|
The record shop/bar was only just recently opened on New Years day. Though a steady flow of customers were taking part in the new venue, it still didn't have that 'crowded' bar atmosphere, and perhaps thankfully so. The place wasn't huge. From the street warm lights glowed from inside as music played loudly and the smell of beer, booze, and food wafted out to those passing by. Tonight a handful of what soon could be called regular sat around the bar, and Vic was tending along with Pete. Portis Head crooning out through the outside speakers for those that had chosen to brave the winter chill. https://open.spotify.com/track/6vTtCOimcPs5H1Jr9d0Aep?si=hlgzLgdnTB-gXenLeYI1nA
https://www.fromdusktilljawn.com/w/images/thumb/8/85/VTapRecords.jpg/200px-VTapRecords.jpg
Micaela Fianze at 11:27 PM
It's blistering fucking cold out, and the little dive was right there. Under normal circumstances, she would not be caught dead in a place like this, except under the most mitigating, necessary of circumstances. Sideways snow constitutes mitigating, necessary circumstances. One drink, one smoke, just to get out of the cold, and then on with it. The reasoning seemed fine.
Neither particularly tall nor particularly diminutive in stature, with honey highlights layered into a mane the color of chocolate, she shoulders in out of the cold and takes that first breath of room temperature air - the kind that doesn't hurt, and stab! - and her eyes adjust to the light while she scans the crowd.
The new arrival is well-dressed. Quite well-dressed, if not flamboyant or excessive, and the finery of her dress, a mock-neck silhouette, and tights and boots was more subtle than overstated. "Excuse me," she asks in an accent that is detectably foreign, consonants extended and vowels added.
"Can you make a Bellini?" she asks as she unshoulders out of her coat. A strange question to ask in a bar; possible she doesn't realize dives work like all the rest.
Vic Easton at 11:35 PM
https://open.spotify.com/track/45oHwNRe0aYj6ZNZpWjeL3?si=NIuqxDhOQiWcCoNTKi7Kbg
The bar was busy, but not so much that new customers weren't immediately noticed. Vic was in her usual second hand clothes, an old vest over a tank, showing off her arms, lightly toned but probably just a little underfed as opposed to having been at the gym any time recently. Her black hair wild, but braided off to the side, cascading messily down around her left shoulder. Her lips stained red and arguing with her bright hazel eyes as her predominant feature. She leaned forward over the bar to listen for the order. "Bellini? Wow, uh, yeah, I can do that. I don't think I've made one in a few years, but fuck it. Let's get fancy.." She'd nod, accepting the challenge and disappear back into the kitchen for a few minutes, coming back out with a fresh looking puree that was a little dark for peach, but along the same color scale.
The patrons looked over Micaela, but fancy or not she wasn't the subject of attention for long, people too relaxed in a place like this to care too much about who was sitting next to them. Vic worked diligently over the cocktail, with a mix of well learned skills and a bit of improvisations as she looked at her bar mise en place, and added a few things here and there to add to the experience.
Placing a tall champagne flute in front of Micaela, "I don't have peach, but I did have blood orange and cardamom bitters.. should be fuckin' tasty." A pause, before she adds. "If you don't like it I won't charge you. But I'll get peaches in if you promise to come back." An infectious toothy grin as she waits to see if Micaela was here for it.(edited)
Micaela Fianze at 11:46 PM
The woman inclines her head in a grateful little bob and crosses the distance to let her coat sag onto a chair, assuming the one next to it and directly in front of Vic. "Thank you," she intones, voice like a dark bell. "Here's to innovation," she remarks as she lifts the glass and toasts towards the bartender with it, raising it a few scant inches in her direction before tasting the Alternative Bellini, and a satisfied curve tugs at her features.
Upon a few more words, the accent is a bit more noticeably Italian, though clearly softened through some time spent in the States, or at least English-speaking countries. "A good experiment," she compliments, though the praise is not effusive. "I like it."
Only then does she slide her attention around the room, taking in the full ambiance. "You sell music records here." Not a question, more of an observation. "Do you sell very many?" That European bluntness.
Vic Easton at 11:52 PM
"Fantastic," her hands spread wide, as if in celebration of how good she was, no shortage of confidence. Pleased with herself, she cleaned up her little experiment as they spoke, "Yeah! Sales aren't so bad at all. Hipsters are here for it, and the Gen X ... eh..Xennial crowd seem to appreciate less buttons when listening to their old favorites." she nodded and looked over the place, her expression still displaying a bit of wonder at it being real. "You into music? Pardon me for saying so, but I feel like this place might have been a few notches down on your list tonight. No offense taken." she held up a hand to excuse the woman ahead of time. A glance to her drink and then Vic turned and grabbed a few slices of the blood orange she'd used to make it and plopped a chunk of the pulp on her tongue as they spoke, enjoying the snack before tossing the rest of the scraps away.
