Peace, Love, and Alcohol (Open)

[Iris]

There was nothing like having the day off, especially when one worked at a bar and it was Friday night. Nothing beat that feeling of knowing some other sap was stuck with busy-work while you could kick back, relax, and just enjoy a work-free evening without any drunks, jerks, or that annoying--though slightly amusing--hairball of a coworker. Nope, nothing beat that feeling...

Unfortunately, that feeling was not one Iris would have tonight, seeing as how she was the one stuck working. The good news was, though, she wasn't working with said 'hairball.' It was his day off, and there was no one else to cover for the other coworker that had called in sick. To say the least, the vampire was more than a little ticked off about this, but she had no choice. But, the extra work meant she wouldn't be able to listen as closely to conversations, and there wouldn't be as much time to contact her sources to find any decent info, which was the real reason she worked a bar. Juicy info that could prove useful to the council. That was her purpose. But tonight, it was serving everyone their alcohol and being hit on by jerks.

But, the four-hundred fifty year old vampire still had what it takes to be one heck of a bartender. Not one dropped or spilled drink, and she added a little flair every now and again. Something to make the night go by quicker. Maybe after the shift, pour one or two for herself and make her way out to chill a bit before dawn broke.

Only a couple more hours at least, and so far, nothing really interesting had happened, not counting that one suspicious shifter she'd caught and drained on the way to work. Hey, circle of life and all that. Besides, unlike the hairball she worked with, this one actually seemed up to trouble.

CRASH! She'd dropped a glass...lost in her thoughts, it had slipped out of her hand and onto the floor. Muttering curses, she grabbed a broom and swept it up, hoping it wouldn't get her too far behind. Cursed hairballs, messing up my focus...

[Mandy]

What was it with her and bars? Mandy could never figure it out, but more often than not, she found herself in a bar the night before an important mission. She’d only gotten back to New York a few hours before, and she was already sitting at the side of the bar with two beers already downed. Mandy hadn’t bumped into anyone she knew yet, so alcohol and her thoughts were all she had at this point. Hiccupping a little, she grinned and took another sip of her drink, its effects starting to settle in.

So maybe this wasn’t the best idea. Sure, a drink or two wouldn’t hurt that much, but it certainly wasn’t the smartest thing to do with such an important job tomorrow. That being said, Mandy still felt the overwhelming urge to unwind a little. Hell, the city was already giving her stress. With all the blood suckers slinking around and the memories that had been drudged up, a little buzz would always be good to take off the edge. The bar she was now in had been one that she’d frequented when she used to permanently live in the city, and the familiarity was comforting.

When the bartender dropped a glass, Mandy couldn’t help but let out a snicker. <Stupid blood sucker,> she chuckled, already feeling a little buzzed. “Butter fingers?” she asked, holding a hand over her mouth to suppress another giggle. To be honest, the night had been rather dull and the bar was mostly empty; there was no harm in stoking a little tension or conversation.

[Iris]

"Butter fingers"

Iris's head turned to look at the woman who spoke, and her eyes narrowed. ...Human. The vampire's brown eyes narrowed more. Keep on laughing, honey. I'll tear your pretty little throat out...[/color]" she thought to herself, wanting more than anything to say it. But...well, Iris was kind of on thin ice at the moment when it came to smarting off at smart alecks. Apparently her boss thought that was bad for business. Well, he was right.

She turned her back to the meat-puppet in order to fix more drinks, which she poured, mixed, and or slid to the appropriate customer with her usual grace and ease. When finished, she turned back to the meat-puppet in question. "I dropped one glass," she said, the poisonous tone dripping from her voice just as thick as her British accent.

"Can I get you anything? Another beer?" A plane out of here? A body-bag? Nice coffin?

She couldn't figure out what a human was doing here in the first place, so, she decided maybe she'd do her other job and find out. Turning her attention to the human, she leaned in, propping her arms up on the bar.

"I haven't seen you here before, I don't think. You aren't anyone's thrall, I can tell...What's your angle?" she asked point blank. "A meat-sack wouldn't be bumbling about New York without a heck of a reason. Not exactly the safest bet, if you ask me." Her eyes were fixated on the other woman. Iris had to admit this chick had alot of nerve. Or maybe she was just that stupid. Or both.

