Lucy always hated doing her makeup alone. She'd gotten comfortable having someone else do it for her in the morning. Today wasn't the only time she'd had an accident and had to go through the cleaning process all over again, it was at least weekly it happened to somebody. She was doing her best to let it slide, Lucy was determined to hold on to the afterglow. The last hue of red applied, she rose from her seat. The short trip back to the dressing room seemed more like a glide than a walk, the walls and floor seemed to move independently of her feet, the seconds stretched. Only the damp slap against the tile by her feet proved she was still walking. As she rounded the corner to her locker, the world snapped back into place, a red satchel hung from the latch. Lucy broke out into a frantic run to inspect it, and her heart was doing it's best to relocate itself into her stomach. Inside were a brand new pair of glasses, replacement perfume, sanitizer, and wipes, everything she had with her before the accident.

Lucy groaned. Who!? When!? She thought she might throw up. She had an idea about who and when. Lucy tried to consider the other options, maybe it was Jezebel, or Fae. Jezebel had been told about her situation. It could have been any number of assistants. The when was unavoidable, there was no quiet way to move through the dressing room. It must have been while the shower was going. Lucy held on to the tiniest hope that it wasn't during -that- part of the shower. A voice echoed across the floor and battered her ears.

"Lucy Pyre would you hurry up? How is it you are still not dressed? Fae go assist your gauche partner and get back to your duties at once. You've both got boiler duty after your shifts is that clear!"

Jezebel was in a foul mood as expected. She had Fae in tow.

"Yes ma'am, clear ma'am" Lucy said.

Fae helped Lucy get dressed as instructed. She didn't say a word, but she made sure the laces were too tight.  Jezebel approached them, she wasn't done lecturing.

"I have had it absolutely up to here with you two," Jezebel raised a hand above her head, "your delays, laziness, and graceless encounters will not relieve you of today's work you hear?" She started wagging her finger. "All of your normal work will be done before your shifts ends and it will be on time and if it isn't the boiler room will be the least of troubles for the two of you."

It was during moments like this when Lucy realized just how tall Jezebel was. Lucy was used to people craning their necks to make eye contact with her, but Jezebel had to do that for Fae, and she was bending at the waist too. None of the other maids so much as met Jezebel's chin. If it weren't for the fact that her horns swept forward instead of upward she'd have at least another foot on them. Jezebel stared at Lucy and Fae as they left the dressing room. 

The rest of shift was as unpleasant as Jezebel. Fae contributed her share of the work today. She seemed done pushing her luck. The pair kept quiet in the public areas. It would have devolved into yelling anyway. Toilets, carpets, baseboards, by the time it was over her whole body ached. Somehow, they completed their work on time. Lucy thought about several things to get her through the work. She thought about how she might get back at Fae. She thought about Foras praising her hard work. The satchel was the most distracting thought. The moment the doors closed on the elevator Lucy spoke.

"What the actual fuck is your problem Fae, why do you do this? Why?" Lucy said.

"You're my problem."

"The fucking boiler room is our problem now. You realize you have to do that too don't you? Both of us. Together."

Fae smiled, "yeah I do."

"You are so fucking unhinged. Goddamn do you hear yourself, Like actually?"

The elevator doors opened. It was time to get dressed down for lunch. The public facing part of their day was ending and mid-shift was getting ready to replace them. Some of the morning maids were helping with nails and makeup, just like the night shift had done for them. The only thing Fae and Lucy seemed to have in common was skipping breakfast, and they were both hungry. The meals in the cafeteria were well balanced, another part of their routine that catered to keeping their physical appearance pleasant. The rest of it was spartan, the tables and benches were for eating, and nothing else. Lucy wondered how old the wood was. Lucy noticed Morgen, and their eyes briefly met. Morgen waved her over. Lucy rose from her seat, her brow was furrowed. She approached Morgen's table and a space was made for her. Lucy looked at Morgen, waiting for her to speak.

"So about that chat I promised you," Morgen said.

"Oh, right that, yeah the chat." Lucy turned red, she'd forgotten. Morgen looked her over. A smile crossed her face.

"Well you seem a lot less tense, did I call you over here for nothing--"

"No I got lucky, very lucky, Lucy got lucky." Lucy interrupted. None of the girls next to her seemed to be paying her or the conversation any mind.

"Well let's start with the obvious question, why not in your room?"

"Fuck I couldn't. How? Fae hates me, the feeling is mutual."

