+ The Universe is under no obligation to make sense to You +

[vitaelamorte]

Who: EVERYONE!
Where: EVERYWHERE!
When: Saturday, May 19th - Wednesday, May 23rd.
Rating: PG-13, warn if you're gonna go higher!
Summary: A catch-all for the Kyln / Sierra Madre event!
The Story:

For the duration of this event, the entire mansion will be part space jail, part apocalyptic wasteland desert with an abandoned hotel/casino. On the third day an escape route not previously discovered in the Kyln appears and breakouts can be planned...

...Only for everyone to find themselves walking through a large glass prison toward the toxic gas filled wasteland of a desert, the Sierra Madre. Does the prison look better than the toxic cloud outside? If you're stuck in the prison after dark beyond day 3, you'll be forced into and locked in your cell for the night. But at least locked away, nothing from the outside can hurt you. If you try to brave the actual elements in the desert it might be a little hard to breathe. The air has pockets of toxic gas and even a few seconds of exposure could prove deadly. And watch out for the Ghost People.

Inside the abandoned hotel/casino you'll find shelter from the gas and ghosts, but beware the holograms that are 50/50 with their attitude. Prison beatings, a beating from the holograms, which one Would You Rather? And whatever you do, don't try on the collars lying around unless you like to explode. Literally.

[ This is a catch-all for all your prison/desert needs! Please mark your threads clearly in the subject line with your character's name and either a cell number or just a location if you didn't feel like randomizing it or you're making a top level for a public place (like the dining hall or wandering the hotel/casino). Here's the plot post if you need it!

Have fun! ]

Comments

[beatupgrass]

[Rocket's only response to that is a low growl.]

Oh no, this is actually a good memory. I just don't like bein' stuck in the same prison twice and this is the frickin' Kyln.

[also being here without the fire-forged friends he made in that escape is a little too depressing for his tastes.]

[directed]

[Seems no one is in a chipper mood, and with good reason. Rocket growls and Rip just gives him a glance, because testy though they each might be they are both equally stuck for the present. The prudent course, rather than devolving into bickering, is to figure out as much as they can about the circumstances of this event.

One that would see them imprisoned, apparently, in a more literal way than Wonderland’s typical fare.]

A good memory…right then. [Rip can’t exactly recall any happy times he’s had in prison himself, but to each their own.] I’ll forgo asking what you did to wind up here and instead focus on what we might expect in the duration.

[beatupgrass]

Surprisingly, this was one of my least impressive arrests. [He has, at least, started to calm down and think rationally.] The big ol' twenty-three. Took me less than 24 hours to break out and it's supposed to be the nastiest, toughest prison in the galaxy, so really this is a joke on Wonderland.

[directed]

Seems odd that Wonderland would pluck a memory of little significance to you.

[Assuming such to be the case, of course. Rip already suspects there must be more to it. He's not heard of an event that had no meaning for the one whose memory had been taken, particularly since Rocket himself points out that there is quite an impressive number of prisons to choose from.]

But if escape is the point, then the crux of it may lie in what comes after. [A thought spoken aloud, but meant less for Rocket than for Rip himself. Rather, he means to continue the conversation by once more addressing what must come first.] Fortunately that escape will apparently be little trouble. How did you manage it before?

[Might as well not dawdle about.]

[beatupgrass]

[Rocket's tail swishes in irritation as Rip calls him out. Sure, there was emotional nuance to this, but it's not going to have any effect on how this plays out. His friends aren't here, and that just makes it hurt more. That's all it is- a joke.

He shuffles his feet and looks askance, avoiding Rip's eyes.]

Stole a guard's wristband, wired it to a battery, and then hacked the guard tower with it. Nothin' to it.

[Except for the wristbands being internally wired, the drones being extremely aggressive, and the fact that he suddenly can't recall the word for the battery he needs.]

[directed]

[It doesn't exactly bode well for Rocket that he has such a clear tell, considering that they're meant to play cards together at some point. But while the poker game is a fleeting thought, there and gone, Rip knows for certain then that some element of this is being kept hidden still. He understands it; his own event had been a rather horrible one, after all.

But unfortunately, Wonderland doesn't allow them to keep their secrets.]

Except there is more, isn't there? If not to the escape, then to all of this. [He motions about, but doesn't turn his gaze from Rocket. Rip can't think of the last time the raccoonoid didn't look him in the eye.]

What is it?

[beatupgrass]

Come on, Rip. Why's there gotta be more to it?

[His eyes go to the ceiling briefly, so he can at least look at something else while he's avoiding Rip's gaze. He's a terrible poker player. He can only win if he cheats or if the person he's dealing with is too stupid to pick up on things.

The silence lingers, expectant, and finally he gives up.]

I met my team here, all right? We all busted out together. The plan would've fallen apart without all of us workin' together. There? You happy? That's the big twist. It's a frickin' reminder that I don't have that here.

[directed]

[Because we remain in Wonderland.

The answer lingers on the tip of his tongue, but Rip thinks better than to say it. Whatever Rocket has yet to reveal clearly cuts deep; for a moment, he doubts Rocket would say much more at all.

Except he does, with eyes turned toward the ceiling and the heavens beyond. Talk of a team, likely more a family from how Rocket speaks of them. The breakout would indeed seem to be the simple part, but the loneliness that claws at the raccoon from within a far heavier burden—and equally, far more difficult to escape.]

I won’t insult either of us by presuming the team you’ve been separated from can be easily replaced. [He slips out of the bed, crosses the cell with slow and steady steps.] Or that they should be. But I will point out that for all of that loss, you’re also not alone here. However different we all are, you still have people that will engage in whatever plan you conjure up.

[He leans a hand against the cell door, looking out it’s window.] At least one person, at any rate.

[beatupgrass]

[Rocket sullenly crosses his arms over his chest and brings his shoulders up, looking more like an annoyed child than an adult raccoonoid. He hates it when other people are right, especially when they're right in a way that makes it impossible to stay mad.]

Whatever you say, Rip. [There's almost a smidge of gratitude in his voice.] But I'm gonna need a few things.

[directed]

[He's seen Rocket's tough guy act before, thanks to their little encounter with his shadow. It's enough to clue Rip in to the fact that Rocket relenting is likely as close to agreement as he's bound to get--and it's enough.

Certainly sufficient to go back to the earlier topic of escape.] Yes, what was it you said? A wristband, a battery, and access to the guard tower. Along with the people to ensure that the plan doesn't fall to pieces.

[Fortunately, since they've all been brought there, Rip assumes there will be at least one more on their side. Not that he knows where Peggy is; seems she wasn't deposited into this particular cell.]

[beatupgrass]

Exactly that. Also, if at all possible, I'd like these things in less than twelve hours. I got a record to beat.

[He is not gonna beat that record.]

[directed]

Oh, we certainly can't forget about that all important detail.

[Because clearly there's no point if they can't beat Rocket's best time.

Also, for the record? He's going to be annoyed when he realizes the bands are internally wired. Just saying.]

Which means we should go ahead and get started. [Because while he's been standing at the entrance, Rip had noticed something. Apparently they're free to roam now that they're awake; a press of a button has the way sliding open.] I'll get back to you when I've got something, shall I?