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Post by Victoria Raines on Jul 11, 2010 21:56:22 GMT -5
Day 22, open
Shockwave is here to check on the Decepticon's newest project, the casino they took over for Bovos's people. As he strides through the halls, Shockwave is pleased. It seems putting Swindle in charge of this project was a good idea after all. Bovos might not be too impressed with the redecoration- and Shockwave certainly finds it all entirely too frivolous, but the appearance seems in keeping with other business along this strip.
Speaking of the conman, Shockwave is looking for him. Though he might run into others in the process.
OOC: For sanity's sake, let's assume that the Swindle has already had whatever punishment or whatever might happen because of the Spy Shot thing.
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Post by Dr. James Hook on Jul 12, 2010 14:02:46 GMT -5
Hanging upsidedown from the ceiling is Hook, who has his legs wrapped rather firmly around the stem of a massive chandelier. He appears to be changing the lightbulbs, muttering something under his exhaust.
Someone really observant will notice that none of the lightbulbs he's changing are burned out and that there appears to be virtually no difference between the lightbulbs he is removing and the lightbulbs that he is installing.
Hook hasn't yet found a job site on Pz-Zazz that will keep him. He has no reputation at all, here. He’s been thrown off three projects, so far, and all he was ever allowed to do was manual labour. He remembers one red-faced man screaming at him for taking ‘too long’ to put a girder into place. A thin, gaunt, pale avian screeching at him for completely re-doing the plans, which weren’t even up to code, anyway. Then a gynoid insulting Hook’s motherboard, which was really unnecessary, in his option, for suggesting that they could just incorporate some bodies into the foundation for some kickbacks from one of the local mobs.
However, if the other Decepticons try to throw Hook out of their casino for just trying to get the place up to safety code, he can throw them right back, depending on their mass. Hellbender is probably too massive for throwing without a trebuchet assist, but most of them are of viable throwing size.
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Eye-fire
Major
In two minds about everything
Posts: 597
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Post by Eye-fire on Jul 12, 2010 16:49:59 GMT -5
Eye-Fire stands off from the casino floor itself, scanning the various tables and machines (currently in use for giving money to Decepticons) for anyone trying to get some back with less than honest tactics. Should he spot any cheaters, he will invite them to come with him to a nice, sound proof room where someone skilled in the gentle art of persuasion will remind them why cheating is bad.
He does though seem to be somewhat distracted by a large black hat that someone gave to him and insist he wear. H's trying, but he's run into the fundamental problem that hi head is shaped completely wrong for wearing any sort of hat, so it keeps slipping off onto his shoulders. This isn't going to stop him from trying, however.
He has noticed Hook on the ceiling, doing Hookish things. As such, Eye-Fire won't bother him.
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Jetstorm (BM)
Minor
Producer, Director, Actor, Writer, but not prop boy, Jetstorm, soon to be winner of some award.
Posts: 355
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Post by Jetstorm (BM) on Jul 12, 2010 23:26:54 GMT -5
Jetstorm flits about, passing by certain points of the casino. He holds a clip board in one of his hands, and a pen in the other. He checks off something here and there, or jots down a few numbers as he talks to a dealer. The job isn't an exciting one, but a necessary one.
"Hmm, hmm," he looks over a few of the numbers and then clips the pen to the side of the board.
"Such a willingness to spend things on slot machines when they pay out so little," he looks over at those sitting at the machines, some lost in a complete daze. "I will have to report this and say we need more. Filthy, greedy organics!"
He glances over and gives a bit of a glare to a passing one who glances at him. He hovers up a bit and then moves along, resuming his checks of the popularity of the various areas of the casino. Flying above the crowd does make him a bit easier to see, so perhaps he will be seen by another one of the Decepticons.
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Swindle
Major
This space for rent.
Posts: 571
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Post by Swindle on Jul 13, 2010 21:59:38 GMT -5
Swindle emerges from the back room wearing a purple pinstriped suit that matches his eyes and his ever-present bolo tie. He nods to Eye-fire as he passes him, and exchanges meaningless pleasantries with some high rollers on his way across the floor.
He passes under Jetstorm near a Space Roulette Wheel and calls up the Vehicon general, sotto voce, "The house always wins, Jetstorm. That's the point. Don't remind folks of it and don't call them on being greedy and filthy. They're here to have a good time."
Head still craned toward the ceiling, the con finally stops under a chandelier that has mysteriously sprouted a Constructicon. "Hook, sir? Not that I don't appreciate you taking a personal interest in the project, but you're disturbing the customers."
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Post by Victoria Raines on Jul 14, 2010 14:13:00 GMT -5
Shockwave is close enough to Swindle that he hears the conman's comment to Hook.
"You don't have a Hook in your reality, do you Swindle? Let me simply advise then that asking Hook not to do such things is like asking Duskwing to diagram sentences. In other words, an exercise in futility."
