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. . ha.

[ at that, he pauses. looks down at the counter. ]

well. y'know. i'm just an old power strip. really, nothing special at all. but kris—good ol' kris, that didn't matter to them. they played with me just like any other toy.
things change, luv—people change. i don't blame them for moving on.

it's pippins .ᐟ.ᐟ @itsgambletime.bsky.social · Aug 2

﹙ that look shifted in mild discontentment, sipping down the new cocktail moment by moment while thinking it through.

a heavy sigh slipped. ﹚

why do you care so much about kris, then?
if they left us in this kind of position. you said you're no better than us, so it's ..

ramb. @mantleofshadow.bsky.social · Aug 2

i hardly get to pick and choose, luv. couldn't tell ya.
if you're thinkin' i'm in any better a position than you are, well, i've got news for you.

ramb. @mantleofshadow.bsky.social · Aug 2

i hardly get to pick and choose, luv. couldn't tell ya.
if you're thinkin' i'm in any better a position than you are, well, i've got news for you.

it's pippins .ᐟ.ᐟ @itsgambletime.bsky.social · Aug 2

then ...
thanks by the way, but —

﹙ squinting at the new drink, the pippins tipped their head at him soon enough. ﹚

what's going on? tenna could just kick you out to the desert if somehow it was better to, but you're still here!
.. why was all this in 𝘺𝘰𝘶𝘳 cards?

ramb. @mantleofshadow.bsky.social · Aug 1

luv, ol' tenna doesn't even let me touch the points.

[ he pours them another glass without a word. ]

don't make assumptions about things you haven't got the first clue about.

ramb. @mantleofshadow.bsky.social · Aug 1

luv, ol' tenna doesn't even let me touch the points.

[ he pours them another glass without a word. ]

don't make assumptions about things you haven't got the first clue about.

it's pippins .ᐟ.ᐟ @itsgambletime.bsky.social · Aug 1

﹙ on came a sour expression as they swallowed down almost the entire glass in one tip. ﹚

.. you get special treatment from the boss!
tenna couldn't give two rolls about us. but you? we see you get signals all the time.

ramb. @mantleofshadow.bsky.social · Aug 1

'course i do. just so happens i consider them rather important.

[ he raises an eyebrow at them. ]

not like you lot give me a real welcoming environment 'round 'ere, chum.

ramb. @mantleofshadow.bsky.social · Aug 1

'course i do. just so happens i consider them rather important.

[ he raises an eyebrow at them. ]

not like you lot give me a real welcoming environment 'round 'ere, chum.

it's pippins .ᐟ.ᐟ @itsgambletime.bsky.social · Aug 1

sure. and all you think about is your connections, right?
with all that "happy" talk.

i don't get it. don't you care about anything but kris?

﹙ they take the drink with a small blink. for all they spewed, they didn't seem to even hesitate before taking a long sip. ﹚

ramb. @mantleofshadow.bsky.social · Aug 1

like i lost a bet, eh. that really all you lot think about? money and gambling?

[ he slides the drink across the counter toward the pippins. ]

i am where i am 'cause of kris, luv. what i want? for them to be happy. that's what.

ramb. @mantleofshadow.bsky.social · Aug 1

like i lost a bet, eh. that really all you lot think about? money and gambling?

[ he slides the drink across the counter toward the pippins. ]

i am where i am 'cause of kris, luv. what i want? for them to be happy. that's what.

it's pippins .ᐟ.ᐟ @itsgambletime.bsky.social · Aug 1

﹙ a sour look met his joke - as if the pippins didn't want to risk even a chuckle.
but his eye followed the drink, at the minimum. ﹚

funny.
what i mean is - you didn't have to be here, here. making drinks, puttering around ..
like you lost a big bet or something.