I'll just live on in the Dark

[motherflocker.livejournal.com]

WHO: Anyone heading to the Iceberg Lounge
WHERE: At a damn fine building downtown
WHEN: 12/12; Night
WARNINGS: Will be edited if necessary.
SUMMARY: Opening night!
FORMAT: Whatever you want! Tag yo'selves in!



Walking into the bar is like walking into a wide open room, but the dimmed lights never seem to be bright enough to catch every detail in one swoop. To the far right wall is the bar, and a long bar it is, with bartenders lining it spaced by about five feet or so in between. Nobody actually sits at the bar, of course. The bartenders are there to make drinks for the servers. While both the bartenders and server girls wear tuxedos, the women's are made for the intent to actually catch the eye, of course. Fishnets replace slacks, dressshirts cut much lower than necessary, and tophats on each woman's head. They grin, and flirt, and make their way, but the moment a hand drifts too far, there's the legion of bouncers who line the walls, watching for any infraction. The Penguin is, after all a chauvenist, but he is no pig.

The middle of the wide area is devoted to tables, an endless sea of white clothed tables, each one a unique and different ice sculpture in the center. Each one unique, lit from beneath with a light that lets an almost wet light radiate from each table.

And of course to the left is the stage, performers that never cease to move, or sing, or whatever is up for the next part of the night. Breaks between each are sparse, quick, and the music never becomes too loud. And the stage, it is lined with penguins. A bit of irony, perhaps, but Penguin wouldn't begrudge his prior career as a gotham rogue. Perhaps he even reveled in the reminder. Out there for everyone to see.

Regardless, there would be no grand plots or schemes tonight. Just a party.

Comments

[hexappeal]

[Better make that "okay."

She does as he asks. Just with a thin-lipped smile. Occasionally, she will bite her bottom lip, as if she's about to lose it then... not.]

[bodysnatchers]

[She is such a tease. He sticks his chin up and acts like he hasn't noticed. Like he hasn't noticed but is vaguely annoyed by something...]

[hexappeal]

[Vaguely annoyed by something that is her. Sounds like success! As more time passes, however, she cools it down and stops with the jerkishness. Congratulations! You've made it to Level Two (the Princess is Not in This Castle).]

[bodysnatchers]

[So, in conclusion, a seemingly contradictory combination of patience and measured intolerance is the key to her heart. He would store that for future reference if it was at all worth it.

Eventually the song winds down and Boston coasts them to a halt.] So that's one of us who knows how to shut her yap.

[hexappeal]

[Something like that, yes. Good thing he didn't store that information, as he'd be met with disappointment, repeatedly. Welcome to being the new Arthur (and/or James Bond), Boston. It comes with all the perks of being a boyfriend -- except for the good ones.

She briefly considers shuffling her feet and bumping him, but decides to play it nice. She's bound to end up hitting, kicking, or throwing something at someone tonight and it's better to leave that get out of jail free card for someone more frustrating. Instead, she just gives him an almost demeaning pat on the shoulder (whether this was her intention or not is, for once, not easily readable) as she pulls away.] Hey, I can be perfectly agreeable when I feel like it.

[bodysnatchers]

[He already gets some perks. Like living in her refrigerator. And he wouldn't want to ruin their friendship. His and the fridge's, that is.]

When you feel like it. [He sounds doubtful that she ever feels this way.]

[hexappeal]

[It is a pretty great fridge. Just remember who stocks it, every now and then...]

That's what I said, isn't it? [Look, she's being agreeable right this very moment! She takes his hand and hers and leads him toward the edges of the dance floor. They can always go back, but yapping in the middle of it isn't exactly the wisest choice.] Something about you just makes me want to tease you, you know. Tease or argue or harass. [Could be worse.]

[bodysnatchers]

[Hey, he remembers everyone. Even that terrible 90s legacy guy that only survived a twenty issue series. This is why he's a professional annoyance.]

