Warning: sexual themes, prostitution and partial nudity

Star is back!!!!

The crowd condensed around the Pub’s wide stage bustled at the news. The Pub’s Golden Dancer was back. Star was his name, and everybody had a different legend about his identity. Mysterious from head to toe, from eyelashes to lips, no one knew who that person was.

The wide, glimmering stage was spacious, but it looked small compared to how many people were around it. There was a long, silky thread of fabric hanging on the ceiling and lazily brushing the floor as the wind commanded so.

When the once glimmering lights faded to the point of dusk, the crowd cheered louder, filling the suddenly silent Pub. The crowd whistled, shouted, leaned in—until a soft, spell-like tune floated through the air, swallowing their voices in its enchantment.

Behind the silk fabric, a silhouette showed. Their thin fingers gently took the fabric, revealing the night’s most awaited performer. Star was there, shining upon the stage and enchanting everyone with their mystic eyes and endearing smiles. He wore a fuzzy scarf over his neck and shoulders, very comfortable to touch just like his exposed legs and arms.

Cheering of amazement indulged the performer to give the audience a shy smile. Star then leaned towards the crowd, exhibiting his plump lips and shiny thighs and heels. He seemed innocent. Posing harmlessly and even sheepishly, that performer gave his charisma through his effortless smiles and waves… until the lights changed.

The once purplish-pink hues turned into an intense red and blue, coloring people’s mind and eyes. Star’s eyes locked into people’s souls like venom, his smile was sweet and spicy at the same time, engulfing everybody’s senses into a pit of greed and lust as the music numbed their sanity altogether.

The performer swayed in perfect sync with the music, each movement fluid and hypnotic. With a flick of his wrist, he cast the fuzzy scarf aside, unveiling his full silhouette to the spellbound crowd. His slender frame, wrapped in a tight, glossy dark pink latex leotard, shimmered under the pulsing red and blue lights, every shift in color painting him anew—sensual, electric, untouchable.

With a snap of his fingers, a silk fell from the ceiling. It was cold but firm, enough for the performer to climb on it and wrap himself in the silk like a contortionist. Shouts and cheering swarmed the crowd, who let gasps of ecstasy whenever Star showed off his colors and skin after he lowered his leotard a little lower and when his back was fully visible for anyone to appreciate. His eyes were mesmerizing, like a predator faking to be the prey. The scorching gaze of Star’s could melt anyone’s defenses – not that people who gathered there had a high defense against the performer, but still – and someone, not too far from the stage, could feel the ghostly sensation of Star’s hands caressing his face like he did with the silk.

The man adjusted himself on the stool, suddenly feeling his body warm up in some parts. He breathed a subtle, shaky breath – almost breathless – while he looked at the performer. Too locked in the predator’s mesmerizing gaze, the man didn’t notice he almost knocked over his drink.

“Ow, be careful,” the woman beside the man grabbed the glass. Her eyes then drop to the stool when she turned to her drink, and she noticed the man had a long, thin, tail waving from one side to another. Her eyes bulged and she quickly slapped the man’s arm as she whispered at him, “Azazel, you idiot! Your tail is out!”

Azazel, breaking Star’s enchant, looked confused at his companion. “What?”

“Your damn tail is out!” The woman pinched his arm.

Azazel’s tail quickly disappeared with a shiver from the pinch, but he wasn’t pleased at the call, “You could’ve told me that more gently, Belial!” He whispered back.

Belial huffed, “Don’t spoil your new disguise, it was hard to cast this spell.”

“Relaaaax~ I’ll not spoil it,” Azazel grinned before sipping his drink and giving it to Belial afterwards. “Hold it, I’ll have some fun out there-”

“Don’t get too excited,” Belial snatched Azazel’s tie, pulling him inches closer, “or else you’ll spoil your disguise, and I swear to our Lord that I’ll kill you,” she threatened.

“Copy that,” Azazel cold-sweated.

