"Not all of them!  And even some that are're just, like, jump this person to the front of that queue for us."

"Mmhmm. Man, I wish I had watched the Godfather recently. I am sure there is a reference I could make."

"Godfather?  I mean, I get the sense it's a vid, but.  Distance."

"Oh, right. It's a really old... series, about a mob boss. Probably not that similar to anything happening here. Just sort of topical."

"Those we have, and, uh, you're not as wrong as I'd like you to be.  Pretty sure they think of us like a, a franchisee or something."

Snort. "A franchise?"

"We pay them off, they leave our people alone and don't operate in our territory without permission- but I bet from where they're standing it just looks like working through a middleman."

Thomas makes a face. "Is that a problem here? The planet that is."

"Not nearly as much as some places you hear about- they've got sort of an understanding with the docks, no one else has much worth stealing if you're trying to sell it 'stead of just needing it yourself, the Ring didn't bother making any drugs or whatever illegal so there's not much smuggling business..."

"I guess there is something to be said about having laws that you can enforce."

"Better than the alternative.  Any of the alternatives, really."  Another customer appears and exchanges greetings with Doors, then makes the same waving gesture across the corner of the cart as the rude woman did and departs with two spicy kebabs.

"Tell us, if you think we are interfering with serving customers."

"You won't chase anyone away just by being here, if you don't mind pausing our chat when folks come by.  Might be getting onto time for your own dinner, though?"

"Yeah, pretty close to."

"Do we have to do anything before dinner?"

"Not in particular- could introduce you to anyone else who's trickled back, but that can happen at dinner just as well."

Shrug.

"Might be a good idea to go back and do some inventorying..."

"Yeah, all right.  Of, like-"  she glances at Doors, "stuff you brought with you, or what?"

"Yes."

"Well, yeah, that."

"Might as well, then.  Thanks for the help, Doors, I'll make sure to let Gran know."

     "Anytime, kid."

"Nice meeting you."

And they can head back inside; the door takes three tries to read Peg's thumbprint but eventually lets them in.

"So that's Doors.  She's good people."

"Agreed. Still, man, your world."