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Scene Title | Lounge Lizards |
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Synopsis | A business meeting ends before a new proposal is made. |
Date | February 18, 2009 |
The Orchid Lounge, owned by the mother of Senator Nathan Petrelli, is an Asian-inspired martini bar lit by candlelight and the soft glow of wall sconces spaced evenly throughout the room. Although there aren't any employees at the door to check for identification, it's unusual to find anyone in the college-aged crowd at the Lounge, which caters to young professionals with plenty of extra money to burn. During the day, the plush burgundy drapes affixed to the windows are used to filter out the sounds of traffic and at night are drawn back to allow passersby a glimpse inside.
Seating is simple: clusters of rectangular tables fashioned from white marble, each with two leather benches parallel to the longest sides. Silk pillows in varying shades of red, brown, yellow and orange lend a splash of colour to the Lounge, vivid against the pale walls and black-painted cement floor. On one wall is a giant mirror with an intricately carved frame that reflects almost everything in the room and makes the space appear twice as large as it really is. Clearly, the proprietor of this establishment wanted to get her money's worth - real estate in this part of town isn't cheap!
There are a few people in the Lounge this evening. The room is quiet as the patrons wait for the performer that was just announced to come to the stage.
Moments later, a woman in a midnight blue dress walks onto the stage. Her long raven dark hair falls free past her shoulders save for a part in the back which is done up in a bun.
Everyone in the place claps and a few cheer as she takes a sit at a stool next to the mike. With a look at the guitar player sitting next to her, Eve closes her eyes and seems to center herself as the man starts a slow melody. When Eve opens her mouth, "Come to the place I reside. Come and gather close." Her sweet voice begins the song and she places a hand on the mic stand.
Both men and women occupy a table not quite hidden from the stage, an ashtray in the center which tells a tale of the hazy smoke surrounding the group, drawing a few irritated glances from the other patrons nearby. At least they keep conversation to a minimum, Logan and Jack on one side and divided by a woman with rather glittery attire and makeup. Another man, with oiled hair and an Italian look about him, sits across from them, currently ashing out his cigarette and finishing a martini.
"And thank you for your time," Logan says, concluding the business meeting. He gets barely a grunt in response, the man standing up from his seat, and taking the hand of one of the women at the table. She gives a squeak of pleasure, and gladly follows him out once snatching up her purse. Her skirt rides up too high for this establishment, and draws a good share of stares as well. Ah, Manhattan. So prude.
Logan curls his fingers around his glass of cold sake, shrugs slim shoulders at Jack. Another security guard of his, Eloni, a burly Tongan man, stands up to move off to the bar, leaving the brothel owner alone with Jack and at least two prostitutes, who decidedly talk amongst themselves and tend to their cocktails. "That went as well as can be expected," he mutters, and only now does his gaze slide up over towards where Eve as walked onto the stage, not really paying attention at first to the music as a pale green eyed gaze slides up and down her form, then back to his drink.
To Jack's credit, he only looks slightly uncomfortable in a simple, black suit and a matching shirt with a Mandarin collar. His clothing bulges slightly around one forearm from heavy layers of bandages, and luckily, this is one of the few upscale locations in Manhattan where his reluctance to wear a tie isn't an issue.
Don't fuck with me, I fit the theme.
Only to a point, though. Like Logan, he drinks his sake cold. "Another day, another dollar," he agrees lazily, swirling the wine in his glass as he speaks. "Wish we could've brought Bebe. She'd have liked it here."
The song begins to grow more powerful and Eve is singing her heart out as the guitarist plays faster and faster. Eve's dress fits her form /perfectly/. Orchid pays ok so she has the money to buy all the dress that show off her figure, but not in such a risqué way.
Her eyes are closed and her voice climbs higher and higher, quite impressive indeed. The woman closes her hands around the mic and sways softly from side to side, her song is almost finished. With the guitarist playing faster, Eve stands and looks out to the crowd as she sings, her eerie light grey eyes staring out at the people before her.
Logan's attire is slightly less sedate but just as appropriate. Pitch black suit and a matching silken black tie, doing it's best to offset the crimson of his shirt, the angles of his shirt jutting out almost offensively from his jacket. It's been a long time since anyone's ever criticised his sense of fashion, however. Both due to status, and due to the fact of— well, where do you start? "I do try not to show favouritism," Logan says. "But perhaps next time." A glance about the place - it has some similarities as to the Dagger. Themed, and dim. But classy. It's the kind of place Logan would only dream of owning himself, but in his corner of the neighbourhood, it'd sink. Besides, sex sells and he wouldn't have it any other way.
He relights up a cigarette, nods to the two hookers in front of him. "Go get Eloni to take you two back down to the docks," he says, around his cigarette which bobs with the movement of speech. "Early ride out. Get some work done, would you?" The glances he's cast aren't resentful, and one of them even smiles at them, but their departure is reasonably icy. Once they're gone, Logan points his glowing end of the cigarette towards Eve, says to Jack, "It'd be nice if we had some actual talent our way, don't you think. Might brighten the place up a bit."
The planets align just enough for Eve's crawling gaze to settle on him for a moment, and Logan rewards it with a smile from his slightly more shadowy end of the lounge.
Gulp. Jack downs a sizable portion of sake and reaches out to refill he and Logan's cups from the chilled decanter on the table. "It would be nice," he agrees. "I've always had a soft spot for a pub with a good lounge act. Draws in a different class of crowd, too." His eyes linger on the singer appreciatively, but unlike Logan's smile, the bodyguard is all business and appraisal. "Hard to find, I'd imagine," he mutters distractedly.
