[Mila Davis] Things were falling apart. Literally, and figuratively. It was a little rough on the Galliard. Mila sat at the bar of the Brotherhood tonight - alone, as usual.. because the rest of the patrons there felt the even more than usual rage seep off her form. She didn't look upset, or angry - but maybe a perhaps a little lonely, or lost in thought.
The young woman looked like she was dressed for a day at the lake - sunglasses were perched in her hair.. and flip flops on the floor in front of her chair. There were two empty glasses before her.. and one which just recently appeared to be refilled.
[Ray Ostermann] Its the first time in a good while that Ray had come to the Brotherhood, he had been finding food elsewhere, finding company elsewhere along with everything else a man needed in a night and during lunch time. But here he was, out of the blue and into the bar.
He was dressed at his business best, as was always the occasion, a finely crafted and well tailored two button suit that made him look like a million dollars, even if he was really only worth a couple hundred thousand. He didn't pause at the door in trepidation, he stepped on through, heading for the bar and waving with a grin to the serving girls as he went by them.
All until he saw Mila, for living so close to the woman, he very rarely ever saw her. Especially now, with things as they were, he may no longer be a Shadow Lord, but Mila was still a friend...and an attractive one at that.
He slipped up next to the woman and in that smooth warming voice greeted her. "Mila, what a rare opportunity."
[Mila Davis] The young woman glanced up from her glass - a small smile touching her darkly hued lips. Her makeup was smeared in just a slight manner that could make people question if she'd been crying. She'd never admit if she had. Maybe that's what the sunglasses had been for.
"Hey Ray.. would you like a drink? I've started a tab tonight.. might as well add you to it.." A beat. "Haven't seen you in awhile.. how's things?"
[Ray Ostermann] "Have I ever turned down a drink Mila?" He says with a wry smile as he slipped onto the chair next to her and looked at her appraisingly. He takes a moment then to turn his attention to the bar tender and nods with a warm friendly smile, the tender still knew what Ray drank, and so he got around to pouring out that fine whiskey the man tended to drink.
He then turns his attention back to Mila and smiled at her, his gaze somewhat enigmatic. "Things have been...interesting."
[Mila Davis] "Oh yeah? Tell me about it.. and I hope your version of interesting is better than mine lately.." As soon as Ray got her glass.. she lifted hers in a small toast.
The young woman sipped her drink then.. and sighed before putting it down. Hopefully Ray had some good news - she could totally use a little pick-me-up.
[Ray Ostermann] Ray smiled at the Shadow Lord as he raised his glass and nodded his head ever so slightly in comraderie to the woman before takin his first sip of that amber liquid. When he had finished savoring the fluid in his glass he set it down and gave Mila once more over.
"Well, I've been mated for starts." He says with a chuckle. "To Marni, the longest shot I had..and yet it panned out."
He says with a broader smile, he hoped inwardly that it would be good news...given the implications of course that he was no longer part of the Tribe.
[Mila Davis] "Congratulations.. Ray. How did it happen?" A beat.. "Are you excited?" It seemed she didn't process that he wasn't one of them anymore just yet - perhaps it would come later, but for now she looked pleased enough that her friends.. rather.. friend (Ray) was mated and they'd be able to have the baby together.
"All the more reason to celebrate I suppose.."
[Ray Ostermann] "I am...still notentirely certain what it all mean's and where its going to take us...but I am excited that we will be able to be together, without interference from Wyrmbreaker."
He was pleased that she was, she was a friend, and that mattered in these days. "It seems that it was mostly out of my own choice....Wyrmbreaker came to me and asked what my opinon was...what I would want...so I told him. And it would seem that was that." He shrugged gently at the thought, partially pleased with himself.
[Mila Davis] "That easy, eh? After all the fuss you guys went through over this.. you just got to pick? Well.. I'm glad it worked out. So.. it's offical then?" She seemed to pause then - and consider what a mating to a Bone Gnawer might mean.
"Did you move in with her yet?"
[Ray Ostermann] "Move in with her?" He asks with a wry chuckle, finding the idea somewhat silly. He shook his head and gestured to himself. "No no...she moved in with me. After all, I do have the nicer place don't i? That and I am the one with the means."
He says picking up his whiskey again and tilting it to his lips, savoring it again before looking directly at the amber liquid through the glass walls of the cup.
"It is official of course, but don't expect me to be trading my fine thousand dollar suits for rags anytime soon."
[Kyle] Kyle's Nightmare Roll
[Mila Davis] "Well.. good - I'd be sad to see you living under the bridge with her." She smiled lightly agian... and sipped her drink. Yes, more liquor was needed.
"Does the pack treat you well, Ray?"
[Kyle] Given his lack of sleep and his already pale complection, Kyle really does look like death warmed up today. His shoulder length black hair is a mess, partially tied back in a pony tail and the rest just going in what ever direction it wanted to. Around his neck is that familiar black leather collar he always wears. Tight fitting long sleeve black shirt, black jeans and heavy biker boots really gives him a skeletal appearance, all someone had to do now was draw the bones on his clothes and he'd be ready for halloween.
Making his way down from upstairs he looks around to see if he noticed any regulars tonight. Spotting Ray he casually makes his way over to the pair.
[Ray Ostermann] He chuckles at that and shrugs. "I wouldn't know, I haven't seen this pack of her's yet. She's been rather busy keeping me all to herself. We have...an agreement that we won't be to particularly involved with others, at least not in anyway that isnt entirely platonic."
