Rose Hathaway (roza_) wrote in valarlogs, @ 2016-11-13 18:10:00 |
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Entry tags: | !complete, !partner thread, esmeralda, rosemarie hathaway |
Who: Esmeralda and Rose
What: Random meetings
When: Recently
Where: The Court of Miracles
Warnings: Low
Status: Partner Thread | Complete
Orange County, California. Rose was still rolling it around in her mind and wasn’t completely accepting the fact that she was back here. Moving away had been done with the intention of not coming back anytime soon or at least trying to put the whole Dream situation in her rear view. Plus, if she had come back to California she would have picked a place that wasn’t within the Dream bubble and just pretend it was something she had made up in her mind. Drugged drinking water and all that, right?
Instead she was back here working security for Jill who was dreaming about their shared dreamscape. There was going to come a time when she needed to explain to Jill everything that was going on with it, but that time wasn’t right now. She had left another member of her crew in charge of watching over Jill for the evening and she decided she wanted to get a stiff drink. After a quick glance at Yelp she decided to give a new Tavern a try.
It was not what she had been expecting as she walked inside and was bombarded by music. She turned her head to notice a girl on the stage doing a dance with a tambourine. It reminded her a gypsy, but she wasn’t quite sure what she had walked into. She sent another glance towards the stage before making her way through the crowd to the bar and hoping to just grab a drink and observe for a while.
It had taken some time, but Esmeralda had finally started dancing again. It was something she had missed, but between the image of a pyre on her stage and dealing with smoke inhalation and breathing issues, it had been a few weeks. But now she was back and dancing and things had gone back to a semblance of normal. Or as normal as this place was proving to be. But it was, in its own way for all of them at the Court of Miracles, becoming home. Something solid and stable, even when they received comments similar to what they’d get in Paris.
Of course, the fact that a new set of dreams seemed to have popped up was frustrating but Esmeralda was used to dealing with frustration and not letting it get to her to a point where it interfered with her life. No need to complain (though make comment and comparison? That was something else).
For now though, it was dancing and letting the familiar music flow through her until the end before ‘vanishing’ from the stage in order to quickly change into what she wore to help Gringoire at the bar.
It was certainly a different kind of place to be and Rose had to admit that she didn’t particularly hate it. The stage show had been something to see and she wondered if they ever let underage people in to watch because Jill would probably enjoy it. She gave a small clap when the dancer disappeared and she turned back around to place her order with the bartender. It was simple one of a rum and coke, but it would probably turn into a couple more.
Once the drink was in front of her she turned around and let her back hit the bar as she surveyed the crowd around her. She wasn’t here to make friends with anyone, so she most likely wouldn’t be approaching anyone unless she happened to spot an attractive man to speak to. It was just habit to her now to make sure that there were no threats in the area. The crowd was hard to determine because there was a smattering of hipsters, older couples, men who looked like they read vampire novels in the basement, and college kids trying to seem edgy. That last part made her chuckle slightly as she turned back around to face the bar and lifted the drink to her lips.
While there were always those who used hatred and let it control them, Esmeralda loved how there was no one set group of people who showed up. There were people who might not otherwise interact, where different groups of people could get to know one another. It helped her when sometimes it seemed pointless to hope. (Something she would never let Grantaire know happened. He would never let her live it down. She was hope, he was gloom, after all.)
Once behind the bar, Esmeralda got the orders that Gringoire needed help with and quickly started going to work, flitting back and forth between bar and to different tables for those who were waiting at tables as opposed to the bar itself before going to the bar. Despite the graffiti and hatred earlier in the month, Esmeralda was happy to see that the Court of Miracles continued to thrive and that she was able to dance again.
Rose couldn’t help but watch Esmeralda, despite not knowing her name, as she worked her way around the tavern. It wasn’t unusual for someone to wear more than one hat when they’re working a place like this, but Esmeralda had something about her that made her eyes stay on here. She made it seem effortless as she flitted between areas and Rose could see why the woman was the one who danced on the stage.
Maybe she should look into dancing like that. Could be quite interesting to do something so completely different from what she normally did. Fighting was almost like a dance, but it would be nice to try something new. Use her body for something else and it would help strengthen her and hopefully help out with her training.
