1 [voice]

[foundafamily]

Hey, listen up. I’ve got an idea.

[Evidently a very important one, judging by how soberly he’s speaking.]

Obviously we need things to do in between gettin’ set on fire and havin’ our heads messed with. So I was gonna set up a card table in the bar—could be poker, faro, anything if we can get enough players for it. If people like it, we could make it a regular thing.

If you don’t know how to play, I’ll teach you. And if anybody knows any other games, I’d like to see ‘em.

Comments

[foundafamily]

Yeah, I figured you’d be busy. I appreciate it.

What I’d need your help for would be if you’ve found any cards or chips around here—I’ve only got a couple decks. Or findin’ stuff to use instead.

And, you know, the normal stuff. Hustlin’ people and takin’ ‘em for all they’re worth.

[Being somewhat technologically-impaired, Firo doesn’t realize that these lines aren’t quite private.]

[video]

[dogsanddaughters]

I've been keepin' an eye out. Found a couple that are mostly like cards, just the symbols are different. Figured we could use those in a pinch.

Also you know anybody can see this right?

[video]

[foundafamily]

Definitely. I know I'm not gonna be too picky about what they look like. If anybody is, they can go off and make their own.

[He blinks, turning the phone over and over as if looking for a bug or wire.]

...Are you serious?

[video]

[dogsanddaughters]

Awesome.

[Miriam grins.]

Uh huh! I mean, you can filter 'em and make 'em private for certain people, but folks can hack that. So you might wanna do your business stuff in person.

[video]

[foundafamily]

I'm gonna assume "hackin'" is bad.

[Wow, technology makes running things harder, doesn't it? Firo didn't sign up to have to learn things.]

Crap. Uh, okay, thanks, I'll keep that in mind.

...Maybe nobody'll look at it. And, besides, there's gotta be plenty of people who're still too dumb to suspect you.

[She's so obviously a nice person who would definitely never do anything crooked.]

[video]

[dogsanddaughters]

Uhhhh. Let's just go with yeah.

[Miriam understands computers, but she's no good at explaining them.]

Course! I'm a nice little kid! And I'm very cute. Folks like that.

[video]

[foundafamily]

[Firo nods, filing this new information away. He’s not too eager to try untangling all this confusing future junk, so maybe he’ll be fine not probing further so long as he’s cautious…

He tries to shake off the embarrassment of his mistake by speeding right along to the next topic. He grins.]

Definitely. And it's not your fault if they decide that means they can be careless around you.

[In Firo's experience, people don't really pay attention to kids; they're not seen as threats. That's cost quite a few people their wallets--such a darn shame.]

[video]

[dogsanddaughters]

No sir, it is not. You might say I'm performing a public service! Providing lessons in common sense to the masses and what not.

[video]

[foundafamily]

Oh, of course. They should be payin’ you for that, really.

Have you ever got that explanation to work on somebody?

[video]

[dogsanddaughters]

Pfft, no. People don't appreciate common sense anymore.

[video]

[foundafamily]

They sure don’t. Well, let’s give it a shot here and see if you can teach somebody. Maybe the people here can still be saved.

[video]

[dogsanddaughters]

See, that's why I like you, Firo. You're sensible.

[video]

[foundafamily]

If I didn't know any better, I'd think you were makin' fun of me. I don't think most of my friends back home would agree with you.

[video]

[dogsanddaughters]

Eh, takes one to know one.

[video]

[foundafamily]

So I can use your obviously reasonable judgement as assurance.

[Unless she means that his friends are probably ridiculously insensible people, which would be true.]

[video]

[dogsanddaughters]

Aww, 'course you can! [She's only teasing a little. It's all in good fun.] I like you, Firo. I like you a lot.

[video]

[foundafamily]

You’re all right yourself. It’s good to have somebody else here who’s… Well, I don’t know if I could say “normal,” but somebody who gets things.

[No offense to her.]

You remind me of my friend Claire as a kid, if he’d had any common sense.

[Video]

[dogsanddaughters]

[Hey, she's never been normal. Miriam nods, more seriously this time.] Yeah. 'zactly. You're good people. Gotta stick with good people.

[And since hers aren't here, Miriam has to make new friends.]

[Video]

[foundafamily]

They definitely make puttin’ up with all this crap easier. I think I’d lose my head if I was here alone. Or just stuck with the wrong people.

[Like a bunch of non-gamblers. Heaven forbid.]

[Video]

[dogsanddaughters]

Amen to that, brother. I mean, some of the people are weird as all fuck, but most of 'em aren't too bad.

[Video]

[foundafamily]

Yeah? That's good.

[He hesitates to bring it up, especially when they’ve been talking about otherwise pleasant stuff, but the mention of weird people and not-too-bad people makes him wonder.]

…Aside from that lady from before, is there anybody else who’s been a problem?

[Video]

[dogsanddaughters]

Not yet. Couple weird dudes in power armor, though. Gotta watch out for those types.

[Video]

[foundafamily]

Power armor..?

[Sounds future-y.]

What'd they do?

[Video]

[dogsanddaughters]

Nothin' yet. But folks don't usually wear that stuff unless they're planning on doing something nasty.

[Video]

[foundafamily]

[Like the Sons, he assumes. But doesn't ask--that doesn't need to be brought up.]

Huh. And how many of 'em have you seen around here? Should I be worried?

[They'd be sitting ducks if this place got torched or something. Though he's really more worried for his friends, considering he'd probably recover eventually.]