Morningstar Manor

Ben had felt pretty awful all day Monday and had spent his time in the stores rather than the shop. It was strange how, after an episode like that, he felt so exhausted, but he had been warned to expect really bad days.

Today he felt better, and just as well because Kelsey had a dental appointment. He sat at the desk with a cup of tea and read "The Line of Beauty" with a critical frown.

The weather as cooling off quickly and many of the Manor tenants were stopping in the Mocha in the evenings for coffee not only for the ritual of it but for the warmth as well. Tonight for instance it seemed rather busy.

JJ was flipping through a magazine Deacon had let him borrow.

Jack was looking through some proofs of his latest batch of head shots.

Gabe was preparing the spa's next supply order and had decided that doing it in the Mocha - with coffee - was far better than doing it in the spa itself.

Max - dressed for once in jeans and a form fitting t-shirt instead of a suit - sat in one of the over stuffed chairs with an iPad in his lap as he sipped his coffee. But he wasn't doing work. He was playing Angry Birds.

Loki had another overstuffed chair, his coffee, and another old and battered book. Not Poe this time. No this one was the works of de Sade. And it was autographed.

Kara had worked two long shifts and was - thank GOD - done for a solid twenty four hours. She could get coffee at the Lamb of course but she had been craving a Mocha Latte all day and now she waited in line to get one.

Kris was at the Spa reception desk checking his appointment book and waiting for Gabe to finish a massage so he could resume teasing him about Sarah. It was a tough job but someone had to do it. Also Gabe expected it and would be disappointed if he didn't. It showed Kris cared.

###

Vincenzo was on patrol and had, as usual ended up on the roof. The builder's rubble was gone now, the gravel neatly raked and the planters loaded with fragrant flowering plants. He checked in with Frank then clipped his radio to his belt and went to check out the pool house.

It looked fantastic with russet and turquoise tiling, white and gold paintwork and lightweight arching Triplex panels. The water flashed and rippled as a couple of tenants swam leisurely lengths. At the far end where the walls drew back the hot tub seethed quietly.

"First chance I get," he promised himself.

###

Charlie and Nia were on their way home after a very successful shopping trip. Which meant that he was laden with groceries and Nia had a helium filled balloon that was - oh joy - shaped like a manically cheerful penguin.

She bounced it a couple of times making penguin noises then dashed forward with a squeak as the elevator door opened. Charlie followed her in and held the door for someone who was coming up behind them. "Going up?" he asked.

Gabe was in the spa cleaning up. It was nearly closing time and he was ready to head back to the apartment for some food and rest. He made a mental note to call Sarah too. He'd had to take a rain check on their night out due to an omgemergency hair issue with a very high end client.

***

JJ hadn't had a chance to hang out in the Mocha since he'd moved in and tonight - since after the band try out he didn't have anything else planned - he decided to give it a shot. He sat in one of the overstuffed chairs, sipping surprisingly good coffee and playing with his iPad.

***

Jason was technically off duty - and out of uniform - but he was still strolling the Manor grounds. Out in the gardens he paused to light up a cigarette and take a sip from the bottle of beer he held in his other hand. He looked up at the night sky, unable to really see any stars due to the city lights. But still - it was a nice night.

***

At the Lamb Kara wiped down the bar and smiled at the regulars. Tuesday nights were slow but that was okay. After a busy Labor Day she could use an easy night. She looked at the clock and then caught Jack's eye, giving him a nod.

Jack grinned at her and cleaned up the last table. His shift was over so once he put this in the kitchen he could go home.

Monday morning. Kids were back in school, people back to work, and at this time the major morning rush had already come and gone leaving the Mocha relatively quiet.

Deacon had dropped Nia off at the daycare and was enjoying a coffee and muffin. He'd texted Charlie as he walked across the lobby. Bfast in Mocha?

***

Seth was in the Mocha too and he'd waved to Deacon when he spotted him but didn't go to join him. He was sketching away in his book, sipping coffee, and bopping about in his seat as he listened to this music coming through his headphones.

***

Gabe was stretched out on one of the couches, coffee in one hand and phone pressed to his ear in the other. "Darling I know I wasn't there but honestly - what where you thinking? It was the Emmy's! You could have at least gone to Angels. I mean I might not be there but my people are good. Cuz honey - your hair..."

***

Demitri was up early. He didn't have a class until later this afternoon. And though he no longer ran the Mocha he liked to see that it was doing well. He sat by the window, looking out at the street and the people going by and thinking on the things that had happened in the past few months. And smiled softly.

***

Max and Micah sat at another table, both drinking coffee and looking through the paper.

Antique Apparel was up and running beautifully, and Celeste was beginning to trust her staff enough that she'd decided to take the morning away from the shop to catch up on a little paperwork, work out her staff schedule for the next week.

