"Aye, I would share it wi' yeh," Steve was regaining his composure, but the question still swirled in his mind. He would not ask with Beth there, not to add to his embarrassment. The menu had dropped some, but his eyes did not cross the table.
Still so much to learn about the world.
"All right then,the Portobello special, we'll share it." Falcon smiled at Beth, slightly nodding towards Steve.
"As I don't think that champagne is the best when it comes to eating veal, would you please bring us also a bottle of good red wine? I'm not really an expert, so I'll let you and Martin decide which one would be more appropriate to what Steve ordered."
After Beth had finished taking notice of their dishes, and went to bring their orders to the kitchen and grab their drinks, Falcon Kitiara turned again her head to face Steve.
"Did you want a bit more time to decide on the menu? You seemed to me a bit confused." she cocked her head slightly on the left, her green eyes resting on the features of the handsome red skinned man.
"Yes miss," Narshawn greeted the woman at the bar. Some of the conversation was too quiet for anyone else to hear, but the tiny ice maiden finally pointed towards the billiards room.
"Thank you, hon." The wide brimmed hat and out-of-style sunglasses made the attempt at being inconspicuous useless, but this place saw it's share of outlandish outfits. The dark-skinned woman walked quickly towards the room, not raising her head or glancing around much.
She paused as the taller woman looked her way, then simply moved to a table shielded from the rest of the bar. The way she moved made it apparent that she was no youngster, and an audible sigh filtered through when she sat down. A moment later, she sighed again as Gertrude set two glasses on the table, one filled with what looked to be iced tea and another with something cranberry colored.
Gertrude patted the woman's arm, and received a tired smile in thanks.
"Ah'm getting a little old for this," the somehow familiar voice said quietly from under the hat.
"Oh, nonsense, 'Ree. Just relax, I'll bring your usual."
((OOC: Oh, you know this lady, but a woman gotsa' keep her distance from the fans you know...))
By the time Gertrude brought her dinner, Soul had started to feel less tipsy, and more hungry. She went after the ribs first, before they got cold, while taking a bite of cornbread from time to time, along with the slaw. Gertrued had given her a small serving of greens anyway, and Soul had to admit, they were very tasty.
Gal was right... ain't nothin' like good down-home southern cookin'.
As she ate, she noticed an older woman in a wide-brimmed hat enter, and her eyebrows raised. She wondered who the woman was, that she had to resort to even a rudimentary disguise.
"City of Heroes. April 27, 2004 - August 31, 2012. Obliterated not with a weapon of mass destruction, not by an all-powerful supervillain... but by a cold-hearted and cowardly corporate suck-up."
After a few minutes, the woman removed her hat and the glasses, both absurd for the soft lighting of the bar. Spiderwebs of wrinkles stretched out from the corners of her bright eyes, matching the thin lines at her mouth. Her face bore the marks of years, but that time didn't seem to reach her smile.
She nodded at Soulll when the other woman looked up from her meal. Thoughts of a small diner in Chicago, so many years ago, where she had served "The Best damn Fried Chicken", floated back. That was in the era of four inch platform shoes and bell bottoms, back when the enormous afro that had emerged from under her hat was fashionable. The days when heroes were simple janitors and nuns, before all this super-hero business was full-time.
"An' who said you could sneak inta' Mah' place without sayin' 'Hello'?" The doorway from the bar was momentarily blocked as Gal stepped through, turning straight towards the table. A broad smile crossed her face, white teeth like pearls sparkling to match her eyes.
"Lordy, girl! I knew my greens would make you tall, but..." the woman stood and held out her arms, catching Gal around the waist. Gal's chest just cleared the other woman's head.
"Yeah, makes hell gettin' hose." They both laughed, apparently very good friends. "You gonna stay an' let me cook you some dinner? Mah chicken's not so good as yours, but I still makes a mean fried chop."
The two women stood apart, allowing them to look at each other. Gal saw a few more years on her friend, but looking good for her age. She paused and turned slightly, including the seated Soulll in her view.
"You two been introduced?" She asked towards Soulll, who was looking sheepishly up from her ribs and trying to find a clean napkin to wipe her hands on.
