Big City Living (Midpoint Mingle)

[midpointmods]

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.

Comments

Misty Day | AHS | 'Veteran' Player

[shadowsran]

I. Arrival - Closed To Teammates

Shade is worth something here, at least. She has something of a leg up on their peers regarding heat, in general, but the arena is a far cry from the humidity of a swamp. Why dry heat is considered preferable she isn't quite sure; it's the only lingering discomfort on the ride to what could only generously be called home.

"I'm thinking," she starts, unprompted, as they approach the stables, "Keep quiet, much as you can. Socialize, good impressions, all that obviously, but don't let on about what our assignment is." Sooner people know, sooner they can strategize. "Any other new people are probably active too, and not allies. Sam and I can ask around and rule out a couple people, but the rest is on us."

A glance at Sam, signifying that 'ask around' primarily means 'ask Soldat about his team'. That's the only moderately sure bet. Then, more for the newer pair:

"Don't stress too much. Eat, sleep. If you need points for something, I'll try and hover around the saloon. Easy to find."

II. Stables, General Store - OTA

The store isn't where Misty is at her most social, but she's nothing if not a relaxed presence. Nothing being toted in one arm looks to be mission related - run of the mill groceries, standard tinctures, and the bulk of her time in-store shuffling carefully through sacks of grain for a pattern on the bag she fancies. To any new-seeming passersby she may peer over the shelving with an offer.

"If you find a sturdy looking canteen and don't have the points yet, I'll spot you. You go through them faster than you'd think."

The same friendly, olive branch approach is on display in the stables, where she'll spend longer than strictly necessary ensuring her mount isn't just secured, but soothed. One would be correct to assume he's timid, and between the constantly flickering eyes and ears and a habit of trying to pace in his stall it's an assumption he invites. She's patient with it.

Any and all unfamiliar horses are subject to an open, though admiring, gaze. There's nothing match-related about it. Merely an animal person. "Named them yet?" She'll ask, tone as conversational as she can make it.

III. Saloon - OTA

After a cool bath and a conversation with Soldat, she deems the remainder of the day best spent at a table. A large dinner is all but inhaled. She keeps to water, a sober presence to the very end. The most daring activity of the night is jumping to another table closer to the piano, which takes up the gist of her focus when not immediately occupied with someone or something.

Speaking of, she's quite quick to usher people over. Company's good, in a crowd.

"How're you feeling?"

Physically? Mentally? About the upcoming match? About their very bizarre circumstances at large? All of the above. It's good to check in.

III

[chalicejoker]

Hajime is...not exactly shy, but reserved. The sort to try very hard to ignore a stranger asking how he's feeling.

The foot-tall praying mantis on his shoulder, on the other hand, is delighted to meet any and all new people. "Feeling good! Lots to see here! Lots to do!"

Don't mind Hajime, he's just going to run a hand down his face now because of course Ryo was going to be like this. Of course.

[shadowsran]

The point of no return was crossed the second she laid eyes on a food-tall praying mantis. Zero effort is made to veil what is in turns surprise and delight. Her mouth hangs in an open beam for just one silent second too long before she catches up.

"Good-! Great! The novelty wears off fast, but that's probably the best attitude to take. From anyplace like this, yourself?"

Ignore her if you like, stranger. There's mantis chattin' to be done.

[chalicejoker]

The mantis is all too happy to chat, much to Hajime's eternal chagrin. "I'm from Questing Country! Is magical land of wishes and dreams and adventures!"

Hajime's honestly feeling like he's letting his chatty toddler bother a random stranger, and yet it is too late. There is no stopping this. He's got to engage in the conversation before Ryo somehow drags him into it anyway. "We've been traveling a lot."

[shadowsran]

"Never heard of it, but that sounds a lot more exciting than Louisiana!"

Enthusiasm: meet more enthusiasm. The chair across from her is toed carefully and invitingly out for them, far from a subtle proposition. "Presuming it's a little more...hospitable than here, one way or another. We do not have talking mantises where I'm from, so that's a huge leg up. Settling in okay?"

II. Stables

[unofficial_ambassador]

"I was thinking of naming him Aethon since he wants to eat everything." True to form the horse already has the end of her braid in his mouth again, chewing placidly while Inara tries to work. "He’ll chew your hands too if you don't watch him."

[shadowsran]

Wonderful. Endearing. Brilliant horse.

"'M afraid I'm not familiar with the meaning, but I love the sound of it. Very dignified." Her appreciation is sincere enough she's only wryly amused at the contrast of that classy sounding name on something actively trying to eat hair. "Are the hands in a meaner way, or just likes to chew?"

[unofficial_ambassador]

"Oh no, he's very gentle. He just seems to have a constant need to be chewing on something." It doesn't even seem to be hunger as much as that he needs something to occupy himself. Though he hadn't made many horse-friends trying to chew on the other horses’ tails on the way here.

"I'm Inara, by the way." Probably also an excessive name for a woman with a horse chewing on her hair.

[shadowsran]

"Mine can't go without fidgeting, so they'll be good neighbors for each other." Or terrible neighbors, but she's a glass half full type. "Also love the sound of that! Misty, as pleased to meet you as I can be considering the...circumstances. Hopefully you woke up to someone a little softer spoken than Rocket?"

