Well, we're all in the mood for a melody...

[sapphira_ststep]

[The Tavern of Hell]
[It's nine o'clock on a Saturday, February 6 (day 251)]...and the regular crowd rushes in. And I know the faces you see at the bar, making love to their tonic and gin

Comments

[mistresswanda]

I can't really believe I am going out to the Tavern on a Saturday night, alone, in my condition. But I promised Damien that I would be here and that I would sing with him, and I do like to keep my word.

I already wore the black dress here, so I go though the few things my husband was good enough to have his quar-- kwar--- his whatever find, and I settle on a snazzy pinstripe maternity dress. The pinstripes help, they always made me feel more in control, somehow

[damien_dw]

I'm really looking forward to this, to performing with Wanda. Makes me smile as I walk in and see her at the bar. I unzip my leather jacket and adjust the strap for the case with my guitar before wandering up to her. I give her a grin. "Ready to give these people a real show?"

[mistresswanda]

I people watch until Damien joins me. He joins me with a big smile.

"Ready to give these people a real show?"

His enthusiasm is almost infectious. "Let me finish my drink, it's been a while since I've performed seriously, need a bit of Irish courage." I tease, holding up my glass, but my jest about Irish courage triggers a memory. From a lifetime ago, it seems, of another man with a guitar and dark eyes, coaxing me to sing...

It is so painfully acute in my memory I have to shut my eyes to will it away.

After a moment, I manage to swallow down the grief, and I give Damien a apologetic smile. "Sorry, give me a sec." Then I yell for Thomas and a shot of whiskey. To hell... hahaha... with apperances.

[damien_dw]

Let me finish my drink, it's been a while since I've performed seriously, need a bit of Irish courage. Wanda teases holding up her glass. I'm about to say something like 'no rush' but then a look of pain appears in her eyes and she squeezes them shut for a long moment. Then she gives me an apologetic smile asking me to give her a sec. I nod. She can take as much time as she needs. I didn't mean to cause her pain. She yells to get the bartender's attention and then order a shot of whiskey. I'm not quite sure that's a good idea, but I don't want to start an argument. Instead I take a seat next to her. Maybe I'll order something myself. Part of me wants to suggest we go hide in the performers break room away from all these people. At least til we're ready to give them that show.

[al_shairan]

I slip back into this teenage body and arrive at the tavern with a cigarette jutting from the corner of my mouth, hair dishevelled, an outfit thrown together. This body is probably too young to be served in this bar, but I do not think anyone is overly concerned with that, and the barman gives me a drink. He does have a soft spot for pretty boys; I remember that from Brant.

I see that Wanda is here, and it makes me smile a little to myself that we will be in the same room but she will not recognise me. What a marriage we have.

I sit down at the bar, spinning slowly round on the barstool as I take in the room.

[melania_lowell]

The last week has been a slow moving blur of anger, fear and sometimes forgetfulness with laughter and fun Goggles and hugs and the scent of ink and dye and the clean scent of brightly colored hair. Forgetfulness, like it never happened at all, none of it. Its then when I could sleep. Nothing happened and its time to get up, its time for work. Then I move and my heel reminds me why that's not such a good idea even if its getting better and covered up. It wasn't a bad dream, it did happen, all of it. I almost killed him, I could have, but I didn't. I wish I did. That's what bothers me the most. I think I'd kill him if I saw him now. I don't think I'd be sorry I did. He's a threat. Best to stay inside

[verite_belrose]

Spend the afternoon doing business and waffling back and forth as to whether to go out tonight or not. But Lannie's already gone to the Tavern so I might as well. Besides what if Tarquin goes off with Conley because I'm not there?

I dig through my clothes and put an outfit together. A shirt that's mostly fishnet with a thick cotton middle that hides my boobs an shows my tats. Celtic swirls on my arms and the tribals on my belly and back. The skirt is short so I add purple stockings and fishnet over 'em. Add steel-toed boots and leather jacket and I'm almost done. The hair is up in a big shiny clip with the short bits at the front spiked up a little.

I push the door of the tavern open and walk in determined not to look for anyone in particular just yet.

[sapphira_ststep]

Brown leather and bronze ribbons and red-gold cider, how autumnal, all told. I take my drink and stand and move to the end of the bar nearer the door. I pass a would-be couple as I do, the youth yearning after the woman's attention and her indulging... him? perhaps... and herself. Whiskey and a child on a woman whose skin is too pretty, even at her age, to be a souse... No, I do not think she is much for indulging others, despite the thin restraint in her hand as she sips. I think of asking for a song, but I prefer rags and opera. The one would give her no chance to sing, and I think the other would be rather overlong for the Tavern, and so I pass them by.

