[Fiction] Babylon Reborn: Main Floor

[Velvet]

Vivid, faintly surreal murals of ancient Babylonian structures and landscapes adorn the eggplant-colored walls of this plush and inviting space, framed in ornate designs of gilded plaster. Heavy red crystal chandeliers hang suspended from an expanse of starry night sky painted overhead, and "stone" columns stretch at regular intervals from floor to ceiling. The carpet is a deep, ruddy crimson that echoes the velvet coverings draped over barstools and tables alike, and tall braziers, their lids perforated in intricate geometric patters, fill the room with a subtle, faintly musky smoke. Hints of gold glitter throughout the room on decorative idols and light fixtures.

The bar is a massive, granite-topped affair that stretches nearly fourteen feet down the right-hand wall, behind which an immense and obviously antique mirror reflects back every movement in this hub of activity. An assortment of bottles contains liquors, liqueurs, and mixers of every imaginable hue and variety, while a wine rack stands unobtrusively against the wall. A long wooden rack of glasses hangs over the bartop for convenience.

A series of small tables creates an intimate seating area near the enormous marble fireplace, in which a sizeable fire snaps and sizzles energetically; it fills the room with warmth and flickering light that sends shadows dancing throughout the hall. A circular booth, upholstered in aubergine velvet, fills the rear corner nearby, and opposite it rises a wrought-iron spiral of stairs leading up to the second floor. In the very center of the rear wall, a pair of padded velvet doors swing open and closed as club-goers navigate the winding staircase that wends its way downward to the lower level.

[Blood Spirit]

Bloodspirit slowly stands and makes his way over from the bar, to one of the tables by the fireplace, where he sits, sipping his drink of choice as he looks around the room, his eyes stopping on all the ladies in attendance.

After a few minutes he grins wistfully, his eyes focusing on some point in the distance, as if recalling a fond memory, then he sighs, and shakes his head. Looking down at his drink, he sloshes the remainder around in the glass, then stands up, and goes to the bar to get a refill, before returning to the table, and his girl watching.

[Li Ai Jun Yen]

Ai finishes her Whore of Babylon, tasting the mixture of alcohol and tropical fruit juices on her tongue for a long while afterwards. It had little to no effect on her because of an enhanced metabolism, though the cautious Interpol agent that still resided in her worried at drinking intoxicants.

The delicate Asian woman placed the glass on the bar with a small tip and walked away. It was the thing at parties to mingle, she believed, and she really needed to do so.

[Sam 'The Crusader' Hill]

With a smile that could have burned down vampires by way of glare alone, Sam "The Crusader" Hill walked boldly from the foyer over to an open spot by the bar. Propping one mighty sole up on the footrail, the muscle-bound Knight leaned up against the bar in "classic cowboy fashion" - if one's idea of such was as seen on 1950s Westerns. Oblivious to the creaking groan from the brass fixture beneath his foot, he said in a cheerful baritone, "I'll have your finest club soda, barkeep! And one of those little umbrella things too, if you don't mind." His voice dropped to a whisper that may have been inaudible in Wisconsin as he added, "I have to keep it incognito, after all," and winked at the poor girl behind the bar... who was doing her level best to keep from dropping a glass, both from the knee-buckling voice and the sheer volume of stupidity that came along with it.

[Li Ai Jun Yen]

Li Ai Jun Yen had seen many things in her life, before and after eruption, but the Crusader was definitely something different in person. His teeth were so white, his skin was so tan... and his eyes as blue as they were empty of intelligence.

Still, she was here to mingle, and she had dealt with idiots before. She could bring home a story to make Procyon laugh.

Resplendent in red and gold silk, the beautiful Asian woman returned to the bar and ordered a non-alcoholic cocktail of pineapple, lime and orange juice with a little straw and umbrella. When she received it, she looked at Crusader, as if suddenly recognising him.

"You are the Crusader from the Knights, yes?"

[Sam 'The Crusader' Hill]

“Eh? Wha? Ah, well hello there, denizen of the inscrutable Oriental shores! I am indeed,” he announced, taking his horribly cliché fists-on-hips stance yet again - and knocking his club soda flying across the bar in the process – “The Crusader! And who might you be, ma’am?”

He reached for his drink, and wrapped his meaty hand around a glass. Eyes still locked on Li Ai Jun Yen, he brought the glass to his lips… and got a mouthful of swizzle sticks for his efforts. “Mmph? Mphmmmfl!” In a mighty burst, miniature pitchforks went flying in a spray over Ai’s shoulder, embedding themselves in a neat grouping in the cork dartboard at the far end of the bar.

