Drawing Fire

[Josh]

Hob's Bar and Grill is a fixture in the Community. That is to say, the supernatural community of Tucson. They say that location is everything when it comes to a successful business, and they aren't wrong. Hob's lies in that sweet spot, just close enough to the university to entice students to bike or walk, close enough to the business sector for the working class to stop by for lunch, and within risking it distance to suburbia to risk a nightcap with friends. Not that the average person would ever appreciate that after getting a look at it, crouched at the end of a semi-successful shopping plaza. To their eyes, the fence that cordoned off the outside half of the establishment was rickety and chewed by the elements, topped by cheap, gaudy plastic plants that were as tasteless as they were lifeless. Your normal citizen would be put off by the grimy windows along the front and the porch that sagged like the busted jaw of a defeated boxer, planks uneven and gaps showing through. And if they did stop to look, they would walk away in disgust at the permanent closed sign that stated the restaurant was always a few hours away from opening or a few moments too late, opened tomorrow or yesterday but not today.

 

Yet, for the unaverage things were different. Those oddballs and outliers that weren't put off by such things would try the door and find something quite different. They, just like those in the know and those that had heard from the mouths of friends, would find a lively establishment. Hob's was busy all day and night, except in the wee morning hours when the staff slept. The long bar took up the inner dining room, holding court over the splattering of booths. The kitchen cranked out decent, cheap food that filled the belly and didn't quite threaten to drown you in grease and fat. Things spilled outside, into the nice outdoor area, surprisingly cool in the open air of Arizona. That was probably thanks to the small bubbling pool kicking up mist from the corner of the yard and the shade cast by the totally nonnative vegetation that hugged beautiful fence. And what a fence it was, carved with all number symbols and icons housing the gentle glamour and wards that maintained Hob's outer appearance as well as muffle thing going on of its clientele.  

 

The usual crowd was a mixed bunch, and often quite flexible. Most were changelings, the ones still too human, down on their lucky, or on the outs at court and weren't yet ready for or tolerated at the Summer Court's mainstream establishments around town. Then you had your small timers, kitchen witches that met for drinks with friends or they lie-catcher sneaking off for a quick bite during their lunch break. They often had little clichés to rub shoulders with on the weekly, taking the same tables and having the same arguments in comfortable companionship. You also had those odd mortals who took a look at the rest and shrugged it off before tucking in for dinner and a beer, not quite unwelcome but never truly accepted either.

 

Our Start

 

Okay, so there's the scene. You guys are at Hob's, its early night time and the sun is just starting to set. I'm leaving it up to you guys to establish why you are there having an early dinner together, where you are sitting, and just establishing how you feel and think of the place before starting off the plot. If you want to look around at the other guests, let me know, or just have a short conversation and roleplay before things get funky, up to ya'll.

[Mick the Rogue]

Caesar

Caesar was wide awake. Having a pack of nocturnal predators and what could at best be considered 'a gig economy job' meant that his daytime activities mostly consisted of sleeping with occasional snacking. He had tried to bring one of his pack in here, but after a woman screamed about a wild animal, he'd since opted to go alone. The pack was fine without him, a normal set of animals... and again likely asleep.

 

While Caesar felt free when he was on four legs, but he wasn't at a point where he could abandon two legged matters. Besides, while he had acquired a taste for raw meat, carbs and cheese were still delightful. The large double cheeseburger in front of him and a pile of fries was a testament to that. He was making a mild celebration, it has been a two years since he first learned to change, and around a year since he had started his pack. Things were good, interesting. He took another bite of the burger, enjoying the mix of flavors.

Still, habits died hard and he would look around to see who else was in the room as he ate... though he was distracted by the excellent burger

[EDTA]

Jade

Hob's wasn't the worst place to eat in the area, at least not for the price. Jade found it years ago, back when she was sure she was a witch. She wasn't, but it turned out she had something in common with a lot of the patrons after all. It was always busy but it was also quiet, in a way. Jade always knew what she'd get coming here. Familiar place with familiar food. And familiar faces.

 

Caesar went back further than a couple years ago, way before Jade's baby witch days, when she was just Jenny. They knew each other basically their whole lives. Same neighborhood, same school, even rolled with the same crowds before. But then they grew up and grew apart a couple yeara there, only to find themselves moving in the same circles again. And going back that far there were of course certain liberties. Jade plops down in the other chair at his dinky table and helps herself to a fry or three.

 

"Thanks. Gotta eat something before I hit the clubs tonight anyway. Might just skip it though, seen all the acts already and there's no way they suddenly got worth listening to." She probably could sleepwalk through a review from memory. Even so it was worth checking the acts out again and hope for a surprise. A really big surprise. Still Caesar might be up to something more interesting. "So what, you left your puppies at home this time or are they just out back?"

Edited January 25, 2023 by EDTA (see edit history)

[Mick the Rogue]

Caesar

There's a long stare and a brief baring of teeth before Caesar remembered he was on two feet and that Jade was... well friend was a strong word. But not unfriendly.

 

"Ain't got pups Jade, though Simi's due in a few weeks." he said of one of the breeding pairs. "They're at home. Asleep most likely, wouldn't put it past Shillah to follow though..." he put down his burger.

 

"You want somethin'?"

[EDTA]

Jade

Jade is completely unfazed by Caesar's less than enthusiastic reaction as she continues to eat her pilfered fries. As soon as that's done she instantly adopts a faux-hurt expression. "Ouch. You think we can't just talk like the old friends we are? Do I need to have some ulterior motive? You're acting as of I'm about to make some demand of you." She snags another fry and pops it in her mouth. "Well actually now that you mention it you do still hang around Cooper's right? Not that I'd be caught dead there anymore, acoustics are **** and the bookings are worse. But I heard there was a bit of a 'excitement' there the other night. You wouldn't happen to know anything about that, would you?"

