[ OPEN ]

[hardwearing]

WHO: Washington ("David") & ANYONE
WHERE: various locations in New Amsterdam
WHEN: shortly after arrivals
WHAT: adventures at the skate park and shopping district, baby's first fight club, choose your own adventure!
NOTES OR WARNINGS: will add as needed... violence for fight club?

i. skate park

[ It’s rare that Wash takes any time for fun things — his team back home was responsible for most of them, if left to his own devices he will typically train either himself or them, work on chore type things around the base, not stuff just to unwind. But in Meadowlark, he’s been on his own until Carolina arrived and realized awhile ago that he needs some way to relax after all, at least a little. He’s not good at being a lone wolf, not good at understanding his limits just pushing himself harder to cope… but it’s been awhile since he’s been able to sleep, since he was able to get his struggles with the situation here out of his head even if he’s training as hard as he can. His mind never calms. So even without the more traditionally laid back members of his team, he’s trying something unusual for him. Something just for fun.

He came across a skate park and he hasn’t picked up one of his own yet, but figures if he hangs out long enough he can attempt a conversation, ask where they got their gear, maybe borrow one from someone there and just skate for awhile. Do the hoverboards work like wheeled boards? How much of a learning curve is there? Wash isn’t sure but he’s headed back there now, watching at first and then approaching someone who looks to be taking a break. The guy is skeptical but lets him borrow the board to try it out.

…the learning curve is steep as it turns out. Half the time the board just shoots out from under him and the others at the park laugh, but Wash is used to being laughed at and doesn’t give up easily. He wants to master this, and focusing on it is far more engaging than anything he’s tried here so far. A decent workout, too, as he gets the hang of it and starts doing spins and flips on the thing. By the time the guy taking a break asks for his board back, there are a few onlookers smiling approvingly, willing to let him borrow theirs too if it continues the show. Both fumbling and newfound skill.

Yeah. This was a good idea. ]

ii. shopping

[ Wash has been saving up for an apartment, to get out of the not-safe-at-all feeling Safehouse, but he does have another priority that’s reared its head recently: decent clothes. He still only has what little there was that fit him at the Safehouse when he first arrived, and some of it is looking a bit threadbare. And now that he's got a place and a roommate settled, he can drop some of the rest he was saving. The thing is… he’s barely ever shopped for himself. He was a kid and then he was military and he didn’t have much of his own, or much that he ever liked. He doesn’t have a personal fashion sense, just wears what’s comfortable and it doesn’t quite blend with the aesthetics in New Amsterdam. So he’s in one of the cheaper shopping districts, poking around the stores both curious and overwhelmed by the breadth of choice.

Maybe you want to help him figure out what cuts and colors look best on him, or spot him lingering outside an electronics store smiling dopily at an electronic pet kitten that he shouldn’t waste money on, or ducking into the skate shop to see just how much some sneakers and a hoverboard of his own would run him. The answer is too much, but maybe not in time. ]

iii. fight club

[ Making money as one of the Displaced is harder than Wash would have thought — then again, he’s never had a real job before. Never had to provide for himself, not exactly. This kind of life is as foreign to him as this world but he’s heard there’s good money to be made at the fight clubs down in the seedy part of town. He’d visited and watched a few, didn’t think it was really his deal, he’s more into training and sparring, but he can obviously fight. Oh, he can fight. He might have to be careful when he does but he’s here now and has gotten his shit in order to have an actual match.

The other fighters in the back room, waiting for their matches, all seem to know how this works, lots of them have a look and a persona. Wash doesn’t. He’s just in sweats and a tank top, stretching a little to warm up because that’s what everyone else is doing. It’s not like he needs to, he thinks, but knows that overconfidence won’t get him anywhere.

When they call him that he’s up he follows his opponent down the walkway into the ring, looking up at the crowd. He’s no stranger to fighting with an audience, but not for one. Can he be showy enough to pull this off? They’re cheering, which is something new as well, and he waves awkwardly while his opponent struts around with his arms over his head, shirtless and… oiled? Weird. Probably to slip out of holds as much as it is for looks. Wash shakes the guy’s hand and waits for the bell to ring… then they’re off.

