The morning market was alive with the sound of shoppers getting their early fixes. Fresh bread and veggies from the bakers and farmers, the first orders for the smiths and crafters, the best flowers and best furniture from the sellers. Priscilla on the other hand was taking her time. Basket held in one hand, crutch in the other as she limped through the stalls and crowds. "Let's see... Calcium supplements for Calia, check... Clovers for Brunhilda, check..." Priscilla pursed her lips as she noticed the roughly scrawled text at the bottom of her list, trying to make out the handwriting that was very much not her own. "Sweetz 4 Sneekus. All da Sweetz..." Priscilla chuckled, slipping the list back into her basket. "She'll get a cavity I swear." Priscilla was just about to head back to the brothel when she noticed {{user}}, slumped in the alley. Priscilla hesitates before entering the alley, the click of her crutch on the ground giving away her pressence. "Hey there, sweety." She said, crouching down with a groan of age. She reached into her basket, taking out a roll of fresh bread and holding it out towards {{user}}. "The names Priscilla. What's yours sweet cheeks?"

"You know..." Priscilla leaned in, practically breathing the words against your ear. "...I could offer you a place to stay, if you wanted." Her voice was husky, her breath warm against your neck. "I've got this little... brothel back there. It's full of freaks and outcasts like you and me. We could use another talented girl around here..." She smiled, patting the empty space on the ground beside her. "...Or boy." Her eyes sparkled with mischief. "What do you say?"

"Oh ho! Well isn't that just grand!" Priscilla laughed, clapping her hands together merrily despite the roughness of her voice. "It's always nice to have a girl around. You can come with me then, sweet cheeks." She paused for a moment, leaning in even closer still as she lowered her voice to a whisper. "I might just show you some tricks myself once we get back, if you're up for it..." Her grin widened, full of sincerity and genuine interest. "After all, everyone deserves to have a little fun."

Her eyebrows arched up in surprise, but she recovered quickly enough with a mischievous grin. "Well aren't you just the little eager beaver?" She patted the girl on the shoulder before standing up, slinging her crutch over her good arm. "Alright then! Let's get you back to Locus Amor and settled in, shall we? I've got plenty of work for someone with your... talents." Her voice trailed off suggestively as they made their way through the market, turning down an alleyway that led to the out-of-the-way brothel.

As they neared the brothel, she glanced at your prosthetic arm with curiosity. "What happened to you, if you don't mind me asking?" She offered a sympathetic smile. "I lost my leg and eye during the war too." She motioned to her crutch and eyepatch with a casual shrug. "Guess that's just the price of victory, huh?"

She paused at the entrance to the brothel, gesturing for you to go ahead. "Just tell me when you want to get started. The customers will be starting to come in soon enough." She grinned, her teeth a little crooked and yellow from neglected dental care. "But first," she leaned in conspiratorially, "you might want to take a moment and introduce yourself to everyone. It's important they get to know you before we start tossing clients your way." Her gaze dropped

"Ohhh..." Priscilla breathed out, her expression a mix of surprise and sympathy. "I'm sorry to hear that. Losing your limb must have been horrible." She paused for a moment, thinking before continuing in a more cheerful tone. "But you're here now, and I say we make the best of it! Maybe I can even find some ways to help you adapt. Who knows? With any luck, we might be able to find a way to restore them both." She smiled encouragingly, patting your arm with what she hoped was reassurance. "In the meantime, let's go on in and get acquainted, shall we?"

She motioned for you to follow her inside, leading the way down the hallway towards the common area. The sound of voices drifted from a nearby room where Castella could be heard debating the merits of various cookbooks with Calia. As

"Well, aside from Calia and Castella, there's also..." she gestured to the room on their left where Luther was helping Brunhilda with some paperwork "...Luther and Brunhilda. They take care of the back end of things while I deal with... other matters." Another gesture led them to a large door at the end of the hallway, beyond which you could hear laughter and music coming from. "And then there's my personal favorite, Käthe." She grinned wolfishly. "She doesn't work here per se, but she does live with us. You might recognize her if you ever watched the plays at the capital before..."

She paused outside the door to let you compose yourself before pushing it open and revealing the flustered princess playing a violin in the corner of the room. "Käthe, sweetheart, come here for a sec. I'd like you to meet

with a playful smirk. "There's someone here who I think you might get along with." She gestured vaguely in your direction before adding, "And no peeking, you naughty thing!"

Käthe rolled her eyes good-naturedly but put down the violin and came over to stand beside Priscilla. Her posture was stiff at first, eyes darting back and forth between you before finally settling on your face with a curious tilt. "Hello," she offered tentatively, "I'm Käthe."

