Chapter Fifty – Sans But Lucratif
byChapter Fifty – Sans But Lucratif
“Non-profits can be easily split into two broad categories:
Corporate non-profits, which are usually run by the PR, propaganda, or public image department of a company, though the non-profit itself will be its own entity on paper. These exist to make the main company appear more family friendly or somewhat concerned with the community’s welfare.
Community non-profits, which are usually run by members of the local community, and who exist solely to take care of an issue that a few members of the region have decided to champion in their own time and with their own funds.
More often than not, the community based non-profits will fold once they begin to encroach on a corporate non-profit. They cannot be allowed to steal the good image that a corporation is paying large sums to maintain.”
–Quote from a Discourse on Challenges of the Modern Community, 2039
***
It took a minute to convince the secretary that yes, I was a samurai, and no, I wasn’t at their little non-profit to murder or ortherwise harm Peter. I was beginning to suspect that she had something of a crush on the man we were looking for.
“Peter’s office is back here,” she said as she gestured to the back, the bangles on her wrists jingling with the motion.
“Lead on,” I said.
“So, you two both samurai? Like, for real-real?”
I shook my head. “Just me. Lucy here’s my friend.”
“Yes, I’m Cat’s friend,” Lucy said.
I shot her a look, but she was wearing a shit-eating grin that promised future teasing, so I decided that I’d wait a while before explaining myself.
Peter’s office at the back wasn’t anything special. This wasn’t someone that had a fancy set up, either because he didn’t have the budget for it, or because he didn’t want to look like he had the budget. Then again, if Myalis suggested that he was working off of a shoestring budget, then I trusted her.
The girl knocked on the office’s glass door. “Peter, you have some highbrow guests here.”
“Oh, I’m highbrow now,” Lucy said.
“You were always high maintenance,” I replied offhandedly.
I had to suppress the urge to jump as the door opened and Lucy pinched my rear at exactly the same time. A man stood in the entrance, tall, with a chiseled sort of jaw and bright eyes. His hair was a little untidy, but in that sort of shampoo commercial way, and he had just a hint of a five o’ clock shadow on. “Hello?” he asked.
“Heya,” I said. “You got a minute?”
“What’s this about?” he asked. “I’m sure I can make some time for you, but I am rather busy right now.”
I nodded. “That’s alright. Just need a couple of minutes. My name’s Catherine, but folk call me Stray Cat. I’m a samurai based out of New Montreal. I had some, uh, stuff that might interest you.”
He stared at me for a moment, then turned to the woman next to me. “Can you do me a huge favour and text Martin about my five o’ clock, tell him something’s come up and that I’ll be with him as soon as I can. He knows that I wouldn’t put him off for anything that isn’t important.”
“Hey, sure thing, Peter,” she said before backing off. She eyed Lucy and I before leaving.
“Sorry, please, come in,” he said as he backed into the office. The table had some trinkets on it, and a few random pages stacked off to the side. It wasn’t the biggest of offices, but there was room for a pair of mismatched chairs in front of the desk, and a bookshelf to the side filled with boring-looking texts. Peter moved behind the desk and clicked his laptop shut. “I’m sorry, this isn’t my office, I’m borrowing it for the day. I’m on the move too much to have my own, really.”
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