Tales from the Pizza Parlor

[Aurora]

“I couldn’t fix a car if my life depended on it. Change a tire and oil?” a nod, “Yes. Beyond that? Nope. I’d rather leave that to the professionals.” She always thought it was cool that people enjoyed fixing cars. It was just so…messy. “Coding? Like computer coding?” asks the Shaman for clarification.

“A poodle huh? Nasty things those poodles, vicious. Especially if you give them the wrong haircut, you better watch out and sleep with one eye open.” She could play along with that.

“That’s right! How could I forget the first rule?!” shaking her head, “But I have to agree with rule three, those ninja pirate robots are nasty. Not a fair fight with them. Sneaky bastards.”

“Sounds like a cool car. I’ll confess, I don’t know much about them. I got my car cause I liked how it looked and the horse power it came with standard.” Only reasons she needed.

Taking a sip of soda, she focuses on Allen, “Well, I assure you, it’s not glamorous or exciting. There is a lot, way too much sometimes, washing and sanding the piece in question. The dresser has taken more work due to the type of stain and paint someone put on it. So it’s been hours of sanding, both by hand and with a power sander. Once I can see the original wood, I have to switch to a different grit sandpaper, to prevent damage. Thankfully, I haven’t had to use a chemical stripper, hate using those.” They stunk! “But then it’s repairing any damage, changing up the hardware, and deciding what finish I want.” A shrug, "See, not very exciting.” But it was in some weird way, relaxing to do.

“The basics are easy to learn. Different grit sandpaper, power sander and the like are cheap enough to get. But I recommend practicing on something you don’t to use after. It can take some time to learn how much pressure and which grit to use to prevent damage.” Anyone could do it if they weren’t afraid of work.

“We did say we would exchange more stories! And now we have another person to join in!” well, if she wanted to.

[Circe]

"Punching an ass that has it coming?" Circe thinks or a moment before answering Allen's questions. And eats more pizza. "Mmmph," then swallows the pizza, "Yes. Ta both. I've had training in pugilism and programming. Very useful skill. I found many a problem that can be dealt with using it." The Fairest didn't specify which skill. She looks to Sonja, "My punches ain't at yer level, but I learned from a boxer or two."

Then it was on to Madison. "Yup computers. Or phone apps too, same code really just different displays. Aaaand I will be setting booby traps fer the poodle," she laughs out, "Not the kind I'd use here and now," chest thrust forward briefly, "I ain't inta that."

"Ooooh story time, hmmm?" She tilts her head in thought as she finished the first slice. There was that time her old motley had tricked some mortals into thinking Artemis was a sex god. The mundy buddy vomiting on a cop from a balcony? Car chase in Baja? That one also included puking on cops. "Well I would tell ya about a trip ta Vegas with friends but all I know is that it ended with my hair no longer goin' down ta my hips and everyone of us was dressed like KISS," she shrugs with both hands ups, "Still have no fanculo idea what we did. Though I have plenty of other stories. Making a friend be a sex god, the car race Sonny was in, but how about exotic Baja Mexico," the Fairest nods as she bites into the second slice. And she had to start the story with the best phrase possible.

"So no shit there I was in across the border in Baja," she laughs with a shake of her head, "I can't really tell ya the business details because of an NDA," that was a good corporate term to excuse talking about illegal work. "But it was the after party that was the trouble. Dusk til dawn party of tequila and strippers but it got interrupted. Some coworkers lost their IDs during and one big idiot decided the balcony was an toilet," she paused, "Actually several folks there pissed off it but my buddy puked off it. Oh ho ho ho ho," she inhales then smiles evilly, "Which was when the angry Spanish comes up as the sirens light up below. Yup, he hit a cop," Circe puts down the pizza to laugh, "Hilarious! But bad. Getting busted would have hurt business, maybe lost some sales, so I grab a couple of the boys and use the fire escape. We nab one of their cars and I drive us out of there fast. Buuuut that cops were pissed, so of course pursuit. So," she sings out so, "We played Dukes of Hazards. Well I mean," she frowns, "The ramp didn't get that much air and we did lose a hub cap. Wait," she scratches the side of her head, "No two. But still a couple of stunts."