Her mouth was pulled back into a smirk, and there was a dangerous gleam in her eyes, much like that of a cat toying with her prey. In a sense...she was.

[Mandy]

Mandy couldn’t help but giggle some more at her response. “No need for the death glare, honey,” she said, flashing a coy smile. “Just a good natured jab, s’all. And yeah, another beer would be nice. I can’t stand any of the fruity crap.” <And anything harder wears on my tolerance,> she thought, watching the vampire closely. As much as she thought herself to be invulnerable, Mandy knew she had to be careful. There weren’t that many humans left in New York, and blood suckers like this one did have the upper hand now that the Council ran the show. Unfortunately, this one seemed to be in a prickly mood.

When the blood sucker turned her full attention to her, Mandy felt herself grow a little more tense. Sure, humans weren’t very common in these parts anymore, but they weren’t that rare. Asking that sort of pointed question meant this bartender was more than she seemed. <If she wants information, she’ll be in for one hell of a game,> she thought, twirling a piece of her hair as she responded with a hardened look in her eyes. <I sure as hell don’t like being toyed with.>

“That’s… a big question, coming from a bartender,” Mandy said, a little bit of ice seeping into her voice. “You’re right, I’m no blood sucker’s pet. I don’t exactly think highly of those who follow others either, not when the payment is servitude. No, I’m here in New York for my own reasons. Let’s just say I’m… visiting some friends. How about you? What happened to the old guy who used to serve here? He and I went way back… and I haven’t seen him around in years. Did you suck him dry? That’d be such a shame.”

[Iris]

"That so..." Iris murmured, giving the woman another beer. She was trying the older vampire's patience, that was for sure. And Iris wasn't exactly known for her patience. "In this day and time, one can never be too careful," she replied; maybe the double-meaning in that statement would sink in, maybe it wouldn't. It seemed to justify her asking questions, but at the same time, it was a warning.

"Not much wrong with a meat-sack being a bloodsucker's pet," she said, swallowing the hostility she was feeling. "You know, some of us treat our...pets...like pets. Others treat them like our equal. Not too many go the whole slave route anymore. Terribly old fashioned," her voice had grown gentler, more like she was into the conversation.

'Let's just say' was a dangerous phrase in Iris's book. To her it meant it was none of her business because the other party was up to no good. "I remember that guy. Sweet old chap, he was. I mean that personality wise. You see, old blood has sort of an aged taste to it. It's an acquired taste, by which I mean it's a taste I don't wish to acquire. To me, nothing beats the taste of the bold, strong flavor of a young adult, and the added sweetness if they're a virgin. These days, that last part has become quite the rare delicacy." A smirk crept across her lips. Yeah, she was toying with the woman still; maybe if she could get a rise out of her, she'd give something up.

Even if she got nothing else, Iris had this feeling something was about to go down. When she got done with her shift, she was going to have a talk with the council. But maybe she could get the added bonus of ripping this chick's pretty little lips off before the night was done.

Mandy

[Mandy]

Mandy had probably had a little too much, but she wasn’t dumb. She could tell from the vampire’s gaze that the bartender would like nothing more than to suck her dry. Her response to the jab about pets, followed by her very obvious threat about young blood was enough to make Mandy’s blood boil, but she simply let her hand on the counter grip the edge a little more firmly as she thought of her response. She didn’t want to rile this vampire too much, or she could be in for the fight of her life.

“Aww, that’s cute,” she giggled. “People as pets. That’s totally not archaic. But hey, I didn’t come to the city to fight the established blood sucker order. I just wanted to visit some friends… who hopefully aren’t dead like that poor old bartender.”

Mandy let a dark look flit across her face before continuing. “I hope that’s a cute little jab, because that man deserved a hell of a lot more than a slow end in a back alley,” she snapped. “Unfortunately, I don’t know where you’d be able to find that young blood you’re craving. I’m not exactly a walking blood bank, and I’m sure as hell ready to keep it that way.”

