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Date & Time: Jan 12th to Jan 19th (real time), July 11th to July 18th (historical time), 1884
Location: Black Rock, New Mexico, USA
Characters: All transports
Summary: Fearing UE reprisal, the Initiative corrals all transports and shoos them onto a mission back to the Wild West, to vote Gerald "Moony" Jackson in as Mayor of Black Rock. Transports are encouraged to used all their wiles to encourage townsfolk to vote in favor of him, too. Other than that, they're free to roam as they will for 7 whole days! Good luck finding food and shelter, masses. (See the OOC post for more information.)

The Initiative had been terse and rushed as they gathered the transports into the Transporter room, and anyone unwilling to participate will have been forcibly hurried along. The Initiative employees had seemed distracted and worried, and unwilling to stand around and debate. It was time to move. The teleportation had gone off without a hitch, and a roomful of transports have been treated, quite suddenly, to a broad and sunny blue sky, and especially to the heat of mid July in the American West.

Enjoy your weeklong stay in Black Rock, New Mexico! The town is small and sleepy, with just 3 good saloons and one questionable (but considerably cheaper) one. There are a few inns, but these inns aren't quite prepared to room a sudden influx of over 300 travelers, and some people might have to bunk up or get creative with their sleeping arrangements. If you sleep in an inn at all, of course. There's plenty of unexplored wilderness out there to sleep in instead, isn't there? Just make sure to check your boots for scorpions in the morning.

The only instructions are "vote for Gerald "Moony" Jackson for Mayor, and try to convince others to do the same", and you've been given just enough money to cover a very sparse room and board for 7 days, if you don't spend it in anything else.

So, how do you spend your time?

Edit: Overflow log!

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Frodo watched Sam make his way through the crowd, hesitantly at first before he started using his weight and strength to forcing his way through the sea of Big Folk. Frodo watched him for awhile longer before he looked around at the rest of the saloon. They really were a rough bunch; the one who might be the local shirriff looked the worst of all, like he might very well lead a band of ruffians than turn them off. He waved a woman off, who looked up, and seeing she had a newcomer watching her, smiled. She slid through the crowd effortlessly, a bustle of skirts, brilliant red and silky, and perfume drifting ahead of her as she made her way towards them. A ribbon of black lace wrapped around her throat.

When Sam drew near, he would find she had approached their table. She was dressed not at all decent, when compared to the elves or hobbit lasses back home. She seemed to see them both as if they were Big Folk themselves.

Frodo took the bowl, but was too distracted to count the money and realize that Sam had paid half. He murmured "Thank you Sam."

The lass looked Sam up and down with a smile. "So honey, first time in Black Rock"

((ooc: that food sounds amazingly good right now!))

She was indeed not decently dressed at all but on his journey through the tavern Sam had seen others dressed similarly to her and wondered if it was just the fashion of these parts. After all it would be pointless to walk around in heavy layers of clothing in this heat.

And of course there was no excuse for rudeness so Sam smiled at her and nodded, "We only just arrived today miss." She turned to Frodo; or rather the air above Frodo's head.

"Have you traveled far?"

She put her hand on the back of Sam's chair, leaning closer so he could smell the perfume she wore. It was a splash of apple blossom and rose. "Let me be the first to wish you a warm welcome to Black Rock. I'm Kittie Jane."

If anything, the Jane's smile grew wider. Foreigners by the accents, and where there were foreigners, there were just those who didn't know head from toe about anything out West. If she was lucky, no one had got to them first or filled them in. She might make extra off them. Both if she played her cards right, and she included the other man in the smile.

Frodo chanced a glance at Sam. They could hardly say how far back they had come (Frodo had not the faintest idea what that was anyway), nor how they had come. No one would believe them anyway. "Far off, yes, but content to rest our feet for now. Frodo Underhill, at your service."

Sam understood the glance, he wouldn't even be able to begin explaining where they had come from or how they had arrived or where they were from before they had been brought to this world. Most people would claim them mad and walk away before they even got past a few sentences.

"Samwise Gamgee, likewise at your service." There was no need for him to hide his own name, it wasn't one that was known outside of the Shire.

