Re: Rifts Dead Man's Hand - Festival Day - Dane

[Chaser1]

“Me either.” Dane squeezes her hand back, standing on his toes a little to try and spot the judges through the crowd. “Maybe we should check on Midnight, make sure he’s okay while they decide.” Keeping Meg's hand in his, he heads towards where he last saw Megana and Midnight.

As he approaches the tent stables, he spots Megana with Sam, who's holding her hand, Steve, Maya, Emily, a stable hand and one of the judges. She's feeding Midnight apple chips as the judges announce that 'Plains Splitter' has won, but just mere hairs breadth. The rider of #4 begins jumping up and down, cheering. It doesn't seem to bother Megana too much as she listens to everyone telling her how well she did.

OOC: If you like, you can post to Megana's thread again.

[jawildey]

Dane has a sinking feeling this is going to be a long walk to Vi’s mom’s shop if every comment turns into an interrogation from Emily. He answers her first question with a noncommittal, “Just need something to hold some old electronics,” and leaves it at that. He lets Steve take the cactus-smoking thing—Dane’s not even sure that’s real, and it sounds like a good way to poison yourself by accident.

When Maya raises her camera, Dane glances toward Meg, checking her reaction before giving his own. He gives a small shrug. “Fine with me if it’s okay with you.” After saying it, though, he realizes that if the wrong person sees a picture of them being too friendly, they could use it as “proof” to stir up more problems for her. “...That is, if you don’t think it’ll cause you problems with… you know…” He trails off, already regretting it. Great—now Emily will probably take that as an opening for ten more questions.

[Chaser1]

Dane has a sinking feeling this is going to be a long walk to Vi’s mom’s shop if every comment turns into an interrogation from Emily. He answers her first question with a noncommittal, “Just need something to hold some old electronics,” and leaves it at that. He lets Steve take the cactus-smoking thing—Dane’s not even sure that’s real, and it sounds like a good way to poison yourself by accident.

When Maya raises her camera, Dane glances toward Meg, checking her reaction before giving his own. He gives a small shrug. “Fine with me if it’s okay with you.” After saying it, though, he realizes that if the wrong person sees a picture of them being too friendly, they could use it as “proof” to stir up more problems for her. “...That is, if you don’t think it’ll cause you problems with… you know…” He trails off, already regretting it. Great—now Emily will probably take that as an opening for ten more questions.

"I'm fine," Meg replies.

"How do you know it's safe?" Emily continues debating with Steve. "It could have long term effects, like growing warts!"

"Wow, kid. You really need to chill out." Steve laughs.

Meanwhile, Meg moves closer to Dane as Maya snaps a photo. She then flips the camera around and shows the two. As expected, Emily is behind both of them, jumping up and down trying to get a view of the picture.

Dane and Meg.jpg (37.26 KiB) Viewed 3575 times

[jawildey]

Seeing their picture together makes Dane wonder how someone as pretty as Meg would want anything to do with a guy like him. Pushing the thought aside, he thinks, .oO She is definitely someone special. Don’t screw this up. Oo.

He looks at Meg with a lopsided grin, admiration clear in his eyes. “Alright, let’s go,” he says, turning back to the others. “Shopping to do and food to eat.” The earlier trepidation about handling Emily’s energy melts away in the simple glow of being with Meg—and the others—on a beautiful day at the fair. He wishes it could last forever.

[Chaser1]

Seeing their picture together makes Dane wonder how someone as pretty as Meg would want anything to do with a guy like him. Pushing the thought aside, he thinks, oO(She is definitely someone special. Don’t screw this up)Oo

He looks at Meg with a lopsided grin, admiration clear in his eyes. “Alright, let’s go,” he says, turning back to the others. “Shopping to do and food to eat.” The earlier trepidation about handling Emily’s energy melts away in the simple glow of being with Meg—and the others—on a beautiful day at the fair. He wishes it could last forever.

Maya scribes something into her pocket notebook as Steve walks between Emily and Dane, trying to keep her from annoying him. Eventually, the arrive at the Trent's Leatherworks, where about three customers are already at the counter, buying random wares. Dane spots a waterproof, insulated satchel for his new tablet. The price tag on it reads "45 credits OBO."

"Ooo!" Emily moves past Steve, next to Dane as he inspects its fine craftswomanship, "Are you getting us a..." as Steve cups her mouth and moves her back behind him, "Hey! You big penis-head!"

"He's not your boyfriend! So quit it!" Steve scolds.

