W2 🛸 PLAYER CYOA: HIGH ROLLERS (LOWE) 🚀 CHARLES, LOVELACE, SHOMA

[dropoffs]

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[solesuccess]

[ you know what. sure. we can let isabel be the boss. ]

What a valuable life lesson. [ he's being a little bitch now because this actually isn't the worst thing he's witnessed. and since those two have asked their questions, he follows up with: ]

We can keep the Yurodiviye out of here but we need more information about them. So...anything you've got, we'll take.

[inequals]

Saude

At least one of you will need to dress up as the boss to play cards at the table, yes.
The other two can be considered plus-ones to attend. The important part is that the real boss doesn't show up for the game.
We don't really care which one of you is acting as the "boss", so you can decide that among yourselves.

[ The pawnbroker will HAPPILY hand over some rope. Get their asses!! The guy who didn't get knocked out, and rather, just got hard-kicked in the nuts, could not recover from the shock of losing his future generations, and puts up surprisingly little struggle as he is bound. ]

Y-yes, the Yurodiviye is a rather new group around these parts you see. It's as if they've got a thing against pawnbrokers like us, targeting us in particular. They claim it's to take our money and redistribute it to those that need it more, but look at me...!

[ He's just an old man, probably in his 70's or so. He is just a little guy. ]

[thematics]

Like I said, I'm good at games.

[ please feel free to overrule her. i'm sorry i play bossy characters aaaaaaaaaaaa ]

[riverbeans]

[ties these dudes up...]

Sure, you can be the boss, Captain.

[solesuccess]

[ hm...he sees. the yurodiviye group is full of assholes...he's nodding though. ]

Okay. So if they appear anywhere it's likely to target smaller shops. [ while isabel is becoming the leader and charles is busy tying up the dudes, he's just waving the packet to debrief them. ] We should probably grab anything else we think we might need for the game. Weapons, any other useful items, uniforms, etc. We'll have to find clothes for the Tingtang Gang to make us blend in, and then...getting through is gonna be a pain. The first floor of the casino's crawling with guards and hired security. Then we have to get past the Los Mariachis on the second floor, and the Tieqiu Crew on the third.

We shouldn't stay here much longer. Do we know what time the game's set to start? [ he is checking his watch again. ]

[inequals]

Saude

The game will be set to start in the evening at 5pm, so you should have plenty of time. The District is rather infamous for its nightlife, after all, but do try to be careful -- time really flies by and quickly.

[ Saude seems immensely grateful that somebody actually read her paperwork.

You won't be able to grab anything major here, unless you want to try rolling for that too. But you can grab little fun miscellany stuff, like gloves or overcoats or just random heirloom trinkets that you think will come in handy somehow. Mostly, they're just hoping that you'll wear stuff that is both practical and doesn't stick out like a sore thumb once they're in the place, though changing into Tingtang gear should fix that at least somewhat. When you're ready, they can proceed towards the casino itself. ]

Effie

Well, I'll at least give it to ya that that was some impressive on-the-fly handling of some thugs.

[thematics]

Once we've got the right clothes, getting through security is easy. It'll be the second and third floors that give us more trouble.

[ maybe. but mostly we just act like we're supposed to be there and if they raise a fuss, act like they're in the wrong! she's good at this stuff. her charisma should not be as low as i set it when her primary strategies are bluffing and intimidation and those usually work for her.

anyway. she's ready. ]

[riverbeans]

[charles is not interested in taking anything from this poor pawnbroker without payment, so he will not loot his things. consider beating up thugs just a friendly charity act...

is there a closet or anywhere he can throw these tied up dudes in.]

I'm good to go if we are.

[solesuccess]

[ absently nodding with the information from saude. he does actually grab a spare set of gloves because you never know, tucking them into his pocket. but he doesn't say anything otherwise and seems to be waiting for the next move. fine. let's get the guys squared away and gogogo. ]

[inequals]

[ Alright, and here they go! Or so they can try.

And try they did but uh, the fact that two Tingtangers went in and none came out, means that it turns out, the alleyway is absolutely teeming with Tingtangers curious to know where the feck Jim and Jab have gone. And there was no sneaking happening as Isabel opens the door and the bell jingles, letting everyone know there was activity going on here.

Someone nearby comes racing, alert, and just stares at these people. Just one whiteboy Tingtanger, one 12-year old in a poorly tailored Tingtang getup, Isabel, and your two LCCB members who look like they're ready to start dealing cards. ]

What the fuck?!

[ Girl, same. Anyway, explain yourselves. ]

[thematics]

[ ... sorry.

lovelace holds up her gun again! she's aiming it at this newcomer. this is a solid strategy that worked well last time. and a lot of lovelace's plans boil down to: point a gun and sound intense until people leave you alone. ]

Back away! Let us through.

I don't know what those two traitors were thinking attacking us when we're all from the same gang, but we're not sticking around to find out. This is going straight to the higher ups.

[ just telling lies i guess. ]

[riverbeans]

[also immediately starts telling lies as he casually brings his sword over his shoulder]

You heard her. C'mon, time is money—we've got places to be, and you don't want us having to tell the wrong person you wasted ours. We got what we were owed from that old fart, so we're moving on.

[solesuccess]

[ at this rate he does not entirely trust that if he doesn't say anything this'll fly, so. ]

And anyway, it'd be a real shame to have to say we ran into you slacking off on the job when we're just taking out the trash. [ this is probably very believable when this outfit is half-draping off of him, but it's fine. he sounds confident and casual enough in what he's saying. ] So? Are we going to have a problem?

