Coye Vol 3 Ch 5

Cransmere was deader than dead, as one would expect from that time of day. Getting up early had its advantages, as the air was still cool and brisk before it would inevitably be swallowed by the sweltering summer heat. Another benefit was that walking down the empty, sleepy streets made Coye feel like he and his perky date were the only people in the entire world. Aside from the Pixie in his hat, that is.

Walking hand-in-hand with Byng was a surreal experience.

The prolonged contact started off pleasant, but he soon gave in to his typical worries as Coye always did. He began sweating, trying to remain calm as they walked and made idle chatter with each other. Not an ounce of it was riveting, as they mostly talked of their work and other times that Dorothy tried pitching to them in the past. If Byng minded Coye's social awkwardness, she didn't say anything about it. Still, Coye was thankful to his leather gloves for preventing Byng from getting drenched in his nervous bodily fluids. He hadn't even swung his sword a single time today, and already it was pooled with sweat.

Although their intention was still to head to Byng's camp and learn how good of a cook she turned out to be, something happened along the way that changed their plans significantly.

Darkwood General Store soon showed up on the left-hand side of the road, and as it did, Coye felt compelled to give the home of his older lover a cursory glance. He didn't stop by yesterday after finishing his quest, and it didn't seem like he'd have the time to visit Suzette today, either. Coye figured he would need to take some time for her tomorrow, depending on how things went.

Suzette was stronger than she looked, but he'd learned how much she struggled with her own loneliness and didn't want to leave her to it for too long. Not after they just started exploring their new relationship together, and especially not after how long he spent oblivious to the older woman's feelings. It wasn't even that Coye felt he owed his precious time to her. It was more that he enjoyed being with Suzette from the bottom of his heart, and he wanted to see her again as soon as he could.

He wasn't expecting that his chance to spend more time with the widow would come along now of all times, but Coye should've known his luck.

His spine tingled- someone was watching. Coye turned toward the store and witnessed its front door open just as they walked by. Out stepped Suzette, wearing a black nightgown that would almost qualify as 'tasteful' if it weren't for its spaghetti straps and its gratuitously low neckline.

Suzette looked at the pair holding hands in the middle of the street, tilted her head, and called out to them after a momentary pause. "Darling? Oh, my. I thought that was you! What a surprise it is to see you out and about so early in the morning!"

'What a surprise, indeed...' Shayla raised an eyebrow, taking note of the heavy bags under Suzette's eyes. Someone hadn't slept a wink since they last left her.

"Suzette...?" Coye stopped in his tracks, instinctively taking away his hand from Byng's grasp. Granted, he had already received Suzette's blessing for today's date, but the woman had a dark aura about her often enough that it inspired him to tread carefully lest he risk setting her off.

Byng was not the type of girl who was content with being the third wheel. She didn't care whether this was an attempt by the woman to butt in or if she was genuinely being friendly. Either way, she barged into the conversation, unafraid of her date's other lover as she grinned and waved a hand toward Suzette.

"Hey there! Nice morning, ain't it?" She said, confident and undeterred.

'Oooh, not even batting an eyelash at old Suzie, huh? Careful she doesn't end up dead in a ditch somewhere...' Shayla amused herself, to the detriment of Coye's nerves.

That wouldn't happen, he reminded himself before succumbing to doubt.

There wasn't a possibility that Suzette lied about being alright with him going out with Byng today, was there? Coye gulped. Given how he misinterpreted all of her advances until now, Coye admitted he didn't know Suzette as well as he thought he did and truly hoped for the best.

"Byng?" Coye called his date out, worried that she might start something. He decided that the best course of action might be to introduce them himself. "T-This is, um-"

Suzette didn't need his help, and she walked out onto her porch to address them out in the open. "Suzette Lillis," she introduced herself while giving the strange-looking, unwashed green girl a once over with her piercing eyes, followed by a kind smile. "Charmed. I believe I remember you, Byng... we've talked a few times before when you came by my shop, haven't we?"

"Yep! Your store's a nice place. Usually, I try to make everything I need by myself, but hey, sometimes I can't be bothered. It is what it is!" Byng shrugged, taking full command of the conversation with her outgoing demeanor. "Anyway, I hear you've been taking excellent care of my pal Coye over here?"

Coye hung his head as Byng patted him on the back multiple times, each resounding thud dragging him into more profound humiliation. "Uh," he twiddled his thumbs, wishing for all he was worth not to be the center of attention. "M-Maybe this isn't the right time for-"

"Yes, you could say that," Suzette lit up with delight and spun her long, dark hair around her finger like a maiden half her age. She recalled making love with Coye and all that came along with it, her smile growing out of control with its size. "More importantly, Darling, you seem nervous. Is there something you'd like to say?"

