Log:Drinks at The Library

2020/12/12 Radical|Connor Mari 1

Mari sends Connor a text. It's not long after the spaceship invasion. << Hey. Got the kids settled. I really owe you for that. Drinks? More than drinks? Your choice.>>

Connor texts back, << Getting together for drinks sounds good. Where and when? >>

<> Mari replies.

He texts back again, << Hmm. Sounds good. About 8 PM okay? >>

<< Sounds great. Meet you there.>> It's not too far off until 8pm, but more than enough to get ready.

The Library is in Downtown, found inside the historic Jefferson Hotel. The hotel lobby has marble floors, high ceilings, and pillars. The Library is a bar off the right side, a pair of old dark wooden doors leading into a cozy, darkly lit interior that gives off old fashioned study vibes. Leather upholstered chairs and bench seating, a fireplace casting light in the room, and book shelves lined with books along the walls. Mari is standing at the bar, wearing a black dress with lace accents that looks both classy and gothic.

Connor is being...more cautious nowadays, due to recent events. He has his harness with him, but not his kevlar or costume. Instead, he has a normal long coat over it. He'll just look slightly eccentric, which is fine. He smiles and waves to Mari, and makes his way over to her.

Mari notices Connor and smiles as she turns to him. "Hello, Connor. Great to see you," she says as she offers a hug in greeting.

Connor gives her a hug and smiles. "It's great to see you too, Justine." He managed to remember.

Mari smiles as he recalls her fake name. "I'm still getting used to that," she chuckles, though the chuckles die off and she pulls back to give him a raised brow. "My, you've...been working out," she says to play ignorant. She keeps her voice quiet enough just for them. "Were you expecting more trouble? I really was just asking you out for drinks. No favors attached."

Connor nods, "Trouble? Yes. But not related to you. I'm just being cautious. I don't want to be caught with my guard down." He leans in and whispers in her ear, "It's related to the spaceship that appeared over the city last week."

Mari holds still as he leans in close. She gasps softly and reaches to gently touch his shoulder, then turns her head to whisper in his ear in concern, "You were involved in that? Are you okay?"

Connor nods, and he whispers, "I am. But I was also their target. So...being cautious. They might be back at any time."

Mari's hand lower down from his shoulder to touch his elbow. "You didn't have to come if you're at risk. But since you're here, let's go get you a drink and some private seating," she offers. "I recall you liking scotch, and they have a serious collection here."

Connor smiles. "If I thought I was in serious risk right this second, I wouldn't have come. Mmm...and you remember well. I like scotch quite a bit."

Mari smiles. "Feel free to order the best they have here. I've managed to save up some funds over the years." The Bartender comes their way for an order, and Mari slips her card to him. "Open a tab, please. I'll have a Toronto." She looks to Connor for his choice.

Connor thinks about it. "An Auchentoshan, please." It's kind of a mid-priced scotch. Not super fancy. Not super cheap.

The bartender nods and pours his first and slides it over. The Toronto is a mix of rye whiskey, simple syrup, fernet branca, and bitters. Mari takes her drink and looks to Connor. "Where would you like to sit? By the fire?" she offers. There's a pair of leather upholstered chairs and a love seat available.

Connor nods. "That sounds nice and cozy, if you're okay with that?" He smiles and heads over in that direction.

Mari smiles and walks alongside him, heals clicking softly along the wood paneled floor. "I think nice and cozy sounds like something that wouldn't hurt right about now," she agrees. "Besides, the fire certainly is nice for warming up." It's a gas fire, but with fake logs and some nice warmth. Mari sits down on the love seat and gets comfy, crossing her legs since her dress ends above the knees.

Connor sits next to her on the love seat. Seeing as they're in a private section, he says, "You said everything went well? Things are sorted out?"

Mari nods and smiles. "Things are...sorted. Cleaned up. The kids who couldn't be cured are getting situated so their lives can resume. The two who were behind it all are still alive. But they're...serving time, you could say. Tyler's girlfriend is safe. I made sure of that." Her smile dims. "Though there's no sign of him now. No sign of foul play. He dropped his classes, according to his girlfriend."

Connor sighs. "I'm wondering if I made the right decision with him. Do you think he could have learned to deal with it the right way?" He takes a sip of his drink.

Mari smiles gently at Connor. "Not everyone deals with it the right way. Why do you think there's so many horror stories about my kind? It already sounded like he wasn't the sort to be mature or responsible. He may not have liked it, but I'm positive you did the right thing. Think of it like this...if he was instead just armed with a loaded weapon and was waving it around, would you feel conflicted for disarming him and taking his gun away?"

Connor nods slowly. "That's true. But it would also be easy to hand it back if it was warranted." He chuckles. "But your point is well taken."

"It's easy enough to hand it back," Mari smiles. She leans in close and whispers teasingly, "You wouldn't want me to turn him, would you?"

Connor grins. "Is it? You don't know where he is." He chuckles, but then shakes his head, "Probably not. But I suspect you might think about it. He...well, knows a lot. More than most people on the street do. That makes him a potential problem or recruit, right?"

"You -really- want to curse me with having to put up with a jerk like that for eternity?" Mari grins and leans back, taking a sip of her drink. "We...do need to find him. And I mean my people. I won't drag you into it. You've already done enough, and you have much, much bigger things to deal with." She asks more seriously, "You're going to be alright, aren't you?"

Connor sips his drink, not answering immediately. But after a moment, he says, "I hope so. If I'm not, the problems are going to get much, much, worse...for everyone."

Mari stops mid-sip and looks up to him. "Everyone...?"