Star was a human. Behind the heavy makeup, wig and clothes, there was a soul swaying from side to side, waiting for an opportunity to tell people that ‘it’ wasn’t an ‘it’, but a whole ‘he’, a whole person. However, the ‘he’ behind the ‘it’ made sure to put on display his objectification.

The performer slowly took off his wig, sighing as he did so as if to blow every complicated thought away. A boy, a man, a person, looked back at him in the powdery mirror. He smudged the ruby red on his lips, tainting his once perfect and fake skin with a trace of disorder. It didn’t matter how much he looked at himself, but the thing looking back at him was miserable.

Everything itched, from his fingertips to his chest, to his hair. An uncomfortable hotness tried to sweep away his leftover sanity. Old ghosts whispered horrors in his ears, muffling the loud music outside the changing room.

Mine looked at himself in the mirror again, now finally recognizing himself actually being a human. He could be a human after all. Taking a tissue from the drawer, he cleaned the heavy makeup off his face, giving him space for his own skin to breathe after an exhausting performance.

Before Mine released his hair, the door knocked twice.

“Come inside,” Mine replied, placing the brush aside.

“Excuse me~” a soft voice came from behind the opening door.

Younri portrayed his usual gentle smile, but with a plus: a bottle of water. The elf approached Mine and patted his head, which Mine replied with a smile.

“Will you work more tonight, sweetie?” Younri asked while opening the bottle.

“Yeah…” Mine sighed, taking the bottle. “I’ll try, actually… if the work compensates then… why not?” he shrugged and took a long sip of water.

“Hm… I think you’re lucky then,” Younri grinned. “A client asked for a round with the best worker here and… I thought you could take it. The man pays a fair amount, and he seems decent, so, if you’re up to talk to him…” he explained.

Mine hummed, looking at the bottle of water in hands. “Hm, it seems a pretty good offer. I’ll take it,” he grinned.

“So, I’ll set the meeting table for you two,” Younri cleaned a makeup stain from his cheeks with his thumb. “I’ll prepare you a tea after the work, okay?”

“Thank you, Younri,” Mine smiled.

Star was ready to be an ‘it’ once again.

A secluded table for two, a bit far from the crowd and next to where the other prostitutes were waiting to be taken, a well-dressed man waited for his chosen performer to enchant his night once again. The man – no one else than Azazel himself – looked around, expectantly. Belial was left at the bar, half drunk, half sane. Well, that demon was hard to fall for alcohol, and was also smart enough to chat to some girl beside her – she didn’t want to waste her mundane night either.

Despite being all composed, Azazel couldn’t brush off the unsettling embarrassment Belial made he go through earlier when the barman asked if he didn’t mind if the worker was a man. Miss Belial made sure to say – with all the words possible – that “he enjoyed everything because if there was a hole, he would pay no further mind.” And now, every time his mind decided to replay it, he’d feel shivers down his spine and a faint blush on his cheeks.

But his embarrassment needed to wait, because the most beautiful entity appeared. It was the night’s performer! How in Hell was he that lucky?! Azazel felt his words slipping from his mind when Star’s long lashes fluttered when he looked at the demon. He was impeccable from head to toe, a beauty worth paying for whichever might be the price.

Star sat on the chair in front of him, his small smile shining under the plump lips and gloss. Immediately Azazel felt his body get numb.

“So, you’re the gentleman I assume?” Star grinned, fixing his fuzzy scarf around his neck.

“Y-yes, thank you for taking my request,” Azazel bowed respectfully.

Hm, interesting. Mine thought, looking at the man.

Star smelled intoxicating—sweet yet laced with the faint trace of sweat, a scent that clung to him like a whispered secret. His hands, though calloused, moved with a practiced grace, rough in touch but delicate in intent. When he smiled, it was warm, almost innocent—until the light hit just right, casting shadows that hinted at something deeper, something dangerous. Behind those peachy lips and scattered (drawn) moles laid an allure that was both inviting and untouchable, a contradiction that made him impossible to resist.

