Log:The Gin Mill Noir Bar

The Madness of David Flyte 2020/05/08 	 Night Marshal|Carpenter Grimm

1

It's been several hours since Halfdemon's ritual was discovered. Grimm worked with Detective Lewis a little to get some details after the CBPD resisted giving her any information on the items that were stolen, then spoke with Radical and did some research. She had a brief scare and called up Randal to make sure his place wasn't hit either, but thankfully, Halfdemon is unaware of the former Cartesian's residence, and she assumed if Connor found stuff at his place taken, he'd have mentioned it.

It's later in the evening that Grimm calls up Carpenter to see if he wants to get together, since she's up for a much needed drink. They arrange to meet up at the Gin Mill, a vintage themed bar Grimm found out about that she thought Carpenter would be amused by. It's got an art deco noir-inspired look, evoking a feel of stepping onto a bar from one of the films of that era, but with some modern touches, too.

Gabrielle's leaning against the bar, looking over the signature drinks menu.

Carpenter steps into hte place, and stops for a moment to look around at the decor and ambiance. "Hmm. Nice place." He spots Gabrielle and makes his way over to the bar. As he gets close, he smirks, and says, "Hey there. What's a nice dame like you doing in a place like this?"

Grimm lifts her head and looks over to Carpenter. "A gal with gams for days has to nibble one somewhere," she smiles warmly while straightening up, using the intonations from one of the films they've seen together.

Carpenter laughs. "Very good. I'm impressed."

Grimm chuckles. "I had some time to research," she can't help but smile. "I found this place the other week and remembered how much you liked Frankie's office, so I figured it'd be a good place to go with you sometime. It's relatively new, I think. The signature drinks sound like slang from the movies, but most of them I don't understand. I'm leaning towards trying a Harlem Sunset or a Hinky Gumshoe."

Carpenter chuckles. "The drinks aren't from the actual time period, then. Just named for the time.

Grimm nods and smiles. "I'm sure they make some of the classics, too. Were their drinks so different from ours? They got a whole old fashioned list of cocktails."

Carpenter nods, "That's the kind of thing you're looking for. Things like...just...a Gin and Tonic. Or a Manhattan."

"Well, all places got those," Gabrielle grins. She passes along the menu. It also has a list of whiskeys, gins, and the old fashioneds are each made with a twist. There's the standard, but some others have smoke-infused whiskey, or tobacco bitters, etc.

Carpenter takes a look at the menu, and then waves over the bartender to order a whiskey sour.

Carpenter smiles slightly, "So...I heard about what happened in City Center. Were you connected to that in some way?"

"I responded to it, but I wasn't directly connected aside from it being magical in nature. I think Night Marshal may think otherwise," Grimm says with a smile, but it doesn't quite reach her eyes. "It was some freakin' shick. Apparently one of Amelia's evil alters has an interest in our dimension enough to try and try a ritual like that. Detective Lewis ended up being pretty helpful getting me some information on the stolen goods that helped."

Carpenter's eyes narrow. "Was it Magpie? Or Half-demon? I've had to deal with both."

Grimm looks surprised. "You know two? This one was half-demon, so I imagine that's why people call her that. I spoke with one of this world's Amelia's associates, and he didn't know much about her. What do you know about her?"

Carpenter says, "Well, I dealt with Magpie directly. I dealt with Half-demon indirectly. The results of her actions."

Grimm frowns in thought. "You think they're in league maybe? It'd probably be good to know about both of them just to have my bases covered. But first...I need a stiff drink. Evil Amelia's are downright scary. I've run into a few in other dimensions, but not these two." She looks to the bartender. "I'll have a Harlem Sunset."

Carpenter shakes his head, "They're not in league. But they also don't know well enough to stay in their own damn dimensions, either."

Grimm smirks faintly, as she doesn't tend to stay in her own dimension either. "Yeah, well. That's a trait most Amelia's share, including this one. Though in our dimension's instance, that's partly my fault."

Carpenter nods. "Well, I'm wondering why they're gravitating here.

Grimm purses her lips in thought. "There could be a few reasons why, but they'd just be theories. For Halfdemon? Maybe this world's Amelia really pisses her off for some reason. Halfdemon kindnapped someone close to her and tortured them. There's got to be a reason why she'd do that. This world's Amelia has built an interdimensional empire. It's gotten some attention from rivals. Empress V'han, the Queen of Shades, and I'm guessing her other selves." She quickly turns as her drink arrives and takes an unusually big swig to start it off.

