Lando didnβt even want a companion. She had nothing against them; they were helpful for the male loneliness epidemic and things like that, but she didnβt need one personally, and if she were to choose one for herself it would be a woman. Female companions were rarer and more prestigious and what the hell was Lando supposed to do with this ran-through old guy?Β
βYou have a lot in common,β Zak said, his blustery American twang. βI just think youβll really get along.βΒ
Which was bullshit, of course. He didnβt really think Lando was going to get along with a washed up companion ten years her senior; Zak wanted the exposure. It was like any other company that sent her PR in the mail hoping to get free advertisement, except this chill no pressure βpresentβ required her to sign a contract that was ninety eight pages long.Β
She couldnβt maim Daniel, it said, and then it went on for three pages to define maiming. She couldnβt scar him on more than 10% of his total surface area, cumulatively. No disfiguring, which required another five pages of definition. She was responsible for ensuring all his basic needs were met in a reasonable manner. Ten pages of what constituted reasonable including example templates of feeding schedules and rest guidelines. If she kept him awake for more then 24 hours straight it constituted torture and she wasnβt allowed to torture him for more than two days without breaks or three days with, and either way she was required to seek professional medical assessment upon the conclusion.Β
She wasnβt allowed to kill him. No tedious legal jargon around that one. She just wasnβt allowed to kill him, full stop.Β
βYou know itβs insane that youβre making me sign this,β Lando said. βIβm not going to do a freaking intentional murder.β
βMore insane if we didnβt,β Zak said cheerfully. βAlright, Daniel.βΒ
Daniel, whoβd been standing in a way that looked relaxed while still not moving a muscle, stepped forward. Zak hugged him. Zak hugged him for a long time.Β
When the hug stretched on absurdly, Lando snapped, βThatβs enough. Youβre going to, fricken, use him up or whatever.βΒ
A booming guffaw from Zak.