Log:Gathering at Desrochers Bar
| Gathering at Desrochers Bar | |
|---|---|
| Participants
Dobson Desrochers, Ava Ardent, Wally West, AJ Ray, November, Iris Delacroix, Veronica Alexander, Paige, Byron Whelan, Beau Desrochers, Ashe Whelan, Big, Jonah Joseph, Cobalt |
12 March, 2017 If you like a good pub atmosphere and are interested in meeting others in the Freehold, come on down to the privately reserved Desrochers Bar for a night of socializing and drinking (if that's your bag). Hosted by Dobson Desrochers and Ava Ardent, there doesn't seem to be a ton more about this beside an invitation to get together and meet. |
| Location | |
| Desrochers has a sign out front that reads 'Closed for Private Party', and just inside the door, Dobson Desrocher, Ogre of the Summer Court, is making sure that sign is obeyed. Greeting those members of the freehold who enter, he introduces himself, and urges them to continue on into the space. This evening, the usual work force has been released and given an evening off, though there is a Desrocher behind the bar, and a changeling one at that, in the form of Beau Desrochers. A table has been laid with food, prepared by the kitchen staff well before hand, mostly things that will keep all night, should a horde of hungry changelings not devour them like a plague of locusts. Music plays, loud enough to be festive, but not so loud as to prevent conversation. Byron, maybe a few minutes later than he said he would be (Hey, obsidian doesn't polish itself, you know), ducks his head and steps in, pausing for a moment to look back for Ashe. Once he's sure he hasn't lost his fellow Courtier, he turns to offer a bow of his head to Dobson, "If you want someone to cover the door after a while, let me know. Thank you for putting this all on..." With that said, he pauses for a moment to straighten up abd see who else got here before the gargoyle drug himself in. Beau's been here for a while, of course, getting the bar set up and ready to go. Plenty of glasses stand at the ready and he's busying himself with cutting up limes, dumping a bunch of neat little segments into the bin. He's not sure how many he'll need, but he's guessing Lost will go through quite a bit of booze. At least he's not wearing his usual behind the bar uniform of jeans and a black tee, and has opted for something a little dressier, which means a black button-up shirt and jeans. He does keep an eye on the door however, seeing what people are coming in. Food. Freeholdian Faces, all of that jazz. The Waylady has arrived. Ava is on time to her own party. Dawnskinned and platinum haired, she makes her entrance with her chin lifted -- cutting her eyes from person to person. Ava misses little, and so each face is drawn over carefully with her gaze -- committing them to memory, sizing them up, and all with the gracious hostess skills of a less creepy Stepford creature. Ava stands near the bar, watching the varied and intriguing frames trickle in -- her eyes finding Dobson. One small hand is raised, and she wiggles her fingers toward the Ogre in greeting. Ashe's legs are not as long as Byron's, so it's no surprise that she's having trouble keeping up. There's a moment taken to straighten her hair a bit and then gives a smile to Byron as she catches up to the Gargoyle, "I'm fine." she tells him with a chuckle. Then there's a nod after Byron's done speaking, "Thank you for hosting this." she tells them. Just as he said, Jonah's arrived to the party and is as on time as he's wont to be. He's at least dressed in his greatest finery as well. Read: a green t-shirt bearing the symbol of a white mountain, black slacks, and a pair of dirtied up work boot. As he passes Dobson he bows his head briefly in greeting. "Thanks for having us, Eye." Immediately after that greeting he makes his way to the food, considering every option with a look here and there. AJ is already in, being an employee at the bar (and a Desrochers). She's supposed to be working. She's not. She's also not exactly dressed for the weather - denim short-shorts with black tights beneath, a flannel worn over a white tee. A slouchy winter hat hides foxy ears, but there's still a tail. Always foxy. ( https://goo.gl/MMgehz ). Don't worry, she's warm enough! She's also sitting on the bar, watching Beau work. "Soooo... you going to get me a beer, or do I have to serve myself...?" Fee Fie Foe Fum... Something something that rhymes with fum. Like Dumb. In time, another ogre arrives, one that's been seen around, but tends to avoid larger gatherings. He joined the freehold a little bit ago, after which he all but vanished, seeming to keep to himself in whatever hole he's decided to occupy. The ogre is... big, tho how big is a little iffy, as he seems to have a bit of a hunched posture. His knitted cap is pulled low, down to he brows, deep dark eyes peering out from under with a sullen sort of glare. He's dressed in dark gray coveralls, heavy tan work boots, with a green flight jacket, you know the kind, the ones lined with bright orange on the inside. When greeted at the door he frowns, looking at Dobson for a moment and then simply grunts by way of acknowledgement. Social Dynamo in the making. After this spectacular display of being a people person, he lumbers his way further inward, looking around with an expression of vague suspicion etched into his brutish features. At some point, Iris makes her way into the bar. The slight Airtouched is in a 'kerchief' style dress. Long-sleeved, points of hem falling around her knees. The fabric is embroidered to highlight the neckline and cut of fabric in the empire-waist style. The fabric is a light, cornflower blue. Bright, but it doesn't detract from the rainbow hues that slip and slide their way across her skin. Over the dress, she's wearing a sort of sweater-slash-hoodie in a darker blue with embroidered patterns along the sleeves. The boots she wears, well, at least aren't Uggs. No, she's gone for something in more of a Cowboy-boot style. A navy blue bandanna has been tied around her hair to pull some of the poof back. The woman just sort of glides in, hands in jacket pockets. Her expression is smooth- not quite serene, but certainly relaxed. There's a pass by the food with a glance, but she's aiming more specifically for the bar. A drink is required. "I appreciate the offer," Dobson rumbles to Byron, sounding genuine in spite of the rough cast of his voice. "I may take you up on it. Go have a drunk. Enjoy yourself." He jerks his head toward the bar room proper just in time to see Ava's wave. One of his big meaty paws lifts to return the greeting, followed by a thumbs up sign. "You're welcome, you're welcome," the Ogre says to Ashe and Jonah as they pass by. "Welcome. Introduce yourselves. Grab a drink!" He keeps smiling his gap-toothed smile. "Good to see another Ogre!" That, to the fellow in the knit cap. After all the tall folks, he almost misses Iris. "Come on it!" The ugliest maitre'de ever keeps up the welcomes. Having surveyed the landscape, as it were, recognizing a couple of familiar faces, Byron reaches out for Ashe's back to sort of encourage her on in ahead of him as he walks in as well. With Dobson's encouragement, a frosty beverage is first on the gargoyle's agenda, grabbing a second bottle to offer her direction while he studies some of the faces he's less familiar with, "Lotsa people here already..." Paige slips into the bar, bundled up, but not, perhaps, as much as she should be. Coat, but no hat or gloves, and she doesn't appear to be freezing. In fact, she grins when she sees people, glancing around at the faces, familiar and non. "Hi guys," she calls out, heading toward the bar and weaving around people to do it. She's short enough that she can't see around people, but just sturdy enough that she doesn't seem to mind if she gets bumped into. "Once you get your ass off the bar." Beau arches a brow at AJ, and while his words may sound harsh his tone is more long suffering, as if he's put up with this particular point on more than one occasion. But he's still pouring a beer for her, one of the family brews since there was nothing specified. He sets the drink down on the bar, giving AJ one more pointed look before motioning at one of the stools. The grump. The red-haired courier arrives, a broad smile on his face as he walks in. He nods pleasantly to Dobson, and then, rapidly, he meanders towards Ava and sort of takes up a post near her. Ava smooths her hands over her linen blouse -- white and well tailored. Paired with a sleekly tailored pencil skirt and lace tights, she's wearing a pair of four inch heels. The leggy Fairest then pipes up and lifts her delicate chin up so that she can project. "I welcome all of you here tonight. Due to the influx of new people, I thought it best for us to get to know eachother. Have some food, a drink." She doesn't mention that familiarity breeds certainty which makes it easier to tell if someone is going to stab you in the back. Winters. She pulls her phone from her pocket, eying it. Ashe gives a look to Byron when he touches her back, the silver striations in her eyes getting wider for a moment, then she dips her head to the Gargoyle and starts forward as well. The bottle that is offered is taken and she settles herself onto a stool, "There are a lot of people here, yes." she chuckles. "I think you've met Jonah already. And that over there is AJ. She works at the Chronicle so you might run into her." she nods her head in the Foxes direction before she takes a drink. Then after Ava speaks she lifts her bottle in a toast to the Winter woman. "I'm a carefully placed marketing tool!" AJ exclaims. "Who doesn't like cute girls on the bar? Kind of like a Coyote Ugly feel, but they can get their own fucking drinks and I'm not fucking dancing," she says. She reaches for that beer, giving him a sweet smile. "Besides when I sit up here I don't feel so much like I'm lost in the fucking forest," she explains. Then she falls quiet, as Ava starts her very short speech. She flashes a big smile to the Winter, and lifts a glass to the woman. Then she turns to fix her gaze on Ashe, as her name is mentioned. "Sup creepy boss!" she calls across the way. "Oh! Hi, Wally!," Dobon, who sometimes has trouble with volume control, experiences one of those moments while greeting the redheaded courrier, the ejaculation heard 'round the bar. "Good to see you again! Welcome! Welcome! This is my family bar!" He has clearly taken a shine to the fellow if his smile is any indication. "Go have a drink! That's my cousin Beau! And my cousin AJ! They're sure mean sometimes, but that won't stop them from gettin' you a drink if you order one!" He pipes down for Ava's speech, flashing the Winter some of those missing teeth in a big smile when she finishes. Byron chuckles softly as Ashe points out a few faces, drawing the gargoyle's attention to AJ to catch her commentary, "I see what you fucking mean." Using his free hand to give the fox something resembling a salute (or maybe its that Bay-Max handwavy thing?), he offers, "Hello," before following Ashe's words on to other faces. Ava's words are listened to, then offered a bow of his head and a lift of his drink in acknowledgement. > Sun Mar 12 16:54:50 2017 <
