[ He makes a gruff little noise at that. He's not sure about graduating straight to something that intense, but maybe he can run a few on a screen. They've got something similar to flickers here, but with a lot more color, sound, and what he's pretty sure are projections that would require magic and/or technology he hasn't encountered before. ]
Think you can show me sometime? I ain't real good with gettin' things set up. Also. Show me how t'lock down things on here. Just in case. I been kinda... blabbin' some stuff in public that ain't meant for it. Gotta change that.
[ Feeling guilty about naming Phainon's subconscious secrets out loud to the rest of the Wayfarers on the Copilot mingle? Maybe. ]
S'a reason I been survivin' on my rations out here. That and needin' my food burnt thanks to my stomach issues. Found most folks ain't a fan of the smell. There's a sayin' back in Nieve, "she's a real fizz." Means someone's got a lot of pep. Figure it fits her.
Come to think of it, I ain't given you a moniker yet. Unless Applesauce counts.
I see Cable Knit's alias for me's catchin'. 'Preciate it, Applesauce.
... Unless you wanna be "Who's There" considerin' how much time you been spendin' with Knock-knock.
Yeah, s'a condition. Runs in the family, though Conrit don't got it as bad. [ In that his furnace doesn't kick up as easily. But the poor kid does still need his food burnt at times... And forget eating anything like ice cream. ]
Edited (Oops gotta needle that tense little relationship.......) 2025-12-31 01:38 (UTC)
Dunno what you mean, Applesauce. I'll save Who's There for one of Knock-knock's world fellas if they show up. Maybe the one he said's blond and clumsy.
Yeah. Taught him t'play Galahad. Prob'ly should teach you too so he don't make off with all your credits. [ The 'in addition to your heart' goes unsaid. ]
Cable Knit goes by Dean. We started jokin' 'bout startin' a knittin' club right from the get-go. He calls me "Speakeasy" too. Guessin' it's somethin' to do with how I talk?
No, no, ( he begins with a laugh, eyes creasing when he smiles in the privacy of his own space, ) a speakeasy is, like... Alcohol used to be illegal, so speakeasies were secret businesses people ran to sell it. Under the table and stuff. It does kind of double as a speech thing, too, though, and it fits... You actually talk like someone from Earth's early twentieth century, which was a century ago for me when I was alive.
It's a cool accent, man. ( Added to ensure Ladon knows he's fond of it. An inside joke Ladon can be a part of, now apparently shared by him when he's of the same mind as Dean. )
What's Galahad? Is Noct good at it, orβYou know, either way, I think I'll kick his ass at it.
... Under the table, though... [ One can practically hear the cash registers going off in Ladon's head.
An entire century though. He knows a few people who've lived that long, but it really drives home how different their worlds are. He's curious if the same could be said of the Earth Avalon Lea came from, but there's no way to ask a dead woman questions, let alone one that isn't even here. ]
S'a card game. Two cards to start, goal is twenty-one face value. He kept holdin' up with draws 'til he won with a smooth twenty. Think he gets the strategy part, but luck's always a part of the deal, yeah?
Girl, tell me about it. ( Waves his hand as though Ladon can see the dismissive motion.
FUCK THE GOVERNMENT, ETC. )
Some of the stupidest decisions were made back then. I'm sure if you actually were from Earth circa nineteen-twenty, you'd be throwing your hat down all indignant at how dumb everyone was.
Anyway, that sounds just enough like Blackjack for me to be excited. I am notoriously unlucky, but I do so love the thrill of gambling. Teach me your ways, Master Ceto.
I mean. Be a helluva way to make a fortune. Know a few fellas who know how to brew their own. Tastes like shoe polish, but if you ain't able t'be picky...
[ He would never give up his top shelf single malt whisky, though, thank you very very much. ]
Pretty much what the li'l robot critters here're askin' for, not givin' us access to real smokes. At least G-Force found a substitute.
Let's put together a game night, yeah? You, me, Knock-knock, maybe Cable Knit and... who's that other fella you talk to a lot? Reliant? Hell, I'd invite Miss Fizz, but I got a feelin' she'd clean out our wallets. Galahad works well with two but we need more hats in the ring for Dagonet.
I mean, at that point, I think shoe polish hooch would have to do. ( Hell, he'd drink it, and Ladon's got the connections to get him some. Nice. )
That's honestly the easiest way for the government to piss the people off, though: Take something fun away from us. Then we set cars on fire... and, like, steal from drug stores and crap.
