history / boardwalk | so says the birthday boy.

[gonna]

A hundred and ten fuckin' years old and still better-lookin' 'n your ugly mug.

C'mon, bubbala, you know I couldn'ta done this without you. Cut the frown and let's make somethin' of it. We got some celebratin' to do.

Comments

[veneers]

[ Sweetly: ] A hundred and ten years old and yet you still act like a boy.

[gonna]

Funny. You know, last I heard that was somethin' you were into. [ he winks. always classy. ]

[veneers]

[ Gillian's look is withering, though her tone of voice remains just the same. ]

Believe everything you hear, do you?

[ A pause, and then: ] Don't flatter yourself.

[gonna]

Don't need to.

[ he folds his arms, tipping his chin, curious. ] Hey, I get it. Charlie's a good lookin' boy.

[ benny licks his lips; 'course the way he hears it, so was her kid. ]

[veneers]

[ She'd roll her eyes if she weren't better mannered. Instead, she smiles like she finds any of this remotely funny, stepping closer and reaching out to fix his lapels. ]

He knew what he wanted. Always an attractive quality in a man.

[gonna]

Whoa, now. I know exactly what I want, sweetheart.

[veneers]

And what's that? [ A beat. ] Try not to be crass.

[resource]

Lookin' good for a dead man. [ A chuckle, then, just as nervous as he usually sounds. ] Not that any of us's got a leg to stand on.

[gonna]

Same as, shithead. What's a couple a guys like us doin' in a place like this.

[resource]

Whatever these broads want, I 'xpect. Not the worst card I ever drawn.

[gonna]

No shit. I seen your worst card; this ain't it.

[resource]

Y' make it sound like all I get is bad luck. 'S not so bad, bein' me. Lasted longer than some 'a youse tough guys.

[gonna]

The schmuck's got a point. [ he gestures to mickey, grin on his face. ]

[resource]

[ There's that classic giggle again. ]

Even a broken clock's right twice a day.

wah-wah i'm done now.

[ins]

[ While Meyer doesn't sigh outright, it's a sentiment that suffuses his tone of voice, instead, words picked as diplomatically as possible. ]

I guess there's no harm in it. It's not as if you can get into any more trouble.

SOBS.

[gonna]

Cut me a little slack here, Meyer — a man's birthday only comes once a year.

— Can't say the same for me, though. [ zing. ]

[ins]

[ :| ]

Good to see age hasn't withered you in the least.

[gonna]

[ :) ]

I moisturize.

[ins]

And we're all that much the wiser.

[ Then, like it's a concession: ] Happy birthday, Benny.

[gonna]

Aw, gee, Meyer. Thanks.

[ he raises a brow: ] Wadn't so hard, was it?

[ins]

I've said worse.