Girls Night

[Harlequin]

"Are you ready?" Asked Morgaine.

"I don't know. Do you really think this is a good idea? I mean what if we just --" Vivianne's words were cut off by the insistent buzz of an electric clippers, and a curtain of cornsilk blonde hair fell in a pile to the floor. Vivianne lifted a hand to her gaping mouth, eyes staring wide back at her from the mirror in front of her. Playing oblivious, Morgaine continued working, shaving Vivianne's hair down to the skin halfway up the left side of her head, from hairline to hairline; most of her hair was left untouched. As the undercut took shape, the younger woman's mouth turned up at the corners under her fingers.

"Presto!" Finished, Morgaine held her clippers aloft with a triumphant air as Vivianne touched the newly-shorn part of her scalp. The blonde leaned in to the mirror, as if trying to suss out whether that was really her. She turned her head slowly side to side before finally breaking into an incredulous grin. "I knew you'd love it," Morgaine grinned at her in the mirror over her shoulder before wrapping her arms around the blonde's shoulders and placing a big, wet kiss on her cheek. She fluffed the long mass of hair left of her right, "Now g'won and shower. Ami's on her way and you're all prickly."

Vivianne nodded, then creased her brows. "Wait, why?"

Morgaine rolled her eyes. "We're going out, dummy. You've been spending too much time with that new vampire of yours. Plus, you think I was gonna let you not show off your new haircut?"

Vivianne blushed all the way up to her freshly-exposed hairline at the mention of Felicia, whom she'd recently taken up with. Her smile turned sheepish. Maybe she could use a night out.

Morgaine left her to it, going to her own room to change and get made up as they waited for Ami, who was, as ever more-than-fashionably late.

A lot had changed for them in the past 18 months -- Vivianne's fling with Indiana had ended not with a bang, but with a whimper, once they'd grown tired of each other. Ami's Sire had left three months ago under circumstances Morgaine didn't fully understand, but she knew she was glad to have the surly young vampire back in her life. Both hurts were still healing and what better way to mend a broken heart than with unbridled hedonism?


So it was that three members of Venture's house band, Wild Hunt, tumbled into The White Rabbit, a storm of leather and chiffon and lycra. Anyone who paid attention to the local music scene would recognize them, but they weren't out to play -- at least, not instruments. The trio sidled up to the bar, Morgaine at the head of their little train, and elbowed their way into seats (Well, Ami elbowed; Morgaine and Vivianne watched) , laughing amongst themselves as they waited for the bartender to take notice. The bar was busy, and they were in no hurry. The night was young.

[Black Philip]

It had been two weeks since the trial, and things were finally getting back to normal. The Harpy had held court the night before and interest in the service was high. Tonight, she was working too, but in her favorite role. She was a bartender first in life, and so she would be a bartender first in death. Also, the bar was busy lately. They're transformation of the upstairs into the strip and party scene had also breathed new life into their alternative music nights, and so while upstairs Dreki had just finished lounge piano time, the stage was being set up for more live music.

The Harpy wore a pair of Daisy Dukes and knee length red boots. The heel was about four inches, so not impossible but certainty not comfortable. She wore an oversized men's flannel, but she'd lifted it above her skinny waist, and tied it across as opposed to buttoning it to show off her body in a way that made her feel confident. Her hair had been done in pigtails of all things. She felt very in touch with her southern roots. Manuel was working the upstairs bar, and Amy was doing coat check downstairs. Maria, the Keeper of Elysium, was busy doing something outside, but Jake had asked the Harpy to let her work in peace. Sam was around here somewhere. It was shaping up to be a good night.

When the three women of Wild Hunt entered, the redhead recognized them immediately. She'd seen them play before at Venture, and had secretly always wanted to scalp them for the White Rabbit. One in particular screamed Anarch, and if Lisa-Joe didn't know better she would've swore she was a Brujah. The other two were harder to get a read on. She grabbed a rag and moved from behind the bar and towards their table.

"Evening ya'll, welcome to the White Rabbit. My name is Lisa-Joe Hampton, the proprietor of this here establishment. What can I get ya?"

Her southern accent sounded like that delicate combination of musical and lazy, and made even the harshest words sound like sweet whispers. She hoped they knew they were in a tough bar. In fact, Lisa-Joe hoped that's why they'd come in the first place.

[The Cedar Witch]

To Ashes had just come back from a temporary hiatus and was beginning to set up for a little performance.  Mal was feeling a bit anxious about it.  They hadn't even really played together since taking a break and he knew they'd be a little rusty.  Ordinarily, he would've wanted to practice but everyone (read: Jerry) was too impatient to just jump back into the game.  So naturally, Malakai was outvoted.  But he didn't press the issue.  Jerry was always looking for reasons to make him out to be the, what did he call it?  Party pooper?  He was just hoping to not make too much of a fool of himself. 

