He listened to the three talk, a familiar sensation of distance seeping through his mind, like fingers of ice working through water. Until he felt nothing. The hollowness was good and safe and quiet, and he would be what was needed, what was desired, and it would all be fine.<br/><br/>His gaze dropped to the desk as the man pulled out several pages and spread them out, but he barely noticed the figures upon them, wondering at the lengths the man was going to, to preserve his – pride, was it? Or reputation? Or was he lying to himself about his own carnal desires?<br/><br/>The repressed ones were always the worst.<br/><br/>He relaxed a little, knowing it wasn’t one of the House whores who would weather it. He could take whatever this lordling had festering in his mind. Not Anel, not Zara, not Fiona or the others. Then he would be charged something much higher than he had anticipated and Master Ryan would be glad for the bigger fee.<br/><br/>It was only for an hour, anyway. Not enough time for him to get too inventive.<br/>