2019-11-29 - Black Friday Night

There's not many places to go on a Friday night in Gray Harbor. That's why, despite being past the average age of the Firefly Club, Dante's here tonight. He's been here a little while, judging by the somewhat loose smile on his face. He is, as is his custom, overdressed for the occasion. Tonight's outfit is a rust red three piece suit with a deep blue pocket square in a similar tone. His Oxfords are black, but the soles are red, and that's currently on display the way his legs are crossed. He's got a decent view of the dance floor and a gin and tonic in his hand.

The dance floor itself is only just starting to fill up. Give it another thirty to forty five minutes and it will be packed.

Kelsey wasn't much of a dancer. Cooking was her thing. Investigating. Writing. Dancing was low on the totem pole. But there was reason for her to celebrate! She hadn't gotten that shitty flu, she hadn't been sucked into anymore nightmarish Dreams. No more injuries, AND she was pseudo-mom to two adorable doggies. One of which was currently staying with his co-parent. Kelsey had at least two drinks in her already. Enough to not be drunk, but enough to be comfortable dancing in the small group of strangers.

Her face was flushed from the exertion. Hair tied back in a ponytail that was threatening to come undone. A pair of 'torn' black jeans and an AC/DC t-shirt were her attire. This also meant that her right arm was exposed- showing the criss crossed, mismatch of healing scars that made her arm look like it belonged on a patchwork doll instead of a person. The current song starts fading into the next and Kelsey starts to wander over towards the bar, she needs another drink if she's going to keep this up. She doesn't seem to notice Dante just yet though, flagging down the bartender. "Rum and coke, yeah? Do that tab thing."

Lyric is already out dancing because dancing was why she had come. The Cabaret dancing really isn't her style, but the DJ does love the music. She's wearing striped black and white leggings beneath a pleated skirt probably purchased somewhere like Hot Topic or similar. The top is made almost like a corset with lacing at the top in front, but there are cap sleeves. Black boots that reach mid-calf and a choker style necklace is worn with it all. She's just having a grand old time, minding her business.

It is Black Friday after Thanksgiving. Beth has a short reprieve from her profession to let her hair down, as they say. And so she has, even if she may be slightly mature for the club, and she has even styled it into a blowout with loose curls at the bottom. She is wearing a little black dress with a belt around the waist that emphasizes her hourglass figure. A classic red lip and crisp winged eyeliner behind her black framed glasses make her green eyes pop. The ensemble is complete with a pair of kitten heels. Low in case she does drink enough that she'll be convinced to dance.

She comes into the Firefly and heads towards the bar. A stool is procured somewhere between Dante and Kelsey, and she sits down with her knees leaned to the side to keep it classy because she hasn't had nearly enough to do otherwise. "Can I get a vodka and soda?" She asks the bartender, and then she turns a little on her stool to watch the dancers on the dance floor.

Dante stands and settles his suit. The sitting part of the evening is over. Now it's time to see and be... "Kelsey?" He spots her at the bar and moves towards her. "I haven't seen you in an age. How've you been, my dear?" He smiles broadly, and maybe a tad bit tipsily. Hard to say how many of those G&Ts he's had so far tonight.

Elias haunts Firefly every so often, and so it's not unusual to see him here, drifting through the crowd with a drink in hand, wandering about until he finds what, or who, he is looking for. He says hello here and there, to familiar faces. It's a small town and there are plenty of those, until eventually he spots Dante and gravitates in that direction. Though, seeing him talking to someone he delays, detours, and doesn't interrupt, instead making his way onto the dance floor to let the music move him gradually closer, though in no particular hurry. Black jeans, black boots, and a dark violet shirt that is light enough for him to stay cool in the warmth of the club while dancing.

"You're a lifesaverrr." She grins to the bartender, pulling the drink closer, head tilting to look at Beth as she sits. "That dress is a knockout. I could never pull that off. " She chuckled, taking a long sip before Dante's voice catches her attention. "Dante! Shit man. How've you been? You're still alive - that's important." She leans against the bar, dark blue eyes studying him for a beat before they flicker over to Elias in faint recognition. "Is it weird the last time I saw you we were drinking too? That's gotta be some kinda coincidence or somethin."

