Walk Down Main Street

Some days are easier than others. On the days that are light, I can keep a positive attitude and focus on what’s good. I do the work I need and want to do that day. Then you have days like today.

In the past, I might have done something reckless, a mistake of some kind that would have been distracting, maybe kind of fun, but I would regret it.

So today, I am walking. I am walking so that I am not running. Yeah, yeah. I was born to run and all that. I know. But today I am walking. I am walking and breathing. You can feel it along with me, if you like. You can feel the cold wind on the face, cheeks becoming tight and red. You can feel the weight on each heel, the forward motion with slight swing to the arms. The overcoat tight, but also flowing in the breeze. You can hear the click of my shoes on the sidewalk.

There are buildings here, on Main Street, running through the center of Soma, like a major artery. But these buildings are not very tall. I do not know where you are from and so I am not sure what Main Street means to you. But the Main Street of Soma is … well, I guess you would say quaint. The buildings are generally two stories tall, though a tall second story. And the parking is angled rather than parallel, so you can simply drive into the spot. The lines are white and faded almost to gray. There’s a fire hydrant, but you’ve never seen a fire brigade or a fire department—not that you’ve been in town long.

The shops are closed. They almost always are these days. And there’s no one around right now. Not a soul. Well, except for ours.

Near the center of Main Street—itself at the center of Soma—are two important places. On one side of the street—my right, which would be south I guess—is a tavern called Time Out.

I know the bartender there, even though she has anterograde amnesia.

On the other side—the north side, my left—is that venerable estate house or brownstone or whatever it is: The Brubaker. And this is where I live in Soma. It is a good bit taller than the rest of the buildings and has a courtyard.

You are welcome to come inside with me. You may have been in there before. You might be staying with me. It’s whatever you have decided. If you’d rather go across the street and check out Time Out, we can certainly do that. Or, if you’d rather say good night and explore on your own, feel free to do so.

Play procedures:

• If we go inside the Brubaker, I will take you up to my room, the Stiletto Room. You know whether you’ve been there before or not. If you want to make out, we can do that. If you want to do more, we can do that, too. Or we can just hang out and drink coffee and tea, watch a movie, listen to records, read a book. Whatever you want, babe.

• If you say you want to go to Time Out, I’ll grumble but go with you. Hoop is working, and I can introduce you to her, but I explain it won’t help because she can’t make new memories. There are a few areas of interest in Time Out:

  • The payphone in the hallway. A tall woman with very long legs hangs out there by the phone a lot. You can ask her name and try to figure out why she waits there. Or you can use the phone, but I don’t know who you’d wanna call.

  • There are two bathrooms that are not gendered. People get busy in there and the doors don’t lock, so. Be advised when entering or going.

  • There’s an area of tables near the bar. If bands are playing, the tables are gone and it’s standing room only.

  • A staircase climbs up the wall facing the bar. If you go upstairs, you’re on your own. I don’t go up there. There’s a real bad dude on the second floor, and I’m not trying to get mixed up in his bullshit. Second door, the green one, and it will lead you to a hallway, I’m told. Once in the hallway, you can go left. That ends in another green door. I don’t know what is behind that one. Go right, all the way to the end, and there’s a red door. He’s in there. Good luck.

  • There’s a second small area of table past the hallway and bathrooms, right near the backdoor exit. It’s more intimate than the front seating and has more of a coffeeshop vibe than a bar.

  • If you want to meet someone, make a charisma check. If you have no charisma score, you can assign yourself one now. If you succeed, you meet someone interesting. If you fail, you meet someone annoying who won’t leave us alone. If you succeed exceptionally, you meet a new romantic partner or lifelong friend—whichever you’d prefer.

• Should you decide to go your own way, take your journal and record what happens. Tell us about it, if you want.