[It's well past noon. Earlier, you staved off bandits only to discover that they were going after a slaver, and the bandit leader is yet another old girlfriend of John's. Guy gets around, doesn't he?] (Damn straight!) ( Before condoms... imagine how many STD's he must have! ) (...) (...) [The slaver got away! At least, he's not here right now. You're all heading into a saloon to talk things over with Alexis. That's John's not- girlfriend's name, see. And she seemed peeved with him, but isn't everybody? Oh yeah, and you're in Redrock City. Figures you woulda crossed over the Salamanders.] (*whistles innocently.) [So, you're all entering the saloon. Fanfan tries, too, but seeing as she's unused to Western building design and not as lucky as Sakura, gets smacked in the face by a swinging door. Sure, you can bring down an evil lord, but doors? Those are problems. Jinx can attest to that.] (*whistles innocently.) [Jinx was the guy who went in before her, by the way.] [The place is dimly lit, which makes sense since there's, y'know, windows and the like. It's fairly empty, too. Typical bartender, guys playing cards at one table (and one's complaining about how another player's cheating), and the hooded cloaks in the dark corner.] [Fanfan lands with a thud. Session Start!] * Jinx glances back. "Ugger." He then looks moderately annoyed and sighs before looking over at Mikoto and pointing to his nose. "Ould you triaghten is lease?" * Tairan pauses as Fanfan goes down like a sack of wet mice, and facepalms. "Nice girl, but she really needs to develop a thicker skull..." *mutters; goes to pick her up and carry her to their table* * Alexis sits down with her remaining bandits. Between them and the PCs, the place isn't that empty anymore. * John rolls his eyes. "Really. Well, we're gettin' a table anyways. Might as well sit'er down." * Mikoto blinks as he walks past Tairan picking up Fanfan. "...good grief. Have a seat, Jinx." * Jinx takes a seat. * Millie heads in, finds the table, sits down heavily and hard, folding her arms over her chest. She's still periodically puffing out her cheeks and glaring at Alexis. * John takes a seat, making sure his back isn't torwards the door. * Tairan lifts Fanfan up in a fireman's carry, momentarily thankful that she's small and light, and carries her over to the table, gently depositing her into a chair. * Jinx glances over at Fanfan and tries to look innocent. It doesn't work, not in the slightest. Mainly serves to reassure people that he's probably guilty of something but is at least sorry about it. * Mikoto sits down next to Jinx, turns his chair to face him, and unlatches the medical bag. "Couldn't you have been named 'Lucky', maybe? 'Lord Fortune'? 'Is Not Attacked By Landscape'?" He makes to remove the makeshift bandage. * John snickers. "Call'em Lady Luck." * Jinx shrugs. "I oubt a ame, would ake the ifference." [John succeeds, and how his back's towards the hooded cloaks! Now he can see if a would-be girlfriend is coming in to kill him. If she's coming through the door, anyway.] * Tairan grins. "And people say having a thick skull is a bad thing." *knocks lightly on head; grabs a seat* * John would eye the GMs if he didn't want to bring the 4th wall crashing down around them. Not to mention get the GM's ticked at him. [Of course knowing us, chances are they're all the people wearing the hooded cloaks, so...] * Jinx then looks over at John and snorts. Very little blood comes out this this time. Thankfully. * John smiles. *ting!* (John actually hands out cloaks when he breaks up with someone. It's a parting gift) * Millie points at Alexis, and narrows her eyes, if they can be any more. "You. Talk." * Mikoto winces. "Alright. First we clean, then we set. Shouldn't be too painful." He dabs a cotton swab in a bottle of peroxide. * Alexis eyes Millie, then starts filing her finger nails and says simply. "When I'm ready." (Medical check (diagnosis) when you start the cleanage, Mik.) * Millie leans back and smirks slightly. "So ya'd rather let the guy start ta decide what ta do an' waste time? No wonder ya didn't kill 'im off." Oh, okay. While we're waiting, I can go to the sheriff and inform him that we witnessed this group of people attacking a carraige. 