"Greg, we need-!" Renaedica shouted as she rushed into the washing area, only to freeze as she caught sight of Greg sitting in an office chair reading a book, the washing area practically spotless as stacks of clean dishes waited on the rack. "Uh… you- this- how-" She stammered, pointing between him and the dishes, before focusing on a single point. "Where did you get that chair?!?"

Greg blinked back at her. "I…" He began, dragging it out as he quickly considered the pros and cons of coming clean about his ability, while simultaneously trying to come up with a believable lie, only to come up short at 'fuck it'. "Made it?" He finished tentatively.

Renaedica just stared at him for a moment. "You made it? Out of what?!?"

"Smoke?" Greg offered hesitantly, still not coming up with any lies. Man he wasn't good at keeping secrets. Though, he'd probably be better at it if he didn't do weird shit all the time… but washing dishes was so boring! Better to just dissolve them all and remake them out of smoke. But just waiting was boring too, so he might as well read a book, right? And reading a book while you were standing was awkward, so he obviously needed to make himself a chair… yeah, it was inevitable. There was no way he could have kept this secret.

Renaedica frowned at him, putting her hands on her hips. "Okay, what's going on here? What do you mean you made a chair out of smoke?"

"I mean I made it out of smoke? Like this." Greg replied, sending out some smoke to make another chair. "See?"

Renaedica blinked at the chair, before hesitantly reaching out to touch it, squeezing the cushioning with a frown, before carefully sitting on it and leaning back. "This- this is a real chair!" She exclaimed, her eyes widening as she turned to Greg. "You- you can just make things like this?!?"

Greg shrugged. "Pretty much. I mean, I need material to work with, which I turn to smoke, and I need to know how to make what I'm making, but yeah, as long as I have enough smoke, I can make pretty much anything."

Renaedica frowned. "So… you've been able to do this the whole time, and you've just been sitting back here cleaning dishes?" She asked incredulously.

"Well… that's what you wanted me to do, isn't it?" Greg smirked slightly.

"That was before I knew you had the ability to literally magic objects out your ass!" Renaedica retorted.

"Okay… so do you have anything you want me to make then?" Greg cocked his head.

"I-" Renaedica paused, frowning as she struggled to think of something he could make to help them out. "Can- can you make food? Drinks?"

"Sure, but I need some material to convert, or it'll just be my smoke, which… has issues." Greg coughed awkwardly. "But I can use anything as material, even trash or dirt. Oh, and I'll need a sample of whatever you want me to make."

Renaedica nodded along. "Okay, okay… wait, trash and dirt? Really? There are no issues with that?"

"Why would there be? It's all particles and whatnot. Once I rearrange them, they are what they are, no matter what they were before." Greg replied.

"I guess so… still feels wrong to be serving people trash." Renaedica muttered.

"I mean, it doesn't have to be trash." Greg shrugged. "Just any material you can get your hands on. Hell, you could use gold for all I care. Ooh, make your customers provide the materials for the food! Then they can't complain about where it comes from." Greg chuckled.

Renaedica cocked her head, considering the offer for a moment, before shaking her head. "No, people wouldn't want to carry around material like that. However, as long as we're upfront about things… we could even charge more for 'cleaner' materials! Trash would be half price, dirt and stone normal, and actual ingredients would cost double!" Renaedica rubbed her hands together, a spark of greed lighting up her eyes. "And our profits would soar no matter what, because trash and dirt costs nothing compared to fresh ingredients!"

Greg nodded along. "Cool, cool… So what would my cut be?"

Renaedica blinked. "Eh? Oh, right, you'd need a portion… ten percent?" She offered.

Greg raised an eyebrow. "Ten percent? Really? This all literally depends on my ability! I should at least get fifty percent."

"No way! If you take fifty, I might as well just stick to doing things without you! Plus, you still need me to sell and provide you with materials. The highest I'll go is twenty." Renaedica countered.

"Come on, think of all the work I'll be doing! You'll need me here constantly! Forty, minimum." Greg snorted.

Renaedica gritted her teeth. "Twenty-five, final offer."

"Thirty, or I walk." Greg grinned.

Renaedica narrowed her eyes, before smirking slightly. "Thirty, and you let me have a taste of your eggs~" She added, licking her lips.

Greg grimaced, before letting out a sigh. "Fine, whatever." He agreed. "What's the big deal about that anyway? I'm not noble, so it isn't like you get anything out of it."