The fight is a flurry of strikes and dodges, Wash pulling most of his punches and kicks because he doesn’t want to actually injure anyone but that means it’s largely a draw and the crowd starts getting antsy. He needs a finishing move, something fancy, something that’ll hold their attention or he won’t be able to do this again, but that won’t hurt the guy. He starts hitting harder, forcing his opponent back into the ropes, then sweeping his legs out from under him while he’s stunned and dropping down on top of him to try and finish him off with one sharp hit that won’t leave any permanent damage… the crowd boos him. They wanted to see blood, pain. Maybe this kind of fighting really just isn’t for Wash, but he stands up and looks to the overseer, who’s frowning… and raises two fingers. Give him another shot, send out the next guy. The man considers, turns his head to speak to the fellow next to him, then nods once. One more chance. ‘Be more impressive’ is written all over the man’s face.

…he can do this. He’ll stop dodging, and he’ll hit harder. He’ll do some fancier moves. Be less efficient. Turn the crowd.

He can be found after the fight back on the sidelines or in the back room, cheers echoing behind him, flexing his bruised and bloody hands. He’s got a split above his eye that’s bled all down the side of his face but is already healing, Wash trying to hide that under a towel and his glowing chest under a sweatshirt. Fellow Displaced will know the signs, though. There’s also a look of uncertainty on his face, perhaps even vague distress about what he just did. The guy will be fine, this is for sport not for real. He just has trouble switching gears in that way. ]

iv. wildcard

[ Wash can also be found being an insomniac around the Safehouse, at work at Red Wings, or training around the city, mostly running and bodyweight exercises in the early hours of the morning… or whenever he starts getting restless. If you’d like something completely different or just a custom starter, feel free to hit me at cuddlebug or on discord at koutavi#1461 ! ]

Comments

Shopping

[unlucky7]

[Ginia waves in the reflection of the window as David looks at the electronic pets. She stops alongside him, leaning in to look with a wide grin at the robot kittens.]

They're adorable!

[Granted, not as cute as a real cat, and they seem fairly basic as far as electronic pets go. But still very cute.]

[hardwearing]

Heh... hey Angela. Not much like the real thing, though, are they?

[ Wash peers at some of the smaller ones toddling around in the window display -- there's a hierarchy of cuteness happening with these guys, and the more advanced realistic ones aren't necessarily the cutest. He supposes it's what's more important to you that determines which appeals. No matter what they're a waste of money, it's not an actual cat, it'll never be a companion. Just a toy.

...he still kind of wants one. ]

I was just passing by looking for a decent clothes store.

[unlucky7]

Pretty far from it, though probably the closest option outside of VR.

[But even a VR petting zoo isn't quite the same thing as an actual animal. Ginia wiggles her fingers at the glass. One of the kittens toddles toward her, but it's not quite the same thing.]

I miss feeding stray cats. Even the ones that claw you up trying to get food.

[hardwearing]

Still not the same, but I guess people here don't know what they're missing. I brought a stray home when I was a kid... that cat hated everyone in the house but me.

[ He straightens up and looks at the details on the boxes stacked beside the pen the toys are in. ]

The blue and white ones can purr.

[unlucky7]

Look at you, a regular cat whisperer.

[Ginia isn't sure any of the strays like her. Tolerate, perhaps, but maybe because she's the one bearing food. She's pet a few of them though, without getting clawed too.

She looks from David to the cats then back to him.]