"Mrs. Train, please meet 'Retha Murphy," she swung one immense hand to indicate the older woman.
"Jus' Aretha is good enough," the woman scowled at Gal, "Matt's back in Joliet." She held out one hand toward the younger Train.
((OOC: Come on, tell me you've seen Blues Bothers. BTW, what better character than this for my first sonics blaster?))
"Confused, aye, that I am." He lowered the menu, staring into her eyes. "Lily has said tha' she has parents, an tha' they are none too keen on her bein' in this hero life. She's but a wee lass."
He was unsure how to describe his intent. He had no doubt about this woman, but there was this young girl out fighting grown men and monsters. More than that, she seemed to think she was protected by a magical horse, and invisible one, of course.
"To be honest, Ah worry abou' her."
"Wait, you mean... oooooooooooooo!!!"
Soul stood up, grabbed a napkin and hurredly cleaned her hands off, and shook the older woman's hand, with more enthusiasm than she usually did. "Damn, but you a legend even in St Louis! Got clearer pipes than Archangel Gabriel hisself. Oh.. my... gawd... you look GOOD!"
She paused, a bit awkwardly. "Oh yes, ooh, excuse me!! Miss Kashaye Parker, ma'am. I go by Soullll Trainnn on the street, so's ev'rybody calls me Soul or Train. Cain't sing worth two beans and a nickel though. I'll leave that up to y'all. I just do the knockin'-thugs-on-dey-a.ss bit."
Another pause. "Well, it sure is good to meet you. You a better person to run into than States, any day o' the week. I'll leave ya to your dinner... and Gal, honey, these ribs.... you musta sweet-talked the pig into outright givin' em to ya, cos no way no butcher ever touched 'em, they too good!!!"
"City of Heroes. April 27, 2004 - August 31, 2012. Obliterated not with a weapon of mass destruction, not by an all-powerful supervillain... but by a cold-hearted and cowardly corporate suck-up."
"I worry about her, too."
Falcon sighed slightly and united her hands over the table, her crossing fingers. She shaked her head slightly.
"I'm no mother, but I can be a big sister for her. I don't know if I will be able to replace her parents, but maybe it is too soon for that and I should simply try and make her feel happy. I'll try to do my best to make her feel at home, help her forget that her parents are about to sign a piece of paper where they renounce all parental rights over their child. From what she's told me, her last year with her parents has been a nightmare: telling the truth but not being believed and being punished for saying it, being disciplined without knowing why, having no one at her side to help her understand what was happening to her and how her marvelous gifts work, being feared and looked upon with distrust by the same people that gave her life. If they weren't mere citizens I would already have given them the beating of their lives."
Falcon opened her hands and, clenching her right fist, she smashed it against the palm of her left hand, biceps bulging, gesture eerily contrasting with her lady-like attire. Her eyes were angry, not at Steve, but at Lily's parents.
"And they were all too happy when they saw me and heard me asking for the child's legal custody and guardianship. For them it was either being denounced from someone for having abandoned a little girl and possibly mistreating her, or taking her home again, or letting her to die in the streets. I offered them a fourth possibility, the possibility of cleaning their conscience. This way they can think "it's for the best, now our daughter is with someone that can care for her superheroistic needs much better than us" and simply go on with their lives." she sneered, emerald eyes still flaring "Cowards. Growing her should be their battle, not mine."
Slowly, she relaxed again, and talked with a smile.
"However I plan to do for her at least what her parents weren't planning to do at all.
When she will come back home after an afternoon and evening of skulls and hellions hunting, with her skirt teared, face stained with someone else's blood, and eyes gleaming with pride, I will be there to hug her and tell her that I am proud of her."
She hadn't mentioned the magical invisible horse that Lily so cheerfully declared was her Guardian Spirit, but her smile, now sweet and almost savoring an image of the future, revealed how fighting grown men and monsters wasn't an issue for her at all.
(( this thread has been dormant for awhile, so the following story is not related to previous posts.))
Kashaye Parker sat at the bar, nursing a beer, only partway paying attention to the TV news. It wasn't the best place to do her thinking, but it was better than being distracted at the lab, and her apartment, although nice, was little more than a place to store her stuff.
