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]

( it's because of the pause and chrono's obvious inebriation, the knowledge that the way chrono thinks isn't the same as it would be ordinarily, that oz misunderstands. )

I don't think you'll get a better answer than that about the rooms. Though I suppose the girls might've wanted a separate one anyway...

[overclocking]

[ He shakes his head (abandons the gesture just as quickly, instantly regretting it) ]

Earlier. In the alley.

You didn't answer.

[velveteened]

( ah. it's only a brief flicker of acknowledgement of that, and then he's shrugging. he might consider — might, might — something closer to honesty ordinarily, but since chrono's judgment is pretty impaired... )

It's the same. Exactly the same.

[overclocking]

[ He nods, accepting that. It's what he's assumed from the beginning, after all. This is just one more dreadful confirmation.

After another brief hesitation, ]

Can I ask one more thing?

[velveteened]

( wonders if a 'no' would really stop him, but since it's easier to lie to him now anyway... )

What is it?

[overclocking]

Is Alice the one?

[velveteened]

( doesn't even need to lie in the end, nor does he want to )

That's right! I'm glad you've got to meet her.

[overclocking]

...

She kicked me in the face.

And then headbutted me.

[velveteened]

That sounds just like her.

[overclocking]

[ Another long sigh—one of many tonight—but it's more theatrical than anything. ]

... I'm glad, though.

[velveteened]

( he doesn't mean to soften, least of all perceptibly, but the topic at hand makes it hard not to. )

Me too. It's been a long time.

( too long; he hadn't noticed the sensation of feeling unable to quite breathe till it was gone, melting away in her presence. )

[overclocking]

[ The softer places don't go unnoticed by Chrono in most any situation (not pertaining to himself, anyway), though he has the good grace to not comment. Outside of the quirk of his smile, anyway. ]

I was glad when you told me it was your choice... but you also told me you had no other choice. So I thought...

In my world, a contract isn't usually like that. [ Frowns and shakes his head a bit as that train of meanders away for a moment, irritated by the fleetingness of his own attention. Being drunk is terrible. ] —Trusting. Warm.

It's good that it's different.

1/2

[velveteened]

I did have a choice. ( it's a firm correction, not unkind ) I didn't have to do it, and she didn't make me. Frankly — 

( it wasn't a situation he was put in for no reason, just one he still doesn't know the details about; frankly, his own death would've been justified to the baskervilles and maybe even him when he knows the reason; frankly

no one would've missed him.

no, that's untrue. gil, ada, his uncle...but it's easy to think, isn't it, even now. )

— if it wasn't her, I wouldn't have.

[velveteened]

Ah, ( and that's with a wry laugh ) that's not the case for contracts like mine, either.

( thinks of the little flower girl, of grim, of humpty dumpty, of break's albus; and if a hand pulls at shirt fabric over his heart, chrono knows why now. and just as well, oz will think later, that a drunk person would have a harder time connecting that gesture to the one in the united earth and immediately following. )

It's just that Alice is special.

[overclocking]

[ Another point of similarity, perhaps. A contract built upon mutual trust and need, rather than fear and subservience.

It's worth more than a few mixed feelings. ]

A contract "like yours"?

[velveteened]

It's like what I said that time, ( "that time" in the ue ) about the other contractors from my world here. Theirs are different.

[overclocking]

[ He doesn't need elaboration; the phrasing is simply understood implicitly, even now. ]

I didn't really understand... I still don't. That there can be differences between contracts.

[velveteened]

They're...

( how to put it )

...through an intermediate, sort of. It's not the same kind of direct connection to the Chain.

[overclocking]

[ Through an intermediate, that sounds horrible.

Does that mean there's a third person involved?

Isn't that worse? How would the logistics of that work out? Especially the whole vampiric blood-transference thing... does it go in a circle? A little blood for everyone? What. ]

Then... how does the blood thing work...

THAT ICON

[velveteened]

That's —

( okay wait this should be explained clearly. )

In an "illegal contract," the contractor drinks the blood of the Chain and calls its name as proof of consent. Legal contractors don't drink the blood at all, but let it be absorbed onto something.

( the carcere, in short. )

it was vitally important to this thread so i made it

[overclocking]

[ Like the watch, he distantly surmises. That makes much more sense- was the logical leap in the first place, actually.

But he's drunk. ]

—"Illegal," according to who?

No, more like... why is there a legal kind at all? 'Chains' don't have to be kept a secret?

i'm so glad

[velveteened]

That, ( wryly. ) depends on whom you're speaking with.

( and he's speaking with a drunk person, so he doesn't expect this all to stick — not at all )

It's not uncommon for members of nobility to contract, especially the more distinguished the family. In fact, in the Four Great Dukes' families, it's expected.

[overclocking]

[ His lip curls just slightly, almost imperceptibly. ]

A status symbol?

[ He feels ill just thinking about it, and it probably isn't the alcohol. ]

1/2

[velveteened]

No, no. ( sort of, he supposes, but the phrase evokes images of clothes and finery and the like, property, not — ) It's how the status quo of power is held in the kingdom.

[velveteened]

But isn't it after your bedtime?

( just wondering. )