Esme’s Grand Opening: The Hollow Spoke
Date: 2025-06-29 15:02
(Esme’s Grand Opening: The Hollow Spoke)
[Sun Jun 29 2025]
50Hollow 52Spoke – 53Main Bar
Comprised of a mixture of reclaimed wood and steel, the Hollow Spoke transitions from an impossible donut-shaped wheel exterior into a standard looking, non-spherical, dive bar. The focal point of this main area is the bar where an ancient-looking slab of Wyrmwood rests upon gnarled roots of welded steel. Matching stools with blue leather cushions line the bartop and a smattering of tables provide space for casual conversations and views of the music stage and darts games.
It is afternoon/i>/span87F(30C) degrees, and there are clear skies. The mist is heaviest At Panama and Lake/span>/spanNemi states, sighing softly. “Twas quite unfair treatment of contestants. Now if Malin knew that or not. I don’t know. But Matthew, Montrose or not should have made that clear to Malin to convey to possible contestants.”
Nemi says “The show is about finding love and having fun. Sadly overall it seems like Jenny is still quite down about it so please don’t mention the event to her…“
“I think most of the time they were really going for maximum humor.” Genevieve muses, “So they probably thought a shocking ejection like that would have been funny.” She claims, “I thought the event itself was very impressive and creative, but wasn’t entirely my speed personally. I like it when things are a bit less tongue in cheek and a bit more earnest I guess.”
Dovie walks in, looking around and waves to Esme. “Congrats”
Nemi asks politely. “Oh it certainly was a nice show agreed. I just hope she recovers well and finds love elsewhere though.”
Esme makes a ‘cross my heart’ motion to Nemi’s request and dos to Genevieve, “Yeah that makes sense. I’m curious t’ catch the rerun.” Dovie gets a bright smile when she comes in, “Sup, Dovie, Thanks. good to see ya.”
Dovie peruses the food and drink.
As Dovie enters, Roberta offers her the flicker of fingers in a wave of greeting. “Love is always an issue. Especially in Haven, and especially when everything’s being played for comedic value.”
Dovie waves back to Roberta after consuming a skewer.
“Five minutes late is basically early in New Haven.” Genevieve agrees with Dovie, “It doesn’t seem like the sanest place to try to find love.” She agrees with Roberta, “Although I did suggest a picnic on top of the spooky volcano to someone as a date idea today, so I guess mythic environs gets a few points as far as sparking romance goes.”
Nemi smiles and nods softly. “Ooo that sounds interesting.” She states to Dovie with a smile.
Dovie gasps at Genevieve. “Maybe I’m crazy, but that sounds like fun!” She nods at Nemi and waves to Sofia and Kai.
Esme laughs at the date idea, waving to Sofia and Kai as they come in. “Welcome in! Help yourselves! If ya wanna play darts, let me know. We’ll get that started in a half hour or so, give or take.”
Kai wanders in with some blood spatter on his clothes and gives a half-moon wave to Dovie, Genevieve, Sofia, Nemi, Esme and Roberta on his way to the spread of food, rubbing his hands together in anticipation, “I’ll play darts,” he tells Esme, “In fact, I’ll be winning your money,” he grins and waggles his brows at her.
Dovie giggles at Kai. “I’ll play darts too!” she tells Esme. “I do want to try your pool table as well.”
Sofia pew pews a finger gun towards Dovie and says, “Orbie needs to borrow the jenga set if he hasn’t told you, he wants to lose to me very badly.” Turning to Esme she beams a wide grin, saying, “Sure, I’ll throw some darts if you want some participants! And congrats on the opening, looking good here!”
Genevieve gives a nod and smile to the new arrivals, wandering over to pick up a beer to nurse. “Hey I don’t think we’ve met.” She mentions to Sofia, “I’m Vie.”
Esme grabs a napkin and pen from 34Bonnie, the bartender to mark down participants, “Ya got a lotta competition, Rina!”
Dovie/span waves to Aeryn.
Kai samples a bit of each of the food and chews, “Mmm! Not bad. Not all fancy like the Mistwalk Lodge’s food, but real good,” he grins and turns, waving to Marina and Aeryn as he wanders around while he decides on what to wash it down with.
Marina lifts a hand, two fingers held up. “Great! I thrive in it!” She leans over one of the bottles, looking at it curiously. “What’s in this?” she asks Esme, pointing at the ‘Blood Bark’ wine while waving at Kai.
“Hi Dovie!” Aeryn beams, waving as she walks in. “It looks wonderful,” she tells Esme, glancing curiously at the wine.
Sofia turns over to Genevieve and smiles back easily, “What’s up Vie? We haven’t met yet, nah, I’m Sofia Delvecchio. Or, you know, the pizza lady, everyone seems to call me. Good to meetcha!”
Dovie laughs lightly at Aeryn’s question. “You’ll have to ask our wonderful hostess!”
Wordlessly, Aeryn turns a puppy-eyed look to Esme.
“Because you taste delicious with pineapple?” Genevieve wonders of Sofia.
Esme waves to Aeryn, “Welcome in! Lemme know if ya wanna play darts.” She says and then tells Marina, “Bunch a shit, straight from the Godrealms, but blood bark is tha main thing. From ah, well, Blood Bark tree.” She snickers and then winks at Aeryn, “Darts only thrown at tha board, baes.”
Esme said babes, of course
“I’ll play,” Aeryn concedes, but she does look a touch disappointed.
Nemi asks curiously.
Nemi nods softly.
Dovie eats the nachos, wondering. “What kind of meat is this??”
The bottle is picked up and opened and Marina sniffs at it more. “Huh. Cool,” she decides, thumbing her phone’s screen. “Trying to yell at Obie to show up. He’s all ‘Go to Esme’s thing.’ and I’m all ‘I don’t fucking see you here.'” Her head bobs as she plays out this conversation to Esme.
Esme laughs to Marina, “I think he’s in Boston t’day. Tha jerk. But he texted me good luck.” She shrugs a shoulder and grins to Dovie, “Griffon meat. Pretty good right?”
