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Prince Victor Ambrose Rose ([info]immortalruin) wrote in [info]paxletalelogs,
@ 2011-12-02 16:55:00

Previous Entry  Add to memories!  Tell a Friend!  Next Entry
Entry tags:aphrodite, ares, baron samedi, brighid, geb, loki, mani, nephthys, poseidon, shiva

Party Like a Rockstar
Who: Everyone!
What: Penthouse Party!!
Where: P1 and P2
When: Friday night
Notes: The invite was sent to everyone.



Why he had agreed to host the party in both penthouses, Michael didn't know. Certainly one penthouse would've been large enough to host everyone, but this way everyone would be comfortable. Most of the liquor was in Michael's apartment, and a sign on his open door said exactly this. As promised he had just about every type of liquor he could think of, and top shelf brands too. However, no party was complete without a wide selection of flavored vodkas, so there was whipped cream, cotton candy, and various fun flavored vodkas as well as every important mixer. If it was one thing Michael knew, it was alcohol.

His penthouse was predictably decorated, with his favorite movie posters framed on the walls. There was Casablanca, Gone with the Wind, The Birds, Susperia, and of course The Godfather in various places and rooms in the penthouse. For a man's apartment, it was actually very well decorated and it looked like a staged apartment you see on one of those do it yourself television shows, even if it was decorated with movie memorabilia and darker colors. Michael hoped, as he popped a few tums, that this would be a night to remember. He only hoped people showed up.


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P1 / Open to Michael
[info]baronsamedi
2011-12-03 01:53 am UTC (link)
Julian would have to name himself a liar if he said his interest wasn't the slightest bit piqued at the mere mention of a party. Even though one could consider his entire life one, due to the fact that he owned a rather well-known club, he could never pass up an opportunity to check out someone else's playpen. Tonight he dressed himself well, black slacks with a midnight blue button-up shirt, his dress shoes polished to shine like a well cut onyx stone. For a moment he wondered at the idea of bringing some kind of gift for the hosts, but then thought against the idea - two well-known hotshots like these probably already had everything they believed the party would require, and who was he to infringe on their pride? The thought gave him a chuckle, at the very least, as he jabbed the Penthouse floor button in the elevator. The ride was smooth and quick, even if he was living on the fourth floor. For a moment he wondered if his wife would be in attendance, before he reminded himself that he should be thinking of her as an ex-wife. They still hadn't discussed the incredibly odd events of Halloween, and sometimes he wondered if it wasn't better left alone.

The dinging of the doors sliding open brought Julian back to the present, and he was saddened to see a rather bare hallway with two doors open, the smell of food and alcohol laced with music creating an atmosphere for the party guests. He was rather surprised to find himself being the first to arrive, since he always adored showing up fashionably late - and, for once, he realized that people might not recognize him. Julian reassured himself that such a thing was fine, especially since he wasn't the host of this particular bash. No, instead he would let the reins slide into the hands of those doing their best to create a memorable occasion, or at least one where others could let loose and have a good time. Heading toward P1, the door of which boasting a sign to inform party-goers that the alcohol was within, he decided to see what their stock looked like. He was, inwardly, impressed with the selection that greeted his eyes in the lavishly furnished apartment (which was, in the long run, a little sparse for Julian's taste). He continued to browse, trying to come to a decision on whether he should sample the food spread or help himself to some liquid courage first.

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Re: P1 / Open to Michael
[info]immortalruin
2011-12-04 05:24 am UTC (link)
Michael was dressed in a very similar, almost identical style as Julian, wearing black dress pants, dress shoes, and a deep brick red button down shirt. As Julian entered, Michael was just grateful that anyone had showed up. As much as he already disliked Newport, he wanted to meet people here, maybe it would make it more tolerable, and maybe, just maybe there were more people like Alexander here, people he could actually see himself becoming friends with.

Michael approached Julian with a nod, holding his own small glass of scotch on the rocks. "Thank you for coming."

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[info]baronsamedi
2011-12-04 09:16 pm UTC (link)
Glancing in the direction of the voice, a smile appeared on Julian's face, regardless of what he thought of the party thus far. He was always one to soothe others, to encourage good and willing behavior from them, which was always best accomplished with a welcoming expression.

"Quite a selection you have here." One hand waved toward the offering of alcohol, which was (despite smaller in stock) nearly the width and breadth of his own stores back at CASKET with a few notable exceptions. One bottle that caught his eye stuck out as a red flag, and the ex-bartender reached out curious fingers to bring it to light.

"Though I have to wonder how you came by this particular little gem," he continued, holding up a bottle of 190 proof Everclear, which was illegal in California. Julian was no stranger himself to procuring harder to find alcohols for his clients, he had simply never done so in a brazen manner like display for party guests. Holding it in both hands like one might carefully hold a newborn babe, he looked back to the host with raised brows and a mischievous smile.

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[info]immortalruin
2011-12-04 10:15 pm UTC (link)
Michael looked at the bottle of Everclear and grinned. He actually hadn't realized that it had been put out for the party, but he certainly didn't drink the stuff, so it didn't matter much to him. Besides, this was a party, and parties were for having fun, and Everclear certainly led to interesting times. "Sometimes I get presents like that through work and various people, incentives to pick their client for a movie, theaters hoping to have the premiere take place there, things like that." Michael disappeared into the kitchen for a moment and pulled out a bottle of something he had hidden. It was a dark greenish black bottle with two bright green cat eyes. "I'm assuming you've heard of Lucid, the only legal real absinthe in the states? Do a shot with me."

