video

[ubiquitously]

 [Welp, there sure are a lot of interesting rumors filtering through public conversation. It would be easy to let them run their course and watch everything spiral into chaos, but alas. He likes a whole one (1) of the affected candidates.]

Hm~! We've sure got a lot of exciting candidates for Guardian, or whatever it is, this season! Accepting bribes sounds pretty normal, and who isn't in debt with the shopping channel, so you two have my vote! And I for one think that a ruler in Everglade without powers would be pretty neat. 

What about everyone else? You heard any interesting rumors lately? I'd love to know. Voting is super important and all~. Oh, and if any killjoy candidates want to deny the rumors... I guess that's fine too. Just make it fun.

Except the Santa Claus killer. That's just bad. No vote for you.

Comments

[Voice]

[justicereigns]

No.

[You can try to trick whoever you want, but even with Gale as a rival for Faye, Smoker can't let that slide without saying something in his friend's defense.]

I don't know who you think you're playing with it, but Gale's -- [Pause. He has to frame it delicately, and that's a struggle for him.] Not going to sneak around about such things. And Faye and his friends would be the first to know, not the last. [That's oddly specific, but it's in case Faye is listening. Smoker doesn't really care so much about the rest. A little for Gale and Gale's friends, obviously.]

[Video]

[wonderland_vogue]

[Oh boy, reason to switch over to video and she's just grinning at that screen with her chin in her palm.]

Darling, him and I have been friends with some lovely little benefits for going close to a year now. If he hasn't told you, then that's hardly my fault, not that it's that big of a deal. I'm not the kind of girl all that interested in relationships and marriage and what-have-you.

[Though the Faye thing is getting her to raise a brow.]

Perhaps you all should ask him, if you're so unwilling to believe me.

[Video]

[justicereigns]

[SHUDDERS.]

[Gross.]

Not interested in idle gossip. This shit is rarely ever true about anything.

[He's going to need a drink after Gale's thread....]

[Video]

[wonderland_vogue]

[She's biting back a very obvious laugh, she's having way too much fun with this.]

Idle gossip? You seemed so upset about it and willing to call me a liar, so I hardly think you find it idle.

But, to each their own, I suppose. Isn't it better if a Guardian candidate is truthful about such a rumor as this?

[Video]

[justicereigns]

No.

Being a public authority figure doesn't make who you fuck anyone's business. [... Well, it's Smoker. Of course he's going to say that. He could be court martialed and executed for sleeping with the enemy. \:|/ ]

I am calling bullshit though. You don't seem his type.

[HE WILL EAT SO MUCH FUCKING CROW!!!]

[Video]

[wonderland_vogue]

[God, she's having way too much fun poking at any button she can remotely find at this point.]

"Not his type"? Then what do you think his type is, darling? And honestly I'm offended at such a comment, how rude. [She's not, at all.]

[Video]

[justicereigns]

Uh-huh.

Not you. [WAVES A HAND GESTURING TO ALL OF HER. BE MORE INSULTED.]

[Video]

[wonderland_vogue]

[She's snorting at that and just leaning back in her chair.]

I wouldn't expect someone like you to have any taste to begin with, so it's hardly a problem. Though I'd say the tips I make every night certainly shows more than well enough that there's many people who I'm their type to.

[Video]

[justicereigns]

Oh. You work at --

One of his...?

Hm. Okay.

Which one? So I know to avoid it when you're there. [THIS FUCKING ASSHOLE...]

[Video]

[wonderland_vogue]

[Congrats, Smoker, she's actually barking out a laugh.]

You can't avoid me if you go there. Kind of comes with the territory of being a branch manager, doesn't it?~

[Video]

[justicereigns]

Disgusting.

So long as you're not on stage.

Which one did you say it was?

[Video]

[wonderland_vogue]

Where's the fun in telling you? You seem like such a prude that I doubt you'd come out this way, anyway.

I make my living just as honest as anyone else in this place, after all~

[Video]

[justicereigns]

[UGH. NOW HE KNOWS HE'S GOING TO RUN INTO HER. AND HE WILL BE EVEN WORSE OF A RED-FACED MORON THAN SHE THINKS.]

[ALL THE STILTED, AND YES HE IS BLUSHING.]

I am. Friends aren't.

private voice;

[orlokbutterfly]

[He's angry about this, but he's trying to keep calm. He's coming clean, at least.]

This was before I fell in love with Faye. Not after.

I'm serious about her. But I'm not interested in feeding into this rumor.

private voice;

[justicereigns]

[TWITCHES HARD.]

[Whatever. Smoker literally can't talk. Portgas and Augustine.]

[NOT JUDGING.]

Yeah........ don't bother. Although you might want to do something to crush it with Faye. She already --

She's nearly as bad as I am, about stepping aside, got it?

And I'm not the only guy interested in her, Gale. I'm just the only one who doesn't care that she's out of anyone's league.

private voice;

[orlokbutterfly]

She already knows my history of being a scoundrel. I've already been workin' on makin' amends for that past and I'll tell her a hundred times over if I have to that this ain't a thing anymore.

[Why the fuck can't he catch a break? He and Faye come back from a great time at Amatsu, and now this rumor bullshit. At least the rumor last election was funny.]

And I don't care about anyone else. I'm just comin' clean with this. That's all.

private voice;

[justicereigns]

Good. Even if it doesn't work out with her, at least you'll be able to look at yourself in the mirror.

private voice;

[orlokbutterfly]

Even if things don't work out with her, I'm not gonna let it be because of some shitty election rumor.

[Stay calm, Gale. You don't need to force yourself into another unwanted vacation.]

private voice;

[justicereigns]

Good. That'd be a pretty pathetic reason, gotta admit.

private voice;

[orlokbutterfly]

No kidding.

[His words are laced with annoyance. He's going to be livid for a while.]

She works at Holy Diver, by the way. Lydia.

[Hard to miss how that conversation keeps escalating. And Lydia's trolling tactics are rubbing him the wrong way right about now.]

private voice;

[justicereigns]

Thank you.

[RELIEVED GRIN.] You're a good guy Gale, never forget that. And Faye can't hold it too hard against you. She knows I slept with a pirate here ages ago. Not much different. Except he's gone. [And even if he came back, pirates.]

private voice;

[orlokbutterfly]

The strip club portion of it is in the basement, beyond the skeleton in the back. Avoidin' it is easy if you end up there some night.

[He doesn't know how many people go to Everglade on purpose, let alone how many pendant bearers go to Holy Diver.

He falls quiet. He's hating everything around him right now - especially himself - so when he replies, his tone is quiet and uncertain. He doesn't know if he's ready to accept the "good guy" thing.]

I can only hope you're right.

[Faye's going to get a huge bouquet of roses and expensive chocolates after this.]

... we're still on for the motorcycle build, right?

private voice;

[justicereigns]

Absolutely.

Don't think I'll let you out of helping work on it, even if you do win re-election.

private voice;

[orlokbutterfly]

[Hearing that does make him smile, just a little bit. Even if Smoker can't see it, it could be heard in his tone now.]

I wouldn't expect anythin' less. You'd be gettin' my help whether you'd want it or not.

private voice;

[justicereigns]

Good. I need someone to keep me on track and hand me shit. [Mostly kidding, but he's pretty sure Gale knows what he means.]