"So, you want to book a night with me?" Star asked, resting his cheek on his hand. "I'm not cheap because I am the best sex worker here," he smiled, touching Azazel's hand, "not only that, but I tend to give a good night to my clients. I also set some rules, but it does not affect the experience."

“Oh… I'm good with that," Azazel grinned. "I can pay any price you give me. All I want is to savor your skin," he tilted his head to the side, taking one of Star's hands and kissing the back of it.

Hmpf, an easy one and act like the other, a true fool. Mine thought with a faint chuckle as he took Azazel’s hand. “Such a greedy gentleman… But I need to say it’ll be pricey because I’m a bit tired,” Star grinned.

“Don’t worry, I’ll pay for it,” Azazel lifted Star’s hand and brought it to his lips, pressing a warm kiss on it.

A dumb, rich man. Such a fool. Mine chuckled again, standing from his seat as he guided Azazel to do as well. “So, mind you follow me to my room?”

Oh, my poor heart. Azazel thought, already following Star.

But... he would need some more time.

“AZAZEL!!” Belial shouted, tripping on her feet. “Azazel,” she caught her breath before speaking, “we… we have matters to resolve... Master is calling for us- oh, hi beauty," she waved, and Star replied with a sweet smile.

Geez... c'mon horny rich man, do your thing. Mine thought, glancing at Azazel.

"Dear Belial, tell boss I'm busy, or else he'll pay for my night today," Azazel elegantly replied, hiding his anger.

Abruptly that way? No! Azazel preferred to be in prison for bad behavior than losing that night. It's been decades since he hadn’t enjoyed human desires!

“… Belial… tell boss he’ll need to pay-”

"It's an urgent matter! Let's go before he takes us, you idiot!" Belial hissed.

Well... my job is ruined, and their business isn’t my business so... I'll go home. Mine gave up. "No worries, whenever you're free… just appear here at the Pub, and we'll find a suitable day," Star smiled, shushing Azazel's increasing bitterness.

"Thank you, Star," Azazel bowed. "Let me pay you a drink. How about juice? I know you need to be hydrated after the show."

“Sure, thank you, Mr. Azazel,” Star smiled. Ugh, can't you spend a little more? Be creative geez...

Outside the Pub, both demons started arguing until Belial quickly sobered up as soon when a tall figure appeared in front of them under the dim lights of the cold, empty streets. The person, rather a demon, was tall and had short blue hair. His facial expression was one of utter dissatisfaction and displeasure, with hardly a hint of contentment to be found.

“I see you two are having fun,” the demon started, “and I see you need to go to the bathroom, right Azazel?”

"Y-yes, sir," Azazel replied, covering the bulge on his pants.

"I'm afraid you'll have to bear with it because the instability zone is nearby," the demon started, while opening a mana screen to show them a detailed map. It showed all the subway stations around that neighborhood. "We need to expose its core before the instability bursts terribly... and before that entity steals it from us."

"It's shifting from place to place..." Belial noticed, scribbling in drunk writing in the air. "Wait- Entity? The silly Wishing Well thing?"

"It's a Mammon's follower, an ancient one, so we need to be careful," the tall demon replied, opening another mana screen for them to see the entity's profile. "The Consort gave us two more months before he takes the case and replaces us. We need to solve this quickly."

“Yes, Sir Mephistopheles," both replied and bowed, but Belial hadn't sobered up enough and fell on the floor.

"And make sure not to be tracked by the Chronos. If the instability bursts and he's nearby... he'll be the one to automatically seize it," Mephistopheles sterned and both demons gasped.

"A Chronos?!" Azazel gaped. "Wait, wait- is it a black-haired guy? There's one really scary and he-"

"No, they- just remember the classes you attended to, dickhead. I'm not going to teach you that again," Mephistopheles slapped Azazel on the forehead. "There's one in this area and he is very aware of any energy, be careful not to die recklessly, especially you Belial."

"Yesshh boss," Belial grinned, and Azazel took her from the floor.

"Make sure to protect the human, we're in debt with her," Mephistopheles finished, entering the same portal he came from earlier and leaving the two demons behind.