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

[bonhomme7h.livejournal.com]

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.

Comments

[defenestration]

It's about time Adrian got out and hit the social scene here in Baedal. He's been shopping (well, he's been to see a tailor), and for this occasion he's dresses in an off-white double-breasted suit over a purple shirt and tie, topped off with a matching fur-lined coat. If it seems a little ostentatious, well...it'll mean he doesn't go unnoticed.

He purchases one of the door prize tickets and slips it into his pocket, then makes his way to the bar for a glass of scotch.

[rhinemaid]

He catches Ilde's attention, at least; she can't help but approve of the suit and indeed the shirt, white (or cream) and purple being favourite colours of hers and this being enough to send her briefly off-course (she'd been making a beeline for the jukebox) to greet him.

"Sartorially excellent, Mr Veidt," she says, as she breezes blithely by.

[defenestration]

"And the same to you, Miss Decima. It's a pleasure to finally meet you in the flesh." Adrian won't halt her progress if she's on a mission to get to that jukebox, but he offers a nod of his head and a warm smile in greeting.

[rhinemaid]

Mission accomplished and she drifts back in his direction, just for the moment; she's feeling effervescently social this evening, it's pleasant and she's going to enjoy it while it lasts, even if it leads her to chatting to one of her bosses slightly inebriated. It's not as though that's actually a first.

(Lex was kind enough to keep an eye on her while she sobered up after their lunch, which she figures was only fair since he'd bought her the wine after she warned him about what a cheap drunk she is.)

"You didn't get into any trouble during the plague, did you?" That's a greeting.

[defenestration]

Back home, Adrian isn't generally in the habit of socializing with employees, but he's never been the kind to be dismissive of them either. And in a place like this, with no reputation to back him up, it would be social suicide to begin presenting an attitude about employer-employee etiquette.

Besides, Ilde isn't quite your typical sort of employee.

"No, I was very successful in keeping myself safe. I understand I'm luckier than a lot of people in that regard." Smarter, too, but that's not really polite to mention.

[rhinemaid]

Arguably, she's not your typical sort of anything.

"Real estate prices are going down like knickers," she says, blandly, which is both a fantastic and terribly British simile and relevant to the luck that many of Baedal's citizenry lacked - between the plague, the fog-madness and Christ knows what else that happened in the chaos before it had passed. "But everyone I know seems to have come through well." Well enough.

[defenestration]

The drop in real estate prices might be a sign of bad luck on the part of Baedal's residents, but it's music to Adrian's ears. He lets a thoughtful expression slip past the congenial reserve for a moment, but replaces it quickly enough with another smile for Ilde.

"Well enough is better than not at all. Was your part of the excursion a success?"

[alan_shore]

"Why, Mr. Veidt, an unanticipated pleasure." Indeed, Alan looks either pleased to see Adrian or pleased with himself for having recognized him; in any event, he's pleased. He cozies up to the bar--he already has his scotch, and it should last him a while longer--and gives the ensemble an approving once-over.

"I do hope you purchased a ticket at the door. One never knows, after all, when radioactive materials might be at stake."

[defenestration]

"Alan. I'm hurt that you'd think I wouldn't attend." Adrian looks just as pleased to be recognized, and raises his glass in response to the complimentary visual inspection.

"I did, of course. I don't expect to win anything, but that really isn't the point, is it?"

[alan_shore]

"Perhaps I simply didn't expect to take pleasure in your attendance," Alan points out, a hint of...a challenge? an invitation? good-natured mockery? in the arch of his brow and his neat little smirk.

"No, of course not. The thrill of possibility--that's what it's about."

If that remark seems pointed, well. Dull comments were never Alan's specialty.

[defenestration]

"In that case, I'm pleased to provide you the opportunity," Adrian replies, with an amused half-smile in return.

"Are you a thrill-seeker as well as an asker of questions, then?"

[alan_shore]

"Well"--Alan raises his glass for a measured sip; it's a courtroom flourish, this, designed to frustrate, but he executes it with a slyness that suggests he presumes Adrian to be in on the joke--"I sought you out."

[defenestration]

Oh, you're very good, Alan. Adrian's ego appreciates both the attention and the compliment, even if his intellect knows that it's all for show.

"And I must compliment you on your boldness and good taste." Adrian raises his own glass in the subtlest of salutes before taking a drink as well. "Although I for one have hopes that nothing too thrilling happens to ruin the party."

[pridegoesbefore.livejournal.com]

Not unnoticed in the least. His suit would stand out for being well-cut as it is, but the mere fact it's in such a flamboyantly obvious colour only adds to the effect.

Seated a reasonable distance from him, Narcissa glances at him over her glass, an eye trained for fashion taking in the shape of the suit, though she's less than approving of the shirt beneath it. Whether he notices her scrutiny is unclear, since she's not trying to be obvious.

