#Client communication

[justnshalom]

How to Write a Web Proposal

Introduction Are you a web developer or designer looking to win more clients and grow your business? One crucial skill you need to master is how to write a compelling web proposal. A well-written proposal can impress potential clients, effectively communicate your ideas, and increase your chances of winning projects. Why are web proposals important? Web proposals play a vital role in the client…

[gianosagency]

Uh-oh, did your medspa's recent price hike cause a stir? Our latest blog post offers a clear recovery guide to rebuild client trust and get back on track.

[wispaus]

Is Your Workflow Secretly Holding Your Business Back?

Did you know most small teams lose 10+ hours/week switching between tools?

Wispa solves this by combining:

✅ Project Management ✅ Client Communication ✅ Task Tracking ✅ Team Co-Ordination

[saraolaw]

Key Considerations and Best Practices for Economical Real Estate Lawyer

An economical real estate lawyer must strike a balance between providing affordable solutions and ensuring the delivery of high-quality legal services. The following are essential considerations and best practices to bear in mind:

Essential Considerations:

Client Financial Constraints: Gaining a clear understanding of the client's budgetary limitations and customizing legal services to fit those parameters.

Complexity of the Case: Evaluating the intricacy of the legal issue to ascertain the necessary level of expertise and resources.

Urgency of Deadlines: Recognizing critical deadlines and prioritizing tasks to guarantee timely execution.

Assessment of Risks and Liabilities: Examining potential risks and liabilities linked to the real estate transaction and implementing strategies to mitigate them.

Adherence to Ethical Standards: Complying with professional ethical standards and all applicable laws and regulations.

Best Practices:

Transparent Communication:

Foster open and clear communication with clients, keeping them updated on the status of their case.

Utilize straightforward language to prevent confusion and misinterpretations.

Address client inquiries in a timely and professional manner.

Optimal Use of Technology:

Leverage legal technology solutions to enhance processes, lower costs, and boost efficiency.

Implement document automation tools to swiftly create standard legal documents.

Adopt cloud-based storage systems for secure access and storage of client files.

Proficient Time Management:

Organize tasks and allocate time effectively.

Employ time-tracking tools to monitor billable hours and enhance productivity.

Delegate responsibilities to support staff when appropriate.

Negotiation Proficiency:

Cultivate strong negotiation abilities to secure advantageous outcomes for clients.

Be willing to find common ground when necessary to achieve a mutually beneficial resolution.

Anticipate potential objections and prepare effective counterarguments.

Risk Mitigation:

Perform comprehensive due diligence to uncover potential risks and liabilities.

Formulate contingency strategies to manage unexpected situations.

Counsel clients regarding the potential risks and advantages associated with various options.

Continuous Learning:

Remain informed about the most recent legal advancements and industry developments.

Participate in continuing legal education (CLE) programs to enhance legal expertise and competencies.

Engage with fellow legal practitioners to exchange best practices and insights.

By adhering to these essential considerations and best practices, economical real estate lawyer can deliver superior legal services while ensuring affordability and efficiency. Contact Sarao Law.

[ettawritesnstudies]

Would anyone be interested if I put together a post on how to write a scientist/engineer/techy/smart-guy type character? What would y'all want to know?

[christophechoo]

Communication is Key in Buyer-Seller Relationships: From Text Conversati...

📞💬 Building Bridges through Communication: The Heartbeat of Selling and Buying 🌟🤝

In today's dynamic world, 🌎communication reigns supreme. Texts, chats, and video calls keep buyers and sellers connected, 🤝seeking answers and clarity. 💬💡

Every query matters. I swiftly respond, eager to provide solutions 💡and unravel hidden doubts. It's about proactive engagement. 💪

Amidst transactions, relationships, and more, communication 🗣️ is the cornerstone. From start to beyond closing, I'm here to guide, never fading away. Let's keep the conversation going! 🏡🔍

#EffectiveCommunication #ClientConnection #GuidingYouHome #realestate #beverlyhillsagent #la #realtor

[jils-things]

LIMITED VALENTINE'S DAY YCH COMMISSIONS! (CLOSED)

hello everyone :D this ones a little rushed but im doing ych valentine's day commissions!!!! these will be available until the last day of the month.

- the general will do/wont do of what i can draw is the same as my normal commissions!

