Apocalypse World

[zanarkand]

No one knows how the world got to be this way or why. No one is alive that remembers it, at least not enough to matter. There are only stories of a flash and heat. Or a beam that split the sky. It's blamed on war, greed, even the universe itself but the true reason remains a hidden, as mysterious as the psychic energy that penetrates all facets of life where it didn't before.


Whatever happened, it made the world into a wasteland. Wild and untamed, it's not a place where people live in peace. For humanity as a whole, nothing much had changed, people still lived, fought and died for every reason under the sun. For many, living was a matter of conviction or of survival or just a habit that's impossible to kick. But everyone had to find a reason to keep going or else they died as a nameless nobody, just another skeleton in the sand.


The sun rose high over Cargo Town, the sounds and smells of the food in the markets mixed with the hustle and bustle of the Railway stop. The smell of exhaust permiated everything. The group of hired thugs didn't get so much as a glance from vendors or travelers. Even with their interesting looks they blended right in to the crowds in the streets.


A fat man that smelled as if he was dipped in perfume led the group toward the center of town where the leader herself resided. Trinkets jingled as he moved, it sounded like bells and wind chimes. He wore a green dress with a thick red belt where his trinkets hung on strings that nearly reached the ground.


"It's no wonder the lady is hiring more guards after what happened with that Buttons fellow." He spoke in a deep twangy voice and of course was referring to a recent break in at Luisa Verity's house.


She'd always been a very popular leader, one preferring to consolidate raider towns rather than destroy them. It seemed to provide some sense of security to see their leader out and about instead of living in some ivory tower, but lately it hadn't been the case. Not since a gang of armed men got in.


"How'd y'all get to be hired anyways?" He didn't want to be rude but these folks didn't look like the professional guard types. Maybe she wanted them for something else...

Spoiler

@Tzer @solvernia @Enigmatic Cat
I wrote it on my phone so I hope it doesn't look all ugly. Posting order is Tzer, Cat, solvernia

 

[Tzer]

Bartol grimaced. He was out of cigs.


He had the itch. The ritual. The muscles in his right hand burned to bring a smoke to his lips and take a pull. It irritated him. Instead, he spat on the ground as his fingers toyed with a hand grenade under his duster.


"Need smokes. To get smokes, need money. To get money, gotta use this..." He patted the well-maintained machine gun slung over his shoulder. "How long is this gonna take? I'd like to get to work."

 

[zanarkand]

Brutes, the jingling man thought, not that he glared or grimaced at the gruff man though. Randell wasn't wishing to be crushed into the dirt and therefor held back judgement and only smiled kindly with teeth covered in a golden grill that glinted in the sun.


"I'm not entirely sure how long it will take. It depends on what she wants from you." He tried to be reassuring but he also quickened his pace, wanting to rid himself of these...people.

 

[Enigmatic Cat]

Everything felt so new inside Cargo Town, the sights and the sounds were all so exciting! They all almost made walking behind their larger escort who was drenched in perfume bearable... If it weren't for her mask, charmer was sure she would have gagged on the stench long ago. The woman pulled her eyes away from the walking knickknackery in front of them and observed the bustling crowds they were passing through. Anyone paying close enough attention to the garbed figure would have noticed a slight hop to their step for a moment, as well as the sound of a large grin spreading across their face under the beaked mask. So many people, all in their little worlds... So many secrets to uncover and revel in!


The escort pulled Charmer's attention back to current events, asking how the group had landed themselves in their current employment. Bartol was the first to give an answer... straightforward and to the point as per usual... Charmer laughed briefly, the sound that passed through the mask was distorted, hiding what they actually sounded like.


"Everyone's got their demons my good sir... even you, I'm sure. If the good Luisa Verity is inviting someone like me into their abode to play then I believe she has a need to flush said demons into the light..." The sound of metal digits clacking against its connected palm quietly sounded from beneath their garb, "Personally as long as the pay is good and it keeps me entertained, I'm golden."

 

[solvernia]

How did I end up here? Sunnie thought as she followed behind the group, her eyebrows furrowed together in a scowl - her typical look anyway. A creep with a big gun, a weird with a mask...well, another weirdo with a mask. Greedy people. Sunnie walked in silence for a few moments. She didn't have any good reason to be hired for anything besides being large and scary. It only made her want to be smaller.


"Are we...bodyguards?" She lisped out as if drooling. "Or...reg-lar guards."

 

[Lux___Wolf]

Lance


In his mouth, he licked his gums for some retained moisture. The smell of exhaust did not bother Lance as much as the sweltering sun did. He gripped the cuffs of his white leather jacket and kept walking with the contracted group and the high-falutin escort. He swore he wasn't going to be loquacious today but since everyone ran off their mouth...


"So basically, we're broke, bored, or batshit crazy," said Lance. He eyed their escort suspiciously. "That's all you need to know. You ain't Luisa Verity and you ain't one of us."


Lance scanned the busy market and railway stop. No one seemed to be watching them or following them. His eyes squinted through the oppressive daylight. No one. Hmm, he thought, spinning car keys around a dust-caked dry thumb.


"The sooner we do the job, the quicker we get out."

 

[zanarkand]

He glanced back at the group and smiled a fake smile, the disdain for these rude fellows was barely contained. "I'd guess bodyguards!"


Soon, they reached the center of town where the town hall stood. It was a sturdy stone building that almost gave off a castle-like feel. It was also where Miss Verity lived. Guards were stationed at the main entrance on either side.


Randell led them in. It felt cool inside the stony walls, a rather pleasant change from the heat outside and the ceiling was painted with a mural of a forest scene, complete with a deer and a lake. There were desks with clerks and citizens going about their daily business and the walls echoed with hushed voices.


Randell led them up a wooden staircase toward the back of the main hall, talking all the while, and soon walked them into what looked like an empty waiting room. Cushioned chairs lined the walls and some reading material was fanned out on a coffee table. The opposite wall was frosted glass from the middle to the ceiling and a wooden door was right in the middle. It would probably lead to Miss Verity's office.


"I"ll tell her that you've arrived." Randell said in a pleasant tone before walking through the door and closing it behind him. There was the distinctive sound of a deadbolt locking behind him.

Spoiler

@Tzer
Your turn!

 

[Lux___Wolf]

@zanarkand @Enigmatic Cat @solvernia @Tzer   Let's keep this going!  

 

[zanarkand]

i'm gonna transfer it to the new system!