Micaela Fianze at 11:57 PM
"I cannot fathom, nor would I trust, someone who doesn't enjoy music," she replies from behind the glass rim of her drink.
"And while I wasn't looking for it, I certainly found it at just at the right moment," she acknowledges, the response dripping with a kind of polite, decorous evasiveness. Of course it wasn't high on her list, but there was no need to be catty about it, about someone's business, excused or unexcused or otherwise. She glances back over her shoulder for a moment, indicating through the windows with her off-hand. "It's really coming down out there now. And now I have found a variation on the Bellini. We will call it kismet."(edited)
January 17, 2021
Vic Easton at 12:01 AM
https://open.spotify.com/track/5itejz0znh8zEnK7J7LS9f?si=6y6UrDikSRuX5_7IX6uY4g
A smile spread over her face like fever. "Excellent answer." She lifted her head and looked out the window, as if only just realizing outside was a whole other world with its own schedule and weather system than the little world she'd created here.
She'd offer a hand to the woman, seemingly eager to be best friends with all of her customers so long as that commitment could last, "Vic." introducing herself on a short first name basis to suggest they were already close, "Where were you headed....?"(edited)
Micaela Fianze at 12:09 AM
"I was in this part of town for a meeting," she acknowledges, extending her hand to meet Vic's. "Micaela. It's a pleasure." When she says her name, it has four syllables, not three. "And I apologize for the cold hands," she adds with a smile, drawing the corners of her eyebrows down in that sympathetic way.
"This is yours, then?" she asks further. "I hope you do not mind my twenty questions. I am a noobie," she chuckles, and she says the word with slightly too much pronunciation, like she just learned it somewhere.(edited)
Vic Easton at 12:15 AM
There was a curt shake of her hand, "Cold hands warm heart." she returned. "It is. Just opened a fortnight ago. I'm really hoping it all works out because if it doesn't I'm sort of fucked." she grinned, grabbing a tall glass of water hidden beneath the bar.
There's a few moments where she turns to help another customer, quickly getting their beer, and offering them a menu. She seemed friendly with everyone, but perhaps with Micaela she was a touch more intrigued for the woman being so far out of her natural element. After a moment she turned back, "What sort of meeting?" she pestered. "Sorry for the twenty questions, I'm nosy as fuck." grinning affectionately.
Sunshine Adams at 12:19 AM
Sunshine walks in, dressed casually, a pair of khaki cargo pants mixed with a black tee shirt with a logo on it that seems to have her in it, and a black leather jacket. She has a smartphone in one hand, and she seems to be browsing something on it as she steps inside. If either person is a fan of ghost hunting shows, they'd recognize her from her hit YouTube show, Sunshine Seeking Spirits. (( shirt logo: https://imgur.com/hJOyXUw ))
Micaela Fianze at 12:27 AM
"Only two weeks?" Micaela says, expressing her surprise with her eyes, eyebrows, and a faint cock of her head. "Well, congratulations, indeed. Every new venture is like a child, in a way. It requires so much nurturing and patience. I wish you success," she chimes, raising the glass towards Vic again.
"Ah, I was at an antiquities pre-auction. Philadelphia has hundreds of little museums, but, ah," and she says this with genuine and palpable regret. "The economy being what it is, not all of them make it. They hold small, private auctions from time to time. And sometimes they have something called pre-auctions, which are basically trying to bid before everyone else does," she explains with a runaway grin and a chuckle. She waves a hand. "It's a little interest of mine. History, things of history."(edited)
Vic Easton at 12:32 AM
https://open.spotify.com/track/4kPSjEg8u1U4pg2dHHMmtf?si=5hJ914v_SJS5AwXVTuaNbw
"Thank you! So far so good. It's only taken every fiber of my being to get it going, right?" she'd grin at Sunshine as she came in and ready a menu, though still talking with Micaela as the second woman stepped up to the bar. "Pre-auction? That sounds like cheating! But I bet you get the good stuff then. What are we talking? Like jewelry or art or ... fuck pyrex? What are you into Mic?"
Her attention turned briefly to Sunshine. "Welcome in! Here's a menu... know what you're drinking?"
Sunshine Adams at 12:38 AM
Sunshine smiles and starts to look over the menu, then pauses for a moment. She looks at Vic, studying the woman carefully. "Wait...are you...no you can't be." She shakes her head, looking back down to the menu...then she looks back up. "Like, I know this is super random but you look just like the lead singer of this band I love. Misgivings?"
