~1st Round~ - Macallan 12, Neat

[taser_facial]

[Man, what a night it was. A couple of Sokora's good friends had come by the bar, having just secured possibly their biggest haul - not that he asked - and he decided that it would be worthwhile to keep the place open and the liquor flowing. Hell, it was a win/win situation, and while the night was exhausting, it was certainly profitable to

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[a_gentle_boy]

[At some point during his week, he'll be treated to the bizarre sight of a boy on top of a table tearing down the street, shooting out newspapers in every which direction as he goes.]

Ah, I can't believe I'm so late...!

[As per the conventions of this kind of fiction, a newspaper will proceed to fly straight towards the man walking down the street.]

[taser_facial]

[ Sure enough, the Law of Narrative Causality takes hold to full effect; the man's not seen the table galloping along the road, and so the thin newspaper sails out to smack him right upside the head.

He turns sharply, staring at the dangerous weapon with which he's just been feloniously assaulted, just before his mouth drops open at the sight: a table? A freaking tea table, moving like a horse? His hand's arrested en-route to that knife as he takes in that image, silently wondering if something a bit harder hit him. ]

What in the...!

[a_gentle_boy]

((*some point during his walk*, sorry!))

Ah!

[There is an impossible neigh as Lucas reins in the table -- or... brings it skidding to a stop, anyway, causing him to half-somersault off the front from the momentum. The boy bounces to the ground.]

I'm so sorry! Did I hit you?! I must've; are you alright?

[taser_facial]

[ The man just can't seem to stop staring at that tea table. First it gallops, now it neighs? What's with this place?!

At least he's too shellshocked to react with more than a shake of his head, defense momentarily forgotten. ]

It's fine; I'm fine... it's just... paper.

[ He bends down for a moment, to pick up that wrapped bundle, shaking his head again. ]

I think, anyway. I might be having some sort of seizure. Or someone slipped a drug into my water. Or something. Is that supposed to be a horse?

[a_gentle_boy]

You're sure it's alright? .....Huh? Oh, no, not at all. It's a tea table.

[Lucas squints a little bit. Did anyone really think the table looked like a real horse? As far as tables went, it was pretty table-y. ...Although it did have that odd nose protrusion up front. ...And un-table-like legs.]

...It might think it's a horse. I'm not too sure about that.

[Lucas will scurry over and pick up the thrown newspaper, launching it the correct direction. ...At least, close to the correct direction; it goes sailing into some bushes.]

[taser_facial]

I've had more than a few knocks to the head that are worse than that, so I'm fine, really...

[Beat. The man looks across at the odd creation again.]

A tea table. A... tea table, which might think it's a horse. Okay, so I'm not hallucinating, then. Probably.

[ He clears his throat, a little, and looks over at Lucas' bag, with all those papers and whatnot. Okay, that's probably a safer topic than something from out of this world. ]

So, what's with all the dead trees?

[a_gentle_boy]

...Um. I'd feel better healing you quickly, but if you're really sure... I'm sorry again.

I'm supposed to be the paperboy for this neighborhood. I don't get paid very much, but if I don't do it, they drone me... It's a lot easier going on the table than walking, so I actually get a lot of questions about the table. I can't explain it too well, either, but it's definitely been a good... friend?

[taser_facial]

[ The man pauses for a second, then shakes his head. ]
Oh, are you a healer? I had a friend back home who was one, too - never good to go out on a job without a capable mage. But really, I'm fine, thanks for offering.

And... okay, so you go around delivering papers to houses? Whatever for? I mean, okay, so they're papers, but what's on them?

[ He reaches out towards the bag, as if asking to see one, before something the boy just mentioned clicks. ]

Drone?

[a_gentle_boy]

Uh-huh. A lot of my PSI is focused on healing and that sort of thing.

[Lucas will pause for a second.]

You know, I've been delivering newspapers so long that I forgot we never used to have them, either. They just tell you about the things that're happening in town. They're almost always the same -- things like Another Peaceful Day in Mayfield or Miss Brown's 10 Tips for The Loving Housewife... It's not very interesting, but I think real newspapers are actually supposed to say real things.

So... you're new here, right? I guess it's about the beginning of the month again... Drones... Have you talked to many other people, yet?

[taser_facial]

PSI? As in psychic abilities? Huh, always thought those were bunk, but then, mages exist, so...

[ The man does the same, taking a deep breath as he lets Lucas explain. ]

Newspapers... no wonder I didn't recognize them. They stopped being circulated when the Matrix proper really took off, and... and this isn't Seattle, right. Or anything of the sort. And they're not real, either?

[ Sokora shakes his head, then nods. ]

Yeah, I'm evidently new here... as of this morning, it seems. Don't know how, what, or why. Does this happen every month, then? People just finding themselves here?

I'm afraid I haven't talked to many people at all, either, no. And what do you mean by 'drones', or 'being droned'? Are those the townsfolk with glassy eyes and the smile of a methodone addict?

[a_gentle_boy]

Right! You've heard of people saying they have them in your world, then? A lot of people here that it looks a lot like magic, so I guess that's the easiest way to think about it.

This is Mayfield. It wasn't always like this, but people usually come in now around the beginning of the month. ...It's just like what you say. Most of us here are kidnapped and we've been waiting - fighting - a long time to try and get back... There are a few rules that if you break, you get droned, like the people you've seen. Most of those are... gone, though. Permanently droned. Not for breaking rules or anything; it just happens.

[taser_facial]

Well, I've certainly heard of people claiming psychic powers, but aside from the Otaku before the crash, haven't seen anyone who does. I guess magic fits most of the bills, though, yea.

[ Sokora takes another look around, at the odd 1950s decor, the lawns, the cars parked neatly in driveways, and shivers. ]

So... stuck here, as long as those in charge demand, left to the rules they introduce on a whim... on threat of getting brainwashed, maybe permanently, even... what a lovely place.

[ With that last sentence, he fingers his knife, before realizing just what he's doing and letting his arm rest flat. ]

[a_gentle_boy]

...That's pretty much right. I'm sorry.

[He says this with a simple sincerity.]

It's... not as bad as it seems at first. I know it sounds awful, but... A lot of the people here are really nice, and... Well, that's pretty much it. But the friends I've made here have almost been worth everything. When the town isn't acting up, it's almost a pleasant place if you can ignore the drones.

[Lucas's eyes flicker to the knife, though he doesn't seem too concerned.]

[taser_facial]

[ Sokora shrugs, though he looks a bit more edgy once again. ]

Hey, you're trapped here, just as I am... so there's nothing for you to be sorry about. Certainly not for me being here; I'd rather lay the blame at whoever's really in charge of this town. And, well. If there's one thing I can do, it's adapt. Guess taking solace in other people is as good an option as any.

What do you mean by 'acting up', though?

[a_gentle_boy]

[The boy looks a little uncomfortable at that.]

O-Oh... Yes. The worst part is when the town decides to... have fun with us. Sometimes, it's not anything bad. A few weeks ago, it forced us on a date, and I guess I had fun, too.

But... sometimes fun means killing us. A lot. We had zombies about two weeks ago.

[taser_facial]

[ Something in Sokora's eyes goes dark as he hears the word 'zombies', his hand rising to that kitchen knife again. ]

Really? So, it... or whoever's in charge... plays with things like zombies, to the detriment of everyone inside this town. That's a familiar modus operandi. But... not the rest of this. Must just be a coincidence...

Wait. Killing us 'a lot'? Do you mean killing lots of people, or killing people a lot of times?