Re: Rifts Dead Man's Hand - Festival Day - Dane
Re: Re: Rifts Dead Man's Hand - Festival Day - Dane
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?”
Steve attempts to answer only to be cut off by Emily, "Well, I made some new friends. Megana and Sam. Well, I knew Sam, Steve and Maya already. You and your young girlfriend, Meg... hehe same name! I also met that celebrity boxer, Vi. She's so cool! There was also this guy, umm... oh I forget his name. But I also, threw some darts for free. They never gave me a prize cus I didn't pay! I was going to do the obstacle course, but it looks scary. Then Iwasgoingtoruninthethreeleggedracebutnoonewouldbemypartner. Thentherewasthisdogthatwas..."
"Okay, now onto me," Steve interrupts, "I got here with Sam and Maya. Sam took a liking to Megana and Maya likes this guy, named Brad. I think you know him. I won stage one of the obs..."
"Again! Assface!" Emily shouts.
Meg begins stifling her laugh as Maya facepalms. Eventually, the quintet arrives at the front door to the saloon.
Steve attempts to answer only to be cut off by Emily, "Well, I made some new friends. Megana and Sam. Well, I knew Sam, Steve and Maya already. You and your young girlfriend, Meg... hehe same name! I also met that celebrity boxer, Vi. She's so cool! There was also this guy, umm... oh I forget his name. But I also, threw some darts for free. They never gave me a prize cus I didn't pay! I was going to do the obstacle course, but it looks scary. Then Iwasgoingtoruninthethreeleggedracebutnoonewouldbemypartner. Thentherewasthisdogthatwas..."
"Okay, now onto me," Steve interrupts, "I got here with Sam and Maya. Sam took a liking to Megana and Maya likes this guy, named Brad. I think you know him. I won stage one of the obs..."
"Again! Assface!" Emily shouts.
Meg begins stifling her laugh as Maya facepalms. Eventually, the quintet arrives at the front door to the saloon.
"I plan to live forever. Or die trying..." Vila - Blakes 7
Re: Re: Rifts Dead Man's Hand - Festival Day - Dane
Dane closes the last few steps with a small burst of speed so he can pull the door open ahead of the group—mostly for Meg, but he makes sure to hold it for everyone. Once they file in, he steps through after them, blinking as his eyes adjust to the dimmer light. He takes a moment to scan the room, trying to see who else is here.
Re: Re: Rifts Dead Man's Hand - Festival Day - Dane
Dane closes the last few steps with a small burst of speed so he can pull the door open ahead of the group—mostly for Meg, but he makes sure to hold it for everyone. Once they file in, he steps through after them, blinking as his eyes adjust to the dimmer light. He takes a moment to scan the room, trying to see who else is here.
Emily is the last to walk through. She pauses and almost gives a flirtatious smile to him and then proceeds past everyone towards the bar. Maya begins to snap pictures of the surging throng of people inside. It's almost chaotic as some spots are shoulder to shoulder with some people holding cups of beer above their heads to prevent spilling from simple bumps. The tables have been moved out to the side patio, to allow for more people inside of the bar. It's nearly impossible to hear as a country band plays some local favorites and the average patron must talk a few decibels higher to even be heard.
In the time it takes Dane to enter the bar, from when Meg first stepped in, they've become separated by at least a dozen broad shouldered men. Steve is already somewhere in the middle, desperately trying to doggie paddle his way to the bar. Dane doesn't notice Megana or Sam yet. Felix notices Meg and helps her get to the bar as the crowd respectfully moves out of the way. After all, he's the main man pouring the drinks.
Dane finds it amazing that Emily successfully made it to the bar without issue.
Emily is the last to walk through. She pauses and almost gives a flirtatious smile to him and then proceeds past everyone towards the bar. Maya begins to snap pictures of the surging throng of people inside. It's almost chaotic as some spots are shoulder to shoulder with some people holding cups of beer above their heads to prevent spilling from simple bumps. The tables have been moved out to the side patio, to allow for more people inside of the bar. It's nearly impossible to hear as a country band plays some local favorites and the average patron must talk a few decibels higher to even be heard.
In the time it takes Dane to enter the bar, from when Meg first stepped in, they've become separated by at least a dozen broad shouldered men. Steve is already somewhere in the middle, desperately trying to doggie paddle his way to the bar. Dane doesn't notice Megana or Sam yet. Felix notices Meg and helps her get to the bar as the crowd respectfully moves out of the way. After all, he's the main man pouring the drinks.
