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Post by Admin on Nov 15, 2023 3:13:39 GMT
The bar is on the rough side of the city. Just like every dockside bar in shadow, this place is dim, dank, and filled with a haze, which in this case isn't smoke. And just like its shadows, this one stinks of stale beer, mildew, and piss. The room is packed full of people, all carousing and enjoying themselves. As Cody enters, they all fall silent and turn to stare at him for a moment, then go back to their pleasures. His crew is there playing a local version of darts using small coloured swordfish.
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Post by Cody D'Avalon on Nov 15, 2023 7:44:03 GMT
Cody turns and leaves Lorelei on the sidewalk and looks at the building. Up a flight of stairs there appears to be a tired looking steakhouse and tavern dimly lit by flickering candles on the left and a seedy looking hotel lobby advertising hourly rates for the rooms above on the right.
There is a second set of stairs leading down to a subterranean haunt. The sounds and smells guide Cody in this direction.
Barely perceptible in the dim light Cody can see that someone has painted an arrow guiding patrons down to the 'Sunken Terror' and on closer inspection he can make out a mural of a Kraken tearing a sailing ship apart in a violent storm.
It's very reminiscent of Cody's entrance into the underwater grotto where he first met Lorelei in that strange sleep/wake/dreamworld.
Most of the mural has been defaced by crude graffiti and pasted-on hand bills advertising various bands and performers that have graced the Terror's stage. None appear to be very recent. One very faded poster shows a vaguely familiar (by reputation) looking guy with a Mohawk holding a flying vee guitar.
Cody smiles inwardly thinking that a royal has been here to ruin the cachet once before.
At the bottom of the stairs is a very heavy looking door with worn brass hardware. An even heavier looking brick of a doorman/bouncer looks Cody up and down. Smirking at Cody's fancy clothes.
"You just sight-seein' or ya planning on goin' inside mister fancy pants?"
Cody nods and smiles at the brute. "In."
The bouncer deftly yanks the door open and ushers Cody inside. The pungent atmosphere of the place is like a clammy slap in the face with a large mackerel.
The moment of silence as the patrons take notice of Cody's entrance feels like an old cliché.
When the piano player resumes playing, Cody knows he has arrived.
It only takes a brief moment for Cody to spot his crew. Obviously out of place in their royal banquet clothes among the more plainly dressed patrons. Cody strides across the room being extra careful not to bump or brush anyone the wrong way.
Reaching them, "So, what have I missed?"
Reggie says, "Not much, I'm just wiping the floor with these rogues."
Eugenia, "You've got an unfair advantage Ichthy."
Jessup gives Cody a hug, "Did you learn anything from your Auntie?
"No, not really. Nothing more than what we all heard at dinner. Except that I should keep my nose out of Rebma's affairs and not give lord unreal's cause any more oxygen."
Jessup, "Okay, for now... They've got a stage here. With the piano and I think I see an organ. Plus a few other instruments. Wanna get up there and make some noise?"
Eugenia, "Hell ya!"
Deeks is busy concentrating on throwing his round of darts. Scoring a bullseye, he grins at Reggie, "You're not the only fish expert in town." Deeks looks at Eugenia, "Ya, jumping around on stage sounds like fun."
Cody waves over a server, "Excuse me, my friends and I are wondering if this establishment would like some lively entertainment? That is, if the instruments we see mothballed on the stage are serviceable?"
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Post by Admin on Nov 17, 2023 1:53:12 GMT
The waitress had bright green, wide-set eyes. One looks directly at Cody, and the other lazily scans his crew.
"You all members of the Guild? They don't take kindly to unregistered performers."
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Post by Cody D'Avalon on Nov 17, 2023 2:12:10 GMT
"Oh, we just got into town. So we haven't had a chance to square things with the local guild." Cody says a little disappointedly.
Jessup, "Not a problem though...
"Sure, just cover our tab and give the rest directly to the guild. We don't want to mess with anyone else's paycheck. We just want to have some fun." Eugenia suggests.
Reggie says,"Ya. Consider it an audition."
Deeks, "Right, it's an audition. If you like us we can sort things out with the guild and come back to play legit next time."
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Post by Admin on Nov 17, 2023 4:47:50 GMT
"Why ya talking to me about it? I'm a member of the server, bartender and coat check guild, local 412. Just order something to drink before my boss starts to think I'm slackin' off."
Cody notices a man sitting at the far end of the bar. He almost blends in with the dimness of the place with his dark grey trenchcoat, black fedora and gloves. He is so unnoticeable from his garb and location that he becomes more noticeable than if he were dressed like everyone else. He might even look over at Cody occasionally, but it is difficult to tell with his hat pulled so low over his brow.
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Post by Cody D'Avalon on Nov 17, 2023 5:58:14 GMT
<OOC> The Brunswick House in Toronto was a beer hall. You didn’t order beer by the glass at the Brunny. You ordered beer by the tray–$27 for a tray of 30 glasses. The glasses were half a pint each. I have no idea what brand of beer it was, and since I was under age at the time, I never asked. ;-) </OOC>
"Cool. We're all Star-Rigger's Guild."
Eugenia, "Okay, Honey. Bring us a couple of trays and the Stage Boss."
Cody notices the man at the bar that reminds him of Bas. Pointing at the man Cody asks, "Is that man your boss? We can ask him directly if you can't; or won't."
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Post by Admin on Nov 20, 2023 3:04:51 GMT
"That guy? Never seen him before. Not a chatty type."
She goes over to her boss. They talk and she points at Cody and crew. The boss comes over to them.