He doesn't notice Kyle as the man approaches, his eyes are all for Mila at the moment as he talks to her, converses with her as a man would a beautiful woman.
[Kora] The evening is cooler than it has been in days. The sky is clear, and there's a huge moon silhouetted against the faded orange background that is the city's constant glow. Out over the lake, though - the sky is dark, and the moon glows a bright, clean silver, with a faint, gleaming halo around the disc from the lingering humidity in the air.
Inside the Brotherhood, it is still sharply cooler than without. On hot weekend nights the combination of celebrating bodies and hot ovens means that the temperature creeps up beyond the capacity of the air conditioning units. Not so tonight.
--
The front door swings open, and a tall blonde walks in. She is casually dressed, in an old Pixies t-shirt and worn jeans, with dust Doc Marten's on her feet. (Once-) multicolored laces are wrapped several times around her calves, and a brown corduroy messenger bag is against her left hip, the strap bisecting her narrow torso. She catches the closing door on its backswing with her heel and lets it ease closed rather than slamming shut, then crosses the room casually, heading toward the bar.
[Mila Davis] "Cheers then.. Ray.. I'm happy for you.." Again, she lifted her glass in a toast - before she downed the rest of the contents and motioned to the bartender for another.
"At least one of our lives are going well. My packmates are idiots.. almost literally - and the one that wasn't.. I've lost due to something Simon did.. plus.. Scott isn't around anymore.." She didn't elaborate on the last part.. she didn't dare right now - not with the liquor.. and it being so close to her moon.
[Mila Davis] Her gaze lingered for a moment on the kin she vaguely recognized. He got a little upnod in greeting.
[Kyle] Seeing that Ray is busy chatting to Mila he simply finds a seat nearby and motions for some water to one of the staff behind the bar. Gives Mila a friendly smile and nod in greeting as he sips his drink and looks around at the patrons. A slight nod in greeting to Kora if he catches her eye.
[Ray Ostermann] "Thank you Mila, I'm sorry to hear things are going so poorly with your pack. That must be quite tough for you, I know the problems that an plague a good team of individuals, I can only imagine what they must be like for a group such as yours."
He takes a moment from the conversation and notes Mila nodding to Kyle, to which Ray does as well, raising his glass to the man. But then in walks Kora, Kora of the Fenrir and a sly grin slips across the man's face as he turns towards her with a chuckle. "Kora....how lovely it is to see you again."
[Kora] Kyle is difficult to miss - between the white skin and the black clothes, the long sleeves even in the most sweltering heat of summertime - and Kora misses little. She lifts her chin in acknowledgment of the kinsman's faint nod as she slip past him. Then her dark eyes linger on Mila and Ray as she passes behind them walking toward the bar. Both receive the faint curve of a half-smile by way of acknowledgment regardless of whether or not it is returned. The first thing she says, though, is " - the Heifeweizen, thanks." to the kinsman tending bar.
Her hands are in her hip pockets, now, her elbows tight against her lean torso. The black t-shirt she wears is fitted and well-worn, showing off a narrow, boyish build made feminine only by the faint curve of her hips. Dark eyes and a generous mouth dominate her otherwise sharp features. She wears not a lick of make-up, which makes her seem washed out compared to most other women - with mascara to darken their lashes, eyeliner to emphasize their eyes, gloss or lipstick to shape their mouths - and on, and on.
She turns 'round at the bar then, leans back against the frame, her elbows propped up as she awaits her beer. "Kyle, yeah?" - to Kyle, who is briefly fixed in her gaze. He's drinking water. That won't do. " - buy you a beer?"
Then, she cuts a sidelong look at Ray, returning his sly look with one that is utterly direct. "Mr. Osterman. Stormbreaker-yuf." The last is spoken in a voice so quiet it cannot be overheard beyond the pair of them, and perhaps the kinsman at the bar.
[Mila Davis] "Hrm.. yeah.. hopefully things will turn around." Mila just sighed and a hand ran through her hair in frustration.
She seemed like she wanted to say something else to Ray.. but his attention had been drawn elsewhere, so she just went back to her drink. Kora got a small smile and a raise of her glass though - she didn't recall the woman's name at the moment. Blame it on the liquor. "Good evening.."
[Kyle] Normally he'd say no to a drink but given how lousy he feels at the moment it could well be the pickme up he needs. Smiling he gives a thumbs up to Kora as he moves closer so he can be heard. His voice hushed as he speaks with a smile in his eyes despite how he feels and looks.
"Thanks Kora. Appreciate it. How's your day been?"
Looks to Mila and Ray before speaking to them.
"Hi Ray and Mila. Hope your day's gone well."
[Ray Ostermann] Kora's look is direct and almost challenging, not that there is any real point to challenging a kin on any level. The man's smile grows wider and he chuckles, its not a loud obnoxious thing, but a chuckle like he had expected that precise reaction. "As I said...lovely to see you again Kora." He says before looking over to Kyle.
"Well enough thank you...just discussing recent event's such as my new Tribe." He says with a casual tone, before at last looking back to Mila.
"I'm sure they will Mila, your one of the most resourceful women I know."
[Mila Davis] "The BG's lucked out .. got to say I'm a little jealous.."
"Mmm.. thanks Ray.. maybe I'll feel more resourceful tomorrow.. after my long chat with Simon.."
