Kinda! [Miriam laughs a little. She likes this story. It helps that it's true.] What he'd do, he'd go hang around the bars at closing time and take everybody's shoes while they're passed out. Sometimes the rest of their clothes too. And in the morning you could get 'em back, all nice like, if you gave him a tip. Better than fishin' them outta the sewer!
[That's clever, really clever--more neatly-wrapped up than a lot of schemes he's heard. He chuckles along with her; if a story deserves a laugh, this definitely does.]
[Miriam nods, though there's a hint of sadness to it this time. Not her intention with the story, but there it is.] Yeah. His name's Gilly and he's my best friend. And--and he's really smart, so he's probably fine!
[She said that name a moment ago, and he tries to remember what it was she was talking about.]
He's the one you said was a top-earner, right? Those guys are usually okay.
[Mafia Families, at least, value a guy who can bring in the cash (and thus kick it up to his bosses) more than anything. Firo assumes that it's the same for her friend's organization.
He doesn't want to give any false hope, but it can't hurt if he's thinking about it realistically, right?]
If the guys they work for don't watch their backs, they're the ones who're smart enough to figure it out, if anybody is.
Yeah. [Miriam runs a hand through her hair.] Bad things were happening, when I came here. That's all. But you're right! Gilly's really smart, so he must've found a way out. He'll be fine. He'll like that you laughed at the story.
Yeah. [Besides, the Sons aren't here and neither is Gilly. So there's no point in thinking about that. Miriam fluffs up Barnaby's ears again, giggling when he grunts in protest.] I'm gonna make another. You want one?
They're great, aren't they? Gilly says they made 'em back on Earth all the time. [Miriam hums to herself, getting another marshmallow for her stick. She tosses one to Barnaby in the meantime.] I guess some things stick.
Maybe not. [Miriam pauses, holding her stick over the fire.] What if they're like...just different times? But the same place. Like you're from way back when and I'm from the future! Or something like that. I saw a movie about that one time.
Yeah. Couple hundred years, at least. [Which is weird to think about, but not impossible. They live in a place where gods come down and talk at you. There's lots of weird shit in Hadriel.] Oh yeah! I like movies, all kinds of 'em. But my favorite's Barnaby Fitzgerald. There's a whole bunch of 'em and they're all about this detective. He goes around solving mysteries. He's a mapmaker, but somehow he's always running into trouble.
[Miriam grins at Firo.] They're my favorite. 's how I named my dude.
So is that what you two do, huh? Go around together and solve cases?
[Hey, he's not judging. With him and his friends, it was imitating the cowboys and outlaws in the movies. Not that that's something he really wants to volunteer.]
Wish we had some movies here, I'd show you all of 'em.
[Movies would go well with s'mores and not getting murdered by angry women with scarred faces. Miriam pulls her marshmallow back, nodding in approval as it smokes.] Sometimes! Barnaby's really good at findin' stuff, so sometimes we do that. When I was little I wanted to be a detective. Detective Day. [She puffs out her chest.] That sounds nice, doesn't it? But most places don't have detectives anymore.
[Miriam just shrugs.] I guess I could change, if I had to. Mostly I just like puzzles. And people. People are the best. But maybe I'll go to a place where they have detectives, but they'll be the good kind. Not sticks in the mud.
Yeah. This ain't the best place in the universe. [Well, she can imagine worse, but not many. Miriam presses her marshmallow between the crackers, pleased with herself.] But whatcha gonna do, right?
![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
![[community profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/community.png){kind=small}
no subject
no subject
[That's clever, really clever--more neatly-wrapped up than a lot of schemes he's heard. He chuckles along with her; if a story deserves a laugh, this definitely does.]
He's a pretty bright guy, huh?
no subject
no subject
He's the one you said was a top-earner, right? Those guys are usually okay.
[Mafia Families, at least, value a guy who can bring in the cash (and thus kick it up to his bosses) more than anything. Firo assumes that it's the same for her friend's organization.
He doesn't want to give any false hope, but it can't hurt if he's thinking about it realistically, right?]
If the guys they work for don't watch their backs, they're the ones who're smart enough to figure it out, if anybody is.
no subject
no subject
[She had said it was all on fire--that's pretty damn bad.]
Yeah, you'll have to tell him next time you see him.
[If. But he doesn't think that's exactly necessary to say. He sighs and tries to smile reassuringly.]
It's not like worryin' now is gonna do anything for him, so just try to relax.
no subject
no subject
All right, sure. Those things really aren't too bad, you know.
[Czes would probably love them.]
no subject
no subject
Guess so. Who knows, maybe my Earth and the place you're from aren't even different at all. The people sound about the same.
no subject
no subject
[There's something nice about thinking they could still have a world in common, no matter how different their times are.
Movies! Maybe the future isn't that strange if they have gambling and movies.]
At least they've still got movies in the future. That one sounds complicated--is that the stuff you like to watch?
no subject
[Miriam grins at Firo.] They're my favorite. 's how I named my dude.
[Barnaby barks happily.]
no subject
Hmm, I thought that name sounded familiar.
So is that what you two do, huh? Go around together and solve cases?
[Hey, he's not judging. With him and his friends, it was imitating the cowboys and outlaws in the movies. Not that that's something he really wants to volunteer.]
no subject
[Movies would go well with s'mores and not getting murdered by angry women with scarred faces. Miriam pulls her marshmallow back, nodding in approval as it smokes.] Sometimes! Barnaby's really good at findin' stuff, so sometimes we do that. When I was little I wanted to be a detective. Detective Day. [She puffs out her chest.] That sounds nice, doesn't it? But most places don't have detectives anymore.
no subject
He turns his marshmallow, trying to make it properly crispy as instructed.]
It's got a good ring to it, but I never woulda' took you for much of the law-abiding type. Most of the detectives I know are big sticks in the mud.
[He's totally not biased or anything, of course.]
no subject
[She nods again.]
I like that idea. I'm gonna do that.
no subject
You've really got it all figured out, huh?
Good luck. Hey, maybe one day you'll be on the take from my Family.
[With all their capos being immortal, the Martillos very well could make it that far into the future.]
no subject
[She likes hearing how smart she is.]
Maybe! Your people are probably okay. I mean, you're cool and you're with them. So they've gotta be all right.
no subject
[What's the harm in saying so if it's the truth?]
They are--they're great. I'd introduce you to all of 'em if I could, not that I'd want 'em to wind up in a place like this.
no subject
no subject
[By now, his marshmallow is so blackened that he thinks it's probably inedible. But he goes through the motions of making a s'more anyway.]
no subject
no subject
[He likes her optimism. Not being dead always counts for something.]
[ooc: Do you think we're about good to wrap up here, or is there more you'd like to do with this thread?]
no subject
(no subject)