And so, 10 o'clock found her ensconced in a corner of the Mocha, wearing a pretty floral tea dress and peeptoe sandals, a frappuchino at her elbow as she sat with schedules spread out across her table, her diary splayed open to the page with her staff's availability.

She was very easily distractable, and happy for company.

Gabe was finally feeling more human and not like death had warmed over and so had gotten dressed in jeans and a soft blue t-shirt and headed down to the Mocha. He was now curled in one of the armchairs, sipping a huge sugary coffee and checking email on his phone, only the occassional sniff any sign that the cold still hadn't left completely.

***

Jason sat at his usual table - where he could see all - and took the time to enjoy his coffee and bagel before he had to head to the front desk.


***

There was a shipment coming in this morning and Kara needed to be at the Lamb to receive it but she had a bit of time for coffee and one of the Mocha's huge chocolate chip muffins first and was enjoying that at a table near the window.

***

Max had a meeting at ten - which meant there was time for coffee first. He sat at a table looking through the paper while Micah stood in line to get their drinks.

***

Just outside the Mocha, in the gardens, Loki prowled - annoyed. Dressed in tight black jeans, combat boots, and a black singlet his pale skin seemed to glow against the dark ink of his various Nordic tattoos and the sunlight made his hair look like angry fire - matching his mood.

Sometimes the Mocha was just as busy at night as in the morning. Tonight, for example, there were several familiar faces.

Jason - still in uniform but officially off work - was sitting alone at a corner table. To say he'd been busy after the accident in the pool house was an understatement. It had left him tired and cranky and, strangely, depressed. Watching all the people fuss over their loved ones had only reminded him that he didn't have one. No one really. Elspeth was busy with Niles - who Jason still said wasn't good enough for her. And since Lilith had left and - Adrian - well that left Jason with no one once again. Normally that didn't bother him. Tonight it was.

Maybe he'd go for a drink later. It had been a while since he'd been out.

***

Gabe had finished his last appointment for the day and decided a coffee was in order. One with lots of sugary goodness in it and more calories than any man should have in a single day, let alone a single sitting. Kris was likely off with Demitri doing things illegal in several states (at least he hoped Kris was) so that left him with a bit of nothing to do.

He flopped down into a chair and began checking his text messages.

***

Loki was back. Had he been gone? Sometimes he didn't even know. But he was here tonight taking up most of one of the couches as usual. Dressed in the typical all black with combat boots he flipped through the pages of a battered book. He'd missed the disaster at the pool. Which really just sucked. It had to have been spectacular.

***

Dressed in scrubs and with his bag on his shoulder Rhys got in line for the counter. He had plenty of time before his shift started to get a coffee and chill out a bit.


[ooc: my schedule this month is insane so apologies if I'm not around or drop threads. I'll try to keep up.]

They'd gotten back from California late in the afternoon and Gabe had spent a few hours in the spa doing a few quick manicures and massages for a few of his clients who simply couldn't wait for tomorrow. He was still recovering slightly from the post Oscar parties and the flight and then working and so decided it was time for a bit of pampering himself.

So a quick change into swim trunks and up to the hot tub he went - a cooler with a few beers inside in hand. With a deep sigh he sank down into the heated water. Hot tub, beer - the only thing he was missing was a companion.

They had lucked out over the suite. Every year they booked a nice one with two bedrooms and plenty of space but this year Kris's last minute determination to take Demitri with him could have caused problems. It was sheer dumb luck that the hotel had a cancellation and so they were able to get a three bedroomed suite for almost the same price as their more modest accommodation.

Suites at the Rennaissance were expensive but so worth it.

Rising early, as was his habit even after a crazy night like last night, Kris showered and got himself a glass of chilled fruit juice and took it out onto the balcony to wait for either of his suite-mates to wake up, or breakfast or both.

The height of fashion was Gabe and so he was waiting at Abrams's desk in well fitting jeans that looked suitably worn, boots, and a snug fitting Affliction t-shirt with angel wings down the back that nearly mimicked his tattoo perfectly. Leather jacket draped over his shoulder he waited for Sarah.

"Hello gorgeous. I am in need of a beautiful woman to hit the town with tonight. Know anyone that might be interested? Give me a call."

The start of a new week and the Mocha was hopping.

Deacon had dropped Nia off at the daycare already as he and Charlie both had things that needed to get done. Charlie of course had the gallery. Deacon needed to take the cars to get their new inspection stickers and do some general shopping. But first - coffee. Charlie was still getting ready and had had to take a phone call and Deacon would likely be gone before he got down there so Deacon just got himself a coffee and found a place to sit and enjoy it before going on the first of his errands.

****

Eris was in the Mocha as well, once again at a table and looking through brochures on warm sunny beaches.

****

Seth entered the Mocha just after Deacon had left, passing in the doorway and exchanging a few words. Now, coffee in hand, he sat at a table and sipped his drink as he happily sketched the passers by.

****

Gabe was in the Mocha as well, sprawled on a couch and sipping his coffee and idly flipping through a fashion magazine.

