"Morning, Kev," the eagle woman greeted, a mischievous grin on her face. "Looking as translucent as ever."
Kev nodded, a smile spreading across his face. "Morning, Sabrina," he replied.
Sabrina maneuvered her wheelchair deftly to the kitchen, easily reaching a glass from the lowered cabinets and filling it with water. She took a long sip, her eyes watching Kev, filled with curiosity.
"So, Kev," she began, wheeling back into the living room where Kev and Talon were seated, "how did you score this gig? And can you put in a good word for me? I didn't even know being a rich guy's arm candy could be a real job." She flashed a playful grin.
Kev chuckled nervously, rubbing the back of his neck. "I kind of... fell into the position," he admitted. "It was a bit of a whirlwind, to be honest."
Sabrina's eyes widened. "What I would give for Fang to fall onto me," she said dramatically, "in any position!"
Talon, who had been quietly reading, looked up sharply. "Sabrina!" he admonished, his voice low. "Don't talk about my boss like that."
Sabrina laughed, unfazed by her brother's reprimand. "So you're worried about your boss," she teased, "but Kev isn't worried about his boyfriend? I think you worry too much, brother."
Talon scowled, his feathers ruffling slightly. "Sabrina, be careful what you say," he warned, his voice a hushed rasp. "This is Club Fang, not the housing. People here don't take kindly to disrespect."
Sabrina rolled her eyes playfully. "It's not disrespect, it's envy," she retorted, her tone light. She turned back to Kev. "So, what's the plan for the day?" she asked. "Are we going out for grooming and massages before hitting the shops?"
Kev laughed, shaking his head. "I wish," he replied. "I think we'll be sticking around the mansion today..."
"But," he added, rising from his seat, "are you hungry, Sabrina? It's almost lunchtime."
"Starving," Sabrina declared dramatically. "That food last night was… amazing. How is anyone supposed to know that a sex club has a Michelin-star chef? It's wild."
Kev grinned. "Sorry to disappoint you, but the kitchen is closed during the day. I've got bagels and peanut butter back in my apartment, though, if you're interested."
Sabrina groaned dramatically. "That's a bit of a buzzkill," she complained, her voice a playful whine.
Talon chimed in, "Why don't you cook, then?"
"We have no food, brother," Sabrina retorted, her tone exasperated.
"You're welcome to use whatever I have," Kev offered generously.
Sabrina eyed him suspiciously. "Why should I cook for you?" she asked, her voice a challenging caw.
Kev chuckled. "Well, you get to eat the food you cook," he pointed out, still grinning.
Sabrina sighed, but a hint of amusement flickered in her eyes. "You're lucky I'm hungry," she conceded. "And you better have coffee."
Kev nodded eagerly. "I do," he assured her.
Sabrina's face lit up. "Ugh, you're gonna be a pain, aren't you?" she said, shaking her head in mock exasperation. "Lead the way, my questionably opaque new friend."
Kev led the way back to his apartment, Talon trailing behind as he pushed Sabrina's wheelchair. Once inside, Kev quickly moved furniture around to create more space for Sabrina to maneuver.
Sabrina looked around, her eyes widening in surprise. "Nice," she commented, her voice a raspy caw. "Even smells fancy in here."
Talon, seemingly unfazed by his sister's antics, plopped down on the couch and resumed reading his book.
Sabrina, meanwhile, began exploring Kev's kitchen supplies, her curiosity and hunger fueling her search. Kev put the kettle on the stove, reheating the coffee again.
Sabrina watched intently as Kev lit the stove with a match, a fascinated expression on her face. "Whose big idea was it to remove the electric up here too?" she remarked, shaking her head in disbelief. "How do you even survive?"
Kev chuckled. "We adapt," he replied. "It's not as bad as you might think."
Sabrina, with surprising efficiency, whipped up a batch of toasted bagel sandwiches, using up all of Kev's deli meats and cheese. Kev poured coffee for everyone and they gathered around the coffee table, enjoying their impromptu lunch.
Kev took a bite of his sandwich, impressed by Sabrina's culinary skills. "This is really good," he complimented. "A much better use of the ingredients than I would have come up with."
Sabrina shrugged. "Gotta make do with what you have," she replied. "And you couldn't even think of making a sandwich? Ugh, just like brother... At least you know what fun is."
Talon finished his sandwich and picked up his book again. "Reading is fun," he mumbled, his gaze fixed on the pages.
Sabrina rolled her eyes. "Nerd," she muttered under her breath. She turned to Kev, her eyes sparkling with curiosity. "So, what's there to do in this place?" she asked. "What do we do for fun?"
Kev sighed, leaning back against the couch cushions. "That's the thing," he admitted. "I'm still struggling to fill my days… The downside of not having any real responsibilities, I guess."
"Reading is fun," Talon repeated, not looking up from his book.
