Open Mic Night!

[Seraphina]

Garden Grounds was open for its weekly night of Open Mic! All were welcome to share poetry, music or whatever. There was a karaoke machine setup, with the usual tag of donating money to get your friends to sing…all for charity of course! A customer favorite, and it always brought in tons of money for a local women’s shelter, all donations matched by the coffee house.

The coffee house had undergone a revamp, and was now a larger, more open space. Gone were the smaller tables and chairs, replaced with repurposed tables, bigger, and more rustic looking. The regular chairs were replaced with reupholstered arm chairs, some with arms, some without. There were even some couches now! Perfect for those larger groups or even study groups, arranged comfortably around lower coffee tables, also redone, but still a bit beat up.

The wisteria is still hanging from the ceiling, with fairy lights hidden among the blooms, but there is less. Instead, there are exposed beams, lights intertwined.

All in all, it was a more cozy and welcoming space. The patio was closed, still too cold in the owner’s mind to open for customers.

Open Mic night meant specials on coffee, tea and treats, and the place was packed! Turns out, there was rumor of the owner agreeing to take the stage and sing, there had, of course, been a sizeable donation to get her up there. But customers flooded into the business, eager to hear the angelic voice of Sarah.

And true to the rumors, the owner her self had taken the stage. Had she dressed up for it? Damn right she did. In an outfit she hadn’t worn in years, one that had been someones favorite, and you know what? Fuck him. This was Sera taking her life and emotions back, this was her final fuck you as she crawled out of her depression.

The crowd was on fire from the pure, raw emotion the Nix poured into each word and note, each hit perfectly. That stage was hers.

5 successes

Date	Action	Roll	Result
2024-02-21 13:03:14	Seraphina rolls 14 to Singing!(Pres+Expr+SL+DV)-3 Entitlement (10 Again, WillPower)	10, 2, 6, 1, 6, 2, 6, 4, 1, 6, 8, 10, 7, 3, 3, 10, 10, 3	5 successes

After the song was finished, and she finally made it through the crowd, she was at the counter having tea, curious who would pop by for the night.

[Seraphina]

Bookkeeping!

[Chambers]

Someone on his course had told him about the event and it resonated with a drunken recollection, unfortunely not being well versed enough in mind Arcanum to unravel that mystically, yet, the best he could think to do was take a visit. He had the time, the interest and the coffee house reviewed very well.

Thinking it's always better to over dress then under, because you can still dress down a bit if needed. Chambers opted for something Classically academic That he felt comfortable with, the more vibrant shirt underneath the dressed down option if it felt appropriate.

As soon as he came through the door to hear Sarah singing dots connected through the alcohol haze and he knows where he had heard of this place before. Of course.

The performance delays him from placing an order, enthralling and captivating as both it and the one singing are. As it ends he will applaud as vigorously as anyone else. Only then getting himself a tea, black with two sugars, a sweet pastry and finding an arm chair (with arms) to claim, from which to enjoy the show.

[Philip Crosen]

Philip wasn`t sure exactly why or what, but the cruise a number of months previously had made him curious. And with the previous stress at work finally being somewhat dealt with, he`d decided to reward himself. So while he didn`t frequently venture out, he did that day. Dressed in a mix of casual and business, he decided to go with his gray-green jacket with black pants and polished black shoes. But he also had a completely-out-of-place orange t-shirt beneath his jacket, just because he could, and he just decided to say
Screw it!
as he was getting dressed before coming, with regards to his clothing choices. He stuck to the back of the crowd, listening to the singing and enjoying the music and vibes, being happy to just unwind like he hadn`t taken the time to in a long time. He recognised Sarah from his months-earlier cruise, singing beautifully like she did back then. At least to him. Eventually he spotted Chambers in the crowd too, so he walked up to him with a smile and greeted him, hoping to catch Sarah later when she had time.
"Oh, hi. Mason, was it? Remember me?"
he said, hoping Chambers remembered his alias Reggie. After all, although they`d settled their differences, Chambers no doubt remembered that night where Philip badly trolled him.
At least his `shadow boxer` pun wasn`t a threat. he thought back with a shiver to the part that had really sent him reeling that evening.

