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I say nothing

“Pacified too Hot business”

I don’t

“Told Julii she’d go mad,” she mutters under her breath to the Sol Guards They don’t seem to like her much at all

“What business?” I ask

Ignoring a’s letters, which I’ve secured in the crease between the food tube and the floor

“Don’t touch those,” I snap

“I es on warships can be tedious, you understand, even with the HC being so full of drains to read from one of the letters “My favorite ti, but when it’s not quite night The world is very still And if you watch closely, you can see it breathe as it wakes up”

“Those are mine”

“Takers, keepers, darling” She begins to read again I pull myself up to create some slack, and untie the knot so I can fall to the floor I e to land on my feet “There Now, that’s a predictable monkey”

I extend a hand She throws the letters at me and watches me as I collect them “Hardheaded, softhearted Bad coerous customer, lass—”

“I know”

“No You really don’t And the Syndicate bounty on her…Julii’s lucky I’ve a professional code” She whistles “Wonder ould have happened if you and the beast had to share the same cell a

nd no food How long before she gobbled up your scrawny little s? Two days? Four?” She reflects on that a a does like to pretend she’s warm and cuddly, even to herself”

I don’t rush to Volga’s defense The Brown is so odd Her nails are painted a brilliant shade of orange She wears two great dias And her tanned skin is etched with ornate white lines Almost like a blueprint