It seemed like a good idea at the time...

[maddeninghatter]

Date & Time: 2698, fin-de-millenium, just prior to the formation of the United Earth
Location: Las Vegas
Characters: Break, Kevin, Gilbert, Oz, Elliot, Alice, Allen, Lenalee, Rosette, Chrono, Chrysos
Summary: Fear and loathing
Warnings: Showgirls and Gilbert weeping.

The statement “Let’s go to Vegas” exists as the multiverse’s quintessential definition of, “well it seemed like a good idea at the time.” Even in this case, it really had, between zombies, insurrection, and the day to day tedium of life on the moon. Besides which, Xerxes Break has a new sentient (sentient-er) weapon, which in a stunning show of good judgement is too dangerous to test on the moonbase, nor in any concentration of people. Las Vegas, set against the backdrop of the vast, desolate Mojave desert, seemed to be a perfect choice.

When our heroes wink into existence, squinting against the early-morning desert sunshine, they’ll find themselves duly welcomed. Come play in the casino. When you feel a bit peckish, indulge in all you can eat. Take your winnings and go shopping; at night, take in a show. And if you’ve done really well gambling, unwind in a ridiculously luxurious suite.

…or is this how you’re spending the night?

Thirty-six hours in Vegas, what could possibly go wrong?

(ooc: feel free to start threads willy-nilly, name your time and place, threadjack and mingle)

Comments

everywhere and open!

[velveteened]

( the weather reminds him of that sunny beach, if drier; and further differentiating it from that place is the distinct lack of dinosaurs, replaced with curious buildings, large and mismatched, and lots of lights — and people. perhaps closer to the florida he only just left, with gil and alice and katniss, but there's no complaining about the opportunity to go from one bright place to another, with no time to get readjusted to chill space at all.

(which isn't to say he doesn't think on it, however, break's curious insistence on coming to a place like this, roping the lot of them into it — or some of them at any rate, a large group finding their ways here regardless — the timing of it after what ahiru had to say about recent events.)

he doesn't hide his interest in this las vegas, and doesn't see any point to it. instead, he wanders blithely past signs setting down age restrictions, taking in the sights like the crowds, the architecture, and the lights (and wonders, at the smells, just how well gil's commitment to quitting smoking is going to hold up here). it's noisy and exciting, which means there's plenty of people-watching to be had and mischief in which to get.

he can be found watching the card games curiously, tables set up a little ways beyond the slots, a long way from the go fish chrono showed him when — well, not a time to be dwelt upon in a place like this; or perhaps he's spending time with one of his fellow transports, excitedly telling you ALL ABOUT the excellent new book he's reading (and if you're particularly unlucky, he's just found excalibur with you); observing the slots machines; considering the buffet; or listening very attentively while a stranger tells him about...this may be the time to interrupt, honestly. )

[devotedtothecore]

[ Chrys's mistake, some might say, was even remotely hinting to Oz at his own leisure hobbies when asked, which included sitting back in a decent chair and turning the pages of a new acquisition from the neighborhood library. ("Reading", he'd merely replied.) You've unleashed a beast, a despairing cry might proclaim, dramatically, amidst rumbling thunder and flashing lightning.

The subsequent bubbling torrent of words from the boy had been.... well, honestly, he didn't really mind it.

In fact, to Oz's eyes, he does seem like actually listening to everything being said, and nodding in all the right places. With, lo and behold, interest. ]

[velveteened]

( it's just — he's not known someone willing to talk to him at length about books like this since perhaps ringo, quite some time ago; ellie and dagger had been interested in well, but he'd not had as much chance to speak literature with them before they'd left. elliot is a not unimportant book friend, but it's nice too to have someone less...well, argumentative about opinions. )

— I don't think it exists in my world at all, so I'm glad Ahiru found it for me, ( he's saying, eyes veritably sparkling ) and it's one of the best parts of being here.

( he's not worried about being overheard; this is a place full of people saying all sorts of strange things under varying influences, chemical and otherwise. )

All these books I would never have known about otherwise! And so, once he becomes king, he doesn't become arrogant at all, even with all of his victories — though, Merlyn is there to help with that. But once you've grown up a normal person, it's not so easy to become someone like that, especially with all the lessons he'd learned already.

