Operation: Roll Out

[initiates]

Date & Time: January 31st - February 4th, Present Day Exsilium Time
Location: Neo Las Vegas, in what formerly was called Turkey.
Characters: All Transports!
Summary: Transports have been sent to Neo Las Vegas to gather information on the origin point of the United Earth and the UE AI. Conference sabotage and the rest is expected and invited!
Warnings: Gambling and alcoholic beverages quite likely! Please PM the mod account for anything else.

By day, the landscape isn't desert, precisely, so much as it is dry. Winter's settled in and found in the biting chill of the wind when it finds you standing on the street. Hovercars and taxis thrum down the cobblestone streets, cavorting and honking like a noisy crowd of inelegant, overweight geese. Men walk by on stilts half in make-up, on their way back to their stage for the next night. Walks of shame are taken proudly in this district, one of the few approved and sanctioned vacation zones in the United Earth.

Evidence of law enforcement can be found all around, but they seem altogether too pleased to be there too. Talk with any one of them about crime rates, and they're liable to laugh at the idea. Those who come to gamble know the house is rigged to win. It's not about making or breaking the bank -- people whose funds dip too low are politely escorted back to their rooms and given a set of normal playing cards -- but it is about enjoyment.

Of the flesh too, and it'd be difficult to find anyone working in Neo Las Vegas who suffers from modesty, or anyone visiting who seems unwilling to politely ask visitors and staff if they'd like to keep them company for the night. In fact, Transports may find themselves needing to turn down multiple such requests! The refusal is always taken well. These are people looking to have a good time, and that's all.

No chance taken, nothing gained, right?

At night, the city really comes alive, the lights in all the hotels and casinos turning the Neo Las Vegas Strip into a carnival of sensation. Drinks and recreational drugs are freely passed around, men and women engage in a variety of sexual and other hedonistic excesses without regret, and the beautiful interiors and ostentatious or playful exteriors of the buildings hide and reveal a rich tapestry of events, delectables, and desires waiting to be fulfilled.

Neo Las Vegas is a fun place, and it is a safe place, and it is Where the Conferences For Our Future Are Made. Playtime is on, gang.

Comments

OPEN

[mallarkey]

( a: the conference )

[ It isn't hard for Wayne, playing a role. Not this kind of role, that was; the longer he had to maintain it the more difficult it became, which was the only reason he was here under the name "Doug Rich" in the first place.

Be that as it may.

He has two main goals in mind: information and money. The latter is what he's personally interested in for the comfort more than anything, but the former he knows will be more useful in the long-run. If not to him than to somebody. Like many of the others there tonight, he's dressed up to make an impression but to also blend in -- playing a part. Just like any con. He doesn't worry either about the fact he's a little rusty on that fact, given that all he's there to do is sit in, eavesdrop/record with his two-way cufflinks, pick pockets on his way out, and then maybe find some place to get shitfaced after. Relatively passive, for him. ]

( b: casino bar/hotel )

[ A few drinks later... whether he's still at the bar or staggering sulkily in the direction of the hotel, Wayne -- Doug -- has the look of someone with a raincloud over their heads, his eyelids heavy, cheeks and nose red. At the bar he'd stacked up about three shot glasses and left half of a forth, humming Molly Malone to himself quietly but unevenly as the night passes. ]

b

[commentboxtroll]

[ Caesar had made his own rounds about the convention the same day before wandering off to take a look around this garish and entirely irritating city for the evening. He's on his way back to the hotel after that, just happening to be ambling down the same sidewalk that Wayne is staggering along.

Recognizing him from Charlie's little gang of negotiators, he slows to a stop and raises a hand, waving to get his attention. ]

Well, well, someone doesn't look too good.

[mallarkey]

[ Doug turns his head, response delayed by a couple of moments as he mentally determines whether or not it's him being addressed. Upon deciding in the affirmative, he raises his hand in return, not so far gone that he doesn't also recognize Caesar from the meeting. ]

Been hearing that a lot these days. [ No shame. He shrugs. ] But who're we trying to impress at this time of night anyway?

[commentboxtroll]

Oh, no one, but I did think it'd be wise to point out the hotel is in that direction.

[ Which, upon saying, he will point in the direction opposite of the one he'd been staggering in. ]

I don't think this is a town you want to get too lost in.