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[info]baronsamedi
2011-12-04 10:28 pm UTC (link)
He nodded, well aware of the green liquor. Julian had always been more of a rum connoisseur himself, but was always open to any and all types of inebriation. It didn't behoove him to be stingy when it came to finding new drinks for his club; absinthe certainly drew a crowd due to it's infamous origins and quirky reputation, but the club owner was the opinion that people gave it more credit than it was due.

"Host's party, host's rules," he commented, never letting the smile move from his lips. Sliding the Everclear back into its place amidst the other drinks, he smoothed one hand down his shirt front while he waited for the man to pour. "So, it's Michael, correct? And you direct films?" Julian didn't linger long on the forum boards - he didn't have the time nor the interest - but he had managed to look up who was throwing the party and a little background information so he would go informed. He did always love to be one step ahead, whenever possible.

"I'm afraid I'm not a big movie goer, myself, but it certainly seems like it's done well for you," he continued, looking around the apartment once more. The space was huge, but worked against itself in being so empty -- the furnishings though, now those were nice, and Julian itched to run his fingers over the cloth if only to see the texture, fulfill that sensory need that always reared its head when it came to new possibilities.

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[info]immortalruin
2011-12-04 11:32 pm UTC (link)
"I haven't been able to drink this in a very, very long time. The last time I had it was about three months ago. One shot led to another, and before I knew it I had six shots under my belt, feeling a strange illusion of being completely sober. If I didn't know better, I would've sworn I was able to get in my car and drive perfectly fine, which was of course not the truth. I always wondered if that was part of the hallucinations people claim to have, more subtle and yet dangerous than people would like to admit." Michael brought the bottle of absinthe as well as two glasses into the kitchen. He pulled out a slotted spoon from his drawer and two sugar cubes from his tea cabinet, preparing the drinks properly. "Thank you, yes, it's done well for me, I am very lucky in that, not so lucky in that I have to be away from L.A. for awhile." Michael handed Julian his drink/shot and realized that he didn't know his name. "I'm sorry, what's your name?"

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[info]baronsamedi
2011-12-06 07:20 pm UTC (link)
"Julian," he replied, knocking back the shot without so much as a wince. The liquor started out sweet before dissolving into a bitter taste on the tongue - he was all too aware of how quickly that bitterness could dissolve in the wake of inebriation, and a smirk lighted on his features. "Julian Veilleux. I own CASKET." He let the name be, assured of its own weight and reputation. Even if this Michael was new to the area, Julian was assured that he would quickly become aware of his club and its offerings.

"What brings you to our beautiful Newport Beach?" He detected a tone not unlike the aftertaste of the absinthe -- one that stated Michael was less than pleased to be away from the hectic nature of Hollywood. There was certainly a possibility here for similarities to align in many ways, but Julian was still uncertain whether it would be a positive or a negative. He'd never done well against people of his own ilk, what with the need to dominate clashing, but there was always the off chance that he was wrong and could be convinced to behave. That chance was always slim, as Julian could recall. Still, his curiosity won out, pushing him to pry into the man -- if he was like Julian, undoubtedly he'd be willing to be read like a book.

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[info]immortalruin
2011-12-07 05:25 am UTC (link)
Michael took his shot quickly, setting it down on the table, also without a wince. Michael nodded when Julian mentioned that he was the owner of CASKET, because he had actually just heard of that club and wanted to stop by sometime to see what the nightlife was like there. "I meant to stop by CASKET last night, I'll have to make sure I do so sometime soon and see your club."

What brought him to Newport Beach. Most people would be careful with their answer, because after all, Julian could absolutely love it here, and be very, very defensive about his town, but of course Michael wasn't one to censor his words whatsoever. "I've had a bunch of medical problems lately that I won't get into, and all of the doctors I've been to have come to the same conclusion, that it's stress and I need to live away from L.A. for a bit, away from the chaos, so here I am, living what should be the high life on the beach."

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[info]baronsamedi
2011-12-08 06:11 pm UTC (link)
"Please do. And though I'm sure you can afford it, feel free to drop the hint that you live at Pax. Free drinks, it's the least I can do for my fellow neighbors," he added, always one to offer bait if it meant catching a bigger fish on his line. This Michael could certainly prove helpful, in many, many ways. Though he was still deciding whether or not he even liked the man, that was no reason to burn bridges before they were even built. He nodded easily at the mention of the reasoning that had brought the man to Newport Beach - sad that it would be such dismal circumstances, but not everyone was as open to new experiences as Julian was.

"There's plenty in Newport that could rival LA," he replied. "Of course, there's not as much glitz and glamor as LA, but perhaps the people here aren't as plastic, which I found to be a nice change." His experience with the socialites of Los Angeles was scarce at best, but it didn't take long to measure the shallowness of a person through simple conversation. Especially most people hailing from that area of California.

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[info]immortalruin
2011-12-09 01:18 am UTC (link)
"I definitely will. No matter how much money anyone has, free drinks are always welcomed and highly appreciated." It was becoming very clear very quickly that Julian was an intelligent man with taste, and if his club was even half as decent as he imagined it was, he imagined that events could be planned for Casket quite often. A lot of people wouldn't want to travel out of L.A. to go there, but it would be nice for a change or for certain events.

"I'm going to come across as a very shallow person when I say this, but part of me misses the plastic. People here already know quite a bit more about me than anyone did in L.A., and that's going to take some time to get used to."

