backdated to before the heist

[emberserker]

[Wolfsbane's been training in the back alleys of the residential district almost constantly. She strikes at a dummy with her axe over and over, splitting it with a scream, and follows up with a fireball shot at a disposal bin that lights the contents on fire. Seething, she stares at it.]

I'll show him to say that rubbish about me.

[She finally does have to stop for a moment, though, and that's how she ends up in the Neon Light Graveyard, staring up at a giant sign for something called "Old West Casino," complete with sexy cowgirl posing with blinking light-up eyes and a neon lasso that moves up and down.]

That must have been a whole theme, until they got tired of it. Always looking for something new to keep their attention, aren't they?

[Why is she here.

Speaking of casinos, though, she'll show up at the Et Voila Casino again, just to check out what the Spectres are saying about the calling card. Though she pauses in front of a slot machine with a weird name, shakes her head, and walks away, muttering to herself.]

You're famous, Mona.

Comments

[mementomoritz]

I wonder why cowboys, specifically? [Medic's first trip to the Neon Graveyard yielded nothing except some souvenirs, but it was still interesting to look at. Besides, taking the occasional walk is good for recharging your brain when you're trying to think through some complicated scientific issue.]

How many worlds even had an Old West to make costumes of, and why did they think it would be a good choice for everyone?

[emberserker]

Must be why it ended up thrown out. [She raises her eyebrows.] How many of us are even from a place like that?

[mementomoritz]

I know my world had a historical period like that somewhere, but that was a really long time ago- the continent where it happened isn't even in one piece anymore! But I guess it would only take a few Specters who really liked that sort of thing to try making something...

Statistically, it's a little weird that so many of us are even human- you'd think other species just didn't die at all, looking at this place.

[emberserker]

So presumably either people who don't look human are more disposed to the lower layers, or there are more afterlives than the one we've ended up in. I'm not sure which of those is more likely.

[mementomoritz]

[She nods.] It's an interesting theory to test! Or it will be, when we get more access to the rest of Purgatory.

[She tilts her head, squinting thoughtfully at the sign:] I don't think that shirt makes a lot of sense for working on a cattle ranch, though... Who would want to handle an angry bull with their abdomen uncovered? [She knows it's supposed to be a sexy cowgirl, but can't they be sexy and OSHA compliant? Workplace accidents are not her kink.]

[schardynfreude]

[He does not necessarily go looking for anyone if they go somewhat missing. Gods know that's exhausting and he doesn't want to inspire anyone to do the same to him if/when he has to disappear for a time.

The yelling and the fire are kind of a gimmie, though.

Chiron leans against a wall at the mouth of the alley, just. Y'know. Watching. It's almost impressive.]

Has anyone ever suggested meditation to you?

[emberserker]

Yes. [She grumbles and glares at him.] That isn't going to help if we're in the middle of a fight, though, is it? I need to get stronger before anything else if I'm going to shut up that insufferable alley rat.

[schardynfreude]

[And up bob his eyebrows.]

Not to put too fine a point on it, but the only one I see playing about in city backalleys is you.

[emberserker]

Why do you think that is? He's been hoarding the training area for days now.

[heir_to_ruin]

[The casino has kind of become his space. It's where he works, it's important for him to know the gossip, know what's going on. He's chatted up dealers and waitstaff and everyone in between....

So when he sees another of the executors on the floor he has to fight the urge to rush over from the black jack table he's at. Even not rushing it doesn't take him too long to come over to check in with her. Just in case.

There better be something important happening, that table was hot and now he's lost the count. But rather than seeming annoyed he comes over with his usual playboy grin, flashing her a wink and... well let's be real here if she's still by the slot machines he's going to lean a hand against one and kabedon her so they can talk without too much eavesdropping.

Even if he doesn't like her much they all have to work together!]

Hey there~ What's a cute girl like you doing here?

[Translation: you hate people. why are you here? is something wrong?]

[emberserker]

[Wolfsbane snaps her head up and blinks, then frowns.]

It isn't as if there's anything to do here but entertainment. Which I suppose also answers the question of "what do you want." Everyone else here's after the same thing... that and answers about that mystery announcement.

[It's a wonder she's being this cooperative, honestly.]

[heir_to_ruin]

[The way she says "mystery" announcement implies that she's playing along but at the same time being so dismissive of him and.... well pretty much everyone else is not exactly the kind of rumor spreading Mona really meant.]

Uh yeah? You think there's answers here?

[Okay, nix the kabedon. Just gonna lean oh so casually against the wall instead. He did not expect her to actually be even remotely helpful. (He honestly expected her to snap at him to go away.)]

[emberserker]

[She turns away and crosses her arms, looking at Moon Maidens like it personally offended her.]

Someone must, they're all chittering about it. I heard one say these 'mystery thieves' must be going to break into her house. Misdirection or telephone, I suppose. Actually, where does she live? It clearly isn't the slum.

[karappo]

[Second has, lo and behold, actually been trying to work with his own new abilities. It's been...difficult, to say the least. Being able to manipulate light itself isn't really something he could do when he was alive, he's pretty sure, so calling that into being any time he needs to use it for defensive purposes is harder than you'd think. So far, he's barely managed more than a few sparkles to gather at his fingertips.

That's going on now as he happens to be standing nearby when Wolfsbane shows that dummy who's boss. The sudden fireball is almost enough to prompt him to hit the deck because jesus-]

A-...a...is...everything alright, Wolfsbane...?

[emberserker]

Yes. [She looks down at him and folds her arms.] Really? I was aiming completely out of your path.

[karappo]

Hm...it is not your aim that concerns me, but the feriocity.

[You could take someone's eye out.]

Your skill is quite impressive though, I must say.

[emberserker]

Of course it is. And I'm sure you're unhappy with the state of things too. You can't be scared when we take down Greta.

[daughterofthemark]

[Oh, no. Veil's here to look at the sign, too.]

A theme? How would a direction operate as a theme?

[emberserker]

It's specifically the west of a certain place at a certain time period, and highly embellished at that. Stories about it grew to be more fantasy than real at a certain point, and an aesthetic emerged in line with that.

[daughterofthemark]

I see! So it is not unlike when we became idols.

[There's logic behind this, but she thinks it's self-evident so why would she elaborate?]

[emberserker]

I have to ask. How do you connect those ideas, exactly?

[ourtomorrow]

[ What a violent and uncontrollable outburst of temper and rage she's releasing upon that back alley! It would be terrible if it happened to be overseen by anyone vulnerable!

Like a literal child! ]



Wolfsbane......san.......?

[emberserker]

[She turns to face him, scowl barely tempered.]

Did you need something?

[ourtomorrow]

--N-no, I.....

[ Monarch shrinks back. He saw something he wasn't supposed to see, didn't he? Again. Like he had in his memory. That doesn't mean his brother was right about him, does it? ]

[emberserker]

[She shakes her head, garbage still burning behind her.]

It's just training. Everybody's going to need to be on their guard coming up, and with Sword taking up the training area for himself, I had to go somewhere.