After the snow has fallen

[valmont-vicomte.livejournal.com]

Wednesday, early evening; after the snow has stopped but the power is still out.

It seems that I missed some excitement last night. When I came through from the apartment to the inn proper in the late morning, I found a note from Adam.

Boss -
There was a bit of a ruckus here last night. Some girl took her clothes off and got offended when Billy Hogan got fresh. A fight broke out - just the usual broken glasses. Will tell you more about it when I'm in next. Don't believe everything any of the regulars tell you - I was the only one who wasn't drunk.
A.

I would, perhaps, have got to hear some of those stories, and I must say I'm terribly curious, but then it started snowing. It has been a long time since I saw snow fall like it did this afternoon; since I lived in New London, I think, for Versailles was warmer. The Whitechapel is quiet enough during the early afternoons anyway, so we locked the front door, Cora and Peter soon settled into a high stakes game of gin rummy, and I went to make sure that Hermia and Alice were alright. Luckily we have plenty of food and firewood, and the apartment is well furnished with candles.

The snow has settled down now, but it is very dark outside and the power is still out. So I come back into the bar and Cora - cheerful for once, having managed to take most of Peter's wages for this week - and I get the fire banked as high as possible and line the windows with candles so that passerby can see that we are open, and I unlock the front door. I imagine that many people's homes will be very cold and very dark this evening, and what better cure for that than company and alcohol?

[OPEN]

Comments

[simon-klavec.livejournal.com]

"Azrael, you pretentious fuck! Come over here and have a drink!"

My brother's dog is waving to me, a grin plastered across his face. Don't know that I'd go over, but Zann's finished choking on her drink and waves me over. "Hey, Simon," she calls.

Stand up and bring my brandy, sitting so I can see the hud pes sitting there like a man. "Hey, Zann," I say. "Tillerman." Sip my drink. Strange group, here.

Glass' husband bursts in, followed by that new girl. Been following him around, her, but Glass doesn't seem to worry. Must trust the girl to mind him, the way he is right now.

[gaueko-erebus.livejournal.com]

At least Popcorn's got a sense of humour, even if her sugar daddy doesn't. And even if she nearly squirts good whisky out her damned nose. She end sup with her head on the table, giggling and sneezing whisky and pouring tears out her eyes. But when she sits up and sniffles, and waves Azrael over. And while he looked inclined to ignore more, he sure doesn't ignore her. "Hey, Zann, Tillerman." he says, sitting with his glass of brandy in his hand.

"Good to see you too, Azrael. I'm fine, thanks for asking." I smirk. He really doesn't like me, does he? Well, that's okay. Feeling's mutual. But damned if I'll let it spoil my mood.

The door bangs open, letting in a wash of snow, a girl, and -

"YOU!" I bellow, getting to my feet, "I've got one hell of a bone to pick with you, you inbred little fuck! What the hell do you think you're doing to my little girl?!" I don't care if he can't remember. Maybe a good dose of pants-wetting terror will jog his fucking memory.

[valmont-vicomte.livejournal.com]

The bar is soon pleasantly full of familiar faces, and I smile and greet everyone, staying busy at the bar while Peter takes the orders round. Cora goes back to her sullen perch at the front desk. Then Iago comes in with Lannie, and Gaueko starts shouting at him about his little girl. Oh dear. Domestic trouble. I think about Glass and Iago's wedding, and clear my throat and say politely:

"I'd rather no one got thrown through a window; glass is expensive. Feel free to throw each other about in the yard if need be. Try not to scare the horses."

I go back to what I was doing.

[melania-lowell.livejournal.com]

"Looks like drinks are on you, Lannie,"

"Iago, you asshole!" I grin, laughing and halfheartedly lobbing another snowball his way. I try to brush the snow off me as we walk in. Dunno what was in that last drink of Verdi's but I'm not cold at all. Which is surprising cos I think when he pushed me in the bank I felt snow go down my pants.

"Hey, guys!"

I look up, hearing the familiar voice and smile back at Zann. "Hi Z---" --"YOU! I've got one hell of a bone to pick with you, you inbred little fuck! What the hell do you think you're doing to my little girl?!"

Oh for fucks sake, Iago, who and what have you been doing while I'm at work? Fuck, can't you keep it in your pants at all? EVER??

Before I can finish the thought, I'm jumping in front of Iago and a low growl is rumbling in my throat. I don't know if he deserves it or not but this guy definitely wants to do more than slap him. I catch his scent, man, dog and something that reminds me of running at night or more like being chased. What the fuck.

"I'd rather no one got thrown through a window; glass is expensive. Feel free to throw each other about in the yard if need be. Try not to scare the horses."

Oh thanks, Valmont, Ass.

[iago-excolo.livejournal.com]

I easily avoid the third snowball, laughing at Lannie's appearance as she brushes the wet snow off when we're greeted by, "Hey, guys!"

I look over and it's Zann, that sexy little mechanic from the carnival. I start to grin at her when a booming voice sounds, "YOU!" A large man, rises from the table and I recognize him as Gaueko, Verdi's estranged lover and God of Night. Didn't Verdi suggest I avoid him?

"I've got one hell of a bone to pick with you, you inbred little fuck! What the hell do you think you're doing to my little girl?!" His little girl? Fuck me. Which one is his little girl? I look quickly around as I take a step back, hoping for enlightenment as to which woman might be his affronted daughter.

Lannie's slides in front of me, faster than usual and growling low as she eyes Gaueko. This is bad and I'm reaching for her as I hear a familiar voice telling us to take it outside. Not helpful in the least, Valmont, and I lean forward, quietly warning her, "Lannie, that's Gaueko. Don't challenge him. We can settle this another way." I touch her arm, continuing in that same low tone, "Stop growling and think about what we should be drinking instead. Let me handle this," I add, as if I have any inkling of how to get myself out of this situation.

Stepping around Lannie, I look at Gaueko uneasily and say in a respectful tone, "I don't know what you believe I may have done but as it's upset you, I offer my sincerest apologies and as soon as you tell me what I did, I won't do it again."

[tereixa-zann.livejournal.com]

Oh holy shit and I'm kinda easing off my stool and slipping forward, thinking about trying to get between them, 'cause I know this pattern, I sure as hell do, which leaves me wondering why the fuck I am not keeping my head down. But Iago's I guess handling it okay, and I think he knows what Gaueko is, or else he's really way mellower than I'd guess around angry dads.

"Yeah, no need to scare the horses, right?" I say, and I screw up my courage and touch Gaueko's arm. "Come on, I'm sure he didn't hurt your girl, he's a nice guy, he really really is." He really is, and I'm kinda proud I managed not to say I'm sure he didn't do anything she didn't want him to 'cause I think that might not go over so well right now. "Let me get the next round and I'm sure you can sort this out, right?"

[simon-klavec.livejournal.com]

"Good to see you too, Azrael. I'm fine, thanks for asking."

Spare him a glance, but then he's up and roaring at Iago. The girl darts in front of him, growling like a guard dog at the pesi hudiča. Laclos keeps calm, tells us to take it outside, and then Iago's smoothing things over.

Mostly. Doesn't remember Glass, and for a moment I'm tempted to shout at him too. Doubt he's just being obstinate, though. Zann touches črni pes and that should calm him down. Stay sitting, me. No need to make things worse by standing up.