#brothels

...

The candles of the Warm Red Pavilion were slowly blown out by a few servants walking around the room, dousing all the flames. Well, all the flames except for the few near the stage. Tables were shifted off to the sides as humans crowded around.

Tianlang-Jun had dragged his nephew to a spot along the back wall seeing no point to deal with the drunks if they could see the show just fine from here. Humans will always be interesting to Tianlang-Jun, but drunk humans get annoying fast.

Tianlang-Jun had already been planning to stay for the show when he had first heard about. He had came to town just too see what it was like. Of course, his intrest only grew when he overheard two of the humans who worked at the pleasure house gossip excitedly about a person, "A-Jiu", and how they'd be playing for the night. Tianlang-Jun always loved mysteries, so he just had to uncover just who they were so excited about.

When the show had started, courtesans in multicolored fabrics came onto the stage from the wings. Tianlang-Jun never really understood why they were called the wings in particular, humans always had such a funny way of naming things.

The humans on the stage were covered in light colored hanfus; light greens, pinks, purples. All of them looked stunning in thier own way, with veils covering up the bottom half of thier faces. Leaving only thier eyes, soft and polite to look down to the audience.

But they weren't what caught Tianlang-Jun's attention.

As the final light color turned to face the crowd. One final performer knelt down in the center of the stage carrying an Erhu in one hand and a bow in the other. And oh...

Tianlang-Jun couldn't focus on the music that maiden played, not from the first slow strung to the strings likely plucked. They were enchanting. If they ladies clad in light colors on the stage were stars then this one was the moon. With ink black hair, darker then the night sky. Clothes deep navy and ornamented with silver. Those cold green phoenix eyes that never left the instrument and played so confidently.

Tianlang-Jun's heart was set ablaze. Since the moment that maiden had walked onto the stage, he felt ready to fall to his knees and worship. To follow the goddess of the moon herself to his last breath. Every string rung throughout the room and Tianlang-Jun felt that fire grow brighter.

Every fabric that got in the way of that performers face he hated. Every gentle look from the courtesans sent to moon he disliked. Tianlang-Jun saw how the crowds had attached themselves to each other just trying to get closer to the stage and for the first time, he hated those humans themselves. Whatever thoughts they had to disgrace the very moon themselves, he didn't care much for the stars.

But oh... how he just wanted. To touch the moon, to lay gentle kisses along the moon's hand. To bask in the moon's like and worship. Pray, for even just a look his way.

https://archiveofourown.org/works/63672052/chapters/166937470

Here she is, chapter 2 of After You’ve Gone is up for your reading pleasure.

Nightmare is in need of bodyguards after the recent attempt on his life, obviously the brothel is where you get those. And why do they seem to know about the guy who tried to kill him??

Inter-Sect Politics for the Absolute Beginner

by Elpie (Horribibble) (@elpiething)

M, 3k, Wangxian

Summary: Today, with a formal missive from Koi Tower in hand and Zonghui staring at him with open concern, Nie Mingjue throws his head back and laughs and knows that no request will ever bring him such joy: Sect Leader Jin Guangshan has been brutally assaulted and, due to a conflict of interest, the Jin sect begs the assistance of the Honorable Sect Leader Nie Mingjue in the search for justice. - Wei Ying was raised in a brothel in Yunping, and Sect Leader Jin is having a very bad day. Kay's comments: Incredibly funny! Had me grinning the entire time. AU where Meng Shi was the one who found Wei Ying and took him in, offering him a home in the brothel. So, he grew up alongside Meng Yao and one day, when Jin Guangshan visits the brothel, Wei Ying is not going to stand by and look as his adopted family gets mistreated. Rest in pieces, Jin Guangshan's nuts. Excerpt: Without missing a beat, the young man laden in silks and ornaments and the almost tangible love of every courtesan in the room laden upon him like so much armor looks Sect Leader Jin dead in the eye and says, “A shitty lover, an angry drunk, but most of all an asshole.” Personally, Mingjue could not have asked for more. Except, perhaps, to borrow one of Huaisang’s fans to hide his face. “Young master,” Lan Xichen speaks up, ever the voice of gentle reason. “This is perhaps not the best defense…” For a moment, the youth stills, blinking at the elder jade, surprised by the sound of genuine concern. But then he takes a deep breath and plants his hands on his hips, clearly not having any of it. “It’s the truth.” He levels his gaze, once more, upon the gilded pervert. “You’ve got twenty kids at least, including A-Yao, so I know you know how a brothel works. You’re not new. If you’re coming into our houses to be a rotten bastard, you should just leave.” The only other man among the courtesans glaring death upon Jin Guangshan, has the spine to call, “Ying’er.” But Nie Mingjue suspects very little has ever deterred this man, least of all being called little baby.

