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

[tothefly]

[a. back alley brawler, for Zhas and Coil]

[This was supposed to be a shortcut. Dodge the fellas who'd followed her over from the saloon, after seeing a lady win just a little too much at Texas Hold'em for her own health. But instead, they've proven remarkably astute for grubby cowboys, and now she's well-cornered by what looks like a whole gang. It's like Space Vegas all over again.]

"Come on, boys, let's not do this..."

[b. saloon sightings, ota]

[The Windrose managed planetfall without too much trouble after her updated augment kicked in, and her engineers seemed to have things well in hand. She's made some arrangements for scrap and other repair materials, and now she's got a few hours to kill.

So here's Natasha, dressed in jeans, boots, and a buttery leather jacket, kicked back at a corner table with a glass of something clear in front of her, bottle close to hand. She's got a good vantage point of the door, and every new arrival gets noted. If she looks like she's waiting for someone, she probably is. She's kept a lot of people waiting just a little too long.]

[hi ho silver, ota]

[What's black and white and red all over? Natasha on a weird zebra-horse hybrid, cantering off into the scrublands. Wanna tag along on a mysterious errand? Wanna hunt bandits? Wanna race? She probably won't say no to company.]

[d. choose your own destiny options also available]

b.

[takeabow]

[ Nova walks in and looks around, reserved. She spots Natasha in the corner and wends her way over ]

Mind if I join you?

[tothefly]

[Natasha catches sight of the brunette making her way over and waits, not willing to give up her spot. There's a conveniently empty chair she gestures to, though, with a half-shrug.]

Don't mind at all. I'm just killing time. What about you?

[takeabow]

Well, I'm not here to pick anyone up.

B.

[redactions]

[ He's just exploring, avoiding showing much of his face in a certain side of town where he might've been responsible for some property damage. It's been smoothed over, but the people here ain't too friendly to start with. So there's no swagger, just a registering of presence, a space between not-there and there, and he's smirking at Natasha as he sits next to her. ]

Hey, darlin'. Fella done you wrong?

[tothefly]

[Luckily, her own brief scuffles thus far have been quieter. Nothing too nasty. No broken bones this time, at least, and no obvious marks on her, either. Just a faint shadow in the eyes, something that lightens a shade to dry amusement as he has a seat. Lifting her glass to him, she sips.]

Why else would a high-class lady like me be spending her time in a place like this? What about you, soldier? Here to drown your sorrows?

[redactions]

I thought about it. Then I got distracted.

[ He winks at her, smiling easily. ]

You mind if I buy you one?

b

[experiencepoints]

[A familiar face in the noise and bustle of the saloon- of the planet in general, really- is enough to get Nightingale making a beeline over.]

Hey. Mind if I sit with you for a bit?

[tothefly]

[She's watching the crowd when a sudden blonde head pops up amid the sea of people, standing in front of the table's only other chair. So while Nightingale's rush might get an eyebrow, she also gets a slight shake of her head.]

Help yourself. Need a glass?

[experiencepoints]

If there's just water.

[She'll sit there, then.]

How have you been?

C is for Conundrum

[reconstitution]

[ The moon holds almost no interest to Winter, although he is granted the freedom to roam around. It's a small mercy, at the very least. There are still too many people milling about the town, so he sets course to the emptiness just beyond. He may as well get the exercise while he can.

The further out he gets, the noises of the town stops and the only thing he can hear is the wind in the spattering of shrubs and the dust blowing across the ground. Occasionally, he spots a lizard scuttling across the ground in search of shade. There's a hill with a decent vantage point where he can watch the small town, but far enough out he thinks no one will venture.

He's not sure how much time has passed while he's kept an eye on the city, but he hears the sound of hooves approaching. Winter stands up, watching warily until he spots Natasha heading in his direction.

Part of him wants to go on the defensive- find a weapon of some sort after their last meeting. He knows that isn't such a good idea now, but it's hard to ignore instinct. His left hand curls into a fist, tense and waiting.

