue eyes were calculating the perfect strategies on how to utterly conquer it. He soon glanced up though, not letting his mind delve too far into the matter. He was a harlot, after all. He would only fully commit if the payment crossed hands. A slow blink and an arched eyebrow broke his thoughtful expression, her suddenly sultry voice piercing through his working mind. All women seemed to have a natural flair for seduction, something that he had been forced to train in for quite some time. He didn't move as she whispered, though his shoulders did roll back to ripple the muscle against her stroking fingers. It was all broken by a loud squawking noise that erupted from his lips as he was caught off guard and gleefully dumped into the black ocean. He was surrounded for water for a second, but the nearby safety of the dock kept his mind from panicking. He surfaced, shooting Nyx a somewhat dirty look, using a rather amusing style of doggy-paddle to slowly bob his way back to the edge of the dock. He grabbed it, holding onto the edge, about to respond before she decided to sail over his head in a much more gracefuldive than the one he had taken. He turned, keeping a hold on the pier, waiting until she exposed herself. The dirty look had vanished from his face by the time he resurfaced, and his mind was already moving back to what she had said before. He took a second to brush a hand through his curly black locks, the ocean water doing a nice job of destroying the hair product he had put into it earlier that day. "I could teach you, perhaps. Seduction, I mean. I am not exactly the best one to work such magic on, but perhaps you have someone in mind? A secret crush, or just a handsome man you pass on the street? Skillful seduction could certainly find you exactly what you wish to be looking for, and I think I would be able to teach you in a rational way." He paused and pondered for a moment, remembering one last question to address. "No, no intimate relationship. I can somewhat feign an outward appearance of intimacy, but otherwise, a lot of people don't find much intimacy in the arms of my sort. I am a fairly... different sort, even for what I do. Intimacy is hard to understand, and not very desired." He was open and honest with this, not wanting to advertise something he really wasn't, even if it broke the illusion of a desirable harlot.

[Nyxie Nadira Draer]

The dirty look was immediately relished, adding to her boisterous mirth. It was a look that starkly contrasted the one that he’d given her earlier. She noticed the way his eyes seemed to scrutinize every inch of flesh, as if her body was a strategic game to be mastered. His demeanor was incredibly intriguing to Nyxie, making her desire to delve deeper into the way he thinks.

She treaded in the water, listening to Matthew speak so sincerely. The Svefra was quick to respond,

“A puzzle, eh? I like that.” Nyxie knew what he meant; for it was similar to the way she performed her hobby. Figuring out how to steal from someone is a puzzle in itself. It’s a skill that requires a thief to understand the mind of their target. Nyxie smiled, trying to hide the smirk that arose from her sudden realization. The harlot knew nothing about her own livelihood.

She continued to tread, making her hands move forward and back to keep her body afloat. Nyx then found herself disagreeing, which promptly resulted in a question for the harlot.

“But then it’s not physical anymore, right? Matt, you’re saying that you find satisfaction through solving the secret needs that people have. You’re doing that in your mind, aren’t you?” A hand went up to teasingly mess with his hair, her eyes crinkling in amusement. If she managed to get to his head before he swatted her away, she’d find her fingers a little sticky from the product in his hair. A laugh would follow her choice to wipe the grease off on his shoulder.

“And gosh luv, have you ever thought about why your line of work requires you to feign intimacy sometimes? People seem to need… a sort of mental stimulation, in addition to a physical one… for sex to really be exciting, I think.” She shrugged with uncertainty. “But I’m far from an expert in this sort of thing, of course.”

The Svefra may not be an expert in the act of sex, but she certainly wasn’t naïve to the feeling of sexual desire. Her nightly whims in countless taverns were more than enough to prove it; since stealing coin bags required a certain level of proximity. She knew how to weasel her way up close and personal to the victim of her impulsiveness, and it would be especially fun when her victim was of the handsome variety.

Nyxie wasn’t inexperienced with the feeling of arousal, either. Her fantasies consisted of the many men she’d stolen from, and such fantasies were what lead her to the discovery of her core. She’d spent nights alone in her cabin, keeping herself silent as she practiced her self-ministrations, using only her mind to reach a peak of bliss. Nyx was easily thrilled by pure lust. But this was somewhat of a problem.

“I’ve never been in an intimate relationship before, either.”

Never could Nyxie sustain a relationship long enough for it to develop into an intimate one. Her ambitions usually got in the way, making her seem overbearing and materialistic. It seemed that the redhead tended to be attracted only to what a man could give her, and not the man himself.