Sabrina shot him a playful glare. "Besides reading, brother dearest," she said, her voice dripping with sarcasm.
"I've explored the grounds a bit, played some pool and darts... But I'm running out of ideas," Kev admitted.
Sabrina threw her hands up in mock exasperation. "We're in the hedonism capital of the city, and you're bored?" she exclaimed, her voice filled with disbelief. "This is just sad."
"That's why I get paid the big bucks, I'm not distracted by the private rooms," he quipped, a playful glint in his eyes.
Talon snorted, turning a page in his book without looking up.
"More like that's why Fang gives you the big bucks," Sabrina retorted, a mischievous grin spreading across her face.
"Sabrina!" Talon admonished, his voice a low rasp. "Watch your language."
"Whatever," Sabrina mumbled, rolling her eyes. She turned to Kev, her expression hopeful. "Pass me one of those joints then, human, if you're going to be so very boring."
Kev opened his silver cigarette case, revealing the neatly rolled joints inside. "I'll split one with you," he offered with a smile, "since you made such a great lunch."
He lit the joint and passed it to Sabrina, who took a long, appreciative drag. Kev started the player piano, its gentle melody filling the room.
Sabrina wrinkled her beak. "Ugh, this music sucks," she complained, waving a hand dismissively. "Put something good on."
Kev chuckled. "Feel free to pick out a different song," he said, gesturing towards the box of scrolls.
Sabrina wheeled herself over to the piano and began rummaging through the collection. Kev took another puff from the joint, enjoying the relaxing sensation that spread through his body.
"All these songs look like grandma music," Sabrina grumbled, flipping through the scrolls with a frown.
"This is as good as it gets when Asmodeus isn't here," Kev explained with a shrug.
"Asmodeus?" Sabrina questioned, her curiosity piqued. "That's a funny name. Who's that?"
"The entertainment manager," Kev replied. "If you want, we can take a walk and see if he's around. He doesn't seem to follow much of a set schedule, so I don't know if he'll be here."
Talon, who had been quietly observing the exchange, sat up straighter. "I would like to meet Mr. Asmodeus," he said, his voice a low rasp. "It's important for me to know the different managers here..."
Sabrina smirked. "Brother, he's probably avoiding you so he doesn't get choke-slammed."
Kev chuckled. "Well, let's go see if he's around," he said, grabbing his guitar case. "Maybe we can even convince him to play us a song."
Sabrina frowned, "I can't go looking like this," she declared, glancing down at her oversized t-shirt.
Kev raised an eyebrow. "Good enough for me, but not for Asmodeus?" he teased.
Sabrina laughed, a mischievous glint in her eyes. "Duh," she retorted, looking at Talon. "Gotta make a good first impression, right?"
Talon, sensing an opportunity to escape his sister's teasing, stood up abruptly. "Let's not dally then," he said, his voice a brisk rasp.
Kev could tell Talon was relieved to have something to do, a distraction from the awkwardness of the earlier conversation. He followed Talon as the eagleman pushed Sabrina's wheelchair back towards their apartment.
As they entered the newly renovated space, Sabrina let out a delighted squeal. Her new wheelchair, a masterpiece of craftsmanship, was waiting for her in the living room. Its frame was made of dark, polished wood, accented with intricate black cast iron details. The overall aesthetic was rustic and elegant, perfectly complementing the club's decor. But the gleaming gears and levers beneath the seat revealed its modern functionality, a testament to the club's ability to blend tradition with innovation.
"Brother, please put my new chair in my room," Sabrina instructed, her voice echoing from the bathroom.
Talon carefully maneuvered the wheelchair into his sister's room, his movements gentle and precise. He returned to the living room, a hint of relief in his eyes, and plopped down on the couch, picking up the book he'd been reading earlier.
"Make yourself at home, Kev," Talon said, his gaze returning to the pages. "She takes about twenty-five minutes to get ready, so yeah." He flipped a page, his brow furrowed in concentration.
Kev wandered around the apartment, admiring the transformation. The fresh paint, the new furniture, the subtle touches of decor... Cindy and Max had truly outdone themselves. His gaze settled on the massive tapestry hanging on the far wall. Its intricate patterns and vibrant colors added a touch of warmth and personality to the otherwise minimalist space.
Kev stepped onto the balcony, taking in the view of the mansion's sprawling backyard. The afternoon sun cast long shadows across the manicured lawn, and the pool shimmered invitingly. A mischievous idea sparked in his mind.
"If you had a ladder," Kev said, turning to Talon, "we could sneak down and play a game of darts while she's getting ready."
Talon looked up from his book, a bemused expression on his face. "Just fly down," he replied simply, turning another page.
Kev sighed. He stepped back inside and grabbed his cigarette case, then returned to the balcony. He lit a cigarette, savoring the familiar ritual as he gazed out at the picturesque scenery.