Sofia waggles her brows up at Genevieve and muses, “I don’t know about that, can’t say I’ve ever served myself with pineapple. If I do, I’ll definitely keep you posted though. Mostly cause I run Vincenzo’s Ah-Beetz up on Beacon though. How bout you, what do you get up to?”
Dovie looks up from her texts and wanders from the bar to Esme. “Obie asked me to give you a hug, he’s on the road today.”
Esme opens an arm to Dovie to accept the passed along hug with a laugh.
Dovie hugs Esme and returns to the bar!
Kai sidles up and over to Genevieve and rests his elbow on the bar while he sips his beer, “So like, do you think if an angelborn kept a diary or journal and write in it while they were alone, they could establish their uh… foundational or baseline beliefs and goals and all that shit?” he asks with a grin, as if they had been mid-conversation.
Kai says “I’m here, it’s fun. Good food and there’s a cash prize competition.“
“Yeah, he said he’s stopped for lunch and stuff.” Marina’s eyes roll behind her blue light aviators, even if it’s a completely logical thing for the missing Mercer to do. “He sucks.”
Nemi chuckles softly at Marina as she smiles and sighs a bit. Turning to Esme. “When is Obie never on the road?” She asks curiously.
Nemi says “He’s always so busy and doing stuff… wonder when he’ll take his assistant to assist him….“
As people filter in, Roberta heads over to, and takes a seat at the bar. Straightening her skirts, she observes the goings on, waving to those she knows, and pointedly not creating an obstruction for all.
Nemi shrugs softly.
Esme chuckles and tells Nemi, “When he’s sleepin'” She muses. “He’s a busy guy, yeah. Sometimes I gotta staple him t’ the couch.”
Dovie looks over to Marina. “I don’t think we’ve met yet, I’m Dovie!”
Kai gives Roberta a two-fingered salute upon noticing her, “Hey there Bobbie,” he greets her with a little grin before turning his gaze back to Genevieve.
“Mostly lawyerly stuff.” Genevieve replies to Sofia, “Although I also oversee The Ambrosia downtown.” She explains, blinking a few times as Kai drags her suddenly sideways into a different conversation. “Uhh maybe, I don’t really believe the separation between your goals and other people’s goals is particularly um, meaningful though anyway? Like humans are basically a hive species, we all care about what other people want Angelborn are just you know, better at it.” She explains.
With an unconventional touch of the hat-brim that’s at least seventy years out-dated, Roberta returns Kai’s greeting.
“Truuuue,” Kai nods to Genevieve and rests his elbow up on the bar and looks over to Sofia, “Oop, sorry for interrupting, you guys get back to it, I’ll just eavesdrop,” he tells her with a little grin.
Dovie waves down a server and orders a handpie.
“Marina!” Marina declares back to Dovie, “You’re cute. Love your dress.”
Aeryn asks for a couple drinks, and soon she holds a glass of wine in one hand, and an iridescent shot in the other. The latter is glanced at carefully, and then she shrugs and tips it to her lips.
Sofia taps the side of her head at Genevieve and says, “Filing that away if I ever find myself needing a lawyer then,” before she scoffs at Kai. “You, butting your way into a conversation you don’t belong in? Never happened.” She winks and then eyes Dovie with suspicion, trying to see if she used cutlery to eat the handpie or if she actually ate it with her hand like some sort of uncultured savage.
Dovie smiles at Marina. “Love your outfit too, and you’re Miles’ sister? Cousin?” she asks. “Obie mentioned your name, said you were in town.”
This little hypocrite definitely ate the handpie with her hands. Dovie nibbles it without seeming to have noticed the faux pas.
Kai looks over to Esme, “Ooh yeah no big deal, you’ve been planning this opening,” he tells her with a grin, “Are you a smoker?” he wonders out of the blue and goes on, “I’ve been good. Sore as fuck though. I’m both lifting more and training more… and even with my uh, gifts, it’s a lot of strain,” he admits, wandering off to gather more samples of food, he returns to the bar and asks Esme, “How’ve you been, besides busy with this?” he looks to Sofia, “I know, right?” he grins at her and asks Genevieve, “So are you like suing Dobie or whatever?” and pops a nacho into his mouth.
Trying to shove nachos into her mouth now, Marina answers Dovie with a series of unintelligible words. Eventually she pauses, covering her mouth with her hand to make sure she’s really chewing it good without anyone seeing, swallows, and then repeats: “Sister. The better child. He didn’t share his book with me, so he’s in the dog house.”
“Oh it’s fine.” Genevieve claims to Kai as she idly brushes a strand of hair that came free from her braid back over her ear. “Just not sure everyone wants to hear a treatise on supernatural psychology at a party you know.” She points out, “Are they cloning you Mercer’s in a lab or something?” She wonders of Marina, “I feel like every time I turn around there’s another one of you.” She faux-complains.
“It’s probably romantic when you’re out on the water or something,” Marina suggests to Genevieve, “Lots of birthdays as a downside.”
Dovie nods at Marina, grinning. “Well I love meeting Mercers. Miles borrowed a family catamaran the other day, maybe we can all go sailing again?” she mentions to Marina while taking another bite of the handpie in her Hand.
Cadalie gives Kai a morning smile, sleep still cresting her eyes as she joins the bar, feeling it with her knuckles so as not to stamp a fingerprint on it.
Esme grins to Kai, “Training’s good, always improve yeah? And of course I am.” She snorts to Kai, “Smoke like a chimney. But I can still run alright. Perks ah the godblood.” She muses, content to listen to the chatter for a moment and keeping an eye on the time. “Hey, Cadalie.” She offers with an upnod. “You gonna play darts?”
“I do seem to be most people’s go to lawyer around here.” Genevieve admits to Sofia, “I had to draft contracts for the bachelor one day and then turn around and draft a demand letter against them the next.” She complains, “I bet Miles is super hard to shop for as well.” She laments to Marina, “Every time I see him he’s wearing the same board shorts.” She claims, idly playing with her Sons-emblazoned ring.
Dovie turns her attention towards Genevieve. “Wait, what’s this about a demand letter?” she wonders.
Nemi chuckles softly, sitting on a bar stool as she smiles softly.
