"Sir, you realize, liquor comes by the fifth," Narshawn laced her voice with innocence. "I can just break the neck off the bottle, some have handles." She smiled, not trying to offend.
Gertrude hid her smile behind the menu. "Steak, Gal's is known for them. Way better than InFront, they use horse from what I've heard. Be back in a few, and rare." She noted it on her pad.
((OOC: A man that knows what he wants, good on ya!))
"With me, you can pay anytime. It's Gal that has this thing about handsome men paying for meals. I expect it!" She laughed, batting her eyelashes once too many times to be playing. She did like him, maybe in a few months she would really like him, step two of her twelve step program.
"And asking Gertrude, I just wanted to see how you would react. Some people would have been put out, you said it was cool right off. That's good enough for me. I'll find out what's playing and then we can decide."
((OOC: Hey, Manion, have we eaten yet? Curse that kitchen!))
"Well, if it isn't Jack," Gertrude said with a wink as he wandered into the bar. "You want a table? I'm just heading to get another order placed, but if you know what you're having, I could wait." Her sly smile said she would.
"Nice hair, didn't think you did raves." She laid one hand tentatively on his arm, the way a semi-friend would.
((OOC: Flirty, flirty. Jack watch out for her, Gemini knows what goes on...))
"Well, I imagine if I had come up with the idea of bringing along another woman, it wouldn't have gone over so well." he said with a playful smile. "But you brought it up, and it sounds like you want to do something nice for another friend, so yeah, that's more than cool by me."
((OOC: Eaten? Heck I don't think we've even ordered yet have we? Maybe Martin is just being polite. Or is it Candice tonight. Bah I'm all confused. Day-Quil ... non drowsey ... yeah right! 
))
"Do you know much about them?"
Despite the mouth-watering aroma of the baked custard, Festival's face was solemn as she answered. "Yes...yes I do know about the portals. More than I ever wanted to know, in fact, for all that the one leading here was our lifeline. If that knowledge can serve you...if the Carnival can serve you...you need only ask."
(OOC - feel free to direct Festival's participation here in whatever direction makes the story work...I trust you!)
"And in this moment, I will not run.
It is my place to stand.
We few shall carry hope
Within our bloodied hands."
The tiny bartender watched the man walk in. He looked almost as large as Gal, more muscular and even a darker shade. Lady Sharon was darker, but not by much. His English was precise though, studied.
"Sir, welcome to Ladies by the Lake. I am Narshawn, and I will be glad to serve you, but may I ask that you try our offerings before I bring the bottle?" Dropping a whole bottle, when someone might not care for it was not her style.
"We have several that rate the same proof: Fulton's Reserve, Everclear, Grappa di Verona, Goldschlager. All highly flammable. Should I bring a sampling?"
She did not want to offend, only be polite, smiling with her tiny teeth.
A smile crept on his face as soon as he heard her voice. "Well if you ain't a ray of sunshine." He gave her hand two light pats, taking comfort from the touch. "I thought my day was shot till I saw your pretty face. You know I'll take a glass of milk and something pretty spicy to eat, I need a reminder I'm still alive."
He positioned himself to square in front of her, and dug into his pockets. "I've been carrying these around for like a week." He pulled the silverware he had stole his first day and held them up. "I washed them, but they been in my pocket for a bit so I'm not sure if they are fit for use." He took her hand off his arm and placed the silverware in her hand and with a serious face said, "I do believe that the traditional gift for a second meeting is silver." His grin returned and he turned his body to walk away, but his head still faced her. "I'll be over at the dart boards and that is enough out of you about my hair lady. This is why I wear a hat."
((OOC: It reall is a shame that Jack has never heard of Gemini. He might get himself into trouble.))
Gertrude eyed the silverware, contemplating something lewd, then thought better of it. She did smile, the real kind that no waitress could fake. He looked rough, but no worse than a sheriff in Arizona, and one of those had been a great friend when she needed it.
"Hey, I didn't say I didn't like your hair. I just don't want my son seeing it or he'll want some just like it." She gave his shoulder a gentle shove in the direction of the game room.
"Gypsy's chili and a milk, done. Oh, it doesn't come in a bowl, that's American style, her's is just big pieces of cooked steak in her inferno sauce, the Old Country Way." Her accent was way off Gypsy's, but got the point across.
((OOC: Gypsy's Infernal Chili, with all thanks to Dragonlance.