Even if she initially showed nothing, Esmeralda was always aware of those who watched her. It was ingrained in her, all of them really, because it was survival. Not that she felt that she was in danger here. Of course not, this was more than a place of work, it was also home and despite the dreams and the pyre which had shown up the previous month, there remained no concern that she was in danger. It just didn’t mean she turned off the seemingly sixth sense of when she was being watched, especially if it was for extended periods of time.
So once she got back to the bar, she noted the woman who had been following her with her eyes and smiled with a quirked brow.
“Anything specific I can do for you?”
And she had been totally made. Rose wasn’t silly enough to blush, but she did give the woman a small sheepish smile. At least act like she was a little embarrassed, right? But now that they were going to chat she adjusted her position at the bar and leaned forward, “Not anything specific, honestly, just curious about if you run this place or what. I’ve noticed you’re the one doing basically everything around here and I was a little surprised.” Mainly by the fact that there weren’t more people helping out.
“It’s my first time here and I was also wondering if there was anything special you guys are known for that I should try out?” That was also something she really wanted to know because might as well immerse yourself fully when you tried out a new place.
Did she run the place? Now that was something that Esmeralda hadn’t expected to hear asked. Though she supposed it made sense since she was bouncing around between positions so to speak.
“Clopin would be the one you could say runs the place. I mean, all of us who work here pull different duties, I think I am just the most noticeable since I also do the dancing.” Gringoire tended to stick with bartending and watching the door, Clopin did his announcements and keeping an eye on everything, Madellaine did card and palm readings and helped serve as well. Then there were just those who did serving or drinks.
They were smaller in number here than they had been back in Paris, not everyone thinking that Clopin’s crazy idea could work. But it was better than their camps being ransacked. Better than constantly moving, or so the theory had gone.
“As for what we are known for? We also serve traditional Romani food and drink. I’m always partial to Metheglin, which is a spiced mead.”
There was card and palm readings? Well, Rose might have to give that a go. She didn’t like those fortune tellers that were in the Court in her Dreams, but maybe it would have different results in this world. “Ah, good to know. I was curious because you really seem to be a woman of all trades. How often do you do the dancing? And do you offer classes? I’m quite curious about possibly learning because it’s really great to watch,” Rose couldn’t help but compliment the woman. There was a reason she was the one on stage most likely and Rose wasn’t blind enough to miss that.
“And how about I get some of that mead and surprise me on the food? I promise I can eat a lot,” which was completely accurate for Rose. The training and the dhampir genes meant that she was constantly in need of fuel for her body. Trying out the Romani food sounded delicious and getting it from an authentic source was key in the experience.
“Twice a night.” It had taken a bit to get used to that schedule again, but Esmeralda was happy to be back at it. And she knew it meant that Clopin wouldn’t worry as much. He might not show it, but he took all of their safety seriously. “As for teaching that’s… something I’ve not considered before.” The question had certainly caught her off guard. She went to different lessons she saw around the city to expand on her skill and different styles, but she had never actually considered teaching herself. Perhaps it was something she should look into.
“I can certainly do that for you.” Smiling, Esmeralda went to put the order in.
“Well, let me know. I could use to put a new swing in my step,” Rose pointed out with a chuckle, “I’m Rose, by the way.” She reached a hand out to the woman and hoped that it wasn’t weird to introduce yourself after you’ve complimented someone’s skillset. If this woman decided to start teaching the class she would probably take it and maybe she would even invite Jill along and see if she liked that.
“And thanks, I’m gonna go grab a seat at a table because I probably shouldn’t eat at the bar,” it felt weird to do so when there was enough room in the joint to sit at a table. Rose didn’t want to take up valuable real estate at the bar, so hopefully it would be fine to just find a place to sit down.
“I will certainly do that. I’m Esmeralda.” You know, in case Rose hadn’t been there when Clopin first introduced her dance in his overly theatrical way. Because one, Clopin, and two it was part of the atmosphere. And well, teaching a dance might be able to help take her mind off of everything else going on in the world. It certainly couldn’t hurt.
“That sounds good. I will bring you your order once it is ready then.”