"Pfft, bet Fae makes it work. You always get into the dressing room first, bet she stays up until you're asleep." A moment passed, and Lucy didn't answer. "Look, Lucy you're going to have to get over that if you don't want to end up like today, it's as simple as that. I know you're relatively new here but it's been years. There are other solutions but none are as reliable, and they have risks. My bunkmate and I just straight up help each other these days."

The demoness sitting directly next to Morgen spoke up, "yeah it's not a big deal after a few times ,we'd never end up in your situation Lucy. I mean, well, I did once but I learned my lesson, you should learn yours."

"Presently I don't think that's an option for her," Morgen said.

"Oh well I'd never do anything risky, I definitely don't want to hear the risky options. Not Lucy." Lucy got a bite in.

"You're an early bird Lucy, sometimes you even beat me to the wash hall. There's not a whole lot of us up that early." Morgen took a drink. "If you got up a tad earlier you could just do it in the bath, I think you might overestimate how many shits anyone else would give," Morgen said.

"Yeah I tried that earlier today, long story, not with people, anyway the water just messes me up. It dries everything out, it's uncomfortable. Did I mention I'm loud? I'm loud. Jezebel would hear and you can't tell me she wouldn't care. She finds any excuse." Lucy took another bite.

"I'm hearing a lot of self-imposed limits. No wonder you end up a desert for weeks."

Lucy covered her mouth so she could talk while chewing, "well if you had anything else I'd appreciate it."

Morgen's volume lowered, "There's always contraband."

"Contraband? Like what exactly?" Lucy mirrored Morgen's volume changes.

"I'd need a big favor, I hope you understand that, but your situation comes up every now and again. There's these little vibrators you can, we'll say wear, you can control it with your phone."

"I'm sorry what did you say? Did you just say vibrator? I uh, I've never-"

"Lucy really?"

"Anyway aren't those a bit large to just carry around, I don't think the satchel is quite up to the job, okay?"

Morgen put her head in her hands a moment. "Wear as in internal, hands free, you can basically get off while you're working if you need to." She took another quick drink. "No matter what you do, you're going to have to do something about that volume issue of yours. Figure it out. Don't forget that you owe me big if I do this, and I take payment up front."

Lucy nodded, she was in a hurry to finish her plate, lunch was almost over. She knew she had to learn to keep quiet too, especially after today.

"I'll need an answer very soon if you want it this month, you can always work on your volume before you use it," now Morgen was slipping bites between sentences and talking with her mouth full, "besides those things kinda retain their value here. If you decide against it later you can barter it for a good favor too, or something else I don't know." She shrugged. "Point is, it's got value, and I don't know when I'll have another opportunity."

"You're being awful nice. Why are you being nice? We didn't even fucking speak before today shit."

"I'm not, I was  hoping I could convince you to go the big favor route in the first place. I will tell you this though," Morgen checked her nails briefly, "stop trying to go this alone. You can get in with us or some other clique or whatever but you better get in where you fit in because getting through your time here alone is a losers strategy." 

Lucy choked down what was left in her mouth. "Fuck it. Fuck it. lets go, I'm doing this, what do I have to do? I'm done going weeks between ringing the devil's doorbell."

Morgen cracked a smile. "Alright, I'll tell you what you owe me in the morning, you have plenty of time to chicken out and decide you'll take a more sane route between now and then," Morgen said, speaking normally again. They finished their meals. Morgen joined most of the other maids for some simple cleaning of the basement levels, prep for lights out, and helped mid-shift with their makeup and nails. Lucy was headed to the boiler room down in B3. She ran into Fey along the way.

"Ready to work Lucy?" Fae said. She was wearing a smile, and little else. 

"Wow, you really don't mind getting dirty do you, shocker," Lucy said. Her lips made a straight line, and her eyelids were slightly lowered.

"10 minutes before your clothes come off too."

Fae took the liberty of opening the heavy insulated door. The heat slapped Lucy in the face, she had to close her eyes momentarily. They both stepped inside.

"How...how is it hot? How is it hot!?" Lucy said.

Fae just laughed. "Tick Tock."

The vast space before them was lined by two rows of round drums fit into steel cradles. Lucy looked up at the tall ceiling, she thought they must have taken space from the next floor up. Three large pipes descended from the ceiling and went into the topside of all the drums. There were two openings at the bottom of each, some were brightly glowing orange and yellow and white, others had their covers shut. Gauges peppered the pipes and areas near them. Piles of coal under chutes dominated the void spaces. There weren't many other demons here. They were busy shoveling, aprons affixed, and they also weren't wearing much else. A large figure stood at the end of the space. His horns curved ever upwards, his skin was a forest green, his feet were hooved. He wore some sort of heavy brown apron that dragged on the floor.

