Spectating spectator seats (Day 1 Early Evening)

[Milo Whitewood]

"I guess..." Milo made a face. He wasn't fully convinced, but he roughly understood.

"So, um, got any plans for after the tournament? Gonna go trapping?"

[Calico Carter]

"Well, my plans are contingent. If by some miracle Orlok and I pull off a win, I pay off my bookies and I see what comes out of that cool egg that's on offer. If we come in second, I mostly pay off my bookies and see what comes out of that other cool egg. If we get bounced, which is a very, very real possibility, well, I can't actually afford the gear to go trapping right now, so I'll probably make myself scarce as soon as possible and see what else I can do to drum up some cash."

She made a face.

"Maybe get a job washing dishes or something. Waiting tables. I dunno. My rep makes anything public-facing kind of a hard sell."

[Milo Whitewood]

When Calico finished Milo cautiously lifts his right hand. "Um, sorry, but what's a bookies? Is it some kind of debt?"

[Calico Carter]

Oh god.

"Yeah, it's a kind of debt, one brought on by making bad decisions through overconfidence."

But that stupid magnox should have WON.

"If you take nothing else from this conversation, Milo? There's no such thing as a sure bet."

[Milo Whitewood]

"R-right!" Milo nods a few times. "Gotta be careful. Um, did you learn from your lesson?" Was it a naïve question or just what Calico needed to consider?

[Calico Carter]

She shrugged.

"I've always been pretty dumb, Milo, but the fact that I'm not betting my last two onz on a bout tomorrow is a hopeful sign. Then again, we'll see if I remember it if I ever have any extra again."

[Milo Whitewood]

"You don't sound dumb to me." The boy replies, grinning a bit. "Good luck in your match tomorrow. I think they're putting up the, uh, brackets any time now."

[Calico Carter]

"Well, here's hoping that if I do run into you guys down there..."

She nodded to the arena.

"... that is' after we've both advanced a round or two, huh? Amorian solidarity and all of that."

[Milo Whitewood]

Milo's grin widened. "Yeah! That's be great! We gotta try to make Amoria look good."

The trainer had a stretch on the way to sitting down in the stands. "What's it like having a crowd watching your monster fighting?"

[Calico Carter]

"I have no idea. But I'm used to stage fright, so I expect it'll be much the same..."

[Milo Whitewood]

"Because you've been in a lot of tournaments...?" Milo queried.

[Calico Carter]

"Seen a few. Never been in one. And let me tell you, being on stage is very different from watching a show on it..."

She glanced at him and arched an eyebrow.

"So cheer up, think we're all rookies here."

[Milo Whitewood]

Maybe Calico was used to public speaking? She was an adult so he could only guess at her stage experience. Milo gave her a peace sign and a big smile. "I'm pretty happy."

[Calico Carter]

Calico felt herself having an Emotion at that.

So she looked away, swallowed, and nodded.

"That's the spirit."

[Milo Whitewood]

"Mm! I watched the news team covering the tournament earlier and they spoke to me too. That was fun too. Diva was super well behaved whenever the camera pointed at her."

The Warwolf wagged its tail. Maybe it meant agreement?

[Calico Carter]

"Yeah, the interview was..."

A thing.

"... no real biggie. Think I'm better prepared for those than a stand-up fight, that's for sure. Orlok surprised me by actually doing a trick, he's normally a bit more reserved. Think he's excited to be here, but it can be hard to tell with him sometimes.

[Milo Whitewood]

"Orlok's a good boy." Milo confirms. "I thought it was neat because I didn't expect they'd try to ask so many people questions. When they saw Diva they came right over to me. I hope I didn't sound too lame."

[Calico Carter]

"Sure you did fine. I saw some bot eat a guy's microphone, safe to say you cleared that bar in any event."

She shook her head.

I was that young once. And it wasn't that long ago, damn it.

[Milo Whitewood]

"Really? Wow. That's funny." Milo snorted in amusement a moment later. A full on chortle immediately followed.

[Calico Carter]

She started to giggle too.

Orlok twitched his antennae and fluttered off to hide behind one of the seats.