Among all the mantles in this place, big may be notable for not seeming to have one at all, there is absolutely no magi-physical mark of any season/transition upon the man. He is clearly one of the lost, his arms a touch too long to be human, that odd pale pallor to his skin, and you know the fact that he's here. he is not completely ignoring the goings on, he's keeping track of people, glancing up every couple moments, listening, watching, taking it all in... Ashe gives a chuckle to AJ, "Nothing much. Figured I'd bring a new arrival to the meet and greet." she tells her while she points to Byron. "Byron is working at the Chronicle, so you'll probably run into him as well." she tells the Summer. Then there's a look to Dobson as he greets Wally and there's a smile as the Orge becomes louder. She takes another sip of her drink as she settles into her seat next to where Byron is standing. Kat makes her way into the establishment, albeit... cautiously, because that is a lot of people (using the term loosely), and people are simultaneously interesting and scary. Once through the crowd of comers & goers at the entrance, she makes a sort of circuitous approach to the bar, following the wall as much as she can. Once there, it's a matter of trying to flag down a tender over the crush of other people. She's not terribly tall, though, so this itself can actually be a sort of challenge. Ava isn't the most compelling public speaker; the Waylady is to the point. She slinks off toward the likes of the bar, and gets herself one of the Peanut Butter stouts in a frosty pint glass. Fresh cider donuts are picked at; and Ava's features are set in serene neutrality. She glances over toward Wally at his approach then. "Well hello," she offers to the Waykeeper, her fingers not melting the frost on her beerglass. "Oh, and I have fifty dollars to who ever can name everyone in the room without guessing," Ava calls. Winter drills. So Winter. Palpable by power alone, the figure stepping through the door is .. human, by a very broad definition of humanity. Clear as glass, bathed in ever-shifting colours and crowned, though not Crowned, in hoary frost, the androgynous woman has the requisite human parts -- mostly. The belly bared by her cropped leather halter is absent any sign of a button. The too-familiar tickle of the Fae in the hindbrain blends with a near-electric sense of potential, for good or ill, in those near enough to be touched by the Dawn's Mantle, which poor Dobson the doorman will receive in full, to be certain sure. November smiles at the man, poised, amused, then shifts her weight to ease into the room, eyes narrowing a trifle as she steps inside. The flicker of emotion is brief, difficult to read, but visible. The icy rainbow's focus? Two figures. One really, the glance she casts at Jonah far briefer than the lingering attention paid Iris' ever so colourful self. Heedless of the havoc wrought by her presence on others' mantles, Dawn being Dawn, she trails the other woman to the bar to lean nearby, watching. Openly watching, without the slightest hint of shame, a lively swirl of rose-gold-cyan-lime slides through the hair which drifts in her vicinity as she examines Iris' appearance with silent curiosity. Her focus is singular, inhuman, and quite, quite intent. "I am also not mean!" AJ calls across the bar, at Dobson. Yes, she heard that. She hears all. While she's eyeing the door, she catches sight of November, and takes a moment to stare at the pretty. And there's a smile. She breaks out of it, and then does, yes, slip off the bar and drop to her lowly height of 5'2". She walks right over to Byron and Ashe, undetered by the admittedly troubling appearance of both Changelings. "Oh yeah?" she asks Byron. "What do you do? You a writer?" she asks, staring way, way up at the man. She's used to it. Paige stops before she ever reaches the bar. Okay, sure, there's alcohol there, but she can get that in a bit, right? Instead she stops to just do a bit of people watching. Well, studying anyway. Then November enters and she half turns, cocking her head as she studies that person in particular. The studying continues for a moment, more curious than wary, before she grins and shifts her attention away. People arguing at the bar? Check. Dude staring at his phone? Check. Cautious Winter? Check. And there's someone flagging for his attention. Beau makes his way over to Kat, tossing his trusty bar rag over his shoulder, heedless of the little spot of damp it makes on his shirt. A shirt which probably didn't cost that much anyway so why be too concerned about it. "What do you want?" It's polite enough, and not at all mean, despite what that Dobson says. Maybe a little gruff. A little. With a confident swagger in her step, Veronica shows herself into the bar with her chin held high. Given the relaxed smile on her face, it would seem the Alexander is not here to pick a fight. For now. She's not a new face to the area, but she doesn't patronize this establishment frequently, so there's a pause as she clips to a halt near the entrance and takes a good look around. Fingers slide firmly into the pockets of her jacket as she strides toward the bar, a friendly nod given as she settles onto an empty stool. Byron arches a brow when AJ asks if he's a writer, and smiles a little more, before shaking his head. Little wings flutter for a moment before he offers, "Me? No. Mongo lift heavy things. Load trucks. Grunts a lot." A soft chuckle escapes him as his speech lapses into something a little more 'normal', "I'm perfectly fine with my name NOT being on anything important. Back on the loading docks, no one cares about the big guy hauling pallets around. If it gets too stuffy in the front office, come out back from time to time." With that said, he takes a moment to down a goodly portion of his own drink, then asks, "What do you report on?" Swipe right, Swipe right. Pause. Look up Squint towards the bar. Look at phone again. Look at bar again. Shift position like he's about to move and then... don't. Because someone Else just arrived, and the entrance of November has Big going rather still, like a large piece of furniture. He's frowning, deeply. He's glaring at her like he might at someone who has just brought a large shaggy and smelly dog into a fancy restaurant. He even curls the corner of his upper lip, revealing at least one sharp tooth. His nostrils flare, as if sniffing the air, watching the Founder as she glides on in, looking distinctly less than comfortable. Wally smirks at Ava's statement, and says: "Haven't met everyone here yet, but I hope to!" And as he looks around, the redheaded lightning-eyed man sees the leggy lightning-woman across the room at the bar and says to Ava: "And I think I know exactly where to start." He strides towards Veronica and says, "Hey there. I'm Wally." Will there be...electricity??? Success! Kat beams a happy smile when Beau approaches, for this moemnt at least happy to be the center of someone's attention, if only for purely service-related reasons. "Oh! Yes, um," and she looks around a bit, giving off a vibe that is perhaps a little 'not a bar regular.' It takes her a moment of hmm'ing and looking around at what some of the people around have. "Just... beer? The normal kind. I know they make some special for this place, so some of that?" Once his food's been collected on two plates stacked one on top of the other Jonah heads to the bar proper. Just a glass of water for the Harvestmen, and while he waits for his drink he looks over the other two Ancients - November and Iris. His Mantle is often cast as nothing more than a pale aura of light accompanied by small wisps of lights shining into and out of existance that only grows more overt when in the presence of both Dawn Courtiers. "Skittleses," he greets flatly. "Hey, you know, I didn't want to be, uh... prejudice. Giant stone people can write too!" AJ insists, totally modern in her thinking. Or something. She watches Byron's response, and then gives a laugh, and a shake of her head. "Noooo... no way, man. I'm, uh... you know. Not exactly well-fucking-spoken. And the written version of AJ is worse," she says. "No, I deliver newspapers," she says, with a laugh. "Paperboy," she says, with a bright smile. And that leaves two rather strong mantles of Dawn by the bar, for Iris' is also present. Yet unlike some Dawn, it's not merely that sense of potential. It's the sense of the calm before the storm. That build of energy. But the woman herself? Relaxed and unobtrusive in demeanor if not appearance. Her clothing and hair ruffle now and then, as if in a gentle breeze, though none likely reaches this far from the door as people stream in and out. The Elemental makes her way to the bar proper and pulls herself up onto a stool. She'll wait, chin perched on laced fingers, for Beau to have a moment. He gets time to deal with others before she just starts smiling wider. That works to get attention, right? But no, it's Jonah that speaks to her. "Isn't Skittles already plural?" The protests about meanness from his cousins bring a rumbling laugh from Dobson, the Ogre's shoulders rising and falling with the waves of his mirth. It's the little things. Abandoning his post for a moment, he trundles to the bar. "Beau! If you ain't mean, will you please bring your handsome cousin a beer! I'm thirsty." "If I had a dollar for every time I'd heard that, I could buy a case of beer," Veronica tells Wally with the lift of a brow and a wry smile on her lips. She extends a hand in his direction, the glow of her veins dim. "Veronica," she replies with ease, while giving his sash a once-over. "That looks familiar. You steal that from me?" The look she gives him is one of stony accusation for approximately five seconds. It fades into a laugh. "I'm with the guild too. Nice to meet you." Byron hehs softly at AJ, "I can't imagine what the 'fucking' problem would be there. You'd ensure the censors would stay very busy. And well then, I must have loaded your truck at one time or another. Good to meet you. Just look overhead the next time you come by then. A break in the potential monotony would be welcome." he trails off with that, tilting his head to look past the fox to Iris and November, studying them both for a few seconds while he murmurs, "Lotsa people." Beau nods to Kat, pulling out a glass and taking it over to the taps. Whatever he's pouring is pale and golden, depositing it in front of the woman with a slight hint of a grin. "New wit they just sent over from the brewery, tell me what you think, I'll pss it on to my uncles." Luckily for those that might not like dwelling in the strong mantles of other's Beau creates a sea of calm around himself as his own Duskiness pushes back against others. Irritatingly so. A second beer is deposited in the middle of the bar with a motion for Dobson. He didn't even ask what type, he knows his regulars after all. And then it's over to Iris. "Let me guess. Porter?" Ashe comes back to take her seat by Byron, her glass partially drained and the stitched face woman gives a smile to Byron and AJ's conversation, "If I call you Mongo, don't throw another chair at me." she muses as she looks to the Gargoyle and winks. "AJ is one of our deliverers. Jonah does deliveries as well." she grins. "I am pretty sure he gave us both permission to call him Mango," AJ says, with a winsome smile, and a nod towards Ashe. Then her eyes are back on Byron. "I drive a lil Jeep CJ. Old. The red one?" she asks. "Run the rural routes, and up to Tamarack Falls. Got to start before sun up," she explains, with a smile. "So, sometimes I'm only half awake. Haven't hard my morning bake sesh yet, so not exactly on the ball." Pause. "Not that I would ever smoke up while on the job that's irresponsible." Paige considers people for a moment, though it's hard to tell just what's going on in her feathered head. Or who she's focusing on, since her gaze darts around. Colorful, short, big, grumpy, distracted, etc. She looks at them all. Then she decides on colorful, heading over to November and grinning. "Hi. I'm Paige." Dobson grabs his beer and fires off a salute to Beau. Then, with an 'I will be right back gesture', he heads for the back of the bar through the door marked 'employees only'. "Thank you, that sounds lovely," the appropriately cat-like Kat replies, beaming a grateful smile when the process of ordering goes off without a hitch. She will watch, with some small fascination, the process of pouring (especially the bubbles!), and then spend a moment (or three) digging around in her purse to scrape up something to pay with. She makes it, although perhaps just barely! Still, the tall golden glass is taken gratefully in both hands, sniffed at, and then tasted in some number of steps, the first more involving her nosing and lapping at the foamy head a bit before actually tilting it far enough for a proper sip. "Um, it's good!" she'll declare, since her opinion was requested, although she looks a dubious proper alcohol critic. After this, she just watches as the tender goes to handle regulars and family, although at least one of those (Iris) is near someone familiar (Jonah) and so she'll offer the most hesitant wave in that direction. After a few moments, Big gets tired of glaring blunt daggers at November, and turns back to his phone. With a furrowing of his brow, and the tip of his tongue sticking out in great concentration, he starts poking at the glowing screen with all the effort of Lenny doing a calculous final. Tap. Tap. Tap. Entire seconds going by between each fat fingered press. Finally, he pushes send, with the satisfaction of a man who has written his magnum opus, and finally puts the phone down, stuffing it into his coat pocket, tho keeping his hand on it. Technology, keeps people from being social. Kids these days, etc. Except that he's got to be in his 30's at least, rugged and work-worn. With his free hand he reaches up to scratch under his beanie, frowning as he tugs at something, and then pulls out a bright yellow canary feather and surreptitiously drops it down on the floor. You didn't see nuffin' Byron mmhmms softly and winks at Ashe, "You sign my paychecks. I think I have to let you call me Mongo. Miss Fox on the other hand...well, I can't promise she won't pay for it. And yes, I most definitely know the Captain, though I dont think I had run into him there yet either." He stops there to upend his glass and set the empty down, taking a moment to secure himself a refill while he asks Ashe and AJ, "Food. Want some?" And then he's already heading to the spread. Wally has a smirk of his own as he replies to Veronica: "It is a pleasure; and it's good to see a fellow courier. I don't know if you've seen my flyers, but I'm "hanging out my hat" so to speak to serve the Freehold and