Jeremiah had been getting on his nerves.  What really happened was that Mal needed a break from him, not the band.  They had a heated...disagreement about a certain human that Jerry was sleeping with.  Usually, Mal didn't bother getting involved with Jerry's personal life but he was being more of a dick than usual.

"You guys got this, right?"  Jerry had done some minimal set-up, mostly for his own shit.  Mal glared in reply but said nothing.  Typical.

"Yeah, yeah we got it."  Thor waved him on, tending to the rest of the setup with Zach and Kim.  Malakai scowled, pulled a small notebook out of his back pocket and flipped through some setlists he had brainstormed--by himself!--on the way here.


Jerry headed straight for the bar--and for Lisa-fuckin'-Joe--with a wide smile.  He missed the fuck out of that woman and had been meaning to catch up with her as soon as the band got here.

"MA!"  He bellowed, interrupting whatever conversation she was having with the other patrons and no doubt drawing some stares.  With a dramatic flair, he swirled around and sat in an unoccupied stool.  He fluttered his eyelashes as if expecting his "cuteness" to make up for his rudeness.  "May I please have a drink?"

[Harlequin]

"You can wait your turn, fuckm--Ow!" Morgaine looked at the vampire who'd sidled up beside her like a two-headed snake, a sneer on her scarlet painted mouth before her snark earned her an interruptive punch in the arm from Ami. She wasn't trying to finish fights her lead singer started, tonight.

"Whiskey rocks for her, G & T for her," Ami supplied in answer to Lisa-Joe's question, jerking her head toward Morgaine and then Vivianne, respectively. The interloper was ignored. Clearly he knew the staff. Unsure of the rules here, she ordered nothing for herself.

And clearly the staff was worth knowing. Ami was uncommonly powerful for a fledgling, but she could tell the bartender had a few centuries on her, at least. More than the interloper, certainly.

The three women couldn't look more different. Morgaine was dressed in a fluttery black top and blue leopard-print skirt that showed off her luscious figure, complete with heels and fishnets. Ami wore leather on top, denim on the bottom, all black, black, black. Layered chiffon and lace swathed Vivianne's willowy form in mint and emerald, a dress over a skirt, hanging from her bird-thin shoulders by spaghetti straps.

Vivianne was the only one who didn't dismiss Jerry outright. She leaned back from the bar to watch him from behind her friends' backs. "Hey, aren't you from To Ashes?"  Asked the youngest of the trio, the most observant as always.

[Black Philip]

Lisa-Joe Hampton was about to speak when her favorite little shit starter slid up beside her like an expectant puppy. Well, Jerry could be her second favorite shit starter. After all, she wouldn’t want Jake to get jealous. Still, he looked earnest and happy to be back at The White Rabbit, and despite his rude interruption, the Brujah was happy to look at him. She thought back to the first time she’d met him. It was almost a hundred years ago now, and in a much different place. It endeared her to some of his crap, plus Malakai had to deal with the worst of it. Still, he’d accidentally insulted the women of Wild Hunt. Such injustice had to be fixed.

She gripped his chin firmly. It wasn’t enough to cause pain, but was corrective in nature. She drew him in close like a lover, and with her lips inches from his, said, “Lovely to see you Jer Bear, but Ma is doing business so wait your turn.” She gave him a nose bop, before turning back to the lovely Morgaine. All three women caught Lisa-Joe’s eye, but Morgaine in particular stood out as a true beauty. Ami on the other hand looked like she came to the White Rabbit often, and Lisa-Joe wondered why the punkster hadn’t darkened their door before. The last one looked out of place, a fawn in a den of wolves. Then again, Lisa-Joe knew looks could be deceiving and so she reserved judgement on Vivinne’s spirit. She reviewed the drink order but quickly added to Ami, “what blood type ya like hun?”

The White Rabbit’s bouncers were supposed to only let in those in the know, but Trey had somehow slipped in last week so she’d be finding out how exactly how that happened. Hopefully, Ami would realize she could be herself, fangs and all. The girl felt very powerful for one so young. Her generation was low, meaning her maker was likely old. Lisa-Joe wondered what talents the young vampire had. She took Jerry’s order too, seeing that he and Wild Hunt might chat after all. “I’ll be back with your drinks, but save me a seat,” she cooed, biting her lip and flashing Morgaine in particular with a sweet smile. The southern belle moved back behind the bar and started doing what she does best, making drinks.

[The Cedar Witch]

When Lisa-Joe gripped his chin and drew in close he whispered a quiet "Fuck," but was quiet as she chided him.  He had forgotten how strong she was and didn't seem to care about the patronizing tone she took with him.  He watched with that same grin on his face as she tended to the group of women.  When she moved away to fix the drinks, Jerry turned his attention to the other women.  They looked vaguely familiar but he couldn't place it.  Malakai, on the other hand, would know exactly who they were.