Looking with confusion at the empty glass, The Crusader leaned over to the flabbergasted bartender and said, “That might have been a few too many umbrellas.”

[Li Ai Jun Yen]

Ai managed to conceal her pained expression behind a polite expression as she politely suggested, "A straw might be better suited for you, sir, because glasses are too delicate for your mouth."

Or dexterity, she thought wryly.

"As for names, I am called Ai. It is... a pleasure to meet you."

[z-Sean McCline]

Sean saw the Crusader on his first circuit through; now he took the time to walk up to his teammate. "Sam, good to see you here," he said, offering his hand. And surprised, but I really don't want to explain to Sam why I'm surprised to find him at a high-class gentleman's club.

Turning to the pretty woman with him, Sean offered his hand. "I'm Sean McCline. You seem familiar, but I can't place you. Have we met?"

[Sam 'The Crusader' Hill]

"Allow me," boomed The Crusader.

"This exotic flower from eastern shores calls herself Eye." The massive Knight guestured elaborately at Li Ai Jun Yen... then wrapped a meaty arm around Sean in a brotherly fashion. "And this young hero is the former Teragener who is now the one and only Turbo!"

[z-Sean McCline]

Eyewitnesses would later say that the only outward sign of Sean's discomfort was a slight reddening of his eartips. The black and green eyes even remained steady. "Call me Sean, please," Sean said, setting his teeth on edge firmly. "So, have we met somewhere before?"

[Li Ai Jun Yen]

Ai's amusement was palpable in her black gaze as she looked upon the 'superhero' and his 'reformed supervillain' friend. "I am active at the N-Prime boards," she explained gently, taking his hand to shake it. Her grip is firm, dry and warm. She did not want to discuss her allegiance in love in front of the Crusader.

[z-Sean McCline]

"Hey, wow, that must be it, but you'll forgive me if I don't remember," Sean said, flashing his careless smile. "It's good to meet you, though. Do you live around here?"

He's still sure he knows her from somewhere, but he let it go for now. "Are you guys both enjoying the club?"

[Li Ai Jun Yen]

"I live in Chicago, yes," Ai answered politely. She suspected that he suspected who she was, or maybe even who she had been, but she would not say it in front of the king-sized idiot.

[DeathMetalGirl]

Originally Posted By: Jager

Jager takes Simone's hand and says,
"That would be the Gentleman's Club part of this slice of Paradise. Only ladies are working tonight, though Velvet says there will be some men after opening night. Truth be told, that's the place were I feel most at home. I spent a lot of time in more than one refined Gentleman's Clubs back when I was an Elite and I've always felt a certain symmetry to these kinds of establishments. Care to take a look ... maybe ply you with a few drinks ... see if I talk you up on stage ... before escorting you home - being a gentleman and all?"

Simone blinks at Jager for several long seconds, possibly even a full minute. "My agent ... sent me ... to a strip club." The expression on her face is one of complete surprise, closer to dumbfounded, and she finally shakes her head. "Right, I'm just going to have to fire him." She smiles broadly, with the kind of smile that you cant' tell if it is in jest, or deadly serious. "I am not getting up on stage and stripping for you, or anyone else in this place. Far too public for my tastes, even if I the police aren't likely to arrest me." She pats him on the head with a silly grin. "You're sweet for the compliment though."

With her original piece of paper in hand, she moves back towards the hostess, who she somehow never learned the name of, despite her presense in the club for the last two hours or so.

[Sam 'The Crusader' Hill]

Quote:

"Are you guys both enjoying the club?"

The question stripped The Crusader of his grin; in its place, perplexion furrowed his mighty brow. After a painfully long moment, he finally said, "Um, this a club? But... um... nobody asked me to join anything. And shouldn't there be a secret handshake?" Perplexion turned to panic; "Oh no, I must have missed the secret handshake! Be right back!"

Before the others could interject, he darted off in search of the elusive, mysterious (and non-existant) handshake.

[Jager]

Jager stifles a laugh. He doesn't seem to care wether or not her agent keeps his job. Instead, he keeps chuckling,

"Yes, yes he did. Mind you, I've been a stripper before. It work. I didn't want you to strip, just to tease."

Jager follows Simone back over to Velvet, still chuckling and shaking his head.

