ArchivedLogs:Fascination

Fascination
Dramatis Personae Mariot, Selene
In Absentia	2014-01-11 A vampire is intrigued by someone who can't serve as food
Location The Blue Note Jazz Club
The Blue Note touts itself as one of the world's most popular jazz venues and it has the atmosphere to back that up. The drinks are strong, the tables are comfortable and they book some of the best to justify their high entrance fee. Lighting is low, with the stage serving as the rightful focal point. The long bar is also lit in varying shades of blue, gold and pink. Servers circulate constantly and the room is never, ever quiet. It's evening time, cold as usual in NYC, heavy rain outside. Which is why some people are electing to stay inside, Selene Gallio included. Dressed in a black raincoat, matching trousers and rainboots, a closed umbrella at her side, Selene's sitting at the bar, a glass of booze in front of her. Her faithful bodyguard is not at her side, as she listens to the various performers and drinks. This isn't her first glass, and she's currently scanning over every mind in drunken boredom. With the zombocalypse in abeyance, the academic term at Xavier's resumed, travel to NYC for relaxation again possible, and herself free from Muir Island duties, Mariot has opted to take up one of the array of "must see" recommendations people have given her since her arrival on the Western side of the Pond... and duly arrives, filled with a mix of curiosity and trepidation, at the door of her first-ever jazz club. Thankfully forewarned about the high cost of entry, she has the cash ready to secure a swift transition from taxi to the interior of the club. Once inside, she permits herself a few moments in which to open her rain-dampened overcoat and let her eyes adjust at least a little to the gloom... before she sets about picking her way towards the bar as one of the visible islands of minimal lighting. Save for her physical presence, she is wholly unnoticeable - to Selene's paranormal senses, quite literally so. No black spot or source of white noise... simply an absence of anything to draw the attention at all. Yet when she reaches the bar a couple of seats along from the telepath, she certainly *looks* as if she is present - and the bartender responds to her raised hand with a nod of assurance that she'll be served after his current customer. As Mariot enters and sits at the bar, Selene tries to get a scan. Nothing, like she's not even there. At first she thinks it's the alcohol and tries to focus, but nothing. All other minds are coming to her, but she's getting absolutely no connection with Mariot, like she's a ghost. Selene scoots over to Mariot, pulling her drink with her. "You're fascinating.". This is all she says, as she stares intently at her, frustrated at the fact that she can't pull her mind. "Very fascinating." Mariot's brow twitches slightly, though precious few are likely to notice: there's that odd mental *tickle* of her defences being tested, though not overly seriously. The Briton has just long enough to experience a repeat of her usual frustration at a complete lack of any indication of the source or precise nature of the challenge to her ability... then Selene scoots up next to her and provides a decidedly unconventional opening line. Half-turning, Mariot offers the stranger a surprised and rather amused look, before laughing. "My skirt's not *that* short, is it?", she asks with a wry smile - her accent clearly both British and educated, to anyone for whom her words aren't drowned by the music. Selene orders another shot, turning to Mariot. "Ha, no. I meant something completely different.". Selene grins, downing the shot quickly as soon as it arrives. "Accent...British, and fine.". Selene's own accent is a mixture of French-Italian, due to a long period of time in both locations. "How about I order you a drink? No problem for me, I can afford it." Mariot allows herself another laugh, before moving to perch upon the stool next to Selene's current one. Her skirt is indeed rather short, the Briton's attire beneath her long coat clearly intended for a night on the town. "I'm willing to let you buy me one, yes," she concedes with a smile. "Though I *will* want you to tell me just what it was that you found to be so fascinating." "Order her whatever she'd like, on my tab.". Selene shouts over to the bartender, before turning to Mariot, grinning, tapping her forehead in a sort of gesture. "Oh, I think you know.". She taps her forehead again, before ordering herself another shot. "Does that explain things?" Mariot blinks, then chuckles - taking a moment to order herself a rum and coke, before returning her attention to Selene. "Mmmm. So what are you?", she asks curiously, while the man's busy. "Some sort of -path, I'd presume, but I don't have a lot to go on." Not wanting to fully explain her nature, Selene decides to make it a game. Looking over towards a man down the bar who hasn't looked their way since Mariot has arrived, simply drinking a glass, she whispers. "See that guy? He wants to buy one of us a drink, but is a coward. There's also the fact that he's married, that always complicates things.". Selene grins, even though the man isn't wearing a ring. "I take it you're a nullifier." Selene says this quickly before the bartender gets close enough to notice. "That's neat." Chuckling softly, Mariot shrugs slightly - taking a moment to cast a curious (and somewhat symapthetic) look in the direction of the nervous man. Accepting her drink from the bartender, she offers him a grateful smile, sipping from it before returning her attention to Selene. "Something like that," she concedes with a wink. "And he *might* just have noticed that you bought *me* a drink, and read something into that. Or can you tell otherwise?" "Men usually don't care. It probably turns him on more.". Selene grins, ordering herself another shot. "He wasn't paying attention. Guys like that usually don't, seeing as he's trying to cheat on his wife but is a coward. Though he's not going to order us drinks now just incase, which is sad.". Selene grins again. "What do you do for a living, Miss...? I'd already know, but, you won't let me. My name's Selene.". "Do *you* often let strangers into your head?", Mariot asks with a laugh. "And wasn't it the fact that you *didn't* know that was your excuse for buying me this drink? But... hrmmm. I'm Mariot, and you could say that I'm in education, Miss Stranger. How about yourself?" "Point.". Selene grins again, downing her next shot. "Businesswoman, wealthy heiress. Rich people stuff.". She orders another, apparently having a super tolerance for alcohol or something, downing it quickly. "Education. What type? Primary? College?". "Name?", Mariot counters with a smile. Though her gaze tracks the rapid disposal of yet another drink, she doesn't seem inclined to do more than sip at her own. "And... mmmm. The frustrating type, frequently. This is not the best country in which to try to teach foreign languages or history. But it can have its moments, every now and then." "Selene Gallio. Was big news in Italy a few years back when I reclaimed the family fortune.". Selene puts her hands down, as in, done with drinking, as she pulls out her cell, dialing a number, speaking in French. "Casper. Pick me up, I'm intoxicated. Blue Note. Just get over here, damn it. Very interesting story to tell you.." Selene turns to Mariot, grinning. "Well, Miss Mariot. It was a pleasure to meet you." Mariot eavesdrops - but given what is said in French, she opts not to reveal her own fluency in it. Instead, she offers another smile, slightly raising her glass in a half-toast. "And you, Selene. If I come here again on another Saturday night, am I likely to find you here?" "Depends. Are you asking me out?". Selene grins, teasing. "I'll be here next Saturday, if you are saying you will as well. Otherwise, I don't have plans.". She stands up, grabbing her umbrella. "Ciao. As I said, nice meeting you. And if you are asking me out, then I accept.". Another tease, though genuine, it would seem. "Give me a number, and I might even call you," Mariot responds playfully. "I wouldn't want the joys of the polar vortex to make me disappoint you, after all." Usually the type to mentally send phone numbers, Selene pulls out a notepad and writes a number down, putting it with the money for the tab, as she grins. "As I said, ciao.". And then Selene's walking off. Though she's inwardly debating whether she has made a very good impression indeed, or has instead attracted entirely the wrong sort of attention in this dangerous city, Mariot cracks a grin and raises her glass once more... before watching Selene depart, while wishing that *she* could see into people's heads every now and then.