I Would Go Out Tonight/ But I Haven't Got A Stitch to Wear

[trenchcoatmagic]

WHO: Everyone who wants to stop by!
WHERE: The Casanova Club
DATE: December 31st 1935 to January 1st 1936
WARNINGS: I assume language, maybe some scraping, and definitely drinking.
SUMMARY: The opening of the newest club in the city.
STATUS: OPEN

Comments

[limitedrun]

I was prepared for tonight. I spiffed up my good threads. (So I can sew. I have to fix my clothes somehow.) I no longer had a hat, but I was letting my hair down, so to speak. It covered up my ears, anyway. And I locked up that God damn journal until tomorrow, when I would be recovered. It was the last night of 1935, and I earned a party. It's true that I've been partying since Christmas night. But normally the really good times are to be had on New Year's Eve. Fellas are more reckless, dames are more daring, and drinks flow more freely.

Well, I hoped for the last one, anyway. I had never been to this new place before. Then again, no one had. I had never been to a club opening before. Thought it could be a gas. I was started on the first level of the club, at the bar. I'm a cat, so this band was right up my alley. I was starting light, but it wouldn't be long until I went heavy. I saved up for tonight. (Well, saved and stole. But no one needed to know about the latter. He tried to steal from me first anyway.)

[[OOC: The Smiths

[cowboy_newsie]

Well, first night on the job.

Sure, I was a little nervous-- it'd been two years since I played at being a waiter-- but I had this. I could do it. It was just handing around drinks and food and making sure everybody got what they wanted and nobody blamed you if you did something wrong. Piece of cake, I did that all the time at the Bugle (you just called it "being an intern" and it's higher class there).

And hell, I looked pretty damn good while I was wandering around, too. I had me hair slicked back and I'd found something real nice to wear in the back of Davey's closet, so I was ready. And of course I had me usual charming grin on, ready to serve these idiots whatever the hell they wanted.

Now, I knew that a bunch of people from the journal mighta been there, so I was extra cautious when I came up to this guy and said, "So, uh, you want a drink o' somethin'?"

[limitedrun]

I also banked on some of the journal people being present. Especially with some of them being on the bar staff, since that's what the Joe who runs this place was looking for. I looked the kid over. He couldn't have been too much younger than myself. The cat-like grin was now on. "Right then," I said, a bit loudly so I could be heard over the band. "What's the best beer you've got, pal?"

[cowboy_newsie]

See, now, me, I hear a British accent and I think of either Constantine or Griffin. Both of them's got thick ones (least, I assumed Griffin's is thick, I ain't never actually heard it, but he'd only moved here a few years ago, right?) and this guy sure as hell wasn't Constantine. He didn't look too old, either-- maybe five years older'n me?

Oh, fuck, I really didn't want to talk to the guy right now. But hell, if lying had worked against Jan, it'd sure as hell work on this asshole. And now I had the advantage, too-- I was pretty sure Griffin wouldn't pull a gun on me. My only worry was that I'd give meself away speaking like I do, but that was easy to fix too. "Heineken's pretty good," I said a little slowly, concentrating on dropping my accent. The band was loud, maybe he wouldn't hear the slight trace that was still there. "But most people're-- are drinking champagne to ring in the new year."

[awesome247365]

Having read about this in the notebook, Barney knew that it was something that he could not pass up. The opening of a brand new club on New Years Eve? That had made his plans far more exciting. He'd even managed to convince his friends to come, though he had lost them in the crowd, possibily on purpose. (Couple's Coma. It was a disease.)

Drink in hand, Barney surveyed the crowd, looking for someone to talk to. It was the dawn of a new year, so there had to be some reminising, and who knew? Maybe he'd meet someone else from the notebook. He'd brought his mistletoe just in case.

[ink_blotter]

One of the men moving through the crowd stood out, though not really in a good way. The short redhead pushed his way through the knots of people like a shark cutting through the water - right through the middle of some of them, but still managing, somehow, to rarely come into much physical contact. He was underdressed for the occasion, in what looked like common laborer's clothing - patched brown pants, greying white shirt, mismatched vest, and flat cap. Moreover, he had a fading shiner over his left eye.

Kovacs was here looking for journal people, as well. He'd never show up to anywhere like this otherwise, but enough people in the books had identified themselves as reporters, lawyers, slightly higher class folks, people who might come to the opening of a new club. His pale eyes scanned the room as he moved, and they met Barney's in passing, slipped by, then returned to the man's face, studying him with a thoughtful frown.

[awesome247365]

Barney glanced around the room. He had a feeling like someone was watching him, and it was bothering him. Stuff like that usually led to trouble, unless it was a girl. After searching the crowd, Barney was disappointed to find that this was not the case. Still, there was no point in passing up a conversation.

He smiled, and tilted his drink in the direction of the man.

"Evening, sir."

[ink_blotter]

As soon as Kovacs saw the drink tilting, he moved toward the blond, brows drawn down in an expression of determination. He stopped before Barney, tilting his head up, and asked rather abruptly, "What's your name?"

[bitchin_beanie]

Thirsty didn't even begin to cover it. For some reason, every goddamn joint in town I'd been to so far that night had cheap, watered-down booze that tasted somehow only half what it oughta taste. So the Casanova Club, seen and remembered as being mentioned in the book, was something of a last resort.

I was getting desperate to just be tipsy, and half a wallet's worth of cash hadn't managed even a buzz yet. So as soon as I was in the place I got straight to the business of ordering up a drink or two, strongest available. I was goddamn determined not to be sober on New Year's.

