More Than One Way To Win A Bet - For @laserhawk

[duel_wielding]

This was perhaps the stupidest plan that had ever been created, but dammit, it was a solution. After all, there was no chance that North was going to let South win this one. Because the thing was she was right. North had been striking out for a while. Months. He lived on a military ship and there were hundreds of crew and North hadn't had a behind closed doors 'encounter' in more than a year. And it wasn't just because shore leave wasn't the most regular.

But the bet had been made during one of the regular PFL poker games. South had observed that North had lost all of his game. North had said he did better than she did. One thing led to another and now North had another week to make sure he had a date that he could have proof of before he was South's bitch for a month.

So no, he didn't want that. Which was why that he, now that he had a week of shore leave to recover from an injury, he was trying to solve things. Which had started with a personal ad online.

One that was now having him waiting to meet up with someone in an all night cafe. There needed to be talk before things were agreed to. Maybe the guy would be agreeable to it too. But he didn't want to go and buy a guy a dinner if he was going to be weird about 'I'm a space marine and I need to win a bet against my sister'. Because North had better things to do than deal with someone being weird. Like sleeping.

Comments

[laserhawk]

[ he's not sure why he responded. boredom? curiosity? having a new leash in life was all well and good but dolph didn't really know what to do with it. he was supposed to have alex. they were supposed to be together. but none of that went as planned.

his metal hands twitches as he takes in the bar. seems safe enough. not a ploy or a trap. his green visor-like eye scans the occupants before finding north. ]

Hey. You're the guy, right?

[duel_wielding]

[Okay, he hadn't expected the additional tech, but hey, not like North could judge. He'd seen a lot of different people in the service with lasting, and ones who were lucky enough to get tech to help them out. So he doesn't flinch at that.

He does, though, look bemused to be referred to as 'the guy'.]

I'm definitely A guy. Whether I get such a lofty label as 'the' depends.

[laserhawk]

[ dolph gives him a flat look. ]

Fine, a guy seems to work.

[duel_wielding]

Yes. I'm a guy. Who was online to try and get someone to meet me. I'm guessing you're the one that agreed?

[Because otherwise why would the guy be asking?]

[laserhawk]

[ dolph eyes him for a moment, assessing. ]

Yeah. That would be me.

[duel_wielding]

[He knows he's something to look at, in body if nothing else. Nothing like wearing serious power armor every day to build up core strength. And when you're a sniper with modern rifles, well, shoulders got broad with the strength of muscle.

Mostly though, he offers a smile, trying to look kind.]

Good to know. I guess you have questions about my message online. It's not really that complicated. I just need someone to date. It would be a week or so at most.

[laserhawk]

[ it's the kindness that dolph finds more unnerving and his gaze skitters away for a moment. ]

You were surprising unpicky. No requirements?

[duel_wielding]

If I'm being honest? No. not really. See, there's... Well, if I'm honest, there's this bet. Between me and my sister. We're twins, which of course means we'll do anything to win. And I don't want to be at her beck and call for a month. She doesn't pick up the socks in her room. I'm not doing her laundry by hand.

I need help.

[laserhawk]

[ that kind of normalcy goes over his head for the most part. ]

Right. So what exactly do you need me to do?

[duel_wielding]

[There's nothing normal about North's situation, being part of a top secret program to develop specialized weapons. But that doesn't matter right now.]

I need a week of dating. That comes with me paying for meals and any other event, and you being okay with pictures and things like that. Proof that I didn't just hook up with someone. And I'd owe you.

[laserhawk]

[ samesies.

dating though . . . he hasn't done that since alex. ]

And that's all?

[duel_wielding]

Saving a nice guy from the cruel decisions his sister makes? Yeah, that's a lot actually. You'd be giving me dignity. A rare thing in our line of work.

[laserhawk]

[ he sighs. ]

Fine. I need the money anyway.

[duel_wielding]

Alright then. We should talk about that financial compensation then. How do you want it?

[Because this feels dirty and he'd rather it out of the way sooner rather than later.]

[laserhawk]

Cash. It's easier to handle.

[duel_wielding]

Alright then.

[Which means North is going to have to acquire cash. Which he rarely carries.]

I'll have to have a bit of time to manage that.

[laserhawk]

[ dolph assesses him coldly. he could demand and he's tempted to, but he lets it go for now. the offers seems legitimate.

but he's heard offers like that and been sold out. ]

All right. Later.

[duel_wielding]

Can I get six hours? And pointing to a bank?

[Because this isn't a place he's been before, so he doesn't know where to go to get cash.]

But dinner first?

[laserhawk]

[ he sighs. ]

Fine, dinner first. I hope you picked a place with good food.

[duel_wielding]

Again, not a local. But I've been researching for a few hours. Can't do really high end first time. No one would believe it. But there's a nice place nearby that isn't likely to turn away someone in his closest approximation of civvies.

[laserhawk]

I don't look like someone who can do high-end anyway.

[ he'd attract a lot of stares as it is. ]

[duel_wielding]

[Really? North tilts his head and offers the guy a smile.]

Yeah, I don't have a blazer either.

[He clearly doesn't think the problem is with appearances beyond that.]

[laserhawk]

Probably wouldn't work for you anyway.

[duel_wielding]

[North has to laugh at that, shaking his head before he offers his hand out.]

I'm North by the way. No jokes about the name if that's okay.

[laserhawk]

[ ah, right. people may not know him here. ]

Dolph Laserhawk.