{"id":92,"date":"2011-11-09T10:22:00","date_gmt":"2011-11-09T15:22:00","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/universal-nexus.com\/?page_id=92"},"modified":"2014-08-15T12:44:54","modified_gmt":"2014-08-15T16:44:54","slug":"cassie-becomes-a-leytgelez","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/universal-nexus.com\/index.php\/collaborative-works\/cassie-becomes-a-leytgelez\/","title":{"rendered":"Cassie Becomes a Leytgelez"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"\"<\/a><\/p>\n

I was sitting on Ethan\u2019s lap while we watched a slapstick sketch and picked at the remains of our dinner when I reached a decision I\u2019d been toying with for years and, probably, knew I was going to make all along.<\/p>\n

Turning to Ethan I asked, \u201cDo you love me?\u201d<\/p>\n

He looked startled and confused before saying, \u201cOf course, why?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cJust making sure.\u00a0 So you wouldn\u2019t mind if I were a leytgelez<\/a>, then.\u00a0 Good.\u201d \u00a0I smiled and kissed him then snuggled closer as I laughed at the foursome on stage.<\/p>\n

\u201cIs that your subtle way of telling me you\u2019ve become a leytgelez, or just that you\u2019re thinking about it?\u201d he asked sounding reassuringly amused.<\/p>\n

\u201cThinking about it.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cCool.\u201d\u00a0 He tightened his arms around me and we enjoyed the show and, later, each other.<\/p>\n

I spent the morning carefully selecting just the right clothes and make up.\u00a0 I\u2019d known Lady Salarissa for awhile.\u00a0 It\u2019d have been hard not to, I swear the woman knows everyone for at least six systems in every direction.\u00a0 Still, I wanted to look the part.\u00a0 It seemed important.<\/p>\n

Ready, finally, I set out to the Salon to take my place there.<\/p>\n

\u201cGood morning, dear,\u201d Salarissa said to me as I stepped into her Salon.<\/p>\n

\u201cGood morning,\u201d I said, then hesitated.\u00a0 I really wanted this, but I was suddenly nervous.\u00a0 What if I’m not good enough?<\/em> I thought for a heart freezing moment.<\/p>\n

\u201cDid you need anything, dear?\u201d she asked gently, probably sensing my sudden nervousness.<\/p>\n

I nodded and regaining the confidence and determination I’d felt when I’d realised this was exactly what I wanted to do with my life (perhaps what I was meant to do), I said, \u201cI’d like to become a leytgelez, milady.\u201d<\/p>\n

She stared at me for a moment then smiled and said, kindly, \u201cWalk with me, dear.\u201d\u00a0 She guided me out into the gardens in the middle of the villa.\u00a0 After awhile she stopped to admire the colourful fish swimming in an ornamental fountain then she asked, \u201cWhat makes you wish to be a leytgelez, child?\u201d<\/p>\n

I shrugged. \u00a0\u201cHonestly, it’s the only thing I can imagine being good at.\u00a0 This or a prostitute \u2026 frankly I don’t like the latter.\u00a0 It seems too \u2026\u201d I sought a proper word and settled on, \u201cimpersonal.\u00a0 I’ll admit:\u00a0 I’m very sexual.\u00a0 I’m much more interested in the folks who are looking for the physical company rather than intellectual.\u00a0 Still, that doesn’t mean I don’t want to flirt, talk, make love \u2026 be more than just some rented toy.\u201d<\/p>\n

She smiled at me as she tucked a strange violet flower into my hair at my temple. \u00a0\u201cYou’re saying you\u2019re no philosopher nor any kind of poet, but you care far too much for people to leave them fulfilled only in body and that only incompletely since it would be nothing more than \u2026 shall we say ‘a deposit’?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cYeah.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cYou hesitated earlier.\u00a0 Why?\u00a0 You’re a charming and intelligent girl, surely your biggest fear should only have been that I’d say some foolish thing about having no room for a new leytgelez at the moment or, worse, some demented nonsense about your age.\u201d<\/p>\n