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[info]baronsamedi
2011-12-09 02:08 am UTC (link)
Fingers laced around the shot glass, Julian set it down carefully, as though it were more breakable than its thick bottom would lead one to believe.

"Are you saying you have stalkers?" The sentiment left a childish smirk on his face, amused by the idea. Only celebrities. "I certainly hope you wouldn't be bringing that kind of trouble around the apartment." He hadn't been aware of many odd occurrences that he could blame on the building itself, but Halloween had certainly brought out a...different view on things. And though he was rarely in the complex as it was, he certainly didn't care for the unsavory sort to start frequenting the place he was calling his home. Perhaps even a touch of protection over Ariana flared up in his mind, encouraging his desire or lack thereof to see what sort of people knew "more" about Michael.

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[info]immortalruin
2011-12-09 02:16 am UTC (link)
Michael laughed instantly and shook his head quickly, going over to pour himself a glass of makers mark over a tall scoop of ice. "No, I don't think I have stalkers, in fact it's delightful how many people here really don't care that I'm famous, people here and getting to know me to get to know me, but at the same time, I'm not used to it, and I honestly don't know if I like having to open myself up at all to people. I've been so closed for so long, do you know what I mean?" Yet here he was, sharing with Julian. The more he found himself sharing, the less he liked Newport and non plastic people. There was something to be said about the company of shallow people, you never had to second guess their motives, you knew exactly what they were thinking, $$$$$$$$$$$.

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[info]baronsamedi
2011-12-09 03:02 am UTC (link)
"Ah, you mean you actually let people get to know you here. My apologies, I misunderstood you. I can see why that's such a downside," he replied, dryly. As an extrovert, Julian had always extolled in telling people about himself, any little story that came to mind, anything at all to draw attention. Obviously Michael did not feel the same, and Julian actually felt a small bit of pity for a person who didn't feel enriched by others knowing more about them and finding out more about those others in return.

His hands fell back to his sides before slipping into his pockets. Less and less he was finding the company at this party to be those of the sort he enjoyed -- and there weren't many people that Julian couldn't stomach in one way or another. He gave one last jab, a last attempt to give Michael a chance to redeem himself in Julian's eyes.

"That accent certainly isn't from Hollywood, unless it's just as fake," he joked. "My guess is British. Hot or cold?"

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[info]immortalruin
2011-12-09 06:56 pm UTC (link)
"It's not necessarily a downside, it's just different and will take quite some getting used to." In reality it was a big downside of Newport to Michael right now, even though he did appreciate his new genuine friendship he had found in Alexander, it was still bizarre, odd, and very different than what he had been used to for quite some time.

"You would most certainly be hot. I've gotten used to not saying certain British expressions, but the accent never really leaves does it? I grew up in Cardiff Wales actually, but my family moved to London when I was very young. I moved to the states to go to college, so I've lived here since I was 18, and up until now I've always lived in the hustle and bustle of the city. Where are you from?"

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[info]baronsamedi
2011-12-10 06:38 am UTC (link)
He ignored the easy comment about the potential flirtation - Julian was feeling anything but, and it was one thing to tease a potential boon giver rather than someone he was steadily growing to dislike.

"Born and raised in Oakland, not too far from here. I've been around the country itself, but never outside of it. Maybe after I retire," he finished, a teasing edge to his words forcing the joke out of his last statement. The only time it seemed Julian would retire would be after he died.

"Have to imagine there was a bit of a culture shock between growing up in the UK versus moving to Los Angeles. However did you cope?"

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[info]immortalruin
2011-12-11 05:30 am UTC (link)
"Sadly, all I know about Oakland is that there is a football team there, and I'm not even sure if that is correct, something about the Raiders?" Michael laughed as Julian suggested that he would travel out of the country when he retired. "I can't imagine that someone as busy as you with a successful club like Casket would ever retire willingly. I visit home once a year no matter what. I try to visit in between movies, so next time I go home to London I should let you know and force you to travel. There are plenty of nightclubs there I think you'd enjoy, you could look at it as a business trip, for research."

As he talked he had finished his makers mark and set down his empty glass, wishing to light up a cigarette, but not wanting to do so in his new apartment and in front of company. That was one great thing about California verse London, it was always warm enough to go outside for a smoke. "It was quite a culture shock as you can imagine, there were many times I doubted that I would stay, but a dream is a dream, and I was very, very lucky to get into the school I got into, so I couldn't turn it down or go back to the UK."

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[info]baronsamedi
2011-12-11 07:23 pm UTC (link)
He chuckled at the mention of the local football team. Julian detested sports, and the maniacs who numbered themselves among the "Raider Nation" were, to him, the best examples of people who had lost their sanity. His brows quirked at the mention of being taken along for a vacation - though he was well known for making quick friends, the mixed feelings about this man certainly made him less inclined to show favor toward that idea. Besides, what else could be out there that he didn't already have right here, in this apartment building and in his own club? That thought surprised him, since only moments before he'd been quite pleased with himself in the fact that he was readily open to new experiences. Maybe it was just the company making the offer.

"It's something to think about, definitely," was his vague reply, a hand rising to scratch and smooth down his already perfectly combed goatee. He could, however, respect the man for sticking it out in his attainment of a dream: it was something Julian himself had done his best to achieve, though he couldn't say that there had been moments when he'd imagined giving up. No, that was happening with his marriage...

