[The Red Muse]

RM trotted down the zulag leading to the cafeteria--he hasn't eaten in a while and the hungryness was taking over. As he entered the large hall, he saw Jammer sitting in one of the tables--obviously eating. RM took a scrab leg and a bottle of water to his tray and walked over to Jammer.

RM:"Mind if I sit here?"

Jammer: "Huh?" *looks up at RM* "The hell? You really think I care where you sit your ass down?"

RM: "Jammer, I was being polite." *sits down next to Jammer*

Jammer: "No need to be polite around me bro." *stuffs his face with food*

RM: "That's nice to...hear... ugh! Do you mind! You eat like a dying slog on speed!" *starts to nibble the scrab leg on his plate*

Jammer: *eyes at RM* "Are my table manner buggin' thou--pumpkin?"

RM: "Yes."

Jammer: "Well then, sir all 'n' mighty can go and sit somewhere else if my company is too uncivilized for ya!"

RM: "No--wait-- that wasn't what I meant... It's just, that--" *hides his eyes from Jammer*

Jammer: *burbs* "--It's about Jayne, isn't it?"

RM: "...yeah."

Jammer: "Look, I'm sorry bro-- but that's life. If Jayne is needed someplace else and if that's what the Cartel wants, we can't do nothing about it. We are the pawns of the Cartel, Muse-- we have no power over them. "

RM: " I know... and that hurts me..."

Jammer: *turns to RM* "Whaddaya mean...?"

RM: " I mean, ... Jammer, we have a mother that doesn't care for us, we are robbed from your childhood, we are used as security guards and soldiers for whole our lives, we do everything that our glukkon bosses tell us to do and then what? We die! Hurray for the sligs." *glances at Jammer* " We are just toys for the Cartel, Jammer. We have no value--we're like, pupets that those in power use to do their dirty work..."

An icy silence hovered around the two sligs.

"...Ya ain't no puppet Muse."

RM: *looks at Jammer, not breaking the silence*

Jammer: "Ye're different from the others Muse. Ya've got a good soul, ya know..."

RM: "...Jammer...?"

Jammer: " You're one in a million, Muse--keep that in mind. "

RM: *smiles faintly* "...Thanks..."

Jammer: "Anytime."

[::silence::]

Jammer: " Hey, Muse-- I've been thinkin',... what did ya actually do before ya came to RuptureFarms?"

RM: "...errrrm..." *sweatdrop*

Jammer: *raises eyebrow*

RM: *closes his eyes--causing visions from his past to flood his mind* "I'd rather not talk about it...---at least not now."

Jammer: *shrugs* "Oh-kay..."

The two sligs continue to sit in silence...