II. Stables

[cicadashell]

The stables is where Jiro's chosen to hang out, instead of in the saloon. He's terrible at socializing, and more comfortable with the animals. He's sitting in the stall with his horse, feet propped up on a bucket that maybe should have had oats in it. He looks up with disinterest as Misty speaks.

"Her name's May."

[shadowsran]

If the disinterest puts her at any unease, it certainly isn't showing.

"Worried someone might mess with her, or just looking for quiet?"

Not like there isn't plenty of town to explore, after all. Connections to be made. Nothing worth missing out on for hypothetical worry of mount saboteurs. "Nothing much bad happens in town. Hasn't since I've been around, anyway."

[cicadashell]

"It's not quiet in here," he snorts. Horses are apparently gossips, who knew. "And she can take care of herself."

Misty is one of the most normal-looking people he's encountered so far, but he's sure there's something she has that would be entertaining to whoever's watching them all.

"How long have you been here? Haven't found a way out yet?"

[shadowsran]

"Handful of rounds. Not enough time to have dug into more than the veterans, and if there's any way to just bust out I doubt any one person would be enough anyway." Comfortable handful of abilities aside, she isn't so self-important as to imagine she'll be instigating any jailbreaks. "Take it you're looking, then?"

I

[notabirdcostume]

Sam meets her glance. "Shouldn't be too hard to do."

He may have at least one round under his belt, but in many regards he still felt like one of the new arrivals still. At the very least he had the advantage of one familiar face in the group and then that familiar face having a surprising connection from that other place he'd been stuck in for awhile. As it stands, he feels like this will be a better chance to get to know Misty outside of her connection to Bucky -- he's seen how close they are and it honestly surprised him at first, until more of that story had become clear.

"We should probably confer at some point...after we've confirmed some things anyway."

[shadowsran]

"No rush just yet. Better that we all get something to eat, nothing more demanding than conversation until we're on the road again." Conferring is exactly the right course to take, and about all she feels up to beyond drawing a bath. "Figure Soldat'll be looking for the both of us, so we'll be as on-the-ball as we can be shortly."

He is, after all...the main contact, here. The only definite ally. "I'll feel better the more we can narrow down who we're up against."

[notabirdcostume]

Sam pats the neck of his mare, she's slow but he can't help but be a bit affectionate. "After riding all day the last thing I want to do is anything besides eat, bathe, sleep and maybe find time to chat in between those three things," he replies playfully. At least in the meantime he'd gotten better at riding -- it still made him a little sore, but nothing a little stretching and a bath couldn't fix.

"You think we'll be able to get that information out of anybody?"

[shadowsran]

"Not directly, nah. There might be people who don't totally get it yet or don't care enough, but we'd tip our hand going straight at it. It's mostly just process of elimination, paying mind to who groups up with who. People who hate each other aren't going to be palling around for no reason, and any fresh faces are with somebody."

They know theirs and they'll know Soldat's. Any others will be fifty-fifty odds. (And what goes unused in one match can always be utilized in another. A vexing quality of rotating rosters.)

After a beat she thoughtfully adds, "We could get real lucky, and they just get real drunk and chatty on their own." And with some comically crossed fingers, she's dismounting.

II

[givemyrightarm]

"No." Although truthfully, she hadn't been aware that they even had to.

[shadowsran]

It's no requirement as far as she's aware, but a curious thing to skip.

"Should think on ideas, when you've got the focus to spare. Better you have something specific to call, and the horse to know when you need 'em. And it's fun, much as anything here's fun." Most of the fun to be found does in fact center around the hoses, in her limited experience. "Makes sense it might not be a priority right now, I guess."

[givemyrightarm]

Irene considers that. The horse she's been given is smart but demanding, and canny enough to be trouble if she wants to be. Irene has known some people like that. One name in particular keeps coming to mind, and if the thought pains Irene in any way, she doesn't show it. She actually thinks the woman in question might appreciate it. "Teresa."

[shadowsran]

"Pretty." Easy observation, asks little of either participant in this conversation. Thrilled to have been the impetus, Irene. "Been around horses much, before this?"

II

[ragingwolf]

"You don't have anything you're saving up for yourself?" Fuwa's curious, if nothing else. He certainly doesn't need the charity for himself, he's been here distinctly longer than Misty.

(He can't decide if he likes her or not. The sniper had killed him, their whole team for Misty, but he believed it when he'd heard she didn't know. So he's reserving judgement. For now.)

[shadowsran]

"Well, there's getting out," she replies, in a tone conveying no particular optimism despite her smile, "But pennies lost along the way are a small price to pay for, y'know, decency." Neighbors should spot neighbors when possible, however hostile the greater circumstances.

There is perhaps something of an olive branch in this exact instance. She genuinely was unaware, which almost increases pressure to...something.

[ragingwolf]

He doesn't roll his eyes, but he does glance away, picking up an item at random (that turns out to be a jar of pickles). "I suppose there's no harm in giving the fresh meat a hand," he agrees. "Better that they have someone helping them out now than finding out they can't do anything for themselves just yet."

[shadowsran]

"Makes town a little nicer to be around, too." The game is mandatory and too often terrible, but holdover animosity could be optional. Not normal, never quite normal, but the downtime could be at the very least civil. "Only going to be harder for them to get some starting points if they're going in without tools or dehydrated."