Shaking his head, driving out those thoughts, he refocused. "That's what we Americans are all about, perseverance. Perhaps we'll make a Yankee out of you yet." Suddenly his phone buzzed in his pocket, and Julian withdrew it in a smooth motion. Holding it to his ear, he merely grunted as a woman's voice related some issue to him. After a moment, he shut the phone and returned to his conversational partner. "I'm sorry, but I'll have to cut this short. Running a small business usually means no rest for the wicked," he grinned, sliding his phone back into his pocket. Extending his hand for a farewell shake, he angled his body toward the door. "It was a pleasure meeting you."

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[info]immortalruin
2011-12-12 03:41 pm UTC (link)
Michael was used to offering things with no intent of ever following through with them, it was definitely a character flaw, and a strong one at that, something that he couldn't entirely blame on his time in L.A. He probably would never actually invite Julian to England, so why did he offer? Empty promises are best left simply not offered at all. Julian was successful, ran his own bar/club, and knew what he liked in life, so in many ways they were very similar, perhaps too similar to actually get along. Still, he didn't want to let this stop him from visiting Casket, he did want to find at least one night spot in this town.

"Perhaps you will. It was a pleasure meeting you as well," Michael shook Julian's hand. It had certainly been an interesting experience.

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[info]baronsamedi
2011-12-14 12:45 am UTC (link)
He returned Michael's shake with a firm grip of his own, one last not-so-sincere smile that didn't quite reach his eyes marking his face before he turned for the door. While he still rated the party itself in the low grades, it had still served its purpose - but for the moment, his concentration was on CASKET and the drunk who was currently making a scene. It wasn't necessary to call in the owner, but as Ariana loved to put it, Julian wasn't fond of not knowing how many sheets of toilet paper were left in the bathroom stalls. Though the episode would most certainly be quelled by the time he reached the club, he wanted to ensure that any other wrinkles were immediately smoothed out and that the event would be just as quickly forgotten as it had come about. He also wanted to know who had slipped up in keeping tabs on who was too drunk to continue.

Reaching the elevator, he found himself actually enjoying the quiet as he slumped against one wall, realizing that the other man's presence had had a very abrasive effect on him; and it was mainly due to their apparently similarities, which Julian was able to pinpoint more easily now that he was away and able to trek back over the information he had at hand. With one hand smoothing back his carefully mussed hair, he let out a low sigh, switching his thoughts over to his beloved club, thinking to deal with these new apartment developments later. It was bad enough having to deal with Ariana being in the building, but this new guy might prove to be a problem as well.

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Hallway / Open to Richard
[info]manen
2011-12-03 05:46 am UTC (link)
Walking out of the elevator a little hesitantly, Max wasn't sure what had drawn him to this location and event, but here he was. In comparison to a few people he saw, he was dressed in seam-tattered jeans, a plaid shirt over a tee with a zippered jacket over the entire ensemble, scuffed sneakers on his feet. He adjusted his glasses as his brown curls fell over his forehead and surveyed the area. Hell, maybe he'd meet a hot girl.

Hey there. Wanna know what I can do? How about I show you.

No, that sounds ridiculously creepy, he remarked to himself, his face registering a slight disgust and amusement at his own mind's antics. Walking further into the space, he considered his options - door A offered alcohol, and door B seemed to contain a plethora of books, and not the kind with pictures. The volumes looked thick and wordy, potentially containing long soliloquies and intense dialogues that missed the point of entertainment over the idea of being "deep". But of course, Max chastised himself for judging a book by its cover (digging out another inward smirk at his own sense of humor) and moved back into the hallway.

Pulling his hands out of his pockets, his fingers wiggled as he wondered if it would be a better (i.e. more fun) idea to enter the party a little less noticeably. He hadn't necessarily abused his powers like this before (all the women's bathrooms he could've been creeping in!) but the opportunity hadn't yet presented himself. This party was probably going to be full of old people anyway, and who would begrudge a kid his fun? But before he could even attempt to muster some control over what he assumed to be a section of his brain that caused his cells to obfuscate themselves, the elevator doors slid open again, vomiting up another party-goer.

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Re: Hallway / Open to Richard
[info]atrickstertype
2011-12-03 09:10 am UTC (link)
Richard exploded from the rickety doors of the elevator with something less than his usual charm and grace. The thought of climbing to the top of the Pax while dressed in his best 'casual rich-guy' suit had been enough to get him into the elevator, but he still didn't trust the thing. As soon as it opened he was out, clutching his six pack of beer and trying to regain his composure, smoothing down his suit coat glancing around the hall.

It had been a long month, doubly so because most of it had been so boring. A few days of unemployment weren't a problem, but after a week or two he had really started to go stir crazy. The job at the radio station was looking good, but the long breaks in the interview process were enough to drive him slowly mad. The obvious answer to his problems was, as it always had been, to get drunk with strangers.

Now, scanning he hallway, he realized that his arrival had been witnessed by one such stranger. Richard shot the boy a wry grin and nodded back towards the elevator. "Well, it put up a good fight, but I think I beat the sucker. Wouldn't suggest trying it yourself, though. That elevator's a tricky one."

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[info]manen
2011-12-03 06:44 pm UTC (link)
"Haven't had any problems with it, myself, but I've heard stories," Max's reply came, a beat later as he adjusted to the sudden and overwhelming feeling of deja vu - just like with Lucy and Alex. Again he noted how this feeling only ever dawned around people who lived in the same building with him (though only a select, small few) and he was, as ever, hard pressed to understand what caused it. Something in a similar nature, maybe some weird, twisted, psychic dream thing? Max shook his head imperceptibly, as though to dispel such quandaries in favor of focusing on the moment at hand.

