"It doesn't seem... artificial, to you?"

"Everyone always wears masks. The masks slip here more often than not. I don't think there's any job that will get you what people really think of you more often than escort. Granted, often they feel you're disgusting, but that's the price you pay for going into the profession."

"Is the price worth it, to you?"

"Yes. Definitely."

"Now, it's true that not all escorts are as nicely treated as the ones here, but..."

"That doesn't change what the case is in the Rose Bowers."

"Exactly."

"I see."

"You sound skeptical."

"It's just... generally I would rather people weren't forced to have sex rather than starve."

"Very cogent argument. In the same way that one might argue it's horrible that you might have to mint Takkarash in order to not starve."

"... I guess?"

"The parallel is exact. It's an arguably bad thing happening to prevent an even worse thing."

"Yes, but there's... pimps, and so on..."

"I'm not going to pretend to you that prostitution is a squeaky-clean business. I'm just saying the Rose Bowers does it both legally and ethically. Particularly if you compare to history, we're an outlier. We have a literal goddess of pleasure at our backs, what do you expect?"

"Um... Ishaza, you said you knew a few other escorts. Could you give me contact information for them? So I could talk to them about this?"

Ishaza checks her phone. "I can do one better, Tabs. I can invite them over right now."

"Could you? I - think I could use it."

"Anything to help a young girl's education." She selects a portrait on her phone, calls. 

"Hello. Yes, I know. I have a client here who's working through her issues with prostitution and would like to speak to some more escorts, can I take some time out of your day? Yes? Thank you." 

She hangs up. Calls again. "Hey Aya, it's me. I have a client with escort issues who could use words from an experienced hand like yourself. Meet me at the Brunch Munch? Thank you."

She puts down the phone. "Aya and Tasha will be here shortly."

"Thanks a lot, it sounded like you called in a favour there -"

"Tasha is very busy, she works with the therapists, but she trusts my judgment on when she should get involved elsewhere. It's no big deal."

"...if I have a sudden case of bravery could we all go off and spend some time together?"

"I didn't ask them to budget for that, darling. But if it comes up I suspect we could work something out."

"I see..."

Tabs reaches out and takes Aurica's hand. "I think it'll be alright, whichever way you choose."