He tilts his head up to look at the Contructicon. "Ah, but you and I do need to have a bit of a talk soon, Hook. When you have the time."
His attention swings back to Swindle. "So, how goes our endeavor? Have there been any attempts yet by the local factions to cause trouble?"
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Post by Dr. James Hook on Jul 14, 2010 15:24:02 GMT -5
Hook does not pause in his work, look at the other Decepticons, or give any indication that he has even noticed them. Such social niceties as eye contact are for those constrained by the rules of polite society. Hook won't let manners get in the way of doing a job just right.
He does explain, after a moment, sounding distracted, "There are 37 code violations in the lobby alone, which is... entirely meaningless on this planet," Hook's voice switches to a snarl now. "The inspectors here will write you up for violations that do not even exist if you don't pay them off, but if you do pay them off, you can build a building out of Silly String, and they'll look the other way." He's clutching the 'replacement' lightbulb awfully hard; if it really was just the same as the current lightbulbs, it'd be a shattered mess in his hand. "However, statistically speaking, there is a 73% chance each week in this district that someone will attempt to swing off the chandelier, therefore shatter-proof lightbulbs are a prudent investment."
He concludes, just a bit absently, "I should be done with all the safety-proofing adjustments here in a few months, Shockwave."
Hook has never gotten along well with deadlines or timeliness.
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Duskwing
Major
"What the slag happened?"
Posts: 848
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Post by Duskwing on Jul 16, 2010 10:32:22 GMT -5
Speaking of Duskwing, he lumbered around the back entrances in his vaguely intimidating way, looking for trouble-makers. Swindle had cajoled and badgered him into a much sharper outfit, a dark pinstripe suit carefully cut to accommodate his wings, topped off by a dark gray fedora. He'd also been told not to greet customers at the front entrance, for reasons that quite escaped Duskwing. He was, however, encouraged to greet customers trying to sneak in or out the service doors, or doing questionable things in the back halls.
"Questionable things" wasn't exactly left to Duskwing's discretion; he'd been given a flowchart by Swindle that started with "Is the individual carrying or using weapons, explosives, poison gas or other destructive devices? If yes,... "
He waved at Hook as he crossed the casino. "Heya, Hook. I ain't gotten shot up here yet, ain't that great?"
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Jazz [G1]
Rookie
Cool as an icicle in a snowstorm.
Posts: 177
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Post by Jazz [G1] on Jul 18, 2010 8:28:44 GMT -5
At the bar sits a sharp-dressed 'bot - he looks like he raided Michael Jackson's wardrobe for his Smooth Criminal outfit; a snappy white suit and fedora, and a blue shirt underneath the jacket.
Don't ask how Jazz is managing to wear this and not look silly.
Don't ask how Jazz slipped in and made it to the bar, either. He's Jazz, he's just that smooth.
For now, he sits at the bar, nursing a fancy fuel-based drink, hat pulled low as he watches what of the casino he can see - and it's crawling with 'Cons.
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Eye-fire
Major
In two minds about everything
Posts: 597
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Post by Eye-fire on Jul 18, 2010 16:31:58 GMT -5
(OOC- Sorry for the slow post.)
Things are quiet, at least for a casino. There are no angry locals trying to smash the machines, drunken locals (Or Decepticons) trying to smash each other, and no Autobots bashing down the doors to put the place out of business. Added to this, there's nothing trying to eat him.
Eye-Fire could get to like this assignment in the casino.
Still, he is rather bored. Nobody has tried to do anything stupid yet. Hook and Jetstorm have been too busy to talk, and Duskwing's conversational interests run in a sharply different direction than Eye-Fire's after the basic topics have been expended. He's also been banned from going to the arcade during his down time and playing the crude but somewhat amusing light gun games. Something about running the high scores so high that the machine would crash trying to load the high scores screen.
As such, He'll just slowly meander towards where the other cons have gathered and hope one of them finds a better use for him.
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Jetstorm (BM)
Minor
Producer, Director, Actor, Writer, but not prop boy, Jetstorm, soon to be winner of some award.
Posts: 355
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Post by Jetstorm (BM) on Jul 19, 2010 21:14:18 GMT -5
"Yes... A good time," Jetstorm repeats a bit slowly as he taps a claw against the clipboard. He lowers his voice as well before Swindle leaves, "Still doesn't make them any less exciting. Wasting away their money and staring dully at slots." He shakes his head a bit and then nods his farewell to Swindle.
He arches a bit backwards and then leans forward to fly along and move to the next area. He slows a bit when he sees Shockwave and tries to look more professional, offering the commander a salute before he passes along. He peers at his lists and then scans the area and finds an idle Decepticon. He moves over to Eye-Fire and then waves to get his attention.