[Kora] Mila's passing Good Evening earns her another keen-eyed look from the Fenrir. The creature's dark eyes linger on the other Galliard's face, reading her lack of recognition in the lines beneath it, in the brevity of her greeting. It lasts a moment, but the awareness sharpens in Kora's dark eyes and briefly imprints a certain ironic edge to the shape of her mouth.
Then Kyle accepts her offer of a drink, and Kora cuts a glance back over her right shoulder t the bartender, who is now drawing her Heifeweizen. "Make that two, yeah?" she appends, her voice rich and low, the supple thread of a storyteller's tones, not the musicality of a singer's speaking voice. Kyle walks up, and Mila and Ray are close enough by, so Kora simply shifts position, planting her right heel on the bottom rung of one of the barstool and levering herself upward to sit, her back to the bar
"I'm well." The answer is for Kyle. It does not precisely answer his question, but it is the answer she offers, and she says it with the sort of underlying conviction that suggests she took his passing question seriously. Maybe she's always well. She's whole and hale, her pale skin kissed by the sun on her brow, across the bridge of her nose and her cheeks. " - you?"
Her beer arrives at her elbow, then. Kora shifts back, pulls it over the bartop, careful lest the head slosh over the lip of the glass, and lift it in ironic response to Ray's reiteration of his greeting. The second beer arrives a moment after, and Kora tips her head, indicating that it is for Kyle as she prompts Ray. " - your new tribe?"
[Mila Davis] {Gah.. I'm a moron.. I shoulda looked at Kora's deed name earlier.. lol. Mila totally knows who she is..}
to Kora
[Kora] (grins) then I'll assume that Kora's just figured out that Mila's drunk, cool?
to Mila Davis
[Kyle] "I'm breathing which is always a good thing. Thanks."
Takes the offered beer as he smiles at Kora and then sips at the drink as he watches the others
[Mila Davis] {Please do! *chuckles*}
to Kora
[Ray Ostermann] "Yes, Thunder holds no sway over my life...not anymore." He says with a shake of his head as he gestures up and down his body with a free hand, as if to indicate the obvious change within himself.
"I am now part of Rat's children."
[Victor Oseragighte] (( Upstairs or downstairs? ))
to Kora
[Kora] Downstairs in the bar!
to Victor Oseragighte
[Mila Davis] How many glasses had it been? God, she didn't remember anymore. But.. what did it really matter? An elbow rested upon the bar and her chin upon her hand.. the other hand toyed with the straw in her drink.
She watched Kora for a moment.. before her drunken brain finally got around to processing. Oooh.. it was the new Tailsinger.. the woman she'd wanted to win.. and did. She was good.. she smiled briefly thinking about it.. yeah.. Mila was a little worthless tonight.
Between her Pack going to hell.. her mate being dead and all.. and Ray now being a BeeGee.. this night really didn't get much worse.
[Victor Oseragighte] Despite the fact that Victor's been gone all day, when he comes into the bar it's by descending from upstairs. He pauses at the doorway and considers those present, picking out familiar faces in silence, his thoughts his own behind those black eyes.
Hard-toed boots, brown dungarees, and a blue and red Montreal Alouettes jersey make up his fairly simple garb.
[Kora] "Cheers," to Kyle as he takes the second Heifeweizen from the dark wood of the bartop. The wheat beer is pale and cloudy, a hint of a golden cast to it, with a sharp forward mouth and the faint aftertaste of bananas, just a hint sweet on the finish. Kora inhales the yeasty scent of the sparking, fizzing head for a long, slow moment, then brings the brew to her mouth, drinking.
She has a mouthful of beer when Ray passes on his news, gesturing up and down his body. The Fenrir's dark eyes flick him head to toe, as if something might be gained by such a demonstration. Then her eyes settle on his face, just narrowed - not his eyes but the shape of his jaw, the way muscles move beneath his skin.
"Congrats to whomever won you." There's a subtle lift of her brow at the end of the offer, before her attention cuts back to Mila, staring morosely into her drink now, stirring the alcohol and mixer, the melting ice cubes with the decorative little straw.
"There's something wrong." The last is to Mila. There can be no mistaking it: the Skald's attention is sharpened on the Shadow Lord now, her question incisive and direct but not abrupt. "What happened?"
[Mila Davis] "Mm.. it's ok.. just some personal stuff going to hell. Nothing that we need to bring the night down with. We're celebrating Ray's finding of love tonight.. " Apparently, for once, the Galliard didn't have a ton to say. If Kora forced the issue, she'd answer further.. but until then, she'd just leave it brief.
[Victor Oseragighte] Crossing the room, he takes his time, noting regulars, faces he's likely to see often here who aren't the upstairs crowd. Was good to keep track of this sort of thing. The Wendigo reaches the bar, though, and points to the tap before holding up a finger and gesturing to himself. Up onto a stool and he leans forward and nods to Kora and her companions.
[Kora] "Love?" - there is a faint quirk, then. A twist of the creature's eyebrows, and a slanting look back at Ray. "Is that what you're celebrating, Mr. Osterman?"
Then, she shoots a glance back to Mila. It's okay - the Shadow Lord asserts - just some personal stuff and this offhanded response earns her another measure of scrutiny. Kora has her beer in hand now, and is half swung around on the barstool, her right elbow on then polished surface, her beer in her left hand. As she studies Mila, Kora is unreadable, not because she is so skilled at concealing her thoughts behind a polite veneer, but because she withholds judgment, watching and assessing because she comes to anything like a conclusion.