Carpenter gets his drink as well and takes a sip. "Hard to say. Magpie seems to jump from dimension to dimension, so that's less focused. Half-demon seems to focus here a lot."

Grimm leans against the bar, facing Jack as she thinks on it. "Maybe something's up with her dimension? I've never seen her personally, so I'm not sure where she's from. But she's up to some serious shick now. I don't think this part is just some revenge scheme. She's trying to find a way to break out Ares, God of War, from his prison. And it took every scrap of magical items she could get, plus the sacrifice of five powerful morbanes to do it. And she only -just- barely succeeding in powering the ritual, even after all that."

Carpenter raises a brow, "Ares? Why...woudl she do that? That doesn't make a lot of sense to me."

Grimm shrugs. "I'm trying to research it. It's going to take some time, though. Maybe she wants to unleash him to mess with our dimension, sacrifice him for something even bigger, or enslave him, or...hell, take him as a consort? It's something big and bad, either way."

Grimm rubs her chin. "...I'll really have to dig in on magical research involving gods." She considers talking to Randal about this, uncertain if he's had any such dealings in his history as the Cartesian.

Carpenter sighs and takes a sip of his drink. "Well, outside my area of expertise, I'm afraid. I haven't run into any gods of war. Well, unless you count those aliens referring to themselves as gods or goddesses. Not sure what to make of them."

Grimm chuckles gently. "I haven't either. So cheers...we're in the same boat," she smiles as she clinks glasses. "What, those crazy Godlit or whatever from the news? They seem like they're hellbent on spreading chaos," she laughs. "Lazare must find them hilarious. You dealt with them in person?"

Carpenter nods. "Once or twice. I mentioned seeing Dr. Destroyer in person, right? I think Artemis was there."

Grimm nods. "Yeah. I'm still amazed how you handled that. So what did this goddess do? I'm surprised you of all people haven't got a read on them. You can ready anyone," she grins, fully believing in his secret superpower.

Carpenter chuckles. "Well, I know that they're very....um...flighty is the wrong word. Impulsive. That's what I want to say. There's a sense of honor, but very impulsive."

Grimm smirks and shakes her head. "Sounds like you may want to actually say something else," she teases. "Cuz I'm hearing reckless," she grins slyly.

Carpenter chuckles and smiles. "Ummm...that too. I had Nohrbor screw up a bust I was making on the docks a couple of years ago."

Grimm smiles knowingly. "Ah hah. I knew it." Her eyes widen at the details. "Whoa, really? How'd he do that? Charge in full on?"

Carpenter smiles. "Yeah. Pretty much. I was in a shootout with some ACRO goons on the docks, and he injured a couple of them pretty severely.

Grimm winces. "Well, ACRO's pretty serious business. They may be goons, but they're well-armed ones," she says, half-heartedly defending it. "But that may have been a bit too far. Not that I never slipped up." There's a small stage in the back of the bar. The background music fades as a small band with a piano, bass, and a female singer dressed in a period dress of black and white begins to croon.

Carpenter smiles and looks over toward the stage. "Hmm...nice music. This is cool."

"I figure you'd like that style," Gabrielle smiles. "Someone suggested a similar singing gig after hearing me at a karaoke night. I still got to follow up with them, but..." she gestures airly. "Always something cropping up."

Carpenter smiles. "I'm sure you'll get a chance to contact whoever it is."

Grimm smiles back. "Yeah, hopefully the gig isn't filled by the time I get ahold of them. I just...I dunno, I worry I won't be able to sing in this sort of style. I want to practice and maybe put something together for the audition."

Carpenter smiles. "I'm sure you can manage it."

Grimm sips her drink while smiling. "I'll certainly try. If it gets your seal of approval, I'll know I'm good," she chuckles.

Carpenter chuckles and takes another sip. "I suspect you'd have to screw up pretty badly to not get a seal of approval from me."

Grimm laughs. "Oh? I'd have to be at least half-way decent, right? You're a man of particular tastes," she smiles. There's a hint of suggestiveness in there.

Carpenter grins, "Well, those gams would likely distract me. They go all the way up, and all.

Grimm laughs at that. "Well, I may regret having made that comment. But I guess showing off my assets can't hurt at an audition, right?"

Carpenter chuckles. "Well, not with me as the audience. I can't speak for whomever you'd be auditioning for.

Grimm smiles seductively. "Well, maybe I should test out my material on you first. You could give me some...pointers."

Carpenter leans in...and kisses Grimm's ear, assuming she'll let him. "I'd be happy to."