[Seraphina]

Gathering her tea, and graciously reminding a couple customers that she would only sing again if there was another sizeable donation. After all, she had a place where she sang for a couple hours, she didn’t really want to do it again. Especially on a night when she wanted others to have fun.

As she added a touch of honey, she noticed a familiar face. Familiar in the sense that she had an enjoyable conversation with him outside the café. Picking up her mug, she weaves her way over, which was easy, as most crowds moved out of her way anyways.

Smiling, “Mason, right?” asks the angelic voice, making sure she remembered his name correct. She was pretty sure she did, but you never know, crazier things had happened. “Mind if I join you?” before sitting down in a chair that didn’t have arms, “How have you been?” asks the Treasured before taking a sip of her tea.

And then another face she recognized! Despite enjoying the crowds her coffee shop drew, she enjoyed familiar faces more.

“Hey! Reggie right?” again, she was pretty sure, “How have you been?” seemed the polite thing to ask both.

“Now those are colors, I love it! Makes it feel a bit springier in here!” bright colors were something she always loved. Maybe that’s why the brightly colored wild flowers bloomed all around her, something to consider. Both guys seemed to have the idea to wear a bright shirt.

[Chambers]

'Sarah.' A warm smile given as the host approaches. To say he hadn't been aware of her would be a lie. Even when not being directly looked she held the room in such a way a portion, more then a portion, of his attention had been on her. 'Not at all.' Its her establishment yet she still asks, how polite. 'Your song was amazing.' She probably hears it all the time. But he couldn't not compliment her, she had been incredible. 'Me? Oh I've been well thank you. Getting by, plodding along and all that.' I have to be careful last time I nearly dropped myself in it around her. 'And what of you? how are things?' Going well by the look of this crowd.

To say he noticed Philip would also be a lie, Sarah held Chambers attention almost entirely. But he does look around when Philip greets him. 'Reggie, my friend.' Recalling more from the park then the cruise. Philip is also offered a warm smile. 'Good to see you.' And it was. I haven't bumped into him in the wild for a little bit now. Eyes drawn to the blatant choice of fashion, a crime he himself was just as guilty of. But makes no comment, it'd be hypocritical in the extreme. 'Well Erm.' A little embarrassed in fact as Sarah pointed it out, but doing so as nicely as she did he recovered quickly. 'Spring must be just around the corner.' Everyone knows that. 'And I wasn't so sure on how formal to go tonight so, compromised.' Settling on the truth seemed easiest.

[Philip Crosen]

A slight shy smile is offered as the star of the evening and owner of the establishment moved to greet them, singling them out from a crowd of adoring fans and clubgoers and causing him to drop his usual deadpan facial expression which he`d resumed after his initial smile directed in greeting at Chambers, on her approach.
What are the odds she remembers us from our previous interaction? And picks us out from a room of people where she`s no doubt being fawned over by the dozens. I mean, she did seem interested last time, but interested enough to remember us so much later?
he thought slightly perplexed as she introduced herself, her presence already being known across the room, leaving Philip to hope she wouldn`t accidentally destroy their conversation by drawing over the entire crowd of clubgoers to her and by extension them.
"Why thank you. Yeah that`right. I remember you from the cruise, although someone like you is quite memorable anyway.
he said, smiling more fully before a slight polite pause to give her a brief time to answer, before continuing:
"Anyway, yeah. I`m recovering from some stress at work and just came here to unwind and refresh."
he said, avoiding saying Long time no see! which loomed over the whole conversation and was giving him serious deja vu vibes.
The comment about the clothes gets a chuckle from him. He simply couldn`t keep up his uncaring demeanor in the face of such a refreshing complement.
"Yeah, just decided to try something new and say `Screw it!`, to the whole fashion trend thing, you know. But really, can`t compare to the brightest star in the room. I think I mentioned this when we last spoke but seriously, you could easily be hitting bigger stages than this one."
he said, returning the complement and trying to uplift her, while also trying his best to come over as sincere as you would to an old friend you just saw again, with his complements.

