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Penny Dreadful is bustling, and not just because some of the employees are in bustles. The bar is busy with people visiting; there's a singer and piano player in there, and the pleasant buzz of conversation. There are a few old men playing chess in the library. Rhea is at the front door in her full performance regalia. A top that looks like an embroidered and heavily embellished bra in shades of purple, green, and black; the skirt matches, looking like it's made from yards upon yards of billowy scarves in the same colors. Her headdress is elaborate, as is her hairstyle, with rows of cowrie shells and bright, full-blown poppies the shade of bloodspray. Her feet are bare; on one arm is a serpent of beaten copper.
Nevermore enters, dressed in their dressin'-up ensemble: swashbuckler boots, tight slacks, a maroon vest over a bloused white shirt, a swashbuckler hat with their bic pen plume tucked in the band, and (of course) the skull-pattern coat. They look around as they enter, to see what the tone of the place might be.
The interior is nothing short of a faithful, near-perfect imitation of the gentlemens' clubs and secret society hotspots of the Victorian era. More mahogany than is left in the rainforest is probably in this building, along with paneled oak, tufted leather, and lush velvets. The lighting is meant to resemble gaslamps, and the lamps in the parlor and the library are tiffany glass as well. There is a bar in the back of the place that stretches the width of the building, complete with small stage.
Nevermore sees Rhea and heads in that direction, looking around in appreciation.
Nevermore's appearance is greeted by Rhea bouncing on the balls of her feet, clapping her hands together. "Nevermore! You found it!"
Nevermore smiles. "I'm glad I did - this place looks amazing! I admit, I was kind of worried when you and Phaedra described this place that it was going to be a little more..." They search for quite the right word.
"Trashy?" Rhea gives her a broad, beaming grin.
"I didn't say it!" Nevy says, chuckling. "But... I got the impression there would be a lot more... um... tit involved."
"Oh, no," Rhea assures Nevy, shaking her head; her headdress jingles softly. "Burlesque doesn't have to include nudity. It can be terribly empowering, even. But in all honesty, I feel like this place is taking a different direction," she admits, almost wistful as she glances around.
Their eyebrows lift. "Really? What direction?"
"Well..." Rhea seems, of all things, shy for a moment. "I...I have a deep passion for the occult, and...I'd like to make it into a place for like minds. Other students of such things, we could all meet here and...I don't know, really." She laughs, shrugging one bare shoulder. "I haven't gotten that far."
Nevermore looks intrigued. "An... occult club? How much business would that pull in?"
"Probably none, but I'm rich," she laughs, flipping a hand. "I didn't marry all those fools just to work myself to death."
Nevermore blinks and side-eyes the woman before deciding, not my circus, not my monkeys, not marrying anyone anyway. "Well. If you do set it up like that? I am very interested." They look rueful. "I'm quickly learning that I don't know nearly as much as I thought I did about that kind of thing - and that not knowing might be dangerous."
It's Rhea's turn to show interest, glancing sidelong at Nevermore. "Is that so? Do you study the occult as well? Oh, forgive me - I am a terrible hostess. May I fetch you something to drink? I can have tea service brought to the parlor, if you like."
Nevy nods. "I'd like that, thank you."
Rhea nods, turning to summon one of the staff; she murmurs to them and then turns, leading Nevy into the little parlor right off the entrance. The colors here are softer, more velvet than leather. Rhea moves to a low, round table and arranges herself on a chaise there.
Nevy joins them, sitting with what they think is a swashbuckler's poise. Is it actually? Probably not. They glance around. "Is this room... relatively private?"
"Oh yes; once they bring the tea service, Marie will shut the doors," she explains, gesturing to the entry. Sure enough, Marie arrives with full tea service - even some little sandwiches and brownies - and once she's done, she leaves and slides closed the pocket doors to enclose them in privacy.
Nevermore nods, assuming a touch more formality than is their normal wont. "Thank you for the hospitality." They hesitate, then press forward. "Don't feel like you need to force yourself to eat on my account. I try not to judge peoples'... dietary restrictions."
Rhea smiles at Nevy for a moment, and then inclines her head in understanding. "You know, Nevy, the joke would've gone better if you'd chosen to suit me. Queen of the Damned would have more appropriate, in my opinion." She breaks into a grin, settling languidly into her chaise. "It was funny, though. I didn't know you were in the know."