( King of tangents, Jonas continues to paint a colourful picture. He's always been exceedingly verbose, but that just means he's calm, comfortable, content.
Especially with Ladon. )
Who's Reliant?
... Oh, Cain? That's his username on the network, but yeah, he'd totally come gamble with us. That sounds fun, and we could bet credits or something. Or, like, random stuff we've come across.
Fizz should really come, too. I'd feel bad if we left your friend out, honestly... If I team up with her, it'll make her worse, so maybe that'll balance everyone out.
S'what I was tryin' to explain to Knock-knock. He's surprised that I ain't thrilled 'bout not gettin' set before the law came down 'bout gamblin' in Nieve. Gettin' grandfathered in's real ace if you can swing it. Instead we gotta pay folks to look the other way. And the price keeps goin' up.
[ Boohoo, mobster doesn't like having to pay to take advantage of corruption at the government level. Especially because it's in his partner's name, but still.
Ladon is also a chatty guy when he feels comfortable. ]
Yeah, Cain. Think I seen him 'round. I got a possible system for chips since we ain't got real money. You found any pieces of glass that've gone all round and dull? Found some while diggin' the ship outta that dune. Figure those'll work for credits 'til we find somethin' better.
And yeah, okay. I'll invite her, but kiss your space-kale goodbye. She's a sharp one.
Being real with you right now, brother: I understood, like, half of what you just said. ( How nostalgic; isn't this how they met?
This time, instead of being bratty about it, there's a clear smile in Jonas' voice. Their differences are enjoyable, and Ladon's speech patternsβand accentβare charming. )
"Not getting set"... uh... what's "grandfathered in"? I got the other part, though, about the bribes. It sucks you have to go through that just to, like, have a good time.
( Mobster-in-training. )
The glass is really pretty, though, so I'd be down. Maybe the locals like to barter with it and stuff. It could be useful.
... Maybe we could pay Fizz to look the other way. "Grease her palms," or whatever.
All right, so gamblin' used to be all above board. On the level. Legal. Then the church gets real whiny 'bout the fact that we're usin' the names of their Knights of the Round and makin' their names the same as a game of chance. So they pressured the city-states and eventually, boom. Gamblin' is illegal. Gettin' grandfathered in means you were already there, already running games, so they don't make you close down because you're a big part of society. Smokey Joe's had the reputation, before I bought it and called it the Golden Apple. Then suddenly since it's not Smokey Joe's, I gotta not run games unless I wanna pay protection money to the folks who can look the other way.
S'the long and short of it.
[ Ladon is so proud. Though he knows he shouldn't be, contributing to the delinquency of younger Wayfarers. ]
S'nice stuff. Pink and purple. Like the sunsets back home. And t'be honest, don't think we gotta worry 'bout Fizz rattin' us out. Just 'bout takin' us for everything we got. 'Specially in Dagonet. Got a feelin' she could bluff her way out of a bad hand with nothin' but a smile and a story, and have the table thank her for it.
Wow, the church screws everything up again. Why am I not surprised at all? ( Who cares about the card game names? They're just games. He doesn't understand, nor is it likely that he'll ever. ) I can't believe I'm just hearing about this now, though. Like, you owning a... a what, casino? Dude.
( That is... Well, one of the coolest things he's ever heard, actually. Owning a casino sounds like an incredible responsibility, but fun, rewarding, lucrative.
Jonas realizes he has a lot to learn from this Ladon Ceto. )
All talk of Fizz aside, because I'm starting to get worried now that you're, like, singing her praises so hard, can I ask you something? Illegal gambling, protection money, that kind of thing... You talk about stuff like that a lot.
Have you been a, uh... ( Ahem. ) Bad boy, Mister Ceto? You know. Law-wise.
Technically, I own the club. The casino's my business partner's. But considerin' one's cover for the other... [ He gestures with both hands, then realizes they're on audio so that really isn't accomplishing anything. ] Tit for tat. Now and then I run out some cheats and sore losers when Hardy's busy elsewhere. Hard to throw loaded dice or use marked cards with broken fingers.
Countin' cards's a strategy, though. Even if Hardy don't like hearin' it.
[ And... we're going to have to pause for a moment. Because Ladon Ceto just snorted his drink. Evidenced by the way he suddenly starts to cough-laugh. ]
Yeah. I'm what folks back home call a "wrong number." Got a rap sheet, cops know me by name, so-on an' so-on. Tryin' not to fall into the same kinda patterns here but... [ He glances over at his stash of dreamweed. So much for that. ] Habits die hard.
