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Post by KARA Q on Dec 30, 2017 17:48:12 GMT -5
 Late in the day, Kara arrived in a sailboat to the shores of the nondescript and plainly exotic peaceful island where Carmela was said to make lair. Only a short distance away from the Sabaody Archipelago, the trip had not merited bothering the captain whose services she often solicited. Now that she was there, however, and as she looked across the puzzlingly empty terrain of the overall island, she wondered if maybe she had made a mistake. Dressed in plain browns and with her claymore and bag her only companions, Kara took break by a palm tree and listened to the sounds of nearby water.
By all accounts of people she’d “interviewed”, Carmela and her large boar often came here to spend the night under the stars at campfire. Presently, there was no sign of them, and the island seemed to be too small for a hulking, husked, and probably loud creature to stay hidden. Perhaps Carmela was not home.
To cover all of her bases, Kara advanced and made rings all around the island, more than a few times stabbing a sharpened stick into the sand in search of some underground entrance. By sundown, all that she managed to achieve was to grow tired, stick thrown away and back against a palm tree as she collected her strength to head back to the Archipelago. And she would have soon, except…
…the sounds coming from the sea became suspect.
Hiding her camouflaged form as best she could behind a broader tree, Kara listened as another vessel approached the island. Light was low when someone docked, yet there were no sounds to indicate the presence of a large boar. Could Carmela have abandoned her companion? Quietly, Kara peeked beyond the rough bark of the tree only to see a lean and masculine silhouette. Without giving it a lot of thought, she stepped out of hiding, revealing herself unarmed and plain faced as she casually studied what the tide had brought in.
“She’s not here,” was all she’d say.
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aka REAPER
Played by AJ
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Post by RINGLEY BARNUM on Jan 1, 2018 20:25:48 GMT -5
 They spoke over each other, but it was her words that struck with more impact. Usually thorough in his own right that he'd rather tear this island apart, leaving no stone unturned, he knew that Kara herself was a perfectionist in the way she approached her bounties. They'd had the misfortune of going after the same head in the past. While Ringley hated splitting anything he'd put his time and effort into, sharing spoils of hunts with Kara was something he could live with. Simply the woman did her job exceptionally well... Admitedly much better than he did himself... For now. There was always a small underlying feeling of competition with this woman even the times they'd work in tandem... She was an excellent hunter, and he could only use her and her ability to measure his own self against... MADE BY ★MEULK OF GS |
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Post by KARA Q on Jan 1, 2018 21:30:37 GMT -5
 The lanky figure advanced, careful steps bringing the other long-haired hunter closer for her to recognize by their cadence alone. Ringley Barnum, a young man she’d met one stormy evening in the house of a brutalizer of women.
“And you’re late, in my wake as usual.” Though the commentary was a jest, she wouldn’t let it show from the very first, instead keeping the par above him. It was not often that her humor was somewhat mean towards people she barely knew, but it was also not often for her to need to share a bounty without agreeing to it beforehand more than once. “Were you looking to ambush her while she slept? Good thinking.” She decided he could take whichever he wanted from her comments – her jibe or the compliment. Ultimately, it seemed they would have to partner up again.
Turning from him, she let her gaze slowly sweep through the darkness. With her eyes adjusted to the night, she could see the outline and envision the full outward form of most things she had already thoroughly scanned earlier that day, also the landscape of deep holes she had poked in the ground. “The way I see it, we have two options: a) wait around for Carmela to come back if indeed this is her favored nameless isle, or b) check all the others in the vicinity, maybe even return to the archipelago to see if she’s there wasting her money on gambles.” From what she’d learned, Carmela was not the brightest hunter in the shed, losing more than she made.
That would have been all good and fine and not hunt-worthy, except Carmela tended to get drunk and steal from those who barely had enough and even less to fend her off with. They kept quiet for fear of her wrath, but that was towards the World Government. They had had little in terms of reason not to tell more discreet others, like goodly pirates and generous bounty hunters. The leads had been few but enough for Carmela to become a target for one of the more purposeful bounty hunters out there, someone who didn’t hunt for the money but for the pleasure of breaking the hand that had carelessly taken.
With that thought in mind, Kara’s eyes were steely, a calculated seething she had to dispel from their depths as she turned around to face Ringley again.
