Stray Cat Strut 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 tis--is legally obligated to care for that person.

That ans that the minimum standards for living, such as (limited) entertainnt, 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 ans that soone is willing and able to serve in order to pay off their debts! Thats it!

--Arican IS Bureau pamphlet, 2047

***

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

Soone 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 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 movent wasnt all that comfortable. So of that soreness was the fun kind--Mister Tentacles had gotten a workout--but so 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 and pulled 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 so point my breathing beca even, and I dipped back down into sleep.

I woke up a second ti 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 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 ti 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 so underthings and I moved out of the room.

I wasnt alone to get up so early.

Katallina was filling a bowl with so milk. I watched her for a mont, 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.

We crunched away for a bit before she interrupted the quiet by pointing to the box. It had Longbows face on it, of course. Whens that going to be you? she asked.

When Im desperate for cash, I said.

Theres a of you online, she said.

I blinked. What?

Yeah. Theres this van, and you do a thing to throw it off the side of this building, but you almost fell off with it. Theyre ing it.

I groaned and chewed harder. I was going to have words with Longbow. How did you sleep?

Alright, she said.

Wonderful conversationalists, the both of us. Cool, cool. If any of the kittens give you trouble, you tell , alright?

Katallina nodded, which I figured was good enough.

I had just about finished when Lucy trudged into the kitchen while wiping the back of her hand across her mouth. Hey, she said. Youre up?

Yeah, I said. Sleep well?

No. It got cold after you left. She looked at my bowl, then scowled and opened the fridge. Soon enough she was burning eggs on the stove and there was bread being roasted in the toaster. Whatre you doing today? she asked.

You have an appointnt in a few hours.

I blinked. Right, I have an appointnt this afternoon, in like, a bit. Want to co?

Co? Whats the appointnt? she asked. I followed her with my gaze as she returned to the fridge, especially when she bent over to pull sothing from a bottom rack.

Mm? Oh, its to check on a house. For, uh, us, I said. I was way too young to be saying such adult-y things.

Lucy stared at . Really?

Yeah. The museum Myalis ntioned? I said. Just checking in with so realtor person, I think. Maybe they wanna give a tour? I dont know, exactly. Want to co?

Lucy nodded. Sure, let eat and then Ill get dressed... apropos nothing, I only have one change of clothes. Uh, the kittens too.

Oh, I said. Going on three days with the sa clothes on, that was going to stink soon, not just taphorically. Right, well see about ordering so stuff for everyone. I have enough for that. A glance to the side, and I caught Katallina looking my way. Well secure your things too, if we can, I said.

She nodded, then got up and left. Her dog padded out from under the counter where I hadnt noticed him and followed after her.

So, just the two of us? Lucy asked.

Yup. You trust the cat bots to babysit the kittens?

Better than bitchbot, Lucy said.

That was a fair point. The kittens were pretty self-sufficient, and I was pretty sure the cat bots could keep them safe. Hey, Myalis, if sothing happens around the bots, can you inform ?

Of course. By the way, you still have things on Gomorrahs list to purchase.

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.

Sothing comfortable this ti, 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 so things, but at least I got to help Lucy find her own things at the sa ti.

Twenty minutes later, with only so of that ti 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 your handouts out? Lucy asked as she followed 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 .

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.

***