[mallarkey]

[ Blinking tiredly and with the initial confusion that often accompanies inebriation, Doug looks in the direction indicated. ]

Oh. [ Well-- that's embarrassing. ] Think you're right. Thanks, it's... uh, easy to get turned around here. Seems like. You're, um...?

[ But he doesn't remember his name, so: ]

I'm Doug. I think we've met before.

[commentboxtroll]

It's loud, bright, and overcrowded, so yeah, it really is.

[ Especially after several drinks, he assumes, but he isn't here to judge. Pretty pointless to. ]

And yes, we have. I'm Caesar. I was at the meeting with Charlie and the others.

a

[gevurah]

[ Once again, Kate's primary focus is the mission at hand, though the lack of details is certainly frustrating. To simply "go forth" and "collect any and all information" is not useful in this situation.

But she heads into the conference anyway, keeping both eyes peeled and ears out for anything that may be useful. She keeps a recording device in her pocket and when the night winds down, she'll work on transcribing what she's recorded.

She spots Doug not too far from her. At first, she wonders if she should approach him or stay on task, but not too long after she's heading toward him. ]

Evening, Doug.

[mallarkey]

[ Her voice startles him briefly, though not enough that he's disrupted; Doug looks up as he adjusts his cufflinks, both his eyebrows raised. ]

Evening.

[ It's almost overly casual, but he recognizes they're probably after the same thing here. It's not Kate he's playing games with. ]

You staying long?

[gevurah]

For as long as the conference goes on.

[ She offers him an apologetic look for startling him; he must have been lost in his thoughts or focusing on something here before she disrupted him. ]

How are you holding up?

[mallarkey]

Fine. Great, actually.

[ It's said with his usual emphasis, however little he means it. He really can't wait to leave but is staying only out of a sense of... duty isn't the right word, maybe "time killing" or "guilt assuaging." ]

How about you? I mean-- [ He shrugs, smiling halfheartedly. ] Guess we're all here for the same reason, huh?

[gevurah]

[ Kate nods, glancing around the room quickly. There's plenty of familiar faces who have slipped in here. ]

Is this your first mission?

[ It's been a while since the Initiative announced a large scale mission like this. Given where they are, she's worried this may not go over too well. Too many distractions and too many easily distracted. ]

is new CR okay with you? if so, B!

[lazyinlove]

[Hey, it's a hotel. And that guy...Stanley has seen that guy before. On the...phone...thing. Tablet. Yeah. He's seen that guy, talking about the nonexistent law like every other dumbfuck around. But it's good news, to see the guy. Because that guy is a transport too. And maybe that means this is Stan's hotel. He kind of...lost track of it during the day. Sweet. He stumbles a little, trying to catch up.]

Hey...um. Hey. Mister. Are you from the uh...you know? Um. The...

[How exactly do you ask someone if they've been kidnapped to some wasteland future, too? It sounds insane. He's off his fucking face and he still knows that sounds insane.]

I mean. Uh. So... actually. Never mind. I guess.

definitely! 8)

[mallarkey]

[ Doug looks over a little blearily, confused at first, but it's more because of the drinks than because of anything Stanley's saying to him. He stops walking so Stanley can catch up, though sways a little at first -- he leans against the wall of the hotel with his hand to steady himself. ]

The-- [ He blinks, wondering for a moment if Stanley's been drinking too, but there's recognition from his end too. ] Not from here, if that's what you're asking. Las Vegas. Who is? Are you?

[ No, that's the wrong question. ]

We're probably from the same place, you and me.

excellent

[lazyinlove]

Stanley.

[The kid volunteers anyway, sighing with relief. He holds a clumsy hand out when Doug sways, but it's just a token effort even if he thinks he means it. There's no way he could actually offer any real support to a guy Doug's weight. It's lucky that the wall is there instead.]

So...this is your hotel?

[mallarkey]

Um -- yeah.

[ Well, he's pretty sure it is; he gives it a look as if double-checking, but he's also not in much of a mood to mind if it's not. He can stay wherever.

He reaches his hand towards Stanley's, assuming he was offering a handshake. Eloquently he goes on: ]

I'm Doug. Is it yours? ... Also? Sort of hard to tell how spread apart we all are here. Lots of people.

