Page 44 of Gratification in Gluttony

“I mean, I didn’t see it, but he’s a Gymnot, so I’d assume so.”

“Huh, that’s—I mean, lucky Oliver.”

Toni laughed. “I guess the tentacle dick has its perks.”

“Jealous?” Jude teased.

“Pft, no. I got two dicks. I think that trumps tentacles.”

On the other end of the line, Jude choked. Like, actually choked. He coughed and wheezed, voice strained as he gasped out, “Took a… drink. Went down… the wrong tube.”

“You good?” Toni asked, wondering if he’d have to figure out how to alert the human emergency services to save Jude from asphyxiating.

“Mhm,” Jude hummed, clearing his throat. “You have, uh, two dicks?”

For the first time, Toni felt a little self-conscious about his anatomy. “Um, yes? It’s normal, you know, for me. Like, it’s an Elas thing.”

“Oh, well, that’s—I mean, that’s—two dicks. Okay.”

Shifting his weight uneasily, Toni ran a hand through his hair, swiping at the stubborn wave that always fell down over his forehead. “Yeah, I guess that ain’t normal for you, huh? Kinda weird.”

“Not weird,” Jude said, a little too quickly. “Just different. I mean, I don’t even have one dick, so.”

“That’s okay. I’d let you borrow one of mine, but they’re securely attached.”

Anxious laughter rang through the phone connection, and Toni grinned as he sat down on his couch, fitting his fin into the slot in the back. “A lovely sentiment,” Jude finally said. “Thanks for the offer. Technically, I have many dicks to choose from; they’re justnotsecurely attached.”

“Accessories,” Toni said, and Jude laughed again.

The line fell silent for several long seconds, and the drunken conversation from the night before seemed to bloom between them.

“Listen,” Toni said at the same time Jude said, “So—”

“Oh, sorry, you go,” Toni said.

“No, I don’t—you go first.”

Settling more comfortably on the couch, Toni leaned his head back to stare up at the ceiling. “Sorry about last night. Calling you like that. I wish I could say I don’t remember everything I said, but I do. And it’s not like what I said ain’t true, but I also get that it was a lot. None of it is your responsibility, okay? I need you to know that.

“It’s me, yeah? My crush or whatever, it’s mine, and I don’t expect anything from you. And I’m sorry if last night, it felt like I was putting it on you. Not that I don’t wanna put things on you,but that’s a different thing.” Toni cringed. “Sorry, that sounded sexier in my head. Fuck.”

“Toni,” Jude said, sounding so inexplicably fond, “it’s fine. I like that you like me. And I like you too. I just can’t do much about it right now.”

“I know,” Toni rushed out. “And I wanna respect that. You have your school, and that’s important.”

“It’s only for the summer.”

“Yeah, and maybe after”—Toni took a fortifying breath, his heart racing under his chest plate—“I could take you on a date.”

“I, uh, I think I’d like that.”

Since he was alone, Toni did a little victory wiggle on the couch. “Cool,” he said, voice so chill. “That’s, uh, good. Real good. We’ll do that.”

“And I’ll still come through the veil sometimes, when I have time. I have a feeling Oliver is gonna be over there with Liel a lot.”

“Yeah, they seem pretty infatuated already. It’s super gross, but I guess it’s also kinda cute.”

“I feel like other people’s love is always like that from an outside perspective. Gross, but cute.”

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