“So what’s it going to be? I feel like leaving this up to your instinct.” She would move then, her cool gaze watchful as her pace began a saunter that would embark on starting to pace a slow circle around him (should be maintain position, at least). For reasons that would take some time to explain, the younger hunter made her nearly feel like a cat with a mouse within paw-swipe distance, but her slight smile rose up good-natured.
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aka REAPER
Played by AJ
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Post by RINGLEY BARNUM on Jan 1, 2018 22:02:30 GMT -5
"My instinct."He stopped for a moment carefully considering the options layed out before him. While he wasn't used to working with a partner, he was slowly starting to learn the tendencies of Kara Q. Being able to keep a keen remembrance of how she preferred to operate it was no question, that the woman's suggestions would ultimately net them at least in a good direction. There was definitely no point of turning the small nameless island over on itself, she'd done that heavy lifting for herself. Now it was time for Ringley to return her efforts with some smart thinking on his part. "Staying here isn't an option, the small diameter of how this island was mapped I'm sure she'd spot our ships knots ahead of even reaching the shore... The same goes for island skipping, should she see us coming and be utilizing a much faster vessel then a sea chase is out of the question..."His mind moved through all the details he'd been given. Thinking back to his contact that even gave up her location on this small seemingly meaningless island, it came with the added intelligence about Carmela's last score. She'd recently had a string of luck hitting some smaller vendors around the island. A bounty hunter in name only, she was sitting pretty on the borderline of outright piracy as she sought after her fortune at the expense of small merchant vessels. Her big mistake was the area in which she was operating, Sabaody was notoriously close to the home waters of the marines, and hijacking merchants that close would easily put someone in the crosshairs of the world government. Still with the information that she did indeed have some money to blow, it made the next words out of Ringley's mouth seem rather elementary. "We sail back to Sabaody, work in tandem hounding the central hubs. I didn't get a chance to look myself. But knowing she has some berri filling up her pockets I'm sure we both know where she'd be wanting to spend it..."His hope was that it was an answer that was suitable enough for Kara. There wasn't a pressing need or desire to look good in front of her however he did at least want to keep reassuring her that he was competent enough to keep up with her, hell even give her a lingering thought that perhaps one of these days he'd be the one to beat her to the punch on picking up the scent of a precious bounty. |
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Post by KARA Q on Jan 4, 2018 19:45:19 GMT -5
Two years of lone hunting didn’t turn over night. For as long as she could, Kara would be resistant to any interference from the outside world, denying any prospective long-term partnerships with other hunters, especially for only profit. When it came to people watching and tracking, she had so far found no rival worth the price. When it came to effective force in taking down a target, there were many people she had needed over the years to lean on the strength of.
She couldn’t honestly say that her time hunting alongside Ringley had been outstanding enough for her to change her ways, but she couldn’t deny the young man had his wits about him and an eye for detail. Kara observed him as he laid out the situation, mostly agreeing. By the end she gave a nod.
“Looking for her at Sabaody is about as good as visiting the nearby nameless isles,” she assessed, now turning from him to begin to walk towards their small vessels. “Since it’s dark and getting darker, I doubt she would see us coming so readily. At least not unless she has bats’ eyes and will keep vigil throughout the night. I’d prefer to cozy up next to my boar and sleep, wouldn’t you?”
Not really a question she was waiting on an answer for.
Her hand was already on the edge of her dingy, pulling the ship towards her lifting foot. Once fully onboard, she would pick up an oar and then another. “I’ll see you on the other shore,” she told him, evidently not going to have a loud chat over the distance between their respective vessels as they sailed back to the archipelago. It was a short trip.
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Once disembarked, again, she would secure her dingy and look to him, hands crossing under her chest. “So… how much of a gambler are you?” If they were going to hit every joint, might as well know the trade and fit the part. Unless he knew specifically where Carmela usually lost her berri, information Kara had not come across.