Oh well look at that. Lyric had seen Elias somewhere.. in her dreams so she dances over there to him and then with him. "Dance with me?" The question comes even while she's dancing with him. Offering her hand, she smiles, "I can even twirl you. Or you can twirl me, whichever you prefer."

Beth receives her drink soon after Kelsey does. She picks it up and takes a sip through the tiny little stirring straws before putting it down on the bar. Kelsey's comment causes her head to turn and she smiles. "Thank you. And why not? All you have to do is put it on." She watches as Lyric comes over to snag Elias for a dance and her attention is pulled in that direction briefly before she looks back to Kelsey. Seeing her engaged in conversation with Dante she lifts her vodka and soda to both before she takes another sip.

When Lyric approaches him Elias smiles curiously in recognition and says, "Ah! Pleasantville. I remember you. You're lovelier in color." He takes the offered hand and pulls her into a twirl with the one hand while keeping his drink steady with the other. "How could I turn down a dance?" He could turn down a dance, but he won't. Black Friday is over and he's celebrating freedom from the Hell that is holiday shoppers. "How's the husband?" he asks with an amused smile.

"Or perhaps we're both just lovers of a good night out. And yes, I'm alive. Though just recently recovered from that nasty flu that's been going 'round." Dante finishes the rest of his drink, then leans in to order another from the bartender. "I've been cooped up in my flat for nearly two weeks. I felt the urge to spread my wings. And of course, damage my now-recovered self with alcohol." Amusement dances in his eyes, but something a little darker as well. He's a little less...optimistic sounding than the last time they saw each other. It's not extremely apparent, but it's there. Once he receives his drink, he lifts it towards Beth in polite acknowledgment.

With a twirl, Lyric comes out of it then goes back the opposite way, to dance a little closer so she could hear him over the music. "Oh! Thank you, I think you are too." Her smile is warm and friendly and she continues to sway to the music with him. "Thank you for not turning down the dance." His next question makes her laugh, "I saw him once at karaoke but not since. A short lived romance that consisted of a dream of pot roast and a bomb pop." She leans in a little, "I'm Lyric. It's good to see you again."

"I don't got the curves to pull it off." Kelsey elaborated to Beth. "But, we definitely can't put it to the test right now." She dissolved into giggles at the thought. "I mean, that too. Though a good night out isn't usually my idea of a good night..." She tilted her head a touch. "Ouch, yeah. I thought I was coming down with it but, glad I avoided it. Sucks you got roped in. I heard it was kinda awful." She lifted her glass to him. "Cheers for being free and clear now! What you been up to?"

Beth takes her phone out of her clutch and begins typing something rapidly with her thumbs. Kelsey's statement draws her attention again and she goes 'Ppffftth' . "Bullshit." She says before she takes another sip of the drink. "If I wasn't a goddamn giant and I could take off this dress and give it to you then you would look adorable in it. Just as adorable as you look in what you're wearing now." She considers her phone a moment then, frowns, and turns off the screen.

"More than 'kind of.' It was wretched. I became far too acquainted...well," Dante smiles a little cheekily. "I'll skip the details, shall I?" As to what he's been doing? "Oh, just having my reality turned upside down. Piano lessons. The usual. Yourself?" He reaches into his jacket to check his phone, and to tap out a quick message before sliding it away again. He looks between Kelsey and Beth. "I will refrain from commenting. I fear no matter what I said my very stylish shoe would end up in my mouth." He sips his drink.

"Elias," he introduces himself to Lyric and then puts a hand to his heart, "Alas, such sweet but brief romance, over domestic bliss and sugary frozen treats. Too bad the driver got so freaked out." He smiles a little and shrugs, and gives her another little twirl before drawing her in closer once more. As the song winds toward an end, he feels his phone buzz in his pocket and pulls it out, grinning at Lyric, "I was just on my way over to the bar to meet up with someone, and there he is now. Can I get you a drink?" He then begins to withdraw in the direction of the bar.

"Aww that's sweet. Don't think I've been called adorable before." Kelsey took another drink, eyeing Dante. "Mm I wanna hear the details some other time yeah?" Looking a little intrigued . "I've gotten another dog, managed to avoid doing more harm to myself. Had a very brief whirlwind romance before the asshole left town without a trace. And now I'm here! Celebrating all the good things that have been happening. Like being alive!" Kelsey finished off her drink and sets the glass down a little too enthusiastically. She might be a lightweight.

