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Post by rose on Feb 8, 2008 17:37:28 GMT -5
It wasn't often that the tens of glass containers were arranged in chronological order, according to the age of the liquid they held. Various shapes and colours stood in uniform along the back shelf of the bar, creating an oddly erratic rainbow- one that lost its radiance via the combination of dust mingled with grime which coated the bottles, smothering them in a layer of lacklustre. No-one within the premises, both employee and customer, knew the exact contents which were stored within the glassy confines, the latter selecting their drink based on the viscosity of the contents and how congealed the substances weren't. Usually, many of the bottles would end up being drained, or broken by a member of staff smashing it over the heads of two rambunctious, drunken brawlers in order to quell their flared tempers acquired thanks to a lack of sobriety and tact. Some new worker would inevitably replace used bottles in completely random spots on the shelf (or wherever there was space available), thus shattering the idea of conforming to an easy-access drinks section.
Yuri was crouched on the floor before his masterpiece, the hem of his tattered bartender's apron (faded grey in colour, yet dappled with a substance just as mysterious as the alcoholic beverages) threatening to trip him as he rose to his full height, as loose threads dangling from the garment were trapped beneath the ball of his booted foot. They did not permit the male to wear his jacket when he was on duty, accepting his shirt and cravat as 'suitable' serving uniform- though Yuri was in danger of yet another crisp white shirt being stained with blood from the nightly round of fights. His hat was also a forbidden item of clothing when behind the bar, but the male paraded it regardless; tonight's feather was a rich mahogany shade, displaying Yuri's need for keeping himself alert and preventing himself from falling asleep during his stint behind the delapidated, grubby counter.
A grunt of summoning his services succeeded the fruity, throaty coughs which plagued Yuri's first customer of the evening. The young man admired his handiwork for one brief second, contemplating as to which regular he would be serving. Inevitably, the threads of his apron hindered the speed at which he rose to his full height, causing the male's hatted crown to clash with the display of bottles. Yuri winced as the pain briefly throbbed through his skull, discarding the sensations as three of the containers tumbled to the ground, swept up by gravity before smashing into thousands of fragmented gems, thick black liquid oozing from the places of inital contact.
"Yer losin' yer touch, lad," the customer wheezed, strumming whatever demonic fingers he possessed upon the bar. "That'll be comin' outta yer pay check, I tell ye this."
Yuri turned to the man, expression unperturbed by both the incident and his comment.
"They von't notice it's gone," he mumbled, his voice laced with a slight dash of Russian dialect, though the accent only affected a few of his pronunciations. "I doubt very much that anyone vould vant to drink that. Vhat vill it be sir?"
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Post by Jules on Feb 8, 2008 18:26:24 GMT -5
The day had waned. It had been most like any other day in Zizzy's life. Largely unproductive and pointless. But unlike others, the Nightmare wasn't disappointed or dissatisfied with herself because of this. She considered it a job well done. So a trip to The Faded, whose prices agreed with her 'income' seemed like a suitable reward.
When she first walked in, Zizzy was disappointed in the current lack of bar fighting. It was usually interesting to watch, like a game of bear-baiting. She'd sometimes administer shocks to help the person she was secretly rooting for. It seemed the girl had a somewhat cavalier attitude toward softer morals. But it never crossed the line to outright cruelty, at least, in her mind.
But the disappointment was short lived when she realized the bartender had broken a bunch of the bottles. Maybe there'd be a shouting match. She walked over to the bar, kneeling onto a stool, propping her elbows on the less-then-pristine counter top.
He was currently occupied with an older-looking Nightmare, so Zizzy merely wrapped her hand on the counter to let him know she was there, and grinned.
The drink she usually took was so sludge-like on the ground that it looked like it could be easily scraped into a glass and served.
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Post by Miss Jack on Feb 8, 2008 18:26:34 GMT -5
For how the Faded typically was, the crowd was considerably small tonight. But still, a crowd was a crowd. Alexander slipped in through the door, delighted by the mixture of blood, sweat and rotting fear that usually accompanied the Faded. He was meeting someone, but not for another hour or so. He came early because he was quite fond of this place; it was nearly as old as the castle itself, with twice as much history.
He approached the counter, as those who are alone do, watching the bartender with amusement. He could demand his attention, but he was in no rush. He'd wait.
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Post by Miss Jack on Feb 8, 2008 18:30:01 GMT -5
ooc; Ahahaa... I didn't know you were joining us, Mary. I suppose now Zizzy will get to meet the other twin.
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Post by Jules on Feb 8, 2008 18:35:10 GMT -5
ooc; Ahhh, it's that Rose and I had also organized to have something happen in The Faded. I thought this was for me. I'm kinda self centered, I guess. XD Sorry! But this works for me, if you guys don't mind.
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Post by Miss Jack on Feb 8, 2008 18:37:29 GMT -5
ooc; Ah, no, it's probably me intruding. But the more the merrier, yes?
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Post by rose on Feb 8, 2008 18:40:03 GMT -5
"There," Yuri spoke in monotone, after selecting the drink which corresponded to the Nightmare's description ("Somefink to settle me throat, lad!"), and then thrusting a metallic container in the man's direction. He held out his gloved hand expectantly, eyes swerving about his figure to the newcomer, whose strumming of fingers upon the counter amused Yuri to no end- he was serving as fast as he could be bothered to, and it was now no longer his actions they were waiting upon.