Hardy's... my business partner. [ Yeah, that pause is loaded. ] One of the fellas I robbed banks with in my twenties.
[ This time he wasn't drinking anything. But it does give him a chuckle to hear that out loud. ] I'll tell 'im you said so if I figure out a way to get word back.
[ Or he shows up here. Ladon doesn't even want to voice that possibility-- both out of fear and false hope. ]
How d'you mean? I sorta keep things lookin' clean from the outside. But when certain things need doin', I got that down too. Hypothetically. Can't confirm or deny, y'know, all that bushwa my lawyer makes me say.
I don't know, honestly... Maybe we should talk about it in person sometime? Then you can cough or tip your hat to signal "yes" or "no."
I'm not unfamiliar with the whole business, you know what I mean? I mean, I don't know anything about casinos or clubs, but I've got some experience in a few areas.
Willin' to talk in person, yeah. Just ain't very trustin' of the bots runnin' this network. In my experience, don't want nothin' that sticks 'round... Voice, writin', anythin'. S'got a way of comin' back to bite you later.
[ He's waiting for the "have you killed anybody" question to drop, to be honest. He's just not sure which young fella he's started talking to it'll come from first. ]
![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
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Think you can show me sometime? I ain't real good with gettin' things set up. Also. Show me how t'lock down things on here. Just in case. I been kinda... blabbin' some stuff in public that ain't meant for it. Gotta change that.
[ Feeling guilty about naming Phainon's subconscious secrets out loud to the rest of the Wayfarers on the Copilot mingle? Maybe. ]
S'a reason I been survivin' on my rations out here. That and needin' my food burnt thanks to my stomach issues. Found most folks ain't a fan of the smell. There's a sayin' back in Nieve, "she's a real fizz." Means someone's got a lot of pep. Figure it fits her.
Come to think of it, I ain't given you a moniker yet. Unless Applesauce counts.
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( Maybe Ladon will understand a reference to illegal booze smuggling; Jonas has to try, and if it fails... Well, he still finds it funny. )
... I'm also weirdly attached to Applesauce now, unless you have another banger you want to share with me.
But, uh, what's that about burning your food? Do you seriously need to eat it like that?
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... Unless you wanna be "Who's There" considerin' how much time you been spendin' with Knock-knock.
Yeah, s'a condition. Runs in the family, though Conrit don't got it as bad. [ In that his furnace doesn't kick up as easily. But the poor kid does still need his food burnt at times... And forget eating anything like ice cream. ]
NOT MY OVERT BABY GAY FEELINGS
( Knock. Noct. Noctis.
Oh. )
... Ha-ha, dude, you're so funny. That's so funny. I'm not your and Conrit's dinner, alright, so stop trying to burn me to a crisp.
Noct's my friend. You guys have hung out, right?
He's got your number, Baby J
Yeah. Taught him t'play Galahad. Prob'ly should teach you too so he don't make off with all your credits. [ The 'in addition to your heart' goes unsaid. ]
Cable Knit goes by Dean. We started jokin' 'bout startin' a knittin' club right from the get-go. He calls me "Speakeasy" too. Guessin' it's somethin' to do with how I talk?
π³
It's a cool accent, man. ( Added to ensure Ladon knows he's fond of it. An inside joke Ladon can be a part of, now apparently shared by him when he's of the same mind as Dean. )
What's Galahad? Is Noct good at it, orβYou know, either way, I think I'll kick his ass at it.
( FAMOUS LAST WORDS... FROM A DUMB, DUMB BOY... )
1/3
2/3
3/3
... Under the table, though... [ One can practically hear the cash registers going off in Ladon's head.
An entire century though. He knows a few people who've lived that long, but it really drives home how different their worlds are. He's curious if the same could be said of the Earth Avalon Lea came from, but there's no way to ask a dead woman questions, let alone one that isn't even here. ]
S'a card game. Two cards to start, goal is twenty-one face value. He kept holdin' up with draws 'til he won with a smooth twenty. Think he gets the strategy part, but luck's always a part of the deal, yeah?
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FUCK THE GOVERNMENT, ETC. )
Some of the stupidest decisions were made back then. I'm sure if you actually were from Earth circa nineteen-twenty, you'd be throwing your hat down all indignant at how dumb everyone was.
Anyway, that sounds just enough like Blackjack for me to be excited. I am notoriously unlucky, but I do so love the thrill of gambling. Teach me your ways, Master Ceto.