"You could have colored his whole world for him. Though somehow I think that neighbor was skeptical of us too. It was fun. Freaky Friday was too though. Except for the body." Lyric laughs, enjoying herself and twirling, delighting in the dance. And like all good things, it comes to an end. Lyric pretend curtsies, "Thank you for the dance." Though the invite has her surprised, she bobs her head. "I would like that very much. Please." Following him along.

"Glad I could be your first." Beth responds before her attention is drawn to her phone again. She takes it out of her clutch and begins shooting off another text. She picks up her glass to drain the remainder of the vodka and soda before she gets some cash out of her clutch to cover her drink.

"Slow down a titch, hmm? It's my turn to to be the drunk haul-er instead of the haul-ee, but you might not want to call in that favour just yet. The holiday season is near," says Dante to Kelsey with a grin. He's about to say something else when he hears his phone buzz. He pulls out the phone, reads the message and then turns around. It's then he spots Elias. He lets his phone slide back into his pocket and lifts a hand. "Retail hasn't completely eaten you alive, I see?"

Elias chuckles and says, "True, you did kind of get the short end of the stick in that one," to Lyric as they make their way toward the bar. "Have you noticed that same guy has been in all of them? But then, I think Sparrow and I have, too, so it's only as suspicious as we are, I suppose." He comes up to Dante then, seeing him turn and slips in beside him to lean in against his shoulder in a comfortable, familiar way. "I have survived Black Friday," he confirms, and then says "Dante.. this is Lyric. Lyric, Dante.. I walked with her once upon a dream." That is the explanation he gives, and then he smiles. "Kelsey, yes? From the gym.. Nice to see you again. This is Lyric, Lyric, Kelsey." He does not know Beth, but he offers her a smile in greeting. Then he asks Lyric "What would you like to drink?"

"I'll think about it." Slowing down. She laughed, relaxing against the bar again. "Though I dunno when else I'll have the favor to call in." She mused. Looking lazily over as Elias and Lyric approached. "S'right. Good to see ya again. And meet ya. Lyric? That's a badass name." Kelsey flashed the woman a grin and turned to motion for another drink.

"Well I think you look better as you than you did as that guy you were." Lyric walks beside him, kind of dancing as she goes, she can't help it. "Were you in the Men in Black one?" She looks at him thoughtfully, not quite sure if he was or not. Trying to remember anyway. She smiles at Dante, dipping her head, "It's nice to meet you, Dante." With a soft laugh, she bobs her head. "Lots of dreams, but I bet you know how that goes." A smile to Kelsey as well. "Hi Kelsey, it's nice meeting you too. Thank you!" For the name compliment. The question as for the drink? "Coconut rum and pineapple juice." Her go-to favorite.

Beth gives Elias a polite smile in return before she glances back down at her phone. She stares down at it for a few more moments, then types something in quickly before she puts it in her clutch. To the bartender she sats "I think I'll have a whiskey on the rocks before I go, thanks." She waves her hand a little before adding, "Something good but not twenty dollars a glass good. Thanks."

"I see that. Hail, the conquering hero," says Dante as he reaches out to gently squeeze Elias' shoulder. He nods to Lyric. "Hello there. A pleasure. And yes, that should be on the town sign. Gray Harbor: where 'I saw you in my dreams' is not a pick-up line.' Well, I suppose it could be." He looks to Elias. "I was going to offer to buy you a drink. Can I get yours and your friend's as well?"

"What, you don't think being a giant Viking suits me?" Elias asks Lyric with an amused smile. "Neither do I," he admits and then nods when she asks if he was in the Men in Black dream as well. "Agent E," he reminds her. Though when Dante offers to pick up both of their drinks, he says, "I suppose that would be alright. I will have another vodka cranberry," he says of his red drink which is now just ice, and gets deposited on the bar top. He lets his eyes drift over Dante's suit and he smiles. "You look good, as always."

"It's not a pick-up line. I mean not when I say it. I have a lot of dreams though. Some fun, others? There are bodies in there. We literally see dead people." Lyric grins at Elias, "Yeah you're better as you. and that's right! I forgot." She looks over at Beth, she looks a little familiar to her, then she kind of places her. "Hi. I remember your family, they did my moms funeral forever ago. I was a kid, I guess. But I remember people saying things about doing it for free. Thank you for that. I was too young at the time to realize stuff like that, but thank you."