Grimm allows it, having expected a whisper. She gasps softly in surprise, but it's a pleasant sound. Her smile returns, bigger than before. "Now I definitely have to rehearse," she murmurs. "Because now I plan to knock your socks off, Mister."

Carpenter grins. "Mmm....sounds good to me."

Grimm downs the rest of her drink. She'll need that to help inspire her. Oh, right, the case, though! Somehow she'll have to squeeze all of that in, and see how Connor's work on his invention is going. "I'll let you know as soon as I have a number picked out and rehearsed. You'll get a private sneak preview."

Grimm isn't sure how to resolve the mixed signals, but the alcohol is making her not think too much on it for now. "So...I thought your policy was you only wanted something serious," she says lightly with a smile.

Carpenter smiles and takes a deep breath. "Well, yeah. That's still true. I understand if it's not an option right now. I get it."

"You do?" Gabrielle asks in some surprise. "Yeah, I don't know that I can get that serious with anyone right now. Doesn't mean I can't have fun. I guess the kiss serves me right. If I'm going to tease you with flirting, I can probably expect the same," she chuckles.

Carpenter smiles and nods. "Sorry if I made you uncomfortable."

Grimm shakes her head, still smiling. "You didn't. At all. I liked it. I think maybe I'm a little confused. I thought you weren't interested anymore."

Carpenter furrows his brow, "I'm...not sure how I gave you that impression." He chuckles and sips his drink. "I'm sorry if you got the wrong idea earlier."

Grimm chuckles. "When I said I was in an open relationship that's turned long distant, you said that wasn't what you were into," she explains while stirring the ice in her drink with the straw. "I took that as a sign to back off and keep it just friends. With...maybe a bit of flirting. Guilty," she grins.

Carpenter smiles and nods, "I guess...I wasn't sure if you were still in your relationship? That's my only excuse."

Grimm smiles and shrugs. "I haven't seen Mal more than a handful over the past several months. Duty and all that. I love him still, but...it's...complicated? He's too busy and hasn't wanted to take things beyond being boyfriend-girlfriend. He wants me to be happy and to date around if I want. I've honestly been to busy fighting the big bads to seriously look." She takes a sip and chuckles. "Besides, not many people are into the open thing."

Carpenter nods and sips his drink, "I'm afraid I'm kind of old fashioned that way. Like my drinks." He gives her a wink.

Grimm chuckles. "Yeah, I remember. And that's why the kiss confused me," she grins.

Grimm adds quietly with a grin, "Well...that and the handcuffs,"

Carpenter chuckles. "Well, that's not THAT out there."

Grimm smiles while trying not to. "Well, they're not exactly old fashioned," she laughs.

Carpenter snorts, "You know...people have been using handcuffs for like...a hundred years."

"Mmhmm. Well, I guess those are a good starter kit," Grimm chuckles. "There's still a lot of people who don't even use those."

Carpenter raises a brow, "Starter kit?"

Grimm sips her drink some more. "Oh, you know. To other stuff," she says and turns towards the bar, debating whether she needs another drink or should order water to not get herself in trouble.

Carpenter laughs, "Oh, NOW you're embarrassed." He smiles and takes another sip of his drink.

"Talking about it with an old-fashioned fella like yourself? I haven't had enough drinks to talk that lewdly," Gabrielle laughs, a bit of color in her cheeks. "I could tell you things that'd turn a hard-boiled cop's face red."

Carpenter smiles. "Mmm....that's a challenge. I dare you to try."

"Bartender, a mai tai!" Gabrielle orders, since she got challenged. She also quickly downs her drink and turns to Carpenter, reading him for a moment.

Carpenter chuckles. He looks mostly amused at this point.

The bartender finishes mixing the next drink and hands it to Gabrielle. Mai tai's are sweet, and deceptively strong. She takes a big sip, then puffs up her chest a bit as she takes a breath. "Well, handcuffs are just the start. Add a blind fold, a feather, a leather riding crop or flogger, then the fun really begins. Then there's more...customized stuff, like < Thirty seconds of bleeping as she goes into a full list of kinky equipment> and electroshock play."

Carpenter does actually start to blush a little bit as she gets into the later items and gets more descriptive. "Okay, I think you got me."

Grimm is taking another breath to go into the next list, then grins as she sees the blush. "I win!" she declares with a laugh and takes a drink.

Carpenter chuckles. "You did. Caught me by surprise."

"I'm just full of surprises," Gabrielle smiles slyly. "My next goal is to surprise you with my audition piece."

Next: Log:Splintering Apart