Pirate once captured - "Those eyes... those.. horrible... eyes... I see them, even when I sleep!"
Security officer to the human - "What in the name of all the powers did you DO to them?"
Human, shrugging - "Nothing abnormal, honest. When I capture pirates, all I do is look them in the eyes as I put the restraints on them, and smile."
Security officer to their superior - "We're going to need some serious meds here, soon, and therapists." -- Anon Guest
"Speak softly and with a smile," recited Human Saif as she escorted the last of the pirates to a minimalistic habitat cell. "And the world pay close attention." Then, to prove her point, she smiled.
It was not an offer of friendship, as most Human smiles were. This was not, I am baring my teeth so you can see I will not bite. This was, I am baring my teeth so you can see how sharp they are.
Officer Erl was paying very close attention, now that their former ally scared the living excrement out of them. Suddenly on guard against the otherwise friendly human. "Where the flakk did you learn to smile like that?"
"Incel defence course. Grew up on a colony world with a lot of Deregger attitudes, so... When they tell you to smile... smile relentlessly. Smile like you wish they were dead, and horribly so. Smile until they beg you to stop. It's super effective," Saif's grin turned into the far more amenable one that actually had mirth and humour behind it. "I hardly need it in the Alliance, but I still love using it to put the wind right up some deserving miscreants."
Erl settled their feathers down. "You put the wind right up me and I'm trained against threats. I'm going to have to report this method to the CRC you know."
"I know," Saif sighed. "The cause of the method has already been reported, but the gears of diplomacy turn incredibly slowly. There's going to be a lot more AFAB's from home who know the same trick."
Advance warning was always better than nothing, Erl supposed.
[Photo by Tengyart on Unsplash]
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