“Sounds like you keep yourself busy after work though,” she said, taking a quick sideways survey of the bar, seeing only a handful of people occupied in the far corner of the room. “Tell me, what else do you get up to? You’re far too sharp to only be manning the bar here. I’d bet my gun you’re doing something else on the side, huh? What are you getting up to?”

[Iris]

Iris gave a laugh. "Oh honey, weren't you listening? Nobody drained him; that'd be like seeing your milk expired ages ago and taking a swig anyway. If I could guess, I'd say he was still alive, unless he croaked of natural causes." Her eyes narrowed at the obnoxious, cocky young woman.

"You will find, my dear," she replied, her voice a cold hiss as she leaned farther in, "that for you, friends will be in very...short...supply...And I will take this time to inform you that you are not a blood bank. Walking around here with that attitude makes you a walking blood bag. A target, and right now I'm the only thing keeping that blood inside your pretty little body, you understand?" she continued, her voice still a hiss as her fangs became visible.

"You and me both," she replied, retracting her fangs and calming, but her voice still holding that edginess it had moments ago. "I would bet my fangs that there's more to your...friends, than you're letting on, yourself. You're far too cocky for someone dangerously outnumbered, as well. What I do is my business, as what you do is yours," she replied, taking a standing position and pouring more drinks for other customers.

"Let's just say," she started, making eye contact so she was sure this next statement went home, "That your business here is my business. My business is helping maintain order in this city. What I'm getting up to, is very simple: the good of my own. We...bloodsuckers...have a loyalty a blood-bag like you couldn't dream of understanding. While your kind has been at each other's throats since the dawn of time, my kind has stuck to the shadows, fighting for our own survival while still banding together. I recommend that whatever you're planning, you pack on up and take right out of here."

Iris was tense now, watching the human with dangerous intent. She knew for sure things were about to get real around here soon. She just wished she could force the woman's hand a bit.

[Mandy]

Hearing that she had misunderstood Iris's comment about the old bartender allowed Mandy to cool down, if only for a moment. She ignored the woman's jibe about not listening, but when the vampire got close, Mandy's own hackles were raised. Although she didn't want to admit it, the blood sucker was intimidating the crap out of her, and her projected confidence was wavering a little. "Sorry, I guess I'm not as familiar with blood sucker terminology as I'd like to think I am," she responded coolly, glaring right back at the vampire. "I'll make sure to remember the term is blood bag for the next time I piss you off."

Mandy paused for a moment, listening to the bartender's thoughts on what she was up to. This was a perceptive one alright, but she wasn't playing her cards right. <I'm not going to tell you what I'm up to... but I can sure as hell lead you on,> Mandy snickered, keeping her gaze glued to the woman while waiting for her to return. <So let's lead you down the wrong path.>

"You're right: my kind has never been a particularly loyal bunch. I'm sure you're all having a kumbaya party all over the city, high-fiving each other for kicking out the silly, stupid blood bags that used to run this country. But let me tell you something, blood sucker," she said, finger tracing the edge of her cup. "Just as your kind can be united, so can mine. When we have to, we can do a hell of a lot more than you think we can."

"That being said, I'm offended you think I'm up to no good. Has seeing friends become a crime in vampire land?" Mandy asked mockingly, feigning offence. "I haven't brushed up on vampire laws lately, but I hope that hasn't been criminalized! We're only planning to... have a party, you know? I hope human parties haven't been banned too, otherwise we'll be in a mighty pickle."

[Iris]

"Actually," Iris responded smugly, "That's my terminology you're playing with. But I'm glad you like it; copying is the highest form of flattery, after all." Deep down, Iris had to admit, this was actually quite fun and amusing. And she did have to laugh at the first part of Mandy's little monologue.

"I'm sure you can do a hell of a lot more than we think, but then again...well...think about this," she replied, her tone normal now. "If a team of mice try to overtake a cat, well my dear...my money's going to be on the cats every time." She gave a sly grin, but remained silent after this.

She knew the woman was leading her on, but she was still trying to soak up anything useful from the statement. "That really would depend on the party, honey. Birthday party, cake, fine. Putting candles in a vampire? That's no so fine." Threat aside, Iris was rather amused by this girl. Of course it helped that every bit of this conversation was going straight to the council the first chance she got, but maybe it was Iris's turn to play a bit, maybe get under the human's skin even more.