This is a recipe about which it must be said,"If you can't stand the heat, stay out of the line of fire." Not to be confused with chili made with beans or hamburger, this is a meat entree for hose whose tongue, esophagus, stomach, and intestines are truly prepared for combat.
1 lbs. beef
2 tbsp flour
Marinade:
1 tsp Worcestershire sauce(tip of tongue)
2 tbsp paprika(center of tongue)
1 jar Dave's Insanity Reserve sauce(back of tongue)
1/2 tsp chinese hot oil(smoothes things out)
2 tsp crushed Habanero pepper(explosion!)
Prepare marinade: mix thoroughly. The effect of the marinade, for those brave enough to taste test it, should be a sensation of heat running along the tongue, culminating in an explosion at the back of the throat. If the sensation seems uneven, feel free to balance them.
Trim fat from beef and save. Cube beef into 1-inch squares; marinade in sauce 8 hours to 2 days in refrigerator. The longer the beef is marinated, the more shredded it will become upon cooking. If you wish the beef to remain cubed, marinate less than 24 hours; overnight is sufficient.
After meat has marinated, place it and marinade in pot or dutch oven over low heat for 2 hours. Stir occasionally to keep meat from sticking to bottom.
Rend fat to liquid in frying pan over low heat to use in a roux. If beef is too lean to produce 2 tbsp of liquid fat, bacon grease or lard may be used instead; mix thoroughly with 2 tbsp of flour.
After meat has stewed sufficiently, remove 1 cup of liquid from pot. Add liquid slowly to roux, blending thoroughly with whisk. Pour thickened sauce back in with meat and remaining juices; blend. This method will tend to shred meat more. Transfer to serving bowl.
Alternate sauce preparation: Strain all juices from meat. Slowly add juices to roux, blending thoroughly with whisk. Place meat in serving dish, and pour thickened juices over the top.
Each helping of meat should be served with a wedge of fresh lime to be squeezed over the meat mixture and a large dollop of sour cream to aide in the recovery of the tongue. A piece of bread, especially fried flat bread, may also help to cut the taste.))
[ QUOTE ]
The tiny bartender watched the man walk in. He looked almost as large as Gal, more muscular and even a darker shade. Lady Sharon was darker, but not by much. His English was precise though, studied.
"Sir, welcome to Ladies by the Lake. I am Narshawn, and I will be glad to serve you, but may I ask that you try our offerings before I bring the bottle?" Dropping a whole bottle, when someone might not care for it was not her style.
"We have several that rate the same proof: Fulton's Reserve, Everclear, Grappa di Verona, Goldschlager. All highly flammable. Should I bring a sampling?"
She did not want to offend, only be polite, smiling with her tiny teeth.
[/ QUOTE ]
President smiled back at the tiny bartender, exposing a large set of brilliant white teeth. The smile reached his glowing eyes and a chuckle burped out of his throat.
"Please then Narshawn, if I may call you that, bring a bottle of each. It takes a much greater quantatity of alcohol these days to even notice any affects than it did when I was a young man. You may call me Adon, my dear." He said, lifting a card out of one of his red leather jacket's many pockets.
"I hope that you will accept payment from the United States Government, I haven't been around for quite some time so I lack much hard currency, at least that of which is legal tender on this world." He said with a chuckle, wiping off some more gunpowder.
"Well," Gal leaned against the table, trying not to tower over her, and being a tower, failing. "Sib and D', they went to see a friend off on some trip, going to Portal, and something happened over there.
"Manager said there was a surge, and now...they're gone. Nobody seems to know where." She straightened the flowers, moved the silverware at the empty seat, fidgeted. "I've been tol' they're OK, by someone that wouldn' lie, but hearin' they work from someone like you. Makes it easier."
The tankers shoulders had been slumped lately, her sharp mouth less cutting. She missed her friend, the loft was quiet and empty, and she worried.
"I heard you say your troupe. There's more of you?" She was thinking about the Basketball game that might not work out. A phone call had said that Isis was tied up, maybe a movie deal, and she had the Mission prepped for some event in the future. What about a Carnival?
((OOC: Dollhouse, trusting me with Festi is like trusting my cat with easy open treats. If there was a chance the troupe would like to get some good press, maybe that could be arranged?))
"Ya know... all this talk, and we seem to have forgotten something." Manion said, rubbing his stomache. "You mentioned something about salmon and steak, and that sounds really good right about now."
He took a quick look around the room to see who was waiting tables. He couldn't tell right away, so he figured he would ask Martin about it when he came around to fill the wine again. Of course, if Manion managed to catch him, considering his glass had stayed full and Manion had yet to notice Martin stop by once.