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aka REAPER
Played by AJ
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Post by RINGLEY BARNUM on Jan 5, 2018 1:08:07 GMT -5
"I'll see you on the other shore.""Aye."A simple enough response was all that came from Ringley's lips. There wasn't much else that needed to be said once she'd agreed to his plan. Well enough she was correct in her pointing out the oncoming darkness of the evening. He hadn't even considered the natural veil of the night to serve as a decent cover for their planned apprehension of the woman. He'd let his gaze linger on her a bit as he watched her enter her vessel and arm herself with oars. He'd follow suit, raising the white sail of his schooner, departing the smaller land mass heading back to the greater centralized island that encompassed the bulk of Sabaody. As he'd sail he keep a keen eye on his surrounding, careful to not sail right into unspecified and unsuspected trouble. His home waters were near Mock Town, while he felt the need to remain vigilant regardless of where he was, bring away from his natural element kept him that much more on edge. However, the two would successfully navigate the small strait, anchoring down at Sabaody in short fashion. Ringley would adjust his cap slightly as he exited once again from his loaned vessel. "So... How much of gambler are you?", the answer to that question was easy. He'd only bet his bottom berri on a sure thing. However, nothing in life was ever so simplified to be as such. In a place like this there was no telling to where Carmela would be. There were so many small hole-in-the-wall gambling dens in small spaces between them. However, in his prior hunts of peoplewitht he same kind of acumen as Carmela, finding her was simplified too seeing which of the dens was striking the hottest at the moment. "Guess we'll see." He said under his breath, just audible enough for Kara to hear. He'd have to do some investigating, but that was one of the man's stronger callings. He figured it to be a weapon even sharper than the scythe he used to cut down any and all opposition. He'd travel up to a meek-looking street peddler. There were a multitude of the type. They all made their limited wares available for sailors who were just hitting the harbors and stepping of of their respective ships. Giving the man a stern look his voice would respond with seriousness and depth. "I'm looking to win tonight... Which place is paying out well right now?" The peddler would look up at Ringley with a wide smile. The missing teeth in the man's mouth was an atrocious sight to see... Lucky for Ringley he never had any aspiration of being a dentist. "You're looking for Madame Bah-Bah's shack... It's er-ummm... Well gee you know some berri would help jog my memory sir.", not necessarily a shake down, but still... Ringley could slightly sympathize for the man. He looked as if he didn't have much to call his own. However, it couldn't be helped. It wasn't Barnum's problem and he definitely didn't want his hard earned berri to go towards this man's next rum binder. "I'll find it myself. Thank you." He'd abruptly turn from the man, and step back towards Kara to relay the details towards her... "We're looking for a place called Madame Bah-Bah's. Not one-hundred percent sure our bounty will be there, but apparently its the hottest den in this part of town. If she's planning on turning a profit then I suppose we can look there first and try out luck." It may not have been a concrete plan, but the results would come with proper execution. As detailed as he was, and as thorough as he remembered Kara to be, he was sure that they'd leave no casino or gambling den unchecked. Ringley's ears would pick up the loud grumblings of a trio of slurring men a few meters away from himself and Kara. While he couldn't;t catch everything they were saying a few keywords such as "jackpot" and "wildcards" stirred his interest. It would have been much easier had these places advertised themselves. But most den's were under the radar and barely legal operations in the first place. This would require some diligence. "We should shadow. They might be heading the right way.". |
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Post by KARA Q on Jan 7, 2018 19:21:32 GMT -5
Kara took Ringley’s answer as “I don’t have much experience, but maybe I can wing it as we go along”. A satisfactory answer she gave a soft nod to before her gaze drifted off to a long, decorated épée that belonged to a man in a tailored suit and with gold on all of his fingers. While Ringley went to consult with the poorly-looking peddler, she turned the other way, her saunter becoming a right-foot-forward sashay. There was no guarantee that this man knew anything of gambling, but if he did, it would serve them to have the opinions of the rich and poor both.
“Excuse me, gentlemen,” she would address the group to which her target pertained, a subtle smile forming more charming than she’d shown all day. “You don’t happen to know where a lady might rely on her luck to bring a little extra in her pockets, do you?” From her backpack, she pulled out a die to hold between her fingers and make clear what she meant. It took a moment of staring for the men to process her words, but the one she had pegged as the leader was the quickest to respond. Evidently no stranger to being approached by attractive women for a great variety of reasons, he responded to her smile with a roguish one of his own.
“Most of the establishments on this island wouldn’t suit your grace, my dear. If you would consider attending a private event on my ship, it would be my pleasure to arrange one. It’s been some time since we’ve tried our luck as well.”