"Oh, um-"

"Wait, wait, let me guess!" Byng walked out in front of Coye, putting her hands on her hips and narrowing her eyes. She looked him over head to toe and scratched her chin. "Yeah, I got it. As obvious as ever! You're afraid that me and Suz' over there are gonna have a good old-fashioned catfight over you, right? Right? Gahaha! Look, look at his face! That's totally what he's worried about!"

"Oh, my," Suzette started giggling at Coye's flustered reaction. "Goodness, Darling... is that really how you view women? Do you believe we're nothing more than territorial beasts unable to stand each other's presence without tearing each other down? How shameful- downright chauvinistic, even."

"D-Don't put words in my mouth!" Coye whined, defending himself.

'Sounds like they hit the nail on the head, though.' Shayla snickered, despite being the only one of the three who actually was prone to catfights and jealousy.

Byng turned to face Suzette, and the two shared a long laugh at Coye's expense- the first of many. At that moment, both girls knew they'd get along swimmingly and that the outcome Coye was dreading had little chance of ever actually happening. Not between them, anyway.

"So, children, what's the plan for today?" Suzette asked, kindly giving Coye a chance to steer the conversation away from teasing.

"We're going on a couple of quests together out in the woods," he said, eager to move on.

"Really, now?" Suzette tilted her head, despite this not being too out of the ordinary by any stretch.

"Yup! As adventurers, this is pretty much what passes for a date!" Byng raised her fist triumphantly, already declaring her romantic intentions. "First things first, though, we've got to stop by my camp and get breakfast."

As if waiting for a cue, Suzette clasped her hands together. "You don't say? What impeccable timing. I was actually about to make breakfast myself. Perhaps it would save the two of you some time and energy if you came in, hm?"

"W-Wait, really?" Coye asked. "Wouldn't we be a bother?"

"Yes, really... and here I thought you learned the hard way that you're never a bother when I invite you in, Darling..." Suzette said, stabbing him with her words to the point where he cringed. "Besides, it's not as if I could let two adventurers head off into the Gnarled Woods with an empty stomach, now, could I? Unless, of course, there are any objections?" Suzette turned to Byng, giving the girl the floor.

"Hmmm..." Byng crossed her arms and closed her eyes. On the one hand, she wanted to show off her camp and cooking skills, and on the other, free food. "You know what, lady, why the hell not? That sounds like fun! I still want to cook, though, so there better be room for two in that kitchen of yours!"

"Oh, hoping to show off a little bit, were you?" Suzette smirked, guessing Byng's intentions through her feminine intuition as she opened the door for them both. "That's fine by me, dear. More than fine, actually. I don't believe I've cooked with anyone else since I was your age!"

"W-Wait, this is all moving really fast!" Coye spoke up. "Isn't anyone going to ask me about my opinion?"

"Pft, no?" Byng cackled as she approached Suzette's porch.

"Of course not, Darling. If you really want to see more than one woman at a time, you'd best get used to appeasing their whims and keeping them happy. Now, when you're through being silly, hurry along inside." Suzette teased.

She took a step forward, intending to place her hand on Byng's shoulder and usher her in, but the older woman stopped where she was. Byng had gotten close enough for Suzette to get her first proper smell of the girl, and it went down hard. Really hard.

"Something wrong, Suz'?" Byng stood at the front door, waiting and oblivious.

"No, no," Suzette forced herself to regain composure, leading her smelly guest inside with grace and hospitality. That she was already scheming to get Byng to freshen up was a fact she kept to herself. Together, the two disappeared into the store and left Coye standing there, barely hanging on mentally.

"What's even happening anymore...?" He asked his partner, confused and anxious at the whirlwind of events.

'What happened is that you're popular, baby,' Shayla cooed, rubbing his scalp to ease his worries. Even if she was enjoying the show, she knew it was important to remain supportive from time to time. 'But hey, things could be worse, right? At least you don't have to tell them about me!'

"Thank the Gods," Coye mumbled. Things were complicated enough as they were. One thing he could definitely go without was explaining the Pixie who lives in his hat, and that helped him score with women.

'Hey, hey! Why are you being such a stick in the mud? Look on the bright side here. Those two look like they're becoming fast friends. What's not to like about that?'

"I, um, didn't think I'd have to introduce them to each other this fast... it's hard enough for me to deal with seeing one girl, let alone another. I'm... not used to this."