2d6-2 * Dicesuke throws the bones for Mikoto (2d6-2) and gets 5. * Tairan removes his hat and scratches his head. "I dunno, but I *think* I got a good look at 'em." *smirks* * Millie winks at Tairan and grins wider. * Jinx doesn't pay much attention to the conversation. * Alexis smiles at Tairan. "So you want to play it that way? Ok. 'Cause you all killed my men, along with-" she points at John, "- a known outlaw." * Tairan nods. "So it seems neither of us is in much of a position to be shoveling bullshit. So can we stop the posturing and get to the freakin' point? Despite your reasons, you are still a bandit. The only reason you are still alive is because the slavers need to die first. * Millie loses the smirk and looks cooly at Alexis. "Yes. Ya want our help or not?" * Mikoto finishes dabbing off the blood. "Well, looks like your luck runs both ways. Still needs to be set, but it's actually in pretty good shape already." * Alexis eyes Sakura. "You're more of a bandit than me!" Because if not, we've got better things ta do. * Sakura pulls out her sword. "What did you say?" ... hoo boy. That's really all you have on your mind, isn't it? She's really simple minded. [Alexis' bandits rise and draw their guns.] Better that then being an idiot bandit pining over a man, like you. ["Hey!" yells the bartender. "Take it outside!"] * Tairan stands, and moves between the two ladies. "What? You mean our being willing to sacrifice our time to help you out, despite your being an ass? Yeah, that is what's on our mind." * Jinx looks sort of cross eyed down at his nose before he thinks better of it and focuses his attention on the poker game, then the bandits. * Millie blows out a breath and looks at Sakura calmly. "I don't know how they do things in YOUR country, but in here, killin' someone in a saloon full of witnesses is bad form. 'Less it's because they're a cheat." So everyone sit down, shut up... well, no, don't shut up. Sit down, at least. * Alexis tilts her head at Sakura. "Is it? All you care about is killing people. You convieniently label anyone who you don't like as a bandit so you have an excuse, but that's all it is. It's pathetic. (Tairan once again plays the diplomat. :P) ( Hey, Mikoto's busy. =P ) (Good job.) You are a bandit, and a fool. * Mikoto cracks his knuckles, professionally oblivious. "This may sting. Briefly." You're the one in the funny mask. 2d6-2 * Dicesuke throws the bones for Mikoto (2d6-2) and gets 4. * Jinx nods and grips the table. ... AHEM. SIT. DOWN. EVERYONE. [SNAP. Jinx's nose is back into place. And ow, does it hurt.] * Sakura twitches. "Do you wish to die in here, or will you be dignified enough to go outside. * Mikoto shakes out his hands. "There you go. Probably hurts, but that's how you know it worked." * John rubs his head. "Ladies, sit down." And you too, Tairan. * Jinx manages to avoid flinching but does dig his hand into the table a bit. He then rubs his nose. * Millie rubs her head too. "Yeah really." Much better. Thank you Mikoto. My pleasure. Yeah yeah yeah. Kill me, kill my men, then kill the rest of the town... Sheesh. All you do is talk about killing. I'm *trying* to. Trust me, I'm try- grr. *sits down; mutters* See, this is why I hate all this diplomacy crap. * Mikoto starts putting things away. "This happen to you often? Things healing pretty quickly after an accident, that sort of deal?" I only will kill bandits. Unless this is a town of bandits, and I doubt that, I have no reason to "kill the whole town". Fool. Now make your decision. Inside or out. * Jinx shrugs and half grins. "Given the nuumber of accidents I have, yeah, else I'd probably be dead." Oh, I'm sure you can find SOME way to label them as bandits. You are a moron. * Jinx looks over the table. "Well, looks