Mar 09 18:57:48 108 PA - Nightingale Bash
From Chronicles
Mar 09 18:57:48 108 PA.
NIGHINGALE
Finally! A little more than a week into March and winter is finally beginning to break, if you consider seven degrees above freezing breaking. Winds are low, skies are clear, and people are venturing out of their warm homes for more entertaining times at local clubs. The Nightingale is somewhat louder than normal, probably for those very reasons. As it's late evening, the women and teenage girls who have managed to "sneak" in are dressed nicely. Gabriel is at a bar stool, one foot on the floor, one foot on a rung, sipping from a translucent brown bottle and making smalltalk with those around him.
Bernard makes his way into the Nightingale himself, dressed perhaps not quite to the standard of the place but not terribly. He crosses the room towards the bar himself, allowing his gaze to drift across the various patrons as he moves to take a seat on one of the empty stools, nodding towards the bartender, "A pint of that." He says, pointing at one of the local beers on tap.
Gabriel looks around himself, stopping to say something nice and polite to a passing young lady that makes her blush and cover her mouth with her fingers before moving off. Sometimes, he just can't help but make himself grin. The bottle is tipped back, and as he turns to his right, the stool on that side is vacated, allowing him a longer sight line. Does he know that guy?
Bernard casts a glance briefly down towards Gabriel himself, before his attention returns to the bartender and he offers the man the payment for the drink, "Cheers mate." He says in his oddly accented voice before taking a drink from his glass.
If nothing else, Gabriel has a good ear, and a good acoustic memory. Bernard, the other guy on the Iowa trip. He pays for a second bottle of whatever he's drinking, and stands, taking a moment to stretch his back. Then he'll head over to the other man he'd spotted down the counter. "Evening. Iowa, right? Bernard?" His own speech is oddly accented as well.
"Iowhere?" Bernard response, glancing down towards Gabriel at that, "You mean the place with the burnt villages" he asks, brow lifting just a touch, "Yes, I was there with you." He agrees, "And that is my name as well."
"Ah, very formal. Mind if I take a load off and get to know you? If we're going to be doing this thing side-by-side?" Gabriel then makes some clarifications. "Iowa is the state that used to be north of Missouri, which is where we are. According to the directions we were provided, that makes it somewhere in Iowa. Plus - we only saw one burnt village. Or at least, I only saw one burnt village. Not that it was a good thing."
Gabriel takes a stool next to Bennet, sitting that same odd way that he was using before. "What'd you think of that little recon? Personally, I thought we needed to stay out a lot longer. But if we're dealing with magic, then I guess you'd be the expert, wouldn't you?" He grumbles for a moment before saying, "I really wish that we could all get together and go over what we know. I'm sure that everyone learned something different.
"Well, with all the complaints you and Erica had about the invulnerabilities of the Mystic Knights it was perhaps best to come in." Bernard says, "And if they were involved it may be best to leave it be actually. But, we didn't get much information, no." He concedes.
Gabriel shrugs. "I admit, we bitched a little. Caught us completely off guard. But you'd feel suddenly impotent if you found out that you were facing an enemy you couldn't touch, too. If you blame others for your failures, do you credit them with your success?" He taps his head with the end of his open bottle - smiling. He then shrugs it off. "I've spent a large amount of cash making sure that I *am* ready to face those guys - if they exist. I can plug 'em, I can hurt 'em. Spoke with Erica, we figured that we can use her for aerial recon, because I'll assume that they won't make their presence obvious. Like I said, we all need to get together and talk."
"The eventuality was covered by the fellow who decided not to come along, but I understand that it could be a bit of a surprise. I've learned to carry a variety of weapons with me, even a silver knife can allow you to win a fight." Bernard shrugs his shoulders, "And of course, I'd love to hear what thoughts you have on this Iowa thing. I am, I admit, curious about the activities of the Mystic Knights."
The older man shrugs and quirks his eyebrow, possibly having seen a small inkling of what the other man had done. "Yeah. I can only carry what I can strap to my body or carry in a bag, and I didn't feel like fighting with only a heavy pistol and two swords. I have slugs, you have magic. How're you going to take 'em on? Seriously, I really know very little about magic. Like... the limit of the mathematics as it approaches zero." Gabriel smiles and tips his bottle back once more.
