Roofrats 24

Nico sighed and followed Yavu, picking a seat so she faced the room and the door.

"I cannot read," she informed him, "anything small for me there?"

"Hmm... ah!" he said, pointing to a printed squiggle like the rest. "Get the miniature dumplings. They're like a dance party on your tongue."

Yavu waved ostentatiously until one of the owner's daughters came across, stood over him and gave him a skeptical look.

Nico nodded at the suggestion, smiled at the woman, and told her, "I pay." Then she turned to her guest and said, "You order for me, too?"

With every appearance of a suave and confident customer - well, sort of - Yavu first relayed Nico's choice then ordered for himself. He pointed at a cheap beef dish, somewhat spoiling the politeness by subsequently loading it with all the side orders he could think of.

"Did you want something to drink other than the water?" he added. There were jugs and stacks of cheap cups on the long tables.

"I'll need you to pay in advance, considering your... guest," the girl said to Nico.

"Water is good." Nico nodded affably and paid up.

Once the waitress had left, Nico asked Yavu, "You like this place?" She was definitely amused despite herself.

"They like me here. They pretend not to because of a few little misunderstandings." Yavu picked up two glasses and helped himself to water, also pouring some for Nico. No ice, but it had been replaced recently enough that it was still cold.

"And, you wanted to talk about the old farmstead?"

That description was met with a good-natured smirk, the question with a nod.

"I want to talk about anything outside the city."

"Well, I left there, for what that's worth. I admit, things haven't gone exactly as planned since then." Yavu swished his cup around and watched the water spinning for a second.

Then he looked up and added "But that's my problem. You could live well out there with a good bit of money. That was my plan. The city's no good to stay, not unless you're a citizen or can pay for fake papers."

Nico listened attentively, resting her forearms on the table, one hand loosely curled around her glass. She could puzzle out most, ignoring minor details like missing "fake".

"So, not-citizens, what are the problems for them?"

"We can't work," Yavu said. "Even in the brothels. Officially. Sometimes they'll hire you illegal-like, but not if there are inspections."

In the grand scheme of things, that wasn't unusual. However, you had to wonder...

"You did know beforehand?"

"No, of course not." Yavu gave her a do-you-think-I'm-stupid look.

Nico stared at him for a short while, wondering if he hadn't heard of it, or it was not widely spread knowledge in general. She was pretty sure a city didn't want people without a job and without money around, so having it known would be in its interest.

Filing that thought for later, she continued, "Well, what shape of place are you from?"

"Colony..." He paused and scratched his neck, continuing "My home was on the outer edge, which is better than the middle, not like here. Much less happens at night. There's less entertainment in general, and yes, that does include men.

"I don't know what else to... the sheriff's in charge, obviously, her people oversee the stores and shipping. And keep order." This last phrase was delivered with long, sarcastic vowels.

"Much less happens at night on the outer edge of colony than in the middle, so edge is better?" Nico spoke slowly, clearly confused.

"Um, no." Yavu turned to look over his shoulder just as someone brought their food, and waited until she left again.

"I meant less happens in the colonies than here. In general. Out there, if excitement happens it's not the good kind of excitement, if you know what I mean." He kept looking at his plate, practically drooling, semi-expecting it to be taken away at any time.

Nico gave a nod and a half shrug, having some suspicions, but not the details.

"Start when it's warm still?" she suggested, experimentally prodding a small pastry she had gotten a bowl full of with a finger.

She didn't need to tell the semi-starving hooker twice. He dug into the jellied beef strips, every so often glancing around nervously.

He was not a messy eater, which was impressive in itself given the speed at which he was shovelling it.

After watching that impressive show while letting her food cool a bit on the outside, Nico tried one. The filling was some kind of poultry and some other kind of cheese, and the whole thing did taste pretty good. She ate slowly, it being a rather early supper, and wondered if Yavu would at some point slow down enough to make conversation over the meal practical.

Apart from looking skittish whenever another customer or staff member came too close, Yavu did occasionally look up at her, aware that he was lucky to be here.

At some point that uncomfortableness overtook the imperative to cram his meal in before he was kicked out. He gave Nico an inquisitive look over a mouthful of water.