She was at a crossroads.
Down one path led camraderie, purpose, a sense of belonging. However, there were pitfalls. She knew it would be rough, because she had been on her own for so long, she'd gotten used to counting on herself, and after the blow-up with Arvin two years ago, she'd never truly trusted another human soul with her heart. Plus, there was the question about what gender she preferred. She wasn't sure if she wanted to face it... but she'd have to, if she wanted to continue. She couldn't deny the attraction she felt, and toward one of her most stalwart companions... and was scared out of her mind that it wasn't mutual and would never be reciprocated.
Down another path led uncertainty. It meant returning to being on her own, something she could fall back into, but all the same not something she looked forward to. It meant she could devote more energy to her new job as a researcher at Physiks... but all of a sudden the 'job' wasn't all she wanted in life.
And to top it off... she was worried.
She'd accepted an assignment to beat back an assault on the Terra Volta nuclear reactor. And the team she'd been part of did their job. The Sky Raiders hadn't been able to take it offline. But in the process, she'd been exposed to enough hard radiation to kill a normal human, and she had no idea how this would affect her, as a subatomic radiation leak had been what changed her initially. She wasn't sure if her powers would change, if some of them would fade, if other abilities would manifest....
And she was concerned about what it had done to her ability to have children.
She'd scheduled a doctor's visit for later on in the week. But until the scans were done and the test results returned... she didn't know.
And she didn't know which answer she wanted to hear.
If she were still viable... did that mean she should find a man, settle down, have a family, put the superhero gig aside? Somehow that seemed... selfish. Plus that meant she'd have to get over her aversion to relationships... especially her aversion to ones with men. That thought scared her; Arvin had been... less than kind, and he'd let his fists do the talking as often as he let his words become weapons.
The day she'd discovered her abilities had been the only time she'd successfully fought him off... and was also the day he'd packed up all his stuff and left. She took some satisfaction that PART of what made him leave was the fact that he'd lost his hold on her. But he'd also taken her self-esteem away... and no one had ever tried to help her get it back.
If she were not viable... then all of those questions went out the window. She would be free to pursue whatever life she wanted. However, it also meant that Kashaye, an only child, would be the last of her line. And this wasn't an easy thought to hold. There WAS always the possibility of adoption - there was no end of orphans from the Rikti invasion. So... that brought her around to, did she do it alone, or find a partner?
Impasse.
She downed the beer, and ordered another.
Maybe, at some point, the chaos in the world would start to make sense.
"City of Heroes. April 27, 2004 - August 31, 2012. Obliterated not with a weapon of mass destruction, not by an all-powerful supervillain... but by a cold-hearted and cowardly corporate suck-up."
Narshawn moved a fresh pint glass in front of the woman, making the empty disappear as a bartender should. She had none of the mind talents or empathy some of the Sisters had, but a sad face was a sad face. She tried not to be intrusive, but had learned the skills of a good bartender extended beyond simple alcohol.
"You seem to be a bit more pensive this evening than usual, Miss Train." She had seen the woman many times over the past few weeks, generally alone. Gal had taken a liking to her, and had said so.
Mist drifted off the tiny girl as she hovered up to a shelf, coming down with two bottles of liquor. She mixed something for an order, still listening.
"Thanks. It's just... well... I got a lot goin' on, is all. Some of it good, some of it not so good."
She sighed, and turned to look at the bartender.
"Ever have one of those times where you didn't know if the sun was gonna come up the next mornin'? It's one o' them times for me right now."
(yep. Respec Blues. 
)
"City of Heroes. April 27, 2004 - August 31, 2012. Obliterated not with a weapon of mass destruction, not by an all-powerful supervillain... but by a cold-hearted and cowardly corporate suck-up."
Gal looked at the filthy windows, the faded menu in the polycarbonate holder near the door and frowned. Months, she had been at Sibling's bedside for months now. The restaurant had all but been condemned by the city, the one reason she was here now. A heavy key moved in the locks and the wooden door swung open.