"What do ya think, ready to order?" He didn't want to rush Beth, and was more than happy with just sitting and talking to her all night, but he figured she might be getting hungry too.
"Good idea," she smiled. "If you want service around here, you have to know the tricks. Watch." She winked at him and picked up her fork, holding it some distance from the floor. She just released it.
It had hardly bounced the first time when a pair of shined, Italian leather shoes stopped within inches of it. Martin gazed at Beth with an almost bemused expression, all except the pouting lips.
"May I replace that for you, madam?" His tone was the same as if she had been any patron.
"I think we're ready to order, Martin. I haven't seen Candice..." she let that drift.
"No, there was an incident in the kitchen, someone has ordered the Chili," his tone spoke of boredom, but one eyebrow rose with meaning. Beth almost spit out her wine, getting a laugh around the grapes. Manion's expression brought a further explanation.
"Sir, one of the staff decided to try the Chili for doneness, he will not be back this evening. The infirmary has already dispatched a lorry." Beth was laughing, she had seen Gal try the Chili, and she was a stone tank, not fire.
"I shall take your dinner order." Martin's tone returned to it's usual level.
He returned Gertrude's smile, "Sounds great." A couple steps took him to the bar to get some darts from Narshawn. 'So she has a kid... I guess that means she's got a man, I better start being a little more respectful, I would hate to put a foot in the wrong place.' He thanked Narshawn for the darts and took a slow walk over to the game room. 'Ah, ya think to much Jack. You worry to much, like about Project. I sure hope Project is ok. No, he is a big guy and he can handle himself. Plus with the other members he is going with I'm sure he will be fine. Who woulda thought I would think of a machine as a friend. Best roommate I ever had though.' He didn't even realize he had thrown two of three darts until then. He tossed the next one and hit the 2. Marking off his points he continued his game of 301 and decided not worry about Project or where he put his feet.
((OOC: (') this symbol is what I use for internal dialogue. (") This symbol is what I use for external dialogue. I would hate for that to get confusing. I see you are trying to kill my character off, thanks Sibling, 
))
"Wow, must be some good chili. Think I'll pass though." His expression was that of disbelief and amusement at the same time.
"I'd like to try the steak tonight please, Medium Well. The beans and fries are fine. Thank you." He paused and looked at Beth, unsure whether she expected him to order for her or not.
Gertrude brought the glass of milk out to the game room, something had happened in the kitchen and she didn't want to know. This Jack guy, he was becoming a regular, seemed nice enough. Way better than that sonofa her ex turned out to be.
Gemini had said she was looking into it, and being able to stay at the Shelter with Jing's help made all the difference. Two kids, pushing forty and not much besides a decent smile.
"You're chili will be a minute Jack, I hope you said you want the food spicy." She winked and set his glass down on a coaster.
((OOC: Kill off such an intersting character? Who do you think I am, Black Swan?))
Beth lifted an eyebrow as he paused, catching his eye. Had he listened to what she wanted? Would he order for her, take the gentleman's role?
Martin didn't even look at Beth for the moment, a similar question on his mind.
Noticing her look, Manion hoped he was reading it right and went ahead. "And I believe the lady will have the salmon, although she hasn't mentioned how she would prefer to have that cooked."
He gave Beth a brief questioning look, hoping he hadn't forgotten anything important.
((OOC: Sheesh.. poor guy shoulda studied for this test. 
))
She smiled, nice guy.
"I like my fish well done." She whispered across the table to Manion as Martin left, "The way I like my friends." She reached across and patted his hand, blushing and giggling a little.
"Well done?" he said looking at his glass and smiling. "I haven't had that much to drink tonight."
Once Martin was satisfied with their orders he leaned over the table, putting his hand on hers and said in a low voice, "By the way, nice trick with the fork."
Buck twisted around in his chair, leaning back on the bar and resting his elbows on the counter. These where definately the wierdest people Buck had ever met. He wasn't really even a fan of the big city, it was over rated as far as he was concerned.
Buck turned his head towards the large black man that had just recently sat down next to him. Buck looked him over, taking notice to his large sword. Swords weren't his thing, Buck never saw the need for one.
"So, you like this city?" Buck asked.
Jack was walking back to the line from the board when Gertrude came with his milk. [ QUOTE ]
"You're chili will be a minute Jack, I hope you said you want the food spicy." She winked and set his glass down on a coaster.
