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

[velveteened]

( RUDE??? )

I wasn't!

( ugh HEADING FOR A RANDOM ESCALATOR )

[retraced]

[He chuckles under his breath as he follows. But that's more or less the extent of his teasing. He's not interested in getting a new bruise to his shins and/or head today.

Though the escalator presents a new and exciting problem. Moving stairs. This might take a second or two to orientate himself before he's confident enough to step onto it.]

[velveteened]

( oz had admittedly somewhat stomped onto it without much of a glance, and so there's a wobble as he immediately starts ascending — but thankfully doesn't fall, which would be a downer. )

[retraced]

[Why can't people just walk up stairs, this is weird! But Gilbert holds on, as other people do as well, and lets the magical staircase bring them up to the next floor. The crowd of people is even larger up here, and Gilbert surveys the crowd as he steps off of the escalator, something clearly on his mind by the look of the odd, thoughtful frown on his face.]

[velveteened]

( it'd be easy to get lost in a crowd like this, so oz keeps close. the noise and lights are distracting, but he glances upwards, noticing gil's expression. )

What is it?

1/2

[retraced]

I was just wondering...

[Cue shoujo sparkles and a a light dusting of cherry blossoms across this scene--]

2/2

[retraced]

...if the VR room can simulate anything, maybe I can find a way to smoke in there without actually smoking.

[sadtrombone.wav]

1/4

[velveteened]

( oh wow he must be thinking something really deep — )

[velveteened]

[velveteened]

[velveteened]

Now isn't the time to be thinking about something like that!

( he pulls on gil's sleeve — or cravat, or jacket-front, whichever comes into reach — and starts dragging. AT THIS RATE THEY WON'T EAT BEFORE TOMORROW )

[retraced]

Herk-!

[That was supposed to be a serious thought during an equally serious moment! But apparently it will be ruined by Oz's gluttony as Gilbert is dragged along by his sleeve (since lbr Oz is too short to reach anything else) towards wherever the food court happens to be.]

[velveteened]

( oz is at least not a curly-haired loser tyvm.

luckily the food court isn't too far off by now, and actually — very much is like stepping into a city's alleyway, complete with paved over ground and cutesy storefronts and street lights.

PIZZA! they announce.

there are also a few small tables 'outside,' and oz steers them over towards one; the air is warmer here, smells of food. )

How's this?

( nothing immediately jumps out as cold, but there are always menus to be looked at. )

[retraced]

[If it wasn't for the overhead skylights far above them and the subtle air conditioning, Gilbert might wonder if they'd accidentally gone outside again. What a strange idea, to make it look like a city indoors. But at the same time, with the heat outside, no one would want to actually eat out there. You'd choke on desert dust while trying to take a bite of cake.]

Is this what you want to try?

[Answering his question with a more important question.]

[velveteened]

( he didn't really expect any other answer, so he turns without missing a beat. )

You hold our table, okay? I'll order.

( and sets off for one of those little shops without waiting for an answer! it's hard to say if their table is really in danger of being taken, but there are a lot of people around. )

[retraced]

[You win this time, Oz...

Gilbert sighs and turns around, locating the table that Oz is telling him to hold for the both of them. He flops into one seat and takes off his hat, settling it across the table where Oz will be sitting to indicate that someone is indeed planning on joining him. With a pathetic person like Gilbert, this probably needs to be stressed lest someone mistake him for a dateless loser and steal Oz's chair.]

[velveteened]

( oz returns after a few minutes, hands full carrying two large slices of pizza on two different plates. he nods backwards at the cafe. )

They're holding our ice creams by the cashier.

( GO GET THEM. they'll both be in glass bowls, at least, less precarious for melting. )

[retraced]

[Ah, so he got ice cream after all.

Gilbert is quick to stand and hurry over to the cashier and take the two bowls from him, balancing the spoons carefully as he walks them back over. See? He can retrieve a tasty treat without ruining it somehow.]

[velveteened]

( it's still enough time for oz to set down the two plates and sit down. gil's hat needs to be moved out of the way, but rather than pushing it to gil's side of the table, oz picks it up by the brim; he holds it with both hands, twirling it once before setting it in his lap.

this wasn't by any particular design, that they'd be here alone without anyone to overhear, but now that the opportunity has presented itself...there is indeed a talk they need to have. should have before, but oz has procrastinated for quite some time and that's not — right.

exhale, then: ) When we were on the train, I lied to you.

[retraced]

[When he arrives back at the table, he sets his own ice cream down at his seat since it's closer, and then leans over to hand Oz's to him. The sudden admittance makes him freeze in place, a curious but confused expression taking over his stupid face.]

--The train?

[There have been a few train conversations, both here and at home, so just to clarify before he goes on.]

[velveteened]

( it's somewhat reluctantly that oz moves to free his hands from the purloined hat, reaching out for that ice cream bowl without meeting gil's eyes. )

Back from the United Earth.

[retraced]

[He hands it over, but he's still making that lost little kid face at Oz all the while, even if Oz isn't looking at him.]

What did you lie about?

[velveteened]

When you'd asked if the UE had hurt anyone.

( which isn't precisely what gil had asked at all, but is, he hopes, at least close enough to jog memory. )

[retraced]

Oz...

[His breath catches in his throat as he waits for Oz to go on. He's doing his best not to jump to conclusions, but after all of the information that has come out since the rescue, it's difficult not to.]

[velveteened]

— well.

( he sets the ice cream down carefully, next to the pizza; it's demanding enough that he needs to pay attention to that, apparently. )

It wasn't a lie, exactly. You know by now what the purpose of our being there was.