When We're Rollin Through the Wild Wild West

[geonomy]

Who: Everyone! EVERYONE!
Broadcast: IF YOU WANNA
Action: Everywhere! EVERYWHERE!
When: Mid-September - Mid-October

[How's your ship doing, pardners? Is it still pretty damaged? Is it glitching out hardcore? Well, there is one place to land to take care of all that, and that's on a dusty old moon in front of a planet that no one wants to go to. On this moon, you'll find a civilization that looks a lot like one's stepped into a wild west movie, hardened cowpolk and mutant horses and all. Will you become a vigilante, hunting bounties and stopping gangs from doing their dirty work? Will you go exploring planetside, with a cowboy hat and a stalk of wheat in your mouth to complete the look? Good luck with that; there is no wheat. This town ain't big enough for all you flooters, but make it so! For the ratings!

In other words, it's a planet mingle! Get 'er done!]

[September Planet info here]

Comments

[unconfines]

i. let you out into the world

[Anders is drinking! A lot.

This may not be that different from normal, on the surface (given the patronage he pays to any establishment that serves alcohol at any of their various stops) except for the general sort of air he has about him, when the bartender lines up shots along his edge of the bar. The one that makes it clear to observers that someone is drinking less for fun, and more so that they won't remember their own face by the end of the night.

There is a room upstairs that was perhaps rented for two but now occupies only one, and he has about as much desire to go back there as he does to the Golden's monochrome walls, and so— here he is! Draping one arm amiably (and drunkenly) about your poor character's shoulders, whether they know him or not.]

Wait, wait, wait, wait. One more for my friend here, on me!

ii. you don't have to go home

[He's not really one for exploring (or nature in general, really), so during the days he isn't completely smashed, he sticks to the town, perusing what passes for markets while only mostly-buzzed.

This is what makes him a target, most likely, in addition to his slight frame and the flicker of gold in his ear. Someone walking in the other direction collides with him, shoulder to shoulder, and he has enough experience with that sort of thing to reach immediately for his pack, and—]

Oh, you really picked a bad time for this, my friend.

[Do you want to see him light a fool on fire? Because he has just enough under-the-surface anger to do it, today.]

iii. but you can't stay here

[In quieter moments, he can be found in darker alleyways and tucked-away slums, doing what a healer does best— healing people who can't afford the resources to find it for themselves otherwise. He tries not to draw attention to himself when he does this, but it's difficult to stay under the radar when you're literally knitting people back together with the power of your mind.

At the tail end of one of these ventures, when he thinks no one is looking, he plays a game resembling cat's cradle with one of the town children, a length of red thread wrapped around his fingers and tugged into various, questionably-accurate shapes.]

Think we may have made a mess of that one. [He spreads his hands to exaggerate the shape, which mostly just looks lopsided.] It looks more to me like one of your zigzaggy horses than a proper dragon, what do you think?

[They don't know what dragons are, is what this kid probably thinks.]

iv. choose your own adventure

[Have an idea for something else? Hit me up!]

iii

[save_the_souls]

[Since Hawke leaving, Allen has been worried about Anders. He didn't know him all that well, but...he knows how hard it is when someone you care about leaves. Plus Anders had always been niceish to have around the ship. Sort of like an honorary Blue Fish]

[So when he hears word of a healer in the darker alleyways that knit people together, he goes to investigate. He doesn't know for sure its Anders, but...hey, not many of the other healers feel a strong compulsion for secrecy like a Thedas healer. He catches sight of him playing cat's cradle with the children- watching for a moment with a small smile.]

It could be a dragon disguised as a horse. I've heard of ones who could shapeshift.

[unconfines]

[Niceish is just about the highest compliment he can achieve, he's pretty sure, so he'll take it as a win. He liked the Blue Fish and the people on it, even separate from Hawke's influence, but it's likely to see much, much less of him for now, if just for his own sanity.]

Ooh, what about that, eh? [He tugs the string to make the shapes wiggle slightly.] Could be a dragon hiding behind any of the horses around here. Raah!

[He collapses the string between his hands by clapping them together, and the child giggles before scampering off. Anders straightens to face Allen, a little awkward and very focused on untangling the mess of thread he just created.]

There aren't really dragons like that, are there? Because that sounds terrifying, between you and me.

