[SP-F4] Two Minutes to Midnight

[Ronin 0]

(OOC: @Mack & @Samriel feel free to jump in this one for the 'private talks' action  and also listen to this awesome song if you never have before: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9qbRHY1l0vc )

Still posted up on the little snow sprinkled log out front of Mack's tent, Ronin finished up his cigarette and cast it into the snow below with a flick of his finger.  He sighed a toxic cloud of smoke into the night air and licked his slightly chapped lips.  He had seen several players leave, so then where was the big red bearded guy?  Perhaps he had simply been too busy handling all those kiddie's requests that he hadn't the desire nor energy to come fulfill Ronin's own.  Still, the smoker decided he'd wait a little longer, trying his best to remain patient and chill.  "Man... lil chilly here on the fourth," he hummed quietly, shivering.

 

Edited April 14, 2016 by Ronin

[Ronin 0]

"Screw this..." breathed the smoker at long last, having grown more than tired of waiting... for nothing.  He sighed and sent swirling, heated breath rushing outward from between his lips.  He rose from the snow sprinkled log and brushed his ass off.  Looking toward the tent one last time, he spat at the snow and turned his attention elsewhere.  It appeared this red bearded blacksmith was much too busy with everything going on.  Ronin shrugged, knowing he could find his own way, though the idea of some sort of partnership or even apprenticeship had sounded nice.  Pursing his lips, he decided some hot cocoa might be in order and he followed his nose off to find some...

(OOC: Ronin has grown tired of waiting and will now do his own thing, this has now been edited to be a Solo thread)

[Ronin 0]

Sniffing his way around the snowy world that was the forth floor, Ronin kept his eyes peeled for anything interesting.  It wasn't too often that he got the chance to wander away from his blacksmith shop.  Well, that was actually a lie, but he didn't spend too much time up here on the fourth floor, that was for sure.  This was a good chance to look around and see exactly what was going on up here, if there was anything different or unusual and if there was any better grub than what he had tried out on the first floor so far...

[Ronin 0]

As his boots trudged through the crunchy snow, he smiled softly.  The sound brought back memories of a time when he and his wife had gone sledding n the real world.  They had taken their dog out for a walk and found that the snow had piled up rather high.  The air was crisp and fresh, the sky was overcast but bright and the world had been transformed into a winter wonderland, much like this virtual one here now.  He licked his lips and continued onward, daydreaming and hoping some good food was just ahead.

[Ronin 0]

"Hmm? what have we here?" he wondered aloud, pursing his lips and moving toward a little lit up stand with steam rising from inside.  He sniffed the air as he approached, picking up on some delicious aromas.  "Mmm... might be a winner," he thought, before moving in closer and spotting the menu posted to the wall.  He squinted his eyes, reading the rather tiny text and decided they didn't have much in the way of vegetarian dishes.  IT all appeared to have some form of meat in it, whether it be chicken, pork, or beef.  "Ugh..."

[Ronin 0]

Deciding he had better keep lookin', the swordsman turned his attention toward a little hole in the wall looking place just a little further down the road.  There was some sorta' red light glowing from inside and it caught the blacksmith's attention, luring him in like a moth to the flame.  He licked his lips and decided he had better pause and get a look at this joint, before stepping right inside.  He sparked up a ciggy and smoked at it while he stood across the street from it, peering in through the doorway whenever someone came or went.

[Ronin 0]

After some time out in the cold, looking in whenever the door would swing open, the swordsman had come to the conclusion that this was some sorta' night club or strip club or something of that nature.  He took another long drag at his smoke before flicking it to the snow below and stepped casually across the street to go check this place out.  Reaching the front door, a bouncer greeted him with a flattened palm and Ronin's lips curled in a sour manner.  "Ahem..." the bouncer voiced, clearing his throat as if expecting some sorta' cover charge.  The smoker sighed, before producing a bit of Col to sate the man's appetite.  He was then granted access, inside!

[Ronin 0]

As he traveled inside the night club, his eyes widened at what he saw.  Naked women swung from golden hued polls, little cocktail waistresses roamed around through the dimly lit atmosphere with platters of drinks and shots, all glowing and steaming in their own rites.  He cleared his throat, taking a deep breath and wondering if he ought to go any further.  Surely this place would spell misfortune if he continued, but he hadn't gotten out in a while and hell, maybe they had some decent cheese sticks or something to snack on...

[Ronin 0]

The smoker fired up a fresh cigarette once he saw that smoking was indeed allowed inside this establishment.  There were several others smoking on various tobaccos, weeds and what have you and so naturally the blacksmith felt right at home.  He coughed and stepped lively to the back of the room where the bar counter was located.  Planting his palm on the surface, he ordered up a drink and slugged it back without hesitation.  This place had an interesting atmosphere and he wanted to loosen up so he could fully enjoy it.

[Ronin 0]

Knocking another drink back and then another and another, the smoker began to loosen up and feel better about being in this little joint.  He smoked at his ciggy and smirked as he leaned his back against the bar counter.  His eyes fell upon one of the stages and he watched the dancer swing round and around on the pole.  He pursed his lips in amusement, before turnin' back to the bar tender and ordering up another.  "Eya, what's the name o' this joint anyway?" he asked, before dragging his ciggy and waiting for an answer.