She leaned in again, but this time the glare was gone, and Iris was considerably relaxed. "What do you do for a living," she asked, a purr in her voice, "that makes you so brave?" There was this odd sort of glint in the vampire's eye, more like she was a cat playing with a ball of yarn rather than toying with prey. "Any other human would have backed down by now, especially knowing all I have to do is snap my fingers and you'd be the main course. But you...you have an unlikely fortitude for you kind, and though I hate to admit it, I admire that." Curveball, inside corner.

Iris stayed where she was, looking the other woman's body over. At first glance, it did look as though Iris was checking her out, and she may have been. But at the same time, she was looking for anything of importance like a gun or a stake.

[Mandy]

“Ah, but that’s the part where it gets interesting. If the mice are, say, trained by a certain master of fine arts, perhaps Splinter, then your bet might not pay off,” she giggled. “But hey! Don’t stop me from betting on the wrong party. I’m sure we both have a vested interest in the other side losing, heh.”

Mandy snickered at the suggestion of there being another meaning to ‘party’. “Now now, you know very well that blood bags such as little ol’ me would never want to… disturb the peace around here. No, I don’t want any trouble for myself for your kind. But that doesn’t mean we have to have cake, I hope. My friend’s lactose intolerant, you know, so cake with thick icing is out of the question,” she chuckled. Now Mandy was having proper fun with this, especially with leading the blood sucker on.

“Oh, you know, the usual sort of stuff these day. I was… quite the busy bee for a few years back there, but there’s not much to do these days with the reduced number of people roaming around. I’d say I’m just brave by default though. I don’t exactly shy away from tense situations,” she smiled. “I guess you could say… I’m not one who scares easily, even when it means dealing with your kind.”

Mandy raised an eyebrow as the bartender looked her up and down. It certainly wasn’t a threatening gesture; in fact, it was almost flirty… but she wasn’t going to fall for that. Not when the blood sucker had been so keen on tearing her throat out a few minutes earlier. She felt the familiar weight of her gun tucked into her waistband, just underneath her jacket, and instead responded with a cool gaze of her own.

[Iris]

"Yes, but now imagine some of the cats are centuries old and still at their peak," Iris replied with a giggle of her own. "But yeah, we are both biased, aren't we?"

She gave another laugh. "Just have to make sure. After all, you did stroll in here with a purpose. And, you never fully answered about the vampire full of candles either." Mandy only thought she was leading Iris on. The bait was on the hook, but Iris knew it; she was only sniffing it out to see what she could get.

She gave a more flirty giggle at Mandy's explanation. "What, pray tell," she inquired with a raised eyebrow, "is 'the usual stuff,' if you don't mind my asking?" Her voice was more or less a purr at this point, far from the hiss it had been only moments ago. She had settled down considerably; right now it was obvious that the young woman was uncomfortable, but maybe soon, she'd settle down.

"There's oddly something refreshing about that attitude, when I think about it. Most humans cower in fear or something. Sorry if we got off to a bad start...I've had trouble with rambunctious outsiders quite a bit lately. Never can be too careful, you know?" She flashed a grin, making eye contact with her now, studying her face. Every expression, movement, and even bead of sweat that may or may not be on her forehead.

Sometimes, it wasn't one's words that gave them away; it was the subtle smaller things that gave somebody away. She had noticed the slight buldge of a gun, but it was well hidden. This woman knew her way around quite well. But unfortunately for the woman, Iris knew her way around quite well also. After all, it wasn't her first rodeo, and gathering information was what Iris was good at, after all...

[Mandy]

"Oh, that's my bad. I sincerely promise that no candles will be stuck in vampires," Mandy laughed. "I doubt that I or most other humans could get away with such a... terrible act, especially here. Besides, I'm sure that wouldn't do very much damage to such a strong being." Mandy knew the woman wasn't buying her sidestepping of the issue, but that was in fact the truth. She had no squabble with any vampires at the moment... just certain people who may or may not be very valuable to them.