"I was going to take them on with my grenade launcher, actually." Bernard says with a laugh, "Far from some magical secret. They actually are resistant to magical energies as well, though I may have tried to debilitate one of them with a spell first." He shrugs.
"Isn't that going to be a problem?" Gabriel asks. "Anyone getting in their faces with swords, for instance, might not appreciate having grenades being shot in their direction, y'know. They say that carpet bombing from fifty-thousand feet is extremely precise, and this might apply here?" The Kentuckian is sitting on a stool on the counter over be another fellow, Bernard. It's late evening, and the warming weather is bringing people out in larger throngs than the club as been seeing. Not that the place is packed, just trafficked, and doing some decent business. The DJ has reached back into his pre-Apocalyptic selections, and the last few songs have been by the iconic Bee Jees. People would probably appreciate something else.
And something else they will have. The DJ must be new, as Rubidia would never want her audience to suffer through narrowly liked music in their wait for her. Many a folk seem confident the situation will soon be corrected though. Rubidia's speakers await on the stage, as does her guitar. But she is as yet absent, the Bee Jees get to play on through their song.
Coming up to the entrance of the Nightengale, Sage flashes a ticket to the person that approaches her. She gives a smile and a nod as she's gestured towards a table and parts with a word of thanks. Along her way, she orders herself a drink. Her gaze shifting to the stage to see that the singer herself hasn't arrived quite yet. She allows herself a glance around as she moves towards the table.
"It uses armor piercing rounds. Their blast radius is really quite tight, but possibly problematic if one were to be near the target." Bernard agrees with a nod, "But, there were two of them so we could theoretically have made it work. I have swords as well, if need be." he says with a shrug.
Gabriel asks, "Do we really know that there are only two?" He shakes his head. "I guess we'll just have to get together, talk, figure out the most flexible plan to deal with what we see. Frankly? I really have little idea what we're facing. I don't even know where the idea of 'mystic knights' came from, honestly. I was talking to the poor Coalition bastards when we pulled out." His eyes then go up to the ceiling, searching, as the lyrics, "...somebody help me, somebody help me, yeah, life's goin' nowhere, somebody help me, yeah, I'm stayin' alive..." fade out. Perhaps the the relief of everyone in the place. The older man looks up to the stage, perhaps praying to a higher power that someone has just shot the DJ.
With the most recent end to the Bee Jees the lights dim a bit and the speakers humm with life signaling the transition to something so much better. Light techno music starts to play to lay down a better ambiance for the eminent musician. Attention is surely drawn to the stage as the transition begins. Light at the end of the tunnel, but no star just yet.
Once she's settled into her seat, Sage has a moment before the lights dim. Her drink arriving conveniently in this time. When the lights dim, she doesn't waste much time in slipping on sunglasses to ward off some of the light that's bound to be part of the performance. A small smile coming her lips as she settles into her seat and takes a sip from her drink.
"I'm quite certain they were. But 100 percent? No." Bernard replies to Gabriel as he sits and converses with the man. "They generally work in small groups, or alone so it's quite likely the account that there were two of them was accurate though." He says, though his attention does shift towards the stage.
Real music? Ooh, Rubidia, this is always fun. One can't hear that thought, but it's clearly written on Gabriel's face. Still, he can't help but ask Bernard, "So what do these guys do? Fight with magic, or fight with weapons? Anything you can give me would be appreciated. I understand they don't use environmental armor?" An eyebrow is crooked, perhaps on a hopeful military selling point. The stage is still observed.
"Close your eyes, close your eyes, close your eyes tonight." Rubidia's voice sings clearly from places unknown. The techno beat supports, the lights dimming slightly with each queue. A perfect lead in for a luminescent Rubidia's appearance on stage. Shining brightly she walks out from behind the curtain and the true performance begins. "And love me in the star light. Take me on the moon tonight. Show me what it feels like, and we'll be flying all night."
"They fight with magic and technology, and generally their armor isn't environmental, but do not assume it isn't until you can see it. They can absorb all forms of energy, even some magical energy, and emit it in magical energy blasts, like a laser pistol." he explains "But they are strong warriors, as well as dabblers in true magic."
