Rufus sits at the bar, nursing a Jack and Coke. "What the hell are they doing, running off to Japan like that?", he thought. That morning, several of his labelmates boarded a plane for Tokyo to "renegotiate" the contracts for Yumi Kawakaza's band, White Star, leaving the rest of the musicians at N0where Recordings in a state of limbo. "They're gonna get themselves killed. Well, I guess I can go back to hanging drywall or something."
Tom, the drummer for Solara, walks into the bar and sits next to him, ordering a vodka, straight up.
Tom: You're Rufus, right?
Rufus: Yep. I'm the bass player for Blister Kings. I seen you 'round the studio. You're Tom, right?
Tom: Yeah, I'm the drummer for Solara.
Rufus: So how's an American end up playing in an Icelandic rock band?
Tom: It just kind of happened. I was touring with another band, and we did a stop in Iceland. They were pissing me off, so I quit. Then they took all my money, so I was kind of stuck there. I started hanging out with Arnir, and we ended up jamming a few times. Before we knew it, we were playing in a battle of the bands, and the rest is history.
Rufus: Damn. That's cool, man. I'd known Johnny since we were kids, and we always wanted to put a band together.
Tom: So... Do you think they're gonna make it back?
Rufus: Shit, I dunno, man. Right now, I just wanna get my drinkin' on, maybe play some craps or somethin'. I ain't never been in one of these fancy-pants casinos before.
Tom: Yeah, it's cool, isn't it? We used to go to Vegas when I was younger, living in L.A. This reminds me a lot of that.
Rufus: So I seen you hangin' out with some of them Japanese girls from that other house. Why ain't you bring any of them up here?
Tom: Heh, they don't know how to gamble. I guess it's kind of illegal in Japan.
Rufus: Illegal? Well shit, that ain't no fun.
Tom: I don't get their culture. They were watching some weird-ass cartoons the other night. They were all in Japanese, but the action looked like something out of a Tarantino flick.
Rufus: Yeah, that animated shit. I'll stick to Scooby fuckin' Doo, man.
Tom: True that, dude. You play poker?
Rufus: I might've played a few hands before.
Tom: Let's go grab a game. Come on, I'll buy you in.
Rufus: Can't refuse that offer.
With that, the two men finished their drinks, and wandered towards the poker tables.