(Daniel Worcester, Start)
It was around five in the evening, and work was slow. While working at Castle, Daniel had to set aside his usual jacket in order to wear the business's "uniform," a shirt with the Castle logo on it, but at least they let him keep the hair. At the moment though, he was doing something a little beyond his job description, reaching under the token slot of the Marvel vs. Capcom 2 machine and giving himself a couple of extra continues.
Gonna take you for a ride...man, I love this song
Daniel had to wonder sometimes whether he was doing something illegal, but he figured that his actions were justifiable. Sure, technically the Castle wasn't making any money off of him taking the panel off the machines and triggering the coin switch manually, but it wasn't as if anyone was lining up to play them at the moment. Fighting games, it seemed, weren't all that popular with the little kids, and the older folks and kids his age were probably in the bowling area or playing laser tag upstairs. Fact was, the Castle just had too many toys to play with, and a lot of people would rather play some of the simpler games than get frustrated trying to learn something like Guilty Gear or Marvel vs. Capcom 2, both of which had a bit of a learning curve to them.
And so it was that Daniel's conscience didn't even twinge when he fired up the Marvel vs. Capcom 2 machine for the third time that day. If anyone asked, he figured, he could just tell them that he was testing the machine out. He didn't know a lot of people locally who played this game (heck, he didn't know a lot of people, period), so he'd mostly resigned himself to playing through the single player mode over and over again. He'd picked Gambit, Cable, and Iron Man because he liked using characters with projectile attacks, and he also enjoyed seeing that combo counter rise up into the hundreds. He wasn't a great player, but you didn't have to be very good at the game to beat the AI most of the time. Heck, he'd even gotten up into the high scores, for what it was worth.
Daniel sighed. The things he considered an achievement...Next thing he knew, he'd be patting himself on the back for crossing the street without being honked at by cars behind him.
Quarter Turn Punch
Open Thread
((Veronica McDonald continue from The Question of the Century))
The day after, Veronica was still gushing over Ruth when she entered the Castle at 5:18 sharp. She was merely here to try and beat people at laser tag and maybe go go-carting. That sounded fun, if albeit childish. Veronica didn't really care whether it was childish or not, it was still freaking fun. Fun was fun, and you have to enjoy it.
Veronica was walking past some of the games when she realized that she was lost. Veronica didn't really go out much, and she hadn't been to the Castle since she was 11, and Connor was zooming around the go cart track. She considered walking around a bit more when she spotted an employee playing a game. Veronica was hopeful, and walked over to the boy.
"Excuse me, but where is the laser tag arena?"
The day after, Veronica was still gushing over Ruth when she entered the Castle at 5:18 sharp. She was merely here to try and beat people at laser tag and maybe go go-carting. That sounded fun, if albeit childish. Veronica didn't really care whether it was childish or not, it was still freaking fun. Fun was fun, and you have to enjoy it.
Veronica was walking past some of the games when she realized that she was lost. Veronica didn't really go out much, and she hadn't been to the Castle since she was 11, and Connor was zooming around the go cart track. She considered walking around a bit more when she spotted an employee playing a game. Veronica was hopeful, and walked over to the boy.
"Excuse me, but where is the laser tag arena?"
A customer. Great. Having someone around here would be a nice change of pace, Daniel figured, except for the fact that she was just looking for the laser tag place, just like everyone else. He spared her half an eye as he barely turned his head to look at her. He was right in the middle of a match, after all, and that took precedence over giving someone stinking directions when they could just find the place themselves if they put in the effort to look around a little and explore.
Kids these days...though she kind of looked like she was his age.
"Just a second, ma'am," he said, and returned his attention to the game. A few seconds later, as the game started tallying his score, he leaned his elbow down on the machine and took a better look at the person asking him for directions. Veronica was her name, he recalled, not too bad in appearance. If he was interested in girls, she wouldn't be bad a prospect. Of course, upon further reflection, he also recalled that she had a boyfriend, so there went his interest right out the window. All for the better, given that he'd probably just break it off for some stupid reason anyway.
"Okay, so you see the stairs there?" he said in as close to a cheery manner as he was willing to go, indicating the steps in question in the back of the room. "Up the stairs, past all the arcade machines, there should be a door marked 'Laser Tag.' Can't miss it. Anything else I can help you with?"
Daniel hoped not. This lady hadn't really ingratiated herself to him with her opening question, and the last thing he wanted was to have to point her towards the bathroom or something else that was equally silly.
Kids these days...though she kind of looked like she was his age.
