In contrast to the Dead Coast, Sa'fir Coast is jokingly referred to as the world's largest pepper deposit because of its black sand beaches. They attract tourists, who can enjoy the tropical landscape of Barakka without facing its harsh environments. (+2 Endurance)

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Five, Four, Three... [self]

Postby crow » 01/28/2017 2:46 AM

"Man, that was some ride," said Fade, stretching as they stepped off the train. The night air was brisk in the winter, and they shivered slightly, as much from shock as from the cold; the interior of the train itself had been very warm. It was tempting to phase themselves out, but there was that pesky issue of clothes. "I didn't know trains ran this late."

"There's a lot of people who want to get home for New Year's," said Morpheus, following them out. "Some of them don't have the time until late, though."

Threnody hopped off next, taking in the platform. "Then what about the people running the train?" he said, indicating the building.
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Re: Five, Four, Three... [self]

Postby crow » 01/28/2017 2:52 AM

"They get paid overtime, and the people who take the shifts either have no family or don't care," said Stray matter-of-factly. He strode off the train with a measured nonchalance, which nevertheless seemed a bit forced. "I used to work retail, and I got those shifts a lot. The money's pretty good, since next to no one wants the job. The people who end up with it pretend they want it less than they do too, to twist the company's arm and get a little extra out of 'em."

"Huh, so that's why you don't show up for holiday dinners." Fade eyed Stray, who raised a brow. "But retail? Really? How come I've never seen you at work?"

"Don't think about it too hard," said Stray, brushing past the rest. "Hey, did we come here to stand around or what?"
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Re: Five, Four, Three... [self]

Postby crow » 01/28/2017 10:42 AM

A few of them laughed, but they let the subject drop, and followed Stray off the platform and into the building. The train station was mostly empty, save for those who had just arrived, as they did; and these were heading out as quickly as they could. Only a few lingered, and even then there was an air of urgency, the station staff standing around watching them with restless eyes. Everyone wanted to be home.

"Hey, no loitering," said one man wearing a uniform.

"Wouldn't dream of it, sir," said Fade, giving him a jaunty two-fingered salute as they made for the door. He eyed them, but let them go, apparently having decided they weren't worth the trouble.
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Re: Five, Four, Three... [self]

Postby crow » 01/28/2017 10:46 AM

As soon as they exited the station, they could make out the beach, lit up in the dark by the bright white street lamps. It was a nice change of pace from the lurid orange they were used to. The streets were empty, the few visible cars parked on roadsides and parking lots. The hush-hush sound of the waves greeted them, and the smell of salt lingered in the air.

Reaper took a deep breath and smiled. "It's too bad it's not warmer. We could have gone swimming."

"We still could," said Threnody. "We could go skinny-dipping."

"Seriously, where are you getting all this from?" Stray narrowed his eyes at Threnody, who grinned back at him, apparently unperturbed by either Stray's scrutiny or his own suggestion.
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Re: Five, Four, Three... [self]

Postby crow » 01/29/2017 12:18 AM

They were saved from that suggestion by Heat, who pulled something out of his pack. "Well, it's not skinny-dipping, but I do have these." They were long sticks wrapped in festively-colored paper. At first most of the others stared at these blankly, as if trying to figure out what they were.

Only Threnody perked up, after a beat. "Oh, are these...?"

Heat took the end of one package and popped off the top, revealing a row of grey sticks. "Sparklers," he said. "The longer ones are the bigger kind; you just light up the end of the paper." He held them out to the others, who crowded around him, eyes wide.
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Re: Five, Four, Three... [self]

Postby crow » 01/29/2017 5:39 AM

Unsurprisingly, Threnody was the most visibly excited. He took up one of the big ones right away and held it out to Heat, who smiled drily. "At least wait til we get to the beach," he said. Fade took two of the smaller sparklers, while Stray took one and sniffed at it, then wrinkled his nose in distaste. Morpheus stuck to one of the smaller himself. Reaper hesitated between the two, while Heat watched him with a raised brow. Eventually, he settled on two of the smaller, like Fade.

"More for me then," said Heat with a shrug. He put the rest back into his pack and came away with two of the larger sparklers.

Inspecting theirs, Fade said, "So where'd you get these anyway? I thought you said we didn't have this kind of money."

"And that it was illegal," added Threnody.
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Re: Five, Four, Three... [self]

Postby crow » 01/29/2017 10:00 PM

"Swiped 'em," said Heat, shrugging. When they stared at him, he said, "Who was the one who said we were already on the run, and it's fine if we add one more felony to the list? We already snuck onto the train, didn't we?"

"For a given value of 'sneak'," said Fade. "But fair enough, I guess. If they didn't catch you, then it doesn't matter now."

They walked down the winding road to the beach, and stood for a moment at the rail that separated the sidewalk from the drop down to the beach itself. A slight wind was blowing. It wasn't warm, but for the dead of winter at new years, it was warm enough.
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Re: Five, Four, Three... [self]

Postby crow » 01/29/2017 10:05 PM

This was the south, after all. Even winter here never got very cold, which they could be glad for. What was the greater blessing was that it wasn't raining. There had been a miraculous sort of lull in the midst of the rainy season on the coast.

Standing there, leaning against the rail, Fade closed their eyes and let out a deep breath. There had been a lot of miracles lately. There would have to be, for events to conspire to let them rest at peace even this long. Do you remember what it was like before all this? they wanted to say, but didn't dare. It was too disheartening, to think about before. If they dwelt too long upon what they'd lost, they'd lose focus, lose the will to keep going. There would be time to lament when it was done... or when they were dead.
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Re: Five, Four, Three... [self]

Postby crow » 01/29/2017 11:01 PM

It had become an unspoken rule among them, a mantra. No one spoke of the past except in passing, or in moments of weakness, of rest. They'd already done enough of that today. It was for similar reasons that no one ever mused how the other groups were doing, except sometimes to ask after them in a practical capacity, to Morpheus. Sometimes he could sense them, and sometimes he couldn't. He maintained that if anything really drastic happened, Cain and Psyche would send some kind of signal, and that he would do the same if things ever called for it, but it was also true that he'd already admitted to being bad at long-distance communication.

Reaper had begun wandering down to the beach, with Heat drifting after him like a shadow, but Fade stayed where they were. They wanted to savor this moment for a while yet.
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Re: Five, Four, Three... [self]

Postby crow » 01/29/2017 11:16 PM

The sand was fine enough that it barely made a noise under their feet, nothing at all like the crunching beaches Reaper was used to. He looked down, eyes wide in wonder, and knelt down to grab a handful. It was dark, even at night; the street lights didn't reach so far down, but there was still light enough to see by. Not the white sand beach he'd imagined when they decided to come here, but it was all the more curious for it.

"It's too bad it's the middle of winter. Otherwise I'd take my shoes off," said Heat. He'd jammed his hands into his pockets, less against the cold and more against the urge to light up a cigarette. He didn't have any, but his fingers still twitched.

Reaper laughed. "You still could, you know. It's not that cold, actually."
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