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It’s a Sunday evening, but there’s still a decent crowd in the club. There’s a live DJ keeping the music going, and the dance floor has a small crowd getting their groove on.
There’s an androgynous beauty among them that seems to… shine, somehow. The lights catch them just right, a little shimmer to their skin that must be some sort of make up. They’re dressed in all neons, the bright colors clashing brilliantly, and a lot of skin showing too, despite the cold outside. Lime green fishnets over dark skin, short shorts, and a crop stop under a cropped jacket.
Lux is getting into the music, eyes half closed and smiling, and dancing quite well—inhumanly well, moving with an ethereal grace. (edited)
Vincent walked out of one of the darker lit corners, wiping blood off his lips, there was one thing media got right and that was the fact nightclubs made excellent feeding grounds. He straitens his shirt as he scans the dance floor, nightclubs also made excellent locations for people who are just asking to be separated from their cash. As he looked to the dance floor his eyes noticed someone dancing. . .it was too good, too graceful, this person had to be supernatural and Vincent wanted to find out how, his growing collection of files on the local community needed additions (edited)
Lux sensed someone’s eyes on them, one eye cracking open to peer in the vampire’s direction. Full lips, currently painted bright purple, twitch upwards into a playful grin. Lux doesn’t stop moving, but does crook a finger to welcome Vincent to come closer.
“Hey there. Dance with me?”
Vincent raises an eyebrow but nods, finding a decent rhythm to move to the beat, it's. . .not the best dance, to be completely honest. He's a bit caught off that he was noticed but tries to adapt.
"You dance too well." (edited)
Lux perks a brow, grinning with amusement. “Too well? I don’t hear that often.” They’re very good at matching Vincent’s flow, helping him look good rather than outshining him. And not afraid of getting up close and personal, if Vincent isn’t opposed, an arm draping over his shoulder.
Vincent eyes the arm but in a 'was not expecting that way', nothing to imply he's opposed, "Come here often, you seem to be in your element?" he asks, trying to break the ice
“I do come here a lot,” they confirm with a grin, confident and bubbly… appearances, anyway. Vincent can sense something more somber under the surface. “It’s a good place to let loose and have a drink with cute boys. What’s your name?”
"Vincent," he says, "Don't come to the club often myself, but I needed a drink, I may come more often, plenty of interesting people." he says motioning to the crowd surrounding them, "I like to people watch, you never know what you might learn or uncover, plus theirs a sea of hot chicks and guys." he chuckles, plenty of folks to drink
“I’m Lux. Nice to meet you, Vincent.” They let out an amused huff that is almost a chuckle but not quite. “Uncover? Bit of a voyeur, huh?” They tease.
"Maybe," he teases back, "I just like to know things, if I don't know something I'll find it out or die trying," he pauses, then whispers loud enough for Lux to, "For instance, I'm curious which Court you belong to." he admits, dropping the pretense of being an average mortal (edited)
There’s a brief pause as Lux stares, just a beat before their grin twists in amusement. “Baseball court? Royal? Court of law?” Slyly playing dumb, stringing it along playfully.
"My favorite season is Autumn," Vincent grins, "I love the chill of the air, the colors of the leaves, Halloween," he pauses, "Ya know I'm beginning to appreciate that holiday more and more. . .however I'm beginning to appreciate Summer more, it's such a wrathful little season, but holds the promises of romance and delight when treated correctly," he starts musing to himself before realizing where he was, "anyway. .. yeah, I think you might have an idea?"
“You seem like an expert of the seasons,” Lux muses, regarding him with a tilt of their head. “Where did you learn?”
"I picked some things up eating some waffles," he shrugs, "I'm still learning, trying to get a feel of winter and spring, but I'm sure I'll learn more, so what's your favorite season?" he says trying to direct back to the question
“I see. I’m fond of Winter, myself.”
"And what kind of mood does Winter stir," he asks and tries to recall what Vorpal said, "I've heard it can be a very sorrowful season."
“It can be. It can also be intimate and cozy. The time you hold what you love and cherish closest.” Graceful fingers lift to play with Vincent’s hair idly.