[devotedtothecore]

[ Truth be told, his attention isn't entirely focused on Oz's live book review, though not for lack of trying; it's certainly a welcome distraction from the constant reminder of the garish decadence of where they presently are, and the aggravation that bubbles dangerously close to the surface at times when he thinks on it a little too long (but why are they here, why is he here, now, exactly, didn't they all have more urgent things to be focused on at this time, honestly, even if "time" itself was something they were able to jump in and out of like the stops of a streetcar.) He hasn't seen this much neon lighting in one place in his life. Though the entertainment district back home... well, if one gave it a few more decades, maybe...

But Oz is looking at him again with that sparkly-eyed look, and it's not hard to coast along with his enthusiasm. It's a familiar stride, though with a less familiar companion. And books are nice to consider. He'd be more opinionated if he'd read the one being discussed, though. As it is, there's at most a few eyebrows raised here and there, particularly at the parts involving a certain eccentric wizard's shenanigans. ]

And so this Merlyn remains Arthur's advisor throughout his reign?

[ Discreetly attempting to steer their course away from yet another entranceway marked NO MINORS ALLOWED. ]

[velveteened]

He does! — well, until he's locked in a tumulus. ( bit of a frown, and he's distracted enough at the the plot point to follow chrys's shepherding without thinking anything of it. ) It hasn't happened yet, but he already knows it will because he's been aging backwards.

( which is to say that it's NOT A SPOILER )

I think he's looking forward to the rest, after everything else he has to do; he's been helping raise Arthur and grooming him into a king, after all. It isn't easy to learn how to handle all of the other kings and queens, especially when they're fighting all the time. That's why he wanted to make the Round Table.

[debtor]

[After obliterating the buffet, Allen's made his way to the card tables as well - and Oz, once he spots him. He raises his voice over the roar of the crowd,] Oz!

[The room's buzzing with a familiar energy, and it's got Allen itching for some cards in his hands. Oz, however, he notes, hasn't got the look of a seasoned gambling champion. No surprises there, he never really seemed the sort,]

Have you ever played before?

[velveteened]

( he turns when he hears his name, familiar voice registering only a beat later. he's preemptively got a smile for allen as he moves to approach, lessen the need to speak up over all the people here. )

I haven't. Rosette showed me a little, but it wasn't like this.

( he shoots another glance at the tables. it's one thing to learn the basic rules from a friend in their hotel room, and another thing to — well, this. )

Have you?

[debtor]

[Rosette, huh... Maybe he'll ask her about it later.

Lightly,] I've a little experience.

If you're interested... [ glancing out at the tables. could he really offer to introduce it to him here? it'd be throwing Oz to the wolves, wouldn't it... ]

[velveteened]

( he cants his head as he considers that, following allen's gaze. maybe allen knowing this is another circus-related thing... )

I'm interested! Why not?

( luckily for everyone involved, perhaps, gilbert is not around to have a fit at the very thought. )

after your bedtime

[maddeninghatter]

[ Break is currently sitting at a bar hosted by healthy young women (and men, this is an equal opportunity establishment) clad in bits of string and, well, wider bits of string. He is — of course — oblivious to this as he sits sipping something made from too many different varieties of rum and probably flammable.

He is not oblivious to Oz's presence, somehow, so he (innocently! of course!) waves the boy over, to come sit down next to him. ]

Goodness! It's late, isn't it? Were you planning to stay up all night?

[velveteened]

( well, he can't say it isn't at least a step up from when he ran into break in chrono's simulation, at least. so if there's a bit of an eyebrow raise or a slight head cant before he approaches, it's easy for anyone to miss in this commotion. certainly doesn't show up in his tone when he answers, after sitting down with a certain blithe disregard for any looks that garners. no one moves to shoo him away just yet, at any rate. )

What if I was? ( brightly, on a laugh ) Who knows we'll come to a place like this again, right?

[maddeninghatter]

Who knows, indeed?

[ He hasn't forgotten that day either, of course, and his dedicated plan to address any misunderstandings that might have cropped up is, quite simply, never to speak about it. ]

Still, you probably should find somewhere to sleep for a little while, at least. Who knows when you'll next have a chance for a hot bath?

