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

[midpointmods]

Get ready to judge the cooking skills of Santa Claus himself, Hajime. "Ha, good choice. Burger and fries, coming right after mochi."

He might even be gathering ingredients with one hand, opening and closing lower cabinets with a booted foot while the other stirs and shapes the treat for Ryo.

"And so you are new. Yes? You need room, too. Anyone you vant to share with, or just you?"

[chalicejoker]

There is nothing that will stop Hajime from judging anyone's cooking anywhere, really. Even if he's carefully watching the speed and multitasking.

"Sharing would be bad!" Ryo says before Hajime can answer. "Hajime not good at that! Not with strangers!"

Hajime doesn't deny it. "We'd prefer a room to ourselves."

[midpointmods]

"Ah, vell, that's too bad. There are too many here who do not make friends easily. And not an easy place to make friends, yes?" He sounds sympathetic, anyway, though his back is to Hajime and one can only really guess his expression.

[chalicejoker]

There's a slight grimace. "I suppose not."

"Is okay, because we're together!" Ryo's all about that bright side. "Can help him make friends!"

[midpointmods]

"There you go, you have helper," North says, giving Hajime a smile over his shoulder. "And very cute helper, too."

He turns around and places the plate of mochi in front of the two of them. "Do not eat all at once," he warns. "Go slow, and share. Burger will be up next."

[chalicejoker]

Ryo puffs himself up a little--yes, he's cute, thank you--and Hajime just sort of awkwardly nods. "He's better with people." And he hadn't been expecting to be given mochi either, but he does take one.

Ryo's not really eating as slowly as he could, but he is exercising as much restraint as his overexcited mantis self can manage.