"I always found 'baby it's cold outside' to be creepy myself," he says not commenting on the hair, "Snow get's everywhere, it takes three blankets to keep warm at night, but theirs plenty of free stuff."
“Yeah, not the best Winter rep there.” They grin, amused. “The cold doesn’t bother me too much, but I’ve does make it harder to run around. Definitely a drawback.”
"So, I've met a raven, a living shadow, a shield maiden, and the creme filling of the shadow and maiden's oreo," he begins to list, "What does that make you?"
Lux blinks. “Creme filling…. …that could be several people.”
at that he laughs, "How many people are in that polycule?"
They pause to squint in thought. “Umm… siiiix…? Seven? And that’s just under the same household.”
"Sounds. .. interesting to maintain, no one feels left out?"
Roger entered the club with a small ring of fans. He was signing autographs and doing minor magic tricks for them as he walked. He wore an outfit that was high-end but made to look like a regular tee and jeans. As his gaze swept the room, he caught glimspes of Lux's light among the club lights,and started to extracate himself from the fans. ((Fame 2 - Stage Magician, Status (Arts & Entertainment) 3, Striking Looks (Animal Magnetism) 2))
Lux shrugs. “They seem to make it work well enough. I don’t know all of them very well. Everyone has their moments, though. Poly life not for you?”
They’re still dancing with Vincent, but distracted by the conversation, their movements still graceful but slower. The other Winter caught their attention, glancing over to offer a smile in greeting.
Vincent turns to see where the glance is heading, 'didn't know celebrities come here' he thinks seeing the autographs taking place
A smile and wave to Lux, as he found a nearbye table. Starting a tab, Rog ordered a large drink, moving with more than human grace. Oddly as something got their attention, they didn't seem to turn theirn eck as much as turn at their waist to look for things.
“Didn’t realize he was so popular,” Lux muses, watching Roger.
"And he would be?"
The stage magician finally managed to talk his way to some privacy, though it seemed to take some work. At last, he waved the two dancers to his table, if they so wished.
“A colleague of mine.” Lux pulls back from Vincent, arms stretching above their head. “Want to say hi?”
Vincent nods and heads over to the new comer, "Vincent," he introduces himself, "I got a guess what you are." he says upfront
"Roger Gimlin, pleasure. Rog works as well, up to you," he grinned broadly, offering a hand, "Is this your first time here? I come from time to time after a show."
"I needed a drink," he says. . .kinda ominously, "Places like this are greet for a snack."
Lux gives Vincent a sideways glance, but the smile stays in place as they turn back up Roger. “Hey hun. How’s it going?”
He blinked slowly at Vincent, before taking a drink of his Long Island Iced Tea. Then he turned to Lux and put an arm around their back for a side- hug, "Hey sweetie."
"So, I take it you share a court?"
Lux smiles. “We have a very curious one here.”
"So, dancing with each other? Am I intruding upon a date?"
"No." vincent replies a tad quickly
“Oh, no. We just met,” Lux replies, leaning against the table.
"Oh. Okay. Good. I just want to make sure that if I need to disappear, I know when to throw the smoke bomb..." a wink. His gaze moved through the club, slowly letting the mixture of emotions settle over him, "Another sellout for holiday dates, Lux. It's been a good stretch for li'l ol' Rog. How are things going for you?" his dialect brought him to mid-west everywhere. Hints of the North, South, East and West in his words.
“Who’s a sellout?” They perk a brow. “Things have been well. Busy. Idly poking at a new mural, but haven’t had time to finish it. Do you like art, Vincent?”
"My show tonight. It was another sell-out. Philladelphia has been phenomenal for me."
"I enjoy good work now and then," he shrugs, "I've always found art. . .I'm more interested in the price of something than anything else."
“Oh! Right. That makes far more sense. Congratulations. I really need to find the time to come to a show soon.” Their head tilts at Vincent. “Really? Why?“ (edited)
"If something expensive, then I might be able to sell it," he says plainly, "I see things as what can and can't get me ahead."
"I remember those days. Used to pinch watches, or wallets or what not as a kid... then life happened."
“Ah. Well, that’s one way to look at the world.”