[inequals]

[ Well, this Tingtanger just uh. Between your 10, 12, and 13 rolls, he just looks... uncertain. Logically, he should know this is not Jim and Jab, and yet, the outfit... it is just so convincing... ]

Ah -- jeez! You ain't from the same gang, where's your uniform?!

[ This is apparently, the only thing he really has an issue with, as he immediately looks to Charles. He also glances at Shoma, but just decides not to even start with that. ]

Quit it Jimmy, you know I'm workin' as hard as you are -- in fact, I'm workin' harder, 'cause it takes more cash to feed this body, alright? You ain't mind if I take a second gander at the old man then, do ya? Just wanna make sure it's clean.

[thematics]

What, you don't trust me? You think a uniform is the only thing it takes to be part of the gang?

[ again just. gesturing broadly with this gun!! ]

And now you don't trust that we cleared the place out.

[riverbeans]

[a pause, as he tries to remember how jim theoretically spoke.]

Listen, you bean, I don't like bein' called a liar. Don'tcha have your own job to do? What, are you gonna walk in, walk out, and try to take the credit for our work? I don't think so.

[solesuccess]

[ no pause, just rolling. ]

And y'know, we're being real lenient with you right now even having this conversation. So why don't ya keep your nose out of our business and run along? Ya know Boss hates having precious time wasted with simple shit.

[inequals]

[ I thought it would be funny for this guy to potentially be cowed by your triple onslaught of scolding him, but he rolled a nat20, so he just gets angry instead. ]

The fuck?! You think you're a buncha smart-ass beans, well! I'm gonna put you loafers back down into the ground where you belong! Don't get all cocky when your names are Jim and Jab, 'cause I'm 'bout to dim and stab you into the ground!

[ I have to work harder on this freak language than I have worked on literally any other part of this CYOA. Anyway I guess you're just suddenly thrown into Encounter #2. For what it's worth, your attempts at convincing him were REALLY good, because he does think you're actually a part of the Tingtangers. Just that being fellow gangmates doesn't necessarily mean you don't piss him off, I guess.

The dice also decreed that even though Isabel is the one with a gun, he's going for a direct stab at Charles. Again. He's just incredibly stabbable.

Effie and Saude are just going to take this opportunity to book it. ]

Saude

Ah, meet us at the car pagodas if you would. It should be in the paperwork. Please don't be late!

[thematics]

What is it with you guys and beans?

[ we have charles so maybe she can't ask that... anyway she is going to hold action until charles gets his chance to react.

... but if he seems like he is losing a fight she will try to knock this guy out with the butt of her gun. again. she's not actually as trigger happy as she acts. 😔

otherwise she will just observe because it seemed like he did fine on his own last encounter even when two people were attacking him at once. ]

[riverbeans]

[january 🏞🫘 charles Request: [1d20] Roll: [2] Result: 2

WELL

I GUESS CHARLES WRONGFULLY ASSUMES THIS GUY WOULD GO FOR ISABEL, WHO HAS A GUN, so he is caught off-guard by this tingtanger stabbing HIM instead. which is to say, he can't fully dodge it, getting a little stabby as a treat maybe before he jumps back. he is apparently losing so yeah please bonk this dude, isabel.





either way this doesn't seem good but while he theoretically has full positive energy (despite the stab) he's going to take a risk and try activating his e.g.o.? can he have fire? HOW DOES THIS WORK.]

We said to leave.

[solesuccess]

[ OH MY GOD WHY. there go saude and effie? charles is getting stabbed? isabel's trying to hit a man?

and he's just here, sadly drowning in a tacky luau shirt. ]

Seriously.

[inequals]

[ Okay well, unfortunately for Charles. He does get stabbed. You are now bleeding really badly. From the neck.

Ummm.

Slightly fortunate is the way that Isabel does hit the guy with the butt of her gun, which doesn't quite knock him out but he does decide to take a second separate swing at her instead -- but he misses quite pathetically so she's alright.

Meanwhile, you get to witness Charles's fists and sword suddenly lighting up in flames as he temporarily changes out his Hawaiian get-up for a matador outfit. You can think of it as like, a temporary illusion, fit-wise, pretty much. You basically have temporary fire enveloping your physical attacks yeah!

What you do. While you're bleeding out, I mean. ]

[thematics]

[ okay obviously i am going to let charles do his e.g.o. thing first. imagine stealing his thunder immediately.

... but then she is going to shoot this man. even if he's already down. don't care. need him out of the way so we can tend to an injury. ]

Enda. Go get bandages from the pawnbroker. [ THE GOOD NEWS IS WE ARE ONLY LIKE TWO STEPS OUT THE DOOR ]

[riverbeans]

[ISABEL JUST SHOOTS A MAN I SEE]

—Ow! Ow, ow, okay, not good!

[charles still regrets nothing though except not rolling higher!!! anyway, he feels like a flaming sword and fists should be at least a somewhat unusual sight, so if getting shot does not scare this gangster off, charles is hoping that like. swinging a sword on fire at him will. and maybe scare anyone else who might come along to check out the situation.]

[solesuccess]

And this is why we mind our own business when we have a plan we should be trying to follow! [ but he does immediately move to scuttle over to fetch bandages. listen old man, please assist. are there anything like bandages around or are we going to have to cut up overcoats to stop charles' neck from bleeding. ]