"And vomit boy I think hit one of the cop cars," she giggles, "With, ya know, exactly what ya'd think. It wasn't quite Bourne levels shit but we did trespass through a construction site. Or demolition? I don't know," she shrugs, "Gate ruined the front of the car. Vomit boy ruined the inside too buuut we didn't get caught because of my driving," and cheating with Glamour here and there too. Dexterous performance seemed to include trying to imitate movie stunts with a car, who knew? "I probably would'a taken less risks if it was my car, and ya know sober, but holy shit was it fun!"

[Sonnie Wu]

"Mmmm," she nodded along as she ate her pizza, finishing it off by stuffing the crust in her mouth, "More stories, yes! Um, who's turn is it?"

Sonnie tilted her head to one side, an expression of curiosity, as she looked at Circe, "How would you know? You've never seen me punch anyone. I don't even remember the last time I actually did that... so maybe you did see me do it and I just forgot." Wait, car race? She was drawing a blank. "Oh, I guess Mary's going next."

She listened in wide-eyed wonder to the Fairest's story, full of the sorts of shenanigans you'd only see in an action-comedy movie. If it were anyone else, if the story came from a mortal, she wouldn't believe it. This, however, was Circe, Queen of the Summer Court, and Sonnie could totally buy her getting into such a crazy situation.

Then came Allen's story, and she could only smirk, "So, how long were you in the clink for?"

[Aurora]

She follows the convo about punching, enjoying her pizza as she listened.

“Never ask me to throw a punch, I’ll embarrass myself horribly!” she confesses. “Though I could carry around one of my swords.” A thoughtful look, “Probably get stopped by a cop or something.” Ok, sword was a bad idea. But the thought amused her still, and she giggled to herself.

“Let me know what traps work best on poodles. In case he has friends and I run into some. Always best to be prepared.” True enough.

“Remember, what happens in Vegas, stays in Vegas.” She had some stories from there that would never be shared.

Blue eyes widen, “He hit a cop?!” laughing, “That never ends good.” Her head shakes in amazement as she listened, “Wow! What a night.” Not one she would have enjoyed, but it was fun to listen to.

“Then I think you should give it a try.” She replies to Allen, “And it’s defiantly an exercise, really tones the arms.” A bare arm was held up, fairly well-toned. “I recommend finding pieces to practice on either on the side of the road, or a second hand store, most sell stuff pretty cheap.” It was the power tools that would be the investment. “Painting miniatures? Like those ones that you see in comic book stores? Cause some of those look amazing! Such detail!” yeah, she’d been in a few comic book stores.

“Oh no! Under the bed?!” she starts laughing. “Damn.” Shaking her head and still laughing. Hearing it made her glad she was a mage and could turn into a bird or bug.

Nodding at Sonnies question, “Yes, curious minds need to know the answer to that.”

[Circe]

Circe gasps as she turns to Allen, "I would never punch a pug. It'd be murder on the bac, uh, I mean they are too cute," laughter follows. Circe eats more of her pizza and just gives Allen a shrug as if to ask what did he expect coding life to be like. Fortunately for Circe she is done swallowing before the bed hiding plan came up. That got more laughter out of her. And what movies had Allen watched as a kid? If hiding under the bed worked in movies nobody would know Liam Neeson.

Though she does nod in agreement, "Lesson 2 very important indeed."

As for Sonja's questioning the Fairest's knowledge of the Beast's pugilism, "Nope, it is 'cause aren't ya like a proper marital artist? I just know that when ya punch ya don't throw yer shoulder too much."

