Conversation · Cuno

"Cuno's a pig now." He picks his tooth with a dirty fingernail.

"I want to buy the FALN pants."

He unzips his jacket again and pulls the pants from the plastic wrapping. "Here pig, we both FALN now. Performance Pigs. Let's try not to shit ourselves."

"Cuno, I have couple of questions about Martinaise."

"Shoot," he says with a nod. "Cuno knows this shithole better than anyone."

"There seems to be a seafort in the bay. Do you know anything about it?"

"Yeah, pig... yeah." He scratches his head. "It's a... seafort. For... It's for defence, pig. Don't bore Cuno with this historic shit."

This is the extent of the boy's knowledge.

"Have you ever been there?"

"Yeah, yeah..." He fidgets uncomfortably. "Of course Cuno's been there, but that was a long time ago and I was fucked. Been on the train for fucking days. Can't remember shit."

The Train. Speed-Train. Amphetamine Express.

"Thanks Cuno, but enough about Martinaise."

"Sure thing, pig." He nods. "What now?"

"Whose statue is it on the roundabout?"

"It's Cuno's," he says without pause or hesitation.

"I'm pretty sure it's of Filippe III the Squanderer, the greatest of Flippian kings of Revachol..."

"If you know that history buff shit, then why are you fucking Cuno with this?" He shrugs. "Cuno's a pig now. Has important shit on his mind. Pig shit."

"Okay. Cool."

He nods in agreement.

"Anything you can tell me about the boardwalk with the ruins and the fishmarket?"

"Cool place. Lot's of shit to do there."

"You ever been inside the ruined building?"

"Cuno's been everywhere, pig."

"Yeah? What's in there?"

"Cuno ain't spoiling this shit for you." He gives you something akin to a wink. "You gotta climb in there yourself and check it out."

Liar. He doesn't have the guts to climb in there.

The kid is admitting falsehood, sire. He just doesn't know.

"Like what?"

"You know... break shit, throw shit into the sea, throw shit into the windows, throw shit at the seagulls."

"Cool."

"You bet, pig!" He appreciates your validation. "Cuno lives the life to the max. Lives every day to the mega. Cuno's in the moment like that."

"What's going on with the traffic jam?"

"What do you mean, what's going on? This is good shit." He seems surprised. "You wouldn't believe the crap Cuno's getting from the trucks."

"What have you gotten there?"

"Oh, pig..." A clever smile runs across his face. "Cuno's done with that shit. Cuno's a pig now. Living the pig-life. That reaver shit's behind him."

"What are your thoughts on the strike?"

"Uh..." He looks confused. "Well you know, pig... Shit's fucked. And like... Cuno's got no time for this small time shit. Cuno's got enterprises to run."

Apparently he has never formed an opinion on the matter and isn't going to do so on the fly either.

"So who's side are you on?"

"Whose side's Cuno on?!" His tone gets angry. "Cuno's on fucking Cuno's side, pig! This is beneath the Cuno. Don't talk to me about this playground bullshit. You're getting shit in Cuno's head."

Being put in the spotlight like this makes him feel exposed, makes him lash out.

"Small time shit. Got it."

The kid nods, obviously relieved.

"What do you know about the village southwest, across the canal?"

"Cuno used to hang there sometimes. It's a real shit-hole. Everyone is old or a fucking drunk or dead, except..."

"Except what?"

"Except nothing." He shrugs. "That shit is behind Cuno. Keep your nose out of it."

You know who isn't old, drunk, or dead? Lilienne.

"You like Lilienne, don't you?"

"Wha-what?!" His face turns almost as red as his hair. "Are you fucking crazy, pig?! Cuno doesn't give two shits about that bird. Why do you even...?"

"Goddamnit..." He looks down, shaking his head. "Cuno can't believe you're making up shit about him. This needs to stop."

"It's okay, I like her too."

"Well I don't," the kid says, pointing to himself with his thumb. "Cuno's got no time for this shit. He's a pig now."

He tries to keep his voice casual and businesslike, but it trembles ever so slightly.

"I'm sorry, Cuno. I'll stop."

"You fuckin' better, pig!" His index finger is pointed straight at you. "We're partners now. You got to be professional with the Cuno."

"Your secret is safe with me, Cuno." (Give him a wink.)

"What fucking secret?! You gotta stop this shit with me!" He's trying to control himself. "Cuno's a pig. We're partners now. You got to be professional with the Cuno. Talk sense to him."

"About Martinaise..."

"Yeah?" He places his hands on the hips, waiting for your question.