[z-Sean McCline]

"Well, Ai," Sean said, smiling and nodding. "You have met the Crusader, and you'll never meet another like him. Remember this day well."

Glancing around the room, Sean asked, "What do you think so far?" He waved his glass around the room. "Of the club, I mean. I think it's fantastic, but then, I'm no judge of such things."

[Li Ai Jun Yen]

"It looks much more tasteful than I expected," Ai answered. "Many of these places I have been to... Well, they are not tasteful. Velvet is to be commended."

[z-Sean McCline]

Yeah, I'll certainly commend her, Sean thought to himself, enjoying the casade of casual lecherous thoughts. "Yes, agreed," he answered, swirling his drink in his glass.

Green and black eyes fell on his companion. "So what do you do? And if I'm prying, tell me to fuck off; you won't be the first or the last."

[Ptesan-Wi]

Originally Posted By: Noir

“Well, as I said, that is a simplified version of it, but that is what I arrived at during all of my research, study and philosophizing. We can always talk more at length though. And I am always interested in the input of others.”

Oh, there's plenty more I'd like to say on the subject, Ptesan-Wi thought ruefully. Too bad that I can't say a lot of it.

The circumstances being what they were, she resolved to at least talk about the things that she could discuss. And questions remained; how much did Noir really know about Ptesan-Wi, given the time that Wakinyan had spent away with her after the memorable escape from Chicago? "I haven't made formal research into the topic; I'm strictly approaching it from a layman's perspective. But I do understand, I think, what you're trying to say."

She took another sip from her ginger ale, and then set the conversation on a different path. "Wakinyan never really said much about his visit with you after the mess in Chicago. And link or no link, I respect his privacy; I didn't go poking around in his head about it. If you don't mind me asking, how much did he tell you about... well, about himself and me and that sort of thing?"

[Li Ai Jun Yen]

"What do I do? Nothing at the moment," Ai replied without rancour or irritation. "I left my last job and have not found anything to replace it. I understand that you are with the Knights, yes?"

[Long]

Long turns from his course with his sister and her companion and shrugs. "Best to just let her be. It isn't worth causing a scene over."

He returns to the bar and orders anothrer of the house drinks, this time a "Revenant" and takes it with him as be circulates through the room. He briefly exchanged words with a few fellow retired Elites, and nodded to several independents he knew. It was a good night to socialize, and that's what he'd planned on doing.

[z-Sean McCline]

"Yeah, I'm with the Knights," Sean said, grinning at a little joke. Sure, he was with the Knights, but was he with them, really? He was finding himself increasingly at philosophical odds with his teammates. It was a problem for another day. "If you are looking for a job, they'll probably take you. Fuck, they hired me."

[Li Ai Jun Yen]

Ai looked more than amused this time.

"I do not think so. My partner is Procyon - and did not your last commander quit over him talking to your friends?"

[z-Sean McCline]

Gah, not only do I find out he's taken, but I find out from his girlfriend. At least I hadn't complimented his ass, Sean sighed to himself, dropping his now-empty glass on a passing tray. Or hers.

God, but being bisexual is a bitch sometimes.

"I was - I mean, I'm a Terat," Sean shrugged, "and I got in. And just because you're shagging Procyon shouldn't mean anything - the Knights still left love him."

[Li Ai Jun Yen]

Ai's eyes were wise and much, much older than her face looked as she looked at Sean.

"There are other reasons as well, Sean. Personal ones, which I do not wish to get into."

[Lou Anne Burgess]

The couple ahead of Lou Anne cleared security and stepped aside to ask a question. I won’t bother them now, I’ll ask if he’s Dr. Lang later.

Lou Anne was ushered through and entered the elaborately furnished room. People of all sorts filled the room walking about and congregating in small groups. Lou Anne surveyed the crowd looking to see if she knew anyone. After a moment, she was in luck. A tall tiger-man was walking away from a group and both Officer Preston and Neil Preston were here. She walked over towards their group.

Seeing a lull in the conversation, she approached Neil and with a nod towards Officer Preston, “Officer Preston, Neil nice to see you two gentlemen here.” She smiled at the other people in the group, one woman who had to be Flicker and another member of the Boston PD.

[Noir]

Noir sighed softly and thought back for a moment, her mind recalling the details of her time with Wakinyan with perfect clarity. She thought for a moment before she took another drag from her cigarillo and spoke.

