Crankshaft Rafflesian: We're Past the Tutorial Thank God!

[ThreadLurkingComorant]

You've all situated yourselves at a table in the corner of the diner. You're early so the only folks there are early birds who got their tickets to the park online and staff here for breakfast. 

There's very little small talk until the food comes in, and you count down the minutes until it's ready.

Of course you do, you didn't eat yesterday at all.

You forget, it happens.

And that's bad! Eat up good today! 

You will. 

Mean it. 

Of course....

And needless to say, you fulfill your promise to yourself by being the first to bite into your sweet delicious breakfast meal. 

Dotty watches you with a bit of concern. You notice and slow down to keep from worrying her. Everyone is too tired to muster up a conversation. Everyone except Tackle who seems to be waiting for the right moment to prompt.

You should beat her to the punch. It looks good, shows initiative. 



Lex: So Tackle right?

Tackle: Mmhmm! 

Lex: You fed me so uh... you wanna get this started? Like, I wanna know what we're up against. 

Tackle: Geezer? Got your report?

Geezer: Yeah, nothing too serious. Just a cluster of pardners somewhere on the park. A bit of a hazard actually. They're nesting under one of the dark rides. 

Tackles: Awful. Which one?

Geezer: Uh... one of the festive decor ones, you know the rotating boats? 

Tackle: We have two rides that fit that category during our festive rotation, could you clarify a bit more Mr. Geezer?

Geezer: The pirate themed one. Lot of activity can be detected down there, sighting records are especially high in that zone of the park. We gotta clear them out, at least the bigger ones. 

Dotty: I don't understand how they're so big in the first place, aren't Pardners supposed to be tiny?



Geezer: Normally yeah but uh.... something is up.

Tackle: Overfeeding. Visitors drop food or decide to give some to the feral possums on the park all the time.  The pardners look harmless enough that people might do that too. 

Dotty: We should close off part of the park if we're going to be doing this.

Tackle: I brought that up actually! The heads don't want to lose a day of business. 

Dotty: Then just close off the area where they're lingering. 

Tackle: It's a high traffic zone, one that's also a crossing between 3 major sections of the entire park. Guests will notice it and it'll lead to issues with crowding in other parts.

Lex: Can we at least get the ride shut down? Like, why are we putting so many folks at risk?

Tackle: That's plenty viable. Truth be told, management up top doesn't want the world to think there's an infestation. 

Lex: I mean... there is-

Tackle: A technical issue of yet unconfirmed magnitude that may lead to some delays in opening a ride or two.  On the record. 

Dotty: And off the record?

Tackle: A plague of otherworldly lizards in hats. But you never heard that from me! 

Lex: What if I did?

Tackle: Mmm, I don't know but I do know that snitches will have to pay for their own meals on the park sooooo....

Lex: Noted. 

Geezer coughs.

Geezer: Hate to cut you off but we gotta talk strategy. I'm gonna search around for other nests. Dotty, you and Lex are going to check out the ride's basement. If there's a especially big pardner I don't want you to confront it on your own. They get smarter the bigger they are.

Dotty: How much smarter are we talking?

Geezer: Enough to give orders to the underlings. In the field we got a name for them. 

Dotty: Oh?

Geezer: Buckaroos. Nasty things. 

Lex: That sounds so cute....

Dotty: That's silly, who named these things?

Geezer: My grandma.

Dotty: Was she a cowboy or something?

Geezer: Yes...

Dotty: I am so fucking sorry.

Geezer: You should be. Dotty, you're pretty well equipped right?

Dottty: Yeah, I should be safe. Why?

Geezer: I don't wanna leave people unarmed for this. Lex you probably didn't pack anything for this sort of thing I'm guessing huh?

Lex: Uh... no. 

Geezer: I'm gonna supply you with a multi-saw. You're a duelist so you know how to use one of these things I'm sure.




He pulls a large pen-like tool out from his pocket and holds it out to you.

Lex: Yeah... wow this one's a real fancy model. 

Geezer: Little roughed up but it'll keep you safe and fit in your pocket just fine. Uses a fluid based system so dip it in water after each good use to keep the blade fresh. 

Lex: You sure you really want me using it? Looks like a custom model.

Geezer: Yeah, I trust you with it. Just don't break it if you can help, it's got a bit of a legacy to it. 

Lex: Promise I'll take good care of it. 

Dotty: What do you want us to do if we run into a especially big one?

Geezer: Stall it. Tackle is gonna set you up with some radios, call in for help and keep it from bailing but uh... if it gets tense back down. If you try to fight to win you're gonna get seriously hurt.... or worse. I don't wanna have anyone get hurt on my watch. 

Lex: Can't guarantee that.

Geezer: I'm serious, don't. Tackle and I will be ready for you to chime in on us at any point.

Tackle: Mmhmm! We're gonna set you up with a couple of technicians to help you navigate too. Good friends of mine, you'll like them I think. 

Dotty: I'm sure we will. 

You pocket the saw.

Can't help feel a little excited.

You're gonna put yourself into this job, impress Dotty and Geezer.

Not the manager? 

Absolutely not, they still need to fix your eye. 

Geezer: Wrap up breakfast soon, we gotta get to work.

I hope you don't mind if I take a bite.....

For a moment you probably weren't entirely Lex.

You might be Jam actually. Whoops.



Tackle watches you with intrigue. 

Jam:  Is everything okay?

Tackle: I just didn't expect a fifth person at the table.  

You nearly choke on your food. You've been out for less than a minute. 

I know, literally how?

Tackle: Doesn't mean all that much to me, just a observation that you seemingly confirmed. No need to share that info with management. Enjoy your breakfast. 

You feel a tad unsettled.

You feel especially unsettled.