"Just some personal stuff." She echoes to Mila at last, the statement flat enough that it could be read as an invitation to further revelations, or a bookend to Mila's assertion. Drunk as she is, the Shadow Lord must still feel the hint of the Fenrir's regard upon her, still and watchful until Victor approaches the bar.
"Victor," Kora greets him. Then: introductions, "Kyle," a tip of her head toward the pale-skinned, black-clothed kinsman "Ray." Indicating the Shadow Lord-tured Bone Gnawer. "Mila."
[Kyle] Turns to look at Victor and gives a wide smile a she speaks in a hushed tone.
"Hi there."
A casual wave in greeting as he sips at his drink
[Ray Ostermann] "Not love...not yet anyways, I'm not so presumptious to assume that just because someone won a challenge for me that it is love. But shall we call it...open negotiations with a specific individual in that field of acquisition." He chuckles for himself finding the idea funny, especialy given who he was now mated to.
[Mila Davis] "I found out today that my mate's dead. A car accident after a high speed chase down in Missouri.. So.. yeah. Sucky stuff. And, I lost a potential packmate due to one of my other packmates being dumb in some fashion.. So I have to deal with that now too."
She took another moment to stir her drink with her straw before taking a sip.. and replacing the glass on the coaster. "So.. personal stuff. Not exactly the type of thing that you want to shout out at a little gathering. I need about eight more drinks for that.."
Her blue-grey gaze shifted for a moment from the other Galliard who didn't want to give it up.. to the newcommer.. who she'd met once or so.. he knew her dumb ass packmate quite well. He got a nod in greeting.. Kora had introduced her, it was good enough for now.
[Victor Oseragighte] His drink arrives and a hand wraps about it, raising it in silent salute to those introduced. At Mila's comments about her losses, he lowered it and nodded respectfully to her, offering his condolences without having to say a word yet.
[Kora] Per [observant] + Empathy :: how do you really feel, Ray?
Dice Rolled:[ 6 d10 ] 4, 6, 8, 8, 8, 8 (Success x 5 at target 6)
to Ray Ostermann
[Ray Ostermann] [He's excited, in a way glad to be free of a great deal of control, or at least what he felt was overbearing control on behalf of his former tribe, but he is wary, and he is ready for any signs of duplicity from the Gnawers as well, he's happy his warder won him, but at the same time, he questions wether love is really in the cards at all.]
to Kora
[Kora] A glance in the middle at Ray, as he makes his mergers and acquisitions joke. It is one that Kora does not understand, not fully. Perhaps not at all. It matters little; her eyes linger on the way his mouth moves as he chuckles quietly to himself, enjoying the shape of his own joke.
The creature takes another deep drink from her beer, lifting it casually to her mouth, her fingers spread around the rim of the glass, the warm lights of bar gleaming in both the prism of the glass and the murky depths of the liquid inside with the movement. Kora watches Mila over the rim of her glass, her dark eyes gleaming, her pale skin a stark contrast to the dark, worn fabric of her PIXIES t-shirt. The latter has been washed so many times that it is no longer black so much as a memory of black, soft from a thousand thousand washings, and well-fitted to the tall Skald's narrow frame.
"I'm sorry for your loss." Kora says, quietly. "And I'll remember his story, if you'd like to share it some day."
The rest of Mila's woes go - unremarked upon. If there is a certain sharpening in the creature's attention, it can easily be written off to the way light cuts across the surface of her drink. Which she is finishing now, lifting to her mouth and drinking it back. Gesturing to the bartender for another round, indicating all present - except herself.
[Mila Davis] "Thanks.." Her glass was again brought to her lips for a small sip. "Perhaps I will, when the wounds aren't so fresh." The rest of the day.. well, that really wasn' what was bothering her - it just was an insult added to injury.
"Nothing like a little bad news to stop a conversation cold." There was other things that were weighing on her mind and bringing her spirits down, but those were even more personal than the loss of her mate.. and that didn't need to be shared. It was her personal loss, no one else in the world would ever know about it.
"So.. has anyone got any good news.. or interesting news to share - to change the topic?" Ray got a little look. He didn't love Marni yet? After all that.. he still didn't love her?
[Ray Ostermann] Mila drops the bomb shell, and Ray's smile falters, and then fades away and he puts a hand on Mila's shoulder and gave her a small, personal smile, not one thats happy, but one that's reassuring, and friendly.
"I'm sorry to hear that Mila,like you said to Kora...we can talk about that later if you want."
[Kyle] Hearing Mila's words he bows his head a moment then gulps down a good portion of his drink. Looking at the others he smiles and shrugs.
"Sorry not much of a conversationalist myself. Been on a roam for the last few weeks so out of touch gossip wise."
[Kora] There's a flicker of her dark eyes, from Mile to Ray and back again, all this over the surface of her drink. The Skald finishes the remaining quarter of the Heifewiezen drinking steadily and surely, then sets the empty glass on the bar as she reaches back to pull her passport from her right hip pocket. Tucked into the dark blue jacket of the passport are a twenty and a ten. After a moment's hesitation as she mentally counts the drinks she has purchased against some invisible yardstick of the cost of a drink, Kora pushes both bills across the counter. Now there's nothing in the passport except an old picture and far too many entry and exit stamps, temporary visas and the like.
The Skald waves off the change. "I'm sorry." This to Mila and Ray, the remnants of a lingering look for the former. The hint of a twist to her mouth. " - but I have duties tonight. Another time, yeah?"