Nevermore nods. "Your poker face is pretty impressive. And just be happy I didn't try with twilight."
Rhea sighs, her expression affectionate. "Mon dieu, Twilight. I love Twilight."
"Is it as funny to you as the movie Ghost is to me?" Nevy chuckles.
Rhea tilts her head thoughtfully. "It's more that...it suits me. I would rather they all believe in vampires that are peaceful, glittering, angst-ridden angels just looking for love. It suits my survival for there to be Cullens in the world, so that Lestats like me can survive."
Nevy considers her, then nods slowly. "Not a fan of Dracula, I bet."
Rhea flashes Nevy a feline smile. "Oh, but I do love Dracul. The classics never die, no?"
"Even with Ven Helsing and the rest getting him in the end?"
"Oh oui, of course. Dracula was very careless. He got what was coming to him."
Nevy nods. "For what it's worth, I know not to talk about you to other people. Everyone I've met has explained it to me. At length." They seem to have a sense of humor about it, at least.
Rhea sobers, nodding. "I appreciate that you understand that. It's a hard concept to explain to others without sounding like a threat. But...I wish to survive. I have so much life left to live."
Nevermore nods. "I... understand not wanting to be threatened. I, ah... hope you're willing to reciprocate on the not-being-threatening front?"
"Oh, darling, that's what I mean! I mean I don't want you to feel threatened!" She sits up, her expression sympathetic. "Please, you have nothing to fear from me.
Nevy nods. "I'm glad to hear that. You've got great taste, I'd much rather talk aesthetic than, uh, get eaten."
"Oh, thank you?" She looks around, pleased at Nevy's assessment. "I could really use some artwork, but..." Rhea sighs, flicking a hand. "I must look for artists to amass a collection."
Nevy smiles. "Well. It's too bad you don't know an artist who enjoys working with this kind of thematic. And whose commission rates are really quite reasonable."
"I know," Rhea sighs, affecting a pout. "I just want pieces that look authentic, but are unique to the place." She shifts her attention back to Nevy, noting her smile; what Nevy's said seems to process. "Wait...oh!" She sits up, moving to the very edge of her chaise with hands clasped. "Nevy! You could do art for me?!"
Nevy smiles and pulls a folder out of their bag. "I've been curious about this place since Phaedra mentioned 'Victorian-themed occult burlesque.' I brought my portfolio, just in case." They offer the folder.
Rhea leans forward to pluck up the portfolio; she sits criss-cross, leafing through it slowly and deliberately. "What mediums do you prefer to work in?"
"Mostly pen-and-ink, these days. I've done some work in pastels and oil paints, but I don't have the equipment to do my best work in those right now."
Rhea nods, still leafing through the pieces. "These are good," Rhea comments. "I like your use of light in these; reminds me of older styles. What would it require to have a collection in oils?"
Nevermore chuckles ruefully. "Right now? I could get some basic paints and an easel easily enough, but to do really good work I'd want some thinners and a couple specialized tools. It would run me <<Availability 3>> to put together something as good as I have for my pen-and-ink work, and my apartment might get a little cramped."
"If you can prepare a quote for me, we can make most of that happen, if not all." Rhea closes the portfolio, holding it back out to Nevy. "When can you begin? I would like several pieces, including three panels for the bar. Perhaps...two feet by five, is that acceptable? Along with smaller pieces, and if you like you can place pieces for sale here."
Nevy blinks. "I'd... for that much work, I'll want to write up a contract, just to make sure we're on the same page. I'm finishing up a project now, but it should be done by the end of this week. Can I get back to you next week on it?"
"Oh yes, of course!" Rhea beams at them. "Take your time, darling. I'm nothing if not very patient." She winks at Nevy.
Nevermore chuckles. "I appreciate that. Do you have any guidelines for the pieces you'd like? I'm happy to work within requirements."
"No, absolutely not - I would never stifle an artist's gift. I spent my younger days with too many bohemian artists in Paris. All of us starving and passionate," she giggles.
Nevermore chuckles. "I appreciate it. By the same token, though, sometimes restrictions can help to jog creativity. Besides, I doubt you'd like it if I drew up Hello Kitty in blue to put in the lobby here." They chuckle.
"Oh, yes...no, I'd probably destroy that," she laughs. "Would it help if I provided a portfolio of art that I like?"
Nevy seems to be having trouble not grinning, almost giddy with excitement. "That would be absolutely perfect. Thank you - I'm really looking forward to this!"