Micaela Fianze at 12:43 AM
If Micaela has an answer for Vic, it is cut short when the new arrival interrupts. The Italian only smiles and gives Vic a polite nod of her head, excusing her from the dialogue to interface with this most recent patron. She neither introduces herself nor interjects, but uses this moment to pull her phone out of her coat, still slung over the adjacent seat, and check her messages while she sips from her Alt Bellini™️.
Sabnock at 12:49 AM
Following his own meeting Marcus would also find his way to the bar. He probably shouldn't be drinking, infact he was fairly certain there was something in his probation agreement about that. never the less what was life without any risks. Making his way inside he would head for the bar. He was a slim athletically built Caucasian man standing slightly over six feet tall, with hazel eyes, short dark hair and a couple days’ worth of stubble covering his face. He wore a hooded sweatshirt at least a size too large for him, the hood pulled up concealing most of his face to anyone that wasn’t directly in front of him, Jeans and simple athletic shoes.
Vic Easton at 12:50 AM
"Loved, Misgivings is over and done with now, but yeah, that was me." she smiled appreciatively. "Didn't expect a fan in Philly, that's great to know we traveled this far!" The bartender beamed, as she got a few refills put in for other patrons and finally came back to Sunshine and offered her hand. "Vic. Nice to meet you. What are you having?" She'd ask, running her hands over her lower back to stretch as she got the woman's order.
Micaela got a nod, they'd continue shortly. Antique pyrex was the hot gossip tonight.
"Welcome in," Vic supplied to Sabnock as he came over, placing a menu in front of him as well.
Sunshine Adams at 12:52 AM
"Love, I have all your albums. Played a few on my show, too. With credit, of course." She grins. "Damn, if I had one on me I'd ask for an autograph. Oh...uh...you got PBR?"
Micaela Fianze Today at 12:55 AM
Micaela glances at either of the new entrants as she taps the screen of her phone and slides away a message with a softened buzz. "I did not realize you were a musician yourself," she hums at Vic from the sidelines of the conversation, and then she places both phone and drink down to rub her hands together, to bring some warmth back to her fingertips while she surveys the posters hung on the wall over by the rows upon rows of vinyl.
Sabnock at 12:59 AM
"Thanks...." He would take a moment to look the menu over. It seemed like the polite thing to do since she had handed it to him, but really he wasn't that fancy, so it would probably just be beer. "Just whatever is on tap." He told Vic when she made her way back to him. His order no doubt the sign of a seasoned alcoholic.
Vic Easton at 12:59 AM
https://open.spotify.com/track/1LwP9g1Hjbs64jXM2Qsxry?si=-F6WhDJJQb2TpEylVNbJ3Q
"Well thank you! That's sweet of you. Stop by any time, I'm happy to sign whatever you've got." she grinned and nodded. "Yeah of course," she turned to grab the woman her beer. Behind the bar a gigantic black and white great dane was sniffing around for attention. Vic seemed to expect it, pivoting around the beast as she worked.
She'd look over her shoulder towards Micaela again, "It's been years now. A few friends of mine started a band out of highschool. It fell apart cause... you know.. drugs and babies and jobs and life... I did a few solo projects but eventually I just decided to sell records instead. The bar is a lure, I'm really here to talk to you about your vinyl collection," she beams, finally setting down Sunshine's beer. "Let me know if you want anything to eat."
Turning then to Sabnock, seeing the other bartender Pete was still flirting with a little blonde at the end of the bar. Vic seemed more than happy to juggle multiple customers. Not unlike someone being given multiple presents at once on Christmas morning, each new face was a pleasant surprise and handled with grace. "You got it."
Sunshine Adams at 1:10 AM
She takes her beer and grins, lifting it up to Vic before taking a sip of it. She's content to be quiet for the moment, sipping her beer and listening to the conversation around her.
Micaela Fianze at 1:10 AM
"My vinyl collection will disappoint you," Micaela warns with a smile. Her phone buzzes softly in the coat pocket she had deposited it into, but she ignores it. The drink is empty, now, and she pays in cash, crisp notes like they just came from a teller. "But we will have that chat another day. It is time for me to be going," she preempts as she starts to stand. "It was nice to meet you, Vic," she remarks with another nod of her head, and she gestures around in a small circle with a finger. "Congratulations, and good luck." She gives whoever might else be close enough a polite smile and nod of their own, and collects her coat.
Another blast of cold air as she wades back out into it, but she's not waiting long. Through the windows, one might see a Range Rover SVAutobiography, for those who can tell such things, pulls up by the curb; a man leaps out to round the vehicle and open the door for her, and she slips inside of it. The driver resumes his position, and then the vehicle pulls away.
