TEST DRIVE MEME

[shiftmanager]

Welcome to the opening test drive of theelysium! Invitations are not required to play on the inaugural TDM.

Test drive threads may be considered game canon if all participants wish to maintain the CR developed here. This TDM doubles as an arrival log for the game's opening.

The first application round is closed to friends of the moderators. If you are interested in joining the game but do not know anyone involved, you may reach out to the mod team to request an invitation for the March app round.

If you have any questions about the setting, here are some links to the game's premise and setting information pages.

Thank you for playing! We're excited to have you.

ARRIVAL When you came to, you were mid-conversation with someone you've never seen before, nodding along to instructions that seem to evaporate into the air after they're spoken aloud. You've been welcomed into the industry, given your ID and uniform, and escorted to the back of house. It seemed natural then to just go along with it, to be cordial and pleasant, no matter how insincere it might have been.

They asked you to sit for a while and gather your bearings, and so you sit. The rest settles slowly as you adjust and find the rest of yourself returning. At least the couches are soft.

The room is dark, lit only by a rotating set of colored lights that move across a determined track, bathing the collected employees in bright shades of blue, pink, and violet. Some tables are internally lit in fluorescent shades, surrounding everything in a hazy glow. Distantly, a thumping vibration shakes the southmost wall, indicating something terribly noisy on the other side.

But at the north, a wall panel springs to life, revealing a mustached man who smiles at them warmly. They can try to interject, but it seems to be a prerecorded message; he doesn't pause or acknowledge them in the slightest as he welcomes them.

"Congratulations! We're happy to have you onboard at the finest entertainment venue ever erected. There's still a while before your first shift starts, so why don't you take a couple of hours to make yourselves at home? There are snacks and drinks in the mini fridge, and the schedule is posted out in the costume room. Tap your card to the ATM in the corner if you need to check the balance of your debt or withdraw any chips. We've been bringing in more guests than ever lately, so be sure you take care of them!"

He smiles in a way that someone, somewhere, might have found charming once.

"Remember the big rules. Customer service always comes first. We do what the guests want. And whatever happens here, stays here. Shift schedule's posted right below me, so take a minute to figure out where you're supposed to be. Next shift change happens in an hour, so you should think about getting ready soon if you're on deck. A lot of people were gunning for the job you've got. Don't make us regret bringing you on board."

The message ends and the monitor falls black again, leaving them to their own devices. Those scheduled for the next shift will only have half an hour before they start to feel the compulsion to prepare, to check their makeup and make sure there's no food in their teeth, to clock in and work. But others will have longer to explore before the next shift change. Maybe they're the ones who have enough time to figure out what's happening before things go too far. Maybe there's hope.

WORKING THE EVENT FLOOR Most of the assigned shifts correlate to obvious locations or tasks. Run blackjack at table 46A, stand security at the adult-only entrance on the third floor, hop behind the Starlight Bar and get to mixing drinks.But those scheduled to work on the Event Floor will find their workday dominated by a particular pastiche.

With Valentine’s Day looming soon, the event floor is decked out for romance and decadence. A plush red carpet has been rolled out underfoot, providing a contrast to the white marble gaming tables. Everything is a shade of white, red, or pink, with floral accents and expensive strings of pearls providing a festive touch. Even the cigarette girls and boys are distributing more festive substances, like cigars that burn up in pink smoke.

Everything seems arranged with the intent of bringing people together: the chairs are all a little closer than usual, and even some of the slot machine setups invite two players to share a machine and split their winnings. Staff are informed that several high rollers want to be surrounded by romance, and their job is to help facilitate that. When two neighbors win at roulette, winning chips should be passed over in a way that will all but force players’ hands to touch when they recover their winnings. If a dealer notices a spark between players, it might be the right time to swap to a marked deck and help make sure they win enough for a dopamine release into each other’s arms. Maybe it’s just a friendship! But maybe it can be something more than that. What could be a better icebreaker?

Bartenders on the event floor are given instructions to mix specialty drinks in addition to normal beverages. This time, the Elysium is featuring the following items: hatsukoi fizz, a light beverage that makes a person's mood as bubbly as the champagne tickling their nose, blushing rose, which makes a person a little more coquettish and flirty, the piercing arrow, a strong mix of intoxicants designed to lower inhibitions, and the (only available in Adult playspaces) widow’s kiss, a dark liquor that burns down the throat and spreads out from there, generating an uncontrollable passion that can only be satisfied with physical contact.

