“Okay, awesome! We need to find people doin’ suspicious shit and find that head! You can do a lil’ ol’ sneaky sneak, poke ’round the back—” He stopped short as Sariel frantically shook his head. “Sariel. Exactly what kinda club is this?”
“The very kind you think it is.” Sariel blushed. “It may be best to avoid those areas, but there is an office behind the bar,” Sariel said quickly. “There is also storage and more private quarters beyond that. Start there.”
“Yeah, yeah. Stay in that part of the club. The part where people are keepin’ their clothes on. If you see people takin’ ’em off, chances are ya’ need to turn ’round.”
Day arched her brow. “Huh?”
“Just, uh. Good luck!” Seymour gave her a quick hug. “Be careful.”
Day hugged him back and nuzzled his cheek. “I won’t let you down!”
“You couldn’t even if ya’ tried.”
Day purred, hopping off the bar and then vanishing amongst the bustling crowd.
“So.” Seymour swirled the ice around his glass, giving Sariel a flirty grin. “Brought me to a monster sex club? Kinky.”
“The investigation is what brought us to the monster sex club.” Sariel smirked.
“Details.” Seymour nudged Sariel’s knee with his own. “So, you ever, uh, try out their services?”
“No. While I respect the profession and their work, I enjoy sharing physical connections with someone with whom I have… an emotional bond.”
“Does makin’ out in a bathroom count as, uh, emotional?”
“Not quite.” Sariel smiled warmly. “But talking about the zodiac in a cemetery is a fair contender.”
“I liked the talkin’ we did while eatin’ cookies. You remember. After I tried to escape your weird house before we went to the freaky ass circus.”
Sariel chuckled. “Where does that rank with the bathroom tryst?”
“Eh, definitely way above it.” Seymour winked. “Those were some damn good cookies.”
“I did not realize my performance was so subpar.”
“Come on?—”
“I will never do it again.”
“Hey, hey!” Seymour laughed. “Let’s not get fuckin’ crazy.”
Sariel smiled. “Do not worry. I will stay sane.”
“Don’t you worry, Daddy. I got plenty enough crazy to go ’round for both of us.” Seymour snorted. “Plus a list of crazy ass exes longer than my leg.”
Sariel tilted his head curiously. “Your former lovers were… unwell?”
“Yeah. Well,no.” Seymour took a moment to truly process the question, and his guts turned in knots. “Okay. It’s a tiny bit unfair to call ’em crazy ’cause really, if anyone has serious volumes of issues? It’s… me.”
“You?”
“Yeah, me. Sayin’ they were the problem is just me passin’ the buck when all the bullshit is my fault. It always has been.” Seymour looked down at his empty glass. “I get bored. I get restless. I make shitty excuses and just move on. And I’ve dated some nice guys. Some fuckin’ great ones. But it’s never been enough.”
“What is it they are so lacking in that you feel the need to keep searching?”
“I honestly don’t know. It’s like there’s this fuckin’ hole in me I keep tryin’ to fill and nothin’ is ever gonna fix it… Fuck. Anyway. Look at me just ramblin’ away.” Seymour smiled weakly. “Sorry.”
“There is no need to apologize.” Sariel returned the small smile. “I am familiar with feeling a void that cannot be filled. I imagine it is because of what we both have lost.”