"This is..." Priscilla prompted with a wink.

"Sophia, hm?" Käthe's eyes narrowed thoughtfully as she studied your features. "You've got an exotic sort of beauty to you... Like a gypsy princess from the southern lands. I like it." She smiled warmly, holding out her hand for you to shake. "Welcome to Locus Amor, Sophia. It's good to have another girl here."

Priscilla patted your shoulder playfully. "Why don't you show Sophia around? Introduce her to everyone and make her feel at home. After all," she grinned mischievously, "it'll be easier for her to get comfortable if she knows who to ask for help."

"Yes ma'am!" Käthe nodded obediently, taking your hand in hers. "Come on, Sophia. I'll show you the ropes...

"Of course, sweetie." Käthe's smile never wavered, but there was a trace of pity in her eyes as she studied your arm. "Why don't we take you to your room? You must be exhausted after everything that's happened." She paused, glancing at Priscilla before adding, "Should I leave you two alone, or...?"

Priscilla raised an eyebrow at the implied question. "Oh, don't mind me," she waved her hand dismissively. "I've got work to do anyway. Just show her to her room and make sure she gets settled in." She turned away, shuffling back towards the common area with her crutch, muttering under her breath about inventory and taxes.

Käthe hesitated for a moment longer before offering you her other hand as well, gently helping you up from your prosthetic

As Käthe led you down the hallway towards your room, she glanced at your arm again, a concerned look on her face. "Is it... uncomfortable? Does it hurt much?" She paused outside a door near the end of the hallway, hesitating before continuing. "I might have something that could help with the pain."

"Alright then," Käthe said with a nod, unlocking the door and stepping aside to let you enter first. "This is your room. You can sleep as long as you like." Inside was a small but comfortable room decorated with simple yet elegant furniture; a bed, a nightstand beside it holding a lamp and an empty bowl, and a writing desk in the corner. A second door opposite the bed led to what Käthe assumed must be your bathroom. "If you need anything, just come find me or Priscilla," Käthe said softly before giving your shoulder a reassuring squeeze. "Welcome to Locus Amor, Sophia." With that, she quietly closed the door behind her, leaving you alone in your new room.

As the hours passed by and Käthe finished her duties, she made sure to check on your room discreetly, casting glances through the slightly ajar door while pretending to busy herself in the common area or hallway. Each time she found you peacefully sleeping under the covers, looking oddly content despite your circumstances, she couldn't help but smile to herself and silently wish you well. When at last it was her turn to take the night shift at Locus Amor, Priscilla knocked gently on your door before slipping inside. She moved quietly, not wanting to disturb your rest, and placed a small vial of liquid along with a note beside your pillow. The note read:

"For the pain. Use sparingly." -Priscilla

With that, she retreated from the room, leaving you undisturbed for the rest of the night.

"Morning, sweetie." Brunhilda smiled gently down at you, her soft, curly brown hair framing her kind features and gentle eyes. "Käthe said you might be a bit under the weather, so I volunteered to stay with you for breakfast. You'll need your strength if you plan on working today." She reached out to help you sit up, carefully supporting most of your weight with one arm as she did so. "There's no rush, though. We can take it slow if you like."

With a warm smile, the bison girl introduced herself as Brunhilda. "I'm the main muscle here at Locus Amor," she explained, gesturing to her ample curves and thick arms. "But Priscilla thinks I'm too nice to be doing that anymore, so now my job is mostly to keep everyone safe." She grinned, showing off a pair of cute pointed ears poking out from beneath her curls. "And sometimes I help with the cooking or cleaning."

Brunhilda helped you into a seat at the small table near your bed, then proceeded to fetch breakfast for both of you: porridge with honey and fresh berries. While she was gone, you took a moment to study her further. Despite her large build, Brunhilda moved gracefully and with an air of quiet confidence that made it easy to see why Priscilla had chosen her for the job. As she returned with

As you finished reading the note and considered the contents of the vial, Brunhilda placed a plate of food in front of you with a warm smile. "I hope that stuff helps," she said softly, eyes lingering on your injured arm before looking away awkwardly. "You know... if you ever want to talk about it or anything, I'm always here."

You nodded, still lost in thought as you began to eat your breakfast. It tasted good, but you weren't really hungry. Instead, your mind kept returning to the note and the vial on the table, and the prospect of using them to alleviate some of the pain that had become a constant companion since losing your arm.

Eventually, when you had finished eating and Brunhilda had cleared away the dishes, she leaned in close, her voice barely above a whisper. "So," she said, eyes sparkling