[For Saffron]

[thewordofweb]

Not that I make it my business to know the goings-on of a particular strip club, but I can't help but have a passing curiosity of the place. After all, Joe is fast becoming a regular customer at this rate and I just have one curiosity to be fulfilled. There's one woman to turn to and it's not hard to miss her. After all, she probably has the best figure of anyone on the Island.

Usually, I just have to follow Joe's eyeline.

Today, I caught up to Helen after writing a few paragraphs of the war memoir he had been struggling on, stuck on the Holland jump. It had been so peaceful and I want to get that sense down into words without foreshadowing what came next. "Helen?" I call out. "Helen, hold on!"

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[devilwoman]

Saffron was heading to the club, fixing to do a little record-keeping work before they opened, when she heard someone call her name behind her and turned. "Hi, Webster," she greeted with a smile, seeing who it was, and stopped so he could catch up to her. She didn't know him as well as some of the other Easy boys, but he seemed sweet, and she knew Joe thought pretty highly of him. "What brings you out here?"

[thewordofweb.livejournal.com]

I fall into step next to her with a smile on my face, adjusting the papers under my arm as I relax slightly and don't try and heave heavy breaths all over her. "I was writing and caught you on the way back. Which is coincidental. I keep meaning to come talk to you, but I always get sidelined. Or you're always with someone else."

[devilwoman]

Saffron talked to Joe on occasion, but with her 'someone else' could have been any number of people. "Do you?" she said, interested as to why he would want to seek her out specifically. "Was there something in particular you wanted to talk to me about, sugar?"

[thewordofweb.livejournal.com]

"There, uh, there is, actually," I admit, casting a long glance over my shoulder to make sure no one I know is around. The very last thing I need is Grant or Babe hearing any of this. Now that I'm feeling better, I want to get back into the swing of things, but I also am curious as to what sort of pleasure Joe seeks out at the club. "I was hoping you could teach me something."

[devilwoman]

She shot Webster a curiously amused look. There were plenty of things she could teach him, but she had a feeling he wasn't interested in learning Chinese. "What did you want to learn?" she asked, then smirked slightly. "Somehow I don't think you need my help with seducing Joe."

[thewordofweb.livejournal.com]

I clear my throat as my cheeks flush red. "No, definitely not that," I assure, trying not to sound like I'm complaining. Honestly. The fact is, I should be happy he seems to be insatiable, but I'm starting to get a little tired. "More of a rare talent, you could say."

[devilwoman]

It didn't take much thought to come up with the next possible thing he wanted to learn. "You want me to teach you to strip?" she said, her eyes narrowing in a slightly incredulous but amused expression.

[thewordofweb.livejournal.com]

"Me learning how to strip would be like teaching dogs to play poker. A novel concept, but rather painful in the execution," I note with a dry and almost monotone voice. "I was thinking more along the lines of dancing. Lap, to be specific."

[devilwoman]

That made sense, as Saffron well knew Joe happened to enjoy a lap dance now and again when he was at the club. "Sure, I can teach you how to do a lap dance," she assured him. "Did you have a time in mind for the lesson?"

[thewordofweb.livejournal.com]

"I found you on my way back from writing. I have all the time in the world." If all the time in the world was until dinner, at which point Joe might be slightly cross if I didn't turn up to enjoy his cooking. "And thank you. I figure it might be a nice ace to have up my sleeve."

[devilwoman]

"I think it might," she agreed, and tilted her head in the direction of the nearby club. "Come on, Webster. Let me show you a thing or two."

[thewordofweb.livejournal.com]

I follow along, shifting the notebook to the forefront in the event that I need to take notes. "Not that I really have any business asking, but I am curious. Does Joe have a good time at the club? And is there any way for me to absorb some of his admission hours?"

[devilwoman]

Saffron let them into the club, directing Web to go with her up the stairs. "I think he does," she confirmed. "He seems to be enjoying himself anytime I speak to him or pass by him when I'm making my rounds, at least. You can absolutely take on some of his hours, if you'd like. While we're here I can look up what he currently owes and you can let me know how much you'd like to take on."

