Flowers, dragons, rats

[Karmotrine Dream]

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« Ma benedetta ragazza, io te l'avevo detto! », the Hispanian officer shrugged, his index fingertip trailing a thin line of smoke. « I told you. Corporats are the worst, they don't care about anything but their paycheck. »
« I know, Vic, I know! It's just... »

She kept walking up and down the deck, fuming and bewildered, as she kept on recalling the night at Shikoku.

« It's just, wow! You really don't give a toss, do you?! Sticking thousands of people in bloody containers, a bulk hauler meant for STUFF, and then you have the bloody gall to play it like you're in the right?! »

He brought the paper roll to his lips and inhaled, with the kind of jaded calm that to Iris seemed to come natural to every spacer except her.
He felt bad for the girl, he really did - but he just couldn't get why she was so worked up about it.
He'd seen the Corporations and how they operated, he was Libertonian after all! Worst part of his heritage, he insists, but it did count for something.
And that something, to him, was the simple truth that the only good corporat was the one cut down to size.

« He- he didn't care! At ALL! He was like, 'oh if you blow me up it's gonna be on you, so let me go', but this whoreson- he wasn't saying that to try and avoid a massacre, it was just not to pay the damn fine, since he STILL tried to run and only stopped when they were about to incinerate the bugger! »

He shook his head and breathed out, making himself a little more comfortable at his station and reclining on his ergo chair.
The more she talked, the more he started to get the idea - she just hadn't seen enough of Sirius to get over it.

« See? Typical corporat. The worst. Shame they didn't go and burn the prick down anyway. »
« NO! »

He frowned and looked up, so did the chieftains.
She was staring at him, with an expression he hadn't seen from her before - a sort of indignant, pained look, conflicted.

« No », she repeated, in what sounded like a whisper compared to her previous yell. « Enough... enough of that. It's bad enough to watch a ship get torn apart... it's even worse I wanted, by the stars I WANTED, to see that happen... »

His frown softened a little as he looked in those distraught cyan eyes, now welling up.
So naive... poor girl. This is no universe for the likes of you. Well, better to break the news now...

« Allora, ascolta... »
« Do not trouble yourself so, Douglas. »

Eliyah broke the chieftains' silence first; they had been listening to her story and her distress from the beginning, choosing not to interject and let speak freely, as they stood a few paces back.

« To not feel disdain and righteous anger in such a predicament, to not rebel against the callousness of your fellow men - that, is what is truly unconscionable », he continued, with a thin bittersweet smile.
« Treasure that sentiment, girl », his sister nodded. « Unpleasant as it is, it's a reminder there's humanity in you yet. And that is far more precious than any cynic's shell. »

Iris turned to face them and stood there in silence, eyes low save for a quick glance to Aaliyah.
She was smiling at her, gauntleted hand over the brooch on her chest - a gesture of sincere approval, she'd learned.

« The northern lights shine all the brightest upon they who honour Kith and Kin. In their radiance follows the just reward », said the twin brother, extending her his hand. « As I say, trouble yourself not. Come, allow me to lead you to your quarters - you will want some respite. »

The girl nodded weakly, after a brief hesitation, muttered an apology - dismissed - and took it, with her thanks.
They walked off the bridge, quietly.

« Do you believe there will be repercussions? », asked the remaining chieftain, after a short while.
« Hrm... »

He leant back and took a deep breath, turning the question around like the smoke in his mouth - savouring the moment.

« Nah, probably not. The captain was a complete nitwit and was definitely violating the laws of pretty much every House - if he decides to be exceptionally stupid and throw a hissy fit, which he might since he DID try to argue with some of Kusari's most wanted, we can just bust out the scans Iris ran. Shows pretty clearly the 'cargo' », he explained nonchalantly, and paused for a moment. « So if he does, he either gets bent by the corpo kings and thrown under the train for the sake of PR, or he get bent by the law enforcement when we show them the goods. Sounds like a win-win to me », he concluded with a wolfish grin.
« And what about her company? », she asked.
« Can just say she stumbled into them, wasn't sure what to do and scared by all the pirates, then this worm showed up and she was even more shocked by his conduct or whatever », he shrugged. « It's pretty much the truth anyway. »

She remained silent for a time, pondering his assessment.

« You have a devious mind. »
« I'm Libertonian », he smirked. « I know my corporats. It's why you brought me in, after all. »
« What of the wealth of practical nav experience and grasp of House happenings? »
« Just a bonus. What matters is what you make of it, no? »
« Indeed », she conceded. « Well then, I believe I shall check up on her myself, before my most erudite brother bores her to tears; she has had enough distress for a day, I should think. »

He cackled at that, though his amusement was cut short by a fit of cough.
La signorina had a certain humour to her name, and it tended to surface unexpectedly.

« Right on, chief. Tell her I said 'ciao'.»
« Tell her 'sorry' when she's back, rather », she rebuked him, turning around and stepping down the corridor. « What I said about cynics goes for you as well, De Magistris. »

The remark accompanied her footsteps, until she disappeared from sight in the bowels of the vessel. He shrugged.
It wasn't like he didn't get the point, he did, and he wouldn't have minded if Sirius were a little more like places for people like the girl or even the chief - but it wasn't, and he never put much stock in faith and hope and all that.

Oh well. They'll learn in time... hopefully without getting too screwed in the process.

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