[Sometime during AU week]

[the_ex_in_xp]

[meanwhile at the dorms, a half-pirate and some girl who managed a +3 lockpicking skill in her bag of tricks are trying to break in to "their" room]

This lock is way more sophisticated than the others. You'd think they were worried about unsavory people trying to break in...

Comments

[the_ex_in_excessive]

That's what I get for focusing my pirate-related specialties on areas other than bar-room brawling.

[the_ex_in_xp]

And carnival games.

[the_ex_in_excessive]

I can win carnival games, Ramona. "Squirt other people with water, win a prize" isn't a real carnival game.

[the_ex_in_xp]

Says you. I've got the word from some very respectable carnies that it's totally real.

[the_ex_in_excessive]

Really. Name names.

[the_ex_in_xp]

Lefty, Pastuzo, Archibald the Sword Swallower, and Bill.

[the_ex_in_excessive]

Nice try. I know for a fact that Pastuzo would never say that.

[the_ex_in_xp]

You said names, not a notarized statement. But what makes you so sure?

[the_ex_in_excessive]

Because I'm assuming you're joking around and if you didn't then I kinda just stumbled into a corner.

[the_ex_in_xp]

[laughs]

Little bit of both? Those are all carnie names, but the only one I ever talked to was Bill. He taught me the trick about aiming above the target in the water pistol games.

[the_ex_in_excessive]

Really? When was that?

[the_ex_in_xp]

Like, sophomore year of high school? I was at the peak of my "running away would solve all my problems" deal, so a traveling carnival was the closest thing to getting a chance to make it come true.

[chuckles] I had really questionable taste even back then.

[the_ex_in_excessive]

[politely holding her tongue on the running away stuff :I]

Did you learn any cool tricks?

[the_ex_in_xp]

Mostly how to pick marks and be a shill. But I'm assuming you don't mean that...

[rubs the back of her neck in contemplation] I learned the broad tosser, all of the dart tricks, and I can usually knock down those milk cans unless they nailed it to the booth. Then it's a matter of knowing where to throw the ball to knock the booth down.

[the_ex_in_excessive]

Dare I ask what the "broad tosser" is?

[the_ex_in_xp]

It's not something where I throw actual people, in case you're worried.

You know what three card monte is?

[the_ex_in_excessive]

The "find the lady" one, right?

[the_ex_in_xp]

Yeah. That's a broad tosser. They don't play it anymore, but it's got all the best tricks in one.

[the_ex_in_excessive]

Why'd they stop?

[the_ex_in_xp]

[shrugs a little, smiling at you]

Nobody wants to play a game they know is rigged.

[the_ex_in_excessive]

Booo. You might be the one who beats the odds!

[the_ex_in_xp]

[how did I ever date someone this earnestly dorky?]

Not me. But maybe you're the one lucky enough to find the lady.

Kind of wish I had a pack of cards to try it out.

[the_ex_in_excessive]

[hey I was basically kidding]

You could check the room?

[the_ex_in_xp]

[it wasn't sarcastic or bitter enough, still dorky]

I don't think my other self bothers with that stuff. Unless they play poker or something...

[the_ex_in_excessive]

[I'm sorry I don't live up to your sarcasm standards Ramona Flowers :|]

Maybe not. Oh, well, I guess we'll never know.