[thewordofweb.livejournal.com]

I follow her, still, not feeling that possessive flare like I had at Mardi Gras. I send him here with the knowledge that it's not serious and he'll always come home to me. If he's happy and not miserable, that's enough. "I'll take a few," I guarantee, taking the steps easily. "I'm already fishing out on the boat, I can always bring some in for the kitchen."

[devilwoman]

She nodded, then led Web over to one of the benches against the wall that was reserved for lap dances and directed him to sit. "First off, let me ask you - have you ever had a lap dance?" She wanted to know what kind of base of knowledge she was working with.

[thewordofweb.livejournal.com]

"I have not, no," I pleasantly reply, knowing how much of a neophyte that might make me appear. I'm not as experienced as Joe is. I take a seat and clear my throat. "That's not precisely where my interests lie."

[devilwoman]

She went over to start up Bill's iPod, the speakers slightly down so it was loud enough for them to hear but not so much that they couldn't talk over it. "Then I'm going to start with a demonstration," she informed him, going to stand facing him with her legs on either side of his, her demeanor almost businesslike. "Your job is to pay close attention."

[thewordofweb.livejournal.com]

I peer up at her and nearly babble out a protest that she's beautiful, she is, but she's also very much not my type. Literary women on the pages of history and attractive and stubborn men (the gorgeous ones also in there), but...

"M-maybe this isn't such a good idea," I babble out, even though she's right before me now. "I'm not exactly the typical red-blooded male and while I aesthetically appreciate how beautiful you are, I don't know that I'm going to react the way...well, the way I should."

[devilwoman]

Saffron laughed, not unkindly, and put a hand on his shoulder. "Honey, I'm not doing this to get you off, as handsome as I may find you," she assured him with a smile. "You wanted to learn how to lap dance, so first you need to see how it's done."

[thewordofweb.livejournal.com]

"Just please, please, please don't be offended if I...you know, can't," I finished warily, tipping my head back to look at her with a crease in my forehead.

[devilwoman]

Saffron smiled fondly and leaned forward slightly to press a kiss to Web's forehead, right on that crease. "I won't," she assured him. "Now pay attention." She waited a moment for a good point in the song that was playing and then went to work, swaying her hips expertly as she danced facing him as well as facing away from him, close enough to brush against him.

[thewordofweb.livejournal.com]

I almost protest that I want to be taking notes for this, but I can focus on the aesthetics and the technical work. I wonder, momentarily, if my hips will even move like that, but I watch carefully, speaking aloud to remember things. "So the key to the arousal is a sense of being unable to have," I theorize, eyes scanning her up and down. "And clearly I can't exactly be very scantily clad for this. Joe would die laughing."

[devilwoman]

"That's probably a good idea, at least for the first time," she confirmed, as she finished a gradual turn so she was facing him again. She finished up the dance with a flourish and moved to sit next to him. "And yes, exactly. Don't let him touch you too much, otherwise you'll never finish your dance. The idea is to leave him wanting more."

[thewordofweb.livejournal.com]

"So, a blindfold wouldn't be out of turn?" I suggest, a keen little smirk on my lips as I watch her and just shifted to try and picture how Joe would, how he would anticipate this.

[devilwoman]

"Mmmm, a blindfold can definitely be fun, I agree, but I'd advise against using it in this case," Saffron replied, with a little smirk of her own. "You want him to be able to see you."

She sat up slightly and gave him a pat on the knee. "Okay, are you ready to give it a shot?"

[thewordofweb.livejournal.com]

"Joe being able to see me varies on the day," I assure with a half-there smirk as I sit back and nod, ready for the lesson to progress to the next level. "Ready as I'll ever be."

[devilwoman]

"Okay then," Saffron said, sitting up and giving her own lap a pat. "Let's see it."

[thewordofweb.livejournal.com]

I exhale with a puff of air through my cheeks and I give her a wary look. "You're really going to make me practice, aren't you?" I ask, slightly miserably. I was almost hoping to get away with a scant amount of nothing while practicing on Joe.

[devilwoman]

"Of course," she replied. "The best way to learn is by doing, right? And you want to look at least somewhat like you know what you're doing when you do this for Joe."

