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Jeremiah Hamilton: The Green Room is a cafe tucked into the center of the Spring Gardens neighborhood, done up in warm woods and a paint job to match the name. Tables are set up both inside and out, with the interior also hosting a wooden stage - currently unoccupied, although there was a gentleman setting up equipment for a performance later that evening - and a counter near the front with a view into the kitchen beyond it.
With the end of Pride Month descending the night was dedicated to showcasing the best the community had to offer, with proceeds going to local charities that worked with LGBTQ youth. The master of the house was on site this particular day, naturally, dressed casually in jeans, black boots, and a black t-shirt that read "Easily Distracted By All Genders" in the pan flag colors. For the moment he was standing beside the counter, looking over the gathered patrons with a smile on his face.
Layla Eaves: Ellie doesn't always cover her hair, but sometimes when she does she makes a statement. The rainbow scarf that she's using as a hijab matches the colors in her own shirt, which says "Let me be perfectly queer", with queer done in a rainbow. Along with that she has on black jeans and doc martins, and has a bag slung over a shoulder with an assortment of patches and pins attached to both the strap and the bag's front flap. She glances around after entering, trying to decide where to head first.
Kayla Sockum: Kay makes her way into the Green Room and oh god, is she brightly colored right now. She's wearing a yellow sundress, rainbow sockcks inside of strapped shoes, a choker with yellow, white, purple and black, her hair are braided back and her lips are painted vertically with the bisexual flag color. She twirls on herself, doing a few dance steps and makes her way generally toward Jay not yet noticing the others as she seems to be very much in her own headspace right this instant.
Anneliese Kiel: Annie's also dressed in a pair of jeans and black teeshirt, though unlike Jeremiah's hers reads "There's One In Every Minyan", with the "One" in the rainbow flag colours. She's following Ellie in, though pauses when the other woman does so as not to hit her.
Mel Joyner: Mel isn't one for... bright plumage, so they're just in a pair of sharply pressed black slacks and a button up shirt covered in a Pokemon owl pattern. That doesn't mean they're not happy to be here. Things have been stressful lately, and this seems like the perfect chance to relax and unwind in a setting that's probably the next best thing to the freehold.
Jeremiah Hamilton: Jeremiah nodded to the new arrivals, giving Annie and Kay a smile as they came in. Once Kay was in range he held open an arm for a hug if she so wished, looking her over. "Hey there. Doing alright?"
Layla Eaves: Ellie glances behind her when she realizes she's holding things up and moves out of the way, "sorry!" she says. "I haven't been in here before. Just getting my bearings."
Kayla Sockum: "Doing alright, happy to see you." Kay almost tackles Jay with the hug and kiss his cheek, warm and kind for a moment before stepping out of the hug. "Been trying to make sense of a few things and it's going well!" she looks around then and waves to Annie and seems really enthusiastic about Ellie's entrance and makes a heartshape her way. Mel draw attention next, amidst people, the pokemon pattern drawing interest.
Anneliese Kiel: "No need to apologise," Annie smiles at Ellie, returning Kay's wave. "If you do not mind company we could sit together? I was just looking to unwind, and talking to people helps me do that, I find." Mel gets a brief nod of recognition from their fellow Changeling.
Mel Joyner: Mel edges in and finds themself a seat at the counter, giving a friendly nod towards their fellow changelings. They notice Kay looking at their shirt and their grin widens. "Like it?" they ask, tugging at the point of the collar. "Nothing quite like getting to be a bit fancy and nerdy at the same time"
Jeremiah Hamilton: "Glad to hear it." Jeremiah replied with a smile, giving a hug back in kind before looking towards Mel. He peered at the shirt for a moment before the pattern clicked and he chuckled, giving a nod. "Here here. Got a House Targaryen lapel pin I sneak in when I have to go full formal. Jay, by the way. Welcome to the Green Room. First time here?"
Layla Eaves: "Sure," Ellie answers a bit hesitantly, as she glances around again and then smiles Kay's direction. All in all she looks a little uncertain about being here, but is starting to get a little more comfortable. Slowly. "I'm Ellie," she says to Annie. "It's nice to see an event like this happening somewhere that isn't a bar."
