driftfleet | Gumball Wishes and Taxicab Dreams

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Gumball Wishes and Taxicab Dreams

[On today's episode of the Drift Fleet:

The cargo holds are full of mysterious crates! The crews are filling beyond capacity with new faces! Official alerts are informing the passengers that they are signed to contracts that they've never agreed to! They are docking at the dazzling FS Starlight, but are flat broke!

What are they going to do!? Stay tuned to find out!

...Meaning, this is a kickoff mingle for you all to enjoy the beginning of the latest plot setting. This is a convenient place to start threads relating to the first week of the event-- meeting new crewmembers, reacting to the mysterious cargo, arriving on the station and discovering that you're all broke, etc.

Tag around, start whatever you'd like, have fun. And, as always, feel free to make your own posts and mingles from here on in, as this will be the only mod-posted one for this event!]

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You don't actually think people are in those things for the prize money, do you?

The real money is in the books.

Sure, if you're a gambling man. But if I wanted to throw away money, I'd be at the casino. I like to see actual returns from my investments.

[And so if he's going to be at the pits, he's going to be in the fight where he knows he'll win - not gambling on the other chumps wailing on one another.]

[Azula just sighs and rolls her eyes. Surrounded by idiots, etc.]

I'm not talking about gambling, genius.

Are you always this slow on the uptake?

[He might be, but fortunately Ling is useful for more than just a conscience. So after a moment of Greed looking irritated, suddenly he's got the gist of it. Thanks head-bro.]

Ah, I see. Play to the crowd, huh? You're more devious than I took you for.

[Azula just smiles.]

A fool and his money are soon parted.

Isn't that how the saying goes?

Sounds about right. Unless you're the one trying to play me for the fool. How do I know you won't just split with the cash the first chance you get?

And go where? Back to the ships we all live on?

You're new here. You might just be dumb enough to think you can give me and the Atroma the slip.

[Which... he didn't think she was. But sometimes the smartest people did dumb things because they just assumed they were smarter than everyone else. People like his old man.]

If I was that stupid, then you have nothing to worry about, do you? You can easily catch up to me any time you please.

And risk damaging that pretty face? [He tuts at that.] But alright, I've got some cash I can invest in this venture. I'll do my part, but you better do yours.

I always do.

Well alright. Follow me, princess. I know just the place for us to start.

[He already has enough cash in his pockets to get them started, so he'll just lead them into the station. He's already been in one of these fighting rings as a spectator, so now it's time to go down there and enter.

And he knows just the guy to sign up as.]

[Azula waits a few beats and then follows at a respectable distance-- close enough to keep a close eye, but not so close that people think they're together.

As always, no matter how good her lying or acting is, she can't hide her regal posture. Despite her youth, she holds herself like someone much older. Confident and unafraid. She never walks around anyone-- rather, people unconsciously get out of her way, even without knowing her. She just exudes that vibe.

When they get to where they're going, she watches Greed closely to see what he's going to do.]

[On the way there, she might have caught Greed quietly murmuring to himself. With the crowds around them, none of it was particularly easy to pick up - unless you happened to be in the same body as Greed. Ling listened and gave his responses, though he wasn't particularly pleased with the plan.

Still, it had merit. So by the time they found themselves at a particularly seedy establishment being surrounded by thugs of all shapes and sizes, Greed did the opposite of look tough and imposing. He didn't do anything at all.

But instead a brightly smiling Ling Yao entered as though he was surrounded by long lost friends. Greed might have been the power house, but Ling was well practiced in deception and distraction. When it came to registering for the fight, the smiling and slouching Ling looked like he would have been more of a spectator. The bookie seemed reluctant to even let such a kid go in and get himself pummeled, but Ling's insistence on there being no need to worry and that he was only in it for the experience finally got him registered as an absolute long shot.