Dane finds it amazing that Emily successfully made it to the bar without issue.
"I plan to live forever. Or die trying..." Vila - Blakes 7
Re: Re: Rifts Dead Man's Hand - Festival Day - Dane
Dane slips into the mass of bodies, trying to follow the route Emily somehow carved. “Excuse me—sorry—just… coming through.” He angles his shoulders, weaving as best he can without bumping anyone too hard. Every few steps he cranes his neck, searching for Meg near the bar and edging in that direction. Being skinny helps him cut through the crowd, but the bag over his shoulder keeps brushing against people, throwing off his rhythm.
Re: Re: Rifts Dead Man's Hand - Festival Day - Dane
Dane slips into the mass of bodies, trying to follow the route Emily somehow carved. “Excuse me—sorry—just… coming through.” He angles his shoulders, weaving as best he can without bumping anyone too hard. Every few steps he cranes his neck, searching for Meg near the bar and edging in that direction. Being skinny helps him cut through the crowd, but the bag over his shoulder keeps brushing against people, throwing off his rhythm.
Upon reaching where Emily is, somehow acquiring the only barstool still at the bar, she has a soda already in hand as she looks back at Dane and yells, "I knew you liked me! What do you wanna drink?" Dane scans the crowd for Meg and eventually sees her trying to surf through the sea of drunken patrons, waving at Dane. At the same time, Emily hugs Dane, like he's some long lost relative she hasn't seen for years. "I can get you anything you want!" as she beams with a proud smile and suggestive brush of her hand.
Eventually, within moments, Meg slides through the crowd and makes her way to Dane. "This crowd is ridiculous! Are you sure that Megana isn't outside at the tables?" Steve and Maya have been lost in the surging mass.
Upon reaching where Emily is, somehow acquiring the only barstool still at the bar, she has a soda already in hand as she looks back at Dane and yells, "I knew you liked me! What do you wanna drink?" Dane scans the crowd for Meg and eventually sees her trying to surf through the sea of drunken patrons, waving at Dane. At the same time, Emily hugs Dane, like he's some long lost relative she hasn't seen for years. "I can get you anything you want!" as she beams with a proud smile and suggestive brush of her hand.
Eventually, within moments, Meg slides through the crowd and makes her way to Dane. "This crowd is ridiculous! Are you sure that Megana isn't outside at the tables?" Steve and Maya have been lost in the surging mass.
"I plan to live forever. Or die trying..." Vila - Blakes 7
Re: Re: Rifts Dead Man's Hand - Festival Day - Dane
Dane practically sags with relief when Meg finally slips through the crowd to his side. “Yeah, it’s crazy crowded in here. We probably should’ve gone around back and tried the outside tables first.” Emily still has an arm around him, so he gently works himself free, offering her a quick, polite, “I’m good for now, thanks.” Once he’s clear, he reaches for Meg’s hand and turns toward the crush of bodies ahead. “C’mon. Let’s see if we can find the others,” he says, starting to shoulder a narrow path through the crowd, doing his best to break a trail the others can follow.
Re: Re: Rifts Dead Man's Hand - Festival Day - Dane
Dane practically sags with relief when Meg finally slips through the crowd to his side. “Yeah, it’s crazy crowded in here. We probably should’ve gone around back and tried the outside tables first.” Emily still has an arm around him, so he gently works himself free, offering her a quick, polite, “I’m good for now, thanks.” Once he’s clear, he reaches for Meg’s hand and turns toward the crush of bodies ahead. “C’mon. Let’s see if we can find the others,” he says, starting to shoulder a narrow path through the crowd, doing his best to break a trail the others can follow.
Emily sighs in disappointment as the trio make their way outside, beside the saloon. Once outside, the situation is much calmer. No table is available until Dane spots Maya and Steve have already found a table capable of seating eight patrons. Eight waters have already been set on at each placing.
"You guys are too slow," Steve quips, "We haven't seen Sam or his lady yet."
Maya snaps another photo of the entire scene as Emily runs over to the table and scoots two chairs out for Dane and Meg.
Emily sighs in disappointment as the trio make their way outside, beside the saloon. Once outside, the situation is much calmer. No table is available until Dane spots Maya and Steve have already found a table capable of seating eight patrons. Eight waters have already been set on at each placing.
"You guys are too slow," Steve quips, "We haven't seen Sam or his lady yet."