She knows!<\/em> I realised in shock.\u00a0 She’s leaving it for me to say it out loud, but I can see it in her eyes \u2026 she <\/em>knows!<\/em>\u00a0 I marvelled as, for the second time in the years I’d known her, I encountered the Lady’s power to \u2026 well \u2026 supposedly her species cannot<\/em> read minds, but despite that the woman is notorious for having an unnerving skill at it anyway.<\/p>\n

I started to look away, but then realised there’s no shame in a bit of humility paired with awe. \u00a0\u201cI’m no artist.\u00a0 I can sing, but not spectacularly; I can pick a few songs out on a loothin; I’m an atrocious poet; I’ve too little interest in the deeper mind to have studied philosophy or psychology \u2026 I’m really just not any kind of artist.\u00a0 You’ve so many people who’re so brilliant and talented.\u00a0 I suddenly felt so inadequate, like I wasn’t good enough to join such a Salon as you’ve got.\u201d<\/p>\n

She held my hand, and with her other she brushed a stray lock of hair from my face as she kissed me softly.\u00a0 \u201cBut my dear, you are<\/em> an artist, and a fine one at that.\u00a0 You’ve simply got so much natural talent in you that you can’t see how uncommon someone like yourself is.\u00a0 Conversation, companionship, caring, loving, even eroticism are all arts in themselves.\u00a0 I’ve always found you to be engaging, witty, charming, good humoured, quick to smile, tender, opinionated, strong of mind and will, and anyone who is eager and willing enough to share bodily pleasures could write volumes on erotic art if given the barest inspiration \u2013 you could be taught all any here knows then turn around and teach us all a good many things by the end of the sulid<\/a>.\u00a0 I couldn’t ask for a better leytgelez, dear.\u00a0 Of course you may join my Salon.\u00a0 I only asked to be sure that it’s what you truly wanted.\u201d<\/p>\n

I beamed and threw my arms around her and hugged.\u00a0 I was so happy I couldn’t speak.\u00a0 Finally, I found my voice, \u201cThank you, milady!\u00a0 Can I start soon?\u00a0 Not today, I’ve got to tell Mommy, and Ethan!\u00a0 And Daddy and\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n

Lady Sal laughed. \u00a0\u201cTomorrow is fine, unless you need more time.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cTomorrow’s perfect.\u201d\u00a0 With another hug I ran home to give everyone the good news.<\/p>\n

*****<\/p>\n

“Guess what Daddy?” \u00a0Cassie said excitedly, running up to and hugging me.<\/p>\n

“You’ve found the perfect eye-shadow to wear with your newest dress?” \u00a0I asked sarcastically. \u00a0I knew she wouldn’t be that excited over eye-shadow, but I firmly believe that it’s a Dad’s job to tease his kids.<\/p>\n

“No! \u00a0I’ve become a leytgelez! \u00a0Isn’t that great?”<\/p>\n

I must’ve misunderstood her. \u00a0“You’ve what?”<\/p>\n

She sighed, then spoke slowly, like I was an idiot. \u00a0“I’ve become a leytgelez. \u00a0Well, actually an apprentice leytgelez, but still \u2026 I start tomorrow.”<\/p>\n

“Cassie, that’s not funny. \u00a0I mean, I know I’ve said you looked like a whore a lot, but \u2026” \u00a0I cut my sentence short, seeing her face. \u00a0She looked like she was trying to decide whether to hit me or cry. \u00a0“Cassie! \u00a0You know what I mean!”<\/p>\n

“What’s wrong with leytgeleshi? \u00a0You think Sarah is only a whore?” \u00a0Sarah is her cousin and one of the sweetest, kindest people I’ve ever met. \u00a0She has also been a leytgelez since she was about Cassie’s age.<\/p>\n

“That’s not what I meant and you know it!”<\/p>\n

“So Sarah’s not a whore, but I am? \u00a0Nice, Dad. \u00a0Real nice.” \u00a0She started walking away.<\/p>\n