[defenestration]

Adrian enjoys being looked at, and it isn't for very long that the woman's attention goes unnoticed. When he catches her eye, he gives her a cordial nod, and picks up his drink and approaches.

"Are you enjoying the party?" There's nothing in his tone to indicate that he's trying to pick her up, just the sense that he's used to social mingling and knows how to be polite.

[pridegoesbefore.livejournal.com]

Irritated with herself for being caught - she's clearly out of practice, and this will be rectified at a later date - she nevertheless gives a social smile to the man as he approaches. With just the right amount of polite interest she'd give to someone who looks important but is yet to reveal his status, Narcissa tilts her head slightly in response to his question.

"It's not quite what I'm used to, but the atmosphere is pleasant enough."

That's Received Pronunciation, and it's woefully out of place in this bar.

[defenestration]

It isn't her fault, really, it's in the best interests of a masked hero, even a 'former' one, to be alert. And Adrian is particularly adept at keeping track of everything going on around him.

"It isn't the venue I'd have chosen," he agrees, "but the quality of the alcohol is decent and no one's started a brawl yet." That last is really meant to be a joke, he's neither expecting a bar fight nor terribly concerned that one might erupt. With another smile, he offers his name in greeting -- "Adrian Veidt."

[pridegoesbefore.livejournal.com]

There seem to be a few hero-types about; she tends to be in the grey areas more than anything, though when she uses that smile to full effect, the dazzle might make you think she's good. Maybe.

A slight wrinkling of the nose at the mention of a brawl, but it blossoms into the beginnings of what might be that smile when she realises it's naught but an ice-breaker, and she replies, "Narcissa Black; how do you do?"

[defenestration]

Not too long from now, there'll be a few people who will put Adrian solidly into the villain category, but they don't know it just yet. And he certainly doesn't see himself that way. He can, however, appreciate the necessity of using grey areas to one's advantage.

"Very well, thank you. It's a lovely name, Narcissa." You would think so, Adrian. "I'm going to go out on a limb and assume that you're a transplant and not a native."

[mightyfallen]

"You do like to have eyes on you, don't you."

Jack sidles up sometime later in the evening, sounding amused. (...And buzzed. But mostly amused.) His own outfit is, much like last time they met, a little less extravagant than Adrian's. He's ditched the jacket somewhere; now it's just a black fitted shirt and jeans, simple and understated. If it weren't for the watch and rings that cost more than most people make in a month, he could almost blend in. That Adrian is just the opposite tickles him a bit.

[defenestration]

"Reminds me of home," Adrian replies, amused honesty in his voice. No one here knows him, and that still rankled, but at least they're looking at him, which is something.

He gives an unconscious flip of his hair and looks around the room for a moment, a half-smile on his face, then turns to Jack. "It's a pleasure to see you again, Mr. Benjamin. And to see that you seem none the worse for wear, considering recent events."

[mightyfallen]

"Mn," he agrees to the first. "That's why I don't." But he can tolerate a little unwanted attention for sake of good company, even if it's the company that makes him not want the attention.

"As for my health, you have my assistant to thank for that – he had the good sense to lock me in an office." And not to take him to the nearest temple, or Jack would have been substantially less pleased when he came back to sanity. (He has this thing about false gods.) "And yourself?"

[defenestration]

"You don't enjoy the spotlight?" It's contrary to Adrian's opinions about publicity, but he understands that a lot of people would prefer to go unnoticed. Although it surprises him a bit that Jack feels that way.

"You gave him a bonus, I hope. I really need to hire myself an assistant. Things are going well, and I have more important uses to put my time to than scheduling appointments and fetching dry cleaning." He makes a small, noncommittal gesture with his drink. "I chose to leave the adventuring to others, and concentrate on making sure my investment did get burned to the ground."

[mightyfallen]

Jack makes an equivocal noise. "I enjoy being able to turn it off." He does, in fact, like being the center of attention when he chooses, but so rarely in his life has it been a choice.

"Well, I'm glad you and your property are in one piece." He may send Adrian the names of a few decent assistants later (he's noticed a few who are too good for their current employers), but the subject of celebrity interests him, and he's inebriated enough to follow his conversational whims.

"You weren't famous when you were young, were you?" he asks, settling a hip against whatever wall or what-have-you happens to be nearest.

[defenestration]

Adrian supposes he can understand that. When he needs to escape from the spotlight, he just flies out to Antarctica, but most people don't have that luxury.

At Jack's question, Adrian's demeanor grows rather still for a moment. His smile doesn't falter, but someone who was good at reading people or who knew him very well might notice that it seems somehow a little less genuine. "No. My parents were...they preferred their anonymity. I take it that isn't the case for you?"