( open ) baby i like your style

[winces]

CHARACTERS: lapis (onerism), nami (weatherscience), olivia (winces), & company!
DATE: one lovely evening before the 8th
WARNINGS: nami's feminine wiles, lapis' pyro-happy ghost buddy, and olivia's hives... also extreme second-hand embarrassment and possibly some less-than-savory audience members. potential for violence?? maybe???
SUMMARY: lapis, nami, and olivia try to earn some extra $$$ by doing what they do best. chaos ensues.

Whether you've come to the Desert Flower Saloon this evening for boarding or for entertainment, you'll find the first floor practically vibrating with activity and life. On this night, unlike any other before (or so Miz Poppy will proclaim), the saloon's main stage will feature not one, not two, but three new performers, fresh (a week or so old is still fresh, right?) from the far corners of the universe to delight and excite the saloon's loyal patrons with the song and dance and magic of their alien people.

Come! Sit, watch, and enjoy!

Comments

[weatherscience]

[ Ah. . .

The good thing? At least Ban's sudden appearance means the Qorral making those unwanted advantages towards her is temporarily pushed away -- good riddance, as far as she's concerned.

The bad? Ban's hand connects with her Clima-tact and electricity jumps, the charge releasing immediately, finding the fastest way towards the ground: through Ban.

Nami watches this disaster unfold with a sigh... before leaning down, to look at the man still leaning his head against the table. ]

You. It's your fault he's like that! You wouldn't want me calling the Sheriff, right? So just buy us both drinks as an apology and I'll let it go!!

[ ... zero concern for Ban, but as it seems her words scared the Qorral into action that results in two full cocktail glasses being placed in front of them, well. All in a day's work, right? ]

[perma_banned]

[A bit of smoke churned from Ban's mouth as he stifled a stupid, ill-sounding chuckle. He removed his hand when he realized that he had been getting zapped a bit too long and felt his eyelids twitch unintentionally as he began to enunciate.]

That's-- [An idle twitch surged up his neck.] --a good point~.

[Ban opened his hand and released the poor fellow long enough to let him rush over to get the two of them drinks. He clapped his hands and grinned at Nami as if a magic trick had been done for the two of them.] Kahaha! Bet none of 'em were expecting to be shaken down by a dancer, huh ♪?

[weatherscience]

[ She watches his neck twitch and his fingers smoke slightly, and perhaps someone else would show him concern — Nami simply turns on her chair so she's facing him better... and grins. ]

Well... they should have known better, then!

[ Once the drinks are hastily placed in front of them, she takes her own and holds it up in a toast. ]

You asked for a drink, didn't you? I always provide for a friend! [ Though not necessarily legally or with her own money... ] Drink up! [ What a dangerous combination two thieves can make... ]

[perma_banned]

[Ban stared at Nami, visibly confused for awhile as the drink was given to him. It hadn't impacted him earlier but he realized what a rare treat it was. Glancing at it, Ban tapped his glass against Nami's and then, after their toast, he tossed it back down his throat with a bit more efficiency and skill than a human being should possess when it came to liquor.

Idly turning the glass over and setting it on the table as mere habit.]

Nobody ever gets drinks for me~. I thought you'd just take a swing at me instead-- Kahahah! [Mostly because adding drinks to Ban's docket usually ended poorly and the Sins liked to avoid the backlash that always came from their Fox stealing from the local townsfolk just because he got a bonus and had free reign at the bar.]

Say... [Ban reached behind his collar, snatching a deck of card, which he promptly slammed down on the table. The read 'The Seven Deadly Sins' with a picture of a grinning pig on the front.] How about another team-up, Nami~?!

[weatherscience]

[ Her bright laughter and the shrug she gives are nothing but a cover, a nicer response than saying yes, I know — she remembers it still, the heart-stopping confusion the younger Ban had exhibited when shown kindness. If he isn't used to it, someone getting him a drink or something else for free... then she'll just have to make sure she does it often enough. He's a friend, he deserves it.

(Besides... she's used to drunks, can handle her liquor, so Ban's affinity to drinks doesn't bother her at all.) ]

Why would I do that? You got rid of that annoying man, I was just repaying the favor!