[Mick the Rogue]

Caesar

"Nothing too exciting. Just a misunderstanding. I helped someone with a problem, minor thing, and they decided to stiff me." he grabbed a fry and crunched down. 

"Amazing how people freak out when a wild animal gets in, and then no one can find it in the venue."

[Chimi]

Parker

SPLAT! is the sound of a notebook, folder, and small pile of loose papers that punctuates Caesar and Jade's conversation as Parker walks by. Schoolwork, Organic Chem from the top page, and all on dead tree since Parker knows better than to bring her increasingly dodgy laptop in here. Once at the bar she looks back to assess the table and Caesar's rapidly decreasing fry pile. "Three shandies, and frrrrr...loaded fries." She shows her ID (this one with her actual legit birthday showing she'd turned 21 a couple months ago), spills cash and a modest, college-student sized tip on the bar, and returns to Caesar and Jade, bearing three golden glasses with tongue-between-teeth conversation, setting them in the middle of the table. The fries, she had full faith, would arrive later. Until that time, she also purloins a fry for herself, the tiniest token against drinking on an empty stomach.

"What do either of you know about...B12?"

[Mick the Rogue]

Caesar 

Now booze for fries was acceptable. Caesar was happy to accept and took a sip. “Uh… ain’t that the thing vegans don’t get?”  he said looking over his glass. He would take another sip 

[EDTA]

Jade

Fortunately Jade thinks better than making a 'this town is going to the dogs' joke as Parker then drops into the conversation, or rather drops something into the conversation before going on her merry way. She returns shortly after offering drinks and Jade's about to partake but she has to stop herself. Grabbing a few fries for herself wasn't a big issue. Hell Caesar still technically owed her that much, a fry or two was just evening things out. But a drink was something else altogether. "Tch, haven't you learned anything yet? This isn't the sort of place you just give stuff away. Not everyone likes having that hanging over their heads." At least it wasn't Parker taking something again. That was a mess. But friendly gestures weren't always so friendly when you were dealing with compulsions and obligations and egos and Jade for one didn't need any of that right now. 

 

Of course Parker didn't have any of that going on, but still! She had to keep on top of that sort of stuff otherwise the bad stuff would happen and it'd probably be up to Jade to fix it. Again. But for now she asked a question. "What, you asking for help on your homework? Or is B12 supposed to be something else cuz you're not really giving us a lot of go off." 

Edited January 27, 2023 by EDTA (see edit history)

[Chimi]

Parker

Parker doesn't interrupt her inaugural drink to confirm Caesar's guess, but he does get a snap, a point, and a thumbs up. Setting her glass down, Parker shuffles through her papers and pulls out a page covering in hexagons, with some arcane symbol sketched across it, covered in Cs, Ns, Os, and Hs. "We're doing total synthesis of B12 and I need to remember my double bonds...does one of you want to quiz me?" They don't. Who would?

Shaking her head, she pushes the remaining glass towards Jade. "Listen, I learned my lesson. No buying rounds for strangers. But this isn't giving anything, this is prepayment for the round you're gonna buy, okay? Like-for-like-or-equivalent, at your convenience, tonight or another time, so pledged, whatever. Drink your shandy."

[EDTA]

Jade

"You think that's supposed to make it sound better?" Jade snorts as she reaches for her drink and starts in with it. It wasn't that easy. None of this crazy stuff was. It was like that Bible story where the poor lady gave all she could and it meant more because of what it meant to her. A drink wasn't just 'a drink' and the cost wasn't always apparent.

 

Except with Parker. Parker was pretty uncomplicated that way. "So this is a night out for you, doing homework in a dive bar? Maybe I can pay you back by getting you in someplace good. Give you something better than OChem to do. Or someone."

Edited January 30, 2023 by EDTA (see edit history)

[Mick the Rogue]

Caesar

”I can try if you keep food comin’. Not exactly my thing though.” He said looking over to Jade

 

”Careful, your nitch’iNavajo, supernatural being is showing.”

 

[Josh]

It was about then the extra food arrived. The waitress was around their age, early twenty-something. She was skinny in that underfed way that goes along with trying to pay your way through college unsuccessfully or trying to get your social media accounts to take off. Sharp cheekbones and a tremor in the arm. Her hair was bleached out blond, which could be intentional if you take in the account the amount of people trying to subdue their fairy ancestry.

 

You noticed something off about her as she lays out the ordered food. For one, she doesn't ask you any of the typical, necessary little questions. No, where do you want this or who gets what. She flops things down haphazardly, and then stands back. Her eyes have a glazed look to them and it seems like she wants to say something, but awkwardly stands there saying nothing... 

 

You can make an observation roll here, if you choose. What Approach you use should determine /how/ you go about making your observation or play out the interaction. Note, the more overt the Approach taken (aka Force, Focus, or Flair) the shorter the interaction will be, but the more direct the information will be gotten.

[Mick the Rogue]

Caesar had his own problems. But he had a soft spot for strays, he'd observe, but the part of him that was a coyote was likely distracted by the food.

 

Indeed, he started going in for the loaded fries.

[EDTA]

Jade

"I'm gonna choose to ignore that." She takes another sip. Whatever food Parker ordered had come anyway. Yet another thing to consider going forward. Jade could really do without this obligation **** most days.

 

Not to mention the clattering of the plates. She glares at the anorexic-looking waitress over her glasses, which had conveniently slid down enough to get the right level of condescension. This one new? Sure Jade wasn't a regular regular but she could generally place the faces. Turnover at Hob's wasn't normally that bad. Something felt off though. Maybe she just sucked. Maybe not.

Edited January 30, 2023 by EDTA (see edit history)