"I feel like I'm a little under dressed...I didn't realize this was a black-tie thing." The statement was more than a joke than an actual observation - even Max, who's wardrobe consisted of gamer pictures and pop culture one liners, knew business casual from an actual suit. It still left him looking a little homeless, or at least like a kid who was probably underaged and shouldn't be at a party with liquor, at least not legally. Again he wondered why he was here - maybe it was just a stark curiosity that brought him up to this floor, a possibility of meeting others and maybe, just maybe, finding out about more peculiar episodes going on in the building. He was still a firm believer that more people putting their heads together would help unravel the mystery than any one of them working on their own.

That, or maybe it was the tantalizing idea of maybe meeting a girl (not like he had time for such shenanigans between the schooling he was supposed to be focusing on and his nightly endeavors to rid the streets of Newport Beach of criminal scum, and the accompanying hospital visits), but that looked to be shot to hell since he didn't see too many other people around.

Jerking a thumb toward one of the open doors, Max canted his head slightly. "You know either of the guys throwing this thing? I think they just moved in. Talk about a house-warmer."

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[info]atrickstertype
2011-12-03 10:22 pm UTC (link)
The feeling he got looking at this kid wasn't the same overwhelming feeling of recognition he got around Adam or Lucy. This was something else, a niggling feeling that maybe, once, they'd worked together. Run on the same track team. Been stuck on the same bus for a while and had a memorable conversation. It was an annoying feeling, like an itch he couldn't quite scratch, but it didn't seem important enough to focus on. He'd remember whatever it was eventually.

Meanwhile, it was no excuse to be rude. "Never met either of them," Richard said, shrugging, "but one of them's the director of a series of movies that I really like. Plus, I just figured that any party that takes two penthouses is the place to be." He walked up to the younger man, looking him over carefully. The clothes screamed college student and the vaguely confused look meant he was probably out of his depth as far as parties went. Richard wasn't sure what to make of the hair. The whole scene brought back memories of a younger, mulleted version of himself, and Richard couldn't help but smile. He wondered what this kid's position was on Stephen King.

"I don't think there's a dress code," he said dismissively, "and between you and me, if there is it's probably not a very good party anyway. I've been to a couple of black-tie affairs. Nothing but Bruce Wayne wannabes comparing yacht-sizes as far as the eye can see and getting progressively more drunk as they do so. It can get ugly." It had been a couple of years since "The Dark Knight", but he hoped the reference was still topical enough to pass for cool. How did you talk to a college kid, anyway? Richard couldn't remember the last time he had tried.

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[info]manen
2011-12-04 09:35 pm UTC (link)
The grin that cracked along Max's expression was a true one - he didn't catch the idea that the man only made the reference to the Caped Crusader because of his age. No, Max felt that people didn't necessarily pander, but instead showed true interest, especially if they shared similar likes. Tucking his hands back into the pockets of his coat, he fell into a more comfortable stance, for the moment glad he had come to the party rather than sit at home with his video games. For a long time he'd been content to just sit in his room, staring at that flickering screen, but along with the appearance of his super powers came along the enjoyment of being around other people.

"Games of my boat is bigger than yours turning into all out pissing matches doesn't sound like a good reason to be at a party, no, hah." His eyes narrowed for a moment, trying to decide if and where he'd met this man before. The niggling sensation refused to abate, but Max was able to shove it to the back of his mind for the time being.

"I'm Max. Sixth floor," came the introduction, and Max held out a hand politely, acting much older than his age and clothes would imply. "How, uh, do you like the building?" Which, of course, was as subtle as Max could get when fishing for strange events that might be happening to the others in the building. All of the strange things - including the most recent, Fee's sister's death - had to have affected more people. Max made a mental note to check in on Fiona, since he hadn't seen nor heard from the girl in awhile (she hadn't been on any networks, but he could see how playing video games would probably be the least of her worries for the moment). But his attentions remained focused on the man in front of him.

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[info]atrickstertype
2011-12-10 07:05 pm UTC (link)
"I'm Richard, down on five," Richard replied, unfazed as he shook Max's hand firmly and then let it fall. "And the building..." The easy answer, the thoughtlessly positive endorsement of his new home, wouldn't quite come. He knew, obviously, that his experiences since moving to California were a mixture of bad luck and what was quite possibly a minor psychotic break, but on some level it was hard not to blame the building. When he let his mind wander back to Halloween, he knew that he had been convinced the building was behind his troubles during that long day. But thinking of that day was... unpleasant, to say the least. His grip on the case of beer tightened and his smile slipped before he was able to force out an answer.

"Well, I'm not a fan of the elevator, I can tell you that much," he finished lamely. "But the view's great, and I like most of the people I've met here." Some more than others, of course, but he let that go unsaid. "Have you lived here for a while?" It wasn't his best opening conversation gambit, but it seemed the right kind of question to ask. Pleasantries and small talk were the name of the game at this sort of party.

Who was this kid, anyway? Maybe they rode the same bus? The question itched at the back of his mind and Richard shifted uncomfortably, trying to forget it was there and answer it at the same time. On the one hand, it was completely possible that he might know Max from somewhere. On the other, he was starting to suspect that this feeling of deja vu that he had been encountering in the building was just another symptom of whatever mental defect he had suffered during October. A relapse was the last thing he needed.

