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[armsmaster]

So, uh... what's the done thing 'round here for smashing boredom in the face? 'cause I'm achin' for some shore leave but right now a hole in the head sounds more likely, no?

[ A pause - crackly because he's shifting his comms device against his Alliance shirt in contemplation... ]

Anybody up for a joint workout? I could use an extra pair of eyes to spot me.

Comments

[armsmaster]

Free free? Or you scratch my back I'll scratch yours kinda free?

[ Because it makes a difference. And Vega's not scratching anybody's back, ok? Good. ]

[judex]

There is no back scratching that I'm aware of. [ Does he know that's a figure of speech? Maybe. Maybe not. It's a medieval fantasy mystery. ] You have to serve yourself and clean your own glass.

The taverns—bars—they tend to be empty. If you want a crowd you'll have to invite one.

[armsmaster]

The booze is free? [ Whaaaaat kind of crazy setup do they have here? Drinking when it's not specifically Shore Leave Time For James is a thing he doesn't really know what to do with. Omega sure as hell doesn't count - that was extended shore leave and didn't go on his record. ]

Probably the best news I've heard since I got here. That or the offer of a tour around the armory.

But people don't spend time in the bars here? Strange, no?

[judex]

They do, I think, but there are as many bars as there are passengers. [ That's not true. Probably. He doesn't know, he isn't an expert, don't rely on him—but the point is that there's a lot of room for people to spread out, if they don't coordinate ahead of time. ] I've considered moving into one permanently.

[ That has a slightly higher chance of being true. ]

[armsmaster]

Yeah, but... I find a bar I like? [ No, wait. That doesn't really work that well when Vega spends most his time on opposite ends of the damn universe. ]

Point is... where are the regulars? Those sad, sonuvabitch pendejos who prop up the bar and become a part of the furniture. I love those guys. [ Something about spinning a good story... ]

[judex]

Maybe if you choose one to frequent other people will follow. [ Especially the ladies and dude-leaning dudes. Musclesss. ]

[armsmaster]

Like a room. I'll just claim one as mine and invite everybody to join. Not a bad plan.

[ And since Vega seems to have made a lot of things on the tenth level home: ]

Ey, you wanna come? I'm gonna pick a bar on tenth and get to work.

[judex]

I'll come.

[ And possibly stop coming if it becomes too crowded in the future, or possibly not—it occurs to him to ask, hopefully: ]

Do you know how to play Diamondback?

[ No one from outside of Thedas seems baffled by his deck of cards, with the Serpents and Angels and Daggers, but maybe someday someone will say yes. ]

[armsmaster]

Uh. No? What's Diamondback?

[ It sounds badass, like a snake or something, whatever it is. If Vega can learn it and win at it, more spoils for him. ]

[judex]

A card game. No one I've met here has heard of it. [ Though nearly everyone he's asked seems to have heard of something called poker, whatever that is. It sounds stupid. (He's not bitter.) ] I could teach you.