New years at Capital Casino

[Otto Schneider]

Otto had to manage his reaction to not give away his sheer amusement at the women's antics. He managed to get away with a wolfish grin. Well, at least he had permission to linger and continue observing. "It sounds like you're better than a Rabbit's foot wrapped in a four-leaf clover. Why not give the Blackjack table a try?" The Priest didn't like to rely exclusively on luck so the fact that he could count cards definitely influenced his suggestion. Besides, the claim of putting curses on people was making him wonder if the women had been indulging in more than just alcohol. At least I didn't laugh. The fact that 'Mary' had some skill at sleight of hand gave him at least a little bit of confidence.

As Galina approached, he glanced between her and Sonnie. After weighing how appropriate it was to be directly involved and hearing Mary's advice, he gave a shrug and a little bit of casual advice. "Compliment her, keep it simple." Otto hadn't been seriously interested in attracting romantic attention in literal decades so it was the best he could do, but he at least was being earnest in the advice. He was a little surprised by the offered drink. "Oh, cheers! That's really kind of you, miss. Hell of a first impression." He shot her a warm smile. Lovely, now I have to pretend to drink this swill.

[Circe]

"Ah," she nods at Otto's suggestion. "The old tried and true method. Works for distraction or advertising. Beauty," she holds out her right hand inwards in a presenting fashion. The left hand? It is outwards towards Sonja Wu, "Make it a double in slinky dresses. The dealer won't know what hit him. Yes. S A M R T, you are smart."

And she throws in a Simpsons reference for fun. And wavey girl is approaching. Circe almost makes a Jojo Reference, but recognizes the mortal woman.


"Really, Gal?" Circe had a feeling this was the mundy's name, or part of it. She tilts her head. "And here," she pauses to accept the drink, "Gratzi," and fished for something at her back as she goes back to talking, "I loudly declare myself whenever I find something amusing. I'm told I'm quite the hyena at times."


Circe fishes out a multitool from somewhere. Ordinary if fancy looking to mortals, much more colorful to fae sight. Circe fiddle with it to get a bottle opener. Clip, pop. "Ah, apple-y giggle water," she looks at Sonja, "Want you top popped? Well," she smirks a smarmy smile, "The bottle one by me. How it goes with Gal determines if a different one pops, oh ho ho ho ho!"


"Oh wait!" She stops laughing and twirls the multitool like an old Western gunslinger. She wasn't going to do that with the bottle! "I can play old timey introduction match maker. I got the dress, but ain't seen Gatsby. Ahem," she is still smiling as she looks to Galina. "Would either of you dear ladies," then looks to Sonja, "Desire a formal introduction upon this evening's festivities?"


She has fun. And if Sonja doesn't want a wing woman? She leans in close to her fellow Lost to whisper, "If you want private times, lucky boy can try to win me coin at the blackjack table. Just give a thumb signal or something. I dee kay."


Then straightens back up. She is curious to see how Sonja's flirting will go, respect for her fellow Lost or not.

[Sonnie Wu]

Sonnie might have found Circe's joke funny if she could remember what the hell 'homonym' meant. As it was, she almost did what her friend instructed - to wave back - until she realized what the action was, and she stopped. "I-I already waved at her, you dufus! I meant after tha--" She trailed off as Galina started approaching with drinks in hand. "Oh shit, she's comin' over! Is it panic time?"

Otto's advice seemed more useful, and she nodded vigorously in response. "Simple! Yeah! Simple is good! I can-I can do simple!"

The very pretty girl spoke to her, offering cider! Sonnie looked at the cup in her hand, then tossed it away over her shoulder, not caring where it landed, and drunkingly said, "Oh, how-how nice of you! I could use a drink! I was jus' sayin' that, right, Mary?"

Perhaps unsurprisingly, the Beast's flirting game was kind of a wild mess.

She blinked at Circe, as the Summer Courtier offered some kind of formal introductions, "Huh?"

[Galina]

Needing a moment to steel herself at the uexpected words of the to her at least semi strange man, moving her hand to the rose brooch upon her chest with a rapidly growing red hue covering her cheeks and wishing she could just down something stronger. Luckily not needing long before the one she did recognize took the reigns to speak though as she offers her a soft nervous smile with her still flushed cheeks.
"You're welcome, sorry I overheard the people using your name a lot at the carnival this past summer, I am Maruyama, Maruyama Galina."

Blinking at the woman with a look of a bit of dumbfoundedness, clearly not grasping what she might mean at all with the comment. But not really knowing how to or if she should even ask, raising her own cider to her lips only to tense up, feeling the red hue upon her cheeks spread to her throat and ears, what did she just say, matchmaker? Gulping and standing completely still for a moment before slowly lowering her cider again as her voice goes a bit more silent and softer.
"That would be very sweet of you, but please do not trouble yourself for me." Glad that her tattoos were hidden, damn how embarrassing it would be for anyone to see them with her in this kind of a state. Completely missing the whispered words, to lost in her own nerves.