- certain things can be customized! (expression, hand gesture, gift)

- finished art will be transparent

- i take ko.fi and pa.ypal payments!!

and here's some quick samples i made to help you get a feel for the commission :3

reblogs are greatly appreciated 💝💝💝

[creativepromptsforwriting]

Can you do lawyer x client prompts/dialogue please

Lawyer + Client Prompts

"I would love to ask what is wrong with you, but even as your lawyer I don't think I even want to know the answer."

"You're my lawyer, you should be on my side!" "I am, but sometimes the job of a lawyer is to save a client from themself."

"As your lawyer I'm going to tell you: you are a fucking idiot."

"I didn't do it, right?" "Are you asking me if you have committed the crime?"

"Did you know that there was a camera there?" "Obviously I didn't."

"Everything you say to me is confidential." "Great, because I have a lot things to tell you."

"I would never date a client." "Then get me out of here fast, so I'm not your client anymore."

"Maybe I should close my office and exclusively be your lawyer. You definitely give me enough to do."

"You do know, you have to pay me by the hour, don't you?"

"Wow, my own lawyer doesn't believe me." "I don't have to believe you. I just need to make the judge believe you."

"I love how much you care about me." "Well, you are paying me for it."

"How... why... I mean... What is wrong with you and how do you expect me to bail you out of this?" "I don't know, you're the lawyer."

"If they say I did it, and I say I didn't, then it's he said she said and they can't lock me up, right?" "There is video evidence."

"You will not say a word. Do you hear me? Keep your mouth shut, just this once in life."

More: Lawyers AUs | Rival Lawyers

- Jana

[sergle]

this wasn't directed at me but these tags WERE from a rb off of mine, and this IS a real question!!

you're not the only person who instinctively goes Formal Email Mode when ordering commissions. (esp when they are. through email.) I do that too- and this is something people wonder about placing commissions!! how do I talk? the answer: you can talk pretty much however you want. I've gotten orders that are basically "hiiiii are you taking orders rn? i would love for u to draw my guy!!!! [photo] [photo] this is his outfit :3" the end. and I've had orders that are like 8 paragraphs long, typed like a college essay. when I reply, I basically just match whatever the tone is that I'm receiving! mostly the tone doesn't make it through, though, I'm just trying to glean the details for what the client wants.

[benetnvsch]

I LOVE YOUR WINGED KNDZ AU SM!!!!!

THANK YOU!! It's been so fun to think about and develop raaaaaah -

here's something else I thought up with the other day,, Dazai eventually does realize that Kunikida isn't used to behaviors that come with being winged and eventually somewhat uses it to his advantage.

Winged individuals, when feeling threatened, often times flare their wings, spreading out their feathers to expand their wingspan and sort subtlety intimidate the other and say "back off" or to signal possession or they need space.

This is definitely a behavior Dazai does to intimidate not only enemies but also to ppl he sees getting too close to his partner, as a way to ward them off without the other being aware of how clingy and jealous he gets eheh

[freakypus]

I dont even post feedism content (tho I guess a lot of it is VERY adjacent) and a bunch of my posts got flagged I'm ripping apart my furniture with my teeth as we speak

[oooocleo]

Is there even a site left to post art? Seriously here i really like posting my artwork and creating a safe community why this app decides to follow down the rabbit hole of A! and ruin everything?

I want to be more hopeful that it won't last and get sued those who illegally use our pieces. :/

i think anything being posted publicly (bar perhaps on very niche places no one else will find u either) is probably getting scraped, which is supported by the kind of weak 'We Will Try To Stop Unauthorized Data Trawlers' lines we get fed - even sites that have explicit anti-AI stances like Pillowfort can't promise that ur images are fully protected

i'd assume paywalled sites like patreon/subscribestar offer a smidge of protection just bc the ai people don't want income to flow anywhere else than their own pockets? as for lawsuits, ye, i hope they tread on the toes of some other shitty corporation with an interest in protecting their intellectual property since they have the $ to throw at this problem

when all the platforms we post to are owned by corporations that are only interested in shortsighted financial gain/dont need to respect their userbase, this type of behaviour is to be expected... as i mentioned previously though, i have hope that the bubble will burst like it did w/ nfts, that people will realize theyre swallowing shit and it turns out not to be as profitable as the profiteers hoped (at which point theyll turn to the next exploitative grift)

[bitchfitch]

Do y'all ever see a post that just like. Haunts you forever? And which consistently comes back up when you're trying to get to sleep

Anyways, if you do comms the whole "2+ characters in a single piece costs less than if they were bought as separate commissions" thing Isn't supposed to be a buy one get one x% off type situation.