Inside was far better than out, and the living furniture had behaved itself. Since the incident with the faulty portal and Sib and D's trip to the alternate dimension, the only person to set foot in the place had been Lady Thorn, tending to the plants. Martin and the staff had been on paid leave (she was almost afraid to look at the bills, but Sibling had insisited).
What bothered her the most was that she had really started to enjoy the company. One didn't realize the amount of friendly and intelligent people the city held, until you dealt with them in a place like this. Whether any returned, well, she worried about that. It couldn't be helped, after their return from D's homeworld.
That started her thinking about the Twins again. Battling that damned Wizard had almost killed them, and still put them down for all this time. The only good to come from it was D's new man and the development of new Psi powers for Sibling. Whatever the Wizard had done, it had unlocked something in Sibling's mind. Luckily, the power was Angela's, Cliff would have been using it on everyone.
First things first, she walked back towards the office. She needed to call the staff and get them back down here, fill the coolers and hope that she'd get some customers back. The message service had overflowed, but she started listening to those that had been stored.
((OOC: I won't go into all of it, but I've been out with an illness until recently. Don't send cards, don't say sorry, I'm just glad to be back. I don't know if anyone is interested in getting back, but Gal's will be the same as it was before.
No fights, no battles, just good food and good conversation. The Bar will be opening, too. Narshawn, Vegas, Gal, Martin, Beth, the whole crew. I'm hoping to attract some of the crew from before, and maybe some new ones. I'll post the opening sequence in the next few days.))
((Sounds good! When the grand re-opening happens, I'll be sure to stop by. 
))
My story arcs: #2370- Noah Reborn, #18672- The Clockwork War, #31490- Easy Money
Sartre once said, "Hell is other people." What does that make an MMO?
(( I'd love to pop in for a drink and some conversation as well. Definite change of pace from the Pocket. ))
(( and on another note - glad to see you're back. *hugs!* ))
"City of Heroes. April 27, 2004 - August 31, 2012. Obliterated not with a weapon of mass destruction, not by an all-powerful supervillain... but by a cold-hearted and cowardly corporate suck-up."
Lili "Festival" duValle walked down the largely empty street, enjoying herself. The mere fact that she was walking - rather than flying - was a part of the enjoyment. This was a very deliberately chosen day off, a break from worrying about her beloved Carnival. While she loved the view from on high, you tended to miss things from up there. Things like the smell of fresh bread from the boulangerie, like the sound of a saxophonist practicing his jazz chops a couple floors up, like the familiar and somehow reassuring sight of a couple of Hellions trying to break into a car.
Okay, she could do without the latter. Festival walked up behind the oblivious pair and cleared her throat. As expected, the transformation of their expressions from belligerence to round-eyed terror was priceless, and she fought to maintain her stone face. These were simple street thugs, and the sight of a Carnival Ring Mistress with an unamused look on her painted face was clearly not one they were pleased to see.
"Shoo." She waggled her fingers in a dismissive gesture.
Now she could smile, curling the sides of her expressive mouth at the sight of the rapidly receding pair. Then, as her eyes followed the fleeing Hellions, she spotted a familiar storefront. Gal's Place. A sad look replaced the smile.
"I loved that place," Lili mused to herself. "I have no idea why it closed...they were always busy, and for good reason. The food was fabulous, the service perfect, and the wine list! Oh, my!"
Making her way to the storefront, she noticed a light within. Someone was inside. No sign of forced entry, so it was probably someone who belonged. Were they going to re-open? If so would it be the same people who had made the place such a delight before?
"I shall hold out hope," she decided, getting on with her stroll. "And if it is the same people, Lili, you must bring something from your private cellar, a gift with which to celebrate."
"And in this moment, I will not run.
It is my place to stand.
We few shall carry hope
Within our bloodied hands."
"It's not as bad as all that," Vegas leaned against the bar, drinking from her mug. The smell of strong coffee was the first odor, besides musty, to return to the restaurant.
"I guess, considering, you're right." Gal had spent the best part of the last two days getting her suppliers lined back up. Permits had expired, but she was working on that as well. With returning staff, things could get started again, but actually having an operational place was going to take time.
