Drowning in Pointless Bile.
04 May 2023Creamy Goodness III
Last night had disturbed Creamy greatly. Imperial hate was alive and well all over the station, especially from people Creamy himself had become acquainted with. He was used to that kind of ill-informed bile being spat at him. On many occasions he had been targeted with far worse than ignorant opinions simply because of where he was from. Apparently, there was a large contingent of Imperial slaves on Citi Gateway working with other contractors to bring the station up to muster. If last night was anything to go by, they weren't even allowed to have dinner in peace without people feeling free to come over and pontificate on the evils of the Empire as a whole. Creamy was used to the hate, but these men and woman probably hadn’t been outside the Empire and were not aware of how the rest of the bubble viewed Imperials. As a peer of the realm, Creamy felt the need to do something to ease the burden of his fellows while they worked in this needlessly hostile environment. First thing first, he had to meet with the representative of the company that had brought the workforce to Citi. If the workers were prison contracts, then bollox to them. They had already pissed on society, so he wasn’t about to make their life any better, if that was the case.
Being an actual lord with name and rank, meant that he would not have to try hard to get a meeting with the overseer. Remembering what he had witnessed had made it hard for him to fall asleep and occupied his mind during his morning workout. In that time, he had come up with a little idea that may at least give the slaves, and the rest of the workers a place to go that was off the beaten track amongst people that would at least apricate the hard work they were doing.
Arriving back on Citi, Creamy checked his honey supply before he left his ship. Mrs Fillworth was integral to his idea, and Mrs Fillworth was best approached with a few gallons of Goodness brand runny-honey, if he wanted to ask her for more than a mug of tea and slice of cake. The overseer of the workforce was very pleased to see Lord Goodness. The family name carried weight, even if Creamy himself was currently considered an exile. The little man gladly informed Creamy that the people were from Denton Paterus systems. All of them were considered skill labour, and mostly volunteered their service to Eotienses Finances and Manpower.
Garth, the overseer was aware of Citis flexing of the outside contractors’ arrangements, but they were not fool enough to try it with Eotienses Finances and Manpowers’ people. They knew too well that if they tried to stray from the agreed terms with Garth, he would take all his people off the job and find a better deal for Eotienses Finances and Manpower, and the slaves they were responsible for.
After listening to Creamys story form last night, Garth agreed to honour the credit value of each ‘meal voucher’ to local vendors outside Citis’ approved list as a way small way to improve the lot of their slaves, providing of course, Creamy also fronted some capital for the goodwill gesture.
Leaving the office behind, Creamy made a b-line right for Mrs Fillworts Tea and Cake stall. Mrs Fillworth was old, very old; almost blind and completely deaf, but she made an amazing mug of tea and a very good cake. It didn’t matter what you ordered from Mrs Fillworts Tea and Cake stall in the Pilots Market, you got a mug of tea, white. A slice of cake, sponge. A scone with a knob of butter, a tiny pot of jam, and a tiny dollop of cream. Just enough jam and cream for a scone in fact.
Plonking the two heavy clay gallon jugs of runny-honey on the counter, Creamy shouted at Mrs Fillwort.
“Hello Mrs Fillworth, it’s Creamy. I brought you some honey”
“Alright dear, just sit down and I’ll bring it over. Five Credits please”
“No thank you Mrs Fillworth” Shouted Creamy a little louder “I only came to drop off the honey and ask you if..”
“Is that you Brandon? Five Credits, and you owe me from yesterday too”
“No, it’s Creamy. I’ve got your..”
“Charlie?”
“No no Mrs Fillworth, Creamy”
“Don’t be silly, that’s not a name. Have you brought my honey Charlie?”
Creamy took a breath and smiled, it always went like this with Mrs Fillworth.
“Yes Mrs Fillworth two gallons of finest runny, just the way you like it”
“Oh thank you Charlie, you’re a good boy” The little old biddy picked up the two jugs and waddled out the back of her strange little stall where the magic of bakery happened in secret. “I was telling your mother the other day..”
She hadn’t told Creamys mother anything, ever, and Creamy had often wondered who's son Mrs Fillworth thought he was, but that didn’t matter.
“.. and he said Charlie would know. How about that?” finished Mrs Fillworth as she came back out. “Now where were we.. Oh yes, just sit down and I’ll bring it to you when it’s ready. Five credits please. . . Have you seen Brandon? He owes my ten credits”
“Yes Mrs Fillworth, thank you. Here’s my five and Brandon’s ten. I’ll sit over by the pole”
It was the easiest way; he’d be able to talk with her once she brought Creamys’ tray over. . and found the right table.
With Mrs Fillworth on board for accepting the Citi workers' meal tokens, it was easy enough to convince the rest of the free caterers to join in. All Creamy had to do in return was bring in their stock at a better price, it was only fair.
A Lords work is never done, but fortunately his AX fleet support ship had a very large cargo bay for holding de-con limpets, and Creamy knew a guy in Eravate. Count Goodness supplied them with Bee colonies that were used to zero G. Heading to his ship, Creamy got ready to dip his toes in the fresh produce business.