the are a in general on a more mundane level. We should explore teaming up--if you don't already have a job around here." He gestures broadly as if to indicate 'the "real" world'. He reaches out to shake his hand and before they even touch there's an arcing spark of electricity that goes from finger to finger, but doesn't apparently harm them. "At the very least, we should talk. I was considering whether or not to found a Guildhouse here, but thought it a bit pretentious if I were the only courier present." AJ flashes a smile to Byron. "Whatever you say, Mongo," she says to the big man. Then she gives a nod. "Lemme go fetch some food," she says, and turns off, with a little wave. When Beau turns his attention to her, Iris brightens. Even if her mantle doesn't. Pesky Dawns. "I was going to ask for- oh, blast, what was it?" Her brow furrows in thought, but she shakes her head slightly to clear it away. "Whatever it was, it must not have been right! Porter it is." But there's other glimmers, colors, and a mantle not unlike her own. At least not in the sense of becoming //more//. The petite woman casts an accusatory look towards Jonah, but then finally looks in the proper direction at November. She blinks a few times at the //other// Polychromatic as if not quite sure what to make of her. Ava has retired to a shadowed corner -- she's taking pleasure in watching the likes of the Freeholders speaking to eachother and generally getting along. She's listening to conversations, watching expressions, and screwing around on her phone. She is quite the hostess, it seems, but is more into watching everyone. She is amused, texting like lightning. November hasn't moved from her space by the bar, occupying real estate someone else could surely put to better use. Point in fact, November has ignored every other tattered little soul in the building, seemingly fascinated by Iris' hair, bright focus fixed and intent. That is, until Jonah's approach draws those inhuman eyes -- and until Jonah's greeting prompts a sharp down-tick at one corner of transparent lips, flesh and lightless aurora briefly streaked with all the colours of classic Skittles candy. Then a splash of classic axe murderer blood-splatter drowning them all. Oops. THAT got her attention. "November," she corrects, considering the man, then sliding neutral eyes onto the strange harpy who has presented herself so nearby. She studies Paige with careful attention, fastidious, exact, a sculptor silently critiquing art. There's something of a grin from Beau to Kat. Well, a tug at one corner of his mouth showing off some wicked teeth. But from him, it's a genuine smile. "Good to hear, I'll pass it along. I like it myself." It's a skill of a practiced bartender to have his attention torn in three directions at once without getting flustered. And Beau takes an odd amount of pride in his work. "Porter it is." And back to Iris. Another glass is taken out, another neat pour with a good amount of head. Everyone likes head. And the glass of dark beer is placed before the bright dawn with a nod. Jonah does pull Beau's eyes for a moment, and he offers a polite nod to the man, though keeps silent. He's not sure he wants to interject himself in the three-way Pantheon staring match going on. Paige arches a brow at the study she's receiving instead of giving, but there's amusement on her features. She glances from November to Jonah, and after a moment grins again. "I'll just leave you two to get acquainted," she decides, nodding to Jonah before she backs away then turns, looking around. No doubt looking for her next target. "I don't care," Jonah responds to Iris in his usual baritone of displeasure. "You both have more than one color swimming in your hair. When you both can keep it to just /one/, then we can talk.: Says the man without an inch of hair on the of his head. "In fact, why can't you-" He stops himself when he catches the wave from Kat, and returns it with a wave of his own. He shoots one last glare in Iris' direction, and moves over to one of the many overlarge Ogres. He breaks away from the other Ancients at the bar, and meanders over to Big. For a brief moment he looks to be looking at the large wallflower's phone, more at it than what's on the screen. "Big man," he calls to Big. "You hungry?" Ashe gives a look to AJ and there's a laugh, "I don't want him to break things." she teases. Then she gives a look after them as they head off to get food. November's arrival makes her look over and there's a nod of greeting to the Dawn as the face is familiar. There's a wave of greeting to Jonah and the others as she heads after the Gargoyle and Fox to get food. "Haven't seen 'em yet," Veronica admits to Wally with a brisk shake of her head. After their handshake is through, she slides her hands into the back pockets of her jeans, currently drinkless as she is. "I've got-- work, that keeps me busy," she says vaguely, with the implication that such activities are not available for open discussion. "Might be worthwhile on a big things as they come up, though," she amends. Think there's a handful more than just you and me around here. Where'd you come from?" Spying her fellow Dusk behind the bar, she casually lifts her chin in Beau's direction and wiggles her fingers toward the drink he pours for Iris. With a curious smile for the rainbow woman, she then lifts both brows questioningly at the bartender. "Looks good-- can I get one too?" Whether or not Iris likes head, as it were, goes unsaid. She does chirp thanks at Beau as she's passed her beer and sort of pokes at the foam a bit before lifting it for a sip. She may have been about to respond to November's correction, meant for Jonah or not, but then the man is speaking to her. "Why would I want to keep it to just one color?" This is asked, genuine, eyebrows rising high above cerulean eyes. At least for the moment. They change, too, but at least tend to be a solid color before shifting. She does seem to want to know what he's leadng into next, but he breaks away and she looks mildly disappointed. "Someone needs a new side to his bed." And then... when it looks like Big might actually start paying attention to the rest of the room... he takes his phone out again. SIGH. Once more he starts to poke at his screen with thick digits, black eyes glittering and for a moment there's a smile, full of some hideous glee. After a moment, he looks around, as if to make sure no one was looking at him, and then he less than surreptitiously unzips the front of her coveralls part way down, and Aims his phone under his clothes to... is he... Is he fucking taking a picture down his pants?! Yes... yes he is. Snap. Snap. Such poise, Such class. That done, he apparently sends whichever of the two images he thought best, and then zips back up, with all the subterfuge of a drunk pissing against a building on St. Paddy's day. It's at about this time he hears a voice seemingly directed at him, and he all but jumps with a start, looking guilty as hell and then narrowing his heavy brows towards Jonas. "Whut?" he asks in a voice made of gravel and coal-dust and badly-feigned innocence. Quick, distract! "Didju call me fat?" but there's no actual malice or threat there, beyond the deep rumble of the ogres voice. "Whatcho got?" he asks after a pause that lasted a little too long. It takes a few seconds for thoughts to reach his mouth. Byron looms for a moment while he considers, then, probably surprising no one, ends up grabbing a small plate consisting of meat, meat, and a bit more meat. Okay, there's some cheese in there somewhere, when he finally steps back and aims for his drink at the bar, where he can curiously check out Jonah and November and iris for a second or two, then back to watching Ashe and AJ for a little longer. Excellent. Another distraction. Beau's eyes were beginning to water looking at the living reenactment of Joseph's technicolor dream coat that is Iris and November standing side by side. At least he keeps his comments to himself. The Dusk knows better than to nitpick the pair of Dawns. In short order he has another porter landing in front of Veronica. "Glad to see the location didn't keep you away. Don't let me interrupt." He tosses the world's least subtle wink in Wally's direction. Probably making it obvious on purpose. The ass. Wally reaches into his pocket and removes a business card, which he hands to Veronica. "This is what's on the flyers anyhow. I'm from...well, I've never been from any one place for very long. Moved around the country a lot in my youth and then, well. You know. But right now? I moved into Tamarack Falls about six months ago and then Ava sent me around with messages to other Freeholds about our existance and now I'm back here and sort of pleased because there aren't many other Freeholds within a very very long distance. So it sort of is...secluded? But did you say there were other Couriers here? Are they all full Couriers or are some apprentices?" Wally is filled with run-on sentences. "I'll have a glass of that amazing Honey Dark again, if there's any left, Beau!" With her looking around, Paige does see Big's attempt at photography. She blinks, her head tilts, then she laughs, shaking her head. "Wouldn't you do better to slip away to the bathroom to do that if you're shy?" she asks him after moving a few steps in his direction, her tone amused more than shocked. Then she veers off back to the bar. "Beer please!" For now, with drink in hand, Kat fades a bit into the background of the busy bar and resumes a bit of people watching. Ninja vanish? Well, cats are sort of like ninjas. November blinks once, then accepts Paige's departure with the ease of the distracted -- Ashe's nod is contemporaneous. She lifts a hand in greeting, laughing quietly to herself, and, mood shifting with mercurial rapidity, waits rather pointedly for Jonah to -leave- before shifting each and every one of her own colours to a smooth, marble-bright white. Still ice, but no longer transparent. Also? Jonah's green t-shirt is no longer green. It is, quite pointedly, the delicate rose-gold of Dawn, and will remain so for at least an hour. Offering Iris her hand, she re-introduces, "November an Nua." The sight of familiar faces? Once again, ignored. Unlike Beau, poor Beau, this technicolour dreamcoat is living the dream! "Yeah, well, figured it wouldn't hurt to check out the competition. I think this joint is too clean for my clientele, Desrochers," Veronica tells Beau with a mischievous smile, a hand briefly resting on her hip. "Not interrupting anything, right pal?" she asks, giving Wally a look out the corner of her eye. The business card is accepted with a skeptical look, and she holds it higher to the light between pinched fingers. "I 'dunno any of them personally yet. My mentor skipped town a ways back. Usually a small crew around here. Mostly been keeping to solo jobs, these days. Plenty of work to do." Jonah shakes his head briefly, lips curving down into a frown. "Big, Big Man, as in big." He then offers up one plate filled to the brim with onion rings with more than a massive fist full of chicken wings. "Greasy food that'll mean a heart attack for most of the shrimps around here. Look, Big Man, I got two plates, and..." Jonah was looking down at the foods when he was talking, but now he's staring at his shirt. "Skittles," he growls under his breath in a low rumble. Veronica also, naturally, scoops up the porter offered by Beau. She even murmurs a "thank you." Ashe seems to be watching everything for the minute and her eyes lose the silver lines for a moment. She then comes out of her watching daze and looks to Byron, that's when the silver returns, making little spidery veins in her eyes, "Got enough meat?" she asks him as she steals a piece of cheese from his plate before she heads back to her seat with her food. He looks to Veronica and says, "He isn't interrupting anything yet, at least." Again, a winning smile. "Hope springs eternal, though! You've heard of other *Sacred* Couriers in town, or just general couriers?" Wally looks to Veronica and says, "He isn't interrupting anything yet, at least." Again, a winning smile. "Hope springs eternal, though! You've heard of other *Sacred* Couriers in town, or just general couriers?" AJ returns to the table with Ashe and Byron. Her own plate is heaped full of meat, not unlike Byrons. She's smiling, as foxes smile. "Looks good," she declares, and then she slips into a seat at the table. "Sooo... Byron, you been here long? I mean, here in Fort Brunsett?" A pause. "I'm a Desrochers. So, like, family bar," she says, waving vaguely around her. There's no forced change in her own appearance. Iris seems happy to let the unseen breeze blow shifting hues across her skin and through her hair. LSD-fueled dream she may be. The woman is downing a good bit of the Porter when November offers her introduction. She blinks over the glass before setting it down. "Good, but a bit heavy." Well, duh. "Iris Delacroix," she offers in return, finally, accepting