"Just a second, ma'am," he said, and returned his attention to the game. A few seconds later, as the game started tallying his score, he leaned his elbow down on the machine and took a better look at the person asking him for directions. Veronica was her name, he recalled, not too bad in appearance. If he was interested in girls, she wouldn't be bad a prospect. Of course, upon further reflection, he also recalled that she had a boyfriend, so there went his interest right out the window. All for the better, given that he'd probably just break it off for some stupid reason anyway.
"Okay, so you see the stairs there?" he said in as close to a cheery manner as he was willing to go, indicating the steps in question in the back of the room. "Up the stairs, past all the arcade machines, there should be a door marked 'Laser Tag.' Can't miss it. Anything else I can help you with?"
Daniel hoped not. This lady hadn't really ingratiated herself to him with her opening question, and the last thing he wanted was to have to point her towards the bathroom or something else that was equally silly.
Veronica wondered whether he was being sarcastic or didn't want to be bothered. Either way, he was annoyed at her. Now that she had gotten a good look at him, she realized who he was. He was one of the very few kids at Aurora who ride motorcycles. There were 3: Ruth, Daniel and Owen. He definitely wasn't Ruth (for obvious reasons), and she'd recognize that Veveris asshole anywhere. So this guy must be Daniel. Rumor had it that this guy was easy to manipulate, but she might put that to the test later.
She turned around and began to walk away, then she turned around at about 5 feet away and asked:
"Hey, your name is Daniel Wi...er...Winchester, right?"
That probably wasn't actually his name, but right now, it really didn't care.
She turned around and began to walk away, then she turned around at about 5 feet away and asked:
"Hey, your name is Daniel Wi...er...Winchester, right?"
That probably wasn't actually his name, but right now, it really didn't care.
Winchester, huh? That was a new one. While Daniel had already gone back to his game at the time, the mistaken way his name was said drew his attention from it almost entirely. He had a whole number of snide comments that were jumbling around in his brain in response to the mistake, but upon reflection, he decided that it was better to remain professional. It didn't matter if the girl was his classmate. He was on the job, wearing a shirt that identified him as an employee of the Castle, so he was obligated to demonstrate the same.
"Worcester, actually," he said, pronouncing it WOO-stah. "My granddad's from Massachusetts, where they call it like that. Dunno where you got the Winchester idea from, but ya ain't that far off." Though now that he thought of it, quite a few teachers had been calling him Worcester in that same vein, so maybe she'd heard it from them. Still, he didn't apologize, figuring that he hadn't really said anything offensive yet.
"So, uh...Veronica? Have fun with the laser tag. If there's a game goin' on already, which I think there is, you may have to wait a bit. Just so you know."
"Worcester, actually," he said, pronouncing it WOO-stah. "My granddad's from Massachusetts, where they call it like that. Dunno where you got the Winchester idea from, but ya ain't that far off." Though now that he thought of it, quite a few teachers had been calling him Worcester in that same vein, so maybe she'd heard it from them. Still, he didn't apologize, figuring that he hadn't really said anything offensive yet.
"So, uh...Veronica? Have fun with the laser tag. If there's a game goin' on already, which I think there is, you may have to wait a bit. Just so you know."
WOO-stah? Wow, that's a funny way of saying a name. Well, she COULD have a different kind of fun here at the Castle. One involving Daniel and maybe getting kicked out. Either way, Veronica knew that tonight was going to be fun.
She thought back, and realized how much of a jock this guy seemed. Roughly 6 feet tall, somewhat good looking and muscular. Veronica could easily see Daniel with the jocks at school. Thinking further, she remembered that he wasn't on any sports team she knew of. In fact, he didn't seem a part of ANY of the clubs at school. This made her wonder about this guy. Daniel seemed inovertive, and is not a member of any clubs or sports teams at school. Veronica could use this against him.
Glancing around, she noticed how sparsely populated the Castle was. The very few people who were here were mostly little kids and employees. An idea sparked in her mind, and it took mere seconds for it to go to her brain and spew out of her mouth.
"So, you look like a jock. You really do, but you're not part of any sports teams or clubs at school. Plus, you work here, where there's a LOT of kids and this is pretty much a childish place. What's up with that?"
The second that came out, Veronica smiled, as if she was an innocent person an that was merely a passive question. Although this wasn't a passive question. This was the start of a possibly fun evening.
