Chapter Forty-Three - Comfy Morning Rituals

    Chapter Forty-Three - Comfy Morning Rituals

    Indentured servitude isnt as bad as people make it out to be. After all, the person in charge of an indentured person--the use of the word slave should be avoided at all times--is legally obligated to care for that person.

    That means that the minimum standards for living, such as (limited) entertainment, food (up to a caloric amount calculated based on the indentureds BMI) and living space, must all be provided alongside fulfilling work that can, at a reasonable pace, cover the cost of those living expenses, as well as a certain percentage of the indentureds debt.

    Servitude just means that someone is willing and able to serve in order to pay off their debts! Thats it!

    --American IS Bureau pamphlet, 2047

    ***

    I woke up when the bed shifted and lazily made my ears twitch. My new ears let me sense things with a sort of echolocation, and that meant that I didnt need to turn my head and open my eyes to see what was going on.

    Someone very pretty was climbing into bed, bare feet slipping in and brushing past my calves. They were a little cold, but I didnt mind much. She laid herself down behind me and wrapped an arm around my middle.

    Lucy usually liked being the little spoon, so I enjoyed the reversal while I could.

    Are you awake? she whispered. It tickled the base of my neck in a very pleasant way.

    Mmm, I replied as I shifted back a bit.

    I was sore, so the movement wasnt all that comfortable. Some of that soreness was the fun kind--Mister Tentacles had gotten a workout--but some of it, especially around my gut, was a bit strange.

    Installing that artificial organ thing had been almost traumatising. If it wasnt for Lucys careful ministrations afterwards I might have found the whole thing awful.

    Lucy placed an arm over me and pulled me in closer. She was only wearing an oversized shirt, which made the snuggling a whole lot more fun. Where were you? I muttered.

    Checking on the kittens, she replied. She sounded as if she was already nearing sleep.

    Mmm, I agreed.

    At some point my breathing became even, and I dipped back down into sleep.

    I woke up a second time when Lucy started snoring into my ears. It was a reverberating noise, only broken up by the occasional snort.

    Sighing, I turned over and faced her. She was sleeping with her mouth open, and looked incredibly dumb with her hair poking out this way and that. I made sure to take a picture with my cybernetic eye.

    I wanted to stay under the blankets, and just sleep the entire day away. The counter in the corner of my eye telling me it was eleven could get bent for all I cared.

    But I really had to piss.

    I wiggled out of the covers, trying hard not to wake Lucy up, until my feet touched the floor. It was warm, because of course the hotel had heated floors. I padded to the bathroom and did what I had to do. By the time I was done, sleeping was no longer an option.

    My boots were tossed across the room, and I was too damned lazy to fetch them. I just found a shirt in one of the drawers, then some underthings and I moved out of the room.

    I wasnt alone to get up so early.

    Katallina was filling a bowl with some milk. I watched her for a moment, then found my own bowl and set it next to hers. I grabbed the cereal, shook the box to make sure it wasnt empty, then took the milk when she was done with it.

    I know, I wanna see the museum first. Might need to sink points into remodelling or whatever, I said.

    That is reasonable. Shall I obtain transportation to the museum for you?

    I nodded. Yeah.

    Lucy shook her head and headed out, presumably to get changed.

    Something comfortable this time, I said.

    Of course. I actually like Lucy.

    I snorted, but couldnt argue. I liked her too. I finished up by tossing everything in the dishes, and by resisting the urge to steal from Lucys plate. Instead I looked around, spotted one of the cat bots, and pointed to the plate, then my eyes. It nodded, which was pretty cool.

    I returned to our room and started looking for my clothes. Theyd been tossed here and there the night before, so I had to crawl around to find some things, but at least I got to help Lucy find her own things at the same time.

    Twenty minutes later, with only some of that time lost to fondling and other such distractions, we were both heading out. Oh! I said. I forgot to give you my old jacket.

    Youre giving me your handouts out? Lucy asked as she followed me to the kitchen.

    It can turn you partially invisible, I said. And its got big bullet holes in it. Looks pretty rad.

    Lucy took the coat, and looked pretty pleased with herself until she poked at the holes. Hey, wait, you were shot?

    It happens, I said as I led the two of us out of the penthouse and locked it up behind me.

    Cat! Lucy barked.

    I regretted giving her the coat. Its nothing, I said.

    Is that why you had a bruise on your breast? she asked as she lined the coat up. It was a bit loose around her shoulders, and tight around the chest, but it still fit her just fine. We were used to second and third-hand clothes.

    I declined to answer as I moved over to the elevator.

    Hey! she said.

    It was nothing, I said.

    No, getting shot isnt nothing!

    Its part of the job. A little bit. Its one of those high-risk, high-rewards things, I said. Look at how much things have gotten better, and its only been two days.

    And none of that would be worth anything if you died, Lucy said.

    She crossed her arms, set her shoulders, and glared.

    It was a long ride down to the lobby.

    ***