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

[retraced]

[Well, it's at least a little nicer looking than some of the other buildings on this "strip". Gilbert looks it over, glances up at the sky. For as hot as he is, he would have expected the sky to be bright blue, but there's a dull fog that covers much of it instead. Maybe that's what traps the heat in, he wonders.]

Mm. We can go here if you want.

[He scratches his arm through his shirt where the nicotine patch resides. This place has been testing his resolve, but so far he's done his best.]

[velveteened]

( the action doesn't go unnoticed, but it does go unmentioned for now. oz casts a (perhaps somewhat longing) look in the bridge's direction, but they are here for a Purpose, after all, and the purpose — Purpose — is to eat. so turning towards that entrance it is, the chatter of a crowd starting to bubble up around them even before they reach the doors. )

[retraced]

[Gil's attention is on the statues, the tallness of the building that they're about to walk into as he follows behind Oz. As such, he runs right into someone who is walking out of the lobby, and immediately sputters out an awkward sounding apology. Oz can take this chance to either wait for him to finish or sneak off while he's distracted.]

[velveteened]

( gilbert...

he waits patiently, though not without a laugh at that predicament; but see, he's even holding the door open for gil to catch up. in the meantime, a lot of people are taking advantage of this, including a pretty girl whom he might chat with depending on how long gil takes. )

[retraced]

[His apologies don't take long, and thankfully the gentleman that he's run into isn't terrible upset. He's probably a regular here; he knows that sometimes people will end up running into each other in a crowd like this. Oz hurry up and finish your conversation, your useless servant is on his way again.]

[velveteened]

( the conversation more or less ends when she asks for a "number" and gets a fairly blank look in return. she walks right past gilbert in a bit of a huff, leaving oz looking bewildered.

GIL WHAT DID HE DO WRONG.... )

[retraced]

[Don't ask him, he's not going to be any help here.]

Oz? Who was that?

[velveteened]

( cry cry cry )

Lena.

( gil might want to go in through the door before that next group of tourists let themselves in )

[retraced]

[He does indeed, but he's still peering down curiously at his young master.]

And you know her from...?

[Pretty sure she wasn't in the transporter room with them earlier.]

[velveteened]

( oz follows after, handing the door off to a stranger, absolutely SLUMPED FROM HIS CRUSHING DEFEAT )

It's not important.

( ;~; )

[retraced]

[Aaand then it finally hits him.]

She rejected you?

[Oz, stop hitting on girls.]

[velveteened]

( HE'S NOT ANSWERING THAT.

which is just as well because he has a look about instead, sucks in a quiet breath at how big the place is, enough for a slight echo even with all the crowd inside. the decor is all unfamiliar, though he at least can recognize a bit the hallmarks of a very big modern city by now — or decorations meant to mimic it, anyway. )

[retraced]

[YOUR SILENCE IS ANSWER ENOUGH.

He smiles as he follows after the young man, but resists the urge to pat his head.]

Maybe it's because you were making that face at her.

[Even though he thinks that all of Oz's faces are cute.]

[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.]