Renaedica shook her head. "That's a common misconception. We succubi need nobles to breed but that doesn't mean we get nothing from the monstrous races. It's like the difference between a meal and a snack. A snack may not be as filling, but that doesn't mean you can't enjoy it~" She finished with a wink.

Greg paused. He supposed sex was sex and even if you didn't get anything out of it, it was still enjoyable… hell, a lot of people would see the lack of pregnancy as a good thing. He certainly wasn't trying to get Tessa pregnant. Or Gloria, he added, smirking slightly at the memories of last night. She'd really liked her present. "Alright, fair enough." Greg chuckled, shaking his head.

"So, if you would~" Renaedica purred, licking her lips again as she stared hungrily at him, before jumping as the door banged open and a flustered looking demon man leaned in.

"Renaedica, where are those cups! We're practically out up there, and the customers are still streaming in!" He shouted.

"Right, shit!" Renaedica cursed, jumping to her feet and grabbing a few stacks of cups. "Coming!" She yelled back, rushing out, before pausing and turning back to Greg. "We'll figure out the rest of our deal after closing time. For now, just keep cleaning dishes, okay?"

"Got it." Greg nodded, giving her a thumbs up.

"Right." Renaedica sighed, heading back out to the bar. "Stupid sirens." She grumbled. They always sent people rushing to the nearest safe zone, which she was proud to say included her tavern. It was great for business, but damn was the rush stressful.

*

Chris and Andrew looked over the scared and nervous looking women they'd traded Lithmara for. "So…" Chris began, scratching his head, before turning to Andrew. "I got nothing. What are we doing with them?"

Andrew sighed. "Do you guys have homes you can get back to? Families and whatnot?"

"Who would take us back after what we've been through?" One of the women grimaced.

"Anyone?" Chris replied, raising an eyebrow. "I mean, anyone who isn't a gigantic asshole. It isn't like it's your fault any of this happened to you. They should be happy to have you back." The woman's expression twisted, looking like she didn't believe him.

"What if we have no one." One of the other women muttered darkly.

"Then you can stay with us, and we'll take care of you." Andrew assured her. "You'll have everything you could ever need, and we'll make sure no one can ever hurt you again."

"Safe, until you have no more use for us and toss us aside, just like everyone else!" Another woman sneered.

"Lady, we have no use for you now." Chris snorted.

"Chris!" Andrew snapped.

"What? It's true, we don't need or want them. At all. They do literally nothing for us besides existing as yet more people we have to take care of. I don't mind doing it, but I'm certainly not doing it because I'm getting anything out of it." Chris retorted.

"Please!" The woman growled, glaring at him. "You have the use every man has for any woman they happen to lay their hands on! You may try to be nice about it, but eventually you'll insist we warm your bed! Just like they all do!"

"I don't sleep with anyone unless we're married, and I already have a girlfriend." Chris frowned.

"Honestly, you could probably sleep in the same bed as him, naked, and the biggest issue you'd have would be if he hogged the covers." Andrew commented, letting out a sigh. "Seriously though, we don't want anything from you, we just want to help, if you want us to. You're free to do whatever you want, go home, stay with us, or even go somewhere else, with or without our help. And even if you stay with us, no one will ever force you to do something you don't want to do. You could hide in your room and never see another person again if that's what you want. Not that you should, but you've all been forced to do enough, so even if you want to do something horrible, we'll support it."

A case of theft: this story is not rightfully on Amazon; if you spot it, report the violation.

"As long as you aren't affecting other people, that is." Chris added. "If you want to be a serial killer, we're going to have to stop you."

"Well, yeah, we can't let you hurt people, but other than that, you have our full support." Andrew agreed.

"What if I want to gut every man who ever laid a finger on me?" The same woman asked, raising her chin defiantly.

"Then you don't get to leave my world." Chris shrugged. "Can't kill people in here, but I can provide you with literally anything you might need. Even people. Kinda. They'd need time to develop personalities and whatnot."

The woman blinked. "Wh-what?"

"This is my world." Chris spread his arms wide. "I can make anything I want here, as long as I know how to make it. Everything you see is something I made."

"That- that's impossible!" The woman exclaimed.

"No, we're just really, really weird." Andrew sighed, turning to Chris. "We should probably give them some time to relax and think. Just make them a place to stay and leave them some of your pamphlets."

"Right, good idea." Chris nodded, making a large house for all the women to stay in, along with a pile of pamphlets. "Just shout if you need anything. Or whisper. Or write it down. I'm aware of everything here, so no matter what you do, I'll know."