There is- briefly- a wash of Wyrd, potent in the way few in Philadelphia can manage. A puff of Autumnal sense-slash-scents- warm apples with spices paired with the delightful smell of oiled, sharpened steel ready for a harvest.
And then it's all gone. A look in the direction where it came from reveals a sight more familiar to Vinny than the changelings. A skinny, pale woman with dark hair. Leather longcoat and handmade blouse beneath, with ribbons and whorls of scars covering every inch of visible skin. She's occupying a corner booth, and- for the moment- seems as content to let the trio proceed uninterrupted as to entertain visitors to the booth itself.
"Vorpal!" Vincent offers, "Good to see you."
The scent of autumn, familiar to the Beast, flared his nostrils. His gaze swept the room once more, turning at the waist out of habit. A glance of Vincent though made him force his neck to turn with his mask, to look around to see who is around them. Their own mien's scent was a mixture of the beast, the pheromones, and that short period of time when the air is cold and crisp, but the leaves of Autumn smell throughout the air.
His gaze locked on Vorpal and he lifted a hand with long dexterous fingers towards the woman that Vincent recognized before moving back to the conversation.
Lux peers in Vorpal’s direction curiously, brow perking as Vincent speaks the name. “…Huh.”
Vorpal turns her eyes towards Vincent- GOD, but it's weird for Lux to see Vorpal's eyes move. Or, for that matter, to see her face at ALL. It's been well over a year since she was just a shadow, her eyes white gleams in the darkness. She's- closed off. Not deliberately, not a sense of distance, but the way that some of the Freehold's advisors and councilors are. Not withdrawn, simply... protected, their reserve a fortress rather than a privacy fence. "Vincent- a pleasure! You're making more friends. How lovely. Don't let me interrupt your conversation," she states from the nearby booth. "I'm just... people watching."
She wasn't here a moment ago. The booth had been empty. For that matter, both the Changelings know that had she approached normally, that Wyrd would have announced her like a herald at a formal ball. Which means...
... ah, yes.
Fucking Helldivers.
"That's how I started this night too, but I found myself drawn to conversation," he chuckles, "It's good to see you, I was just learning more about. . .your community?" Vincent offers a quick smile that finally showed two fangs to the winter courtiers, "How's the harem?" he laughs
The masc Helldiver looked over at the femme Helldiver and piqued a knowing brow. The Winter Courtier gave a gesture of salute with three fingers.
At the sight of the fangs, Roger feigned shock and surprise in their look.
Lux gives Vincent a flat look at the flash of fangs, lips pursing faintly.
Vorpal simply stares blankly at the statement of community, revealing nothing reflexively- though the exposure of the fangs to tip his own cards, at least, is a gesture of good faith. She catches the reactions from Lux, at least, and adds a simple, "Just so," to confirm that this was a known quality about Vinny. "I'm not sure I like that term. It implies someone's In Charge or Central, and implies everyone else Isn't. And I very much dislike how that makes me feel. So while I think you meant it to be amusing, I'll ask you don't use "harem" like that again. At least around me. However, my family's doing quite well. New friends are meeting everyone and getting along well."
"Sorry, no offense." he quickly offers raising his hands, "I apologize, I've been exposed to too much anime." he bows his head, "It's nice to hear your family is doing well."
He backed up, holding up his hands. "Look, I don't kink shame, but I don't want to play with fangs like that, friend."
"No... offense taken," Jackie confirms. She glances to Roger at the response he has, but doesn't speak to it- everyone's entitled to their opinions, after all, and there's Good Reasons people can have for not wanting to truck with predatory creatures whose powers often violate the sanctity of self sovereignty.
There's a sort of... pressure change, almost, for a moment, for Vincent, as if all of the air went out of the room and then rushed back in like a thunderclap. Another Beast has entered the room, and he can feel it before he sees a petite woman in a gorgeous dove-grey silk headscarf move in through the main door to Club Vertigo. She wears a long, fluid dress with long sleeves in a muted light blue, and pauses just inside the door, turning back to wait for her companions.