Performers will be asked to keep it romantic, largely featuring cabaret ensembles singing round-the-clock love songs and romantic ballads, broken up by ensemble performances of shows called “Venus Delight” and “Queen of Hearts.” Performers in Adults-Only spaces might additionally find themselves dancing a part in “Fête De L'amour” or “Somebawdy to Love.” There are even spaces designed for the lovelorn, and entertainers stationed there may end up guiding singalongs to breakup songs and consoling intoxicated guests who can't get through the chorus of "Love Hurts" without breaking down. If you find yourself signed up to do something embarrassing, just throw some more glitter on yourself to hide whatever’s causing you shame. It’ll be fun if you let it.

FEATURED GAME: CUPID’S CRUSH In addition to the casino standards that are present with a pinkish facelift, the Event Floor provides plenty of places to play a limited-time game tailored to the current theme.

In Cupid's Crush, a group of two to six players around a table are given cards marked "secrets" and "deeds," each respectively symbolizing a hidden truth or a scandalous dare. One by one, each player will decide whether they want to participate in a round. If they’re staying in, they must submit a card from either pile. If a player folds, they are eliminated from the betting pool. Card submissions continue in this way, clockwise, until a player either can no longer play or no longer wants to continue. When their turn comes to play a card, a player can instead opt to trigger the betting phase.

During the betting phase, each player announces how many cards they are willing to pull out of the center pool. Just one truth can’t kill you, right? But telling truths and doing dares are the only way to win this game, so the players around the table will each have the opportunity to either raise the stakes by increasing the previous bid or pass their turn and lose their opportunity. Betting continues, clockwise, until either no players are willing to raise the stakes or one player has declared that they can take on every card in the center, whichever comes first.

When the betting phase is resolved, the player with the highest bid now must flip over the number of cards they declared, in any order they choose. The opposite side of each card declares a secret that must be revealed or provides instructions for an action that must be completed. Once they’ve satisfied all the cards, they are declared the winner of the round. (OOC note: Feel free to consult a generator to help your character reap the consequences of their actions. Take note of the category options to make sure you’re getting prompts that suit the threads you want to have!)

The game ends when one of two possible conditions are met:
(1) A player is unwilling or unable to complete the tasks on the cards set in front of them. If they’ve bitten off more than they can chew, they are immediately declared Crushed.
(2) One player has won two rounds and completed all their challenges. The winning player may then choose which player at the table receives Cupid’s Crush.

Crushed players are the undisputed losers of the game. The penalty for receiving Cupid’s Crush is a sudden overwhelming infatuation with the winning player. (In cases where a player receives a crush after failing to fulfill the cards, the object of the infatuation is chosen by the Dealer.) Whether merely uninterested or actively married to someone else, Cupid’s Crush is an immediate obsession, bordering on worship.

There’s nothing sweeter than falling in love on such a romantic holiday, right? How could love be wrong? It seems like this is a game where everyone wins.

OFF DUTY While half of the new arrivals file off to work on their shifts, everyone else is left to their own devices during their free time. Why not venture out and explore one of the locations in this new home of yours? Hang out in the back rooms and mingle with your new coworkers, or perhaps you’d rather head out and try out some games yourself? There seems to be plenty of reason to try out playing. Maybe you'll win big and get rid of all that new Debt of yours! Maybe you'll find a friend who's working a shift - why are they even going along with this crazy place, anyway?

Whatever they decide to do with their free time is up to them. Everything goes, as long as you show up for work on time when it’s your turn.

full game navigation

Comments

C. Off-duty

[fiftyfiftypartner]

[ Jesse's just getting off a shift with Maintenance, unzipping his coveralls and stepping out of his work boots. He shoves it all unceremoniously into a nearby locker. None of it's dirty enough to warrant cleaning. Besides, they have plenty of access to clean uniforms as needed. He wonders if they use the same kind of industrial laundry service like the one he used to work at. It feels like ages ago now, but the thought persists.

Jesse pulls on a pair of dark jeans and steps into some comfortable sneakers. He layers a long-sleeved Henley on top of his white undershirt, pushing the sleeves up. Normally, Jesse's hyper-vigilant about observing his surroundings, but there's something about this place that's making him feel safe. Maybe it's the fact that he hasn't seen a single soul he recognizes, and nobody seems to have recognized him yet, either. Even the patrons barely gave him a glance as he moved about the casino, fixing machines and pipes and whatever's needed fixing. He's never held this type of job before, but ever since learning how to work with chemicals, and learning how to assemble and disassemble a meth lab, he's become familiar with tools and there isn't much these days that can't be learned by watching a video or reading a manual. He's coming into his own, and for once, it feels nice.