"Chris, we're trying to get them to relax." Andrew groaned as most of the women tensed up at the idea of someone constantly observing them, though two seemed to find the idea comforting, the two that had been eyeing both Andrew and Chris intently the entire time.

"Well, it's true." Chris shrugged. "If they know, at least they won't be surprised by it."

Andrew sighed. "Fair."

*

Renaedica let out a groan as the final customer headed upstairs to sleep. "Finally."

"Right, I'm gonna head up too." Her partner yawned. "You got the new guy to clean up, right?"

"Yeah, yeah, get out of here." Renaedica rolled her eyes. "I'll need you up early, though! We're going to be making a few changes around here." She smirked.

"Is that so?" He raised an eyebrow at her. "Something to do with the new guy?"

"Mhmm." Renaedica nodded with a smirk. "But you'll have to wait for the details just like everyone else~" She teased, shooting him a wink.

He clicked his tongue. "Fine. Goodnight." He waved over his shoulder as he let out another yawn, heading up the stairs.

Renaedica hummed happily, the thought of profits dancing through her mind as she headed to the door to lock up, before jumping slightly as someone pushed inside. "Sorry, we're- oh, it's you." Renaedica let out a breath of relief as she caught sight of the intruder. Some people did not take being turned away well. "What brings you around so late?" She asked, raising an eyebrow at the frazzled looking Mistress of Obleck.

Lithmara let out a groan. "You would not believe the day I've had, Dica. Come on, I need some booze."

Renaedica rolled her eyes. "I don't know why you insist on coming down here and stealing my swill when you have all the best liquors in that castle of yours."

Lithmara put on a scandalized look. "I can't drink alone! That's how you become an alcoholic, Dica."

Renaedica snorted. "I think you just don't want anyone to know you prefer ale over blood wine."

Lithmara sniffed, raising her chin haughtily. "I have no idea what you're talking about."

"Oh? Well, I did just happen to get a nice bottle of blood wine recently…" Renaedica smirked, pulling a fancy bottle out of a small fridge.

Lithmara snorted. "Just pour the ale, you bitch."

Renaedica snickered as she poured Lithmara a glass, along with a glass for herself, before she remembered Greg. "Ah, hold on, I have to get the new guy started cleaning. I'll be right back." She muttered, heading to the back. Greg was still sitting in his chair, reading, not even noticing that the dishes had stopped coming in. "Greg! Come on, I'll show you how to clean the common room."

Greg looked up with a blink. "We're still doing that?"

"Of course! You still don't have any money to pay for a room, do you?" Renaedica smirked.

"Fair." Greg snorted as he got up, walking out to the common room with her. "So what, just sweep and wipe down the tables?"

"Also mop and wipe down the counter too." Renaedica added. "Broom and mop are in here, rags and cleaning supplies there."

Greg pursed his lips, at least as well as he could in this form, glancing between the cleaning supplies and the large common room, before shrugging. "Eh, fuck it." Secrets were for pussies, anyway. Clouds of smoke billowed out of him, turning into fairies and scorpocrocs with brooms and cleaning supplies as they spread out across the common room to start cleaning. He turned to a wide-eyed Renaedica. "What? I told you I could make anything." He grinned.

Lithmara hissed, narrowing her eyes at Greg and his utterly ridiculous display, quickly making the connection. "Eternal!"

Greg snapped to look at her, cocking his head. "What was that?"

Lithmara got to her feet, stalking towards him. "You're one of them, aren't you?!?" She growled. "The Eternals! World and Spirit!"

"Mara, what are you talking about?" Renaedica asked, looking between her and Greg in confusion. "Greg's just an uplift with a weird ability."

"Sort of an uplift." Greg coughed. "Not, you know, exactly." He turned to Lithmara. "I take it you met Chris and… Andrew? I think he's Spirit… but wasn't Chris with Thomas?" Greg frowned, before shrugging. "Eh, either way, I can't imagine things went smoothly for you."

"No. They didn't." Lithmara snarled through gritted teeth.

"Greg?" Renaedica asked, looking at him with a mix of confusion and suspicion.

"What? I never lied, you just made a lot of assumptions." Greg replied, before pausing. "At least, I don't think I lied… either way, I'm still basically an uplift who needs some help getting on his feet with an ability that would be very helpful for your tavern. I just also happen to be an Eternal. The Body Eternal, I believe." He added, glancing at Lithmara.

"You believe?" Lithmara raised an eyebrow at him, feeling a bit of her tension drain out of her, feeling much more comfortable without that world around to threaten her. The sheer helplessness she'd felt at being completely at another's whims… she shuddered slightly.

