Rules of the Con

[Gravedust]

Ben smiles.
"Well isn't that a coincidence? I'm Benjamin Pierce." -an easy way to get someone to remember you, he figured- "Friends call me Ben. I'm in town for a speaker expo. Two of them, actually, one just finished and another starts in a day or two unless it gets cancelled."

His speech is interrupted by an impromptu pyrotechnic display over by the bar. He uses the spectacle as an opportunity to check in on Penn. Seems like she's doing fine, so he turns his attention back to the table.

"Wow.. Well I guess that's Vegas for you. What are you all in town for?"

[e]

Penn gives Davy an amused smile as she watches him frantically gulping water.

"Oh, yes well. I won't say a word against that." She laughs, then looks about for the trumpet player.

"You'll give me an ace intro when he comes this way, won't you now? Your tongue seems unharmed by the fire."

[jazzs3quence]

(( arrrrggh. so, I'm sorry I let this die. I admit it was partially my fault, however I also think it has a bit to do with Bren being busy for a week and posting (off-thread) an action that would take up several turns. Things sort of lost momentum after that. But mostly I take responsibility because I haven't felt inclined enough to keep the thread active.

So, here's how it is...I think we need all three of the players we have playing for the game to really move. I thought maybe I could go with less, but Arch has been a big motivator in the game and I don't want to assume that role with my NPCs because I don't want to be stringing you guys along. I also realize that my availability can be sporadic. For anyone who didn't already know, Erin and I are self-employed web designers, so when I'm not working, I'm not making money (potentially) -- as opposed to a normal desk job in which 90% of what you do is slack off (I know, because that's what I left before doing this full time). And money's been tight, so I've been trying to work more, so I haven't been as able to devote the time to the game that I would need to to really make it work and be updated on a regular basis.

HOWEVER, if people are cool with not really having a regular schedule for posting and want to try to continue with it on a sort of irregular basis, I'm willing to try to give it a go when I've got some time to spend on it. But I don't want to devote a ton of time into it if it's not really working or people are frustrated or don't know what to do or whatever. So let me know, peeps -- I'm about ready in the game to jump ahead and give you an opportunity to interact with your potential mark...if you want to keep chugging along and it is what it is in terms of regularity or if you want (or need) to pack it in to devote time elsewhere, let me know either here or via PM. Or if you want to tell me how much the game sucks, let me know that, too ))

[Gravedust]

((Eh, I'm cool to keep chugging along through breaks and sporadicness and all else. ))

[jazzs3quence]

(( I'm going to try to resurrect this thread this weekend. I'm thinking that I'll switch to posting on weekends so it doesn't interfere with when I should be doing actual work. You guys can post whenever. ))

[Gravedust]

((Aaah, cool beans. ))

[jazzs3quence]

When Davy finishes extinguishing his burning mouth, he finally turns to Penn and gives her a look. "'Ou dow...'f I wibbent dow beddar, I'b fay 'ou 'ere fwirting wif me..."

A few tables away, Mister Sterling presents Ben with a business card. "I'm with Capitol Records." He nods at Morgan on the stage. "This guy has been tossing his onesheets around town for years. Now he says he's got some special act, so -- despite all logic; we've never signed the guy before -- no one has -- and we aren't exactly looking to now -- brass has me coming out, showing my face, and seeing if this new act is as revo-fucking-lutionary -- if you'll excuse the French -- as his social media campaign says it is. Some kind of 'post-rockabilly jazz,' he says, but to hear him play Kind of Blue, doesn't sound like it promises to be post- anything to me." He shakes his head in disgust. "If it weren't for the guy's attitude, we could sign him a contract as a session musician. I got a tip Axl Rose was looking for an orchestra for a Chinese Democracy tour. Thing is, he's so busy pissing off the industry with that damn blog of his, EMI's ready to file a goddamn libel suit. He's got to be running the show or nothing. Well he's got a lot to prove come Thursday, that's all I'm saying..."

Ashley's set ends to modest applause. Davy grabs Penn's hand and almost yanks her off her feet with his exuberance as he heads towards the backstage. Spencer stays seated, nursing his beer and avoiding eye contact.

upkeep
Penn
+1xp

Ben
+1xp

[Gravedust]

((Sorry for delay. Holidays and such means lots of busy. : / ))

"Wow, guy sounds like a real winner." Ben flashes a sardonic grin and pockets the business card. That could prove to be a useful tool later... His head spins a little from the shop talk, but he files away as much of it as he can. It's also encouraging that Mister Sterling already had at least a mild dislike for their target, perhaps he could be talked into doing a little mischief.

Out of the corner of his eye he notes Penn's ((presumed)) exit, and resolves to keep half an eye pointed in her direction when he can till she reappears. It didn't seem like anything untoward was going on, but you never knew.

In the mean time he would try to ingratiate himself to his new hosts as best he could, while trying not to talk over the music too much. If the climate seemed right by the end of the evening he'd suggest meeting or drinks and music at some point in the future, without nailing down a time or date.