"You all got a problem here tonight? Why are you hassling my girl?"
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Post by Cody D'Avalon on Nov 20, 2023 6:36:26 GMT
Deeks, speaking quickly, "No problems, sir. Sorry for wasting anyone's time. It's just that we've been at sea for a fortnight..."
"A double fortnight." Eugenia corrects Deeks.
Deeks, "Right. Some of us a double fortnight. Inside a giant fish.
Cody kicks Deeks under the table trying to indicate that that detail didn't need to be mentioned.
Deeks continues, "Ahem, um, right. So anyway we kept busy singin' songs and such as we hung on through the storms. We've had lots of time to practice."
Jessup cuts in, "What our mate from Ghera is trying to say is: We would like to get up on your stage, borrow some of your instruments and play some music for you."
Reggie says,"We were asking our waitress if we could do that and she told us that it might be a problem with the local Musician's Guild. So we were explaining to her that we only just got here to Rebma and hadn't had a chance to square things with the Guild yet."
Eugenia continues the sales pitch, "Right. So we were thinking that you would consider this an audition. Just cover our tab and give the rest to the Guild."
"We don't want to be stealing anyone else's meal ticket. It's just our idea of fun to make some music. And it'll give your piano man a break." Cody concludes.
All the while, Cody keeps an eye on the shadowy man at the end of the bar. Not directly staring, but glancing that way frequently.
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Post by Admin on Nov 21, 2023 4:08:34 GMT
"This isn't amateur night. You want us in trouble with the Guild? You want a strike so they don't play in the castle? You want the Queen angry at you all? At all of us?"
The shadowy man at the shadowy end of the bar continues to drink and also sometimes looking toward Cody without staring.
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Post by Cody D'Avalon on Nov 21, 2023 6:25:03 GMT
"Well, that doesn't sound right to me. Unless you are paying less than scale? That the balance of covering our tab for a couple of trays isn't enough to pay the Guild for a single gig?" Cody says slightly indignant.
Eugenia interjects, "Nevermind, Cody. It'll be his loss. We'll just head over to that place Saint King Brian recommended."
"Ya, I guess. I just didn't want to be playing for a bunch of sycophants." Disappointment in Cody's voice.
Reggie adds, "Plenty of sycophants back at the palace. We could just head back there to jam."
The crew turn their attention away from the Stage Boss and Cody reaches for his sporran, but changes his mind about displaying the artifact in public. "Gene, I want to tell you about something Princess Lorelei gave to me. I'll show all you guys later. A lot of the mirrors here are rigged for Coms. You can 'Port through some of the bigger ones. If you are staying here in Rebma, Princess Lorelei said that she'd put in a good word for you with the Mirror Mages. If you're interested. It would be good for the whole crew if we could have Coms that work this far from Station."
Thinking of the shady fellow at the bar, Cody can't decide what to do about him. So he decides to do nothing at the moment. If he wants Cody, he'll have to come over. Apparently he hadn't enquired about Cody, but just keeps to himself. So far, that's a good thing. Maybe he's here to guard Cody which is nice.
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Post by Admin on Nov 23, 2023 5:17:24 GMT
The man seems to be quite content staying at his place at the bar. He orders another from the bartender.
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Post by Cody D'Avalon on Nov 23, 2023 7:25:45 GMT
Deeks and Reggie go back to playing Swordfish while the rest of the crew wait for their drinks and the Stage Manager's decision.
Jessup whispers in Cody's ear, "There's a spook at the bar that's been watching us since we got here."
Whispering back, "You noticed him too, eh? I think they're clones. Or, they all wear the same uniform." Cody shrugs. "His identical twin; or should I say triplet; came looking for me along DaggerWays. He's someone's minion, I think.
Jessup, "Oh, right. His brother, Baz was the one who took you for a coach ride. Creepy."
"That's right.
"He's a long way from home then."
"Or closer to it, if he's working for Auntie Fi..."
"What are you two love birds whispering about?" Ever the tactful one, Eugenia.
Cody and Jessup glance at the bar and nod. Pointing with their chins.
"Oh. Top secret stuff." Eugenia taps her nose and winks. "Let's have some fun."
Eugenia stands up and sashays across the room to the end of the bar.
Both Cody and Jessup gasp slightly, in unison, "Genie!"
Eugenia sidles up to the trench-coated stranger, "Hey fella, you look lonely. Would-ya care to join us?"
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Post by Admin on Nov 29, 2023 5:57:21 GMT
The man pauses, lifting his drink to his mouth. The rocks glass held halfway between the bar and his face. He has to decide which is cooler: to put it down and pay attention to her or drink like he doesn't notice her. He decides to keep it in the no-man's land.
"You're with him ain't ya? Cody, the man who prefers to not wear his shirt? Tell him to watch his back and he'd do better planning a return to Amber than spending his time drinking in a shoddy place like this. Ah, hell, are they all shoddy down here. Ever tried to order a scotch on the rocks in Rebma?
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Post by Cody D'Avalon on Nov 29, 2023 13:46:20 GMT
Eugenia touches the man's sleeve and tries to peer under the brim of his hat to look into his eyes, "What's the hurry? A couple of hours R and R won't change much in the greater scheme of things. Come and join us." She laughs about the shirt comment. "Ya, we like to keeps things casual."
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Post by Admin on Dec 3, 2023 20:58:30 GMT
"The fate of nations - and of universes - can turn in the span of an hour."
The man doesn't like to be touched and she gets only a slight view of his face. What she sees looks normal.
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