[cowboy_newsie]

So the first guy I served hadn't gone too well. But that was fine, every job had its rough patches and you just had to get past it. Admittedly, Griffin was a pretty big rough patch, but I'm a good actor and you couldn't tell I was still a little pissed at the guy. And you know, what better way to get over a bad first experience with something that was bound to be interesting?

"Whaddya want?" I asked, coming up next to Jan and grinning. I was choosing to forget the way we'd ended our conversation yesterday, because I didn't want to bring it up and maybe if I didn't remember he wouldn't either. Or at least not start that again, not here.

[bitchin_beanie]

It was the words that picked up my interest before the voice -- words that may as well have announced alcohol incoming! It was only after I'd looked over to find Jack that I realized the voice had been familiar too.

"Heeey!" I grinned automatically. It was nice to see a familiar face in a place like this, had to admit. "You workin' here, kid?" Had he been one of the people to sign themselves over as public slaves to this place in the journals? I couldn't remember, but thought so. Which gave me free reign to order him around, and there wasn't much wrong with that.

[cowboy_newsie]

"Yeah, I needed the extra money," I said, wondering when the hell everyone and their granny decided they could call me kid. I was eighteen, not thirteen, for crissake. Or maybe it was just them who enjoyed annoying me (I'd have to see if Edgeworth picked it up before I made any conclusions). "Besides, it's a pretty easy job. Serve a few drinks, chat up some dames, look good doin' it . . . better'n the Bugle."

As long as I stayed away from idiots like Griffin, anyway.

[triggermoll]

I was dressed to the nines in my navy blue backless gown, bright shining Mary-Janes, and leopard print coat. My hair was done up with bobby pins and hair spray. The peroxide smell was covered with a rose smelling perfume that I borrowed off a gypsy. By the time I set foot on the busy Manhattan streets, I felt like I was really butter and egg fly

[limitedrun]

There was a body that hadn't started swinging. Not yet, anyway. Griffin was grinning from ear to ear. He downed two beers in the space of... however long it took for Kelly to annoy him enough to leave, which couldn't have been that long. His tolerance had built up some in the week, but not nearly enough. He had a swagger like he owned New York and an extra twenty-five dollars to blow. He saw a dame at the bar. Real cutie with blonde hair and blue eyes. There was something off about her, though. He didn't have the slightest clue what it was, but he really wanted to find out.

So he strolled up to her, perfectly confident and still grinning like the cat who got the canary. He slapped a dollar down on the bartop. "Let me pay for that." There was a certain feeling of excitement one gets when spending someone else's money.

[triggermoll]

"Oh, wow," I whistled low, red lips puckered. There was a cute looking guy buying me a drink. Usually it was the old, fatties who wound up downing half themselves or you know, those rich guys who want a floozie for the night. I wasn't that kind of girl, but I did like free drinks.

"Looks like someone's a real gentleman," I fluttered. I turned in my chair, facing him with a devil smile and my hip popped to extenuate curves I didn't really have. He looked young and cocky and about to go off on any second like a faulty gun. Mr. J would kill me if I pulled his trigger.

[limitedrun]

The grin gave way to a smirk as she whistled. Either she was easily impressed or else she was humoring me. Either way, I would show her I'm as just impressive as I act to be. "Well, I'm an Englishman," I explained. "I was born and bred gentleman." That was a load of shit that most Americans bought into. Englishmen tend to be a bunch of frauds and crumbs. I cocked an eyebrow as she popped her hip out. It seemed like she was also looking to impress. "And as a gentleman, I should introduce myself. Name's Griffin." I normally wasn't so keen on giving my name out. But tonight it served a purpose. I could find out who else had the journal.

There will be a day when I do not tl;dr in logs. It's not today.

[mentis_reae]

I was excruciatingly out of place

Cheer up, Edgeworth.

[monte_countess]

He was excruciatingly out of place

[mentis_reae]

For all that she had been in my thoughts just a few moments previous, and for all that I had met with her many times, it took me a moment to register that this was the Countess. It wasn't her clothing; she was dressed more plainly than usual, yes, and she was favoring her arm much less than the last time I'd seen her, but she still had that remarkable air about her, that quiet serenity, that still hauteur. She was unmistakable. It wasn't a matter of appearance. No: it was the fact that this simply wasn't the place for her. The people here were criminals, and even those that weren't were morally questionable even so; she, who was so gently born and raised, who was so quietly elegant and lovely and physically fragile, if not mentally - she ought not have been among these people

[monte_countess]

Poor awkward man. I listened patiently as he explained that my wishing him a happy new year was a pointless endeavor. Leave it to Mr. Edgeworth to miss the ultimate meaning behind a sentiment. Boorish creature. I smiled at him lazily.

"You see, Mr. Edgeworth," I began, deciding to forgo arguing with him the merits of wishing one's friend a happy new year. Personally, I felt mankind had more influence on the world and on fate than they were given credit for and if enough goodwill was accrued a good year would certainly follow, there was magic in words and in intent, but I knew how he felt about magic. "My dear friend, Mr. John Constantine, just recently set out on a new business endeavor."

I glanced around thoughtfully. It was not my sort of establishment, certainly, I had no interest in gambling, drinking, or anything else that might occur, but that had not deterred my visiting.

"I thought I would drop in and give his enterprises my blessing, as I hope for all the best for him, just as I do for you."