That is, until the illusion bursts like a bubble as he hears an all-too-familiar voice cut through the thoughts in his head like a hot knife through butter. Jesse's head whips to the side just in time to see none other than Saul Goodman holding up a pair of ties. Jesse's mouth goes dry and he stumbles back a couple of paces. He stops himself, though, trying to toughen up. Straighten up. Toe the line. There are consequences if you can't hold it together.

Jesse clears his throat and takes a step forward. Eye-contact doesn't come easily. It doesn't happen at all, at first. But he finally meets his ex-attorney's eyes. The gaze won't last, but it's long enough for recognition to set in. Even if Jesse looks a little older, a little more worn. Badly healed scars are noticeable even in the low light, or maybe particularly so, when a dim overhead bulb casts shadows beneath the raised lines on his skin. But it's still him. It's still Jesse. Undeniably so. ]

What...they're all outta plaid?

[ There's the slightest twitch of a smirk at the corner of his mouth before it falls away. ]

[justmakemoney]

[Now there's a familiar voice. A bit rougher than he remembers, but Jesse Pinkman isn't someone Saul is about to forget. He freezes, lowering his hands slowly as he turns to look properly at Jesse. He's not sure what to expect, honestly. A familiar face in a place like this is bound to be a rarity, and someone that Saul would say he generally likes is likely even rarer than that. In any other case, it would almost be a comfort. But the last time he'd seen Jesse had ended with his nose broken, his car stolen, and Jesse off on a rampage who knows where in Albuquerque. There's a wariness in his gaze as he looks Jesse over, not sure if he's about to get a repeat performance here.

But something's not right. Jesse's demeanor is off compared to what he's come to expect over the time they've worked together. He seems more skittish and just about as on edge as he is. And then there's the scars. The wariness in Saul's expression softens slightly--it's hard not to as his imagination runs wild trying to guess what could've happened to his former client--but he doesn't move from where he's standing. Just in case Jesse does change his mind and decide to throw a punch or two.]

Christ. Give a guy a heart attack, why don't you?

[Sorry, Jesse, he can't bring himself to stop looking at those scars. He knows it's rude, but he's never been the best at etiquette.]

...What did he do to you?

[fiftyfiftypartner]

Whoops.

[ The tone says 'sorry, not sorry'. It might seem like he's still salty over the whole ricin cigarette thing, but at this point it's just a drop in the bucket compared to everything that happened to him since then. Saul's practically a Saint compared to the depths of evil that lurk inside of his former high school chemistry teacher, and it all feels too long ago to hold a grudge. ]

What, you never watch the news?

[ There's a short pause before he continues. He'll spare Saul the gritty details of hearing his own nose break under the weight of a set of brass knuckles for now. He wants it made clear that, while this was all Mr. White's fault, he'd actually been too much of a coward to do it himself. ]

Remember that blonde little neo nazi piece of shit from Vamanos Pest? Your maestro sold me to him and his psycho fuck uncle Jack.

[ Because that's the way it feels like it went down. Walter White got to walk away with a barrel full of his precious money and Jesse got thrown into a concrete hole in the ground. ]

[justmakemoney]

Hey, I'm not the type to sit and wait for the reporters to break the news. The police scanners told me what I needed to know, and that was that it's time to get out.

[Whatever the truth was about what happened out in the desert between Walt and everyone, he had no idea, and sticking around to find out would only lead to even more trouble. He doesn't need to be a lawyer to know that much. His face falls in wary disbelief as Jesse explains the missing pieces. No matter how creative Saul's imagination could get, Walt selling Jesse off to nazis is something he doubts he would have ever guessed.

And yet, he knows Jesse well enough to know this isn't the sort of thing he would joke about, especially not with that tone of voice. If that wasn't proof enough, the scars all over Jesse's body sure were. Just when had things with Walt gone this far off the rails?]

That's what happened out there?

[fiftyfiftypartner]

Yeah, I know.