A smile, oh and it's from an attractive guy. Score right? Eve smiles and closes her eyes again as she finishes singing. Her last note is held and as she holds it, her arms are lifted. After a moment or two the song is officially over and she bows to everyone that is applauding. "Thank you." She says in her soft voice, smiling softly as she exits the stage and begins to wade through the crowd, many people are stopping her to shake hands and talk. She takes it all in stride and laughs when appropriate. Everyone gets a smile from the songstress.
"You'd imagine right," Logan says after the song is finished, an elbow on the table and chin resting in his hand. His gaze slants down towards his refilled glass. This, he picks up, swirls it around once and takes a sip. "We have another date, I believe," he says, hooking the cuff of his jacket back with a finger so as to glance at his watch. "Before we should be getting back." Despite his words, he reaches out to grip the neck of the decanter, raising it up a few inches and seeking out Eve's gaze again. Should he get it through the people she mingles with, he waves the bottle just subtly in offer. Getting caught up talking to attractive women is the first usual reason as to why Logan is late for most meetings. Second only to traffic. Both can be bitches in this city.
The bottle is indeed noticed by Eve and she makes her way over to them. A smile crosses her lips and she begins to take her seat. "Hello." She offers in greeting with a light smile, both men are good looking. My has Eve been given a gift today. "Thank you so much, I love the people here but if I don't find an excuse to leave, some will talk for a /long/ time." She chuckles lightly.
"I'm glad we could rescue you," Logan says, signalling for an extra glass to be brought over, his accent crisp and upperclass. Jack, at least, would notice the hiking up of accent, but it's standard. A chilled crystal one of its kind is set down in front of the singer, and the cold sake is poured into Eve's glass, a ladylike helping, by the sharply dressed brothel owner. "What's your name?"
"Eve." She says with a soft smile and she takes a sip of her drink. "Mm good stuff." She says and grins. "And what is your name?" she looks at Logan closely, she doesn't remember ever seeing him here before
"John Logan," he introduces, extending one pale hand over the table for her to shake, about as clean and neat as a man's hand can get without heading into manicured territory. "Or, just Logan. My friend here is Jack. We were just admiring your singing, Ms. Eve, but I'm sure you've heard that before." As her hand makes contact with his, there is the slightest of chemical nudges, just a little bit of happiness that could be attributed to the buzz of alcohol, or the thrill from being fresh off the stage.
"Nice to meet you." She says as she takes the hand and nods at Jack. When she feels the happy feeling crawl through her she smiles widely. "Yes I have, but thank you for the compliment." She smiles and takes another sip of her drink as she let's go of Logan's hand. "I've never seen you here." She comments and watches Logan, she can't stop smiling.
Jack lowers his sake glass and a smile splits his craggy, rugged face as he glances first at Logan, then at Eve. "Mmm. This is my first time, but I'll try anything once. Just ask Logan." The Somali's thick combination of accents give his words a lilting, almost jovial tone.
"We don't come down this way awfully often," Logan agrees, sharing Jack's glance before turning his attention back to the young woman. He tapes ash into the ceramic tray at the center of the table, without taking his eyes off her. "But I am very glad we did, all the same. Is this the only bar you sing in?"
"Yes, the only place. They gave me a chance, I took it gladly." Eve looks at the two men with a smile. "Where are you two from?" she is curious. She looks at Logan as she finishes off her drink. "Will Jack really try anything once?" an eyebrow is raised.
Jack suppresses a laugh none-too-Discreetly into his fist. "I dunno. Will I?" he asks, lifting a thick eyebrow in Logan's direction. There's more to the question than the lady knows.
My time is yours, after all. "And where are we from, anyway?" he asks, politely curious as he folds his hands in his lap.
"Across the pond," Logan says, with a vague smile. What pond, is up for debate and guesswork. "Likely a little out of your way, my dear, so I'll have to make a note of swinging by whenever I'm in your end of town." The smooth sake is tipped back in a finishing sip, and then a wallet taken out of his pocket, a card slid across the table. There are no details, apart from the name already given, and a phone number. "It's hard out there for an artist, I know that much," he says. "And I do know talent when I see it. If you ever need a different venue to perform at, do give me a bell. I'm sure I could be of help."
Across the pond? Well that's an answer she guesses. Eve takes the card when it's slide across the table and she nods, holding it in her hand, seeing as she has no other place to put it.. and no it's not going in there. She looks at Logan, "I would like that." For him to come and visit again. "I'll think about it." She offers. It couldn't hurt to consider it right? "What is the name of this place?"
This portion of the pitch is all Logan's. Jack pushes his chair away from the table, stands, and scoops up the near-empty sake decanter with a light-fingered touch. "I think I'll head to the bar and grab us another jug," he murmurs with a cheeky smile. "Back in a flash, then."
"That will depend on you," Logan says, with a wink. Somehow managing to make that seem charming rather than awfully skeezy - must be a British thing. "It's a lounge, very much like this one. I'll take you to see it, if you're interested. Jack and I were just saying you might draw in a different class of customer." As Jack gets up, Logan's pale hand reaches out to grip his arm. "No need, Jack," he says, with a shake of his head. "We really do need to get moving." The brothel owner rises as well, straightening his jacket. "It was lovely to meet you, Eve. Thank you for humouring me with a drink."
Eve grins at Logan, she likes the guy. He seems pretty okay in her book right now, but then again she has just met him. "Ok, I'll give you a call." Eve smiles and waves at Jack, "Nice to meet you both." Eve runs a hand through her hair. My does she have a lot to think about tonight.
Jack nods a brief affirmative and snaps for the Tongan bodyguard to join them. "Have the car brought around," he orders quietly. "We'll be out in a moment."
"Indeed, 'twas a pleasure to hear you sing," Jack raises his voice to a more conversational level. "I hope to do it again soon. Shall we, Logan?"
February 18th: Scumbags |
February 18th: To Become The Person We Need To Become |