Log:Friday Night At The Carnivale

Friday Night At The Carnivale
"I really do need to get myself things and actually interview here."
Participants Grillo, Sorcha, Dielle, Gisa, Joel and Freya	5 May, 2017 What it says on the tin.
Location
Friday night at Club Carnivale means that the place is hopping. People flow from the bar out to the Midway and back again steadily, going from the noise of the dancefloor to the quiet of the more private booths. Joel is behind the bar, as usual, but he's not alone tonight. Julie, the young blonde bartender with the bubbly personality is helping him out. He takes care of the drinks of those nearest him while she works the other end of the bar. There's a show going on in The Main Event, and the sounds of the crowd can occasionally be heard in the bar area. Tonight, a traveling magic show is in town, and the oos and ahs can occasionally be heard. "Yeah," Joel says to Freya from behind the bar where he's just served her a pint. "You saying you don't do the very best when I'm not watching?" He raises an eyebrow and gives her a sidelong grin in answer to the wink. "Yeah, the magic show is doing alright. They'll be here for another show tomorrow and Sunday then out again on Monday." Friday night at Club Carnivale means that the place is hopping. People flow from the bar out to the Midway and back again steadily, going from the noise of the dancefloor to the quiet of the more private booths. Joel is behind the bar, as usual, but he's not alone tonight. Julie, the young blonde bartender with the bubbly personality is helping him out. He takes care of the drinks of those nearest him while she works the other end of the bar. There's a show going on in The Main Event, and the sounds of the crowd can occasionally be heard in the bar area. Tonight, a traveling magic show is in town, and the oos and ahs can occasionally be heard. "Yeah," Joel says to Freya from behind the bar where he's just served her a pint. "You saying you don't do the very best when I'm not watching?" He raises an eyebrow and gives her a sidelong grin in answer to the wink. "Yeah, the magic show is doing alright. They'll be here for another show tomorrow and Sunday then out again on Monday." Freya's wearing tights, ballet slippers and a robe. Very unclub-like clothing, but it's handy to be comfortable before her turn on the stage, afterall. "I would never say that. I always do my very best." She replies with a laugh, glancing towards the lounge area, where the magic show is taking place, "The crowd seems to really be enjoying the show." A unicorn and a golem walk into a bar. It's not the start of a joke, but it is the start of a good Friday night. Gisa seems ... very content, as far as one can judge the golem's expressions. The shin on her forehead glows merrily, like a hearth fire well-stoked. Indeed, there's almost a subtle glow about her today. "The sermon tonight was very good," she sighs, holding the door open for Dielle. "I always enjoy a good talk about hope. Usually they're not so ... overt about it. I appreciate you driving me." And hey, if DL decided to come in again, it's not like she didn't get a top-up of glamour, too. Toward the bar with them! Dielle, too, seems replete. "That was a very good talk. Doesn't really go very far to making me believe in God, but it makes me believe a little more in people, and that's been in short supply, lately. Thanks for havin' me, Gisa." She's wearing nice slacks and a blouse with a loose vest over it. It's a lot nicer than usual. Grillo might not be the club's usual kind of patron; it's not that the debonair bug doesn't match the carnival atmosphere, of course; just add a wayward wooden nincompoop, some tempting foxy folks and maybe a few boys turned into donkeys, and it's almost exactly his metier, in a twisted sort of way. But he meanders where most people dash in; he savors every step as he breezes in on that powerful winds-of-change Dawn mantle, black eyes seeming to swallow every sight. He's hard to miss precisely because he is so slow and deliberate, and alone. And did we mention he's an enormous bug, complete with wibbly-bobbly antennae? Jiminy crickets. He's not quite accompanying Dielle and Gisa; it might be more accurate to say he's coincidentally following them, possibly waiting to see when they notice, playfully enough, as he makes his slower way to the bar as well. The mangling mantle effects might spoil the sneaking. "Yeah, that was a good choice," Joel tells Freya. Eventually he notices Gisa and her friend coming in through the crowd. He lifts a hand to wave to both of them and when Gisa is close enough he says, "Wine. Red. Sweet?" He remembers. Then he looks over to Dielle and asks, "What'll you have?" His own eyes are the same black with no visible pupil or iris in the inky depths. It makes it a little difficult to tell exactly where he's looking, though it's fairly evident of whom he is asking his current question. And behind them, a