[Humans for Hire] - Part 186

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*Author note:* Writing break and I find an award. This is epic and awesome and words are failing right now. Thank you!

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*Homeplate, Enlisted Quarters*

The shared quarters had an odd feel - something was definitely amiss with Llensi tonight, but she was covering quite easily by snuggling with Orile in their shared beanbag as everyone gathered in the shared space for holo-viewing. Likewise Col'un and Prumila were settled in as they all watched the latest from the homeworlds. Since Carinda was lacking a companion she was seated closest to the holo and the attendant captioning. Currently Lead Servant A'dder and Lord Ba'ldrick were in their office relaxing and enjoying a breakfast of meat porridge and rolls, with A'dder providing commentary.

"It is said, my Lord, that one should surround themselves with good and intelligent company, so that by learned discourse he may improve, rising above the savage and thereby make himself closer to true wisdom." There was a pause for the punchline. "Personally I like to surround myself with a horde of imbeciles to remind myself how much better I am compared to nearly everyone. Now speaking of a horde of imbeciles, the Ministry of Space Transportation is sending representatives today to discuss the new line of cargo vessels. Apparently they have a thought or two regarding your recommended designs for toilets."

Ba'ldrick looked confused. "Well, if they poop inside the ship, it'd make the place smell something awful, wouldn't it? So that's why I said they should put it outside the ship - that way you can walk out, take care of your business, and then come back inside where there's nothing to smell. They're called *out*houses, not *in*\-houses."

"Ba'ldrick that is simultaneously the wisest and most idiotic thing you've said in your entire life. I feel quite refreshed."

During this exchange something of an odd scent hit the room - it was somehow sadness and hysteria wrapped into one, and as everyone sniffed the air the surprise was that it was coming from Llensi - even to Llensi herself. The holo was promptly placed on pause, with Llensi stammering and gesturing slightly as she started trying to explain.

"I. I'm sorry. But. But my clan has, they're sending a husband. I, I thought I would be more comfortable with it then I am. But I am thinking of all the things that will change, and I like it less. There will be...the year." She began patting Orile's hand for a moment before taking it in a solid grip. "My clan...the elders will not understand."

Orile frowned, thinking it over. "There is no alternative?"

"No. They have Body-right. They would not accept Orile even as a second-husband."

"Perhaps we can do something about it - pledge yourself to Freelord Gryzzk and work out a trade."

There was a headshake. "He's a Vilantian, they'll ignore it. There's no barter they'd accept. My birth-clan is. Very traditional. Nobody leaves the clan."

Col'un spoke up quietly. "Or they do and everyone just agrees to never talk about it."

It was by unspoken assent that everyone in the room got up and as one flopped onto Llensi to make a pile of fur and casual clothes before restarting the holo.

During a commercial break, Carinda finally spoke.

"I wanted to wait for Orile. Because he spent so much time with me teaching me to read, so I could send the lessons to Mother. But I will be single forever with the Twenty-First Greatclan if they don't leave you two alone." She lowered her voice slightly so as to not betray her own feelings. "Your children will be smart and beautiful."

Llensi's scent changed as her mind began contemplating how she was going to get herself out of the mess she'd made before she snuggled in closer to Orile. "...Thank you. I think. I think we may be able to. Perhaps with some aid."

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*Homeplate, Gryzzk's Quarters*

As they walked in, Gryzzk and Waniul were both assaulted by the scent of warm food and family, as the older girls promptly ran to Gryzzk to hug his legs and then hug Auntie Waniul. Gryzzk took Glaud to the nursery and put him with his siblings while Lumisca and Kiole began cooking. Grezzk leaned into her husband for a moment as they shared a brief second to themselves.

"They stopped sitting on my feet, my rose."

"They're growing up. Did you expect them to stay eight forever?"

Gryzzk exhaled. "Part of me did, it seems. They're starting to think that boys aren't icky." He shook his head. "On Vilantia, Jojorn called me father. It is...concerning in a way. The children there seem to be latching on to me as a father."

Kiole's voice broke in. "Because you *are* a father." She moved to nuzzle both of them for a moment. "And every time they see you, they see what a father should be. Yorkime and Baolet both ask questions about you when they write. They ask questions and want to know how you would react to certain things. They want to be you when they grow up."