And Madison was into swords? "Depends Maddy. If yer dressed like Joan of Arc, they might think yer from a set. Or crazy and taze ya so," she shakes her head admitting it was a bad idea. "And yes he did. Not quite a bullseye, was it the shoulder? But yeah they were pissed, oh ho ho ho." Then looks to Allen, "Metal working strains the metacarpals and wrists a lot in my experience. Tried forging too and wow does that work everything. But seriously Allen, under the bed? All the ladies wants ta know how ya did time, this one wants ta know if ya got yer friend back fer his stupidity."

[Sonnie Wu]

After a drink of her soda, she looked at Circe and shrugged, "Well, yeah. I'm no Jackie Chan, but I do okay." She grinned, "Also, don't put your thumb inside your fist."

Sonnie lamented her current lack of pizza, looking at the pile of greasy napkins before her. "Hm, my turn, huh? Well, I haven't gotten into any police chases. I was in Vegas one time, though I spent most of it raiding buffets and playing video blackjack. Nothing exciting there, I'm afraid."

She stood and went to the counter, where the Beast ordered her third slice of pizza, this one a veggie. Perhaps to balance out the meat lovers? Once she had secured her new slice, she returned to the table and sat down. "I dunno. Not much comes to mind... except maybe that time I hitchhiked across Arizona, and out on a desert road this trucker gave me a lift in his big semi. He seemed like a nice old man. He told me all about his wife whom he loved very much and he was heading home to see her after being gone for so very, very long."

She ate some of her veggie pizza and chewed thoughtfully. "He dropped me off just outside Phoenix. After I got out, I turned around to thank him for the ride... but the truck was gone!"

Another shrug, "Not very interesting, I know."

[Aurora]

“She is right, too adorable! Plus, don’t you remember Frank from Men in Black? They are very stylish as well.” You can’t hurt that.

“Well, Joan of Arc isn’t my typical go to for a costume. But I could see the appeal of it with a sword.” It could be a whole look.

Then a questioning look to Allen, “Do I even want to ask how you know that?” she jokes. “And I have sheathes, and pretty sure they’d be hard to hide.” They were pretty big.

“That’s pretty neat actually. Is there like, something specific in history that you paint models of?” education wasn’t her strong suit, but she’d been working on it over the years. “Childish?” a laugh, “I’m sure there are some people who think that way, but the ones I’ve seen, that takes some top-notch patience. Nothing childish about that in my opinion. So you just keep doing what you like, fuck everyone else.” It was how she got through life.

“I’ve always figured revenge was always a dish best served cold.” Give them time to think they were in the clear.

She blinked a few times, “Wait, is this a ghost story?” cause the Shaman believed in ghosts, she’s even talked with some spirits. “No, it’s interesting! I’ve just never heard of a full truck disappearing like that. We’ve all heard the stories about the ghost hitchhikers that people have picked up. But your story is on a whole new level.”

[Circe]

Probably helped extras go out to get coffee on breaks. Why undress when it wasn't illegal? And Circe was aware of the various convention scenes from way back when. Before the worst nightmare, and damn had she been a stupid mafia princess.


The Summer Fairest sighed in disappointment, "Well guess it is good ta have friends in high places, though practical revenge makes fer a boring story." Then looks to Sonja, as despite knowing her tail she'd no idea what tale would be told. The fist advice gets a serious nod from Circe, who resumes eating her white pizza. She stops to add her own joke to Madison's view of revenge. "It is also very sweet. So revenge is ice cream."


She finishes her slice. "Well a sword would let ya put Paul Hogan's knife skit ta shame. Another fun fact on what's legal. From prop resale I learned ya can own a flamethrower in most states without license but in California? Hell no unless. Government agency or big movie studio is the limit," she laughs at the exceptions. "Probably why all the little studios stick ta terrible CGI fire."


And a ghost story now? Or had it been a fae caravan doing the disappearing act? A mean part of her mind decided that Sonja could have seen something shiny, wandered off, then remembered to thank the trucker 30 minutes later. The Larcenist chides herself as Sonja had a better head on her shoulders then did the star girl. "So was he haulin' merchandise fer some boo-tiques? Did he have his sheet belt buckled?" she looks around the table sipping her water, "I can get worse, believe me."