'Well, get in there and get used to it! It's as simple as that, you silly boy.'

Although not entirely convinced, Coye nodded and resigned to Shayla's better judgment. "Alright," he said with a heavy heart. "I'll try."

'That's the spirit! Now hurry up before they start thinking you ran off with some other cute girl who happened to pass by!'

"I-I wouldn't do that!"

'Uh-huh, sure you wouldn't, baby. I'd be more inclined to believe you if you weren't already working on bagging your third girl in a little under a week, y'know.'

Coye held his tongue and entered the building, defeated by Pixie's sassy and impeccable logic. He walked through the store and made his way to the kitchen, where Suzette instructed him to sit at the table while she and Byng prepared their meal.

He did as he was told and then watched them work in awkward silence. Even if he offered to help out, he'd only get in the way. Cooking suited him about as well as making his own alchemical oils, so he never touched the art. There was too much on his mind to be of any help, anyway.

Coye was dwelling on his relationship with Suzette and whatever burgeoning connection he had with Byng. Was this really ok? It was almost too lucky that they got along so well. He feared that some sort of karmic justice had to be in the works to balance all of this out.

As easily as the Goddess Above gives, the Goddess below taketh away...

Yet, the more Coye observed, the more at ease he felt. Eventually, being with Suzette and Byng was starting to seem natural. Comforting, even. He liked Suzette a heck of a lot, and he was learning that Byng was pretty great, too.

Why wouldn't being with both of them at the same time be anything short of amazing?

If they could get along, then far be it from him to ruin things by being grumpy, anxious, and so on. Coye wouldn't hold things back anymore, and he pledged to enjoy himself and have an excellent breakfast before it was time for adventure. Before that, though, Byng and Suzette had to actually cook the food.

"I think the eggs are just about ready. Be a dear for me and grab them, Byng?" Suzette asked as she flipped over some sizzling sausage patties on her stovetop, the fragrant smell of smoky, spiced meat heavy in the air.

"You bet!" Byng was in the middle of fetching a loaf of sliced bread from the pantry, and when she returned, she let out a deep sigh of contentment over the perfection of the fried eggs. "Man, eggs in Karnalle are so small! Guess that makes sense since they come from those chicken things, right? Cute little fuckers, especially when they're all like 'cluck cluck cluck,' gahaha! Oh, hey, do either of you mind if I try to season these? I wanna see if I can get 'em a little closer to how we do it back home!"

"Far be it from me to turn down a taste of your Homerealm," Suzette smiled gently, grateful for the aroma of food masking Byng's scent as she got closer. "Darling?"

"Um, go ahead. I don't mind." Coye nodded.

"Sweet!" Byng grinned, transferring the eggs from the pan onto a plate. Next, she hopped up on the counter despite being barefooted. Suzette cringed to see it but remained silent, allowing the strange girl to sniff around and determine which cupboard held all of the seasonings.

"Whereabouts exactly is your Homerealm, if you don't mind my asking?" Suzette pulled herself away from monitoring the patties long enough to turn toward Byng, curiosity in her eyes.

"Huh? Oh," Byng was in the middle of sniffing and taste-testing all the different herbs, salts, and spices, but she stopped long enough to ask, "You ever heard of Grurguhrohk?"

Suzette paused her current task of arranging the bread slices to make rows and rows of sandwiches. She looked back at Coye for clarification, but he shrugged his shoulders. The name sounded familiar, but apart from Sylvandiel, he knew very little of other Realms. He had some bits of cursory common knowledge that he'd picked up here and there, mainly about the Inner Ring Realms which surrounded Karnalle. His partner was even less knowledgeable. Unless the topic somehow shifted to the mystical Otherrealm of Tir Na Nog, Shayla knew to keep her mouth shut.

It turns out Suzette had the right idea. Recalling a few tidbits out of one of the trashiest of her romance novels, she asked, "Grurguhrohk... isn't that where Orcs come from?"

"Yup," Byng said, hopping off the counter while cradling a load of seasoning in her arms. "But I'm gonna stop you right there before you go getting any ideas! If I was an Orc, I'd be a lot bigger."

"Ah, I see. Then, that would make you-" Suzette started to hazard a guess, but Byng cut her off.

"I'm not a Goblin, either," she cackled. "We don't have those in Grurguhrohk."

'Well, there goes my guess...' Shayla shrugged her shoulders.

