Another Day, Another Dollar (post-round mingle)

[midpointmods]

PLAYERS: Everyone!
LOCATION: Midpoint, and anywhere else people want to explore
GOAL: Time to relax after some hard-won rounds.
WARNINGS: None
OTHER: The setting post for those who want to explore

The stagecoach reaches the Ranch... and the cargo isn’t with it. A large, feathery dinosaur reaches the Ranch a little later, with only some of their cargo, having been hit mid-route and between transformations by the bandits.

“Well, we’ll take what we can get,” Lee says sourly at what’s left after the bandits’ raiding - maybe half of the empty crates. He hollers at his ranch hands, “Come get 'em, boys!” Between him and the other workers, and any of the remaining driver team able to be pressed into service (which is mostly just Groot), the crates are unloaded and stacked and filled with supplies for the next train out. Looks like they were useful, after all.

At the end of the day, Lee sends the drivers on their way back to Midpoint, and the bandits can do what they will with their portion of the cargo. Got any use for sturdy wooden crates, friends?

In Tycoon Depot, Tiffany Jamesson has spent a(n enjoyable) day and a half in hiding with Inara, Daylight, and Irene, peppering Daylight with questions and flirting demurely with Inara and Irene, presumably out of boredom. The hand-off with her father goes pretty smoothly, with only Fuwa on the outside - he might be furious, but he's not willing to interrupt and risk the target’s life in a firefight.

Exchange made, kidnappers and bodyguards are free to head back to Midpoint.

In the saloon, North has laid out a buffet of everyone’s favorite foods to choose from, with beer and wine on the house for two days only: the traditional post-round congratulations-or-consolations feast. There’s someone on the piano almost all night providing music, and extra hot water for baths whenever people finally retires to their rooms. Most Players make good use of the additional free food and drink for as long as it lasts; whether for enjoyment, self-medication, or to stave off boredom is their own call.

The dead don't remain so for long, and wake up in jail cells - the same ones they started their round at - at the edges of the game arena around the same time as the round ends, ready to be collected by friends - if there’s anyone who wants to come get them.

The next week and a half belong to the Players to do with what they please, be it sleep all day, spend their hard-earned points on more alcohol, ask lots of questions, or explore the arena. There are no events planned, nothing to steal, no one to murder (unless you really want to, anyway), and plenty of things to learn about and try to get to the bottom of, for any Players not too jaded to try and search. Good luck with that, anyway.

Oh - did you want to know if you won, or how badly you lost? Gonna have to ask North or Booker for your points totals, because there’s nobody who actually announces whether you won or lost...

Comments

Booker's General Store

[midpointmods]

For point tallies, supplies, and more!

[unofficial_ambassador]

All right, it's time to be a grown-up and spend some of her own money. It's still a bit disconcerting to see the exact same man here as in the store in Tycoon Depot, but Inara hides her double-take and smiles.

"Good morning, I'm here to check my balance."

[midpointmods]

Booker's not as good at hiding his own, completely blank, stare when she walks in, but he very quickly lights up with a charming grin. "It's a pleasure seein' y'all again, Ma'am. Your current balance is..."

He pauses, tapping one hand on the counter as he thinks, and gives her another smile. "One hundred points! Congratulations - that must've been a decisive victory!"

Re: Booker's General Store

[chalicejoker]

"We have a balance?" Hajime is trying to act like he knows exactly what he's doing. He does not. But he's also got a few things he wants to try to buy, or at least price, and this is how he's got to go about doing it, isn't it?

"Do you have candy?" Ryo's got his own priorities. "Or toys?"

[midpointmods]

"Every active pl-player has a balance--" Booker stares with an odd blankness at Hajime for a moment, before his polite smile is abruptly back in place as he continues, "Mister Aikawa. Y'all can earn up to fifty points for losing when you participate i-in a round, and up to one hundred for winning. It all depends on how entertaining the higher ups thought y'all ma-ma-made it."

He turns his attention to Ryo, and smiles gently. "What kind of candy would y'all be interest-ested in? We've got a pretty wide variety," he adds, gesturing behind him at the lower shelves - there's hard and soft peppermints, peanut brittle and taffy, gum and sherbert wafers, and a line of jars with numerous different kinds of pickled jalapenos.

