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

[dropoffs]

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[riverbeans]

Sorry, but I've got places to be now...

[that's to the rando he was hanging out with before he also just strolls up to where the bossman and shoma is to stand behind shoma, ignoring any judgment this might get him. unfortunately he does this shit in canon too.]

Don't mind me. Just a spectator for my friend here, you see.

[trying really hard not to lose it over someone with arthur's face like this.]

[solesuccess]

[ charles help him, help him charles. he's never going to be able to look at arthur the same...

but he will just have a seat. a panata party? just a dumbass dance? sure, whatever the fuck. ]

Sure, I'll take that risk. Let's play.

[inequals]

Just Some Guy

No way, I mean -- what do I get out of this, huh?!
This sounds like a shit deal only idiots would take!

[ Meanwhile, in the other corner. Arthur will wave Shoma to come sit down with them, though one of the other goons will stand up to be way too close to Charles. Personal space? No it isn't. ]

Jefe de Los Mariachis

You can stay, but you won't mind if he stands with you.
Just security measures.
Dealer!

[ He'll wave over for a dealer to come join, and guess who it is! It's your pal, Effie, who has quick-changed into a slightly different croupier uniform. They're hustling, dude. He clears his throat politely and starts shuffling cards. ]

Jefe de Los Mariachis

Three rounds, two out of three.
What do you say?

[thematics]

It's not really a deal so much as a thing that's just going to happen. You don't get to choose whether it does or doesn't. Just how difficult it is.

[ lets hurry this up man i really need to go make fun of mariachi arthur ]

[riverbeans]

Wow. Usually I need a meal together before I let someone stand this close to me.

[but he will keep an eye on shoma's game... to shoma:]

You've got this.

[solesuccess]

[ there's a nod to charles first as he settles in, though he glances at effie and seems to kind of get what's going on. okay. we're working our way up.

never mind that he has never played this game before. but we're learning. ]

Your terms are acceptable. [ and he will wait for the cards to be dealt. ] Two out of three.

[inequals]

Just Some Guy

Bet your shirt and I'll consider it then!

[ The intimidation didn't go over so well, you will either have to legit rob him or play him fairly for his shirt. Why is this happening.

Ftr, the Mariachi Vivaz will glady get you both some food, Charles. Some taco Thursday, anyone? Now he has an excuse to stand this close to you.

Round one! We're totally BSing this because I don't know how to actually play Baccarat and neither do you, but we make the rolls happen. 1-8: Arthur wins. 9-12: House (Effie) wins, aka a tie. 13-20: Shoma wins. Sounds good? ]

[thematics]

[ unfortunately despite my consistently terrible rolls this is the kind of thing lovelace usually excels at so she's just expecting it to work out eventually. also she's competitive. ]

Alright, fine. Let's play for it.

[riverbeans]

[he will take this taco.]

Oh, thanks.

[but he does take a look at it to make sure there's nothing sussy in it. sorry, pal. gotta be careful when they're from rival syndicates...]

[solesuccess]

[ he is unaware of what's going on with both isabel and charles, focusing on believeing in the heart of the cards...

the rolls sound good and with my roll of ten, that's a house win? ]

[inequals]

[ The random civilian will play Lovelace for the shirt off his back. The cards were not in her favour today. However the random civlian politely declines to actually take Isabel's clothes, partially out of respect and partially because they're not better than what he's already wearing. Instead, Isabel will hear the ominous shaking of maracas coming closer. ]

Mariachi Vivaz

You must respect the rules of the game, madam.
If you cannot pay with money, you must dance, or we will throw a pañata party on you.

CHARLES

ISABEL

SHOMA

[ That is a promise.

Fortunately for Charles, it does seem to be a regular taco. Everyone is friends in Los Mariachis. Probably. The guy gives Charles a hearty pat on the back. He isn't flirting with you.



Round one is a tie [10], and you may watch Effie collect the cards with a snuck-in thumbs up. Jefe Arthur sighs a little, clearly disappointed, but they've still got two chances. ]

Jefe Arthur

What are you doing up here anyhow?
The Tingtang Gang territory is usually outside.
Should you be playing around upstairs without your boss in tow?

[thematics]

[ she laughs? ]

Oh, absolutely not. Neither of those things are happening.

[ ma'am ]

[riverbeans]

[THANKS GLAD THIS ISN'T FLIRTING he will eat the taco then and see how shoma responds to this. he looks calm on the outside but inside he is still sort of losing it over seeing arthur's face like this.]