With that, and a faint lift of her chin by way of farewell to Kyle and Victor, Kora - whose deed name after all is Sorrow, not Joy - slips down from the barstool and takes her leave, as quickly and quietly as she arrived.
The young woman looked like she was dressed for a day at the lake - sunglasses were perched in her hair.. and flip flops on the floor in front of her chair. There were two empty glasses before her.. and one which just recently appeared to be refilled.
[Ray Ostermann] Its the first time in a good while that Ray had come to the Brotherhood, he had been finding food elsewhere, finding company elsewhere along with everything else a man needed in a night and during lunch time. But here he was, out of the blue and into the bar.
He was dressed at his business best, as was always the occasion, a finely crafted and well tailored two button suit that made him look like a million dollars, even if he was really only worth a couple hundred thousand. He didn't pause at the door in trepidation, he stepped on through, heading for the bar and waving with a grin to the serving girls as he went by them.
All until he saw Mila, for living so close to the woman, he very rarely ever saw her. Especially now, with things as they were, he may no longer be a Shadow Lord, but Mila was still a friend...and an attractive one at that.
He slipped up next to the woman and in that smooth warming voice greeted her. "Mila, what a rare opportunity."
[Mila Davis] The young woman glanced up from her glass - a small smile touching her darkly hued lips. Her makeup was smeared in just a slight manner that could make people question if she'd been crying. She'd never admit if she had. Maybe that's what the sunglasses had been for.
"Hey Ray.. would you like a drink? I've started a tab tonight.. might as well add you to it.." A beat. "Haven't seen you in awhile.. how's things?"
[Ray Ostermann] "Have I ever turned down a drink Mila?" He says with a wry smile as he slipped onto the chair next to her and looked at her appraisingly. He takes a moment then to turn his attention to the bar tender and nods with a warm friendly smile, the tender still knew what Ray drank, and so he got around to pouring out that fine whiskey the man tended to drink.
He then turns his attention back to Mila and smiled at her, his gaze somewhat enigmatic. "Things have been...interesting."
[Mila Davis] "Oh yeah? Tell me about it.. and I hope your version of interesting is better than mine lately.." As soon as Ray got her glass.. she lifted hers in a small toast.
The young woman sipped her drink then.. and sighed before putting it down. Hopefully Ray had some good news - she could totally use a little pick-me-up.
[Ray Ostermann] Ray smiled at the Shadow Lord as he raised his glass and nodded his head ever so slightly in comraderie to the woman before takin his first sip of that amber liquid. When he had finished savoring the fluid in his glass he set it down and gave Mila once more over.
"Well, I've been mated for starts." He says with a chuckle. "To Marni, the longest shot I had..and yet it panned out."
He says with a broader smile, he hoped inwardly that it would be good news...given the implications of course that he was no longer part of the Tribe.
[Mila Davis] "Congratulations.. Ray. How did it happen?" A beat.. "Are you excited?" It seemed she didn't process that he wasn't one of them anymore just yet - perhaps it would come later, but for now she looked pleased enough that her friends.. rather.. friend (Ray) was mated and they'd be able to have the baby together.
"All the more reason to celebrate I suppose.."
[Ray Ostermann] "I am...still notentirely certain what it all mean's and where its going to take us...but I am excited that we will be able to be together, without interference from Wyrmbreaker."
He was pleased that she was, she was a friend, and that mattered in these days. "It seems that it was mostly out of my own choice....Wyrmbreaker came to me and asked what my opinon was...what I would want...so I told him. And it would seem that was that." He shrugged gently at the thought, partially pleased with himself.
[Mila Davis] "That easy, eh? After all the fuss you guys went through over this.. you just got to pick? Well.. I'm glad it worked out. So.. it's offical then?" She seemed to pause then - and consider what a mating to a Bone Gnawer might mean.
"Did you move in with her yet?"
[Ray Ostermann] "Move in with her?" He asks with a wry chuckle, finding the idea somewhat silly. He shook his head and gestured to himself. "No no...she moved in with me. After all, I do have the nicer place don't i? That and I am the one with the means."
He says picking up his whiskey again and tilting it to his lips, savoring it again before looking directly at the amber liquid through the glass walls of the cup.
"It is official of course, but don't expect me to be trading my fine thousand dollar suits for rags anytime soon."
[Kyle] Kyle's Nightmare Roll
[Mila Davis] "Well.. good - I'd be sad to see you living under the bridge with her." She smiled lightly agian... and sipped her drink. Yes, more liquor was needed.
"Does the pack treat you well, Ray?"
[Kyle] Given his lack of sleep and his already pale complection, Kyle really does look like death warmed up today. His shoulder length black hair is a mess, partially tied back in a pony tail and the rest just going in what ever direction it wanted to. Around his neck is that familiar black leather collar he always wears. Tight fitting long sleeve black shirt, black jeans and heavy biker boots really gives him a skeletal appearance, all someone had to do now was draw the bones on his clothes and he'd be ready for halloween.
Making his way down from upstairs he looks around to see if he noticed any regulars tonight. Spotting Ray he casually makes his way over to the pair.
[Ray Ostermann] He chuckles at that and shrugs. "I wouldn't know, I haven't seen this pack of her's yet. She's been rather busy keeping me all to herself. We have...an agreement that we won't be to particularly involved with others, at least not in anyway that isnt entirely platonic."
He doesn't notice Kyle as the man approaches, his eyes are all for Mila at the moment as he talks to her, converses with her as a man would a beautiful woman.