Marina nods her head in a slow, fully agreeing display at Genevieve. “He has, like, six pairs of them?” Next her head shakes. “But his birthday’s coming up. July 12th. Planning a party. Beachside. Barbecue, beer, loud music… Sand.”
Kai gives he a polite bow of his head to Cadalie in respect before turning back to Esme, Genevieve and Sofia to speak, “Kinda gross, but we all have our faults. I guess it’s something that knocks you down from being perfect,” he tells Esme with a teasing grin and tells her, “I’m trying to bulk up,” he explains and pops some more food into his mouth, chewing, though he looks to Genevieve and Marina, eyes lingering on the former, his expression damn near glowing with delight.
“Reckon I should be kind enough not to take anyone’s eyes with my poor aim.” Cadalie laughs, sucking in a mournful drag of breath through her teeth as she rubs an eye of her own. “We’ll see.”
Though she doesn’t sample the libation or consumables, Roberta does inspect them from behind her veil, nose twitching as she sniffs at everything from a far. The menu also gets a look over though nothing is ordered.
“It all looks wonderful, Darling.” the albino tells Esme with a genuine honesty. “I’ll certainly advise my less unliving associates to visit here.”
Esme smiles to Roberta, “I appreciate it. Like I was tellin’ Vie, hoping it’ll be just a chill place for people t’ hang out when they’re up this way.”
“There’s Elliot Harrington too, whenever he passes the Bar. Or graduates. Or, you know, whatever.” There’s a little smirk on Sofia’s lips as she talks to Genevieve about lawyering with a bit of a shrug. “I still have to get a recap on the Bachelor, and what went down, I think uh…” She glances over to Kai with an impish grin and says, “…Kai’s sister gave me the briefest of rundowns.”
“Oh Mars suggested something for the show, and asked for a producer credit and Mab didn’t want to give it.” Genevieve explains with a casual wave of her hand. “I’m not really sure why honestly, not like she was asking for money. I guess maybe just seemed more dramatic to say no?” She muses thoughtfully. “Like protein big muscles sort of bulk up?” She wonders of Kai, “That sounds fun.” She mentions to Marina, “Just better hope it doesn’t rain, it’s been crazy wet recently for the middle of summer.” She grouches.
With a sigh that is very much practiced, Aeryn flags down an attendant, and orders a plate of nachos that she doesn’t eat. She simply sits them in front of her, looking incredulous.
Esme straights up a bit “31Alright! We’re gonna get darts started.” She begins. “We’ll do…Kai versus Dovie! Winner will compete against the next person and so on until we have one final person standing! Anyone who wants t’ play can head toward the dart alleys,” She motions toward the 31south east.
Sofia says “Sounds like it’s that time…/i>/spanMarina. “I love rain,” she decides, “But if it does rain, I’ll find someone who makes storms and yell at them and then we can have a party blaming them too.” As Esme announces it’s time to play darts, she’s venturing towards the dart alleys.
Esme adds, “And anyone who wants to watch can do so from here or there!”
Kai nods in agreement with Sofia as he glances her way, munching on his skewer, a shit-eating grin on his face, “I just wish I had seen her get bungeed!” he turns his gaze back to Genevieve, “Yeah, not -crazy- like the Rock but just you know… not so, this,” he gestures to his wiry frame with a little grin at Genevieve. He absolutely houses the rest of his food when Esme declares the dart competition is coming up, “Time to go win some cash,” he says confidently.
Dovie claps. “Darts darts dart!”
Kai picks up a couple of darts and steps back, doing a few test chucks at the dart board, his tongue peeking out of the corner of his mouth.
Kai uses a dart board: A throw that looked precarious ends up landing in the Triple Ring! (+18)
Kai uses a dart board: The dart lands in the Double Ring! (+6)
Nemi walks over to the hightop table as she hums softly.
Slipping into a seat, Roberta/span>/spanDovie stares at the dart board. “Oh god…” She sighs. “That’s three throws right? You get one more?” she asks Kai.
Constance says “Vaguely scorched by hellfire but behold, I am now here.“
Genevieve brings her drink over to near the dart board, half leaning on one of the tables as she watches, her eyebrows going up a little, “Kai might just end up beating everyone.” She claims, giving Constance a nod of greeting.
Kai picks up a third dart and swings his arm just a bit off and over toward Cadalie, potentially hitting her in the face with one of the darts, “Huh? No I was just practicing. Ladies first for sure,” he tells Dovie, making the throw that heads Cadalie’s way while distracted.
“Twenty-four so far, babes,” Marina comments. “Like, barely any effort, too.”
Aeryn waves to Constance. “And in one piece too, that’s always good.”
“Alright! Here’s how it’s gonna go!” Esme grins as people prepare. “Kai and Dovie are gonna get three throws each. Whoever scores highest, wins tha match. If they tie, we’ll do a tie breaker round with this special dart.” That she definitely is holding and has not arranged just yet. “Sofia will go up against whomever wins this match.”
Robert calls back to the person on the phone, “The phone GPS gets confused and takes you to the hospital if you try and drive there. Tell them to use ‘the hollow spoke’ instead!”
Dovie sighs and nods at Kai, picking up three darts. “Okay, here we go!”
Dovie uses a dart board: A throw that looked precarious ends up landing in the Triple Ring! (+18)
Dovie uses a dart board: Ding Ding Ding! BULLSEYE (+25)
Dovie uses a dart board: The dart lands in the Double Ring! (+6)
*THUNK.*
An invisible barrier catches the object, then quickly flashes with a twitch of Cadalie’s/span>/span“Forty-nine,” Marina comments.
Robert makes his way on over towards the tables, easing on down and stretching out.
Dovie squeals excitedly as she hits a bullseye!
Sofia slips out saying, “Just one second, I’ll be riiight back…”
“I swear he’d get lost trying to find his own self,” Aeryn murmurs.
Esme lets out a low whistle as Dovie throws her darts
Constance says “I heard there was money so I have to play.“
Esme upnods to Constance, “I’ll putcha down.”
“What’s the order?” Aeryn wonders.