Meg laughs, "You're a regular lady's man," as Emily begins pouting.

[jawildey]

Dane’s brow twitches at the pejorative slipping out of Emily’s mouth, but he decides it’s not worth getting into. Instead, he asks “So… are you guys siblings or something?” as he checks the satchel over, making sure it’ll hold the tablet and its peripherals safely.

Once he’s satisfied with the bag, he turns to the clerk, trying to summon whatever charm he can manage. “I… uh… don’t suppose you’d take thirty-five credits for this, would you?”

[Chaser1]

Dane’s brow twitches at the pejorative slipping out of Emily’s mouth, but he decides it’s not worth getting into. Instead, he asks “So… are you guys siblings or something?” as he checks the satchel over, making sure it’ll hold the tablet and its peripherals safely. It'll easily hold the tablet, all of his peripherals and gameboy thrice over.

Once he’s satisfied with the bag, he turns to the clerk, trying to summon whatever charm he can manage. “I… uh… don’t suppose you’d take thirty-five credits for this, would you?”

Esther smiles, "Oh Dane! Are you going adventuring?" She looks the bag over and then hmms, "Well, can you do 40 credits? It's the best satchel that we have. That would mean that you get it at cost and I'm just so glad that you see good craftsmanship when you see it."

"No, man," Steve seems almost offended, but not fully, "She's Lysanthra's sister, from back in Smith Falls. They're orphans." He ruffles her curly hair up, "And she's probably trying to make friends with someone so that she can get away from her foster family."

Emily looks as though she just got slapped, "You really are a jerk! What's wrong with making new friends?"

Meg rolls her eyes out of view of Emily, "Hey, Emily," she says with her back turned, "You're trying too hard. Just be you."

Maya snickers, "We already like you, but sometimes... you need to slow down a little."

"Sure... whatever..."

Esther gives one of those, 'what a cute kid,' smiles at Emily as she shows Dane a hidden pocket on the bottom of the satchel. It's large enough to hold a small knife, a slightly smaller tablet or cushioning. "We used to sell impact pads to keep everything inside safe. They were made of some foam rubber, but our supplier simply vanished. So if you can find some, that's where it goes. Otherwise, it makes for a great secret pocket. What do you think? Worth 40?"

[jawildey]

"No, Mrs. Trent. No adventuring for me," Dane says, shifting his weight slightly. "Meg and I just acquired some new tech, and I wanted something decent to protect it in. This is a beautiful case—it should be perfect." He hands over the 40 credits, quietly glad that his help with Thunder earlier earned him enough to afford it. "Thank you for giving me such a good deal." His gaze flickers downward as he speaks, uncomfortable talking to an adult. The only reason he was able to manage better at the stables was because he was focused on tech, not social interactions. "And thanks for the tip on the hidden pocket. I’m sure it’ll come in handy."

Taking the bag, he turns toward Steve. "Oh, I see…" His voice trails off, unsure how to respond to the explanations about Emily. He knows his own family struggles, but isn’t sure how to empathize properly. He tries anyway. "I’m… sorry, Emily. I didn’t know. For today, though… just forget all that. You’re with friends."

[Chaser1]

"No, Mrs. Trent. No adventuring for me," Dane says, shifting his weight slightly. "Meg and I just acquired some new tech, and I wanted something decent to protect it in. This is a beautiful case—it should be perfect." He hands over the 40 credits, quietly glad that his help with Thunder earlier earned him enough to afford it. "Thank you for giving me such a good deal." His gaze flickers downward as he speaks, uncomfortable talking to an adult. The only reason he was able to manage better at the stables was because he was focused on tech, not social interactions. "And thanks for the tip on the hidden pocket. I’m sure it’ll come in handy."

Taking the bag, he turns toward Steve. "Oh, I see…" His voice trails off, unsure how to respond to the explanations about Emily. He knows his own family struggles, but isn’t sure how to empathize properly. He tries anyway. "I’m… sorry, Emily. I didn’t know. For today, though… just forget all that. You’re with friends."

Emily smiles, but not before sticking her tongue out at Steve. He replies with, "Careful, your face might stick like that... FOREVER!" he laughs.

"Off to Bottoms Up?" Meg asks as they leave the shop.

[jawildey]

Dane puts his head through the strap, managing to avoid scraping his ear, and adjusts the bag on his back. “Bottoms Up, it is.”

As they start walking, he glances at Steve and Emily. “So, what’s been keeping you two busy today? Seen anything cool at the fair so far?”