canon is rob thurman's trickster series. point is end "trick of the light"

[paien]

Didn't you just get through lecturing yourself about being stretched too thin? Not like it's my job to get you out of trouble, kid, but I don't like seeing my own walk into a bad spot blind. You might not be an expert yet, but you know me well enough to know that.

[ She rolls her eyes and continues about her business, pouring a shot and knocking it back without so much as the flutter of a lash. ]

I guess you're not walking too much of a tightrope if you just keep me in your private puddles and out of the big pond. It's all fun and games 'til someone loses an eye, right?

Comments

[vigil]

You're going to need a lot more of that — [ a cant of his head towards the bottle and shot glass. ] or a boat, even with her "private puddles".

[paien]

[ An eyebrow quirks, matched only by the right corner of her lips, as she pulls a second shot glass from below the counter. Just in case. ] Know a thing or two, do we, sunshine?

[vigil]

It's Niko. [ he matches the quirk of her brow with one of his own when she pulls out the extra shot glass, letting his expression smooth into something more passive and conversational to pair with his tone after a beat. ] I'm not much of a drinker unless you have some wheatgrass stocked, but I appreciate the thought.

And I've been around the block a time or two. Long enough to know puddles are always deeper than they appear.

[paien]

With hair that color? I prefer Sunshine. [ You will be hard pressed to get her to change the nickname now that it exists. He could be related to Griffin. ]

You and me both, honey. Doesn't mean I don't put a little faith in my girl here. She likes me.

[vigil]

It isn't the worst nickname I've ever had. [ which means he'll take it. when you've been dealing with a puck who checks out your 'assets' every chance he gets, 'sunshine' is a refreshing break. ]

You've got a good head on your shoulders. That'll help.

[paien]

Won't be the last one you get, either. [ because this is my bar motherfucker and i make the rules ]

Hey, what can I say? Brains make the girl.

[vigil]

Should I expect a new one each time we talk, then?

[ but finally his lips curve into a small smile. ] Point. Brains are a rare commodity.

[aupheling]

Depends on who loses the eye.

[paien]

Let's just say it's not gonna be me.

[aupheling]

Guess you'll still be having fun, then. [ yeah, he likes the way you think. ]

[paien]

Don't know that I'd call it fun. Tolerance, maybe. But she'll figure it out eventually. She'll learn.

[aupheling]

Tolerance sounds kinda boring, but it's better than nothing. [ maybe. ] Sounds like you're pretty patient.

[poecilometes]

Depends on the rules of the game.

[paien]

Rules, huh? I make my own.

[not_w_loman]

And once they do it's ping pong.

Between you and me, though, even the most seasoned of muns aren't going to listen to Earth-logic.

[paien]

Human logic. She's not a bad kid... Just a little rough in her juggling abilities.

[not_w_loman]

Same thing. How many is she trying to keep track of, besides you?

[paien]

Only four, but they're across three of these... Games. I'm not sure I'd call them games, with what I'm hearing. Have any info for me?

[not_w_loman]

Hm, hard to say if four across three games is better or worse than about eighty with only a dozen in one game.

Probably about the same, really, when it comes to knowing that muns are terrible with time management.

[paien]

Only a dozen. [ She smirks, shaking her head. ] They're young. They'll learn.

[not_w_loman]

Out of eighty-some. Suppose that makes the percentages about the same.

We can only hope they do.

[paien]

This one's got way more than eighty. Over a hundred yammering up here. Some louder than others, but still enough to give a girl a headache. And some of them are so... What's the word? Righteous. That annoying type. You know the ones.

[not_w_loman]

Ah, yes. Them there's a few of those up here too, mostly we manage to ignore each other and keep to the status quo.