She thought back, and realized how much of a jock this guy seemed. Roughly 6 feet tall, somewhat good looking and muscular. Veronica could easily see Daniel with the jocks at school. Thinking further, she remembered that he wasn't on any sports team she knew of. In fact, he didn't seem a part of ANY of the clubs at school. This made her wonder about this guy. Daniel seemed inovertive, and is not a member of any clubs or sports teams at school. Veronica could use this against him.
Glancing around, she noticed how sparsely populated the Castle was. The very few people who were here were mostly little kids and employees. An idea sparked in her mind, and it took mere seconds for it to go to her brain and spew out of her mouth.
"So, you look like a jock. You really do, but you're not part of any sports teams or clubs at school. Plus, you work here, where there's a LOT of kids and this is pretty much a childish place. What's up with that?"
The second that came out, Veronica smiled, as if she was an innocent person an that was merely a passive question. Although this wasn't a passive question. This was the start of a possibly fun evening.
Daniel wasn't quite sure that he understood the question that was being asked of him. Not because he couldn't comprehend it, but because the question seemed a bit banal. Was she trying to make a point with it, that he was working at a place that most people would seem kiddy? Sure, he knew that. He hated the silly shirt he had to wear, the way that people acted towards him, asking all sorts of question and having all sorts of asinine demands. But was that really worth commenting on? What was Veronica's goal in asking this question?
And for that matter, what made her think that he was immature, anyway?
"What does it matter to you whether I do these things or not?" Daniel demanded harshly. "You think that the work I do here is childish, you can crawl under one of these machines yourself and try to make heads or tails of 'em. I'm in maintenance, I'll have you know. I keep every one of these hundreds of machines running smoothly every single day, and it's a more meaningful and worthwhile pastime than any sports team or embroidery club you can think of."
Daniel had so much more he wanted to say, but his professional side intervened, and he zipped the lip right then and there. Turning back to his game, he said in a deflated tone, "Sorry, I didn't mean to shout. Enjoy your game." Even before grabbing the joystick again though, he knew that he didn't have the stomach to continue playing, so he just let his characters get beaten and walked over to the prize counter next to the door. Hopefully this Veronica would get the hint and realize that the conversation was over. If she persisted, something unfortunate might occur.
And for that matter, what made her think that he was immature, anyway?
"What does it matter to you whether I do these things or not?" Daniel demanded harshly. "You think that the work I do here is childish, you can crawl under one of these machines yourself and try to make heads or tails of 'em. I'm in maintenance, I'll have you know. I keep every one of these hundreds of machines running smoothly every single day, and it's a more meaningful and worthwhile pastime than any sports team or embroidery club you can think of."
Daniel had so much more he wanted to say, but his professional side intervened, and he zipped the lip right then and there. Turning back to his game, he said in a deflated tone, "Sorry, I didn't mean to shout. Enjoy your game." Even before grabbing the joystick again though, he knew that he didn't have the stomach to continue playing, so he just let his characters get beaten and walked over to the prize counter next to the door. Hopefully this Veronica would get the hint and realize that the conversation was over. If she persisted, something unfortunate might occur.
Veronica was both pissed off at Daniel and hating herself for picking this fight. What was she thinking? Well, she didn't think this guy was as harsh as he had just demonstrated now. Sure, Daniel was jock-looking, but his mannerisms made him look somewhat like a gentle person, like that blue dragon* from the kids show she used to watch.
Oh, look, he had the nerve to walk away! Psh, coward, you don't run away from a fight! Veronica's anger was boiling up, and for the first time in a month, too. She was pretty much ignored these days at school, but this might change that. Before she could act, she had run up to the prize counter, facing Daniel. She glared at him for a moment, and then slammed her fist down on the table.
"Listen, Mr. BIG NOSE," Veronica stressed the latter. "I really don't give a SHIT whether you do maintenance or something, because YOU'RE. A. FUCKING. PUSSY."
Veronica's breaths were coming in gasps, but she continued nonetheless.
"You work at this slightly larger version of Chuck E Cheese, and put up with this silly 'work uniform'. Meanwhile, you don't seem to join any of the sports teams, even though you look like you'd be great."
She didn't seem to notice how she was complimenting him throughout this. All that was going through her was rage. Rage and adrenaline. She was pumped for a fight.
"It's as if you're scared that you'd get HURT. Oh, what a SISSY. And to top it all off, you've been playing these games more than you've been fixing them!'
Veronica concluded the rant, breathing heavily. She glared at Daniel, and waited for a response.
*the dragon in question is Ord from Dragon Tales
Oh, look, he had the nerve to walk away! Psh, coward, you don't run away from a fight! Veronica's anger was boiling up, and for the first time in a month, too. She was pretty much ignored these days at school, but this might change that. Before she could act, she had run up to the prize counter, facing Daniel. She glared at him for a moment, and then slammed her fist down on the table.
