LAS VEGAS ♔ DON'T THREATEN ME WITH A GOOD TIME

[morethanasidekick]

One of The Drunks - Panic! At The Disco

WHO || Kenzi, Paige, Bo, Groot, Rocket, You? Gatecrashers Others welcome.
WHAT || Vegas Baby!
WHERE || Pandora in Vegas, Nevada.
WHEN || March, 2018
HOW || Action Spam.

[ Kenzi had threatened Paige with a ladies night and of course, if anyone needed a night out it was Bo. The fact that there's also a talking Tree, a drinking Raccoon and... Drax? It's Kenzi. Why is anyone shocked by the people that she spends time with? She has ideas and they spin out of control and you just sort of hang on for the ride. It's her way. She may have casually mentioned they were coming here to a few other people, so if you happen to show up as well? The more the merrier.

The location itself isn't exactly filled with the garish glitz and glamor that a person generally associates with Vegas. Pandora has a British Pub meets modern day speakeasy feel to it. It's known for its signature cocktails with names like Panty Dropper and the Hot Little Mess and you can always count on live entertainment in the form of dancers, magicians, a band and of course, a DJ. It also happens to be one of the few clubs that has an open door policy where Shadowkind are concerned. Whether they'll be rethinking said policy after tonight? We just don't know. ]

Comments

[detectiveslashgenius]

[He gives her a curious look, but takes the shot glass and decides to move on... for now. He's storing that comment away to maybe bring back up later.]

To new beginnings. [At least he assumes she's new, if she's still getting used to Vegas. He's been here around a month and has mostly acclimated. Raising his shot glass to her, he tips it back and winces at the bite of it.]

I'm guessing some of these other new faces are friends of yours? [He may or may not be mostly referring to the ones that stand out. Like... idk the giant tree man. Or the walking, talking raccoon.] Either that or they've really stepped up their advertisement game for this place.

[morethanasidekick]

Na Zdorovie! [ Which... he can at least assume is some sort of toast seeing as Kenzi, immediately follows it up by downing her shot without even so much as a grimace. (Fort 23 - Go hard or go home.) ]

Uhhh... [ Look around? There's actually more than a few familiar faces, not even including the ones she brought with her but it is of course her group that stands out like a half severed thumb. ]

Yeah, they're mine. [ But then her gaze skates to Drax wearing his bright yellow hat and raincoat and she's quick to add; ]

Except that one. I take no responsibility for him.

[detectiveslashgenius]

[Jake turns on his stool to get a better look at Drax when she points him out. His eyes go wide and mouth drops as he processes that sight.]

Uh huh. [Just gonna leave that one alone.] Well hey, Kenzi- [Watch me handwave that they exchanged names already because I do what I want.] if you or your friends find yourself at The Venetian, you should come see me at the blackjack tables. I work as a dealer there- Wednesdays through Sundays. I tried to get a gig as a gondolier, but- [Cut to a B99 style flash to Jake in a gondola, full on stereotypical outfit. Black and white striped shirt. Red kerchief. Flat brimmed hat. Big ol' oar in his hands. He's overacting as he sings an Italian ballad to a cringing couple. What he's not doing is paying attention to where he's going, so as he holds out a long note, his gondola veers and crashes into the gondola passing on the opposite side.] -didn't work out.

[morethanasidekick]

[ I like to imagine that Kenzi is experiencing said smash cut... only in her version the lady gets knocked into the water by that supersized oar and Jake ends up in the dudes lap, right as he's going in for the kiss... moments before said Gondola crashes into another one.

You're welcome. ]

Shame. I bet you'd have rocked the straw hat.

[ So about those drinks she had Jake Larry buy for everyone else? Well they aren't here so, she'll just slide another one her way. ]

What's the Venetian's stance on Shadowkind? [ Pausing with the shot glass halfway to her lips. ] Asking for a friend.

[ Only this is that time when... she legit is. ]

[detectiveslashgenius]

That mostly depends on how well you can, ah... pass. [He doesn't really like the phrasing, but it's the reality.] We're on the higher half of the hotels on the strip, so there's this whole 'protect our image' thing that management talks to us about. But it's pretty don't ask, don't tell- so most humans can get by.

[Jake was luckier than most Shadowkind humans, in that he had been given a whole new identity to hang onto, so he had every document one could possibly imagine in the packet stuffed into his carry on. Between that and living in the bad parts of town that didn't ask too many questions, he was able to establish himself in the city fairly easily.]

If you stay away from the higher end tables, it's mostly fine, though. At the end of the day, they're trying to make money so turning anyone away is bad business. But if any customers get bent out of shape, things can go sideways in a hurry.

[morethanasidekick]

I appreciate the invite but, I make it a habit not to go anywhere my peeps aren't welcome. [ Which, given the President? Is pretty well everywhere. ] It's why I like this place.

[ Granted, their group could probably work harder to blend in. ]

It seems to be one of the few that doesn't have a 'different is bad', policy.

[ Maybe... maybe she could understand that most of that was fear speaking but she's been around her worlds equivalent of Shadowkind and 90% of them actually were scary. Still didn't make her hide from them in fear.

Nobody said Kenzi had good sense, mind. ]

[detectiveslashgenius]

Yeah, this place is great. A little busier than I'm used to seeing it, but... Honestly, it's a nice change of pace.

So what brings you all here?

[morethanasidekick]

To the club? Just... blowing off steam. All work, no play... I'd say you probably know the drill but does it even feel like work when you live in Vegas?

[ Of course, he could have been talking about being here in Vegas in general, but she was buying herself a minute to come up with a passable lie if that was the case. ]

[detectiveslashgenius]

Make sense. I kinda meant the move to the general Vegas area, though. Seems like a pretty big group to relocate just for the hell of it.

