Love on the Strip

“ This makes no sense!“ a voice whined into the twilight sun. David felt as if he had walked in circles, for all he knew several hours could have passed since he arrived on the planet. He sat down on the cracked pavement and read his instructions again. “If you are by the sector 2 tram station go past the alloy statue, then find little Magella road and turn left on building 42 and follow the lights until they turn red…“ The first part was clear enough, once he landed he took a bus to sector 2 and found the tram station but to his dismay there was no statue here. He convinced himself it was no problem and looked for little magella. He found Magella road but the sign said big not little. “They probaly wrote wrong again“ he taught and followed it. After walking up and down the road several times, unable to find building 42, he gave up.

Shut in his own world he went trough the day, again and again, trying to find where he went wrong. “I should have never taken that offer. How did I trick myself into believing I could handle this?“ In his delirious mumbling a stranger walked by and saw the pathetic humans display. “What’s bothering you stranger, do you need some help?“ David looked up to see an alien, he knew he should not say that but intergalactic history and biology was not his strongest subjects. He wore a t-shirt from a brand David did not recognise and some revealingly tight shorts. The skin was brown and dotted with various patches of darker shades of the same color. “Eyes up here friend.“ David was released from his trance and bolted upwards. “Yes, sorry“ he managed to squeak out. David stared into the aliens eyes as requested, they were about the same height baring the quills that portuded out its head. “I need to get to the red light district, do you know where it is“ David asked. The alien smirked, showing the serrated teeth in its elongated jaw, and braught their hand to their chin. “Red light district huh. Why would you want to go there?“ they asked in a sultry tone. David blushed and answered “Business!” The alien stepped closer to David, releasing his chin he grabbed David’s side. “Why go there for business?” he asked, his slender tongue escaping his mouth for a moment. “It’s a place to have fun. You look like you need to relax, maybe I can help with that” he continued. David’s blush deepened, he took a step back and composed himself. “N-no that won’t be necessary. I am late and I really need to be there.” The alien sighed and looked into David’s pleading eyes. “Fine, I need to be there myself. Let’s go.”

They walked down the road into an alleyway by the intersection, David’s new friend said it was a shortcut to little Magella. Out of the corners of their eyes they saw a statue representing the colony’s heroes and further down the road lights of varying colors started to show. David saw none of this, he was too focused on his escorts back. The backside of his arms were adorned with quills similar to the ones on the alien’s head, only shorter and they had a duller color. The same could be said of their neck but these quills looked taken care of and they left an outline on his shirt down to his shorts. Once David saw the shorts again his thoughts got reaffirmed. The shorts were stretched out, barely containing what they held. All in all, it was a good view. “There we are, the red light district” the alien said with gusto. David forced his sight to leave his escort to look at his destination. The street was filled with aliens from every part of the universe, all in various states of being drunk. Some took to the streets and yelled of their good prices only to be outbid by stranger down the street. Knickknacks, tools, pirated holo-tapes and erotica was sold by these peddlers. Not everyone sold goods, some wore clothing even your new place of work would not approve of and told every drunk on the street their price. The sides of it was lined with bars, pubs and restaurants all with their different themes to draw in a crowd. Zero-g, tribal theme and to David’s surprise an Irish pub. “Guess the concept is hard rooted in our culture” he mumbled. His escort turned around and said “I have to go now. Hope whatever business you have get solved.” David focused on the alien once more, they looked different this time. “Thanks the help, see you sometime?” he asked hopefully. “Who knows, this is a big town I might just disappear” and with those words he vanished into the crowd.



After some slurred directions and a handful of gropes from the night walkers David finally arrived at his new workplace, Outer Heaven. It was prettier than the pictures they had sent, probably because of the neon light from the sign David taught. The place it was on was calmer than the main street but still close enough to get a steady supply of horn dogs and drunkards. There was a line to get into the club the entrance guarded by what a kid might think would hide in their closet. It was a big, lumbering brute of an alien, his right arm could tear David in half. He wore a black tank top that did nothing to hide the muscular, tattooed scales that were underneath it and that were nothing on his shredded dark blue jeans. David entered the line and patiently waited for his judgement to come. In his 30 minute wait he saw the bouncer throw out 4 people, break up an argument about who stood first and had a one sided fight with someone that taught they were the shit. David finally arrived at the entrance and could now see the bouncer was towering over him, he barely reached his chest. He looked upon the face of the bouncer, he had no discernible nose just nostrils and there were no lips to cover his teeth. Scars decorated their face, he had a big one across his right eye. A booming voice exited the alien. “Id.” David fumbled in his pockets trying to find his wallet. Once found he showed the bouncer his card. “This is not legal in this sector. Can’t let you in. Next!” the bouncer said. In a panic David stopped the next patron and clarified that he was looking for Alad. “Sure you are. So is everyone else. Next!” he repeated. David pleaded and told the bouncer of his trials just to reach this place, he could not get thrown out now. In his tirade David felt lighter as if telling someone of his hardships raised a load of his shoulder but suddenly his world was turned upside down. He was hanging over the bouncer’s shoulder, held firmly by his strength. Together they went into the club.

