Unshaken

A Fine Night of Debauchery

Liam woke the next day before anyone else. It was still dark out. He walked to the edge of the humid swamp and looked out onto the water. He wanted to leave. The swamps gave him the creeps. Hell, he would've taken Rhodes over this. He went to the pot and poured himself a cup of coffee as others rose. He greeted them as usual and surprisingly found Karen already awake cleaning her new guns. "You enjoying them guns?" He asked. "It sure is nice to be able to shoot a feller." She joked. "Especially around here." He emphasized. She had also gotten variations of her wide legged pants and button down tops. Some of the gang members had something to say about it, but she didn't care. "Sadie said she likes 'em." Karen said. "I don't doubt it." Liam agreed. "You seen Kieran?" Liam asked her. "Now that I think of it, no. I don't think he'd turn on us." Karen said. "I sure hope not." Liam replied.

He went to the front porch of the house and heard Trelawny reading to himself in an unfamiliar way. Liam walked up to him. He was speaking Italian. "Parli Italiano?" Liam asked him, not used to using the language. Trelawny jumped and looked at Liam in astonishment. He answered back in Italian. They understood each other. They sat for a moment in disbelief. Liam's speaking was slower due to his lack of use, but it eventually came natural again. They proceeded to have an entire conversation about how they were brought up with the culture. They spent over half the day conversing back and forth. They enjoyed each other's company.

"Say, how about you join me, Javier, Strauss and Arthur on a river boat job? I could use the extra security." Trelawny said. "That big poker game? When?" Liam asked. "Tonight. Meet Arthur and I at the tailor's this afternoon. You will have to look the part." Trelawny ordered and then walked off. Liam shrugged his shoulders and climbed on Colter to ride for a bit before heading to Saint Denis again. He cleared his mind sitting near Catfish Jackson's for a while. He checked his pocket watch and ran to Colter. He was almost late.

He rode fast through the woods and past Caliga Hall. He rode through the city almost hitting some townspeople. He barely showed up after Arthur did. "Ah, my security is here. There you are, dear boy. A little late might I add." Trelawny greeted him. "Sorry, lost track of time." Liam sighed, following with an awkward laugh. "Well, we're going to need to get you two smartened up a bit." Trelawny said looking the two up and down. "Why?" Arthur asked, confused. "Well you can't play at the tables on the Lannahachee River Boat looking like this." Trelawny told them. "You can't?" Liam asked. "Not if you want to fit in so well no one realizes your there to rob the place. Now come on." Trelawny insisted.

"What you talking about?" Arthur asked as Trelawny started to the tailor. "Those suits are not fit for the purpose at hand." Trelawny said as he opened the door to the building. "Come along, come along." He ordered. Arthur and Liam walked in. "Hello, can I help you gentleman?" The tailor asked. "Yes, my friend and his son here are in need of new suits. Make these gentleman look like the dukes they really are." Trelawny told him as Arthur opened the catalogue. The tailor chose the same outfits for them, but different colored opulent vests. Arthur's was blue and Liam's was green. It felt silly, but not like the mayor's party.

"Come on, let's get you two to the barber." Trelawny said, followed by Arthur faking like he was eager to play the part. The tailor wished them good luck as they exited the store. "Herr Strauss has scoped the whole thing out, it's quite ingenious actually." Trelawny told them. "What is?" Arthur asked. "The action he has planned. Indeed, it's not much of an action at all." Trelawny told them. Liam was hoping for some action, though he'd never tell Arthur. He enjoyed a fight. "You'll play cards, and win. And you're going to bet very big and flamboyantly while you win and everyone's going to think you're some new money from the oil fields, come to lay it on thick and drunk to impress your son, whom you've brought along. All the while, Herr Strauss will be signaling you in your line of sight. When you bust the place, they'll take you upstairs to pay you off, and that is when Javier comes in and you take whatever you want." Trelawny explained.