I grabbed her arm. \u00a0“That’s not what I meant.” \u00a0I was trying my damnedest to not yell. \u00a0I was pissed, but I’m not, contrary to popular opinion, completely stupid and knew that my future relationship with her was on the line. \u00a0“I just \u2026 I think you’re too young. \u00a0Why don’t you do something else for awhile? \u00a0See if there’s something else you wanna do with your life.”<\/p>\n

“Just because you were monumentally stupid at my age doesn’t mean all sixteen year olds are!”<\/p>\n

“Casandra, you are too young! \u00a0It has nothing to do with me being an idiot, it’s just \u2026 You’re only sixteen! \u00a0You shouldn’t even be having sex, much less having people pay to have sex with you!”<\/p>\n

“They pay the salon, not me. \u00a0And they pay for a pleasant experience, not necessarily sex! \u00a0Glad to know you think Sarah is just a whore. \u00a0And Gretchen, I’m sure Vinnie’ll be happy to hear what you think of his mom.”<\/p>\n

“Gods damn it, that’s not what I meant! \u00a0I meant \u2026 it’s the sex part that bugs me. \u00a0You are too fucking young!”<\/p>\n

“How old were you when you first had sex?” \u00a0She asked, knowing the answer as we’d had variants on this bit of the argument countless times in the past three years.<\/p>\n

“My youthful stupidity isn’t what we’re talking about!”<\/p>\n

“What are<\/em> you talking, or rather, shouting about then, Robin<\/a>?” \u00a0asked Karen from the doorway, with a look that said if I answered wrong I’d be sleeping in the doghouse (literally.\u00a0 My wife is evil) for the next korva or so.<\/p>\n

“Do you know where she just got a job?”<\/p>\n

“Yes. \u00a0And I’m proud of her. \u00a0Aren’t you?” \u00a0It wasn’t a question. \u00a0When I didn’t immediately answer, she asked again. \u00a0“Aren’t you, Robin?”<\/p>\n

“She’s too young! \u00a0Karen, she’s only sixteen!”<\/p>\n

“So?”<\/p>\n

“She’s too young to have people paying to have sex with her!”<\/p>\n

“Robin Thase, you know damned well that leytgeleshi offer services besides sex. \u00a0Now, did I hear you correctly earlier? \u00a0Did you call your own daughter a whore?”<\/p>\n

“Not exactly.” \u00a0I paused, trying to recall exactly what I had said. \u00a0“I said, or would have said, had I finished my sentence that just because she \u2014 you know what? \u00a0I think I shouldn’t finish that sentence. \u00a0I know what I’m trying to say but what I was gonna say you two will misunderstand and then we’ll argue and I’m tired of it. \u00a0Fine, Cassie, be a leytgelez. \u00a0I don’t like it, and I think you’re too young, but your Mom obviously knows better than me and she says it’s fine. \u00a0So it is. \u00a0Just don’t expect me to like it.”<\/p>\n

The looks they were both giving me should have made me burst into flames. \u00a0“What?” \u00a0I snapped.<\/p>\n

“Robin Thase, you owe your daughter an apology.”<\/p>\n

“For what? \u00a0I didn’t call her a whore; I didn’t even says she dresses like a whore this time! \u00a0She wants to be a leytgelez, it’s fine with me, after all, like you keep telling me, she’s an adult now. \u00a0I have no business telling her what to do.” \u00a0When Karen’s glare didn’t go away, I looked at Cassie and said, keeping my voice as calm as I could, “I’m sorry I’m meddling in your life again. \u00a0It’s none of my business what you do for a living. But, I do want to make clear that this is not a career I’m happy with you having. \u00a0But.” \u00a0I sighed. \u00a0“If you’re sure it’s what you want, then I’m proud of you, I guess.”<\/p>\n