[worthallthis]

Soldat always checks in with Booker between rounds, just to make sure he's doing okay. Usually, they're not coming to buy anything-- they got their rifle ages ago, and there's really not anything else they need, unless it's a specific item for a mission, and even then, they don't generally bother unless it seems critical.

Today, they have an idea, if it winds up being possible.

Starting with pleasantries, though, always. Because Booker is as much a person as they are, dammit. "Hi, Booker. How're the circuits today?"

[midpointmods]

Soldat gets a slightly warmer smile than most people. It's got a bit of extra crinkle in Booker's cheeks, a slight drop of his shoulders as he relaxes a little. He's known Soldat for five years, after all - it's nice seeing him finally open up.

"Well as they ever are, sir." And part of it is no names for Soldat, despite Booker knowing his real one. "A bi-bit more fried than most folks, but still doing their j-j-job."

Nicholas St. North at Midpoint Saloon

[midpointmods]

For point tallies, lots of food and booze, and chatter, North has your back. And your lunch.

[shadowsran]

Primary focus is the buffet for as long as it's on offer, but at some point during the first evening back Misty makes a point to hustle over North's way; she tries not to pester him when possible, even custom dishes feel too great an ask, but tallies are hardly so demanding.

"Hey, popping in to check my balance and compliment the food-?"

[midpointmods]

"I vill always take compliments to my food, I make the best food," North chuckles. "And your total, Miss Day, is one hundred forty points. Good job just barely winning round." That's sixty-five points more than her total before leaving, so hey, at least they won?

[elderflowermacarons]

Taako didn't really bother getting the lay of the land before the first run and he's only really here to take whatever he can get out of that mess. It's the first time he's thought about the barkeep for even a second, and something about him rings familiar.

"You don't bring gifts to good children once a year by any chance, my dude, cus I think I might have had a temp gig for another reality's take on you." Taako leans elbow-on-bar and chin-in-hand, idly swirly a drink with the other hand and looking, as usual, like a bored and mildly malevolent cat looking for trouble. But elf shaped.

Re: Nicholas St. North at Midpoint Saloon

[knifecollecting]

[Jo isn't exactly sure how this is all supposed to work, but she heard someone say North would know what points they have.

She bellies up to the bar, watching North work for a minute or two before she clears her throat to catch his attention.]

Hey. Do you have any catfish? [It's a long shot, but some fried fish sounds good.]

Bucky/Soldat | OTA

[worthallthis]

I. Dead Man's Doorstep Prison (Closed to Misty)

Soldat has done this a couple times, now. Not as often as some people, but often enough. The game makers dumped them in the worst prison, of course, so they spend the night huddled under the single available blanket in the freezing cell, and hope to hell somebody comes to pick them (and their horse) up before it gets too hot during the day.

Whoever does come get them, it's clear who's inside, because the giant draft mare is waiting outside, and whinnies hopefully at the approaching horse, anxious for company and bored out of her tiny little mind.


II. At the Saloon

Riding wearily back into Midpoint, Soldat isn't trying to hide their presence. They hand off their bay mare to Soap, disappear upstairs for an hour to get clean and changed into more comfortable clothes than the repaired tac vest and not-repaired, half-shredded flannel and jeans. Then they return downstairs, whether to be checked on by team members and rare couple of friends, confronted by rival team members, or just to devour as much of the buffet as North will let them.

Which is a lot of the buffet. North just cheerfully makes more.

But they make themselves stay downstairs for a couple of hours, even though it's clearly getting more and more stressful as the night progresses. But they're trying, okay.


III. Daily Grind,

In their downtime between missions, Soldat has a routine. For years, it was the same: practice, clean, tend the horse; patrol the entire arena for a few days, come back to the Saloon and practice and clean and tend the horse some more; meticulously fold paper in the privacy of their suite when the feelings get too bad.

Now there are people to check on. They still spend a few days out in the dust, riding a circuit all the way around the arena, and can be found anywhere along the route by other intrepid explorers. When in town, they still practice out at the shooting gallery to the north of the central street, still spend time cleaning and maintaining their weapons, but... it's less.

Because they have to fit in a prowl around town to check on people, multiple people, a couple times a day. Have to fit in lunch and dinner out in public instead of in the safety of the suite upstairs. Have to actually... socialize. Or, as is more common, sit in the back and listen to people while they play cards, nurse a single whiskey all night, or create a small horde of little animals out of paper around the table.

