// pc Kind
"I don't care about them. They're not why I'm here," you calmly reply, keeping impeccable eye-contact. Her features soften - hints of regret. "I came here for my own reasons, and I'm here with you right now because a friend asked a favor of me."
"Friend? That fat tramp in there? You don't even know her. She's just a collared slave," the rabbit retorts in a lower tone. "What the hell kind of optimism is that? Calling someone like that a friend? You're no peacekeeper, and you're certainly not some hero."
Sighing, you sit down on the other end of the couch and stare her down. A few seconds later and she's struggling to concentrate. "Right. You do you," she whispers. "Take your chances with dzaan seed, I know I won't. So, what did she want that she couldn't ask me herself?"
Do you really need to answer that?
"No, I guess not. Look, if you're worried I was gonna hurt her, I'm not. Don't give a shit, that should be obvious, right?"
Nodding, you smirkingly reply, "Indeed. But I think you and I should have a restart now that you've cooled off. My name is [pc.name]." You raise a hand when she opens her mouth to fling some other diatribe. "Don't need to be friends, but we don't need to be enemies either. You've shown me that more than anything."
"Wha..." the laquine turns so fast her beret nearly goes the way of the dodo. "Are you for real?" she stammers. "Are you kidding me with this?"
Obviously not. So is she going to cut the crap and be real?
"Fine..." Grumbling, she says, "Leila. That's my name. Don't overuse it. I suppose having someone to talk to for once would be better than looking over my shoulder every five seconds." Her shoulders lose some of that tension, like she can't believe she's in a state of mind that also isn't shouting curses invective. "If you're going further, then I guess I can tell you about the other gangs. And mine, but something tells me you know how to deal with them. Just don't give me that friend bullshit again."
It's a start.
// pc Misch
"Heh," you flash a sly grin, leaning over the armrest wolfishly. Dealing with a rude rabbit oughta be easy. "I must have missed them for good reason, 'cuz I found you."
The laquine's expression turns sour. "The fuck's that mean?"
You laugh. It's so loud and good-natured (mostly) that she can't find her anger after that bizarre flirt. "Miss me with that, too. Why would I want to deal with your crew when all they wanna do is fuck? Gotta make time for other things. Like meeting important people, connecting with those in the know. I don't have time for small-fry when I can find people worth my time." Your tone sharpens. "You, for example. You're not the riff-raff, and you haven't tried to stick that cock of yours down my neck, so I'd say we're off to a good start already."
Now her features soften. "Guess you have a point..." Grasping at a long ear, she leans further back, relaxing into the cushions. "So... what then? Why are you here?"
"Lady in the next room asked me. Wanted to make sure you weren't gonna hurt her. But I think I've got my answer already."
"Tch, yeah," she remarks. "Last thing I want is dzaan cum in or on me. I've given up enough of myself to this fucking shithole. Not keen on losing more of it to a fat slut in a collar."
"Ever think about taking some back?"
Her floppy ears flail when she whips back to you. "D'you think I haven't tried?"
"No," you reply, dropping the charade and getting serious. "But you can try with me. Name's [pc.name]. I've got business here. If there's no love lost, then you could give me some advice. Make it easier for me to put the hurt on 'em, get in and get out."
It's her turn to laugh. Y'know, it's kind of cute, the way her resting bitch face instantly changes to something genial, that little smile. "Fuck. I can't say no to that," she says, head bobbing. "Leila. Don't expect my complete family history. I'll tell you what to expect, but that's it. Nothing else I could tell you anyway."
Your exchanged grins make a good alternative to a handshake.
// pc Hard
"Don't start that again if you know what's good for you," you smolder. "You aim a gun at me in the future, it'll be the last thing you do."
"Go piss up a tree!" she shouts, but you yell right back, stomping your foot for measure.
"Don't make me your enemy." Your brow furrows. "You should get it through that druggy brain of yours that I'm right here and I'm not some two-bit crook like you and yours. Now, I'm going to keep this simple." You sit down, staring at the defiant laquine. "I'm here to make sure you're not gonna hurt the dzaan in the next room. If you touch her..." You give a very deadly grin, "we'll have a problem."
She shakes her head, pulling back a bit. "We're not going to have a problem, asshole. Do you think I want to be anywhere near a dick-toting dzaan?"
"Good. Now, since I have your rapt attention, you're going to do something else for me."
"I'm GOING to?" she guffaws.
"You are. Because I'm an outlier, you see. I don't give a shit who lives and dies here. I have one goal here, and nobody's going to get in my way. You can either make yourself useful to my needs and avoid getting on my shitlist, or you can keep bitching, make an ass out of yourself, and see where it lands you. I think you're a bit fucked to be getting pissy with me, slut-bun."
Grimacing, the apricot-furred laquine turns away in disgust, at a complete loss for words despite the previous meltdown. Clearly, she expected you to turn tail and leave her be. Seeing as that's not the case, she hurriedly tries to articulate a response, but is having little luck putting together the words. Occasionally she turns to you, mouth open, and shrinks away.
"Okay..." she blurts. "Call me Leila, then. I admit, I'd like to hear about everyone else getting screwed up. So I'll tell you anything about the station you want. No more."
"Good enough," you smile. There's still a serious warning behind it. "[pc.name]," you blink. "Let's talk."
She groans. "If I must..."
// merge
