1

The lights pulsed red, dancing slowly in rhythm with the music that played over the loud speakers. The air within the darkened building thick with lost intent and lustful wills as dancers entertained their patrons. A mix of lost souls and honorable men all brought together with empty promises of being the center of a stranger's universe for a brief moment in time at the loss of only a few dollars. Whether it was an unquenchable thirst for drink, a thirst for lust, or thirst for attention, it could be quenched for a brief moment within the inner workings of Insomnia. Despite being found tucked within the walls of an area riddled with refugees, the bright eye that watched unblinking as the sign flashed on a building with no windows was the great equalizer of status.

On a night of no particular significance to the world but significance to him, a man entered the building, egged on by a troop of friends. The group of men already slightly impaired from celebrating their friend's birthday. "It's a tradition man! You gotta do it." a friend of the man says loudly, drawing out a bunch of agreeing cheers as the man smirked and shook his head nervously. "Your tradition is dumb as hell." the man laughed out as a bouncer standing just below the unblinking eye checked the groups identification before nodding them all in. The thickness of the air hit the group heavily. The group looked around the room, only able to catch subtle glimpses of the other patrons, most of which were occupied by a lonely dancer.

As the men walked awkwardly towards any unoccupied seating they could find, they were stopped. A dark haired woman smiled seductively at them, clothes seeming to hold on to her skin with nothing more than sheer luck.

"Well if it isn't Tredd." the woman announced, throwing her arms around the most boisterous of the men in the group, the soul reason the group had come to the building in the first place "How long has it been since I've seen you Tredd? Two days now? Surely that's a new record for my favorite red head."

"Babe you know I missed you, BUT today ain't about me Carmen. It's about him. It's his birthday." Tredd stated loudly, gently wrapping an arm around Carmen and turning her slightly "Ain't that right Luche?. Getting old man."

Luche shook his head, "Look, Carmen was it? This is a bit outside of what I wou-"

"What you would do?" Carmen interrupted as she raised an eyebrow and smirked "Look, I'm not here to judge you. That's between you and the gods. I'm just here to make sure you have fun on your birthday." Grabbing Luche's hands, she slowly dragged him away, being sure to keep her gaze fixed on his as Tredd and the group of men who had accompanied both he and Luche cheered wildly as they were also moved to away by a variety of other women. Luche looked back at his friends before Carmen gently turned his gaze back to her's, "They'll be fine. Let loose for a moment. Besides..." she then whispered "...if you really didn't want to be here, you wouldn't have given the bouncer your card." she winked. Gently nudging Luche, the man staggered back into an unusually welcoming chair that seemed to grip him into the seat as all sense of space the man had was violated by Carmen. The man wouldn't be her first dance of the night, and he certainly wouldn't be the last, but she would still have to treat him as though he were the most interesting man alive, even for a few moments.


"That's a wrap ladies!" the door bouncer announced as the final patron exited the building. Hours having passed since the doors of the building initially opened. The dark dingy red lights soon bright white exposing what all had happened during the hours of operation. Some of the women gathering up the remnants of their clothing, while others sat on stage counting their tips from their nights work. Carmen straightened out her area in the stage room, a few misplaced chairs and forgotten articles of clothing being all that needed fixed.

"Carmen!" a petite woman said as she placed her brassier back on "I can't believe you gave up Tredd for the night! Thanks for that."

Standing upright with her hands occupied, Carmen smiled, "Well Lily it was his friend's birthday. What was I supposed to do." She then held up the small stack of money left by Luche "...I won't lie though, he definitely didn't pay as well as Tredd." She watched as Lily's gaze fell slightly in a guilty manner. Not meaning to make the younger woman feel guilty about Carmen's monetary loss for the night, she bumped Lily gently with her hip "Don't worry about it girly. Besides. I can always make more money later. Little YOU on the other hand, you're still green. Take what you can get. Remember, it's kinda dog eat dog in this world. Also, we aren't working right now. Please, call me Kyrie. Stage names are for acting."

Lily smiled, reassured slightly by Kyrie ,"Yeah I know. This is just a pit stop for me though. I'm only doing this to pay off a few debts. But every penny helps! I don't know why you go by a stage name. I'll always use my real name. I don't want to forget who I am."

Kyrie faked a smile. The pit stop of the world they were in never seeming to cease. The money, the attention, the momentary power, all of it too good to give up for other savory careers. I hope you do get out she thought to herself, remembering what drove her to work in such a questionable place to begin with. The war that raged between Niflheim and Lucis destroying many parts of the continent, and even turning brother against brother at times. Her arrival to Insomnia was no different than many of the refugees who lived within The Wall. Those who weren't able to harness the high king's powers, were subjected to living a life of mediocrity unless somehow able to build a more favorable life for themselves. A difficult path to be forced in to, but a path none the less.