She's not a completely unwanted presence, but he's still not sure what to think of her. Out here is a better place than the city or their ships- in case things go south.. ]

[tothefly]

[After the lush, tropical climate of the last stopover, the glitz of Space Vegas, the draw of the violently alive green planet before, the stark desert landscape is something of a relief. Nothing here pretends to be what it isn't. It's harsh, sere, a blank canvas.

Not to say that there isn't life. Her own mount is proof of that, the buzzards circling in the distance, the tiny scrub lizards scattering as she approaches the foot of the hill. The dark figure at its peak, sunlight gleaming off metal. She isn't sure at first whose metal arm it is, heads that direction regardless, but once he stands he isn't mistakable as anyone else. But she doesn't turn around. Doesn't check her pace. Just lets her mount pick its way slowly up the hill. He can leave, if he wants. He could go for a weapon. So could she.

Instead, this ends--or maybe begins--with him standing, her easing her mount to a halt several yards away. Sliding from its back. Facing him. She's curious, now more than ever. After Barnes' reports, after what she's heard. Time to see for herself, maybe. See who he is, when he's not the Soldier. She doesn't reach for a weapon. Just waits, to see what he'll do.]

[reconstitution]

[ He watches every move she makes, cataloging the intent of each motion. Getting off her steed, turning to face him fully, and simply waiting. She's waiting for something, and he's not sure what. To finish what she started? Out here would be the perfect spot. He shoves his thought process viciously to the side.

She is Jim's friend-- therefore, doesn't want to disappoint him. Neither does Winter. Although, she might be relying too much on the possibility of him being disappointed by that. He still doesn't get why he cares of the outcome. No... He does.

They're the same person. Two of the same, tarnished side to different coins. Winter still knows he's undeserving of such kindness and patience. His time is finished; especially when he leaves this place.

Focusing back on Natasha, he cocks his head to one side, allowing her the opportunity to shoot him if she were carrying a weapon. She's not, from what he can tell....She's not doing anything. Not moving, nor saying anything. She's not here for a fight, and frankly, he's too tired to give her one, so he half turns, settling back down on the dusty ground. ]

a.

[mucked]

[ the fellas aren't the only ones with a casual tail on natasha romanoff. peggy, having watched the redhead play big and win bigger at the table, took it upon herself to follow her out the saloon. it isn't anything personal, really, except that personal reasons are all she has: since that first conversation over the comms, peggy has since learned that ms. romanoff is (somehow? someway?) associated with barnes.

and while she'll take the man at his word and refrain from letting her suspicion rise, peggy makes no promises to anyone else nor to herself about satisfying her natural curiousity. and so she turns the corner with the hope of catching up to and speaking with natasha, when... ]

Well, then. [ she pipes up from the other side of the gathered gang. ] Is it a party? Was my invitation lost in the mail, perhaps?

Re: a.

[tothefly]

[What's one more tail, among the rest of them? Natasha had noticed Peggy inside the dimly-lit room earlier. How could she not? The woman did have a certain presence. And there was Natasha's curiosity--constant and urging. She wanted to talk to her. Wanted to hear the stories. Wanted to see if Peggy qould tell her enough to see when things went wrong. She'd joked about not telling Tony anything about the future, but if she could keep SHIELD from being devoured by Hydra...]

[Not that any of that mattered now, except the curiosity. Because here's Peggy, stepping up behind the crowd, and Natasha can't help the interest that flashes over her face for a brief second. Hm. A chance to see her fight, at least, and while it might not make either of them trust the other more...it would definitely be at least a little fun. Her voice, when she speaks, is totally innocent, and while some of them pay attention, half the crowd turns to face the newcomer.]

You aren't missing much, Peggy. It's already looking like a pretty boring party.

c?

[wordmiser]

[Off into the dust bowl! That Jinx was going to go into anyway!

Tally hooooo!

She'll race you~!]

[ driftfleet - 158712 ]

[tothefly]

[Natasha hears the pounding hooves approaching, but she isn't sure who's coming until she looks over her shoulder as the other rider comes up on her left. A blur of long dark hair and a blur of an excited face and she recognizes the girl, spurring her own mount just a second behind, a smile spreading across her face.]

c

[peacockherald]

_{[ He would recognize that bright, short-cropped red hair anywhere on any planet. Seeing her, he clucked to move his steed in her direction, letting out a sharp whistle to get her attention as he cantered towards her, looking perfectly at home on his strange and yet familiar mount. ]}

Out for an afternoon ride, Natasha?