Jane frowned inside, though kept the smile on. Why, this foreigner was more interested in what the other one was doing than her leaning so close, which struck her as strange. Most of the fellas around here didn't care at all what their friends were doing when a pretty (and she had no doubts she was pretty) thing like herself came calling. Oh well, she would move to the other stranger. Gamgee wasn't the only fish in the pond.

She flashed a winning smile at them both, shifting her weight so subtly as to bring herself over to the one called Underhill. She let her hip bump innocently against the chair, then his shoulder.

Jane had to laugh, then leaned playfully down, just a little closer to the other one. "Oh, that's very nice of you fellas, but I'm the one that's at your service. Anything you want."

Frodo looked at her, then at the women like her making their rounds through the crowd. This was not at all how any barkeep would act back home, and so, he had to wonder. He looked up at her, and was that flowers he was smelling? "And what would your duties entail? Or your title, Miss Jane?"

Well truth be told Sam was trying to politely ignore the leaning, since he was not used to such behavior and wasn't sure how to deal with it. Of course he didn't think Frodo should have to deal with such confusing behaviour either but he seemed to be doing better than Sam had.

"Anything and all you might desire, for the right price," And judging from Underhill's look, his mind was going like clockwork, the gears turning as he went over that answer. She could have sworn they had something like it back in England. She looked at Sam out of the corner of his eye.

"As for my title, there's many, dependin' on who you ask. Painted lady, lady of the line, or praire dove. Or 'nymph du prairie'; I've always liked that one best. It just rolls off the tongue."

Her arm wound itself around Frodo's shoulders, though she checked herself for a moment. Weird. She could have sworn she got it the first time, but maybe not. She adjusted it and found her arm settled on a shoulder. As if it was always there, and that she was too seconds away from sitting on the gent's lab. She didn't normally put too much effort into a potential customer early on, but the accents spelled more money. Worth offering a little more to get a lot more if she could land them both. Provided one of the locals or the other girls didn't spoil it.

Frodo allowed it for the moment, though he had to admit the titles weren't very helpful at all. She sounded like a servant, but certainly dressed and acted like no servant he had ever encountered. Even so, he was not a hobbit born the day before. He knew when someone's attentions were turned on him, and she was certainly flirting with him. it was enough to set off the sneaking suspicion.

"Thank you, but I have a servant already." Frodo said gently.

Edited 2013-01-18 11:01 (UTC)

Sam looked at her back, none of her titles made any sense, or more they were none that Sam knew not knowing much about this world they were now in. From where he sat she looked very awkward with her arm round Frodo's shoulder, Frodo didn't seem too bothered by the flirting and there was no harm in it at the moment as far as Sam could see.

"That he does."

Something passed between the two hobbits and in only so few words. Sam was all he needed. The lass laughed, and when had she moved from leaning against the table to all but sitting on his lab. She was light for one of the Big Folk, but still one of them. Frodo in the meantime. got the impression that whatever she was coming from, that this was sincere; the answer had amused rather than offended her, and that she thought it charming.

"How very sweet of you and I'm sure you're a fine servant, Mister Gamgee." Her hand slid into the curly hair at the base of Frodo's neck. Frodo's eyebrow crawled up, wondering at how bold she was and the slightest bit amused by it. She was as casual as if they'd been courting for weeks. The lass would set Hobbiton over on its head with outrage in as little as a day. "But I'm sure he don't do for you what I'm offering."

And Frodo had a very good idea what she was offering, and despite what he had seen since leaving the Shire, was taken aback by it. Goodness, Frodo thought. He had not known making money off a lover was something that was done. Her meaning was quite plain. He had only met her, and while flattered (though this seemed as much business to her as recording keeping was to some hobbits), could not ever think of paying for another for it, and not one of the Big Folk. And certainly, came the wry thought, he should like to know them longer than five minutes!

"I'll even offer you a sample-," She started to say. And right at the same time, Frodo had started to get up, ("Thank you but-") hands on her waist to help move her off without dumping her, and privately very glad she had not actually sat on him all the way.

What happened next was a blur. Frodo found himself in one of the most unexpected, and certainly the most exceedingly thorough kisses he had ever had in his entire live.

Edited 2013-01-19 04:38 (UTC)

Sam frowned at her laughter, glad that she hadn't been offended but not sure that he wasn't. But he wasn't too worried about her boldness, it was obvious she was flirting and Sam saw no harm in it. Frodo deserved some attention, as he saw it.