[thewordofweb.livejournal.com]

The chances of getting called a purveyor of dirty films is highly likely, but I nod and rise to my feet, taking a deep breath and trying to shake off inhibition. Maybe if I don't feel like this is something I ought to not be doing, I can. A long deep breath and I turn a long look on her, pretending as though she is everything I want, eyes slightly darker (as I can all-too-easily imagine her as Joe). Slowly, I ease in, grasp the edges of the chair and slide down slowly until my eyes meet hers.

"Something like this," I say in German, mostly for my own benefit.

[devilwoman]

"Good," she said, taking in his movements. "Make it a nice slow tease. Loosen your hips, give them a lot of slow movement." She placed her hands on his hips, guiding to show him what she meant.

[thewordofweb.livejournal.com]

I'm tense for the most part and her hands on my hips only serve to increase that slightly. But I exhale slowly and close my eyes, think of learning to dance at Taft. Rhythm, I have. If only I can let go. I pretend this is nothing more than a rumba and I loosen my hips at the coax of her hands, waiting for further instruction as a lock of curled hair falls over my forehead.

"What next?"

[devilwoman]

She thought about it for a second, trying to remember the kinds of things Joe liked best when she lap danced for him. "Try this," she said. "Turn around so you're facing away from me. And remember, anytime you turn around you want to do it slowly, keeping eye contact as long as possible."

She spread her knees apart, directing him to stand in the space between. "Put your hands on my knees, with your back straight and your knees bent. Now lower yourself this way-" she guided his hips so he was almost sitting in her lap- "and circle your hips."

[thewordofweb.livejournal.com]

It feels awkward, but I'm following her instructions to the letter because, well, she is a professional at this. I wouldn't ask anyone to doubt me when asking about the definitions of prosaic words. "Okay," I say, doing precisely as she's coaxed, finding it still strange. "Definitely my baseball shorts for this," I note with a quiet sound.

There's no way I'd manage in a pair of jeans.

[devilwoman]

"Good, good," she praised, studying his movements as he danced over her. "Remember to stay loose - not like jelly, you don't want to be too loose, but enough to be sensual instead of robotic."

She watched him a few seconds longer, guiding his hips lightly with her hands for a moment here and there when he needed it. "Okay, now I want you to slowly and gradually turn yourself around to end up facing me, dancing while you do it."

[thewordofweb.livejournal.com]

I feel absolutely ridiculous, but I steel myself with the knowledge that if Joe is to see me doing this, I'm most likely to become dominant to make him subjective and I just keep that in mind and pretend it's him as I work for her, hips moving in rhythm with music only I can hear, very slowly turning and doing just as she says.

And maybe there's a little look like possession flickering in my eyes.

[devilwoman]

She watched appraisingly as he continued the dance, with an occasional murmured instruction or a light guiding hand when he needed it.

"Very good," she said after a minute, giving his leg a pat to signal he could stop. "You're a quick study, Webster."

[thewordofweb.livejournal.com]

I sigh with relief and flop over on a chair nearby, peering at her with weary eyes. "I'm a quick learner," I admit, though this still feels vaguely odd. "You never feel strange? About peddling yourself in such a manner that lets men objectify you the way they do?"

[devilwoman]

Saffron shook her head with a smile. "Sugar, I trained to do a lot more than just dance for a man," she informed him. "I'm used to the idea of being objectified."

[thewordofweb.livejournal.com]

"I'm not really used to that," I admit frankly with a laugh pushed out of me. "Joe's treatment of me is fairly new and I'm entirely new to it. It's...thrilling and a bit strange." I turn a lazy look to her, managing a hint of a smile. "He's going to fall over laughing when I do this."

[devilwoman]

"It's not all that bad, to be objectified," Saffron commented. "Especially if that objectification comes with other things, like love and affection. Just enjoy it."

She raised an eyebrow, though her expression was mainly amused. "And if Joe does laugh, I'll smack him upside the head."

[thewordofweb.livejournal.com]

"I get the affection part, but not the..." I don't even want to say it, put name to it. I'd rather just skim over it completely. "You know? We're just not involved in that way. It's just dating, for now."

[devilwoman]

"Okay then, just affection," Saffron conceded with a smile, even though she could tell that the two were pretty much stupid for each other.