@lutelier ā for vegas.
Humidity blanketed thick upon Baldurās Gate. Even those who stood amongst the banks of the coast, feeling the rush of seaside breeze tickle their cheeks and toss their hair, were swift to shy away from the sunās agonising glare. Shade was a luxury, one that many couldnāt afford. Those who stalked the streets, by burden of coin or lack thereof, would find dew-like sweat beading upon skin. Handkerchiefs, usually tucked away neatly upon breast or pocket, instead primed betwixt damp fingers and curled fist, anticipating the next dribble of sweat to rain down.
As day crawled towards eventide with all the enthusiasm of a caterpillar, groups sought the solace of shadows cast by the vast architectures strewn up and down narrow street flanks. One particular ragtag crowded, flush, against the building wall, fanning themselves in a pitiful attempt to rend the warmth sunder. It did little to relieve the heat.
āā¦ Ahāheard it tastes weird. Does it?ā
āTaste? No taste to it really, but yeah, itās got a weird texture, it does. But: the results are worth every coin. That guy up at Mystiqueās sure knows what heās doing. I mean, reliving memories? With a little vial? Come on.ā
āHey, if you asked me to put two plants together and make magic on a plate, you can bet your ass when you got that plate, itād just be a mush of green!ā A jab of elbow. āWhat he makes looks like if yāshit the sun itself!ā
Laughter, happy and buoyant, floated between them.
āAhāought to pay him another visit, then. Miss mādaughter, ahādo. So very, very much.ā
āMystiqueās is where you gotta be then, mate. Now, come on, I think I see some Flaming Fists up near that corner, letās give them a miss before we ālook at āem wrongā or some shit.ā
Another bout of laughter, a slap on the back, and away they went.
It didnāt take much to get directions to one Mystique Offeringsācolloquially known as just Mystiqueāsāif one probed a few people for some directions. Located in the bowels of the seedier parts of the city, it certainly stuck out like a sore thumb. While many other stores kept their exteriors on a downlow, preferring the skulk of the shadows to the vividness of colour, Mystiqueās was a vast, three-story building. An extravagant, though dirtied, rug rolled out from the big, polished double-doors much like a tongue, painting red and black down the few steps unto the cobblestone of the street. The sounds of laughter, music, and all manners of happy revelry boomed from within.
rabbit hadn't heard.
if she had , she wasn't saying anything. perhaps the sweat was clogging her ears. perhaps she just didn't care. vegas did. just the thought of reliving something , anything from four years ago was enough to pique his interest. of course , just in case , he waited until the judgemental old thief was preoccupied with preparing their freshly purchased feast to sneak out unnoticed & unsmothered.
------
it wasn't long before he found it , mystique's. with the right set of directions , it's hard to miss. it was a bit of a journey , though. at least the night meant some relief. without the sun looming directly overhead , folks could walk more than a half mile without fully soaking their clothes. good , when a man needs to be comfortable. he should be comfortable for this-- right ? nerve-wracking stuff. his grief nearly has him ready to take a stranger at their word & assume this miracle product works without the slightest idea of how it works or what it does to the user. both things he intends to find out once he finds it. he's a cautious man , always has been. paranoia has kept him alive when he should have died thrice over. still , he has hope. a desperate hope , scraping & clawing at his insides as he passes through those fabled doors , making a beeline for the bar.
he orders an ale-- nothing fancy , just a way to.. blend in. for a good , long moment he just sits & sips , trying not to look conspicuous while contemplating whether or not he's actually going to go through with what he's set out to do. after about an hour's deliberation , yes. he's decided.
yes -- at least to inquire & inquire he does , turning to the nearest patron with his trademark sly smile & simply asking " pardon me , but would you happen to know where i could find... what's it called.... that... that drink that lets you relive your memories ? is it even real ? "