A carpet of little white flowers and rich greenery rolls out under the feet of the dancers to the eyes of the Lost. The scent of lily-of-the-valley with an earthy, loamy undercurrent floods the room, Death mostly giving way to life. But at the same time, in a rush, frost rimes the edges of those delicate blossoms, and a chill rides through for those who can see beyond the Mask. This matches with a towering individual with broad shoulders -- a large Black person with close-cropped hair, wearing a neat button-up, and a pin on their lapel with 'they' in pretty silver script. The tiny vampire wears a matching one which says 'she.' To Lost eyes, the non-binary person appears carved out of green marble with black veins, with solid black eyes.
And then the third individual, a little taller than the vampire. She just looks like a woman with white-blonde hair to non-Lost, while to Changeling eyes, she's a woman made of pure blue ice, her hair white as frost on a windowpane. She tips her head curiously towards the other pair, speaking mutedly to them, and there appears to be some small discussion about their next move.
Ylva had slept one of her best naps at DA house and now was trying to do her daily 'crowds' practice. That led her to club vertigo waking in the door she tries her best to not feel the stress of being in a Club.
Trying to go about her usual dance she heads to the dance floor feeling the new mantle approach.
Vincent feels the beast react and turns, seeing the women enter. He recalls the face from the night of Cynthia's execution and while he has not spoken to her yet, realizes she's in the Sakima's court. The others would notice he sits up a bit, like a child seeing an adult almost catching them
Lux had… well, it’s impossible for a Bright One to fade into the background, but they had gone quiet, seeming to dim a little, less attention grabbing as they look as their bubbly smile is now a rather calm, mild look. Their head towards the trio, staring a Lumi for a beat.
The Sasquatch looked over to the Lost entering with the wave of the Wyrd, and leaned forwards with his hips to get a better look. And then Vincent adjusted, and he watched where the vampire's gaze went to see it went to the third of the three new comers.
A grunt and then a glance to Lux to see if these folx were recognizable to the more established Lost.
Vorpal straightens in her seat at the same moment as Vincent feels the Beast enter- and of course as the Changelings register the Mantles arrive- and she leans a bit past the booth's edge so she'll be spotted if Ari or Lumi- or the lady with them which is not immediately recognized- look that way. She's not trying to hide.
Or.
Well, her Mask is reinforced.
She's not trying to hide from THEM.
The lean also lets her note Ylva. What a night it's becoming.
Vincent's response isn't missed, and grants a touch of suspicion for the unknown quantity of the third of that trio.
She looks down at the booth and frowned. Reality's failure to allow her to sculpt it at will was a persistent insult, and one she sometimes struggled to overlook.
Like now.
Tahmina's Beast isn't suppressed, but she's Blushed, naturally, in the presence of so many Mortals. She leans in to Ari's side, resting a hand on their arm, and stands on her tiptoes as they lean down to listen to her, possibly just to be heard in the loud area. Then her dark eyes scan out over the crowd, and -- naturally -- lock on Vincent for one long second before sweeping onward again.
Lumi spots Lux's stare, and raises a hand towards Ari and Tahmina for a moment -- she doesn't say anything out loud, but her gesture seems to communicate to the pair, who follow her as she starts to wind her way towards the table with the other Winters. The pair of overlapping Mantles -- Spring and Winter -- both alike in their respective power, if not respective subtlety, continue to roll over the club's interior.
Ylva spots Lux, a face she recognizes. Heading over towards with a smile and a gentle wave.
"Hey Lux, how are you?"
After turning her gaze from him Vincent returns his focus to his companions, noticing their looks to the other individuals with the Elder.
"You know them?" he asks, a tad nervously
Lux gives Ylva a nod in greeting. “I’m doing well. How are you?”
Their attention shifts to Lumi, giving her a respectful smile. “Hey there. Fancy seeing you here.”
Roger watched the approach of the Winter Mantle and the Left-Hand Knight among the others. While he didn't know her, he knew of her from court functions so far. It was almost time for Winter after all.
Looking over to Ylva, his eyes widened slightly at the Kitsune with a grin, before moving back to Lumi, "Frau Altonen. Nice to see you again." (edited)
Vorpal remains quiet, absorbing information as she scoots around in the booth in preparation for the distinct possibility of others deciding to have a seat, what with three new- four new arrivals en route or engaged. To Ylva, to the newcomers, she's just some skinny, scarred-up white gal in a leather coat (though both Lumi and Ari know her from before she vanished entirely into her Mien) being quiet in the booth.
