diademlogs | (OPEN.) blood running hot

Entry tags:

(OPEN.) blood running hot

Who: Karlach & others.
Where: Around Panorama.
When: April
What: catch-all with open prompts & closed starters.

Warnings: language.

( art by

vickychendraws )

» open prompts below
» available on cr meme &

bursts for plotting or closed starter requests

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

( this is amazing. not only does karlach unapologetically love a street fair, but this couldn't have happened at a better time. it's crazy how perfect it is. almost made it feel like it could be the very hand of fate throwing a little good fortune her way, just a little extra luck on the wind.

for the first time in a long time, karlach has plenty of joolies to spend. she has money. up until quite recently, the large majority of her money has gone into repaying her car loan. she didn't want to be on the hook for some debt in a new world. especially not to someone literally named 'crook'. the sooner she handled that shit, the better.

and by the gods did it feel good. GODSDAMN, DID IT FEEL GOOD!

she felt almost physically lighter. it had been such a joy to pay the last amount and shake crook's hand afterwards. he had congratulated her and karlach thanked him. for this, for taking care of her on that first day, and for the fact that he helped her get the car she fell in love with. her beautiful metal beast.

because of this, karlach practically skips through the crowds among the street fair. it's been some time since her final payment, enough time for her to get paid from work and selling scraps from the zones. she's got a wallet full of joolies and they're burning a hole in her pocket. )

» a.

( karlach picks her way through every booth that happens to catch her eye, often inquiring about the possible flammability of items. while the street fair is varied, finding things that could suit both her body size and heat has been proving to be a more complicated task. asking around has offered her a few leads. there's a couple booths with a more unique selection.

she doesn't waste any time heading in the direction of the nearest one, but then she sees it. )

What the fuck is that?

( stopping dead in her tracks, karlach extends a sharp talon towards the bizarre pair of shoes you just picked up. they're white, clear, and seem to have tiny party pickles floating in the bottom. how unique! )

» b.

( or maybe you happen to encounter karlach after she's found one of the booths that accommodate her special needs. picking up one of the leather corsets by the neck, karlach presents it to the person standing nearby. )

What do you think? Would I look hot in this or what?

( because she's definitely buying it. she's not leaving without a bag full of new clothes. )

[ Itt quickly becomes clear there's all sorts of items for sale at the street fair. Lots to browse, clothing included since that's his focus. Sunday looks through a basket of pairs of socks with novelty prints then another with various sunglasses, though neither seem to catch his attention even with the sunglasses being rather useful.

Something to come back to since as he looks up, the next stall has several racks of clothing on hangers he approaches. There's not much organization to it which requires looking at almost each item aside from fabrics he doesn't care for as it goes from shirts to pants to jackets. Sunday's in the middle of examining a suit jacket when he looks up at the sound of a familiar voice for Karlach's holding out for appraisal. ]

I think you would look quite nice indeed, Miss Karlach.

[ So: yes! Because he's saying it with a smile that he means as he turns from contemplating the jacket, though a tilt of his head follows. ]

Are you shopping for anything else to go with it?

[ There's lots of options around if she's looking to put a few outfits together, and if she'd like company for it. ]

A great question.

[ Jasnah has one shoe by the heel, staring into its clear front piece with a miserable little frown. This moment is one of those where curiosity really does get the better of a person — 'cause there's no hope in Damnation that she's going to ever wear something like this. And yet it had caught her eye. And yet she had picked it up. And now she's caught examining it by a familiar face.

How inconvenient.

Delicately, she places the shoe back on its shelf. ]

Did someone also point you in this direction for [ ah ] unconventional items?

[ Jasnah is still on the hunt for a proper havah dress since the one she arrived in was ruined. ]

( one of karlach's newest acquisitions from her recent shopping spree, of course, is a slinky black dress. a staple for any girl going out for a night on the town. it gets to make its first appearance in public when karlach hits up the nightclub that everyone has been chatting about. it's a hot topic on the streets, the recently reoccupied onyx lounge, and karlach cannot resist the promise of a good time.

the club is loud, dark, and full of flashing lights. it's an outright assault to the senses and karlach instantly loves it. it's good, it's great, it's kind of fucking fantastic! the energy in this place feels so alive and electric. it's nothing short of infectious to be around so many other people having a good time. )

» a.

( but maybe not everyone.

when karlach spots someone who is still hesitating to enjoy the offerings of the club, she feels the need to insert herself into the problem. )

What's keeping you from dancing?

( she asks, leaning in to make sure she's close enough to be heard. it also means that she's close enough for her heat to be felt, it's much like standing next to a fireplace. )

» b.

( know what goes with loud ass music and strobe lights?

alcohol. and lots of it.

the bar here has been handled by a collective community effort rather than a paid professional. which serves karlach just fine because people who don't know how to pour drinks right often pour great drinks. see, they all usually did the same thing. they were heavy-handed with the liquor. therefore: great fucking drink.

no one happens to be handling the bar right now, but that doesn't stop karlach. she grabs a nearby bottle by the neck and pours herself a hefty glass. then another for the other person approaching the bar. )

Hey! You're just in time. I poured us drinks!

( as if she were actually expecting someone. )

[ Whether Verso looks sullen because of recent events or because of the music, it's hard to say. He's been holed up in the corner of the club all night, nursing one drink the whole time—hesitant to drink much more under the circumstances and get a little too loose-lipped—and occasionally griping about the DJ's choice of beats. He's in a Mood™, but even if he weren't, the music here in Panorama is cacophonous compared to the beautiful symphonies he's used to back home.

The current song is playing so loud that he can barely hear Karlach the first time, and he has to raise his hand to his ear and lean in to encourage her to repeat herself. When she does: ]

This isn't really the sort of music I'm used to.