Robert says “If you put in the name, though, it works fine.“
“Whoop! Sorry Pontifex. You okay?” Kai asks as he looks back Cadalie’s way and scrambles over to pick up the fallen dart, he heads back to the Dovie and Esme, “Damn! You’re a hustler huh?” he asks with a little grin and picks up another two to join the one he almost put Cadalie’s eye out with, flashing a grin over at Genevieve when she mentions him, “Let’s hope! I need to make rent,” he turns to the dart board, clenches the darts between his fingers and launches all three at once in a flashly but likely inaccurate throw.
Kai uses a dart board: The dart lands in the Double Ring! (+6)
Kai uses a dart board: The dart is firmly buried in a high number on the Outer Ring! (+3)
Marina says “Fifteen. /span>/spanKai snaps, “Shit!” he ejaculates at the loss and tells Dovie, “Good job!” and wanders off to join the crowd with a good natured grin, heading over next to Esme to watch the next match.
Dovie gasps, “Did I win?” Her hands clasp together, and there’s a little smudge of gravy from the handpie on a thumb.
Esme grins, “Hell yeah, ya did. Very nice.” She encourages Dovie. “Now let’s see if Sofia can claim your title!”
Sofia dusts her hands off and nods back over to Esme, grinning. “My throw? I saw Dovie’s, pretty impressive, what do we get, three?”
Ambrose drifts up toward the boards unhurriedly, lingering back a ways to get a good angle on the action.
“Come here Matty,” Aeryn calls.
Kai gives a two-fingered salute to Ambrose and Constance upon noticing them, though his gaze soon turns to Sofia and Dovie, eye bright as he awaits the next match.
The instant Matthew wanders in, Aeryn is shoving nachos at him. “This is food?”
“I think you both throw again.” Genevieve claims to Sofia, giving a small nod of greeting to Ambrose and Matthew as they arrive.
Sofia plucks up a grip of darts and begins lining them up with the board, toeing the line and getting ready to lob a few.
Sofia uses a dart board: The dart lands in the Double Ring! (+6)
Sofia uses a dart board: A throw that looked precarious ends up landing in the Triple Ring! (+18)
Constance says “Put a triple ring on it, I guess./span>/spanDovie claps for Sofia. “Great job!”
Ambrose gives a gentle nod toward Genevieve in return, and then lets his gaze drift toward the board. Then back with Sofia, impressed.
Marina rocks her foot forward. “Forty-two,” she recites as Sofia throws her darts, bouncing her leg.
Sofia tilts her head from side to side and gives Kai and Dovie a thumbs up, saying, “Not bad, not bad.”
Matthew walks in, he’s definitely in those gym shorts and dressed down for the beach, as advertised. He’s got a plate of skewers in one hand, already chewing on one of those when Aeryn calls his name. He beams bright and fond at her, that smile of his cranking up to a ten. As he makes hsi way, Kai earns an up-nod and a, “sup,” But the loudest thing calling this guy’s names right now are nachos.
Matthew is presented with said nachos that Aeryn was keeping safe, along with a shot of something unknown. “Eat your heart out,” she encourages her cousin.
Esme claps for Sofia, “Okay Dovie! Let’s see if you can keep your title!”
Dovie steps up to the metaphorical plate, reaching for some new darts.
Dovie uses a dart board: The dart is firmly buried in a high number on the Outer Ring! (+3)
Dovie uses a dart board: A throw that looked precarious ends up landing in the Triple Ring! (+18)
Dovie uses a dart board: The dart lands in the Double Ring! (+6)
Dovie/span>/spanCadalie moseys on over to the tables after staring existentially into the dart-board with a dim shell-shocked smile. “Howdy Robert, Nemi- Sir Spellbabe!” The third proclamation of names breaches the volume of the proximity.
Malin struts her stuff over to the tables and right to Roberta, whom she promptly pokes in a bicep. “Hey, Baby,” she coos out like that is Roberta’s name, batting her lashes in an overly flirtatious manner, but also looks like she’s preparing to get slapped.
Sofia bows gracefully to Dovie and says, “I’ll cherish it for the five minutes I’m likely to hold onto it, you lobbed well!”
“Some of these people are hustlers,” Marina decides, “Twenty-seven after throwing a forty-nine?” Her head shakes a couple times. “Sucks to be Dovie.”
Esme chuckles, “Good showing, Dovie! Alright, Let’s seeee…Aeryn! You’re up!”
“What she said,” Robert answers with a cheerful grin at Nemi. “It’s either that or one of us would have to start going by the name of Trebor or something – ah,” And then he lifts his head from the quiet conversation at the table, smiling up at Cadalie. “Hello, Cadalie! Welcome to the boring group. Go on and have a seat.”
Esme addresses some of the new people that have filtered in, “If any of you wanna play, speak now or forever hold your peace!”
Kai claps for Dovie despite her loss, “You used up all your MP taking me down, but you still made a good showing,” he teases and glances over Aeryn’s way, lifting his brows curiously at her.
“Alright,” Aeryn squints at the board, attempting to find a strategy before she begins to throw.
Aeryn uses a dart board: The dart lands in the Double Ring! (+6)
Aeryn uses a dart board: A throw that looked precarious ends up landing in the Triple Ring! (+18)
“We are basically in the Godrealm.” Genevieve/span>/spanDovie nods at Kai. “All my luck gone on that bullseye!”
Matthew gives up his phone entirely, slipping it into his pocket as hi commits, fully and without shame, to the plate of nachos. He lifts a chip already heavy with cheese, beans, and onions, and one rogue slice of jalapeno – clearly the golden draw of the platter- and takes a bite like it might spiritually align him.
“Thirty.” Marina looks aside at Genevieve, giving a delighted laugh at the idea. “Yeah, probably. More fun for them that way, I guess.”
Aeryn tries, and wrinkles her nose a bit on her third throw. “This is good, right?”
Kai whistles at Aeryn’s score and nods, “Not bad, not bad at all,” he hmms and glances to Sofia and back to Aeryn, “I bet she can’t beat that,” he grins at her, shooting a playful glance at Sofia, “Too much time slinging dough, not darts.”
Cadalie does exactly that, situating herself on a chair to face the dart board- free to see any would-be any convenient misses. “I cain’t say it’s boring none. We can’t all chuck them darts on the one board.”
