Rifts - EotC - Silvereno
Re: Rifts - EotC - Silvereno
"Bummer, but if he does need me, hurry back!" She flashes him a warm, lopsided smile, the kind that makes it hard to tell whether she’s teasing or genuinely interested.
Betty proves to be exactly the kind of woman Shep suspected: grounded, sharp‑minded, pretty without trying, and clearly capable. Most of their conversation drifts into the weeds of power‑armor maintenance, specifically the nightmare of replacing a power core. She explains the process with practiced ease, sketching diagrams in the air with her hands, emphasizing just how delicate, dangerous, and credit‑draining the whole ordeal can be. Shep gets the sense she’s done it more times than she’d ever admit.
After their mild but pleasant lunch, they part ways. Shep strolls down the sloping street toward where Hatchet and the others said they’d be. The walk starts quiet enough, broken only by the occasional peddler trying to sell him junky rust‑flecked trinkets, “rare” minerals that are clearly gravel, miracle tonics that smell like paint thinner. He brushes them off and keeps moving.
The further he descends, the more Silvereno reveals its working spine. Miners dominate the foot traffic, consisting of broad‑shouldered men and women coated in dust, their clothes torn, their skin marked with cuts and bruises that look days old at best. Some sport bionics: reinforced arms, metal‑plated jaws, ocular implants glowing faintly beneath grime. Some upgrades are clearly the result of accidents; others look like deliberate choices to survive the brutal labor.
Younger locals nod respectfully as Shep passes, recognizing the posture and presence of someone who’s been around and survived much. But respect thins out the closer he gets to the entertainment district. The air grows louder, rowdier. A fistfight spills into the street. A pair of prostitutes call out half‑hearted offers. Solicitors shove flyers into hands. Drunks laugh too loudly at jokes that aren’t funny.
Eventually, the street widens and bright lights bloom ahead. The Silvereno Palace Dance Hall and Casino towers over the block like a glittering monument to excess. Inside, the place is a sensory overload, with slot machines chiming, cards snapping, dice clattering, a giant wheel of fortune spinning under spotlights, and a sports‑betting board flickering with odds on everything from pit fights to mining competitions.
Shep is wildly under-dressed for the velvet‑and‑gold atmosphere, which makes it easy to spot Hatch, Orin, Herman, and Kip. They’re clustered around a table, equally under-dressed and already three drinks ahead of him, laughing at something that probably shouldn’t be funny.
A high heeled, slender brunette cocktail waitress, in an outfit that ONLY covers her naughty bits, drops off another round, balancing the tray with practiced grace. As Shep approaches, he catches the sound of slow, elegant music drifting from an adjacent ballroom, exhibiting couples gliding across polished floors in a world far removed from the chaos outside. The guys still haven’t noticed him.
Betty proves to be exactly the kind of woman Shep suspected: grounded, sharp‑minded, pretty without trying, and clearly capable. Most of their conversation drifts into the weeds of power‑armor maintenance, specifically the nightmare of replacing a power core. She explains the process with practiced ease, sketching diagrams in the air with her hands, emphasizing just how delicate, dangerous, and credit‑draining the whole ordeal can be. Shep gets the sense she’s done it more times than she’d ever admit.
After their mild but pleasant lunch, they part ways. Shep strolls down the sloping street toward where Hatchet and the others said they’d be. The walk starts quiet enough, broken only by the occasional peddler trying to sell him junky rust‑flecked trinkets, “rare” minerals that are clearly gravel, miracle tonics that smell like paint thinner. He brushes them off and keeps moving.
The further he descends, the more Silvereno reveals its working spine. Miners dominate the foot traffic, consisting of broad‑shouldered men and women coated in dust, their clothes torn, their skin marked with cuts and bruises that look days old at best. Some sport bionics: reinforced arms, metal‑plated jaws, ocular implants glowing faintly beneath grime. Some upgrades are clearly the result of accidents; others look like deliberate choices to survive the brutal labor.
Younger locals nod respectfully as Shep passes, recognizing the posture and presence of someone who’s been around and survived much. But respect thins out the closer he gets to the entertainment district. The air grows louder, rowdier. A fistfight spills into the street. A pair of prostitutes call out half‑hearted offers. Solicitors shove flyers into hands. Drunks laugh too loudly at jokes that aren’t funny.
Eventually, the street widens and bright lights bloom ahead. The Silvereno Palace Dance Hall and Casino towers over the block like a glittering monument to excess. Inside, the place is a sensory overload, with slot machines chiming, cards snapping, dice clattering, a giant wheel of fortune spinning under spotlights, and a sports‑betting board flickering with odds on everything from pit fights to mining competitions.
Shep is wildly under-dressed for the velvet‑and‑gold atmosphere, which makes it easy to spot Hatch, Orin, Herman, and Kip. They’re clustered around a table, equally under-dressed and already three drinks ahead of him, laughing at something that probably shouldn’t be funny.