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[info]manen
2011-12-11 07:12 pm UTC (link)
"A few months," came the quick, vague answer. A few months that had seemed like an eternity, like he had never necessarily arrived nor left this place. It was an odd sensation, not unlike the deja vu he kept experiencing around certain people, like Richard in front of him at that moment. The man was certainly giving Max the idea that odd things had occurred to him as well, concerning their mutual living space, and instantly Max wanted to know what. Of course, there was always the issue of Richard not wanting to explain or revisit such memories, and though Max had usually been labeled something of a social reject, he had enough manners to know when something would be considered rude.

"I haven't had a chance to experience the elevator breaking down, myself, but I've heard horror stories. I'll just have to keep my fingers crossed and not jinx myself.

"Otherwise, sometimes I wonder if this place is worth the money." He really couldn't be saying much on that topic, considering that it was his sister who paid the rent, but it was having a toll on both of them regardless. And maybe his suggestion would bring out more thoughts from Richard; Max wasn't going to bet on it, really, but a shot in the dark was better than no shot at all. Mentally he went over the list of people he knew, trying to place how he seemed to know these people - Lucy, Alex, Richard - but nothing came to mind, not even in his night time adventures as something of a mock super hero. Not being able to remember was intensely frustrating.

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[info]atrickstertype
2011-12-11 10:23 pm UTC (link)
"Well, that's saying something considering how cheap the place is," Richard replied, happy to turn the conversation away from himself. "What makes you wonder? The gorgeous view? The prime location? The swimming pool and beach access?" On paper, at least, the Pax was almost perfect. Actually, though he had never really wondered about it before, it did seem odd that a place with so many things going for it was also this affordable. Samuel's joke about someone dying in the swimming pool suddenly seemed much less unlikely. There had to be some reason for people's attitude towards the Pax. Including Max's.

It didn't occur to Richard that the younger man might be fishing for information. After all, what sort of insight could he hope to gain from a newcomer? Still, something about Max's attitude seemed a little off. Richard wondered what it was, and whether it had anything to do with how familiar he seemed. Maybe he was having deja vu as well? It wasn't exactly the kind of question Richard thought he could bring up casually, but the possibility intrigued him. It was definitely something to get around to later.

Meanwhile, he leaned back against the wall, setting down his beer on a windowsill and pulling out a bottle with a flourish as he waited for Max's answer. It seemed they had started up a solid conversation, and there was no reason to let party time go to waste just because they hadn't made it into one of the apartments yet.

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I apologize for this tag being so late, I never got a notification...
[info]manen
2011-12-19 02:18 am UTC (link)
With Richard's casual attitude, it occurred to Max that, for some people in this building, maybe nothing was odd in the building. But he couldn't forget the things he'd seen, and most obvious of all, the fact of his own sudden abilities.

"I guess you haven't heard, then." Suddenly he felt less than amicable about this topic of conversation. It had soured the round of mini-golf that he and Lucy had one afternoon. But even if things went south between him and everyone with whom he spoke on this subject, it was better that they be informed.

"I mean, nothing...weird, has happened to you, has it?" It was a long shot, getting Richard to confide anything (let alone anything of a personal nature) in him, but on the other hand, it would give Max a chance to tell Richard about the strangeness of the building. Or come off looking like a lunatic. Either case was a likely scenario.

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Tell you what, we'll call it even. :)
[info]atrickstertype
2012-01-06 05:42 am UTC (link)
The question seemed odd, odd enough to warrant some thought, but Richard was far too distracted by Max's seemingly offhand comment to answer it. "Wait," he said, waving his hand and frowning thoughfully at the younger man, "what do you mean 'I haven't heard?' Haven't heard what?" A train of possibilities ran through his head, running from the usual crime-novel scandals to some really ridiculous things like hallucinogenic gas. It seemed almost too good to hope that there was some widely known yet strange part of the building that could explain Halloween (which he was not going to think about, damn it.) Still, if there were other things going on in the apartment building...

And it certainly seemed there were. Max's question seemed too intent, and Richard found himself wondering exactly what it was that had led the boy to ask. He would have to follow up on that, just as soon as he had heard whatever it was Max was thinking of.

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Re: Tell you what, we'll call it even. :)
[info]manen
2012-01-10 02:21 am UTC (link)
And here he was going again, probably upsetting what could potentially be a perfectly nice evening because he couldn't stop letting his curiosity get the better of him. But, as he had before with Lucy, he couldn't shake the need to keep people informed of the weird shit going on, the things that could potentially cause them harm.

After all, Kerrin was the second to add t to the body count, and while she'd died off the property, that didn't mean that whatever was in the building hadn't had a hand in the whole affair. So he was blunt; he didn't feel as though he had to handle the affair as gently as he had with Lucy (or at least as gentle as he'd attempted to be). Richard seemed to be made of sterner stuff.

"The murder. And I don't mean Karin. There was a concierge; they found him floating face down in the swimming pool. And then you think about Kerrin..." He waved his hands as though to imply the two might be connected. Of course, Max knew more than he was telling. He knew about the room in the lobby, filled with things that belonged to ex-tenants. The ex-tenants that no one could remember, as though they were merely figments of their imagination. Surely Max couldn't be the only person who was noticing these things, but then again, he was going looking for trouble.