"Listen, Mr. BIG NOSE," Veronica stressed the latter. "I really don't give a SHIT whether you do maintenance or something, because YOU'RE. A. FUCKING. PUSSY."
Veronica's breaths were coming in gasps, but she continued nonetheless.
"You work at this slightly larger version of Chuck E Cheese, and put up with this silly 'work uniform'. Meanwhile, you don't seem to join any of the sports teams, even though you look like you'd be great."
She didn't seem to notice how she was complimenting him throughout this. All that was going through her was rage. Rage and adrenaline. She was pumped for a fight.
"It's as if you're scared that you'd get HURT. Oh, what a SISSY. And to top it all off, you've been playing these games more than you've been fixing them!'
Veronica concluded the rant, breathing heavily. She glared at Daniel, and waited for a response.
*the dragon in question is Ord from Dragon Tales
"What is your problem?!" Daniel exclaimed, reeling back from Veronica's sudden outburst. He'd been carrying on a pretty decent conversation thus far, and then she'd suddenly gone full ballistic on him, shouting all kinds of insults and jabs and slamming the table. Out of the corner of his eye, he noticed a mother with a couple of kids staring at him with a not-so-complimentary expression. With that in mind, he cleared his throat and regained his composure, choosing his next words with a somewhat deliberate care. The lady wanted to rile him up, that much was certain, perhaps with the intention of getting him fired, and he'd rather shoot himself than grant her the satisfaction of getting under his skin with something so banal.
"Listen, Veronica," he sighed. "I don't know what your issue with me is, but you're disturbing the customers. Either crank it down a notch, or I will have to ask you to leave. Got me?" Veronica was fortunate that there were customers nearby, else he probably would have taken her out back with a tire iron, whether she was female or not. The sheer audacity of her, just running up to him and shouting in his face like that. It didn't even matter what it was that she said, though quite a few of the things she said were offensive to him. Nobody acted like that to him. Nobody.
"You got lucky, girl," he thought to himself. "Very very lucky. Under the circumstances, no court would have ever convicted me."
"Listen, Veronica," he sighed. "I don't know what your issue with me is, but you're disturbing the customers. Either crank it down a notch, or I will have to ask you to leave. Got me?" Veronica was fortunate that there were customers nearby, else he probably would have taken her out back with a tire iron, whether she was female or not. The sheer audacity of her, just running up to him and shouting in his face like that. It didn't even matter what it was that she said, though quite a few of the things she said were offensive to him. Nobody acted like that to him. Nobody.
"You got lucky, girl," he thought to himself. "Very very lucky. Under the circumstances, no court would have ever convicted me."
Veronica huffed. She was going to settle this score later, at school or elsewhere.
"I'll see you at school, Woostah."
Veronica mad her way down to the laser tag arena, and hoped for the best.
(Veronica McDonald continued in Magic Man)
"I'll see you at school, Woostah."
Veronica mad her way down to the laser tag arena, and hoped for the best.
(Veronica McDonald continued in Magic Man)
Joseph Gibson had been having a pretty decent day at work. The Castle was quiet and the patrons scattered here and there were all behaving nicely, no one getting too hot and bothered under the collar because of laser tag scores or hogging the machines. He'd already completed a couple of leisurely laps and was considering getting a coffee, mulling the thought over in his mind as he continued his walk around the complex.
He'd just about made up his mind to get a coffee but not a pastry (a decision which had taken up much of the lower level) when a loud voice at the entrance to the arcade made him drag his mind away from the subject of caffeinated beverages. At the ticket counter a tallish black-haired girl was getting in the face of one of the employees, apparently bitching him out for...being a pussy?
Ugh. Teenagers.
The employee seemed to be handling it well, anyway. He was keeping his voice down. Joseph couldn't quite see who it was at this angle but he was impressed nonetheless; the kid was due a compliment for how he was coping with the situation. It wasn't always easy for people to deal with irate customers, especially when they appeared to have changed their mood at the drop of a hat.
Before Joseph could step out purposefully towards the two of them and further break up the situation, the girl stormed out. That was okay. Joseph permitted himself a small smile as he glanced up at the security camera above the prize desk, the one that had been peacefully recording away during the entire altercation. All he had to do was file a report and management would take care of the rest -- they'd get the name of the girl either from the employee she'd harassed or someone who knew her, get the picture on file, and then? Well, then she'd have a nice three-week break in which to think about the various ways to act in public. And in the meantime, he thought it was high time he showed her the door.
