Closed [The Obsidian Club] Breaking Bottles

[Zeva]

7 Summer 518 AV
---just before Noon Rest

For the first time since her arrival, Zeva felt in no rush to be anywhere. She had explored the peaks - finally figuring out their proper order - and had taken part in that Festival the boy at the Cosmos Center had mentioned which left her feeling content enough to take her time with getting up and getting ready.

She laid in her bed, mulling over what exactly she could get up to today as her eyes wandered over one of the fabric drapes that made up the canopy above her. She noted this time that it was still. Even with the window open, it didn't even flutter. 'Must be a still day', she mused as she worked on wrapping a tendril of vibrant coloured red-orange hair around one of her long and freckled fingers. She tried to think of how this might affect the tides in Port Tranquil and made a mental note to pay more attention to them the next time she was down there. If there was no breeze blowing things on shore, then it wouldn't make for a good day of scavenging the beach. She'd have to come up with something else to do.

It was then and only then - seven days into her stay in Lhavit - that she realised she should probably look in to that place that one lady at the Cosmos Center - Youchi - had spoken of for employment. It was on the next peak to the north west, if her memory served her right, and Youchi had mentioned it had regular entertainment. Zeva had spent many a year around drunken Svefra so she was confident she'd be able to handle a Lhavitian drink house.

Rising, at last, she dressed herself in her loose blouse and leggings, a sash wound around her waist and secured with her belt. She ran her fingers through her hair and grimaced at the tangles and eyed her brush. Seizing it, she then waged war on the knots, vigorously brushing and tugging at the snags until the brush was able to glide smoothly through her now glossy locks. She left them free this time, taking no extra time to decorate or adorn it and simply wrapped her other sash around her crown. Her attention turned to the mirror she had recently picked up and she hunched in front of it long enough to dab some kohl around her eyes, masking the red-orange rings. It was only once she was satisfied that she tucked a few kina on her person, tugged on her boots and swung her cloak about her shoulders before heading out to find herself some work.

She was surprised to find the world outside blanketed in a dense, heavy mist and it even took her keen eyes a moment to adjust. It lent an oppressive feel to what should have been a free and open atmosphere and she felt her body involuntarily hunch and buckle under the weight of it. This was nothing new; the fog had been present in varying degrees since her arrival but she still couldn't say she was used to it - or that she liked it. The Lhavitians she had come across so far had seemed to share her sentiments, making her wondering if this was some strange phenomena. She'd have to ask the next person she crossed paths with about it and make her questions more direct - she wasn't sure if she'd want to stay somewhere that was constantly shrouded in mist.

Despite this, she as not deterred and, instead, merely gripped the cloak tighter around her as she headed towards the Sunrise Nook. It was becoming something of a tradition for her to start her days with a berry tart and today would be no different. She popped in just long enough to grab one, pay and leave, keeping to her habit of eating them on the move. She savoured every sticky, sweet bite as she headed towards the bridge that stretched between Zintia and Shinyama and began the long treck to the other side.

shortly after Noon Rest---

Her eyes wandered as she slowly threaded her way through Springwater Square, blue hues eventually landing on the dark coloured glass dome of the building she sought and she angled herself in that direction. The sign hanging outside the door confirmed this was indeed the building she was after so she pulled the door open and took a few steps inside, pausing long enough for her eyes to adjust. They scanned her surroundings, taking in the minimal patronage as well as the set up - a bar at one end with a number of tables and chairs set up across the floor. She suspected the bare corner to her left was likely where the entertainers would set themselves up, her eyes roaming over the pillows and stools that were propped up around it.

Her focus then turned to finding who was in charge, eyes roaming the inhabitants. One particular man seemed to be keen on engaging those he passed, his form pausing at each occupied table long enough for him to have a short chat before he moved on to the next. She suspected he might be someone to approach but another also caught her eye. Another man, older than the first, and more standoffish; he was seated at the bar but not in the manner of a patron, he seemed to be looking over things. As she stood there, watching him, she noticed he would occasionally glance over at his shoulder to have a look at what was going on around the floor. Her eyes narrowed.

Which one to pick.

Receipt :

Mirror, small steel			-10ki
Cosmetic brush			-2tk
Berry tart			-8jk
Total			-10ki 2tk 8jk

wc 941

[Zeva]

Having loitered long enough within the threshold of the establishment, Zeva finally decided the more friendly of the two would be the one to approach. Her eyes flicked back to where she had last seen him, gaze roaming over the tables until they fell on his form again and she slowly made her way in his direction.

As she drew close enough to be heard, she spoke with little care for the fact that she was obviously interrupting his chatter with the occupants of the current table he stood over, "Excuse me. Hi." That managed to gain her the attention of her target.. as well as the two men at the table she now stood next to, both looking a bit confused as to who she was. One simply stared at her while the other looked between her and the man she was after, as if to find some link between the two. Her target handled it all with an easy grace that she instantly envied, a warm smile finding his lips that managed to tough his whole face.