[ Jesse's expression softens a little, the hackles coming down so to speak. In the end, Saul was a victim, too, even if Jesse isn't exactly thrilled with the fact that, at times, his loyalty could be bought over siding with what was right. Yeah, eventually he learned that the best course of action when it came to Walter White was getting the fuck out of Dodge; disengaging entirely. It doesn't change the fact that Saul had participated in some awful things that affected Jesse, but he also knows deep down that Goodman would never sign off on what he went through in the end. He might try and save his own ass first and foremost, sometimes at the expense of others, but he doesn't seem the type to be okay with anyone really getting hurt. Not like he did. ]

It's a long story. But--

[ He's owed an explanation. Jesse can do that. He can fill in the blanks, at least up to a certain point. He takes a breath, starting from the last time they'd seen each other. ]

That day I left your office. I took your car to Mr. White's house. Fully intended on burning it down. I dunno why--I just...I wanted to make him hurt like he did me.

[ Taking something that meant something to Walt was the closest Jesse could come to Mr. White poisoning Brock. Jesse could never physically hurt Mr. White's family, but he could do something that would affect them. ]

Schrader stopped me. Told me he knew what was up and that I could make it all stop. I trusted him. I didn't know what else to do, and it's not like I could call you up to get me out of that shit. So I talked. Mainly about myself and him. Hank--he and I, uh, came up with this plan to catch Mr. White with evidence. I called him and convinced him that I was out in the desert burning the money he'd buried. His nest egg. Got him to admit to everything on the phone, had him drive right to where the money was at. It was all rigged, of course. Only, uh. Genius there already called his little nazi buddies up, thinking it was just me out there and that they'd just off me, bury me in some hole.

They showed up, killed Hank and his partner, and then Mr. White sold me out. Told 'em I was hiding under a car. They were gonna kill me right then but, uh, Todd--he said they should, y'know, get information outta me. Find out what all I said to the Feds and just off me afterward. Mr. White? He gave his blessing. Nodded. Watched 'em drag me away. And they did get information outta me. But they didn't kill me. They kept me. Made me cook for 'em. So there's that.

[ And that's about as much as he can say without feeling like he's on the verge of dissociating. He sounds more nonchalant than he should, but that's because he's compartmentalizing. Packing it all away; shoving it all down. He's distancing himself from it enough to not have to deal with it emotionally; not now. It's probably more information at once than Saul can process fully, but at least he'll know. He'll understand what happened, and maybe he'll stop staring At Jesse's scars. Eventually. ]

[justmakemoney]

[Saul may be motivated largely by greed and easily swayed by where the money was flowing, but even he has his morals, and everything Jesse went through is far beyond anything Saul would've ever signed off on. Joking about a prison shanking being the easiest solution is one thing, whatever got into Walt to allow this to happen to Jesse is something else. (It's that ego, he knows that's what it is.)

He listens, not bothering to hide the disgust and horror in his expression as Jesse continues. Somehow now it all makes sense that Jesse was intercepted by Schrader, that that was why there was no sighting of him for ages, but that's not the point. They had a smart plan, they played to Walt's weaknesses, and somehow Walt still walked away victorious. Saul's no fool; he's heard or been part of too many of Walt's plans to be too shocked by this. But somehow, after all the times Walt has gone out of his way to protect Jesse and vice versa, this is the one that makes Saul feel sick.]

Yeah, thanks for that, by the way. You know how much time Huell had to spend cleaning your mess out of the car when we got it back?

[Wherever poor Huell is now... But that's not the point and he knows it's not. Talking is Saul's thing, but he doesn't even know where to begin to talk about what Jesse went through. None of it was meant to go this far.]

...You doing okay? Here, I mean. You're not about to pass out or anything being up and about here, are you?

[It's a dumb question, because who could be any level of okay after what he's been through, but it's not as if any of them can do anything about what's already happened.]

[fiftyfiftypartner]

[ It feels like forever ago that Jesse stole Saul's car, broke his sobriety, and stormed into Walter White's house in a rage with the full intention of burning it all to the ground. It feels like forever ago and yet, he can still smell the dizzying scent of gasoline soaking into the plush living room carpet. He can still see the cocaine and meth spilled haphazardly all over Saul's car. The CD case he snorted it all off of discarded carelessly into the passenger seat.

Yeah, he feels bad about beating Saul's face in like that. He should've controlled himself better. But poisoning a kid? He still can't wrap his head around Goodman signing off on that entire thing regardless of how certain Mr. White had been about how much to give--about making Brock sick without actually killing him. But that hadn't been Saul's choice, and Jesse has to come to terms with that. The real person behind it all is Mr. White, and he didn't really get his comeuppance at the end of things. Death--even dying by bleeding out--seems like a far too merciful end. ]

It was a car, yo. You're seriously still salty over that?

