OPEN :: A golden bird was singing

[baedalites]

Who: Everyone!
What: St Kelley's evening
Where: The Apache and surrounding environs.
When: Veerdi evening.
Notes:
(1) The topic threads are just suggestions; if you've got somewhere else that your characters simply must be, make your own thread.
(2) All mementos will appear overnight in some part of your character's apartment.
(3) Dance!

St Kelley's is one of the more sedate occasions in Baedal, at least as holidays go. It passes more or less unnoticed by the majority of the population as many of them feel it doesn't concern them. It's not their holiday; it's for the others. Those with severed ties and broken hearts. The temple and church preach that it's a time for reflection or for glorifying the generosity of the gods. It's one of the few days on which no one looks askance at first generation Citizens mourning their missing loved ones publicly.

As night rolls around and floating lanterns are set to sea, the Apache in Mog Hill prepares to accept guests from the newer cohorts. It's something that happens every year, making it a practical tradition. The alcohol will be cheaper for first timers, and the music will be kept at a reasonable level.

Comments

[martyrdomoption]

As he lights up, he feels the need to at least push his way forward into some small-talk. Sure, this may be an alley, but this is still a social event.

"Any other man might think you were encouraging arson." Humour is obviously the best way to go with these things. And once he's finished attending to his cigarette, he hands the lighter back. "Cheers."

[fish]

"Who says I'm not?" Thankfully, he manages to avoid delivering that in a forced, I Am So Clever And Awesome kind of way. This is deliberately wooden, though: "I mean, never, that would be morally wrong. Also how dare you and stuff."

[martyrdomoption]

He gives a small laugh as he leans back against the wall. "It's the 'and stuff' that really sells it."

Then, after a moment, "Mitchell, by the way. Member of the newest cohort."

[fish]

"Oh, hey, me too... I mean, I work for you guys." For the first time in ages, it occurs to him, he offers to shake hands. (Usually he just meets people via the network, so waving's more his thing.)

"I'm Fish. Yes, that's actually my name, no I've never been to prison." He will never get tired of saying that. "I watch the desk at the Valhalla."

[martyrdomoption]

Hands are shaken. It's not a gesture that Mitchell is used to (he left formality behind in the 60's, along with the suits) but such is the way of this city and its unending introductions.

"Ah, yeah, I thought you looked familiar. You're the night guy."

[fish]

"Thaaat's me. I never thought I'd get paid to, like, send fresh towels to kidnapping victims... but that's life, I guess." He should probably feel strange about having such a blasé attitude about this, but it doesn't even cross his mind. This is the work of liquor, probably. "You been here long? I've never seen you on the network."

[martyrdomoption]

Said to the man who ate Chinese take-out whilst watching the corpses of kidnap victims for signs of reanimation. Vampires.

"Yeah, I bet." And if he notes any similarities, it doesn't stop him from laughing off the seeming weirdness in a wholly natural way. The second question, however. "Yeesh, let me see. Four months, now? Yeah, that sounds about right. I keep to myself, mostly. Head down, get on with work, that type of thing." Nothing to see here. Some habits are too well practiced.

[fish]

Fish's instinctive response to this tactic is intense curiosity. Buddy could turn out to be a carver of wooden shoes or something, he doesn't know, but at this point Mitchell had might as well be waving a sign that begs people to ask more questions.

And so: "Yeah? Whaddya do for a living?"

[martyrdomoption]

"Ah, this and that. Bar tend, run errands, that sort of thing." And before he gets asked what bar, he answers, "Place over in Mafaton."

Not being the kind of vampire who can immediately sense another, he watches with feigned indifference to see what Fish's reaction will be to that information.

[fish]

"Nice." How's that for a reaction? He doesn't look dramatically enthused, or anything, but there's no pearl-clutching going on either; his body language is by and large comfortable, interested, and maybe sort of stiff on account of the cold. "Which one?"

If the answer is Gutters, Fish is going to spit-take his cigarette across the alley. Okay no he won't, but seriously, that would make two random mentions in one evening...

[martyrdomoption]

Prepare for the absence of spit-taking, since Fish seems cruoro friendly. Even then, Mitchell's place of employment has a repuation within vampire circles, so he doesn't relax completely when he says, "Gutters." Instead he continues to smoke, quiet and contemplative.

[fish]

Of course he works there. Of course.

"That's so weird," he chooses to say, now standing with one arm folded across his trunk to create a place for his other elbow to rest. It's a very habitual gesture of his, holding his cigarette up that way. He tips his hand back to flick off the ash. "I was just talking about that place with someone else. Like, just tonight. It's never come up before, and now suddenly it's Gutters all over the place."

[martyrdomoption]

There's almost a sigh to his voice as he asks, "Which one?" He doesn't bother to qualify 'tiny brunette or Turkish bombshell,' although he may as well. This is a gathering for the new arrivals and he knows it has to be one of them. Anyone else and he'll be genuinely surprised.

[fish]

It takes Fish a moment to interpret that question—and he does, more or less, although that exact pair of options doesn't spring to mind. It occurs to him also that maybe he's about to get someone killed or something with his big mouth. So he frowns with just his eyebrows while going for another drag. "Sorry, what?"

[martyrdomoption]

"Hasibe Ozcelik or Ilde Decima. I know them; one of them is--" he stops himself from saying girlfriend, but only just. Instead it's substituted with, "a close friend. The other, well. We run in similar social circles and they're both in my cohort. And to be honest, I can't see the normal crowd the place attracts coming to something like this."

Not unless they're trying to pick up a snack.

[fish]

Fish knows that pause, sir, you can't fool him.

"Yeah, I getcha. We weren't like, yelling about it, if that helps. And hardly anyone was around during that part, so I'm pretty sure nobody got an earful." As an afterthought, he adds, "I already knew about it, anyway. The club."