[Kora] The evening is cooler than it has been in days. The sky is clear, and there's a huge moon silhouetted against the faded orange background that is the city's constant glow. Out over the lake, though - the sky is dark, and the moon glows a bright, clean silver, with a faint, gleaming halo around the disc from the lingering humidity in the air.
Inside the Brotherhood, it is still sharply cooler than without. On hot weekend nights the combination of celebrating bodies and hot ovens means that the temperature creeps up beyond the capacity of the air conditioning units. Not so tonight.
--
The front door swings open, and a tall blonde walks in. She is casually dressed, in an old Pixies t-shirt and worn jeans, with dust Doc Marten's on her feet. (Once-) multicolored laces are wrapped several times around her calves, and a brown corduroy messenger bag is against her left hip, the strap bisecting her narrow torso. She catches the closing door on its backswing with her heel and lets it ease closed rather than slamming shut, then crosses the room casually, heading toward the bar.
[Mila Davis] "Cheers then.. Ray.. I'm happy for you.." Again, she lifted her glass in a toast - before she downed the rest of the contents and motioned to the bartender for another.
"At least one of our lives are going well. My packmates are idiots.. almost literally - and the one that wasn't.. I've lost due to something Simon did.. plus.. Scott isn't around anymore.." She didn't elaborate on the last part.. she didn't dare right now - not with the liquor.. and it being so close to her moon.
[Mila Davis] Her gaze lingered for a moment on the kin she vaguely recognized. He got a little upnod in greeting.
[Kyle] Seeing that Ray is busy chatting to Mila he simply finds a seat nearby and motions for some water to one of the staff behind the bar. Gives Mila a friendly smile and nod in greeting as he sips his drink and looks around at the patrons. A slight nod in greeting to Kora if he catches her eye.
[Ray Ostermann] "Thank you Mila, I'm sorry to hear things are going so poorly with your pack. That must be quite tough for you, I know the problems that an plague a good team of individuals, I can only imagine what they must be like for a group such as yours."
He takes a moment from the conversation and notes Mila nodding to Kyle, to which Ray does as well, raising his glass to the man. But then in walks Kora, Kora of the Fenrir and a sly grin slips across the man's face as he turns towards her with a chuckle. "Kora....how lovely it is to see you again."
[Kora] Kyle is difficult to miss - between the white skin and the black clothes, the long sleeves even in the most sweltering heat of summertime - and Kora misses little. She lifts her chin in acknowledgment of the kinsman's faint nod as she slip past him. Then her dark eyes linger on Mila and Ray as she passes behind them walking toward the bar. Both receive the faint curve of a half-smile by way of acknowledgment regardless of whether or not it is returned. The first thing she says, though, is " - the Heifeweizen, thanks." to the kinsman tending bar.
Her hands are in her hip pockets, now, her elbows tight against her lean torso. The black t-shirt she wears is fitted and well-worn, showing off a narrow, boyish build made feminine only by the faint curve of her hips. Dark eyes and a generous mouth dominate her otherwise sharp features. She wears not a lick of make-up, which makes her seem washed out compared to most other women - with mascara to darken their lashes, eyeliner to emphasize their eyes, gloss or lipstick to shape their mouths - and on, and on.
She turns 'round at the bar then, leans back against the frame, her elbows propped up as she awaits her beer. "Kyle, yeah?" - to Kyle, who is briefly fixed in her gaze. He's drinking water. That won't do. " - buy you a beer?"
Then, she cuts a sidelong look at Ray, returning his sly look with one that is utterly direct. "Mr. Osterman. Stormbreaker-yuf." The last is spoken in a voice so quiet it cannot be overheard beyond the pair of them, and perhaps the kinsman at the bar.
[Mila Davis] "Hrm.. yeah.. hopefully things will turn around." Mila just sighed and a hand ran through her hair in frustration.
She seemed like she wanted to say something else to Ray.. but his attention had been drawn elsewhere, so she just went back to her drink. Kora got a small smile and a raise of her glass though - she didn't recall the woman's name at the moment. Blame it on the liquor. "Good evening.."
[Kyle] Normally he'd say no to a drink but given how lousy he feels at the moment it could well be the pickme up he needs. Smiling he gives a thumbs up to Kora as he moves closer so he can be heard. His voice hushed as he speaks with a smile in his eyes despite how he feels and looks.
"Thanks Kora. Appreciate it. How's your day been?"
Looks to Mila and Ray before speaking to them.
"Hi Ray and Mila. Hope your day's gone well."
[Ray Ostermann] Kora's look is direct and almost challenging, not that there is any real point to challenging a kin on any level. The man's smile grows wider and he chuckles, its not a loud obnoxious thing, but a chuckle like he had expected that precise reaction. "As I said...lovely to see you again Kora." He says before looking over to Kyle.
"Well enough thank you...just discussing recent event's such as my new Tribe." He says with a casual tone, before at last looking back to Mila.
"I'm sure they will Mila, your one of the most resourceful women I know."
[Mila Davis] "The BG's lucked out .. got to say I'm a little jealous.."
"Mmm.. thanks Ray.. maybe I'll feel more resourceful tomorrow.. after my long chat with Simon.."
[Kora] Mila's passing Good Evening earns her another keen-eyed look from the Fenrir. The creature's dark eyes linger on the other Galliard's face, reading her lack of recognition in the lines beneath it, in the brevity of her greeting. It lasts a moment, but the awareness sharpens in Kora's dark eyes and briefly imprints a certain ironic edge to the shape of her mouth.