He was slower to catch on what she was actually saying but eventually he caught on that this was some kind of business. That this was not just a case of a girl seeing a likely looking lad in an inn and being bold and flirtatious, but that she expected money to be changing hands and well that didn't sit right with Sam at all.

And then Frodo was being kissed and Sam at first was so shocked he just sat there with raised eyebrows, but then he remembered what had gone on before, Frodo trying to stand. He was not a willing participant in this and that definitely did not sit right with Sam. Not one little bit.

"Hey now, leave off now," Sam had gotten to his feet and tried to take hold of her elbow, just to draw her away from Frodo.

Frodo would later be embarrassed to admit, but in that very moment, he had completely forgotten what he had been about to say or what they had been talking about. His hands were still at her waist but he made no move to ease her away. With the way she was kissing him, it was a wonder he didn't take off up to the sky itself and past the White Mariner! Frodo felt his toes curl a little. It occurred to him that he ought to breath at some point, but it seemed so very unimportant then.

Then Miss Jane was being pulled aside, and Frodo sucked in a breath of air. She sniffed, and glared now at Sam, who Frodo was also ashamed to admit, that he had forgotten was here, or that his gardener had a gentlehobbit's seat to the kiss. The hobbit himself has gone very pink, even all the way up to the tips of his ears, and his hair had been thoroughly mussed, sticking out every which way.

"What do you think you're doin'?" Jane demanded.

Edited 2013-01-20 06:12 (UTC)

Sam was red as well, not used to such things or witnessing such things. Though he did wonder if perhaps he had acted wrongly, if he had read Frodo wrong and Frodo had wanted to be kissed.

But he had done as he had done for good or for ill and he looked at Jane sternly. "I might not know how things be done here but where I'm from when someone says no they mean no and shouldn't be ignored or treated like they said yes. Now I'm sure you meant no 'arm and no harms come of it I hope." A glance at Frodo to check that that was true.

Edited 2013-01-20 21:29 (UTC)

"I most certainly don't mean any harm at all!" Who did Gamgee think she was? And she had not meant any harm by it. Some of the patrons looked over at them, curiously. This was becoming more trouble than it was worth! Frodo seemed decent enough, but for a servant, Sam was damn in the way a lot and even spoke for him too! She'd never seen anything like it.Her hands had gone to her hips, but she looked to Frodo to see what he would say. Had she gone too far? She had been worried about getting these outsiders swiped out from under her, that maybe she'd gone too fast.

Frodo licked at his lips, unaware that she had left a good, pink mark - lipstick, he would later find out it was called- at the corner of his mouth. He nodded at Sam. He had done the right thing. Sam did know what he wanted, even if he had spoken so out of turn.

The hobbit cleared his throat. Then he straightened out his clothes, fussed with the braces, doing his best to pretend that he had not in fact been kissed dizzy, or that he certainly had never had any hobbit kiss him quite like that. His hair remained messed as badly as a bird nest, which did little to help. When Frodo next spoke, it was with a blush, but the slightest bit too formal.

"Samwise is right, Miss Jane. I am flattered you are interested," though not all of it had to do with personal interest in him, he was sure, a good deal of it a professional interest, but turning anyone down regardless for anything was a thing best done politely. "but I must decline. I am sorry for any inconvenience this may cause."

Edited 2013-01-20 23:07 (UTC)

Yes well. Sam sometimes he forgot he wasn't actually Frodo's body guard. And even if he wasn't he wasn't going to sit around and let such things happen. He blushed harder though because he had spoken out of turn, and he wasn't good at remembering to keep his mouth shut either.

So he just stood there awkwardly wondering if he should apologise or just stay silent.

Jane looked from one to another, and then flushed herself, clearly embarrassed. She really had gotten ahead of herself. She'd always been good at reading people but she'd failed miserably here with the outsiders, looked too far ahead at the entire forest without seeing the tree in front of her. Gamgee was blunt as any other working man, but Underhill, while much more of a gentleman, had said he wasn't interested in a tumble.

Living out on the frontier could harden anyone, wear them down to 'till only the strong stuff remained, like sand wearing out all the softness out of a person, but Jane hadn't had the decency worn out of her. She wouldn't ever, if she had any to say about it. "I'm sorry for causing you both trouble. I really am."