like the situation is well in hand over here. I'll go check the tavern for leads." Sakura... enemy of our enemy? * Jinx stands up and walks over in the direction of the poker game. Huh. *buckle* Well, then. It certainly may explain how you dislodged a bullet from your brain to come back from death. You considered it might be supernatural, perhaps? You has insulted me, and she is a bandit. ( And you have bad grammar! Nyah! ) * Alexis leans back in her chair, grinning. ("Youze has pissed off Sakura. Sakura SMASH youze.) ( have. I'm tired and sick, gimme a break. ) [The bandits keep their pistols pointed at Sakura.] ... so you're gonna kill her because she insulted you, and because she tried to kill a slaver? Look you two. It's damn obvious you hate eachother's guts. But for now, just shut up. The last thing either of you two need is a bar brawl. * Millie stands up and snarls. "Yer one ta talk. Ya DON'T kill anyone in here, understand? They don't jus' allow ya ta kill an' walk away. If ya try it, the whole town WILL come after ya. At least those who can fight." * Jinx grins a bit more back at Mikoto, almost a slight smirk. "Hard to say. There's a lot that Western... err.. Eastern medicine doesn't know." She is a bandit. No matter what good she does, that does not change the fact that she is a bandit. * Alexis looks at Tairan and grins. "Yay! Someone's got it right!" * Jinx then saddles up to the poker game. "Got an open seat?" * Mikoto chuckles. "Lucky for you, I know a bit of both." He pauses. "Do I really want to turn my chair around?" So jus' sit down, shut up, an' let pretty boy handle this. * Alexis points at John. "He's a bandit. How come you don't kill him?" Nothing personal, John. ^_^ * Millie slaps her forehead. "Oh here we go..." .. * John smirks. "Nothing personal except that I've never robbed someone in my life." * Jinx smiles at Mikoto. "Yup, definately lucky." * Sakura looks at John. "You.. are a bandit?" * Millie looks steadily at Alexis. "I ask ya again, do ya want help or not? Ya ain't doin' any favors either." * Jinx looks back at the game. Sakura. Kindly define bandit. Did too. One who attacks others and steals from them. You know what a bandit is. [One of the guys nods at Jinx. "In a sec. This is good." They keep watching the argument.] * Tairan turns to Alexis. "And antagonizing the masked lady with the sword is not improving my opinion of your intelligence, already severely compromised by the fact that you seem unwilling to accept a duty-free offer of help." * Jinx sighs. "Yeah, but you get used to it after a while." He then looks over at the encounter. Have you seen me attack another and steal from them without proper cause? Have you seen Alexis? There is no such thing as proper cause. Then have you? * Alexis sideglances at Tairan. "I'm thinking about whether I want to help a bunch of impolite murderers. You, no. Her, yes. She has admitted to being a bandit. ["Yeah? They do this much?" "The one with the rifle is kinda hot." "You think they're all hot. But yeah, she is."] I never said I was a bandit! You're the bandit! Words mean nothing. People call themselves stuff all the time. It's *what* they do that matters. * Millie slams her head on the table and puffs her cheeks out. "Why you....YOU'RE the one who needs our help! We don't need ya at all!" (...hands, not head!) * Mikoto halfturns his chair around and eyes the argument, rubbing his temples. "I cannot believe you people are squabbling like schoolchildren over this. I for one refuse to have any part of it." For all I know, you were there to let the slaver get away! That's why you attacked my men! (Are you sure? Wham!) * Sakura twitches. "She has called me a bandit TWICE. I can not allow this insult to pass." * Tairan shrugs. "You're expecting fighting people to be well-mannered?" * Millie links arms with John and pulls him towards the exit, puffing out her cheeks. "Let's go, Johnny. We're through here." * Jinx replies to the table "All the time, and yeah, she is." He