Beth receives her whiskey on the rocks, and she takes a small sip while she continues looking down at her phone. Her head turns when she hears Lyric speak, and her expression softens slightly as she goes on. "What was her name?" She asks, and she puts her phone away and tucks some hair behind her ear. "I'll tell my dad and grandpa you remembered. My grandpa is retired now, and my dad only works part-time. They like hearing how families have gotten on. It feels nice knowing you can...well, not make it better, but help even in such a small way."

"Feeling more myself," says Dante. "And you, still with lots of energy even after a gruelling shift?" He starts to lift a hand, but instead redirects it towards his wallet with a slightly awkward motion. He puts in Elias' drink order and motions to Lyric's drink as well. If the whole talk of viking bodies and Men in Black is confusing to him, he doesn't comment. When the drinks come up, he hands them to their respective owners. "Cheers. To consumerism."

"Good," Elias murmurs to Dante, "It's nice to see you out and about again." He laughs then, a little bit and says, "I am released from the masses. I have plenty of energy now." He notices the hand, and the redirection. Leaning in, he murmurs something to Dante, studying him for a moment, a slightly quizzical expression on his features, before he reaches for the drink that arrives and lifts it to clink against Dante's glass and then Lyric's and even Beth's if she seems so inclined. "To consumerism, may it put us in the black for another season." He then takes a swallow from the glass.

"Molly Bates. It was about seventeen years ago, I guess. I was six." Lyric smiles at Beth, "Thank you, I didn't even know what things like that even cost till I was grown up. You all did help, a whole lot." Lifting her drink, she smiles her thanks to both Dante and Elias. "This is nice, thank you." Clinking her glass with them if they choose, and also with Beth's if she will.

"You shouldn't have had to. You were six, and you'd just lost your mom." Beth says gently, "But I'll tell them. Like I said they'll like it. I bet you they remember you, too." She clinks her glass against Elias's and directs her smile at him, and then Lyric's. "Beth Lawson." She says, and then she smiles sheepishly, "But I guess you probably knew that already because you recognized me. Or you saw that terrible commercial and remembered my grandpa and dad."

"Indeed. And here's to small businesses benefitting from a phenomenon created by giant retailers." Dante clinks his glass with all who offer theirs up for the cheers, then sips from his own. He pauses, then leans in a bit sheepishly to murmur something to Elias. And then he looks at the three of them. "And here is where my outsider status to Gray Harbor is very apparent. If the accent didn't already give it away."

"Elias Weber," he introduces himself to Beth. "Nice to meet you." The reply from Dante earns him a warm if slightly lopsided smile and a shake of Elias' head. Elias then reaches out to take the hand that Dante does not have occupied with his drink in his own, giving it a small squeeze, leaning in next to him. He lifts his drink with his other hand and takes another sip, smiling at the conversation between Beth and Lyric. "Sad, and yet, sweet."

"And I'm Lyric Bates. I may have seen the commercial somewhere too." She settles herself down on a seat at the bar with the others and sips her drink. A smile is offered over to Elias at his words. "It's been a long time now though, so I'm okay." Offering it reassuringly. "Where are you from?" Voicing that one to Dante.

"It was a terrible commercial. Okay. Molly Bates and Lyric Bates. I'm sure they'll remember. My grandpa is eighty-four, and he's never forgotten a funeral he's arranged." Beth takes a sip of her whiskey. "It's nice to meet you, too." She says to Elias. Dante's comment about being an outsider gets a look of mock confusion. "Accent?" She asks, as if she doesn't follow, and then she says, "You must be from Canada."

The Englishman looks a little surprised when Elias takes his hand, but he smiles a little lopsidedly and returns the squeeze. "Ah, Dante Taylor," he offers, as they're doing names. To Lyric, "Cornwall, by way of London. That is, Cornwall is where my family is from, but I spent more of my life in and around London." He raises eyebrows at Beth, "And no, not London, Ontario. The other one." A chuckle.

Elias gives Lyric a warm smile and nods when she says that she's okay. He smiles when they ask where Dante is from, but he says nothing as the Englishman explains that he is not, in fact, Canadian. He smiles to Beth and says, "I'm sure that your family has handled some of the Weber funerals in the past, as well." Though he wouldn't have been old enough to really have paid attention to who was doing the arrangements at the time. He lets his thumb brush against Dante's hand, that little bit of surprise seeming to draw a little bit of a quirk to the edges of his lips.

