Antique Rug Practices

Hoshi sits up, but looks down at the Persian rug below him. “I... I must admit to my craven nature, Lady. I have no wish to see my end coming for me.”
            “Oh give it a rest, you’re already hired.”
            Hoshi’s head snaps up at this. “Excuse me?”
            “Well done with the Sagara girl. Her mother’s being arrested as we speak, and we’ll have enough to drag down half the court in scandal. More men will gather to the cause of the Men of Spirit, and revolution will be inevitable. Ojai will go down, the Lord Commander’s military dictatorship will be at an end, and the reformist Queen will likely be restored to the throne. If they don’t go for outright democracy. Of course, it will be messy, and take years. Do you look forward to the violence, Hoshi?”
            “That’s not my name. I don’t know who this Hoshi is, please, I do not enjoy violence!”
            “Well you’ve sparked some. In about a decade, Ryujin should be open for trade with the rest of the Republic.”
            “I didn’t do this for you, Lady, or for your government.”
            The woman chuckles loudly. “I don’t imagine you did, Hoshi. So. Who did you do it for? Who are you working with?” With this, she pulls out her side-arm.  “This is why I brought all the muscle, if you’re wondering,” she says, waving her gun carelessly at the armed men. “Otherwise I’d just hire you. You were simply splendid.”
            “I’m not working for anyone,” Hoshi pleads. “Please.”  
            “I said drop the fucking act,” she says and whips the gun out to a two-handed grip. “You’re not fooling anyone. Now if you say one more word in that dripping Ryujin fucking idiot accent, I will definitely shoot you.”
            Hoshi falls back against the cot. “Yeah, alright. You’ve done figured me out, lady.” And now it’s an insult, not an honorific, and she’s obviously pleased so she lowers the gun.