Date day

"Alright, that's it!" Lust's voice cut through the bickering din. "If we want to motivate Kaze to better himself, we need to get him out of this funk. And I know just the thing..."

With a sly smile, she snapped her fingers. Instantly, a lavish red carpet unrolled down the center of the room. Rose petals fluttered through the air as a runway of sizzling spotlights blazed to life.

"A...fashion show?" Greed tilted her head skeptically as a parade of scantily-clad figures began strutting past. "How is this supposed to help get Kaze that corporate job?"

"Not a fashion show, darling," Lust purred, eyeing Kazekabe's bundled form hungrily. "A talent contest. To find our boy the perfect date!"

One by one, a kaleidoscope of beautiful men and women sashayed by in an array of glamorous and skimpy outfits—dramatic gowns, tight leather, barely-there lingerie. Each one posed and preened, flashing sculpted looks and cooing suggestive invitations toward the bed.

Wrath snorted. "A hot babe's not gonna make that sad sack want to work!"

"Oh ye of little lust," Lust chided, shaking her head. "Getting Kaze's engine revved is the key to boosting his self-confidence! Picture it: a romantic fling with a gorgeous lover putting that spring back in his step and reigniting his zest for life."

Sloth rolled her eyes. "Or it could just make him want to stay in bed all day..."

Pride harrumphed. "I don't see how any of these...commodities qualify as an equal partner for someone as superior as Kaze."

"They don't need to be his spouse, darling. Just a little side-piece to reawaken his desires!" Lust wiggled her hips salaciously. "He's been so career-focused lately, he's neglecting equally important...recreational priorities."

Envy glowered at each passing candidate. "I want to look like them..."

"Oh, calm your envious curves, Envy." Lust examined the line of potential suitors with a judicious eye. "I'm sure we can find someone to be equally jealous of Kaze."

"I don't want a date!" Kazekabe's muffled objection came from the blanket pile. He burrowed deeper, trying to block out the provocative parade before him. "Just let me sleep..."

Lust clicked her tongue chidingly. "Always so stubborn. Well, no use forcing anything before the meet and greet!"

With a swirl of her finger, the fashion show hit its crescendo, the line of hopefuls spinning and gyrating with a dizzying flourish. Lust levitated over to the edge of Kazekabe's bed, bending down to breath hotly by his ear.

"We'll just let them make their...introductions. Then you can pick which delicious morsel is gonna be your new special friend..."

Kazekabe squeezed his eyes shut, trying in vain to block out the sights and sounds assaulting his senses. Lust's parade of potential "special friends" undulated all around in a swirl of toned flesh and skimpy outfits.

"Oh Kaze, this smokeshow's single and a Reiki master!" Lust trilled, pointing out a bronzed Adonis wearing little more than a artfully-draped bedsheet. "Just imagine how he could reawaken your chakras!"

A lithe blonde dressed like a schoolgirl sauntered over and draped herself on the foot of the bed. "Heyyy there, big boy. You can show me your homework any time..."

Wrath threw up his hands in exasperation. "This is ridiculous, Lust! How is parading a bunch of slorebags in front of the guy supposed to help?"

"Because!" Lust shot back. "A little flirtation, a fling to get his blood pumping again, that's just the thing to pull Kaze out of this rut!"

"By overwhelming him with oversexed bimbos?" Pride's voice boomed like rolling thunder. "I'd think you'd want to set our esteemed colleague up with someone, hmm, a bit more substantive?"

The statuesque figure of a runway model slinked up to Kazekabe's side, draping her willowy figure over his. Even bundled in sheets, she seemed to undress him with her eyes. "Why don't you let me...inspire you?" Her voice was a luxuriant purr.

"Get off me!" Kazekabe tried to shove her away, but she clung insistently.

"See?" Lust said smugly. "He's playing hard to get, but you can't deny there's a spark there!"

"Oh, there's definitely some sparks happening." Greed smirked and elbowed Envy, who was watching the shameless flirtations with rapt attention. "Getting any ideas, Envy? Maybe you could give Kaze a little private dance..."

"Oooh yes," Envy breathed, eyeing Kazekabe with new interest. "Then he'd realize how drab and inadequate all these...distractions are compared to me."

Sloth just shook her head, hovering in a fuzzy lavender cloud without a care in the world. "You all...are being utterly ridiculous, you know that? None of this...salacious rigmarole is going to motivate Kaze to get a job."

"It will if I find him the right connection!" A smooth-talking hunk in a tailored suit appeared, slicking back his hair as he sidled up to Kazekabe. "Looking for new opportunities, big guy? I run a dog-walking agency that has some lucrative openings."

Gluttony popped up in front of the man, her round belly almost knocking him onto the bed. "Hold up, mister corporate sleazeball! Kaze doesn't need some sissy gig walking pooches!"

She grabbed Kazekabe by the shoulders and pulled him into a sitting position, shaking him insistently.

"He should become a gourmet chef like me! Or at least work at a greasy spoon slinging hash and getting paid to eat all day!"

"Thanks, but no thanks, tubby!" The suited man grimaced and brushed past Gluttony, refocusing on Kazekabe. "How about it, big fella? With my connections, you could start your own dog grooming start-up and —"

Gluttony's meaty fist shot out, punching the man square in the mouth and sending him tumbling off the bed. "I said beat it, you oversexed corporate weasel!"

Wrath cackled with delight as half-naked bodies scattered in panic. In the chaos, he elbowed up next to Kazekabe, throwing an arm around his shoulders.

"See buddy? I told you this was all pointless! None of these jabronis know what you really need." Wrath gave him a rough shake. "If you want to get motivated, just go out and punch the first guy who looks at you sideways! That's what I do every morning and look how great I feel!"

With an exasperated groan, Kazekabe finally threw off the covers, rising shakily to his feet. All around him, his chaotic roommates squabbled and carried on like unruly children. No thoughts were spared for what he actually wanted.

"All of you, just shut up!" he yelled, his sudden outburst silencing the bickering demons. "I don't want a date, or a fight, or a stupid job, or any of that other nonsense! Can't you just leave me alone for once?"

He snatched up his clothes and stormed out, slamming the door behind him. The Sins were left blinking in stunned quiet.

"Well..." Sloth said at last, wrapping a tendril of smoke around herself comfortably. "I guess a nap is off the table for now..."