lucille

Pink is an imposter in this because we can all agree that MIRA is run by a bunch of aliens trying to infect everyone, right? Also crewmates/non infected people are referred to as beans because. Bean

PINK!POV

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Pink wasn't quite sure why they were fond of this particular bean. They certainly shouldn’t be, considering that they had witnessed MIRA’s negligence first hand, and seemed to still be friends, or at least acquainted, with another crewmate that hadn’t signed the NDA. In most cases, that would mean that the bean was a hindrance, someone who could call out the poor practices that Pink knew their company had, someone who could stir up trouble, someone who should be quickly and efficiently disposed of.

However, that wasn’t true for this one.

For some reason, Pink liked this Red. Well, liked was a strong term. As an alien, liking and disliking things were complicated. They themselves hadn’t felt affection for another since they’d been infected, and they didn’t mind that. Feelings were for crewmates. Dispensable, ignorant, stupid little crewmates that were only good for being pawns.

Maybe that was it. This Red was just *so* stupid, so ignorant, so ready to turn a blind visor to MIRA’s actions if it meant they could be captain of their own ship. Or maybe they weren’t stupid, and were taking advantage of this situation as best they could. An intern to a captain, skipping all the steps in between.

Remembering how they looked, sweating and trying to look confident despite clearly being terrified, Pink was rather sure it was the former.

*Cute*.

Distantly, they registered the bean as cute, at that moment.

Not in a way that was anything more than watching a pet do something *you* may know is pointless, but *it* doesn’t.

Maybe that’s why they went out of their way to make the calls that were usually delegated to lower managers, the short daily calls to check in on how things were going. They’d watch them with all too much scrutiny through the camera, and smile internally each time the Red would stumble or stutter over their words, each time they would assure that making them the captain was the right choice with enough overcompensation to fill a bucket.

Their starter, short, test trip, a three day long excursion to a nearby planet and back, dropping off some needed workers, went well. So, graciously, Pink decided to let the Red bring their friend- Pink was… pretty sure they were a friend, but with how the two looked at each other, there was definitely something complicated there. Well, they didn’t care too much. The label of ‘friend’ would work until it could no longer -with them on their first *real* journey.

It was the other intern that refused to sign the NDA, that Purple that they made sure was blacklisted from everything. Pink was getting ready to get rid of that liability for good, considering they seemed to be someone who spoke up, but if that Red wanted them to travel with them…

Perhaps Pink is getting soft.

*“You need to do well, Red.”*

Usually, they disliked calling the beans by their colors, it gave them a sense of individuality that they hadn’t ever earned. However, this was different, as the Red had stood in front of their desk, after giving the pitch as to why their former fellow intern should be hired.

*”Of course! I will not disappoint!”*

They’d replied, with a nod so eager Pink was sure their hat would fly off. And it did, hitting the ground a few feet behind them. The Red had taken an awkward step back, quickly plucking the hat off the ground and pulling it back onto their head, looking as if they wished the ground would swallow them up.

*Cute.*

Pink decided not to point it out, and instead, push their luck a little more with phrasing.

*”You promise that you’re going to do good, for me, Red? That you and your friend will be good, for me?”*

That time holding their hat down when they nodded, the Red had looked a bit flustered, especially compared to the ever stoic look of Pink and their bodyguards.

*”I, ah, I promise, boss. I’ll get it done with no casualties at all! In fact, I’ll get that Ore-Plus to you early!”*

They had declared, with enough fake confidence that Pink almost believed they were talking to a car salesperson. That promise was impossible, however, as the time frame given was already the shortest one possible. It was easier to give small reprimands to ships that were slightly late, then the promised bonuses to the ones that were early, and MIRA never promised to play fair.

*”No need for that. Well, run along, now. I’ll look into getting your friend approved.”*

As Pink watched them leave, they quietly decided that they would try their best to have that Red be one of the last of the ones infected.

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Red pisses me off can someone put a leash on them