Going to get one?

skate park peanut gallery, sorry wash

[leaderboards]

[ carolina's restless at the best of times and having been locked up in the safehouse for the first few days of being here had been... not great, for her. there'd been things to do - working out, chores, just sitting and talking with wash and relishing in the fact that he was okay, that no switch would flip to take him away from her in the middle of their time together - but space to stretch her legs is better.

her first freedom had been sight-seeing in the form of an early morning run. later, she'd left wash to his own devices while she went for what counted as a pretty pathetic, if successful, job interview, but that left the rest of her day free and she's not keen to go pace the safehouse again. so she messages wash about his location (and it doesn't matter what he's doing, she's going to see him) and confirms once she gets it, not bothering to wonder about where it is he might be until she shows up.

and then it's wash on a hoverboard almost tumbling over a railing and she's sure as hell not interrupting him now. she's just joining the crowd of people observing and socializing, finding a spot on a wall to sit, somewhere she can just keep an eye on him until he takes a break. and if she looks a little like she's delighted to have this new thing to tease him about, who can really blame her? ]

always with the laughter at his expense!

[hardwearing]

[ Wash doesn't notice Carolina arrive -- he replied to her and then went back to what he was doing, which is fumbling his way into expertise with a kind soul's hoverboard. Without certainty where her interview was he doesn't know exactly when she'll arrive anyway, so it's coincidence that he looks up just as he masters balancing on top of a half pipe on a cushion of air instead of the board itself like with skateboards. He grins in victory and glances over towards the guy who lent him the board to see Carolina sitting beside him, looking absolutely delighted.

He promptly loses his balance and slides back down to the bottom of the half pipe, the board shooting out at the very end so he skids onto his ass. ]

look... he deserves it

[leaderboards]

[ the next time he looks at her, she's stifling a laugh, giving him a wave before the guy beside her asks if she knows david- which means she's half engaged in conversation after the gesture. she's known him for years, they're roommates, yeah, he's always been like this, and no, he doesn't give up easily. none of it's actually a lie.

and wash gets a message to his implant: ]

10/10

[ turns out she doesn't need a private channel to his helmet to continue giving him the grief she always has. thanks, technology. ]

[hardwearing]

[ Wash picks himself up, halfheartedly brushing at his pants when the message comes through -- for a lack of quick wit he just frowns and sticks his tongue out at Carolina for a moment before moving to chase down the borrowed board. He's the very picture of maturity today, honestly.

Once he's got the board in hand he jogs back over to its owner and Carolina where they sit chatting, passing it back with a 'thanks, but I think I'm done for now.' According to the guy he did great for his first time, which has Wash's cheeks burning slightly. ]

Enjoy the show? How did your interview go?

[leaderboards]

Good. I got the job.

[ not that there'd been a great concern that she wouldn't, but still. she hops down from the wall and gestures for wash to walk with her, just getting away from the cluster of people she'd been sitting too close for comfort to. ]

But you looked stupid. [ such affection. ] Did you have fun?

ii.

[metaphysic]

[ there are a lot of new experiences this world has to offer, and not just technological advancements. far from Columbia, Elizabeth has freedom in so many little ways — not just what she does, but what she wears, and eats, and reads. as she grows more comfortable with New Amsterdam, she's also gotten enamoured with these little things. clothes shopping is one of her favourites. the novelty of choosing her own clothes still hasn't worn off yet, and even when she's not buying anything, she likes to try on everything that catches her fancy.

she's got a good eye for her fellow Displaced, or at least the ones she recognises from around the safehouse, mostly because she likes to know when there's someone else around she can trust in a city as strange as this. so once she feels fairly certain that the man she sees looking at clothes with much less enthusiasm than her is a familiar face, she doesn't hesitate to approach him. she bumps her shoulder against his arm in a gentle, friendly nudge and smiles up at him. a line of coathangers rattles on her arm. ]

You seem a little lost. Everything alright?

Re: ii.

[hardwearing]

[ Wash startles a little at the contact, so unaccustomed to it in general and unexpected in a place where the Displaced tend to avoid it. But it's quite possible she's just a citizen of New Amsterdam, trying to be helpful. He ducks his head a little, embarrassed, and tries to bluff through the fact that he's never really gone shopping for himself like this. Of course anyone his age who grew up here would have. ]

Oh, uh-- just a little overwhelmed by the choices, that's all. Looks like that's not a problem you're having.