Maya snaps another photo of the entire scene as Emily runs over to the table and scoots two chairs out for Dane and Meg.
"I plan to live forever. Or die trying..." Vila - Blakes 7
Re: Re: Rifts Dead Man's Hand - Festival Day - Dane
“Yeah, we apparently decided to take the long way,” Dane responds to Steve’s ribbing. “We didn’t see anybody inside, either. Thought maybe they might be out here.”
He takes the offered seats, letting Meg sit first before joining her. “Thanks, Emily. That was very nice of you.” As he settles in, he mentally flags Emily’s apparent crush—her earlier clinginess, the way she keeps hovering close—for later analysis when he has more bandwidth to process it. Not something he can address on the spot. Better to observe a little longer, gather more context, and figure out how to gently signal that he already has a girlfriend. That last part—Meg is his girlfriend—hits him again, and it sends a small, unexpected flicker of giddy warmth through his chest.
He takes the offered seats, letting Meg sit first before joining her. “Thanks, Emily. That was very nice of you.” As he settles in, he mentally flags Emily’s apparent crush—her earlier clinginess, the way she keeps hovering close—for later analysis when he has more bandwidth to process it. Not something he can address on the spot. Better to observe a little longer, gather more context, and figure out how to gently signal that he already has a girlfriend. That last part—Meg is his girlfriend—hits him again, and it sends a small, unexpected flicker of giddy warmth through his chest.
Re: Re: Rifts Dead Man's Hand - Festival Day - Dane
“Yeah, we apparently decided to take the long way,” Dane responds to Steve’s ribbing. “We didn’t see anybody inside, either. Thought maybe they might be out here.”
He takes the offered seats, letting Meg sit first before joining her. “Thanks, Emily. That was very nice of you.” As he settles in, he mentally flags Emily’s apparent crush—her earlier clinginess, the way she keeps hovering close—for later analysis when he has more bandwidth to process it. Not something he can address on the spot. Better to observe a little longer, gather more context, and figure out how to gently signal that he already has a girlfriend. That last part—Meg is his girlfriend—hits him again, and it sends a small, unexpected flicker of giddy warmth through his chest.
One of the Coulee's helpers, Margaret, approaches with a ticket book and peers to Meg first, "Would you guys like something to drink first?" as she sets down eight menus.
"I'll take a pale ale," Steve announces and cups Emily's mouth as she tries to interrupt, "No kid, you're not old enough." He gives a handsome smile up to the waitress, "My niece, always trying to be grown up like the rest of us."
"Mmm hmm." Margaret shoots an accusatory glance to Dane and Maya, "And I suppose you two are old enough too?"
All the while, Emily shouts muffled protests from behind Steve's hand.
He takes the offered seats, letting Meg sit first before joining her. “Thanks, Emily. That was very nice of you.” As he settles in, he mentally flags Emily’s apparent crush—her earlier clinginess, the way she keeps hovering close—for later analysis when he has more bandwidth to process it. Not something he can address on the spot. Better to observe a little longer, gather more context, and figure out how to gently signal that he already has a girlfriend. That last part—Meg is his girlfriend—hits him again, and it sends a small, unexpected flicker of giddy warmth through his chest.
One of the Coulee's helpers, Margaret, approaches with a ticket book and peers to Meg first, "Would you guys like something to drink first?" as she sets down eight menus.
"I'll take a pale ale," Steve announces and cups Emily's mouth as she tries to interrupt, "No kid, you're not old enough." He gives a handsome smile up to the waitress, "My niece, always trying to be grown up like the rest of us."
"Mmm hmm." Margaret shoots an accusatory glance to Dane and Maya, "And I suppose you two are old enough too?"
All the while, Emily shouts muffled protests from behind Steve's hand.
"I plan to live forever. Or die trying..." Vila - Blakes 7
Re: Re: Rifts Dead Man's Hand - Festival Day - Dane
"Umm… maybe today we're old enough for one?" he says—half question, half hopeful statement. Dane assumes Margaret knows he's still a teenager, but hopes she’ll be generous given it's festival day. As he says it, he flicks a quick glance toward Meg along with a small, crooked grin—quiet acknowledgment of the drink she’d nudged him toward earlier. In the back of his mind, his thoughts run the numbers out of habit: festival atmosphere plus being surrounded by adults equals… maybe a fifty-fifty chance the waitress will let it slide.