trans_9 | Sometimes a cigar... [Closed]

This had been a rare find. During all of his wheeling and dealing while on shore leave, he never expected to come across a box of Monte Crisco cigars. Cuban Monte Crisco premium cigars. Even back on his earth, those were difficult to get a hold of, though far from impossible for a man of his resources.

He decided that he would enjoy it in the crew lounge. Partially because the one bottle of brandy that he knew would go best with it was there, and partly because a cigar like this should be enjoyed in good company. Unfortunately, at this hour, the lounge was mostly empty, most of the crew busy licking their wounds from the recent fight.

Still, he knew eventually, someone would show.

In the meantime, he took a seat near one of the windows. The light from the Bleed filtered in, giving him a red tint. He asked Stacy to play some jazz for him, and lit his cigar. He took the first deep drag and held it in, taking a moment to truly taste all of the flavors, then exhaled.

Truly excellent work. He was going to savor this.

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Lex considered that response for a moment, while he poured her another glass. "Loyal to no one," he said, offering her the glass. "Must be disconcerting for a soldier.

"I'd like to hear a bit about this commanding officer of yours." He was curious as to who could earn such loyalty from her.

"I take care of my men," she objected mildly, which was a moot point because Saito had been missing for months at the behest of GLaDOS, and Batou...

Damn this ship.

"He has his priorities in order. Scouted me after World War IV cooled off, and we've worked together ever since," She had no qualms about sharing this information. Aramaki could handle a squirt like Lex with ease and grace, "He's the Chief, what more is there to say? I trust him."

"Being loyal to your servants is easy." Even Lex had staff members he wouldn't betray. "But giving yourself a master to serve... not so much."

Lex had no doubt that whoever held the Major on a leash would have to be formidable. "I'm sure he's earned it."

"More than once over, yes," She let the 'servants' classification go. It would be useless to explain Section nine's social dynamics to Lex, at this point, "I'm sure you'll agree, if you meet him."

Very sure, her eyes said as she took a drink.

"Must have been reassuring, having someone you can trust like that." Something that, to this day, he's never been able to experience. He envies her that much, at least.

"If you want to trust someone, join the Army," She shot back, acidly. After all, that's what she'd done.

"No gain without risk."

"That would be a step down, for a man like me." One he had no intention of taking. "Besides, why trust someone when you can control them, or destroy them instead?"

"Ruling through fear is easy," She shot back, much amused, "But if that's all it is, then they're useless as anything but foot soldiers. I expect my men to do a hell of a lot more than just do what they're told. They respect me because I can hurt them, but they trust me not to for the same reason they can expect to live through each battle. This is pretty basic, you know."

"That all depends. For you, they're more valuable assets. You'd be dead without them. For me, trust is like any other commodity, easily bought and sold, worth whatever the market dictates, and lasts only as long as the contract stipulates." In other words, trust isn't worth a whole lot to him. Yet still...

"And one day, someone like me is going to pick you off from a rooftop," She pointed out drolly.

He seemed a bit put off by that. But only because... "I would hope for something more dramatic in my final moments."

"You don't think that's dramatic?"

"For the sniper, perhaps. For the target? No. There's no flair, no tension for them. They're blissfully unaware of their impending demise until--" he snapped his fingers. "Then just like that, it's all over." He shrugged.

"It's a tactically sound way to go about things, admittedly, but I like to think my death warrants a bit of theater." He smiled a bit around the tip of his cigar. "Perhaps I'm something of a 'supervillain' after all."

"That's pathetic," She couldn't help it, really, but then Motoko had always had a fairly clear idea of how she'd die, "I can tell you from experience, it's not as simple as that."

"Nothing ever is." After all, he knew how he would die. His own broken body, blown up by Oliver Queen. It was all rather undignifying. "But a man can dream."

Sometimes a cigar... [Closed]

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argh why is this so short ugh what is wrong with meeee

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