[ Jesse makes a face. Yeah, Saul (as far as he knows) didn't suffer too many serious consequences from his involvement in the whole scheme they had going on, aside from the beatdown that came just before taking his car. Jesse feels bad about it, sure, but how much sympathy can a guy have who's been tortured, starved, and held captive for months? He'd be more likely to tell him to get over it than anything else. Sorry, Saul. This isn't the same Jesse you once knew, begging to keep his friend Badger from being 'shanked in the chow line'. He's changed. ]

I'm fine.

[ He's not fine, and that much is pretty clear, but he's gotten some decent meals into his stomach, been seen by medical to treat whatever injuries hadn't quite healed yet, and he's building his strength up. He still has PTSD, and insomnia...he's pretty certain he's suffered some head injuries, and there's been damage both mental and physical that he's not sure will ever go away. But how do you say that to someone who he's certain has never been through something similar? He doesn't want to be pitied or handled with kid gloves, not that he suspects Saul's really the type. Actually, he's probably the best sort of person to run into after everything. Soft enough to relate to, but stoic enough not to completely lose his shit or make him feel like he's some invalid. ]

I'm--I'll be alright. They got me staying busy. Maintenance and odd jobs.

[justmakemoney]

It's about Huell's honor. It wasn't easy for him to get in there and get all your nose candy out of every crevice, and I can only work so many legal miracles before the cops refuse to budge. He's got a record, too, you know, and if he got caught?

[He shakes his head to emphasize his point. Huell's honor, while Huell is the one cleaning a car that isn't his, of course. It hardly matters now, he knows full well, but he can't resist making his point. Who knows where that car was going to end up, aside from in some police evidence lockup after they inevitably came hunting for him? And wherever Huell went, he can only hope it wasn't somewhere he was hoping Saul could scam him out again.

He raises his eyebrows at Jesse's insistence that he's fine, but that's the only questioning he allows himself. If Jesse says he's fine, even though his appearance and experiences say otherwise, then he's fine. It's not his place to argue, even though he's pretty sure it's nothing more than a bold faced lie.]

Maintenance, huh? That's not bad. Keeps you busy and out of the limelight for a while.

[fiftyfiftypartner]

Oh, I'm sorry. Poor Huell who you had gank the week off me when I was like...minutes from fuckin' freedom. I never woulda put two and two together on that whole poisoning Brock scheme otherwise, so. I mean, whatever mess he had to clean up after the fact is on you, man.

[ Jesse's obviously not entirely over the whole deal, what with the sarcasm dripping off of his words, but he's cooled down enough not to follow it through with a punch. Jesse lets out a sigh and nods--they're cool. That's all in the past before any of the truly horrific shit that he had to go through, and the only person really responsible for that is already dead. Albeit in a much less vicious manner than what was deserved. ]

You know what I mean; I'll live. Or figure out how.

[ Jesse says to that familiar raise of the eyebrows that Saul gives him. He's stronger than you think, Saul. This is not the same kid that came crying into your office about Combo being dead. He's seen some shit and been through some shit that required him to grow the fuck up if he was going to make it through the other side. ]

Gives me access to a lot of equipment too. I'm thinkin' maybe I can run a little side business here given some time. Skim a little off the top, y'know? I run maintenance on the slots regularly and anything else that ain't workin'. I mean, I don't exactly know anything aside from what the manuals say but like, I bet if I could get a hold of a computer I could figure out how to rig some of 'em. Maybe even get a hold of some rigged dice for craps or decks of cards? Could make a killing...maybe even enough to pay off my debt here and anybody else willing to help.

[ He thinks for a moment or two, shifting on his feet, suddenly sheepish. ]

Can't do too much at once or they'll catch on, but a little at a time? These fuckers are rolling in it. They won't notice if the profit margin is off a tiny amount. So long as nobody gets greedy, but uh...I think you and I know better than that.

[justmakemoney]

[He doesn't doubt Jesse is strong. Even before the whole Meth Nazis kidnapping that apparently happened, Saul has been right there--albeit at a generally safe distance--seeing Jesse go through things that, if he were honest, no person really should go through. Things like that break a person. But he's always liked Jesse, that's how Walt framed things to get his cooperation with that whole cigarette plan in the first place, and it's hard to not feel sympathy for what he's been through and now has to live with. Because while he knows Jesse will eventually be okay, he also knows he's far from it now, no matter how decently put together he seems right now.