Matthew’s eyes flutter shut for a moment, brows lifting in pure reverent bliss, a low hum of approval escaping before he goes in for another.
Sofia claps her hands together for Aeryn’s toss and looks approvingly, saying, “Not bad, not bad! Lemme see if I can hold onto this.” She takes her grip of darts once more after rubbing her hands together, stepping to the line, and leaning in to lob again.
Sofia uses a dart board: Ding Ding Ding! BULLSEYE (+25)
Sofia uses a dart board: A throw that looked precarious ends up landing in the Triple Ring! (+18)
Aeryn says “Well damn./span>/spanDovie laughs in Kai’s direction. “Say that again?”
Matthew wonders, “What kind of meat is this?”
Holding her hands up, Aeryn laughs softly and steps away from the board, before turning to wave at Malin.
Marina starts to applaud. “Outta the water,” she claims, “Sixty-one. Great throws.”
Genevieve lifts her eyebrows. “I guess dart boards are sort of shaped like pizzas.” She muses.
Constance says “That’s gonna be a tough one to beat.“
Sofia pumps her hands in the air and declares, “SPORTS!” loudly, in celebration.
“Hey yourself.” Roberta quips back to Malin. “No kiss? Rude. I don’t think I wanna get in your trunk now.”
Mock pouting, Roberta crosses her arms, turning her nose up in mock contempt. “My mother told me girls like you were trouble.”
Dovie nods at Genevieve. “Astute point!”
Kai’s jaw drops open when Sofia throws that score and he blinks a few times, glancing at Dovie and bursts out laughing, “Holy fuck!” he ejaculates at the spectacular score Sofia just threw, “That was amazing!” he tells Sofia and blinks a few more times, peering at the board in disbelief, “You didn’t like… telekinesis them?” he wonders of Sofia, obvious awe in his expression.
Kai gives a two-fingered salute to Derek, “Big D! You gotta come try to unseat Sofia as dart champ, she’s incredible!”
Malin is harassing Roberta like the good girl that she is, and turns her head when she catches Aeryn’s wave. She smiles broadly with those filler enhanced lips and winks at her before she reaches to put hands at either side of Roberta’s face, but without making any physical contact. Then, she starts making out with the air in front of her. There’s tongue involved.
Esme cheers for the pair of competitors. “Hell yeah! Great job both a ya!” She considers the list, “Rina! Step on up an’ see if you can defeat Sofia!” She upnods to Derek, “You want in?”
“If you see someone who looks like Tom Hiddleston, wink at him.” Genevieve advises Marina.
“Or even you!” Kai points at Ambrose, “Boyfriend versus girlfriend, the grudge match of all grudge matches. Come on and out-throw her Ambrose,” he encourages, his hazel eyes bright, a wide grin on his face.
Nemi turns to Roberta and Roberta. “You know you two should go as thing one and thing two for Halloween.”
Marina wipes her hands on her jeans and steps forward, lacing her fingers together once they’re clean so she can crack them a few times. “You have a good arm,” she compliments Sofia, reaching for the darts for herself.
Marina uses a dart board: A throw that looked precarious ends up landing in the Triple Ring! (+18)
Marina uses a dart board: The dart lands in the Double Ring! (+6)
Marina uses a dart board: The dart is firmly buried in a high number on the Outer Ring! (+3)
“Bro, she’s beaten twenty-seven three times,” Marina/span>/spanCadalie’s smile, while not forced, does plant itself on her face and stagnate as the scene in front of her works like the absence of sunlight- eclipsed by a faux french. “..So, Robert!” She settles her body to give The Spellbabe and her Baby some privacy. “Goin’ anywhere later?”
When in rome, as they say.
Mirroring Malin’s motion, Roberta begins making out with the air herself. Her tongue is longer, more black and there are fangs involved. Behind the veil is likely also a smouldering gaze to impress upon the weird and wonderful situation.
“Hmmm… not too bad, not too great either, but at least all three hit the board,” Kai tells Marina as he watches her throws, rubbing at his chin thoughtfully.
Sofia crosses her arms and grins over to Kai, saying, “I’ve spent a good amount of time throwing stuff in my life, just practice.” She smiles on over to Marina with a respectful nod, and watches the throws, saying, “Not bad at all!” And keeping things moving along, she lines up her own throws, looking focused as she aims to defend her crown.
Sofia uses a dart board: The dart lands in the Double Ring! (+6)
Derek makes his way along with an aloof expression, before Kai reaches out to greet him, and a slight smile plays at the corner of his lips for a time. “I mean, I can certainly try.” he supposes nonchalantly, lifting his shoulders as he looks over to the game, then considering Esme. “…Yeah, I’d give it a try.”
Sofia uses a dart board: Ding Ding Ding! BULLSEYE (+50)
Sofia uses a dart board: A throw that looked precarious ends up landing in the Triple Ring! (+18)
Dovie/span>/spanThat bullseye has Marina looking horrified, her hands coming up as she turns to Sofia. “Not worthy,” she decides, “I’m not worthy.”
Matthew lingers over the plate for one more bit. He crunches into it, mid-stride as he heads towards the dartboard, eyes helf-lidded in the simple bliss that is these nachos. “What’s the score?” he asks around the board, nodding toward Genevieve and someone, then someone and Derek.
Placidly drifting his attention over to Kai and peeling his sunglasses off, Ambrose pockets them and considers evenly, “I am not good at darts to begin with. I don’t need to do this to know how it will go.” But nonetheless, he starts to head Sofia’s way, watching the darts fly.
“Oh no,” Aeryn faux-gasps. “My girlfriend…taken just like that.”
Matthew lingers over the plate for one more bit. He crunches into it, mid-stride as he heads towards the dartboard, eyes helf-lidded in the simple bliss that is these nachos. “What’s the score?” he asks around the board, nodding toward Genevieve and Marina, then someone and Derek.
“Holy fucking jumping fucking Jesus!” Kai exclaims when Sofia lands another amazing score, “You aren’t joking!” he tells her and calls to the crowd, “Can ANYONE unseat her?” he asks.