Kara kept his gaze and smiled on, finding her plan backfiring fast. “While I would love to take you up on such a tempting offer, unfortunately tonight I’m fated to meet with a friend. We play games, she and I, so to win the game I first have to find her. So… could you tell me more about the establishments you know?” The man considered, and then looked away from her and towards area 76, famed for its collection of hotels. “The best place that I know of is Bon Jon’s Lair. They offer rooms and entertainment – gambling in the evening. It’s not far from here, just follow along the coast to the middle-west side of where we are now. Take lodging in the hotel De Remuere”.
Kara smiled more generously when he looked back, and flicked him the die she had been holding to catch. Not missing a beat, he did, and gave an expression of intrigue.
“I’ve carried that die for a long time, and it has always been lucky for me. Use it in your own game. Remind me of today with it if we ever meet again.” Kara told him, and with a wave and no goodbyes, turned from the group to return to the bounty hunt. She walked a while before rejoining with Ringley, and listened to his own findings with a few fingers touching her chin. It seemed like they had at least two leads to tug on. Then came whispers from behind them, more potential to verify.
Kara looked towards the new men, and since they were heading towards the general direction of her lead, easily agreed on shadowing the three. She smiled to Ringley, something that was sweet and didn’t match the topic of their conversation. “I agree. Let’s see about the lodgings here, maybe we can come across anything interesting. I sure am tired of feeling the same cotton sheets.” She had started to move in the men’s wake, keeping distance enough not to cause suspicion.
But now that they had all the time to walk and only each other for entertainment on their way there, it wasn’t safe for Ringley. “So tell me, rival, what have you been up to since we’ve last encountered each other? Found any fun out on the high seas?”
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aka REAPER
Played by AJ
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Post by RINGLEY BARNUM on Jan 8, 2018 2:31:50 GMT -5
"“I agree. Let’s see about the lodgings here, maybe we can come across anything interesting. I sure am tired of feeling the same cotton sheets.”."..."She was powerful in ways that went beyond the blade. In her spur of the moment creativity, she was able to distance them both from any possible suspicion by the men they were trailing... However, she was also able to cause Ringley to hold his breath for lingering moments, longer than what he wanted her to pick up on... The mere silky voice brought imagery quickly to his head of things that pertained to a completely different kind of hunt. She had a power over him, and she knew it too. Ringley would quickly begin his composure, finding it along with his breath as he exhaled deeply. She walked a few paces in front of him during his pause, he was able to keep his eyes honest and on the path in front of them both despite all temptation to put his attention elsewhere. He was a professional and regardless of how honied his rival's words were, he was dead-set on remaining professional. “So tell me, rival, what have you been up to since we’ve last encountered each other? Found any fun out on the high seas?”Her next words were able to get Ringley back to the task of the hunt. Truth be told he really never left Mock Town much except to hunt. While he found a lot of success he was sure that Kara was doing exceedingly well for herself in her own regard. Still, he cleared his flustered throat first before speaking back in response to his on-again, off-again hunting companion. "Different days, different hunts...", he began as his hands would casually fall into his side pockets. His pace caught up to her as the two continued their work, walking side-by-side down the district. The moonlight would hang over them in guidance. "Nothing extraordinary... Save for whenever I run into you." He'd stop for a moment thinking about their last unplanned run-in with each other... " You always know how to make work a joy for me."
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Post by KARA Q on Jan 9, 2018 20:19:39 GMT -5
 Ringley was still… young. Avoiding exchanges that surpassed his limited comfort zone, he regaled her with silence to start with, remaining a few steps behind. While there was nothing wrong with this, and Kara had a habit anyway to take the lead or follow to her own pace, it didn’t bring him any closer to the daring huntress. Business was just half of how she liked to spend her time, and completely separating that from amusement and leisure was hard for her.
The starter pack questions were met with better response, or otherwise said – actual response. Ringley doled out some vague tidbits of information, leaving everything to her imagination. It was only after he’d caught up with her that he’d deliver a compliment and what may or may not be a sarcastic comment. Kara chuckled and cast a look his way, eyes alive with mirth. “Nothing like being bothered by my antics every other hour, hm?” She questioned, but otherwise didn’t intend to treat him to a lot of the same. Poking at Ringley was only fun until it started to bother him, and there was really no way she could continue without doing that.