Once the trio arrives, she offers a faint, if sincere, smile, pushed past her own reserves to be expressed. "Good evening, all of you. You're welcome to snag a seat if you like. All are currently up for grabs besides mine." She's buried at the heart of the booth, with both entrances to the seats open for convenience.
"I have been busy with holiday preparations," Lumi explains to Lux, "and these two decided I needed to get out into public." There's the tiniest twitch of the corners of her eyes which in someone else might be a smile. She's got a total flat effect to her voice, which, in conjunction with her thick Austrian accent, might sound a little bit... intimidating, perhaps. "It appears we have arrived at a... lucky time, perhaps." One pale eyebrow arches just so towards the Bright One, perhaps in question, before she gestures toward the incoming duo. "Tahmina Ashtifar, Ari. There are some new faces, so I'm afraid I can't introduce everyone properly." Somehow, she manages to make her voice heard without having to shout.
The broad-shouldered Elemental and the little Daeva pause at the table's edge, Ari stepping back a bit to let Tahmina lead now. "And a good evening, of course." Her smile glitters, as any proper Daeva's should, but subtly so.
Lumi's chin tips upwards towards Roger, and she appends, "Herr Gimlin, however, I do know." Ahh, Austrian manners.
Vincent stands and bows slightly to Ashtifar, recalling those drills on etiquette that Wright put him through, normally he would not care but since that incident with Titania, he's become more wary of Elders, thankfully he now has a name.
"Greetings most lovely lady Ashtifar," he says trying to think of a respectful greeting, "we welcome you to our table." he says, most likely humiliating himself
He bobbed his head in acknowledgement, offering his hand to Ari, but knowing some cultural aspects, did not reach for Tahmina's hand, and instead nodded her head downwards for a greeting. "Yes, I am Roger Gimlin, Magician extraordinaire," he said with flourish and showmanship to his voice. Out of no where, he produced a stack of business cards to leave on the table, for anyone to grab as well.
“A lucky time indeed. Our new friend Vincent is a very inquisitive fellow,” Lux says to Lumi with a mild smile.
Ylva looking a little overwhelmed just kinda stares between all the faces. Sadly she isn't very good at melding into the background so she is just staring like its her first time having awkward meetings.
Dear reader. It is not.
Vorpal lifts her eyebrows. Ponders a moment. Shrugs. Sure. Why not. "Our" table. She doesn't call him out aloud. It's not that important. It just sort of melts into that weirdly formal greeting in the general impression of "bruh wtf r u doing" she's currently nursing in the back of the booth while introductions continue.
Perhaps surprisingly, it isn't Tahmina or Lumi who answers Lux's statement, but the large gentlethem accompanying the pair. "Oh, is he?" Ari queries, even as they reach out to take Roger's hand and shake it. "A pleasure, Roger." They turn their assessing gaze around the table, landing finally on Vincent again. "I'm sure Frau Altonen would be interested to hear which topics interest him."
Tahmina smiles rather more openly than Lumi, her gestures fluid and almost lazy. "A pleasure to meet you all. Lovely to see you again, Mister Drake. At least, I hope so." Her eyebrows go up now, and when Ari pulls a chair out for her, she takes a seat. "Yes, I am curious, I admit."
Once Ari gets Tahmina settled, one of their broad hands moves slowly toward Ylva's shoulder -- there's plenty of time to move away if she so chooses. If she doesn't, though, the Elemental's sun-warmed-stone hand rests on her shoulder. "Would you like to sit down, Mrs. Theodolus?" Of course they know who she is.
Lumi pulls out a chair and sits down right next to Lux, like they're old friends about to gossip. (edited)
Vincent sits back down and tries to collect himself, then notices the other newcomer and gives Ylva a smile, "Vincent Drake, a pleasure." he says
The Helldiver adjusted his positioning, willing to squeeze into the order wherever anyone would like to sit. And then he glanced back to Vincent, "He seems to have caps on his teeth. And he says he knows what I am. I didn't wish to shame him, but I don't wish to be bitten by someone I just met either."