As she's watching for the performer to appear, Sage wonders whether the lyrics are meant as a warning or not. As a result, she squints her eyes a little around the time that Rubidia enters the stage. That she's not looking directly at the woman helps a little as well. Whether other people will be so lucky is another matter. If the light becomes more bearable, she'll look more directly at the singer. Otherwise, she'll just listen to the music... perhaps wondering at the inspiration of the song.
Gabriel chuckles to himself and spins so that he's facing away from the stage. He's seen this musician's shows before, when he had sunglasses. Unfortunately, sunglasses are not a common part of his casual suit for a night on the town. Particularly with the keyword "night" in there. To Bernard, "So they can't be hurt by energy, I get that. But can mages like you - or other mage specialties - do thinks like nets that would stop or slow them?"
"Up in the sky, flying so high. Far beyond the moon, floating in time. Silver so bright, mercury light. A galaxy of love, my baby and I." Rubidia continues, dancing and floating about the dance floor where a number of patrons are getting right into the beginning of the performance. "Don't let me go, hold me you know. All I need is you, the way that you glow. All I need is you, the way that you glow. Close your eyes, close your eyes tonight.."
"Of course. They are somewhat vulnerable to magic energy as well, so a fireball would hurt them. But a Net, or a confusion spell would work just as well on them as it would on you." Bernard says with a nod of his head to the man. His attention is only half on the conversation with Gabriel as Rubidia sings.
For the time being, Sage holds her seat with attention only for the singer as a smile takes her lips. It seems a song to savour instead of dancing about. She lets her empathic senses unfurl to take in the emotions of the people around her to see if it'll enhance her enjoyment. When the words about closing your eyes comes once more, she squints once more and lets her gaze start to drift away from the performer.
Hmm. That song doesn't ring a bell, but it's still pleasant enough. When's the light going to start? It's obvious that Bernard's attention is roaming, and Gabriel feels no need to push it. "Well, that kind of magic would be very useful." As the bright lights haven't started, he takes the opportunity to look through the club, spotting Sage sitting alone at her table.
Rubidia says, "Light years away, stars on display. A halo in the night, our own milky way. Love is divine, come baby shine. The universe is ours, devotion the sign. Hold me tonight, Venus inside. Energy and fade, planets collide. Together we rise, infinite skies. Baby cant you see, just close your eyes.." Rubidia continues, floating towards the edge of the dance floor to wave gestures of encouragement that may get more people up and moving. Her luminescence isn't too bright, despite the lyrics warning. Its bright within normal tolerance, pulsing slightly with the beat of the music."
Sage is dressed differently than anyone would have seen her before. It was an outfit she had originally put together for the original date auction she had participated within. When the light doesn't flair to unbearable levels, she lets her gaze drift back to the woman and notices the encouragement for people to move up. She takes a moment to take a healthy draw from her glass. Then, deciding to go by pure impulse, she rises from her seat and makes her way towards the dance floor.
Clearly, it's an invitation to dance, but unless you have a girl, you don't go out onto the floor. Otherwise you look like an idiot. Even if you're not going to be on contact, say, doing the Charleston - you need a girl. Gabriel has no girl, so instead he just enjoys this music and what he believes is his own shadow being cast on the distant wall, as his back remains largely to the stage.
Rubidia starts dimming as she turns to float back to the stage, finishing the song with another run of the chorus before the club grows dark again and the music changes beats to lead into a new song. The intor seems extended, giving the artist a moment as things seem to be shifting on the darkened stage. A moment is all that is needed though as the artist's light slowly returns, from the center of a prismatic carousel set on the stage. Diffusing her light into a full spectrum that bathes the light in a wondrous effect as her voice joins the tempo. "I'm red, I'm green, purple and orange.. I'm a myth, you've never seen, I'm the one in your dream. I can be who you want me to be, I can be your every fantasy. It doesn’t matter what you want because baby it only make believe." She sings from her crystal prison, seductively dancing beyond the reach as the folk on the floor adapt to the close atmosphere of the song.
"Indeed. I have some of those spells as well if we go out again" Bernard says to Gabriel with a slight shrug of his shoulders. He continues listening casually to the singing, and the light show and such.
