Page 135 of Gratification in Gluttony

“Who’s Bryce?” Toni asked.

“The vet who stopped by my parents’ place,” Oliver said, and Toni hummed vaguely.

“Right. Big guy. Dark hair?”

“He is an animal healer,” Zef said absently, antennas quivering. “Utterly fascinating.”

Oliver furrowed his brow at Zef before shaking his head. “Uh, yeah. Him. He’s doing a study abroad program here in the Pentagram, and he needs a place to stay for, like, nine months. He asked if I knew of anything, but I’m not well-connected. I figured you probably know a guy.”

Steepling his fingers, Toni nodded sagely. “I know many people. I can put some feelers out for him.”

“That would be great, thanks,” Oliver said.

“I have an extra bedroom,” Zef said without looking up from their cards. Their lower hands folded demurely on the table, but one thumb was drumming a disjointed rhythm. “The human may stay in it if he is willing and able to contribute to the household costs and tasks.”

Toni leaned forward. “Denys moved out?”

“Who’s Denys?” Nearly everyone at the table asked.

“Yes, they moved out a few weeks ago,” Zef said in their eerily calm voice. “So, my second bedroom is now vacant, should the animal healer have need of it. It is in Envy; is that a convenient location?”

Oliver shrugged. “I don’t think he’s picky. He got a last-minute spot in the program, so I was getting a lot of desperation vibes from the texts.”

Dipping their chin, Zef turned their attention back to their cards. “Ah, well, extend the offer. You may also share my contact information should he have questions about the room.”

Toni rapped his knuckles on the table to get Zef’s attention. “Hey, Zef, why did Denys move out?”

“Who’s Denys?” everyone asked again.

“Denys,” Toni said, gesturing at Zef. “Denys!”

“You can keep repeating their name all night,” Gem said. “But it’s not answering our question.”

“Denys is my old roommate,” Zef said, and that brought Toni up short.

“Your roommate?” he asked, and Zef cocked their head at him.

“Yes, you know they were my roommate.”

“Yeah, but they were also—like, they were also your—you know?”

Everyone was staring at Toni now like he’d lost his mind.

“I do not understand,” Zef said.

Okay, maybe Toni was crazy because he’d spent the last two years under the impression that Zef and Denys were, like, an item. Romantic partners, or whatever. But judging from Zef’s bewildered expression, Toni started to doubt.

“Can you humor me for a moment?” He flattened his cards on the table. “Tell us all about Denys.”

“Why?” they asked dubiously.

“I would love to hear all about your friendship and roommate-ness with Denys. And no one else knew about them, so just tell us.”

Toni propped his chin on his folded hands as everyone turned their attention to Zef. Their wings buzzed, antennas twitching in agitation.

“We were friends for a long time,” Zef said carefully, lower hands starting to fidget. “They expressed interest in a romantic connection at one point, but I did not return the affections. We agreed to remain friends, then I invited them to move in with me as they were in need of accommodations.”

“Very mindful,” Toni said. “Very kind.”

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