The Runetales series is an ongoing sexual work of fiction. Check out previous chapters for all the details.
All characters in the series are above the age of consent.
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The last day before college Christmas break felt like the hour after a good lay. Everybody was lazy as hell, sated by the knowledge that they'd have two weeks off.
Rune's crew was taking the chance to spend some time together before they'd scatter to the winds. They'd all arranged their free periods today, so the whole gang was gathered together. Most days they would have been sniping at each other in short bursts, or chatting over their lunch.
Today, they had the time and the luxury to just relax with each other. Alex and Ken had pulled over a second couch to their usual nook. A third chair had given them the space they all needed.
Madison lay lengthwise on the couch with her head in Sydney's lap and her feet in Cora's. The three girls were looking through a costume catalog and talking quietly with each other. All three had their shoes off.
Alex and Ken took two of the chairs, claiming spoils for their hard work. Ken had his legs up on one of the chair rests, tossing a ball up and down into the air. Alex had his leg curled under him, turned in the chair to talk to Heather.
She'd been given the third seat. The ethereally beautiful girl had been laughing so hard for the last minute her face had turned red. Alex was beaming.
Over on the other couch, Rune sat on one end with his feet on the nook's coffee table. He had his large sketchpad in his lap, drawing. In fact, he was drawing the scene across from him. Scribbling as fast as he could, he wanted to capture this moment for Alex.
Next to him sat Vincent. Vince was slumped way down on the couch, his arms crossed in front of his chest. His feet were up on the coffee table as well, and he was quietly snoring.
On the far end of the couch sat Amanda. She was splitting her time listening and occasionally chiming in to Syd and Madison's conversation. In her lap sat a book, "Girl with the Dragon Tattoo." She'd only made a chapter at most since she sat down.
Ken said, to no one in particular, "We are boring." Rune looked up, the only one with bandwidth to listen to him. His hand continued to move across the paper.
"I thought you liked playing with balls." Rune said. Amanda, who was skimming her book at that moment, snickered.
Ken continued his game of self-toss. "You know me, buddy. I'm like a puppy. Doesn't change the fact that we're boring."
Rune turned back to his sketchbook, adding detail to Heather's hair. "You're bored?"
Ken tossed the ball. Caught it. Looked thoughtful. "No, actually." He sat up in his seat, looking around the group. Syd put the catalog down, and Madison looked up at him. "I'm actually very comfortable." He looked perplexed.
Syd smiled. "It's okay sweetie. What you're feeling is the human emotion called friendship."
Ken rolled his eyes. "Listen. Just because you two are over there being incredibly hot doesn't mean ..." His voice trailed off. "Sorry, what was I thinking about?" He grinned at the couple on the couch. In unison, Madison and Sydney stuck their tongues out at him.
"Ken, did you ever call back that gal in the red dress? The chick at the diner last week?" Cora looked up from where she was looking at a sweeping velvet victorian outfit.
"Cassidy? Yes I did, Cora. Thank you for asking. You asked much nicer than Sydney, who I believe referred to her as 'hot ass.'" Sydney shrugged, and Ken continued. "I'll thank you not to refer to my girlfriend as a 'hot ass.' She's far more than just a strikingly pert, firm, squeezable ass." Ken leaned back in this seat, arms crossed in contentment.
Syd laughed. "I don't think two dates count as girlfriend mode, Ken." He rolled his eyes at her, but he was smiling. The two of them had honestly walked away from their relationship together on great terms and now Syd was constantly trying to get him laid.
Heather sat forward in her chair, looking around Alex at Ken. "I've seen Cass at swimming meets, Ken. You're right, she's a nice girl." She turned to look at Sydney. "And a hot ass too, my god." Alex, who had been drinking a soda, choked and started coughing. Heather had the grace to look embarrassed.
At the sound Vince started upright, awake. "Leia bikini optional, Cora!" Cora turned to him, mouth agape. There was a long moment of stunned silence as Vince fluttered open his eyes and looked around the group. Seeing eight pairs of eyes on him, all he could say was "What?"
When they stopped laughing, Amanda cleared her throat. "To change the subject! Rune, when do you want us over for New Years?"
Rune wiped his tears, patting Vince on the back. His friend still held his head in his hands. "Say 9 o'clock, or whenever after that?"
Cora smiled at him. "You sure you're okay to have us over? I don't want you to put yourself out."
Amanda leaned over and good-naturedly smacked his leg. "Don't talk him out of it now. I'm jealous you have your own place off-campus."
Rune smiled at Core. "I'm good on all fronts. Don't worry about it." Cora's grin got bigger.
Rune looking at the group. "We're all agreed on the dress code, right?" He got a thumbs up all around.
"Great!" He smiled. "You guys bring the outfits, I'll bring the party."
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"You may have gone overboard on the party." Eve stood beside him, looking around the main room of Rune's apartment. The common space connected the living room, dining room, and his pleasantly large and open kitchen. The entire place was an orgy of festiveness.
A banner reading "New Years 2006" hung from the ceiling. Air poppers and hats were carefully arranged on every table and bookshelf. In one corner there was a netting holding back fifty balloons, ready to be dropped at the appropriate time.
"You think?" Rune said.
Eve's AI projection was dressed relatively conservatively, for her. She had on high cut-off shorts, a tight fitting t-shirt, and her hair up in a long single braid. The braid swung as she turned her head to consider what he'd set up for the party. Music filled the air, good jazz set to low volume.
"You've done a pretty good job assimilating, cutie. Most days you'd never guess you have like seventy plus years on your friends. But every once in a while you do something like this. Strong dad energy."
Rune rolled his eyes. "Lies."
Eve walked over to his table. She gestured expansively at the finely arranged selection of champagne and glasses next to several plates of hors d'oeuvres.
Rune threw up his hands. "Oh shut up."
"I'm just saying, when they get here I'd say something about your dad sending this over for you." She smirked up at him, cocking her hip to the side. "Old man."
Rune smiled and walked over to her. "The thing you're doing with your hips is great. And the shorts! Mmf."