I

[shadowsran]

Tenterhooks is at his best without a match looming overhead. Maybe needing to divert less energy to attending him makes Misty a better rider, maybe the laxness is easy to pick up on, who knows; but he's faster and surer, and they're afforded the benefit of a beeline free of traps. Setting out immediately upon noting his absence, the trip is made in fine time - he's no racehorse, but he makes up for it in stamina. Tying him is a frantic process, undertaken as if a second wasted on that step might result in the cell being empty once she's reached it.

All but flying down the stairs, she'll be greeted by Soldat in whatever position he's in by early morning. The door is swung aside with visible relief. A canteen is offered reflexively.

"What happened?"

II.

[unofficial_ambassador]

Inara doesn't know exactly what happened in the fight that had taken him out, but it had definitely been noisy and had left both him and Hajime dead, which fills in most of the blanks that she actually needs to know. On the one hand, she's still kind of irritated that it had gone down that way because it was never going to meet the stated goal of repairing relations between the two rival team captains, but on the other, she does have to be grateful since the sacrifice was made partially on her behalf and they had come out of it somewhat successfully.

She doesn't sit, but she stops by Soldat’s table once she spots him alive in the saloon. "Back in one piece?"

III

[ragingwolf]

Honestly, Fuwa can appreciate that the sniper has a routine. He even has it memorized, although the one he knows has been thrown into chaos somewhat by the man's changed behaviour over Misty.

Mostly, it just makes him easier to avoid when he's feeling 'particularly ornery', as the locals like to call his sour moods. But today, he's actually seeking the man out.

"Oi." He approaches the sniper from his right, stepping into his line of sight from a distance and stopping well before he's in arms reach. His tone is blunt, as always, but not mean. "I wanna talk."

Inara | OTA

[unofficial_ambassador]

I. Heading Home (anyone heading back from Tycoon Depot)

It's a strange atmosphere as they prepare to return to town after the mission. They may have (at least nominally) won the day, but two people are dead and it's difficult to be too pleased about that even if it isn't permanent.

The mood can't stay too sombre all the time, though, not with the memory of Daylight’s interesting acting choices so fresh and Aethon chewing everything he can get his teeth on, from hair to clothing to other horses’ tails.

II. Return

Inara has more equestrian experience than many of the other newcomers, but not in this position or for this distance on this kind of terrain, so she's still tired and aching by the time they get back to Midpoint. The warm water is greatly appreciated, and when Inara returns to the saloon she's wearing a (dusty but still cleaner) dress and her partially-dried hair is tied back in a complex knot that lets her carry her hairpins just in case.

She sticks around in the common area that first evening for longer than she’d intended. The lively atmosphere reminds her of some of the things that she misses from home, so the impulse is part strategy and part loneliness.

III. Around Town

One of the first things that Inara does the next morning is stop by the General Store and check her balance. Not that she doesn't appreciate what's been done for her, but owing favours here seems like a bit of a tricky situation and she isn't all that keen on having men buy her things anymore, anyway.

After that, she's around - in the stables, at the library, outside and torn between enjoying the sun and melting like an ice cube in the hot weather. It's a little easier talking to people with more time between the conversation and the next time they might have to try and kill one another.

III

[knifecollecting]

[Jo didn't arrive dressed for the summer. In this heat, she would rather have shorts and air conditioning, but she's making do with the camisole she was wearing under all her layers and her jeans.

Still, it's hot, and even if she doesn't think she's going to be here long, she has to make a plan. And to plan, she needs more information. As she heads into the library she is planning her research instead of paying attention to the door, which means, unfortunately, she runs right into Inara.

She stumbles back, looking rather apologetic before she can even regain her footing.]

Sorry! Sorry. Are you okay?

[chalicejoker]

[I - Locked to Fuwa]
Ryo's been hanging out with Fuwa until Hajime got back. There's not much else he can do, and Fuwa had been nice to him after The Very Bad Thing had happened. At the moment, he's a ball python draped around Fuwa's neck, but when he realizes Hajime's back, well. "Hajime! He's here! Gotta go! Gotta go!" And the overexcited mantis-turned-snake immediately starts tugging and pulling Fuwa in the direction of the jail.

Or trying to, anyway. He's really only succeeding in wrapping himself around Fuwa's neck...and constricting. (But it is constricting in the direction of the jail. That is something, right?)