****

There was one customer not quite at the Mocha yet but oh he was ready for it. Rhys had just gotten off a forty eight hour shift and was slouched in the back of a cab headed for the Manor. He was exhausted and looking forward to his bed but his stomach was rumbling and he didn't have the energy to make something so he'd stop in the Mocha first, get something to eat and some decaf coffee and then sleep for a day. Maybe two.

He coughed, and that cough turned into a bit of a coughing fit and when he could breath again he murmured an apology to the cab driver. Looks like his boss had been right. Rhys was sick. And a sick doctor was not what you wanted in the ER of a hospital. Maybe that forced time off wouldn't be so bad after all.

Zack was beginning to feel a bit better. It had been very touch and go for a while and if Brendan hadn't been staying with him he might well have ended up in the hospital. But he'd gotten through what he hoped was the worst and now actually felt up to going down to the Mocha for a coffee and to nibble on a muffin.

He looked pale, small in his oversized hoodie and scarf. He'd lost weight and that didn't help matters and his eyes had dark shadows under them but they twinkled again now and his smile, though tired, was genuine.

He sat curled on one of the couches near the fireplace and answered an email from his iPhone while he waited for Brendan to come back with their coffee.

***

Gabe had had a grand time with the photoshoot but he was glad it was done. Lewis, bless him, was a dear and lord knew Gabe had had a fine time with a few of the models but he could only handle them all for so long was thankful he had his and Kris's apartment to themselves again.

Sitting at a table he chuckled as he replied to a text to one a friend. Oh the gossip that had come from that shoot!

***

Eris sat at a table, sipping a white chocolate mocha and looking through various brochures on various tropical places. Money wasn't a problem and she knew Daddy would keep her apartment open for her so how long to be gone wasn't an issue either.

The only question was where to go?

***

Loki was sprawled in one of the overstuffed arm chairs, legs dangling over one arm and head dangling over the other, bright red hair nearly touching the floor. His eyes were closed, headphones stuck in his ears and playing something with a low bass loud enough to be heard by passers by.

***

Max was headed to Sanctuary but he had a bit of time yet so stopped into the Mocha for a coffee and found himself an empty table to enjoy it at as he flipped through a newspaper someone else had left.

The pool house had been specially warmed for the occasion and extra loungers brought up. Screens had been erected for the models to change behind and everything was ready for the beautiful people to arrive.

They had their schedules - the ones who would be wearing the collection items and those who would be providing a back drop - and it was anticipated that the shoot would last most of the day and maybe into the evening. There was no knowing.

[ooc: Party post so tag in and let the pups chat amongst themselves, or if they want input from one of the staff, please give us a poke.]

All the boxes had been emptied, and the ball room was full of clothes and clothes and clothes, on racks and on chairs and in stacks and in bags.

There were a few makeshift curtains between the pillars, and Lewis was hopping between them like a goblin, bringing new suggestions for outfits, or parading his makeshift models in front of a big mirror.

He was being followed by a calm woman in her fifties who was wordlessly scribbling on a large pad, Andras who was snapping the 'winning' outfits with a compact camera, and a little girl of about five who just gaped at everything and tried to stay out of the way.

When Andras almost fell over her, he just turned, grabbed her, put them on his shoulders before she could even squeal, and just carried on working as if she wasn't there.

Into the Mocha they went and Kris looked around, seeing a few of the gorgeous faces and bodies he had hoped to see, and he cleared his throat and tapped on a table to attract their attention.

"Um - ladies, gentlemen," he said, "we are in - frankly - awful trouble and are hoping some of you might be kind enough to help us out. The fact is - we have a designer and a complete collection of clothing but the photographer and all the models are stuck in Switzerland. So - would you be prepared to wear Lewis's clothes and have photos taken? What do you say?"

He looked round hopefully. "Anyone?"

Looking for volunteers for a fashion photoshoot here in the Manor ASAP. All on the up and up I promise and with big names behind it. Meet me in the Mocha!

[ooc: this is sent out to any and all men or women that have been in the spa and conversed with Gabe in any shape or form so feel free to respond]

"No!! NO!!! NO!!!!!! NO!!!!!!!!!"

Somebody was on one of the balconies, talking on his phone, and shouting at the top of his lungs with melodramatic desperation, his voice echoing all through the gardens.

"No!! Not in Chamonix!"

It was only a twinge but Fin knew from experience how easily it could develop into full blown pain. he was spending far too much time at his keyboard and the stiffness in shoulders and neck was bad but the worrying thing was the way two of the fingers on his right hand had stiffened and occasionally locked.

Last time the doctor had prescribed anti-inflammatories and rest. Fin decided to try something a bit different and booked a session with the Manor's ace masseur.

Entering the spa he looked around grinned and gave his name as the more sober, the most probably straight, of the two proprietors greeted him and followed his directions to the closed off area at the back of the room.