Tipsy Toad
Chloe had to think about describing her brother for a moment, especially since he was way older now, before answering, "He's taller than me by now I'm sure, has short black hair and dark skin like me. His eyes are blue though. He um, won't be dressed similar to me, probably -hic- more modest." She blushed a bit at her words, but she did love her outfit. The person who sold it to her said it was what people wore in this area and though it showed quite a bit of skin, it was actually easy to maneuver in and kept her cool when she was exploring the desert area.
"I...I do remember him once talking about not being a treasure hunter like the rest of our family, that he wanted to do work that allowed him -hic- to settle down. He wanted to be a hero for justice or something like that. Maybe he became a sheriff." she commented, now looking at Teri and Kris and away from her drink. "I shouldn't get too worked up about it, I'm sure he's fine. I came here to find treasure and that's what I'm going to do. If I run into along the way, well then that would be a bonus." she added with a grin.
"Can you imagine an imaginary menagerie manager imagining managing an imaginary menagerie?"
[MAIN STREET]
By coincidence, Tana looked over her shoulder back at the store. Exiting said building, she saw, was a male-looking figure in a veil.
"Hey, what's he got to hide?" Tana asked herself, growing curious about the individual. Finally, she broke off from Christopher's company to approach him.
"Odd solution for the sun, isn't it?" She asked, referring to the veil.
[THE TIPSY TOAD]
For a saloon, it didn't seem to have a very large crowd. In westerns, the saloon was always full of outlaws, drunkards, and gamblers that just wanted an honest game of poker. Then again, those were just westerns.
Still, Christopher observed that the crowd was quite varied - a group of six, a fellow with reptilian-looking skin, and a young girl that might've had one too many. After looking over the other details of the place, he approached the group of six.
"Excuse me," He said after listening in for a second, "Is there anyone who can spare a little muscle?"
edited 21st Aug '15 9:42:45 AM by TroPartner
Drummer Boy
[The Washington]
"Uh, thanks, Lia!" Cyrus scratched the back of his head, smiling nervously. "It kind of came at the cost of the rest of my education, though. My parents were trying to train me in economics and diplomacy and the like, but none of that stuck. So, communicating with the land... does it ever say stuff like 'please stop cutting down the trees' or is it more... abstract? And how does 'regular' spellcasting differ from the song-based kind?"
[Outside The Washington]
The cat girl is named Anne and she's a ghost.
... Sure. Of course she is. Why not.
Kito walked in the same direction where Miyuki and Hoshi had gone, following them by scent and keeping a safe distance behind them. He saw them enter the general store and was satisfied that they weren't up to anything fishy—for now. When he returned to the outside of the saloon, he decided to check on them again in a few minutes.
Azuhl is... very quick and efficient. I doubt that the time he spent out of my sight was enough to do anything funny. He approached Azuhl and started sniffing the newly purchased tents lying on the ground.
The last battle's curtains will open on stage!
[Desert ~ Railroad](John, the sleeper)
The sleeper rubbed his eyes, again wincing slightly as he did so. "Did I jump off a...?" he began, then paused to yawn. It elicited several sharp pains, both internal and external, but his body dictated that it had to be done. "...nope." he finished, in his inflated, just-had-a-good-yawn voice.
He paused for a few seconds that would have been awkward if he hadn't been so tired and sore. "So that's neither of us." he said, uselessly. Then he tilted his head to look past the man, and at the departing train, which was growing increasingly distant.
"Got a car?" he asked, eyes wandering slowly back to the man. "Or, like a... a horse?"
the color today
They/Them
[Outside The Washington]
Azuhl stopped his whistling as Kito approached and sniffed the tents that were lying against The Washington. He looked at the Wolfram but kept a causal attitude, even though he was used to having defend himself against wolves that would relentlessly pursue him in the wilds.
Azuhl shrugged and looked at Kito and began talking to him, "I've seen a lot of weird things where I'm from and I've already seen a lot of weird things here. So I suppose you either talk or at least understand me based off a random guess."
Note to self: Pick less edgy username next time.
PAINKILLER
[The Tipsy Toad]
Samuel nodded. "Interesting. Really. It would've been bad to wake up someplace strange. At least here, I actually though I was still home." Thank God I'm not the only weird one here.
The bartender put down a plate which had a sandwich— it was probably a universally-accepted food item. He took a couple of large bites of it before continuing, "I'm guessing Terra Nova is a planet, right? Same thing about this 'Earth'?" He went to take another bite, but considered what Karl said. "Why would you be here intentionally? Is there something out there that's er... Worthwhile?" He did consider the treasure that the woman was spouting about. Surely it couldn't be the only reason.