the hand. Her skin is smooth in that 'totally bathes in the blood of virgins' kind of way. Except instead of virgins, it's probably liberal application of cocoa butter. She doesn't even notice poor Jonah's shirt change. "Coming up." Beau nods to Wally, sure enough momentarilly serving up the requested drink, with a shrug for Veronica. "Maybe I'll come down and bother you on some night off. I could do with a little more rough once in a while." Everyone ordering beer is at least making it easy on him. And not having to bother with food orders this evening is something of a blessing in disguise. He fixes Paige with a stare at her order, one brow going upwards toward one of his horns. "Beer? Gotta be more specific than that. Or is it dealer's choice?" He places one hand on the bar, that crooked rin coming back to his face. Big is once again starting to stow his phone, tho he takes another glance at it and then positively /leers/ at the screen before tucking it away into his coat pocket. That smile, filled with the kind of look one gets peeking into the women's showers through a peephole, lingers for a few long seconds, while he's looking at Jonah as if not seeing him. Then he blinks and shakes his head a moment, looking at the man's shirt, frowning before returning his piggish gaze to his face. "How'd joo know my name?" he asks of Jonah suspiciously, while at the same time accepting the plate of fried grease and poultry. He's already crunching on one of the rings when social niceties seem to occour to him, and he wipes his hand on his leg and then offers it over. "Day call me Big, who're you anyway then?" his hasnd is large, calloused, and his fingernails are ground to the cuticles, and crusted with crescents of dirt underneath. Byron smiles at Ashe's comment and scoffs in amusement, "No such thing as 'too much meat'. Meat is murder, and murder is delicious." He points a stubby claw-like finger at AJ's plate, "See? Fox likes murder." He just grins as he retrieves his drink and settles back down beside Ashe, busying himself with making some of that murder indeed, disappear. Paige grins. "I'm not picky when it comes to beer. I'm sure it'll get me lynched but...all beer pretty much tastes the same to me. But I figure, what the hell. Try a beer tonight. So whatever beer you think is best," she confirms, nodding once before she glances back at the others, humming softly to herself. Ashe gives a look to AJ and then to Byron. Did he miss the Foxes question, probably. She gives the ogre next to her a gentle poke, "AJ wanted to know when you got into town and things." she tells him before she starts to munch on her food. Ava peels herself away from her iPhone and slips it gently into her small clutch purse. She slips past Big then, and the rest of the Changelings toward the bar -- getting herself a refull, the Peanut Butter stoit. Mmm. Peanut butter. "You gotta work on your lines," Veronica tells Wally in a hushed tone, her smile wry. His shoulder receives a crisp pat, and then her fingers return to curling around her drink. "There are usually a few others like us around. I mean, there's 'general' courtiers always, everywhere. But yeah, the Sacred kind. Usually at least a few in and out around here." With a casual nod for Beau, she shifts to sit on a stool, leaning her side against the edge of the counter. "Sure, you should. Almost always a fight about to blow, if that entertainment suits you." There's a quick grin for Paige, followed by a firm nod. "Veronica," she introduces herself abruptly. "You from around here?" "Fox does like murder," AJ responds, with a toothy smile. She then digs in, grabbing a chicken wing and visciously tearing away at it. "Yeah, sho... you native? Jusht get here?" she asks, mouth full of chicken. There's a small nod to Ashe, appreciation for echoing her question. And not throwing up warning flags that it might be a question the Ogre doesn't want. "Chocolate stout it is. Because who doesn't love chocolate. And I need to change your mind on the all beers taste the same point." Leave it to a pub with basically it's own brewery to have some choice on hand. Beau pours a glass of the dark beer for Paige. This time from a bottle, but it still takes just the right motion of the wrist rather than just dumping it in a glass and calling it a day. It's set down with an almost cheery sounding, "Ta-da." Something's gotten into Beau tonight. He's enjoying himself. Maybe he's sick. November, true to her .. unspoken word? whim? .. remains a smooth, unblemished white. At least, she does until she hears Jonah's reaction to her -other- whim, smiling to herself and musing toward Iris, "He's a cheerful one, isn't he?" Her own hand? Icy. Slick. Also now with Iris-hand-print on its fractal frosts, though those repair themselves fairly quickly. "Iris the goddess..?" The taller Ancient's head tilts, ice-white hair drifting with queer fluidity in blithe defiance of little details like, oh, gravitational forces. Byron blinks at Ashe's comment then gives AJ a blank look, "Oh, right! Sorry." Someone got a LITTLE too distracted by tasty meat, "Been here for a little bit. Came up from Rhode Island with some...encouragement from another Warden. When the freehold formed, I decided maybe I should just stay. That's when I showed up and threw a chair at this one..." He grins and reaches out to touch a couple of claws to Ashe's shoulder, "And she still hired me, so it wasn't a complete disaster." Jonah's to distracted by his shirt's change in hue to respond to Big at first. It isn't until weight's been removed form one his hands that he looks back to Big. "Knew your name? Psychic," he jests with all the mirth of the Grinch. He steals a glance in the direction of Iris and November, but back to Big his attention goes. "Jonah, Big Man." Jonah may not be one for manners, but he still offers a hand to Big as expected of these impromptu greetings. Paige grins at Veronica. "Paige. And yep, I am. Been a while, but none of us can say we never left." Hearing Beau mention chocolate has Paige beaming at him. "I love chocolate! Thanks," she says, cheerfully, before she picks up the glass and takes a sip as she looks back to Vernoica. "Nice to meet you, by the way. Sorry. Got distracted. Sorta got a sweet tooth," she admits. The door of the back room opens, and Dobson reappears, this time carrying trays to replenish the food supplies. More onion rings, fries, and other staples of pub food are carried to the table where they are deposited with a care that seems at odds with his large size. "MORE FOOD!," he bellows to the room, before beaming and moving with his empty glass for a refill at the bar. This time, he doesn't wait for Beau, but moves around the back to pour from the tap himself. "He really did throw a chair at me. I was picking glass out of my back for a week." Ashe admits, a little glare given to Byron, but she then smiles. Autumns, they were weird! "But we're doing okay now. Figured it would be good to get him introduced around." she admits. Wally smiles to Veronica and says, "I don't usually -do- lines, Veronica; I tend to rely on people getting to know me and then, eventually, falling for my winning personality. Or dislike me, one or the other. We should gather Couriers together, and I'll work on building a Guildhouse. It'll be a fun project; I've never stayed in a place long enough to be a Guildmaster...but I'm kind of done running *all the time*." "He's just grumpy that he owes me a favor," Iris opines to November. When the other rainbow child says that magical word ('goddess'), the hippy chick brightens. A lot. The colors across her mien intensify and the ephemeral wings that are sometimes visible -- mere things of light, rather than anything physical -- flare up against the dark blue of her jacket. "Yes! See, I //told// him-" a glance towards Jonah, "people hadn't forgotten me." AJ's naturally squinty eyes flash wide as she hears the tale. No, that didn't sound figurative. She turns her gaze from Byron to Ashe, who confirms it. "Wh-..." She starts. Then blinks, and squints. "What! Why!" she asks. "And why do you look so fucking pleased about it?" she asks. Then her eyes flick between the two. "You guys into some kinky pain play...?" she asks. "No judgement." Big actually has to look up to Jonah, because while he is indeed bog, Jonah is definitely taller, even will that faint hunch of Big's shoulders. Being presented with one taller than he does have him standing up a little more, closing a couple inches, but definately not all of them. "Psychic? Huh." yes, Big believes him, without question. "You got onna them hotlines then? Like Madame Cleo?" After a firm shake, he takes his hand back, surreptitiously hiding his palm, as if the other man might try and read it and take some advantage from him. Then Big is kind of starting at him, taking a wing in his fingers and starts divesting it of meat with his teeth, staring at him, and saying nothing untill he's dropping the bone onto his plate. "So yeah, thanks fer th' food." pause "Joe-nah." Yup. Definitely not a fairest. "They have these things often?" the words are hesitant, imprecise, like a man hacking his way through the dense primeval jungle that is small talk. Amused by Beau's demeanor, Veronica shakes her head with a sly grin before her attention settles upon Paige once more. "Very true," she agrees quickly, lifting her glass toward the harpy. "Nice to meet you too," she adds, her smile an easy one. "Nothing to be sorry for. Embrace what makes you happy, y'know? If chocolate does, who am I to distract from that?" Briefly, she holds a hand over her heart, as if saying something very meaningful. The brow waggle and chug of her porter a beat later diminishes this entirely. "Who says you'll be Guildmaster, or that we don't already have one? One step at a time, pal," she wags a finger at Wally, tongue lightly clicking off the roof of her mouth. "Not sure I find construction very fun, but it might be a nice change of pace." Byron blinks again at AJ's comment, then looks down at Ashe, actually looking a little confused, "Pain pl...?" then back to AJ, "No. She startled me. So I threw a chair at her...that was about her size." Key lesson here is apparently, don't spook the gargoyle, "I got it off of her, promise. And helped clean up the broken stuff." That makes it all better. "Well, not just chocolate, but it /is/ chocolate. Nature's perfect food or something," Paige tells Veronica, smiling. "So, you know anyone here? I just know Jonah over there," she says, gesturing to the man with her glass before she climbs onto a stool. hey look, she's over five feet tall now! Huzzah! Which makes it easier for her to smile at Beau and offer, "I'm Paige, if you missed me telling her." Ashe's black eyes look a little confused for a moment and then she shakes her head vigorously, "No, nothing like that." she tells her. "I reminded Byron of something and...well, it was my being stupid." she admits. There's a bit of an amused look to Byron as he speaks and then she nods, "Yeah, we're alright. Uvall however doesn't like him. Calls him a big oaf all the time." she chuckles. Beau claps Dobson on the shoulder as the other man comes behind the bar, before setting about any getting anyone a refill that needs it. Then, and only then does he pull out a glass and pour a nice pint of something dark for himself. Hey, he may be working, but this is a party and damned if he's going to be completely sober for the whole thing. "Beau." He offers to Paige between sips of his own beer, leaning back against the back bar as he keeps an eye on the patrons. "Oh nah. If I ever game out my number like that I'd chuck my phone in the river." Jonah shakes his head, likely falling into that other side of his life. "If people want insight they gotta pay with more than their credit card. I ain't cheap either, but that's something for another, more private day." He grunts, taking up a handful of onion rings. He offers an obviously devilish smile that bares those pearly white razors somehow called teeth. "I can't say how often they have 'em, but I know some folks that're pretty damned big on feeding after a big fight. What about you, Big Man? You get into any scraps?" "Mm, well, as you say; first I've to find more than the two of us or it's more of a guild waystation than a proper Guildhouse. I've reserved rooms at the Wayhouse already for couriers passing through, but haven't considered building an actual -building- yet, although that's easily enough done, since I've not bought a proper place to live here. Shouldn't be too hard." He smiles. "Not sure about a space on the other side, though I can think about that." ...says Wally to Veronica. AJ looks between Byron and Ashe. She squints at the bar, as she sucks on a chicken bone. When she pulls the bone out of her mouth, it's sucked clean. Nice, clean bones. Everything ate off them, including tendons and the like. "Ok," she says. "Yeah, don't spoke giant fucking gargoyles. Seems like a pretty good life lesson," she says, with