[network] @ADMIN; Arrival [open]

[snowblindmods]

Welcome to Norfinbury. The time is E̛̬̞͖͖̫R҉͖̯̬R̼̻͉̰͎̳̙O̩͓͔̫͇͈̯R and the date is E̛̬̞͖͖̫R҉͖̯̬R̼̻͉̰͎̳̙O̩͓͔̫͇͈̯R. This network has been provided for your use. Please interact politely with everyone else on this network.

Comments

[private]

[rubikscomplex]

i didn't do my make-up this morning
and i've just got this terrible cough
sorry, eastenders

[Hey, there are a lot of gruff 25-year-olds. Probably. Somewhere. Everyone with a cockney accent sounds like they're thirty.]

[private]

[devoutish]

Sorry to hear it. Give a quick 'hello' and then rest your throat, all right?

[private]

[rubikscomplex]

that'll cost you
and i deal in information
so why don't you tell me what it is you do that you're not planning on hiding

[private]

[devoutish]

Is that all? I would have given that away for free.

[And he has a feeling he still might be, because he is not at all convinced that House is going to show himself no matter what he says.]

Rum, like I said. Making and distributing. Then we have our bookmakers, and we do protection.

It's a gang. I'm not sure you got that.

[He definitely means for House to read a patronizing tone into that last line.]

[private]

[rubikscomplex]

your gang got a name?
it's not the rowdy rough boys, is it?

[private]

[devoutish]

Not as such.

[private]

[rubikscomplex]

boring
ever heard of cuddy's hoochers?
those're my guys

[private] crying

[devoutish]

Based out of where?

[private]

[rubikscomplex]

princeton
new jersey
i'm one of them dirty yanks, fagin

[private]

[devoutish]

No wonder, then. I've never dealt with American gangs.

[private]

[rubikscomplex]

what the hell are you doing bootlegging, then?
i thought it was only us with the prohibition problem

[He has a theory about Alfie and when he's from. This should, more-or-less, answer that without having to ask directly.]

[private]

[devoutish]

It's because of who we sell it to, mostly. There are always reasons to do things outside the letter of the law.

[private]

[rubikscomplex]

[1920s gangster from London. Well, okay. The ridiculousness of this place and the people it seems to drag in continues to surprise him for some reason.]

you preaching to choir, pal
never met a fence i didn't wanna jump
never met a rule i didn't wanna break

[private]

[devoutish]

We also do develop restraint as we grow older.

[private]

[rubikscomplex]

pls
you have to grow old, not up
why do you think i'm still one of the runners?
that's where the action's at

[private]

[devoutish]

But does your boss think of you as reliable, trustworthy? Or are you a thorn in his side?

[private]

[rubikscomplex]

i'm definitely a thorn in his side
but i've got the best record in the gang
never caught
always ontime
i'm an annoying bastard like that

[private]

[devoutish]

Is that why he keeps you around?

[private]

[rubikscomplex]

that and the sex is great

[private]

[devoutish]

If you're trying to shock me, it can't be that satisfying when you can't see my face.

[private]

[rubikscomplex]

who said anything about shocking?
you asked, bro

[private]

[devoutish]

Well, that's the other side of it, then. If I could see your face, it would be easier to tell when you're trying to shock me.

[private]

[rubikscomplex]

what are you expecting to see?
i promise my face isn't that pretty

[He knows exactly what the guy is hoping to see. Tells. Body language. Tone. Ticks. Denying him is too much fun now.]

[private]

[devoutish]

Do you ever talk to anybody face to face?

[private]

[rubikscomplex]

i'm more of a behind the back talker