"Hello to you. Welcome to the Obsidian Club. Is there something I can help you with? A drink, perhaps? Or are you the entertainer for this evening?" His eyes drifted towards the man at the bar before returning to her.

She took a moment to appreciate his face and the way he seemed to warm the room - and herself - with his words. His voice was comforting, soothing, and she wanted to hate him for it but found she couldn't. His eyes were too gentle, lips quirked in a way that was inviting and alluring. She found herself smiling in return despite herself.

"No, no, I'm just here to look for work. But I'll take a drink if you're buying." Her words were dry and to the point, although her gaze did drift towards the bar as if to try and hint more at the latter. They flicked back to his face at the sound of his deep, equally warming chuckle and she felt her full freckled lips spread wide in a smile to match.

"Well, if that's the case.." his words, although still warm, now held a faint teasing tone and she watched as he turned to address the men at the table. "Would you excuse me for a moment, gentlemen. Our new friend here is interested in some work." The men exchanged looks, one shrugging as he brought his drink to his lips while the other nodded more amiably. It was then the man moved a hand towards her back. He didn't touch her but she could feel the warmth of his palm through the silk of her blouse as his words tickled the top of her head, "Shall we?" His other hand spread out towards the bar and she took that as her cue to move in that direction.

He continued to converse as they walked, keeping to her side as he did, "Do you have previous experience bartending or working at a place like this?"

Her attention deviated from the bar ahead of her to acknowledge him before she offered a careless little shrug, "I've tapped plenty of kegs and casks while living with various Svefra pods. Helped get people good and drunk," she paused to look over at him, "That should count for something."

The man started chuckling at what she said, at first in a way that seemed confused - as if she might be playing with him - and then far more out of bemusement. "It's... ah, it's a bit different here. You won't just be pouring drinks from a tap." Zeva shrugged, not bothered in the least - or perhaps not seeing any clear distinction between what was required here and what she had done in the past.

"I like people too... talking to 'em, making sure they have a good time." She suddenly felt the need to add that on, as if that might help sell her as a future employee. All she got was another slightly uneasy chuckle.

wc 678

[Zeva]

It was only once they reached the bar that man spoke again, waiting to move behind it before offering her his hand, "I'm Bob Kacee, I run this place with my brother, Charlie." He motioned with his free hand towards the man she had spotted earlier at the bar. She was at least pleased to know she had been right in thinking they were both somehow affiliated with this place.

She eyed the hand and failed to offer her own, only nodding to what he said, "Well, I feel lucky to be able to meet you both at the same time. I'm Zeva." She tugged a bit at the cloak she had bundled around her shoulders and offered a smile.

Bob dropped his hand once he realised a shake wasn't happening and merely brushed at his pant leg, instead, that winning smile that warmed her cockles returning as he eyed her tentatively before looking towards his brother, as if working to get his attention, "Zeva, here, is interested in finding work with us as a bartender."

It was Charlie now who spoke, his peppered head lifting as he eyed her with the greatest amount of scrutiny she had faced thus far, "Is that so?" His eyes roved her form, like a wolf might size up his prey, "I don't recognise you. How did you hear about the Obsidian Club?"

Zeva's eyes danced between the two, venturing to Bob to see if he had any interjections and only spoke again once it was clear he had none, his arms folding loosely across his chest. "Yep. I'm new, travelled here with some Svefra I was living with. Found the city to beautiful to leave so... I stayed put. Now I need some work and the lady, Youchi, at the Cosmos Center said this place could work for me. It's nice.." Her eyes moved to scan her surroundings, soaking them up, "I like the set up here.. Better than trying to sling drinks on a moving casinor or palivar." Bob laughed. Charlie didn't bat an eye.

"This isn't some sailor bar, Miss." There was that word again. "We only serve the best booze and everything is made with flair and flavour. If you want to run drinks then we can set you up as a barmaid... but if you want to work the bar then you need to have some experience mixing drinks. Do you have any?"

Zeva looked thoughtful before frowning against her will. She didn't like admitting she wasn't good enough. "No. But I can learn quick if you give me time to figure out the drinks." Charlie huffed at that. Bob moved, giving Zeva a gentle nod as if conveying to her he'd make it work before he turned to his brother and leaned over him, hands finding the bar on other side of the other mans form. Zeva watched as the two conferred in low tones - and some not so low ones - and felt herself grow fidgety. She needed to occupy herself so she turned her attention to the many bottled that lined the wall, each different and artfully done.. and far nicer than any bottle she had ever seem. Maybe this wasn't the right place for her.

Bob's voice broke through her negative little reverie and she moved with a bit of a start, leaning away as he leaned in towards her, "Any of those look familiar?"

