Bailing 101, Monday

[suitably_heroic]

It was Danger Shop time again-- this time, Atton had snagged the Streets of Fandom program, so they were standing outside a bar that looked a lot like, but wasn't technically, Caritas in the middle of town.

"For anyone who's been keeping track, today we're on follow-through," he said. "This is maybe the most important part. See, when you decide to bail, there's this surge of adrenaline. You get everything in order, and then you get out. But it's easy to crumble when you hit your first real obstacle. If it's the short-term, fleeing the battlefield, well, maybe your friends don't want to go. Maybe they have some stupid reason to try and convince you to keep going."

He shrugged.

"That's scenario one, today," he said, "You can partner up and try to talk each other into leaving. Then follow through on it, head back to the school."

He gestured towards the fake bar. "This is scenario two," he said, "Say you've managed to successfully bail on the long run, but you need to sleep somewhere on the way to your final destination. The people here aren't anyone you know, but they're close enough to where you came from that they might have questions. Or know someone who knew you. Or they might recognize the look of a Fandom High student. Who knows."

He rapped on the bar's door. "If you choose scenario two, you get to go in here and try to remain inconspicuous," he said. "I suggest you work out a story."

Comments

Re: Scenario Two

[suitably_heroic]

"This is a strange place for a child to be wandering into," she replied. "Why are you here? Do I need to call the authorities?"

Re: Scenario Two

[not_every_mage]

Anders gave her an irritated look, because seriously? He'd been asked some awkward questions as a runaway mage in Fereldan, but no one had ever assumed he was too young to be out on his own.

Other worlds were very strange sometimes.

"I'm seventeen," he said, certain that at least the annoyance in his voice would ring true. "I was supposed to meet friends near here for dinner and they bailed on me. I just came in to get a drink and kill some time before I head home. Is that all right with you?"

[OOC: Blerg, sorry for the many edits.]

Re: Scenario Two

[suitably_heroic]

"Young people shouldn't be allowed near bars," the woman grumped. "I'll bet you were playing truant today, weren't you?"

Re: Scenario Two

[not_every_mage]

"No," Anders said, which at least was true. "How old are you, anyhow? You don't look old enough to worry so much."

Re: Scenario Two

[suitably_heroic]

"Old enough to drink in this bar," the woman said flatly.

Re: Scenario Two

[not_every_mage]

Well then. Anders hmmphd out an answer and turned his attention back to his drink.

It didn't seem like a conversation that he needed to continue.

Re: Scenario Two

[suitably_heroic]

The woman, however, didn't think so. "Why are you still around when your friends aren't showing up?" she said. "Don't you have curfew?"

Re: Scenario Two

[not_every_mage]

Anders held up his glass, which was about a quarter full of dark liquid still. "No, and I haven't finished my drink yet," he said. "But maybe I should just leave it. It's mostly melted ice anyhow."

Besides, he wanted to get away from her more than he wanted the soda.

Re: Scenario Two

[suitably_heroic]

The woman's eyes got squintier. "You should leave it," she agreed. "It's a school night."

Re: Scenario Two

[not_every_mage]

"All right," Anders said agreeably, and slipped a dollar bill under his glass for the bartender before turning to go.

If Atton wanted him to talk the woman into a place to sleep, he'd failed the assignment. But the more important thing seemed to be just getting away, and he figured he'd succeeded at that one.