Then a man came up to them and asked for a helping hand. Samuel could easily help, but he was in the middle of replenishing energy. His eyes went to the Terra Novans as an indicator.
Life is hard, that's why no one survives.
[The Washington]
With a sardonic smile, Suela said, "the priests back in the Empire also talk with the land. They say. According to them, it mostly says 'give the priests more money'. Our Emperor thought it sounded more like 'the priests should pay the Emperor higher taxes', though, and his armies agreed. So did the priests, after a bit of 'convincing'." She looked over at Lia apologetically and added, "since you seem like a decent person, I imagine the things the land tells you are less convenient for your coffers?"
[Stables —> Outside the Washington]
Brin said, "I was thinking about the same thing, but Suela says he's good, and he seems to do fine." She looked up at him and added, "I've gotten kinda fond of him. He reminds me of my chief of police... but less grumpy." She gave Cloudsplitter a fond pat on the neck, which he merely tolerated. "I hope I see her again. Even if she's going to tear me apart for disappearing for so long. Wonder if she'd believe any of this? Then again, maybe I should keep quiet. Less paperwork." She sighed, resisting the urge to complain about her inability to return when everybody else seemed to take it for granted they could come and go as they pleased. "Alright," she said, "let's see what poor Cloudsplitter will have to carry."
She nodded in approval at the tents and put them into Cloudsplitter's saddle packs, carefully balancing the weight while Cloudsplitter glared down at Kito. He wasn't deeply afraid — Kito wasn't much larger than a thaumavore, and was alone rather than in a pack — but he was very wary and positioned himself so that if Kito made a sudden attack, there would be no easy weak points to strike and Cloudsplitter could give Kito a solid strike with a hoof.
edited 21st Aug '15 5:01:15 PM by KillerClowns
Crazy Kiwi
"I shouldn't get too worked up about it, I'm sure he's fine. I came here to find treasure and that's what I'm going to do. If I run into along the way, well then that would be a bonus."
Kris nodded. “Sounds like a good plan.”
“I hope it works out for you,” said Teri. “I'm sure that if he's as capable and self-reliant as you look, he's doing fine.”
She turned to face Samuel. “Yeah, Earth and Terra Nova are both planets. We don't know where they are in relation to one another or even if they're in the same universe – opinion's rather divided on that score. An', yes, it was quite a shock for me. I came 'round in the middle of a forest when I expected to be in Stepney - an' I wasn't exactly dressed for the occasion.”
Peggy nodded, recalling her own arrival on Terra Nova and how terrified she had been.
“We've been sent to find... something,” Karl said to Samuel. “Otherwise we would be home.”
Wolfe laughed. “We've become the 'go-to guys' whenever the Council needs something done that involves extra-dimensional stuff. Or outdoorsy woodlands stuff. Or both.”
Kris snorted and made a funny face. “Yeah, we're The Time Team, off on another adventure.”
Just then, a man who looked to be in his early thirties interjected.
James was puzzled by the newcomer's question. A little muscle? Which little muscle? Or was it mussel? Or, maybe, the older meaning of a little mouse?
Wolfe looked at the newcomer, noting the orange eyes and clothing. The presence of zips suggested a level of technology equivalent to twentieth century Earth, the zip-off legs of the trousers put the style equivalent at no earlier than late twentieth century. “Are you meaning 'muscle' in the sense of some help lifting and carrying or in the sense of force and violence or the threat thereof? And how much is 'a little'?”
Ah, thought James, that explains it. There was still a lot of slang that he had not encountered and, to be fair, those meanings made a lot more sense than some of the strange uses the others put words to.
edited 21st Aug '15 4:29:55 PM by Wolf1066
Attitude is prohibited
[General Store >>> Outside the Washington]
The man behind the counter acted quickly. Miyuki's intensity and total disregard for pleasantries sometimes had that effect on people. He was off down one of the aisles hastily gathering as much cheap food as he could. As she was waiting, Hoshi came back. And she was wearing a sombrero.
More specifically, Hoshi was now wearing an authentic, tan-coloured sombrero and a fresh, colourful Mexican poncho over her black bodyglove. On her hips was a leather belt, crossing over the black belt which - nearly invisible against her suit - held her sword's sheath. On the hip opposite her sword was an empty holster, clearly made for a handgun, likely some kind of revolver. In her hands was another outfit. She walked up to Miyuki, grinning, and said nothing.