Anneliese Kiel: "Annie," the Changeling in question says, smiling slightly. "And I know, right? I do not mind being in the presence of alcohol, but the assumption that every event needs to, or even should, feature it gets grating after while."
Kayla Sockum: "Love the shirt yeah, used to watch and play the games when I was younger." She points at Mel shirt and the design on it "Hoot hoot, right?" then she shift on the other side of Jay giving him another kiss on the cheek and sitting down nearby. "Plus the music here is great." she answer, vaguely, about Annie and Ellie's convo from a distance.
Mel Joyner: "Yep. Honestly, I don't get out much" Mel admits to Jay. They run a hand through their hair, though other changelings will notice them preening their head feathers. They turn their attention to Kay "Yep. I still play them on and off. It's... relaxing and easy to pick up and put down." They shrug. "My name's Mel by the way. They/them"
Jeremiah Hamilton: "Dropped off on the last couple generations I'll admit, but I played a lot of it when I was younger." Jeremiah nodded, smirking a touch at the music comment from Kay as she claimed a seat. "We have a couple good groups playing tonight, should be fun."
"He/Him myself as far as pronouns go." He replied to Mel, giving them a nod. "Glad you came by, then. Been in Philly long?"
Layla Eaves: "Nice to meet you, Annie," Ellie answers with a brief flash of a smile. "I don't drink, so those events are always a little awkward. Not that anybody notices if I just order something non-alcoholic, usually." She shrugs. "Anyway, let's go sit down?" She glances Kay's way, takes a step that direction, then looks back at Annie to see if she's coming.
Kayla Sockum: "I'm Kay and it's She/Her" She says from her spot at the nearby table and waves to the little group of people that people seem to be speaking to, though her finger plays softly with the choker she's wearing. She's already pulling the chair for people to come and sit there with her.
Anneliese Kiel: "Sounds good to me," Annie agrees, following Ellie over to where Kay is sitting. "Do you come here often?"
Mel Joyner: Mel gives another shrug. "Long enough. But I have a bad habit of getting too focused on work and such, and not taking time to just, well, come to cool places like this and hang out."
Jeremiah Hamilton: "Gotcha...been there before." Jeremiah nodded, looking over to Ellie and Annie as they approached and giving them a wide smile. "Hey there. Welcome to the Green Room. Evening going well, I hope?"
Layla Eaves: "Me? No," Ellie says with a shake of her head. "Checking it out for the first time." She takes a seat in one of the chairs Kay pulled out with a soft laugh and says, "thank you. Yes, so far, thank you," she tells Jeremiah. "It's a nice place. I should have come to check it out some time ago."
Anneliese Kiel: "It is, yes, thank you," Annie says to Jeremiah. "Are you planning on playing tonight?"
Kayla Sockum: Kay seems curious about the answer to Annie's question too, always eager and happy to listen to Jeremiah sing when she could, a bright smile touching her lips. "Did you record the downtime thing you wrote the other day?" then speak to Mel. "Well, glad you chose to come here."
Mel Joyner: "I drink on rare occasions," they say, hoping that Ellie and Annie don't mind them adding to the conversation. "I'm usually the one ferrying the drunks home. Doesn't really give one a great impression, y'know?"
Jeremiah Hamilton: "Glad to hear it. Jay, by the way." Jeremiah offered a hand to Ellie to shake before claiming a seat of his own.
"I just might." The Warlock replied to Annie with a smirk. "Got a couple other groups playing as well, though, so I might fill in between a set if anything. And I did, yes." He nodded in response to Kay's question. "Turned out really well."
Layla Eaves: Ellie glances at the hand and then at Jay but doesn't take it. Instead she offers an apologetic smile and says, "Ellie. I hope you'll forgive me for not shaking, for the same reason I don't drink alcohol and I'm wearing a hijab." A very gay one. "I'm excited about the music." Then she asks Mel, "are you always the designated driver, like I am?"
Anneliese Kiel: Annie nods at Mel's words. "I work in a bar, I have seen plenty to put me off it myself," she says. Ellie gets a glance then. "I take it there is a religious prohibition on doing so? I do not know much about Islam."
Kayla Sockum: "Can't wait to hear it!" Kay grins at Jeremiah's reveal about the recording and her smile grew brighter. She listens to the conversation around them and seem to mostly soak them in at the moment.