"Thanks," he sniffed, inspecting the coins shoved into his palm dubiously and then watching as the older man weaved through the cluster of people, and plopped down upon a table in the far corner. "Next," Yuri yawned, conjuring a rag dirtier than the bottles from behind the bar and sweeping it across the counter, merely adding to the grime that had already accumulated.
My my, he mused mentally, upon glancing casually about the bar, somewhat surprised to see a sudden influx in customers. Seems I'll have the honor of serving royalty. Better get the best decanter out.
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Post by rose on Feb 8, 2008 18:41:43 GMT -5
((This is probably my fault, seeing as I said I'd RP with the both of you. ^^; -slaps self- Bad Rose, bad.))
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Post by Jules on Feb 8, 2008 18:48:39 GMT -5
Zizzy didn't notice Alex right away, until the bartender seemed to be about to serve him before her. Which didn't sit well at all. Looking the newcomer over she frowned. He seemed somehow familiar. Well, of course he was a Prince, and one half of a set of twins. One of which she'd recently met. Odd, these coincidences that had allowed her to meet both Princes in rather casual settings. At least she hadn't attempted to sautee this one just yet.
"Me first." She didn't have trouble sounding so petulant. She wasn't here to impress. "I'll take whatever survived you." She said with a smirk and readied a few coins. Just because you were royalty, didn't mean you got to bump in line (well, yes it did, but it /shouldn't/).
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Post by Miss Jack on Feb 8, 2008 19:02:58 GMT -5
Alexander had a faux grin at the ready when the bartender seemed to notice him and, if the look that passed through his eyes was anything to go by, recognized him too.
He frowned at the girl who cut in, demanding to be first. Puh-leeeease. He was the king (prince, whatever) of demanding things. Being in the leisurely mood that he was, he wouldn't have minded if the bartender had served everyone before him. It was more the impertinent "Me first" that set him off.
"What do you mean, you first?" he said. "The gentlemen appeared to notice me first, and I have more money than you." He turned his gaze to the bartender. "Am I right?"
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Post by rose on Feb 8, 2008 19:18:19 GMT -5
Yuri's dark brows arched in subtle amusement, surveying the interaction between the duo wordlessly, completing his task of 'cleaning' the counter with a swift flourish of the rag, hastily disposing of it and wiping his hands on the apron.
Oh great, these two individuals were seemingly incapable of figuring who was to be served first, and were now placing the responsibility of judgement upon his shoulders. Yuri considered the advantages of serving one before the other, but surmised that either way, they would still pay for their refreshments, so the profits would not be tarnished in any way. Yet he did not wish for any of his being to be tarnished either.
A sigh of exasperation escaped his thin lips, the bartender settling on a response.
"Unfortunately, ve do not have the ability to see vhich one of you arrived here first, so I cannot confirm who I should serve first." Typical of his luck to be dithering between pleasing a monarch and a woman. Both had their intimidating qualities, admittedly. "Hmmm," the Marelock placed one hand to his hairless chin. "I am thinking of a number, between one and ten. Guess." He might be accused of rigging the 'contest', but he was due credit for wriggling out of making a definate decision.
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Post by Jules on Feb 8, 2008 19:30:50 GMT -5
Zizzy turned and glared at Alexander. "So what, you're going to overpay for a drink just so you can go first?" Spoiled little Monarch. He probably had thrown a fit when he didn't get to win at games. The King and Queen, she could just see it, would let him win just so they didn't have to hear his petulant little voice.
When the bartender devised a way to choose, she felt frustrated. She'd been. Here. First. Just becuase he was socially important, didn't automatically mean he should be treated better then everyone else.
"Onetwothreefourfixsixseveneightnineten." She said quickly and without a hint that she may have been joking.
"I think I win."
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Post by Miss Jack on Feb 8, 2008 19:42:10 GMT -5
Alex gave her a look of angered disbelief. "That's cheating, you little twerp." And he had been going to guess six, a total winning number.
He sighed histrionically. "Fine." He waved a hand in the air in a manner quite reminiscent of royalty. "Serve her first, I can wait." He gave her a triumphant smirk, as if he'd just attained some kind of monumental victory.
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Post by rose on Feb 8, 2008 19:53:43 GMT -5
"Vhatever," Yuri shrugged, pleased that Alexander had gratiously saved him from the situation he'd rather not experience. He had actually been about to point out that it was chivalrous for one to allow a lady to go first on many occasions, and as a monarch perhaps it was his duty to uphold such traditions, but allowed this notion to fade away from his mind- not knowing, of course, the ways of the current Royal Family.
"Vhat vill you be vanting, Madam?" Yuri motioned to Zizzy. "More of the drinks survived me than didn't, so congratulations, you have a choice," he muttered wryly.
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Post by Jules on Feb 8, 2008 20:16:12 GMT -5
Zizzy looked over at the whole bottles and indicated a red bottle with two 'X's on it. It looked tempting. When she'd laid the money she assumed it was going to cost on the counter, she turned to the surly Alexander.
"You're gracious." She replied with a small smirk. "Letting people who got here first go first. What a novel idea."
Zizzy should possibly be kept away from royaltly and therefore opportunities to get decapitated. The current headless horseman was actually in the corner at this very moment. His head faced his body as it poured his drink down his neck-hole. Zizzy looked away with a slightly worried look. At this rate, the entire royal family was going to want her dead.
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