bug, a very big bug. Intrigued, he studies the bug and offers a wave in his direction as well. "An inspired choice, it seems." Freya agrees, sipping at her beer before she glances towards the newest arrivals to the bar, offering them each a smile before she lets her attention wander towards the rest of the club. She continues to crowd-watch while Joel deals with the drink service of the newly arrived, and undoubtably thirsty. "Jews are not evangelical," Gisa reminds Dielle, or at least, it seems to be some kind of reassurance. "I am glad you volunteered to be my shabbos goy this week. It is so kind of you to drive, it is not a short way." It takes her a moment, but then slowly, Gisa turns and looks over her shoulder at Grillo. It's definitely the mantle mixing that does it: there's no missing the wind of change that sweeps through the petrichor that's the base note of hers. "I thought that was you, CJ," rumbles the golem in her gentle contralto. "I am pleased to see you. Come, we are drinking. Dielle is buying for me, she says. She would not take my debit card before sundown." Once they're pointed more properly at the bar, she nods to Joel in her precise way. "Yes, please. Thank you. Unless you have blackberry wine?" She settles onto a stool. "Joel, this is Dielle, and CJ, I think you met CJ before but I will introduce him again because he is dapper and proper." Even in her Israeli accent, it sounds like she's saying two letters mooshed together when she says her bestie's name: dee ell. "CJ and Dielle, Joel. And I do not know his friend." "Hey, there, Joel and Joel's friend!" says Dielle, in a very Southern accent. "I'd like a Shirley Temple, please, since I'm drivin'." She glances at Gisa and grins. "Shabbos goy, I like that. Heya, CJ. How's life treatin' ya?" The big bug, so discovered, falls in with Gisa and Dielle, altogether pleased at the invitation. "I thought I had a sense of where people might be tonight. It is truly hilarious how many people assume that I have met every other person in this city, ever," Grillo states, and he really does seem tickled by it. "We haven't had the pleasure. I've really got to work harder at knowing everything these days. Since you've got a carousel, I don't suppose you pour a Vieux Carre cocktail to go with it? I'm CJ, as the lady says. Pardon my not shaking hands, if you would, Joel and ...Joel's friend." Sitting next to Dielle, he waves a long-fingered hand. "It's far from terrible, although I've been a hermit again while the book matures. Trying to fix that." "I don't yet," Joel says to Gisa, "But I will order some just for you. In the meantime.." He does to go get her the sweet red for the time being. When he returns he says, "This is Freya. Freya, everyone.." He then dips his head to Dielle and Grillo, "A pleasure to meet you both." A Shirley Temple is fixed up for Dielle and set down in front of her as introductions are made. Nodding to Grillo he says, "Un vieux carre, un moment." And once more he is on the move, drifting away to fix Grillo's drink while the bug and the others make themselves comfortable at the bar. "Charmed." Freya replies to the three of them when she's introduced, flashing them a smile as she adjusts herself on her stool, turning her full attention back towards them. "You three here to see the shows, or just to drink?" "Well, that is what it is called, a person who drives for a Jewish person on Shabbos, and pays for things, though usually they use our money." Gisa huffs a little bit, and leans on the bar, peering down it a bit at Grillo. "I keep thinking you know everyone and you do not. Hm." She tips her chin up at Joel when he says he'll order in blackberry wine, and offers, "no need to go to any special efforts, I am happy with the wine that you have." This assurance is accompanied by her hands clinking on the bar, ceramic on the wood. "Shabbat shalom," she greets Freya. "We came to drink and be out. Dielle drove me to Shabbat services, which was a good way away, for a Reform synagogue. So I promised we could come out and be social after." Dielle grins at Freya and thanks Joel for the drink, which we sips. Then she pulls out one of the cherries. "Suck it up, buttercup. You fed me dinner, drinks are on me." She grins and settles down on a seat. "Mostly drink and talk t'people. Ain't been real social lately, I wanted to change that. CJ, how's the book comin'?" "Gisa, it is true that once I've met a person, that face stays...remembered. So no blame. Though you do tempt me sorely to spin you a story now and again," Grillo admits, with a laugh of admiration just after. "You serve a cocktail I love? Oh, I like this place already, for...many reasons. " Cricket, succumbing to Pleasure Island? Or just hinting at common ground with a colleague in his most generic way. "It demands all my attention, Dielle, like a colicky baby with the croup and cutting teeth. I'm at the point where I'm slave to a deadline and I want to drink my life