There was a long pause. For a while, Miyuki just stared at the clothes, and Hoshi waited patiently. Finally, Miyuki broke the silence.
"I'm not wearing that."
"Aw come on! Please?" Pled Hoshi. "I picked it out just for you! You'll look great! Really!"
Miyuki stared down at the bundle of clothes in her friend's arms, and after a moment of hesitation, slowly reached out towards it. Hoshi's face lit up as Miyuki picked up a classic, brown, felt cowboy hat from atop the pile and delicately placed it on her head.
And then, "You can put the rest back." The joy left Hoshi's face just as quickly as it had arrived.
"Damn it." Muttered the blonde, and with that she turned to put the rest of the clothes back where she'd found them. Not before attaching a second holster to her belt, though.
A few moments later, the both of them were waiting at the counter as the cashier struggled to bring over two bloated bags filled with rations. "We'll also be buying all of this." Miyuki said, motioning to Hoshi's new outfit and her hat.
Shortly after, the pair walked out of the store with everything paid for. Miyuki, holding both bags in one hand and walking as though they weighed nothing at all, made a bee-line for Brin. She casually walked up to her, put the heavy bags down at her feet and said "Got the food," neglecting to explain her new hat.
Hoshi, meanwhile, quick made a detour to the local gun shop and soon came out with a couple Smith & Wesson Model 1's occupying her holsters. "Ready to go!" She said, as she approached Brin, also neglecting to explain her new look.
[The Washington]
"Excellent." Said Rin. "I'll hang on to your weapon until you're done. In the meantime, please, join us at our table. You may have my seat." She reached down to pick up the gun, then (assuming she did indeed get to pick it up) motioned towards the table and (presumably) led him towards it. "Commander." She said, as the approached the table. "This is Crowe. He would like to talk to you." Rin stood aside and motioned to the seat that she had previously been occupying.
"Well, well, well." Said Hana, putting her wine glass down. "Not many people get past my associate's inspection." She smiled. "To what do I owe the pleasure, Mr. Crowe?"
Not entirely dead.
[Desert]
"I only have my back, son." John said, "So unless you want a piggy back ride, we're both screwed."
He finally gave the stranger his full attention. He seemed harmless; he was just an odd looking kid. Nothing more, nothing less.
But now they had another problem; catching a train and leaving the desert. So far, they were the only people there; he couldn't see anyone else. There were no trucks, cars, anything.
He needed to figure something out before they both passed out.
"I'm John, by the way." he said, "Good lord, you're a mess. What were you doing in that river? Swimming?"
(Stables->General Store)
Turned out, the store had just about everything. Anne grabbed some blankets for the cold desert nights, paused with a smile at some breath-freshening "Var-Mints", and picked up some cat treats for Lucky. Near the exit, she found some clay that she could use for making extra runes. Never hurt to be prepared.
She paid for her items and loaded them up on Cloudsplitter. "So, I need to ask. Does anyone have any specifics on where we're going, or are we just flying by the seat of our pants?"
Forward, boys! For God's sake, forward!
[main street, near general store]
That was... sudden. "Works," he said matter-of-factly, stepping beside the door. He tended to forget that in practice, his veil often functioned more as a show of extravagance than anything. Although his shirt ensured that his back needed no protection, that was no reason to eschew using such a fine, beautiful veil. "Sunblock is disgusting. This intrigues the eye. Could ask the same of yours."
Tsadro motioned with two fingers to the top of his head. He referred, of course, to the small bit of dark cloth on the old woman's head. Merely for looks, or as hair protection? In hindsight, his veil did make good hair protection, as long as it was.
"Jack, you have debauched my sloth."
[THE TIPSY TOAD]
"Oh, it wouldn't even take half an hour." Christopher assured Wolfe, possibly a touch nervously, "It's just that I've got a pretty big transport on one of the train's flatcars, and a hand would be appreciated with getting a ramp and setting it up so I can unload it. I think it's safe to say there aren't a lot of cranes around this place. When the ramp's in place, I can do the rest."
After finishing, he put his hands forward in a casual manner. "So anyway, is there anyone who can help me for a bit, or maybe you know someone?"
[MAIN STREET]
"Hm? This?" Tana looked up, even lifting her hand to finger the bandana's fabric.
"Oh, heh, just something I've worn since I got into driving monster trucks. Not to mention I know a little technique where this can keep your head a little bit cooler in the desert."