Ylva sits at the table moving in towards Vorpal with a nod not knowing who it is.
"Thanks. Lots of new people is a little overwhelming at times."
"And a pleasure to meet you as well, Lady Ashtifar." Nobody else has appended anything else to her name, or addressed her by her first name. It's a guess but it FEELS safe enough. "And you, Mister Gimlin." A hand offered to the other Helldiver. Then, back to Tahmina- "I've a few names, but in order of decreasing- and, I might add, personally unnecessary- formality, I'm happy to be called Miss Drexel, Jackie, or Vorpal. I hope the night's treated you, dear Ari, and Frau Altonen pleasantly so far?"
"Goodness. I didn't know The Aviary was having an event here tonight! I wish someone had told me." Tahmina laughs brightly when Roger speaks, her words referencing the local BDSM night run by the William Way Community Center, the local LGBTQ Center. "I'm simply not prepared to observe tonight, I might have to retire if we're being so revealing."
She leans her cheek on her hand, elbow on the table. "No, no," Tahmina offers to Vorpal. "Not at all necessary. Tahmina Ashtifar, Tahmina is fine, or Ms. Ashtifar if you have my friend's sensibilities. A pleasure to meet you, Jackie."
Ari grunts, the sound low in their throat, when Roger speaks. "Ah-ha. Well. We all make our choices." They fold their hands on the expanse of their stomach, turning their attention to the table at large. Their smile is pleasant and genuine, even though for the Lost, the Gristlegrinder's massive onyx teeth glint in the colored lights. "Well enough. I hope everyone's having a good night, all things considered?" It's tough to tell where they're looking, since their eyes are solid black.
The hand from Vorpal was easily shaken. A nod to the others, "Well then, it is a pleasure to meet your acquaintances to Vorpal, Ari, and Tahmina.
"Tonight's show went really well for me. Another show sold out. Then I had to extracate myself from the gaggle of fans on the way in here... and how are your nights/"
"Excuse me," Vincent begins, "Tahmina," he says silently thanking the gods this elder was more easygoing it seemed, "I recall your face from. . .my initiation," he'd rather not the other know the circumstances of his first night, "I am afraid I not know of you, however, your a family head yes?"
Ylva looks to Vorpal, her eyes lingering. Seeing the mask for the first time. A curious tilt of her head as she offers a hug. Then looks out.
"I had frankly the best nap on Vorpals couch oh my god. Though to learn i missed the BDSM night is a little sad."
Tahmina's bright laugh widens Vorpal's small, sincere smile a touch as she checks up on the familiar faces she's not hearing from. Ylva, Lux, specifically. Just to see how they're doing. "Tahmina, then," she states with comfortable appreciation. Her tonality is similar to Lumi's, though with perhaps a touch more current to the placid surface from sheer effort to emote a bit. "And the pleasure's mine, I'm sure." Sincerely meant.
Jackie turns to listen to Ari as they speak, a quiet sort of comfort settling over her as they rumble their statements and questions. There's something personally comforting about Ari's presence to her. They share a great many things, though few in personal connections, but having them around still feels a bit... parental, in the best of ways. "My night's been lovely," she confirms for them as she leans to hug Ylva as offered.
That comfort squiggles and squirms a bit at Vincent's terms of choice. She's not of their society, but the words he keeps playing with sound Importantin ways she wouldn't personally put on display, and her eyes dip back towards Tahmina to gauge the reaction incoming. (edited)
"From the meeting?" Tahmina cuts in, her voice overlapping Vincent's, and for the first time, there's a barb in her speech, a moment's sharpness in her easygoing demeanor. "My dear Ari, could you go get me a Chambord sour? I'm craving something sharp." Her attention comes to rest entirely on the baby Daeva now as Ari takes in a deep breath and gets up to go get a drink for the Septemi, patting her gently on the shoulder once, twice.
"I have been busy recently," comes her next words with a soft laugh. "I've been working on Christmas art shows recently." But her gaze never leaves the neonate's face now. "Do you need something to keep you busy?"
He catches the barb and internally flinches, "Um. . .I'm still trying to get my head on the community. . .If I can do something to repay the kindness it has shown me I'd happily do so." he says, trying to correct his error of prehaps talking too much and wanting to prove his worth to the higher ups.