His vision obscured by his carriers back prevented David from watching ahead as they walked further into the building. Even if he could not see he could hear and smell what they were about to enter. The atmosphere was heavy, the loud banging techno music, cries of joy when the dancers removed a piece of clothing and a strong blend of several races arousal permeated through the entire building. David caught glimpses of two dancers whilst the bouncer walked through the main hall, one was a slender, white creature flowing around the pole with grace the other was rigid when he danced and with the glance he got looked like a Illithid. When the big guy walked past the private dance rooms everything about the atmosphere got stronger, only the cries changed to moans. Finally, the brute had reached his destination, by the sounds of it seemed to be a bar. “Got someone that says they know you. Said you had organized a meeting” the bouncer spoke to someone behind the counter. “A meeting huh” The voice behind the counter was serene and synthesized, the mild chatter showed some age. “You would not happen to be David, would you? It asked him. “YES, yes I am” he said. At the confirmation the bouncer dropped David off his shoulders and placed him on an empty stool. A quiet apology escaped him before he left. “The names Alad, this dumps automatic leisure and drink unit. At your service.” the old robot hummed out. If the modulator was not telling, Alad was an older unit. Some if his parts were rusty and the displays meant to be his eyes glitched slightly but it was clear he took care of himself. As if reading David’s mind, he answered “Maintenance ain’t cheap, sometimes you got to dumpster dive for them. This one is from surveyor bot” he said knocking on his rounded head “but trust me, I got a few decades left in me!”

Alad and David discussed everything from his travel here to the music choice in the club, all while Alad took every customers orders and prepared them with finesse not seen in the newer models. Even though this was nice David still worried “Excuse me Alad but shouldn’t we have an interview?” He poured the last beer and slid it across the table, resting on his arm in the same action. “We are having it now kid!” the robot said calm as day. David tensed up, “why would he have it here, was this a test?” Alad shook David with his other arm and looked him straight in the eyes. “You look tense kid. Maybe you want something straight from the tap?” David stared back, not sure what to answer. Before he could Alad clarified nonchalantly “I am asking if you want to suck my dick.” David became bewildered at the proposition, he stood up and blathered “Ah. Sorry, not now. I, uh, need to take a walk.” So he walked.
David sat silently in a corner booth, taking in the music and collecting himself. He wondered why he just could not handle that joke, he hoped it was one at least. He knew this was different, everything was, but he could not shake the feeling of this being a misguided attempt at change. He hung himself over the table and sighed. There was some entertainment to distract himself with, the white alien from before danced on stage. He moved weightless around the pole, bending and twisting himself to hide and show as much and as little as possible. As gracefully as he began he left the stage when the song was over, the crowd already becoming restless. The announcer spoke of the next dancer Chroma but David was inside his own world once more. Five minutes later he felt a someone tap his shoulder. He turned around to see a smooth, eyeless, white head. “Not like dance” the alien whispered inquisically. The dancer took their clawed hand and placed it on David’s thigh, lightly caressing it. “Maybe private?” it asked. David slid out from the hands grasp and explained that he was not in the mood. The alien straightened itself, even then they had a curved spine. He was about a head taller than David and wore a tube top. There were a series of bands covering his body, they hung loose except for his crotch which was wrapped up tight. Before they left David said that they danced really well, he taught he was a smile form on the featureless head.