Must be karma finally getting back to me. [He lets himself be led away, even if he is perfectly capable of bickering and dancing at the same time.] Why don't I just take it as a compliment and spare us the trouble? [Clearly he has been defeated.]

[hexappeal]

[Shh. We don't talk about that. And for as long as you don't, you'll have a well-stocked fridge. c:]

Oh, come on, I'm not that bad. For the rest of the evening, I promise I won't leave your side. [Except for maybe the bathroom. That might be a little awkward, but her following him into the men's room may not be entirely unexpected...] And I'll play nice, even. To make it up to you.

[bodysnatchers]

[Well just so long as it is not well-stocked with Green Lantern's dead girlfriend. :|

Not entirely unexpected but definitely misinterpreted...] Who said anything about playing nice? This crowd's already way too straight.

[hexappeal]

[Not sure you want to find out how edible she is or not...]

Huh? Oh, that's... not what I meant. [She doesn't want to have to say she'll stop being a massive asshole to him. Not that she has been. She just should've been a little more gentle, since he's still relatively new up'n hurr.]

[bodysnatchers]

[She kind of has been.] C'mon. Let's go get you drunk and show you off. Order negotiable.

[hexappeal]

[Kind of.] You're terrible. [Yet not so terrible that she's not heading toward that bar and ordering up a cosmo ("and whatever he wants," huh...]

[bodysnatchers]

[It's like she's trying to buy his favor or something...] Suits me, don't it?

[hexappeal]

[It must be nice to have that kind of money...] Got any plans for the rest of the week?

[bodysnatchers]

[What, $5?] I was gonna go trawling for crap to put in my place. That way I might actually use it.

[hexappeal]

[At least she can carry around $5 like it ain't no thang. :|] Does this mean I can stop keeping so much in my fridge?

[bodysnatchers]

[Flauntin dem riches. :(] Stuff, as in records and books and things. I don't know where you got the idea that I was gonna stop hanging out at your place.

[hexappeal]

[And pockets. :(] Oh, it was just a far-off dream of mine, it would seem...

[When the drink arrives, she wastes no time getting loaded. She waves a hand around.] Anyway, I'm going to be busy the next few weeks and though my memory of it is vague, I think I promised James we'd do something for Christmas. [Because Buffy was gone and she was FOREVERALONE and she's not sure how to get out of it.] But I'm sure there are some parties we can crash before then...

[bodysnatchers]

Great. [He sips his own drink - a mint julep this time - the crushed ice tinkling against the glass.] I was just thinking I wanted to be that sad sack at the bar waiting for his disappearing date to return more often.

[hexappeal]

[What is it about him that immediately strikes a chord with her? Oh, he's pitiful -- and, for all she tries (and pretends) not to be, she isn't much better.]

Could drag him back to my place and we could plan something? You, me, Buffy, Billy, and him. [She and James should sit it out. They'd all have B names...] I'd rather not be alone with him right now, anyway.

[bodysnatchers]

[It's almost by design in his case. Forever alone, always in the company of strangers. And the guilt of borrowing other people's time without any intention of returning it is especially acute this time of year.]

Not sure I'm the best guy to have around at Christmas. Wouldn't know who to 'invite', either. [Maybe Old Mr. Wilson from next door is available...]

[hexappeal]

[She's not drunk enough to offer him a hearty hug in the middle of a party, but she still slides off the bar stool and loosely loops an arm around his neck.]

You could come as you are? I haven't used a lot of magic lately and I'm sure it wouldn't take too much to let you be seen and heard. [Her ability to make him solid, however, is still questionable.] And I wouldn't mind if you took me for a spin, if you wanted a drink or ten. Or I could put a want ad up on the Network and pay someone...

[bodysnatchers]

I'd love to take you for a spin, baby. But it wouldn't be much of a party if you weren't conscious to see it. [The old salty deflection technique. It's a classic.] Maybe I should write Santa a letter?

[hexappeal]

[She opens her mouth to say something, but promptly takes a swig of her drink. She's not drunk enough to be that inappropriate.] Santa's more likely to respond at an hourly wage...