[save_the_souls]

[He chuckles at the scene with the children, watching them scamper off. When Anders asks the question, he just gives a little shrug]

I've only met one, but she was very nice! She spent more time planting gardens than harming anyone.

i

[dancingmd]

[Beverly's heart breaks a little when she sees Anders at the bar. There's no need to ask why he's doing what he's doing of course: Hawke is gone. When she approaches Anders and suddenly finds a friendly arm draped around her shoulder and a drink thrust in her hand she is reluctant to encourage him. She waves one hand at the bartender before he can pour another shot.]

No, really, I'm good. And I think - [She grunts with the effort to guide Anders to a stool.] you are too.

[unconfines]

[He goes, at least, with minimal resistance. He sits heavily, a bit dizzy, and tells himself that he's only going to wait until it passes before he gets back up for another round.

He waggles his eyebrows at her.]

Ah, but I think I would be better if I had a drink in my hand, yes?

[Probably no.]

[dancingmd]

[A small smirk works its way unbidden onto her face. He's charming, that's for sure, even as drunk as he is.]

Mmm, I think you'd be better with a little food and a nice nap.

i. shots shots shots

[notkittenaround]

[ It is her nature to note such things with a clinical eye - a foolish man who drinks with wild abandon and falls to a drinking hole's floor may not ever stand again on his own two feet. She has little pity for fools, but littler time for slavers and thieves.

Magpie's tail flicks to find herself so suddenly grabbed, but his intentions seem well enough.

Admittedly, it may also be that she is not prone to turning away free stuff. And that is how Anders ends up with an armful of arcanist. ]

A well enough plan.

everybodyyyyy

[unconfines]

Excellent!

["Free stuff" is one of the best reasons to do anything, in his opinion, with "free alcohol" at the very top of that sublist. He'd be equally as thrilled to be called a fool in this moment too, as it turns out, because that's exactly how he feels: foolish and stupid and miserable. It would be good to know he's living up to his own expectations.

He beams at her anyway, though.]

A drink for the lady, then, whatever she likes. Am I fortunate enough to get a name?

[notkittenaround]

Metallic Gold Magpie, or Marhi Ohsi. Choose whichever pleases best.

[ When she speaks the latter, she rolls her tongue on the H. It is a vowel more similar to a cat's meow than the spoken word. Her tail curls companionably around to her lap, out of the way of any wandering hands, when she orders something strong and hot.

It almost reminds her of home; the drunken debauchery, the desert heat, the confused men -- Though the latter is true to every house. ]

Yourself?

iii

[killedwithlove]

[Cole's drawn by the compassion of what Anders is doing.

He stands and watches, only half visible, only to Anders because of what he is, and then wanders off again. When he does come back, he's carrying something in his arms, quiet and whimpering softly.]

She needs help.

[What he's carrying is some kind of desert fox? Cat? Thing? It's the size of a cat, anyway, with a cat's face and fox ears and tail.]

She stepped on a thorn and it slowed her down. The bird put a hole in her side, but then fled.

Rhys told me not to kill, so you need to heal her, because I can't find Rhys to do it.

[unconfines]

Well. Lucky for Rhys, we have me in town, yes? Let me see.

[He has a soft spot for cats, to the shock of absolutely no one, even catish-foxlike-things. He clucks his tongue, a little sad, and strokes his thumb gently from between her eyes back behind her ears.]

Poor thing. Can you hold her still for me?

[Magic twists beneath his fingers without any more preamble, a spreading cloud of energy while he searches for damage, finds it, and melts it away.]

[killedwithlove]

[Cole rests a hand on her, cradling her in his arm and there's a prickle of not magic, but a spirit exerting itself over the mortal world briefly as he reassures the little creature that she's safe and will be well.

And then he closes his eyes, letting himself act as a battery for the healing magic. Compassion spirits had done for a long as he knew. Helped healers.]

Pain eases, heat fades from the wound, what makes it better, taste for the source.

[And the head turns and the tongue flicks to try and lick Anders' hand.]

ii

[pirasea]

[Isabela would likely also have picked Anders for a target had she not known him. Everything about him today has him looking like the perfect mark from his apparent lack of sobriety to that glint of gold in his ear that hints he may have more elsewhere.

Luckily for Anders (or not, since he can probably save himself) Isabela is around, and with Hawke's disappearance she's feeling an extra level of protectiveness towards her friends. Not that she's likely to admit it.

