Missing in Action

Chapter 009

Brendon snorted. "A lot of the women and men who work in Brothels actually want to be there," he said, eyebrows raised. "They are much safer than the streets, provide a roof, bed and food. They're not... exactly legal, but much better than the alternative. Prostitution is the world's oldest job, you know that? It's always going to be there... and it could be worse. They don't hire children, the women aren't treated badly, the clients must abide by many rules... It's definitely not a good thing, but it's not the worst," he finished, flushing slightly. He'd researched Brothels and prostitution a while ago, during the summer. He'd even watched many documentaries on it, and knew many facts. He didn't like the idea, but it didn't completely repulse him anymore. He looked straight at Ryan, waiting for his reply.

"I just don't see why-" Ryan stopped, taking a deep breath to calm himself down. "I don't see why anyone would want to be on either side of a deal like that. A good social security system should be able to at least make it less appealing." He took another deep breath, shaking his head slightly. "I guess what really gets to me is how it cheapens everything. How can it be special to have sex with that one person if you can just head to the other side of town - or down the street - and get it for money? Perhaps I'm too... fucking romantic or something for my own good, but sex should never be just about getting off. It should be about trust, and about the feelings between two people, not just something that's for sale to the highest bidder. This way, in a sense, everything about couples in sexual relationships loses meaning somehow." He shook his head once again and took a large bite of his bread to keep his own mouth shut before he really said something he'd regret later. Suddenly, though, a thought occurred to him. If his assignment led to him having sex with Brendon, how was he any better? Wouldn't that just make him a whore too? From what he'd heard, many prostitutes even refused to kiss their clients to distance it, and that was definitely more than he had been doing. At least with regular prostitutes, the clients knew what they were doing. There was no trust to be broken. So didn't that just make him even worse? He forcibly pushed the thoughts away, taking another bite and waiting for an answer.

Jon stepped in after a few moments in silence, cutting Brendon off. "You're right, it cheapens sex. It really, really does. Which is why a lot of people say that sex is not an act of love, and it's not a way to prove you love someone, which is absolutely true. Maybe you are a romantic and you believe sex should be about trust and two people coming together and sharing their feelings and, I don't know, a soul connection? I think you're wrong. It might have been that way a long, long time ago, but it's not anymore. Yes, it is a big part of any relationship, but that's only because humans have made it so important. I mean, aren't we the only living beings on Earth who tie sex to love? Animals do it to produce offspring... not to prove their love," he shrugged. "Sex isn't about love."

Spencer gasped, looking at Jon, mortified. "Jon! How can you say that!? God, that is so horrible to hear. If you really love someone, then sex can be about love. It's not something you should give away and it's not about getting off. Or, it shouldn't be. I know that it's like that for a lot of people... but there are also a lot of people who still believe it's an important aspect in relationships. You're so cynical..." he trailed off sadly, only to have Jon shrug again. Brendon was looking between his friends, unwilling to say anything.

"Perhaps it really ought to be one of the things that separate us from animals then," Ryan muttered, still fighting to get around the gloomy thoughts looming at the front of his mind. "Perhaps it makes me an odd one out, but I know-" Or Tobias knew, and had told him. "-that unless you're some kind of unfeeling, selfish... whatever, you do give something of yourself away through sex. I mean, it is the closest you can physically get to another person. And there aren't a lot of things that are more painful than finding out too late that you've given part of yourself away to the wrong person. I'm not saying that you should only ever have it with one person. I just mean that it feels like a waste if it isn't at least someone you care about and trust and want to get closer to. I mean, everyone who's ever been in a relationship would probably agree that a breakup hurts more if you've actually gone all the way."