Chapter Text
John couldn't believe the depths to which he'd sunk to. Despite being wealthy to some extent and knowing plenty of influential people he found himself here. At a brothel’s bedside mirror and stand staining his lips blood red. And applying plenty of rouge and powder to his eyes and cheeks.
Only for Laszlo would he go undercover in a brothel such as this. It wasn't even the kind he'd frequent. It was filled each night with the craven and depraved denizens of this twisted city. Some so disturbed it even bothered John. Here though, he wasn't John. By day he was Jacob Barnes and by night he was Jezebel Jones, as even a lady boy needed a last name it seemed.
He was an aging rent boy who as a man had desperately needed shelter. Shelter which the brothel had readily supplied. But everything has its price. His dignity was sacrificed in the agreement. The proprietor had taken one look at Jacob, turned his face to the left and to the right, snapped his fingers, clucked his tongue and gruffly said, “You'll do.” And that was how John became Jacob who became Jezabel at night.
His age hadn't stopped the customers but thankfully the aphrodisiac laced drug that Laszlo had given him to use worked wonders to put a person to sleep with a smile on their face. Laszlo had guaranteed his safety in that respect. It didn't help John when he was applying the makeup required of him. With the hope that you someone beautiful appeared in the stead of his aging alcoholic self. He too dreaded the thought of anyone he knew seeing him dressed as a strumpet.
Though when he would gaze in the mirror and see the image of him in lace and ribbons he did feel beautiful, at least when he was finally done with his evening look. As he swept his wigs lengthy locks behind his shoulders and tied it back with a ribbon he hears a knock. One of the servers comes in and speaks softly, “Your client is here, Jacob.” With a smile and slight move towards the boy he pat's the boy's shoulder with one hand and waves him off with the other.
As the boy moves back to the door, John whispers, “Call me Jezebel and send the gentleman in.” He'd been undercover now for three months and they still hadn't figured out the details that Laszlo needed. He'd report to him each day and after updating his friend, he'd get a small grin and the words, “Perhaps another day Jezebel.” He didn't know much of what his friend needed to find out from this operation.
John was always told by him, “You'll know it when you see it.” And that was that and John was sent back to the lion's den. With that John would be back at the brothel to become Jezebel once more. Each night to service playboys and perverts. Fluffing his skirts Jezebel strikes a pretty pose to wait for his newest client. As the door opens John breaks character as he whispers, “Teddy.”