Coye thought Byng was a Goblin of some sorts, too, but then again, he'd never seen a Goblin as human-like, intelligent, and as good-natured as she was, so it came as less of a shock to him that she wasn't actually one of those nasty, no-good cretins.

"I don't think we'll be able to guess what you are, so you should probably just tell us..." Coye suggested.

"No, it's cool. I get it. Everyone with green skin is either an Orc or a Goblin to you folks, right?" Byng shook her head left to right and clicked her tongue. "You damn racist humies..."

"N-No, that's not the case at all! I just-" Suzette became flustered, dropping her current task to better apologize. "Please, forgive my ignorance. I didn't mean to be so rude." She insisted even though her only knowledge of Grurguhrohk came from a borderline offensive Orcsploitation novel by the name of Taken by a Greenskin.

Seeing Suzette work up a sweat in that pretty little nightgown of hers was too rich, and Byng couldn't maintain the face for long. She broke character and started to laugh maniacally, pausing only to wipe a single tear from her eye.

"Gahahaha! Ahhh, fuck, the look on your face..." Byng let out an amused sigh as she moved in close enough to pat Suzette on the back a couple of times. "You're good, both of you. Short-stuff'll tell you I just can't stop myself from messing with people, ain't that right?"

"R-Right," Coye confirmed, much to his dismay. "Sorry, she's always like this..."

Suzette was even redder now, and she hung her head. As a respected merchant used to dealing with occasionally demanding customers, bothersome distributors, and entitled nobles, the woman hadn't been 'ribbed' like this before and was entirely unused to it. It wasn't a bad experience, but moreover, Suzette was relieved.

"Well, consider this old lady messed with. I'm just glad you're not actually upset, Byng."

"Who, me? Never!" The teasing huntress smirked, uncapping a vial of spice to sprinkle what looked like a worrisome amount on the fried eggs. "Anyway, since now you're all on edge about it, I'll let you in on the truth. I'm a Gengaggi. It's a bit complicated, and I ain't about to drone on and on about Orc lore, but you can think of us as a sister race to Orcs. I see the similarities with the Goblins you guys have here in Karnalle, though, and I'm usually not offended when people assume that I am one."

"Oh, a... Gengaggi," Suzette repeated the word, finding it peculiar on her tongue. "I see. I've never heard of your kind before. What about you, Darling?"

"N-No, I don't know the first thing about Grurguhrohk..."

'You probably know more than me,' Shayla insisted.

"Don't sweat it, short-stuff. You'll pick up the basics bit by bit, here and there, you know! I'll tell you all about my people sooner than later..." Byng laughed like she was in on a joke that only she held the punchline to.

Coye picked up a vaguely threatening undertone to her words yet managed to squeak out, "Cool, can't wait..."

"Right... well..." Suzette looked away as Byng walked up to her side, taking in a sniff of the sausages. "As sorry as I am about my ignorance, I'm afraid I have one lingering question on my mind that might be perceived as... somewhat offensive. I tried ignoring it this whole time, but I'm afraid I can't help myself anymore, dear..."

"Oh yeah? Spill it! I don't like it when people hold back. Better if you just blurt out what's on your mind all day, every day! Least, that's what I think."

Suzette closed her eyes and took a deep breath, nodding along at Byng's rambling. For a moment, she wished Byng wouldn't stop talking so she could put off actually asking the question even just a little longer. When the Gengaggi finally ceased, Suzette knew she couldn't keep it in.

"Very well, Byng... it's just that... your scent. It's, ah... dear me, how do I put this... unmistakable pungent. I was just wondering if this was a 'you' problem, or if such odors are common among your kind, or-"

Byng gave the older woman a long, uncomfortable, drawn-out stare.

Coye felt a tidal wave of second-hand embarrassment and shrunk in his seat.

Shayla's cheeks puffed out as she held back an obnoxious amount of laughter, failing and snorting wildly out of her nose.

After several moments of silence, the pressure broke Suzette. Her eyes darted to the ground, and she nearly dropped the sausage patty she held in her spatula. "F-Forgive me, that was a slip of the tongue. I didn't actually mean to-"

"Oi, did you just ask if my entire race is smelly? Like, did you seriously, actually just straight up do that? Really, humie? Really?!" Byng's expression lost its composure, twisting into an unhinged, unpredictable, and unrecognizable facsimile of wildness.

"No! No, Byng, dear! I would never! I'm just a simple woman from the backwoods of Karnalle, my experience with other races and cultures is few and far between! Oh, Goodness, I-" Suzette was mortified beyond words, desperate not to ruin things with the intriguing girl Coye brought along with him. They'd be seeing each other a lot more if things went to plan, and thus far, Suzette enjoyed Byng's company aside from the smell, so the thought of messing up petrified the older woman.