[metaphysic]

[ she gives a bright laugh, too giddy to be sheepish about her armful of clothes. ]

I know! I've never really gotten to choose my own clothes before, and I get a little carried away. So I guess we're having the same problem in different ways. [ eagerly, without even needing to think it over: ] Do you need any help?

[hardwearing]

[ Her energy is somewhat contagious, excited and friendly and cheerful but not in an intimidating way. Wash finds himself smiling at her, then nodding. ]

I've never really chosen my own either, I'd love some help figuring out what looks best. Almost everything I own back home is grey workout gear.

[metaphysic]

I'll make sure not to start you off with anything too outrageous. I'm not too familiar with the fashion around here, but we'll figure something out! [ she goes up on her toes to look around the store, something clearly in mind. ] How about we start with something simple? Hmm... —Oh, over there!

[ once she's found what she's looking for, she takes her new shopping partner by the hand to drag him towards a different rack. it's an automatic movement and a guileless one, having completely forgotten about the connection the Displaced share. there's nothing complicated on her mind, at least: she is sincerely happy and excited, a bubbly feeling like fizzy drink and popping candy. ]

wildcard | march 12 (sorry wash, again)

[leaderboards]

[ carolina's first full day out of the safehouse has been an adjustment period, anxiety simmering as she combs through the information she can find about this world, about the people here, local and displaced alike. she's watched enough movies and had to learn to accept enough time travel related nonsense that she knows little changes in history can make big changes in the future, but it's still unsettling.

2512 shouldn't really be like this. they should be at war. her mother and her mother's family should be alive and well in texas.

so she lets that undercurrent of anxiety fuel her curiosity while wash is at work, has some very basic food prepared to share with him when he gets back. it's horrendously bland, but given carolina's general skill in the kitchen, that's the most palatable way her culinary attempts can go. she lets him get settled, makes small talk for a while, and eventually, during a lull, forwards him a message from the network about the upcoming white day auction, the corners of her mouth twitching upward. ]

Did you see this?

HIS LIFE.....

[hardwearing]

[ They're both used to horrendously bland, at least, being military for so long. Though Wash has had actual flavor in his food for the past month and a half he doesn't mind this at all, and thanks Carolina for the effort and eats it both politely and contentedly. They're about halfway through dinner when she sends him an ad, and as soon as he sees the title he knows what it's about. ]

Oh god, yeah. Everybody at work was talking about that. I think some of my coworkers are working the gala, but a bunch are going to volunteer as bachelors... you have to offer your own "special experience?"

[ He huff and shakes his head because the whole thing sounds so uncomfortable, even if it is for charity. ]

Did you want to go?

[leaderboards]

[ 'special experience' in the way wash says it makes carolina momentarily wonder just how tucker would have latched onto that phrase, and that more than anything else gets a soft huff of amusement from her. ]

It sounds like it's a whole... thing. [ she shrugs a shoulder. ] Depending on how the next few days go, I might drop by just to see what some of the other Displaced are up to. It seems like there'll be a high concentration of us there.

[ social recon. that's reasonable, surely. ]

[hardwearing]

[ 'Thing'? Very specific, Carolina. Wash doesn't really know what it's going to be like, though, having never experienced anything like it before... so he's a little curious. Just a little. ]

I can go with you if you want company... I was going to look into working the gala the night before, too, maybe I could borrow the suit another night.

Fight club

[devilsun]

You fight very well, sir.

[ Hama is a little wide-eyed, boggled by the crowd and the noise, and the sudden press of violence. She's seen people fight before, of course, and sometimes she's even sat and watched when Diogo trained with the other warriors, but this is a little different. More pageantry, the effort spent in different areas. But she's been watching for a while, her face flushed with excitement. Is this what Diogo feels like all the time? The rush?

Well, of course it would be different for a real warrior. Of course it would.