Saul doesn't bother arguing about the weed or the beating or Huell pickpocketing him now, not even for appearances. There's not a point when it's in the past, and the only thing he'd want to do is shake Jesse and ask why he couldn't just let it go and get out of there and away from Hurricane Walter when he was so close to it. He didn't deserve to get caught up in all that, and he was so close to being someone else.

Skimming cash, though. That's easier to focus on, and a much more intriguing topic than letting his mind wander and imagine the horrors Jesse went through.]

They've got me split between bar tending and running the tables. So long as the house wins more often than not and the wins aren't big enough to catch anyone's attention, well...

[when it comes to scamming, he's a quick study!]

[fiftyfiftypartner]

[ Skimming cash is easier to focus on. All of this inter-dimensional casino shit is, in fact, easier for Jesse to focus on than any part of the last couple of years he spent in Albuquerque. At some point, he's going to have to sit with it, pick it apart, and let it hurt. But right now he has to get a little physically and mentally better before he's strong enough to truly face it all. Right now it feels safest to focus on working, paying off his debt, and getting through each day one at a time. Maybe that's why he seems so put together for someone who'd been held hostage for the past several months. ]

Yeah, I mean at least with the older slot machines, I read in the manual that I can change the odds of winning by reconfiguring a couple things once I open 'em up. So it would still be random. I figure we can put an out of order sign on the one we choose, I go 'fix' it, then you or whoever else that we pick moves to that machine right after I'm done. Play with the increased odds. You still won't win often enough for it to raise suspicion, but I can make sure there's a profit made every time. Runnin' the tables, well, we can probably figure a way to alter a deck if we can manage to get a deck or an image of the exact cards and we make duplicates so you can make sure the person of your choosing wins if you're dealing blackjack. Or if it's somethin' like poker, the player can arrive with winning cards already in their pocket. S'far as the bar goes...I dunno what we can come up with there cept maybe pickpocketing. But I think that might be a little risky with all the surveillance.

[ Little does Jesse know that Saul happens to be the Godfather of bar scams. Bestow your knowledge onto him, yo. ]

[justmakemoney]

[He scoffs at Jesse's suggestion of only pickpocketing. Changing odds on the slot machines is interesting, and definitely something to circle around to later, because now there's some information to keep in mind. But bar scams? That's his area of expertise.]

You're thinking too small, young padawan.

[Sorry, Jesse, he's more of a Star Wars reference guy than a Star Trek reference guy.]

If pickpocketing is all you've got, you're limiting yourself. If you're persuasive enough, you can get anyone to buy any sort of story you're telling them. It's easier with two people--one buying, one selling--so it's lucky for the both of us that you're a quick learner.

[fiftyfiftypartner]

[ Jesse almost pinches the bridge of his nose. Almost. Yeah, it's a Star Wars reference, but that doesn't mean it doesn't bring up a whole lot of memories of getting high and listening to Skinny and Badger bantering back and forth about Star Trek and video games. Still, Saul's got knowledge to offer and, if Jesse's good at anything, he's a fast learner when he wants to be--when it's something of interest to him, and getting out of here a little faster, well, lets just say the idea has him paying close attention. ]

I take it you got some schemes up your sleeve then. Well? Lay it on me. What kinda stories you tryin' to sell?

[justmakemoney]

The trick is you can't use the same generic story for every sucker. You've gotta be discerning and read what play is best for the guy you're trying to sell it to. You know that, you've done your fair share of sales work.

[It's almost like old times, before everything went to extra shit, with Saul offering common sense "legal" advice on the best ways to run their meth business. Saul spares a quick glance around the room again, just to make sure no one is here to overhear. They're in the clear, as far as he can tell, but Saul lowers his voice anyway, just in case of any hidden mics anywhere around them.]

Some guys, it's about stroking their ego a bit. Throw a few rounds of a game on purpose to get them feeling cocky, then take care of things. Others, they like feeling like they're being let in on a secret, or like they're getting a good deal. Watching, putting out feelers, and commitment. That's the key to any good bar scam.