“I believe what he said to me was said in confidence at that time. I see little reason to betray that confidence at the moment, though maybe you can offer up a suitable reason, Renee?” she commented as she looked over the tops of her low resting glasses at Ptesan-Wi., one eyebrow every slow slightly raised. An a small, curious smile lingered on her lips as she held her cigarillo off to the side and took a sip of her bourbon, savouring the taste for a moment.

[Apperance 4 (Exotic), Sexy Merit, 3 successes on Style, currently using Human Nature on Ptesan-Wi and Analyze Weakness on the club’s security and she also has That Creepy Feeling which she is using to note who is watching them and there any cameras/listening devices and so on are (spending quantum points frequently to do so).]

[Ptesan-Wi]

The name caught her off-guard; very few people knew her as Renee these days. "Ah, sorry; if it was in confidence, then it should be kept as such. It's just..."

Ptesan-Wi stopped, obviously nervous. After another sip of ginger-ale, she took a deep breath and resumed. "It's just that there are things about him and I that are somewhat intricate and complicated, and I didn't know just how much of that you already knew. Like that name."

[Noir]

"Oh? Then why don't you.. enlighten me?"

[Apperance 4 (Exotic), Sexy Merit, 3 successes on Style, currently using Human Nature on Ptesan-Wi and Analyze Weakness on the club’s security and she also has That Creepy Feeling which she is using to note who is watching them and there any cameras/listening devices and so on are (spending quantum points frequently to do so).]

[Blood Spirit]

Bloodspirit stands and walks back to the bar, his eyes slowly sliding over the decor. He stops and raises his hand to get the bartender's attention. While he has the bartender at hand, he orders his usual drink, and hands over a ten dollar bill as tip. After he gets the drink, he nods, and wanders around main floor. He sips slowly from his glass, as he heads back to the table he was nova-watching from. Wow... this place is amazing. I wonder how much it cost to decorate and build. Hey, isn't that The Crusader...

[Ptesan-Wi]

Originally Posted By: Noir

"Oh? Then why don't you.. enlighten me?"

And how the heck am I supposed to do that without sticking my neck way, way out? she thought to herself. C'mon, girl; say something.

"Well, given the whole... controversial situation with Wakinyan... and then my declaration for the Teragen... and the business with Procyon... it all tends to be a bit delicate. Any of the above can be used by any number of people as ammunition under the right circumstances, and that's not exactly the limit of things. So, I was just trying to get some idea of what he did tell you so that I could be ready in case it swept back around to hit me in the face someday.

"That said," she continued, "you seem to be willing to keep what he said to you in confidence. And for that, you have my thanks."

OK, girl, now hold your breath and hope that it floats.

[Noir]

Noir slow took another slow drink of her bourbon, letting everything play over in her head, idly floating through her nearly flawless memory as she considered what was said.

“Ahh. Checking to see if you need to ‘cover your ass’ as it were?” Noir asked before taking a drag off of her cigarillo and slowly exhaling it off to the side, letting the soft scent of peach mingled with tobacco linger in the air in soft wafts.

“Well, let’s just say I have a… knack.. for connecting seemingly wildly unrelated dots, so to speak. And with coupled with the dual blessing and curse of memory I have been gifted with, it makes for some interesting insights into things…” she commented as she leaned forward slightly, resting a elbow on the table to as to have shared that bit of information more discreetly. She then leaned back, relaxing a bit and looks casually about the room, letting her gaze drift over the throng of patrons.

“But I also have no enemies. Or.. at least none that I am directly aware of. But friends, they are always nice to have.

[Ptesan-Wi]

That was, perhaps, one of the most subtle ways of saying, "I know quite a bit about you, actually," that I've ever seen.

The problem, of course, was how much was quite a bit. Does she know that I'm not originally Lakota, or that I was - briefly - Mystic? Does she know that I'm not a nova? There's no good way to say... and sitting here in a public room, she's playing her cards very close to her chest.

Ptesan-Wi considered her options; in the end, she leaned forward with her elbow on the table and, resting her chin on the heel of her palm, tapped her middle finger twice on her temple. It was as subtle a way as was still convenient to ask Noir if she minded shifting to a more secure means of communication.

[Noir]

Noir laughed softly and shook her head.

“Luv, you wouldn’t want to get into here on your best day. It’s not something I would wish on my worst enemy.” Noir says with a tap of her temple.

[Ptesan-Wi]

And there goes that avenue, Ptesan-Wi thought as she gave a wan little smile to Noir.

"Fair enough. Maybe we can talk later, somewhere a bit more... private," she said, looking around at the room full of novas.