In the beginning, life was hard for Kyrie. A no name just trying to make ends meet in a divided world. The only person she considered family leaving her for the war efforts and then being smuggled in to a new world through the "kindness" of a stranger seldom lead to a prosperous life. But she was on of the lucky ones now. She learned that a little bit of color in her cheeks, a well placed glance, and a little exposed skin could bring her in a small fortune. One year turned to two, and somehow two turned into six. The shared studio apartment she lived in, very rapidly changed to a high rise downtown in the heart of Insomnia within the Indicium Hotel. Her work as a dancer was only part of what she did. As it so often happens, she found even more profits to be made in the world of high dollar escorting. Her Madam, though very forward in exactly how much of each woman's profits she would take, was very particular about which clients she would allow the women she considered her daughters of sorts to take on and on many instances, the women would end up simply being very expensive arm candy for the night or even just an ear for a broken soul to confide in. Her Madam's connections within the higher political powers and bureaucrats of Lucis seeming almost endless at times, which allowed Kyrie to travel outside of the Wall many times. Kyrie would never call her life glamourous, but it certainly had it's many, MANY perks.

Kyrie's area was now sufficiently clean and, as with every night, she went to give her Madam a share of profits for the night. Gently, Kyrie tapped on the Madam's door. The dark cherry wood opening slightly when she did so. "Madam?" Kyrie said quietly "I'm headed home for the night."

Her Madam turned to face her, cigarette dangling just ever so between her lips as her eyes were fixed on the high stakes of money between her fingers "Alright Kyrie. Sounds good. You didn't have to give Lily your regular. She has to learn on her own how to make a buck or two you know."

"Yeah I know but it's a small loss for me. Not like it hurts me all that much anyway." Kyrie responded as she buttoned up the long jacket around her, tying it off and disguising any and all sight of her place of employment.

"Regardless of how true that statement may or MAY NOT be, you know that she'll never learn to become independent if you let her take clients." the Madam said, snuffing out her cigarette as she stood and walked towards Kyrie "Let her learn."

"Yes Madam." Kyrie nodded.

The Madam quickly whistled for a bodyguard to escort Kyrie outside before hugging her and seeing her out, giving her a quick weapons check before letting Kyrie go. The Madam made sure that even with bodyguards, every single woman who worked within her establishment was armed with pepperspray and if possible, a pistol: a small safety protocol necessary in this sort of work. The primary rules the Madam had for after work safety were simple: Never engage with customers after work, always stay armed outside of work, and try to blend in. Kyrie was very adamant about following the first rule and second rule, but the third was merely a suggestion as far as she was concerned. The bright red vehicle she drove often sticking out like a sore thumb where ever Kyrie went. In all fairness, Kyrie only drove the vehicle when she was at her home and never to her place of employment, choosing instead to take the subway.

As Kyrie began her walk, the Madam suddenly shouted "Carmen, wait!"

The sudden urgency in the Madam's voice concerning Kyrie as she stopped dead in her tracks and quickly turned around, "Yes Madam? Is everything okay?"

The Madam shuffled through a file in her hand and handed it to Kyrie, "Everything is fine honey. I have this for you though. Figured I would give you first digs at it before the other girls."

Kyrie took the file and held her hand to her heart, "Goodness Madam I thought something was wrong. What is it?" she asked as she skimmed the notes.

"...you know what it is Carmen." the Madam said in a sarcastic tone.

Kyrie stood for a moment before shutting the file, "Yeah. I'll take it. I'm sure it's going to be just like all the others afterall" she laughed, hugging the Madam one final time before drawing her jacket hood over her head and beginning her walk to the subway.

The Madam stood outside of the building, watching as Kyrie's form disappeared behind buildings, the bodyguard she had standing closely to her. "Think that contract is good to give her Madam? I mean, given the circumstances and all." the bodyguard asked as he opened the back door for the Madam.

"I think it's long overdue Mouse. Her sister called for it after all..."


Kyrie opened the doors to her flat, kicking her heels off carelessly as the doors behind her shut. She started a kettle of hot water. The thought of a hot tea seeming beyond welcome as she walked towards her body length mirror. Slowly she began removing every piece of what she considered work from her, trading the tight, sultry clothes for a far more comfortable satin robe. Carefully she began to dismantle her face, gently wiping away all the excess makeup that caked her face. Even if it looked good in the dark, it never looked good in the light. Just as carefully as she applied them, she removed the long false lashes from her eyelids before moving on to her hair. The long dark locks that covered her head pulling off, revealing a chocolate brown head of hair that sat cut in a medium bob. She sighed heavily as she felt more like herself.

After Kyrie had made herself a hot drink, she sat heavily in a plush wingchair. The high back of the chair adorned with details embodying all that it was to be a Lucian. As she took a sip of hot tea, she opened up the file that had been handed to her by her Madam. She read through the contract as well as all parties involved. The client was no different than anyone else in Kyrie's eyes. Just another high paying man in a position of power. As she continued to flip through the file she saw a few details that began to stick out to her.

Client in need of escort for the night. Event is in celebration of the birthday of Prince, Noctis. Attire is to be formal. An allotted amount has been provided for escort services. All other services provided at the night of shall be added to the total. Sounds about right. Wonder who the client is.

Kyrie continued reading through the detailed contract until she stumbled upon the name of who her client for the night was supposed to be.

"Clarus...Amicitia? The the king's Shield?"