The first clients began filtering into the night hall within the hour, most of them were well dressed women who moved with a confident aura around them, their eyes sweeping over the line of waiting men without any rush.
"Ohohoho, this seems like a very new one" A woman said licking her lips as she touched the face of a man who stood with an expressionless face.
"I think I like this one!"
"Wow~ he's jacked"
Some of them had already began walking and checking out their faces before moving on the the next, while others spoke to the senior staff woman who stood near the entrance taking notes.
Ray kept his posture straight and his expression calm, the collar around his neck constantly reminded him of what his new life was.
A woman in deep green robes stopped in front of one of the more timid man near the middle of the line, studied him for a few seconds.
"I think this one will do" She said then gave a short nod to the staff woman, the selected man lowering his head and following her toward one of the private alcoves without a word.
Another client chose quickly after that, then a third, the line growing thinner as the soft sounds of conversation and occasional laughter drifted from the cushioned spaces along the walls.
Ray noticed a few of the remaining men shifting slightly, their eyes flicking toward the entrance every time new footsteps approached.
One of the older looking males in the line had already been passed over twice, his shoulders had slumped a little compared to when the shift began, while a younger one near the front kept his eyes fixed on the floor as if hoping not to be noticed at all.
More clients continued to arrive, some in pairs, some alone, their clothing ranging from practical travel coats to the richer fabrics of capital nobles, all of them carrying the same calm sense of ownership that seemed common in this place.
A tall woman with silver hair pinned loosely at the back of her head entered next, her gaze moving down the remaining line with slow interest until it settled on Ray and stayed there.
"Hmm, what do we have here~"
She stepped closer, close enough that the light scent of something floral reached him, and tilted her head slightly as she looked him over from the tight black shirt down to the way he stood.
"This one," she said simply, her voice smooth and elegant.
The senior staff woman checked her slate, made a quick mark, and gave Ray a short look that carried a clear order to move.
Ray stepped out of line and followed the silver haired woman toward an alcove near the far end of the hall, the mirrored wall reflecting the two of them as they walked, her pace was unhurried and his steps were steady even with the collar still locked firmly in place.
Inside the alcove the lighting was even softer, a low couch and a small side table the only furniture, the thick curtains falling closed behind them with a little rustle that cut off most of the hall's remaining noise.
The woman sat down first, crossed her legs, and gestured for him to stand in front of her while she continued studying him with open curiosity.
"You're the new purchase Lady Seris made last night, the one from the illegal auction, I heard the price was higher than usual," she said, her eyes lingering on the defined lines of his chest under the fitted shirt.
Ray met her gaze without looking away.
"That's right."
She smiled faintly at the lack of fear in his voice, then leaned back against the couch and rested one arm along the top of it.
"Good, I prefer when they still have some spirit left, the broken ones are boring after the first few minutes," she said, the words sounded casual but carried a clear edge of expectation.
She let the silence sit for a moment, gazing at him, before speaking again.
"My name is Veyra, I hold a minor seat in the eastern trade council, I come here when the capital work becomes too dull, and I pay well for the ones who can keep my attention," she explained, while her fingers tapped lightly against the couch fabric.
Ray remained standing where she had placed him since it was what she ordered him to do.
Veyra's eyes moved down to the way the black trousers fit across his thighs, then back up to his face.
"Remove the shirt," she said in a soft voice, but he knew it was a command he had to follow.
Ray pulled the tight fabric over his head and set it aside on the small table, the cooler air of the alcove touching his skin while Veyra's gaze sharpened with clear interest.
She rose from the couch slowly and moved closer to him, then lifted one hand to rest lightly against the center of his chest as if testing the solid feel of him.
"Lady Seris does not usually spend that much on untested stock, she must have seen something she liked," Veyra murmured, while her palm slid slowly across his skin before she let it drop.
She returned to the couch and sat again, this time leaning forward slightly.
"Come here," she said, patting the space beside her.
Ray moved to sit where she indicated, the cushion dipping under his weight.
Veyra turned toward him, one leg folded up onto the couch as she studied his face at a closer distance.
"The house rules say you service whatever is requested within reason, I am not interested in the usual rushed work most of the clients settle for, I want you to stay present, look at me, and not drift off into that empty stare the broken ones use," she told him, her voice lower now.
Veyra reached out and traced a single finger along the edge of the metal collar at his throat.
"Show me your worth~," She said with an alluring smile.