Your commission prices should be accounting for the time you spend communicating with the client, the time you spend on file storage and prep, and the time it takes to properly document your communications and the transaction. Those things all take time and it Really adds up when you do enough comms. And the time they take? doesn't usually change much based on the number of characters.

That's why the second, third, etc, character can cost less. Not because you're giving a discount. Right. Right? Y'all aren't cutting yourself a bad deal, right? You're Not paying yourself less than an exploitative boss would pay you for that time and skilled labor, right?

[maikaartwork]

HOW TO FIND YOUR PERFECT COMMISSION ARTIST - BEGINNER’S GUIDE

There is a new trend of scamming fanfic writers that I was made aware of recently by an anonymous ask (I made a whole ass post about it) and the conversation about it led me to this post - how to make sure that an artist you choose to bestow your money on is as perfect of a choice for you as it can be, especially if you have no idea how to go about it. Being new in the world of commissioning can be stressful, so let me give you some friendly tips coming from an experienced commission artist to make the process at least safe and maybe a bit more comfortable.

This isn’t just for writers - if you just want random artwork to brighten your day, this might help, too!

Table of contents:

Basics of searching for an artist

What might be important to you as a client

First contact

Examples

Conclusion

BASICS OF SEARCHING FOR AN ARTIST:

Search in your fandom/ship community first - the best art to suit you will come from people that will actually know the characters they are drawing, people that like them, know how they act, the fanon and lore. It helps to get the correct emotions across. Scour the tags for #<fandom> art, #<ship> fanart and so on to see who is contributing. Check out the fanart channels of your local ship/fandom discord if you belong to one. Or just ask your fandom buddies for links to dope artists they like.

If that doesn’t pan out, search for simply cool art you like - experienced artists will know what questions to ask, how to guide the process to at least get to know your needs and learn about the characters you want portrayed. If your fandom is tiny or just lacking in the art area, keep your options open but raise the experience bar a notch, so you know that you’ll be working with someone who knows their stuff.

Art Vibe Check - you’ll know immediately (probably) if the art style speaks to you. Make sure you actually LIKE what you see - be it because of the style of drawing, the way the artist builds scenes, if in your mind’s eye you can imagine drawing in that style be something that represents your fic or that you’d be happy to hang on your bedroom wall and stare at every day.

ArtIST Vibe Check - go through the artist’s profile, check out what they post and reblog. You’ll want to look for someone that at least seems to be into things that indicate that they might be a cool person to talk to. You’ll probably be in contact with them for the duration of the commission, it’s at least nice to be able to talk to a nice internet entity, right? Especially if you’re thinking of commissioning in the future, you might want to choose someone you click with, who seems like they would get you.

Check if they have commission info - this isn’t something you should feel married to, some artists don’t advertise or just never did commissions before but again - especially for your first time, it’s good to have someone that knows their trade and will be able to guide you through the process. Commission info usually has some price ranges implied for you to gauge if you can afford them (NEVER PAY MORE THAT YOU’D POTENTIALLY BE COMFORTABLE TO AFFORD! - more on that later) and also things they’d be willing or unwilling to draw. They might have links in their profile bio to websites like carrd, ko-fi, patreon and so on, where they keep this info, instead of a pinned post or description. Please check the domain if you’re unsure what the website is before clicking any external links. Armed with this knowledge, you’ll know more what to expect when you actually reach out to them.

Keep your options (and mind) open - sometimes the artist you choose might not be taking new commissions at the time, be fully booked or will just decide they, for any number of reasons, are unable to work with you. Have some backup options ready, just in case. Also be aware that the artist might turned out to be a bit different in 1-on-1 conversation than you expected, give you different info than what they advertised (sometimes the posts are outdated because, you know, artists are humans and don’t always keep up with updating their profiles). In that case please keep an open mind but also be wary of changes.

WHAT MIGHT BE IMPORTANT TO YOU AS A CLIENT

Sometimes things that you might want to keep in mind when checking out an artist:

Price ranges - like I said, please be aware that a money exchange will probably be involved. Never spend more than you can comfortably afford to potentially lose. It’s the first time you’ll be meeting a new person, as nice as they might seem, sometimes shit happens and you might end up with either sub-par artwork you won’t want to use or nothing at all.

