multiversallogs | It's like paradise, spread out with a butter knife

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It's like paradise, spread out with a butter knife :: [OPEN]

Who: EVERYONE
What: Réjean has decided that more people ought to celebrate and help raise a bit of dosh for one of his favourite bars. See: flyer.
Where: The Apache.
When: Misdi night and into the wee hours of the morning.
Warnings: Discussion of Pickman's manky feet.

The Apache is much the same as it always is: dimly lit, with the jukebox playing in the background, and the bartender serving whatever's on tap. Tonight, the bar is packed with people from all across the city, different cantons and cohorts, all out to celebrate surviving the fungal plague. Patrons are encouraged to buy tickets for a door prize with the proceeds going to repair the damage tunnelling ants made to the cellar.

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Unused to so many people at such volume, Narcissa is nevertheless determined to not hide away, and is braving the sort of public house she would never in a million years enter at home. Wearing a floaty, elegant creation (http://i51.tinypic.com/1aqdt.jpg) she'd had made here not long after arriving, she walks through the door with what seems to be quiet confidence. Charms hide the dark circles still under her eyes, and give shine to her hair that is otherwise dull in the aftermath of her illness.

Two neat steps to the side avoid the inevitable anonymous hand reaching where it shouldn't, and she heads for the bar. One drink ought to be sufficient.

As Narcissa steps up to the bar, the girl to her right glances over quickly from her very girly-looking drink, and then back for a second look.

"Oh, my goodness. I love your dress!" she exclaims with a bright smile. "Is that custom work? It has to be, look how well it fits you. It's beautiful."

After she has the barkeep's attention but before she orders a drink, a happy voice interrupts her. Noting the pretty brunette in a bright, tight dress, Narcissa smiles hesitantly in return. It is nice to be complimented, after all.

"Thank you," she smiles, her English accent crisp and slightly plummy. "Yes, it's custom-made; all my dresses are bespoke, I'd nothing other than what I arrived in."

Blue eyes flit to the striped dress, then to the cocktail, then back up to the other girl's smiling face.

"Yours is very nice, too - such lovely colours."

"Thank you." Ava's impressed already with the way the other lady carries herself and speaks; it shows breeding, class.

"I'm very sorry, I interrupted you." She glances at the bartender, holding up a hand to stay him. "May I get you a drink?"

Centuries of it. The House of Black is ancient and noble.

It's also unused to being offered a drink by a lady (and by virtue of her complimentary behaviour and nice manners, Narcissa will deem her as such for now), but tonight is a night for coming out of one's shell. To a point.

And to that end, "Champagne would be lovely. Or... whatever that pink concoction you're drinking is."

Ava smiles. "It's called a Pink Elephant. Pernod, rum, lemonade, and blackcurrant juice. I'd be happy to get you one if that appeals, or the champagne."

She feels it's the least she can do, for interrupting. Also, it's a night for celebrating--why not share?

Ordinarily, Narcissa would turn her nose up at something called a Pink Elephant. But the young woman in front of her seems none the worse for wear, and while she's never had absinthe with rum, one drink can't hurt.

"Why not," she agrees, returning the smile. It's not full, but it's definitely there. "If we're to celebrate our continued survival, it should be colourful, hmm?"

"My thoughts exactly," Ava replies, warm. She flags down a bartender and politely asks for another for Narcissa.

"And I'm Ava. It's nice to meet you."

"Narcissa Black, how do you do."

It's her standard reply, and if it doesn't command the respect she's used to, then it's because she's slightly distracted as she watches the bartender mix her drink. There's rather a lot of alcohol going into that glass.

"...I probably should have eaten."

"Oh, how lovely," Ava declares--it is, it's a very pretty name. Classy.

She raises her eyebrows at Narcissa's words, following her gaze. "Take it slowly," she confides. "I've been sipping at this same one for half an hour so I don't fall over or anything."

It's at this point that Narcissa smiles properly. Compliments are always welcomed, as is advice; though she prefers not to be seen as needing either, she's both vain and a little naive. What a wonderful combination.

"I see... perhaps I should procure a seat as a precautionary measure."

Ava laughs softly, nodding. "I think that's a good idea. Here; take this one. No one else had claimed it before you walked up."

She waited for her new drinking companion to settle onto the stool and then she smiled again. "Have you been here in the city long?" It was the standard question one asked when meeting someone new, she'd found; it gave everyone a common point for conversation.

