milliways_bar | (no subject)

Entry tags:

moist von lipwig

(no subject)

The door opens onto a highly respectable street full of men in serious suits, Moist nods to someone before entering. Today he's in an elegant three-piece pinstriped suit and wearing spectacles, when he sees he's in Milliways, he nods to himself.

Unexpected but that's how Milliways always is and he walks up to the counter to order a whiskey before turning around to see who's around.

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

Graverobber's just sipping a drink, looking about the same as usual.

"You look fancy," he notes when Moist walks up to the counter.

"Thank you, I do like a good suit," He takes off the glasses and slips them into his pocket.

"Nice," he says. "What's the occasion?"

"Taking money from those who have more than they know what to do with."

"Sounds like a pretty good occasion," he laughs. "What'd you do?"

"I'm in the midst of selling some investments that don't actually exist. You've now got a mine named after you because Graverobber has a proper Uberweldian sound to it,"

Moist takes from his jacket pocket a beautifully crafted map of Uberwald with various mine names and notes on yields.

That makes Graverobber laugh hysterically, the noise bursting out of him. "Well, shit! I've never had a fake mine named after me before. I'll take that as an honor."

"You should, you're making lots of people curious. I explained that the name came from a vampire with an odd sense of humor, that one,"

He points to one of the spots with symbols next to it for gold and fat, all the names of the mines are written in fancy Gothic handwriting.

Graverobber laughs again, more and more delighted with this whole setup. "Well, I'm glad they're so invested in my fake mine. Hope they won't be disappointed if they find out I don't suck blood."

He looks over the map, clearly interested. "And what are these mines supposed to be full of, anyhow?"

"Fat, gold and some silver though that doesn't get traded as much. Due to the werewolves in Uberwald, there's not a market for it. No, they won't care but the story helps to sell it,"

He lifts his glass in a toast, stories always help.

Graverobber returns the toast, clinking his drink to Moist's. "Sounds like a fun story, then. Glad to be of sort-of assistance in your imaginary business deals."

"It is and they're the kind of people who believe the suit and buy me nice lunches and dinners while we talk."

"Wait, so you get free food out of this whole business, too?" he says, looking impressed. "Jesus, that's a sweet gig."

"Sometimes when they like me enough."

"Sounds like a hell of a motivation to be likeable, then," he says with a small laugh.

"Oh yes, I'm good at my smiles and knowing the right thing to say to the right person."

"Good talent to have," he says. "And how long do you have to do that before they figure out exactly what they've actually bought?"

"Depends on who it is. I usually try to be gone before they even start wondering."

"Smart. How do you tell when it's time to bail?" he asks.

"When the questions become too pointed or when the one suspicious person gets more. There's always one of them."

"Of course. World's full of cynics who don't see a perfectly good mine right in front of them," he says with a grin.

"No, they're always looking for the trap or some reason to call the guards."

"Good think you're one step ahead, then," he says, still grinning.

"I try to be and its fun watching them try to catch me. Most of them are so stupid, if I say the right things, they never suspect me."

Edited 2018-03-02 22:25 (UTC)

"Hey man, stupid or no, knowing how to talk to people is a good skill. Charm and persuasion are a hell of a talent to have."