[Jinx wanders and somehow winds up back at the inn, where Tairan is.] * Jinx heads up to see how Tairan is doing. He knocks on the door to the room before entering. * Tairan groans. "C'min." * Jinx enters. "Any better?" * Tairan is sitting on the edge of his bed, dressed except for his hat, belt and weapons, and looking rather pale, albeit better'n he did before. "Some. Something I ate *really* didn't agree with me. Spent some time getting rid of it, some more time with my body tryin' to get ridda my stomach..." Through the worst of it, I think. Still feel like crap. *grabs a glass of water on a nearby table and starts slowly drinking it* How're things goin' out there? * Jinx shrugs. "Maybe progress, don't know." Mmm. Guess a big sign sayin' "Jan went that way" was too much to hope for. * Jinx grins. "My hope is that she's smart enough to find us even if I screw up." Wouldn't doubt it. * Tairan pauses, and runs a hand through his hair. "Funny thing to say about a woman that shot you in the head... but she's probably the sanest woman I've met since I've joined up with this group." * Jinx keeps the grin. "But hopefully not too sane, or she'd just avoid us." Well, yeah. Beginnin' to think that there's no such thing as a sane woman, though. ... but that's neither here'r there. Any sembelence of a plan? * Jinx snickers. "Well, I like them just the same." I'm thinking find games and drop hints. If it doesn't work, I'll at least make some money. * Tairan chuckles. "Same here. Guess that makes us just as nuts." *rubs neck* "Any value to me comin' along? Dunno if having an Easterner would help matters much." * Jinx laughs. "It would. We'd seem like good marks. We just need to scat before they figure out otherwise." So I'd be your silent bodyguard or somethin'? * Jinx thinks for a moment. "Whatever you feel like. We don't need anything too elaborate." Just tell me whacha want from me. If you think I'd be useful, I'll come along. If you don't, I'll stay here'n get myself back into fightin' shape. Come along and cover for me if I screw up. With any luck you'll infect some of these damn bigots. * Tairan shrugs. "Works for me. Gimme a second to get my stuff together." *goes about doing just that* * Jinx nods. "You think Jan feels guilty about shooting me?" She sure seemed like it at the time. *straps on his gun belt and sword; puts on his hat* Get the feelin' that she doesn't really like killin'. * Jinx grins. "Fits her rep. And good, I can use guilt." Just don't overplay it. To last as long as she has, she's gotta have one helluva bullshit sense. * Jinx chuckles. "I'm not planning to bluff her." Good. We need her a helluva lot more'n she needs us. * Jinx gets headed out. "And speaking of bullshit I do have one possible source. But he's pricey and I don't trust him so poker first." * Jinx nods at that and keeps grinning. [Where to?] Pricey's bad. We ain't exactly swimmin' in money, and I get the feeling most of my money's useless here. * Jinx scouts around the local taverns and dives for an open games. * Jinx talks to Tairan as he walks. "Sadly I've had to give up on Millie for a while. The woman doesn't know the value of cowardice." She's... interesting. Massive ego combined with a constant need t'have people tell her she's doin' good. * Tairan shrugs. "Basically a good person, though, if completely insane... but I see what you're sayin'." * Jinx nods. "She is. And it isn't easy to become a legend. Glad it's not my thing." Don't really see the appeal of bein' a legend. Just means you get people comin' after you, figuring that if they take you out, they get to be legends. * Jinx nods. "Yeah, and a gambling legend would have a hell of a time finding a mark... I mean a game. [Jinx searches a few tavers, finally comming across a game. Three guys sit at a table, playing blackjack. * Jinx waits until there's a natural pause and takes out one of his smaller wallets. He then approaches the table with chinking wallet in hand. "Got two open seats?" [They look them over, and laugh. "Are you joking?"] * Jinx shrugs. "Well, I can take my wages elsewhere." He starts to turn. "Well hold on there," one says "If his money's good, I'll play with him." ( Gimme a gambling check. Spec: cheating ) (Specs are by game type.) (By five) [Jinx catches a wink from the guy who said he'd play.] * Jinx takes a seat. "I'll probably just end up pissing my money away. But gamblings in my blood and you can't cheat fate." Jinx smiles slightly as he says the last part and makes a gesture to Tairan to come over. [They nod. "Sure can't."] No way, boss. Every time I gamble with you, we both end up flat broke. * Tairan pulls up a chair a few feet away from the gaming table, and sits. "This way, least one of us'll be able to eat." * Jinx grins. "Eating isn't the most important thing in life." He then looks back to the men. "So, just straight Morristown blackjack or you got some special rules?" [One sneers. "That's Shomurans