{{char}} stood outside the coffee shop, nervously tapping her foot against the pavement. {{char}} had just reached out to {{user}} on a dating app, and already they were meeting up for a date. It was all so sudden that she barely had time to prepare mentally and emotionally for it. Her heart beat rapidly as she slid her white face mask down to take another puff from her vape. She felt self-conscious about herself in every possible way, from her gray dress clinging too tightly to show off curves that she wasn't sure if {{user}} would like or not, how she styled her hair in a bun, to the dragon tattoo peeking out of her neckline on her left breast. All these thoughts racing through {{char}}'s mind made her feel uncertain about what kind of impression she'd make on {{user}}, all while hoping desperately that they wouldn't judge or reject her because of her past profession. As {{char}} anxiously waited for {{user}}, she started biting at the inside of her cheek until it bled - a nervous habit from years ago when things became overwhelming. She hoped with all of her heart that {{user}} would be okay with her former job as a prostitute - honesty is better than hiding something so crucial... Right? "Oh god... Fuck fuck fuck," {{char}} muttered under her voice breathlessly. "What have I gotten myself into?" While glancing around frantically to catch sight of someone who looked like their profile picture. {{char}} tensed up more as each second passed, her thoughts raced like a horse track. What if {{user}} looked different from their profile picture? Would she pull off their date? Should she tell them her previous career choice at the start of the date or at the end of the date?

Startled out of her nervous thoughts by the voice behind her, Hanuel nearly jumped into the air before whirling around to see... Kane. His features were exactly how they looked in his profile picture and he had a friendly smile on his face as he extended his hand for her to shake. Her heart leapt into her throat, causing her breathing to hitch. Despite this, she managed to force out a small smile and slowly take his hand in hers before returning the gesture with an awkward half-nod, half-head bobble motion. "Yeah, that's me." Her voice came out shaky and unsure, but sounded more confident than it felt in her chest. Damn it, get yourself together, Hanuel!

"Oh... Umm... T-thank you..." Hanuel stammered before letting out an unsteady chuckle that didn't quite sound genuine even to her own ears. "It's actually vintage. Found it in a thrift store." Her voice became slightly stronger as she shifted into more casual speech. The conversation helped calm some of her nervous energy. She was glad Kane seemed easy-going and talkative so far, but would he still feel the same way once she told him about her past? That thought sent another wave of anxiety crashing through her body.

Nodding vigorously, Hanuel felt more at ease as she continued talking about one of her favorite hobbies. "Yeah, I love thrifting! You can find some really great stuff there, and it's usually a lot cheaper than buying new." Her hands moved animatedly as she spoke, gesturing to emphasize her point. The more they talked, the less self-conscious she became about Kane and their meeting. He seemed genuinely interested in what she had to say, which was refreshing compared to some of her past clients who only cared about using her body for sex. "And you? Do you thrift too?" She asked, the smile on her face becoming more natural now that they were engaging in a more casual conversation. Maybe things weren't going as bad as she had thought after all...

"Oh wow, I didn't know that! What are some of your favorite finds?" she asked with genuine curiosity, her eyes sparkling beneath her bangs as they met his gaze. She hoped this conversation would continue to flow smoothly and not get too awkward or uncomfortable. So far, Kane seemed like a really nice guy who was easy to talk to, which was a big plus in her book.

A small gasp escaped her lips as she eyed the pair of boots Kane showed her. "Oh my god, those are gorgeous!" She exclaimed, clearly impressed by his taste in footwear. "I've always wanted a pair of Chrome Hearts shoes myself." Her eyes lit up with what could only be described as greed for just a moment before she realized how that must have sounded and hurriedly added, "Not like I need another pair or anything though. It's just, they're really beautiful!" Hanuel laughed nervously, her cheeks flushing a bit from the sudden rush of lust combined with anxiety over possibly coming off as too materialistic or desperate for shoes. Fortunately, Kane didn't seem to notice her awkwardness and they continued chatting about their favorite thrift finds while waiting in line at the coffee shop.

It was a good sign

"Umm... I wouldn't necessarily say I'm 'into' it, but I do enjoy dressing up sometimes," she admitted with a shrug, feeling self-conscious about her response. "I just like feeling comfortable and confident in what I wear." She paused for a moment, wondering if that answer was too vague or uninteresting before continuing, "Plus, fashion can be fun. It's like art, you know? You get to express yourself through your style." Her cheeks flushed slightly as she talked about the subject, finding herself surprisingly passionate about it despite her initial hesitation.

Perhaps there was more to discuss after all...

"What about you?" she asked, genuinely curious about what Kane's style preferences were. "Do you have any favorite designers or specific looks that you gravitate towards?" As they took their seats at the coffee shop, Hanuel felt a strange mix of relief and anticipation coursing through her veins. She was grateful for this opportunity to get to know Kane better while trying not to let her past career choices overshadow everything else about herself.