Lucy lowered her voice to a whisper. She turned her head to Fae, whom was already looking at her. "He has wings Fae," Lucy said.

Fae slowly nodded, "yeah, he does..." Her voice trailed off.

"Don't be shy ladies, there's plenty to do." The winged demons voice was clear even at this distance. "Grab a shovel, shove coal anywhere you see an open door," he said. Lucy looked at her arms, she was sweating. She stared for a moment, her eyes affixed on the drops, then scanning the room. She noticed black coal dust striping off the others as they sweat too.

"Fae what the fuck did you get us into, this isn't right."

"I don't know."

"What the fuck do you mean you don't know!" Lucy started towards the shovels as she noticed the gaze of the winged demon follow her. "How did you know all the shit about the ten minutes and dressing down damnit."

"I've never been here, a buddy told me," Fae said as she followed.

Within a few minutes of shoveling Lucy was removing the clothes from her glistening body. It had an uncomfortable peeling sensation. Sweat dripped off her brow. Fae wasn't gloating about the ten minutes, and it wasn't long before their bodies were also streaks of soot and sweat. The large winged demon seemed content not to help shovel at all, instead he was meticulously checking gauges. He had a whip affixed to his hip, and readily used it when someone slowed down. Lucy was on the receiving end a few times, she just couldn't keep up at her size, and her glasses kept needing cleaning and fogged up. He seemed to prefer striking the back of thighs and his aim seldom strayed. Her eyes watered at the sting more than once. Fae waited for a moment when Lucy's assailant was across the room.

"Lucy," Fae took a deep breath, "I'm sorry about this one."

Lucy's brow dipped into a V-shape. "You fucking should be."

Fae offered no retort, not this time. After their shift was over they trudged to the wash hall. The water was blackened for several minutes before the soot was circulated out. Fae helped Lucy get clean. Lucy was too tired to resist and too angry to speak. Neither exchanged words for the rest of the evening. When Lucy's head hit her pillow no thoughts came, there was just the anger. It filled her head so thoroughly she couldn't even consider why she was angry. She tried to focus on how her bedsheets felt on her skin, they were practically a lover, always there for her every night with what she imagined must resemble a hug. She couldn't get her feelings to subside. She stared at the wall, angry, tense, jaw clenched, and unmoving. Every once in a while, Lucy would make an attempt to close her eyes and force herself to sleep, but it didn't work. She tried to remember how long it had been since she was awake at this hour.

Lucy heard some ruffling from Fae's bed just feet behind her. No wonder she's never up in the morning, god I'm going to feel awful when I wake up. Then there was another noise, a wet noise, a telltale noise of viscous fluids being disturbed, of slipping around and through fingers. Lucy's ears perked up, her breath stilled, and her body tensed.

There was an ease to the rhythm. The sounds were drawn out, Lucy could hear the changes in direction clearly. Lucy could feel the patience in the sounds, she was never so slow and methodic. Lucy's anger made room for her virgin curiosity, and it was uncomfortable. She couldn't help but picture what was going on under those sheets. She wondered if she should try that pacing for herself sometime. Why not now? She ejected the thought from her head. She blamed Morgen for planting that seed. The space between those slippery sounds constricted, and so did Lucy. Her conflicting emotions were becoming intrusive thoughts. It's not fair! I want to be mad! Lucy had just found her own relief earlier this morning, but Lucy worried about being bothered tomorrow too. The sounds spoke to her though, despite her anger. No matter what she tried to fill her head with, it was her body that was listening. A familiar heat built, a familiar tingle, rhythmic tiny contractions trying to mirror what she was hearing. A part of her wanted to kick off the covers and ruin Fae's moment, to cause her the discomfort she was feeling. Another part of her wanted to join Fae and put Morgen's words to the test. The sounds of slippery schlicking was replaced by something that sounded wetter, resembling the sound bare feet make when running over wet concrete. Lucy couldn't remember ever making noises like that. Just how wet was she? Was she already cumming? A realization flew into Lucy's mind. Is she planning to clean that? Does she just lay in it? The wet slapping noises continued, and Lucy realized this was lasting too long to be the climax. Too long for any she had anyway. A crescendo was being reached, furious rapidity became a feature of the sound, and Lucy heard a long restricted squeaking noise escape from Fae. Lucy heard the ruffling of moving sheets again. The sounds suddenly ceased, and Lucy listened for signs of movement. Minutes passed but the only new sounds in the room were of even, slow breathing. Lucy's anger returned, the stings from where she'd been whipped hadn't quite gone away, and they were reminders. Now she was turned on too, but she didn't have a choice, it was already way too late in the evening. She chided herself for letting her anger keep her up long enough to hear that and resolved to get to sleep. Any doubts she had about Morgen knowing what she was talking about were gone.

