midpointsaloon | Big City Living (Midpoint Mingle)

Entry tags:

Big City Living (Midpoint Mingle)

The town of Midpoint: called thus because it is at the exact center of the game arena, a busy little Western town full of strange people, many of whom don’t look remotely human, because this is where all the players gather and live. Midpoint Saloon: called thus because it is the only bar in Midpoint. It’s also the biggest building in town, four stories high, dotted with windows, painted a jaunty yellow and decorated with red and green flowers in all the window boxes.

This is where your veteran teammate points you. Or just stomps off to and hopes you follow.

Downstairs is a bar and tavern, Old West style, right down to the upright piano in one corner and a raucous crowd of locals - largely locals, but with a healthy smattering of unusual or downright alien faces that clearly indicate the presence of other Players - eating, drinking, gambling, and getting into trouble. There’s a broad, bearded man behind the bar, waving cheerfully at you as you enter.

The rest of the night and the next day is yours to do with what you see fit. Explore the town, take a long nap in your new room, try to get to know people... everyone is here for the next twenty-four hours before travel to the mission site, so it’s a good chance to scope out the competition, at the very least.

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

The Saloon
[Having been freed from her jail cell and allowed to collect her belongings, Jo heads to the Saloon to get out of the heat.

She still isn't convinced that this isn't a demon trick of some kind.

Hell, it could even be an angel. They didn't seem to have a stake in the fight to stop the Apocalypse. Maybe one of them was trying to stop them.

She doesn't know where the others are. That makes her uneasy.

Misty, whoever she is, recommended they sleep, but Jo doesn't trust anything in this place enough to do so.

Instead, she claims a seat in a corner of the saloon and watches. She has no plans to start a conversation, but if approached, she'll be polite.

Probably.]

[Sam remembers all too well what it's like to be newly arrived and uncertain of everything he's seeing. Granted, he'd had a recognizable face to greet him and ease him in, the two women he'd help bring in with Misty didn't have that so much -- unless there was someone already here that they knew.

After arriving, Sam had taken care of his own business first, but had quickly returned to the saloon to see how his current round teammates were settling in. He noticed Jo in the corner, but doesn't approach right away. Instead he picks up food and drink from North -- two bowls of chili (the house special) and two drinks (not-so-great beer) -- and heads over to her.]

Here. You mind if I join you for a meal? North's chili is pretty mild, but it's got good flavor. [There's a pause.] You are old enough to drink right? [It's just a beer, but Sam's not about to get in trouble for serving someone underage -- it's hard to tell because she looks pretty capable, but still pretty young.]

[Jo's expression remains wary as he sits, her hands shifting from the table to her thighs. Just in case she has to move quickly.

She doesn't react to the second plate, but when he asks her name she tilts her head to the left and narrows her eyes.]

How old do you think I am, dude? [Obviously, the answer is he's worried she is under 21 if he's asking. She's not used to the question. No one questions your age when you're the one behind the bar.

She glances over at the bar, watching North for a moment.]

Is his name really North?

[Sam holds his hands up defensively]

I figure you're in your twenties -- just not sure if over or under.

[He tilts his head back towards North and the bar before returning to her.]

Then again, I suppose I'm making a lot of other assumptions about both you and this place.

[He shrugs, taking a drink from his own beer.] It's how he introduced himself.

I guess I should take it as a compliment. [Even if, usually, it isn't meant as one. She's too young to take being mistaken for a teen as a compliment. She's worked hard for her adulthood, as she sees it.]

I'm 24. And- [She punctuates this word by taking the beer.]

I'm pretty sure the wild west didn't have alcohol age limits.

[Soldat is nearing the end of their ability to be social when one of the tables between them and Jo starts to shift and empty out as the occupants move to get new drinks or head upstairs. This, combined with getting up to return their plate and glass to North, gives them their first clear look at her, and they stop. Go still. Stare for a long moment from across the saloon floor.

(Don't be weird, pal. I know. I know. It's not. It's probably not even really her. The same her. No lantern. No. So it's not the same her. Unless it's upstairs, like mine is. Buddy...)

They swallow heavily. They can't just leave. Have to at least say something. Especially since she's probably noted them staring, by now.]