[solesuccess]

[ the very, very slightest upturn of his lips. this is the only way he can manage not to give into the urge to yell about arthur's face. ]

Ah, you didn't hear? Big mess down there. When're we ever gonna get this kind of chance again? Boss'll catch up when Boss catches up.

[ round two is a roll of 17.

anyway outwardly he looks calm internally he's dying squirtle. ]

[inequals]

Mariachi Vivaz

Oh, but you will.
You either take the maracas or you get the maracas.

[ OK. He's wielding them with the aura of wielding dual hammers, ftr. So that is happening in the bg while Shoma is winning at Baccarat.

Charles... you feel it in your bones, that Arthur would rather die than be seen with this weird-ass personality. And yet, here you all are, watching his expression turn into a slight frown as Shoma wins the next hands -- yes, hands, since in the interest of time I'm giving him the two wins needed to just take it here. Congratulation. ]

CHARLES

ISABEL

SHOMA

Jefe Arthur

Not half-bad for a grunt.
Maybe they should send you up to the top floor instead.
Then we can play a real game.

[thematics]

Ugh. Hold that thought.

[ she says this like she really means it and then she is just walking away. you can just walk away from your problems if you want!! and she's coming over to where shoma and charles are at to see what's going on here.

except

immediately bursting out in obnoxious laughter when she sees arthur ]

[riverbeans]

[glances over at isabel before he shrugs, trying to hold back a grin. but also, he is not sure how well laughing will go over here, so he promptly turns back to shoma. (with mild concern over whatever isabel has been getting into when he wasn't paying attention...)]

I agree—this guy's talent is wasted on this floor, don'tcha think?

[solesuccess]

[ his bones feel deep exhaustion when he hears isabel laugh and he is just pretending his grin is about winning and not because he's losing his mind. you know that thing where you start laughing because someone else is even though it isn't funny? yeah.

anyway yay. ]

Maybe they should. [ he leans in a little. ] A game not Baccarat?

[ tell us more about the top floor's gamble, arthur. ]

[inequals]

[ Well. Isabel arrives and starts just laughing at Jefe de los Mariachis: Arthur for what appears to be, him losing to a 12-year old. Which is fair. However, this will not be taken lightly among their ranks, and there is just deathly silence from their fellow Mariachis as she laughs.

Even the guy who was chasing after Isabel trying to get his dues pauses at this.

...

Then some goons finally speak. ]

Mariachi Allegre

Oye, what was that sound... it was like nails on chalkboard...

Mariachi Vivaz

I think it sounded more like a donkey braying, eh...

Mariachi Allegre

She's clearly insane, huh, I mean... look at her, chief.

[ Arthur, even in his cool outfit and big hat, looks at Isabel with the straightest most serious expression ever. ]

Jefe Arthur

You are an annoyance.

[thematics]

[ just ignoring these goons being rude to respond to arthur. ]

Don't be a buzzkill. Tell us about the game upstairs.

[ once again she's so positive that just being bossy will work. it's a little less unearned this time because being bossy does usually work on arthur? good luck, me. ]

[riverbeans]

[somehow this is the closest jefe arthur has gotten to the real arthur as charles does a very impressive job of maintaining a straight face.]

Just ignore her. She, uh, has problems. [sorry isabel but you clearly do for reasons unrelated to rightfully laughing at arthur] So, the game?

[solesuccess]

[ wow...good arthur cosplay, sir.

anyway he just gives isabel the flattest look in the universe and i am once again extremely sorry that he's so agitated with her even though everyone can agree this is extremely funny. ]

Agreed. [ he can attempt to appeal to jefe arthur for the sake of getting their information and moving the fuck on. ] As you were saying?

[inequals]

[ Unfortunately being bossy works the opposite here, possibly, because Arthur is a Syndicate boss in this world and Aida (the original Jefe whose place Arthur is taking right now) is actually a pretty hard-ass boss. He crosses his arms. ]

Jefe Arthur

We're all going to find out once it's time.
They don't inform in advance, it leaves more time for people to think up ways to cheat.
Knowing though, it's likely something plain, like poker.

[ Everyone just assumes it's going to be a normal game. They're right though. If you choose to believe them all. ]

Jefe Arthur

Is she one of yours? The Tingtangs would cut out tongues for less.
It seems she owes a dance, or we'll have to teach her a lesson.

[thematics]

[ everyone is so rude to her just because she's kind of a bitch and also blew up a room a minute ago and also hasn't done anything useful and also can't stealth and also ]

I'm with them. And the Tingtangs know better than to get on my bad side. [ AGAIN, TRULY NO RIGHT TO TOUGH TALK WHEN MY ROLLS ARE SO BAD ]

[riverbeans]

Isabel...

[just gives her a look]