Waking up the next morning was easier than she thought. There was some sort of urgency deep in her being she couldn't quite place. Lucy was definitely worse off for the sleep, she had awoken briefly several times in the night. There was a heavy sluggishness that she was pushing through, but it felt natural. As Lucy turned to put her feet on the floor, she heard Fae doing the same.

"You're actually awake? Is there some special occasion?" Lucy said.

"Funny."

"Well you seem to have gotten over your guilt about yesterday, oh, wait, wait, is that why you're up already?" Lucy stood up.

"Guilt? No. In case you didn't notice, I wasn't exactly having fun either." Fae stood up too, revealing the stains she'd been sleeping on. "That said, I owe you a little, I won't contest that, but don't go thinking I have some sorta feelings about it."

"Oh and exactly what do you owe me? How much no sorta feelings are we talking about here?"

"You're a pest, I haven't decided yet. It's time to go Lucy."

They both packed their things and went to the wash hall. It was actually earlier than Lucy normally arrived. Lucy spotted Morgen and her heart sank. Of all the days for Fae to be on time, one step at a time Lucy come on. Morgen was clearly expecting her to approach, there was already a space saved for her. Lucy took her place next to Morgen and started lathering. Fae ended up on the opposite end of the bath, and Lucy breathed a heavy sigh.

"So sell me on this thing again. After yesterday I'm a bit risk averse."

"Cold feet eh? Don't worry, I'm sure your roommate can accommodate you."

Lucy ignored the jab. "Volume is still an issue. I'll be heard."

"We've been over this, that's a problem you have to fix no matter what you do," Morgen said. Lucy's eyes widened a second and she stopped lathering, like she was looking through the wall.

"Earth to Lucy?" Morgen said.

"Oh? What? Yes, nothing. Nothing at all please continue."

"Okay." Morgen lingered on the word. "I need to know if you're in or your out."

Lucy hesitated. "I'm in, okay."

"Good, I'm going to need you to stay out of trouble. I need to meet you after lights out tonight," Morgen got closer to Lucy and whispered, "you're committed now, don't forget that. Bring your phone."

The rest of morning prep went routinely. Fae didn't try to overtighten laces today. Lucy actually looked well put together. The pair only failed inspection once over a buckle. Jezebel gloated about the results of "well placed corrective action". Lucy kept her eyes and ears open a little harder that shift. She wasn't comfortable with having a smooth day. She looked up frequently, expecting someone, something to happen. If Apollyon rounded the corner it'd almost make her feel better. Fae was pulling her weight too. Lucy considered whether Jezebel had a point after all. Fae started laughing as they were cleaning their fourth restroom.

"Fae are you feeling alright over there?" Lucy said.

"Yeah, I'm fine." She interrupted herself with a snort, "you're going to hate me."

"Wow, I'm going to hate you? What's that like? Can't imagine."

Fae rebuilt her composure. "Lucy what were you talking with Morgen about? You usually shower alone."

Lucy froze in her tracks. "I, well we were, I owe her a favor for yesterday, when you were late."

"And that favor involves meeting after lights out?"

Lucy raised her voice without noticing, "How did you hear that!"

"Fun fact Lucy, to talk over a noise you have to talk over  the noise. Everyone heard you, no one sticks their noses in Morgen's business without being asked. But since we are roomies I thought I'd ask if you were getting me into trouble this time."

"Well, no, I don't think so." Lucy looked Fae in the eyes, but she couldn't get a hint of where this was going. "I won't get caught okay?"

"Yeah. Well do your best Lucy, I figured out what I owe you, but you can't collect until you've had your meetup without getting caught."

"You're really creepy when you're talking like you're reasonable or something you know that? It weirds me out."

Fae put a hand on Lucy's head. "That doesn't make me want to do it less." Lucy flailed wildly to get out from Fae's hand. Lucy's cheeks went red, she really liked being touched on the top of the head like that, but she wasn't going to let any of that come from Fae. Shift came and went, Lucy ate alone at lunch and supper service, a welcome return to normalcy. She was still sore from last night and skipped going to the gym, she was sick of seeing so much of the wash hall anyway. She got back to her room a bit earlier than normal, Fae was already there.