Payment method - please, please never give random strangers on the internet your personal data, your banking info or data that might make it easy to scam you. Make sure the artist offers secure payment options like paypal, ko-fi, etsy, patreon or other payment platform you actually know or can easily check out before making financial decisions.

Estimated time of delivery - if you’re on a time crunch, have a deadline in mind or just want to have your artwork asap, remember to keep that in mind. Some artists work faster, some slower, it would be a shame if you guys fell out because of a conflict there.

Work model/workflow - does the artis offer steps in their work schedule, like showing you a rough sketch first, then linework, then colors and so on? Or do they just offer a ready piece without the possibility of adjustments in the meantime? Think about how much you want to be included in the process, if you prefer to just let the artist do all the work and take what you’re given or would you prefer to have more specific control over the finished product? Sometimes you need very specific things that the artist might not think about while creating. Or you don’t have a clear picture in your head and will be happy with someone else taking control. Both are fine, but different artists might have different workflows that might not suit your needs and it’s good to have that at least figured out beforehand. Artistic freedom vs. process control and all that.

(Optional) Amount of changes that can be made during creation process - if you like to be involved, if you have a specific idea of a picture in mind or just feel you’d need them, make sure that you can have the option to request changes to the artwork. Some artists have their own ideas about the artwork they create or how much time they want to spend on changing stuff (it might be a tangible number of hours or change iterations) - because, let’s face it, time is money. Similarly, some artists simply like to include their client in the process and would feel bereft without your input. Lack of compatibility in this regard can cause friction and misunderstandings.

FIRST CONTACT

So you found an artist, think you could work with them and want to actually reach out to them but have no idea what to say? Here is what info you should have at hand to include:

Fandom/ship/characters - who, how many characters, is it a portrait, a full scene, half-body capture

Level of detail and style - do you want a simple sketch? A fully rendered piece with detailed shading? Just simple, flat colors with clean linework? A chibi version of your blorbos? This will help the artist to figure out how much time they have to spend working on your idea. You can have ready an example of specific artworks of this artist that you liked.

Description of the scene - think of poses, facial expressions, mood you want to convey, if you want background, specific props to include, text (if any) to include

If it’s a scene from your fic: relevant excerpt AND additional specific descriptions (for example of clothing, changes to the characters your fic made, you know, anything that the artist might not know without reading your fic)

Reference pics - if you have any specific poses in mind, facial expressions, props or backgrounds, it’s good to have at least rough examples at hand to help visualize what you mean. The artist is not in your head, they might not be able to get the idea or might not know niche nomenclature/props and so on. They don’t have to be fandom-specific, you can show them what you like from pinterest, other artists or just google

Deadlines you might have or any additional obstacles that you guys might face on the way, like difficulties in communication

Budget you have in mind - just in case, for when they give you a quote to compare if your ideas in that regard align

Any questions you might have for the artist, like about how they work, if they do half-payments (some artists, like me, require a sum up-front for their work, others just want to get paid after completing the piece)

Keep in mind that not all artists provide info up-front, that sometimes you’ll have to ask yourself. Please be respectful, try not to be too pushy (artistic souls spook easily) but make sure that you know what you’re getting, for how much and that you have at least a rough idea of how the commission will go time- and communication-wise. Make sure that you know if they’ll be reaching out to you and when (-ish, maybe a rough estimate of a timeline?) so you don’t have to wonder if they forgot about you or just ditched you.

SOME EXAMPLES OF A FIRST CONTACT CONVERSATION

EXAMPLE 1

<Client>: Hi! Are you open for commissions right now? I’d be interested in getting some art of <fandom and ship>.

<Artist>: Yep! Tell me more!

C: I need an illustration for my fic, <title>. I’d like a fully-colored and shaded scene of Character A piggy-back riding Character B, like a very happy, carefree scene in a park setting. Maybe a picnic blanket somewhere in the background? I don’t need the background to be super detailed but but I don’t want them to be just floating in nothing, you know? Something maybe like this:

C: <pinterest-photo-of-a-couple.jpg>

C: I really liked this picture you made: <art post link>

C: I’d like to post the fic by <date> so it would be awesome to have it ready by then, if it’s possible

A: Sure, I can do that! It’d cost X amount because of the deadline tho

C: That’s reasonable. Can you tell me more about your commission process? This is the first time I’m ordering art so I don’t really know what to expect lol

A: Okay, so… <details>

(And they got along great)

EXAMPLE 2

C: Hi! Are you open for commissions right now? I’d be interested in getting some art of <fandom and ship>.