[lazyinlove]

[Sure, there can be a handshake. Stan accepts and shakes, clumsy but firm, genuine. He has to lean against the wall to get his balance back after. Between the two of them, they're probably making for a ridiculous sight to any passerby. Luckily, this seems to be the place to get away with it. No one even slows to peer at them curiously. Drunken idiots are a pretty normal sight here.]

Uh...it could be?

[He glances around, taking in the people now that Doug mentions them. Yeah. There are a lot. Lots and lots. Of people. The sidewalk looks like...a people river. Stan grins quietly to himself at the image.]

New York's worse.

b

[unmasking]

[When he spots Doug, Peter has one basic thought in mind: he isn't reveling in this experience the same way other people are. Peter's been ducking out and avoiding people all day, and the transports that he's noticed here and there are actually enjoying themselves. He can't blame them, even if this really isn't his scene, but Doug—Doug's way of carrying himself is worrisome.

He ducks out from where he's sitting quietly (up on a roof, actually, ducked out of the way from where anyone can see him), and he slips down, dropping just behind Doug and then making obnoxious noises with his feet against the pavement to make it seem like he jogged up. He's counting on Doug being drunk enough that he doesn't question it.

Peter trots up alongside him a moment later, placing a hand on Doug's shoulder.]

Rough night?

[mallarkey]

[ As Peter expected, Doug doesn't question it; he turns, slightly startled by the touch -- his senses are dulled but instinct is what it is, and his hand curls into a fist on defensive reflex. It relaxes, though, once he notices that Peter is his sudden company. ]

Oh -- Pete. Good seeing you. [ He relaxes a little too, smiling despite liquor-reddened patches on his face. He considers the question and shrugs. ] ... No more than usual. Just been... enjoying the fresh air. No snow.

[unmasking]

Ah, yeah, that weird condition of no snow. Sudden drunken sadness.

[He doesn't want to poke him too much about it, but he doesn't look okay.]

Unless that came before. Maybe you decided to leave early. What do I know? [Leading questions. Swinging around as Spider-Man, he's seen enough guys like this. They're usually harmless.]

[mallarkey]

[ Doug goes quiet, letting his hands disappear into his pockets and then exhaling slowly. He admits: ]

Not that sudden. [ It's especially easy to feel guilty about lying when he's drunk and when Dahlia has come and gone, because what exactly is he doing this for now? ] But when there's no snow you notice it more when you don't have to worry about freezing to death. I'll be okay. I am okay. You don't have to worry.

[unmasking]

I'm an earnest kid here, Doug. [Which is his way of going: I don't buy it. He really doesn't buy it. There is still the fact that Peter's seen guys like him wandering out of bars, and he didn't even see them experiencing insomnia before.]

What's going on with you?

B

[getoffmyearth]

[That is the look of a man who has either had too much to drink or not enough. Sometimes it is veeeeeeeeeery difficult to tell the difference. Peter's never even sure when it's himself having the problem. But he knows sometimes misery loves company, and that he's an obnoxious asshole anyway, so why not bother the poor bastard.]

What's the matter, buddy, drinks not up to your standard tonight?

[mallarkey]

[ A little too much objectively, but subjectively -- well. Yeah. But even a mild break from some of his sharper senses feels like a relief. ]

Hm? [ He glances over his shoulder. ] Oh-- well. I've had better. But here in Vegas seems like the theme is quantity over quality.

[getoffmyearth]

Well, you don't come to Vegas for class, Doug.

[Which is exactly why it's his kind of place. Peter would know class if it did a tasteful striptease right in front of his face. Assuming class does those kinds of things. He wouldn't even know that.]

Or moderation. Or inhibition. Or shame, come to think of it. You save all that stuff for places that aren't Las Vegas. I live in space, and even I know that.

[mallarkey]

[ He smirks, shrugging in a large exaggerated Well now I know sort of way. Doug doesn't exactly mind, though; this is, if not the sort of life he aspires toward, at least the sort that he's used to. Wild, reckless, a little deceptive.

He agrees: ]

You just come for the good time and decisions you'll regret after you're sober again. My boss back home had his wedding here, the poor asshole. I say stick to gambling and quit while you're ahead, but what do I know?