[Ronin 0]

Seeing a door open off to his right, the swordsman lifted himself away from the bar and stepped toward it.   The room he was in had a very warm, reddish orange hue to it, due to all the lighting, the fires and the neon lighting that was displayed.  The door that had opened to his side however, had let a bluish light shine in from whatever room existed beyond the threshold.  The swordsman's curiosity would never allow him to rest until he had explored every little bit of this world, especially this interest club.  "Hmm... wonder what's through here..."

[Ronin 0]

As he stepped through the doorway and into the blue room, Ronin squinted his eyes as he saw all sorta of debauchery taking place.  There was nudity, drug abuse and everything in between.  In all honesty, it was his kinda' place, but he wasn't quite sure what the gig was here.  Was this just some sorta' brothel with a strip club for a mask?  Was there something more to it?  Who was running this joint?  Certainly not some NPC right?  Could the game have programmed such a place?  Was a player responsible for it all?

[Ronin 0]

"Where do you think you're going?" asked a female voice suddenly, drawing Ronin's attention.  He tried to play it cool, like he was supposed to be back here, but he knew he had been caught.  Perhaps this was a VIP area or something like that.  It didn't look like your average strip club, that much was for sure.  He felt like the jig was up, like he would be called out and thrown outside in seconds, however what happened next was something he didn't expect at all.  "Care for a free dance?  My name's Liz...  don't think I've seen you 'round here before..."

[Ronin 0]

"Eh?  Oh,... nah I'm a regular here..." lied the blacksmith, turning to face the girl for the first time.  To his surprise, she was wearing very little and his eyes trailed downward briefly.  "Ahem... but ya... I guess so, since you're offering," he replied, practically being pushed back into  a little private room.  As he was pushed into a surprisingly comfy chair, he looked up to see the girl closing the door behind her and slinking her way toward him.  He cleared his throat and moved his hand to fish his cigs outta' his pocket.  "Mind if I smoke in 'ere?"

[Ronin 0]

The girl shook her head, saying nothing and slowly crept her way toward Ronin.  He gulped and fired up his smoke, fumbling a bit with the lighter.  "Uhh... I dunno' if Jambi would like this very much..." he mumbled, though he ultimately decided it was harmless.  At least for now...  He kept a close eye on the girl as she began dancing, rocking her body slowly to the music that played out in the small little room and swaying her hips side to side.  He focused mainly on his cigarette, not really that interested in what she was doing.  To him, Jambi was the only girl in the world he even found attractive.

[Ronin 0]

"Alright yo... back it up a little bit..." Ronin ordered, shooting the girl a serious glance as she moved in and began grinding her ass on his pants.  He had half a mind to pus her, but he hoped she'd simply oblige his words and give him a little space.  He didn't so much mind the dance as it had been going, but he still wanted his bubble left unpopped so to speak.  He cleared his throat and was glad to see the girl stepping forth and giving him some room as she resumed her swaying and dipping.  He sighed, feeling sexually frustrated and wondered when the last time had been for he and Jambi...

[Ronin 0]

"You seem  a bit... distracted," said the girl, suddenly slowing her dance routine to a halt.  Ronin peeked up at her, looking into her eyes and sighing.  "Yeah... sorry, it's just that I'm thinking about someone..." he admitted, before puffing at his cigarette again.  He was thinking all about Jambi and wanted to go and find her.  He hoped she was doing well and imagined she was probably off talking to Twist or dancing down the streets in her rollerskates, or something else joyous and whimsical.  He smiled thinking of her and slowly stood up.  "Sorry to have wasted yer time..."

[Ronin 0]

Stepping past the girl, Ronin suddenly felt a tug at his hand.  He peeked back over his shoulder to see the girl looking rather glum and sad.  He arched an eyebrow, wondering what was up.  "Eh?" he voiced, looking into her eyes and seeing she was a little pouty about something.  "Look... I said sorry, I've got to be going now.." he tried again, though she refused to let his hand go.  Then, the swordsman heard the door to their little room opening and he turned back just in time to see a bat coming into view.  BAM!

[Ronin 0]

When he awoke, Ronin's head was swimming.  Since there was no real pain inside this virtual world, he didn't feel much in the way of shooting discomfort in his head, so much as just a foggy view and a bit of dizziness.  He sighed and spat, chewing at his tongue and blinking his eyes in an attempt to clear the world around him.  He tried to move, but found he had been bound to a chair and as he rocked his feet, he saw that his legs too had been tied up to the legs.  "er... wha' the hell..." he grumbled, looking around the small room and seeing no one around.

[Ronin 0]

"Anyone home?" he asked to no one at all.  The room was small and his chair was placed in the center.  He could see the door, closed and no windows at all.  He looked upward, seeing a single light bulb hanging from the ceiling.  He sighed and looked around, hoping for some way to free himself and try to escape.  He licked his lips and looked down at his pants pocket, wondering if there was a way he could get his pack of smokes free and light one up with his hands tied.  If he could do that, he wouldn't mind sitting here a little while...