A: ya.

C: I need an illustration for my fic, <title>. I’d like a fully-colored and shaded scene of Character A piggy-back riding Character B, like a very happy, carefree scene in a park setting. Maybe a picnic blanket somewhere in the background? I don’t need the background to be super detailed but but I don’t want them to be just floating in nothing, you know?

A: 600

C: …dollars or?

A: ya, $600

C: that’s kinda above my budget, I was thinking more along the lines of 180 - you have that in your info card

A: right now it’s 600 cuz I’m short on cash, you can venmo me.

C: ok, sorry, I can’t do that much, thanks for your time tho. Bye!

(Personal note: See the red flags there? Bad communication, price triple what was on the info card, a payment method requiring your phone number to be out there?

If an artist is rude to you or seems off in any way, be respectful but disengage asap. Don’t get into conversation or try being rude, please remember it’s easy to take screenshots and put them out of context, even if you didn’t have bad intentions. I hope very much that this will never happen to you, but as much as I’d like to pretend everyone online is a ray of sunshine, there are assholes out there and you should try avoiding getting in fights with them. Simply say bye and move on. Block them if you need to.)

IN CONCLUSION

I hope this post helps you guys to make informed decisions. Remember - be kind to each other, keep an open mind but watch out for suspicious behavior. If in doubt: your own gut is your best friend, if something feels right or wrong, chances are your brain already knows but don’t be afraid to ask for advice from friends, discord buddies or, if you feel lost in the sea of Internet - maybe someone in the comments of this post could help? The scammer post I did a while ago has a pretty good comment section so maybe this could become a good helping point with a signal boost.

Also: my commissions are open, too :D

[serpentface]

how is sex work perceived and treated - spiritually, legally, morally - in broad areas relevant to the white calf core cast? imperial wardi, the hills etc

Sex work is EXTREMELY stigmatized in Imperial Wardin, yet generally regarded as an element of society and a necessary function, not one to be eliminated. You'll occasionally find fringe groups decrying the presence of brothels as polluting elements upon cities, but they are minority figures- sex work is legal, generally accepted, and very common.

There are some exceptions- in most of the city-states, only sex work out of registered brothels is considered fully legal (independent sex workers are breaking the law in most city-states, though how much these laws are enforced varies heavily). All legally operating brothels must be officially registered, and are heavily taxed.

Prostitution of children is illegal, and this is one of VERY few protections for sex workers that is strongly enforced. But it should be clear that the societal definition of a child here does not match the contemporary- a person is generally considered an adult woman upon menarche (which is later on average due to poorer nutrition, but is still going to include a lot of like, 14 year olds). Boys are considered adults at the age of 16.

Forced prostitution is also illegal on paper, but this is poorly enforced. Even when not Outright forced, many sex workers are working as indentured laborers, or under prohibitive conditions where they have very little freedom of movement or legal ability to leave during the duration of their contracts.

Sex workers are an incredibly vulnerable, stigmatized social minority that have very few protections and are often subject to abuse.

The stigma against sex work surrounds the sex workers themselves. This is culturally justified and partly rooted in aspects of broader body taboo- receiving penetration = metaphysical vulnerability = openness to spiritual pollution, and they are considered to be heavily polluted by their line of work (regardless of whether or not a given person actually is receiving penetration on a regular basis- male sex workers who primarily have women as clients receive much the same treatment, the stigma here is fundamentally a form of bigotry, not something with a consistent internal logic).

In addition to concerns around penetration, the act of '''selling''' the body itself is seen as a polluting devaluation of the sacred body and using it to extreme excess. Sexuality and libido is societally valued, but in a framework of moderation- sex workers are seen as wildly out of moderation and are often ascribed qualities of an excessive libido by virtue of their line of work.

Sex workers are prohibited from entering most temples and participating in many public rites, justified in their ‘polluted’ status, under the assumption that it will de-purify the place and sully most rites. This serves to keep them isolated from key facets of social life and culture, and can leave many spiritually ostracized (most sex workers from within this cultural sphere are also going to believe in notions that they are spiritually polluted, with limited outlets to cleanse themselves).