There was some time to wait, but they couldn't very well interact before then. For a moment he glanced at Azula but his smile did not fade. Greed might have taken an interest in this one, but Ling Yao was far more wary. He had more than a few siblings that talked and walked the exact same way she did.

When the first match came, it was against someone a head taller than Ling, but not among the more seasoned fighters in the ring. This was a pity match made to give the prince a beatdown before the big and bald brute went on to fight his real opponent. This was just fine - Ling insisted he be allowed to handle this fight. This would require a special kind of finesse beyond the use of the ultimate shield.

It could have been a quick match, but Ling milked it by taking a beating at first. Greed's regeneration was withheld while Ling was kicked around. This was all part of the act as well in the interest of Azula having time to continue collecting bets. His opponent looked to be winning, but that was only going to last so long. When his foe did fall, it wasn't because of a sudden come back or show of skill. Instead he was able to outmaneuver his opponent such that it was made to all look accidental and almost comical. The big guy's furious blows and wild swings ended up being his own doing. In the end, Ling won the match with a subtle sweep at the feet. After winning, he gave the jeering audience an apologetic shrug. They might have laughed if they weren't furious about this punk kid making them lose so much.]

[Azula narrows her eyes for a moment when Greed first switches out to Ling, but then she understands immediately, and approves. Clever.

Wandering into the crowd, Azula does her best to appear like some approximation of a "normal" teenager at the fighting pits for the first time. She spies what seems like a large group of men invested in parting with their money and works her way into them, seemingly trying to get a good spot at the front. They part for her, looking at one another with grins, as if to say "Here's some fresh meat." Good. Azula can work with that.

"Who's that?" she asks the fellows surrounding her with feigned interest. They all grin and shrug. There's a basic murmur of "Who knows" and "Some schmuck." Azula pretends surprise. "Really? No. You don't say. But he looks so handsome. Don't you think it's possible he'll win?"

Before long she has all the betting crowd throwing their money in, as well as a sizable number of the wiser half of the crowd who wouldn't have otherwise bothered betting on such a "boring" match, too.

When Ling claims his clever and "accidental" seeming victory, Azula is raking it in. Angry gamblers around her cry foul, that it was an accident, that it doesn't count. But fair's fair, she says, and she takes their money anyway. Then she turns back to them as if something just occurred to her. Why not go another round? An offer to get back their money, and then some-- double or nothing.]

[Good job, kid. But you got my body all bruised up. I'll take it from here.

Then the next guy walks in and he's not even human. Instead this foe is seven feet tall and with a face full of teeth that would look more fitting on a shark. Not even chimeras are made to look this ugly and Greed realizes the last guy was probably meant as more of an appetizer for this big ugly brute. Oh well, it's time to throw plans off. As the big guy stomps into the field, Greed's body first begins to crackle with red energy as his previous injuries are taken care of speedily. Then slowly his entire body begins to be covered with that graphite skin he had demonstrated early. He stops it just below his chin. Even if it's someone else's body, he's too vain to go giving up his face to look like a monster.

Greed's fighting style is far more direct than his counterpart. The fight is brutal and it quickly becomes apparent shark-teeth is a whole lot stronger than Greed is. But that's fine, because even if he does get thrown around, none of it is truly hurting him. His foe even gets frustrated enough to even try biting him, but ends up losing a few teeth to him before having his lights knocked out with a timely blow. There's a few more cheers in the crowd this time from those who weren't a part of Azula's little game of racketeering, but there's a lot of losers in the crowd that are switching tactics for the last fight.

The last fight against the champion of the ring brings Greed into a battle with a bit ugly brute that looks like the unwanted child of a rhinoceros and a dumptruck. The cyborg is unworried about this mystery challenger and with unusual speed manages to catch Greed completely unawares and takes him by the head and drives him face first into the ground with enough force that it takes half his face off. He then turned around to listen to the cheering crowd while a twitching Greed lie in the ground waiting for his skin to regenerate. That had not been part of the plan.