a faint smirk. Dobson grins at Beau as his cousin claps him on the back, then swallows down some of that beer...enough to leave a foamy mustache on his upper lip. Without wiping it off, the Ogre says a cheerful, "Thanks!," then rounds the bar once more to keep an eye on the door. "I'll take one," AJ says, to Ashe, with a grin. She picks up her next piece of chicken then focuses on Byron again. "Born here, in the city." You know she's local because who else calls Fort Brunsett a 'city'? "But grew up, up the falls. So, yeah, pretty much know everywhere. You know, not a whole lot to do here, but fuck and do drugs. So... gotta make your own fun, when they get boring," she says, with a sweet smile. "And, you know. I'm a Harvestwoman, too. Got to keep my eye on things." She pauses. "I'll definitely bring you with some time. We can take the top off the jeep, too, so you fit. Not afraid of a little cold, I hope?" Ava had watched for a good measure of time, peering from person to person before she slips out of the place with an Irish goodbye. Ava's mark of getting the others together had been made, and she seems rather pleased as she slips out into the night to go hang out with her cats at home while watching episodes of Say Yes to the Dress. Beau lifts his glass in a silent toast in Byron's direction. Acknowledging his fellow Harvestman as is only polite to do. He offers a slight snort towards Paige at the question. "Mm.. it's alright I guess. I couldn' convince you to change it to Beau the Mighty, or mabe Beau the Chiefest and Greatest of Calamities? Dragons are picky you know." His mouth splits into a full grin, and it becomes obvious why he may not do that too much, as it really just shows off a bunch of sharp teeth that are none too reassuring. His eyes do drift momentarily in the direction of Jonah and Big, head tilting curiously to the side. "Alright, alright, fair enough," Veronica laughs openly, dipping her head toward Paige in agreement. "Chocolate is pretty damn wonderful." Porter drained until there's not a drop left, she sets her empty glass on the counter and looks to Wally. "Seriously, though, yeah-- let's talk soon. Can swap some good stories, at least." She sucks in a quiet breath through her teeth while pulling a phone out of her jacket pocket. Brows knit as she gives the glow of the screen a once-over. Byron murmurs to AJ, "That would be appreciated. Your top off." A pause, then quickly added, "Of your jeep." Ahem. A slice of meat is crammed into his mouth, perhaps an effort to shut himself up for a moment, and it at least gives him a moment to consider before asking her, "You're coming with us this weekend then, I hope? I suspect we are going to have our hands full, depending on if Paige and those going with her find anything special." His weight shifts a bit as he leans a little against the bar and leaves his claws lightly against Ashe's back, probably to keep her apprised of where the gargoyle is standing. Like she wouldnt notice the seven foot tall hunk of obsidian. Paige considers Beau for a long moment, tapping a claw on the side of her glass. "Chiefest, /maybe/. Mighty, well...I'll make a deal with you." She leans in and grins. "If you can beat me in a fight, I'll call you Beau the Mighty." Okay, she's small, but she's Summer. /Maybe/ she's just scrappy? Or delusional. Either is possible. She straightens and grins at Paige. "I'm easy to find. Maybe shouldn't say this here but...got a bar myself." And Beau gets an apologetic look shot in his direction. "Easy to find me there, though." To Paige, Wally asks: "What do you do in town, Paige?" curiously; and then to Veronica: "That sounds great, Veronica. Let's share stories soon, and maybe go for a run, if you enjoy doing that for fun." As she removes the phone, he asks: "Everything alright?" with some concern. Ashe gives a look to AJ and there's a laugh, "I'll get you one as well. We can wear them on Full Moons or something." she muses to that. Then there's a look to Byron and a curious quirk of an eyebrow, "Something going on with the Harvestmen?" she asks the big hunk of obsidian. There's a bit of a smile as he keeps her apprised of where he is. While Big was talking Jonah was stuffing his own face with onion rings, and he doesn't stop until his cheeks have puffed out. As he gnashes away at his food he shakes his head to Big's first question, trying to mumble something or other with his mouth shut and full of food.@emit While Big was talking Jonah was stuffing his own face with onion rings, and he doesn't stop until his cheeks have puffed out. As he gnashes away at his food he shakes his head to Big's first question, trying to mumble something or other with his mouth shut and full of food. Sadly, he has to clear out a bit more space to speak properly, and responds, "I haven't heard anything, but I hit things too. Well, I used to. Not as much, but I enjoy it when I can. More a fan of headbutts really. I'm getting away from myself, though. I know some other folks that like hitting stuff, and they get together to hit stuff to keep the folks here safe." Beau arches a brow in Paige's direction, slapping one hand on the bar with another of those way too toothy grins. "Hah! Well, it's been a while since I've had a good scrap. I'll take you up on that, sometime." He lifts his glass towards Paige and takes a sip to seal the promise, he leans in, pitching his voice a bit lower. "Might be better if we do that in the freehold rather than your bar, though. I sometimes wreck things." He lifts his broad shoulders and lets them call in a brief shrug, as if that's to be expected. "Definitely," AJ says, to Ashe. "I'll take my top off, too, if you buy me some drinks," AJ says, and bats her eyelashes at Byron. She's either teasing, or the most unsubtle flirt that ever flirted. The sweet look is dropped. "What's going on? I think I might have missed it..." "Mmm, I bet she wrecks stuff too," Veronica comments, sliding an amused look between Paige and Beau. "Gotta go take care of something," she explains vaguely to Wally, clicking the screen of the phone off as it returns to the safety of her pockets. "Thanks," she adds to the bartender, sliding her empty glass away from the edge. "Nice to see you all. Have a good night," she tells those at the bar, her expression carefully schooled into a more determined expression. Sliding off the stool, she pivots to head for the exit. Leaning past Iris with idle grace, the taller of the two colourful Ancients lifts a hand and seeks to catch Beau's eye, flagging him down. Authority without arrogance, she requests a polite, "A stack of cocktail napkins, if you would," once he is near enough to converse without shouting over the other voices in the room. Once assured that he has heard her, she turns to Iris to inquire, "Chairs? Are you then a carpenter?" Bright eyes dip to study the other woman's hands, as though they would have convenient stamps on them saying 'I'M GOOD AT HANDLING WOOD.' November did that. Distracted rainbow is nameless! "I have a bar," Paige answers Wally before grinning broadly at Beau. "I look forward to it. And the frehold works for me. Harder to trash rock than it is wood and glass," she agrees, nodding. She watches Veronica slipping out of the bar before giving November a curious look. Byron chuckles softly at AJ's comment, but comments to both women (Ashe and AJ), we have a Thing this weekend for the entire team. Some scouts are going out before then, but its about time we took a closer look at what we have going around here close. Should be...interesting." He offers a small smile at that, then more to AJ, "If you didnt catch it before, if you'll meet folks at the cavern gathering place, we can catch up there before we head out, just to cover anything uncovered since the meet last week." More to Ashe, he adds, "Shouldn't be anything earth shattering, but you never know what we might find if the Hedge decides to shift on us." More listening, more eating as Jonah talks to him, but if anything Big's suspicion starts to grow. "What? Like some sort of gang? Or Cops?" his lips press into a hard line at the sound of 'cops', even if it came from his own lips. "I dunno' 'bout any of that. Ain't never been one fer playin' wit' others, you know what I mean?" He looks suddenly hella sketchy, probably because Jonah is a PSYCHIC. "So yeah, um. good t' meet you Jonah." he says, glancing towards the exit "But this place is a bit much right now, Imma go um, take a walk." and then, setting his half eaten plate down, he starts to scoot around the taller Ogre and head towards the exit, hands firmly in his pockets. Beau arches a brow in Paige's direction, slapping one hand on the bar with another of those way too toothy grins. "Hah! Well, it's been a while since I've had a good scrap. I'll take you up on that, sometime." He lifts his glass towards Paige and takes a sip to seal the promise, he leans in, pitching his voice a bit lower. "Might be better if we do that in the freehold rather than your bar, though. I sometimes wreck things." He lifts his broad shoulders and lets them call in a brief shrug, as if that's to be expected. "Definitely," AJ says, to Ashe. "I'll take my top off, too, if you buy me some drinks," AJ says, and bats her eyelashes at Byron. She's either teasing, or the most unsubtle flirt that ever flirted. The sweet look is dropped. "What's going on? I think I might have missed it..." "Mmm, I bet she wrecks stuff too," Veronica comments, sliding an amused look between Paige and Beau. "Gotta go take care of something," she explains vaguely to Wally, clicking the screen of the phone off as it returns to the safety of her pockets. "Thanks," she adds to the bartender, sliding her empty glass away from the edge. "Nice to see you all. Have a good night," she tells those at the bar, her expression carefully schooled into a more determined expression. Sliding off the stool, she pivots to head for the exit. Leaning past Iris with idle grace, the taller of the two colourful Ancients lifts a hand and seeks to catch Beau's eye, flagging him down. Authority without arrogance, she requests a polite, "A stack of cocktail napkins, if you would," once he is near enough to converse without shouting over the other voices in the room. Once assured that he has heard her, she turns to Iris to inquire, "Chairs? Are you then a carpenter?" Bright eyes dip to study the other woman's hands, as though they would have convenient stamps on them saying 'I'M GOOD AT HANDLING WOOD.' November did that. Distracted rainbow is nameless! "I have a bar," Paige answers Wally before grinning broadly at Beau. "I look forward to it. And the frehold works for me. Harder to trash rock than it is wood and glass," she agrees, nodding. She watches Veronica slipping out of the bar before giving November a curious look. Byron chuckles softly at AJ's comment, but comments to both women (Ashe and AJ), we have a Thing this weekend for the entire team. Some scouts are going out before then, but its about time we took a closer look at what we have going around here close. Should be...interesting." He offers a small smile at that, then more to AJ, "If you didnt catch it before, if you'll meet folks at the cavern gathering place, we can catch up there before we head out, just to cover anything uncovered since the meet last week." More to Ashe, he adds, "Shouldn't be anything earth shattering, but you never know what we might find if the Hedge decides to shift on us." More listening, more eating as Jonah talks to him, but if anything Big's suspicion starts to grow. "What? Like some sort of gang? Or Cops?" his lips press into a hard line at the sound of 'cops', even if it came from his own lips. "I dunno' 'bout any of that. Ain't never been one fer playin' wit' others, you know what I mean?" He looks suddenly hella sketchy, probably because Jonah is a PSYCHIC. "So yeah, um. good t' meet you Jonah." he says, glancing towards the exit "But this place is a bit much right now, Imma go um, take a walk." and then, setting his half eaten plate down, he starts to scoot around the taller Ogre and head towards the exit, hands firmly in his pockets. Beau taps the base of one of his horns with a wink to Paige before he pushes off the bar. November's raised hand catches his attention, and while her request may pull a quizzical look from the man, he deposits the requested pile of napkins next to her. "I hope this isn't going to end up as multi-colored confetti, else Dobson is sweeping tonight." He sets his drink down and spends a few moments clearing glasses of those that have since departed the bar, eyes Big as he leaves, casting another look in Jonah's direction with a shrug. Ashe laughs at AJ, "Byron might want the top off. I'm good though." she shakes her head. Then she gives a look to Byron and a nod, "If anything goes sideways just let me know." she tells him. Then looks to AJ, "Same for you. Would like to know everyone makes it out alright." the Autumn admits. Paige also watches Big as he leaves, lips twitching. Before