Roleplaying
2004 Archive
2005 Archive
Seminars
| When: | 26 January 2005 |
| Who: | Gwyneth, Nicodemus, Sapphira |
| What: |
Fado Irish Pub and Restaurant
Fado's has become a hotspot for many of the locals. The place is split between three different sections, the bar and tavern in one room, another room for the restaurant, and an outside patio area as an extension of the restaurant; all of which are no smoking. The owner, Tyrr Ceallaghan, opened Fado's two years ago and has advertised and made enough deals to watch it grow.
The bar and tavern room has a counter top bar where any of the patrons can sit and talk with the bartenders or their fellow patrons. Near the bar there are a few tables where anyone can sit with friends, share a drink, and just have a good time.
The restaurant and patio area is your classic walk in dine-in restaurant, with different celtic elements on the walls and in the way the rooms are built. The waitresses and waiters are dressed in all black, and always very courteous, as the owners insist on top quality customer service.
Nicholas Lyman casually starts into the foyer, the restaurant portion of the building. Marching up to the hostess stand, he waits there patiently, with a cordial smile stretched across his face. If he were not decked out in a fine navy suit and his skin tanned beyond the capacity of an Austin winter, he might just be another friendly customer. Just when an available server arrives to seat him, Nico notes a young couple waiting for a table to his side. Though the waitress, hoping for a larger tip, rules in Lyman's favour, he graciously bows out. "Oh, excuse me," he says with a shake of his head, "They're ahead of me..."
As the evening wears on, some of the staff appear to be off-duty. With hair appropriately tufted in eighty different directions, Gwyneth appears to be relaxing, taking long sips off of what can only be described as a tall neon-green drink. "I'm so glad I have the apron off," she breathes out over the glass, before she twists around to peer at the door, perhaps seeking to pick up the slack if the other waitstaff were overwhelmed. Her gaze lands upon Nicolas, and she blinks a few times. "Hrn, wonder if he's going to be causing protests on our sidewalk in a moment..."
Having declined the service of the first waitress, Nicholas has a moment to himself. He begins to pace about, his blue eyes, almost luminous against his tanned skin, scanning out the door. Then, with a flick of his left wrist, his watch makes a flashy appearance from under his sleeve, shinning even in the dim restaurant light. But, Lyman's need to check the time is quickly removed, as the front doors open again. It's Fado's competition, a restaurant owner, who, it's been rumoured, hasn't been doing too well since Tyrr got into the business.
Gwyneth chews on her lower lip for a moment, eyes side as she flicks her gaze over towards the well-dressed man. "Crap," she utters to herself, and then stands up suddenly, snatching up the apron. She sees an opportunity, and appears willing enough to do work to take advantage. Sashaying over, she chirps out a cheery enough, "Good evening, do you and your party have proper seating yet?" There's a slight tilt to her head and hips, accentuating her perkiness.
With Gwyneth coming to take the table, Nicholas is momentarily kept from verbally acknowledging his dinner meeting. However, he does manage a smile before he responds brightly to the waitress, his own energy clear, but not overdone, "No, we haven't. Two, please." Now, he turns to a man Fado's staff might know. He's Gary Sine, owner of the Sports Bar across the street. Gary is dressed for business too, though his grey suit has endured some wear and tear. Gary himself is undergoing the same process, with his grey hair steadily receding. Time has not been as kind to him as it has been to Nico.
Gwyneth bouncily zips over towards one properly bussed table, plucking up two of the four settings to provide proper arrangements for the two businessmen. "Here you go, then. Hopefully the atmosphere will be a bit kinder than... the university." Ooops, did she let that slip. "Can I get you started with some drinks tonight?"
Before Gwyneth leads them away, Lyman beams at the other man, "By your meeting me here, I take it you've made a decision..." The question hangs in the air until Sine visibly shrinks, his shoulders and head bowing in response. "Ya," he manages, clearly not as pleased to be here as Nicholas. "Good," Lyman returns, while following after the waitress. There is something cold behind his gentle voice, "I wouldn't want to be wasting my time here." Still, it quickly fades as his words turn on Gwyneth. "Oh, it's been years since either of ate there," Nicholas comments with a smile.
Sapphira pulls open the front door and enters the busy foyer. "Well, well," she muses to herself quietly. "This place is surprisingly hopping for a mid-week night. I'll have to remember this."
Gwyneth mm-hmms, as she flips up a pad, and states, "The eateries are designed for a different clientele, I suppose. How's the fund-raising going, if I might ask? We're having salmon boxty as the dinner special. Draft's on tap, too..." She gestures towards the bar, although she gives the other man a curious glance, blinking a few times. The emergence of Sapphira catches her attention, and likely, that of everything male in the area.
After the two take their seat, Nicholas busies himself with perusing the menu, as if he really were sitting down to a friendly meal with the man across from him. That other man obviously doesn't share Lyman's enthusiasm and taps nervously on the menu, the Fado's menu that's put him in this position. "You know, the special sounds fine," Nicholas says, helpfully sliding his menu to the side of the table, "How about you, Gary?" Sine doesn't seem to have considered food and he raises a hand in pardon to Gwyneth, "Just a burger...and substitute salad for fries. Thanks."