Being one with the dance floor was never a particular strength of Sage's, but once committed to the dance floor she remains there. Not entirely part of the throng but not exactly apart from it either. She remains near the fringe. She seems to draw upon something unseen as she begins to make her body move but it is to her own version of the music.
Well, it's a guess as to what Rubidia's actually doing. Gabriel's enjoying the play of the colored lights on the ceiling, glancing at the dancers, particularly Sage. Not just because he knows her, but because of her somewhat unusual interpretation of the music. But, everyone's dancing strangely these days. He nods to Bernard and adds quietly, so as not to disrupt the performance, "Yeah. That'll be good." He reiterates again the need for everyone to talk, then goes back to the show – with his back to the show. He and Bernard are seated at bar counter itself on adjacent stools.
"Scarlet day dream, it's a red hot, sex scene. I know what you want so take your best shot. Take you away I will never stop. It's a massive explosion, magic emotion. Colours so bright it could turn you blind. Flying fantasy, it's all in the mind." Rubidia signs seductively from the stage. The club is bathed in a rainbow of colours as she dances with much allure behind a prismatic carrousel.
Another figure slips through the crowd, grinning at a waitress with a little wave as he slips past her, slowing at the edge of the dance floor to peer across at Rubidia. His head tilts back, hands at his hips, and he peers across at her from below the stage, head bobbing along to the beat. He slips out onto the dance floor, motions large and deliberate, using the moderate pace to get his whole body involved. Heading towards Sage.
With the blending of emotions and impressions with the music, Sage had tried to fall back into old habits. Yet, her motions seem to jerk to a halt without any apparent cause. Her gaze seeming to drop a fraction before she lifts her head once more. This time, her movements seem to fit the music better even if there is a mild experimentation in the way the movements are taken. A rueful look touching her features.
Since the colors and light amplitude isn't too horribly bright, Gabriel takes the time to turn and look. The music is completely foreign to him, as is the style of dance. And much of the style of dress, too. He listens and enjoys, of course, but still continues to make pleasant small talk with those around him, sipping on his bottle. Sage and Sebastien both on the dance floor? Interesting. Gabriel himself is seated on a stool at the counter itself.
"I'm very proud to arouse my loyal believers. I'm a naughty girl, a bitch from hell. Come join in my game." Rubidia entices with come hither tones of signing from behind her glass cage as the dance floor dances closely together to the intimate feel of the song. "I can dance where you want me to dance. I can sing your every fantasy. It doesn’t matter what I sing cause baby its only make believe."
Sebastien slows at the sight of Sage, and his lips purse with amusement. He eyes her for a moment and steps in before her, giving the woman a bemused set of eyes. He's step-touching, side to side, keeping this nice and basic as he listens to the song and grins. Transitioning smoothly to the second stanza, he drops to an easy rock, before cracking up. "And you listening to these lyrics?" he asks, loudly over the music.
There just really isn't much for a man to do at a club when he's there alone, save to watch people and make pleasant conversation. The music is nice, sure, but it's like trying to get into your kid's music - it doesn't always work out so well. What is this? Well, it's not bad, so it's got that going for it. His first, and now empty, bottle is set on the counter, whisked away to be recycled. He pops the top off of the other one he'd been holding in a way that would make Erica very unhappy, but brings a grin to his lips as Gabriel enjoys the play of lights on walls and ceiling.
A casual glance around to take in the other dances, Sage realizes she's not the only one that's more of a muddle along sort when it comes to the dance floor. It is about this time that she notices Sebastien. She keeps to the basic steps that she had switched over to. She takes a moment to consider the man's words before chuckling and offering a faint shrug to the man. A mildly mischievous look coming to her features briefly before it fades away.
The song continues, repeating the previous lyrics in turn to gradually escalating incentive and volume until the sudden end and darkness. Indeed it may take a moment for those on the dance floor to adjust before the lights slowly rise to show Rubida free of her enclosure and looking to the Audience. "Evening folks, how are you?" She enquires with a broad gesture.