for ya. Bunch of yellow-bellied chikins."] * Jinx at this point is happy Tairan is along. Sadly Jinx doesn't realize that food poisoning isn't contagious. * Tairan tips his hat to the man, but doesn't respond otherwise. ["Nope. Regular old Blackjack."] * Jinx nods. [The dealar deals out the cards after shuffling to Jinx and the other two guys. Curiously, everyone gets an ace at the start.] [He draws a card, peeks at it, and laughs without sound. Then he looks at Jinx. "Your turn, stranger."] [Jinx gets an Ace and a Nine.] * Jinx looks over the other aces showing. "Hit me." [Jinx gets a new card.] * Jinx keeps asking for more cards until he goes over or hits 21. [Jinx gets a two.] [The dealer deals to the next guys, both whom stay.] (Keep hitting then.) [Jinx gets a Queen next.] [Erm... Clarification. One guy stays, one guy takes a card.] * Jinx flips his card over. "I'm out." [The guy on the left flips his. "18."] [The guy on the right flips his. "20."] [The dealer takes in the cash, and starts shuffling again. "So, how about another round?"] (Actually, was going to interrupt there.) (just was trying to get the wording just right) ( Oh. Ok ) * Jinx grins as he pushes his money to the dealer. "Oh well. Huh, that's funny." He taps on one of the dealer's cards. "This one looks different. Probably got accidentally switched during a two deck game. Happens all the time." [He blinks and peers at it. "Hmmm... Hey guys, does this one look different to you?"] [They lean forward. "Nope." "Can't say it do."] [The dealer looks back at Jinx. "They don't seem to see anything wrong. Maybe it's them Injun eyes. Too much sand in 'em can make you go blind."] * Jinx smiles. "Tell you what. Spread the cards upside down. If I can pick it out we'll switch to one of my decks. Because if I could identify it with my Injun eyes that'd give me an unfair advantage after all." [He scowls, and pulls the cards under the table. "You callin' me a cheater, redskin?"] He frowns. "You sayin' my deck isn't good enough for you?" * Jinx suddenly gets an odd glint in his eye. "Alright, let's play then." He antes in and holds up a few extra coins, more than enough to get a drink and tip. "Could I get a gin and tonic. I've held this game up enough already." [He starts to shuffle. "Right. See that you do." Meanwhile, the bartender comes over.] * Jinx waits as the cards get shuffled and dealt and looksup to the barkeep. "So, gin and tonic, unless you have a house special." [He nods and fishes it while the dealer deals. 4, 6, 7 and king are the cards.] ( Jinx has the 6, dealer has the king. ) (what's jinx's other card?) ( Ten ) [The dealer draws a card.] * Jinx calls out "Thanks barkeep." And gives the man a wave and then lowers his hand a bit too fast and it jars the table, purely by accident of course. [The table is jarred! It spills some drink, but reveals no cheaters. The men get up and glare at Jinx. "What are you trying to pull?!"] * Jinx sighs and looks sheepish. "Damn.. sorry about that. Barkeep, make it a round for the table please." [They sit back down.] * Jinx plays out the hand as per normal and presumably loses. [That he does.] * Jinx sighs as he lose and raps on the table while he antes in again. "Seems like luck of the draw is not with me." [The bartender comes along.] * Jinx leans back slightly and pulls back his sleeves and puts both of his hands behind his head. "Well, maybe this time will be different." So, let's find out. Deal please. [He deals!] * Jinx checks his card with a sleeveless hand and plays it conservative so that he can keep his card hidden until the end. [The dealer stays. Jinx's up.] * Jinx stays and keeps his hands above his head for now and waits for the game to finish. [He deals the others 1 card each.] * Jinx continues to stay. ["Ok, turn 'em over."] [Guy on left: "19"] [Guy on right: "20"] * Jinx gets his drink from the barkeep to give the dealer a chance to flip his cards first. [He gestures for Jinx to.] * Jinx glances to the dealer and says his total. "I'm below those two so it doesn't matter." He then continues to try to get his drink. [He shrugs and flips his over. "21."] * Jinx flips over his last card and puts in his money one last time. "No change in luck for me it seems. By the by, any of you seen a really big rifleman or a fancy dressed lady mage around town? I have some business with them and I'd prefer to find them before they find me." "Hmm... I seen 'em around." Yeah? [He nods. "Yeah. Here and there."] Well describe them. If they're the right people I'd be willing to pay the rest of the money you haven't won from me to find out where here and there is. "Hmm... You described them better than I can. I don't pay attention to other people's business." Right then. Well, the big guy had long wavey brown hair the mage was in her late forties, right? [He nods.] * Jinx sighs. "Then, that ain't them. But thanks for trying to help." [Jinx gets nowhere. Session End!]