Her eyes darted between the bottles and his face as her lips pulled into a tight line, "No, not really. They are all way more fancy than anything I've ever handled." His laugh then trickled out and made her feel suddenly far more at ease.

"Well, they are fancy. And expensive... so you need to treat them with care." He watched as she fluttered a hand over one, admiring it, "And don't make me have to count them every night." He wink and she found herself grinning, caught out.

"I won't... but they are pretty. You don't happen to have any need for the empty ones, do you?"

Bob shook his head and chuckled, "Listen, if you do right by us, you might be able to take one or two home with you." He paused and tilted his head and sent her a sideways glance as if for effect, "Empty ones."

She grinned.

wc 724

[Zeva]

Bob turned towards her as he moved to lean against the bar, a smile still on his face. Zeva noticed he had put a bit more space between them which she was grateful for and she relaxed visibly under his gaze, curious as a kitten now to see where things might go. He didn't leave her waiting long.

"Listen, I've managed to convince my brother to let you trial with us. We'll see what you are capable of, see how you handle the patrons. I'll have you practice the drinks on the menu with me and then we'll keep you here until Dusk Rest if everything works out.. have you mix and run drinks to our evening entertainment. If all goes well, we'll have you come in regularly. You good with that?"

His words were so smooth and oddly encouraging that she found herself unable to say no and just nodded dumbly, smiling all the while. It all sounded good to her, especially since she didn't have any plans... and she'd much rather work with Bob than his brother, Charlie. She had a feeling she and the eldest Kacee would likely never be on the best of terms. However, she wanted confirmation it was only him she would be practising with and not the pricklier brother, "I'm happy with that.. it is just you who I'm practising drinks with, right?"

She watched as he quirked his face, head moving side to side in a way she knew meant she was wrong. "Not exactly, but mostly. Charlie will be taste testing what you make along with me.. and he'll be keeping an eye on you too." Then, as if he could feel she needed the reassurance, "Don't worry, I'll make sure you know they menu and teach you some tricks while I'm at it." There was that wink again. Zeva couldn't help grinning once more. She definitely preferred this brother. He reminded her of the Svefra she had spent so many years with, light-hearted and fun.


She heard Charlie huff again from the far end of the bar but Bob ignored him... so she did too and stood a bit taller and she unwound the cloak from her shoulders, "So.. where's a menu I can look at?" Bob didn't hesitate, pushing himself upright and away from the bar so he could fetch her what she asked. Her eyes roamed the area around her as he did so, looking for a safe and secure place to put her cloak and settled on hanging it from a bottle. It looked dusty and unused so she figured it wouldn't be needed for their practice.. and she made sure to draped it carefully around the neck of the bottle, feeling Charlie's eyes on her.

She returned to where she was and took the menu that was offered to her, eyes skimming over the drink list and the ingredients each included. She hadn't really mixed drinks before.. but she was feeling more and more confident thanks to Bob's words. Without taking her eyes from the menu, she began, ready for the challenge, "So.." Her eyes then lifted to his face, a sly smile on her lips, "What will you be having, sir?" Her head cocked coquettishly for effect, the ends of the sash she had around her head spilling over a shoulder.

Bob chuckled and played along, moving around to the other side of the bar and taking a seat on one of the stools as he offered his own playful smile, "How about a Summer Solstice."

She flashed him a winning smile and said with more cheer than she had shown since she entered, "Right-o, one Summer Solstice coming right up!"

She began to try and familiarise herself with the bar, the many different types of glasses, jugs of juices and mixes and the array of garnishes that were laid out for her to use. The numerous implements all seemed foreign as her eyes studied each, trying to figure out what their use would be. Her brow narrowed in concentration as she quickly checked the menu once more for the ingredients before turning to find what she would need.

She plucked a bottle of spiced rum from the wall, setting it next to the tray of garnishes, and then went on the hunt for lemonade, pausing before one of the jugs. It's contents were lighter so she leaned over it and wafted her hand over it to try and place its scent. It smelled like citrus to her - nice, tart and refreshing in it's own way - so she went with it for the mixer. However, she hadn't a clue what amounts to add so.. she just winged it, as she was ever wont to do.

She seized a nice looking glass from the many available to her, thinking it looked fitting for the name of the drink - the glass tall and curvy with a short stem base - and then filled just shy of a third of the glass with the rum, the rest she filled with the lemon juice. She eyed it as if it might tell her what to do next, wondering how best to make it all mix, and then looked over everything available to her. She had zero knowledge of flavour profiles or anything of that sort, let along what the shaker was that sat mockingly at her elbow. Instead, she grabbed a spoon and stirred it with panaché, finishing it all off by bringing said spoon to her mouth to suck off the remnants. It taste good as far as she was concerned.

Without further ado, she presented the drink to Bob, smiling broadly, "There you are. Let me know what you think."

wc 956