Of course, she should've known that Byng was only fucking with her. Just as Suzette reached the tipping point, the girl started up with that devious cackle and threw her head back in laughter.

"Oh, Urfathur, your fucking face, Suz'! Chill, chill! We're good! It's, uh, just a cultural difference, I guess. We don't bathe much as you folks do, and on top of that, I..." Byng stuttered and then shook her head, ignoring the intrusive thought. "Uh, anyway, I guess it has been a while since my last soak... yeah. Not that shorty over there seems to mind. He's actually pretty into it." She said, drawing attention away from herself and onto the pervert- a perfect plan that went off without a hitch.

The second-hand embarrassment Coye felt became firsthand once Suzette turned and gave the boy a puzzled look. "Really, Darling? Is this true...?" She wasn't mad, just disappointed.

"T-That's an exaggeration..." Coye defended himself, slinking back further into his seat and looking off in the opposite direction. "It's not like I think Byng smells good or anything, but, um..."

Suzette sighed long and hard as she cradled her forehead in her palm. "Never before in my life has a simple 'but, um...' had such troubling implications... I'll never understand boys and their fanciful fantasies, I'm afraid..."

Coye whined and huddled behind his arms, slumping over the table.

'I mean, it is pretty weird. You're just gonna have to accept that at some point, baby.' Shayla advised yet still laughed at him all the same.

"For real, though," Byng shrugged and lifted up one of her arms, digging her nose into the pit. "Is it really that bad? I'm used to way, way worse, so-"

"Sweet Goddesses Above and Below!" Suzette took several paces away and covered her nose with an oven mitt she scrounged from the countertop. The explosion of aroma made the poor woman weak in the knees, light-headed, and threatened to do much worse to her stomach if she didn't come up with a solution fast.

Darting out of the kitchen, Suzette left Byng and Coye alone together for a moment. He'd never seen the girl look so embarrassed, and she even struggled to maintain a semblance of eye contact with him.

"You could've told me it was this bad," she grumbled.

"Well, apparently I'm biased, so it's not like my opinion would've helped..." he replied, equally grumpy.

'For once, I'm grateful for the crappy air circulation up here...' Shayla commented, glad to be tucked away nice and safe from the purported stank.

Before long, Suzette returned. A towel was tied tight around her nose, and in her hand, she carried a small container of gooseberry-scented oil. "Arms up," she commanded of Byng in a demanding tone.

"Uh," Byng looked over at Coye for help, but he wasn't about to go against Suzette's wishes in her own house. If she didn't want to put up with a stinky Gengaggi, that was well within her right.

"Ok, ok. I can take a hint..." Byng sighed and lifted her arms, blushing as Suzette poured the container over into her palms and then massaged them into her armpits. "Gah! T-That fucking tickles...!" she giggled, but it was over just as soon as it had begun.

Suzette sighed with relief but soon looked at her own hands in utter disgust. She took up a bar of soap, washed them in a nearby water basin, then nodded her head.

"There. Now you smell halfway tolerable, I'd say..."

"It's, uh, fruity... thanks..." Byng sniffed herself and decided she was indifferent to the fragrance. "Sorry about this. I don't usually hang around other people, so... yeah..."

"You're fine, dear. I'll forgive it just this once, but before you show up in my home again, I expect you to have taken care of things for yourself. Is that understood?" Suzette's threatening aura manifested full-blast, causing Byng to cower before the older woman.

"Y-Yeah, um, I'll see what I can do, gahaha..." Byng took a step backward and scratched her head.

"Hm," Suzette's instincts told her that Byng might need more drastic measures, so she proposed, "Would you consider accompanying me to a bathhouse every so often if I paid your fees?"

"A b-b-bathhouse?!" Byng put even more distance between the widow and herself, the very thought terrifying her. "Er- I-I dunno, maybe? We'll talk about it some other time! Shouldn't we be finishing breakfast? Right? Hey, short-stuff, back me up here!"

Coye saw the desperation Byng was exhibiting, and in light of her plight, he felt compelled to help her in some small way however he could.

"Um, I think that sounds like a good idea, but-"

"Traitor!" Byng grumbled.

"But, Byng is right. I'm starting to get really hungry, Suzette..."

Hearing her boy was in need flipped a switch inside Suzette's highly-questionable brain. All other worldly concerns were put to the side as she looked at the young man with pity, clasping her hands together and melting at the sight of him.