Connor nods and says quietly, "There's a galactic warlord who...lost a cosmic powered gem. The kind of thing that controls time. I took it. If he gets it back, it'll be bad for Earth as a whole."

Mari, despite being a vampire, needs a moment to really get her head around that. "So. You're in the crosshairs of a galactic warlord, and you're the one standing between him and earth getting conquered?" she tries to confirm in a calm voice, but there's a tremor to it.

Connor sips his drink slowly, and then nods. "Yeah. Well, based on what I saw of a possible future if he gets the thing back."

"That...doesn't sound like things are okay," she says with tender concern for him. Mari gives a brief laugh of someone who is at a loss and unsure of how to even react. "The fate of the world in the balance, and you took the time to help me with all those students and then have drinks with me? I feel so...so." It takes her a moment to even form what word she's looking for. "Stupid." She shakes her head. "You have much more important things you need to deal with."

Connor puts his hand on hers. "I didn't know how dire it was until that ship showed up a few days ago. Your concerns were my concerns. You shouldn't feel stupid."

Mari smiles gently through her surprise at his words. "I...suppose I shouldn't. If I knew what you were really dealing with, I wouldn't have bothered you into taking a risk coming out like this," she says softly. Her eyes glance past him to scan the room before returning to gaze into them. "At least...I think this may not be the sort of place they'd search for an impressive wizard," she whispers conspiringly.

Connor shakes his head, "Like I said, I didn't know what I was dealing with, either. I figured I had...well, a few more months to make a decision. I have no idea how they found me. It's a long story, but it was in another solar system where I ran into this guy. I have no idea how they knew where we were from." He shrugs and smiles. "Some normalcy is good. It keeps one sane." He raises his glass again and takes a sip.

Mari chuckles softly. "I worry for you if I'm what passes as normalcy," she smiles and raises her glass in return before sipping. "If there's anything I can try to do to help, you only have to ask, Connor. I don't think there's anything I can really do to help with your big problem. But if there are other ways, I'd...I'd like to help you," she offers genuinely.

Connor smiles. "You're helping now. I'm...overjoyed that I was able to help, and that things worked out. Thanks for this."

Mari smiles at him. "You're welcome. And your help meant more than I could thank you for. But for starters, I feel like I owe you as many rounds as you need tonight. Just don't go overboard. I think you'll need your wits about you just in case."

Connor shakes his head, "How about...we just make it a regular-ish meeting here, if possible?" He smiles.

Mari smiles warmly. "We can do that. At least then I'll get to know you're okay," her hand gently turns under his to give it a soft squeeze. "I'll understand if you can't make it. Fate of the world and all that. I'll cover drinks and whatever you're in the mood for until this thing is...I guess resolved? Until you win?"

Connor chuckles. "I was thinking afterward, too. But I can start covering my own drinks after a bit."

Mari laughs softly. "I'd like that," she says warmly. "I'm glad you like this place. And the books are more than decor. They're free to read. I imagine...they don't have the sort of things you have in your personal, private library," she refers to the books in his sanctum, "But they have a broad range of subjects. And sometimes just being near a warm fireplace and conversing is nice."

Connor smiles. "Reading is like comfort food. Even stuff like trashy novels."

"Ohhh? You read trashing novels, do you?" Mari says with a soft tease. "Well, you needed some normalcy. I figure...a good drink, a good book, and some comfort food would go a long way towards that."

Connor chuckles. "I've been known to do so, yes. But not that often. But yeah...that all sounds good."

"Hm." Mari just keeps smiling in amusement. "Now I'm curious what types hold your interest. You wouldn't...nevermind, you -would- believe how many trashy vampire novels there are."

Connor chuckles. "No, I would believe it. I mean...sparkling vampires, right?"

Mari cringes at that and laughs. "I mean really," she says with a smiles. "That's such a stretch. I guess bursting into flames just isn't sexy for those types of novels."

Connor chuckles. "I didn't mind that. I mean....it's just a different vision of vampires. You get the traditional Stoker vampires...then Anne Rice...and then Twilight...and there were a couplre more reimaginings over the following 50 years."

"Mmm. And they all touch on some of the truth. Except the sparkling," Mari agrees. "And vampires are a bit more varied than any one book explains."

Connor nods and says quietly, "At least three diverse kinds in this city alone, I believe."

Mari nods and sips, smiling. "You know quite a few. More than ones I've introduced you to, I imagine?" she comments in a quite voice. Their conversation remains private.

Connor nods. "Remember Lady Winters? Took over the city over a decade ago? That's one. There have been at least two vampires in town that were effectively superhero types, too."

Mari sighs a bit at her mention. "Yes, the one who caused trouble like you wouldn't believe for the rest. She's not one of us anymore from what I've heard, but I don't know how."

Connor nods, "I'm not sure of the details. I think that Commander Perrault likely knows, though. She has connections to Starguard."

Mari chuckles. "I believe that's well out of my jurisdiction." Her voice lowers, "All I can say is it made it very difficult to feed the Hunger every night when she was giving us all a bad name."

Connor nods. "I bet. She made things hard on...well, a lot of people. Metas were all outlawed too. AT least non-sanctioned metas."

Mari nods, solemn for a few moments before putting on a weak smile. "Well, I'd say it's better times now, but there's a galactic warlord at our gates."

Connor chuckles. "Well...we'll see how it goes. I'm...optimistic. We beat this guy last time we ran into him."

"That gives me hope," Mari smiles. "But you'll forgive me if I still worry about you, won't you?"

Connor grins, "Of course. I'll let you know once it's resolved."

Mari smiles. "Good. I'll know when to relax and not hold my breath while skimming my news feeds," she says. "I'll try to avoid any budding vampire hunters until then," she jokes quietly.