So she would keep the potential for spiking embarrassment to the minimum.
“Sounds like you need to gamble a little more. Life’s just like a game. The more hands you play, the better your odds at eventually winning.” And while winning big could also lead to devastating losses, even now, after all that had happened, she wouldn’t have done anything differently. “Do you even do anything for fun? Or are you constantly on the trail for your next hunt?”
That little bit of conversation aside, Kara never lost sight of their targets. They were presently laughing and slapping each other on the arm, obviously looking forward to a good time. She was pretty sure from their hopeful looks that they were at the point where they made plans based on riches they had yet to acquire. Ah, sweet optimists.
“Tell me if you ever sense the scent of boar,” she told him, unsure if she could discern such herself. The island was crawling with people and their pets, some of the owners smelling closer to animals themselves. “Theoretically, we should spot it if it’s quite large, but we can’t ignore the possibility of it having been stored as a mule while she indulges.”
Waiting by the boar if they found it sounded just as good as any other plan.
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aka REAPER
Played by AJ
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Post by RINGLEY BARNUM on Jan 15, 2018 23:00:36 GMT -5
"Do you even do anything for fun? Or are you constantly on the trail for your next hunt?""This..."Short, sweet, but true. Ringley always kept himself deep into his work. It wasn't as if there were a plethora of things to indulge himself with living in Mock Town. He was hunter and aspired to be a damn good one too. It was this sole reason why he made his work his life's passion. It was the free-roaming lifestyle he particularly enjoyed. His line of work got him elbows close to very interesting people, and it left nothing to his imagination as he was able to trek across the seas to new places. He'd continue to move in step with Kara. His eyes slowly lifted themselves so he could scan the immediate area once again. His thoughts were brought to words by Kara as she mentioned keeping sights on the boar. The boar, being Carmela's faithful traveling companion was large by all accounts. However, things did have the ability to be much different then advertised and billed. He'd still make the mental note to keep his eyes peeled for the slightest sight of the beast, for it was the surefire way to get close to their bounty. "I keep busy with this. Don't need hobbies if I can keep myself out of trouble."He'd say with slight smirk. His line of work, trouble was always bound to be lurking around cracks, corners and crevices. He knew it, she surely knew it as well. However, it was the life they chose so there was no complaining, no belly-aching either. His body would slowly begin to tense up as his feet halted themselves for a brief moment. Kara was still keeping herself a good distance away from the couple ahead of them. However, with his observation haki, Ringley could sense the presence of someone... or something with malicious intent closer ahead of the couple. However, the happened to be walking right into the thick of the casino goers. It would be near impossible to distinguish anyone out of the throng of people amassing in front of one of the flashier looking gambling halls. However, Ringley and Kara were exceptional at what they did. He'd get the notion that his lagging behind would rise some suspicion in Kara. It was anon-verbal way of telling her to keep vigilant for what was ahead. "We're getting warmer." |
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Post by KARA Q on Jan 16, 2018 19:41:59 GMT -5
Kara could think of only one time when her focus could have matched Ringley’s – back when she had been the sole survivor of a pirate attack. What followed were days of brutal and often cruel retaliation, the woman chasing day and night until there was nothing left of the pirate crew. Like a wraith, she had taken them one by one, her patience up to psychopathic. But those days were done and now she roamed and indulged in equal measure, never quite finding purpose like she had before. All of the goals in her heart were large and the days short and insufficient.
Glancing to Ringley when he expressed lack of a need for hobbies, she was one step away from mentally drowning him, as if he had just committed a cardinal sin in the middle of church by keeping a shut mind to all of the other pleasures that life had to offer, intellectual and otherwise. But her expression showed none of this, and indeed, internally she corrected her violent reaction to something more tolerant and understanding. If honing these skills was his current focus, she had absolutely no rational reason to fault him. “Someday, you’ll pay a price for being better than most others,” she commented idly, employing the tone of an omen. “If you won’t like it, that’ll mean you’re still human.”
They walked along until Ringley hit a snag in his pacing. Noticing but purposefully ignoring this, Kara continued on, and sure enough they would be in front of an actual casino. So much for needing to get access to secret hidden rooms inside hotels, apparently life would first dole out the convenient. Suspicious of this circumstance purely from an universe-related perspective, Kara looked to Ringley, giving him a chance to share what he’d sensed.
