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

[maddeninghatter]

[ PINEAPPLE! PINEAPPLE! rhubarb berries. The machine flashes and makes little "you lose" noises and then falls quiet. ]

Well?

[ It's clear as day, but he still asks, with apparent artless innocence: ]

What happened? Did we win?

[retraced]

[SEE RHUBARB BERRIES ARE REAL.

He frowns at the machine, doesn't bother to look at Break at all.]

We lost.

[And that makes him less inclined to give that machine any more of Oz's money.]

[maddeninghatter]

[ He sits, expectantly, for a few moments; finally, when it's clear Gilbert isn't going to play again, he murmurs encouragingly: ]

Dear me, are you going to give up so easily~?

[ Emily chimes in: ]

LOSERRRRRR!

[retraced]

--It's a waste of money!

[He glares at both man and doll.]

No one wins at these machines!

[maddeninghatter]

Correction...

[ The purpose of this visit to Vegas was not, actually, to feed slots, but for Break to practice with his newly enhanced weapon. Mad Hatter's original purpose was to reject and destroy everything related to the Abyss; but now with the Initiative's "sentience," it is increasingly sensitive to the real world as well. He had always been able to put out a little bit of Mad Hatter's power to glean information about the vague contours of his surroundings. Now he is letting it drift out and all around the slot machine, even seeping in where the coin goes, and drifting around inside. ]

Most people don't win. But you aren't most people, right? Try it again.

[retraced]

[He wants to remind Break that is is most people, insignificant and mostly useless, especially when surrounded by a crowd this huge, it's impossible to think otherwise. But he'll put one more coin in just to prove it, and Oz is probably scamming people out of more people as they speak, anyways.

He sighs and pulls another coin from his pocket, drops it into the machine himself rather than handing it over to Break first.]

1/3

[maddeninghatter]

[ He's concentrating hard, so it takes him a moment to realize that Gilbert hasn't done anything but drop the coin in. ]

Ah —

Yes, okay. Together, then.

[ He brushes his fingers along the machine, finally reaching for the lever and pulling. The reels begin to spin.... ]

2/3

[maddeninghatter]

[ ...........er, no. Even this fully mechanical slot machine is far too complicated for even his enhanced chain to sort out.

Bugger. Maybe they'll have better luck at the Craps table. ]

3/3

[maddeninghatter]

[ NO WAIT, haaaaaang on....

CHING CHING CHING CHING CHING a flood of coins spill out of the bottom of the machine. ]

Haha~! What did I say? Come on now, pick it all up, there you go~!

[ Er, try not to notice that the reels have just lined up CHERRIES! CHERRIES! kumquat. Mad Hatter couldn't make the machine win, but he could dissolve the floor of the coin-collecting reservoir. ]

[retraced]

[--Wait what just happened.

Gilbert doesn't even notice what symbols have popped up on the face of the machine, he's too busy staring at the growing pile of coins spilling out.]

...We won?

[No, this is a prank of some kind, the timing is way too perfect.]

[maddeninghatter]

[ Break's answer is an encouraging pat on Gilbert's shoulder, followed by dropping to his knees, gathering up coins, and stuffing them into his pockets. Quickly. ]

Don't worry about picking it all up. Just, ah, grab some handfuls.

[ He can hear the sound of footsteps thumping across the casino floor. It sounds like authority and trouble and the sooner they absent themselves the better. ]

[retraced]

Huh? Why wouldn't we--

[Oh but those quick footsteps alert him pretty quickly that something isn't right. His suspicions are only confirmed when he turns to look and sees several security guards headed straight for them.

His hands fly out and do just as Break instructed, grabbing as many coins as he can with both hands]

WHAT DID YOU DO?!

1/2

[maddeninghatter]

I —

[ Didn't do anything, he's about to say. But that's not quite right, is it? He did do something, but it was for a good cause. Or perhaps not good, per se, but worthy. Worthwhile, something like that. Useful. He was testing his weapon, honestly.