There is one folk tradition that has developed to assuage some of these fears and the sense of isolation- an epithet to the Face Ganmache that translates literally to 'Mother of Whores' (a rather strong name that reclaims degrading slang in the original language as well), which watches over sex workers and their labors. This is wholly a folk tradition and not part of core dogma, and priests are self-appointed, mostly elderly former sex workers. They provide rites of purification and blessings for those denied access to temples, sometimes train themselves as midwives to assist in births (or abortions), and will help ensure deceased workers get proper funeral rites.

Generally, the concept of something being spiritually polluted translates to full avoidance of the person/place/thing involved, but these concerns are rarely applied to the Hiring of sex workers (ie they are spiritually polluted and highly impure and shouldn't enter temples but you, the client, are not affected by contact). While some people will try to provide logical explanations for why hiring a sex worker is not polluting, this does not have any true underlying logic and is a product of a society that both reviles sex workers and desires their labor.

They are generally expected to visually identify themselves as sex workers at all times- the exact details vary by city-state, but wearing hair unbraided and an uncovered head in public is most common (particularly in the west of the region).

Male sex workers are denied certain rights otherwise available by default to men (self-legal representation, ability to own land that is not gifted, etc). Female sex workers do not have these rights to begin with, and have even more difficulty than other women in finding legal representation, given that they situationally rarely have fathers/husbands/male family members willing to support them.

Because of their inability to represent themselves in court and the difficulty in finding representation, they often have little to no recourse against abuse or violations of their contracts. There are some lawyers who specialize in representing sex workers (fewer still who do this entirely out of benevolence for a vulnerable social class), but they are few and far between.

The majority of sex work is marketed towards male clients, and the majority of sex workers are women. Male sex workers are mostly young men who serve male clients, and will usually keep themselves beardless and not overtly masculine (while not distinctly effeminate either) to remain desirable targets for the sexual outlet of most men. (There is no concept of sexuality in this culture- if you are a man, you are a penetrative partner in sex and the gender of the receiving partner is of little concern. Younger men beneath you in social stature (in practice, these are almost always sex workers) are considered appropriate targets of male desire, and as such you have some men who would be considered heterosexual by contemporary standards having sex with other men). Male workers who primarily serve female clients tend to vary more in age and have less social restrictions on their appearance or masculine presentation.

Eunuch sex workers usually serve male clients, and are regarded as appropriate targets of male attraction regardless of their age (largely as they are seen as entirely incapable of performing penetrative roles, and conceptualized as de-gendered). Akoshos (those designated male who perform women's gender roles) sex workers are seen as uniquely predisposed to serve both male and female clients, as their gendered space is broadly conceptualized as dual-gendered (being physically capable of performing 'male' penetrative roles while living under women's social roles)

Hiring of sex workers is not considered infidelity and is entirely permissible to do while married, though women are often heavily discouraged from doing so (largely out of concerns of pregnancy, partly out of patriarchal control over women's sexual behavior). A woman who pays for sex work receives more scrutiny than is applied to men. It is not outright inappropriate, but can be considered indicative of an excessive libido or overmasculinization. Women are imagined as having naturally lower libidos than men, so behaviors that challenge this notion tend to be be noted.

The only circumstances in which hiring sex workers as a man attracts scrutiny is when it is deemed excessive, symptomatic of an uncontrolled libido. Men who hire male sex workers closer to their age and/or bearded will also attract scrutiny- while not outright Condemned, it's suspiciously out of the acceptable range for male desire (though will most often similarly be interpreted as an excessive, uncontrolled libido, ie you'll just fuck anything with a hole). Receiving penetration from a sex worker as a man is wholly condemned, as is seen as UNIQUELY violating, not only a severe deviance from male social roles, but at the hands of a stigmatized, polluted figure that is at the absolute bottom of the social ladder. This usually happens in secret and often involves paying the worker off for their silence.

The one major exception to stigma against sex workers is in the lemna courtesan tradition. Lemna are mostly unmarried women and/or akoshos who are very skilled trained performers who work as entertainers for wealthy clients. Their services are not sexual in nature, rather they sing, dance, act, play music, and recite poetry, and are skilled conversationalists that provide company for clients. Lemna usually operate out of elite brothels, but as separate services to the sex workers, and are in theory never available for sex work. Lemna providing sex work sometimes (though not frequently) occurs in practice, but it is always be presented as something they have not been Paid to do- their payment was for entertainment, and they will present it as a (almost always purely fantastical) situation that they have grown attracted to their client and are engaging in a romantic tryst.

