Page 149 of Luxuries of Lust

“We can go to them,” Gem said, numerous hands trying to usher everyone out of the bedroom.

“I’m already here,” Tad said as the vent in the ceiling popped open, making everyone jump. Her webbed feet emerged, legs dangling as her bulbous eyes stared down at them from the darkness of the heating duct.

“What are you doing in there?” Rusty demanded.

Tad scowled. “Checking for cameras and listening devices. Why else would I be up here?”

“What?” Gem and Rusty cried simultaneously.

“I got Cya and Zef,” Krul said.

“I don’t think there’s room in there,” Cya said.

“Perhaps we should wait in the hall,” Zef said.

“No, we’ll make space for you, Zef,” Bryce said hurriedly, passing Walter off to Gem as everyone shifted and shuffled until they all crowded into the bedroom.

At Tad’s barked command, Zef glided gracefully to the open vent, reaching up with their top hands to assist Tad safely to the ground. The Anura shot Rusty another glower, clearly offended at his lack of appreciation for her “debugging” of the flat. Gem quickly fixed the ceiling vent back into place with two hands as he hugged Walter close with several others.

“So what’s with the stuffed cow?” Enfys asked as she leaned against the wall, wings spread open wide to keep them from being crushed.

“Can we get pepperoni?” Bryce said. “Or the demon equivalent?”

“It’s just a stuffie,” Gem dismissed.

“Are there vegetarian options?” Willow asked.

“Do you sleep with him?” Oliver asked.

“Seems counterintuitive since you have your own live plushie to sleep with,” Jude said, pointing at Rusty.

Rusty had never been more offended. “Watch it!”

“Noice, babe,” Toni said, giving Jude an air high-five from across the room.

“I think pizza comes in many varieties,” Quin said, and Willow nodded in relief.

“I don’t sleep with him.” Gem hugged Walter tighter. “I just hug him when I’m sad, and he makes me feel better. At least, I used to, but now I just hug Rusty instead.”

Glymaawwed. “That’s beautiful.”

“Where will you put him?” Zef asked.

“There isn’t much space,” Cya said.

“Probably because we’re all here,” Dex said, propping an arm on Cya’s shoulder. “Once we leave, Walter will have, like, all the space.”

The Sypent gave Dex a revolted look as they shoved his arm off their shoulder. Entirely unaware of their discomfort, Dex just laughed and propped his opposite arm on Jude’s head at this other side.

“Bro, you’re, like, the best size for this,” he said.

Jude rolled his eyes and said flatly, “I aim to please.”

“I don’t know what pizza is, but I need food or else I’m gonna start burning shit,” Tad said.

“You know what? I’m just gonna put him in the corner, and we can decide on lunch,” Gem said, propping Walter in the corner of the room, facing the bed.

Fisting his paws on his hips, Rusty shook his head. “Uh, you can’t put him there.”

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