[ WEEK ONE – ARRIVAL ]

[sheriffexe]

ARRIVAL

It's a surprisingly quiet ride. The passenger cart is nothing more than wood and a bit of cotton to cushion the seats but for some reason, even as the train hurtles along down the track, the cart remains silent. It only starts filling with noise when the passengers begin to stir. There isn't any indication on how you got here. No grogginess, no injuries -- in fact, those who arrive with injuries might find them healed up completely (of course there are others who won't be so lucky) -- but in one blink and the next, you are here, on this train. Maybe you're even sitting next to a friend. Maybe a stranger. Won't be any time to talk either, the train suddenly slowing down with enough of a jerk to throw its passengers back into their seats. A few seconds later, it comes to a complete stop and with a whistle, the doors open and a voice calls from outside. It's male, with a slight mechanical twang behind it and anyone who looks out the window towards the station can just about spot the portly man out on the platform. "You might as well come on out, folks. You won't be getting any answers on the train." Once everyone is out on the platform, the man stands before them taking an assessing look at each person. There is something very off about him, though he looks human enough -- but his eyes are too white, his skin too dry, and his hair is doesn't shine quite right. He is dressed in a flannel shirt, suspenders, and jeans, a cowboy hat atop his head and a badge pinned to his shirt that reads "Sheriff". After a moment, he gives a gruff nod and speaks again. "Howdy. Real happy to see all of you. Explanations will come... Sunday morning, yeah. Give y'all a bit of time to meet each other. Settle in. Keys are on the table over there, hat and pistol in your room. Don't, er... Don't shoot each other right away but if you do, my office is over there. Go get some dinner, sun's about to set. Wouldn't want any coyote trouble." And that seems to be... it. The Sheriff tips his hat and turns to head to the building with the large "Sheriff" sign on the front. There is a table nearby, keys neatly laid out for everyone with nametags attached to each one. An owl hoots in the distance and a breeze passes through the group. It's quiet again. Welcome to game start! Characters will find their items in their hotel rooms and anyone who goes to visit the Sheriff after he leaves will find the station empty. On top of that, rulebooks will not be available to find until later. The Sheriff might be forcing it a little but it seems like the intent here really is to get everyone to interact with each other. If there are any questions, PM or hit up the plurk at robowest!

QUICK NAV PRIVATE CONVERSATIONS | STATUSES | PROFILES | LOCATIONS | GRAVEYARD | MAIN NAVIGATION

Comments

[robitussin]

I don't know. Shockingly, this is the first time that this has happened to me, so I'm not an expert on what motivates people to kidnap a bunch of random people into this spaghetti western bullshit.

[A sigh.]

He's presumably going to tell us eventually, but I'm pretty much stuck on how, myself.

[expelliarmed]

[ He sees her sass, and will raise her some further sass. ]

Probably by speaking. [ A cheeky glint fleets through his eyes, but it's gone as quickly as it came. He knows what she really meant. ] How we got here would give us a better idea on how to leave. I don't think that train runs on any regular schedule.

[robitussin]

Ha. Ha, ha. So clever. [The driest fake laughing there ever was.] Think we could hot wire it and figure out how to make it go in the opposite direction?

[It's not a serious suggestion, obviously. An engineer, she is not.]

[expelliarmed]

I don't think it works that way. [ If he could use magic that idea might actually have some merit, but, things being as they are. ]

- Fire. A really big one. Might draw someone's attention since it seems like this place was abandoned before we got here.

[ ...He's not the brilliant ideas guy of his outfit of friends. ]

[robitussin]

So, our starting points here are grand theft train, or arson.

[A small pause, and a nod to herself.]

We're fucked. Calling it now.

[Just think of what she'll be saying tomorrow.]

[expelliarmed]

[ It's telling that his first instinct is to say "probably", but he doesn't let himself indulge in his instinctive pessimism. He's still got too much at stake for that, even if this place is about as far removed from his mission as he could get.

He does smile wryly, though. ]

It's a pretty bleak outlook, isn't it? Food's decent, at least.

[robitussin]

Ah, of course. We're not going to immediately starve to death, everything is fixed.

[Or not, given the deadpan tone in her voice. She knows that isn't what he meant, besides, so she's moving on. She's just going to start panicking again if she keeps thinking about this.]

So, who're you?

[expelliarmed]

[ Look, not starving to death goes a long way. He doesn't mind shifting away from that point of conversation, though he's not so fond of talking about himself, either. ]

Harry. [ That'll do. If she were going to recognize him, she would have most likely done so by now, with or without his name. ] You?

[robitussin]

Natalie.

[A noncommittal shrug.]

I would say nice to meet you, but this is kind of a shitshow. You get it.

[expelliarmed]

[ A one-shouldered shrug. ]

Right, it's mediocre-at-best to meet you, too. [ This is how you make friends, apparently. ]

[robitussin]

Mediocre-at-best is a good way to put it.

[A pause.]

I hope I don't have to say that, but please don't actually burn anything down.

[expelliarmed]

[ ...well, he was only sort of considering it, anyway. ]

Maybe we ought to spell out S.O.S with rocks instead. [ You know, one of the other typical lost-with-no-escape ideas. ]

[robitussin]

[Huh.]

You think that would work?

[expelliarmed]

I haven't seen any planes fly over. [ Or brooms. ] But it's better than not doing anything.

[robitussin]

I guess so, yeah.

[But, before that...]

You're real attached to that stick, huh?

[expelliarmed]

[ ...Ah. She had to circle back to that, didn't she. ]

You could say that. It's...sentimental.

[ A sentimental stick. ]

[robitussin]

[She looks at the wand, and then back up to him.]

Do I want to ask?

[expelliarmed]

[ ....................oh god, what kind of idea is she forming in her head about him. ]

I'm, um, practicing to be a magician.

[ You know, pulling rabbits out of hats and such. ]

[robitussin]

And is there a reason you have it out right now? Planning on pretending to saw someone in half in the near future?

[expelliarmed]

It depends. Do you think that'd be a good trick?

[ He will 100% regret saying this in 24 hours or so. ]

[robitussin]

I'm not really an expert on magic tricks, but it seems a little cliche to me, honestly. Also, since when do most magicians actually carry around little sticks?

[expelliarmed]

When they're in...training.

[ He sounds way too much like he doubts his own story. ]

[robitussin]

[A pause.]

I would point out that you're an awful liar, but something tells me you already know that.

[expelliarmed]

[ He makes a gesture somewhere between a nod and a shrug. ]

I can at least say I tried.

[robitussin]

Yeah, A for effort or whatever.

[A pause.]

You want to tell me what it's actually for?