[Open] The Bar (Thread to Mingle In)

[Xian]

IT HAD BEEN months since he'd stepped into Lancaster's, not that he had come here regularly in the past. He had always been more solitary, rarely seeking the company of others, save the few nights he would come into a place much like this one to simply watch and observe.

Xian remembered his first time here, invited by the Lady of the house, to purchase another handgun to add to his collection. It was that same handgun that he had fastened to the small of his back, in fact, a relatively small, elegant piece that he only rarely used. Before that night, she had sold him other handguns, and had eventually come to trust him enough that he had finally asked him to come here for their next transactions.

That first invitation had eventually led him to visit randomly a few more times, even when he wasn't looking to add to his collection. He'd slip in, find a secluded corner where he could pretend to enjoy a drink or two, and then slip out without anyone the wiser. His gifts helped him redirect the attentions of most of the patrons, and he preferred the crowded isolation that allowed him to enjoy.

He never did figure out why he could come to this place. Was he looking for some kind of companionship? There were others of his kind here frequently, and while he admitted to himself that making connections among them would be beneficial, he doubted that they were his primary reason. As was his practice, he had gone through several possible hypotheses before allowing that it could simply be his desire to see social interactions, while not taking part in them.

Just like those nights in the past, he was surprised when he finally found himself here, his feet and subconscious guiding him. Don't look at me, his other said, and he shrugged. If it wasn't his Other, then there was something else at play; something he wasn't concerned about enough to warrant spending too much time thinking about.

He stepped in, and decided to find himself a dark and quiet spot, as was his custom.

[Lancaster]

The night was neither busy nor slow.

Lancaster drifted to and from the tables, cleaning up empty glasses, like a robot. A man once full of life, he’d reached a stage of numb indifference. Life had stagnated. Skylar had disappeared and Cytherea, he assumed, was often busy with her own personal issues – and he would not be the person who became pathetic in their attempts at communication. Shadis, no doubt, had asserted her independence somewhere, along with the rest of them. Reilly, Asteria – once upon a time Lancaster’s life had been busy with company, but they had all wandered off to find their own paths.

Mostly, Lancaster missed Pi. As cliché as it sounded, he felt like half of his soul had been cleaved from his body and was now gallivanting around somewhere across the ocean, with Pi. It left him feeling hollow and useless, and more than a couple of times he played with the idea of leaving.

He could find someone to manage his properties and his businesses, and he could leave. He could travel again. He could figure it out – the ins and outs and complexities of travelling as a vampire who could not bathe in the sunlight.

And yet, he stayed. It was as if he could not find the enthusiasm nor the inspiration to make a move; as if the things that he’d done here were shackles, or roots that kept him glued to the spot. As he collected the empty glasses he hummed to himself, a habit he wasn’t aware of. He watched as a newcomer wandered in and took a seat to himself – a face that Lancaster recognised, though he couldn’t immediately pinpoint why.

Depositing the dirty glasses at the sink, Lancaster wiped his hands on the dishcloth that was draped over his shoulder and wandered over to the dark booth.

”Welcome to Lancaster’s. Can I get you something?” he asked in his broad Australian drawl. It wasn’t really customary to take orders from the tables, but Lancaster was bored. And why not?

[Emma Ventis (DELETED 8951)]

A smallish woman with a flighty air about her steps into Lancaster's hesitantly, unsure of what she was doing or where she was going. She quietly slips into a spot by herself, glancing around nervously as she fiddles with a wilted flower that is pinned in her blue-black locks.

She looks over the bar, as though she might bolt in a moment's notice if she needed to. She sighs and starts sketching in a notebook to try and calm her nerves.

After a few minutes or so she musters up the courage to sit at the bar, unsure of what to ask for or say.

[Rowan]

"Hi, can I have a bottle of wine, please?" Rowan didn't often go out, though she did this sort of thing almost religiously. Going to other bars and places to sample their wares and take in the aura and decor. She worked at the Black Fox, a cigar lounge, and it was important to her that she do her best to help improve it.