goes into a customary grin. "And if I play my cards right we'll be on speaking terms again by the end of the day." * John is dragged? Oh well. ... can we just agree that nobody here's a bandit and get on with this? *bangs head against table* [The first guy looks surprised. "She's yours?" Another grumbles a curse and throws his cards on the table.] You're not even thinking about them, are you? About my men, my FRIENDS who you killed without a second thought? And you think I want YOUR help? * Jinx shakes his head. "Nope. I ain't that lucky." Bandits don't have friends. You are worthless scum who cling together like dirt. * John salutes to the first guy with his off-hand. * John is dragged off. Although, she's not quite of a mood to be courted at the moment, I believe. ["Huh. Good luck. Looks like she's got her eyes on that pretty boy there."] * Tairan shrugs. "I had a second thought. You guys were attacking a carraige, wearing masks. We had no way of knowing who was in the carraige." * Alexis looks Sakura in the eyes. "And you don't even have friends, do you? But I'm done with you now." * Mikoto pipes up from behind Jinx. "Don't bet on that. They're rivals more than love interests. Is this poker?" * Jinx nods and grins. "That it is." You are not done. You have insulted me, insulted my honor. I will not allow a bandit to insult me. When one sees people surrounding and besieging a caravan, it's not hard to fall into an assumption of who's in the right and who's in the wrong. It was a mistaken assumption. So you just attack? Don't even say anything? * Alexis holds her palm out at Sakura. "Talk to the hand." * Sakura draws her sword back, preparing to remove the damn hand. (...kill her.) ["Sure," he sighs. "That's what they all say. And then the next thing you know... Oh hell."] And give the presumed hostiles warning? Nah. But if it means anything... we were wrong, and despite my masked friend's minor temper issues... we're sorry. [The bandits point their pistols at Sakura, ready to shoot if she does.] [The bartender's on the other side of the bar, now, and next to the argument. "What'd I tell you about takin' it outside? Calm down or get out before I call the authorities on you."] * Tairan EYES Sakura. "Remember the promise you made when you got that armor? For the time being, until we figure out this slaver thing, she's in our group. So SIT DOWN." You don't act like it! You don't go demanding things from people whose friends you just killed! * Jinx drops the grin and goes into a faint smile. "So, friend here is just in from the East, doesn't have the greatest mind for this sorrt of thing, but I'll cover him if he wants to play and learn a bit." * Jinx glances at Mikoto for a minute before looking back at the group. "I'm sure you gents will go easy on him, you seem nice chaps." * Tairan turns back to Alexis, eyebrow raised. "Demanding? What did we demand, aside from information which might be used to help stop this slaver, so that your friends deaths might not be in vain? * Sakura looks at Tairan. ".. Fine. I will keep my promise, if you consider her part of the group. I will not forget this insult however." * Mikoto smiles vacantly. "We scholars don't play cards very much." * Sakura shealths her sword. * Tairan turns back to Sakura. "I'm not asking you to like her. Hell, challenge her to a duel when this is over for all I care. Right now, relax." * Jinx nods, not really paying attention to the insults and such. "Well we could sit for a hand or two, rejoin the group after that, and see who is dead." They wouldn't have been in vain if you hadn't killed them! The least you could do is apologize and ask nicely for me to help! * Mikoto continues to smile. "If you gentlemen don't mind? I think I have a few... 