Everyone expected a war between the old ways of magic and the new ways of the steam engine upon its invention. However, what people quickly learned is that a synthesis of the two did more than anyone realised. Instead of a steam engine that could merely power trains and factories, it was made to power airships and augment spells. There was a frenzy of development as every day brought a dozen new inventions. While there inevitably were those who fundamentally opposed one side or the other, most people welcomed the change and the improvements it brought. A war between the old and the new was averted despite the pessimistic predictions of many.
However, as those who remembered the time before steam grew grey and withered, the raw resource used in making steam engines more than their technology allowed, became scarce. The once plentiful element, the raw magic that had bonded with fossil fuels in the ground over centuries, called Ember, was now becoming much harder to find. Mines are dug deeper and prospectors scour for new sources. Heavy contestation over ownership of the new and old sources is escalating tensions. As a result, the tried and true method of settling debates has come back with full fury. War is on the horizon as each nation is quickly industrialising its military.
At the most blissfully unaware state possible, the most critical element in the war to come was getting herself drunk in a bar, with no idea of the role she would play.
"Don't you think you have had enough?" Miller, the barkeep, teased his favourite customer.
Not his favourite because she paid her bills or avoided needing to be thrown out. Rather, he enjoyed having a fun-loving, red-haired woman with an amazing figure and ample bosom in his bar. That, and the fact was that she was bringing in customers simply being there, by sitting, with her well-toned bum, on his bar stool. Her white top, tight and, ever so slightly see through, clearly showing off her black bra, distracted him enough to almost miss her response.
"I will give up drinking when people stop buying them for me. When do you think that will be?" Although she never really found the old and overweight barkeep attractive she always favoured him with a smile and her most playful voice.
"Last call as always I guess." He chuckled.
The exchange was not what it seemed. It was a planned conversation and his way of letting her know when a man she had brought home in the past walked in. The last-call bit was to let her know the old fling was avoiding her. If he felt there might be a ruckus, he would suggest she buy her own drinks to help her cut down. Not that she was shy about how she had fun, but it would rather spoil things if those buying her drinks knew.
"Damn... Now here comes real trouble," Miller announced.
"And hello to you, too!" The new arrival exclaimed as she sat down at the bar. "Hey, Hannah. Get laid yet?"
"Just my landlord's son at lunch. So my rent is paid." Hannah chuckled. "How are you doing Mari?"
Mari was a visual contrast to Hannah. While Hannah had clean skin and an elegant haircut, Mari had shaved half her head and covered her skin in ink. Her hair dyed purple, it was always styled in whatever outrageous manner Mari took a fancy with. As well endowed as Hannah's breasts were, Mari's were about twice the size. Her almost non-existent top showing off the gleaming mounds and the ink that covered them.
"Nothing new on them today," Mari commented, catching Hannah staring at her breasts. "I've been too busy."
"Your busy day is, I'm guessing, at least seven men."
"Three, but that's just what I woke up with and I had to do something while waiting for my appointment." Mari made a thoughtful pouting face as she pondered how to explain things.
"An appointment that you are going to rope me into joining you?" Hannah asked with a raised eyebrow.
"No, but also yes." Mari flicked her hand to order a drink and adjusted her almost non-existent skirt.
She always did that when she was about to try and convince someone into doing something and seduction wasn't an option. Hannah stared at her until she was ready to speak again.
"So, I already agreed on my behalf. It's a job in a brothel," Mari explained.
"Those are illegal if I recall. In this city, and a lot of others."
"Well, actually it's only illegal if it's in a city-controlled space. Kinda boring to get into the legal crap, but the point is that if you operate from an airship, you can do whatever you want. Since it's not a part of the city, just visiting, you can run whatever business you want. As long as we aren't smuggling anything, we are in the clear."
"I assume we will have someone telling us who we can have sex with?" Hannah stated levelly with disinterest.
"Well yes," Mari confirmed. "But the point is that we can get paid to dress up pretty and spread our legs for all the fun we can manage. I know you like to choose for yourself, but after that bit with the blindfold in the stadium locker room, I doubt you can claim to be that picky."
"Yes I can, I knew they were all sexy as hell before going in there. The blindfold was to not see what was going on. I have standards, just not restraint."
"The point is..." Mari sighed "You have taken a lot of men to bed you might not have if you didn't get lost in the moment. That wedding last month, you didn't know any of the men before then."
"I was drunk off my ass and still don't remember. I like where I am, I choose who I want, live where I want, and I never suffer from a lack of food, clothing, or drink. What more do I need?"
"Make enough money and you can buy your own airship. Then you can do that same stuff, but all over the world, and with a lot more people." She paused before adding, "And you won't have to worry about how we just ruined your reputation by discussing your sex life in front of everyone here."
Hannah looked around the bar realising that absolutely everyone heard the whole thing. There were some very genuinely disappointed looks from some of her previous conquests and more than a few disgusted looks amidst the shocked expressions.
"Balls..." Hannah muttered.
"As many as you could ever want. Now let's go." Mari quickly led Hannah out of the bar and towards the cable cars that would take them to the docks.
Unimaginatively named Crater Peak, the city they lived in was on a mountain that was also in the middle of a crater. The surrounding mountain range provided a massive natural barrier against any force attempting to march on it. Originally founded by the few hardy travellers who braved the crater mountains, the invention of the airship lead to the creation of a castle at the peak of the mountain inside the crater. Airship docks were installed below the castle to act as a trade hub, and the rest of the city crawled down from the peak down towards the valley. Farms in the valley fed the city and grew some of the most exotic crops the local environment allowed.
When they reached the cable-car station, Hannah flattened out her red skirt to make sure it didn't look messy while she smirked at Mari who adjusted hers as if it mattered.
The station this low in the city was rather run-down with mouldy concrete and rotten wood panels, but the carriage itself was finely decorated. It wasn't often that it ever came so low in the city.
"Looks like someone is having a bad day if they had to come down here from the castle," Mari mused.
"Either that or someone is slumming it. How did you get up and down for that meeting?" Hannah responded.
"Oh, there was a posting," She smiled. "I just made use of a wire and called ahead. She sent word and I was able to hitch a ride on one of the cargo carriages."
"Well, this will be a nicer ride for sure. Assuming we can get on, I'm not going to go look for a cargo carriage with this thing here."
There were two obstacles to getting onto the gondola. One was a young man sitting in a control booth that doubled as a ticket counter at the door. The other was preening his moustache and trying not to let the local air touch his suit.
"What one do you want?" Mari asked, adjusting her breasts.
"You know the drill, whoever he looks at the most. The other gets the man in the booth."
Mari held her hands behind her back as she trotted with a grin up to the gondola. Hannah walked gracefully beside her with a smile. Both men noticed the women approaching and were both a bit stunned when they reached the doorway the fop had been standing in.
"What are..." his eyes moved between the girls until they settled on Mari, "...you two doing here?"
Mari wanted to wink at Hannah but kept her eyes on her mark.
"Well, we need to get up to the docks. I'm a bit afraid of heights but had hoped someone would be able to keep my mind off of things. Also, you look like a man who has better things to do than just standing around. Perhaps we can help each other out."
"Indeed I do have better things to do... but if you think I can let a slum rat like you onto this gondola... well, you are sadly mistaken."
"If you rather me on something else, this slum rat is happy to oblige. Unless you prefer your rightful position... on top."
Mari was not too subtle with her hints, biting her lower lip as if it's all she could do to contain her lust. Her eyes pleading, almost begging, for him to accept the offer. He sniffed the air and looked down on her for a moment before turning around and walking inside.
