"'Tis a fair offer, Runaound. Let me ask Pine of Grimace take a gander at these machines, and I'll talk to your drivers and see if we can't all drive the dry road together." I fix him with a steady look and say neutrally with a hint of amusement, "W…
It's nice to just talk dry with people, it's why I love working at the Club. People fascinate me, and this Runround is a character of the first degree. Considering his offer, tapping my first two fingers against my pursed lips, I regard him and ment…
"I have his smiles, his charisma, and his sense of showmanship. My eyes and hands are my mother's; the rest is mostly original material... But my ears are the same as a cousin's." I tug a lobe, twice. "What of your family?" It's always a delicate qu…
I glance downward, a moment to be demure, accepting the compliment. "One does as one can." I doff my hat and twirl it briefly between my fingers, then flip it back to its perch on my head. "My father taught me that move," I share, surprising myself.…
I open my mouth and shut it, shooting a quick glance to Pine and SeaTac. I instead use small words. "Cars and those to drive them, yes." All are one syllable, so I score a bonus point.
Still amused from Pine's casual flirting with SeaTac, I let slip the issue of gender. For now. I fold my hands behind my back and cross one ankle behind the other, as I do. "Dear Pine has graciously allowed me to relate to you that I am also the one…
I'm not quite hungry enough to eat the rattonastik, but it smells all right. I passing nod to the vendor, for whenever our paths next cross. One never knows. I hold up a hand to placate sweet Pine of Grimace. "No sight on you nor Grimace. But a crow…
I slowly pull out smile number four with a brightness. "Opportunity and mobility are fine things, SeaTac." I shift my weight to be a little closer to him.
"YouDub? For true and for reals, o Pine?" I cock an eyebrow. "I surely hope they're not sore over that wretched dice game."
Once we're outside, "I have a few other touchstones I'd like to check on, here at Pike." I tick off fingers. "If the Seed La…
"That's rather kind of you, Balls." How much is a coffee for good music? I run some numbers in the back of my head. "I will check their, you know, validity, as I can." I hope they work.
And yes, I pay for the needed parts.
A weary look crosses my face slow enough for SeaTac, but faster than I expect Balls to catch. "The music machine is a mite persnickety, SeaTac." I catch myself, I sound like Gates. "But when she sings, she sings. Hizzoner gave me a fair number of th…
I tip my hat at Balls, proffer smile number two. I don't trust him because things tend to go walkies around him. I can't prove he's a thief, but he's one to watch with three eyes. Nonetheless, he does amazing work with the electrics. "Hoihoi, Balls.…
I look over each of my shoulders before reaching into my jacket to hand Pine two jingle if it's clear- one oddment, one of SafeCoins, looking her in the eye. "Don't let Balls bamboozle you, my dear." I cup her hands around the jingle then cup mine o…
"Well, Pine, I wouldn't exactly say I'm ever dry when sweet folk are watching my backside." I hip check her with a subtle wiggle while keeping eyes on SeaTac and my mouth curled just so in a half-smile-half-kiss. "But I don't mind extra company if …
I watch his fascinating mustache. I wonder how I would look with one? "That sounds like looking for work to me, my friend. I'll keep an ear open for you... and your young ward." I'm about to invite him to the market with us, but I quick glance at Pi…
"Sooooo, you're looking for work, then?" I feel my thumbnail rubbing against my index finger, very lightly. I cover the motion by drawing forth my cigarette case, offering to Pine and SeaTac first, then affixing one slim cig in a holder. "Or just ea…
To Joey, "Sunny and dry, with a chance of clouds, depending on how goes my market shopping." He's still slight, might be useful to get in and fix the windmill, if he can blackthumb. Surely he must, being of the Arrows but not being an Arrow... Must …
"My mother would tell me that diplomacy is the art of saying, 'don't shoot' while reloading." Smile number two. I can guess at what sort of diplomacy he actually means. I hunker down to get eye level with the boy. "Hello, cadet. I'm Valentine. How d…
I read things into SeaTac's look. Is he judging, assessing? Does he even thing about that time in the tunnels? I keenly remember the hot blood on my blades; it's not something I'm shy of, but also not something to post on the daily specials board or…
I jot down the requests, stashing my shopping list in a pocket. My eyes dance about Pine's flirting with Ivar, a one-sided dance, taking notes. I'll need to find a surprise for Ivar personally, too.
During the time in Grimace, I certainly hold onto…
I'll check in with Ivar, Cigarette Girl, and Needle, to see if they want or need anything from Pike. I expect to be back by evening.
The only thing left is to bring what needs bringing. Some jingle, some trade, weapons, my hat.
I nod as the pattern of lights settle, a slight worry to my brow. "Hope and spit, with a little good luck." I'll poke my head in, not second-guessing, just seeing the repair for if I or Ivar need to do something next.
"Many thanks, Pine of Grimace.…
"Come for the duels, stay for the coffee, return for your Valentine," I quip. "The whores are a new development." No, I don't really answer her question. I'm not always this chipper. I rummage in the sack to see if she's got a mirror or another shin…
I hand her the good old mallet before she asks. A few good thumps will help loosen the bolt. My father used a thing called Dubyadee Forty for rust, but that was long long ago.
"Ruffians do have their charm, and their place... and their fun, taken i…
"Flatterer!" I show teeth, pleased. I don't think she's flirting, just showing off her ego. And it's a nice ego.
I strain to hear what she's saying about Pike and Millions; it's been far too long since I've been out there and every scrap of reliabl…
"There's parts of this whole place are running on hope and spit. Now that the HM has taken up residence, a few other bodily fluids as well." Wry humor, half-lidded eyes. Pine's brown eyes have depth, I read an intense focus as she works.
You know I…
By all the stars and the red clouds in the sky, I love coming up here. Wouldn't you? Not all do; I would never send Ivar up here unless 'twas dire. I know that some have a fear of ladders; I joke that it's not the falling to be afear'd of, but rathe…