[II - Saloon, OTA]
Ryo's much happier once Hajime's back out of the jail and walking around amongst the living once more. He's in high spirits the entire ride back to Midpoint. Hajime is...well, not exactly happy he both didn't get a straight fight and ended up leaving poor traumatized Ryo alone, he's handling things okay. Having infiltrations die on Jaunts back in his last round of being jerked around by too-powerful beings certainly helped, even if he hadn't really been himself in those cases.

And now, there is gossip to contend with. In his haste to get at the other Undead he'd been sensing since he arrived in this world, he had ended up abandoning his team to go to the brothel for perfectly innocent fight-picking purposes.

It's just that it's a really hard thing to explain away and Hajime's allergic to properly explaining things even at the best of times anyway, oops. He's just. Going to try to ignore any chatter about that.

This is fine.

[III - Around Town, OTA]
In an effort to distract Ryo (and himself, but mostly Ryo, let's be honest), Hajime decides to take one of the forms he picked up on a Jaunt to take Ryo on a run--it's Ryo's favorite, one that looks like a seven-foot-tall mantis. Hajime's not the most graceful runner, but that's okay. Most of the running isn't going to be on the ground. Hajime makes the change behind the saloon, Ryo climbs up on what passes for his mantis shoulder, and off they go. Hajime quickly climbs up the building, gets up to the roof, and proceeds to hop from building to building, thinking that he is totally subtle and that no one will think to look up and spot the giant mantis. Or if he does think about it if only for a moment, he decides that he doesn't care.

From the ground, the much smaller mantis clinging to the larger one may not be visible, and it just might look like Ryo's had a sudden, massive growth spurt. A faint, Ryo-like "wheeeee!" can be heard from the ground during the jumps, and the eagle-eyed among the Players may very well spot him having a bit of much-needed fun.

I

[ragingwolf]

"Ryo--!"

Excuse you, baby snake boy, Fuwa is sitting innocently here trying to eat and you're wrapping very tightly around his throat. He drops his fork to try and work his fingers between Ryo and his windpipe. "We don't have to leave right now, he's fine!"

II.

[unofficial_ambassador]

It does not particularly help Hajime’s reputation with Inara specifically that she had spent the better part of a day with Irene, who had been frustrated with him for immediately taking off for the brothel instead of working. Luckily for him, she's too polite to bring it up, especially so soon after being involved in his death.

That's why she's here right now, actually. "Are you all right?"

II

[worthallthis]

And there's one person they need to check in with. Soldat spies them on their way back from a third serving from the buffet, and pauses at North's counter for a pair of beers. It's worth the points, in this case, they figure. At least the rest of dinner is free.

They sets one on the table in front of Hajime. And a mochi ball in front of Ryo, at North's whispered suggestion and offered platter of the things. Their expression is hard to read, subtle and maybe with shades of a lot of things. But it's not remotely hostile, even if it's hard to see it as apologetic.

[knifecollecting]

Saloon
[Jo's not looking forward to any more performances, but it might end up changing, right? Maybe the demon or angel playing this game will get tired. She's not convinced it isn't a game.

Still, while there's a break, she's going to eat. She's got a trio of plates arranged in front of her, piled high with a skill born only from years of Midwest potlucks.

Judge all you want, she likes food.

There is some room at the table if someone needs to sit down.]

Stable
[Jo might not remember a lot about horses in general, but she knows the basics of caring for any animal. Food, water. A clean place to sleep.]

You good? What kind of treats do you like? [She definitely hopes the horse doesn't actually respond. It would be nice for a hint, though.]

Stable

[worthallthis]

Usually carrots, apples, and sugar.

[No, that's not the horse. It's Soldat, leaning around the extremely large bay mare he's meticulously grooming in the cross-ties several yards down from her hors'es stall.]

Not too much sugar, though. Not good for 'em. There are carrots in a barrel over there, though.

[He nods towards the tack room.]

Stable

[chalicejoker]

[Don't mind the guy in there with the pony that's much smaller than the other, full-sized horses. He's just minding his business. But that pony he's got following him around without any lead or saddle?]

Candy's always good!

[It was the pony. The pony definitely talked. The guy doesn't look like he could manage that high, childlike tone...and the pony's lips moved.]