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

[stonefaith]

[ Yeah, well, Bariyan's got like-- nothing. A pair of sixes. He shows, and immediately bursts out laughing, as if this is the funniest thing that's ever happened to him. ]

Well! That's the death of me, I suppose.

[ He takes his drink, downs it in one go, and leaves his seat, circling back around to come up behind Koltira. He puts his hands on Koltira's shoulders and leans in to whisper to him. ]

Now, would you mind escorting me out before they try to take me back to my room?

[deadelfwalking]

[Koltira's collecting all his chips when Bariyan sets hands on him, and he pauses, going stiff.]

Why would they do that, crusader? Are you drunk?

[stonefaith]

No, but I am now broke, and therefore of absolutely no use here. [ Bariyan gives Koltira's shoulders a squeeze and grins. ] By the way, nice suit.

[deadelfwalking]

[Sweeping the chips into his arms, Koltira stands up, turns around, and presses most of them into Bariyan's hands.]

Now you are wealthy again. [His ears twitch, then subtly perk forward at the compliment.]

But I will still escort you.

[stonefaith]

[ Bariyan makes a surprised noise, then attempts to shove the chips back to Koltira. ]

Oh, no, I couldn't! You won these. I'm not interested in these, anyway. [ Bariyan takes a step back. ] I just want your company.

[deadelfwalking]

[Koltira shrugs, pocketing them. He doesn't quite know what to do with them, either. Another waiter sails by, and Koltira quickly snatches up a flute of champagne.]

Oh? I am sure you have many other offers in this place.

[stonefaith]

But yours is the offer I seek. [ Bariyan beckons for Koltira to come to him. ] Perhaps you'd be interested in escorting me back to my room, eh?

[deadelfwalking]

[Koltira's brow furrows, but he walks beside Bariyan, regardless.]

Perhaps if you become insensate from drink.

[stonefaith]

[ Bariyan shoves his hands into his pockets and shakes his head. ]

No sense of humor. But, nevertheless, that's quite kind of you.

[ Bariyan leads them out, stopping at coat check to retrieve his jacket before sliding back out into the cold. He sticks close to Koltira, assuming that will preemptively fend off any advances. ]

Where to, sir? I'd like an affordable drink.

[deadelfwalking]

[Koltira does not exactly radiate friendliness. His emitter projects a living human with long, pale hair, tied back in a ponytail, and he looks well cut in the suit -- but as soon as they're away from the gambling tables, he pulls on his gloves and slips shades over his eyes.]

I noticed many bars on the strip.

[He offers his hand.]

Come.

[stonefaith]

[ Bariyan takes Koltira's hand, quickly. His own hands are ungloved, and still warm. ]

Gladly. Did you notice the carousel ride, too? [ He gives Koltira a side glance, and grins. ] It's got a great big dragon on it. We should take a ride.

[deadelfwalking]

[Koltira raises an eyebrow as he leads Bariyan away from the surging casino crowds. He's got quite a bit of alcohol in him as it stands, which helps dull the sound of so many living, breathing bodies brushing up so close against him.]

Show it to me.

[stonefaith]

[ This particular living, breathing body is drawing closer to Koltira, momentarily forgetting that the other man emits no body heat. Or perhaps Bariyan's just taking advantage of Koltira's current friendliness. ]

Over here. I think. [ Bariyan gives Koltira's hand a tug, and quickens their pace, cutting through the streets, heading further into the strip. He brightens up when the street starts looking familiar -- and more neon. A veritable assault of lights and colors. It's still light out, though, leaving the effect slightly subdued. ] There!

[ Bariyan comes to a sudden halt. The carousel itself is an enormous, elaborate affair. Mirrors and lights and fantastical (for this world, perhaps) creatures abound. And Bariyan was wrong. It hasn't got a great big dragon. It has several. Bariyan considers the nearest one as it cycles its way out of sight, rubbing his jaw with his free hand. ]

Hm... I don't think they normally come in that color.

[deadelfwalking]

[Koltira allows himself to be pulled along amiably, but stops short when they reach the carousel. His lip curls.]

Clearly, these people have never actually encountered a dragon.

[stonefaith]

[ Bariyan squeezes Koltira's hand and laughs. ]

Certainly not any that we might be familiar with. Granted... most of the dragons I personally encountered were of the frosty, bony sort.

[ He watches the parade of creatures circle around the carousel, and is pleased to note that there are no frost wyrms on it. ]

[deadelfwalking]

Is that so? Exactly how much time did you spend in Northrend?

[He lets go of Bariyan's hand. The dragons come around again, and Koltira jumps, landing gracefully onto the sculpted saddle.

And feeling, promptly, ridiculous.]

Hmmnn.

[stonefaith]

Two years-- hey!

[ Bariyan's surprised at this display of high spirits. But he isn't about to let Koltira have fun all by himself. So Bariyan scrambles to follow suit, managing to swing himself onto the dragon adjacent Koltira's.

He clings to the pole, looks at Koltira, bursts out laughing at the sight. ]

You look very mighty, commander.

[deadelfwalking]

[Koltira leans forward on the dragon, as though leading a charge.]

Oh, yes. You have quite the presence yourself.

[stonefaith]

Of course I do. I'm Tirion Fordring's second-in-command, didn't you know?

[ Bariyan matches Koltira, sitting upright, and mimics the drawing of a sword. ]

Forwards, crusaders!

[deadelfwalking]

I'll have to ask him about that if I ever return to Azeroth.

[stonefaith]

He'll corroborate, of course. We're very close personal friends.

[ Bariyan shifts his grip on the pole and leans over towards Koltira, all the way, grinning. ]

So, commander... any room on that dragon for me?

[deadelfwalking]

These are sized for a child. [He glances behind him, skeptically.] I am not sure.

[stonefaith]

You must have faith, Koltira.

[ Bariyan swings off his mount, and swings onto Koltira's. Swings on in front of Koltira. Where he belongs. Though with how small the seats are, Bariyan's going to essentially wind up in Koltira's lap if Koltira doesn't move.

Honestly, behind? Who do you think you're dealing with, buddy? ]

[deadelfwalking]

[What! WHAT! Koltira grabs onto Bariyan automatically, just so that he doesn't fall off the goddamn dragon. His grip tightens on Bariyan's hips, and he growls.]

Watch yourself.

[stonefaith]

[ Bariyan laughs in response, though he keeps as still as possible. He suspects he's pushing Koltira's limits already. ]

See? Faith, my friend. The Light will always see us through such trials.

[ Bariyan is very pleased with himself. ]