It's easy enough to accept the friendly invitation, and Narcissa is careful not to display too much leg as she settles herself on the stool.

"Thank you..." And a nod to the barkeep as her drink is presented. She sips cautiously, then smiles when it's not nearly as horrid as she expected something so garish to be. "A couple of months. There were people here I already knew, which made settling in less of a chore. And yourself?"

Ah, chit chat.

"About the same," Ava replies, with another careful sip of her drink. "But it's lovely--well, for certain values of the word--to have had people here you knew. It's nice not to be alone but I feel bad wishing this place on anyone."

"Mm," Narcissa agrees, but it's not quite complete. "I should clarify; I knew who they were, but they weren't the people I knew."

She frowns.

"I'm not sure how to explain it without sounding utterly mad."

Ava leans in just slightly; it won't do anything for helping her hear, or anything like that, but the gesture is meant to show that it's all right, Narcissa can share and no one else need worry about what's said.

"I think a lot must go on in this place that makes one sound utterly mad." She smiles. "I've seen and experienced enough in my own life, and here, to make me very wary of dismissing anyone as mad right away."

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Clothed in something similar (http://www.modcloth.com/Modcloth/Womens/Dresses/-Chiroptera-Cutie-Dress), Isobel stands at the bar, drink in hand as she examines the goings-on around her. She hears the woman approaching before she sees the blonde head through the crowd. Normally, Isobel tries to avoid people - they hold little interest to her if she can't compel them - but the idea that she could get some information out of everyone here is what drew her to the party and it's the only thing keeping her there.

So when the young woman approaches, Isobel turns easily, but only slightly in her direction, and offers a small smile. "Nice night for a party, isn't it?" She's not one for small talk usually, but tonight is a special occasion.

Height and that hair can't be missed, one supposes. Still, the speaker seems to be among the better dressed in the crowd, and Narcissa turns her way upon reaching the bar.

"As nice as any other," she replies, her words crisp but her tone pleasant. "At the very least, it's good for morale."

"So I've heard," Isobel answers, taking a quick sip of her drink. She hadn't been here long enough to have experienced the invasion, but by now she's heard all about it. "I have to say I'm glad I missed all of that. None of what's been explained to me sounds very nice."

Isobel's tone is fairly straight, even, almost indifferent at times, with very little emotional inflection. That's just how she is, taking too much time and energy to show and feel as little emotion as possible.

"I managed to be unconscious for the most part," she says, dryly. "But it seems that small to moderately sized crises are a matter of regularity here."

A small smile and a raised eyebrow has the attention of the barkeep, and he begins to move their way.

"You'll forgive me if I don't roll out the welcome wagon."

Isobel tilts her head at that. Unconscious, hm? Someone wasn't meant for an occurrence like that, then. "I wouldn't know, but I suppose I'll find out soon."

The barkeep's movement is noted by Isobel without her even moving or glancing up at him. The joys of having vampire hearing, she'll never get tired of them.

"It's not a very welcoming place."

Which is to say that not many people have been very welcoming and it's not the type of place many people would want to be welcomed to.

Or someone was under the influence of others. The spores weren't discriminatory in their victims, and there were one or two almost-heroes about the place. Unconscious was a far better option than suffering through the spore-sickness.

"No, it isn't," she agrees, tone even, giving nothing away. Her hearing is perfectly human, and she waits for the man to be within easy speaking range before she orders a drink, careful to keep her request generic.

"But the company occasionally makes up for that."

Isobel offers another smile in response to that. The girl could be offering a compliment to her or just stating a fact, but it really doesn't matter to Isobel. The barkeep's presence garners a second drink for Isobel and she turns back to her companion easily.

"I suppose this is the point where a polite person would offer her name," she comments casually. Normally, she wouldn't even bother, but... more for the sake of appearances, she'll do so now. "My name is Isobel."

Narcissa doesn't like to have her manners commented on, more so when she believes herself to be the social superior - ah, the trappings of Pureblood society. Either way, she never introduces herself until asked. It's a little snooty, but so is she.

"Narcissa Black, how do you do."

Isobel had more intended the comment for herself, hence she'd offered her name first, but however Narcissa wants to feel is her business.

"It's a pleasure to meet you, Narcissa," Isobel responds with a slight smile in return. "And perhaps we'll meet again."

She's getting bored with this party. Not necessarily the company - okay, that's a lie, too - but the party in general isn't holding her attention anymore.

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