Then Kyle accepts her offer of a drink, and Kora cuts a glance back over her right shoulder t the bartender, who is now drawing her Heifeweizen. "Make that two, yeah?" she appends, her voice rich and low, the supple thread of a storyteller's tones, not the musicality of a singer's speaking voice. Kyle walks up, and Mila and Ray are close enough by, so Kora simply shifts position, planting her right heel on the bottom rung of one of the barstool and levering herself upward to sit, her back to the bar
"I'm well." The answer is for Kyle. It does not precisely answer his question, but it is the answer she offers, and she says it with the sort of underlying conviction that suggests she took his passing question seriously. Maybe she's always well. She's whole and hale, her pale skin kissed by the sun on her brow, across the bridge of her nose and her cheeks. " - you?"
Her beer arrives at her elbow, then. Kora shifts back, pulls it over the bartop, careful lest the head slosh over the lip of the glass, and lift it in ironic response to Ray's reiteration of his greeting. The second beer arrives a moment after, and Kora tips her head, indicating that it is for Kyle as she prompts Ray. " - your new tribe?"
[Mila Davis] {Gah.. I'm a moron.. I shoulda looked at Kora's deed name earlier.. lol. Mila totally knows who she is..}
to Kora
[Kora] (grins) then I'll assume that Kora's just figured out that Mila's drunk, cool?
to Mila Davis
[Kyle] "I'm breathing which is always a good thing. Thanks."
Takes the offered beer as he smiles at Kora and then sips at the drink as he watches the others
[Mila Davis] {Please do! *chuckles*}
to Kora
[Ray Ostermann] "Yes, Thunder holds no sway over my life...not anymore." He says with a shake of his head as he gestures up and down his body with a free hand, as if to indicate the obvious change within himself.
"I am now part of Rat's children."
[Victor Oseragighte] (( Upstairs or downstairs? ))
to Kora
[Kora] Downstairs in the bar!
to Victor Oseragighte
[Mila Davis] How many glasses had it been? God, she didn't remember anymore. But.. what did it really matter? An elbow rested upon the bar and her chin upon her hand.. the other hand toyed with the straw in her drink.
She watched Kora for a moment.. before her drunken brain finally got around to processing. Oooh.. it was the new Tailsinger.. the woman she'd wanted to win.. and did. She was good.. she smiled briefly thinking about it.. yeah.. Mila was a little worthless tonight.
Between her Pack going to hell.. her mate being dead and all.. and Ray now being a BeeGee.. this night really didn't get much worse.
[Victor Oseragighte] Despite the fact that Victor's been gone all day, when he comes into the bar it's by descending from upstairs. He pauses at the doorway and considers those present, picking out familiar faces in silence, his thoughts his own behind those black eyes.
Hard-toed boots, brown dungarees, and a blue and red Montreal Alouettes jersey make up his fairly simple garb.
[Kora] "Cheers," to Kyle as he takes the second Heifeweizen from the dark wood of the bartop. The wheat beer is pale and cloudy, a hint of a golden cast to it, with a sharp forward mouth and the faint aftertaste of bananas, just a hint sweet on the finish. Kora inhales the yeasty scent of the sparking, fizzing head for a long, slow moment, then brings the brew to her mouth, drinking.
She has a mouthful of beer when Ray passes on his news, gesturing up and down his body. The Fenrir's dark eyes flick him head to toe, as if something might be gained by such a demonstration. Then her eyes settle on his face, just narrowed - not his eyes but the shape of his jaw, the way muscles move beneath his skin.
"Congrats to whomever won you." There's a subtle lift of her brow at the end of the offer, before her attention cuts back to Mila, staring morosely into her drink now, stirring the alcohol and mixer, the melting ice cubes with the decorative little straw.
"There's something wrong." The last is to Mila. There can be no mistaking it: the Skald's attention is sharpened on the Shadow Lord now, her question incisive and direct but not abrupt. "What happened?"
[Mila Davis] "Mm.. it's ok.. just some personal stuff going to hell. Nothing that we need to bring the night down with. We're celebrating Ray's finding of love tonight.. " Apparently, for once, the Galliard didn't have a ton to say. If Kora forced the issue, she'd answer further.. but until then, she'd just leave it brief.
[Victor Oseragighte] Crossing the room, he takes his time, noting regulars, faces he's likely to see often here who aren't the upstairs crowd. Was good to keep track of this sort of thing. The Wendigo reaches the bar, though, and points to the tap before holding up a finger and gesturing to himself. Up onto a stool and he leans forward and nods to Kora and her companions.
[Kora] "Love?" - there is a faint quirk, then. A twist of the creature's eyebrows, and a slanting look back at Ray. "Is that what you're celebrating, Mr. Osterman?"
Then, she shoots a glance back to Mila. It's okay - the Shadow Lord asserts - just some personal stuff and this offhanded response earns her another measure of scrutiny. Kora has her beer in hand now, and is half swung around on the barstool, her right elbow on then polished surface, her beer in her left hand. As she studies Mila, Kora is unreadable, not because she is so skilled at concealing her thoughts behind a polite veneer, but because she withholds judgment, watching and assessing because she comes to anything like a conclusion.
"Just some personal stuff." She echoes to Mila at last, the statement flat enough that it could be read as an invitation to further revelations, or a bookend to Mila's assertion. Drunk as she is, the Shadow Lord must still feel the hint of the Fenrir's regard upon her, still and watchful until Victor approaches the bar.