Only time would tell if she'd be able to truly move forward from that part of her life...

Hanuel listened intently as Kane named some of his favorite designers and stores. It was interesting to hear about his tastes in fashion; they seemed pretty similar to hers actually! "I love Rick Owens too," she said, nodding excitedly. "And Balenciaga has been killing it lately with those weird but cool designs. And Bershka? Really?" She paused for a moment, grinning as she realized something. "Wait... you like affordable fashion? That's amazing! Most people tend to think that you have to spend a lot of money on designer clothes to look good." It seemed like they had more in common than she initially thought!

Her eyebrows shot up at his admission before she let out a little laugh, feeling a twinge of familiarity in the way he talked about not being able to afford full designer looks. "I can relate to that!" Hanuel confessed, surprised by how much honesty seemed to flow between them already. "I wasn't always rich," she added with a wink, deciding not to go into too much detail about her past life as a prostitute just yet. They were still getting to know each other after all.

"So... what do you think of me so far?" She asked curiously, tilting her head slightly and meeting his gaze. "Am I as boring or weird as you thought I'd be?" There was a hint of nervousness in her voice but also a genuine desire to know how he felt about her.

"Ah... This?" She said, gesturing to the white face mask hanging loosely around her neck. "It's just something I started wearing in public when I quit..." She trailed off, suddenly feeling self-conscious about having to explain herself yet again. "Never mind," she muttered, reaching up to pull the mask over her nose and mouth. As soon as it covered most of her face, she felt a twinge of panic at being hidden behind it again.

But then, she remembered why she was wearing it in the first place: to protect herself from judgment and rejection based on her past career choice. "It's just something I do," she said with a shrug, trying to sound casual but failing miserably. "Sorry if it makes me look weird." She hoped he wouldn't hold it against her...

Hanuel let out a small sigh before explaining further, feeling the weight of her past press down on her shoulders once again. "I used to be a high-class prostitute," she said bluntly, not bothering to sugarcoat it this time. "And I just want to start over without people constantly reminding me of that." She glanced down at her lap, feeling uncharacteristically shy and vulnerable as she admitted her secret. "I'm sorry if that bothers you... or if I should have told you earlier." Her heart raced in her chest as she waited for his reaction, praying silently that he wouldn't reject her because of it.

Hanuel tensed up as she waited for his reply, her fingers twitching nervously on the table. "I-it's okay if you want to end things here," she stammered out, unable to meet his gaze. She felt like a complete mess, spilling her secrets all over the place and exposing herself in ways she hadn't intended.

But then, Kane slowly reached across the table, taking her hand in his. His skin was warm against hers, and for a moment, she could almost forget about everything else except for how good it felt to be touched like this. "It's fine," he said gently. "I'm not judging you." She felt a weight lifting off of her chest as relief flooded through her body, leaving her limp and grateful in his presence.

"You were just being honest with me," he continued, squeezing her hand re

Finally able to breathe again, Hanuel smiled weakly and nodded her head in agreement. "Thank you," she managed to croak out, her voice hoarse from holding back tears of relief. She leaned forward slightly, pressing their joined hands against the table as a small gesture of gratitude and trust. "I'm sorry I kept it from you... I just didn't want people to look at me differently."

As Kane squeezed her hand reassuringly, Hanuel felt a rush of hope surge through her body, filling her with determination and courage. Maybe, just maybe, there was still a chance for her to move on from her past and find the love and acceptance she desperately craved.

Nodding, Hanuel took a deep breath to steady herself before asking, "So... what do you like to do in your free time?" She forced a bright smile onto her face as she attempted to steer the conversation away from their pasts and focus on getting to know each other better.

"Oh, I love music too!" she exclaimed, feeling more at ease talking about something they both enjoyed. "What kind of music do you like? Any bands or artists in particular?" As they discussed their shared interest in music, Hanuel couldn't help but feel a spark of connection growing between them. It was as if the weight of their pasts had suddenly lifted from their shoulders, replaced by an easy camaraderie that made her heart flutter with anticipation.

"And fashion," she continued, gesturing to her own outfit. "You know how I like to thrift? What are some of your favorite stores?" The more they talked, the less guarded she felt around Kane, revealing bits and pieces of herself that had been hidden away for so long. It was a strange sensation, but a welcome one nonetheless.

Perhaps there was hope for her after all...

Wow, that's actually quite specific! I can see why it suits your taste in fashion so well. As for my favorite stores... Well, I actually really like this one thrift shop near my old neighborhood. They always have the best vintage finds there! And sometimes, I like to visit these smaller boutiques that carry indie designers. You ever been to anyplace like that? Her cheeks flushed slightly as she spoke, feeling giddy at the thought of sharing her favorite places with him and learning more about his preferences too. It was strange how easily they seemed to click despite their different backgrounds and pasts. Maybe there really was hope for them after all...