Chapter 8: Reunion

"Freaks and freak-lovers! Gather 'round for a spectacle!"

-Darling, powerbrawl announcer, 188 U.E.

Sweet Devil was a little homelier than usual.

All the guests he had invited, bar Kurko, had shown up. Dryden was there, sucking down one beer after another and crushing the empty cans on his forehead. Amaline was busy fetching him new drinks, unable to contain her giggling as he got drunker and drunker. Dryden’s first mate, Izja, seemed content to lounge by herself. Kazzul and Jahwa mingled, currently attempting to explain the exact nature of their relationship to Yin without saying something inappropriate. Taira and Aegur were becoming fast friends. She had him in his lap, stroking his luxurious coat with a gentle hand.

“So you’re saying you scored with that?” Yin asked, motioning to the ccalonesta. “Nice.” Her and Kazzul shared a high five and giggled like children. At least one of them had an excuse.

“I apologize for her behavior,” Stephan said to Jahwa. “I’ve been known to overindulge her.”

“And I him,” Jahwa said. She tugged playfully on the chain wrapped around her arm. “He think he has more charm than he do.”

Stephan smiled. “I’m familiar.”

“You sure did a number on this place,” Kazzul noted. “It looks nice.”

“Thank you. It took a few months of hard work, but I like to think it was worth it.”

“And what’s this I hear about you being some kind of big-shot?”

“Yeah… That kind of happened by accident. It’s a long story. The short of it is, I’m an information broker now. The gangs give me protection in exchange for a bit of actionable intel every now and then.”

“Sweet gig.”

“You’d think. Actually, it makes me long for the old days.”

Kazzul pulled him aside a little and draped an arm over his shoulders. “So, you tagging along for Taira’s little performance trip? I can’t believe this plan you cooked up between the two of you, but damn it if you’re not pulling it off.”

“No, I don’t think so,” Stephan said. “I was never much of a fighter. I doubt I’d be of much use.”

“Oh, fuck that. It’s the principle of it, my man. The crew back together. Well, sort of. As together as it ever will be.”

“Does that mean you’re coming?”

“If I can get away from the ol’ ball and chain, sure.”

“Literally.”

Kazzul laughed. “I handed you that one.” He leaned in closer, lowered his voice to a whisper. “She’s a brilliant woman, Jahwa. Makes me feel things I didn’t know were possible. I love her, you know.”

Stephan glanced up at the ccalonesta, who was teaching Yin a few simple words in Snake Tongue. “She seems a little… strict.”

“That’s why we make a good team. Opposites attract, you know that. All of Clan Ivicc couldn’t keep us apart.”

Stephan found himself nodding along. “I’m happy for you, Kazzul. Let’s make a toast to love. I’ll go mix us a little something-something. What kind of cocktail do you want?”

“Ooh, a Grape Escape, please.”

Stephan nodded. “Coming up.” He untangled himself from Kazzul’s arm and set off for the bar.

*****

“You’ve never had anyone before,” Julia stated, a knowing look in her eyes as she straddled one of Kurko’s legs.

“Are we still making guesses?” Kurko asked with a chuckle.

“No. That was a statement of fact.”

“Well, yes. How did you know?”

She leaned in close, her scent filling his nostrils, and whispered: “Because you’re stalling.”

Kurko had tapped into self-control he hadn’t known he had that night, but this was a challenge he could not ignore. He took a firm hold of Julia with one hand and spun them around so that he was on top, nearly pinning her beneath his weight.

“That’s better.” Julia squirmed beneath him, wriggling out of her scant clothing. She bared her heavy breasts, dark nipples hardening in the open air. “If you let go of that meek facade, you’ll make some woman very happy one day. But let’s set your bar high, why don’t we?” Her hands moved over his chest, over his belly, and settled on his crotch. “Let’s see what we’re working with.” She undid his pants and slid them down.

“Oh,” she said.

Kurko felt his nerves creep back in. “What? Did I do something?”

Julia shook her head firmly. “No, no! I… You’re just unusually…”

“Unusually what?”

“Uh, large.”

Kurko frowned at his rapidly softening member. “Is that a bad thing? I was told that was a desirable feature among women.”

“Sometimes. But, uh, I think there might be a certain biological incompatibility here.”

“So…”

“I’m saying you won’t fit.”

“Oh.”

“For what it’s worth, I’m sorry. This doesn’t mean we can’t have some fun, though.”

Kurko began doing his pants back up. “I wouldn’t want to hurt you.”

Julia stilled his hands with hers. “No. You know what. I can do this. It’s not every day you get the chance to bed a demi-giant.”

“But—”

“Shh. Let’s do this.”

Confused, but hardly in the mood to refuse, Kurko took a deep breath and prepared to do what instinct told him.

*****

Stephan and Kazzul seated themselves—the latter having been let off his chain—to enjoy their drinks. Kazzul sipped on his Grape Escape, while Stephan enjoyed an Arcana Twist.

“So,” Stephan said, “can we count on Clan Ivicc’s support?”

Kazzul gave a vague, non-committal wiggle of his shoulders. “Hard to say, man. I’ve got Jahwa’s ear, but she’s no idiot. I convinced her to come here and listen to Taira, but she’s not going to commit anything unless she knows it’s a good choice. She’s got a lot to lose by backing the wrong horse. Even a ccalonesta answers to someone.”

“But there’s a chance?”

“Probably. Even I don’t know what goes on in Jahwa’s gorgeous head, but I imagine she’d be able to send some troops if Taira shows she’s got something real on her hands, and not just a silly dream. I guess if this whole raid she has planned goes well, that’d go a long way towards winning her confidence.”

Stephan nodded and sipped his cocktail. “Thank you for this, Kazzul. We need every ally we can get.”

Kazzul grinned. “Hey, you don’t have to tell me. This is my home too, you know.” He threw his gaze around the room, suddenly quizzical. “Hey, where’s Kurko, by the way? I wanted to say hello to the old grouch.”

“Out, supposedly.”

“What, did the doll-making committee need him or something?” Kazzul asked with a snort.

“Your guess is as good as mine.”

“It’s got to be something boring, right?”

“Got to be.”

They clinked their glasses to that and swept the rest of their cocktails. Stephan looked to where Taira had been, only to find that Aegur was alone on her chair, curled up in a fluffy ball.

“Did you see where Taira went?” Stephan asked.

Kazzul stared longingly after his lover, playing with the rim of his empty glass. “Nope. No clue. Why, is all this talk of love making you horny?”

“Grow up.” Stephan stood and rapped the table with his knuckles. “I’m going to track her down. Make sure nobody gets killed, yeah?”

“Yeah, yeah.” Kazzul waved him away. “Nothing shall escape my hawk’s gaze.”

“You’re an amphibian. It’d be more like a frog’s gaze.”

“That’s racist.”

Stephan chuckled and walked off. He asked Yin if she’d seen Taira, but she answered to the negative. He would have seen her if she left out the front, so Stephan looked upstairs. He peeked into all the rooms, but found nothing.

If I was Taira, and I was in one of my moods, where would I go for some space? he asked himself.

The roof.