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]

[ 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. ]

[deadelfwalking]

[Koltira squeezes him.]

This is the work of my own hands, not the Light.

[He keeps his grip tight, and then, without warning, lifts Bariyan up by the waist and deposits him right on the ground. Good thing the carousel doesn't move very fast.

Koltira leaps down, too, crouching low on his knees as he lands. He looks up at Bariyan; smirks.]

Tch.

[stonefaith]

[ Bariyan yelps in outrage, but doesn't put up a fight, concentrating instead on keeping his balance when he lands.

He pats his hands about his own waist and shakes his head at Koltira. ]

Those are some damn strong arms you've got there, commander.

[deadelfwalking]

[Koltira straightens up, dusts himself off. He shrugs nonchalantly, like the big jackass he is.]

You are easy enough to get hold of.

[stonefaith]

[ You are absolutely a jackass, sir. Bariyan breathes on his hands and rubs them together. ]

Only because I choose to be. Only because I choose.

[ He holds his hand out, hopefully. ]

So. I've shown you the dragons. Show me your bars.

[deadelfwalking]

[You like it.]

As you wish.

[He takes Bariyan's hand, gallantly, and leads him back out towards the crowded streets. They aren't walking long before he takes a turn down a secluded, seemingly nondescript alley. It's almost looking like he's brought Bariyan to a dead end, but there's an unassuming metal door at the end of the alleyway. A copperplate sign above it reads, 'ALCHEMY'.]

Found this earlier. Good cocktails. If you like that sort of thing.

[stonefaith]

Hmm. Shady-looking. [ Bariyan looks around the alley before his gaze settles back on Koltira. He smiles before stepping forward to open the door, pulling Koltira along with him. ] I do love my cocktails, though.

[deadelfwalking]

I had thought you might.

[Koltira continues to be very tolerant of this pulling hither and thither. The bar inside is much classier than the alley would suggest; it's sleek and dark, lit with pale blue lights that run in cylinders along the walls. There are booths with black leather seats and a line of plush seats up at a long, dark oak countertop in the center of the space. The shelves of liquor bottles behind the counter are backlit with bright light, such that the liquid glows ethereal, phosphorescent.]

[stonefaith]

[ Bariyan pauses once they're through the door to admire the light show, nodding his approval. This is classy. But... it doesn't look very affordable.

Bariyan leans on Koltira's arm and gives him the most bashful smile he can manage. ]

This place has just about robbed me blind, though. Mind buying me a few drinks? I'll make it up to you.