[center][img]https://i.imgur.com/BuD2U0G.jpeg[/img]
[sup][img]https://i.imgur.com/9qIY4OK.jpeg[/img]
[color=#04ed42][b]#04ed42[/b][/color] [color=2e2c2c]....[/color]|[color=2e2c2c].....[/color] [url=https://img.roleplayerguild.com/prod/users/019806ab-5bf3-73c1-af11-60d7bfbd86f0.webp][color=9b9b9b][b]outfit[/b][/color][/url] [color=2e2c2c].....[/color]|[color=2e2c2c].....[/color] [color=9b9b9b][b]Party[/b][/color]
[img]https://i.imgur.com/9qIY4OK.jpeg[/img][/sup][/center]
[indent][color=darkgray]
[color=87E3FF][i]"This[/i] is a party?"[/color] Nate’s bemused expression faltered, as he turned his head in the direction of the unexpected interruption. The kid looked… well, too young for an environment like this. They didn’t look like the usual crowd he’d party with, but they definitely did look like the type to just start talking about things they didn’t know. [color=87E3FF]"Thought this was just a bar. [i]Do[/i] people drink like this every day, here? I wouldn't know, since I just showed up."[/color] Nate shook his head, taking another drag to help ease his nerves. Plenty of characters at this camp, but now he knew he wasn’t the only newcomer for certain. It was a shame he just had a habit of attracting the worst kind of crowd: A taken woman, a jealous jerk, a scary woman, and a poorly-socialized kid. The bartender also seemed off in a different way, but he at least seemed friendly enough.

[color=#66356a]“Damn, what do your parties look like then?”[/color] The question was ripped nearly out of his mouth. Nate turned back to the stranger, offering a slightly thankful gaze. [color=#66356a]“I guess it depends what’s qualified as regular? And I don’t really monitor everyone’s drinking to know. But the bar doesn’t live here sadly. I’d say they come as needed or via whoever wants to host one, I suppose? Supposed to help us unwind and not just feel like crash test dummies.”[/color]

[color=04ed42]”Not the most glowing recommendation.”[/color] The last comment in the woman’s answer once again rang an alarm bell in Nate’s mind. Being referred to as crash test dummies wasn’t exactly a glowing account of what this camp was really up to, and made those concrete walls meant for ‘safety’ feel altogether less reassuring. His ‘mother’ has been oh so gracious in keeping tight-lipped about what exactly his purpose here was supposed to be, and it was becoming clear why. This place wasn’t some booze cruise style vacation in Europe, this was… what, some kind of crucible?

As he took another drag and puffed the smoke out behind him, Trinity's voice jostled him from his thoughts. [color=#66356a]“You know they say that stuff kills, right?”[/color] 

A smile encroached Nate’s lips. He held the cigarette delicately between his fingers, dangling ever so slightly as he tapped the butt with his thumb to shake off some gray ash from the tip. [color=04ed42]”You’re not wrong.”[/color] He paused, thinking over his  response more carefully. He turned himself around fully, his back resting against the bartop as he looked up towards the night sky. It was still remarkable how many more there were here than back home. [color=04ed42]”My dad had a saying… a philosophy, if you will. You see… all of us are playing the same game, sitting at different tables with the same dealer. We get dealt our own cards. Some hands are good, some are bad, but you can’t change them out.”[/color] He lifted the cigarette up to his lips, taking in a slight inhale to pull smoke into his mouth. That same numbing sensation seemed to coat his cheeks and gums before letting the smoke billow out of his lips as he talked. [color=04ed42]”But the game always ends the same. You can play it safe, keep from taking risks. Bet the minimum, don’t get greedy. You might outlast a lot of players that way. But that’s not how the game was meant to be played.”[/color]

Nate turned his head fully to look at Trinity, a surprisingly serious look in his eyes. [color=04ed42]”The game is won by enjoying the ride. Taking the big risks, playing your hands as best you can. Even if it means drying up sooner. Cause what’s the point of a long game if you aren’t willing to take some risks?”[/color] He held that serious expression for a moment, his eyes shifting over towards whoever else might be listening in, before his mask slipped. He flashed a cheeky grin, motioning up towards the sky with his cigarette. [color=04ed42]”But it also helps to play the odds… and I’ve got someone who helps me stack the deck, so I’m not too worried about the smoking. I'm more worried about messing with the wrong folks here, or giving off the wrong impression.”[/color] As if on cue, the last embers of the cigarette seemed to consume it down to the butt. Nate reached his hand behind him to extinguish it fully in a bronze ash tray, his eyes gravitating back towards the stars above. [color=04ed42]"Just looking to enjoy my night without ruffling any more feathers."[/color]

From the corner of his eye, Nate caught a glimpse of something sparkling in the moonlight: a small, silver outfit made of sequins. He could have sworn he saw it earlier, some figure shifting off away from the bar not too long prior. She was linked up to another woman at the other end of the bar, the latter woman appearing to be a little lost and confused. He'd have to swing by and offer some help... after he got his drink.
[/color][/indent]
[hr]Location: Bar
Interactions: Trinity [@xNocturnax], Marlen [@Blizz]
Mentions (in his thoughts): Bax, Andy, Blair, Anissa