Sebastien actually seems to know how to dance! His motions are practiced, easy, and instinctual, even if he isn't doing anything terribly complex. With a grin he sticks out his arm at a transition, rolling from his hands up his arms and down his body in four beats, and then back up his body and out to the tips of his fingers in the next. Good old 4/4 time. Then spreading out he rolls from one hand to the next, and back across his body, transitioning out at the end of the stanza as the refrain hits. The crescendo into lights up prompts a stillness from the man, and he glances up at the stage before saying, "You're doing well! Perhaps a little more..?" Sebastien wiggles his hips in a way that looks silly, but would be scandalous from anyone actually in possession of hips.
Huh. Oh, look, the stage. Gabriel turns when he hears Rubidia's voice, assuming that he's not about to be blinded. After looking at the smiles on the general populace and a short moment of personal contemplation, he hoists his bottle high and shouts, "YOU'RE GREAT! KEEP GOING! ENCORE!" Well, he may be a bit out of place, but he's not shy.
With no further inspiration of what brought the basic dance steps, Sage slowly starts to take on things she sees from Sebastien if not as fluid. The continuing song seems to give her a little confidence in her movements. A small smile touching her lips at one point. When the song ends, she lets other voices speak before adding, "Rubidia's the best!" She calls out, figuring to be only one of the many voices. A small smile coming to her lips once more, before she begins to slip away from the dance floor lest she be drawn back.
Rubidia giggles, blushing slightly at the outcries. "No, you guys are great. I'm a merely a facet to magnify that. But by all means, I will go on highlighting for your enjoyment tonight. But before I do, all credits from drinks bought between now and the end of the next song are going to the refugee slushfund. So ring up those tabs folks, good drinks and good times. Doesn’t get any better than life in Kingsdale." She offers before moving to take up her guitar as her speakers start to put out a new beat.
Gabriel clearly considers calling out a request, but as the Nightingale is very busy at this point, he keeps his old-timey selections to himself. However, he's only just started his new bottle, so another drink would be unlikely. Instead, he asks, "Hey, what's a popular drink among the kids these days?" He receives a response. He anonymously distributes two dozen of said drinks to the girls of late teen and early twenties in the club - the ones that appear to be here more-or-less by themselves. No need to cause trouble.
Sebastien looks about, considering the lighted room, and shrugs once before aiming himself at the bar. He jogs a pair of steps, aiming at one of the few remaining stools, and drops his rump to slide in with a barely audible declaration of 'Safe!' He glances about then, peering at Gabriel, and wonders, "You! Aren't you a little ... you do spend an awful lot of time at dance clubs. Dirty old man, or here to try your electric boogaloo?"
When she's back at the table, Sage takes a moment to order a drink or two for herself. Whether she'll drink them all or not is another matter. She does begin to drain the rest of her drink in small portions. The beat is considered, before letting her body move slightly in response. She considers the rest of the crowd before deciding she's not likely to have to worry about the drinks for a little bit. Then she spots Gabriel and raises her hand to wave over towards the man.
Noticing Sage's wave, Gabriel smiles and speaks to the bartender. There's a bit of discussion and hand movement, but eventually a glass is delivered. The older man tosses the credits and a tip, then with his new bottle, and the even newer glass, makes his way through the momentarily-eased throngs across to his friend's table. "Evening, Miss Sage. You looked, ah... you have some interesting moves out there." With a smile, he asks, "Mind if I sit down? Got something for you." He waggles the drink slightly.
And with that the lights dim back down and a shrouding curtain closes Rubidia from the crowd as she strings the guitar to a steady pop beat. The song isn't really a dancer, promoting folks to get to the bar at Rubidia's insistence. Behind the shroud her light can be scene as she starts to sing. "I'm offering you love tonight. I'm offering you this for life. I'm only answering your call tonight. I'm only answering your lust for life. Believe me you're the only one. Sparkle in my mind." She sings, rays of light shooting out from the shroud to hit mirrored globes hanging from the ceiling, dusting the club in sparkles of light.
Sebastien peers up as the older man runs away, and his eyes just follow as Gabriel makes his way towards Sage. Shrugging then, he leans back to order a drink, and settles in at his perch with an eye towards the stage.