It didn't take long for him to catch up with her. Joseph couldn't quite tell how she felt about the fact she'd landed a ban, but the most amazing thing about being a security guard for the Castle was that he just plain didn't have to care. The owners took their reputation as a safe haven seriously, and he was well within his rights to uphold their wishes. Shortly after she'd been escorted from the building Joseph was on his way to his supervisor's office, whistling softly to himself.
Maybe it hadn't been such a bad night after all.
Veronica McDonald is banned from the Castle for three weeks. Should she attempt to enter the building, she will be escorted out. Further attempts to enter will result in stricter punishment including but not limited to police intervention.
In OOC terms, Veronica may not post in the Castle for three weeks. For the sake of bookkeeping, this means that her ban expires midnight Central time on Tuesday June 18th. Failure to comply will result in consequences to be determined by the staff team.
He'd just about made up his mind to get a coffee but not a pastry (a decision which had taken up much of the lower level) when a loud voice at the entrance to the arcade made him drag his mind away from the subject of caffeinated beverages. At the ticket counter a tallish black-haired girl was getting in the face of one of the employees, apparently bitching him out for...being a pussy?
Ugh. Teenagers.
The employee seemed to be handling it well, anyway. He was keeping his voice down. Joseph couldn't quite see who it was at this angle but he was impressed nonetheless; the kid was due a compliment for how he was coping with the situation. It wasn't always easy for people to deal with irate customers, especially when they appeared to have changed their mood at the drop of a hat.
Before Joseph could step out purposefully towards the two of them and further break up the situation, the girl stormed out. That was okay. Joseph permitted himself a small smile as he glanced up at the security camera above the prize desk, the one that had been peacefully recording away during the entire altercation. All he had to do was file a report and management would take care of the rest -- they'd get the name of the girl either from the employee she'd harassed or someone who knew her, get the picture on file, and then? Well, then she'd have a nice three-week break in which to think about the various ways to act in public. And in the meantime, he thought it was high time he showed her the door.
It didn't take long for him to catch up with her. Joseph couldn't quite tell how she felt about the fact she'd landed a ban, but the most amazing thing about being a security guard for the Castle was that he just plain didn't have to care. The owners took their reputation as a safe haven seriously, and he was well within his rights to uphold their wishes. Shortly after she'd been escorted from the building Joseph was on his way to his supervisor's office, whistling softly to himself.
Maybe it hadn't been such a bad night after all.
Veronica McDonald is banned from the Castle for three weeks. Should she attempt to enter the building, she will be escorted out. Further attempts to enter will result in stricter punishment including but not limited to police intervention.
In OOC terms, Veronica may not post in the Castle for three weeks. For the sake of bookkeeping, this means that her ban expires midnight Central time on Tuesday June 18th. Failure to comply will result in consequences to be determined by the staff team.
Daniel was very happy to see Veronica go. Waiting until she was up the stairs, he then slumped back into a chair, holding his head and groaning, "Jeez..." What had he done to deserve something like that? And how did this girl know that he wasn't in any clubs or sports team? Did she make a habit of checking the rosters of every single organization, looking for his name in particular? Was she some kind of creepy reverse stalker, like in one of those nerdy Japanese comic books? None of this made any sense.
"What am I gonna do?" he asked to himself. Veronica was a classmate of his. He couldn't just stay away from school, not without jeopardizing his grades, so he was probably going to run into her again at some point, and what would happen then? He'd have to watch his back in school from here on out, just in case Veronica decided to come at him with a knife. The thought of it made him involuntarily shiver.
If there was some consolation to the day though, it was seeing the girl escorted out by Mr. Gibson. At the very least, he'd have quite a few days in which he could work in peace, and that was a very welcome relief.
"Nice job, girlie. Nice freakin' job."
(Daniel Worcester continued elsewhere)
"What am I gonna do?" he asked to himself. Veronica was a classmate of his. He couldn't just stay away from school, not without jeopardizing his grades, so he was probably going to run into her again at some point, and what would happen then? He'd have to watch his back in school from here on out, just in case Veronica decided to come at him with a knife. The thought of it made him involuntarily shiver.
If there was some consolation to the day though, it was seeing the girl escorted out by Mr. Gibson. At the very least, he'd have quite a few days in which he could work in peace, and that was a very welcome relief.
"Nice job, girlie. Nice freakin' job."
(Daniel Worcester continued elsewhere)