Kairon Rees
Smuggler
Even though Kairon was reading his book, he grunted and moved his head when Mal moved the datapad perched on her knees. Even though she was leant back against his chest, he could see the smile form on her face by the shift in her jaw. He'd been reading the same page of his novel since Pals had started. And that rumble when Jooey had make a remark to a wave of live studio audience laughter had been something caught in his throat, thank you very much.
There was a persistent beeping and Kairon set his book aside. He had forgotten that he'd agreed to talk to his sister this evening. When he started to move Mal made a low noise of disapproval. After a moment she relented and let him get up from the chair. As he walked away he picked up a blanket and spread it over her.
“Won't be long,” he said, kissing the top of her head and taking his own datapad into the next room to avoid disturbing her shows. On second thought he shut the door tight so the boy couldn't hear. The conversation would likely end up revolving around his future again.
“A pleasure Anara,” Kairon said as her face appeared on the screen. She looked so like Asmus, same delicate features and hair colour. The boy took after the women of the Rees family far more than the men. At the same time he didn't reassemble his fat, a short balding man, much at all.
“As always Kairon,” she replied with a subtle nod.
“So, I guess we're talking his exams again?” Kairon asked. The little bugger had been doing remarkably well since they initiated the ‘no leaving the ship when in port unless the work is done’ routine.
“Actually, I was hoping we could do that in person.”
“You're not going to try and arrest me again are you?” Kairon asked with a raise of his eyebrow. That had been a regular occurrence during their early voyages. Right up until Asmus got shot by a bounty hunter anyway.
“The Descart family ball is next week. We thought we could talk it over there. You know we wouldn't possibly afford the scandal of having you both carted out in irons from their ball now, don't you?” she replied.
Kairon narrowed his eyes. “The old man isn't going to try and get me hitched to something again is he?” It had been years since their father had spoken to him, but that didn't belay Kairon's suspicious.
“Please Kairon, you don't have to talk like a two-bit scoundrel to me. And no, not at all. In fact we would absolutely love to meet your knew friend. Malia isn't it?”
Kairon sighed. “The boy blabbed did he?”
“My boy Kairon, my boy,” she corrected. Those emerald eyes narrowed. Odd how on Asmus they looked so wide and innocent, yet on her they conveyed loathing so well. “You stole him remember?”
“I prefer the word liberated!” Kairon said, preparing himself for what would inevitably follow. This was the point where she shouted, cried or both.
Instead there was a change in the set of her jaw. “Look, just along won't you. We can talk like civilised people for once. At the very least you'll get some free food and drink and a reminder of what civilisation looks like.”
“More a pit of vipers than any shadow port in the ‘verse I saw. But… I'll think on it. Send me the details and I'll see if I'm in that region of space,” he replied, already knowing they were.
“I know you'll do the right think Kairon. For the boy and the family.”
Kairon emerged from the side room. Deep lines of concern were etched into his face. “Want something to drink?” he asked Mal, heading for the fridge. She was still on the same episode, blanket around her now his warmth was gone. He really needed to fix that thermostat.
There was a persistent beeping and Kairon set his book aside. He had forgotten that he'd agreed to talk to his sister this evening. When he started to move Mal made a low noise of disapproval. After a moment she relented and let him get up from the chair. As he walked away he picked up a blanket and spread it over her.
“Won't be long,” he said, kissing the top of her head and taking his own datapad into the next room to avoid disturbing her shows. On second thought he shut the door tight so the boy couldn't hear. The conversation would likely end up revolving around his future again.
“A pleasure Anara,” Kairon said as her face appeared on the screen. She looked so like Asmus, same delicate features and hair colour. The boy took after the women of the Rees family far more than the men. At the same time he didn't reassemble his fat, a short balding man, much at all.
“As always Kairon,” she replied with a subtle nod.
“So, I guess we're talking his exams again?” Kairon asked. The little bugger had been doing remarkably well since they initiated the ‘no leaving the ship when in port unless the work is done’ routine.
“Actually, I was hoping we could do that in person.”
“You're not going to try and arrest me again are you?” Kairon asked with a raise of his eyebrow. That had been a regular occurrence during their early voyages. Right up until Asmus got shot by a bounty hunter anyway.
“The Descart family ball is next week. We thought we could talk it over there. You know we wouldn't possibly afford the scandal of having you both carted out in irons from their ball now, don't you?” she replied.
Kairon narrowed his eyes. “The old man isn't going to try and get me hitched to something again is he?” It had been years since their father had spoken to him, but that didn't belay Kairon's suspicious.
“Please Kairon, you don't have to talk like a two-bit scoundrel to me. And no, not at all. In fact we would absolutely love to meet your knew friend. Malia isn't it?”
Kairon sighed. “The boy blabbed did he?”
“My boy Kairon, my boy,” she corrected. Those emerald eyes narrowed. Odd how on Asmus they looked so wide and innocent, yet on her they conveyed loathing so well. “You stole him remember?”
“I prefer the word liberated!” Kairon said, preparing himself for what would inevitably follow. This was the point where she shouted, cried or both.
Instead there was a change in the set of her jaw. “Look, just along won't you. We can talk like civilised people for once. At the very least you'll get some free food and drink and a reminder of what civilisation looks like.”
“More a pit of vipers than any shadow port in the ‘verse I saw. But… I'll think on it. Send me the details and I'll see if I'm in that region of space,” he replied, already knowing they were.
“I know you'll do the right think Kairon. For the boy and the family.”
Kairon emerged from the side room. Deep lines of concern were etched into his face. “Want something to drink?” he asked Mal, heading for the fridge. She was still on the same episode, blanket around her now his warmth was gone. He really needed to fix that thermostat.