[/ QUOTE ]
"What are you talking about Gerry, I'm not hungry." He gave her a toothy smile to show he was kidding. He saddled one of the stools ((OOC: I hope there are stools surrounding high top tables here, because that is what I'm imagining and what I'm used to from my bars with dart boards.)) and threw an arm up on a table. "So yer day treating ya good, little miss?"
President Black looked down at the man next to him, giving him a little nod. A thin smile showed from out of his beard.
"It isn't Monban, but Paragon is very... unique. It is the only place to be if you want to face certain challenges and enemies," he said, looking over the bar. The little bartender was taking awhile with his order, he had replied to her ages ago now... Though maybe the quantity was difficult. Hopefully she would accept his payment.
Not to be impolite, he continued to talk. "I'm called President Black, it is nice to meet you. I assume you are also a registered hero here?"
(OOC: Just a little background info for those interested. President Black was the former president of an African country called the Allied States of Monban. In recent years it had become quite famous, through his unique practices and laws it had risen to a first world power and had become industrialized. This all came to ruin from the Rikti War when an invasion force came into the Monban Capital city. President Black (real name Adon Banma) helped his guard fight against the alien threat before the army arrived to drive the small force off, but during the fight his wife was killed. Added to his grief, his guard and the army witnessed his mutant regeneration skills. There was a military coupe and he was exiled from the country. The country fell apart due to internal strife months later, and is currently being fought over by neighboring countries for land. Adon Banma was given sanctuary in the US and diplomat status. He is considered quite a high profile hero and uses his feats and fame to secure relief for his people back home and to fight the Rikti.)
She was surprised to hear poetry from such a man, but despite being in the hero busines for only a short time, she'd figured out that it takes all kinds. She tore her attention away from the severed arm and gave hime a thoughtful look.
"Woah, deep... careful not to drown me there." She chuckled a little. "Coleridge... wasn't he the guy who went on about the albatross and the cursed mariner guy? You'll have to forgive me, I only paid the tiniest attention to literature back in school, I was too busy taking stuff apart, putting stuff together. I think the only classes I got over a C in was shop and auto mechanics, but it's kinda hard to remember."
The bartender had returned, and despite the fact that the place was getting crowded, she took the time to prepare the drink Betty had ordered to the letter, carefully pouring the absinthe over a sugar cube and adding what looked like a rather fine vintage of sparkling wine intil the fluted glass was full with a liquid of just the right opacity.
Betty picked up the glass by the stem, her small, delicate fingers a stark contrast to most of the rest of her - besides being kinda short... she was starting to feel really small with all the big guys who'd filtered into the place and wondered if it bothered the even shorter bartender. She clinked the rim of the glass against Dark Basilisk's shot glass.
"Well, Dave, here's to stifled vices."
She took a sip and seemed to peer at him, the shades behind the optics at half-mast. "So you say somebody changed you? I've seen a lot of weird stuff in this town and figured most people were like me, choosing whatever their quirks are out of whatever misguided notions they've had. Hmmm... do you even know who THEY are? It's always good to have a 'they' to blame for your troubles, no?" She paused for another sip of the drink.
"You know, the fish wil definately go better with this... I'm going to spin some tunes on the jukebox over there and see if I can flag down the waitress." She cocked her head in Gertrude and Jack's direction. "Looks like she might be getting sidetracked, huh?"
"Hey, you want anything to munch on while I'm ordering? I don't mind treating you to it, haven't had the chance to really spread my wealth any as of yet so feel free."
"Hero? Oh yeah, I filled out those forms." Buck Replied, turning back around in his chair. "Names Buck, Buck Lawhorn." He stated, exchanging a handshake. "You said Monban, eh? I remember that place. Passed through a few times when our research crew was doing excavation work in Africa."
Buck stared at his empty drink glass for a moment, then let his eyes search the room for a passing waitress.
The huge black woman carried a ridiculously small tray, a ceramic dish at it's center. Baked, she always baked a custard, unlike all these new-age fu-fu chefs and their cinnamon habanero junk.
"Miss Festival, Gypsy told me you have been to Portal, and I'm sorry ta' be so forward, but someone real close ta' me got lost there. I just want ta' know," she was very quiet, a deep sigh, "Do you know much about them?"
((OOC: Sibling, Gal's wife, is currently lost in another thread. They are fine, but just like someone who is worried, Gal would think maybe this person knows something, anything more. Sibling will be back, but of course Gal doesn't know that. Pardon me for intruding on you Dollhouse, but this works almost perfect with that story...))