Vutepose, the vending machine and interplanetary food export billionaire, and Roman, the unfortunate xenobotanist he hired to make Novian foods palatable to Aishish consumers. biting and maiming and killing and growing horrible fruits and veggies
(Vutepose's design was an adoptable purchased from @skunkes =:-] )
today i spent a bit of time thinking about Roman’s colleges, who are still unnamed! i thought about their motives and where they reside 5 years after Roman’s death (unknown to them of his resurection) and did it in a way where it could play out sort-of like a beat-em-up game lol . from top to bottom i suppose it is the stages you progress through
“Now, Carlos,” Roman unwound the scarf from around his neck to adjust to the warmth. “I really hope it’s all good to go this time.”
“I’m afraid,” Roman turned at the voice, resisting from reaching for his gun. “That Carlos won’t be able to help you.”
Sat behind the small desk, fire going beside him, was someone who could almost be mistaken for Kato. The resemblance was there, but he was older, his hair cut buzz short and his clothes far too shabby for what Roman would allow his friends to wear. The glow from the fireplace cut his face in half with a shadow.
“Takahiro.”
The man smiled and Roman refused to reciprocate the gesture. Piracy was outlawed in the city; it would be all too easy to go back for the Palace Guards and tip him off. They would have the docks closed before he even had a chance to get back to his precious ship.
Just because Roman liked Kato, it didn’t mean he had to like Pirates.
“What brings you to the city?” Roman continued to adjust to the warm temperature as though this was what he had expected, shrugging off his coat and pulling off his hat. He ran one hand through his hair as he placed it all on the coat rack.
It was a moment that made his heart skip a beat, because at the bottom of the rack, was Carlos. With a knife in his throat and his eyes still open.
Roman was no stranger to death, but he took it very personally when people came into his home, because the city was his home, and broke his things.
He dropped easily into a squat and used two fingers to close the old mans eyes, already planning how they would dispose of the body. There would be no tracing this back to the Cas Ulpita.
“I’m looking for my brother,” Roman squared his shoulders, set his jaw and moved to take the seat opposite the Takahiro. He continued to speak, as Roman kicked his feet up onto the desk and leant back, unbuttoning his jacket as he did. “I hear he runs with your crowd.”
“And what brother would that be?” He took a long drag and blew the smoke up into the air.
“Let us not play games.
“No, lets.” Roman snapped and then finally smiled, the kind of smile he had when he was telling men where they could find the bones of their sons. Roman had clawed his way up the hierarchy of the most dangerous city in the world. Fuck this Pirate for forgetting that.
“Kato,” He practically spat the name, like it tasted bad. “I hear he spends time here.”
“And whats your name, son?” The man was older than him and becoming more irritated by the second. Roman dropped the smile like it was something hot. “Tell me, or I have other ways of making you sing.”
“Hitoshi.”
Roman tilted his head at that. He knew the name, Kato had told him about this particular brother. This was the one he wanted, killing the others was just wasting time until he got to gut Hitoshi Takahiro.
“Why that one?” Roman had asked him once, over drinks at a bar they wouldn’t be recognised in. Kato had rocked up in Amedle injured and someone sent him to Roman. He’d stayed to lie low, until whoever it was assumed he was dead. Roman had enjoyed their time together and had been surprised by how much he liked the young Captain.
“He’s the one my father trusts,” He’d been more talkative than normal.
“Ah,” Roman thought he’d cracked it. “So, he’s daddy’s favourite.”
Kato had nearly laughed at that, a smile tugging at the corner of his lips, “My father doesn’t have favourites, he despises the lot of us. But he’s the one he’d go to if he needed something done right.”
“And therefor he has to die?”
Kato had looked at him for a minute, eyes burning, “He’s not just going to die, I’m going to be the one to kill him.”
“Hitoshi Takahiro,” Roman kept his tone as light as possible. “I’ve heard about you.”
He bristled ever so slightly and adjusted his jacket. The Pirate was dressed like someone Roman might found passed outside the Empress, like he’d gambled it all away. Roman was glad he hadn’t changed, glad there was still some blood on his white collar.
“I need to find my brother.”
“Why do I care what you want?” Roman kicked his legs down and rested both elbows on the table, so there was almost no space between them. “I want you out of my city.”
