<em>"There is a reason, Master Valentine, that I usually do not look for models in brothels."</em><br/><br/>Though Ryan was quite distracted, even if he didn't show it, this did get his attention and he nodded, lightly, his smile spreading and reaching his eyes when Atticus reacted to his whispered words. Apparently he hadn't thought he'd give Atticus that kind of freedom ; to basically decline or accept the job of modelling for Nicolas. It caught him by surprise Atticus actually accepted, and it showed, but, briefly, again.<br/>He could sense the tension in him and he almost reached out for him. Why would he accept if it made him this stressed..? But he couldn't give it too much thought now Atticus spoke these words. He had to accept them and let go of the contemplating.<br/><br/>"I didn't wish to make you uncomfortable, sir. There are a few reasons behind me being so very careful when it comes to Atticus," he said, folding his hands over each-other<br/>"I'm not to disclose these, however. They are of a personal nature. I'm sure you can understand."<br/><br/>He grinned at the use of a near title for Adi by Florence, and it wasn't part of his mask. It was amusing to hear to him. that, and he felt the same way. There was something about the hermaphrodite, and he hoped it would bloom more. Maybe with some attention, it would.<br/><br/>"I'm going to assume you have a healthy imagination and tell you, M'lady, that the man in question is not a man, nor a woman, but both," he said with a warming smile, then drummed his fingers on his desk and tilted his head at the question about numbers.<br/><br/>"Well. Two whores for one client would come to a price of three whores. But two whores for two clients, would not, not even if the whores were shared," he said, then slipped a hand into a drawer to take out a piece of paper with the common prices of the Teahouse he laid on the desk, sliding it towards Florence.<br/>"Atticus, because he's not a whore, would be one and a half the price of a whore, and without the more carnal delights, I might add. It's basic math, really. It only becomes complicated if one would wish for Atticus' non-sexual services<em>and</em>a whore's sexual ones."<br/><br/>Of course this was Ryan's playing field ; discussing and negotiating prices for the time of his whores, while trying to protect both the whores and the clients. Of course, to a degree, his whores came first. Though he did wish clients to be returning, a damaged whore, physically or mentally, would be much worse for the House than a client not returning for a new stay.<br/>He flicked his gaze up at Atticus briefly, him being the embodiment of such.<br/>Much worse, indeed.