"And, no offense, but I don't exactly like always looking like I just got back from a wedding." She joked, shrugging innocently.
edited 21st Aug '15 8:46:57 PM by TroPartner
[Outside the Washington]
First, Brin looked at Hoshi and Miyuki. She blinked incredulously, seemed to consider saying something, thought better of it, and settled on the immediate question: "the outfit was paid for out of your pocket, I presume?"
Then, to Anne, "yeah, I've got a map." She pulled a map from one of Cloudsplitter's packs, and showed it, tracing their general intended direction. They were heading towards the mountains, passing through scrublands that eventually turned to forest at an unnatural rate, to eventually reach a pass. The other side of the pass was unmapped, aside from being marked with crossed lines from a quill pen. "There's bandits around the scrubland, don't know if they'll be trouble or not. Apparently things also get weird, like spirit wilds weird, around the pass itself. And, of course," she sighed, "nobody's survived the journey through the pass."
edited 21st Aug '15 8:54:05 PM by KillerClowns
Crazy Kiwi
The Tipsy Toad
Wolfe gave a chuckle. "Oh, that's all right then. It's just, you know, guy walks into a place like this, comes up to a bunch of people all fitted out with weapons and asks if they can provide 'muscle'... sounds like a scene out of better than fifty percent of all Westerns. Was wondering for a minute if you wanted us to chase someone off your ranch."Teri laughed. "Gordon Bennett, Wolfe!" She wasn't going to admit that that was exactly what had gone through her mind as well.
James smiled at the newcomer. "I see no problem with that." He looked around. The young girl looked possibly too drunk to participate. "Ammolite, would you like to join us? And you, too, Samuel? Once you've finished your lunch, of course."
Karl drained the last few mouthfuls of his beer and set the glass down on the bar, ready to go, and Kris and Peggy followed suit.
"Ready when you are," said Kris.
Laugh and grow dank!
[The Washington]
Crowe hesitated before following Rin, but only briefly.
When he arrived at Hana's table, he nodded stiffly to her and slid into a seat. Instead of answering her question, he said, "You have interesting friends, Commander." He inclined a head in Rin's direction. "I have to wonder just how they got those fancy augments of theirs. And they look too much alike not to share a set of gene mods. Is that your work?" Crowe folded his arms across his armored chest.
yey
Just flowing with it.
[The Washington]
"It is something really abstract, abstract enough that I can't tell what was said half of the time. But even when I understood, it is never about giving me orders, or even matters concerning me at all. To the world, the power I borrowed amounts less than pocket change, and my drawing power to make fire was as insignificant to it as another human cutting down a tree to the same end." Lia said. "The World itself is a nebulous entity, many said it has no concept of morality; the sense of good and evil, right and wrong, nor the concept of life and death. But what it has is emotions. The one we can vividly communicate with are the Aspects, broken-off fragments of the World, but I've never met one before."
Krul let out an unhappy grunt; Lia was underplaying her role yet again. "As a Songbird, Lia's duty was to understand more about the world and how it responds to events, as well as using her borrowed power for the good of the kingdom, and the whole world at large." he said.
"W-well, something like that." Lia said, a bit perplexed to hear Krul doing the explaining.
They/Them
[Outside the Washington]
Azuhl somewhat somewhat grinned at the mention of bandits being an obstacle in the journey. He stopped learning against the wall of The Washington and approached Brin.
"Luckily, taking down bandits are something of a none issue for me. I ask that in the case of bandits that you allow me to lead the charge, since you and your friend seem to be the expedition leaders," His voice turned serious, "I'd also like to make clear that in the case we run into any kind of the undead, without boasting, I can eliminate all of them very quickly."
He went back to learning on the wall of The Washington and let his mind wonder. He was very intent on getting the undead eliminating part known. Why wouldn't he be? He came from a culture of outcasts who lived for the right to let the dead rest and eliminate the profane undead. He hoped that Brin would understand.
[The Tipsy Toad]
Ammolite had become lost in thought and had since lost track of the conversation. They shook their head to come back to reality.
"Sorry," they said to the Terra Nova group, "I started thinking to deeply, what's been happening?"
Note to self: Pick less edgy username next time.
PAINKILLER
[The Tipsy Toad]
Samuel listened in, all while listening to the exchange.