And not only that, but maybe, just maybe he might have also just possibly wanted to make you feel like a winner, Gilbert.......

Anyway, it's difficult to express all this when one is scooping up coins and triangulating which way to the nearest exit relative to the swift approach of security guards, so he is just going to say... ]

2/2

[maddeninghatter]

COUGH!

[ ...is what he says. Wow, fuck you, Mad Hatter. ]

[retraced]

Break-?

[He hadn't even noticed that he'd used the Chain, but that wet sounding cough is proof of just that fact. Well, no time to stand around questioning his sudden fit, they have to get out of here before those guards catch up to them. There's only one door that direction, so he hoists Break's arm up over his shoulder and starts running towards it. Break is light, he'll pick him up if the man can't keep up the pace.]

Let's get out of here!

1/3

[maddeninghatter]

[ Unfortunately, twenty-seventh century casino security is very, very difficult to run away from. Suddenly they're everywhere, coming from all directions, some of them brandishing what is probably the future's version of a taser.

Break isn't so far gone that he can't run, and at all costs he wants to avoid the humiliation of being carried. He keeps pace, even trying to spur Gilbert forward, but it's no use. By his calculations, the guards will catch up with them before they reach the door. ]

2/3

[maddeninghatter]

[ ....unless... ]

3/3

[maddeninghatter]

[ A dark mass of nothing spills out behind them, and then the floor beneath simply... disappears, leaving a wide chasm, cutting them off from their pursuers. The closest security guards stumble over the new precipice, and fall to the floor below, whilst crying ARRRRRGHH! in a terribly satisfying manner. ]

Ha HA! Come oooon, Gilbert~! Go go go!

1/2

[retraced]

[Did he seriously just--]

2/2

[retraced]

[And that's apparently, when this day went from bad to worse. Now they've not only exposed themselves as thieves, but as people with bizarre and probably dangerous powers as well. At least it provides a reasonable distraction and keeps them from being followed, but at what cost.

Gilbert has no choice but to simply continue on towards the door and the obnoxious heat that comes along with being outside.]

Why is this happening...

[Groan, woe, despair.]

[soul_sister]

[It's almost like a single bright light at the end of a very long tunnel when they get outside and there is someone they recognize, acquiring the keys to a very sleek looking rental car from her (and Kevin's) winnings.]

Of course I have a license!

[She assured a very harried worker. It was honestly too late for the poor man's oversight, as she already had the keys and was opening the door when --- What was the table monster and the servant doing?]

Hey guys!

[maddeninghatter]

[ A few more steps, a lot more screaming (from below), and then they are outside in the glorious heat. And it seems like they're in the clear — until something whistles by his ear. It might be a bullet (how he hates guns) but might also be a taser. He doesn't know what a taser is, specifically, he only remembers what happened to him when he was hit with one on a mission: one hit and then his whole body simply stopped moving; it was as though it didn't belong to him anymore. The thought of what something like that could do to Gilbert, or — ]

Rosette!

Get out of here! Run!

[ He is, of course, oblivious to to the car. ]

[retraced]

[Whatever just fired past them, Gilbert doesn't want to stick around to find out. He flinches and ducks a little on instinct, but he doesn't slow his feet. Even as he runs towards Rosette standing right next to one of those annoyingly fast vehicles.

He barely puts two and two together that she's getting into the driver's side of the car, as he's only ever been in one or two of these things before on missions. Maybe he would have run the other way if he'd realized sooner. Alas.]

[soul_sister]

WHAT DID... [Her eyes widen as one of the guards takes a shot and practically dives into the driver side, gunning the ignition.]

GET IN!

[maddeninghatter]

— Eh?????

[ What is that engine noise? Get in what? WHAT IS HAPPENING?

All of these questions occur to him, but as he is running flat out and he can't see the car, he doesn't have time to answer any of them. This is because he is busy body-slamming the (still-closed) car door. ]