Vegas had initially been startled when Gal had called, not recognizing the voice. Other than being on a mission for months, Vegas hadn't known what was going on. The City had it's own demands on the stocky female scrapper, but she had worried some. Gal had stopped by her apartment a week ago, asking if she would take her job back. The woman who had owned the place and the woman who stood before her now, were different people.
The Gal who had hired her, almost a year ago, had been feisty and always seemed barely under control. She had been quick tempered, sharp tongued and with a Southern humor. Tall, eight feet plus, and while not fat, certainly well filled-out.
This woman was more reserved, and while the wit was still there, it held a somewhat different flavor. The tiara that had sometimes shown through the afro was gone, no explanation, even the afro being replaced by a headscarf or cap depending on the day. She was also thinner, less filling out but perhaps more muscle. Older, if Vegas could put it into a word, Gal seemed older than a few months should have.
The dark haired scrapper considered over her coffee, what little she knew, what little Gal had said about the time. Gal's partner, Sibling, had been bed ridden since their return, only recently able to get up. The group they belonged to, The Ladies of the Lake, had recently been more active than before, and rumor had it they now owned several city blocks surrounding Gal's. Gypsy had been in earlier, a Gypsy with infernal fire in her eyes, carrying messages. Narshawn seemed much the same, going forth and back stocking the bar shelves.
Vegas had asked, simply out of curiosity, where the tank and her friends had been. Gal had spoken about Portal Corp and an accident, and made a cryptic reference that still was not understood: "Everyone, somewhere, has an evil twin. Places where they run things, where things are opposite he'ah. Ah'm jus' glad even Gods can die." She'd left it at that.
A small girl with a head of short bubble-gum pink hair came strolling into the bar. The weather had just turned warmer, so the slight girl took the opportunity to wear short shorts and a tank top that turned a few heads along the way from Steel Canyon to King's Row.
She had been out of the country for several months. For reasons unknown to her, her mutation that made itself known 2 years ago had ceased to exhibit any effect on her physiology. At least that's what the expensive specialists had told her in Stockholm. Shock Bubble had become Julie Watson again overnight. The electric blue glow in her eyes was no longer there. She had decided to turn in her Hero License until further notice. A hard choice to make, but one that was not taken lightly.
Her friend and mentor Trollkin Diva had been away on a mission in another dimension when Bubble's powers had faded. Luckily it was after she had disassembled several Clockwork Cannon Princes. She went to fly off just as she'd done hundreds of times, and just went nowhere. She tried to bubble-up, nada. Not even as much as a spark would come out of her pinky.
Being back in Paragon City was hard, but she knew her friends would help her through. Diva had been the one to tell her of the twins illness. She had to come by to see them. Sibling had made her entry to the Ladies possible, and Cliff...she missed him for other reasons. Now, more than ever, she needed family.
((O.O.C. - This was the easiest way I knew to explain why Shock Bubbles was no longer a hero in my stable of heroes. It was all CoV's fault!!! Darn you CoV!!! hehe
WB Sib. Love ya as always!! Haven't had the umph to RP since ya left.))
((O.O.C.² - Oh, and btw...Vegas has a dark little secret to share with ya'll. That will be my next post. Stay tuned!!!))
((OOC: Well, as Vegas has a secret, I'll leave her standing with her coffee cup to "spill it" or not ))
"Bubbles!" Gal said with genuine enthusiasm, a smile showing off her pearly whites. She felt a twinge in her jaw, all that was left of the break, but she felt doubtful that would ever fade. She set the ordering clipboard on the edge of the bar as she walked over.
It was somewhat awkward, where she would have swept the tiny woman up in a hug, she wasn't really sure how to handle it now. Gal had thought often of not having her powers, what would have been different. With all the commotion, these two had never really discussed what had happened. The very infrequent and brief stops Bubbles had made by their loft had not seemed the right time.
As a rule, Sisters did not speak about other Sisters, except as asked by the higher ranked or among friends. That put Gal in a tough position, her mentor and partner being unable to make the routine inquiries, and those on the Island knowing she was personally involved. One just did not pry into other's lives, it was the other side of a completely open society: complete privacy on the personal side.
