exsiliumlogs | 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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Honestly, I usually follow the trail of destruction, but... nothing seems broken yet.

[ Yet. He glances around nervously as he says it, as if he expects to see smoke rising through the forest of people and slot machines. ... Well. Smoke that's darker and denser than the noxious fumes already utterly permeating the building.

It's while he's scanning the crowd that he catches the eye of a casino employee, who pauses to scrutinize him a little more closely. An evening spent waiting outside an age-restricted casino flashes before his eyes as he hastily ducks behind Gilbert and uses him as a human shield against authority figures.

Brilliant. ]

Rosette must be taking a nap.

[He's only had a few brief interactions with the young woman, but of this fact he's already well aware. Maybe it was the whole "almost getting sucked out into the vacuum of space" thing that drilled it so well into his mind.

He watches the boy duck behind him, but he can't place the reason for it at first glance. Other than maybe he's hiding from that exact same person for a little peace and quiet from her, which is entirely understandable.]

What is it-?

[ Chrono hastily gestures in the direction of the employee, then holds a finger to his lips. Hissed, quietly; ]

I don't think I'm supposed to be in here! Or Oz for that matter. I was trying to find him, too.

[He turns to look at said employees, and though he's read the signs about legal ages when it comes to gambling and drinking and - whatever else is allowed in Future New Las Vegas, it hasn't really fully occurred to him that Oz and Chrono wouldn't be allowed in. Oz is an adult in their world, after all.]

Huh? Why wouldn't you be?

[But that makes him check the room nervously for any sign of Oz.]

We're not old enough! I think. Definitely not to actually do anything, so if they get it in their heads to try anything...

[ Or, well- Chrono is old enough five times over, but technicalities. Mostly he needs to keep Rosette away from the slot machines and the bar by any means necessary. ]

I don't know what the laws are here. If we get caught, who knows what'll happen?

[His panic is contagious. Gilbert turns to look back down at him, clearly more agitated this time.]

B-but, you don't think anyone would actually be arrested, or--?!

I don't know! [ Realizes his voice is lowering and. Drops it. ]

What if they were? Would we be able to get them out? Would we have to break into a high-security future prison? What would that do to the timestream?

This is why they can't run off!!

[He's not even sure if anything has happened to anyone, but already he's formulating a getaway plan. One that doesn't involve cars, never again.]

In a city like this, it would be much harder to create a distraction large enough to draw anyone's attention away from a jail cell...

[ Bless you Gilbert Nightray. A babysitter after his own heart. ]

What if we went back in time a again to keep them from being apprehended in the first place? Do you think that would work?

Wouldn't that mean...if we went back in time to stop them from being apprehended...that they would never end up in jail to begin with, and we would never have noticed it at all because other versions of ourselves would have stopped it already?

[He hasn't read nearly enough fictional books on this topic to begin to understand it.]

[ The only people who have done the necessary reading are the very people they're worried about springing from future-prison. ]

... That makes sense. I think?

But- wait. If we met future-past versions of ourselves, wouldn't that be dangerous? To the universe, I mean? [ he'd JUST STOPPED WORRYING ABOUT UNIVERSE-ENDING TIME PARADOXES ]

... Maybe we should just make sure they don't get arrested in the first place!

[TIME TO START WORRYING AGAIN BECAUSE SHIT JUST GOT REAL.]

That -

[That. That's horrifying, actually. He'd assumed that the Initiative knew what they were doing, asking them to change the past as they were, but it's true that one slip-up could mean destroying the fabric of time altogether, in the same way that a string that snaps in the Abyss could greatly alter the flow of time.]

R-right, for now, we should just try and keep them out of trouble...which would be easier if we knew where everyone went.

[ Logic seems to dictate that if the fabric of reality hasn't collapsed yet, even with all the meddling they've been doing, then it isn't planning to any time soon. But Chrono is more than ready to assume the worst right now. ]

Well... you know Oz best, right? Where would he most likely go in a place like this? [ Because he sure did try this exercise on Rosette already, and found her at none of the most likely places. ]

[Assuming the worst sounds like the best course of action, even if it means ignoring logic in order to do so. But hm, Oz, where would Oz be if given the chance to run free into the depths of Las Vegas...]

Let's see...

[He lets his eyes sweep back over the floor.]

Oz is a person who doesn't really understand the value of money...and he has no problem tricking people when it comes to proving a point. If someone [ie - Rosette] convinced him to try gambling, he'd probably do it.

[And then his expression drops into despair.]

Ah, but it's been so long since I've been able to make him proper sweets, he might be out searching for something to eat instead. If that's the case, then it's my fault that he's lost...

It is not your fault!

[ Says it adamantly- for both of them. The Blame Game is far too easy to play. (They can play it later, once everyone is accounted for.) ]

—Wait. That first thing you said. [ "doesn't really understand the value of money" ] I knew it. That explains so much...

[While he's sure it's still his fault, he's a little confused about Chrono's sudden revelation.]

Hm? It explains what...?

Everything.

[ Which, as far as explanations go, explains nothing. ]

Are your buttons made of gold, too?

My - huh?

[It's like they've restarted into the middle of some bizarre conversation that Gilbert hadn't been following at all to begin with.]

I don't follow...

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

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