Mel Joyner: Mel shakes their head at Ellie's question. "No, but I'm a taxi driver, so it's pretty much the same thing except I get paid to do it." They give a rueful smile. "Sometimes. When I'm not getting undercut by Uber. Really like your headscarf by the way."
Jeremiah Hamilton: "No worries." Jeremiah pulled his hand back without issue, giving Ellie a small nod. "It'll be a good mix: jazz quartet I've worked with a few times, a guitarist and another vocalist. And I agree, it does look rather fetching on you."
"I'll admit there are some days I want to send apology cards to some of the bars I went to often while I was in my 20s." He shook his head with a wry smirk. "Glad to have moved out of that phase at this point..."
Layla Eaves: Ellie wobbles her hand to answers Annie's question. "That answer is going to depend on who you ask. Some people will say it's prohibited, some just discouraged or simply unnecessary." She strokes a hand over the long, draping edge of her scarf as she smiles at Mel. "Thank you. I got it as a gift. I don't get to wear it often, but it's my Pride tradition since I came out. At least you do get paid to drive the drunk people, and nobody expects you to sit around sober at the bar while they get that way, too?" She flashes a grin and then gives Jeremiah a laugh. "I've seen that story play out a few times."
Kayla Sockum: "Yeah, there's probably a few people I owe some apologies too from my youth too." Kay supplies to support Jay's statement. "I'm grabbing some food and drinks be right back."
Anneliese Kiel: "The worst part is when the drunk people expect you to give them more drinks, I find," Annie says drily. "Though at least it means I get paid for it." She shrugs slightly. "Being able to pay my way through medical school requires choices I might not otherwise make."
Mel Joyner: Mel nods at Ellie’s statement. “True. Though when you’re DD-ing for friends, they tend to be slightly less likely to throw up in your car.” They frown slightly. “Or so I’ve heard. Honestly, I’ve not really done much of that sort of thing.”
Accipiter: Ever tucks her phone back into her pocket and pokes her head inside the cafe, sparing a quick glance around before the rest of her follows. She's tall, long, lean, pale, blonde, thoroughly Nordic from her appearance to her affectation, and she's wearing a pair of fitted chinos complimented by an untucked button down shirt and a blazer, light browns and dark navy colors, neutral and blending. She's not meant to stand out, even if she does a little, if by nothing else than by virtue of her traffic-stopping bone structure. Pale blue eyes capture Ellie in their midst and she ambles her way in that direction.
Jeremiah Hamilton: Jeremiah glanced towards Ever as she headed towards their table, giving her a nod and a polite smile. "Evening, and welcome to the Green Room. First time here?"
Layla Eaves: "I haven't had that happen yet, but only because I make them go home before they get to that point," Ellie explains to Mel. "Which is an advantage to sitting there while they get drunk. The other disadvantage is getting hit on my drunk men." When someone new comes in Ellie turns to look and then she brightens and waves. "Ever!" she calls. "Come join us!" She tells the group, "this is my BFF, Ever." Ellie is not blending, with her rainbow hijab.
Anneliese Kiel: "Nice meeting you, Ever," Annie says politely enough, before glancing at Ellie. "I know that feeling. Luckily there are not too many visits by cishet tourists at the bar I work at, but it is still frustrating whenever it occurs. They are almost always ones I would not be interested in even if I were into men, too."
Mel Joyner: “Yea, that would be an advantage,” Mel agrees. They give Ever a friendly wave before turning their attention back to Ellie with a sigh. “Now the getting hit on I can totally sympathize with. It sucks in any situation.” They pause, considering. “Well, when it’s unwanted.”
Accipiter: Ever walks over towards Ellie and upnods her head at her, noticing her - of course - even in the hijab, not that it does much to blend in. "Hey there," she says to Jeremiah, Mel, and Annie, giving them both a bob of her chin. "So, what have I missed?" she wonders.
Jeremiah Hamilton: "Jay, pleasure. Talking about dealing with less-than-sober folks and bars in general." The Warlock let out a quiet sigh of his own at Annie's mention of tourists, shaking his head. "I've seen some that treat it like they're going to a zoo, which drives me nuts."
