Page 130 of Gratification in Gluttony

At the appointed time, Glyma took to the stage and tapped the microphone with two fingers. “Hello,” she greeted the cafe in English instead of Hellia, which Toni knew was mostly for Oliver and Jude’s benefit, “and welcome to our very first open mic night. We here at the cafe are so excited to share our talents with you, and we can’t wait to experience yours. We strongly encourage all of you to participate in whatever way you wish, whether that’s singing a song or reading a poem. We’re even going to see some close-up magic.”

Rusty, who’d lowered his headphones when Glyma had started talking, slunk lower in his seat, like he was trying to disappear.

“But first,” Glyma said, gesturing to Zef, “I’m going to welcome Zef to the stage. You may recognize them from their act in Lust with The Madame. They kindly agreed to sing a song to start us out. Let’s give them a hand!”

As the crowd clapped, Zef stood and gracefully meandered to the stage. They smiled at Glyma as she stepped down to allow them to take the mic.

“Good evening,” Zef said. “I will sing a traditional Mantodea hymn for you. Enjoy.”

Zef sang a capella, their voice high and clear, and the crowd was mesmerized. When they finished and everyone clapped, Willow shyly took their place, opening a notebook and reading a poem in Hellia. Liel translated, and Jude leaned over Toni’s lap so he could hear.

After Willow finished, Toni and Jude gave it a minute to see if anyone from the audience would volunteer, but when no one moved, Jude took Toni’s hand and led him to the stage.

“Hello,” Toni said into the smaller microphone attached to the keyboard’s stand. “We’re going to play a song.”

“Whoo!” Gem whooped from behind the counter. “We love you!”

Toni snorted. “Uh, thanks, Gem. So, on lead guitar and vocals is the hottest human to ever grace this cafe with his presence—

“Hey,” Oliver whined.

—The one, the only, Jude,” Toni said with a lecherous grin at Jude. “And I’m Toni,” he added as an afterthought.

The crowd clapped and cheered, though it quickly morphed into whistles and cat-calls directed at Jude, and Toni scowled.

“Hey, keep it in your pants,” he bellowed into the mic, making it squeal. “He’s taken, okay?”

Laughter filtered through the audience, and Jude leaned into his mic and said, “We’re gonna play a cover of a human band most of you probably have never heard of. Enjoy.”

As the audience quieted, Jude looked to Toni, waiting for him to start. Toni’s bravado started to crack, the nerves shining through in the way his fingers shook as they hovered over the keys. But when he met Jude’s encouraging gaze, the fear faded tothe back of his mind. He blew out the breath he’d been holding, then he started to play.

It wasn’t perfect. Toni tripped over the notes sometimes, and Jude mixed up a few lyrics—though Toni was the only one to notice. But Jude’s voice was strong and clear, his fingers confident on his guitar, and Toni’s harmonies were fucking tight. And when the last piano note faded, the audience erupted in cheers.

“I give you, Jude, the best human in the world,” Toni said, and Jude blushed.

“And Toni Maryno on keys,” Jude said, waving his hand at Toni.

“Thank you, thank you.” He made a show of bowing deeply. “Thank you very much. I’ll be here all week.” Another round of laughter rippled through the crowd, and Toni frowned. “Why you laughing? Iamgonna be here all week. I work here.”

Before Toni could leave the makeshift stage, Jude grabbed him by the back of the neck and hauled him down into a firm, but chaste kiss. Kissing Jude back exuberantly, Toni circled one arm around his human, careful not to knock his guitar loose, and fist-pumped with the other. And the crowd went wild.

“Get a room,” Oliver shouted, and the middle finger of Toni’s raised fist flew up.

“Good job, pretty boy,” Jude whispered against Toni’s lips, like a secret just for him.

“You too, bitesize.”

“Are you about done?” Rusty grumbled from behind Toni. “I want to get this over with as quickly as possible.”

With a glare at the petulant Pyclon, Toni moved his keyboard to the back of the stage and helped Jude store his guitar, before they stepped down. Like he was on his way to the gallows, Rusty shuffled onto the stage, tail flicking anxiously as his ears twitched.

“Uh, hi,” Rusty said into the mic, clearing his throat awkwardly. “I’m gonna do a card trick. I learned it from a stripper when I was twelve.”

“Oh, that’s so sad,” Jude said.

“I hope she gave you a discount,” Toni barked as he settled into the chair beside Oliver.

Quicker than Toni expected, Rusty slapped back with, “You should ask your mom yourself; I don’t kiss and tell.”

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