'dollars'?" Bandits do not deserve nicities. ... I did apologize. And I'll apologize again. I'm sorry for our mistake. * Jinx pats Mikoto on the back. "Oh, you finally memorized the word. Good on you pal." * Tairan grits his teeth, and ignores Sakura. You seem to be the only one. [The bartender nods as things seem to be calming down, and goes back to... uh, tending bar. The second poker player looks up. "Yeah? Y'guys want in on a few rounds?"] (This is so sad. I feel like I'm in "The Sting".) * Tairan shrugs. "What can I say? I'm the normal one in this group." (Naw, that's a long con) (This is just a hustle. :P) (Sadly, I was actually IN that, once. The stage version.) Then... I know! You should join us! * Jinx nods and takes a seat. "Thanks for the offer." * Alexis grins. (Didn't know there was a stage version. How'd it go?) ... don't press your luck, lady. * Mikoto takes a chair, then. "If you don't mind. I'm actually on a fact-finding trip for a cultural studies institute in the Empire. My vocabulary is a bit formal, so please forgive me." * Alexis pouts. * Tairan waves to the bartender. "If you have any sake... STRONG sake... I'd appreciate some." [He looks up. "Got some imported, just for you Easterners." And he sets Tairan up with a glass.] (Sake in a *glass*? Your dead father would be squirming in shame. *ponders this briefly* Kanpai!) * Alexis waves her arms at the bartender. "Me too! I want some too!" * Jinx smiles "And quite the nice gent for an Eastern." Jinx then does an utterly unnecessary from one perspective, but quite important from another, overview of poker for Mikoto. * Tairan rubs his temples again. Not hitting people is hard work. ;_; "Thank you." *downs it; turns to Alexis* "... now, about this slaver." [The poker player nods. "Yeah. I'm Jim." He points. "Pete 'n' Harry." They nod in turn.] Pleasure to meet you. Name's Errant Hare, but people call me Jinx. * Mikoto smiles placidly. "My name is Mikoto. It's my pleasure." [Harry grins. "All right. Always good to know who you're gonna beat." Pete glares at him.] (It's like being Jekyll and Hyde. "Nice to meet you. I'm Mikoto. Hmm... I bet your blood is FRESH AND WAAAAARM..." *fang*) [The bartender gets strong sake for Alexis, too! His father may be squirming in his grave, but he doesn't notice.] Well, ok. I'll tell you, but only 'cause we're the good guys and it's the right... erm, probably not the wrong thing to do. (I dare you to chug it, Tairan. Or ask for a mug!) (Bah. Real men get a mug) * Alexis chugs it. She sets down the glass hard. "Whooooo! That's some good stuff!" ( I already chugged it. =P ) (Real men get a trough! Oh wait no, that's horses) * Alexis waves the glass at the bartender. "Gimme more!" ... please. Can the getting blasted wait until *after* this discussion? Huh? Oh. Yeah, umm... * Jinx gets out some dollars from a wallet sewed into the bottom cuff of his pants and puts them on the table. Well, we had a plan to get him good, but it didn't work 'cause you got in the way and now we'll never get him! Wah! [He gives her a strange look and refills her glass. Yeah.] * Tairan nods. "Thank you. If I had to negotiate this conversation with you drunk, I would strongly consider seppuku." * Mikoto withdraws some money from somewhere inside his surcoat. Behold the beauteously stealthy results of precision Shomuran tailoring. (Tairan, you chugged it? The whole glass?) ( Yup. ) (Give me a body roll. ^^) (HA.) 2d6 * Dicesuke throws the bones for Tairan (2d6) and gets 6. [Tairan's feeling a little buzz, but nothing major. The bartender thoughtfully refills his glass, too.] * Tairan waves the bartender off before he refills. "No thanks. Just needed one to supress the urge to stab people." ( Urge to kill.. falling) [Jim, Pete, 'n' Harry all toss some money in the pot, and Jim shuffles and deals. "Five card draw. Don't need to explain how to play, do we?" he asks Mikoto.] * Mikoto smiles, folding his hands on the table. "I prefer to learn by doing." * Alexis sips her drink. "Sooooo... Now he's back with his men, see? That's why you can't get him." She takes another sip. "He's gotta have 100 or 70 or a bunch of big nasty people who -- Hic! -- 'cuse me. Who have a lot of guns and things, and 'cause we tried to kill him now