[fiftyfiftypartner]

I know a couple bar bet tricks. There's a good one called the wizard. Takes a second person in another area. So I take out a deck of cards, let the mark pick one and put it face up on the bar. Once it's seen, I tell 'em I'm gonna call the wizard and they'll guess the card. Put the card away, pick up the phone. That's when I call you and ask to talk to the wizard. On the other end of the line you'll say "hearts, diamonds, spades, clubs" and when you get to the one that's right, I'll jump in and say 'okay'. Then I'll tell the person they're getting the wizard. Then you start going through the cards one at a time. Ace, two, three, four, and I'll interrupt again when you reach the right number. Then I put you on speaker and say 'I got someone here who wants you to guess their card' and you say the card. Works best on people who are already a little sloshed. Nothin' you can make beaucoup bucks on or anything, but like...it works.

[ Jesse shrugs after he rambles on, explaining the way the trick works. He knows a few similar kind of things where you can win small sums of money. With the amount of patrons that come through the casino on a nightly basis, though, he supposes it could be at least semi-lucrative, especially considering how little effort it would take. ]

Maybe we can team up on some things. Make a little on the side. Like old times.

[ Yeah, like old times minus the greedy assholes and the people trying to kill them or turn them all into the cops. This seems a lot more manageable, and there's something about the nostalgia of working with an old friend that makes the setup somewhat desirable. Jesse wants to focus on the good memories, and the times he spent with Saul were largely positive. At least in comparison with what he's been through since then. ]

[justmakemoney]

[Aw, Jesse, you're well on your way to being a successor to the dubious skills of Slippin' Jimmy. It's a basic scam, and the sort that won't work as well on someone who isn't already too far out of it, but it's a start.]

We can start small, work our way up to some bigger scams. If you've got one like that down already, you'll catch on quick.

[At this point, he's already sold on making extra on the side with Jesse doing a few bar scams here and there. In a place like this, with his face not being infamous among the cops and the lowlifes alike, it's hard to resist the urge to have a little harmless fun with a bar scam here and there. It's been too long since he's had the time or even reason to give it a shot.]

Fake Rolexes and clueless stock investors might not work as well here, but I've never met a drunk that "can you keep a secret" didn't work on.

[fiftyfiftypartner]

[ Jesse may be a little rusty on bar scams at this point, but listen--hes' no stranger to weaseling people out of their money. Particularly intoxicated individuals. He's done it before. Hell, he didn't even have to do much of anything to get Mr. White to hand him his entire life savings. Jesse knows how to use that big, blue eyes gaze to his advantage. People feel comfortable around him. He seems soft and innocent at a first glance. Maybe a little less so these days with the scars, but he can still work those puppy dog eyes like the best of them. ]

Yeah, start small. Sounds like a good plan. I'm in if you are.

[ And it seems like Saul's in, from what he can tell. He's generally good at reading people at this point. ]

Hell, between bar scams and game table scams, plus the little slot machine thing going on the side? I think we got something goin' here that we could really use for a leg up in this whole operation.

[ Jesse doesn't have anywhere to go, necessarily. He'd been heading to Alaska when he found himself suddenly at The Elysium listening to the whole worker orientation spiel. But he doesn't question that or the fact that he's stuck here. It feels less "stuck" for him, considering the place he'd escaped from prior. This feels like freedom or at least a pathway to that. ]

So what's the whole 'can you keep a secret' scam? How's it work?

[ Jesse moves closer, an eager look on his face. Consider yourself Mr. Miyagi, Saul, and this is a young grasshopper eager for guidance. Hone his skills and you'll have a formidable weapon on your hands. He's eager to please. ]

[justmakemoney]

It's already working.

[Well, not in the same sense, but his knowing grin should give Jesse the tip off he needs. Not that Saul has ever been quiet or reluctant to elaborate on any of his great ideas, and this is no difference, but it's about making a show of it all.]

Like any of them, it works better on people that may have had a few too many, and it depends on how well you can bullshit a story. Back in the day, I was running those chain email scams in person before the Nigerian princes even heard of the internet. We'll have to get a bit more creative here--people don't buy that anymore--but I don't think that's too hard.

[Rusty, sure, but creativity when he's motivated to do so is never something that's been a problem for Saul. He's many things, but lazy is definitely not one of them. Much like Jesse, he doesn't have much to lose here. Best case, he'd be in Nebraska, worst case, in federal prison. Might as well take advantage of the situation they're both in.

Saul reaches out to clasp Jesse on the shoulder. It's good to be back in business.]

Once you get the hang of that, I'll get you working on some two man scams. Kind of like a good cop-bad cop thing, just without the legal aspect.