There is a boy who is nearly a perfect setpiece of young and tousled confidence, and one of the bartenders whose shoulders bespeak an assertion of self that is still finding its place... Lannie, I think I've heard the others call her. A thin knot of young women, standing at the bar a little too close to each other to be as comfortable here as they are trying to be, but

[verite_belrose]

I do like your inkwork,Do you often add to it? Someone, a woman, says to me as I walk into the Tavern. I give her a smile. The brown leather mask is sort of familiar, think I've seen her before in the market. "Thanks. Not often but that's because I'm a little picky. Got to be the right thing before it goes on permanently." And then I stick out my hand hoping she'll take it. "I'm Verite. And I like your mask."

[sapphira_ststep]

"Thanks," she says, and I think rather pleased. "Not often but that's because I'm a little picky. Got to be the right thing before it goes on permanently."

I smile in agreement and take her hand as she introduces herself. "That's very true, I think. I'm Sapphira St-Stephens," and she says that she likes my mask and I smile.

"Thank you," I say. "I thought I'd dress it up a little, tonight," I add, brushing one hand across the ribbons, and then I look thoughtfully at her. "You said it has to be the right thing... do you design your own?" I ask, stepping back a little so that she can get to the bar while we talk.

[mike_inkheart]

I said I'd visit the tavern and here I am. Now that I'm here, I'm not sure where I should sit and I look around, hoping to see Melania. Maybe she's not working tonight. I forgot to ask her earlier but if I don't see here, maybe I can find out when she'll be in next.

It's pretty damn cheerful in here and I grab a seat at the bar, signaling to the bartender. I order a stout and smile as I look around. There are lots of people, none of which I know. Hmm, I'll have to change that and I try to look approachable as I enjoy my beer.

[melania_lowell]

Ri comes in, not noticing me and nervous enough to where I forget my food and stand up, about to go see what's wrong. She's all smiles when she stops to talk to a woman at the bar though. I hope everything is okay and why's she wearing a mask?

Grabbing my drink, I slowly walk past them, smiling and touching Ri's arm as I pass. Nope, nothing smells off (because its been so reliable for me in the past) and they're talking about tats. Its okay for now but I settle myself into another seat so I can keep an eye on her. Wait... my heel didn't hurt at all when I did that. Pushing the bandages aside, I swear under my breath. Its gone? It was there when I woke up and before I took a shower and came out.

What the fuck?

Downing my drink, I ask Thomas for another one and look around, almost falling off my stool when a pair of pretty green eyes meet mine. Fuck! How long has he been there? Has he been there this whole time? I cover my shock with long sip of my drink. "Hey Newspaper guy, find any good stories this week?" That was lame. I may as

[al_shairan]

I see Verite come in. She plays the adolescent game of speaking to someone else before approaching the person to whom she wants to speak, and I smile. I shall speak to her later. For now, however, I have seen the newspaper man come in; the barman helpfully points out who he is as we make idle conversation. It is useful to be charming. I hop off my stool and saunter down the bar.

"Hey, are you the bloke who owns the newspaper?" I say. "Don't think I've ever been in a town that had a real paper. One place had a church newsletter, but that's not really the same. I'm Conley, by the way," I offer cheerfully. Then I smile at Melania, who I remember from my time as Uri. I wonder if she tried my gift. She has been hurt quite badly. I think she has been part of someone's games. More than one someone, in fact. My smile widens as I took at her appreciatively.

[mike_inkheart]

I wonder if there's a show tonight, they have a stage, and then I wonder if that's the kind of thing they do around here. I have no idea but I can't wait to find out. There's quite a few people in tonight and again, I'm marveling at how good-looking everyone is.

Honestly, I'm just looking for one person, for her but maybe she lied to me about working here. Nah, she works here and I ignore my wayward thought as I catch a glimpse of a redhead, three young people and a woman in a mask. Not an ugly one in the bunch and I laugh to myself as I sip my beer.

The purple-haired girl is very cute but she looks too young for me. Would she be in a tavern if she wasn't old enough? I shrug, not concerned. Who am I to judge and as I look past her, I see the person I was hoping to see. Melania, and she sees me too. Okay, be cool, Mike. She's just an extremely girl, beautiful even. Be cool.

She sees me too and gives me the best smile before saying, "Hey Newspaper guy, find any good stories this week?" I laugh, nodding as I reply, "I met