Don’t threaten me with a good time [Open]

[Charlie]

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It's suggested that posts be under four-hundred words in order to encourage mingling. Posting order will be enforced. If you don’t post within 48 hours of it being your turn, you’ll be skipped. Any questions can be directed to Judah Marck’s player or myself. The goal of this thread is to bring people together. Everyone welcome. 

The store rooms downstairs were in order and the POS system back online. It had taken twenty minutes, but everything was now under control. Charlie emerged from staircase behind the bar with her arms bent over her head, deft fingers weaving the mass of blonde waves into a wild french braid. Her hair was too long to keep in a bun atop her head, the sheer weight of it enough to bring about a migraine should she accomplish the feat in the first place. Tying off the uneven ends and shoving the french braid-ponytail dismissively over her shoulder, she scanned the bar counter for any empty glasses. It wasn’t peak hour yet, but that was no reason to get lazy.

“Tianna, go do a walk around. Don’t forget downstairs,” she called out to the brunette, reclaiming her spot behind the bar. The new girl was picking up skills with a little more ease this week than the last, but Charlie didn’t yet trust her to man the bar without constant surveillance. Tom was chatting up a group of university students at the opposite end of the counter, masterfully pouring their drinks. With any luck, Tianna would be able to work with that amount of independence by the end of the month.

Rapping her knuckles on the aluminium ledge, the blonde glanced at the clock.
The night was young, and in the words of Samuel Johnson, whoever thinks of going to bed before twelve o'clock is a scoundrel.

[Mirella (DELETED 8125)]

Mirella made her way into the bar, stiletto heels clicking against the floor. This was her second best dress - last year's event dress, an emerald green bodycon dress that emphasized every curve of her body. If anyone knew she was a mother, they'd probably term her a MILF. But that didn't matter to Mirella.

To Mirella, tonight was just a night to socialize, meet people outside of the family, as she hadn't done since Adam was born and given away. Too reclusive in the initial year, then focused so much on him she might as well have been his primary caregiver. And practicing her firedancing and breathing.

In one hand, she held her phone, which was normally tucked into the outer pocket of her crossbody purse, looking at the forum where this...had been arranged. But not really looking. She moved to lean against the wall.

[Judah Marck]

Judah wasn't far behind, eyes trained occasionally on Mirella's frame to, eventually leaving again to slide around the room. It wasn't hugely busy, not so loud that they couldn't talk if they wanted to but busy enough to feel like a night out. The man, as always, was smartly dressed with that very Judah edge of fun. He adjusted the lapels of his multi-panelled jacket, rockabilly inspired, smoothing away imagined creases.

He'd met the bartender previously, they had chatted casually and he found her quite delightful, not to mention kind on the eyes. She had a pretty, warm smile that made you want to open up to her, perfect for her job. As Mirella took up her silent sigil against the wall, glancing at her phone, he gave her a nod to indicate the bar. The dark haired man dropped down into a seat, grinning broadly in Charlie's direction, speaking up to get her attention. "You come here often, gorgeous? What's a pretty broad like you doing in a place like this?" The words were crooned is his best Frank Sinatra style, a difficult feat with the puckish expression tugging at his features.

[Charlie]

Judah! What a pleasant sight! Charlie’s eyes crinkled at him as she handed a dismissed customer their credit card and receipt. Smoothing the dish towel on the counter, the blonde shortened the distance between them until only the counter separated them.

“Why this is my gig, cookie,” she retorted with as eccentric and crooning of an American accent as she could muster around the broad grin lighting up her features. “Who’s that dolly with you? You two are dressed to kill.”

The attempt at sounding natural had failed, every word slightly more nasal than the one before it. Oh, there had been a time she’d considered dying her hair pink and calling herself Scotty, but she’d been born a proud Scot and wouldn’t deny her heritage any longer. Wouldn’t succeed even if she tried. Perhaps she’d throw on some skates for style, but American wasn’t suited for her mouth.