he'll be ready for another attack so it won't work again." [Harry grins, and Jim nods. "Okay. Aces wild," he says before picking up his hand. The game begins in earnest!] * Tairan turns to Alexis. "More details. Like, who is this slaver? What kind of slaving are we talking about?" Oh! Right right. * Jinx picks his hand and keeps the same fairly jovial easy going expression rather than going with his poker face. * Mikoto affects an expression of total concentration, looking at his cards. * Alexis takes another sip. "Well, his name is Will Rogyrogyrogers. He's a bad bad person who takes people who don't wanna go with him but they have to 'cause -- hic! -- 'cause they're slaves and they hafta work in the mines." She takes another sip. "Mmmm... This is good magic fairy drink." ... Will Rogers? As in John's brother? (It saddens me that Mikoto's ONE given reason for slaves, happens to be the reason Will collects them.) [John and Millie enter right about... now.] (I was hoping it was for vaudeville) (HA.) * Alexis grins goofily at Tairan. "Hey! Their last names sound the same! What a coincidency." She sips some more and points at John. "Heh. Yer cute." * Millie smiles and heads in waving, then goes to the poker game. "Hey fellas. Whatcha playin'?" ("Understandable, understandable, it was totally understandable. Comprehensible, comprehensible, not a bit reprehensible, it's so defensible...") * Tairan waves John over. "You're gonna wanna hear this." * John rolls his eyes and sighs. "She's been drinkin' again, hasn't she?" [Pete blushes a little when Millie nears. Aww, that's cute. He tries to concentrate on the cards, though. Really.] * Mikoto continues to shuffle his cards back and forth in his hand like a complete and total amateur. * Millie leans over the table a bit to get a better look. Whether Pete's noticing or not, she doesn't. * Jinx smiles up at Millie. "Poker, thought Mikoto here should finally learn to play. Now don't distract Jim, Pete, or Harry, as that wouldn't be fair." Yes. Holds her liquor like an armless man holds a sword. But she just said something interesting. * Alexis points the glass at John. "Have some. I stolded it from the evil fairy slaver king. Hic!" * John raises an eyebrow. "I'll pass for now. What'd she say?" Oh, I'm jus' gonna watch this hand. Don't know a thing 'bout it. Though if ya teach me a thing or two, I might try give it a go? That yer cute. Hee! * Alexis takes another sip of sake. (SHARK!) * Jinx supresses a grin and looks back at his cards. (You're all sharks.) * Tairan looks up at the sky with a 'Why Me?' expression, then looks back down at John. "Aside from commenting on your cuteness... our slaver's name is Will Rogers. Sound familiar?" (*chomp!*) * Mikoto smiles wanly at Millie. "That would be marvelous." He goes back to staring at his hand in totally needless consternation. (Oooow!) (Okay, now's the moment of truth. Gimme them gaming (cards) rolls.) 2d6-5 * Dicesuke throws the bones for Jinx (2d6-5) and gets 4. * John 's eye goes straight serious. "Yer damn sure about that?" (Hahahahaa, What's the stat, anyway?) * Alexis points at Tairan. She's swaying now. "Yeah! He's kinda like John, but mean and nasty. He steals things and people and eats babies. I think... Might be cabbages. (Will Rogers eats Cabbage Patch kids!) 2d6 * Dicesuke throws the bones for Mikoto (2d6) and gets 8. s'what she said... you can ask her, but do it quick. I don't think she's going to be... and I use this term as loosely as possible... 