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

[anklets]

[The evening had not been kind to Lenalee, as Chrono had bore ill-timed witness to; she has chosen to spend much of the morning nursing the headache which took her midway through the night, curtains drawn and complexion drawn, and eyebrows drawn, too.

When she opens the door, she looks matronly enough to send most Exorcists a-cringing in anticipation of pulled ears, but she softens herself when she realises it's Chrono.]

What with?

[overclocking]

[ He spends a long moment wondering whether he shouldn't retreat after all, fully suspecting there's a migraine to contend with right now, but- Lenalee! No, this is ideal. She should be an authority on things like this, right...?? Logically speaking. ]

I- [ Falters, noticeably, as he's struck with the absurdity of what he has to explain. ] I need to get something. But, ah, I don't really know the first thing about how... so... I just thought...

[anklets]

[A slow, measured blink. It isn't meant to convey any sort of bemusement so much as Lenalee's too hungover for the whole fast-blinking tripe.]

Chrono. What with?

[overclocking]

[ Blurted out, hastily, ] I need to buy a dress.

[ BUT WAIT that probably requires some kind of explanation- ]

I-It's... Rosette's birthday is next month. [ is he fidgeting you bet your ass he's fidgeting ] I've never really been able to get anything for her before, so I thought, since we're here...

[anklets]

[Did he stutter? And he's fidgeting, too! She softens even further and even tries a smile for him.]

Well! Something like that, I'd be happy to lend a lady's advice.

[overclocking]

—Really?

[ He seems genuinely taken aback by a rare fortuitous twist of fate, and practically deflates with relief (though still red in the tips of his ears). Terrible fate avoided: attempting to pretend he knows anything about dress shopping. ]

Thank you, Lenalee.

[anklets]

Really. [ honestly, what sort of answer had he expected? ] She looks like a red person.

[overclocking]

[ After so many years, "begone, demon" tends to be the expected answer from holy women. Perhaps he can thank his feeble secrecy for this happy windfall. ]

Red... [ He gives that some serious thought for a moment, then nods. It's true; the color is vibrant, just like she is. Warm. Reckless. ] Or, [ a belated realization ] pink would work too, wouldn't it?

She wore a pink gown the last time we were in Las Vegas. She loved it.

[anklets]

[Racks her hand through her hair and joins him in the hall, neatly pocketing the keys.]

Pink is good, too.

[overclocking]

[ He waits to confirm she has a room key, then starts down the hallway. There's a distracted air about him as he does so, like he's lost in thought. ]

I know her measurements. [ Realizes that might sound odd so he adds, hastily, ] I mend most of her clothes for her. So all I have to worry about is finding something she'll actually like...

[ That he can afford, but he lets that go unspoken and implied. The life of the perpetually broke. ]

[anklets]

[Hardly the bat of an eye as she follows. Lenalee can easily relegate him to Johnny's role within the Order, fussing over uniforms when the more reckless Exorcists won't. It's better that way.]

Go with your gut.

[overclocking]

[ He cringes as he hits the button for the elevator and holds it for her, thinking of the numerous ways that's terrible, terrible advice. ]

Ah, well, that...

That's the problem, really.

[anklets]

Why's that?

[Neatly crosses the threshold when the doors open, almost as though she has adapted to this sort of thing. Or didn't have to.]

[overclocking]

[ He hits the button for the ground floor and slumps against the elevator wall as they begin their descent. ]

My taste in clothing is kind of... [ makes a gesture that communicates no meaning whatsoever ] ... non-traditional?

[ In the sense that legion armor and leather are not considered acceptable outerwear. Which is ridiculous and humans are missing out. ]

the last part of that tag must have killed you to type

[anklets]

[A sympathetic wince-smile. She's trying very hard not to act particularly hungover, just for him. Feel blessed, Chrono.]

But dresses tend to be dresses, regardless of how you cut them.

being ic is literally physically painful sometimes no one understands

[overclocking]

[ He might be wondering about that, actually, and chalking it up to an inhuman ability to recover from the inevitable. Truly, Lenalee Lee is a soldier. ]

I've never really noticed... dresses, I mean. [ Has noticed exactly two dresses in his entire life, in fact, despite being surrounded by them daily back home. ] I always thought it was more complicated than that.

[ The elevator dings! when they reach the lobby, and he once again waits for her to exit first. ]