"Oh, Darling, I'm so sorry!" She cooed. "Give us just a bit longer, and everything will be all set, alright?"

Byng looked at Coye, surprised at how easily Suzette backed down when her man needed to be taken care of. Even he didn't expect the distraction to have gone so well, which embarrassed him a little.

"Uh, yeah... ok... t-thanks..." he said.

'Can't say that the woman doesn't have her priorities figured out,' Shayla shrugged, admiring Suzette's single-mindedness that bordered on obsession.

With a renewed focus on meal preparation, Byng and Suzette continued their teamwork and put the topic of bathing behind them for the time being. They made light conversation along the way, most of it centered around Coye- much to his awkward disappointment. It would have been tolerable if Suzette didn't start grilling the young Gengaggi like an overprotective mother judging the girl her son brought home for the first time.

Things started innocent enough as she asked, "So, Byng... how long have you known Coye?"

"Huh? Oh, a little over a year, I think? We met pretty soon after I first rolled into town and decided to settle down here and join the Guild. Ever since then, we've had all kinds of run-ins. Ain't that right, short-stuff?"

"Y-Yeah, if that's what you want to call popping up and shooting arrows at me every now and again..."

"Exactly! Run-ins. Just like I said."

"Hm, I see... well, then. I hope you don't mind me asking how exactly you feel about my Darling?"

'Man, Suzette sure doesn't beat around the bush...'

"W-Wha- Suzette, y-you can't just-"

"Gahaha! Now there's a tricky question! I guess you could say I respect the little guy, but it's a whole lot more than that. Doesn't really do it justice, y'know? I've wanted a chance to get to know Coye better for a really long time now, so I'm just happy he had the balls to ask me out."

"Ah. If nothing else, I can certainly relate to that..."

'Oof,' Shayla commented as Coye felt the sting of Suzette's barbed insult.

"Do you go out with other boys often, Byng?"

"Suzette!" Coye rose up from his seat, embarrassed on Byng's behalf. It turns out his concern was misplaced.

"No way," Byng snorted, treating the question as a regular thing someone might ask and not a gross violation of her privacy. "I ain't that kinda girl- never done this sort of thing before, I swear. I've been waiting for the right guy to come around, and it just so happens I've got some pretty specific criteria..."

"You don't know how happy I am to hear that, dear. It's just that Darling is such a sensitive boy, and I'd hate for him to have a bad experience only and end up heartbroken... why, I don't know what I would do if that were to happen... I just might snap..."

Coye, Byng, and Shayla all felt a cold chill running down their spines as they imagined the girl unlucky enough to feel Suzette's motherly wrath. Although Shayla understood the older woman's concerns, she still believed her warning was leaning toward being a little heavy-handed.

'You might wanna speak up if you've got any objection to mother hen's behavior over there, baby. You don't want her getting the wrong idea, do you?' she advised.

While Coye enjoyed how Suzette doted on him, he agreed that she was close to overstepping some bounds. "H-Hey, Suzette, can you stop already? You're not my mom, and you're embarrassing me..."

Suzette felt weak at the thought of upsetting her precious boy, almost comically so. "Oh, Darling... I'm so sorry, I was only trying to look after your best interests! I hope you'll forgive me, as there was just one other question I wanted to ask, and it just so happened to be the most important one."

Coye crossed his arms, blushing at Suzette's over-dramatic tendencies as he slumped back into his seat. "Fine, just... please don't be weird about it..." he begged, albeit not hard enough.

"Byng, are you in need of any birth control? I've plenty of Succu-Bye on my shelves- which I personally recommend over condoms- and I'm willing to cut you a discount seeing as how you're-"

"Suzette!" Coye slammed his fists on the table, his face beet-red. "What did I just say?!"

"It was an honest question," Suzette smirked. "Well, Byng?"

Byng looked at Coye, then smirked evilly as she turned back to face the older woman. "Y'know, that ain't a half-bad idea, Suz'. How much of a discount are we talking about here?"

'Aw, aren't you lucky that your girls are so considerate?' Shayla teased, which ended up being the last straw.

Coye hid under the table, making a loud whimpering noise as he died of embarrassment. Shayla and Byng laughed at his misery, which was expected, but even Suzette joined in with a few giggles of her own. Despite how uncomfortable he felt, it was fun being with them like this, and Coye couldn't deny how happy he was.

The only thing that rivaled his happiness was his hunger, and luckily, the long-awaited breakfast was complete once Suzette's inquisition ended.