Layla Eaves: "You know how drinking is my favorite thing to talk about, you can't be surprised I brought it up," Ellie says to Ever with a laugh, because it's decidedly not an interest of hers most of the time. "Pull up a chair. I think there's going to be some live music in a bit."
Anneliese Kiel: "Hopefully good music, too," Annie says with a small smile. "So much of what is popular these days is tedious." She glances at Mel then. "There are certainly people I would not mind hitting on me."
Accipiter: "Mmm. Fun," Ever elongates the word, a friendly, wry smile spreading across her features, and she accepts the invitation to find a seat alongside Ellie. "I prefer to observe drunks than to be drunk," she admits, turning her attention over towards the apparent source of this impending live music.
Mel Joyner: “True, true,” Mel admits, giving Annie a nod. “I guess I just get too much of the wrong type of attention.” They look down at their hands, and grow silent and (a bit too) still.
Jeremiah Hamilton: The first act of the evening was getting set up on the stage as Ever looked towards it, a quartet covering vocals, piano, sax and double bass. "They do mostly jazz, along with current music done in that style, and they're pretty solid all around. I've worked with their vocalist on the arrangements now and again."
Jeremiah looked to Mel as they went quiet, eyebrow arched a touch. "Everything alright?"
Layla Eaves: Ellie leans toward Mel and suggests in a clearly audible sotto voce, "I think she might mean you. Are you okay, though?" She turns one eye toward the stage with curiosity, but is also concerned with whether Mel's alright.
Anneliese Kiel: "Good to know," Annie says. "I do not know a lot about jazz, but it is rather interesting." Ellie's stage whisper gets the Mage a blink in surprise.
Accipiter: Ever looks towards the stage, glancing over at Jeremiah as he explains, but then her attention is drawn to Mel because, well, everyone's is, at least in their little group.
Mel Joyner: Mel shakes themself, and those who can see their mien can see their feathers fluff slightly. “Sorry, no, I’ll be fine.” They know Jay’s just trying to be nice, so they try for a small smile. Which is completely destroyed by Ellie’s comment. Their eyes go wide, and they shake their head vigorously. “Oh no, I doubt that.”
Jeremiah Hamilton: Jeremiah nodded, smiling a touch at Mel's reaction to Ellie's comment but waiting for Annie's possible answer to it before saying anything himself...
Layla Eaves: "Maybe I'm off the mark," Ellie admits with a slight shrug. "A tendency to be off there would explain why I'm perpetually single." She just laughs, clearly not throwing a pity party.
Anneliese Kiel: "For what it is worth, if I am trying to flirt with someone, I tend to be much more obvious about it," Annie attempts to reassure Mel. "You are not having any problems seeing clearly though, I hope?" She glances back to Ellie. "Well, I hope you have better luck in the future, then."
Accipiter: Ever glances sideways at Ellie in a blink-and-miss-it flicker of her pale blue eyes, and then crosses her arms under her chest and looks back over towards the stage. "Did someone mention music, soon?" she wonders.
Mel Joyner: Mel meets Annie’s gaze and shakes their head with the gravity such a question deserves between changelings. “No, I’m fine on that account. Just... awkward.” This smile is less forced, though certainly more self-deprecating. Ever’s comment about music get a nod, and they turn their attention to the stage, grateful for the distraction.
Jeremiah Hamilton: "Indeed..." Jeremiah looked towards the stage, giving the vocalist a "all set?" look and nodding when she give a thumbs up. "If you'll excuse me a moment..."
With that he headed off from the table and onto the stage, giving everyone a wide smile as he thanked them for coming and introduced the group. Once done he stepped to the side and let the vocalist take the mic and start doing her thing, her bandmates joining along in short order.
Anneliese Kiel: "Okay, then," Annie replies to Mel, before turning her focus to the stage, listening to the musicians curiously.
Layla Eaves: Ellie smiles at Mel and asks, "aren't most of us sometimes?" She glances over at Ever, gives her a smile too, and then looks up toward the stage with rapt interest in the music.
Mel Joyner: “Yea, I guess.” Mel’s smile is genuine as they glance at Ellie. “We just gotta do our best to not worry about it, I guess”
Accipiter: Ever leans back in her seat, folding her hands comfortably across her chest, glancing up at the stage and then again at the attendant group.