Grinning, Mandy finished off what was left in her glass and focused her gaze back on the woman. "Focusing on the business, huh? Must we be so serious?" she pouted mockingly. "Well, if you must know, I'm usually involved in helping to downsize or liquidate certain businesses. Nothing very glamorous, to be perfectly honest. Then again, it sure does pay well now and again. Unfortunately, most of my clients have been run out of town now. Ah well, c'est la vie..."

Mandy shifted a little in her seat, putting her a little closer to the blood sucker. She was still quite uncomfortable, but the city in general put her on edge. She hadn't dropped her guard yet, and she wasn't planning on it, not with this woman. "I'm glad you find my attitude refreshing. There's far too many pushovers left in the city," Mandy remarked. "I guess all the ones with some semblance of a backbone left for Louisiana and Chicago a long, long time ago. The vampires have had the city in a death grip for a long time though, so... I guess you can't blame 'em." She chuckled a little to herself, remember to keep herself in check. <No need to lead her too close to the flame. That would just make things messy...>

[Iris]

"Candles, railroad spikes, stakes with the end on fire...you'd be surprised," Iris replied coolly, not taking her gaze off of the human. "No, not many would get away with it, but that doesn't stop them from trying, if you know what I mean," she answered. Iris had to admit, though she'd been doing this for a long time, Mandy was putting up quite a fight for a human. Whatever it was this woman did for a living, she was a professional. And quite skilled in her craft.

But then again, so was Iris.

"It's a serious time. Comes with the territory." Iris listened very carefully as the woman spoke; she figured she was still giving the vampire the runaround, but she'd discovered that oftentimes, people would give up little tidbits of truth without realizing. So, in a sense, Iris was digging through this bowl of stale cereal and picking out the marshmallows. She imagined this woman's job wasn't very glamorous indeed, and that it did pay rather well. Clients. Downsize. Liquidate. She was a mercenary of some kind.

"I'd say the ones with brains are the ones who left, honestly," she said sweetly. "Those with any hostility towards us, anyway. Personally, I don't mind other races as long as they aren't up to anything shady. You, however. You seem decent enough. Likely, this whole ordeal with racial tension has left you...edgy." She gave a smile.

The bar had seemed to die down, she noticed as she looked around. Picking up a hefty bell from under the counter, she rang it to signify last call. It was sort of a gag that came with the bar, but it worked well enough. Then, she stepped around the corner, pulling out her phone and texting a contact.

'I need a meeting with a councilman. Any of them. ASAP.'

Putting her phone away and adjusting her cleavage a little she made her way back to the woman. "Sorry about that. You can call me Iris, by the way."

Mandy

[Mandy]

Mandy chuckled at her comment. <Most people can’t get away with that sort of stuff… but I’m not most people, honey,> she thought. “You’re right, it is quite a serious time,” Mandy sighed. “Such a shame it isn’t more exciting, at least around the non-human parts of the country. The human part is still just as fucked as it was before, unfortunately.”

“But me, shady? Edgy?” She feigned surprise. “Come now, we’ve been over that. I’m just here to have a good time and party, hun. Let’s not make a mountain out of a molehill. I’m a-ok with this being vampire central, so long as I keep my blood firmly in my body.”

Mandy took a last sip from her drink and watched the bartender ring a rather large bell for last call. The sight of it nearly made her burst out laughing, but she managed to keep her cool for a moment and watched the woman slip around the corner for a moment. <Good,> she thought, smirking to herself. <Run along and report to your councilors for me, blood sucker. It won’t matter – they won’t figure it out in time.>

Mandy quickly recomposed herself. Remembering that last call bell sent her into a fit of giggles. “I didn’t know things were still so old fashioned here,” she teased. “It’s been a pleasure, Iris. Thank you for… keeping so very, very engaged in our conversation. To be honest, I should probably head out soon. I’ve got a long day ahead of me tomorrow, and I’d hate to sleep in with a hangover. You’ve served me very well though, and I do appreciate that. I’m sure serving a blood bag was a… nice refresher for once.” Mandy slid a few bills over to the vampire, clearly much more than she owed, and gave her a coy smile. “Keep the change.”