[ She raises an eyebrow at the sudden appearance of cards, at the inscription, but it only lasts a moment; soon, she smiles and taps her cheek. ]

Hmm, what do you have in mind?

[perma_banned]

[Popping open the deck, Ban began spreading the cards and shuffling them. The gestures were clean, rapid and set so he could freely steal a card from the deck at any time he wanted. He was making it clear through shuffling alone that he had the dexterity to cheat if he wanted.

All while inebriated and sleepy. If anything--that was half of the plan by coincidence.]

What I've got in miiiind~...

[Ban stopped shuffling and leaned in closer with a grin on his face that gave away everything--]

Is that we ought to play with a couple 'friends'~!

[weatherscience]

[ He's experienced with this — it's good, because cards have never been her M.O. though she trusts her tricks and speed enough to be able to if not quite match Ban, at least keep up.

Nami grins, matching that slyness, their thoughts going along the same lines. ]

Hm, friends, is it? Ah, but a girl and a drunk aren't much of a threat in a card game... right?

[ Or so most would think. She glances towards the back of the room, to a two-table complex that is surrounded by a group of the locals, a pack of cards already on the table. ] Should we ask them to play?

[perma_banned]

Pluuuus... [Ban spun his deck on his fingers and tucked it back into the pocket of his apron. He stood up, albeit with a bit of a wobble before planting both hands on the table to ground himself. Grinning in Nami's face, Ban made a point--]

We've never played~. Those fellas are gonna teach us 'cause they look kind and respectable, riiight ♪?

[It was fair timing on Ban and Nami's part to get their devious looks out of their systems. Ban held onto his horrifying, sadistic grin a moment longer before he fell back into a more placid and dizzy looking smirk. He would play the part of an overconfident amateur--someone who'd think he couldn't lose.

The bar had gone without anyone being swindled that night. It seemed like a good time to change that.]

[weatherscience]

Mm, absolutely! We just want to learn the local customs, don't we?

[ From the way their eyes sparkle with danger, their predatory smirks, it's a wonder no one nearby runs away screaming. Their faces truly are something to behold... only for a moment, though, before Ban looks like your regular laid-back drunk and Nami's smile has dimmed into something innocent and demure: a girl who has never played cards before, hesitant, with apologies about probably messing up everything from the starts already waiting on her lips.

She winks at Ban and skips ahead, summoning her most charming smile as she approaches the table, her eyes huge as she peers down at the cards, then the men. ]

Ah, what is it you're playing? It looks like fun! It must be a Qorral tradition, I've never seen a game like this before... Doesn't it look fun? [ The last question she directs at Ban, eyes already sparkling with excitement. She pauses, draws breath, as though an idea is just occurring to her. ] Oh! Maybe these kind gentlemen would teach us to play, too!

[ Ain't that one of the dancers, one Qorral man whispers to another, under his breath. Yeah, his friend responds, what'd you say? They've never played before, he continues with an undertone and a slight smirk that almost screams "easy money". ]

[perma_banned]

[Intentionally pretending to go through his wallet as Nami introduced herself to them, Ban 'accidentally' revealed quite a few bills and coins among the contents. Messily, he shoved it all back in as he reassured himself, under his breath(though loudly enough), that he should have had it all there. With a sleepy looking gaze, he sat down along with the guys backwards in his seat, dreamily draping his chin on the back of the chair.

He looked as if he would fall asleep at any moment. He let himself become background imagery to sustain the greed of those at the table. Nami's smile and naive act was meant to be the main act to grab their attention the most. The small details revolving around Ban's own naivety and apparent inexperience were also a garnish to help Nami out as well. He was supposed to sell the idea that he was a complete an utter fool.

It wouldn't be hard to do, really.]

I love learnin' new games! Plus, we might get lucky, right? We could win something a little extra for drinks if lady luck's on our side! How hard could it beeee?

[False, sloppy confidence was always a good companion to naivety. Nami and Ban could easily keep both bases covered.]

I great at solitaire, after all~. Right? [He threw that sleazy, stupid grin Nami's way as he gestured to the cards on the table. Of course, it didn't hurt to jam it down someone's throat that one was a complete and utter fool.]