Seeing a female beside her looking uneasy, she flashed a warm smile,making sure her fangs weren't out, just in case there were any zealots out in the area. She'd seen a couple of them try to go after a vampire once, which was idiotic because they were plain humans with no idea how to cause any significant damage. Still, she would rather not have to defend herself. Taking the glass of wine that had been poured out for her with a nod of thanks, she turned her full attention to the female. "Hiya, I'm Rowan. If I was a guy, you would probably hear a bad pick up line but, it's the first time I've seen you here, though I admit that I lack mingling. Do you want to have a drink with me? I promise... It's not as bad as it sounds," she said pleasantly. "I just can't finish off this bottle by myself."

[Emma Ventis (DELETED 8951)]

She calms a little and smiles at Rowan "H-hi. My name is Emma." She says shyly, brushing her hair out of her eyes, her hand not making any sort of shadow as it moves.

She takes a look at the bottle and shakes her head slightly "I dont believe I can drink that." She says quietly so only the other woman could hear her. "And you are right, I'm new here. I've only been here a week or so." She says looking around. "So what do u do for work?" She asks, making an attempt at small talk before she loses her nerve.

[Rowan]

Rowan nodded at the other female's refusal of the wine. She understood that not all vampire kind was able to eat and drink but she gestured for another glass and poured one anyway. "Even with our kind out in the open, sometimes it 's still best to give the impression, in my opinion."

She passed her new companion the glass with a smile, her fringe falling into her eyes and prompting her to brush it back. "I work at the Black Fox, one of those whiskey and cigar type of places. Sometimes, it's good to hang around other places though. What about you, do you have a job yet?"

[Emma Ventis (DELETED 8951)]

She shakes her head, taking the wine, and sighs. "I'm a college student, an art major." She says as she pulls out her half filled sketchbook. "I also occasionally sell a fan art piece, but no...I don't officially have a job." She says looking at the other woman.

Emma takes the glass and puts it up to her lips and mimics taking a sip, but doesn't. She smiles at Rowan "I haven't been in Harper Rock long. I was visiting a friend when I was....well....you know." She sighs "Haven't even seen my sire since it happened.

She glanced at the clock and asks "So what is there to do here in Harper Rock? Anything you'd suggest?"

[Rowan]

"Do? Well, lots of things, really... Depends on your interests I suppose." Rowan looked the other girl over carefully and nodded to herself before grabbing the open bottle of wine and making her way to an unoccupied table. She stopped part of the way there and looked over her shoulder with a smile. "Coming?"

Settling into a chair and crossing her legs comfortably, Rowan swirled her wine in the clear glass before taking a sip, enjoying what flavor she could taste. "If there's anything I miss about being human, it would be the way that food tastes," she sighed. "Anyway, you're an artist huh? What type of art do you like? If you like wildlice, I would actually suggest a trip to the aquarium. I haven't been myself, but I hear it's quite beautiful."

[Emma Ventis (DELETED 8951)]

As the other woman invites her over she hurries to sit with Rowan, bringing her glass with her. She sits quietly and smiles "All kinds of art to be honest. Abstract is my favorite out of all the styles...I can just stare at one for hours on end."

She smiles and shakes her head at the suggestion of the aquarium "I can't, the fish would probably die when I get close, I know plants and insects do...it's been happening since I was turned." She says as she pulls the wilted flower out of her hair "It's saddening really. I used to love spending time in flower gardens."

[Rowan]

Rowan blinked and looked at the wilted flower curiously. "Oh, well that's something. I don't think I've met anyone with the same thing happening to them. How about some landscape sketching from the safety of the road? Or maybe you would like to go into some of the office buildings? They have some famous paintings on display in a few."

A glance at the watch on her slim wrist had her shaking her head. Where had the time gone?
"I can't stay out too late today, but maybe you'd lkke to meet up sometime? Do you have a phone yet? I can give you my number if you like."