If the thief was going to try his hand at running, he doesn't stand a chance now. Isabela's has a dagger at his throat and his pressed up close behind him, steering him to face Anders, whispering into her captive's ear.]

I'll say. This one's a lot more dangerous than he looks, sweet thing.

[unconfines]

[They're terrifying, the pair of them— or, more accurately, she's terrifying, and he's happy to ride her coattails. He holds out one hand expectantly, and lets fire ignite briefly in his palm, just for effect.]

I think you have something of mine, yes?

[It's just a little purse of money, which the would-be thief is predictably happy to provide. Or, well, he would, if he weren't intimidated into inaction by Isabela and her daggers, but Anders is nothing if not willing to lend a hand.

He plucks what's his back from the thief's belt and smiles, bright and sharp.]

Pleasure doing business with you!

[pirasea]

[Anders gives himself too little credit. If it was possible for anything to scare him more than the blade against the delicate flesh of his neck the flames certainly manage it.

She digs the blade deeper once Anders has his coin back, just barely nicking the skin before she lets him go.]

Well, off you go then. Unless you're waiting for Anders to give you a more up close demonstration of his magic.

[That seems to remind their thief friend how to use his feet and he flees, leaving them to themselves.]

i

[onlyanapple]

[Crowley pretty much lives in the saloons. It's his thing. What he wasn't expecting was to be manhandled. He's about to protest, until he recognises Anders's voice and relaxes into a wry grin. ]

Well~ If you're offering, it'd be rude to say no.

[unconfines]

[Friendly physicality is in his nature, regardless of the context, but especially when he's drunk and lonely.]

That's the spirit. I wouldn't trust anyone who turned down free alcohol, between you and me— barkeep!

[It's a bit of a struggle to keep himself upright while also flagging the bartender down again, but between the arm slung around Crowley's shoulders and his previous experience being a drunken idiot, he manages to keep it just to a wobbly sway on his feet.]

[onlyanapple]

Pretty much the most distrustful sign ever: someone turning down free alcohol. How about we sit down somewhere to enjoy aforementioned free alcohol, hmm?

[A casual way to stop Anders from falling on his face without making it look like a good deed. ]

i

[goldenglasses]

[Where did Vash get that tie? Who knows, but it's around his head now. He was happy to join in with some drinking. More so if someone else was paying for it. He's use to drinking with random people to help them to forget their troubles. It was almost a daily routine back home. His head tilts back in obnoxious laughter.] Are you sure, friend? I'm not sure I should have another.

[unconfines]

[Laughter pulls a grin out of him, bright and encouraged.]

Don't be ridiculous. Everyone should have another.

[That's dangerously close to "a round for the whole bar on me." He waves his hand at the tankard the bartender sets down.]

There, you see, that one's for you. Don't make me drink it, that would just be depressing.

[goldenglasses]

Yeah, I suppose drinking on your own isn't a good thing! [Vash grins cheekily at the bartender and waves at him not to leave just yet.] That means you should have another with me!

i because obviously

[dawnwillcome]

[If he were most any other human grabbing at her, Anders would likely find himself zapped into submission for what he's just pulled, but once Jove sees it's only Anders, someone that's been this close to her a number of times before in the past, her shoulders relax and she puts one hand up on his chest to steady him.

Well, them. She is an elf, after all, and he is much taller than her.]

More? Are you certain more is what you need, lethallin?

smooches

[unconfines]

[He sways back a little on his heels, but her hand is a grounding point, and he manages to stabilize after a few seconds. He doesn't mean to drag her with him, but friendly physicality is in his nature, and she is a good friend.

He swings his hand up to tap his nose conspiratorially.]

Ah-hah. More is exactly what I need. The real question is— [He hovers his mug in front of her, like he's expectantly waiting for her to cheers him.] Are you going to have more with me?

swoons oh no

[dawnwillcome]

[Anders if you fall on the Inquisitor and crush her to death you're gonna be in SO MUCH TROUBLE.

But Jove keeps her balance, the hand not currently on his chest moving quickly to the small of his back to try to even out how she's supporting him. He's definitely way too big for her and there's no way this can go well.]

Anders- Creators help me, how much have you had?

[She's just going to try to maneuver them to a table, try to get him off his feet before they both die.]