Gwyneth considers, "Would that be the bacon cheeseburger mor or mushroom bleu burger? Maybe just plain," she murmurs to herself, expression a bit hang-dog as she picks up on one man's somberness. And with that, she flits off, although she is soon to return with glasses of water at the very least. She fusses with a few tables nearby, the better to hear you with, my pretties.
When the waters arrive, Gary eyes them momentarily. Then, referring back to the drink specials, Gary seems to gasp, as if coming up for air, "Beer. I'll take a beer." At that, Lyman tilts his head, curiously eyeing the other man as only noticing his duress for the first time. "You seem a little wound up, tough day?" Nicholas inquires. The question is almost genuine, yet the words chime right at the end with something knowing, something sinister. Nicholas just gets silence and a look. Then, contrasting Gary's rather gruff drink order, he looks to Gwyneth and smiles, "A beer for us both, please. What's on tap will do nicely."
Sapphira peruses the variety of postings on walls closest to the entrance while she waits for a server to seat her. Having finished that, she looks over the menu and starts to decide just what she wants to eat.
Opening her mouth to object about lack of specificity, Gwyneth shuts up, and just gives a polite nod before darting off. A few hushed whispers are exchanged with the keep, chatter about lagers, ales, and stouts flying by. However, they settle upon an ethic specialty, and she soon returns with two hefty glasses laden with the stiff brown liquid known as Guinness stout. Brilliant! And then, she peers at Sapphira, before raising one hand to her mouth, eyes flashing in mirth. However, she keeps her comments to herself, and sing-songs out, "Welcome! We have a good menu tonight, and you may have a seat whereever you'd like!"
Sapphira turns at the sound of the energetic voice. "Would I be able to sit at the bar and order a full meal, or is seating at a table for the fare preferred?" she asks politely, with a small smile playing over her lips.
Sine, obviously not having a good time, collapses his face onto a propped up hand. His gaze actually wanders to Sapphira's table, wistfully perhaps. Nicholas is not gracious enough to let the man linger here. "Do you have the paper work?" he asks, voice suddenly stern and functional. This is when Gwyneth arrives with the dark Irish beer. "An excellent choice," Lyman says, commending the waitress. Gary, however, anxiously grabs at his glass and chugs half. "You know," Lyman goes on, "I like to take my time...enjoy a good Guinness." This time the sarcasm is clear. Before any more is said, Gary produces a folder from underneath his jacket. He flips it open, where a neatly stapled contract awaits. On the front cover of the contract, there are markings left by coffee cups and beer cans...there is even a singed corner at one of the ends.
Gwyneth chirps out, "Bar would be fine!" She gestures, cheerleader like, towards the bar proper. From time to time, she casts her gaze towards Nico, hrmmming to herself. No way to actually do this while being a server. However, she politely enough brings the potato-cake encrusted fish and the burger as per the customers' request.
Putting a hand down on the contract, Lyman slides the papers out of the folder and onto his side of the table. This is done slowly, the way one slowly pulls at a string for a kitten. You have to be ready to quickly yank it away should the cat decide to pounce. But, Gary doesn't have the will anymore and Nicholas picks it up for a read over, clearing the table for the food to arrive. "Excellent, thank you," he says. Whether his thanks is directed to Sine or the waitress is unclear.
Sapphira slides her derriere onto one of the high stools at the bar, crossing her legs and proping the lower heel on the chair's rungs. "Mmm, I think I'll have the salmon with a salad," she requests, then does the unthinkable. "With a glass of dry white wine if you have any."
Gwyneth delivers well enough, with refills a plenty! However, when it gets to a decent stopping point, the spry little lass finally pulls the apron off again, going off duty. The play didn't work very well, other than the fact that she was privy to some sort of business deal. Maybe it was signing over a business because he couldn't afford the protection money any more!
With all the right signatures in all the right places, Nicholas rolls up the contract and slides it into his lower jacket pocket. "Well, this looks delicious," he says positively with the fish now in front of him. The man opposite him, again, cannot muster the enthusiasm and begins to pick at his salad. Taking up his own fork, Lyman prepares to dig in. "You know," he begins, his bright tone even once again, "There can still be family involvement at the bar. If you'd like to stay on as a manager..." At this, Gary, in mid gulp, puts down his Guinness, perhaps excited at the possibility but still cautious. But, an air of refined superiority quickly takes over Lyman's voice as he wonders aloud, "Then, again...I don't suppose you have the necessary experience. I don't suppose you know how to run a night club." At this, Gary looks away, choking something back. How could he let himself get sucked in by that.
With a murmured thank you to the bartender, Sapphira plucks the glass of wine off the bar and gives it a few swirls before testing it with a small sip. "Decadent," she says with a bright smile of pleasure. "If this is any indication of the quality of food here, it may quite easily become one of my preferred haunts."
Without a word to his companion, Sine flags down the nearest server and asks for his food to be wrapped up. "I've lost my appetite," he explains, sounding far more defeated than somebody that couldn't finish his meal. "Going some where, Gary?" