Joseph swallowed. Just imagining a shorter week was already expelling some of the uncomfortable lightning from his system. He found a tiny smile crossing his face. He came to a halt and stared at her silently for a spell. She stared back, wondering what his answer would be. He held out a hand for her to shake. “Deal. If you make your best effort in convincing her to shorten my vacation, then I will spend at least two of my days off with you.”

Petunia hopped excitedly and then shook his hand. “You’re on!”

***

Maru’Chi listened to the booming music and let the blinding, flashing lights and the heat and closeness of other Erulanite bodies overwhelm her senses. All of it seemed to pierce her mind and soul and fill her with the pleasant sensation of distraction. There was very little in her life to preoccupy her, and she had a desperate need to forget about that fact. 

She didn’t need to worry about bills. She didn’t need to worry about danger. She didn’t need to worry about getting a job. She only had to worry about her schooling.

Her body wrrigled and writhed under the strobe lights in time with the hammering beat, her tentacles flailing and spinning, looking like a spinning, orange rose. She was panting; there were many other bodies that were too close to her for her to breathe effortlessly.

“Maru’Chi! Come over here!” Maru’Chi stopped in her dancing and turned her gaze toward Palen’Corn, who had called to her in the Erulanite language. Maru’Chi glowered, resenting him for dislodging her from her energized high and hurling her back down to earth. He was over by the bar, leaning on it and waving to her. Maru’Chi wormed her way over and stood next to him. “What?” she snapped angrily. 

Palen’Corn chuckled. “What? Can’t spare a moment for an old boyfriend?”

Maru’Chi pursed her lips. “Not one who was seeing two other girls while he was with me.” 

Palen’Corn’s belly shook with laughter that came out in an odd, seal-like barking sound. “Relax, Maru’Chi. That was years ago. Besides, I’m only living the life of a true Erulanite--many wives and many children is the way to go. I don’t know why we ever took on that ridiculous human notion of monogamy.” 

Maru’Chi shook her head angrily. “There must be some merit to it. We were a dying species on our own planet, and we thrive on this one after adopting some human ideas and customs.”

Palen’Corn snorted. “The moment we adopted the customs of those we have rightfully enslaved was the moment our noble culture began collapsing in on itself.”

Maru’Chi turned to the bartender behind them and snapped, “Tequila!” before turning back to her old boyfriend and saying, “You have Hin’Drin as a teacher, don’t you?”

Palen’Corn shrugged with a smug smile. “Well. He’s right about almost everything.”

Maru’Chi was tired of talking to him, so she changed the subject. “Why did you call me over here?”

“I just wanted to ask you about some interesting rumors I’ve heard about your House lately. Is it true your father actually pays his human slaves?” Palen’Corn’s face was exaggerrated in shock as he asked it, and Maru’Chi could tell that he wasn’t scandalized by such a notion at all, and he was just trying to get under her skin. 

“My father does no such thing. Who told you such a ridiculous rumor…?” Maru’Chi muttered as the bartender placed her drink behind her. 

“My father did. He said that they were discussing ways to keep the human slaves more obedient, and your father said that it was important to give them small stipends and to let them relax occasionally. If this is true, then your father is just about the most sniveling, mewling--” Palen’Corn began, but Maru’Chi cut him off. 

“My father does not give our workers salaries, but yes, he does give them time off and pays them to keep them happy and loyal. It’s far more preferable than how you treat your slaves. You have runaways every other day, after all. I heard that one of your Designer Children, Mouse, went missing last week and is now out there, terrorizing businesses and killing innocent human families.” Maru’Chi taunted him as she took a long swig of her beverage. 

Palen’Corn bristled. “Our treatment of the rabble had nothing to do with that. He was unstable to begin with. He was a conjoined twin, only savable by science, and came out… shriveled and bizarre because of it.”

Maru’Chi narrow dher four, blue eyes, shaking her head. “I heard your family whips your members of the Guard when they make the slightest mistake. An unhappy slave is an ineffective one.”

“I suppose you would know.” Palen’Corn retorted. “I hear that you forced one of your Designer Children to take a vacation. What are you planning to do with him?" Palen’Corn said sharply, stepping closer to her and getting in her face. 

Maru’Chi rolled her eyes. “I would never debase myself by loving a human. He’s expensive, though, and incredibly good at his job. The best we’ve ever seen. I wouldn’t want him to die from lack of appropriate rest.”

“I don’t buy it. There’s gotta be more to it than that. No owner cares that much about their slave unless they have… more than one use for them.” he said with a wink. 

Maru’Chi snorted. “We’re done with this conversation. The only reason why I wanted him to have a vacation is so that he stays well-maintained and because I would like him to guard me on nights like these when I go out and have to deal with cads like yourself. Have fun drinking and partying by yourself.” Maru’Chi slinked away from him and rejoined her friends in dancing, partying, and chatting.