Glad that the waving girl at least seemed kind of easier to grasp and did not trigger her already peony red cheeks further as she softly chuckles at the thrown drink, now this was more her speed.
"Perhaps I should have opted for a more flavorful, maybe fruity drink then, maybe next time you will do me the honors of sharing your favorite and I wil be sure to get that for you?" Raising her own cider once more toward them all, hoping to clink their bottles. "Kanpai!"

[Otto Schneider]

Stuck as a third-wheel and pretending to drink piss-water. Otto tried not to let the uncomfortable reminder of his college days affect his outward mannerisms. In fact, aside from having to feign drinking, this was exactly the kind of situation he had been hoping for. The small group had accepted his presence, for whatever reason, and so he had a valuable opportunity to examine their behaviors up-close. Granted, Mary's behavior was giving him doubts about how well they represented the average human being, but it was nonetheless insightful.

The Priest wondered briefly about using the excuse of not having a bottle-opener to avoid drinking the beer but ultimately thought better of it. It would inevitably lead to more questions and draw unnecessary attention. With some slight reluctance, he brought out his keys and began to work their metal teeth under the ridges of the cap. It was a 'skill' he had picked up in his Fraternity days, though at this point he only used it to fit in with mortals. He would have been content to put off actually drinking it indefinitely, but then Galina offered a cheer.

"Prost!" He answered, the German cheer still holding a surprising degree of sentimental value to him as he clinked his glass against Galina's There's no putting the Jinn back in the lamp... Otto took a modest swig of the drink and felt the cold liquid slide its way down his throat. It was only through the careful application of Vitae and willpower that he was able to force his body to accept the swill without immediate regurgitation. It was only a delay of the inevitable, however. In part to distract himself from how he'd have to deal with the aftermath of drinking anything other than blood, he focused on watching Sonnie and Galina and taking mental notes on their behavior.

[Circe]

"Well, doing so was [url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vSX2bbn4xDU'Mark Hamill's cartoonish[/url] advise," she gleefully informs Sonja when she asks about panic time. That had been a baller gem to find.


"Ah," she nods as Maruyama explains it to her. She recalled hearing parts of the girl's name, the ears may be hidden but the size was functional thank you. She sips the cider, "So, my bombastic self is notorious all the way back to last Summer Maru? Good, notorious I am, oh ho ho ho!" she nods with a smirk as she puffs up with pride.


Famed for being memorable? Great! Second only to being annoying. And props to the gentleman that was with them, he was resourceful enough to just use his keys instead of asking for help from Circe.


And Maruyama offers what Circe guesses to be a cheers. With the luck seeking gentleman adding his own in a second language. Why break trends? So, Circe returns it in Italian, "Cin cin!" to clink her own bottle back with them. Would Sonja keep the trend or was she too nervous?


Those nerves had potential for...excitement. So, Circe leans in to Sonja, whispering, "Pickup puns could be funs, but might poorly work. So in that put a cork." And pulls back with a giggle as she joins the dapper man in observation. Taking a step back from Maruyama and Sonja, to observe more easily. Isolation to incite increased interaction? To respect privacy and encourage the courtship? Make the trainwreck happen faster? Well, Circe would say that just because the former is true doesn't mean the latter has to be false. Else romcom wouldn't be a thing.


"I hope this goes," she gives a side comment to the man. Then pauses. "Have we done formal introductions yet?" She tilts her head as she looks at him, right eyebrow raised. "If not, I don't want the mystery to make me scary. For I happen to be Mary," she gives him a small salute with her bottle.

[Sonnie Wu]

"Hi M-Maruyama? I'm Sonja!" She nodded, then raised the cup of cider. "Uh, bottoms up!" She took a drink, and it was probably good that she had something non-alcoholic for now. The Spring Courtier had been partying fairly hard tonight. Water was probably in order, too.

"Fruity drinks are good," she agreed, then drummed her fingers on the cup.

Say something else.

....

Crap, I got nothing.

Sonnie looked at Otto, then at Mary, for possible help, but none seemed to be forthcoming. The Beast herself appeared to have no rizz at the moment. Wait, did Circe know this Galina girl? It seemed so! Was that useful? Who knows?