Matthew lingers over the plate for one more bit. He crunches into it, mid-stride as he heads towards the dartboard, eyes helf-lidded in the simple bliss that is these nachos. “What’s the score?” he asks around the board, nodding toward Genevieve and Marina, then Sofia and Derek.
Sofia tips her finger over to Dovie with a grin, and says, “Center-bull,” then smiles over at Marina, saying, “You threw well, thanks for the challenge!”
“Very fuckin’ nice!” Esme grins, “Vie! Try and take her down a peg!”
Nemi claps as Sofia rocks at darts.
A kiss is blown at Sofia before Marina retreats, heading back to where Genevieve stands to replace her now that it’s her turn. “Sofia’s kicking everyone’s ass.”
Genevieve looks dubious about her ability to do that but sets her drink down and steps up to the board, squinting at it a little, then taking her glasses off and squinting again, then putting her glasses back on and nodding aiming for a few throws before throwing the three darts one after another.
Genevieve uses a dart board: A throw that looked precarious ends up landing in the Triple Ring! (+18)
Constance says “Oh baby a triple./span>/spanMarina suggests, reaching over to try and steal some of Matthew’s nachos.
Robert is slow today and getting lost in the noisy emotes and crowds. A known problem. He takes in a deep breath. “That’s true. Some of us just like to chat… me?” He glances down at himself, patting his chest. “Well, I’m not getting involved in the combat, if that’s what you mean, but if someone else needs rescuing, I may go off and do that… but for now, my evening’s free.”
Ambrose tilts a nod of agreement with Marina’s words, though his gaze stays on the dartboard.
Sofia spins a finger over to Genevieve with a grin and says, “Think you might have me, that’s mad consistent.” She turns to the dartboard and lines her shots up, looking fully ready to get dethroned. “Here goes nothing…”
Sofia uses a dart board: The dart lands in the Double Ring! (+6)
Sofia uses a dart board: A throw that looked precarious ends up landing in the Triple Ring! (+18)
Derek exhales, closing his eyes as if to try and still himself, before he steps up after Genevieve, giving the game of darts a go as he narrows his gaze to the board.
Derek uses a dart board: The dart lands in the Double Ring! (+6)
Derek uses a dart board: Ding Ding Ding! BULLSEYE (+50)
Derek uses a dart board: The dart is firmly buried in a high number on the Outer Ring! (+3)
Sofia bows back to Genevieve and says, “You got me, not bad!”
Marina lets out a shrill whistle. “Yeah! That’s my Vie!” she shrills, punching the air once mid-nacho caper.
Matthew/span>/span“Damnation!” Kai exclaims in surprise when Genevieve also rocks the board, he peers over her way and says, “You’re a lawyer too?” with his eyebrows raised, “Damn… darts was supposed to beat my thing and I just do deliveries… oh shit!” he blinks when Genevieve finally beats Sofia, “Holy…. fuck Derek!” he adds when Derek manages a bullseye, “I gotta… work on my throwing, damn.”
Genevieve steps aside a little, “I definitely think I should get bonus points for getting them all the same.” She claims, watching Sofia as if fully expecting to lose and then blinking when she doesn’t. “Oh huh… I mean, never a doubt in my mind.” She claims confidently.
Dovie screams when Derek hits the bullseye!!
“Great job, Vie! And damn, Sofia, you were fuckin’ awesome.” Esme grins. “Annn yeah sure, Derek that works.” She laughs as the man grabs the darts before she announces another match. She lets out a whistle, “Very nice! Vie can ya hang on to your title?!”
Esme adds to Constance, “Whoever wins this match, you’ll go against them next!”
Matthew either does not notice Marina’s theft, or has chosen to quietly allow it. “Hey, good job!” He cheers for everyone and nobody.
“You definitely get aura points if nothing else,” Kai nods in agreement with Genevieve’s claim, he folds his arms up and behind his head, shaking his head in utter awe at Derek, Sofia and Genevieve, “I might have to hit you guys up for pointers…” he thinks aloud.
Stolen nachos are the most delicious. Marina pops the chip into her mouth, stamping her feet in rhythm as if applauding for Genevieve (and maybe even Robert given his excellent score).
Constance nods quietly.
Genevieve almost entirely missed Derek’s throws but blinks and nods, “Sure, I’ll give it a shot.” She agrees, quickly stepping up and frowning a little in focus as she hurls the three darts.
Genevieve uses a dart board: A throw that looked precarious ends up landing in the Triple Ring! (+18)
Genevieve uses a dart board: The dart lands in the Double Ring! (+6)
Derek raises a fist with a grin after he hits his bullseye, gaze cutting over to Dovie cheerily as he looks back to Kai. “Honestly, I’m usually sort of average at these things. Might’ve just have gotten lucky.” he downplays casually, rolling his shoulders.
Genevieve frowns slightly, “I think I do better when I don’t think I can win.” She claims as she heads back to reclaim her drink.
Marina sucks on her teeth, disappointed as Genevieve fails to secure another go. “You know, good tries all around,” she decides, reaching for another nacho since Matthew has not shooed her away yet.
Kai unfolds his arms to point at Genevieve, “You almost did it again, holy shit!” he laughs and looks from her to Derek, “Wait… oh you won Derek, damn,” he nods to the man in approval, “This is a lot more competitive than I was thinking it would be,” though he does acknowledge Derek’s claim with a nod.
“Damn, so close! Great showing!” Esme/span>/spanNemi smiles softly as she leans back in a chair while humming softly. “Glad to see some people are having quite a lot of fun no?”
Malin is intrigued by Roberta, very much, because she’s actually willing to continue this ridiculousness, and it takes all of her willpower not to start laughing. She fakes a moan and flutters lashes. “This is why I love you. I don’t even wear my ascot around you anymore. How far we’ve grown together,” she coos at someone, hands falling back down to her own sides and then taking hold of either hip.
Malin is intrigued by Roberta, very much, because she’s actually willing to continue this ridiculousness, and it takes all of her willpower not to start laughing. She fakes a moan and flutters lashes. “This is why I love you. I don’t even wear my ascot around you anymore. How far we’ve grown together,” she coos at Roberta, hands falling back down to her own sides and then taking hold of either hip.
