In the birds' nest • woosan

VI. The exception

[tw: selfharm; drugs and alcohol; smut/dubcon—sexual content under the effects; self hatred; psychologiacal abuse]

☾

The ever-changing mosaic of colors and movement on the floor cast by the pulsating lights was almost hypnotic, and Wooyoung found himself distracted for a few brief seconds. The words murmured in his ear were almost imperceptible, drowned out by the thrum of the bass and the hum of conversation around them. But he had to go back. The hand on his thigh moved up in a far too intimate way that made Wooyoung shiver.

The man was around his fifties, salt and pepper hair slicked back with a greasy amount of pomade. He might have been considered handsome if not for the sloppiness of his appearance. He reeked of sweat and an overpowering cologne that stung Wooyoung's nostrils. Wooyoung couldn't help but flinch as the man's fingers tightened around his leg, forcing him to re-engage in the tedious talk.

"You know," the customer leaned in closer, his enthusiasm for the topic evident in his glazed eyes, "I think the real issue is that people are too focused on all these social issues. Like, everyone's talking about equality and diversity. Shouldn't we just focus on more important things like the economy?"

Wooyoung's patience was wearing thin. He could feel his anxiety rising as he tried to balance politeness with the frustration of the conversation, "Social issues and economic concerns are often interconnected," he replied, keeping his tone measured, "Addressing one aspect can impact the other. For example, promoting equality can lead to more equitable economic opportunities"

The customer's brow furrowed, clearly not grasping the connection, but he didn't move away. He leaned in even closer, so much that Wooyoung could smell the whiskey on his breath, "Yeah, but I just don't see why we need all these new policies. People should just work harder and not expect handouts. I mean, if they really wanted to succeed, they'd find a way"

Wooyoung struggled to keep his composure. The man's views were simplistic and dismissive, and it was becoming increasingly difficult to remain engaged. He wished he could just stand up and leave, but that wasn't an option. Xiaolong would kill him if he left a customer for such a meaningless reason. He loved to torment the poor man, but he knew he had to suck it up. Gege loved him, and Wooyoung knew that, but he also knew that he had closed an eye more than once for him.

In The Nest, there were many rules, and the most important one was about consent: none of the little birds was forced to have a private session with a customer if they didn't want to. A rule that Wooyoung appreciated a lot because it made him feel safe. He could barely stand the soft caresses, the light touches of hands on his arms and legs. He was sure he wouldn't be able to go further than that, so whenever a customer offered him money for a more intimate session, he never accepted. Nobody ever made a fuss about his refusal, but not indulging in sex with the customers meant a lower pay at the end of the week, and for Wooyoung, a lower pay meant big trouble.