Anneliese Kiel: "A good strategy in general, I find," Annie agrees. "Are any of you musicians yourselves?"
Accipiter: "If I ever found a tune, I could get it from point A to point B. In a bucket," Ever observes candidly to Annie.
Layla Eaves: "That's true, and usually I don't worry about it much," Ellie agrees with Mel. She slouches a little in her chair and turns to listen again, bobbing her head, before she tells Annie, "not a good one."
Jeremiah Hamilton: Jeremiah made his way back to the table as the quartet started up, giving a nod as he approached. "Anyone want something to drink while I'm up? We've got teas, coffee, juices, soda, that sort of thing."
Anneliese Kiel: "Just water for me, thank you, Jeremiah," Annie replies, smiling up at him.
Accipiter: Ever waves a hand at Jeremiah, shaking her head at him and smiling, and then she looks back at Annie and Ellie in absence of the music starting soon. "So, how do you know Ellie?" she starts, wondering.
Layla Eaves: "I'd love some tea. Black?" Ellie asks when Jay gets up. Then she looks at Annie, laughs, and explains to Ever, "I was blocking the door when Annie came in, like a goober. We only met tonight."
Anneliese Kiel: Annie shrugs slightly. "Nothing wrong with meeting by chance. I actually met my enbyfriend that way, honestly."
Jeremiah Hamilton: "You got it." Jeremiah nodded and scooted off towards the counter, coming back with a water, tea with all the fixings and an Italian soda for himself. "Enjoy." He said with a smile as he reclaimed his seat, looking the trio over.
Accipiter: Ever gives another short bob of her chin. "Happenstance. I know people who swear by it," she allows. "And yourself?" she wonders over towards Jeremiah.
Layla Eaves: "Yeah? Fortunate," Ellie answers Annie with a smile before she tells Ever, "yeah, well... we know some people who swear everything is happenstance, I think." She picks up the tea and raises it in thanks at Jay. "Thank you," she says.
Jeremiah Hamilton: "Just met this evening, actually. I've known Annie for a bit, though, from running into her at her work and whatnot."
Anneliese Kiel: Annie nods. "We have run into each other at Maddy's a few times as well."
Accipiter: "Is that right?" Ever wonders at the three of them, raising her eyebrows and drawing her mouth into a politely surprised smile. "Small world."
Layla Eaves: "Oh?" Ellie's looks around the group when the Maddy's thing is noted, and then smiles. "That Green Forest scramble is hard to pass up. I can't eat more than like... a third of it. But it's so good, and then I have leftovers."
Jeremiah Hamilton: "I'm partial to the Tiramisu, but I've also got a major sweet tooth." Jeremiah replied with a smirk. "Small world indeed."
Anneliese Kiel: "I prefer the Green Forest omelette myself, honestly," Annie admits with a smile of her own. "I have not tried the Tiramisu, though."
Accipiter: "I generally find the most interesting part is the company," Ever points out without irony, though she smiles, while they all talk in menu code.
Layla Eaves: "Only because you go there with me," Ellie retorts at Ever. "I do have a sweet tooth," she admits to Jay. "But if I eat that much sugar I also tend to want to nap all afternoon. Or... whatever time of day it is. I lose track and eat whenever, these days."
Jeremiah Hamilton: "The company is usually pretty interesting, yeah." He nodded quietly, taking a sip of his drink before looking to Ellie with a smirk. "Feel ya there. Usually end up riding my bike for a bit or something after to fend off the itis."
Anneliese Kiel: Annie nods. "I tend to go swimming a lot, but that has been my preferred mode of exercise for some time now."
Layla Eaves: "I do a lot of walking, but not a lot of intentional exercising," Ellie says with a shrug. "I thought about getting a bike, but I've seen the way people drive in this town. That's terrifying, and I'm not that brave."
Jeremiah Hamilton: "It can get sporting, for sure. Gotten pretty good at keeping an eye on my surroundings while I'm out there." He replied with a chuckle. "Biking in most of the parks here is usually less hectic, though."
Anneliese Kiel: "I never learnt to drive, honestly, so I rely on public transport to get from place to place," Annie admits with a smile. "That or people who do know how being willing to give me lifts."