away. I'm indulging tonight." He swivels on his seat to consider Freya's question. "What are the shows tonight? I didn't even look, just let the wind blow me inside." Sorcha comes in from outside. Sorcha has arrived. Once everyone has their drinks, Joel settles back against the counter. He has another bartender assisting him, a petite blonde named Julie with a bubbly friendly disposition and a wicked twist of the bottle, doing fancy tricks, spinning and catching them as she goes. Joel's a little less flashy, a lot more straightforward. His drink preparations aren't the show that anyone came here to see. He lets Freya field the question about what shows are playing tonight. Instead, he goes back to mixing another set of drinks for another couple not far down the bar. "Shab...yeah, hi." Freya replies, giving up before mangling the words, then she ponders the more important of the questions. What shows. "Right now are the magicians...then I've my own aerial act tonight, I believe we've also got a hoop dance or maybe it's the fire spinner's after that." She smiles just a bit, apologetic, "I didn't check after my act, sorry." It's Friday night at a club, and as such Sorcha's upped her game a touch. There's a touch of makeup on her sharp features, just enough to accent her eyes and lips, low-slung jeans have been paired with wedge heels, and the top she wears is black and off the shoulder. A cheerful smile, a bounce in her step, as she makes her way towards the bar. It's a winding, twisting way. Because people, and foxes. "Pfff. I like to cook. It is no bother, Dielle." Dielle, Gisa and CJ are at the bar, Gisa with her sweet wine, Dielle next to her with a Shirley Temple, and Grillo next to the unicorn with some very dapper drink that has something to do with a carousel. "You can spin me a yarn whenever you feel so inclined, CJ. I like to listen when you talk," the golem answers Grillo, and she reaches for her glass with a simple, "Thank you," to Joel. A sip of her wine, and she leans on her forearms on the bar, clicking her tongue against the roof of her mouth. "No, it is okay. You just say hello. I am not offended, it is not your Shabbat," she assures Freya. Her ceramic eyebrows rise slightly. "Then we must watch the aerial act. It would be impolite not to do so." Dielle settles back on her seat, chewing on a cherry from her drink, including the stem. She's not trying to do the knot in a cherry stem, she's just eating it. Chew chew chew. She may be picking something up from Rorschach, it's like she's always hungry. Grillo's cocktail is not unlike an Old Fashioned, but isn't quite. It goes with the suit he's wearing, which probably says a lot about his level of calculation; some guys just order whatever, but others cultivate an image. "If there's an aerial act, who could blame you for not fixing too hard on anything else? Miss Freya, that sounds delightful," the buggy fellow says. "Gisa is right, we should certainly take the time to watch you if you're performing this evening." Joel checks his watch and says, "Not too much longer, actually. If you all want to catch the show, you're welcome to take your drinks on into the lounge. I'll set us all up with a booth. Looks like my relief is on her way in now." He glances to those gathered to see if they are interested in relocating to the Main Event to catch the end of the current show and watch Freya's. "You must." Freya agrees with a flash of a smile, then when Joel mentions that it is in fact, soon, she takes another sip from her beer before sliding to her feet. "I believe that is my cue to go and finish putting myself in order for the show." That twisting wandering eventually gets Sorcha to the bar. Foxes. Easily distracted. Almost as bad as cats, sometimes. But her cheerful, accented, "Evening!" comes out over the sound of all else. A waggle of fingers to the Joel behind the bar, as she comes up to those gathered. Gisa's at least passingly familiar as well, and so the golem gets a flash of a winning smile. O hai! "You. I don't know you," says Dielle to Sorcha, pointing with a tiny plastic sword that's spearing two more cherries. "I'm Dielle. And a bit of a scatterbrain tonight, so sorry if I don't have anything intelligent to say." That last part is directed to all her companions. "Let's get a booth, then, while she is getting ready, and we can watch her show." Picking up her wine, Gisa prepares to follow Joel to the booth in question -- or assumes he's leading, apparently, because her face turns toward the bar's owner. "Lead on, MacDuff." Beat. "I know that's not the actual quote." Just in case someone thought she was misquoting Shakespeare and let's be clear she tilts her head in Grillo's direction when she says that. Sorcha's approach isn't missed, and she raises her wineglass in greeting. "We are going to watch an aerial act, Sorcha. You should come and join us." Then she pauses. "Sorcha, CJ Grillo. CJ Grillo, Sorcha. Dielle, Sorcha, Sorcha, Dielle. And