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

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

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)

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[It's in that scenario - a reckless nun, pushing aside swirling magical raven feathers to see, with the cacophony of a Mad Hatter fighting a useless servant in the back seat... that the small sports car darts around the railroad guards and beats the train by inches to spare.

The wind of the passing train actually pulls the car for a second, and the trains horn blares hard even long after the engine has passed them without incident... separating them from the last squad car.

Almost sedately, Rosette pulls the car into a nearby alley, figuring that the cops, when they get through, will track farther out.

She cranes back in her seat, almost expecting to find the other two missing, considering the last time she saw feathers...]

[ Gilbert's hand is cool on his fevered forehead, as Raven's blue fire forces Hatter down, down, face-down. One last, indignant scream and then it's over. In the cool waters of his consciousness, Break finds his feet and stands, and he is — ]

[ He is sprawled across the car seat, one hand grabbing Gilbert's wrist, the other clutching his jacket. His expression is twisted and murderous.

That could have been me, he thinks (not for the first time). I could have been a Chain, bound to another's consciousness, thirsting inslakably for the blood of humans; or despairing in the Abyss...

Still horrified, he lets go of Gilbert. He parts his lips and takes a deep, shuddering breath, perhaps as a preamble to something resembling an explanation — ]

[ Instead, he collapses in a dead faint. Typical. ]

[Hatter had given up without too much of a fight, which is surprising, and only furthers Gilbert's confusion. It must be the effects of the Initiative's weapon; if a Chain like the Mad Hatter had this ability before, Gilbert would have already known about it.

As soon as Hatter bows out and Break passes out, Gilbert sighs and drops his hand away, letting himself linger there facing Break for another silent moment before he shifts himself back into the seat next to him. One hand reaches up to wipe sweat from his forehead, and he finally peers up at the reckless young woman in the front seat.]

Um. [But what the hell is he supposed to say in lieu of explanations?]

Thank you...for getting us out of there.

[Bumpy ride and all.]

[She doesn't answer directly, her expression pinched with worry. On one hand, possessions were rarely so simple to solve, but... she didn't really know what his "feathery friend" could do. There was also the problem of getting back... going in this car might actually be tricky... but the last time Gilbert had called on his contract his state had caused Break some serious worry.]

Rest a bit, I'll worry about getting us back. We've got to hang out here for a while though... sorry.

[She pulls four strange, spiked crosses with a button on top of each from her garter belt and hands them back to Gilbert.]

Put one above his head, one at his feet, and one to the left and right of him. If he wakes up talking strangely, press the button on any one... it wont hurt him or the spirit, just keep them contained. Don't put yourself in danger.

[ Still unconscious. Except, no wait. He's stirring. ]

Cough!

[ He's still out cold, but now there's blood dripping from his chin. Good thing the rental contract is null and void already. ]

[He's about to explain that this was the work (as odd as it seems) of Break's Chain and that possession is unlikely if he was able to seal it away, but he's interrupted with that terrible, wet cough. Gil turns back to look at Break, sees the blood, and then turns back to Rosette with a small sigh. He takes the crosses, eying each one carefully as he arranges them how she's instructed. It never hurts to be overly cautious, he supposes.]

What are these?

[He's never seen Pandora use them in the past. Once they're arranged properly, he pulls out a handkerchief and wipes off Break's face. He's moving slower than he was before, but he doesn't look ready to pass out as he did the last time that he used Raven.]

Cross barriers. They're extremely strong spirit barriers. Most spirits will be separated from their hosts with it, but really strong ones ...

[She frowns with concern as Gilbert wipes up the blood.]

Their movement is just restricted to that area.

...

Is he okay?

[This must be some new tool that had been developed later. But the Mad Hatter is definitely one of the "really strong ones" that she's referring to, so leaving the crosses where they are will be fine for the meantime.

Once Break's face is cleaned off, he sits back and stares at the man a moment, letting silence linger after her question is asked. There's no way to tell if Break is okay or not; this sort of thing has never happened before. The confusion and stress of the situation is obvious on his vacant face.]

He's...

[But the reality of the situation is that Xerxes Break has always been the strongest person he's ever known. So he cracks a small, semi-comforting smile as he turns back to look at her.]

Don't worry, he's going to be fine. He just needs to rest a while.

[There's enough hesitance in his voice to be obvious that he's not convinced himself. He tenses his left hand into a fist, fingertips pressing against the seal currently suppressing the Hatter.]

[It's enough to make her fret. Maybe if they went slowly back, taking a long way around. They still might have to abandon the car and walk some distance, but she could get them much, much closer... The trouble was... do we even have any healers on this mission? Maybe Kevin ...

In the mean time, she rubs at the side of her face, thoughtfully. What had Oz called it... Chains, right?]

I guess that means he's not your Chain. I'd kind of wondered.

He - who, Break?

[He frowns again, that vacant expression taking back over his face.]

No, of course he's not...he's a Contractor. If he told you otherwise then he was lying.

No! He hasn't mentioned it at all.

It's just... he acts a bit like one.

[Maybe a lot. But then, she tends to have a particularly positive view of demons, for the most part...]

Well, it's true that he's...a bit strange.

[No arguments there.]

It's just the way he is.

Mm. That's fine.

I like him even if he's a stupid idiot.

[With that, she turns around and starts the car up again.]

[Had the situation been less tense, Gilbert might have even let himself laugh at her words. They sum up pretty much every relationship that Break has with anyone who can stand to be around him.

He settles back into his seat, but doesn't think to put on a seat belt. Instead, he busies himself with propping Break's unconscious body up a little more comfortably in the seat next to his.]

[ He is duly propped up, though his head lolls forwards. But as soon as the car starts moving, he slides right back over again, slumping against Gilbert's shoulder. ]

Snnnnnxxxxxx....

[ It's somewhere between a groan and a snore. ]

[In the mean time, the drive is.. surprisingly sedate. She takes her time, avoiding the busier roads and triangulates back towards the Strip.]

Do you think you can carry him?

I'm sure I can.

[He answers with a groan, clearly speaking from experience here. As soon as Break slumps over onto him, he leans away far enough that he can focus on whether or not he's drooling on him.]

We'll park a little ways off then.

Maybe pretend he was drunk? .... and in a fight...

He lost.

But he doesn't have any bruises. His clothes aren't even messed up. Not to mention that he doesn't smell like alcohol at all...

[What he fails to mention is that this isn't an invitation for her to create any of these scenarios. Just stating the facts.]

[At the stop light, she looks back, scandalized.]

I'm not going to bruise him!

...

Take off your jacket.

--Huh

[Rosette what is this plan that you're concocting.]

What are you going to do with it?

Nothing! Why would I want it?

Put it on him! On him! It'll look way more hobo-y on him.

[In the mean time, she spots her next target... She signals to pull into a bar parking lot.]

What do you mean - hobo-y?!

[But he's still taking it off draping it over Break's shoulders, carefully threading each of his arms through the sleeves. As expected, it looks ready to swallow him in comparison to his tiny size.]

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