he can hit the door she calls out, "Work on taking those better pictures, big guy!" Hey, she's trying to be helpful! Then she promptly goes back to her chocolate drink. Mmm. Chocolate. Wally says, "Good luck, Veronica, call me." He looks to Paige and says, "What bar? We should have a party at your bar, too!" AJ lifts her hand in a lazy salute, towards Ashe. "Will do," she says. Then there's a nod towards Byron. "Sounds good. Yeah, I'll be there, unless something comes up," she says, smiling all the while. Action and adventure, yes please! There's an answering blink for November. "Carpenter?" Iris' voice rises a bit as she tries to wrap her head around this. She even looks down at her own hands. "No... My shop has a meeting room. I let him use the furniture. What he was setting up was... well I'm not sure anyone could have sat on it without it shattering." She does, however, look from November to Beau as the request for cocktail napkins are made. "I should get some of that food before it's all gone." Byron nods his head at AJ, "Look forward to seeing you there. Hey, hit me up after your route sometime this week and I'll fill you in on what you missed at the meeting last week. Good?" With that said, he bends over a little to murmur something to an Ashe ear, giving her back a little scritch between the shoulderblades as he talks, then straightens back up, to take a drink from his glass. "No, no no gan-" And Big's already on the way. Jonah grumbles something under his breath to the affect of learning something. After a shrug he collects Big's plate, takes a few of the uneaten items to be pushed on his own plate, and dumps the rest along with the second plate. The horned Ogre makes his way back to the bar, both hands holding his plate as he looks between Iris and November. "Which o' you variegated nutjobs messed with my shirt?" Ashe inclines her head to AJ and gives her a smile, the Shadowsoul was a quiet person usually. When Byron leans to murmur to her there's a bit of a nod to him, then there's a squak from under the fall of her hair and then a little set of red eyes can be seen, Uvall is there. Silly bat. "Surely." she tells Byron with a smile. "Eh..I don't know about a party. I mean, I guess I could," Paige murmurs thoughtfully, tapping the tip of her claw against the glass again. Her attention is drawn by Jonah then and she grins. "Hey Bossman. Like the shirt." She sounds innocent. Her face /looks/ innocent. So she's probably not teasing him about it...right? Wally meanders out, because he has some things that he has to do. "Bye, everyone! I may be back later!" "Good," AJ says to Byron, with a nod. Then there's whispers, and she gives a faint laugh. Then she sees red eyes. "Wh-..." And there's a bat. Yes, that bat. She rolls her eyes. "Alright, going to leave you two to it," she says. Then AJ slips back out of her seat, and gives a wave. She starts over towards the bar. "Really brings out your eyes, Jonah!" AJ says, as she approaches. Only, she doesn't move to sit at the bar, but instead move right around behind it. Beau is at the taps, refilling his own glass with a little less flair than he does when pouring for a customer. He's just shking his head now, keeping one eye on Iris, Novermber and Jonah. Curiosity more than anything keeping his attention fixated on the trio. Accepting the napkins with a smile which in no way promises not to do anything Beau surmised, November neatly lays them out atop the bar in front of her, a circle, a ring, of boring monochrome. As monochrome as she isn't. Still an opaque white veined in flowing colour, she nods to Iris, admitting, "I rather prefer paintball to office meetings, though the Post-It notes do have potential." Turning, then, to note Jonah's approach, the androgynous Ancient's eyes dip toward his shirt, then up, faintly puzzled and inquisitive. Hearing AJ, the woman glances aside toward the fox, then up to Jonah's eyes, comparing them to the shirt. She seems dubious. Byron glances back when AJ rolls her eyes and excuses herself, chuckling low under his breath and murmuring to Ashe, "She doesn't think I'm Spring, does she?" The last bit of meat from his little plate finds its way into his mouth to munch on while he watches over Ashe's head at the others for a moment, idly watching the other little pockets of people talking. "I run an... occult shop. No office meetings. Just covens, book clubs, and the like." Fun things! "Sometimes I make ice cream for them." Iris does turn as Jonah approaches, features brightening as she reaches for the plate he's holding. "Oh! How did you know I was hungry?" As for the shirt change, she doesn't even seem aware it happened. Paige continues to sip on her drink, watching the others at or near the bar. She's quiet for the moment, seeming to just be listening. While a little grin plays over her lips. AJ knocks back the rest of her glass of beer as she moves behind the bar. She stops to rinse it, then starts forward, to Beau. She starts poking at his side. "Hey, hey, hey," she says. "Get out of my way. You're interupting the flow of the bar," she tells him. She stops the poking, then, to look over to Iris. "Wait, is the ice cream occult, too? Like... like cursed ice cream?" "You're lucky I like you." Beau growls under his breath at AJ. He prods her in return right in the shoulder. "And the flow of the bar was fine until you came back here." No mention of the fact that Beau just kind of takes up a lot of room himself. He steps aside to let her get to the taps, taking his own drink off to the side of the bar where he can still watch the goings on. "Bye, AJ." Ashe gives a little wave to the Fox. Then there's a look to Byron and she shakes her head, "I don't think she thinks that...and I don't think she thinks you were whispering dirty things to me." she laughs. There's a look to her beer and then she finishes it off. "Speaking of flows and bars...Can I get another one of these?" Paige asks, lifting her glass and wiggling it a little while sh egrins. "Pretty please?" Then she leans forward a little, peering at the rainbows. "So who're you two? I mean, your names. I'm Paige," she offers. Jonah's attentions initially fall upon November, brows furrow and jaw clenched. Unsurprisingly for an Ogre he falls for the act, and turns those white eyes right to Iris. He doe"Skittles," he may as well be calling to both. "You better tell me a good damned reason you jacked up my favorite shirt or some trees are gonna go flying up near Stoneheart." "Love me," AJ tells Beau, correcting his wrong ideas. She smiles the toothy smile. Then she sets her own glass, and instead grabs a fresh one. "Coming right up, babe," AJ says, to Paige. There's a look shot to Beau, like, see, I'm working, and then she goes back to staring at Paige and smiling as she pours. Staring like a fox stares at a bird. When AJ asks about her ice cream, Iris blinks in that direction. "Well, it could be. If I wanted. But no, I just-" she shrugs. "I have a lot of herbs and there's some lovely pairings. Like honey and lavender. Orange and rosemary. Cherries and sage..." She looks like she could go on, but Jonah is asking about his shirt and she just looks to him with wide eyes. They aren't even the wide eyes of appeal, but of confusion and perhaps a bit of fear for her hollow. "I don't remember doing anything to your shirt." There's a look to AJ and perhaps even Beau. "Did I? Have I forgotten again?" There's a touch of rising concern in her voice with a bit of wobble. Like she might, maybe, perhaps, be on the verge of tears. Paige beams at AJ. "Thanks! Though...not sure /this/ level of eye contact is necessary," she says before laughing. "But since you're about to give me something chocolatey, I suppose I'll ignore it. Just this once, though. And Jonah, your shirt looks great! Whoever did it." Byron's attention gravitates for a moment to Jonah when the Captain starts looking a little peeved, though really, he answers Ashe's question first, "I'm not entirely sure of that." His empty plate is abandoned, and he pauses for a second to upend his glass and down the last of it, setting it down on the bar by his plate. Only then does he look down at Ashe's hair and address it specifically, "I'll grab you something on the way out if you stop glaring at me like that." "That's right you big oaf!" Something ruffles itself on the underside of Ashe's hair. No reason to be alarmed. Hair talks! "I'm not glaring..." Ashe starts and then stops. Oh. She sticks a finger under her hair to poke the bat, "Be nice." she whispers. Then there's a look to Byron and there's a grin, "Sorry about him." she tells him quietly. Then her black and silver gaze looks to Jonah addressing the rainbow girls and watches to see what happens. AJ doesn't look away from Pagie. "Sorry, you're mesmerizing," she says, flashing her eyes just a bit bigger. Nothing she does makes it seem any less strange. But she does look away, over to Iris. "OhmyGod that all sounds incredible. I love herbal icecream," she says. And every other kind of icecream. She then blinks a few times. "Uh... I just got here. So. You might have!" she says, with a sly smile. Paige looks even /more/ amused. "Mesmerizing? How am I mesmerizing?" She sounds just as amused, but also genuinely curious. "They're more striking," she says, jerking a thumb at the colorful ones. "I mean, unless you just really dig on features," she says, lifting a hand to her hair and picking up a lock of hair/features and peering at it thoughtfully. Ice cream being of interest, November pays far closer attention to Iris' depiction of it, the flavours she mentions eliciting echoes of their honey-amber and lavender, orange and rosemary green, etc., throughout the all too faerie creature's form. Distracted from potential mayhem by Paige's query, however, she turns to glance the harpy's way. "November an Nua, Court of Sacrifice." As if that weren't transparently obvious, what with the way her Mantle is affecting anyone who gets too close. Does she respond to the wobble or the verge-of-tears? Nope. She does, however, concur with Paige's assessment, agreeing with a cheerfully honest, "I have been told I can be quite hypnotic, though some would disagree." A subtle emphasis is placed on 'some'. She doesn't look at Jonah. "Only because I have to." Beau is still grumping at AJ, but his good mood is still continuing, at least until things are starting to get a little sketchy at one end of the bar. "Shots." Because how else is Beau going to defuse a situation except with alcohol. And with that he's pulling out a bunch of shotglasses and some of the good whiskey, lining them up and pouring. Byron chuckles softly and murmurs to Ashe, "Nothing for you to be sorry for..." He trails off as he steps away to snag a hunk of meat off of the table and steps back over to the bar with it, idly tearing a more manageable piece off while his attention wanders to November and Paige and AJ and Jonah and that group closer to the other end of the bar. Almost idly, he offers the bit up to Ashe's grousing hair with a muttered, "Don't eat that right next to her ear or she'll get irritated at me, and you don't get anymore." "Mesmerizing," AJ echoes, as she gives a quick glance up to Paige, before AJ sets to fixing her own beer. "And I like feathers. Birds are the best," she says, grinning still. "Besides, staring at Iris gives me a headache, and ... well. You don't stare at November," AJ says, that last bit said in a stage whisper. Then her eyes lift, and her ears twitch. "Shots? Shots!" Uvall skitters out of Ashe's hair when Byron returns with food. The vampire bat teeters up to sit on her head. "Feed me, Seymour." he states as his mouth drops open, awaiting the food. Once it's been delivered he chews it carefully, not getting anything in her hair. Ashe stays still while her bat becomes a fashinable hat. There's a gentle look to Byron, "He's...a handful." she muses. Then she nibbles some more on her own food while the Gargoyle feeds the bat. "Nice to meet you, November!" Then she beams at AJ at the comment about birds, before beaming at Beau. "Shots? What are we drinking?" she asks happily, staring at the liquor being poured. "And yes, birds /are/ the best. I mean, I'm not a bird, I've just got the whole feather thing going on. An angel, you know?" she says, almost like she's challenging someone to call her something other than an angel. And she may tuck her feet a little more under her stool and out of sight. "I could bring some ice cream by here sometime-" Iris is trying not to cry, really, she is! But she truly thinks she's forgotten something important and someone is mad at her for it. So she reaches out to take one of November's napkins and clutch it tightly. A shot may be a good thing, yes. "if- if they'd let me." As if Beau might hate ice cream or something. "And- and there will be some at the Equinox. I'm working on some special flavors now." The colors across her skin and hair have darkened and muted some. No longer bright. Which might save some eyes.
