Othello gaped in surprise and horror at the building in front of him. Iago had promised to show his general the sights, but he hadn't expected this kind of show...but the aforementioned gentleman was already halfway through the door. Othello followed nervously, hoping that no one would recognise him walking into Ye Olde Pussycat Brothel.
"Relax," Iago slowed down to walk next to him. "You'll have lots of fun."
Othello grimaced, then stopped suddenly as he walked into the main lounge. He turned to Iago to voice his wish to leave immediately, but the younger man was already lost in a flurry of feathers and scantily-clad girls. Turning his head from a leering serving wench whose dress was plainly too large for her - why else would it be slipping from her shoulders? - Othello stiffly strode over to the bar.
"A glass of water, if you would be so kind."
The barman gave him a suspicious glance. "Water? You mean mixed with some other kind of spirit, don't you?"
"Water. Now." Othello was agitated. He was used to people obeying his commands. But he was in a strange unfamiliar establishment and his kind of rules were not in practice here (unless you wanted to pay extra for the 'kinky korner', but thankfully Othello didn't know this or he would have been traumatised further). He wanted to leave, but that ancient Iago was nowhere in sight. Sighing, he hailed a passing lady who didn't seem to understand a word he said until he mentioned Iago by name. Then she winked, nodded and led him through a curtained door behind the main stage, where another decidedly female figure was down to her last petticoat.
Othello was surprised, after many turns and corridors, to find himself not face to face with Iago, but a very pretty girl. He turned to explain to the lady that she had made a mistake, but she was gone and the door had locked behind her. Othello beat at the door for a while, wondering what he had gotten himself into. It was then that the girl on the bed spoke.
"My my. What a healthy specimen of a man you are."
Even her eyebrows suggested the leer in her voice. Othello backed up against the door for support, babbling. "There's been a mistake. I am an esteemed general in the pay of the Viennese Army. I was searching for - "
She cut him off by laughing disdainfully. "What are you, a man of forty? Yet I can see that this is your first time ever in a place like this, and you are terrified! Come on, don't be shy. Sit here and tell Daphne all your fears..." Her voice tone changed, increasingly gentle and welcoming and Othello relaxed slightly. Daphne patted the space next to her on the bed invitingly.
So he told her about his strict upbringing and intense training in the art of war. He told her about his capture as a young man, and how he was subsequently sold into slavery. He spilled out all the hidden emotions deep inside his heart and soul. He never even touched her once, but he confided in her everything that was part of who and what he was, and he felt incredibly sated afterwards.
"That was incredible!"
Othello stretched and got up from the bed, smiling. But Daphne just looked bored. A sharp rap came at the door broke their awkward silence.
"That'll be my next client. Nice meeting you. Two gold pieces please." Daphne was brisk and businesslike and cold. Othello stared at her in hurt surprise. "I thought you really cared."
Daphne laughed her harsh laugh again. "You're just another man. It's part of the job description you know, releasing a man's inhibitions. Now two gold pieces; you're holding me up."
Othello paid up reluctantly, and walked to the door. His hand on the door knob, he paused and looked back. "I thought you were a good person. I guess I'm just a bad judge of character." Then he left, dejected.
Back in the bright harsh sunlight, Othello sat looking out to sea. Iago was still occupied and hadn't yet arranged transport back to the army base. But as he moped over his bad experience, Othello promised himself that he would find his perfect woman.
"She will be beautiful, pure and chaste. She will love and cherish me for my hardships in life. And I will love her, and only her, forever and ever."
2000
^
thanks to Dan for the title