Not two moments after the bouncer came up to David and asked him to follow him, the other patrons were distracted by his miserable state and asked if he could be thrown out. David had no choice but to comply, he had seen what this guy was capable of and he would not like to thrown across the city. He blindly followed the bouncer, trying to stay positive. “Well I know the way here now. I could try again tomorrow” he taught. He remembered what he saw on the way here. He saw the spikes along the, no that was the stranger’s quills. He saw the exit and tried to remember something, anything, of the path they walked to get here, nothing. “I really screwed up, huh” was his last taught before walking through the door. His moments of self-pity were interrupted by the unfamiliarity of his surroundings. The room he entered was rundown, cracks and dirt decorated the walls and floors. Besides from the dirt there was a fridge, some cabinets and a worn-out couch also in the room. It seems he was brought backstage. “Alad would still like to talk with you. It’s one hour tills closing, wait here” the bouncer said closing the door behind him. David went to the sofa and sat down. One hour of waiting, sure he was practically waiting outside but there he had something to watch and listen to. As a gift the door opened once more and a black bug came in. He wore a simple vest, a thong to shield his privates. Its head was a mixture of a moth and an ant. The bug also had a damp white ring of fur around its wrists, anklets and neck. The weirdest part was the strange paint on him. White swirling stripes covered his body, some went straight others followed the chitin. He was completely oblivious to David’s presence, skulking in the fridge and downing a bottle of soda before he noticed the human. His mandibles separated into a smile and his eyes widened in surprise. He placed the bottle back in the fridge and approached David. “Yo, what’s up? I haven’t seen you before” he said energetically, “No wait I have, you were the loner in the booth.” He took a leap and landed into the couch, arm extended in welcome. “Anyways, the names Firefly friend!” Dazed, David took the bugs hand shook it. “David” he said after he collected himself.

After the introductions, Firefly asked David question after question not giving him the chance to answer the one asked thirty seconds ago. Where do you come from, what’s your favorite type of meat, do you work out, why are you here? The last one hit David hard. “I applied to work here. But I have a feeling I won’t get it” he answered. This made Firefly stop his barrage. The silence was deafening, David expected some clicks as Firefly breathed but he stayed completely still. The chitin alien broke the silence by moving closer to David, straddling his lap, and asked “Do you really think that?”  David was stuck, he could not escape the cell Firefly had created without pushing him. He closed his eyes and took a deep breath, when they opened they were met with an intense stare. “Yeah, don’t really know what I was thinking” he answered, “I can’t handle…lewd stuff that well. And I blew it by fleeing from my interview.” In response Firefly surged forward and embraced the downtrodden man. He was surprisingly soft for a bug and the fluff around his neck was soft as cotton. “Don’t worry about that. Alad can be a bit forward but he’s a great guy” he said trying to comfort David. He released his grip slightly and looked into David’s eyes. “Besides I can help you get more comfortable with that stuff” Firefly said pressing his groin onto David’s, “if you want, of course!”

David taught of Firefly’s proposal for a moment. The pulses from Firefly’s hardening member distracting them from everything else. A cough brought them back from their stupor. The Illithid looking lookalike stood by the door amused. “I see you both are getting very, intimately, acquainted with each other” the newcomer said, “but Fire you should remember we are professionals. If you are to entertain someone you need to do it in private AND charge them for it.” They had a very regal tone, something David did not expect from anyone in this establishment. Their clothes reminded David of old pirate stories, a bandana around its head, golden bracers around their wrists, a blue coat which complemented his electric purple skin, a pair of trunks and black thigh highs hugged his legs. Firefly’s fluff grew, his eyes filled with annoyance. “One time Pelagius, it was one time” he said in a deep frustration. “Once is enough to get branded for life” he said walking towards the pair. He studied the now shrunken and embarrassed human. “You’re not half bad, might even call you sexy if you caught me in a good mood” he said trough Firefly, eyes filling with amusement from the frustrated bug. Firefly stood and turned to face his adversary. “Branded huh? I heard something similar earlier” Firefly said with feigned ignorance, “I heard a group talk of a proud octopus craving for them to pound him into dust and paint him white.” “And you would insinuate that octopus would be me? Where is your proof” Pelagius asked? “Just a hunch, I mean you did walk funny on stage and this morning Sonar mentioned you smelled differently” Firefly said with a grin. Pelagius blushed dark purple and his tentacles twitched in rage. The tension between the two got heavier, wearing down David’s passiveness. “Calm down! There is, probably, no reason to get this intense about it” David shouted sheepishly. He gained the ire of both, they apparently did not appreciate his attempt at remedying the situation. His rescue came in form of a familiar synthesized voice. “He’s right about that so simmer down. We’re closing up, it’s time for you two to head home” said Alad at the frustrated pair, “C’mon, get out!” They left shortly after and took with them the heated tension.

