Midpoint Mods ([personal profile] midpointmods) wrote in [community profile] midpointsaloon2020-05-08 08:33 pm

Welcome To Your Life (Jailbreak Mingle)

You find yourself in jail. An old-fashioned, dusty jail: three cells wide, six foot to a side and below ground level, judging from the tiny barred window half a foot from the ceiling, that looks out onto a flat expanse. Shimmering heat waves are already starting to form, the sun already burning hot, but your cell is comfortably cool and dry.

And empty. The only things in your cell are a sturdy plank bench, chained to the wall like a hammock, a solid-looking pillow and a hairy blanket sitting thereon. Any items you might have had on your person are sitting on the wall opposite your cell, nearly four feet away from the iron bars holding you: propped up on wooden shelves, hanging from thick metal hooks, or sitting on the floor if the item is particularly large.

Outside the occasional jangle of leather and metal, and the occasional chuffing breigh suggests that there must be horses outside, but otherwise the area is silent. Before too long, though, there's the sound of footsteps and jangling keys echoing from upstairs, getting louder and clearer as someone makes their way down to you...

I. Sooey Jail

The view from the windows drops off quite suddenly, about a mile past the bare scrubland bushes and occasional screeching roadrunner. In the distance, a plume of smoke is the only sign of a freight train rushing along its tracks, until the faint echo of its whistle hits the ear. While Inara Serra will likely be entirely unimpressed by the lacking cell, Daylight vis Lornlit will find it's far too small for him. Bucky Barnes is near silent as he dismounts outside.

II. Southern Point

The walls of the cells here are distinctly discoloured to nearly five feet high, an ugly brown with black mold growing in the cracks around the benches and corners of the room. The air is musty and damp, in sharp contrast to the hot, dry wind that blows in through the windows. Quicksword Irene will find her ever-present claymore on the wrong side of the bars, but Hajime Aikawa has company behind his - Ryo has come along, too. The sound of Fuwa tying his horse up is interrupted by a sharp yelp of annoyance.

III. Mountain Hole

The windows are cast in shade in these morning hours, which makes the cells distinctly cooler than the glimpses of clear blue sky and rolling heat waves suggest. Fully grown trees with needle-like leaves are visible outside, and the keen might just hear the echo of a chugging train. Taako will no doubt find the scene familiar; Yoda as well, if less sandy than some oft complained about; Jiro Azuma is undoubtedly the most confused here. Rocket and Groot can be heard outside, approaching and bickering.

IV. Dead Man's Doorstep

The higher the sun rises, the warmer it gets in the cells; even before midday it's unspeakably stuffy, and the hot breeze carries light waves of sand into the cells. The sound of ropes creaking, gentle and intermittent, under the strain of something heavy echoes through the cells, adding a disconcerting background noise to the already alarming context. Jo Harvelle will find sand in her hair; Sara Lance finds it everywhere else. Outside, Misty Day and Sam Wilson tie their horses together, and brace for their new teammates.
unofficial_ambassador: (Default)

[personal profile] unofficial_ambassador 2020-05-12 06:25 pm (UTC)(link)
There were a few places on the planet where I used to live where vehicles were banned for environmental reasons, so you learned or you walked.

[She looks the horses over. Will the poor robot even be able to ride?]

Which one's yours?
worthallthis: (look up)

[personal profile] worthallthis 2020-05-13 02:53 am (UTC)(link)
[Yeah, they're wondering that, too. Daylight is pretty big, and pretty heavy. Soldat is pretty heavy, themselves, which is why the draft breed to carry them. They approach the bay mare and stroke her nose lightly.]

This lady here. She's patient with me. Also strong enough to carry me. Which takes some doing.
unofficial_ambassador: (pic#6114031)

[personal profile] unofficial_ambassador 2020-05-13 04:16 am (UTC)(link)
And this other large gentleman must be for our mechanical friend, which means this last one is for me. [She’s pretty sure the third horse present would collapse if Daylight even looked at him.

Inara approaches the horse and he immediately turns to nibble on the collar of her jacket. She barely avoids flinching in surprise at the sudden proximity of the horse's teeth to her face.] Oh!



worthallthis: (yikes)

[personal profile] worthallthis 2020-05-13 05:08 am (UTC)(link)
[Probably collapse if Soldat looked at him, too. He's a pretty fellow, but not particularly sturdy-looking. Soldat twitches at her noise of surprise, turning and stepping towards her.]

Did he bite you?
unofficial_ambassador: (Default)

[personal profile] unofficial_ambassador 2020-05-13 05:15 am (UTC)(link)
No. I'm alright, he just surprised me.

[Also now she's kind of stuck.]
worthallthis: (smilebig)

[personal profile] worthallthis 2020-05-13 06:19 am (UTC)(link)
[Soldat closes the last of the distance, closer than they've been since they first met her, and actually chuckles when they see what's going on.]

Here. I'll show you how to get his mouth off something. Pinch right here, gentle-like.

[They use the non-metal hand to press the hinges of the gelding's jaw, freeing Inara's collar.]
unofficial_ambassador: (Default)

[personal profile] unofficial_ambassador 2020-05-13 07:22 am (UTC)(link)
[Once freed, Inara takes a step back and brushes a bit at her collar ineffectually. Good thing she's not in the business of wearing veils anymore.]

Thank you. It seems he's definitely mine now.
worthallthis: (amused-sarge)

[personal profile] worthallthis 2020-05-14 05:00 am (UTC)(link)
Laid his claim.

[The gelding decides to try and chew on the Soldat's hand, but they deftly avoid his questing lips.]

Could get him a muzzle I guess. Or just be careful of his nose.
unofficial_ambassador: (Default)

[personal profile] unofficial_ambassador 2020-05-14 05:27 am (UTC)(link)
He didn't hurt me. Let him be free, he'll keep me on my toes.
worthallthis: (smilegreen-sarge)

[personal profile] worthallthis 2020-05-14 06:16 am (UTC)(link)
[There, right there, is when Soldat decides they really like her. Let him be free. Even though he scared her. That's kindness. So the little smile they give her is warm.]

Okay. Horses sometimes just like to chew a little. Probably doesn't mean anything by it.

[Since he's not showing any other signs of restlessness or irritability, it's probably fine.]
unofficial_ambassador: (Default)

[personal profile] unofficial_ambassador 2020-05-14 06:44 am (UTC)(link)
[Inara reaches up to stroke the side of the horse's head. She knows what it's like to be constrained and wouldn't wish that on anyone, even an animal.]

Not the best impression just after I'd told you I'm experienced with horses.
worthallthis: (smile)

[personal profile] worthallthis 2020-05-14 05:32 pm (UTC)(link)
You said you had ridden a horse before. That isn't the same as being experienced. Besides. The last person I got out of a jail had never been this close to a horse before, and almost fell off when he got on, so you're still doing better than he did.

[That's accompanied by another small smile. Sam is a good guy, even if he doesn't know anything about horses.]
unofficial_ambassador: (Default)

[personal profile] unofficial_ambassador 2020-05-14 05:58 pm (UTC)(link)
[She laughs at the thought as if she hadn't struggled as a teenager learning how to do it.]

We always had attendants with us, so there were a lot of things I didn't have to think about.
worthallthis: (friendly)

[personal profile] worthallthis 2020-05-14 11:23 pm (UTC)(link)
Suppose now you'll have to learn for yourself. I'll help as much as I can, this round. Okay?
unofficial_ambassador: (pic#6114041)

[personal profile] unofficial_ambassador 2020-05-14 11:27 pm (UTC)(link)
Thank you. You'll find I'm a fast learner.