"I am not the only father figure available in the Collective."

There was a snort. "Recall your first meeting with them. You clothed them and fed them; every interaction since has been a showcase of you doing what the histories say the best of us do. Keep that in mind."

"Very well. What is dinner tonight?"

"Smoked brisket with honeyed rice and kohlrabi, with Terran banana pudding for a dessert." Kiole smirked. "Waniul will attempt to woo Lumisca simply for access to Grezzk's cooking."

"Her cooking is...different?"

"Waniul has burned cold-meat sandwiches."

"Ah."

Dinner was a raucous affair with multiple discussion topics - the girls were heavily debating about their schoolwork when they weren't going back and forth about whether or not Rosie and Tucker could get married. Finally, after the dishes were cleaned completely it was time for the move to the couch to see what was happening on the homeworlds. It was interesting to watch the Hurdop news - it seemed on their homeworld, the topic of agriculture was highly noteworthy, particularly when a breakthrough was in progress. Today was highly important - as the desk anchor threw to a scene of a small plot that had been cordoned off, and inside the plot were plants that Gryzzk would have termed modestly healthy. Gryzzk was surprised to see Rilaoi, one of the emissaries from the Vilantian Ministry of Science speaking too closely to a holo-pickup.

"...well the soil analysis work was fascinating but what it revealed was similar at first, but then the plants simply refused to grow. But then we looked deeper, and found that the boron content was *wrong* \- not because of the amount, but the isotope. You see Hurdop has boron, but the vast majority is the smaller isotope which is curious because most planets have the larger isotope in greater abundance." The botanist began moving his hands around excitedly. "This caused the plant formations to be different, and so few of the plants that transferred here were able to make use of it. That led to many things, but now." Rilaoi paused for a moment. "Apologies. I. I don't know what to do with my hands. But with the right boron mixtures, plants can grow, algae can bloom for proteins, the native wildlife may grow stronger. Even the ones you see here, these plants are already growing at a rate similar to some of the better harvests I've observed in the farmlands of Hurdop. Should I keep my hands to the sides?"

This caused a soft chuckle of sorts from the Hurdop in the room as Kiole shook her head. "Perhaps one of the most monumental discoveries since the Freedom Flight, and his concern is his hands."

Waniul had a light frown. "The Agriculture Guilds will not be pleased with this discovery."

Lumisca cocked her head, looking up from the sling where she was watching Sahkik nap. "Why? Do they not want to see the peoples of Hurdop fed?"

"They do, but only if they are the ones to feed them. Between the Ministry of Interstellar Commerce and the Ag Guild, they've held much of the political power of Hurdop for...centuries."

"Interstellar Commerce?"

"It was originally known as the Privateers Guild, but it seems the name fell out of favor for some reason or another."

Lumisca grumbled. "Pirates Guild."

There was a fatalistic shrug, accompanied by a slightly antagonistic scent. "They provided a planet food and items we could trade for food. Call them as you will, I remember we did what was required for those who couldn't. We petitioned the Collective, but we weren't important enough. Their silence told us that we would survive only by our own hands, and we did."

Lumisca seemed perturbed by this realization. "I. I suppose. Things are different."

There was a light smile of sorts. "They are - besides, your Ministry of Trade was quite helpful during certain generations. Engines and machinery in exchange for stable crops and wines." Waniul looked amused. "Father speaks of those times favorably."

Lumisca seemed quite concerned by this. "We would not have. The Clan Way -"

There was another amused sort of shrug. "I don't believe your Ministry of Culture was aware. Or if they were, they were given enough of what they desired to soothe their consciences."

Gryzzk finally spoke up. "What I fail to understand is...why the trade was not more open. Certainly better barters for both sides could have been made."

Kiole snorted. "My twilight warrior, you are rather blind to reality at times. If it became open knowledge that the best food we had was being sourced from Vilantia there would have been riots in the streets. Even for our first meeting after the Shaming of Vilantia - my passage on the transport was purchased with two bushels of achocha vines. Not the fruits, just the vines. This was when we were doing better than we had been since the Vilantian-Hurdop wars of the Twenty-Fourth Generation. I highly doubt your war clans would have reacted well to discover their newest and fastest vessels were driven by Hurdop engines."

Gryzzk considered for a moment. "I. I suppose."