When he was back in the fight yelling out "BASTARD", he did so with his face now covered by the Ultimate Shield, giving him an appearance as equally monstrous as his foe. The ensuing fight was loud, violent, but ultimately quick. Rather than dealing punches, Greed used his claws to tear at his foe's mechanical augments until his foe was left broken and bloody on the arena floor. He'd won, but one thing was certain - he wasn't likely going to get invited for any more rounds after this.]

[Hmm. Well, that's certainly interesting.

Pity that she won't be able to use this particular trick with Greed again-- but no matter. By the time the third match is over, she's raked in enough cash for both of them to be set for a while.

And besides-- while Greed has been putting on the show, Azula has spent her time wisely. She isn't watching the matches-- no. She's watching and mingling with the people. She makes the rounds and talks to those who seem either easily influenced or well informed. The former, she convinces to bet against Greed even after Greed's prowess in the second match has been proven. The latter, she gleans information on who's who in the pits. The bookies, the fighters. Their strengths, weaknesses, personalities. And after the second round and the third round, she collects her debts. Those who can't pay up... she finds other uses for. Offers them alternative methods of payment-- usually information, if they have any. Or if they don't, she gives them a list of people and things to watch out for and report back to her on.

By the time she's done, Azula not only has a sizable amount of cash to split half-half with Greed, but also a network of informants and a pool of valuable information about the Starlight's top rollers and also criminal underbelly.

All in all, not a bad day's work. Finally, she approaches Greed as if they've never met before.]

That was a spectacular performance.

[Try to be a little more careful with my face in the future, Greed. I'd hate for you to restore it looking askew.

Ignoring the complains of his headmate, Greed emerged from the pits to be surrounded with all sorts of people who had all number of things to say to them. So he schmoozed and laughed and mocked as he needed to until he disentangled himself from them. By the time he was with Azula again, he was feeling pretty damn smug. Well, more so than usual. He greets Azula as he might any other fangirl and doesn't even stop to talk with her - he just expects her to fall into step.]

What can I say? I like to put on a show. I'm glad you enjoyed it.

[She follows, though the crowd of newly-minted fangirls follow too, so Azula doesn't seem too out of place.]

Will you be coming back to the fighting pits again?

[She already knows the answer before she asks it, but Greed played his part, so she'll play hers.]

[He glances over his shoulder back at the crowd, seems to consider it, and then shrugs.]

With shmucks like that? Hardly even worth my time. You on the other hand...

[Well, since they're in the act anyway, he just casually drops an around her shoulders.]

How about you come back with me instead. [The other girls will be so sad. Alas.]

... Me? [She does a good job of sounding surprised, and the other girls all whine. If they're seen leaving together, though, it could arouse suspicion.]

... I'm ... not sure Father would approve. He's a powerful man ... it would almost certainly get back to him.

[She hopes her meaning is clear.]

[Yeah, yeah. He gets it. His arm slides back to his side and he gives a shrug.]

Your loss, sweetheart. But you change your mind, you know where to find me.

[The Huntress. That part goes unspoken. Instead that goes unspoken as he instead starts chatting up some pretty green girl instead. They'll rendezvous later on. He doesn't like letting her out of his sight, but the last thing they need is to bring heat down on them and causing an incident. So he hangs back for about another hour before finally making his own exit.]

[Good. That's business taken care of, then.

And true to her word, he'll find a fat stack of cash in his room when he returns to the Huntress, too.

Of course, since she's not there with the full amount in person, there's nothing to say that Azula's given him exactly half... but the amount is sizable enough.]

[Hm. So she's already took off. It does look like a lot of money, but he can't help but be suspicious about her taking off. Still, it's more than he would have earned just entering the match - and he got the cash prize for that as well to add to the pile that hasn't been split.

He'll consider that a win. So he rounds up the cash and goes to make a deposit.]

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Gumball Wishes and Taxicab Dreams

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