[x] “Actually, wait a sec. I'll play a few.”
“Actually, wait a sec,” You say, eying that bottle up, “I'll play a few. Think you can handle this, Patchouli?”
“Yes.”
“Well, we're going to have to play for money,” Marisa laughs, “So I can kick your ass.”
“No big stakes,” You say, “Because you probably
will kick my ass.”
Getting back to the passenger car is a little shocking. You're used to covered walkways between cars, but this one is lacking even a platform. It's just a large step over nothing.
The passenger car itself, well, it's definitely not as nice as what you rode over in. This one was intended for normal, everyday citizens without much money. The boarded up windows, and small unpatched holes that something punched through the ceiling don't help much either.
There's three dual-person compartments, and a lavatory on this car. No kitchen, but most of your food is dried or eaten uncooked anyway. You two take the first compartment, and use the fold-up table near the only good window on the train to set up on.
“Ever play fifteens before?” Marisa asks, producing a wooden box from the bag of things that she brought.
You nod. “It's been a while, but I think I remember the basics. What's in the bottle?”
“Captain Murasa's Private Stash,” She reads, holding it up to the dim lamp in the room, “Want some?”
You shrug. “Sure.”
“You'll have to swig it like a real pirate though,” Marisa laughs, “I don't think we have any glasses.”
You do so, and have one hell of a time swallowing it. After managing, you cough a bit. This is really strong stuff. It's probably kept secret for a good reason.
“Good, isn't it?” She asks, “Pass it here, then we'll get started.”
Seems that Marisa is no stranger to drinking strong alcohol straight out of the bottle. She takes a good gulp and sets the bottle aside. “Haha, that's the stuff. Shoulda asked if he had some back when I was at the bar.”
After a basic refresher course, the two of you set to the game at hand. A best out of five match, to keep the game going for a while. There's a small bit of money placed on it, too – not enough to really mean much, but maybe enough to buy a good dinner for the winner.
Marisa wins the first by a longshot and the second by just a little, but you manage to pull through in the third with some absurd luck. About midway through the fourth you reach the state that you'd call “drunk”, with Marisa having been there for a while.
“... and a pair for sixteen,” Marisa counts out, sounding absolutely diabolical. “Hah. Wish I was this lucky all the time.”
You chuckle as well, “Me, too. Then I could win again.”
“You should have seen me at the bar!” She adds smugly, “Made all kinds of money. I'm kind of inf... infamous there, you know. Good place.”
“You're kind of infamous everywhere,” You add, with a smile. “Seriously. I remember back in Kirland...”
Marisa pauses for a moment before bursting out laughing. “I completely forgot about that! Do you think they still remember?”
“Probably,” you continue, “Or how about Erbis? Opira?”
“I am kind of infamous... aren't I?” She asks, still laughing like a madman, “We had a few crazy adventures back in the day, didn't we?”
“That makes us sound so old,” You say, leaning back in your seat. They really aren't that uncomfortable. “There's still places to go, infamy to gain.”
“Well, we need to kick some demon ass first,” She says, her voice taking on a darker tone, “God, these guys are pissing me off. I mean, first they kill all my friend, then they want to kill all my other friends? What is this shit?”
“It's shit,” You confirm, “But at least we know about it.”
“Yeah, that's one thing you're good at,” Marisa says, “Probably good that they sent you along instead of two extra me's. I would have just burned that place to the ground. And you were even ready to help those bastards.”
“Whoa,” You say, “I didn't know
this would happen. How often does something like this happen?”
“Hopefully only once in a lifetime,” Marisa sighs, “I told you it was a bad idea. At least that crazy bitch stopped you.”
You decide not to comment on that. True, but you'd rather not admit she's right to her face. That self-confidence doesn't need boosting.
“Hey,” She says, “What ever happened to that other crazy bitch? The one with the, uh... stuff behind her.”
“Dunno,” You say, shrugging, “Probably off plotting somewhere. She seems like the type.”
“I know, right?” Marisa says, darkly, “I wonder if we need to kick her ass too.”
“We'd need Yagokoro for that,” You say, thinking back to the Guild. Eirin Yagokoro, also known as the Brain of the Empire. She isn't technically the leader of the Guild, but you'd be damned if she isn't the best mage around. “And probably everyone else above Initiate.”
“She didn't look that tough,” Marisa grumbles, “I bet I could take her in a straight fight.”
“Think you could take Shinki?” You ask, a bit sarcastically, “I hear she's not much tougher.”
“Blah, don't even joke about that. That could actually happen.”
“You really think Shinki might show up?” You ask, “I bet it's going to be a bunch of weak little guys and a few strong ones. She wouldn't need a diversion.”
“Guess that's true,” Marisa says, “Or maybe the Guild really is that badass.”
“Hah, maybe,” You say, “Probably. I don't think I'd want to be anywhere near that fight, though.”
“Well, we're going to win,” Marisa says, “The empire is going to be fine, and no one I know is going to die.”
“You're a fortune teller now?”
“Yeah, bitch,” She says with a slight chuckle, “I know that you can't win this game, too.”
You laugh. Right, you're in the middle of a card game. “Oh yeah? Well, I have a few tricks up my sleeve.”
The rest of the game plays out brilliantly on your part, but also on Marisa's part. In the end, you lose by two points due to her scoring first. Close, but she takes the series and your money. Then proceeds to let out a victory... howl.
“Haha! Take that! See? I'm spot on.”
“That was close, though,” You say, mournfully looking at the hand that you'll never be able to score, “Look at this.”
“Hey,” She says, offering out her hand, “Fate said you had to lose, but you put up a good fight. No hard feelings.”
You manage to smile. “Fate it is, then.”
“I mean that last bit,” She says, “You're an alright guy when you're not being an ass.”
That's probably true of anyone, but you don't correct her. With a grin, you add, “You, too.”
“Hey,” She says, after letting out a huge yawn, “It's been fun, but, uh... I'm about ready to drop. Gonna get some water and pass out, I think.”
“Yeah,” You say, “That's a good idea.”
The water advice is good, you grab a skin and head to your quarters. For whatever reason, you ended up sharing a room with the supplies. You've got one of the breezy and boarded up windows, so it's a bit chilly, but nothing your coat can't take care of. You fold out the bed and lie down.
… and stay awake. For at least an hour, you turn, thinking of how this is going to go. All the tricks you know don't work. The alcohol is helping, you think, but you simply aren't tired. Sleeping through the entire day is probably to blame here.
[ ] See what Patchouli is up to.
[ ] Give it another hour.
[ ] You've got a few books, might as well give one a look.
- [ ] Divination
- [ ] Demonology
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>>34527 It's a little more than two days via train to make it to the capital, although there are a few larger places along the way. I thought I mentioned this at the very beginning, but looking back, I can't see where I did.
