They all sat in Stu’s living room today. Yesterday he’d found out about the steward, today everyone was in his living room. There was Chaos, Prosperity, Miracle, Tom, Marrow, and Stu. Quite the group for a tiny apartment. This meeting was off the books for everyone else, due to the sensitive nature of the topic.

  Marrow asked, “Are we a hundred percent sure about this? There cannot be any doubts going forward if we decre it.”

  Tom said, “We have confirmed it at the b that Stu and Prosperity procured.”

  Concerned, Marrow asked, “I thought you said their scientist was strung out on amphetamines though?”

  Stu interjected, “Broth may be a tweaker but he’s a freaking genius when it comes to Bio-Chemistry. That also happens to be why he’s a tweaker though..”

  Tom spoke sternly, “We have to get as much preparation in as we can. They will be coming for Stu as soon as they figure it out. If we know, then others are surely closing in rapidly, the test will be impossible for him to pass.”

  Chaos asked, “What is the test?”

  Marrow said, “Stu has to compete in a battle, and win while not infecting his opponent or others. The moment the judges detect uncontrolled contagious behavior they will terminate the steward.”

  Tom said, “Although, I suppose its not impossible to get him to learn to control his infection rate. The challenge is that he has to do it in battle, that will diminish his focus greatly.”

  Miracle threw out an idea saying, “I could take him to a pce to practice without the danger of further infection.”

  Prosperity muttered something, and Chaos said, “Right.. Practice.. Nope, his god can’t allow that.”

  Tom said, “I agree with Chaos, besides if Stu doesn’t sleep with Prosperity soon, she threatened to pull funding for our research wing.” There wasn’t malice in this statement just fact.

  Prosperity yelled, “I didn’t say he HAD to sleep with me! I just wanted the next date! You should stop snooping on people! Stupid cat…” Everyone was staring at her.

  Tom said, “My mistake. My original decision still stands though; the research is one of the few leads we have on others currently. We can’t have it in jeopardy over petty squabbles over who sleeps with who. No sleeping with coworkers.. Understand Stu?” He gave Stu a stern look.

  Hanging his head he said, “I understand..”

  Prosperity yelled, “But my date!”

  Miracle yelled, “Come on!”

  Then there was Chaos that said, “Why is everyone talking about sleeping together and no one ever talked to me about it? I want in on the next one!”

  Marrow said, “I see now what you’ve been talking about Tom. This house is.. dysfunctional at best.”

  Prosperity looked at him saying, “No it isn’t, this is The House of Chaos!”

  Marrow spoke pinly, “I wasn’t insulting your home, I was making an observation. It’s just interesting, a steward of the house of chaos… What do you think Tom?”

  Tom said, “I think it’s nearly impossible that it’s not what you’re thinking..”

  Everyone in the room that wasn’t a cat yelled, “What?!?”

  Tom said, “You need to work harder, all of you!”

  Prosperity asked, “What does that have to do with what you and Marrow were talking about?”

  Stu cut in saying, “That’s a judge’s way of saying they can’t talk about it with us, yet. Probably has something to do with the rules.”

  Tom looked at Marrow saying, “See what I’m saying? He’s coming along.”

  Marrow said, “Yes and he’s learned quite a bit it seems.”

  Stu looked at the girls pointing at the cats. He said, “See? That’s how you don’t break the rules, they just helped us but didn’t do jack for us at the same time.”

  Prosperity said, “I don’t know, that seemed pretty legit to me.. How do you know they weren’t talking about something else?”

  Stu sat there with his mouth hanging open. He almost yelled as he spoke, “Why are subtle things so hard for you to get? Sarcasm and subtle hints… My head is going to explode one day!...” He sat back in his chair exasperated.

  Tom said, “I assure you all that Marrow and I have not pushed any subtle hints today. That would be against the rules for a judge. We simply had a conversation between ourselves and if you took meaning from it that wasn’t implied, then we can’t help that.”

  Prosperity said, “See? I knew I wasn’t crazy…” She sat back pleased with herself.

  Stu just stared at her; there was no way to comprehend the amount of effort he had put in this to still be at square one. If this were a cartoon his head would crack open and a cuckoo bird would come out. He sighed, “So, are the girls sick or not? The question is driving me nuts. Why are they changing because of a blue blood?”

  Marrow said, “You are changing, and they are changing with you. Think about it like osmosis, you are all very different and from different realms. So, the weaker parts are becoming diluted within the proximity of greater powers. You have to learn to control your greater power or there will be no chance for you during the demonstration. Also, if you are asking if the gods want to be here of their own free will, then the answer is yes.”

  Stu hung his head in relief, that made him feel a lot better. Miracle said, “Aww, look at him. He’s so relieved right now!”

  Chaos chimed in saying, “Aww it’s so precious!”

  Prosperity said, “Eh, I prefer the rough stuff..” Everyone looked at her concerned, she blushed. “I mean, aww…” No one was buying her act.

  Marrow looked at Stu asking, “When you go to the Lab next to visit this Broth character, do you think I might be able to accompany you?”

  Stu looked unsure saying, “Um, he isn’t used to all the god stuff yet. Is it necessary?”

  Marrow said, “I’d like to bring him on full time. He has provided valuable intelligence to us, and he has shown his loyalty.”

  Stu softly spoke saying, “Well, we have been paying him a lot of money..”

  Marrow grinned saying, “As long as he doesn’t have a heart attack when we meet then nothing is a problem. As a matter of fact, I believe it’s time we discuss your living arrangements. Tom and I have already discussed it, and we believe you need a new location. One with less.. Traffic..” He looked at the trash everywhere when he said traffic. “We have a building avaible that is currently unoccupied in my district. That should keep you a little safer for now, and it has much more space than this pce.”

  Tom nonchantly said, “You move in tomorrow just like you decided.”

  Stu raised his eyebrows, “Hmm.. guess I must’ve forgotten about that.. Hear that girls, we get a bigger house.” The girls were generally excited; Stu was a little sad to see this pce go after everything that’d happened here. He knew this was for the best though, Tom was right to make them move.

  Tom said, “Don’t worry so much. Stu, it even comes with a swimming pool.”

  Stu looked up at him questioningly and Tom smiled nodding towards the girls. He said, “Oh, that’s interesting news..”

  Marrow leaned over whispering to Stu, “So, I heard miracle? I just have to say.. Nice..” Stu looked over at Tom who avoided his gaze completely.

  They spent the rest of the day getting things ready to move. Tom and Marrow had taken care of all the arrangements, hired movers, and made sure things were kept under wraps. Stu made special arrangements for his old couch when they tried to throw it away. He wanted to keep it, as a reminder of where this all started. They made it to the new pce the next day. It was a mansion in Stu’s eyes. A gym, pool, full kitchen, and a bunch of bedrooms. He was excited to have a bedroom once more, and a bed.. Everything even came fully furnished and stocked. His rising popurity in the tournament had some new perks, he figured it wasn’t too bad.