"Well, we usually don't do titles…" Greg muttered. "Normally, I'm just Greg. No need to throw around this Eternal or that Eternal."

"Hold on, what is an Eternal?" Renaedica interjected with a frown.

Greg cocked his head. "An outer god with personality?" He offered tentatively, only for both Renaedica and Lithmara to go pale. "Uh, but also less madness and wanton destruction." He quickly added. "Just- we're not from around here, we have abilities unrelated to levels, races, and classes, and we're trying to figure out how we fit into all this. Mostly, we're trying to get rid of the whole noble monstrous thing."

"You want to get rid of us?!?" Renaedica exclaimed in horror.

"No! No, we just want to make it so you don't have to prey on nobles anymore!" Greg explained. "We already have a plan for it, we just need to make sure it won't get the world- I'm going to stop talking now." Greg coughed, looking away.

"No, no, please continue." Lithmara growled, narrowing her eyes at him.

Greg sighed. "Well… there's a chance that anything we do to stop the conflict between the monstrous and noble races will upset some ridiculously powerful being and they'll, uh, reset everything."

"Reset… the world?" Lithmara asked incredulously.

"Yeah… which is bad news for pretty much everyone, you know?" Greg chuckled.

Lithmara grimaced while Renaedica narrowed her eyes at him. "Then what are you doing here? Why, when you could be dealing with that, are you trying to work in my tavern?!?"

Greg paused. "Because I need money and a place to stay? Why does anyone get a job?"

Renaedica worked her mouth silently for a moment. "But you're a god!?!"

"Well, yeah, but I still like to pay for things." Greg shrugged. "You can't just steal things because you're powerful." Lithmara coughed awkwardly, looking away as Renaedica shot her a look.

"And… that's it? You're just here to make money?" Renaedica asked as she turned back to Greg with a confused frown.

"Well… I also want to get involved in the community. Try to keep people safe from Raiders and what not. Make some friends, hopefully." Greg replied. "But otherwise, yeah, just money. And the room. Not that I need to sleep, I suppose, but I do enjoy it."

Lithmara frowned at the mention of the Raiders. "The other Eternals were noble… How do we know you aren't a threat to us?"

"Mmm, because it'd be really easy for us to hurt you? I mean, I could turn the entire foundation of your city into C-4. Like… it wouldn't even be that hard." Greg commented, cocking his head, wishing he'd thought of that for the dungeon. Though the substance dungeons were made of couldn't be manipulated, so he would have only had the smoke he'd brought with him to work with. "And then big boom, y'all are screwed. Or at least, most of you. So, it's kinda on the level of, if we aren't threatening you, you can be sure we don't want to, because if we did, you'd already know. Also, the whole noble, monstrous distinction isn't really a thing for us. I mean, this me is monstrous, while this-" A human Greg formed next to him. "-me is noble. The distinction is meaningless." Greg shrugged, dissolving his noble form.

"I- see." Lithmara muttered, shuddering slightly at the idea of someone turning the foundation of her entire city to C-4. She wouldn't even know where to begin to address that threat.

"So we're just supposed to trust that you won't harm us because you haven't yet?" Renaedica asked.

"Sure, why not? I mean, why do you trust that she won't hurt you?" Greg gestured to Lithmara.

Renaedica blinked. "Because she's my friend? Why would she hurt me?"

"Which boils down to the fact that you have a history where she has had the opportunity to hurt you, and she hasn't, right?" Greg elaborated for her.

"I- suppose?" Renaedica agreed tentatively.

"So for me, think of it like I'm always capable of hurting you. Whenever I want. So the more I don't, the more it proves I don't want to, yes? Because if I wanted to, I would have." Greg grinned.

Renaedica narrowed her eyes at him, humming slightly before clicking her tongue. "Okay, you're fine in my book. Remember we still need to talk about what you're doing for the tavern… and I would be very interested in discussing these other forms of yours~" She added, her eyes lighting up as she licked her lips.

Greg coughed awkwardly. "Actually, I have a girlfriend and she would literally kill me if she heard I was fooling around with a succubus. Well, she'd try… plus, it'd hurt her, and I don't want to do that."

"Boo." Renaedica pouted, though she could help but smile at his loyalty. Not that she understood why nobles felt the need to limit themselves to a single partner, but the fact that he didn't want to hurt her was sweet.

Lithmara groaned, rubbing her temple. "I still don't know how to deal with you people."