[ He'd been exposed to this genre of music (which seems to be defined mostly by being loud) at Sciel's birthday party, and he hadn't minded it then, but— he'd been much perkier then, too. ]

And I've been informed le maître des disques [ —he doesn't know what a 'DJ' is— ] will only play music from 'this century'.

( something exciting has begun to blossom between alucard and herself. something small, something nameless, but definitely something. it's thrilling in a way that she had almost thought she'd forgotten. the thought of it alone is enough to make her giddy.

so it comes as no surprise that she'd immediately texted the dhampir an invite to join her at the onyx lounge. it's probably not his style, but won't deter her from sending out the offer anyway. alucard has already shown that he's happy to humour her.

nothing ventured, nothing gained, right?

let's go on a date! meet me @ onyx lounge. show cleavage!

she can be found lingering around the bar in her own cleavage-revealing outfit, resting an elbow against the counter as she waits for her date to arrive. )

[Alucard's simply taking whatever this is as given. Nothing more, nothing less, no overcomplicating anything. It is a skill he has learned over the centuries - you try growing up with parents who are pointedly overly in love and don't hide it, it gives you unreasonable expectations - and he's hoping it'll work here.

When Karlach texts him, the first response is a small smile and a laugh. She's got the right priorities, that Alucard knows for sure.

He arrives in far more casual gear, white shirt with a deep, deep cut does exactly as requested. The black trousers are the same as they ever have been, with the big statement piece being his coat, black with elaborate embroidery.

Karlach's easy to find and--]

Well, I feel under-dressed.

[He leans to Karlach's right, accepting he's been utterly shown up.]

( obviously it started with a fight.

karlach hit a guy hard enough for him to swallow several of his teeth. it hadn't mattered that it had been deserved, that karlach had been right to hit him, or that maybe (just maybe!) they should let her hit the guy again. the enforcers had all but swarmed onto her like a murder of crows.

maybe it was all the alcohol, but it feels like karlach is getting shoved into the holding cell within the very next blink. hadn't she just been at the lounge? or a car? an enforcer with a thick pair of gloves—did he always have those?—pushes her past the bars, loudly shutting the door behind her. the metal door creaks and squeals the whole way.

there's already a few people here, each their own varying state of messy. some of them are definitely having a way worse night than she is.

not that stops her from making some stupid comment as she flops onto the unoccupied metal bench. )

Some VIP room this is, huh?

( or maybe you're here to rescue her? )

( through the merit of having a magic brick called a "cellphone" in her possession at nearly all times, karlach never has to question what day it is. the answer is simply always available to her. it only takes one glance at her phone's hardshell body.

it's worlds away from either life she knew before—in faerûn or the hells. she hadn't been the best at timekeeping in her youth and then all the days blurred together in avernus. there was no sun, moon, or even a visible sky there. just endless smoke and ash.

her phone makes it impossible not to be aware of her approaching birthday. april 18th. it's a day that hasn't been celebrated in years. karlach didn't have living family, didn't have anyone to remember her or think of her on her birthday. neither did she even know when the day around, not when she was trapped endlessly fighting in that fucking war.

so it's important to do something for it this time. because she can. her continued life is worth celebrating.

karlach sends out a text to a couple friends, inviting them to meet her at one of the diners to celebrate her birthday. have a bite on me, she says!

upon arrival, it's easy to see that it's nothing special. the diner isn't even decorated, but there's a big cake on the diner counter and a jubilant line cook behind it. as you walk in, the large line cook is happy to proclaim that meals are free tonight for friends of karlach. liquor isn't. )

You made it!

( then, in the next breath. )

You ever try burgers? This guy makes fucking great ones!

( from behind her, the line cook offers a hearty thumbs up. )

[ This is now the second birthday party that Shadowheart's been to in just a few weeks. This one requires less wallflowering, which she appreciates, and it's for her closest companion, which takes some of the weight off. She has recently acquired a new job at the Sanctum Hospital which kept her away from the motel today, but she shows up looking cute, as per usual since they robbed a rich woman blind.

She has to be aware of not running into her potentially in the Sanctum, but that's fine, Shadowheart has no interest in exploring. The hospital has no dress code so she can look the way she wants. With the potential drama of her getting blood on her clothes, but so far, she's been safe. She still bartends with Karlach every now and again for extra money. And it's low stress in comparison.

So she doesn't make it exactly on time, but she does make it. Silver hair is braided with gold bands now, they keep the braids tight, and she smiles for Karlach. Shadowheart is usually sparse with her smiles, but Karlach is special, so she'll give her multiple. ]

Happy birthday.

[ She offers her a box, unwrapped. In it are new decorations and baubles for Karlach's hair and a pair of simple horned earrings. She got a few things at the street fair when she was there. Shadowheart has no birthdate she's aware of, but the idea of celebrating just doesn't work for her.]

(( wanna try something else? she works as a bouncer at a bar called brewed awakening, can be found selling things at pawnshops or to scrappers, or potentially lazing on trunk of her jeep after having pulled off the side of the road.

hit me with something and i'll run with it. ))

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

(OPEN.) blood running hot

OPEN → got joolies to burn (mingle - street fair; afternoon)

b!

a

OPEN → it's more exciting when the lights are low (mingle - onyx lounge; night into late night)

a!

CLOSED TO ALUCARD → alcohol & rollerskates, can't go wrong! (onyx lounge; night)

no subject

OPEN → fought the law & the law won (mingle - drunk tank; ???)

OPEN → dinner's on karlach! (diner; april 18th evening-night)

no subject

OPEN → shuffle the deck again, baby (wildcard)