Lemna courtesanship is long-established and a valued part of this culture's art and theater traditions, and they do not face the same stigma as sex workers, rather being seen as an elite class of performers. They do not exactly have a High place in society either (as unmarried civilian women and/or akoshos, they are notably lacking in social power), but the regard towards them is overall positive. The exemption to this stigma partially lies within the framework of body taboo (they do not explicitly 'sell' their bodies or directly engage in sex work), but is largely rooted in the esteem of their tradition rather than any coherent logic.

-----

Sex work has a much less significant, less complicated, and less intensely stigmatized place in the highlands, mostly due to its reduced presence. Most people are living in relatively small agricultural villages, or transiently as herders, so there are fewer opportunities for sex workers to operate on regular and official levels. The only places you can reliably find sex workers within the highlands are in small quasi-towns that crop up around land trade routes, or occasionally as traveling traders (usually offering material goods in addition to sex work services).

There’s also no intra-highlands currency system, so sex workers will usually be paid in goods, which in turn influences the cultural lens on sex work. Goods have direct, immediate utilitarian value that currency does not, and paying goods for service is most pragmatically done as a means of material practicality- forming alliances, acquiring farmhands, receiving the defensive or offensive service of warriors, etc, not for temporary gratification.

The fact that this cultural sphere is fairly egalitarian in terms of gender (though it has strongly enforced, separate gender roles for married men and women) also contributes to the comparative lack of stigma- part of the Imperial Wardi stigma against sex work is interwoven with misogyny (with women sex workers being the most degraded extent of femininity, and male sex workers taking on inappropriate, degraded feminine roles in providing sexual services). Women have equal overall societal power to men in the Hill Tribes cultural sphere, and things associated with femininity are not Themselves degrading (men seen as feminine are not shamed for femininity itself, rather in their specific failure to perform male gender roles- the distinction can be subtle but is very significant to how gender roles are approached).

Casual sex between unmarried men and women is fully accepted, somewhat seen as a hallmark of youth. However, married couples are expected to remain exclusively faithful to one another. This also goes a ways to discourage hiring of sex workers, which would be accepted grounds for a divorce and a mark of shame on the person who strayed.

While not excessively stigmatized, the views on sex work here is nowhere near Enlightened And Supportive either, it’s still seen as a highly degrading, unfortunate line of work. Sex workers are usually going to be unmarried women of marriageable age who could not (or would not) acquire a husband for one reason or another. They are women who failed in expected roles of marriage and becoming the manager of a family’s home and property, and have not even taken an esteemed, productive role for spinsters (usually physical labor in herding, farming, raiding) in favor of one that is considered ‘selling’ one’s body to provide useless, base services to desperate men. It's something that will usually be looked at as sad and unfortunate at best, or an absurd dereliction of duty at worst.

Male sex workers are virtually unheard of (within the highlands at least, there's cultural stereotypes of Wardi men being effeminate and predisposed to sex with men, so of course THEY'VE got male sex workers all over the fucking place), and the concept of a man operating as a sex worker would just seem absurd to most.

But the levels of social shame surrounding sex work are actually higher for the client in this cultural context- it’s suggestive that you either cannot afford to get a wife/do not have the requisite masculine skillset to be a husband, or otherwise that you’re so utterly incapable of getting laid that you have to go to great effort and barter for sex, a petty expense of valuable goods. It's both a foolish waste and in many ways a failure of expected male gender roles. Most men who hire the services of sex workers will keep it on the down low, or (if living near the borders) commute to Wardi towns or tradeways for access. It’s seen as an act of desperation, foolish, emasculating, and will generally be mocked and shamed.

I actually have a framework of a folktale that kind of demonstrates the cultural lens pre-established (no names for the characters or clans involved, it's supposed to be of the far northern Bict-Braíghnnas tribe). I'll put it under the cut:

One of the folktales describes a young woman who was strikingly beautiful and exceedingly clever. She was of the Bict-Braíghnnas, the lone daughter of a very small, very poor clan, consisting only of her immediate family and a few cousins. Her father had died young, and her younger brothers and cousins were malnourished and inexperienced, and could do little to protect or grow their meager herd of horses (they certainly could not afford cattle). She had to take on the role of the provider for herself and remained unmarried long past marriageable age, living day by day doing whatever she could to scrape by and keep her family afloat.