pov wei wuxian, pov nie mingjue, canon divergence, canon era, wei wuxian isn't adopted by the jiangs, non-yunmeng wei wuxian, courtesan wei wuxian, brothels, bamf wei wuxian, jin guangshan being an asshole, justice, families of choice, crack treated seriously, humor, different first meeting

~*~

Big Nose Kate, The Shady Ladies and The 1880’s Bordellos

In 1881, Tombstone, population of around 5000 inhabitants, supported 110 saloons and fourteen 24 hour gambling halls. It is no wonder that “the red light women” or The Shady Ladies (Big Nose Kate pictured at left, seated, and sister, standing. Older Kate right, below.) practicing the world’s oldest profession, were among the first to arrive, and the most welcomed, in the mining camp.

Some of the women were part-time entertainers, hoping to strike it rich; some enjoyed their work, while others did it just for the money. For most, it was the only avenue to survival. The more acceptable trades for women, such as seamstress, cook or laundress, paid only the lowest of wages. Without a man to take care of her, a woman’s choice was often that of scandal or suicide. Though considered by most to be sinful, these women chose survival and were proud, rugged, and independent.

An attractive, pleasant woman soon learned that she could name her price. Some worked at local theatres and dance halls. The older and less attractive women worked on the street, in the saloons where they were paid a percentage for caging drinks from the customers, or in the cribs.

Prostitution was legal in Tombstone as long as the proper city license for the business of “House of Ill Fame” was purchased. Revenue collected from the sale of these licenses was, for many years, the sole source of financial support for Tombstone’s schools. Although considered to be a profession of sin, large contributions helped to build area churches, and during times of illness, the parlor houses not only housed the sick, but the girls provided their care. (Madame Blonde Marie at left)

A crib, consisting of one room, approximately 10×8, constructed from rough lumber with a tin roof, was the worst place to work. To ensure that her customers could find her, the woman’s name was painted on the door. The cribs were rented to prostitutes at a price of $3 per day, payable in advance. The rooms were sparsely furnished and arranged for a quick turnover. The customer removed only his hat! The customers were miners, laborers, soldiers, and a very few cowboys, as Tombstone was a mining camp. On payday it was not unusual for a girl to entertain as many as 70 men. Disease, alcoholism and drug addiction were her destiny. The fees were typically: Chinese, Negro, Indian 25 cents Mexican 50 cents French 75 cents American $1.00.

The parlor houses were of various designs, however, all required PAYMENT IN ADVANCE and posted the sign SATISFACTION GUARANTEED OR MONEY REFUNDED. Due to local restrictions, the parlor houses were located in the same area as the cribs. In sharp contrast, the parlor houses were furnished with carved furniture, red velvet drapes, full length mirrors, exotic paintings, and deep soft rugs. Most were two stories.

The first floor was usually a saloon where drinking, dancing, and gambling took place. These customers were served by young, attractive maids and a uniformed butler. The girls would line up for the customer to make his choice. The madam was paid and the man escorted upstairs to one of the elaborately and lavishly decorated private rooms. The standard fee was $10; overnight cost up to $30. Young women of exceptional beauty and older women with special skills or well known passionate ability demanded higher prices. The madam took half of the girls’ fees as well as $5-$20 room and board per week depending on the times.

During the California gold rush, the brass or bronze check for the house came into use. It was the standard token. The check was purchased from the madam and presented to the girl who would cash in the checks for payment. Each house accommodated between 5 and 30 girls who could make up to $150 per week. In comparison, miners made only $3 for a 12 hour shift!

The hours of operation were noon to daybreak, and the girls got 1 day a week off. Huge profits were made from the sale of beer, whiskey, wine, and champagne. The competition was fierce. Most madams allowed their girls to pass out business cards with the girl’s name and the house’s address. Others were allowed to sell nude photos of themselves in unusual poses. Most were known only by nickname, both to protect their families and in the hopes of marrying respectably in the future.

🤔

Vaclav Chochola (1923-2005)

chinese mythology • pan jin lian