“But… unlike you, I’d be open to having one. I think it’d be interesting to solve the puzzle of intimacy.” She stuck her tongue out humorously, before hitting the harlot with a sudden splash of water.

Nyxie quickly dove underwater to evade from Matthew’s rebounding stroke, swimming swiftly around the side of the pier. The Svefra would wait for him to follow while giggling at his reaction, before continuing to answer him.

“Hm, seduction… Sure, I’d be interested in a lesson or two. But not because I have anyone particular in mind at the moment.” She took a moment to ponder why she’d ever want to be skilled in seduction. It didn’t take very long for her to figure it out.

“Rather, I strive to be…” searching for the right words, Nyxie swam closer to him. A slightly devious grin played at her lips,

“…the best at what I do.” She brought a hand to his neck, tracing the chain of his necklace ever so lightly. Her eyes gazed back at him, unblinking and sincere.

“So that, like you said, I can find exactly what I’m looking for. If I want the best in life, I’d have to do the best I can.” It was an apt statement, applying to both the pursuit of a lover, and the pursuit to accomplish her ambitious goals.

Nyxie flipped the pendant over, deciding to temporarily change the subject.

“Cute necklace.” She tugged at it gently, but hard enough to pull it taut. “Does it mean something~?”

[Matthew]

"Yes, I suppose it would be merely the mind. A lot of the physical needs don't resonate with me as deeply as they do other people. It is just a unique aspect of me, I suppose. I think it helps a lot with my chosen profession. A lot of people in my trade have to build that disconnect between body and mind. For me, the disconnect was already in place." He didn't move at all when she teased with his hair, already knowing that it was no longer going to hold any resemblance to the style he had given it this morning. The water would have washed most of the product out, so her hand certainly wasn't going to make much of a difference. He didn't even move whenever she wiped it onto his shoulder, though the muscle did respond for a brief moment. It was just a slight flex, a very minor ripple, twitching the broad flesh against the brief brush of her palm. "And yes, I have given it thought. Some people want mental stimulation. Some people want intimacy. Some people want the best physical experience they can possibly have. Some people want held down by their throat and petched until they can't feel anything below the waist." Only Matthew could say what he had just said without even blinking an eye or changing tone. "That is all part of the puzzle, in the end. Before the night is over, I have to determine everything it is they want, and then I have to become that. Only for a night. And sadly, only for a few coin. Perhaps more when I am better." It was somewhat disappointing to him that his body wasn't worth more. Then again, he was still very new at this. He hadn't even fully committed yet. No doubt he would though, some time soon. His time in Zeltiva had just about come to an end. A slow and understanding nod came from the harlot as she confessed to the lack of an intimate experience. Well, a relationship. An experience and a relationship were two different things. He could understand why she hadn't experienced one yet, believe it or not. Sometimes he was good at reading people, most of the time he wasn't. This time though, certain things seemed to click into place quite easily. The harlot continued to kick his legs slowly, comfortable with his hold on the pier. Every now and then he would let go to practice treading in place, but eventually his legs would get a bit tired and he would take ahold of the pier again. He wasn't very skilled at swimming, but now was as good of a time to practice as any. Eventually he would be able to match up to the graceful Svefra, who was very fluidly working her way through the water as if a bird flying through air. An interesting comparison, really. His bright blue eyes drew back to hers as she approached, holding them even when she traced down to touch at his necklace. His head bobbed forward just a bit at the pull of his necklace and a very subtle and sudden shift would be felt in the air. It was brief, almost like a sudden heat had blown from the flesh of the young man. His eyes changed, the blue ice raging for a split second, revealing something much less logical and much more primal. Her lips had been even with his, and the tug had briefly caused certain instincts to kick in. He had trained himself to make Seduction a natural part of him. Sometimes he was reminded of the downfalls that came along with that sort of training. "Yes. It is a symbol of Yahal, a widely worshiped god. One of the domains that he represents is purity. It seemed fitting." Situations like this tore him in one of two directions. She was obviously an attractive young woman who found him attractive, which made part of him want to start to convince her to buy his wares. Another part of him thought that wasn't all that fair though, and that the woman would very readily express if that was something she was interested in. It was business-sense versus politeness, he supposed. He kept his body still, wet flesh and defined muscles hovering close to her submerged curves, but not doing anything to move closer. "If I might ask, what brings you to this city? For one with a love of the water, this doesn't exactly seem like the very best place to be. What does the mark on your body stand for? It is beautiful. It accents your curves." Once again, rather bold compliments slipped from his lips as if not a second thought was given to them. They were spoken in such a polite tone though, genuinely meant to be a compliment and not a come-on that was hoping for the comment to lead to something more.