Alysia's less than cooperative demeanor seemed to register with Carl, who briefly looked slightly down at the floor. "Oh."<br/><br/>But it did not last long when she asked for a drink, her own unwitting display livening up his spirits. "Sure, help yourself! Hope you don't mind Rolling Rock, that's my favorite by far!"<br/><br/>The refrigerator's contents were half-empty, containing although there was a twelve-pack on the bottom shelf. Esther for her part didn't accept the couch offer, although she sat at the pulled-up chair. Carl for his part slid on closer.<br/><br/>"So, how long have you two known each other?"<br/><br/>"A while, I'd say," she answered. "What about you? How long have you been in the Emerald?"<br/><br/>"Not for long," he answered. "Comparatively speaking. Been a soldier of fortune around the world, but that line of work ground me down. Couldn't wait to get back into the States. Oh Alysia, while you're there can you take out two more bottles?"<br/><br/>The beer tasted like any other of its kind; you didn't taste it for flavor. Esther visibly grimaced on her first sip, although Carl seemed a lot more talkative once he took a few drinks himself. Carl's attention switched between the television and himself, telling the girls more about his life story between cheers whenever the Bulldogs scored a touchdown, groaning whenever they flubbed a play. But a few pertinent details could be made out as time went by.<br/><br/>"I'm probably going to transfer again," he said. "Probably to Freedom City; heard Titan Security's going headhunting. My er, expertise with the whole Storm thing may be an asset."<br/><br/>...<br/><br/>"You might be wondering why I stayed with Redshift. Well, it's loyalty. I don't mean to brown-nose, but Emerald City's prosperity was the good kind of capitalism. Max Mars could've cut corners and hoarded everything like a dragon, but he made the City of Destiny worth its name. Yeah, it's owned by Grant now, but it felt wrong to up and run cuz of a corporate takeover. The...the boys up top may have changed, but the workers, the workers are still in town. You get it?"<br/><br/>"You sound like...like a good man," Esther answered, playing the tipsy Good Cop to Alysia's cool demeanor. "It ain't your fault, that Silver Storm, it surprised us all, you know?"<br/><br/>Carl stood up from the couch and approached Alysia. "I can't help but feel we got off on the wrong foot. I may not be one of the corporate suites, but I can tell you stuff; you definitely have that right. But I...well look at it from my point of view. I'm risking a lot already, and know there are people who aren't well...fond of the Mars name. I want to protect you, I've seen how ruthless people can get over greenbacks in my line of work. I owe it to the original company, to Maximilian Mars, to all that happened during the Silver Storm."<br/><br/>He extended out a hand. "Will you give me a chance for a second impression?"<br/><br/><div class="spoiler_container"><div class="spoiler_header" onclick="hideSecond (this);" role="button">OOC</div><div class="spoiler_body">Alysia has the Impaired Condition from drinking alcohol, imposing a -2 on all checks, Insight included.<br/>Normally I'd call for an Insight check, Carl got a high enough Deception check that Alysia won't detect it even on a natural 20. Esther would've made it, but the Impaired Condition from the alcohol made her just barely fail. She doesn't necessarily have to trust him, but she gets the reading that he means what he says.<br/>Carl Deception 27 (https://elliquiy.com/forums/dicebot.php?r=137387)<br/>Esther Insight 26 (https://elliquiy.com/forums/dicebot.php?r=137388)</div></div>