Rhea laughs brightly, clapping her hands. "Oh, me too! This will be wonderful, original art for my little place. Oh - that reminds me, we never spoke on the occult. Are you a student of the occult?"
Nevermore nods, expression becoming slightly less drunk-on-exuberance. "Yes. I... can speak with ghosts. There's a couple other things I can do, but that's the main one."
Rhea's eyes widen with interest; she leans forward. "You can speak with ghosts? What..what is that even like?"
"Sometimes sad. Sometimes terrifying. Sometimes they won't stop screaming in the hotel room below yours and you have 8 hours of vending at a convention the next day."
Rhea's features crumple with emotion, trembling fingers moving to parted lips. "Oh," she breathes, and her voice has that apprehensive thickness that surfaces before tears. "Oh, that's terrible."
Nevy tilts their head, considering Rhea.
Nevy shrugs. "It also let me grow up with my grandma, even though she died when I was three." They give a lopsided smile. "A little scary, a little sad, but not all bad. Goth in a nutshell."
"I suppose so," she murmurs, smiling faintly. "I will make my oblations to Persephone on your behalf, that she watches over you."
Nevy nods. "I appreciate it," They say, sounding sincere. "She's something of a role model - in some of the interpretations I've read, at least."
"She is a thought-provoking figure for me as well," she murmurs, inclining her head. "It always amuses me how many think that She was dragged to the Underworld against her will. I imagine that she was a daughter of Zeus, and she knew what she must do to be crowned a Queen. The only daughter of his to be crowned, in fact, except for Helen of Sparta."
"And both of them were 'kidnapped.' Oh, ancient Greece. Your misogyny is as predictable as it is annoying."
Rhea bursts into a delighted laugh, clapping her hands once. "Oh Nevy, that is priceless! I shall keep you." She raises a hand. "I mean that in an affectionately platonic way, not in an exsanguinating way."
Nevy forces themselves to untense. "Of course."
"I will reassure you again - I mean you no harm, and will do you none. Are you a witch?" Rhea abruptly shifts in topic, lifting her teacup to smell the fragrant brew.
Nevy hesitates. "By what benchmark?" They say. "That's a word that... means a lot of different things to a lot of different people."
"Do you practice a tradition of witchcraft or magic," Rhea clarifies. "Either as a solitary or with a coven?"
"I... don't really follow a specific tradition, I think. I just... did a lot of looking around on the internet when I got old enough to realize that the ghost thing was weird. I tried a couple things, and kept doing what worked." They shrug one shoulder and pull out their necklace. "This helps protect me from possession."
Rhea glances to the amulet, raising a brow. "Possession by what?"
"Ghosts. Animistic spirits, too, I think." They give a lopsided smile. "But I'm not exactly racing to test it."
"Probably ought not," Rhea agrees. "If you wish to learn the true ways, the ancient ways..." Rhea lets it dangle.
Nevy considers the woman. "What... would that entail?"
"A black goat, a newborn baby, and a lock of your hair dipped in your menstrual blood," Rhea replies, deadpan and straight-faced.
"Does hair dye count, for the goat?" Nevy says, just as deadpan.
"No. You can only use a black permanent marker if it's not really black."
Nevermore nods. "Well. I can draw you up one by tomorrow. I'll bring a fresh egg, too, which should fulfill the second requirement. The menstrual blood thing might take a little bit longer. I swear, if you're just looking for a snack..."
"If I wanted a snack, I'd have asked for a tampon," she retorts cheerfully, slinging one long leg over the other.
That causes Nevermore to crack, giggling. "How much of that was serious and how much was hazing the little human?"
"Oh gods, all of it," she giggles, covering her mouth with both hands. "What would I do with a goat!?"
Nevermore shrugs. "Make a stew? Milk it? Stick it on the top story of an office building to weird out some rich executive assholes?"
"I can't kill the goat! Unless it's an offering, I suppose. I have a soft spot for black goats, I suppose." Rhea smiles kindly, then stretches. "I will be performing soon. Would you mind if I return to my work?"
"No, of course! Thank you again!" Nevy stands. "I'll start putting together the contract for those paintings you wanted. This is... going to be really cool." They grin again.
"Oui, darling! I am extremely excited to see what you come up with." Rhea directs an air kiss in Nevy's direction before sashaying out of the parlor.
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