"Why yes, I am."  His smile was wide and full of boyish charm as he addressed the blonde human.  He tugged on the open collar of his leather jacket and puffed up his chest a bit.  Maybe she was a fan?  That would be rad.  She was pretty cute.  Not really his type but he wasn't that picky.  The other human he sat down next to--Jerry's eyes traced her form--she looked delicious.  The vampire-chick with them looked like she could bite his head off, even though she was definitely younger.  He could be into that.

"The rest of us are up there,"  he gestured with his thumb back to the stage.  They looked close to ready, huddling around Malakai--who looked over at the bar and scowled.  Jerry, oblivious, leaned toward Morgaine slightly as he spoke again.

"Sorry for barging in like that--I just got too excited when I saw Lisa-Joe here." Jerry gave another devilish smile, and addressed the three together.

"Haven't seen her in so long I forgot my manners--the name's Jeremiah."  He gave a slight, though still dramatic, bow.

[Harlequin]

One corner of Ami's mouth twitched upward in a smile at the bartenders words, to match taking on sculpted brow that lifted over her treatment of the interloper. She gave her preference and watched as the redhead moved off. Yeah, she could definitely sit with them.

"She seems exciting," Ami commented. Bygones were bygones. "I'm Ami. This is Morgaine, that's Vivi." Vivianne waved shyly.

Morgaine, having grocked that he didn't know them either -- despite the Hunt's semi-celebrity status in certain circles --was looking at him wide-eyed, her mouth a pretty scarlet O. She fluttered her eyelashes and leaned toward him, "Ohmigod, you're in a band?"

Ami hid her bark of laughter as a cough into her fist.

[Black Philip]

The drinks were all simple enough to make, and Lisa-Joe felt an almost rhythmic pleasure from making them. She disguised Ami's drink as a Bloody Mary, with a fake celery stalk in the glass and lemons, pepper and limes all on a tray. Jerry's she hid inside a large beer stein, and her own she made look like a Manhattan. Once the real alcohol was on the same tray as the blood, she whisked back towards the party of people. She gave Jerry his first, winking at him before moving on to hand out the other refreshments. She pulled up a wooden stool similar to Jerry's and sat down, legs tucked under the stool, and elbows resting on the table. She was closest to Ami, and raised her glass to clink with the younger vampire.

"Drink up ya'll," she chirped, bating her own eyes at Morgaine. "Did I miss anything?"

[The Cedar Witch]

"Pleasure to make your acquaintance," now those names were familiar...  Where had he heard them before?  His expression showed that cogs were turning somewhere and he was about to say that they seemed familiar until Morgaine spoke.

Jerry wasn't that stupid--he knew when he was being played with.  He smiled sweetly at the delicious morsel in front of him.

"Something like that."  His smirk was interrupted by Lisa-Joe's return, and wink.  He took a long swig from his glass before setting it down again.  He was about to answer Lisa-Joe's question before Malakai's voice entered his mind.

"Please tell me you're not bothering them--you do know who you're talking to right?"  It was an angry impatient tone.  Jerry swiveled around to look at Mal on stage.  He was glaring.

"Dude, no, I just got here.  What's your fucking problem?"

"That's Wild Hunt, you idiot."  Shit.  He turned back to the group, about to announce that he had finally figured out who they were, before Mal sent a feeling of urgency and a "Can you get the fuck back up here?  We're waiting for you."

"You're just being a bitch because you're nervous."  He glanced back toward Mal and grinned, turned back to the group, downed his drink and stood.

"I would love to stay and chat but The Boss wants me back on stage."  He addressed the group with a tone of nonchalance and then looked at Lisa-Joe.  "I wanna catch up with you later--so don't go runnin' away on me at the end of the night." 

And with that he blew the group a dramatic kiss and turned to head back toward the stage.


Malakai refused to watch Jerry saunter over electing to fiddle a bit more with the equipment even though the others had made sure everything was all set.  He was nervous.  They hadn't played together in a long time and to make matters worse, Wild Hunt had picked tonight of all nights to come to The White Rabbit.  Fucking perfect.

His look tonight was more subdued than it had been in the past.  Ripped black jeans, close-fitting plain black tee, black Doc Martins, some punk-esque bracelets and a tiny bit of black eyeliner.  He was planning to take it easy tonight, maybe just stick to some well known covers that didn't really need practice. 

According to Jerry nothing needed practice. 

Now congregated, To Ashes took their places on stage:  Malakai--holding a microphone--in the center, back to everyone save Thor on drums; Kim off to the left in front of his keyboard, a lit cigarette dangling precariously from his lips; Zach, with bass, lingering near Jerry with his electric. 