Frodo only nodded, and it seemed that both she and Underhill would have both been glad to move on, but Jane wasn't done yet. She had one last thing to say. She turned to Gamgee. "Mister Gamgee, you're a damn good servant to watch out for your master out here, maybe better than anyone could ever have. Even if you're the mouthiest servant I've ever met."

Jane smiled a little, to take the bite out of her words. Better to have someone like Sam than a yes-man. "I'm sorry again and I'll leave you boys to it. I'll have a word with the others so they don't bother you none."

Now that it was clear that Frodo was fine and Jane was apologising Sam felt bad for embarrassing her, he hadn't meant to truly. He blushed harder when she spoke to him, because 'mouthy' though not necessarily an incorrect description of him was not something he thought it was good to be thought of. Indeed his Gaffer would have many words to say to him if there were any way for him to catch wind of this.

"As I said no harm done so no need for apologies." He mumbled still blushing.

"Harm was done or could've been done, and I am apologizing," she replied. "You're both a decent sort, but maybe too decent for out here and not learned enough about the West. Take care you both, especially out in the frontier. "

And with that, she vanished into the crowd in a swirl of ruffles and silk. Frodo watched her go, then tried to run his hands through his mussed hair, trying to comb it back into place and less the explosion her hands had made it. He didn't think he would ever truly understand the Big Folk, for every time he thought he might be close, they always found some new way to surprise him.

"Thank you Sam," Frodo said, once they were once again by themselves. "She is right in her own manner; one could not ask for a finer hobbit."

Sam was still red as he watched her leaving into the crowd and went to sit back down while Frodo sorted out his hair. Sam had never thought himself close to understanding Big Folk and now he thought he was even further away from any kind of understanding.

He blushed more so at Frodo's words, "I'm sorry I spoke out of turn, but it just didn't sit right with me. And I never was good with keeping my mouth closed."

Frodo had gotten himself more or less in order, though he had not yet noticed the pink mark from her lips hovering between his cheek and the corner of his mouth. The kiss itself had been as spectacular as Gandalf's fireworks, if just as unexpected. Part of him still remained particularly embarrassed that his gardener had to see his master in that way.

"Not quite," Frodo said with the hint of a smile. "But everyone is better for it. You needn't apologize at all. You did very well, and I could not have thank you more for it."

He thought back to how the others treated him, and how sometimes Frodo treated him without realizing it. He was not a gentlehobbit, of course, but sometimes he and the others spoke over him or expected him to stand by. Frodo, as he was seeing the more he spent from home, had had to see Sam in a newer light. Sam was not just a servant or gardener and had proved himself often since they had left.

"In fact, I think it would be better if you spoke out of turn more often."

Sam had however spotted the mark and searched in his pockets for a handkerchief to hand his master. He looked down at the table at the words, suddenly finding an interest in the woodwork there, "Now mister Frodo, I think my Gaffer would have many words to say about that."

The Gaffer had many words on just about everything, and though Frodo found him a fine hobbit, sometimes he wished he had been easier on Sam. Even teaching Sam his letters had been met with some resistance at first.

After all, what use would a gardener have for them?

"I imagine he would, and no small amount at that," Frodo chuckled. "But should the urge to speak exceedingly out of turn take you, do take it."

Edited 2013-01-22 13:50 (UTC)

"And to that he'd say be mindful what you wish for." Sam said handing over the handkerchief and remembering his blunder with Faramir; which he still hadn't truly completely forgiven himself for even if it had turned out well in the end.

He took the offered handkerchief with a raised eyebrow. Whatever would he need this for? It struck him a moment later why it might be, and Frodo, ear tips going suddenly pink, dabbed at his mouth with a muttered thanks.

He had to smile, one of the first warm smiles in a long time. "I have this much to say to that, and that I am certainly glad to have an outspoken gardener, and a true friend at my side."

Sam's face is so red now that if it weren't so hot already to not need it people could use him as an alternative to a fire place.

"Well then I can say, I'm proud to be your gardener.. and your friend."

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(feel free to NPC the lady as well if you want her to do or say anything specific)

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not sure if this works, can change if you want

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(wrapping)

(with ribbons and bows and everything)