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[ He would never give up his top shelf single malt whisky, though, thank you very very much. ]
Pretty much what the li'l robot critters here're askin' for, not givin' us access to real smokes. At least G-Force found a substitute.
Let's put together a game night, yeah? You, me, Knock-knock, maybe Cable Knit and... who's that other fella you talk to a lot? Reliant? Hell, I'd invite Miss Fizz, but I got a feelin' she'd clean out our wallets. Galahad works well with two but we need more hats in the ring for Dagonet.
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That's honestly the easiest way for the government to piss the people off, though: Take something fun away from us. Then we set cars on fire... and, like, steal from drug stores and crap.
( King of tangents, Jonas continues to paint a colourful picture. He's always been exceedingly verbose, but that just means he's calm, comfortable, content.
Especially with Ladon. )
Who's Reliant?
... Oh, Cain? That's his username on the network, but yeah, he'd totally come gamble with us. That sounds fun, and we could bet credits or something. Or, like, random stuff we've come across.
Fizz should really come, too. I'd feel bad if we left your friend out, honestly... If I team up with her, it'll make her worse, so maybe that'll balance everyone out.
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[ Boohoo, mobster doesn't like having to pay to take advantage of corruption at the government level. Especially because it's in his partner's name, but still.
Ladon is also a chatty guy when he feels comfortable. ]
Yeah, Cain. Think I seen him 'round. I got a possible system for chips since we ain't got real money. You found any pieces of glass that've gone all round and dull? Found some while diggin' the ship outta that dune. Figure those'll work for credits 'til we find somethin' better.
And yeah, okay. I'll invite her, but kiss your space-kale goodbye. She's a sharp one.
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This time, instead of being bratty about it, there's a clear smile in Jonas' voice. Their differences are enjoyable, and Ladon's speech patternsβand accentβare charming. )
"Not getting set"... uh... what's "grandfathered in"? I got the other part, though, about the bribes. It sucks you have to go through that just to, like, have a good time.
( Mobster-in-training. )
The glass is really pretty, though, so I'd be down. Maybe the locals like to barter with it and stuff. It could be useful.
... Maybe we could pay Fizz to look the other way. "Grease her palms," or whatever.
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S'the long and short of it.
[ Ladon is so proud. Though he knows he shouldn't be, contributing to the delinquency of younger Wayfarers. ]
S'nice stuff. Pink and purple. Like the sunsets back home. And t'be honest, don't think we gotta worry 'bout Fizz rattin' us out. Just 'bout takin' us for everything we got. 'Specially in Dagonet. Got a feelin' she could bluff her way out of a bad hand with nothin' but a smile and a story, and have the table thank her for it.
no subject
( That is... Well, one of the coolest things he's ever heard, actually. Owning a casino sounds like an incredible responsibility, but fun, rewarding, lucrative.
Jonas realizes he has a lot to learn from this Ladon Ceto. )
All talk of Fizz aside, because I'm starting to get worried now that you're, like, singing her praises so hard, can I ask you something? Illegal gambling, protection money, that kind of thing... You talk about stuff like that a lot.
Have you been a, uh... ( Ahem. ) Bad boy, Mister Ceto? You know. Law-wise.
1/2
Countin' cards's a strategy, though. Even if Hardy don't like hearin' it.
[ And... we're going to have to pause for a moment. Because Ladon Ceto just snorted his drink. Evidenced by the way he suddenly starts to cough-laugh. ]
2/2
Think some of it came out my nose. Fuck.
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Wow, though, I didn't realize a guy who breaks thumbs could be shy. Who's that Hardy guy you're talking about? Your muscle or something?
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Hardy's... my business partner. [ Yeah, that pause is loaded. ] One of the fellas I robbed banks with in my twenties.
1/2
2/2
( I do it for the vine )
You specialize in something? You gotta tell me about it. I'm not gonna say I'm interested, I'm just curious, that's all.
( A LYING LIAR )
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[ Or he shows up here. Ladon doesn't even want to voice that possibility-- both out of fear and false hope. ]
How d'you mean? I sorta keep things lookin' clean from the outside. But when certain things need doin', I got that down too. Hypothetically. Can't confirm or deny, y'know, all that bushwa my lawyer makes me say.
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I'm not unfamiliar with the whole business, you know what I mean? I mean, I don't know anything about casinos or clubs, but I've got some experience in a few areas.
( The most vague conversation ever )
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[ He's waiting for the "have you killed anybody" question to drop, to be honest. He's just not sure which young fella he's started talking to it'll come from first. ]
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