Ylva catches the barbs leaning back in the chair a little. Her last interaction with Vampires didn't exactly end well.
The Winter Courtier slipped back out of the booth after Ari, using quite a bit of their inhuman grace to do it as well, having seen Tahmina and Vincent's interaction. "Anyone else need a drink? I'm buying."
Distance was useful.
"You know what I've been getting into recently?" Vorpal offers in an appropriate lull in the conversation. She's deliberately NOT interjecting between Tahmina and Vincent- if there's no immediate opportunity to speak comfortably, the statement waits until there is. "David Fincher. He's a filmmaker, and there's tons of different movie tastes in my home, so I'm branching out." She looks to Vincent. "You ever seen any of his films? You probably have, at LEAST one. Fight Club, you've see that one, right?"
Come on, Vinny. Fight Club. First rule of. It's a little oblique. But she's trying to help.
She keeps her rather singular gaze absolutely glued on the younger Daeva. "Discretion is the better part of valor." Tahmina picks her hand up and gestures around the club. "Loud music isn't invisibility or invincibility." Leaning back, she drops her hands on her lap. "I'd hate to see you following in your mother's footsteps."
Ari comes back rather swiftly, moving nimbly and especially so for their size, and puts a tumbler in Tahmina's hand. She takes a perhaps pointed swallow of it, looking across at Vincent. "I won't take up too much of your time, it seems like you have a lot on your plate. All of these people seem so deeply interesting, you could listen to them and see what gifts of their time and selves they choose to make." Smoothly, she extracts herself from her seat, adding, "Lumi, my friend, I'm going to take this great oaf dancing. Come find me when you want to head out?"
Without waiting for an answer on any of it, the elder Daeva slips away into the press of the crowd, Ari trailing after her like a wooden pull-toy duckie on a string.
If the sun rose at that time, Vincent would run outside for a tan. The Daeva sunk into his seat and wonders if the chair could absorb him, that would be nice. "You ever get the feeling," he says to no one in particular, "You think you got your footing. . .but then the ground turns out to just be a frozen lake and reminds you that you're just living by luck?"
Ylva nods to Roger. "I would love a soda please."
Before watching Vincent squirm.
"Every day my friend, every day." She adds with a chuckle.
The Beast slipped away to gather the soda, a... Vorpal looked like an IPA kind of gal, a refill of Lux's drink, and another Long Island for himself.
Even with the elder and the monarch dancing in the distance, he wanted to give a little distance to the situation.
Sometimes V forgets that people don't know not to bring her things to put in her mouth and forgets not everyone will know she doesn't want anything from the bar or the counter.
"You know why that happens?" This, of course, to Vinny. "And I say this as the unabashedly most egotistical person I have ever met, bar none. Trust me, I can top whatever you're thinking, I am an arrogant little bitch when I'm not careful.
In the world of business, that happens when you think you're smarter than everyone else."
She keeps her voice carefully managed. "You walk around pestering people for cliff notes of board meetings and dropping industry jargon to make yourself look smart, but all you're doing is showing you don't know enough to not talk turkey at the dinner table. There's places to bring up those closed-door meetings with the CEO, but the rest of the time, part of working for a company with internal information is to not constantly remind people you work for a company with internal information. And definitely don't go pointing out your executives at a fucking bar while they're trying to relax."
Lux gives Vorpal double finger guns.
"I need a drink. . ." he says, "What's the strongest thing this place has, I don't care if I'll throw up I need to get wasted." he moans in slight defeat
Upon his return, he placed the drinks silently infront of Vorpal, Ylva, and Lux. Carrying four drinks with two hands seemed to be easy for him. Finally he sat down and breathed out. The Lost would feel a slight chill to the air compared to normal around Roger. And then he just started to sip the Long Island again.
Ylva sips at the soda before also picking up the IPA put in front of Vorpal and sipping at it. Steal partners (?) drink is easier than explaining the situation.
"Thanks Roger. A good drink after a good nap." (edited)
“Thanks,” Lux says to Roger, back to their playful, bubbly grins. The drink is picked up and sipped, then tipped towards Vincent. “It’s all about learning experiences.”