'lucid' much longer. * Alexis hiccups. "John's a silly name anyhow. You should be Marcie." ... * Alexis giggles. "Hee! You have a girly name, Marcie!" (*snerk) * Tairan turns to John. "No offense... no, wait. Offense. Your taste in women sucks." * John mutters under his breath. "Not my taste in the least. Ya know that." [After a hand - intense by some and distracted by others - Jinx sweeps up the pot (Jinx gains: $10. Mikoto loses: $2). For all that Mikoto was pretty new at this, he didn't do that badly.] Yeah. You're supposed to like men anyway, Marcie. (*spittake*) * Tairan nods. "Still..." *motions over at Alexis* (You knew John was too pretty to be true!) * Mikoto pouts. Faintly. "Ah, well. That was terribly fun! A small price to pay for learning so much." * Alexis points at Mikoto, or maybe Jinx. Hard to tell with her hand moving all over. "Like that one. Go talk to himer... G'wan, don't be shy!" [Harry looks really put out. Pete's laughing at him. Quietly.] (I'm cute! jinx only has inner beauty. I only have outer beauty!) Alexis, you need to sober up. Badly. * Jinx smiles over at Jim and grins a bit. "Well, that was a good deal. You wouldn't be just trying to get me to put my guard down, now would ya?" * Millie rubs her chin. "So..let me get this straight. The guy with the crown..he's pretty high, raight?" * Alexis finishes the rest of the mug off. "Heeheehee... Those East peoples must all be drunks." * Mikoto nods earnestly. "Or so I'm told." * Tairan mutters. "No wonder she hasn't gotten him yet." 's cause they drink'em by the saucer, not the mug. * Alexis giggles. "Like a cat!" * Millie smiles. No not sharklike at all. "Mind if I sit in?" ... you want to take over, John? I'm losing the battle to restain myself from doing something I really won't regret in the slightest. * Alexis hiccups and looks into the glass. "Aw! All gone! I don't wanna have to go alla way to Shomura for more." * John sighs. "Take over what? She's not talkin'bout anythin' for a while. It's all gonna be nonsense." (If you sit down at a poker game and can't see the mark, you're the mark. If you can see the mark but he or she didn't come in with you, you're probably still the mark. :P) Wonder how master Genpaku is... [Harry eyes Millie suspiciously, but Pete immediately says, "Sure!" And Jim nods. "Pull up a chair."] * Alexis looks down. "Kinda miss my dad." * Jinx throws some of the money he won back into the pot. * Alexis hits the table. Whump. See what I mean? ... two unconcious women in under an hour. Wow, John, you really are a lady killer. * Millie pulls up a chair and grins, leaning on the table with her elbows. "Thanks. By the way, ya heard anythin' 'bout a certain samurai 'round these parts?" She begins to describe Kojiro. * John smiles. *ting!* * Mikoto puts in a few more dollars. What's the harm? Haha. * Tairan starts to move to put Alexis in a slightly more comfortable position, then realizes he really doesn't care, and sits back down. (Tairan is starting to object to his roll as the groups mover of unconscious women) (Heheheh.) (I can't even lift them.) So yeah. Apparently, the guy's she's after uses slave labor at some mine or another, and his name's Will Rogers. Figure that can't be a coincedence. * Alexis snoozes. The bandits watch to make sure nobody tries anything to her while she's asleep. * John shakes his head. "He's more of a bitch than I ever gave him credit for." * John checks over his heavy pistol. "And I tell ya, I gave him a lotta credit for that." Mmm. I'd have no problem helpin' you deal with him even without this slavery business. Now... still, our merry drunk over there mentioned that he has something like 70 to 100 with him. Figures. He was always a coward, gettin' others to do his work for'im. * Jinx flicks his eyes over at Harry for just a moment and then drums his fingers on the table, "So, shall we have another hand. Got more money burning a hole in my pocket and you can't cheat fate out of that sort of thing." [Jim shuffles and deals! "Five card draw, aces wild," he says helpfully, for Millie. Game on!] * Millie frowns as she looks over the card players. "Ain't heard nothin'? Ya sure?" (FLAME ON!) (Yes, quite.) * Millie blinks and scoops up her cards. * Jinx nonchalantly picks up the cards and adopts more of a poker face this time. * Mikoto takes his cards with good-natured grace. "I had heard there is a thriving archaeological society in this town. I was hoping to visit it..." He smiles at the players. "I have more than a passing interest in ancient ruins." * Mikoto then tsks at his cards, affecting the confused little boy look again. ["Huh? I dunno..." begins Pete as he tries to keep his gaze from Millie, before Jim interrupts with, "Yeah, the explorers and scientists thing. Lots of... whadda they call 'em... eccentric people there."] (And when everyone's willing, toss out that gaming roll again.) Huh. I was sure I heard that there was some pretty boy samurai that passed through here. I wanna meet him. Samurai are so..dangerous. 