[velveteened]

( best to forget it ever happened. )

Isn't this the kind of place where you aren't supposed to worry?

( it's not a bad point, though, especially since their accommodations here are nicer than the norm. )

finish one thread START ANOTHER

[overclocking]

[ Chrono, unlike Oz, has been doing his best not to get into mischief given the towering list of things that absolutely could go wrong as a result, the least of which being his ejection from the no-children-allowed casino and made to wait outside all night.

To say nothing of universe-ending time paradoxes.

Not that he's overly convinced anymore that universe-ending is really in the cards, but his brain likes to hold it over him as incentive while he sneaks past yet another gambling table. He isn't even on a mission to pluck Oz away when he spots him; no, it's when he actually catches wind of the conversation (something he can't entirely follow, given time discrepancies, but he's fairly certain there's a large number of illegal things involved and how did Oz charm his way into this conversation in the first place??) that he makes a beeline, hooks the back of Oz's collar, and drags him towards the nice, safe, shadowy edge of the parlor floor. ]

SOUNDS LEGIT

[velveteened]

( oz had just opened his mouth to answer, actually, which means there's a somewhat strangled exhale as chrono unceremoniously drags him off. he's twisting backwards even before they come to a stop, but in all honesty there's only one person who tends to manhandle him like this.

so by the time chrono lets go, he gets a cheerful response. )

There you are, Chrono!

[overclocking]

[ One last furtive glance around (what if they're being pursued by criminals) before he slumps against the wall.

This sigh is one of unspeakable suffering. ]

I'm not the one who disappeared, everyone else is! And you need to be more careful about who you talk to!

[velveteened]

( he laughs, unable to help it, and moves to stand in front of chrono, hands linked behind his back. )

Are you sure it's not just that you can't keep up? ( even with his demonic speed, for shame. ) I thought that person was very nice! He had all sorts of things he wanted to talk about.

[nobleminded]

[He shouldn't have been surprised after all he'd learned here that Xerxes Break would propose a trip to a completely undignified place.

Elliot was still horrified once he got there.

Despite the fact that everything here was new and obviously taken care of, he would argue that this place looked worse than the Exsilium he remembered. The lights and color were simply garish. It was loud and full of people just wasting their money on all sorts of nonsense and debauchery. How could any self-respecting noble be all right with being seen in such a place?

...From the look on Oz's face, apparently he could. Leave it to a Vessalius... Elliot makes a noise that sounds like a cross between a growl and a sigh.]

Don't you have any shame, Oz Vessalius?!

[velveteened]

None whatsoever!

( oz waves at elliot, beckoning him closer. )

I've been looking for you, Elliot. ( teasingly, ) I didn't know you'd enjoy a place like this so much.

[nobleminded]

OBVIOUSLY!

[He screams even though he's approaching him. And he really doesn't appreciate that even if it is teasing, wow.]

Don't make people think I actually like this depraved place! There's nothing of merit here!

[...Except for the room but he'd been getting accustomed to squalor lately so that didn't affect him so much.]

[velveteened]

( he only laughs, coming to a stop nearby. )

Well! I know something you really will like.

[soul_sister]

[Sometime late in the evening, Rosette Christopher had found one of the buffets. It was a glorious paradise of almost free food the likes of which she had never ever ever ever was able to afford on her own.

It turns out, however, that juice was not juice.

And while she had realized after the first drink that it was not juice, she ALSO realized that yes, she DOES like the taste of wine. A lot.

Perhaps Oz was looking in the most reasonable place for Alice. Instead he got an arm slung around his shoulder and a glass in his face.]

Here! TRY!

[velveteened]

( it's enough to make even oz startle just slightly, starting to look for a face around all that glass in his own; but it's about simultaneously that he recognizes her voice and smells just what's in the glass. )

Hello, Rosette.

[soul_sister]

[She blinks a bit owlishly.




... oh yeah.]

Hello!


I forget that, sometimes.

[velveteened]

( ahaaaahahaha. he takes the glass from her gently, lowering it out of eyeshot for both of them, and pats her arm with his free hand. )

That's no good! You have a very pretty name.