"You mind doin' a bit of work? You look bored. I bet you are bored," he says, and holds out a sheet of information from his clipboard. "We need information on, ah. The lower 'class' of things here, and how much credits they spend on that line of machines," he points over towards some of the 'cheap' slots. "If we can see that they spend more, we can get rid of those cheap slots and up the price a little. Information that Mr. Swindle wanted, but I'm finding it annoying to gather all the data in the time given," he rolls his optics a bit, "Didn't bother to give me any help." He grumbles angrily.
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Swindle
Major
This space for rent.
Posts: 571
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Post by Swindle on Jul 19, 2010 22:11:08 GMT -5
Swindle's left optic twitches imperceptibly. "Lord Shockwave, sir! What a pleasant surprise. No-one's tried anything yet, but we've only been open for three days since we took over. They might be biding their time. How worried are you about this? Unless there are some real paramilitary types hanging around, we ought to be able to handle anything Pz-Zazz dishes out." Swindle has a bellyful of weapons, plus Eye-fire, Jetstorm, and Duskwing to back him up. He's not terribly worried.
Continuing to stand beneath the chandelier, the arms dealer-turned-casino owner responds to Hook while welcoming customers. "Does that 73% chance include you up there hanging from it? Because no-one else has been up there. (Hello sir, welcome to Club Con, sorry about the robot on the chandelier.) There's a swashbuckling pirate-themed casino around the corner, maybe you should fix their chandelier. I'm sure someone is swinging from it as we speak. (No, ma'am, we can't be held liable for your eggsack if you choose to bring it with you. Alright. We hope to see you back after the happy event. Remember, the first of every month is Family Night!) You know, if it's safety violations you're worried about, I think I spotted some shoddy spot welds up on the thirteenth floor. Anyway, we've got the First One of Femax coming through here later today. She's a dice fiend, a real whale*, and I do not want you putting her off by clambering all over the fixtures."
"Duskwing, looking good my friend! That suit really . . . erm, suits you!"
Jazz doesn't need to sneak into Club Con. If he wants to give money to the Decepticons, no one is going to object. Though he better watch where he pokes his nose.
*Casino slang for a high roller
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Post by Victoria Raines on Jul 20, 2010 13:31:49 GMT -5
Yes, the casino is open to all, and Shockwave is perfectly happy to have Autobots poking around. Autobots poking around presents opportunities for Decepticons to harass Autobots in a perfectly legitimate way. Finding out that the Autobots have a Jazz is also very, very valuable information.
The question is, which Jazz?
Everyone is convening on the one spot as if someone called a meeting. Shockwave inwardly sighs. This motley group of Decepticons really is trying his patience.
"Hook, you will meet me in my suite in exactly twenty-four hours, regardless of the state of your 'improvements' here. Swindle, the group that stands against us has made a habit of taking over or ruining competition properties in a very subtle fashion; I would not expect anything overt."
For that matter, an ad campaign that subtly maligns the Con's casino as tightfisted and inhospitable has literally just started hitting the telly, and there are now runners situated outside, passing out some very good vouchers for the competition.
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Post by Dr. James Hook on Jul 20, 2010 13:58:45 GMT -5
"How fabulous, Duskwing," Hook deadpans. "I cannot overstate my joy at such news." On the one hand, he doesn't have to repair Duswking, and that is indeed cause for celebration. On the other hand, a Decepticon of reasonable intelligence would be able to evade damage consistently, and it should not be a cause for celebration.
He then corrects Swindle, not bothering to hide his irritation, "No, because I'm not swinging on the chandelier in swash-buckling fashion. I'm hanging off it." Please, people, is the difference not manifest and obvious?
Hook scowls a bit as Shockwave hands him a deadline, and he snaps, "You cannot rush perfection! But very well. I'll be there."
He lets go of the chandelier and lands on the floor, courtesy of his anti-gravs moreso than any acrobatic skill. If twenty-four hours is all he has, there are much more important things he could be doing than messing around with the chandelier.
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Duskwing
Major
"What the slag happened?"
Posts: 848
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Post by Duskwing on Jul 20, 2010 19:26:30 GMT -5
Hook was happy with Duskwing! Duskwing grinned and flexed his wings slightly. Dry sarcasm swooshed lightly over his head, unnoticed by the Decepticon thug. He waved one last time and sauntered toward the service entrance again for another patrol of the back corridors. This time, he'd take a tour of the roof, just in case.
Duskwing glanced back at the bar, then shook his head. Any Autobots in the public floor, he was supposed to leave alone, unless they got violent or he was ordered to. This didn't strike Duskwing as a good idea--what happened if the entire Wreckers team, or the Dinobots, just strolled in and then decided to start a fight?
He shrugged; not his problem until he had to clean it up.
--- Duskwing is out of the public area until later. Skippable
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