A few hours into the--

[theflyingone]

We need to wear as much leather as possible.

[ Altaïr's voice is urgent but quiet as he Livestreams. Heavy metal music plays on the speakers inside a clothing store, masking his conversation as he examines some leather jackets. ]

There is to be some sort of competition. This is what some of the bands of warriors look like. [ He pointed to a poster on the wall of a biker. ] You may have seen them working in the clearing. It would be good to protect ourselves in similar leathers. It will be more difficult to blend in on this Jaunt. It seems everyone is human, with no strange powers.

I have found shops where we may purchase leathers. Most of it is inferior, but I can help you find something that will protect you. Meet me in the city. [ He unfolds a map of Santa Carlita and points to downtown. ]

...If you intend to ride the large carriage, get on it quickly. It does not wait.

[ ooc: shopping toplevel here ]

Comments

[thornsofmalkav]

Already downtown and in leather, but. Um. I don't think those guys are, like, actually a band of warriors. I think they're just a biker gang.

[theflyingone]

Biker gang of warriors, then. Listen. It would be better if we wore leathers around them than not. Since it is difficult for Travelers to blend in—[ the disappointed-father vibes are too real ]—we risk upsetting them, so the leather would at least offer some protection to go with the disguise.

[thornsofmalkav]

And we'd look cool I guess? But, um, they really aren't actual professional warriors. Those guys are in the army or the, ugh, police. These are guys who just like to get into fights sometimes. It's different. They don't usually kill people, unlike the army or police.

[truerevelation]

[Kanji might be making sure not to let his outside laughter sneak into his mental conversation for Altair's sake. The guy's trying, after all.]

Uh. No, dude. Don't worry. They ... they just wanna pose as, uh, warriors. Most of 'em, anyway. I mean, some of 'em are probably not gonna take well to having anyone give 'em grief but bikers ... it's an image thing as much as anything. Even my overlay does a bit of it.

[theflyingone]

'Image'? Like statues and paintings? Or photographs? That is their trade?

[ He did see quite a few workers with seeing-lense devices called cameras.... ]

Why would anyone pose as a warrior or a guard if they were not prepared to fight? They would be in great danger. I do not believe it.

[truerevelation]

Image, like... They want to look strong. Want to look like they're saying 'screw you' to authority. The real soldiers and cops around here have very different uniforms to that stuff.

[set_your_watches_for_fun]

Oh, those fellows can be quite dangerous, it's true. [thoughtfully] At least to most people. But they're generally untrained, so not that much to worry about for us. [tone turning cheerful] The guns are the more concerning thing, and leather will hardly stop those.

[theflyingone]

So... they are only thugs...?

[ He is familiar with thugs from back home. He could steal weapons right off their belts. They could throw a punch or cause a disturbance, and were generally not to be provoked, but they were no match for him. He continues speaking right along with Tick-Tock's total lack of fear. ]

If I remember right from my past overlays, very few things stop guns. My last overlay preferred only to use them on a battlefield away from townspeople. Even when he was hunting, he preferred the crossbow.

[set_your_watches_for_fun]

[to the thugs comment] Precisely!

And in the 22nd century they've developed quite lovely personal body armor that stops most projectile weapons a treat, but we're about 150 years away from that, here. I'd prefer not to go around in a bullet-proof vest just now, since it seems our task will likely have more to do with music than battle.

[awitchdidit]

[She loves this Jaunt so fucking much already.]

While it might pay to listen to Kanji and Thorne's explanations, I do think that for you particularly, blending in with these men is your best bet for this Jaunt. If you need any help with a disguise, I'm more than available.

[theflyingone]

You are familiar with the customs of this land? But you do not know how to use a computer....

[awitchdidit]

I've pinpointed the time here to within a couple years of my death - computers were around then, but nowhere near as universal as Thorne's time or Newport.

It is a different country than the one I was living in, but I'm generally familiar with the culture, and these "biker" folks were equally a problem in Japan and America at the time.

[otomechapilot]

It's a music competition, not sports or fighting, look!

(She streams an image of roadies setting up, musicians tuning guitars and doing scales, and people putting up decorations. And many different kinds of music.)

Though the leather can't hurt. It won't look weird on anyone, this is more leather than I've seen in my entire life.

Oh! Sleeping in the forest is okay if you get a tent, it's set up for it, if anyone wants to save money.

[theflyingone]

[ Music often accompanied gladiatorial fights, so he isn't going to take her at her word just yet. ]

It is because they are wearing so much leather that I wonder if it is a fighting festival. Light armor, of course, I've seen no heavy equipment. There is music at events like those as well.

I would not like any of them to be able to burst in on me while I am sleeping, so I may find a roof....

[otomechapilot]

Let me find a poster - ah!

(She streams it. It sure does say "Santa Carlita Music Festival.")

I mean, if people keep drinking that much cheap beer and... harder stuff it might BECOME an impromptu street fighting tournament, but it's not gonna START as one.

[elevatoravatar]

Would it not be more appropriate to challenge them to combat and to the winner go the leather garments?

That is how ancient human societies worked, is it not?

[theflyingone]

Only if you wish to cause a scene for no reason. Human history is full of war, but the average human would prefer to trade for clothing than fight for it. Here, I found that they do not barter directly, but measure the worth of goods in numbered papers. Only at a 'pawn shop' can a customer barter goods themselves, and they receive this paper currency in return. I think this is why the Arcana supplied us with some, as it is the only thing that will buy us food.

[elevatoravatar]

I see, how disappointing. Still it is good to know. I have seen a good amount of fake leather as well as many odd colors of hair. I believe the challenge may be to both look different from all others, as well as look the same as the ones one associates with.

As for food, I have found that if one's diligence and charm are high enough, one my eat, then wash several dishes to pay for one's meal.

That and there is a place where they challenge one to eat and if one can finish a small meal one gets it for free.

[No Liz! No! Not the finish this or pay $50 for steak challenges, not everyone has the ability to trace their linage to great old ones that may be associated with eating worlds!]

[mytearsaremine]

[Since everyone else has handled the biker gang thing, Jolie has another thing she wants to bring up.]

... please don't tell me you actually like. Jumped onto one of the cars or something? Because those are like, um. Private carriages, you're not supposed to just ride on someone else's.

Only the really big ones, really long with lots of windows, the buses, those are for everyone, but they stop at specific places, where there are signs that say "bus stop".

[theflyingone]

I rode the large one, as the maps instructed. [ Quite literally, for he had been on top of the roof, but he did not elaborate on that fiasco. ] The schedule was confusing, but I at least gathered that it was available for anyone who could pay the fare.

[mytearsaremine]

You said it didn't wait. Did you get on at a bus stop or just in the middle of the street?

[givetheslip]

I haven't seen anyone with a sword.

[Maria herself is not in leather, but in a punk t-shirt with hair of many colors. She also appears somewhat...younger.]

[theflyingone]

[ His first-person view of the store blinks a little. The Network does not transmit voice or scene unless someone has the skill for it, but it allows enough "feeling", as some Travelers have called it, to come through. He knows it's Maria, though he can't really say how. ]

It may be in the rules of the competition, that weapons are to be stored away to prevent fights before the show. That was my guess.

[fantasy_heaven]

That's what we need to wear to fit in? I thought I already looked ridiculous when I showed up, but this is even weirder.

[theflyingone]

To fit in with those working around the site of the show. Otherwise, from what I've seen, the clothes provided to us by the Arcana should serve to identify you as some sort of noncombatant. I was dressed as a scholar when I arrived.

[ He was dressed as a nerd, bowtie and pocket protector included.