Vic Easton at 1:15 AM
Vic looked from Micaela to the snow outside and seeing it was slightly lessened, understood the woman's exit, "Easily fixed," a small gesture of offer towards the departing woman. "Take care!" taking away her glass and setting it aside before turning back to the others left in her section. Sabnock got his beer with a coaster and she'd reach to pull a bowl of mixed nuts to sit in front of both Sunshine and him, grabbing a few for herself.
Sabnock at 1:17 AM
He watched the woman go, taking the time to look around the bar at the other patrons. "Interesting place.... and a diverse clientele it seems like." He commented briefly turning his attention to Micaela and her chauffeured ride. When his drink was delivered he would take the opportunity to indulge in a long haul off the glass.
Sunshine Adams at 1:18 AM
Sunshine looks between Saabnock and Vic, turning to Vic. "So, let's say you were picking out good background music for a ghost hunting show. Who'd you recommend?"
Vic Easton at 1:23 AM
https://open.spotify.com/track/1ng36571Iyov4HBxUClySn?si=W4h1piusQ9OPfNEfV7gBDg
She'd lean and give the giant dog a kiss on the top of its head, before swatting it's rear and sending it off towards the side, where another of its kind in brown laid sleepily. "Well.." she shrugs gently towards Sabnock. "Everyone likes music. And if not that, booze. We do what we can..." she reached and grabbed another swig of her water. Drifting her attention towards Sunshine's question, "Oh shit. Uh... well that's got so many options. Are you spooky or funky or fun or badass or sexy or ....?" she smirked, "Could bring in some footage and I could give some suggestions if you wanted. Have to check royalties and shit. Though there're lots of places that do free audio files with subscriptions too. Big industry right now, what with Youtube basically being television."
Sunshine Adams at 1:24 AM
She grins. "My show actually is on YouTube. Sunshine Seeking Spirits. And I like to think I'm sexy, but my show does tend to be spookier than most. I find real ghosts, not just tv ghosts."
Sabnock at 1:29 AM
"Real ghosts?" he asked raising a brow in skepticism. "Maybe your music choices should go by how old the ghost is, you know like some period music.... can't imagine the royalties are cost prohibitive for something like that."
Vic Easton at 1:34 AM
"Sunshine doesn't sound very spooky..." she wrinkles her nose back in a grin. "Reallll ghosts huh?" obviously a touch skeptical of that, but willing to play along. "How do real ghosts differ from TV ghosts?" she wondered if there were clear indications, obviously she had zero experience with such things.
She reached and grabbed a note book, a little yellow pad and wrote down epidemicsound.com, and slid it over, "This place is great to start, but yeah.. if you want pointers on a soundtrack I'm happy to help. Come by here before 5 when things pick up and I could assist."
Sunshine Adams at 1:36 AM
She makes a face. "My mom was a bit of a hippie. Can't help the name I'm born with." She grins. "Well, most of the shows you see on TV are bullshit, you know, jumpscares and fake ESP readers and stuff. I find the real thing." She glances over at Sabnock. "I mean...they rarely talk to me, it can be difficult to find out what period they're from."
Sabnock at 1:37 AM
"Don't you see them? Like what are they wearing? Or whats the location you are ghost hunting in?" He shrugged. "Maybe you need to get a medium so someone can talk to them." He offered in suggestion. "What do you you do with the ghosts once you find them?"
Vic Easton at 1:40 AM
Vic worked to serve a few other customers while continuing to listen to the conversation at hand. "Touche," she said to Sunshine with an understanding nod. Perhaps she hadn't realized she was Sunshine, rather than it being a moniker for her show. About to ask her own questions, Sabnock provides plenty to start and she tosses her interest behind them to start with.
Sunshine Adams at 1:42 AM
She looks over at Sabnock. "See them rarely...hear them more often, but it's like...you know how you can hear something that's just quiet enough you can't hear what they're saying?"
Sabnock at 1:44 AM
"If you can't hear what it's saying how do you know it's a ghost? Maybe it's just like.... the guy in the next apartment over?"
Sunshine Adams at 1:45 AM
"You know...if you like and subscribe, you can see for yourself..." She grins.
Sabnock at 1:46 AM
"Maybe.... I can't promise I will comment though. You know how the internet is."
Vic Easton at 1:47 AM
She laughed, "Smash that like button??" Wiping off the counter, "I've got to go give Juan is break. You two enjoy your drinks. Let Pete here know if you need anything else."
Sabnock at 1:49 AM
"Thanks, Have a good one." He offered a wave in Vic's direction as she made her escape.
Sunshine Adamsat 1:51 AM
Sunshine finishes off her PBR then waves at Vic. "Later!" She turns over to Sabnock. "What, scared of a little internet recognition?" She slides off the barstool. "I think you'll like the show. A lot of people are skeptics at first. See you later!" With that, she heads off as well.
| 