Bubbles, she called herself Julie now, Gal reminded herself, had been almost as frequent a partner as Sibling when they were working. She was a little quirky, but Gal didn't know any decent heroes who weren't. From the giant tank's perspective, most of the loony civilians running around the city were far more odd than the half-leopard Lupa or the ageless sword-maiden Gemini.
Gal held out one immense hand, "Hey there Julie, what brings ya' in?" Gal was embarrassed, she wasn't even sure whether the woman had decided to stay with the Order. She always relied on Sibling to know the currents of things that flowed.
[ QUOTE ]
"Hey there Julie, what brings ya' in?"
[/ QUOTE ]
"I'm looking for a few old friends hon." Julie said, looking at Gal's hand like it was from outer space. She opened her arms tentatively, anticipating a hug from the big hearted tank.
"I've been contemplating my place with the Sisters. I know it's not the proper place to speak about such things, but it just couldn't wait. Diva is my mentor, and we need to approach the Sisterhood together to determine what path is before me." Julie said in a complete run on sentence.
"Sorry, but this has been my main concern since I lost my powers." she said, returning to a normal pace of words.
"So, when's this place re-opening? I haven't had a decent meal for months?
----------------------------------------------------------------------
[ QUOTE ]
Vegas had initially been startled when Gal had called, not recognizing the voice. Other than being on a mission for months, Vegas hadn't known what was going on. The City had its own demands on the stocky female scrapper, but she had worried some. Gal had stopped by her apartment a week ago, asking if she would take her job back. The woman who had owned the place and the woman who stood before her now, were different people.
[/ QUOTE ]
When Dark Vegas received the call from Gal she was indeed startled. Her world had been turned literally upside down since the restaurant went on hiatus. She started taking more missions, but they all seemed to fail miserably. Her powers were not progressing as fast as she would like. The black diamond that she received her powers from almost seemed to be holding her back.
On her last mission, she ran afoul of the daemonic force that had been shadowing her since she left Las Vegas over two years ago. It was after the black diamond. She was not about to part with the relic, but after an extended fight that she was destined to lose...the diamond spoke to her mind. It revealed to her it's true nature. It was not a black diamond from Mu, as she had been told by the Tsoo sorcerer. It was a sort of nictus crystal that was housing a Kheldian soul. A Warshade to be exact. He had survived by placing his essence into the shard of energy eons ago.
"Do you wish to be one?" it had asked. She knew in her heart that bonding with an alien essence was her only chance of living though this attack. "Yes." she replied, as the daemon drew back to unleash his deathblow.
An inky purplish-black cloud poured forth from the crystal, enveloping her in it's dark embrace. She felt every emotion at once and complete void at the same time. They were one now. She stepped through shadowspace and appeared behind the daemon. Tendrils of darkmatter licked at the hooves of the daemonic entity. A look of sheer panic erupted on its face, probably for the first time in it's millennia of existence.
It had failed at the one task it was created for. The crystal was needed by its master. Now that it was gone, it had no right to be here on this plane. It ceased to be with a foul burst of ichor and filth.
"Dark Vegas...welcome to our new life." the symbiotic alien said to her mind.
"Now I know how Sibling feels." she whispered to herself in the emptiness of the warehouse.
((OOC - Vegas is now host to a parasi...err....Symbiotic Alien Lifeform. They are still referred to as Dark Vegas.))
((Sorry for the long winded post. ))
Gal stepped closer, placing one arm around the small woman and hugging her gently. She wanted to believe that things would return to what they were before, but if Julie couldn't hero anymore, a lot of their time would be spent apart. She knew several other friends who were not heroes, it just felt strange that this one would not be there. After all they had been through.
Her smile was real, but it was sad at the same time. It sounded like the brightly colored Julie was torn about her life, too. Gal didn't do tender too well, her personality a lot like her powers: rough around the edges, hard to move, slow to change and stubborn. She depended on Sibling or Diva, or someone a little more sensitive for this.
"Well, you know you're always welcome here, or at tha' loft.
"Opening," she looked around, "that's gonna take some doing, but I'm hopin' for next week. Most o' tha' staff is coming back, and I got the deliveries for food and that stuff, but mah' cousin is also supposed to be in town." She seemed none too happy about that, it was evident in her face.