A high heeled, slender brunette cocktail waitress, in an outfit that ONLY covers her naughty bits, drops off another round, balancing the tray with practiced grace. As Shep approaches, he catches the sound of slow, elegant music drifting from an adjacent ballroom, exhibiting couples gliding across polished floors in a world far removed from the chaos outside. The guys still haven’t noticed him.
"I plan to live forever. Or die trying..." Vila - Blakes 7
Re: Rifts - EotC - Silvereno
Shep flags down the waitress, doing his best not to stare. oO( I'm old, not dead. )Oo "Can I get a rye Old Fashioned, please?"
Before he sits, his eyes sweep the floor once, noting exits and potential trouble spots out of old habit. He pulls a nearby chair over and settles in with the group. "You boys sure know how to pick a quiet place."
Before he sits, his eyes sweep the floor once, noting exits and potential trouble spots out of old habit. He pulls a nearby chair over and settles in with the group. "You boys sure know how to pick a quiet place."
Re: Rifts - EotC - Silvereno
Shep flags down the waitress, doing his best not to stare. oO(I'm old, not dead)Oo "Can I get a rye Old Fashioned, please?"
She flashes him a smile that's probably made a few drunken men and women commit some questionable choices, "Yes sir. Anything you want, I can get you," with a wink, which doesn't help.
Before he sits, his eyes sweep the floor once, noting exits and potential trouble spots out of old habit. He pulls a nearby chair over and settles in with the group. "You boys sure know how to pick a quiet place."
Hatch smiles, taking him serious, "Fanciest in town, besides the cat house."
Orin's deep voice cuts in, "We always eat before gamblin'. Otherwise, we don't have enough for food after."
Herman seems lost in thought as Kip adds, "What are you gettin'? They have just about everything here. Within reason."
She flashes him a smile that's probably made a few drunken men and women commit some questionable choices, "Yes sir. Anything you want, I can get you," with a wink, which doesn't help.
Before he sits, his eyes sweep the floor once, noting exits and potential trouble spots out of old habit. He pulls a nearby chair over and settles in with the group. "You boys sure know how to pick a quiet place."
Hatch smiles, taking him serious, "Fanciest in town, besides the cat house."
Orin's deep voice cuts in, "We always eat before gamblin'. Otherwise, we don't have enough for food after."
Herman seems lost in thought as Kip adds, "What are you gettin'? They have just about everything here. Within reason."
"I plan to live forever. Or die trying..." Vila - Blakes 7
Re: Rifts - EotC - Silvereno
"Starting with my usual. Just an Old Fashioned. Been hunting for the perfect one before I die." Shep leans back, waiting for his drink. "Radio's fixed, errands are done, and for once I don't have to be anywhere in a hurry."
Re: Rifts - EotC - Silvereno
"Starting with my usual. Just an Old Fashioned. Been hunting for the perfect one before I die." Shep leans back, waiting for his drink. "Radio's fixed, errands are done, and for once I don't have to be anywhere in a hurry."
"I meant what're you gettin' ta eat!" Herman laughs.
"Well, that's dandy, Shep! I'm not certain that you'll find better than Jason's mixes," Hatch grins, "Looks like we have quite the evening ahead of us. What are you thinking for fun?"
Another waitress arrives, similarly dressed as the last one, but taller, with pink hair and an innocent smile, "Sir," she taps Shep's shoulder, "Would you like to order any food?"
"I meant what're you gettin' ta eat!" Herman laughs.
"Well, that's dandy, Shep! I'm not certain that you'll find better than Jason's mixes," Hatch grins, "Looks like we have quite the evening ahead of us. What are you thinking for fun?"
Another waitress arrives, similarly dressed as the last one, but taller, with pink hair and an innocent smile, "Sir," she taps Shep's shoulder, "Would you like to order any food?"
"I plan to live forever. Or die trying..." Vila - Blakes 7
Re: Rifts - EotC - Silvereno
Shep turns in his chair and realizes he's at eye level with far more skin than he expected. He lifts his gaze to her face and answers politely. "I'll take a pastrami on rye with fries, please."
After she leaves and he thanks her, he settles back toward the table. "I don't have any plans in particular. Maybe find a card game to lose a few credits at, or maybe somewhere with music that has a little more beat to it so I can sit, listen, and enjoy a drink." He glances around the table. "What about you boys? Any plans besides cards, booze, and bad decisions?"
After she leaves and he thanks her, he settles back toward the table. "I don't have any plans in particular. Maybe find a card game to lose a few credits at, or maybe somewhere with music that has a little more beat to it so I can sit, listen, and enjoy a drink." He glances around the table. "What about you boys? Any plans besides cards, booze, and bad decisions?"
Re: Rifts - EotC - Silvereno
Shep turns in his chair, realizing that he's at eye level with far more skin than he expected. He lifts his gaze to her face and answers politely. "I'll take a pastrami on rye with fries, please."
"You got it!" She smiles as she sets down his old fashioned.