“You came!”
If possible, her smile broadened even further.
After the week she had had, it was a pleasant surprise to see a familiar face.

[Mirella (DELETED 8125)]

When Mirella finally noticed that Jude had been behind her, she lifted off the wall and made her way closer to him and the other woman, tilting her head inquisitively. "Nice to meet you," she said, voice hesitant. She hadn't met too many people recently, but she wanted to.

That didn't mean she couldn't be cautious.

[Judah Marck]

Judah grinned broadly at Charlie's willingness to play along, her infectious smile and enthusiasm that said she was glad to see him only served to encourage. As her accent broke, the woman giving in an greeting him properly Jude laughed, "Oh and you, Miss Charlie, nice to see you on dry land." He rose, leaning across the bar to capture her cheek in a kiss of greeting, all very civilised and par for the course if you were a von der Marck as he was.

As Mirella seemed to finally look up from her phone, to realise he'd managed to sneak in behind her, she came to join them and was greeting with a poking out of the tongue at her awkward greeting. "Charlie, this is Mirella, Mirella the gorgeous Charlie. She is one of the ones we've gossiped with on the forum. She also happens to be Austin's sort of housemate, I guess, and a new friend." Judah winked at Charlie.

[Charlie]

Charlie was startled by Judah’s sudden movement, but when she realised he meant her no harm by reaching across the countertop—which she’d come to view as a protective barrier from irritated drunks, she allowed herself to be dotted upon with unexpected chivalry. Her eyes and nose crinkled as he pulled away, her amusement evident. If her cheeks flushed, it was well masked by the theme light about the pub. Her gaze then returned to Mirella—as Judah had introduced her—and she stretched her right hand over the countertop in the woman’s general direction for shaking.

“Nice to meet you,” she greeted, not daring to repeat the woman’s name. In her head, it sounded more like meuh-rae-lae when she committed it to memory by repeating it thrice. It’d take a while to teach her tongue the proper course of action. Rs had never been the Scots’ greatest of friends.

Glancing back at Judah, she tilted her head, expression half-defiant and half-curious.

“What forum?”

[Judah Marck]

Raised a brow, studying Charlie's face to ascertain whether she was seriously asking the question. "Yes, you know, the one where we all talk nonsense, where we arranged and suggested people pop by here for a drink. Where you put up looking for a housemate and met my lovely..." He paused, considering how to present him. "Uh, Austin." He managed, shrugging as if to say he wasn't going to elaborate, giving Charlie a grin.

"Now... Tell me, have you got a fine red wine? Hell, i'll also accept a cheap red wine... Just... Wine!" He laughed, miming being parched. "You're cute, so you might just get a great tip."

[Charlie]

Oh, the forum. Of course. Leave it up to a blonde to completely forget what she had just herself referred to minutes ago. Alas, it was that kind of day. Which was why Charlie was more than happy to fall back into her role. Setting both hands on the aluminium bench, she twisted her mouth before delivering a less practiced and more frank explanation of their selection. Jesse had a wide array of bottles suited for every price range, but wines were tricky fuckers; one certainly did not fit all.

“The priciest glass of red is $25 and the cheapest is $8, though I’d recommend one of the Californian Cabernet Sauvignons at $11. Not too firm.”

As she spoke, she reached for a wine glass and set it on the bench.

“Is our lovely, uh, Austin, not joining us tonight?” she added, brazenly impish.

[Mirella (DELETED 8125)]

"Can I get a glass, too?" Mirella finally piped up again, settling on a seat next to Jude and crossing her legs at the knees. She didn't drink wine too often, so she wouldn't be too picky. After a few seconds passed, though, her phone buzzed two short bursts of buzz, a doorbell chime ringing out from it. A text message!

The firedancer tapped the screen a few times, and her face fell slightly, before she slid the device silently towards Jude. It was a text from Adam's caretaker, two simple words. Summer cold. Couldn't be anything severe, but it didn't matter.

Mirella was always worried about her baby boy, even if she couldn't care for him directly.