2d6 * Dicesuke throws the bones for Mikoto (2d6) and gets 7. 2d6-3 * Dicesuke throws the bones for Millie (2d6-3) and gets 3. (Ha. Ha! Ha.) 2d6-5 * Dicesuke throws the bones for Jinx (2d6-5) and gets -2. (Jinx wins! Unless the GMs make him re-roll. :P) (QUIET. <.< >.>) (Well, I only meant John, not everyone. @_@) (You have a voice of authority) * Jinx seems moderately pleased by the questioning going on at the table. It makes his joining a poker game to look for information seem more plausibile. [Everyone does reasonably well, except Pete, who manages to bluff his way into a corner. Jinx picks it up, though, with a full house. Ouch. (Jinx gains $20. Mikoto loses $4. Millie loses $3.)] So... whaddya wanna do? I mean, I hate slavers as much as the next guy, and your brother damn well has it coming... but a hundred guys is a lot. And killing Will, no matter how satisfying, won't get the law off your ass. [Harry looks really sour now. Seems he's used to winning. Pete, despite doing horribly, seems to take immese amusement from it.] * Millie looks carefully at Harry. And gives him a smile. "Seems like a lotta fun." [Jim looks thoughtful. "Nah, I didn't see anyone like that. But there was this really good samurai I saw... actually, more like heard. Remember that?" He looks at Harry, who nods sullenly.] Oh? What happened? I don't care how many he has with'em. I will kill him. * Millie looks intensely interested. * Mikoto smiles genially. "Oh, I appear to be doing rather poorly. I've never been very good at games." ( Mikoto needs to play Kirby ) ["Yeah," Harry grumbles. "He was really damn loud. Heard he cut five guys' guns apart. At least, that's what he said, 'cause he announced it to the whole city."] ( ... oh god. Kojiro is Hoahmaru. x_x ) (*inhales Jinx*) Reaaaally? Did he happen ta say his name? Damn... well, we obviously aren't dealing with a humble man. * Tairan nods. "Question is, how do we get past the rather large group of guards? And... if you kill him without finding a way to clear your name first..." ["Many, many, *many* times," Jim says as he idly shuffles cards. "Hanomaru. He was doing it for enlightenment, or something."] First, I'm willin' ta bet they're nothin' more than lackies. Well, maybe not willing. But you know what I mean. Ya could scare them off if ya had to. Huh, wonder if he found it. Interestin'. Well, it ain't him...but... ["Beats me. He's not yelling anymore. Maybe he left or something."] How odd. It is not a name I'm familiar with. And if there's a set number of people you have to kill before you reach enlightenment. Or maybe there's a certain chance with each one. And second, I want ta clear my name, yes. But I owe it ta my parents make sure he's dead. * Jinx shrugs and throws in money again. (Hanomaru must kill ten thousand people before he can reach enlightenment.) * Millie blinks. "Ya mean we just missed him?" (Heh heh. :P) (He should become an idol, they kill lots of people... wait, that's not quite right) (Shomurans, gimme a Cultural Arts roll with aaaaa... -2 mod.) 2d6-3 * Dicesuke throws the bones for Mikoto (2d6-3) and gets 8. Mmm. But if you can clear your name before you kill him, all the better, right? Yeah... * Alexis mumbles in her sleep. "... Parents make sure he's dead." 2d6-2 * Dicesuke throws the bones for Tairan (2d6-2) and gets 6. Just think about it before we jump into this half-cocked... not that I'm exactly the poster-boy for careful planning. *grins* [No, Tairan. No you're not.] [Session End!]