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.]

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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.

Sort of.

[Scrad mumbles.]

[Her voice goes soft.] Boys, look. Even I've done bad things. Awful things, once upon a time. Things I feel bad about. But do either of you think I'm a bad person now?

No, but we're not so much a good judge of character.

[Charlie admits.]

Well, don't worry, because I fully intend to prove you right.

But my point is...even though you made me cry when you kidnapped poor Prefect, I still believe you're all right at heart. I do. I'd hang about with you even if I wasn't your bartender or Warden. Just because.

[Guys, there's a rooster investigating your shoes.]

[They take that as a hint to climb to their feet, leaving their now empty bottles on the floor.]

Yeah, well.

[Scrad says, awkwardly. She hasn't read their file yet. That will probably change.]

[She gets up too, and offers them both hands.] Lovely talking with you again. I'll order the catalogs. The rest you should find in your room when you wake up.

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

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