Nevemore Usher: The door opens, and Nevermore steps in. Beneath their coat, they're dressed in a black T-shirt with "We walk among you" on it in a drippy "horror" font in the genderfluid flag colors. They're also wearing three gauzy scarves - one in lavender, one in white, and one in green. Each of their fingernails has been painted in the demisexual flag.
They, uh... may have gone all out on this whole "pride" thing.
Layla Eaves:
"I never find time to do exercise things just for exercise, you know?" Ellie says with a shrug. She brightens when Nevermore comes in and un-slouches a little to wave to them enthusiastically. She's wearing a rainbow hijab and a shirt that says "Let me be perfectly queer" with the queer in rainbow colors. "Nevy!" she calls as she waves again.
Jeremiah Hamilton: Not that Jeremiah could say much, what with the black shirt sporting "Easily Distracted by All Genders" in the pan flag colors he was rocking. The Warlock smiled warmly as he spotted Nevy, waving them over as well. "You look fantastic. Thanks for coming by."
Anneliese Kiel: Annie glances over as Ellie calls to Nevy. The Nymph's dressed in a pair of jeans and black teeshirt, hers reading "There's One In Every Minyan", with the "One" in the rainbow flag colours. "Come join us!" She adds, smiling at the goth.
Nevemore Usher: Nevy grins. They walk toward the table, arms spread to envelop the group. "What do you know? Some of my favorite people in the world! How are you all doing?" Are they going t- yep, they go in for a round of hugs (unless someone has previously shown discomfort with that process). "Thank you, I'd love to join you." They pull out a seat, turn it around, and lean on the back. "What am I shamelessly interrupting?"
Layla Eaves: Ellie doesn't seem to mind the hug from Nevy in the least, for she returns it with Enthusiasm. "I think we were just talking about how we avoid food coma after eating at Maddy's. My preferred way of avoiding the food coma is taking a nap, but Jay likes cycling and Annie likes swimming."
Jeremiah Hamilton: Jeremiah also had no issue with the hug and happily gave one back, nodding at Ellie's reply. "Naps do happen on occasion, though. Sometimes the itis is far too strong."
Anneliese Kiel:
"Is it interrupting if we are all inviting you over?" Annie asks rhetorically, also returning the hug. "I have been good, thank you. Just relaxing after the trip to Dover yesterday."
Nevemore Usher: Nevy leans backward, holding their arms in front of their face like Dracula just accidentally walked into a Religious Symbol Vendors' Convention. "Augh! Exercise! Nooooo!" They chuckle. "I have to be careful not to eat too much at Maddy's when I have to work afterward."
Layla Eaves: Ellie giggles at Nevy's face and reaction and says, "yeah, I'm not usually the exercise sort either. I'll walk everywhere, but exercise just to exercise bores the crud out of me. I always feel like I'm not doing something else that's more important, too." She laughs. "I got so wrapped up in that project I was working on that now I feel like I'm not doing something I should be any time I relax, though."
Jeremiah Hamilton: Jeremiah couldn't help but chuckle as well. "I like it as a way to get out of my own head for a while, if anything. That and to catch up on podcasts and whatnot."
"What sort of project are you working on?" He looked to Ellie at that, taking a sip of his soda.
Anneliese Kiel: "That one at the Touati gallery, with all the hand-dyed threads?" Annie asks. "That was really impressive work."
Nevemore Usher: "Spectrum," Nevy says, grinning. "Ellie, it looked so good! I hope you're damn proud of that!"
Layla Eaves: Ellie glances around and then says to Annie, "shhh." Not that anyone is really listening. "I like my privacy, so I don't really want everyone to know that was me. That's why I asked to be cr just with my initials." Though that might be the first that most people know that Ellie is actually L.E., and everyone calls her by her initials all the time. "It did come out well, though," she tells Nevy with a grin. "Thanks. I should probably get going. Not because of this, just because I have a lot of sleep to catch up on." She gets up. "It was nice to do something like this, though. Thank you, Jay."
Jeremiah Hamilton: Jeremiah's eyebrows went up at that, looking rather impressed indeed. "Nice... I'd heard about that piece but hadn't had a chance to get down there yet."
"Quite welcome, and thanks for coming by. Will see you around, I imagine."