[Galina]

Feeling a slight tingle in her lower back with a faint happy look at having part of her name called.
"Your date seemed quite intent on wanting to whisk you away, I was almost worried he would be to pushy of a guy and wasnīt certain if I dared to leave him to his devices. " Wait, quickly raising her free hand with an apologetic frenetic wave as her face turns into a worried look. "I am sorry if he is your boyfriend or perhaps husband, I did not mean to slight either of you he just seemed very pushy and insistent to me. I teach self defense for women so my radar is on high alert at times." Please donīt say I insulted her husband, way to go Maruyama, way to go. Kuso, kuso, kuso.

Clanking their glasses together with a brief look to each and everyone, making certain to not let her eyes linger longer on anyone else than the previous one. And offering a nod toward the shy girl, wait she was shy as well? And a drinker? Feeling the corners of her lips move as the sensation of a phantom tail wants to move, why did this infernal form lack a tail, it was bad enough that it didnīt even have proper teeth.
"Ohh umm" quickly downing her own cider, and starting the motion to throw the flask back before catching herself at the last second. "Wait." Quickly spinning around and darting away, moving between the people as if by a near animalistic graceful dance and soon coming rushing back holding a tray with two lime pineapple based zombie cocktail two banana daiquiri, two Winter-spiced pear cinnamon cocktails and two Bourbon and apple fizz along with two bottles of water. Not catching what she was doing until she was standing back with the group once more.
"I am sorry Sonja, thats a very pretty name, I went a bit overboard didnīt I, its not often I meet someone who can throw em back like I can." Or that I manage to actually talk to. "I am sorry." Feeling that red hue cover her cheeks again as she takes a small step backward. "Kindly take any you want." Looking over them all with an apologetic look. "And I will not intrude further, it was lovely to meet you all" Fishing up two power bars as she prepares to leave in shame how could she act in such an unbefitting manner.

[Otto Schneider]

The Priest had been optimistic about not having to give identifying information to anyone that night, but Mary's question dashed those hopes. "Michael." He extended a hand to offer a shake out of habit. "Guess I forgot to say something in all the excitement, my mistake!"

A tiny, fractious part of Otto's ego took a hit at being described as 'pushy'. The rest of him acknowledged that it was probably an apt description, from an outsider's perspective. Considering his default outlook towards kine was 'food to be separated from outside supervision', he had to acknowledge that he probably didn't come off as particularly gentle. Still, he felt himself focusing on Galina as he continued to nurse his drink, taking very gradual sips to stretch out the process.

"Oh, no, we're not together." He feigned a chuckle. "I was married, but that was a lifetime ago." Technically speaking, it wasn't a lie. It probably just came off as more metaphorical than it actually was. Once Galina ran off for more drinks, Otto lightly tapped Sonja's shoe with his own to get her attention. "Tell her she's generous for buying drinks and that you like her dress." Despite this, he didn't break his line-of-sight with Galina as he spoke.

This is a test of my patience, isn't it? Otto had to bite back curses as the woman returned with many more drinks. It made the excuse of nursing a single drink a lot harder to maintain. "Someone had deep pockets." He let out a low whistle. "If this is how you treat strangers, your friends must feel like royalty." With some reluctance, he finished what was left of his beer and started to eye the drinks, though he didn't reach for any. He hoped it came off as being considerate, though in reality he wanted as much of a break from drinking as he could get.

[Circe]

Circe is a little disappointed Sonja went with English, but that was a Spring. Spin things and make if fun. Also, nobody had used English yet, so concede the victory: pattern maintained.


"Oooooh," she coos at Michael, "Are you saying I excited you so much you forgot yourself," she winks at him. Circe can play the Fairest role whence it suits her. "Flattery!"


And the man was once married? "I am looking for trouble always," she assures Galina, "But wedding ring? Not that much, oh ho ho ho!" She turns to Michael, "No offense to you and your past, but this is ME. I'd be a massive pain in the ass," Circe rambles on, "And I'm a wise enough ass to admit to my flaws. Or the relevant ones at least."


Circe's own funds were not limited, but Galina was being quite generous with the high end booze. Fun it was. "I'm still nursing this, thank you Gal," she raises her cider. "I am neither a rapid drinker, nor the kind of person you want blackout drunk," she smiles widely as she looks at Sonja. "I'm the kind that does NOT get told stories about me, right Sonja? Totes boring. Buzzed and duet Charleston? Probably more fun."


"I am certain I've had fun Michael," she turns back to the gentleman, "Else I'd not do it more than once. Buuut the fines add up. As do the location bans. Can't go to Cabo anymore," she shrugs as she casually lies. She'd never even been to Cabo.


"Out of curiosity Gal, are you going to drink all those if we don't?" She sips her cider then points it at the platter of drinks being offered. "If so, I will be impressed, concerned, and probably spot you a few Red Bulls to add to the mayhem, oh ho ho ho!"