Marry walks in the cold city. Lots of people walking about. Cold breeze.
She has brown hair and black eyes. Wears a thick fur coat. She wasn't extravagantly well-endowed, average top and bottom, but her face betrayed her above-average upbringing, soft skin and wide eyes.
She had been very, very excited about heading to the city for around a week now, her dad insisted she didn't but she finally managed to get her way. As she always did.
Marry walks, a bitter chill grazing her cheek. The city around her could only be described as a frozen steampunk. Tubes, metal, and people existed side by side, channeling boiling water, vapor, and emotion.
That was the last city on Earth as far as they knew, placed in the northern tundra of Antarctica.
She does not realize the man behind her selling fresh pies is quietly observing her, and neither does she notice the child paid off as an informant following her.
Both were paid for by her loving papa.
Marry sees what looks like a bar and walks in, called "The Steaming Clock."
She walks in. There is a bar in the center, with a few tables at the side. Scantily dressed women press themselves against men and women alike, giggling, even softly moaning as they run their hands on their chests.
Nothing too inappropriate, that's what the booths in the back are for.
Marry goes beet red.
'This is s brothel?!' She just wanted to experience some culture, not get an STD! Still, it felt criminal to leave without buying anything at least- So she walked to the bar after hanging up her coat on a nearby coat hanger.
She was wearing a crimson blouse with plenty of pockets scattered about. Her pants were comfy and deep black, her hands were protected by a pair of knit white gloves, and her feet by a pair of thick, worn winter boots.
Above her chest was a pinned, simple symbol. A golden S on a black background is contained in a cylindrical shape.
A woman named June quickly notices her. Noticing her clean face, soft skin, and bright yet flustered face. Her hair is a brilliant blonde with seductive blue eyes. Plump red lips and a revealing yet graceful red dress adorned her.
"Well hey there apple pie..." June whispers into her ear from behind.
Marry freezes up and feels shivers of embarrassment and a hot flash of something else, but is far too awkward for it to escalate.
A couple of guards enter. Silently sitting down at the bar near Marry, ignoring any whores offering themselves.
Marry is super duper flustered.
June continues, massaging Marry's shoulders as they make conversation.
A couple more guards enter. The bartender's eyes grow sharp. Suspicious of the amount of enforcers in this brothel.
"You look nice, your skin is super soft!" June says.
"Ah..." Marry relaxes into the message a little, though she is still very alert about the place and touchy nature of the area, "Thanks, my dad got me a skin cream that hasn't been released yet."
June raises an eyebrow, a predatory gleam in her eyes. If Marry's father was influential, she could probably make him her patron for a bit...
"And who's your dad? He seems nice, girl!"
Marry nods, "Oh totally, he's actually the Steward believe it or not!"
June freezes up. Doubtful.
'The Steward, right.' She scoffed, 'She's probably seen through me, whatever.'
June then notices the two guards sitting to her right, glancing at her now and then.
They bought drinks. Water. Nothing else.
'Water at a brothel?' June scoffs, 'What kind of idiot-'
Then she noticed the two other guards sitting in the corner, staring her down too.
They ordered nothing at all.
Were they there to rape her? Kidnap her? Use her?
No. Their eyes showed no lust, just a readiness to subdue and kill.
Her eyes returned to the girl sitting in front of her.
"...I-I'm having some trouble believing that you know..."
"Eh? Is it that big of a deal?"
"...Seriously?" June was well and truly baffled, "The Steward is the ruler of the city, the undisputed man at the top, the one everyone looks up to, that is one hell of a big deal! ...Especially if his daughter is so cute."
Marry flushed, "I-I... Ahem!" She cleared her throat, a faint blush remaining on her cheeks, "I am, I even have the pass to prove it!"
She pulled a leather-strapped, small, thin notebook from her pocket. Kinda like an ID, though more like a passport. It served as the former but looked like the latter.
An Identification Book. Hers had a unique cover, a white background with crimson letters.
June gently took it, with Marry's gaze settled onto her, but before she could open it, one of the guards grabbed June by the shoulder.
"Excuse me miss... Would you mind giving me and my friends some fun?"
June froze up.
They were not horny.
She was scared for her life.
"Oh well, you see my good men..." She scrambled for a reason to say no.
The guards had a good reputation, they helped people out with their chores during patrols, were there to help, and were rarely corrupt, the Steward fought corruption and abuse of power with the fervor of a religious zealot.
Her reaction, at first glance, was nonsensical. Why was she scared of some random guards who wanted her services?
Because of Marry of course. If she was truthful, then she would be one of the most powerful people in the city, and one wrong step would mean the end for her.
The Guards probably didn't want her looking at her IB. Or interacting with her.
Marry looked at the terrified June, her black eyes solidified as a scoff nearly formed on her face. A look of utter contempt formed despite her best efforts.
"Hey." She said loud and clear, and the guards looked at her, but more so at her pin. "She's busy."
The guards shared a few looks, and eventually, one of them spoke up.
"Don't worry miss, we just thought the lady was bothering you and wanted to help. Our break is ending anyway, so we'll excuse ourselves."
They then smoothly walked away, but not before approaching the guards sitting in the corner, whispering a few words, and passing a few identification books, or IBs. The same small notebook that Marry showed off, though they looked far less detailed and fancy. Simple browns, blacks, and whites.
"Tch." Marry scoffed, "Let me know if they hurt you or anything. I'll ask Dad to deal with it."
June could only awkwardly nod.
Inwardly, Marry squirmed.
'Did she think I was cool? I hope so!' She was never raised to fear the guard, at worst, they politely declined her requests, and at best, they were effectively her henchmen.
She was the shepherd and they were her loyal hounds. Though in reality they belonged to her father, and she was just a lamb in the flock.
June thought she was the hunter here, but she had effectively stepped into a frozen ocean. She was fucked.
But that fear transformed.
Hunger. This chick was powerful but easily flustered, ripe, and naive. Just ideal for a woman like herself to come along and make her hers.
"Well, my savior..." She whispered, pressing her impressive bosom into Marry's back, licking her neck sensually as her hands raced down her hips, "How about I take you into the back and show you how grateful I am?"
Marry pulled away instinctively, blushing furiously, "S-Sorry but I'm straight!" Marry yelped.
'That's bulshit.' Both of them acknowledged.
It was bulshit. Marry had told her father she was bisexual years ago, and the man threw her a private appreciation party filled with all the things she liked.
In other words, he could not care less. He seemed happier about it more than anything. As if he wasn't looking at her, but at somebody she reminded him of.
She always felt that way, but just shrugged it off. She was just being weird.
June chuckled and nodded with a kind smile, "Well okay then..." She couldn't press more, if she was accused of harassing the Steward's daughter, she would be ruined.
She would live, of course, the Steward was known as a kind, benevolent, competent, and inspiring leader. One that improved living quality and safety standards, and always took a hands-on approach.
To put it simple, he was a good fucking guy. And good guys don't just fucking kill people. That's what prisons are for.
She could just be friends with this chick, for now, she looked simple and acted even simpler.
Settling on a chair next to Marry, June ordered herself a drink. There wasn't much to drink in the Arctic wastes, but simple mead was available in basically every bar.
Greenhouses sure were a miracle, huh?
"So tell me, beautiful," June said with a smug smirk, "What're you doing out here with us commoners?"
Marry looked on with both offense taken and pity given, "I'm a commoner too. So is my Dad. Don't talk about yourself like that, okay?"
June blinked a bit in surprise but nodded.
"But... If you're curious, then sure. I can share."