[morethanasidekick]

Right. That. [ Should. Have. Come. Up. With. A. Cover. Story. ]

We were all part of the same group of performers. Doing street shows all over the country. Kind of like a circus but without the tent.

[ This is why there should have been a cover story. Still, every word out of her mouth sounds like the honest to goodness truth, (Bluff Nat 20) ]

That guy over there. [ Pointing out Quill. ] Peter the Magnificent. He's a Magician. Best there is. Puts most of these guys around here to shame.

[ Dear god, somebody stop her before this lie gets out of control. ]

Groot - the tree looking dude? Not actually a tree. It's a condition. Like the elephant man or Michael Jackson. He's our resident freak. Him and the Monkey Boy. [ Yes she means Rocket. Why this. ]

[detectiveslashgenius]

[Jake squints briefly at her explanation (sense motive 35) but the conviction she has and the fact that the group of them being a circus troupe isn't completely unbelievable washes away his doubts.]

That's pretty cool. I definitely imagined running away and joining the circus as a kid. So what's your act in the whole thing?

[morethanasidekick]

[ That is an excellent question, Larry... ]

Pshh. I'm the ring leader. Obviously.

[ It's her lie! She'll make herself the leading lady if she wants to. ]

The - [ She uses her hands to dramatically illustrate her point. ] one who, brought everyone together and... makes it all work.

[ It's so meta it hurts /stares at The Guardians. ]

Plus, ya know. I'm easy on the eyes. Helps with the tips.

[detectiveslashgenius]

Of course. [He laughs a bit] My mistake.

So what do you call the whole thing? So I can point people your way when they're at my tables?

[morethanasidekick]

The whole thing? [ Uh oh. ] Ohhh, you mean. [ Help. ] Like a name?

[ Did her talking buy her any time? Just give her a second while she Keyser Söze's her way out of this. ]

Cidertree Junction.

[ Is it possible that Groot is trying to choose between the Ladies and Dudes bathroom after drinking too much Cider? Probably. ]

We're... thinking of reworking the first part but... everything sounds better with Junction in it, right? Like Tuxedo... Petticoat.

[ 911! Somebody send help! ]

[detectiveslashgenius]

Conjunction. [He says, tipping his beer back to sip as he smirks. Hes a product of 80s era educational videos, okay? School House Rock is absolutely the first place he's gonna go.]

I think Cidertree works. I mean it's no Cirque... Oh hey- maybe just cheat and use another language like they did.

[morethanasidekick]

[ I mean. That stupid grin on her face? Oh yeah, she totally got that. ]

Jonction de cidre! [ Thanks Lost Girl for making it Canon that Kenzi speaks French... even though it makes literally no sense. ]

Dude. You're a freakin genius. [ A hand flicking out to tap him on the arm. ] Everything sounds better in French.

[detectiveslashgenius]

Happy to help. [He leans one arm against the bar, taking a moment to sweep his eyes over the crowd, taking in the sight of her friends.]

It's a tough town to break out in, but you guys will definitely stand out. [He pauses for a second before adding.] They all know to be careful, right? They're looking for any excuse to say Shadowkind stepped out of line.

[morethanasidekick]

Do they even need an excuse? [ There's something grim in her expression, like she believes it's so much worse than even the media suggests. ]

We've been laying low since we got here but... they needed a night out. If we all stop living altogether then the douchebags win.

[detectiveslashgenius]

[He nods, expression growing a bit more serious. While the presence of Shadowkind had been a big adjustment when Jake first arrived, he was still more starry eyed than scared. It was like stepping into Lord of the Rings- except Legolas is your local barista and the hobbits are updating their insta stories while they wait for the bus. It had taken very little time for Jake to recognize that so many of them were just... people. Different kinds of people, maybe, but just living their lives and trying to get by.]

Well... if this is your one night out for who knows how long, we've got to make it count, right? [He gives her a mischievous sort of smile.] I think it's time for you to use those ring leader skills and ask our DJ to become a KJ. [He pauses] That's Karaoke Jockey. [Awkward when you have to explain it, bud] Alright, let's go!

[morethanasidekick]

[ She knows that look. Heck... she invented that look and it's almost a relief that his version of 'count' was far less likely to get them arrested than hers. ]

Oh please. Here I thought you were going to challenge me. [ Her grin growing wide. I mean... she already conned the house-band into letting a drunk Paige sing. She's pretty sure she's got this. ] So what are you? Sir David Bowie or Sir-Mix-A-Lot?

[detectiveslashgenius]

I'm more of a 90's indie and/or alt rock, one hit wonder kind of guy. [Nostalgia can save him when the notes go awry tbh.]

But I'm down for pretty much whatever. [He pauses] Title of my sex tape.

[morethanasidekick]

So... we're thinking Flagpole Sitta, Closing Time... or the classic, Breakfast at Tiffany's? [ Did you just have a child of the 90s flashback? Because I sure did.

See that grin, Jake? That is the grin of a person who greatly appreciates your humor, both for its quality and the self-deprecating nature of it all. ]

F.Y.I. So stealing that.

[detectiveslashgenius]

Torn-- Natalie Imbruglia version, obviously... Save Tonight, What Is Love... But I'm thinking we should open with the jam at any middle school dance:

[Pause for dramatic effect]

Mambo No 5

[morethanasidekick]

Obviously. [ There is no question. Though she does light up at What is Love... until. ]

The Lou Bega classic?! So which one was she? [ A beat. ] The girl in middle school you were trying to get to notice you. Was she a Jessica or a Monica?

[detectiveslashgenius]

Oh, definitely a Jessica. I didn't get into my Monica phase until after high school.

[What does it even mean??]