|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
 Posted: Sun May 24, 2009 8:45 pm
It didn't take a sharp nose like Writ's to know that he smelled of something fierce. He had picked up a couple cans of deodorant from the quickie-mart in Downers and emptied them on himself, but that didn't have any effect other than making him smell like a grimy concoction of sickly floral scents mixed with hints of black powder and street living.
It wasn't just him though, his clothes had smelt just as bad. The grime and dirt on his poncho alone was Enough to convince the godling that it was time to stop by the laundromat. It wasn't a shower by a long shot, but maybe people would be distracted by his fresh-out-of-the-wash clothing long enough not to notice the obnoxious odors his body was leaking out.
That's when he realized-- This was the only set of clothes he had. While that saved him a lot of money when it came to the overpriced packets of detergent from the ancient vending machine, it had Writ watching his clothes in spin cycle in nothing but his shoes and his boxers.
He was attracting a few stares.
|
 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Sun May 24, 2009 9:31 pm
One of the things about having a small apartment with too many tenants was that, even if you wanted to, there was no room for a washer and dryer anywhere in the floor plan. Which was to say there were hookups somewhere, but they were behind someone's dresser and therefore not very convenient. So, once a week Fish went down to the laundromat to run a load of clothes and read local free papers.
All the cool kids sat on top of washing machines while they waited for the spin cycle to end. The really cool kids, the ones who had the don't-mess-with-me look and the confidence to pull it off, did this while reading the Pride Parade paper. Fish was one of the really cool kids, or at least recently he had turned into one. Recent events had revealed to him that, not only was his reading level way behind, his maturity levels had a lot of catching up to do.
While he was waiting for his laundry, Fish became aware of a commotion coming from the row of machines behind him. Cautiously, he turned around, and found himself staring at someone's bare torso.
He looked up.
Oh. Wait. It was Writ. Who was probably violating several public decency laws at the moment.
"Uh, Writ?" asked Fish.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Sun May 24, 2009 11:00 pm
Writ's eyes were fixed at his sudsy vortex of clothes in the washer. He felt the stares he was getting, and he didn't mind at all. Writ practically welcomed the attention. He didn't know what the big fuss about. So what if he was just a pair of boxers away from being completely naked? These people obviously haven't met Quinn yet. At least Writ wasn't as clingy.
His ears perked at Fish's voice before he turned around to the other godling, "Yeah?" He turned a one-eighty to face the other godling, "Oh, hey Fish! What's up?" Writ looked at Fish up and down, it looked like that he had recovered since the last time they met.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Mon May 25, 2009 5:34 am
Fish put the newspaper down. He wrinkled his nose. While he was certain that Writ's smell was probably better than it had been with his clothes on, it still wasn't pleasant.
"You been living rough again?" he asked, and was thankful for his semi-steady employment, his roommates in all their eccentricities, and regular baths.
He was not dressed for action today, if jeans and a tee-shirt counted. The shirt had the name of a band neither player had ever heard of written on it - Fish had borrowed it from Dwayne, who had forgotten to ask for it back.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Mon May 25, 2009 4:15 pm
"I like to call it 'living off the land', you know, like hunting buffalo." Writ took a seat next to Fish, "Except, instead of riding horses and throwing spears, I just run into a drunk guy and take their wallet." He took a wallet out of his pocket to show his point. It had been a while since Writ actually used his own money for anything, let alone have a job that didn't last less than a week.
Rough living indeed.
"You read the papers lately?" Writ asked, he wanted to see how far the news spread of his little stunt over at Uppers.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Thu May 28, 2009 7:25 pm
"A few of them," he said, and guiltily folded the weekly in his hands. "But nothing that reports anything worth reading." This was not entirely true: he found local news fascinating. But it had nothing to do with the Game or the larger scope of things. Of course, Fish had been trying to avoid all things to do with the game lately.
"I've been out of the loop," he shrugged. "Anything good happening?"