V looks rapidly back and forth between Ylva, Lux, the returning Roger, Vinny. A brief, sharp breath, and she hisses under her breath at Vinny. "No. Fuck your drink, dude, you look at me and you tell me you fucking understand what I just said to you. You are somebody I have met all of twice, my burden of care towards you is fully exhausted, but my burden of care towards the person you are dating is not. If you follow up in Mommy's footsteps and get your ass fucking fired, that's none of my business, but that. Affects. Them. And I want to know you heard me when I gave you the cliff notes on how to fucking avoid that. Are we on the same page, Vincent?"
Vincent stares into Vorpals eyes, clearly terrified and nodding quickly, "Yes," he quickly spits out, "Of course, I understand completly." he says nodding his head in absolute fear and understanding
Lumi blinks. Twice.
He just took a drink still, as if nothing is happening between Vorpal and Vincent. Instead, he looked to see how the massive gentlethem Ari and Tahmina were getting along in their dance. Wanting to see those obviously inhuman creatures doing what they could to look human in the situation.
Ylva looks down at the IPA in her hands and shrugs with a sigh finishing the bottle and setting it on the table before continuing with her soda. Looking to Vorpal with a smile as Vincent seems to shrink back.
Lux perks a brow. “Who’s he dating?” Look, Lux is all about the non-supernatural-in-public gossip. (edited)
Were Ari and Tahmina headed for the dance floor? They seem to have vanished. Lumi, however, remains, quiet and still as... well. ice.
The storm is gone just that quickly. The skinny chick with the scars leans back into her seat and grabs one of the bottles in front of Ylva and takes a swig. "Good. Long as we're on the same page, you can get drunk as you want, buddy. Have at it." She follows Roger's gaze, just as curious about how the two are getting along on the dance floor herself, leaning back into Ylva and the booth seat. "Avery. Have you met them? Lovely sort." That was to Lux.
To Lumi? "Sorry about that. Avery's a friend, and Vincent and I have had a talk or two about how to proceed with things in the best interests of both of them. I'd rather make an ass of myself saying something possibly unnecessary than skip it and risk Avery having to get that bad news unexpectedly." She adopts a faint accent, copying the Most Interesting Man In The World. "I don't always dabble in personal affairs. But when I do. I'm a dick about it."
Ylva leans into that Vorpal cuddle playfully.
"Ooooh, that is a choice. On both fronts."
After the tone changed back he grinned widely, "Hey. Let's Drink, Eat and be Merry. Anyone wanna dance? Or play a game or something?" he poured half the drink down his throat as an example.
“Huh, never met an Avery,” they muse. “I’ll dance with you,” Lux offers to Roger. (edited)
Vincent looks to one of the drinks and downs it, wondering and hoping he can get drunk with the Blush, "Avy is the only thing that's keeping me sane right now," he mutters before realizing what he just said, "I'm. . .am afraid I'll just fuck this up, I got more people than just Avery counting on me and I don't want to let them down," he admits, "It's like, life has this habit of making me it's bitch, and the moment I think I got something good it decides to fucking punch me again." (edited)
"You should, they're a lovely person," Jackie offers to Lux.
"It's best I stay off the dance floor. I am not a dancer." That to Roger, though there's no malice there.
Ylva's snuggle earns a squeeze. "I can relate to that, Vinny. And it's probably good you're scared you'll fuck up. That's the best motivation to keep doing your best. Nobody said you gotta be perfect. In fact, I THINK all anyone's said is "be understanding" and "don't lose your fucking job, just be cool about things.""
He offered his arm to Lux and grinned, "Any particular style you'd like to dance or just whatever song is playing and freeform it?"
Ylva pokes Vorpal in the side.
"Oh hey. Its me from August. Like diffirently but. August me."
Somewhere in the midst of all of that, the Left-Hand Knight of Utmost Silence just... slips away. Perhaps not surprisingly, Lumi simply seems to evaporate. People look away, and when they look back, she's disappeared into the crowd, or just... gone.
Vincent stands up, "I. . .I gotta go clear my head." he says, "It's been. . .well something." he says as he heads out, hoping to leave with some dignity.
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