Hama tucks a curl behind her ear. She's wearing loose pants and a longer tunic, and a leather jacket over that. She hasn't had time to find any jewelry, though, and that saddens her a little bit. That she can't control her appearance in the ways she used to. ]

Will you go again?

[hardwearing]

[ Wash glances up as he's addressed and is surprised to see who's speaking to him -- he knows better than to assume from someone's stature that they're not a fighter, but she looks wide eyed and almost skittish just being present in the club. Is she intending to compete, or just curious... he supposes it doesn't matter, really. She's paid him a compliment, and asked a question.

He flexes his quickly-healing hands and glances back at the ring, then shakes his head. ]

Thank you. I think two rounds is enough for me for now, though.

[ He seems a little uneasy himself, but in his case it's with being the center of attention and having hurt someone, not the noise or crowd itself. ]

Are you just here to watch, or..? I think tonight's docket is full already.

[devilsun]

Oh, no. I'm not a warrior.

[ Hama bounces on her heels a little, full of nervous energy. She doesn't know anyone here but some of the other Displaced were talking about it. Seemed like the thing to do, figure out what other people do when they've got the time. Some of them fight in the rights like this man, she knows. Others just come to watch, like her. ]

I mean. I've seen battles, but I never fought in them.

[ That wasn't her place, a fact she's both relieved and ashamed by. Of course she has her place, but perhaps she could do more. It's become apparent that others can force her to do things now, in this world, and she has very little recourse. The expedition to New Rio proved that in a way that can't be denied. ]

What's your name, sir?

shopping

[bestaround]

[ Now that he has his freedom again, 9S is taking this chance to truly stretch his legs—but more importantly, to see what a real city is like. Of course, he remembers it from having to get to the safehouse in the first place, but at least now it can be done without the craziness that surrounds one's arrival.

Not that it makes it any less breathtaking. He had a mind to explore and get a feel for what is, apparently, his new home for the foreseeable future, but such a task feels more and more daunting as the minutes go by. Back in the city ruins, 9S used to try imagining what the husk of a former city used to look like in its heyday, but all the dreaming in the world couldn't have possibly readied him for the real thing.

Nevertheless, he ventures out; heading into the unknown on his own was often part of his former role, after all, though this certainly was a different beast to tackle. (And, at least, he won't have to worry about getting ambushed... probably.) He still keeps mostly to himself, knowing that with how little familiarity he has regarding, well, everything, perhaps it'd be best to keep conversations with just any human to a minimum. If they're supposed to be discreet, he'd best not risk blowing his cover. Eventually, there's an electronics shop he passes by, and just like all the other stores he's seen, 9S pauses to see what else these people drop their cash on. It isn't the fashion boutique he just crossed—whatever that's supposed to be—but on display are things somewhat more familiar. Well, almost everything.

Beside him, 9S glances up to a man looking on as well, grinning at some mechanical doohickey or whatever. And normally, he would simply stay silent, but upon closer inspection he realizes that their face is a little familiar. The safehouse isn't that large, and even within a few day's time he's been watching who's around. They haven't exchanged names, let alone a few words, but if there's anyone who's safe to say something to... ]

... Is that supposed to be some kind of animal?

[ It's obviously not a live one, but he doesn't recognize its appearance. ]

[hardwearing]

[ Wash glances up to see who's come up beside him who genuinely sound like they recognize the electronic kittens as what they are. His first thought is that this guy must be another of the Displaced, from a universe without cats because he can't imagine anyone native to an Earth with them not knowing, and sure enough he recognizes the young man from the Safehouse. ]

Yeah. It's a cat. See on this box?

[ One of the toy models has a photo of the cat it's meant to look like on the packaging. He lowers his voice slightly, still loud enough to be heard easily but not so much by anyone passing by. ]

None where you're from?

[bestaround]

[ 9S lifts an eyebrow, then shakes his head. ]

Never seen 'em before.

[ The concept of pets wasn't an unfamiliar one to him, at least. Which begs another question: ]

Why build them?

[ Wasn't keeping a live animal the appeal of it? ]