"I like your accent. It's nice." Lyric finishes off her drink, it's really good so she finishes it pretty fast. At the ages of Beth's family, she looks surprised. "I bet it's really nice having all that family." Swinging her feet on the seat, she looks back out to the dance floor with a contemplative expression but smiles back to those she's talking to. "This is a fun night."

Beth's lips quirk upwards as Dante corrects her and informs her that he is in fact not Canadian. "Oh. Well my mistake. I could swear I detected a Saskatchewan accent." She hides her stupid grin under the rim of her glass, and looks to Elias, "I have personally, I believe. There's quite a few of you, isn't there?" She smiles at Lyric, "It's nice, yes. It also helps professionally. You can't learn the proper way to reconstruct a skull using plaster of paris in mortuary school."

It's been awhile since Clarissa has been here, not since Singles Night, and she seems a little apprehensive of the crowd. Or maybe it's the fact that she's arriving with a cop and that's usually not a good thing for her. "Do you mind if we head to the bar first?" She asks over the music. "I could use a drink."

"Is she teasing me? Am I being mocked?" Dante looks faux-affronted, mouth going slightly agape. "Well I never." He holds the expression for a moment, then it turns into a bit of a grin that he extends to Lyric. "Thank you very kindly." He then pulls Elias' hand up to his mouth and presses a kiss on the back. "Would you like to dance? The real kind this time. I can't promise I'll have much rhythm, but it's dark enough here that perhaps no one will notice."

"I think you might be, just a little," Elias tells Dante with a bit of a laugh, but the laugh turns to a little bit of surprise when Dante asks him to dance. "An actual dance? I'd be honored." Then he looks to Beth and Lyric and says, "Ladies, lovely to see you, but I've been waiting for this dance, so I'm going to seize the opportunity while it presents itself." He gives them a little wink, and then he takes that hand in his to draw Dante out toward the dance floor with him.

"I don't think I want to make anything like that, but I'm glad you know how." Then Lyric doesn't put that imagery together with the thought of her mother being there. She looks amused though at Dante's reaction and as the the two go to dance, she grins. "Have fun! Do some twirls." Watching them a moment, she looks back to Beth. "They're so cute together."

"There's not a whole lot more to the place than the bar, so I think I'm okay with that plan." Andy follows Clarissa into the Firefly, holding her right hand in his left, picking his way through the sparse crowd and leading her up to the bar. As he passes people he recognizes he sends nods their way. Which is basically just Lyric. And then, the bar. There's a lot of waving to get the bartender's attention. When that doesn't work he does that thing where he pulls back his jacket and this accidentally shows off his, oh my goodness, is that my police badge which means I'm a police man? What an unintended reveal! Which gets the bartender over quickly enough. "I'll take a Bud Light and the lady will take," he looks over the selection of fine wines, "uh, a white wine. Anything that doesn't come out of a box, if you can."

"Sir, I would never mock a distinguished man from Saskatchewan such as yourself." Beth says very seriously, and she smiles a little before nodding her head in agreement with Lyric. "Very." She finishes off her whiskey on the rocks. "It's not difficult. Once you're used to it, I mean." Speaking of skull reconstructions here comes Clarissa with Andy. She gives the woman a gentle smile and a soft nod of the head in greeting, but seeing as she's with someone she doesn't approach.

Clarissa leans up against the bar and gives Andy a quick smile for that peculiar order, "Actually I'd rather a midori sour," she corrects, looking around at the people in the crowd and giving Beth a quick nod and little wave, "I haven't really been clubbing since...we met, actually. Is this really how people spend their Friday nights? It's very loud!"

"Oh hi!" Lyric grins when she notices Andy. "Where's your dogs?" Her brow furrows. "How's your mom?" There's a smile to the woman he is with, but she tells Beth. "This is Andy, he's a police officer. We met him at the beach when we were dancing and singing and having cake. We.. being my keyboardist Scott and myself."

