Conversation · Bird's Nest Roy

"Here you go, man." He presents a large cap-shaped object on the palm of his hand. Very odd-looking...

Yes, darling, that's the Coalition Government ordained Pyrholidon -- straight into your gut!

"I haven't -- but don't worry, I can take it."

"If you say so..."

"I ride the pyrho every day."

"Every day?" He tilts his head, studying you, then nods. "You look the part."

"Greetings on this fine night. What brings you here?"

"It's cool that you're still open. Big city vibes."

"The pawnshop is always open."

"You do know that it's not really a 'fine night'? The weather is terrible."

"Is it?" He turns his head to the right and then to the left, as if looking for non-existent windows. "Spring is capricious, yes."

"How come you're still open?"

"Early bird gets the worm, huh?"

"Perhaps." He shrugs. "I just like being awake for the transition between night and morning -- bearing witness to the first hints of light on the horizon."

"Isn't being forced to get up for work at dawn a little inhumane?"

"I'm so glad you're already awake. It's so lonely in this city at this hour!"

"Top of the morning to you. How may I be of service?"

"Hello again. How can I help you?"

"Between you and me," he looks you up and down, "this is why I don't get involved in local politics."

"You're calling this politics?"

"In its purest form. Now, what can I do for you?"

"Well, someone has to."

"So it goes." The pawnbroker nods gravely, then shrugs. "Now, what can I do for you?" he asks.

"Yeah, I shouldn't have either."

"I see you were wounded in the recent... altercation," he says with a grave nod. "A speedy recovery to you, officer."

"Now, what can I do for you?"

"I see you were wounded in the recent... altercation." He nods gravely at your leg. "A speedy recovery to you, officer."

"It's not often that I see officers from the RCM in my pawnshop." The man at the counter turns to you slowly.

"What can I do for you?" he asks.

His courtesy is not insincere, but he prefers being alone with his projector, just watching the movement of light across the walls of the shop.

"Sorry, I feel like I'm interrupting you."

"Oh, no, not at all." He flashes a smile. "I guess I haven't had many customers lately, RCM or otherwise."

"Who are your customers usually?"

"All kinds of people come through here... Locals, travellers. People looking for a deal. People looking for a keepsake. People who are terminally bored."

"As you can see... I have a wide selection of goods for everyone to choose from."

(Nod.) "Quite the collection indeed."

"It keeps me entertained." His attention is drawn once more to the play of light and shadow on the walls behind you.

He's well composed, but underneath it you sense psychedelic processes, bubbling. Some kind of drug maybe?

Entertained? He might be high -- if he is, on what?

"This business plan is all over the place. You should specialize, zoom in, recapitalize."

"It keeps me entertained," he responds, unimpressed with your business-school snobbery.

(Look around.) "Typical vacuous consumerist objects."

"It keeps me entertained," he responds, unimpressed with your critique.

"Honestly, I think some of your selections are..." (Press your finger to your lips) "...more tasteful than others."

"It keeps me entertained," he responds, unimpressed with your snobbery.

"Who are your customers usually?"

"Now that the RCM is here -- tell me, have you had any trouble lately?"

"I haven't had any problems myself... though some of my customers have complained about inconsistent law enforcement."

(Shake your head.) "It's shameful, how insufficient the police presence is in these parts!"

"But now you've got what you came for, so I suppose we'll have to see this business through."

"Who's to say what's possible and what's not?"

His eyes move from you to the lights dancing on the walls.

"I'm more interested in why you're so fixated on this idea in the first place."

"We can't assign la responsabilité if we don't go through the proper channels."

"But here's the thing, detective. We're the proper channels. Doing our work, right here on the ground, is how we'll solve this case. There's no need to bring the Coalition into this."

"I think I just need a break from our main case for a bit."

"I certainly understand the impulse, but this is our job, detective. Our whole raison d'être. At some point, we'll need to return to it."

"To be honest, I mostly just want to ride on Coalition Warship Archer."

"Let me make a prediction, detective. You are not going to see the inside of a Coalition warship anytime soon."