She became aware that the patriarch of her ruling clan had an eye for her, and he began approaching her in hopes of soliciting sex. At first, she always brushed him off. She found him repulsive, as he was foolish and greedy and rather ugly. But she started to see an opportunity in all this. It was a humiliating opportunity, but one she was willing to take.

The next time he approached, she pretended to consider his advances, but only if he should provide payment in turn- if she was as beautiful as he kept saying, and he was as wealthy as he kept bragging, wouldn't it be worth the price? He first offered her a sack of barley, but she laughed him off. He then offered her fine clothes, but she feigned insult, was she not already beautiful even in poor, worn rags? He then offered her a breeding pair of pheasants, and she pushed aside her shawl to expose her breasts, and sweetly asked if he Really could not do better, wealthy in cattle as he was. The man was now, quite clearly, hard in his trousers.

He finally relented to an obscene payment- he would go under his wife (the owner of his cattle)'s nose and give her an adult cow, in payment for having sex with him just once. This is a high price to pay, but she was gorgeous and he was rich in cattle and could afford to lose one (or two. or five. Maybe more.). She accepted his offer and had sex with him, and came away with her very first cow.

(Some tellings of this story go on a tangent here where she sneaks the cow right back into the man's fields under cover of darkness, to breed it with one of his bulls and begin forming her own herd)

Over the next several months, he started regularly approaching her for sex in exchange for cattle, until he had to start coming up with explanations to his wife as to where the missing cattle had gone- he first claimed they were given as gifts, then that some were stolen, inventing wild stories of great raids and declaring open conflict with the greatest rival to his clan, all as means of masking his dalliances. This skirmishing came at great cost to his own clan, but he was too foolish and weak-willed to stop.

The woman was meanwhile using her newfound and growing wealth in cattle to make connections and political moves, slowly establishing herself as a powerful figure and having many in her debt. Her brothers and cousins, finally well fed, grew tall and healthy and began to take on roles as herders, protectors, and raiders, with the assistance of more young men gained in alliance. All the while, she dutifully continued her paid trysts with the patriarch whenever he summoned her.

Eventually, the man had given her so many cattle (which had been bred in the meantime, and more had been acquired in trade and raids) that she had three times as many as he did. One day, she did not appear as expected. She had amassed great wealth for herself and her clan, and had been courting the unwed son of the patriarch’s rival clan. The son paid a hefty bride price for her, and they were wed on that day.

Now the wealthiest in cattle and the most powerful clan in the valley, the woman and her new husband ousted the weakened and disgraced former patriarch, becoming the new ruling clan of the Bict-Braíghnnas. The couple were wise and wealthy rulers, and their clan remains in power and rich in cattle to this day.

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The cultural outlook on sex work (among other things) is fairly well encapsulated here- the sex work itself is degrading, but this fits into common motifs of this cultural sphere’s folktales where the hero figure overcomes difficult and often degrading situations with wit and social skill, and ultimately rises above it. Note that as a (non-comedic) hero of this tale, she uses her sex work very intentionally and pragmatically for material gain and alongside many other measures to increase her standing. Also note that, when unmarried, she's specified as taking up practical labor roles, and ultimately acquires a husband and ends the story in the expected position as a wife.

The actions of the man who hired her are distinctly shameful. He is performing his role as a husband TERRIBLY- being unfaithful, completely mismanaging his wife’s herds and ultimately driving his clan out of power all in pursuit of petty lust. He is in part an exaggerated, cartoonish embodiment of the cultural perception of the clients of sex workers- desperate, foolishly lustful, and an overall failure as a man. Most hearing this story would find his role highly comedic, a powerful but stupid foe for the clever and pragmatic hero to overcome.

(Very minor side note: the detail of him being enthralled by her breasts is also meant to be comedic- breasts are not sexualized in this culture (women's hips/thighs/buttocks are what is typically seen as sexually attractive), and many women will be out topless on hot days without note being made of it (toplessness is culturally acceptable, exposing genitalia/buttocks is not). The notion of a man being out of his mind horny over the sight of a bare tit would register to listeners as excessively lustful in a humorous capacity)

While the focus of the story is ultimately more on the contrast of thrifty and foolish behaviors, it also functions as a discouragement of hiring sex workers, casting the loss of assets in trade for sex as a similarly foolish venture, degrading to the worker and humiliating to the client.