Brow furrowed as he keeps his eyes locked on Iris for a few seconds longer than normal until Paige's voice snatches him back to reality. "What?" he all but growls at the feathered Harvestmen. The plate chock full of food is dropped on the bar as bits of food slip off from the trauma. Without another thought he starts taking off shirt grumbling about messages, rainbows, and a few other things rainbows. Byron tears off another piece for Uvall, while he raises a brow abd keeps an eye on Jonah, watching the man's mantle flare up. A moment and he clears his throat slowly and raises his voice from the other end of the bar, "Captain. Everything good over there?" He's not really watching the others now, just focused on Jonah while feeding Uvall and idly scritching Ashe's back while the little bat munches away. "We could always use more ice cream." Beau flashes the bottle towards Paige for a moment, Johnny Walker Black, before he's back to pouring, distributing shots among the remaining Lost. Even if a person doesn't specifically want one, one gets shoved in their direction. He picks up one for himself, holds it in the air and offers a simple toast of, "To the Freehold." Then as quickly as the toast is offered, he knocks back the drink and returns the shotglass to the bartop upside down. "An angel," AJ says, echoing Paige, and grinning still. "Feathers. I like feathers," she corrects herself. Then her eyes shift to Jonah, then back to Iris. "Hey, why wouldn't we let you bring ice cream by?" she asks, almost at the same time Beau says it as well. "What's going on, why you turning sad colors?" she asks Iris, with a big frown on her big mouth. It lasts as long as it takes to get a shot in fron tof her, and then she lifts it. "To the Freehold!" she cheers. She mimics Beau. Tap, up, swallow, then drops it upside down. "Wooo!" Ashe gives a smile to the others and then she is looking after Jonah as well. She gives a look back to Byron and there's a bit of a nod to him. She was fine if he needed to go check on the Captain. She then reaches up to pat Uvall before lifting him from her head and sitting him on the bar. Paige grins at Jonah. "The shirt looks good, that's all," she tells him with a shrug. She picks up her shotglass then, lifting it in a toast before she downs it. "Yep, an angel. And feathers are pretty badass. So much more interesting than hair, don't you think?" she asks, shifting her grin to AJ. The instant the shirt is off of Jonah's body, it resumes its former green. Well. Not -quite- its former green, but it would take someone as ludicrously sensitive to the electromagnetic spectrum as a certain icy rainbow is to notice the miniscule difference. November, it seems, is not a heavy drinker. When presented with a shot glass, she smiles politely, waits until Beau is busy with someone else, and silently nudges it down along the bar toward AJ and the 'angel' harpy. Drinking can't possibly be as fascinating as watching a Sun's mantle have a conniption. Her own colours bleed out a good handspan to a foot from her body, and, purely for the aesthetics of the matter, she ensures her ice bears lovely jewel tones while Jonah is so bright. "Because I forgot something again." It'd seem that Iris has, indeed, taken the blame for the shirt-change and can't even appreciate whatever fun aftermath it had! Just the ire of Jonah, though that seems to have dissipated. A little. Enough for him to start undressing in the bar. It was only a matter of time until someone did so, right? At the very least, it means while Jonah is bright and November is a disco ball, the Airtouched isn't making things //even worse//. The shot, however, is grabbed for in gratitude and downed rather quickly. Jonah shouts to Byron, "Everything's sunshine and rainbows over here!" from behind the shirt coming over his head. It gets caught in that gnarly pair of horns, but after a few rips its completely over his head. He lets out a grunt once done, glare still lingering on Iris for a few beats. "How's the party going for you? Better, I hope." Byron mmms and shakes his head slightly at Ashe, murmuring, "Unless he says he wants help, Cap'n's fine. Horny guy, rips his shirt off, Foxy girl, someone threatening to flip the bird. What could go wrong?" Then a little louder towards Jonah, "Good food. And a bat questioning my intelligence. I've had worse nights." "I love my hair," AJ says, to Paige. "But... I have fur!" she declares. As if her furry tail and ears were enough of a give away. She turns to her profile, then lifts up her hair, to show the back of her neck. Sure enough, fur going down the back of her neck, into her shirt. It's about the same color as her hair. Or, if you're November, it's distinctly different. And then while Paige is hopefully watching her hair, she reaches out and snatches Novembers shot, and it's gone! Like magic! She drops it upside down. "Woo!" ... And then a blink. "Hey, Jonah, why is your shirt changing colors?!" she yells out. Then a side eye to Iris. "I was watching you that time. Pretty sure you didn't do it," she decides. Paige gives November a quick smile. "Thanks!" Except AJ stole it. Awww. She gives AJ a sad, sad look. "So mean. So so mean." She eyes Jonah then for a moment, looking confused. "I don't get it. Why'd you take the shirt off? It looked good," she asks him, shaking her head. "Is this a party? There's no games." Chances are, Iris forgot why she's even here. Just that she is and there's alcohol and- oh! Food! Jonah's plate is reaches for and something off of it grabbed to nibble on. "You could argue," she offers as an aside to Paige as she reaches for another bit of food, "that he looks better without it." See! She's not mean. At all. And when she washes down the nicked snack with the rest of her beer, she leans a bit to look to the taps, then Beau. "Do you have a... what is that orange-y one I had once... a saison? I like those." Whether or not Iris 'forgot' she changed the shirt this time, too, November slips away while Jonah is occupied with his shirt, long legs covering the distance between bar and exit with confident grace. Attention: elsewhere! Whether or not Iris 'forgot' she changed the shirt this time, too, November slips away while Jonah is occupied with his shirt, long legs covering the distance between bar and exit with confident grace. Attention: elsewhere! Beau nods to Iris, one more glass and bottle being delivered to the woman. He pours what he can in the pint glass, leaving the rest in the bottle next to it. Afterwards he grabs his own beer and downs the rest. He looks across the rapidly thinning crowd and places his glass into a dish rack with any others he can collect up. "I'm going to start getting the dishes cleaned, handle the bar?" That question obviously directed at AJ. Because when the choice is dishes or bartending, he's pretty sure which she'd choose anyway. Jonah holds up the shirt briefly, oddly saddened by a simple change in color. He turns around with a sigh, and hangs it off the back of a chair only to turn back around to glare at Iris. "What?" he asks incredulously. "You are-" He takes a few moments to take a deep breath in, and a let a long, tired sigh out. "You are beyond unbearable, you know that?" Paige doesn't seem to notice November slipping out, but she /does/ notice AJ making good on her alcohol theft. "Okay, you're forgiven. This time," she says, lifting the glass, toasting AJ, then downing it. "Thanks." Jonah's words draw her attention again and she looks back to him. "Jonah, dude. You're not Summer. Cheer up," she tells him, giving him a cheeky grin. Ashe is quietly watching the goings on and there's a bit of a look to Byron when he shouts back and there's a smile to him, "He kinda likes you, you know that." she muses quietly. Then there's a bit of a chuckle at the t-shirt shennanigans and things. It's after Beau has poured her a drink that Iris catches Jonah's glare. She blinks a few times, looking incredibly lost. "I... What... what'd I do? I said you look better without the shirt-" she looks to AJ and Paige for help. "Is that not a compliment anymore? Did I say something wrong?" It's after Beau has poured her a drink that Iris catches Jonah's glare. She blinks a few times, looking incredibly lost. "I... What... what'd I do? I said you look better without the shirt-" she looks to AJ and Paige for help. "Is that not a compliment anymore? Did I say something wrong?" "Keep feeding Paige whiskey, got it, boss," AJ says, to Beau. Big smile for her big, big cousin. She looks back to Paige, and does just that. Grinning like the sly fox she is (or isn't). She pours out another one, for herself. Then another one, for Paige. She then lifts a hand. "Bye Mongo!" she calls, at Byron. Then she looks to Jonah. "Awww, Jonah... c'mon, she's so cute," she says, pleading with her ogre boss. Her eyes then shift to Iris. "They get grouchy," she stage whispers. They must mean ogres, surely. "Don't fret too much," she adds. And then she's pouring another shot, and sliding it to Iris. Uvall gives squinty red eyes to the Oaf and then skitters into his hand, climbing up to his shoulder and settling there. "This is a better view." he hisses out. Ashe gives a bit of a laugh to Byron, "No, no dragging my ass into work late." she muses to Byron as she stands. She then gives a wave to everyone, "It was good to see everyone. You guys be careful on the way home." she comments before she heads out in front of Byron. "Just.. try not to give away the whole bar." A few more plates are picked up and cleaned into the trash and added to the pile of dishes forming behind the bar. "Good seeing you all if you leave before I return." Beau picks up the dish rack and ducks back through the staff door into the kitchen. Jonah shoots an askance glance in Paige's direction for a few seconds, and shakes his head. "Was my favorite" shirt, Feathers. You know how hard it is to find somebody that's willing to make something specifically for me? With the mountain on it too? I might as well grab a sail, wrap it around myself, and just paint a mountain on it. I might as well thanks to her." The last bit comes with nod over in Iris' direction. "I like you," Paige tells AJ with a grin. "And don't worry about him," she tells Iris. "He's just being grumpy," says the not-grumpy ogre. Yes, ogres can be short, too! "But I gotta get going. I've got my own bar to tend to in the morning," she says, slipping off the stool and losing a few inches of height. "I'm sure I'll see you guys again soon, though!" she says, waving before she starts for the door. The new shot is looked at with some appreciation. At this rate, Iris won't need the food. The porter was strong enough that, second shot down, her colors are starting to flare up a bit again. A sign of intoxication setting in. "Thank you," she offers, a bit more brightly, to AJ. To Jonah, as she draws her saison in close, she looks apologetic. "I don't even know how I did it. I've never changed the color of something else before. Can I buy you a new one?" AJ blows another kiss to Paige. "Take care, babe," she says. Then she looks off towards Beau, and just rolls her eyes. Her gaze is back to Iris. "Want another?" she asks, with a big smile, waggling that bottle of scotch at her. "Oh, you want one?" she asks Jonah, next. "Ooooor too busy trying to scare pretty little rainbows?" Jonah looks AJ and then back to Iris before settling into his fit. Ro the departing Paige almost as angrily as Iris, but then when she leaves his attention goes right back to the other Ancient. "It's not just money. It's the principle. I don't drink." He stops then, correcting himself as he sobers up some. "Anything made from this side of the world. Tastes too normal." "Please." For another drink. Iris is feeling sad again and it's reflected in the colors as they slip and slide across her skin. She flinches a bit at Jonah's words. "Howabout some fruits? I have some Chu Chu Clums." Fruit that causes intoxication, for the discerning Lost! "I really am sorry. I've had weird things happen, but I've never changed someone else's colors. I should probably go... study on that for a while." AJ likes Iris. Like staring at a mood ring. Don't have to question about silly emotions! "You didn't ruin his shirt! I bet it was November. I'll bet fif-... Twenty bucks it was November," AJ declares, as she pours out another shot for Iris. And for herself. Then she considers that. Hedgefruit. Hmmm. Her eyes go to Jonah. "Wanna smoke up instead...?" Jonah's pulling up a stool as the offer comes up, but he lifts his hand up to turn it down. "No, my body is my temple and I don't touch that kinda stuff," he points out while sitting down. "I-" he stops, gears turning and jaw clenching tight. "Just gimme a glass of water." "What about another type of fruit? I mostly have healing ones right now, but if you have something specific you'd like..." Iris really is trying to make it better, she is! The woman takes up the shot, briefly double-fisting with the beer in one hand and the shot in the other. She downs the scotch and chases it with her saison. "Temples are full of librations." "Hey, I'll take your chum clams or whatever the fuck you said, if he doesn't want them," AJ says, smiling sweetly to Iris. And probably unaware of how ridiculous she sounds. She lifts up her own shot to take it, but then stops, and sets it down. She nods, then turns and grabs a glass, and scoops in some ice, then fill sit with water. "Yeah, my body-temple is kinda like... you know. Fill it with booze and pot and a lot of greasy meat and... you know. Other stuff. My Gods love that kinda stuff," she says, with a sweet smile. The glass of water is put infront of Jonah, and then she finally tosses back her shot. He shakes his head in response when taking his glass. "Then your gods are fools, and you should look elsewhere for devotion." Jonah downs most of his water in a few sips, and sets the glass back down with a contented sigh. "Ones