can_has_vodka | For lastvoyages Twenty-second vision (video+spam for pub)

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For lastvoyages Twenty-second vision (video+spam for pub)

[Arkady is sitting cheerily on her sofa in her apartment, with a pair of sleepy chickens on her lap.] The air is slightly aswirl with what one can only hope is incense smoke.]

Hello dears. Won't be at the pub today until the night shift, so if you're bored or have need of me come seek me out in my cabin.

[private to Kay]
Well, I pulled the twins! [She actually sounds cheerfully optimistic about this.] If you have any questions, advice or opinions I'd love to hear them.

[private to Scrad and Charlie]
Hullo lads. I want to catch up with you before we drag file-readings or formalities into this, all right? Please come by my cabin.

[seperate privates to Tony, Reaver and Franlin]
Are you all right, luv?

[spam for Level 2]
[The door to 2-8 is propped open. Also festooned with teensy Christmas lights. There's a faint smell of incense and...birdiness...coming from within. Arkady putters around humming, feeding her fish and tidying up the place a bit.]

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

Right, any specifics? Clothes, goodies, entertainment stuff?

[The chickens move back over to the couch after a while, hop up and settle in. Arkady takes a swallow of her Mike's.]

What do you like doing for fun anyway?

We'd take alla that.

[Charlie assures her. Scrad takes a drink and then rattles off:]

TV. Video games.

[...that's it. It's not much of a rattle.]

TV's no trouble, what sort of machine do you want? Also any shows you want it to play?

I'll ask for a catalog so you can pick out games.

[She takes a drink, and then her eyes widen as she gets an idea.]

Oh, and since he can do anything, let's take advantage. I'll ask for an extra set of single-hand controllers so you lads can play each other!

[They own several TV's already, but Charlie immediately spits:]

A big one. Biggest screen they make.

[Scrad grins at the thought of catalog shopping, but points out:]

I play him all the time.

[Charlie agrees:]

He sucks.

[To which Scrad sharply says:]

You suck.

Right, well, it's not my money! [she makes some notes on a little heart shaped notepad with a teastain on the side.]

I know almost nothing about video games myself. You'll have to teach me.

Truth is, I always spend a month getting to know whoever I'm with so we can get on better. But in your case I've always liked you, so...

It probably doesn't seem much fair that I'm set to learn everything about you boys whilst you know little about me. So, let's fix that. Ask me whatever you want.

We also like money.

[Scrad says.]

You don't got video games where you come from?

[Charlie asks.]

Don't worry loves, you'll have it when you need it for Ports and all. Might get you a nest egg when you leave. Rebuilding a life is never fun.

Oh that? Well. It's because where I came from Britain was hit by a great big cataclysm. Spent most of the last decade helping gather, run and protect a colony in Whitechapel. Before I came here, regular food, booze that wasn't tea wine and technology of any sort were all luxuries.

Seriously?

[Scrad asks. They plunk down on the floor, cross-legged. Charlie bobbles and sways slightly, but manages not to face-plant into anything. He declares:]

Bummer. Besides the food part, we can feel you. So it was all work and no play, huh?

[They both nod sympathetically as if they know the meaning of the word 'work'. (No.)]

Oh no, we still had fun. Once we had a colony of refugees going, people settled down, and eventually there were children. I helped look after them and that was quite fun. Human children are so cute! Although they must look a bit odd to you. Humans only occasionally come two to a body.

Odd question. Say you had all the money and knowledge you needed to do whatever you wanted with your lives. What would you do?

Meh.

[Is Charlie's opinion of human children.]

We would do nothing.

[Scrad says, with an almost hushed reverence for that much nothingness.]

That's the point of being rich. It means you don't have to do anything.

[Charlie points out.]

Yes, but what would you do while doing nothing? You can't just stare at the walls all day.

Nah, you do rich people stuff.

[Charlie declares.]

You go to expensive places, get wasted on expensive booze, get treated like you're somebody, and pal around with other rich people. 'Cause money buys that kinda thing. Okay, so maybe they won't be there for you, when the rain starts to fall...

[Scrad extrapolates, starting to sound a little unsure.]

Depends on the club.

[Says Charlie.

In all honesty, it's hard to explain why that's what they want, because it's not really what they want. What they want are friends, like on Friends, and some kind of purpose in life, even if it's a small one. Living like Paris Hilton would make them miserable, but no one's ever taught them that money isn't everything, and they aren't really in any hurry to find out on their own.]

Wouldn't it be more fun to hang about with your mates? You know, with people who were with you before you got rich? Most people who are friendly toward the rich are the most insufferable hangers-on, and you're right, they won't be there if something bad happens.

I would, though. I bet there are others who would. Should warn you, though, a lot more of the expensive delicacies rich people like are actually shite.

What kinda shite?

[Scrad asks.]

How much you wanna bet?

[Wagers Charlie.]

Caviar. Is actually dreadful. California cuisine is, what? You get three baby carrots and half a walnut braised in flipping urine, is what you get. Also, golf. Rich guys play golf and babble on about business and this or that snobby subject that you'll have to keep up with although it's boring as all bloody Hell.

[She smiles and her eyes twinkle.] I'm not going to bet you money that you have friends besides me. That would give you a vested interest in pushing people away!

That's not what it looks like on TV.

[Scrad says, doubtfully. On TV, even the golf looks exciting.]

Yeah, but we could make a couple bucks off that!

[Charlie counters, pouting.]

I know, luv. But on television, everything's idealized. Makeup is perfect, you get as many takes as you want, the food is delicious no matter what it is and clothes never get stains or rips unless it's an action or horror movie. If you want I'll order up some delicacies from the Admiral and prove my point.

[She giggles]

We're in a cashless economy right now. The unit of value here is a matter of connections with people. Work trade, favors, things like that.

Yeah, it sucks.

[Scrad agrees.]

You can't see or touch any a that stuff.

[Charlie explains.]

You can't see or touch most things that are of value. Fun, for example, is a state of being, not something that can be measured in units. Friendship, love, respect, a good reputation. Happiness. Even my powers are intangible, but I can stop an angry mob with them.

Is there anything rich blokes have that you'd particularly like to try?

Everything.

[Charlie insists, after they both hem and haw for a minute or two.]

We just wanna not want anything.

[Scrad explains.]

Is that so much to ask?

[Asks Charlie.]

So say you have total financial security and the ability to buy whatever you want. It's important to know what you'll do next. You see, there's a shock that goes with suddenly being rich, and if you have no plan and no direction at all for what you'll do, how the money will be handled, where you'll live...it can be very confusing and uncomfortable.

[Sorry sweetie, she's been in too many rich people's heads. It's not all fun and security....]

No way. Money solves everything.

[Scrad argues. But he sounds slightly doubtful.]

I'll tell you what. When we next get to a Port which is more or less normal, I'll give you boys a ride-along in a rich man's mind. That way you can see for yourselves what it's like.

It's important to know these things. One day you'll have money to spare and you don't want to end up unable to manage.

[She takes a drink of her Mike's again and frowns.] Anyway. I've never been rich myself. Wouldn't like it. Newly rich people have to hang about with the born rich, and almost all of them are a bit like spoilt children.

You can do that?

[Scrad asks.]

You ever done it to us?

[Charlie asks.]

[She just smiles, and answers honestly.] No, haven't been inside your minds. Generally I ask permission unless there's a serious need or the person's really rotten. Which you lads have never been.

For lastvoyages Twenty-second vision (video+spam for pub)

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