[It isn't a feeling Jo is a stranger to, being stared at. Sometimes it's good, sometimes it is not.

Here, where she isn't certain of anything? She doesn't like it. She doesn't have information on who (or what) is here.

There's no one to trust.

For a long moment she tries to ignore it, eventually giving in to scan the bar to find the offending pair of eyes.

It only takes her a second to decide to approach and see why he can't seem to look away. She doesn't want any problems or attention.]

Do you have something to say?

[As soon as she meets Soldat's eyes, they drop down to the table in front of them, somewhere between nervous and embarrassed, but she gets a brief glance up when she takes the matter into her own hands.

The thing they have to say probably isn't what she expected.]

Sorry. Shouldn't have stared. You. Look very like someone I used to know.

[That was not the reply she was expecting.

More correctly, that wasn't the attitude she expected with it. It's a common line, but not commonly delivered without looking at her. Not with the speaker seemingly embarrassed about it.

She runs through her options, curious about who he might be thinking of to be so nervous. She wants to pry but he seems like he might bolt if she tries.]

Okay. [She leans against the bar for a moment, watching him thoughtfully.]

Is she here?

[Is the Jo from Beacon here? They wish. (Or maybe we don't. There's already a lot of people to worry about, now. Just like the old days. Social riches. Yeah, except you might hafta kill them, now.) They shake their head a little, looking at their hands, metal and flesh clasped on the tabletop.]

No. So I was surprised. It's okay, I won't bother you about it.

[Even if they badly want to bother her about it.]

[Interesting.

Jo, for a moment, stares at his hands as well, rolling around her options about politely questioning the metal arm. By the time he finishes speaking she's decided it might not be a good path to take right now.

No need to make him feel worse. She can tell he's...nervous? Or at least very uncomfortable. She doesn't know how he will react if pushed.]

I guess we'll see if that's true. [It could be threatening, but she says it with a slight smile and light tone. She knows how to walk the line.]

It's true.

[They don't like to lie. They're not as good at it as they know they used to be. (Not sure I want to be. It is a lot of work.)]

What's your name?

[That question makes Jo pause for a moment. If this is a trap of some sort, they all already know who she is.

It doesn't take her long to make a decision.]

Jo. I'm Jo.

[Yep. That's her. Not that there was really any doubt, honestly. They look a little bit sad when they say,]

It's nice to meet you, Jo.

[She notices the sorrow and files it away for the future. What an interesting reaction.]

You gonna tell me your name?

[That gets a little pause. No one here really... knows their name. Either of their names. North and Booker, but they're kind and never use it. Misty and Sam, now.

But if they're trying to be social, they're going to have to start actually using a name. And some names are still easier than others.]

Soldat.

That sounds more like a call sign than a name. [Jo shrugs after she says it. It isn't her business, even if he started this conversation by staring.

She holds out her hand for a handshake.]

Nice to meet you, Soldat.

[Soldat's still shaky on handshakes, now, but they do stand up to take hers in a single, oddly careful shake before settling back in their chair again.]

I know. Technically it is. I lost mine. A long time ago. I picked this one instead.

So you like it?

[It's an interesting choice. The question is out before she can stop it.

Whoops.]

[They shrug, not really minding the question.]

It's mine. There are good things and bad things about it. Do you like yours?

[It's a fair question. Since she asked him and he answered, she'll tell him. She looks down the bar with a slightly wistful look on her face.]

My mom and dad picked it out. Dad really liked it. [Well, it's kind of an answer.]

Like you said. Good things and bad things.

There you go.

[She gets a small smile.]

Let me know if there's anything I can do to help. I know this is. Hard.

[Jo sighs quietly. This is ridiculous.]

How much of what we know is actually true?

There's no way to know that. Not really. But I would guess most of what we know is true.

[They shrug once, looking out across the saloon.]

It's not really very much, though, that we know. Only the things we've experienced. Not much about the people behind them.

[Jo frowns as he looks away. Not helpful information at all.]

Should I trust you when you say that? [She laughs nervously. This is a mess, isn't it?]

Big City Living (Midpoint Mingle)

Jo Harvelle | Supernatural | New player

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

(no subject)

(no subject)

(no subject)

(no subject)