Each and every one of the merfolk were disgusted. This was a brothel. Customers could pay for much more than a handjob here. Nabo came up to the group after hours with a conflicted look on his face. "These females that we are tasked in guarding... are they captives? Why are they allowing themselves to be treated this way? Even the most brutal tribes would never treat female captives this way. They aren't even allowed to actually procreate." he asked. The group looked to me for the answer. It was a tough question. "It depends on each female. Some are captives. Others are outcasts and this is the only place that would take them in and offer food and protection. In all tribes, there are high castes and low castes. These females are among the lowest rank in human society. You would have to ask each of them about their past to know why they are here now. I imagine that some might find it shameful or painful and not want to talk about it so openly." I said honestly. They all held their heads down and reflected on that. We continued the next day at the brothel too. It was more of the same.
Between the brothel and being sushi chef's on the side, we had a small reputation in the gang. Because we were so conscientious of the girls, we were great protectors. I told them that they just needed to call our names if the men were scaring them. We would all be right there. There were some that I personally beat the shit out of and kicked out. Some guys were creeps that brought their own toys. Others were sadists that wanted to abuse the prostitutes. There was a freak that tried to inject his girl with some drugs from a needle. We always made sure to take all their money and split it with the girls for their own use. When it was our turn to work at the restaurant, it was fun to deal with totally different people and skillsets. My tribesmen were trained in social work and chores. Talking to people and forming bonds was easy for them. It was going good. When the pimp came to collect the money he was owed, he saw that the girls had gotten some extra things he had not paid for. He was angry until we stepped in and explained. "Breaking merchandise is a problem. They got off really lucky."
Really lucky was a correct assessment compared to what a gang could do if they really did not like you. After hearing we were new in town with no place to stay, he set us up in some ratty apartment. The owner of the building was a slumlord that was under the protection of the gang. They were 2 bedroom, 1 bathroom apartments with a open dining room and kitchen. There were 5 of us. We took up 3 of them. I bought twin bed cots for us. 2 were in one room and I got a queen sized bed in another. Nabo caught me in the act and confiscated it. He took one apartment all for himself. There was nothing to be done about that. Steele took Dennis as a roommate. That left me with Wyne. In the bathrooms, we had a decent sized tub with a showerhead coming from the wall above it. That was amazing. We could return to our merfolk form at will when we were wet. Submerging in the water of the tub was the best time for that. Wyne chirped in glee being able to see his tail again. He called for me to join him. It was clearly too small for that. It did not stop him. I told him to lay on his side. I got in it too.