After she leaves and he thanks her, he settles back toward the table. "I don't have any plans in particular. Maybe find a card game to lose a few credits at, or maybe somewhere with music that has a little more beat to it so I can sit, listen, and enjoy a drink." He glances around the table. "What about you boys? Any plans besides cards, booze, and bad decisions?"
Hatch leans back in his chair, wiping his mouth with a napkin. “Well,” he says, “I aim to do all that and maybe, just maybe, wander over to see if there’re any hockey games startin’.”
Herman doesn’t miss a beat. “Brothel…” he mutters with a grin.
Kip’s high‑pitched squeal bounces off the dining‑hall walls. “Music, some herbs, and testing my luck at blackjack,” he announces like he’s reading off a festival poster.
Orin shrugs, his deep voice still hilariously mismatched to his frame. “I’m just gonna look around. See what’s new.”
Their food arrives with plates, refills, and snacks sliding onto the table as they keep trading stories about the last time they came to town. Hatch pays before anyone can argue. Shep’s pastrami on rye is a masterpiece: fire‑kissed rye, pastrami with a smoky edge, and a mustard‑aioli glaze that ties it all together. The fries are lightly salted, dusted with something extra, and finished with a snowfall of Parmesan. Even the Eagle Café didn’t go this fancy.
After eating, the guys drift into talking about what games they want to hit together; hold ’em, blackjack, anything where teamwork might give them an edge. They all turn toward Shep with matching, mischievous grins. “You in?”
"You got it!" She smiles as she sets down his old fashioned.
After she leaves and he thanks her, he settles back toward the table. "I don't have any plans in particular. Maybe find a card game to lose a few credits at, or maybe somewhere with music that has a little more beat to it so I can sit, listen, and enjoy a drink." He glances around the table. "What about you boys? Any plans besides cards, booze, and bad decisions?"
Hatch leans back in his chair, wiping his mouth with a napkin. “Well,” he says, “I aim to do all that and maybe, just maybe, wander over to see if there’re any hockey games startin’.”
Herman doesn’t miss a beat. “Brothel…” he mutters with a grin.
Kip’s high‑pitched squeal bounces off the dining‑hall walls. “Music, some herbs, and testing my luck at blackjack,” he announces like he’s reading off a festival poster.
Orin shrugs, his deep voice still hilariously mismatched to his frame. “I’m just gonna look around. See what’s new.”
Their food arrives with plates, refills, and snacks sliding onto the table as they keep trading stories about the last time they came to town. Hatch pays before anyone can argue. Shep’s pastrami on rye is a masterpiece: fire‑kissed rye, pastrami with a smoky edge, and a mustard‑aioli glaze that ties it all together. The fries are lightly salted, dusted with something extra, and finished with a snowfall of Parmesan. Even the Eagle Café didn’t go this fancy.
After eating, the guys drift into talking about what games they want to hit together; hold ’em, blackjack, anything where teamwork might give them an edge. They all turn toward Shep with matching, mischievous grins. “You in?”
"I plan to live forever. Or die trying..." Vila - Blakes 7
Re: Rifts - EotC - Silvereno
Shep gives the idea a brief thought, then shakes his head. "Maybe another time. I think I'll just enjoy the sights and sounds for now. Maybe have a look around." After a moment, he adds, "That reminds me. I met a gal over at the shop who's looking for mechanic work. Sounds like she knows what she's doing with a wrench. Don't know if you need somebody like that, but I told her I'd mention it in case you had any work."
Re: Rifts - EotC - Silvereno
Shep gives the idea a brief thought, then shakes his head. "Maybe another time. I think I'll just enjoy the sights and sounds for now. Maybe have a look around." After a moment, he adds, "That reminds me. I met a gal over at the shop who's looking for mechanic work. Sounds like she knows what she's doing with a wrench. Don't know if you need somebody like that, but I told her I'd mention it in case you had any work."
"Her name didn't happen to be Betty, was it?" Herman asks as everyone else averts their gaze, seemingly enjoying their food far more than it deserves.
"These brussel sprouts are phenomenal!" Orin tries to distract the conversation as Kip ruins it.
"Oh! The girl you humped and dumped?" Kip squeals into laughter. Herman sighs, facepalming.
"Her name didn't happen to be Betty, was it?" Herman asks as everyone else averts their gaze, seemingly enjoying their food far more than it deserves.
"These brussel sprouts are phenomenal!" Orin tries to distract the conversation as Kip ruins it.
"Oh! The girl you humped and dumped?" Kip squeals into laughter. Herman sighs, facepalming.
"I plan to live forever. Or die trying..." Vila - Blakes 7
Re: Rifts - EotC - Silvereno
Shep takes a slow sip of his drink, trying to get a read on the table. "Yeah. Betty." He gives Herman a brief look, one eyebrow raised. "Hey, I'm not here to judge anybody's past. She asked about work, so I passed it along." He sets his glass down with a small shrug, a hint of amusement in his tone. "If Hatch wants to hire her, that's his call. Might be interesting for you, Herman."