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Thu May 28, 2009 8:21 pm
"Well, it's been all over the papers. I think." Writ walked over to a decrepit stack of outdated weeklies and freebies for a relatively interesting paper, but there wasn't much but Community event fliers, the pride paper and a couple of wrinkled up Pennysavers. He slid back up onto a washer and shrugged. Apparently not those papers.
"Me and my friend went down to Uppers and did some stuff." Writ started out. Better, The godling supposed, if he just said it. He always fancied himself a storyteller.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Thu May 28, 2009 8:31 pm
"Down to uppers," repeated Fish, sounding a bit amused. But Writ had his interest piqued. He set the creased pride paper aside and nodded.
"Continue," he indicated, hopping back up on top of the machine and sitting cross-legged. "And who's your friend? Another player?"
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Thu May 28, 2009 8:52 pm
"Well..." The washer buzzed on Writ's laundry. He slid off the washer and grabbed his clothes, taking the change on top of the machine with it.
"Yeah. Some guy whose name I can't pronounce, starts with a 'V'. An adult and everything." He said, tossing his clothes into the dryer, "We wrapped up some bricks in firecrackers and went down to this big government-looking building, giant glass monster in the middle of the district. We lit those little guys up, smashed up some windows, blew up a couple of cubicles. I think I hit a receptionist's desk at one point" Writ looked around, no one seemed to be listening too intently, "Papers call it a 'bombing'"
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Fri May 29, 2009 10:17 am
"Starts with V?" asked Fish, and sank into thought. He doubted Writ would have forgotten if he'd seen Vlad. There was only one other person Fish could think of who even began to fit the description, and even that person had been too young last time they'd met.
"Vale?" he asked. "Was it Vale?"
"The papers - who do they think did it? Did anyone see you?"
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Fri May 29, 2009 12:16 pm
"Yeah, that's the one. First time we met, he gave me this weird one, but he shortened it out." Writ bounced his legs against the washer, "You know him from somewhere?"
"Guess the cameras got a few glimpses of us, but I was wearing a mask and Vale had himself covered with his hoodie, so I don't think anyone but the Blacksuits will know who we are. Papers are saying it's terrorists. Whatever sells papers I guess..."
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Fri May 29, 2009 12:28 pm
Fish picked up the newspaper and wrung it nervously. If Vale was bigger... Well, Vale probably knew who killed Ciro by now.
"He ******** Quinn," he said, as plainly as possible, "And he used to d**k around with Ciro before, well, yeah. And I think he might want to kill me."
He had no evidence for this, of course. Just a gut feeling. Then again, this was the game. Either people were your friends, or they wanted to kill you, or they would once they knew you.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Fri May 29, 2009 1:14 pm
"You know, that explains a lot." Writ rubbed his chin thoughtfully, "You should've saw his reaction when I lied about how me and Ciro were once in a relationship. It would've worked too if he didn't know about Crow." He smirked, "Said something about wanting to kill Quinn. Lover's quarrel, I guess?"
He was under the impression that Vale didn't seem to have any qualms about killing people. At least, Quinn anyway. But the little girl he was with was sending some mixed messages.
"He doesn't pass off as the bloodthirsty type, does he? The way he was protecting his 'Little princess' and all."
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Sat May 30, 2009 10:39 am
"Guess they're not ******** anymore," shrugged Fish, and that was the end of that. He hadn't ever actually known what was going on there, anyway. Quinn had made some vague allusions to it and asked his advice way back when. And, of course, Quinn had mentioned them fighting because of some little girl.
Fish blinked slowly. "Well, appearances are deceptive," he said, and motioned to Writ as if to say 'case in point'. "What about his 'little princess'?"
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Sat May 30, 2009 11:53 am
"I think she's a godling. I'd call them siblings but they look nothing alike. Big mean tan kid with some little blonde girl tagging along with him doesn't add up." Writ shrugged.
"Hey Fish, are you doing anything this weekend?"
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Reply