[Seraphina]

After taking a careful sip, the tea was hot after all, “Oh thank you! I’ve been working on that one for a couple months now, trying to get the notes right.” It was hard to match the sheer talent and power of Adele, but she tried. But it had felt amazing to finally perform it, and in other ways, it had been cathartic for her. Closing the door on a difficult chapter. “Just getting by?” a playful side eye, “Surely you must have something fun and exciting going on!” and if not, then why? “Myself? Well, I can’t complain, business is good and it’s almost spring! I always look forward to the weather getting warmer!” winter was just not her thing.

“Formal is fun and all, but I am a fan of whatever is comfortable! Comfort over anything else in my opinion.” Had she suffered for fashion or to look good? Of course! She was a Fairest after all. “But either way, it’s a welcome color in the drab of winter!” and she would stick to that. "Maybe I should have gone for a pop of color." she had the red lip, but maybe a brighter color would have been fun.

A smile was then offered to Reggie, “Quite memorable? That’s so sweet, thank you!” but that voice in her head was more then happy to remind her that of course she was memorable!

Then a frown, “Oh I’m sorry to hear that! Work shouldn’t be stressful in my opinion. So I hope you’re able to enjoy and unwind while out. I recommend signing yourself up for some karaoke, always a way to laugh and just have fun.” But some people had stage fright or just didn’t think they could sing. Which wasn’t needed for karaoke.

At the compliment, a shy smile was offered, “Oh you’re too kind. But I have no desire for fame or a bigger stage.” Which was surprisingly true. Her desires laid elsewhere, and none of it included bigger stages.

Eager to turn the attention from herself, “So what drinks did you get?” she liked know what those she considered friends enjoyed.

[Chambers]

A couple of months? and she is that good. 'Well you mastered it, really made it your own.' She had sung exceptionally there was no two ways about it. 'Well.' Pause its something he was still unsure of himself to a degree. 'I have recently accepted my first commission.' With the research done now I just need to wait for the materials to arrive. 'And I've been spending a lot more time in the kitchen, really getting into cooking, baking and the like of late.' That was new of course. And safe to mention. But its such a small thing Chambers rather feels like he's grasping at straws to be interesting.

By work does he mean? 'Well glad to hear that's cleared up Reggie.' The Consilium meeting? or those clients he was talking about? Nodding. 'Getting away from it all. Somewhere nice and different is definitely a good way to get your mind off things.' Unless it is awakened matters because well.

He spreads his arms just a little. 'Then its a good thing I'm comfortable.' Setting them back onto the arm chair, definitely a major source of his comfort. The academic lecturer was definitely his go to for a reason. Nodding again. 'Good stuff Reggie fashion trends be dammed.' Although his comment about Sarah's own stage not being big enough for her felt a little tactless, even if Chambers can see what he is going for. 'You can donate for a friend to get a song. If I have that correct?' Reaching for his wallet.

He picks up his cup. 'Rather boring I'm afraid but much needed. Tea, black, two sugars.' A good way to start the night off. 'Although I'll probably move onto a cup of Darjeeling later on.' The place looked very well stocked so he was assuming they had it in. 'Yourself, drink of choice?' Looking from Sarah to Reggie and back for their answers.

[Circe]

An engine roars to herald the next to arrive.


Circe arrives to attend the fun, with a leather duster with some circular burnt holes in it cover her attire. Doffing the coat off, Circe reveals a open riotous outer shirt, a tube-top, khakis pants, and boots. Circe DID call this distracting attire, though she is also sporting a pair of stylish looking glasses too.


Circe is surprised at the revamp. Seraphina had gone overboard with it, but style baby! The duster quickly finds a spot at the counter, she can find a seat, and Circe does a sweep for Seraphina. And what is this? Her friend is with a pair of familiar mortals. Who previously listened to Seraphina sing no less. Clearly, these boys are fans of the Siren. Mason and, what was it, oh, Seraphina said it as Reggie.


Moving over, Circe laughs at Reggie's words, "Oh ho ho ho! Indeed Reggie," she comes up behind the men, "Kind of why I don't even bother ta try ta outshine that singing star," she waves at Seraphina, "Sera, lovely upgrades ta Common Grounds, looks great. And no, I will not try ta sneak in a unsanctioned song again," she smiles innocently, "Or trick you into one with similar lyrics," she winks then waves to the mundy Mason first, "Better circumstances ta meet ya on this time Mason. My parking is not NEEEARLY as inconvenienced tonight."