act30side

Full house!

Straight flush!

You little sack of shite, you've been hiding cards, haven't ya?

Why'd I need to hide cards to beat you? Just sit yourself down like a good boy—

Royal flush.

Goddammit, how'd you pull that one off?!

Your sleeve, Jack.

Eh? My—How'd you catch that?

Jack, you cheating bastard!

Hey, if you didn't catch me, that's your problem.

You want a problem? I'll shove your goddamn head so far up your arse that—

Just shuffle already.

Alright, shuffling, shuffling.

I've sure got some rotten luck, getting stuck with you sorry lot for this shift.

Doesn't matter who you're on shift with, you're playing cards anyway. And there's only a handful of fellas here who won't try to cheat you. Go on, have a count.

Hmph.

At least there hasn't been much to do today.

You can say that again. Back when the old man said he'd take us sightseeing, I didn't believe him for one second.

Now that it's been a month, I'd say I believe him.

It's been good eating and good drinking.

Certainly has! It feels like my appetite's gone back to when I just enlisted.

Ahhh!!!

What the hell are you screaming out for, Charles?! Scared the crap outta me!

Bloody hell, I had another nightmare.

Dreamt that I got chopped in half by a Sarkaz sword and all.

Gah, thought it'd be something worse. Day afore yesterday I dreamt that I got blown up by some Originium explosives while out scouting.

Right now I'd like to shove some explosives into your gob.

Well hurry up already then.

A guy nuttier than a freaking Vampire out on the battlefield is going to have a few screws loose when off the warfront.

Well, what can I do? I can't control if I have a nightmare or not.

Just think positive. Last time you said you were being minced, this time you said you were being chopped in two.

Maybe it's a good omen or something.

Dammit, you're right.

Alright, enough moping, grab a drink and come play some cards.

Perfect timing really. Now that you're up, come take over my spot for a few rounds.

Why, is something the matter?

Not really. There's a few farmers at the bottom of the mountain that need a hand with their work, so I'm going to help out.

Farmers?

That family that gives us milk all the time, the Turiels.

Oh, I remember them. Their daughter's quite pretty.

Heh, I see how it is, Lisburn.

I'm just helping out. Don't read too much into it.

The hell are you lot doing? Everyone within a hundred meters could hear you yapping away.

You sure have some skills, turning the barracks into your gambling parlor.

Didn't you say we were going to go sightseeing from the start, though?

We're just following orders here.

I told you, you can go help out the locals a bit for some goodwill, let them think we're more than just a bunch of yobs. Have you been yet?

Lisburn's going to help out. He's keeping mum, but I can tell that he's thinking of settling down here.

Oh?

Don't listen to this nutter, boss. I really am just going there to help out.

After all, we came here to...

Alright, that's enough out of you.

Just get going already. Who died and made you chief worrywart, huh?

If a young lad like yourself really does want to become a family man, I'd say you're still a good egg.

Yes, sir!

You've sure got a stink about you, boss.

Still working on your veterinary medicine out there?

Save it. Lily, the Leones' girl, she gave birth prematurely.

Didn't get there in time, all I could do was help with some postpartum care.

*sigh* And then I ran into this one very unlucky chap.

Unlucky?

Another Victorian.

A Victorian? The whole month we've been here I bet I've seen, if not a thousand Victorian tourists, eight hundred at least.

Alright, I get it, you love taking a stroll down the street.

Deal those cards out already.

I'll deal.

Charles had a nightmare again, boss.

Did he?

Let me see.

It's fine, no use troubling yourself over it.

If you lot die, then who's going to fight for me?

We're going to fight?

Shut your mouth for a second and hold still, alright?

Gah—

Hmm... Well, at least it hasn't gotten worse.

Does it still hurt as much as last time?

It's been a lot better since we came to Kjerag.

Hmph, I spent a lot of money greasing palms just to get this opportunity. If you lot aren't feeling any healthier, doesn't it seem like I wasted all that dosh for nothing?

Besides, it's not like there's anything else to do here except get better.

Heh, you're right about that, sir.

This arm's been no good for a while, but you've already helped me a lot.

If I ever lose both my arms, well, at least I can still carry a weapon into battle with my teeth.

What use is a soldier with no arms?

There's no need to show off. You lads just need to remember that you're here to—

Allow me to remind you once more, My Lord.

You have a duty you are obligated to carry out. Do not fail Her Grace.

This is not a sightseeing trip.

Hey, boss?

You finally gone senile?

I'm not the same as you simpletons who care nothing for your health.

When <i>you've</i> gone senile, I'm still going to be fit as a fiddle.

Hey, we might not even get to live that long.

*sigh*

Forget it.

For the sake of my retirement, this old fogey's willing to go all in.

What are you talking about?

I don't think a hoity-toity lord like you throwing your money around is going to fit in well with the locals, honestly.

But nobody's going to turn down a sumptuous banquet.

You go on and play your cards.

Sure you're not just looking for an excuse to drop a crappy hand?