“Glad I got here now. Those two can get quite feisty with another” Alad sighed out. David raised himself proudly from the couch to greet the robot in hope that he could have a second try. “Well it was good you meet them, when I am not there you got to be their handler” he said chuckling. Alad’s humorous remark broke David’s stride, apparently he did not need that second chance. “What? I actually got hired” he asked. Alad rested against the wall and considered his words for a second. “Well it was either you or no one, not many want it on their résumé that they worked in a gentlemen’s club.” David felt he needed to say something, anything, as thanks for him giving him a new life. He tried his best to convey his gratitude towards the robot in a mild mannered way, betraying his true state of mind. “Eh, the others seem to at least tolerate your existence. I can only speak for myself and Chroma but we are happy to have you here, hell you should thank him he convinced me to take you in. Said you were a friend of his” Alad said his modulator crackling slightly. “Wait a minute” David said hastily, “I don’t have any friends here!” On cue David noticed a blue discoloration on the wall which expanded took form into, what he presumed was, Chroma.
He was a calming shade of azure which matched his demeanor. Chroma’s clothing was loose, in contrast to everyone else David’s met. It would have reminded him of a belly dancers outfit were it not for the various wires and electronic parts sown into the fabric. “Not a friend, that hurts stranger. I taught we had a moment there” Chroma said. Stunned and further bewildered all David could do was stare at the familiar stranger. Chroma let out a snicker at David, he even saw smoke pour out of the poor souls ears so hard did he think. “Maybe this will jog your memory” he said as skin changed color at lightning speed, finally settling on brown with darker patches, “Recognize me now?” Once the changed settled, David let out a laugh as he recognized his escort. “Small world, right” he said welcoming his newfound friend.

The job would be simple, handle the club’s finances and make sure they do go red. David felt he could handle that, his father often said he was good with numbers. Alad mentioned he could need a helping hand with some other odd jobs as helping in the bar, cleaning or helping the dancers get ready but those would come after he was comfortable with his prime directive. They always have someone on the pole but most move to a different club or goes off world after some months. He said we had five exclusive dancers to get an edge in the competition. Pelagius, Chroma, Firefly, Sonar and himself if he was feeling frisky. With that said he left to go home, not before getting a hand full of David’s rear, and Chroma followed soon after.

On his way out David took note of how big the main room was, it felt much smaller when he walked through here earlier. He also saw the leftovers of a good day. Empty bottles, dropped drinks, credits on the stage and many patrons leftover lust dotted the floor. Something told him to collect the bottles, he couldn’t tell if he wanted to make a good impression or just wanted to clean the place. After David had picked up two dozen, in various states of empty, bottles did he hear someone drag something wet. The bouncer appeared from the corner of his eyes mopping the floor, trying his hardest to make the floor spotless. He walked backwards, swabbing where he previously stood, into David. That step forced David back and made him lose his balance. “Wow,” David gasped, “how strong are you?” The bouncer turned quickly and apologized, he seemed more relaxed than when David saw him previously. David retook his place and said happily “No. I should be sorry; I was in the way.” This seemed to clear the big guy’s conscience and let the air escape his body in a sigh. “You seem happy. Did the meeting go well?” he asked gently. David beamed at his new coworker. “Could not have gone better. You are now looking at your latest coworker…Um.” He did not know his name. The guy he’s met three times now. “Call me Fergus, it’s the easier version” he said helping David. “Fergus” David repeated, “cool name for a cool guy.” Fergus looked down blushing and refused to look into David’s eyes. “I guess you could describe it as that” he sputtered out. David chased his eyes trying to make contact. “I mean it. Tattoos, scars, ripped clothes, big muscles. You are the definition of cool” David said. Fergus broke. He started speaking gibberish, thanks and compliments poured from him as his blush deepened. He remembered that he was supposed to clean and decided on his escape. Fergus excused himself ten times over as he started mopping the floor and begged David to go, he could make a mess.

David left the building into the dark silent street. Every bar, pub and club was closed but some stragglers remained, wandering in the night. He joined them, walking down an unfamiliar road into the morning. He might fail but he felt good thinking about it. A new place to work, new friends, new city, a new planet. No matter what’s to come he felt he could face it, he might even get into one of the guys pants. He followed the road into an unfamiliar dawn.