you know Joel." Watch her not assume Grillo knows everyone! She can be taught Grillo's antennae move as if with an unseen wind, that sense of Dawn around him. Powerful enough on its own, but now it's like a convention, which probably means change is in the offing. "Hello," the big bug calls to Sorcha with good humor, lifting his drink as yet another joins them. "Are we going to go watch the aerial act all together?" he suggests. "Might be more private." This seems to be an invitation to Sorcha, accompanying Gisa's introduction -- she's clearly and instantly included. "Nice to see you again, foxy lady," Joel says to Sorcha when she arrives. "Julie, get Sorcha a drink, will you?" He then nods to Sorcha and says, "Julie'll get you fixed up, then come on and join us for the show." He turns the bar over to the other bartenders then and comes arund to the front to encompass the crowd. He manages to even have his own bottle of beer in hand to take with him as he makes his way toward the lounge, assuming the others will follow. "Aerial acts are fantastic," opines Sorcha, and without drink in her hand there's just another waggle of fingers towards Dielle and Grillo both as she's introduced by Gisa. "As does privacy. Good to see you too, Joel." And then she's getting a drink from Julie - a whiskey sour takes no time to make at all- and following in the wake of the others. "Yeah, that'd be me," is replied to Dielle with a bright, flashing smile - and a hint of color on her cheeks, as they move into the other room. Joel leads everyone on over toward one of the large semi-private booths that is raised up around the outer perimeter of the room. The magician's act is just wrapping up and people are moving out of the lounge and others are moving in. The staff works to clear off tables and set up new ones just as quickly as possible before the aerialists begin. Joel slides into a seat in the curved booth, and waits for everyone to settle in. A tilt of her head to the side, and Gisa follows Joel up the stairs; she turns to look over her shoulder at Dielle for a second and continues on up. When Joel picks the booth? She slides in toward the middle. Put the solid person that it's not easy to get around in the middle of the semicircular booths: that's just sensible. It bears noting that the green sweater that she'd been wearing, or wearing clones of, since she arrived, is not part of her wardrobe today. Instead she's wearing a t-shirt, fit to her broad shoulders, that has the word ROCK on it, and a Star of David underneath that single word. She settles in with her wine, and lets out one of those long, contented sighs. Golem Humor (tm). Dielle scoots in to sit next to Gisa, grinning at Sorcha as she does so. "Cool. I like to hear that people are happy. It's a nice change. Joel, gotta tell you, this is a damn fine Shirley Temple." She's aware of the weirdness of saying a non-alcoholic drink that's basically grenadine and ginger ale is "damn fine", but when it is, it is. Grillo waits to be seated last; that politesse kicking in, all ladies-first and mind-the-host. "I suspect all the drinks are, as you say, damn fine. I haven't had a good Vieux Carre since I was literally in New Orleans where they have no excuse not to serve them." He leans back, thoroughly at ease. "Have I mentioned that I love this place? You may never get rid of me. Except when I'm on deadline and NOT ignoring it, unlike tonight." Joel tips his head to Dielle and says, "Well, it was my pleasure to make one for you. I'm sure we can acquire enough, but you'll have to go easy since you're driving and all." He says it so almost-dead-pan that it's hard to tell if he is kidding. He then looks over to Grillo and says, "I'm glad that you're enjoying it. I'd like to hear more about this book that you are working on. I tend to do quite a bit of writing, myself, though largely unpublished works." That smile goes to Grillo next - so polite! - as he lets her slide in before he does. Whiskey sour in hand, tail tucked with the other, she makes herself comfortable in the spot. "It is a rather fantastic place - which is why I came back. I like the ambiance, it's been far too long since I've been on a Midway." Amber eyes crinkle at the corners, and Sorcha turns excitedly to Grillo. "You're a writer, then? That's awesome." Back to Dielle, her smile gets wide, just this side of dopey. Smitten. It does that to a person. "I'm glad that I've found him, again. He's... a really amazing guy." "I have not heard anything about this book yet," Gisa points out, turning her head toward Grillo. It's difficult to tell if she's actually cross, pretending to be cross so as to tease Grillo, or just putting forth fact: she hasn't heard about the book. "Please, tell us all about the book, CJ." She leans back in the booth, picks up her wine, and whorls the liquid in the glass. It's impossible to tell exactly where she's looking, because of those flame-eyes, they haven't got