boothill.

[tactic]

i'm lazy

Comments

[tactic]

I haven't had the chance.

[ HE CAN BARELY VISIT HIS BOYFRIEND ]

I drop by the village sometimes, in case anyone's left any messages, but things have been quiet.

[shirtbag]

[ SPEAKING OF ]

You ain't gone to see Nehan?

[tactic]

[ Why does everyone think he hasn't seen Nehan. ]

... Well, I didn't realize we were including him. Of course I've seen Nehan.

[shirtbag]

[ because we're trying to find an in to make him talk about nehan ]

Oh. You made it sound like you were too busy to do any kinda visit.

[tactic]

I find the time using less than orthodox means.

[ HE WANTS HIS PAID VACATION. ]

Besides that, and I told Essek this already, but I'm trying not to mention his name while we're here. Speaking from experience, the last thing I need is for this place to psychologically torture me with him.

[shirtbag]

[ frowns. ]

Really now? [ ... ] I won't say nothin' if you don't want me to, but speakin' from my own experience, feels like these games get inside your head no matter what you gab about.

[tactic]

I'm lowering my odds. Anything to lessen that chance, Ranger.

[shirtbag]

...Guess there really are some things you won't go leavin' to chance.

[ aventurine was lucky and unlucky in a lot of ways in scawwy. rip his precious tooth ]

Can I ask what those "unorthodox methods" are then, or is that classified too?

[tactic]

[ HIS SCRIMSHAW ]

So curious about my methods. You're still a wanted criminal at my place of work, you know.

[shirtbag]

Heh. And you're still in danger of bein' on the wrong end of my gun, lucky or not.

[ karlach would be pissed at him but at least boothill wouldn't kill him? ]

But we can wait on that till after the game is over. Won't do squat for me here.

[tactic]

A return to our temporary truce. Why, I'm starting to think we're more allies than enemies at this rate.

1/2

[shirtbag]

While we're here... I'd say we are.

[ his grudge against the IPC is very strong and very old, but he does know aventurine's story now. ]

Got a common goal, right? Get this over with and back home, after we give them auditors what's comin' to 'em.

2/2

[shirtbag]

Wait. You're wantin' to go on that Australia trip, huh?

[tactic]

[ Laughs. ]

I don't know if I'm eligible, but an all expenses paid trip doesn't sound awful.

[shirtbag]

Wonder if there's a way for y'all to qualify even if you didn't get to play. They gotta have shipped you over here for some reason or another.

[tactic]

It's no great loss on my end if we can't. Worry about your own team.

[shirtbag]

You think I ain't? I sent 'em all messages tellin' 'em to stay in good shape in the leaderboard. Ace said not to worry. We got a competitive bunch.

[ he looks at his beer and takes a sip, condensation rolling off of his metal fingers. ]

Still... I don't think any of 'em give a hoot about the prize other than goin' home. So what's the point in even competin'?

[tactic]

To take our minds off of the impending horrors?

[ Goes back to watching the relay race. ]

It's hard to believe how often these sorts of games happen. I considered us a unique case, but it turns out there's hundreds of us out there.

[shirtbag]

You remember when our group tossed the idea around of makin' a wish that this whole thing didn't happen again?

I don't, but Essek said some people were talkin' about it.

[tactic]

I do remember a discussion about preventing the cult from gathering sacrifices a second time.

[shirtbag]

Maybe that's it. He said the cost would've been too high. That about right?

[tactic]

Hmm. If that's what Essek remembers.

[ God, that was a whole year ago. ]

I was distracted with something else at the time.

[shirtbag]

Somethin' else?

[ YOUR BREAKUP? ]

[tactic]

Just a certain someone waiting until the very last second to tell me his decision.

[shirtbag]

...That decision what I think it is?

Y'know. Whether to end it?