Feelings Sold Separately - Aemond Targaryen

Chapter One - The Ad

Maysie Farrin

King's Landing was the hub of all of Westeros. People came from far and wide to make it big on the Street of Coin or within the confines of The Red Keep's business district. Travel agencies and shipping conglomerates were created for those who wished to get fine jewels from the Street of Shine or garment from the Street of Silk.

To Maysie Farrin, King's Landing was the place she thought her life would begin. But instead of flourishing far from home she sank to the ground quickly. But instead of leaving she found a small beat up apartment in Flea Bottom, and a job on the edge of The Red Keep that payed her under the table, and sometimes not at all.

She liked to think Flea Bottom wasn't all that bad. Sure it was the crime capital of the city and the roads were littered with trash, but there was a sense of community that she hadn't found anywhere else. Even if the tone of the community was often hostile, it was still something.

Instead of gossiping behind each other's back, or ignoring issues, Flea Bottom residents came together to post their feelings on bulletin boards. Apartment buildings had them, grocery stores, parks, and even the rundown hospital all had a cork board by the entrance ready for notes of complaints or pleas to be posted.

For someone as nosey as Maysie it was a dream, drama, gossip, secrets, and feuds were posted for anyone to see. Everyday before she headed out to work she took a few minutes to read over her apartment building's notes.

On Tuesdays a new doodle would appear, and on Wednesdays two men from the third floor would flirt through notes, though Maysie hadn't figured out if they had ever met to talk in person. Everyday though, there were at least three notes from Miss Falker complaining about how loud everyone is, and Mr Mollen updated the board daily on the search for his lost cat.

Sometimes an Ad for a store or website would be posted, tear off discount codes always used up within the first few days. This time though, on a normal boring Friday, an Ad stood out to Maysie. The paper printed black with white words, showing just how 'fancy' whoever posted it was. She expected it to be for some new tailor in the city hoping to broaden their clientele, or maybe an Ad for a new high end strip club.

'Looking for a Sugar Baby.' It read, forcing Maysie to take a step closer. 'Needed - 10-20 hours of availability during the week, flexible weekend availability, basic understanding of etiquette. Provided - Flexible schedule, frequent gifts/bonuses, competitive pay.' It was printed in a pretty font, like the ask wasn't something so risque.

Beneath everything was 'Serious inquiries only' and a few tabs filled with a phone number. Maysie paused as she took it all in.

Sugar Baby's weren't something she was familiar with per say. Vysessa, a previous co-worker, had left her job after becoming one, saying it paid enough to live comfortably without working at the coffee shop. It had intrigued Maysie, the idea of getting paid to hang out with someone and get spoiled was a fun thing to dream about, but now the silly scenario she had allowed herself was looking like a real life possibility.

"For Fucks sake girl, move." A voice behind her urgently yelled.

Without thinking too much about it Maysie grabbed a tab and ran out the front door, stuffing the small piece of paper in her only coat pocket without a hole. The fall wind surrounded her as she walked to her bus stop, an odd feeling settling over her as she began to think about all the possibilities the small paper held.

✩ . ☽ . ☼ . ☾ . ✩

"You're late!" The dreaded voice of Maysie's boss welcomed her the moment she stepped inside the coffee shop. "I'm docking you four gold, if you're late again you're fired." He grumbled, sat at his desk, head in the newspaper. Why he came in so early never made much sense to Maysie, both her and Eyla had keys and knew how to set up. Yet he still sat in the back office until noon every day.

Maysie just nodded at the man's words, she knew arguing would cause more gold to be taken off her pay, if he remembered to pay her this month at all. Rushing from the back to the front counter Maysie tied her apron around her waist, the dark brown fabric worn and dusted with sugar.

"Crap!" Maysie whispered as she hit her hip on the small bit of counter that jutted out into the doorway. "I hate this place." She mumbled to Eyla, the shorter woman busying herself with refilling cups.

"You hate this place?" Eyla turned around, her auburn bob swishing as she moved. "I've been stuck with the devil, alone, for ten minutes!" She fake yelled, a laugh puffing past her lips as she finished talking.

"He's not the devil." Maysie laughed back, her hands busy with starting up all the coffee machines. "Just one of the devil's bitches." She whispered, Eyla and her both breaking out into a fit of giggles as they kept up their morning routine.

"So, what made you late?" Eyla asked. "You're never late." Her blue doe eyes searching Maysie's.

"I got distracted at the bulletin board."

"Ugh, I wish my building had one of those!" Eyla pouted, though Maysie knew Eyla wouldn't last a day in Flea Bottom. She was too nice, too kind, too trusting. "What was so interesting it made you late?" She asked, but before Maysie could answer she cut in again. "Wait did Mr Mollen find his cat?"

"Eyla, I don't think he'll ever find his cat." Maysie said solemnly, the image of Rusty taking a nap on her window sill years ago flashing by. 'I miss him.' "No, it was an Ad."

"For what?"

"Um." Maysie took a second to think about her answer, wondering if it was best to keep the Ad to herself. But Eyla was the closest thing she had to a best friend, and she needed someone else's opinion. "It was for a Su..r Ba.y." She struggled with the words.

"A what?" Eyla laughed, walking towards the front door to unlock it and flip the sign to 'Open'.

"A Sugar..." She couldn't do it. "A Sugar, it, it's like Vysessa, remember her?"

"I'm sorry." Eyla's words laced with humour as she paused to stare at Maysie. "Are you trying to tell me you got distracted by an Ad for a Sugar Baby?" Maysie was pretty sure she still hadn't blinked.

"Um, yes?" Maysie winced. "But I'm not even sure the Ad is serious, and even if it is I'm not fit to be a Sug.r B.by." She rambled, moving to stand behind the cash register to greet the first customer.

"Oh shut up!" Eyla laughed, scooching to lean on the counter beside Maysie. "Anyone would want your cute ass on their arm at fancy events, and you're very fun to be around." She smiled. "Maybe work on being able to say 'Sugar Baby' though." She smiled, patting her on the back before walking off to get started on the first order.

"You really think I should call?" Maysie asked, worry lacing her words.

"Yes, really!" Eyla tried her best to hype her up. "Take a few copper coins from the tip jar on your break and call." She rattled the small jar. "Tell him you'll meet with him here, and I'll make sure to work an extra hour or two so we can be sure you're not in danger." Eyla's smile was genuine, and hopeful.

"Okay."

"Okay!"

Even if Maysie was apprehensive about the whole thing, and a hundred percent sure she wasn't the kind of woman this guy was looking for, she vowed to call during her break. 'What's the worst that can happen?'