"You gonna be creepy and nice still or can we go back to hating each other?" Lucy said.

"Creepy."

"Why? Just why!? What could you gain from this, this is some sort of scheme or something I know it, you're trying to make me mad with this, well it's working Fae I'm mad."

"I have a proposal idiot, you wouldn't listen to it if I made you blow your top. I'm getting something out of it. Don't get caught tonight."

"Why are you teasing me with that? What is going on?" A lilting spectral bell rung throughout the dormitory, and Fae turned her ears to it. "That's your cue." Fae turned out the lights.

"How fucking stupid do you think I am okay? I'm not going out the moment the bell rings. That's dumb. That would be dumb of Lucy."

"Might actually pull this off I'll be damned."

"We're already damned what are you talking about," Lucy said. She closed her eyes. "Ten minutes, just give me ten minutes." Lucy unpacked everything but her phone and kept her satchel about her. Fae tilted her head.

"Why?" Fae asked.

"Why what?"

"Your phone, why?"

"I dunno she just said to bring it. What's the big deal? What could possibly be so sinister about that?"

"That doesn't sound good."

"Being nice is one thing but why are you suddenly so concerned with my general well-being?"

"Boiler Room."

"I hate to admit it, but you have a point there, I do not want to go back there and I can't Imagine you would either, so fair point, even if it is all your fucking fault you fucking idiot."

The two sat in silence for a while, waiting for the minutes to pass. Lucy finally struck out into the hall. Opening the door ever so slightly to check for anyone doing a door check. If she just cracked it, she could claim she was thinking about going to the restroom and probably get away with a slap on the wrist. Seeing no one, Lucy started down the unlit corridor. She could see a little, it was the only thing her eyes could do well. FUCK! I don't know where Morgen's room is! Lucy thought about aborting the plan, but something about Morgen telling her she was committed put a pit in her stomach. Lucy started down random corridors. It was hardly a labyrinth down here, and Morgen should be out and about too. Footsteps. She heard footsteps. She listened for the source, she couldn't see who it was. Surely it was Morgen, there was no lantern she could see approaching. She ducked into a side corridor and pressed against the wall out of caution. A shadowy figure passed by. That had to be Morgen, door watch would have had a light source.

Lucy spoke softly, "Morgen is that you?" The shadowy figure turned.

"Yeah it's me." A phone light came on. "How did you see me?"

"Don't worry about that, what's this favor I owe you?"

"I need your phone for a day Lucy, hand it over."

"You what!?"

"You're committed remember? I've already done my part. Do yours, I told you it was a big one."

Lucy reluctantly passed her phone over to Morgen. Morgen turned her phone light off. Then Lucy saw it, her heart jumped up into her throat. She could see the faint glint of lantern light getting brighter on the corner of the adjoining corridor. She had blinded the both of them by ducking in here. Lucy grabbed Morgen by the arm and drug her away to the opposite side.

Morgen whispered, "Lucy what are doing!?" Lucy let out the quietest shushing noise she could. She was worried the approaching monitor heard her, she couldn't think of a reason they wouldn't have. I bet she didn't even see it. Loud footsteps approached at a quickening pace, and Morgen finally realized the situation they were in. Morgen took the lead now.

"Go Lucy, Go." Morgen did a slight run after she spoke. Lucy followed suit. Lucy had a lighter, quieter step than the other maids. Hearing Morgen's feet hit the floor sounded like drums in comparison. Lucy didn't know where they were going, but Morgen seemed to despite clearly not being able to see. Lucy looked behind her. The approaching light was rounding the corner and it was moving faster now.

A voice rang out. "Who's over there!"

Lucy hoped they turned off soon, they'd be visible shortly and there was no question they'd been heard. Suddenly, Morgen turned and swung a door open, this must have been her room. Morgen ducked inside and closed the door as quick as Lucy had seen anyone do it, she must have done this often. Lucy realized she was on her own now and bolted around the corner. She would have to go the long way around to get back to her room. Lucy heard the sounds of doors opening and being closed. Good, she thought, they think Morgen was alone. She realized the doors were being opened in the wrong direction, towards her room instead of away from it. She broke out into a full sprint, not caring about her noise anymore. She flung open the door to the room and closed it as gently and quietly as she could before leaping into her bed.

"Fae look like you're asleep, now!"

A short moment later the door to their room was flung open. Lucy had her back to the door, but she could see the bright illumination sweeping over the room. A second later, her door was shut, the next one opened, and she sat still until the sounds of opening and closing doors faded away. She sat up and let out a heavy sigh. I got away with it.