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In truth, the Osiris was already giving him the exact angle and speed he needed to send the popcorn piece up into the air to land it perfectly on Khoth’s blue tongue. Jace turned off the assistance. He aimed. He threw the popcorn piece. It landed in Khoth’s right eye. Khoth made a sound sort of like a cat’s hiss.

“I’m sorry! Oh, Khoth, I’m sorry!”

Jace couldn’t help but laugh though and he curled onto his side towards Khoth. The popcorn bowl tilted precipitously. He wondered if they could put all the popcorn back in the bowl before the five second rule expired. But Khoth saved all of it and placed the bowl on the ground, safe and sound. The popcorn bowl was not the only snack in danger. There was a crunching sound. A bag of Cheetos had slid under Jace’s butt. He reached back and nudged it off of the bed.

“You are causing destruction, Jace,” Khoth said slightly disapprovingly, but one of his arms had slid around Jace’s shoulders.

That felt amazing.

“I know. I can’t help it. Your face… you were so upset about the popcorn,” Jace chuckled. “It was very funny.”

“There is salt in my eye,” Khoth muttered as he dabbed said eye with a napkin. “And butter.”

“Not space paste meant to taste like butter?” Jace asked.

“You would be a better judge than me about that,” Khoth pointed out.

“It tastes pretty real. I think the Osiris ordered some take out. I wonder how it got the snacks up to the ship,” Jace thought out loud.

I sent several of the cleaning bots to the Con-Ve and took all of its stock, the Osiris answered.

Uhm, please tell me that you paid for the snacks… wait, you don’t have any money and I don’t have enough money to cover it so…

I merely created the funds. Your currency is mostly a construct so I--

Created it out of whole cloth?

Ones and zeros actually, but yes, the phrase is applicable, the Osiris answered.

Oh, God… I’m going to have to teach you about right and wrong, aren’t I? Jace muttered.

I am well aware of all philosophical views on these concepts. Shall I enumerate them for you? The Osiris almost sounded chipper at the idea.

No, no, that’s okay. We’ll talk about this another time, Jace said. Just don’t take over any planets while I’m distracted.

I will attempt not to, the Osiris stated.

Jace was intent on being distracted. He cuddled against Khoth, resting his head on Khoth’s broad chest. He was pleased when the Thaf’ell’s long fingers trailed through his hair. His fingertips ghosted over the bare flesh at the base of Jace’s neck. That was one of Jace’s most sensitive places. Though it was where collars brushed, it felt somehow intimate to have another person run their hands over it.

“Did you discover your answer?” Khoth asked. “Your eyes glow blue when you communicate with the Osiris or Gehenna.”

“They do? Cool though I think we’ll have to turn that off when I’m in combat. Give me away if my eyes are always glowing,” Jace laughed. “Well, I did get my answer. It was a sort of down the rabbit hole trip.”

“Down the rabbit--”

“Long, long story. The Osiris is potentially a criminal mastermind,” Jace told him. “The Osiris got the supplies from Walter’s shop. It transferred funds to Walter’s account. Except, of course, the Osiris doesn’t have money itself so… it created some. I’m afraid if I know much more than that I might be the Osiris’ accomplice in many crimes.”

“This concept of currency you have makes no sense. While some have more money than they could spend in twenty lifetimes, there are plenty who starve to death for lack of funds,” Khoth mused.

That was a terribly good point.

“The Thaf’ell don’t have money? You barter or something?” Jace asked.

“Citizens are tested at a young age to see what they are proficient at. These jobs are assigned after they reach the age of majority. No funds are given for their work. All are given a home, food and the ability to enjoy life,” Khoth explained.

“Wait, so there’s like no money? And people don’t, uhm, hoard stuff? Like keep all the best stuff for themselves?” Jace asked.

Khoth was frowning again. “Why would they do this? Hoarding is illogical. One cannot eat all the food. One cannot appreciate all the art. One--”