*****<\/p>\n

I was glaring at Daddy; torn between bursting into tears and strangling the man I could only scowl with unshed tears welling in my eyes.\u00a0 The last thing I’d ever have expected was \u2026. well \u2026 this!\u00a0 A woman he calls \u2018mom\u2019 as often as not has been a leytgelez since before he was born!<\/p>\n

Mommy knew he\u2019d broken my heart, and I was a little grateful that she was trying to get Daddy to see this, but it wasn\u2019t working.\u00a0 At his \u2018apology\u2019 Mommy sternly yelled, \u201cRobin!\u00a0 That\u2019s not an apology, nor is it remotely related to what you owe Cassie one for.\u00a0 Now \u2026\u201d<\/p>\n

I interrupted her.\u00a0 It just wasn\u2019t worth it.\u00a0 At this point any apology from Daddy would just be a hollow attempt to appease her.\u00a0 \u201cDon\u2019t waste your breath Mom.\u00a0 He\u2019s not sorry.\u00a0 Besides, I\u2019m a big girl.\u00a0 I can deal with him myself.\u00a0 If you want to yell at him later, that\u2019s your business, but it doesn\u2019t have to be on my behalf.\u201d\u00a0 Daddy flinched at \u2026 I guess my sounding so much like Mommy.<\/p>\n

Daddy looked a bit exasperated and confused \u2014 even kind of put upon, \u201cI’m sorry I called you a whore, okay?\u201d<\/p>\n

He wasn\u2019t looking at Mommy who looked as though she were about to explode.\u00a0 I just shook my head slightly.\u00a0 \u201cDaddy, I really can\u2019t believe you\u2019re really this stupid.\u00a0 If I wanted to be a fucking whore I\u2019d have joined some kind of brothel!\u00a0 I don\u2019t know when you suddenly took it into your head that leytgeleshi are whores, but I\u2019m really ashamed to call anyone so shallow and idiotic my father.\u00a0 Really, all the shit about my clothes was one thing but this is going too far and if you can sink this low I really<\/em> feel sorry for Melissa.\u00a0 She worships you and<\/em> she\u2019s growing up.\u00a0 It\u2019s not long now before that little thing is wanting sex and dressing to show it.\u00a0 What\u2019ll you do then?\u00a0 I\u2019m sorely tempted to never speak to you again as it is.\u00a0 Start acting like a father again and one worthy of the way my baby sister looks at you instead of like some kind of retarded brothagk or you\u2019re liable to find your children treating you like one.\u00a0 You\u2019re not funny anymore, Daddy, you\u2019re hurtful.\u00a0 I was excited<\/em> and happy<\/em> and you\u2019ve spoilt that for me.\u00a0 I don\u2019t want to see or talk to you for awhile, and when I do I don\u2019t want any damned apologies, I just want my Daddy back,\u201d and before he could change his expression from the slapped, dumbfounded look he had or grab my arm again I turned and stormed out of the room and, having burned all my rage in that lecture a sob broke free and slightly spoilt things as I slammed the door headed \u2026 I didn\u2019t know where.\u00a0 I wanted to go to Ethan, but he was in a class just then.\u00a0 I wound up at my new workplace crying in Lady Salarissa\u2019s lap as she smoothed my hair and listened silently to my choked and incoherent tirades about my asshole father.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

I was sitting on Ethan\u2019s lap while we watched a slapstick sketch and picked at the remains of our dinner when I reached a decision I\u2019d been toying with for years and, probably, knew I was going to make all … Continue reading →<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"parent":33,"menu_order":2,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"footnotes":""},"class_list":["post-92","page","type-page","status-publish","hentry"],"jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/P1Y5CS-1u","jetpack-related-posts":[],"jetpack_likes_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/universal-nexus.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/92","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/universal-nexus.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/universal-nexus.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/universal-nexus.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/universal-nexus.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=92"}],"version-history":[{"count":11,"href":"https:\/\/universal-nexus.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/92\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":730,"href":"https:\/\/universal-nexus.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/92\/revisions\/730"}],"up":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/universal-nexus.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/33"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/universal-nexus.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=92"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}