Once inside, however, she would simply saunter relaxed, with an eye pleased for the colors and lights and laughs of the clientele. “Oh look! I want to try that one,” she expressed, picking nearly at random a game that looked to be betting on turtle races. Their lanes were carved into a long table around which patrons gathered to chat and be frustrated at how uncooperative the numbered reptiles were. The best thing about it – they didn’t have to do much but sit around at a table to be participants, leaving their attention to other things.
After placing her bet and getting a ticket, Kara arranged to the side and watched the turtles with a smile on her face. “I wanted to keep snakes as pets when I was little, but since my parents wouldn’t allow it, I went to the forest to pick snails and frogs instead.” She shared, her gaze lifting from the game to take a look around at all of the other offers for entertainment and the takers up for them. She was looking for a semblance of Carmela – the plumb brunette with short cropped hair and glasses from her bounty poster, looking for a woman of her silhouette.
Tag: RINGLEY BARNUM
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aka REAPER
Played by AJ
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Post by RINGLEY BARNUM on Jan 19, 2018 19:41:32 GMT -5
He entered though the threshold not to long after her. His eyes trailed over to the direction his partner went before averting them to what was staring him right in the face. The gambling halls had a touch of vibrancy to them. There were so many different kinds of characters and peoples here. So many personas looking to live life lavishly, and those hoping to hit big themselves. Much as he iterated to Kara, he wasn't a gambler. He put his berri, his faith, and his life on sure things. However, nothing in this world was ever as such. Still he'd sigh and slowly bring his hands inside his pockets as he sauntered in slowly keeping his eyes alert and present for their bounty. Obviously he wouldn't make the rookie mistake of interrogation and questioning. No, to be a bounty hunter it required tact. To be considered a skilled hunter, it required nuance. His feet brought him towards the slots. He'd watch the other casino go-ers happily pull the levers to their financial fate, and then he'd watch their disappointment as no a single one was hitting on a damn thing. He pondered to himself how people would be willing to shill out even the lowest of sums simply on the off chance that it might pay out well for them. Ringley was the type of man who would rather see his fortune prosper simply from his own will, and the sweat of his brow. He continued to linger on, before a service lady promptly approached him. "Would you like to indulge in one of our signature cocktails, sir?" Initially his thoughts told him to pass on the beverage. However, it would look odd to be simply here just to watch. He could already feel eyes fixed on him from different corners and crevices in the room. Nothing out of the ordinary, as everyone knew that places like these were teetering between operating within and outside the confines of the law. "Two."He said softly but just loud enough for his request to be heard and met by the young lady. He forked over the needed berri for the transaction, and he quickly found himself returned towards where Kara was making her post, gambling on racing amphibians. He'd do his best to fake an tone of voice that showed he was clearly enjoying himself as he approached her. "Making us rich darling?", he would gently set the cold drink next to her as he drew even closer to the woman. In doing so he could feel less attention being sent towards himself, as he blended in naturally with other paying patrons of the establishment. |
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Post by KARA Q on Jan 21, 2018 9:06:40 GMT -5
Devoid of any semblance to Ringley’s paranoia, Kara was genuinely having fun while searching through the sea of faces. Hers was a particularly amusing turtle – moving in zig zag and stopping to stare at the walls of its lane every so often. The pinkette resisted the urge to give it a poke.
A cocktail glass was added to her left, an offer delivered with a nearly playful tone. After so many times of simply ignoring her attempts at authentic conversation, it appeared the young man had decided to play to role. Kara elegantly picked up the glass and looked to him with a smile, a practiced fake Duchenne up to her eyes. “Not if you’re not playing, sweetling. You try for the money and I act as your lucky charm, remember?” Raising her glass up, she took a small sip, clearly pleased with the drink.
But all about her mischievous displays were as fabricated as the odds of winning on these games.
Kara moved in to say something near his ear, the honey in her tone dropped in favor of soft clarity. “I’m not sure she’s here, have you seen anything? Perhaps we should move on to the next joint after we finish our drinks and this game.”
That said, she retreated, eyes back to the turtle that was momentarily hers.
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