pupils. "Kyle is amazing, this is a fact," agrees the contralto monotone of the golem. Dielle grins at Sorcha and says, "I've heard, actually." But she quiets down politely because she, too, would like to hear about CJs book. "There's a reason you haven't heard much. There's some things I don't...or shouldn't talk about," Grillo says. "The best I'm saying now is that I come from a journalistic background, so that might suggest why I'm keeping mum on much of it. Also a reason I end up traveling out of town more than I'd like, though we're coming to the point where that's less of a going concern." He sips his drink. "It involves scandal, so it's like handling sweating dynamite, only with more editing and interviews," the cricket quips. "I'm hoping I land in the Big Short territory and Brad Pitt ends up buying it and casting all his friends in the inevitable movie. Coming to you in November of 2020." It's his best effort at a graceful dodge. He weighs the atmosphere, as if sensing the change-waves that must inevitably be rolling out around them all, and says: "Ask me in six months and my answers will be more detailed. I hope." Sorcha's attention stays on Grillo as he talks - though there is a quick beaming grin to Gisa when Kyle is mentioned - and she gives him all the attention that a cricket talking about scandal and Brad Pitt is due. Which is a lot, really, because those are exciting things. "Six months," she says, as if she's marking the date in some mental calendar, before lifting her whiskey sour to him in salute. "My hopes are with you," is offered, before she takes a sip. Joel seems intrigued by what little information that Grillo is able to give, those black eyes settled on the bug firmly even as the next act begins to be prepared. The magician's props are cleared away and a crew neatly and efficiently begins to lower the hoop and silks from the ceiling above for the aerialists who are set to go on next. "My birthday is November seventh," Gisa informs Grillo with that same monotone deadpan, "I expect a book. With a bow on top." She taps her forefinger on the table to underline the point. Book. Birthday. Six months and one day. She seems to be taking him very seriously on all his Journalistic Secret Agent stuff. The corner of her mouth twitches just a little bit, though, and her demand is more vehement than Gisa's statements usually are. A little too over the top. Like a kid pretending something very dramatically and sure no one will call them on whatever exactly it is that she's pretending is true. Dielle's phone rings, with a ringtone of "Bootylicious." "Crap, I've gotta take this. 'Scuse me!" Dielle does her best to wiggle her way out of the booth, while trying to answer the phone at the same time. "Hello? Yeah, hey. No, hang on a second, let me take this outside, I don't wanna interrupt an act." She disappears to some place where her talking won't annoy anyone. Grillo is taken aback at Gisa, in particular. "Ahhhh...you may be disappointed. If galleys aren't in by then. Publication cycles being what they are, since I'm still writing my magnum opus right now, it may be closer to November seventh of the next year," he says. "But you can interrogate me about it in private on your birthday." Guess which bug may regret this assurance to the golem, who no doubt is a pure expert in questions when the need arises? He cracks a little smile at the others, even as he cranes his neck to look up at the ceiling. The golem slowly turns her head toward Sorcha, and then toward Dielle, as if she's going to say something. There's an overly-clever look on her face, an actual sort-of expression on her clay features, even when Dielle has to scoot away and doesn't see what Gisa clearly feels is some sort of clever golem moment. A 'you heard that, right? He said my birthday!' "I will hold you to it," she answers him, adding somewhat smugly, "but my birthday is the 22nd of Tamuz." A ceramic hand gets waved absently in the air. "I usually celebrate it on July first." A deep drink of her wine, and she sets down the glass, almost empty. "It's okay," she adds a moment later, "I won't hold you to that actual date. But November seventh is Private Book Interrogation Day." So says the golem. There's a departing Dielle, and Sorcha calls cheerfully after her, "Good to meet you!" She gives a quick, conspiring wink to Gisa - she sees what you did there, golem! - before looking back to Grillo. "Well, when it does finally hit the shelves, I'll be sure to pick up a copy and hope for an autograph," she chimes over her glass. Eyes flicking to the stage, she lets out a pleased little sigh. "I really do need to get myself things and actually interview here." "Oh, you're evil. I know we have things to talk about," Grillo tells Joel, without taking his eyes off the glittering sights to begin for the show. But then he reaches for his phone, and puts things in the calendar. G-Birthday. Book Interrogation Day. Dates to remember.