Constance nods and steps up to the dart board, taking some Fiery Darts and squinting at the board before giving it a go.
Constance uses a dart board: The dart is firmly buried in a high number on the Outer Ring! (+3)
Kai reminds everyone, “No one’s beat Sofia’s top score though, that ought to be worth something!” calling out over the crowd, though he does clap for both Constance and Derek as the next match up begins.
Constance uses a dart board: The dart lands in the Double Ring! (+6)
Constance uses a dart board: Ding Ding Ding! BULLSEYE (+25)
Sofia leans back towards Ambrose with a little sidelong bump grins over to Esme. “I kinda wanna go up against whoever gets another hot run, see if I can redeem myself.”
Constance says “How come my bullseye’s only worth half?!/span>/spanDamn. “
“Because you’re a giant,” Kai tells Constance with a waggle of his brows.
Constance says “Do I go again or did I lose?“
Cadalie’s head bobs and nods at Robert with a thin smile that quickly asserts something more genuine as the rational of something is dropped like a can of worms. “Well that’s- good? I admit to having no plans myself until the late night- why, I have yet truly to finish my morning routine before I felt I really should show up.
“I could be persuaded,” Ambrose agrees with Sofia’s words placidly, also looking toward Esme.
Constance says “Okay, so I got 34.“
Constance says “….Nice. “
Matthew begins to work up the perfect chip, he’s constructing it carefully, like this one was the art piece he’d been saving up for. A little bit of meat. A scoop of onions, some peppers, everything piling on perfectly and just so.
Derek steps up for his go then, readying to throw darts once more.
Derek uses a dart board: The dart is firmly buried in a high number on the Outer Ring! (+3)
Derek uses a dart board: A throw that looked precarious ends up landing in the Triple Ring! (+18)
Derek uses a dart board: The dart lands in the Double Ring! (+6)
Constance says “Twenty seven! Woo!/span>/spanMarina hollers, her hand blindly seeking a chip and possibly interrupting Matthew’s Nacho Art.
“Careful it doesn’t fall.” Genevieve warns Matthew somberly.
Derek lifts his shoulders. “…That’s more like what I was expecting.” he states with dry amusement after his more average performance, looking over to Dovie. “What’s this handpie thing you were mentioning?” he wonders as he meanders over beside her to mingle.
“Hmm… those were both kind of mediocre…” Kai says with a grin, a glance to Genevieve and Sofia, “It’s a little unsatisfying!” he admits and looks over to Marina and laughs, nodding right along with her hollering.
“Esme, it’s been lovely,” Aeryn waves her hand, “unfortunately, I need a bit of rest. I’ll see you later!” She waves at Matthew, and gives Malin a kiss to her cheek that possibly interrupts the scandalous makeout session, then grins and heads off.
Kai sidles up and over to Ambrose and asks the man, “Sooo… who’s your tailor? Those are some nice duds, Mister Vasquez,” he glances up to the other fellow and slips his hands into his hoodie pocket.
As the entire impossibly insane process makes itself known to all in sundry, Roberta pulls faces, lashes, twists and toys with her tongue– It’s bone dry. No saliva here, but the process is deliberately self-entertaining and intentionally willy.
Almost frog-like, the vampire’s tongue retracts into her face and she smirks to Malin. “No.” she corrects. “You don’t wear your ascot because it’s so nineteen seventies, and is about fifty years out of date. You can do better to lure people into cars.” A contemptuous sniff from the woman in funerary chic, and she suggests to Malin, “Less tongue, more lip. Far less hands. You look like you need a new bottle to practice with.”
Esme whistles, “Great job!” She applauds for the pair. “Alright, Ambrose was that an implication you wanted t’ palay? Or did you an Sofia just wanna compete when we’re done here?
Dovie says “Afternoon! There’s a grand opening party at The Hollow Spoke. It’s a lot of fun!“
Roberta means intentionally silly, clearly, but it’s canon now.
So long as Marina isn’t interfering, Matthew seems fine to share. But then she’s just reaching blind, not even looking, and that perfect masterpiece of meat, onions, peppers – all aranged with surgical precision, just goes off balance. “HEY!” He barks, scandalized, holding up the deconstructed chip like it’s a crime in the palm of his hand.
After Dovie’s revelation of the handpies, Derek nods once and departs promptly, presumably to go retrieve one.
It’s a moment after being addressed that Ambrose’s attention drifts off the dartboards and over to Kai, and then down at himself. “Mmm? Oh. Square is Hermes, the suit proper is Vas–” Attention stolen to Esme, he supposes, “I’ll play.”
Marina turns her head to Matthew when he’s loud, hand still as it hovers above the nachos, caught in the act of ruining the art. “…huh. How’d that happen?” Her question comes with her scooting to the side and making a beeline towards Ambrose instead, not even saying sorry to the Montrose she has slighted.
It is with great interest that Malin listens to Roberta and her makeout wisdom. She’s probably taking quite a few mental notes, given her facial expression. “Hey, I loved the seventies. Monaco was so much fun back then,” she’s recalling to Roberta. “And wait–” There’s a pause and she looks a little flustered. “I have been practicing the bottle! Mab gave it to me.” Defensively, she makes that claim. “What am I supposed to do with my hands then?”
Nemi nods softly at Roberta at the impressive display with a soft hum. “Impressive.” She states.
Dovie beams at Derek, and asks, “What do you think? Quite interesting, no? A little messy, I think.”
“Alright! This is the final fight then! For tha money. And then ya’ll can fuck around an’ bet between yourselves if ya want.” Esme grins, motioning for Ambrose to step up. “Let’s see if Connie can keep her title!”
Kai nods a couple of times up at Ambrose and rubs his chin thoughtfully, though he looks from the man to Derek and says, “Tough luck, but you almost won,” he tells the man and wanders over to stand beside Nemi, “Aren’t you going to give it a shot?” he asks her with a tilt of his head.
Nemi shakes her head at Kai.
Constance makes twitchy little motions with her fingers, exhibiting greediness with an exagerrated action.