When the man comes over to her table, Sage lets her gaze drift away from the area the performer as the lights dim and the woman is hidden away by the curtain. She considers the man, before making a faint dismissive motion with her hand. "I make up things as I go along it seems." She comments, "Not always for the best." She chuckles before shaking her head gently. Then two glasses are places on the table. "No need to bribe when we can just exchange." She offers before taking up one of the drinks and offering it to the man. "The flowers and note were appreciated, by the way."
As he sits, Gabriel smiles and nods to Sage. "I'm glad. I'm sorry that they were needed." He then clearly leaves the subject behind, leaning back in his chair with the bottle in his hand. The label, perhaps not surprisingly, reads, "Donovan's Fizz." With his free hand, he gestures toward the drink he'd delivered. "It's properly called a 'Caribu Luo.' One cup of Bacardi 151, a cup of Malibu Rum, and a cup of plain ol' pineapple juice. Of course, the Bacardi and Malibu lines have long since disappeared, but I talked with the guy behind the counter, and this is probably close enough." Gabriel smiles, nods, and slides the drink across the table. "Try it. It might be a Caribu Luo, but those of us who don't have aristocratic sticks up our asses just call it 'Num Num Juice.'" He attempts to quash a smile, but fails, the right side of his mouth curling upward.
"It's always every single thing to me. It's always every single fantasy. It's always inescapable to me. It's always inescapable to see. Believe me, you're the only one. Sparkle in my mind." Rubidia continues, finishing the short song as she continues to shower the club with sparkles from afar. With the close the curtain parts again as the lights come back to show Rubidia holding a tambourine.
Sage offers the man a faint smile, before shrugging faintly. "Life happens." She murmurs, "It is alright now, though." She adds before considering the drink. "Not sure that I've really had Rum before." She comments, before pursing her lips and glances back towards the stage. Then she glances back towards Gabriel and takes up the offered drink to try a little of it.
Gabriel hesitates, waiting for Sage to drink. Then sips at his own soda, just wondering what's going to happen.
"Get up folks, this is not a drill." Rubidia calls out to the club with a sweeping gesture to the dance floor. I'm gonna dance on that floor. I expect everyone to be there dancing with me. No special effects this time just good music and good times. Finish off the night traditionally." She invites before jumping from the stage to the dance floor. The speakers start a lively urban rhythm and Rubidia is already swaying, incorporating the tambourine into her dancing and the beat.
A quick glance is given to the performer by Sage with a thoughtful look, as she takes the moment to taste the rum. She takes a moment to sip it once more as if unsure what to make of the first taste. She takes a breath and looks over to Gabriel. "Don't ask why... but I think you and I should give her our support." She comments simply before she begins to rise from her chair as she sets the glass aside. She prepares herself for the dance to come. "You lead."
Gabriel grins widely, sets his bottle down, and stands, extending a hand toward Sage. "Absolutely. I hope you've been practicing the jitterbug." He offers her an evil wiggle of his eyebrows. A glance over his shoulder will allow him to guide his own backside and Sage onto the floor.
The invitation gets a good response. Indeed most everyone capable comes forth to crowd the dance floor. It makes it a bit tight for dancing but it's all good fun as Rubidia starts to sing. "Cecilia, you're breaking my heart. Your shaking my confidence daily. Oh Cecilia, I'm down on my knees. I'm begging you please to come home." Her voice calls out loudly as she jingles about the dance floor. Inevitably this takes her bast Sage and Gabriel. With a smirk the tambourine makes one beat of Sage's behind in the passing. "Making love in the afternoon with Cecilia up in my bedroom. I got go up to wash my face. When I come back to bed someone's taken my place."
At the mercy of the man's lead, Sage seems to be content to concentrate on the dance steps. If it becomes too complicated for her, the man might find his feet stepped on a time or two. The beat sounded against her behind draws a change in facial expression before it shifts briefly to a glint that suggests some decision has come to pass before it fades away.
With plenty of years of dancing experience, Gabriel is fairly good at avoiding misplaced feet at this point, so there's no problem. He might not be the finest dance leader in the world, but he's not bad, either. He raises his voice above the rather loud tones. "Never heard this one! Must have come after me! Doin' a good job keeping up!" The man seems to have a pretty wide smile, genuinely enjoying himself for what may be the first time all night.
While it may be the last official dance of the evening, the Nightingale remains full of pleased patrons for many more hours into the night.