"I suppose you know tha' Gypsy ain't allowed off the Island except for business, not after that crap she pulled, pardon my French," Gal said more quietly. Narshawn continued with her work behind the bar, pretending she had not heard.
Gal looked sideways at the smaller woman, "When's tha' last time you were on the Island?"
((OOC: The goings on hinted at are unfolding over at the other RP thread I run, Ladies of the Lake. It's been dormant as long as Gal's, but the story behind the last few months for all my characters will be there.))
Things were all set, from the menu to the flowers, for the restaurant to open tomorrow. Gal had been working furiously to get every thing together, and her sharp answers showed her stress. This morning, Vegas had to pull her aside and properly dress her down for being short with Beth and the new girl, Babetta. Vegas was somewhat different than before as well, but still calm and collected, a welcome presence in the room.
By the afternoon, the place had started looking like it's old self. There were fresh, pruned, plants in the immense center planter, Lady Thorn had restored the civilized look of the tables and chairs and all the surfaces were dusted and clean. Food filled the coolers, the beverages would be arriving tomorrow morning, but for now, all they could do was wait.
As it was, Gal waited for the arrival of her cousin, and it was apparent there was no "family" dinner planned. The staff had ceased to ask about the visitor after Narshawn made a very direct, and very out of character, statement when Gal was out of hearing.
"Gal does not agree with some of Mr. Bedinski's opinions, and he does not approve of her choice of partners. He is a cousin by marriage, and is not welcome in her home." She had finished with a small frown. "He is also not welcome on The Island, and Lady Gemini will not visit while it is possible that they might meet."
Whatever bad blood existed between Gal and her cousin, who also went my by the name "Twenny Mule Team" in his hero guise, it was deep. Gal had not mentioned him, except that he would stay in the common areas and by no means be allowed into the kitchens or bar. Everyone knew he was allowed no alcohol, none, under penalty of immediate termination.
Beth and Gertrude were polishing tables with a special oil when the phone at the front rang. It was a different line than the office, and Martin stepped from the foyer to answer it.
"Yes sir," his measured English accent calmly intoned, "I took the liberty of sending the message. You have been far too reclusive of late, if you will allow me the liberty of saying so, with too little palatable fare."
He listened to some reply, concentrating on the caller. His economy of movement, lack of facial expression and impeccable manners indicated years of domestic service. Martin had been a butler before Gal had been born, and his presence here was no accident.
"Very good sir, the establishment will open promptly at four. We will expect you at six, then." The second line flashed, indicating another reservation call was coming in. He gracefully said good day to the first call and picked up the second.
"Ladies by the Lake, Martin speaking, may I help you?" His features did not betray it, but confusion followed the first sentence from the caller. "Sir, I did not understand. Perhaps the connection is faulty," absolutely not, but one did not go putting the onus of poor grammar on a patron. Martin spoke many languages, most flawlessly, and he believed this was English, at least the vulgarity was.
"Your train arrives at eight A.M., is that correct? Very well, but may I ask your name sir?" Martin could care about when this person's train arrived, the fact was that the caller spoke with a terrible drawl, even making Gal sound like a proper English Lady.
Beth looked up in time to see Martin's characteristic uninterested frown deepen to a truly mortified scowl, but only for a moment.
"Mr. Bedinski, yes," Martin's voice actually carried a note of sorrow, to a trained ear, "I will inform Miss Gal that you are arriving. Good day." Whatever the caller responded, the definite click of the phone cut it off.
"Beth, please answer the phone, should it ring. I have matters to discuss with Miss Gal." He nodded slightly, erectly setting off to the office area, bad news making his stomach sour.
((OOC: OK, the place is opening at 4, which is actually anytime someone plans to drop by. I'll post the menu tomorrow morning, and welcome to anyone who wants to sit, eat, drink and be merry. Gal will need some merry with her cousin showing up.))
