asharpertongue | Night Swimming (Open)

"An impressive secret side to me and -" She pulled her knees to her chest. "Youth? Goals? Why the heck would I feel proud about having done nothing for a day? Why can't I have big dreams and - oh my goodness I don't know what the beach is doing to me, forget about it."

Lara smiled ruefully and shook her head. "What would your mama say, you talking all melancholy like that?"

"Don't tell my mother." Lou tugged her ear lobes. "She'd throw out a French saying before telling me that we can only change things that we will still pass on our road, not those we've already left behind. I get it. I'll lock myself up with my kaiju collection tonight and think of brighter things."

Lara smiled. "At least we have this tonight. A bit of surf, sand, food and drink."

"Of course, of course! I don't have a bad life, neither you. And there's nothing wrong with knowing what you want and how you're going to achieve it." She shook her head. "I read too many motivational posters."

Lara laughed. "I think you do. You do have trouble turning off that big brain of yours."

"I agree, and it's nerve wrecking sometimes. I'm already mothering people without them being my children." She stretched. "I will do something wildly irresponsible like staying up the entire night, watching monster movies. That's wild, right?"

"For some, yes, but I think we can do better than that. How about I find one of my Heart of Gold people to entertain you for a night?" She held up her hand. "And before you protest...I don't mean sex, necessarily. My people know how to have a good time. I'm sure they can tune into something you'd like to do."

Lou blushed. Invisibly, but the act of blushing made her more uncomfortable. "Really now? Setting me up with human entertainment to make me forget about my future worries?" She giggled. "I couldn't."

Lara grinned. "Of course you can. It's just a night. A night where you can let go and have a good time."

"I don't know, Lara. I don't know if I could be comfortable. I mean, I know he'd just be there because you told him so. I don't want to be someone's job. See? I have a problem, I make everything work-related."

Lara shook her head. "We could arrange things with a siren. You know us. You know that most of us do this work because we'd be doing it anyway - we just enjoy getting paid on top. It's not work if everyone's enjoying themselves." She waved a hand. "Think it over. The offer is always open."

"Yes, but that's what it would be. An arrangement." She shrugged. "It's very sweet of you, but I think it would only make things worse, having to set up an appointment to have some bodily contact. I'm used to being alone at night."

"Then you should just come to Watersong one night. Let your hair down. Dance the night away."

She swatted at her. "And now you're telling me to do things I can't do with my hair as well!"

Why not try it. Lou took a deep breath. "You don't happen to have a catalog on you or something, right?"

Lara fought her off playfully, laughing. "Now you're just being contrary."

Smiling, Lara took out her phone and pulled up her employee profiles. "The sirens are all listed separately." She showed Lou where to look. "Ask me anything you'd like."

"Grrr, and don't you even think about denying me!"

She took the phone and held it like it was a baby bird. "How often do you do this? And doesn't it feel weird, to sell people?"

Lara clucks her tongue. "It's not selling people. People can't be bought or sold. People can sell their time and that's what my people offer, their time. And in some cases, their powers." She smiled. "You'd be surprised how many people just want to let go completely and have someone take care of them without any effort n their part. And the siren's thrive on it, as you well know. A legal and profitable way for them to use their powers? I have a waiting list of sirens who want to work for me."

She perked up a bit. "What kind of contract do you design for your sirens? Or is it 'siren', both sole and multiple ones? Have you ever had to deny one and can they get out of the contract? And how do they even find you?"

Lara laughed at her friends curiosity. "You're in work mode again, Lou."

"No, I'm no- aargh!" She clawed at her face. "This is so sad. You're serving me the hottest hotties from this country and I'm thinking about the legality of their contracts."

"And this is exactly why you need a break." Lara patted her friend on the shoulder. "I'll tell you all the hows and whys after you pick someone, deal?"

"Yes, but .." She tried to focus on the screen. "I don't even know what I'm looking for. Do I want a servant? A masseuse? Do they offer massages? Or someone to watch movies with? Make me breakfast? Do I want an incredibly handsome man or someone not that impressive?"

Lara shrugged. "All the sirens will fit most of that criteria." She flicked through a few pages. "Jacob is your age. He's smart with a wicked sense of humour. Loves cooking so he'd gladly make you a meal. He's also the best I have at knowing what a companion really wants. He'd be a good choice because, if you want him to, he'll make all the decisions and leave you happy afterwards."

"That's just silly .." She read his profile. "Maybe I want someone younger to act out my cougar-feelings. And I thought you said sirens couldn't read minds. And I don't know if my mother won't notice someone-not-her cooking on our grounds."

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