The Great Game

[thessalian]

There's going to be a tube and train strike a week from today.

Can we say, "Day off"?

Seriously, with some jobs I've had in some places I've lived, I might do it anyway. But I live in Enfield. There's no way I'm going to get into work on time with a reduced timetable -- never mind getting home again. I've been thinking about the other options and they all involve at least three buses. No. Just ... no. I'd have to leave at about six in the morning and wouldn't be getting back in until about nine. Or I could cram myself on the few services still running and ... it would be bad.

I don't understand -- is there some kind of conspiracy? Ken Livingstone set up his congestion charge awhile ago, ostentibly to ... well, fight congestion. Clear up traffic, reduce emissions, and the money from the charge and the fines was supposed to go on improving public transport. Apparently, it's not making as much money as people hoped. Has Livingstone orchestrated this whole rail strike thing in order to make people drive to work next week and pay their five sodding quid? Or is this just the public transport people being a bunch of greedy fuckwits asking for money the public transport service doesn't have? I suppose both are equally likely.

Yesterday was relatively good fun after the hell that is having three consultants running around the same tiny office giving orders. Tried to explain the new system that doesn't allow me to book appointments anymore to my consultants, and the old-school-boy basically tromped up to people and complained. He says we're going to refuse to use the new system if it doesn't suit us, as it was foisted on us unasked. In the meantime, I'm going to present his views at the Wednesday meeting and hope I don't get Violet giving me that condescending "I've been on this earth and in this Service longer than you so shut up" look. Puh-leeze.

Game was ... well, okay, game was fairly dull since my character spent a great deal of it tied to a chair. Again. But it gave Toos, Kat and me a chance to sit upstairs in one of the bedrooms and natter -- always a good thing. The others got an extra XP because they actually managed to make a plan, see it through without someone going off and doing their own thing, and making it work. Apparently, this never happens. Simson rolled up a new character (well, his regular one's married, pregnant and going to have to leave soon anyway) -- Avalonian, one of the Knights of Elaine and really not terribly bright. Also possessed of the Dangerous Beauty advantage (sexual magnetism), which makes him a particularly attractive addition in Alison's opinion, and he doesn't seem disinterested in her either.

Which is where it gets funny. Since Toos' alternate character Pietro joined the group, he and Alison have been something of an item. It started out of ... well, convenience. Pietro's married (with kid, if you believe the rumours) but hasn't actually seen his wife in years. He's also got a thing for the GM's character (when he actually gets to play, poor guy). All the same, it takes more than a broken heart to make Pietro Villanova disinterested in a shag. (I'm not sure even death would make Pietro turn down a shag.) As for Alison ... well, she got bored and thought seducing a Vodacce noble might be amusing. The entire relationship was really supposed to embody the fuck-buddy principle; we're mates, we shag, nothing more than that.

Recently, however, there's been more to it. Alison defends Pietro when his name is dragged through the mud in conversation. When that Morgan individual insulted Pietro, Alison held a gun to his head. She's been cursing herself for being an idiot for having feelings ("He's Vodacce! He's married! He has a thing for Fiora! He's Vodacce! He has a child! He's only interested in me as a shag! I did mention he's Vodacce, right?") but it turns out that it might not be entirely one-sided. Certain amount of protectiveness came out early in the session. Then came later -- I'd gone into an inn to get some information and find a mark; they'd recognised me, obviously, and I'd been hoping to twist the situation so I'd look like someone who wanted to sell them information on their enemies when Pietro walked in, apparently bored. By this point, I had a knife to my ribs and Pietro was told to sit down or his friend 'gets it'. He tried the "Oh, she's not my friend" deal, which worked right up until the point where my hand was being held down on a table and people were preparing to cut my fingers off, at which point he draws a sword and screams "NO!", which gives the game away entirely and he has to go be a captive too. Aw. How sweet. As in-game relationships go, it probably makes more sense than the Vendel high-born and the Castillian priest...

Now, though, there's knightly paragon with Dangerous Beauty on scene. According to Toos, the exchanged look bothered Pietro ... and it bothers him that he's bothered by Alison's interest in another man. It's highly amusing.

Anyway, lots of letters to type. Very bored, very tired and want to go home. *sigh* I hate the work week.

Comments

[commonpeople.livejournal.com]

Or is this just the public transport people being a bunch of greedy fuckwits asking for money the public transport service doesn't have?

This is the likeliest.