that aren't just about base pleasure." Clearly, this Ogre is the life of the party. "I thought of offering them to the bar," Iris admits, tilting her head slightly as she regards AJ. "But it seemed... redundant? What does a bar need of fruit like that? But I can bring you one or two, sure." The rest, well, she'll keep for herself for the time being, thank you very much. Iris drinks a good bit of her saison before upending the rest of the bottle into it. "Other than Dionysus, none are about //just// base pleasure and even he has... purpose to it." She looks to Jonah, blinking eyes that are currently a dark red. "What is the point of life if you don't enjoy yourself sometimes?" "It's not just pleasure," AJ responds, with a wolfish grin. Oh, how the warm breeze is blowing off this little summer. Her gaze turns back to Iris. "You feed me hedge fruit and I get drunk, no promises you don't get bit," she says, her smile going all sweet for those words. Jonah looks over to Iris for a beat while taking another sip of his water. "Knowledge of the universe itself, inside and out. Without it, there's not much else really." A short shrug follows that. "I'd swear I've told you this before, but I'll say the same anyway. Everything else is secondary to it, if not somewhere further down the totem pole." "If you've never been drunk or high, how will you know everything? You have to experience something to know it." Iris just seems rather nonplussed, but at least her colors are returning to normal. Slip-sliding across her skin and hair where visible beneath the blue of dress and jacket. She looks to AJ for a moment, head cocked a bit. "You aren't a vampire. Why is biting bad?" "LSD," AJ offers, to Jonah. "Or, ya know, whatever," AJ says, smiling sweetly all the while. Smiling sweetly and looking a little dopey. Even the fox gets drunks! She grabs her beer, and swigs. Then she blinks a few times, and fixes on Iris. "Uhh..." She stares for a moment, blinking more. No, staring doesn't help. "That was, uh... flirting. Sexy bites. Like, my mouth, on you..." She lifts her eyebrows and stares, as she slowly lifts her glass and drinks. As she stares. The party has all but ended! Those left are parked at the bar, Jonah and Iris about next to each other and AJ on the other side. The food's been cleaned up, the glasses all but gone. It's basically closing time, save for these few Changelings left lingering. "I didn't say I've never had a drink. Last time I did I killed two guys and destroyed a wall." What a surprise coming from an Ogre. The big guy's sitting on a stool near the bar, shirtless with just his jeans and boots with a giant, green shirt on a chair behind him that may as well have been a blanket. Jonah's attention then goes back to AJ, brows furrowing. "No drugs of any kind, nor anything that'll muck up my perceptions." One last call for alcohol... Iris is actually finishing hers and looking a bit wobbly on her stool. When AJ explains the biting, the rainbow-hued Airtouched just stares back for a moment. And is she... well, she's blushing. Presumably. The colors around her face and neck are all in the spectrum of red and pink. "Oh. Flirting. People generally... don't... uh..." At a total loss for words, she reaches for her glass and- oh, it's empty. At least she doesn't muppetflail. Not quite. Her fingers do sort of flutter against the glass with uncertainty. The door opens. Some people don't give a fuck that the party's over. Some people don't care that it's closing time. Some people just want a drink. The big (though not the biggest dude) walking in, scowl on his face, wings on his back, horns on his head, green eyes glowing, feels like it's 90 degrees in August with no air conditioning when he enters...hard to miss that one. But Cobalt doesn't go up to the others, no. He simply takes a stool, not far at all from you all, and lands in it with a heavy thud. Last call? Perfect. "Whiskey," he growls to the bartender. "Some drugs help perceptions," AJ says, to Jonah. There's an odd note of sincerity in there. A touch on something real that the summer Beast might not have otherwise let out, were she not drunk. She clears her throat, and then shifts her gaze back to Iris. This is easier to handle. "You're gorgeous. And offered me food. That's, like, two of the biggest things on my list," she says, with that same wolfish grin. "Unless your straight, then, uh... that would explain why women don't hit on you," she says, with a shrug. Her eyes turn to the door. "We're fucking clo-!" she starts to shout, but then stops, spotting not-a-human. "Oh. Hey," she says, eyeing the demon for a moment. Or, well, the one demon. "So horny in here..." she says, and then starts to laugh at herself. All the while she walks over, with a bottle of Johnny black, and snags a tumbler on the way. She sets it down. "Missed the party, boo," she tells Cobalt, as she sloppily pours a few fingers into his glass. Jonah was content to finish off the rest of his water, but the horny comment gets a brief stare. "Yeah, I won't even take your word for that. I leave it to the fools in Moon to try that kinda talk.Eevery time I see one of 'em drugged out by Sun's rise it just proves it to me again in case I needed a reminder." "Straight? What is-" And then Iris remembers, a few pieces of the puzzle managing to fall properly in place for once. "Oh. I don't really care what parts a person has. They can all be quite fun, can't they?" The rainbow-hued woman is quite drunk, herself, voice lilting a bit with her words. Chances are, she usually doesn't notice when she's being hit on. And most likely aren't kind enough to explain, as AJ did. "As for food, I like cooking. Why grow things like herbs or fruit if you're not going to do anything with them?" "Good." That's Cobalt's response to AJ. The horny comment? Yeah, he doesn't seem to find that hilarious. Go figure. He eyes her up, large hand moving around the glass. Looks at the other guy with horns. Scowls, nostrils flaring. Eyes rainbow girl. Scowl softens. His eyes are awfully bright. The first few fingers of whiskey are tossed down, more is poured into the glass. He addresses AJ, but the words he says could be to anyone. "What'd I miss, nothing? Yeah. That's what I thought." AJ is all smiles. She thinks she's funny. She waits for Cobalt to toss back that whiskey, then pours in some more. She does not leave the bottle with the man. Instead, she turns off, and steps back over towards Iris. "Was a good party. Jonah destroyed his shirt," she says, to Cobalt, even though her back is to him. "And you know, that's the trick. You gotta get into your den before sun rise," she tells the big ogre. Could be AJ's nocturnal. She finally turns back to Iris. She scrunches her nose. "Agree to disagree. About parts," she says, making sure the woman doesn't miss it. "You wanna come over some time? You can cook for me, then we can see if we like each others parts?" she asks. Maybe she sounds sly in her head...? "Gimme some more," Jonah says while sliding his glass forward. The new voice draws his attention away from the interplay with the two women, head cant slightly. "Nah, you missed a lot. We had a wet t-shirt contest, but this other rainbow-haired chick beat me. All I got was a soaked shirt, and some free chicken wings." He follows it up with a shrug. "Can you believe I actually lost points for the pec bounce?" "I'd love to cook for you." Whether AJ was just that sly or Iris is just that prone to going with the flow (intent over outcome!) is unclear. But she doesn't seem to take issue with either part of the offer. "Maybe I can bring some ice cream and bake cookies..." See? Already considering. "I found a recipe for something called an arlette and-" but Jonah is... making a joke? Except Iris sort of misses that part. "There was a wet t-shirt contest? Is that what I forgot?" Not leaving the bottle with Cobalt may be for the best, especially if you want him to leave quickly. Or it may be a terrible idea. It remains to be seen. He half-turns in his stool, staring at the three of you now. Still scowling. And then -- he suddenly bursts out into a raucous peal of laughter, one black brow quirking upwards. "That actually doesn't sound half bad. Go fucking figure." "Wait, I missed what?!" AJ blurts. She's apparently on the same page as Iris here. She grabs the empty glass then scoops in some ice and fills it back up, then hands it back to Jonah. "No! No, because your shirt is dry," she says, seeming to recall the shirt was the whole to-do the whole time. And, of course, recalling when that shirt came off. Then she looks back to Cobalt, as the demon laughs. Her brows go up. And then she laughs. Finally, it's back to Iris. "It's a date," she declares. AJ then starts patting her own pockets. "Uuuhhh..." she then reaches into a pocket, and produces a pen. "Ta-da..." and she quickly scribbles down a phone number, on a cocktail napkin. AJ, with a heart, and a local number. She slides it to Iris. "The heart is so you don't forget why you're calling AJ, k?" "Yes," he says with a look to Iris, the sight bringing on a frown once more. However, he seems committed to this as he response. His chest jumps with every syllable as he next speaks. "You. For. Got. It. All." He settles back down when turning to take his refreshed glass of water, shrugging once more. "You sure you just don't remember because of the drugs?" "Maybe he did something to dry it, so he could wear it later." Except for the whole tears from his horns. But Iris seems to be caught up in this Alternate Timeline spiel. Who has the goatee?! She looks at the napkin AJ has offered and considers for a few long seconds before digging in the pocket of her jacket to surface with a phone! It's a smart one, even! Albeit battered, despite the case it's in (rainbow, of course). She prods at the screen and inputs AJ's name, number, and even sets a reminder. "Else I might still forget," she admits quietly to the woman tending bar. But hey, she did add the heart emoji after AJ's name. To Jonah, there's a furrow of brow. "No. I haven't... done any drugs in a long time. I don't think. I just... forget sometimes. I think it's part of my punishment." Or part of just how close to the Wyrd she is. Speaking of phones...something in Coby's pocket (wait, he has pockets in that armor?!) vibrates like a motherfucker. He pulls out an enormous smartphone and answers it. "Yeah. Yep. Uh huh. Chill the fuck out. I'll be right there." Money is slapped on the bar. Upnods are given to the three of you. And he is Audi 5000, taking those wings and horns with him back out the door. "Thank you for drinking at Desrochers!" AJ calls, at the departing form of Cobalt. She looks back to Jonah, and then heaves a sigh. "Stop being mean to her," she says, with a bit of conviction behind it. Like she might actually mean it. She looks back Iris, to see the woman entering her number in. She then leans forward, and stretches, and quickly taps the 'Call' button. So, you know, it calls AJ. So she has Iris' number. Because she's a sneaky fox. She gives a sweet smile, then turns and heads over to where Cobalt was, to clean up the glass, and take the money. Jonah reaches for his glass with his left hand, and starts rubbing at the base of his horns with the right. He loudly scoffs at AJ's suggestion, and even goes as far as denying such a thing's happening. "I'm not doing anything wrong at all. I'm just enjoying a nice glass of water after one of the lying kaleidoscopes ruined my shirt." There's a bit of a sound of surprise as AJ reaches across to her phone, but then Iris processes what she's doing. "Clever!" Apparently, she's never thought of exchanging numbers in quite that way before. So the compliment? Genuine. And befitting a fox, truly. She does look to Jonah and there's a sort of sadness that settles in her eyes as they shift through shades of blue. "Howabout we call it even. You don't owe me any favors anymore." She's sad she forgot! Even if she's just sad that she missed out on the fun parts of it, before the ogre got all rarfas-y. The woman puts her phone away and resurfaces with a crumpled handful of bills. Mostly singles, but there is a fiver in the mix. "Thank you," she offers to AJ. "And thank the other one, as well!" Beau, she means Beau. AJ huffs at Jonah. She's not that mad, because, well, summer. When she gets mad, it's very apparent. But she is miffed. Genuinely miffed! But she's clearly weighed her options and decides not to press it. She just looks back to Iris. "I am," she confirms. "And you don't owe anything. It was all paid, by, uh... whoever... someone. I think?" she asks, then shrugs. "You ok to get home? Need a cab...?" Jonah shrugs again, and begins downing his glass of water. It's set back down as he turns to address Iris. "That's your call to make, but it'd be the easiest way I've ever repaid a debt. Better even than when I had to eat those hedge-candies, too." He rises to his feet, reaching for his shirt. However, when he sees that its returned to its original huge he just stares at it. Slowly, his gaze goes back to the other Ancient with just a tinge of renewed anger. "Hope you get home safe," and with that he makes his way for the exit. "It wasn't a necessary debt to begin with." He just borrowed some chairs! Iris just blinks in the wake of that renewed anger and lets out a sigh, looking in AJ's direction. She shrugs, but looks to the cash. "It's a tip. The payment surely doesn't cover those?" Another shrug, this one a bit lighter as she shakes out the discomfort left in Jonah's wake. "Keep it. And... cab. Yes. I might should have one of those. Unless... the bar doesn't happen to have a door to the Freehold, does it?" That'd be easiest, really. "Good night, Jonah!" AJ calls, all sweet and happy, despite the her huffs and agitation. Good byes should be sweet! She looks back to Iris. "Doooon't think so. I'll call," she says, with a smile just as sweet as that good-bye. | |