Re: c

[tothefly]

[There's more than a few of them out here. She's passed a couple familiar faces as she's traveled out, but most of them she's been happy to let pass by with only a nod or wave. The whistle, however, is the first to get her to stop, waiting as the whistler canters up. This time, her smile is genuine.]

Something like that. Just seeing what there is to see. What about you?

b

[proudlywehailed]

[he came in a while ago, before she showed. he's been hiding in here all day--as often as he can be, after the last shuffle. he's down to two. two people in the entire fleet that he trusts with any sort of stability, and his enemies (or at least those he's uncomfortable around) greatly outnumber his allies.

[he saw her when she came in, but he didn't move from his place at the bar. he's covered, has a high-collared jacket and gloves on, but he's sure she's at least noticed who he might be.

[he's sure that when he decides to stand up and approach her, and settle into a seat at her table, the fact that he doesn't do it with a hand on a weapon is the only surprise.]

Natasha.

Re: b

[tothefly]

[It's hard to not recognize him. Even if he isn't really Steve, the way he moves, the way he sits reminds her of the man he might have been, once upon a time. But they've arranged a truce, lately. The past few months spent in careful silence, avoidance of what their last conversation held. So she doesn't say anything, and the two of them drink in silence, both a bar and several universes between them.]

[But then there he is, standing up, sitting down, and there's no venom in her name when he says it. Just a name, and no gun in his hand. So she uses the one he's chosen. Least she can do.]

Orion.

hi ho silver!

[touchofrogue]

[Rogue has at least demonstrated the sense to purchase a cowboy hat that... looks unfairly good on her, let's be honest. She's out with a high-stepping mare, just moving at a comfortable pace and enjoying having a horse underneath her. She guides the mare with her posture and knees, reins lax in one gloved hand as she heads over to the rare stream. She's already been out for a few hours, time to make sure the zeorse gets a some water before moving on.

She tilts up the brim of her hat (really wishing for sunglasses in addition to a hat) when she spots the other rider and gives a wave when she recognizes Natasha.]

[ driftfleet - 158712 ]

[tothefly]

[Sunglasses would be great. Natasha at least had had the foresight to grab a jar of the sunscreen substitute from Beach Planet, and is at least slightly less likely to burst into flames in the sun, but that does nothing for the glare reflecting off the hard-packed earth. In a way, though, she appreciates the light--it isn't welcoming, doesn't pretend to be friendly. It just is.]

[Does make it hard to really see other riders, though, and she lifts a hand to shade her eyes as she squints at the waving figure in the distance. A second's study reveals familiar posture, though, recognizable hair under the hat, and Natasha lifts a hand to wave in return, easily turning her mount with her knees and waiting for Rogue to get closer before calling a greeting:]

Nice hat.

a.

[mortalcoil]

[he'd been following her because he'd wanted to talk, honest. it's just easiest to keep track of somebody from up high-- especially when they seem to be trailing some potentially unwanted attention. so, he gets to watch the whole scene play out until she's cornered, lying low on the nearest dusty roof.

and he then considers continuing to just watch. but... he does maybe have a debt that he should repay.

so, when it's clear that the gang isn't going to back down, whichever one looks the most armed is going to suddenly disappear, as something person-sized comes crashing down on top of them from above.]

[ driftfleet - 158712 ]

[tothefly]

[She isn't expecting any help. She doesn't particularly need it, even with the good half-dozen and change men cornering her in this alley. But it seems she's gonna get some help from above, in the shape of a blur falling onto the man with bandoliers crossing his chest. At first she tenses more, expecting this to be another trick by the men, another opponent, but she doesn't get the chance to check as another one takes a swing at her.]

[It isn't until a flurry of blows later that she catches sight of the lump again. A person, apparently, one with an eyepatch she recognizes, and the fact of both the aid itself and the one delivering it startle a quick, sharp sound from her that's almost laughter. Grinning, she kicks another assailant's legs from under him, delivers a blow to his throat, whirls back again.]