“Huh,” Chase said, staring at Star as if trying to see through him, before a devious smile graced his lips. “So, how do you like the cock cage?”
“Fuck, how the hell do you know about that?” Star asked in shock.
“Hephaestus came to see Master Thor, and I heard them discussing it.” He leaned in close. “Apparently, Hephestaus wanted to add a few things to it, but Master Anubis stopped him.”
“What the fuck, do gods sit around and discuss how to torture humans like me?”
Chase chuckled. “Nope, humans beat themselves up enough. And I'm not a god.”
“I know you're a grim reaper. So were you the one who guided my soul to the underworld?”
“No,” Chase responded, looking sad about it.
Star had asked the question jokingly. “Oh.”
“I'm not like the other members of my family, Star. I don't get fulfillment in guiding the undead. I prefer the living. As for who your guide was, it was not recorded in the book. Trust me, I've checked.”
“So, how did you know about me?” Star asked, now interested in what happened when he died.
“Are you trying to get me in trouble?” Chase shook his head. “I've revealed a lot to you already. You're not even supposed to know our kind exist, but somehow you do.”
“You sound angry about that.”
Chase smiled. “Believe me when I say this. I'm happy you know about me and my kind. I finally have a friend who doesn't expect anything from me.”
“Wait, don't say that too quickly.”
“Don't say what too quickly?”
Chase and Star looked up, seeing a pregnant Tanner looking down at them. Star hadn't seen Tanner in a few weeks since he was wrapped up in Anubis's funk and working, but even if he was in denial about male pregnancy, there was no way he would miss the big baby bump close to his face. It was almost scary but interesting. Star raised a hand and was about to touch his belly when he heard Chase laughing.
“What's so funny?” he said, looking at his friend.
“You should see your face right now. You look scared and intrigued at the same time. Don't worry, one day you and Master Anubis will have kids.”
"Whatever,” Star said, putting his hands down. He stood and hugged Tanner. “It's good to see you.”
“Master Anubis,” Tanner said, leaning back and looking at Star with questioning eyes. “You've been keeping secrets.”
Star chuckled. “I'll tell you about it later. Since you're here, let's discuss why I wanted to see you guys while we eat.”
“Oh, you sound so formal,” Tanner teased him as he sat down. “Hey, Chase, it's good to see you again.”
“You two know each other?” Star asked.
“Yeah, through our bosses,” they said simultaneously.
Fuck, I should have known.
“Well, I guess we can just get down to business.”
Star sat down slowly, constantly reminded of the buttplug in his ass. “I've decided to open a drama school in Valleywood, and I want you two to help me.” The two stared at him for quite some time, and he wondered if he had said something weird.
“Tell us what you're thinking,” Tanner said.
Star smiled, handing them the business plans he’d drafted up and laid out what he was thinking. Valleywood was filled with talent waiting to be tapped into, and Star had an idea of building a drama school that would one day be as famous as the schools in New York, London, and even Prague. Star was well aware that he wasn't at the height of his fame, and he still had a long way to go. But that shouldn't stop him from helping out other baby entertainers starting out in the business.
Star wanted to hire top-notch professionals who would guide and teach the students. He also wanted it to be successful, and although he could ask Anubis to do everything for him, Star wanted to start from scratch and build it from the ground up. It would be his accomplishment, not Anubis's. He asked Chase and Tanner to be his business partners because they knew how to run the administration side of things.