Mal took a slow, quiet breath before holding the microphone up to his lips.  He skipped any introduction and, unaccompanied, began to sing the beginning of the first line to Paint it, Black.  Deep and melodiously dark.  The rest jumped in after Mal turned back toward the patrons of The White Rabbit.  They had done this one before.

[Harlequin]

Ami toasted their health with the bartender, half-smile still firmly in place, "Just Morgaine tryin' to pull one over on your man there," she supplied in answer to Lisa-joe's question.

Morgaine made s how of pouting at the redhead, "And I nearly had him too," a wide grin split her face and she leaned back in her seat, before downing half her drink in one, "Boys are just so dumb sometimes."

"All the times," Vivianne corrected, eyes on the stage. Ami barked another laugh, and it caught up to Vivianne that she'd said that out loud. Her look turned sheepish. "They seem cool though, do you think they might want to uh, maybe, jam later? Would that be fun?"

[Black Philip]

Jerry needed fucking practice. The rest of the band sounded pretty good, but at least to Lisa-Joe's ears, her old friend needed a bit of rehearsal. She felt like they'd improve after warming up a bit, but stared daggers at Jerry for letting Wild Hunt's exposure to music in her bar be less than a total knockout. She smiled encouragingly at Malakai, pleased with how he sounded. She turned back to the group of beautiful women, liking the differences they brought to their group dynamic. They felt like good friends, and Lisa-Joe wondered if that helped their sound. She wasn't a musician herself, but the Harpy did have an eye for talent.

"Jerry's sweet but a little... eager," she explained. "Just get a spray bottle if he gets too close," she advised. "That being said, he knows the line with me and has a good heart." She smiled softly at how screwy Jerry could be, but decided she'd find him boring if he wasn't. He and Mal, were opposites that complimented each other well. She snickered at boys being dumb. She raised her glass high and said, "I'll drink to male stupidity," and knocked back her glass like it was a shot. Once back on the table, she looked at the trio of women just in time to hear Vivienne's suggestion.

"How about a battle of the bands sometime," she put forward. She considered that Ventrue might not agree to spare them, but the idea of getting Wild Hunt to play the Rabbit at least once was too tempting to not at least offer.

[Harlequin]

"Typical white boy," Morgaine scoffed and made a shoulder-dusting motion, "The singer doesn't seem so bad though, what's his deal?"

"I'd be down," Ami nodded, shrugging one shoulder. It would spice things up a bit. They could play some newer stuff, maybe. Most of Venture's crew liked their versions of old folk songs. Luckily, their contract was relatively loose, as long as they gave priority to Sacramentum gigs.

Vivianne nodded her agreement. For her part, she seemed content to keep her spindly fingers wrapped around her drink as h ice in it melted as opposed to drinking it. "It's been a, uh, a little while since we've done something like that. I think Jeanne wouldn't be opposed."

[Black Philip]

Jake got on with Charon's crowd. She'd ask him to email the Sacrament and make sure they weren't stepping on any toes, but like Vivianne said, Lisa-Joe thought they'd be fine with it. As long as they didn't scalp Wild Hunt all together, they could spare them for a night. Besides, she wanted the bar to get back to it's live music roots. The parties made a ton of money, but they didn't feel like Anarch events. A good old battle of the bands with drunk mortals, a mosh pit, and a few bar fights sounded like a much better evening. At Morgaine's comment, the redhead laughed softly. Men were stupid. It was quite funny.

"I'll set it up," she assured them. "My boss and your boss are pals these days, so I'm sure they won't mind. I'll even invite them."

She didn't think they'd come. The White Rabbit was not Venture. Their delicate sensibilities could not be assured. Still, they'd be more welcome. She turned to Ami.

"You look like a regular here," she teased. "How come we've never had the pleasure?"

[Harlequin]

Morgaine and Vivianne hooted and nodded their agreement, respectively, and fell into whispers discussing logistics and possibilities.

Ami shrugged one shoulder, "Ain't been dead long." There was no use hiding it, though Cicero would hate her outing herself as a fledgling so readily. He'd probably hate that she'd come here in the first place. More reason for him not to be around. "Wasn't that into fang culture 'fore it got me. Didn't know a ton about this place, and that's bad news in a town like this one."

She let her gaze wander over the establishment, and nodded her appreciation, "Like it, though."

It was as highly as she'd ever spoken of anything.

[Black Philip]

Lisa-Joe listened as Ami explained why this was her first time at the White Rabbit and nodded along. She also liked that Ami dug the place. Afterall, they were marketing to the Ami’s of the city and therefore it was a good sign she was pleased. She wouldn’t mind getting to know Ami better. She hoped she’d be back on a night where the two could spend real time together. She listened to Mal sing, and smiled approvingly at him.

“Well thank you," she started. "He’s got a great voice,” she said to the group. They seemed to be finishing their first song. Perhaps Mal would come over and say hello.