CHAPTER 21: FAMILIAR FACES

They had their descriptions ready over and over again, but the more they tried to understand them was the more they couldn't grasp what exactly these skills did.

[ Hard 8 (Lv. 8)

A passive skill.

It's a hard road to self education,

But you learn through constant defeat.

Cost: 8 losses. ]

[ Easy 8 (Lv. 8)

A passive skill.

It's an easy path to self education,

But you learn through constant victory.

Cost: 8 wins. ]

[ Crazy 8 (Lv. 8)

A passive skill.

It's a crazy path of self education,

But you might learn something in the end.

Cost: 8 uses. ]

"Is it just me or do these skills read like fortune cookies?" Fi commented.

"That costs also read pretty vague too, wins, losses, and uses, what does that even mean, and why does mine have to say losss?" Chance said in almost outrage.

"I was thinking the same thing, but I'm pretty sure it all has to do with skill challenges." Cee said. "All skill descriptions I've seen are pretty straight forward, but these are kind of like poems, like they want you to figure it out for themselves."

"I heard that in its prototype phase, all FS skills were a lot like this." Chance said. "Maybe they're unfinished or just haven't been used in this version...Whatever the case, if we want to actively figure it out the course is clear. We've gotta test our skills out in practice if we're going to see them play out in effect?"

"Does that mean we should go out and look for Jinxes?" Cee asked.

"Actually since we're here we might as well play a few casino games." Chance said scooting passed the barrier and onto the floors beyond their booth.

"Oh, goody, I haven't done that in a while." Fi said following close behind him.

"Wait, are you guys even old enough to gamble?" Cee protested.

"It's not that kind of game." Fi said, grabbing Cee by the wrist. "Come on, I'll explain it to you on our way to the game floor."

The three players left their booth and headed to the game floor, unaware of the new set of eyes that followed them from the booth and trailed them close behind. By the time they had made it to the main lobby, a strong hand grabbed Cee by the shoulder, catching her by surprise.

"Well, I'll be a bacon wrapped burger with extra cheese, if it isn't little Cee." She heard the accent of familiar looking back at her.

"Mary-yama?" Cee recognized her, even wearing her new outfit that reminds her of some southern belle wearing a polka dotted skirt that showed off her thick legs.

"It's a small world isn't it?"

"It's getting smaller everyday." Another voice came from out of the crowd from the opposite direction.

His clothes were raggedy as ever, but this time he wasn't carrying around a spinning sign but holding a couple of drinks in his hands. From the look of recognition on his face, Mary could tell that the two had been well acquainted at some point.

"Guy, what are you doing here?" Cee asked.

"Isn't everyone, the place is giving away free luck rolls, who wouldn't come?" He said handing on of his drinks to Mary. "Plus, the boss said he had some business to take off around her so I figured why not take some time off the tour busing jig."

"Are you going to introduce us Cee or are we the only ones left out of the loop?" Chance said.

"Hi, I'm Fi, short for Fi-Ownya." Fi interrupted the group.

"I get it, they are very clever and fishy." Mary said, shaking her hand with her own free hand. "Who might this little rabbit be with the uncommonly sour face in the crowd."

"That's Chance and believe me, I think it's one of the only faces I think he has."

"Well, let's see if I can change that." Yama said, approaching him like a seductive vixen with pudgy hands on his chest. "What do you say, hop stuff, you look like a mighty strong gent. Maybe you might wanna wrestle sometime?"

"No, thank you." He said brushing her hand off.

"You're loss, hippy hop." She simply said. "Talk to me if you ever wanna change your mind, I do a weekly show over at the Mud Pit game room in the Pig district. I'm also have a management gig in the starter zones here and there if you're ever wanna catch me for some personal biz." She said as she sipped her drink.

"She does have management skills at least." Cee said.

"Thanks, but I'm a self employed person." He said again.

"Hey there's no harm in keeping your options open." Guy said, pretending to wave a card in the air.

"I thought you worked for Mr. Wei's?" Cee said.

"Hey, I do more than one thing, around this city you know? You've got to if you wanna make a profit a living, I'm professional in case you didn't know."

"So, what, you're a professional gambler?" Cee asked.

"Technically yes, but it's a lot more involved than you think." Guy explained. "You gotta know people, blessed, be willing to blow through more sand dollars than you earn, but with any luck you might get picked up by a professional management group or even a shareholder if you're lucky enough."

"Yup, this tusk of a fellow is a real gopher." Mary said, slapping him on the back. "I may be small potatoes but I call myself a day dreaming that I think I can make a small potato into a tall order of fries if you know what I mean. I even have contact with a few Palmers who can give you hot tips if you're just starting, for a percentage of course?"

"Wait, you know a few Palmers?" Chance said excitingly.

"Of course, I'm what you might call middle management, because you know some Palmers, don't talk to just any player unless they have a bank or a perky personality like little old me. Won't even charge you a fee, just a small little cut of the pork chop when it comes to the main course."

"Wow, most Palmer brokers just set up shop in a high end casino or something, why are you always roaming around?" Fi said. "I mean, you said you travel to the southeast and yellow districts? I mean it doesn't seem like the best business model to spread yourself so thin."

"On the contrary, I consider myself a real philanthropist, a protector of the little guys and girls who are just starting out in this game."

"Nobody helps anyone but themselves in this game or haven't you noticed?" Chance commented.

"Oh I have, and ain't it a dang shame. The world would be a lot more friendly if we could all toss a penny or two in the streets, or had an umbrella to give to a stranger. Yet, people are so obsessed about making money, passing the buck, that nobody ever takes time to appreciate the little things in this game."

"The fact that your management skill keeps most of the profits from your work, doesn't make you a little opportunistic?" Cee questioned her previous encounter.

"Well, nobody said that kindness comes cheap." She simply snorted. "It's so unseemly to talk about money, but I swear most of my profits go to Palmer fees, equipment costs, promotional expenses, things that regular players can't afford on their own."

"Hey, you gotta spend money to make money." Guy simply said.

"You're bright one funny bones." She said, slapping his shoulder again. "Still, if you ever change your mind, you might consider giving me a jingle." She reached out to shake Fi's hand and then turned over to Chance's gaze whispering. "You especially, hippy hop."

Despite her strong attempts at affection, he reluctantly shook her hand which Fi recognized as a sign the first time they met, and by the nod of their heads she realized that both of them had just added her to their friends list.

"Now if you'll excuse me, me and this strapping young gent have a date over at the Big Spin. Maybe we'll see you around here and there, you never know."

"I'll tell Mr. Wei you said hi." Guy said, taking Mary by the arm and escorting her like a real gentleman.

"Why are you so interested in making friends with her?" Cee asked. "I barely got you to make friends with me out of necessity."

"If she does know a Palmer or two, she could be useful." Chance said. "We've got thirteen weeks and thirteen challenges, if we can even get a clue that would help considerably in forming a tactic."

"First things first, we all got a date with the slot machines." Fi said, grabbing Cee by the arm. "Come on, you can play next to me, you're a lucky charm after all, maybe some of your luck will rub off on me."

"So, tell me again how these slot machines are different from the real world ones?"

"Well, just like skills they're a game, with just a little difference here and there."

"Yet, it's a good way to learn skills, and a lot less risky than going out in the streets."

"So it's like fighting Jinxs?"

"Okay, let me start again."