Ayem couldn't grip Mary's hand any tighter, for fear of her own knives. But for a moment, she wanted to.

...

[color=fff79a][i]Well, she's a certain kind of practical,[/i][/color] ran the thought a few minutes later as Mary justified her purchase. [color=fff79a]"Here, I can't-"[/color]

But clearly, somebody could.

[color=fff79a]"...Pay for that,"[/color] finished Ayem, her lips moving without any real sound. The tension was back, but this time it was a different kind. Ayem hadn't had access to the oligarchy's wealth for some time now, but she'd been a mercenary long enough to recognise what lay behind the words 'private security'. 

Corporates. [color=bc8dbf][i]'I gotta chase after her,'[/i][/color] Mary had said. And she'd pulled a knife... 

Ayem had spaced out and it took a second for her eyes to focus back on the little fumigator, who was rapidly sending the value of the property into freefall. [color=fff79a]"Oh. Yes. I have one, actually. You can come with me. Um..."[/color] The Q1-2 wasn't an interstellar vehicle, but Ayem was only passing through Frixion, anyway. And it felt dangerous to leave behind a child she'd made a promise to.

...Dangerous. Yes. That was it.

[color=fff79a]"I don't know,"[/color] admitted Ayem before she could fall back into spaciness. [color=fff79a]"We needed... Food? Lots of food."[/color] She looked up abruptly. [color=fff79a]"Oh! We're in the right place, too. Alright, food."[/color]

Ayem didn't particularly trust Mary with buying food. They wouldn't need it on an FTL liner, but left to her own devices, she had a feeling Mary would just buy herself a hundred sugar straws or something. [color=fff79a]"I think this place does sugared mango. Want some?"[/color]

She started tapping keys. [color=fff79a]"Corn chips too. And salsa."[/color] And a toothbrush. [color=fff79a]"And some drinks. Do you like bubble tea..?"[/color]

They were there for a while.