Posted in the now polished Brass and Polycarbonate menu display:
Talos Inlet blue Mediterranean mussels with cilantro, chilis and ginger $11.75
Forest mushroom and chevre tart with a salad of spicy greens $11.50
House-made charcuterie plate with Gypsy's pickles $13.50 (Caution: Spicy)
Spinach salad with roasted beets, citrus supremes and pink peppercorn vinaigrette $11.50
Verona prosciutto with a mustard & fruit compote and olive crisps $12.25
Select Pacific oysters on the half shell with carrot habanero granité $10.75
Salad of gathered winter greens, toasted hazelnuts and herb vinaigrette $7.00
Soup of the day $6.25
_______________
MAIN COURSES
Bucatini pasta with Albacore tuna confit, tapenade, grilled radicchio and precorino romano cheese $19.50
Chick-pea panisse with braised greens, sun-dried tomatoes and a saffron-tofu vinaigrette $19.50 (House favorite)
Magret & confit of duck with brandied blood orange conserve, spaetzel and braised greens $31.50
Pan-seared Oregon Albacore tuna with roasted fingerling potatoes, Meyer lemon marmalade and freshly
preserved olive oil $24.50
Red wine cioppino of Dungeness crab, spot prawns, mussels and Manilla clams $24.50
Chili & honey-glazed pork loin with pasilla chile-onion relish, polenta and glazed yams $29.50
Risotto of yams, sunchokes and leeks with sharp gouda cheese and black pepper-caramel vinaigrette $21.50
((OOC: The doors open at 4PM, for those who may wish to visit. Martin, in his usual stiff suit and cravat, is waiting at the podium for visitors. Tables, booths and the bar are all available. For those who did not catch the first of this thread:
The restaurant is roughly rectangular, as you enter, there is a podium divided off from the rest of the restaurant by a heavy drape to keep out the cold or heat. The bar is down a hall just to the right, a glass door keeps them separate. Gal's kitchen, for display cooking, is on a dais to the left of the main room. It is visible from the eating area. The main kitchens are through swinging doors behind her area.
A round planter stands in the middle of the dining room, several large, exotic plants growing in it. It lends a sense of calm and privacy to the room. Conversation is quiet, respectful and the atmosphere is very nature oriented, almost like being in the open.
No fights, or you are automatically ejected by electronics and Sky Raider Porter units. No eavesdropping. This is a place for good food and interaction beyond crime fighting and violence.
Welcome.))
A light breeze blew his cape about as Rock-hopper stood on the roof opposite the restaurant. He'd heard rumours that the place had re-opened, and the sign in the doorway confirmed it. He smiled under his mask. It was a good time for a drink.
He opened the door with a gentle push, his heavy booted feet thumping heavily on the floor as he entered the building. The place looked just as he remembered it. He nodded a greeting to the man at the podium.
"Decided to open the place again, did ya? I came by a while back, an' found the place closed. Nice to see you're back."
My story arcs: #2370- Noah Reborn, #18672- The Clockwork War, #31490- Easy Money
Sartre once said, "Hell is other people." What does that make an MMO?
Lili "Festival" duValle smiled as she opened the door to Gal's Place and strolled in. It was early, only a few moments after 4PM, and she wasn't hungry. She'd not long before finished a late lunch prepared by Penny "Spotlite" Higgins, the Carnival's former-popcorn-girl-turned-chef (and villain-busting Warshade...but that was another story). But she wasn't here to eat.
She glanced about, looking for Gal or one of the staff, a bottle of wine tucked under her arm.
"And in this moment, I will not run.
It is my place to stand.
We few shall carry hope
Within our bloodied hands."
"Ah'll pass on th' greens, slaw'll do jes' fine. Besides, ah found a li'l place ovah few blocks in th' Gish, Gramma's Kitchen, where she grows 'em out back.... flown in 's good, but..."
Soulll paused, and then giggled.
"Growin' greens in Kings Row... good way to get the Circle ta show up and hold a croquet game in your garden... o whatevah it is those whackos do... them an' they silly hoods n robes n all..." More giggling.
She calmed a bit, but still was in a happy mood, partly because of the tequila buzz, but also because she was humming along with "Love Rollercoaster" on the jukebox.
"City of Heroes. April 27, 2004 - August 31, 2012. Obliterated not with a weapon of mass destruction, not by an all-powerful supervillain... but by a cold-hearted and cowardly corporate suck-up."