Anneliese Kiel: "Pleasure meeting you, Ellie," Annie smiles at her. "I would invite you to drop by the bar I work at if you wanted to talk more, but, well..."
Nevemore Usher: "Aw, but I just got here!" Nevy looks like the field trip to the Wonka factory was cancelled and replaced with a history test. "Aw, man. Let me know when you're free, okay? I'd love to grab dinner and talk about the Eastern State plans."
Layla Eaves: "Text me tomorrow, Nevy?" Ellie offers her friend a hug. "We'll plan that out!" She waves with a curl of her fingers at the others. "I'm sure we'll run into each other at Maddy's or something," she tells Annie. "Have a good night, all of you."
Jeremiah Hamilton:
"Eastern State, eh?" Cue a curious look from the Warlock. "What's got you heading in there?" He had an idea, of course, but better to ask than assume...
Anneliese Kiel: Annie was already aware of that planned trip from her texts with Nevy, so she just waits for them to answer.
Nevemore Usher: Nevy grins. "It's me. What else? Ghosts and art. I've got a commission to go in there, see what can be seen, and use it as inspiration for a piece. I've been doing some research to see what we might expect to find. I don't want to be utterly foolhardy."
Jeremiah Hamilton: "Had a feeling, but I didn't want to assume." He offered a grin as he nodded. "Good call. Who commissioned it, if you can say?"
Anneliese Kiel: "I mean, it would be a fairly safe assumption," Annie points out. "This is Nevy we are talking about."
Nevemore Usher: Nevermore sticks out their tongue at both of them, then laughs. "Shiri Touati. I mentioned that I was interested in reflecting the local ghost stories, and before I knew it they were offering to bankroll an expedition."
Jeremiah Hamilton: "Nice." Jeremiah grinned, holding out a hand for a fist bump. "Moving on up in the world. Look forward to seeing what you come up with."
Anneliese Kiel: "That makes sense," Annie nods. "They are something of a patron of the arts in general locally, from everything I have heard."
Nevemore Usher: Nevy accordingly bumps the fist and nods. "They were... really surprisingly approachable, compared to what I'd expected. You hear "gallery owner," and you expect some Richey McRicherson who's more interested in 'Being Seen'" - they say these last two words with a patented Snooty Accent ::TM:: - "Than with actual art, but Shiri was... very much not that."
They hesitate and glance at Jeremiah. "This is a cafe, not a gallery. You're good."
Jeremiah Hamilton: "Good to know. Haven't had a chance to run into them yet." He nodded, chuckling as Nevy continued. "No worries. I got out of the 'the spotlight has to be on me' mindset a while back, thank your-deity-of-choice."
Anneliese Kiel: "Nice save," Annie chuckles in turn. "Personally, the only time I expect the spotlight to be on me is when I am actually the one performing, so."
Nevemore Usher: Nevy chuckles. "I..." They hesitate. "I mean. I guess I like to be seen, but... there's a difference between being seen and being Seen, right?"
Jeremiah Hamilton: "There is, yeah. Being proud of your work is one thing and completely understandable, but putting yourself out there just for the clout and attention is something else entirely. If you lose sight of what makes the art mean something in the first place, then what's the point?"
Anneliese Kiel: "Using it as a status symbol to show that you can afford to buy other people's art," Annie points out.
Nevemore Usher: Nevy points at the others. "Exactly. Exactly." They shake their head. "It's supposed to be about the art. The message. The beauty or ugliness or pain. Not about building up prestige."
Jeremiah Hamilton: "Here freaking here." Jeremiah raised his glass to emphasize the point. "It's about inspiring something in the people around you, helping them to see something in themselves they might have missed otherwise."
Anneliese Kiel: "I mean, to be fair, sometimes it can just be about paying the bills," Annie counters. "But that's a failing of capitalism, not the artist."
Nevemore Usher: Nevermore nods. "I... do a bit more shilling than I probably should be comfortable with, but I also try to make a statement with everything I make, even commissions.'
Jeremiah Hamilton: "And you do a fantastic job at making said statement, if I may say so." Jeremiah looked to Nevy with a smile.
Anneliese Kiel: Annie just gestures at Jeremiah. "What he said."
Nevemore Usher: Nevy looks touched. "Thank you!"