"A midori sour it is," says Andy, giving the bartender a significant nod before sending them on their way. Lyric gets a broad smile. "My mother is actually doing a lot better. She's come home. So now I officially live with my mom again. Life goals! And the dogs are at home. They can't hold their booze, so they're not allowed to go to bars on weeknights. I'll tell them you asked after them, though." He nods to Beth. "Andy Géroux. I think you might have graduated a year ahead of me."

"Hi Andy. And I think so, yeah. Wish I could stay longer but I just remembered I'm too old to be here." Beth says, and she smiles in a self-depreciating manner. Some cash is taken out of her clutch and she says to Lyric, "Okay Lyric I've got to go home. I'll tell my family about you. They'll be thrilled you're doing so well." She stands up from the stool, and puts down some cash to pay for her drinks. "Goodnight." She declares before she starts towards the door.

"Sergeant," Clarissa chimes in, just in case they might think he's some lame Detective or beat cop. Beth gets a wave again as she heads out, "Clarissa Robbins," She introduces herself to Lyric, glancing between her and Andy as her Neo green drink arrives, "That was Beth, she owns the funeral home in town." Don't ask how she knows that.

"But you still got your mom, so live with her as long as you can." Lyric smiles, then looks to Beth, "I'll see you later." She has finished her drink, everyone she was talking to has left and now there was a couple. She grins at the two. "Maybe I'll see your dogs again sometime. I better go too." She looks at Clarissa and smiles. "Sergeant then." Looking as if that title means absolutely not a thing to her. "Nice to meet you, Miss Robbins." Dipping her head before getting to her feet. "See you guys later, have fun!"

Andy makes a face at Clarissa when she gives out his title. "Is this your way of saying I should put in for lieutenant?" He lifts a hand to Lyric as she heads out. "Good evening. Hope to eventually hear your band play one of these days." When he drink shows up he tilts the neck toward Clarissa, grinning as if saluting her with a domestic beer is some kind of great joke.

"Missus," Clarissa corrects automatically, even if that might make for an awkward moment since it's pretty clear she's on a date. "Nice to meet you, Lyric was it? How apt a name for a place like this," she glances towards the speakers. It's not a terribly pleasant look. She's already commented about how loud it is in here. "And is lieutenant better? If so, most definitely."

Lyric hesitates and tilts her head to Clarissa, "Sergeant. Misses. You hate the music here, you hate my name." She just looks very amused, very very amused. "How can a title make him better? He's already really good. You're not a nice person, I think. Judgy." She grins, looks at Andy. "Good luck with your date." Turning, she starts for the door, but she stops to briefly dance with a few people on her way out.

"Yes," drawls Andy, looking just a little annoyed at that comment, "lieutenant is better than sergeant. But captain is better than that. And chief of police is better than that. Next stop, governor!" Andy shakes his head. "I'd never get voted governor. I'd run on a platform of handing the entire state back to the Quinault, the Spokane, the Quileute, the Yakama, the Chinook, et cetera et cetera. Your house could go to my neighbor growing up, Ernie. He runs a commercial raccoonery out of his back yard." Andy doesn't expound on that seemingly made up word. Lyric gets a smile as she puts Clarissa on blast, then he turns back to his date. "Don't worry. I like you even if you dislike everything. It's part of your charm."

Clarissa actually looks pretty interested when he mentions making a run for governor, but then purses her lips as he makes it clear that's a joke, "Don't make Captain, then you'll have to respond to all of my complaints. Or ignore them, like your current captain does." When Lyric calls her out, Clarissa looks a little surprised, but then she composes herself quickly, "I'm a nice person. I tip well when service is better than adequate and I volunteer my time to those less fortunate," she sniffs, "I don't dislike everything. My hair is amazing."

Lyric smiles back while on the floor, not too terribly far away. "I always like being proven wrong. See you later then. And you do have nice hair." With that. she really does leave this time!

"I'm practiced at ignoring your complaints, so if that's a major part of the job I think I half have it already." Andy finishes off his drink and leans back against the bar, looking around the room like someone who really can't imagine getting up to dance or whatever else it is people in here are doing. Bumps of coke? Whatever. "Now that you've had your drink, you wanna go back to your place? Launch my campaign for the governor of Fucktown." Wait a second, that's not how municipal politics work at all!

Clarissa finishes her drink and gives him a look of reprimand for a moment. Then she shrugs one shoulder, reaching out to take his hand again, "Sure," she almost sounds resigned, "I guess I'd vote for that."