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P2/ Open
[info]tuathadedanann
2011-12-04 12:24 pm UTC (link)
Jenny had somehow managed to avoid meeting anyone in the lift and she was starting to wonder if maybe she was the only person to turn up at this party. She was relieved when she stepped out of the doors to find people milling in the hallway and slipping in and out of the open doors. Looking at people's attire she congratulated herself for her choice of a delicate, silky dark purple cocktail dress with slim, semi-transparent sleeves. Elegant but not too flashy. She liked attention but she certainly didn't want to be the centre of it. Especially when she didn't really know anybody in the building yet.

She headed straight for the door with P2 emblazoned on it. Possibly a little to eager to see into the apartment inside. A little nervous, she couldn't help but gravitate towards where the drinks were held so that she could have something to hold.

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Re: P2/ Open
[info]godsinthewater
2011-12-05 08:55 am UTC (link)
Activity swarmed, and Alexander was more or less pleased as punch. Per usual, it had taken a drink or two to calm his nerves (charming was his forte; enclosed, crowded spaces not so much until the liquor flowed freely). The hot shower helped, too, and the classical music playing softly in the background. His apartment suited him well enough, a clean expanse of wood floors, subtle, elegant furniture, and more books than he could ever possibly count (he'd hired someone else to catalog them, after all) lining endless shelves across the walls. But the door had been left open for all to enter as they wished, offering something of a quiet in the joyous storm.

A fondness for fine suits dictated a four-piece this evening, though the jacket had been left draped over the back of a chair. Black Armani; could there ever be anything else? Scruffing his beard lightly, he glanced up just in time to see a face in his doorway, and blasted an eager, white smile at the semi-stranger.

"Well, hello there. May I offer you a drink? I seem to have all the wine; Michael's got more ... exciting offerings, however, if you're interested."

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[info]tuathadedanann
2011-12-05 01:42 pm UTC (link)
Something about the smile was immediately infectious and Jenny could already feel a warm smile of her own spreading over her face. She took in the slick suit before he spoke, already guessing that he was probably Alexander before he confirmed her suspicion. She brushed a rogue strand of hair behind her ear and nodded, glancing briefly at the wine lined up on the simple, stylish table.

"Hi, wine would be lovely. As much as Michael may have more 'exciting' things, I think I should probably start off slowly. Wouldn't do to make a fool of myself before I really know anybody. I'm Jennifer Gordon, if you hadn't guessed." She held out a hand, the formal gesture just seemed to fit with the fancy penthouse apartment and expensive suit.

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[info]godsinthewater
2011-12-05 02:17 pm UTC (link)
"I never make guesses. Too much room for error." But he smiled a bit wider, and shook her hand firmly. "What's your poison, love?" New York bred, but too many years of extensive travel as a child had left a certain unidentifiable affectation in his accent. "I've a lovely Pinot Noir, if you enjoy the reds. And there's always coffee, of course." Even if he did have many other offerings, he was rather taken by the sweet smile in her youthful face. His greatest vice.

Ushering her inside, enjoying taking in the view of her passing figure, he adjusted his vest and gestured to the sprawling apartment before them. "Make yourself comfortable. And if I haven't already said so, it's a true pleasure to meet you."

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[info]tuathadedanann
2011-12-05 02:35 pm UTC (link)
She couldn't help but glance around as she entered, taking in the people and the furnishings in a few, barely subtle sweeps. It was nice, much less extravagant than Jennifer had expected, but very nice. She glanced back at Alexander as he made his gesture and smiled again, ever so slightly impishly.

"It's a pleasure to meet you too, Alexander, it's a nice place you've got here." Her Scottish lilt is even more evident in her 'r's. She selects a sofa that's not to surrounded by people but not too far away from a couple of groups, lest she become isolated when Alexander attended to some of his other guests. "Pinot Noir will do nicely, I'm afraid I'm not much of a connoisseur, but I know I like red."

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Hallway / Lia & Alexander
[info]miaiphonos
2011-12-05 03:05 am UTC (link)
Samuel had been of two minds when considering the best arrival time for the penthouse shindig. Part of him understood the value of being fashionably late; the rest of him was lured quite effectively by the promise of top shelf liquor procured on someone else's dime. He had the night off, meaning he could arrive when the best of the liquor would still be flowing freely, long before the guests in attendance were too drunk to realize they were being served swill. It was this that convinced him not to dawdle when Lia called him, ready to put on a show, to see and be seen. He met her first in her deluxe apartment, then together they made their way upstairs, hearing almost immediately that the party was already underway.

He was pleased to see the dress code ran the gamut, from the always stylishly attired owner of CASKET to the more familiar, comfortable outfit chosen by Max, Samuel's brother in pixellated arms. His own choice of clothing fell somewhere between both: His dark jeans, black boots, and black collared shirt suited him well, and meant he didn't look wholly out of place. Samuel threw the kid a wave as the passed the door, his eyes quickly darting past him to the bar beyond.

"I better see about that whiskey," he said, leaning down to press a kiss to Lia's temple. "Don't wander too far off, now."

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Re: Hallway / Lia & Alexander
[info]godsinthewater
2011-12-05 08:59 am UTC (link)
A party. It had seemed like a brilliant idea when Michael mentioned it in the bar. And, certainly, it was off to a glorious start already. Music, wine, liquor, a swarm of neighbors. Alexander couldn't complain. He'll, he even enjoyed it, considering Michael had taken care of the all the details, and all Alexander ever had to do was leave his door open, make sure the apartment was clean, and offering up some wine. A bit like an upscale book signing party, even if no one had actually asked him to sign a damned copy.

