Fic: Altered Trajectory (cont)
Mar. 9th, 2010 06:40 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
jeriendhal“Mr. Flashpaw?”
Machiavelli sat up. Lady Softpaw, still dressed like a heavily armed sexual services provider, was standing outside his door. Beside her, still in shackles and in the firm grip of her equally underdressed husband, was Lord Ru Ofanius. He looked, if anything, worse than when he had punched Machiavelli in the nose. His tail was swishing back and forth in short strokes, maintaining his balance with difficulty, an indication he was still severely wrung out. The drug addled lordling looked at Machiavelli briefly, then stared down at the floor, his tail curling up underneath him.
“Lady Softpaw, how can I be of help to you?” He stretched deliberately and clasped his hands behind his head in calculated nonchalance.
“Lord Ru Ofanius has something to say to you,” she said.
“I’m listening.”
Brushtail took in a deep breath and looked up at him again. “Leftenant Flashpaw, I owe you an apology for my behavior. Striking you, especially when you were bound and helpless, was an unconscionable act, especially in relation to a Farmer Lord and a member of the…” He paused, and Machiavelli could almost see him bite down on the words lower classes. “…an honourably serving officer. It was an act that dishonored myself and my House, and was a violation of the Holy Den Mother’s teachings to her children. I hope you will accept my apology and believe its sincerity.”
He got damned few moments like this in his life, so Machiavelli decided to savor it for an extended pause, watching Brushtail’s tail rise back up and ears start to flick back in irritation before replying, “Why of course I accept, Lord Ru Ofanius. No harm done in the end, except maybe to the pack of tissues the ship’s doctor gave me.”
Give Brushtail that much credit, despite his wretched condition he managed to pull his anger back and give him a respectful nod. “Thank you, Leftenant. Now, would you be willing to aid us in decoding the late Mr. Drisden’s information chip so we might be able to contact the Dominion?”
TBC