"Victor," Kora greets him. Then: introductions, "Kyle," a tip of her head toward the pale-skinned, black-clothed kinsman "Ray." Indicating the Shadow Lord-tured Bone Gnawer. "Mila."
[Kyle] Turns to look at Victor and gives a wide smile a she speaks in a hushed tone.
"Hi there."
A casual wave in greeting as he sips at his drink
[Ray Ostermann] "Not love...not yet anyways, I'm not so presumptious to assume that just because someone won a challenge for me that it is love. But shall we call it...open negotiations with a specific individual in that field of acquisition." He chuckles for himself finding the idea funny, especialy given who he was now mated to.
[Mila Davis] "I found out today that my mate's dead. A car accident after a high speed chase down in Missouri.. So.. yeah. Sucky stuff. And, I lost a potential packmate due to one of my other packmates being dumb in some fashion.. So I have to deal with that now too."
She took another moment to stir her drink with her straw before taking a sip.. and replacing the glass on the coaster. "So.. personal stuff. Not exactly the type of thing that you want to shout out at a little gathering. I need about eight more drinks for that.."
Her blue-grey gaze shifted for a moment from the other Galliard who didn't want to give it up.. to the newcommer.. who she'd met once or so.. he knew her dumb ass packmate quite well. He got a nod in greeting.. Kora had introduced her, it was good enough for now.
[Victor Oseragighte] His drink arrives and a hand wraps about it, raising it in silent salute to those introduced. At Mila's comments about her losses, he lowered it and nodded respectfully to her, offering his condolences without having to say a word yet.
[Kora] Per [observant] + Empathy :: how do you really feel, Ray?
Dice Rolled:[ 6 d10 ] 4, 6, 8, 8, 8, 8 (Success x 5 at target 6)
to Ray Ostermann
[Ray Ostermann] [He's excited, in a way glad to be free of a great deal of control, or at least what he felt was overbearing control on behalf of his former tribe, but he is wary, and he is ready for any signs of duplicity from the Gnawers as well, he's happy his warder won him, but at the same time, he questions wether love is really in the cards at all.]
to Kora
[Kora] A glance in the middle at Ray, as he makes his mergers and acquisitions joke. It is one that Kora does not understand, not fully. Perhaps not at all. It matters little; her eyes linger on the way his mouth moves as he chuckles quietly to himself, enjoying the shape of his own joke.
The creature takes another deep drink from her beer, lifting it casually to her mouth, her fingers spread around the rim of the glass, the warm lights of bar gleaming in both the prism of the glass and the murky depths of the liquid inside with the movement. Kora watches Mila over the rim of her glass, her dark eyes gleaming, her pale skin a stark contrast to the dark, worn fabric of her PIXIES t-shirt. The latter has been washed so many times that it is no longer black so much as a memory of black, soft from a thousand thousand washings, and well-fitted to the tall Skald's narrow frame.
"I'm sorry for your loss." Kora says, quietly. "And I'll remember his story, if you'd like to share it some day."
The rest of Mila's woes go - unremarked upon. If there is a certain sharpening in the creature's attention, it can easily be written off to the way light cuts across the surface of her drink. Which she is finishing now, lifting to her mouth and drinking it back. Gesturing to the bartender for another round, indicating all present - except herself.
[Mila Davis] "Thanks.." Her glass was again brought to her lips for a small sip. "Perhaps I will, when the wounds aren't so fresh." The rest of the day.. well, that really wasn' what was bothering her - it just was an insult added to injury.
"Nothing like a little bad news to stop a conversation cold." There was other things that were weighing on her mind and bringing her spirits down, but those were even more personal than the loss of her mate.. and that didn't need to be shared. It was her personal loss, no one else in the world would ever know about it.
"So.. has anyone got any good news.. or interesting news to share - to change the topic?" Ray got a little look. He didn't love Marni yet? After all that.. he still didn't love her?
[Ray Ostermann] Mila drops the bomb shell, and Ray's smile falters, and then fades away and he puts a hand on Mila's shoulder and gave her a small, personal smile, not one thats happy, but one that's reassuring, and friendly.
"I'm sorry to hear that Mila,like you said to Kora...we can talk about that later if you want."
[Kyle] Hearing Mila's words he bows his head a moment then gulps down a good portion of his drink. Looking at the others he smiles and shrugs.
"Sorry not much of a conversationalist myself. Been on a roam for the last few weeks so out of touch gossip wise."
[Kora] There's a flicker of her dark eyes, from Mile to Ray and back again, all this over the surface of her drink. The Skald finishes the remaining quarter of the Heifewiezen drinking steadily and surely, then sets the empty glass on the bar as she reaches back to pull her passport from her right hip pocket. Tucked into the dark blue jacket of the passport are a twenty and a ten. After a moment's hesitation as she mentally counts the drinks she has purchased against some invisible yardstick of the cost of a drink, Kora pushes both bills across the counter. Now there's nothing in the passport except an old picture and far too many entry and exit stamps, temporary visas and the like.
The Skald waves off the change. "I'm sorry." This to Mila and Ray, the remnants of a lingering look for the former. The hint of a twist to her mouth. " - but I have duties tonight. Another time, yeah?"
With that, and a faint lift of her chin by way of farewell to Kyle and Victor, Kora - whose deed name after all is Sorrow, not Joy - slips down from the barstool and takes her leave, as quickly and quietly as she arrived.
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