Jeremiah Hamilton: "Quite welcome. Your work is impressively evocative, and I have to applaud that."
Anneliese Kiel: Annie nods. "It is a very different field to where my talents lie, but I can recognise skill all the same."
Nevemore Usher: Nevy gives a flourished bow. "I mean, you two are just as impressive. I couldn't run a business like this to save my life, and I couldn't do..." They gesture at Annie. "A third of what you do all at the same time."
Jeremiah Hamilton: " I set this up more for others than for myself, to be honest. I had my time in the spotlight, and I enjoy seeing others get their own taste of it and make themselves heard." He smiled a touch, looking over to Annie. "What you pull off is damn impressive too. Med school is a tier of academia that's way above my mental pay grade."
Anneliese Kiel: "Thank you," Annie says, smiling slightly. "I know this is probably a cliché, but I honestly would not find it nearly as achievable if I did not have good friends to rely on."
Nevemore Usher: Nevy slams a hand on the table. "There! It's decided. We're all awesome." They grin
Jeremiah Hamilton: Jeremiah's smile grew at the declaration, giving a little nod. "As long as we don't let it go to our heads."
"Again, in my case." He added, a light quip at his own expense.
Anneliese Kiel: Annie blinks at that. "Really? I would not have pegged you for the type to become egotistical."
Nevemore Usher: Nevy shrugs. "I think anyone can become a little egotistical if they're not careful."
"Except for me, of course. I'm too incredible for that."
Jeremiah Hamilton: "I was a proper asshole in my early 20s. Dove straight into the rat race of trying to make it big in Los Angeles and had the 'right' people talking me up." Insert air-quotes here. "I was a mess, to put it lightly, but after a few years of that I had a much-needed moment of clarity and pulled myself out of the pit I'd dug myself into."
Anneliese Kiel: "Huh. I take it you are much recovered from that foolishness now, though?"
Nevemore Usher: "I'd say so," Nevy opines. They look to Jeremiah. "You don't give the impression of a rat-racing mess these days."
Jeremiah Hamilton: "Very much so. I let loose every so often - all work and no play makes Jack a dull boy and whatnot - but I've got a better eye on what's really important."
Anneliese Kiel: "Taking the time to enjoy the pleasures life has to offer is a good idea," Annie nods. "I certainly recommend it."
Nevemore Usher: Nevy nods. "Like fudge brownies a la mode." They grin.
Jeremiah Hamilton: "Indeed." He replied with a smirk. "I keep my vices to the culinary side of things rather than the recreational these days...turned out a lot better in the long run, I think."
Anneliese Kiel: Annie shrugs one shoulder. "Recreational vices can be fun enough, so long as you know what you are getting into, and can manage any risks involved."
Nevemore Usher: Nevy shrugs. "I have no vices whatsoever," They say straight-facedly.
Jeremiah Hamilton: "Sure..." Jeremiah chimed in, the smirk still in place, then looked to Annie. "Definitely, but my issue came from not really caring about the risks. Don't threaten me with a good time was my motto."
Anneliese Kiel: Annie winces exaggeratedly. "Yeah, that is never a good idea. If you do not know the risks it is much less likely you will know what to do if something goes wrong."
Nevemore Usher: Nevy nods. "It's... kind of the less-occult equivalent of 'Never call up what you can't put down.' Sometimes it's hard to remember that consequences exist."
Jeremiah Hamilton: "Mmhmm. That reminder came eventually, though, and I was able to work through it and get back on better footing."
Anneliese Kiel: "I figured as much, but it is good to have confirmation nonetheless."
Nevemore Usher: Nevy nods. Then they glance at the clock and sigh. "But I ought to get going. It was great to see you two!"
Jeremiah Hamilton: "Good seeing you as well." Jeremiah said with a smile, getting up from his seat to give Nevy a proper hug if they so wished. "Don't be a stranger, yeah?"
Anneliese Kiel: Annie follows Nevy's line of sight, then nods. "I should get going as well, sadly. I have a full day of classes tomorrow." She too stands. "It was nice talking to you both, though."
Nevemore Usher: "Same!" Nevy says. "To both of you." They offer a round of goodbye hugs.
Jeremiah Hamilton: "Here here. Thanks for coming by."
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