Nemi says “I’m fine.“
Matthew stares after Marina like shje just knocked over a sandcastle and walked away from the beach. He looks to Genevieve then back to the ruined chip, holding it with dramatic weight. “You see this? This is why we can’t have nice things.” And then, mournfully, he eats it anyway.
Sofia laughs and asks, “Wait, there was money on the line?”
Nemi nods softly anmoment after as she seems contempt with sitting and watching as she smiles softly. A bit of a chuckle as she gets asked the question of if she’s going to participate.
After a time, Derek makes his way back with a handpie in hand, seeming to scrutinize it, before looking over to Dovie. “…It’s interesting, certainly,” he mumbles, before he picks at it probably looking somewhat bird-like, as if it were out-of-place for him.
Ambrose looks to Constance at that, squaring up systematically toward the dartboard. “Work cut out for me, then,” he bids, turning to the board proper.
Ambrose uses a dart board: The dart lands in the Outer Ring, but it could be worse! (+2)
Ambrose uses a dart board: A throw that looked precarious ends up landing in the Triple Ring! (+18)
Ambrose uses a dart board: The dart is firmly buried in a high number on the Outer Ring! (+3)
“Any good? What’s it got in there?” Kai/span>/spanConstance says “Twenty three…alright, gotta focus!“
Constance says “Don’t miss, Connie. Don’t miss..“
Constance uses a dart board: Ding Ding Ding! BULLSEYE (+25)
Constance uses a dart board: A throw that looked precarious ends up landing in the Triple Ring! (+18)
Constance uses a dart board: The dart lands in the Double Ring! (+6)
Dovie/span>/spanAmbrose watches expectantly and unsurprised, dipping his chin toward someone. “Well fought as always.”
Ambrose watches expectantly and unsurprised, dipping his chin toward Constance. “Well fought as always.”
“Nothing afflicts the heart of Jesus so much as to see all his sufferings of no avail to so many.” Genevieve agrees solemnly with Matthew.
Kai whistles when Constance scores a bullseye, “Damn! Nice,” he gives her a clap, momentarily distracted from his pestering of Derek by Ambrose and Constance’s match.
“Good try, Vasquez!” Esme digs into her pocket and withdraws some cash, offering to Constance, “Good job, Connie.” Then she lifts her voice a little louder, “Alright! Great job everyone! Feel free t’ play here or check out the card tables or the pool tables! Or just hang out and vibe! Thank you all for coming out!”
Derek peeks over to Kai as he approaches, holding his handpie to himself; some of that gravy does drip along the side, and it tinges his hand. “Ack. It’s, like… meat and veggies,” he fills Kai in, before surreptitiously bringing his finger to his lip to handle the drippy gravy.
Ambrose’s attention, oft stolen or awander, finds itself to Marina after.
Sofia gives Ambrose a little grin and shakes her head, then tilts her head to Constance. “She’s pretty good, yeah. Still think I could beat her though.”
Esme slips off briefly to do a thing
“Rematch, rematch. High scorer Sofia versus Tournament winner Connie!” Kai claps, trying to encourage a chant to break out.
Constance nods amenably, pocketing the cash with an excited expression. “Holding a combat tournament over on the beach in like four or five hours, by the way,” she reminds everyone. “Twenty five percent of the pot goes to charity, 75/ to the winner. Weapons by mutual agreement or ‘anything goes’ if they don’t agree.”
Constance says “So if you wanna just watch two people wrestle they can agree to do just that.“
Matthew eventually does get over the loss of his perfect chip, it all tastes the same down the hatch anyway. “No, truly not.” He shakes his head and then eyes scan until they land on Dovie. “Dovie,” he calls her way, flashing a smile, “hey, what’s up.”
Kai asks Constance, “Will there be mud, or jello?” he asks and glances at Derek’s handpie once more, but gives up on peeking into it when the man guards it so carefully. At Charlotte’s arrival he gives her a little two-fingered salute of greeting.
Dovie turns towards the voice calling her name, she spots Matthew and waves. “Oh, hi Matthew, have you tried these Hand Pies?” she asks, gesturing at Derek. “Derek’s trying one now!”
Constance says “I guess you can turn the beach into mud if you add water?“
Genevieve meanders over towards the pool tables.
Marina beams a smile at Ambrose, showing off her dimples and nice dental work. “Hey! You suck at darts!” she reveals to him, but it’s said with such enthusiasm that it can’t be an insult. “Your house is really nice. I slept well.”
“Meh,” Kai tells Constance at her response, he looks around and then turns, Irish goodbying his way out of the place.
Matthew is still working down the chip but what’s a bit more food? “Hand pies?” There’s no sense of reservation about the Montrose, and he makes his way right over to Derek, wondering, “What do you think?”
She’s gone past fashionably late and into very rudely late, but here is Charlotte. She would have returned Kai’s greeting but didn’t get to before his yeeting, so she moves through the crowd, dispensing hellos to those she knows. Settling in near the dart board, she asks the group at large “Who’s winning?” in a curious tone.
Nemi smiles softly as she observed the party, a hum coming from her as she looks about and nods slowly and softly.
Derek, having successfully defended his handpie, takes another bite from it, wrinkling his nose. “Goodness, I should’ve grabbed something to…” he mumbles mostly to himself before looking to Matthew. “It’s tasty, but a little messy.” he informs with a few nods, some gravy probably present to the side of his lip as he ineffectually tries to manage it.
“Stroke it,” Malin repeats after Roberta, and she nods, following along, word by word, like this is the most important set of instructions she’s ever received in her entire life. Her own slender hands are lifting, and they grasp at what looks like a phallic shaped, invisible object, given their position. That tongue proceeds to press into the side of her cheek as she focuses, but it looks wildly inappropriate as her head bobs and she imitates the movements of Roberta who is such a good teacher.
Constance says “I won a hundred bucks. I have to go Satanize my socks.“
“I am sure you could,” Ambrose agrees with Sofia pleasantly askance. Eyes back on Marina, he tilts another gentle nod, chin toward chest. “Darts and spears are not my strong suit, it would appear. I am glad you like it — if the kitchen is poorly stocked, that’s a Miles complaint.”
Sofia offers to Ambrose as an aside, “Poke, poke.”