My research presentation is in less than 2 days. Maybe after that I will get back into this better. Until then have more of the space opera. This time the brothers discuss Kaleo’s fate

Aneirin huffed, staring at his empty glass. “I need more alcohol to get through this day.”

His brother fussed with the fastener of his long blond braid. He wore his hair in the current popular style for Merchanters and anyone emulating them. Long hair got in Aneirin’s way at work so he cut his hair unfashionably short. “You’re going to keep him then. Seriously?”

Aneirin nodded. “Unfortunately, it’s the right thing to do.” That, at least, he knew for certain. He couldn’t knowingly abandon someone to a terrible fate.

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I’m falling behind in all of this. I’m still dealing with the trigeminal neuralgia (to the point I was in the hospital for hours), my uncle died last weekend and I’m slammed with my sabbatical research presentation (it’s in a week) and then went with the family on a trip that went better than I imagined it would.

So I’m getting back into Kaleo’s story. He’s still in the middle of meeting Aneirin’s brother and they just learned he is not a sex worker by choice.

Kaleo stared at him, his eyes hardening. “No one is this nice.”

“Oh, he is that nice.” Rhisart reached over and shoved Aneirin. “Don’t worry, my brother isn’t perfect. If you let him get back into his office, you might not see him for days, and you’ll be rambling around here by yourself…well, I suppose Grimoald is almost always here.”

Kaleo wrinkled his nose. “I don’t think he likes me being here.”

Aneirin waved him off. “It’s his job to make sure my life runs smoothly and he takes that seriously.”

“In other words you’re the asteroid belt in the middle of an otherwise smooth flight plan.” Rhisart smirked.

So I’m having some issues with trigeminal neuralgia. It’s like having the left side of my face on fire and all those teeth aching. So I’m just going to launch back into my sf thing where I left off two weeks ago (because last week was even worse with the face pain than today)

Aneirin, Kaleo and Aneirin’s brother Rhisart are still talking and some hard truths are about to drop. CW – discussion of kidnapping and human trafficking

“If I had a clue, this would be a lot easier. I don’t even know all the regulations and rules about owning a Toy. I’m not sure I can put him to work doing something,” Aneirin replied as Grimoald came in with refills for their drinks.

“If it helps, they told me when I signed up to trade work for release from the slums, I’d be a gardener or someone like him.” Kaleo jerked a thumb at Grimoald.

“You have to go to school to learn everything required to be a majordomo,” Grimoald replied, glaring blaster fire at Kaleo.

Unfazed, the young man shrugged. “What do I know? I’m just saying what I was told.”

“Wait? You didn’t sign on to be a Toy?” Rhisart’s eyes widened.

“Who would? Do you have any idea what they do to us in that training center?” Kaleo growled, and Grimoald took a step back, nearly dropping his drinks pitcher.

“Not really, no,” Rhisart replied. “And seriously? You don’t ask to be a Toy? Then how did you end up here.”

“They lied. To all of us. They promised one thing and when I woke up, I was in the Toyhouse with this fucking thing screwed into my flesh.” Kaleo slapped a hand over the pain inducer hidden by his shirt. “I don’t know if we all ended up there or how we were chosen. Don’t know what they did with the others. Spaced them, maybe. Slaving away somewhere?”

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