Was smoking allowed in this building? He'd realized he'd forgotten to ask when he moved in (and had already gone through several packs in the privacy of his own Penthouse), and the surest way to find out was to lean against his doorframe, just inside the hallway, sparking up one after the other. Surely someone would make mention if it were against the rules.

Besides, suited-up and freshly scrubbed, it gave him a chance to watch, enjoy the occasional glance, and keep an eye out for a certain Miss Lia. It'd been too long since they'd seen one another, and he was fairly certain tonight would be a glorious night for reintroductions.

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Re: Hallway / Lia & Alexander
[info]philommeides
2011-12-05 05:08 pm UTC (link)
It was always a secret point of pride for Lia to appear with Samuel on her arm. He cleaned up beautifully, and personally, she thought they were really aesthetically compatible. The unseasonable coolness hadn't affected her choice of attire too much -- she'd opted for a minidress with full three-quarter-length sleeves that gathered in a pleated cuff in gold champagne silk georgette. It was a deep but tasteful v-neck with dropped shoulders, gathered at the waist to let the fabric drape a bit. Her hair was down, her spirits were up, and her Jimmy Choo sandals were built with broad black patent leather.

In general, Lia loved a party, but she was looking particularly forward to seeing Alexander, though some wiser part of her might have felt some sense of trepidation of introducing him to Samuel -- or introducing Samuel to him. Somewhere, she held the delusional hope that they were all adults, and it might have been that she'd been evasive about the nature of her relationship with her old friend, but that was all in the past. Today, he was an old, dear friend throwing a party, and reconciling these two parts of her lives peacefully -- or at least something like it -- was foremost in her mind.

As Samuel kissed her, she smiled, closing her eyes briefly. But when she opened them, she spotted Alexander, standing in the doorway of his apartment, looking rakish and writerly with his cigarette and his perfect outfit, and instantly, without thinking, she smiled brilliantly.

"Wait, bello," she told him, putting her hand on his arm. "I want you to meet Alexander first."

Taking his hand, she led him to where Alexander stood smoking, where she released it.

"The great author joins us, finally, in the land of plenty," she grinned. "And in such a gorgeous new home!"

She reached out to give him a hug whose duration and bodily distance were carefully calculated for propriety. When she pulled away, she said,

"This is my magnificent other, Samuel Wolfe. Samuel, this is Alexander Dahlin."

Watching both men, she smiled as though she had no concern about any possibility of disaster at all.

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Re: Hallway / Lia & Alexander
[info]miaiphonos
2011-12-07 01:37 am UTC (link)
Samuel had quite a few comments sitting at the tip of his tongue, each one vying for his first and strongest attention. His annoyances of the moment - in no order of importance that he could discern - included, but were almost certainly not limited to, being at a party bereft of a drink, being kept from being able to rectify same, and being forcibly introduced to a pretentious looking penthouse-dweller who showed far, far too much interest in his girlfriend for his liking. He vaguely recognized the man's name first from an initial, long-winded forum post, and second from a sneeringly worded response to Samuel's inquiry on the booze of the evening. A man who chose wine over liquor, in Samuel's opinion, was simply not to be trusted.

"Alex," Samuel said, quirking a grin that did not wholly reach his eyes: There was far too much appraisal and judgment crowding them for that. "Like Steig Larsson, Dan Brown kinda 'great' author, or like Vonnegut, Elmore Leonard kinda great." It sounded more like an assessment than a true question, though in reality Samuel's opinion of his new neighbor - such as it was - was based solely on first impressions, rather than any familiarity with Alexander's work itself.

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[ Text to P1 from P2 ]
[info]godsinthewater
2011-12-05 09:00 am UTC (link)
You've outdone yourself, my friend! Remind me to convince you to plan all my upcoming functions. Chatting with a few lovely things at the moment; save me a bottle of whisky for the afterparty, eh?

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Re: [ Text to P1 from P2 ]
[info]immortalruin
2011-12-06 12:31 am UTC (link)
We could have had it in one place, but I definitely will.

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P1/Open
[info]obscurityfalls
2011-12-07 12:57 am UTC (link)
Now that Vanessa only had one job, thanks to her diety counterpart, any excuse for free booze was more than welcome, so Vanessa was now in the elevator on her way up to the penthouse floor, somewhere she never thought she'd see, let alone party in. She was wearing a vintage red dress from the 50's, rockabilly style with black and white high heels. She didn't get to dress up at the salon anymore, and she had to wear a uniform at Muldoons, so the party was also a great excuse to dress up.

Vanessa exited the elevator, nodding to Richard and Max, even though she didn't know the latter. After a quick inspection, one party was quiet with wine, and the other had a giant table of alcohol, and Julian who was always fun, so she made her way into P1 and started to fix herself a drink, a baybreeze to be exact.

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P2/Jenny
[info]eternalearth
2011-12-09 06:47 pm UTC (link)
As if perfectly timing it, Sean entered Alexander's penthouse as he went over to talk to Lia and Samuel. Sean had seen the wine from outside the door and figured that it would be a good change from the liquor in the other room. He helped himself to a tall glass of wine and glanced over at Jenny, wondering if it was indeed her. Whoever it was, was absolutely gorgeous. So with a smile, Sean slowly approached Jenny. He had known enough to not come to the party wearing his usual yoga clothes, but Sean hated dressing up and didn't see much of a need for it, so he wore a dark pair of blue jeans and a 49'ers tee-shirt. "Hi, I'm Sean."

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