The man, whose eyes seemed very odd to Samuel, just needed to build a ramp. For a moment, the man thought he had to actually lift something. He thought the group could handle themselves with the ordeal. But he changed his mind about it. He nodded to them and said, "Yeah, just a minute." He was around two bites from finishing.
He pulled out enough coins and bills to pay for it, plus a tip. Samuel stood up from his seat, then threw off his jacket to out in the pack. He wondered why he had it on in the desert in the first place. Underneath was just a gray sleeveless shirt, and his bare arms.
Ammolite seemed to be roused from their daydreams. Samuel answered, "Oh, just this guy needs a little help. Though I think he has enough." Considering the group's number and possible combined strength, they didn't need another.
- Current Time: 11:00 AM
- Current Weather: Heat from the sun warmed the land, also adding it to the gusting wind. Loose ground from the desert is sifting in the air. Otherwise, the weather was still favorable.
Crazy Kiwi
The Tipsy Toad
James turned to Ammolite, who had apparently returned from wherever their thoughts had taken them. "We're going to go and help this gentleman get some sort of transport off the train."Karl nodded. "Ja. We'll provide some muscle."
Wolfe grinned and slapped the stock of the hunting rifle hung over his shoulder. "But not this sort of muscle. Just a bit of lifting."
Teri finished her beer and slid off the stool."I'm ready."
[THE TIPSY TOAD > MAIN STREET]
"Hey, thanks!" Christopher responded, "If it's all six of you helping, this won't take any time at all."
As he started leading the small crowd out of the pub, he gave his hand to Wolfe. "Anyway, it's Christopher. Christopher Wallace."
They/Them
[The Tipsy Toad]
Ammolite grinned and got out of their chair, "I'm up for helping then."
"Besides," they said with a devilish grin, "I can always provide even more muscle if things get hairy!"
A light flashed all over Ammolite and their form changed.
Standing in place of Ammolite, was an Andre the Giant like beast of an individual that was only a pale reflection of Ammolite. While maintaining Ammolite's green skin tone and python like patterns of orange and yellow, the individual was both big gutted and with muscular limbs. With a huge square chin alongside smaller facial features and much more curlier hair than Ammolite's regular hair, they spook with a deep and boisterous voice.
"I am Devastater Dragon! I am here to lift the heavy stuff that you can't!"
Note to self: Pick less edgy username next time.
[main street, outside general store]
This was one benefit to being a Rivari- he had no truly deep ties to any culture and no easily traceable heritage, eliminating an entire, obvious identity that could be used against him. Even if she weren't jesting, it was all good fun to him regardless.
Tsadro gave her an amused look, running the finely-crimped edge of his veil through his fingers. "White, at your own wedding? Who would do that?" Obviously, Eartheners and Danaevans. Something about sexual purity, he heard, because that mattered or something. "The gods wouldn't have known who to bless at my wedding if we didn't wear azure." A small laugh.
"Jack, you have debauched my sloth."
Crazy Kiwi
The Tipsy Toad
Wolfe shook Christopher's hand. "Wolfe. And these are my family: Teri, Peggy, Kris, Karl and James." He left it to Samuel and Ammolite to introduce themselves.Ammolite did so, but not in quite the way Wolfe and the others expected.
Peggy's eyes bulged at Ammolite's sudden transformation. "Fuck!" She sounded more thunderstruck than worried.
Kris suddenly realised that there might be more to the preferred use of 'they' than a personal quirk or gender identity.
Teri looked at Ammolite/Devastater Dragon. It seemed that if things got 'hairy', Ammolite got less hairy. "Don't worry," she flashed a glance at Wolfe's arms, "Wolfe's hairy enough for all of us. Glad to have you along, Jack."
Peggy looked at Teri. "Their name is..."
Teri grinned. "Nah, 'Jack' ain't a name, itsa job description."
Wolfe chuckled and turned to Devastater Dragon. "Just so you know: I get the heavy end. You can have the really heavy end."
(Main Street-> Stables)
Anne's eyes widened at the display of telekinesis. "That's impressive. Even when I was alive, I needed a wand to do that. As for why I bother with runes, well, turns out a living body can hold more energy than just a soul, so I prefer to use runes to pre-cast my spells. Means I can use magic without getting tired, but if I don't have a rune for the situation at hand, I'm in deep trouble."
Anne and Lucky followed Brin down to the stables, noting the rather rough-looking beast that was to be their pack animal. "Seems to me he's been through a lot." Lucky commented. "You sure he's not gonna give out in the middle of the expedition?"
Forward, boys! For God's sake, forward!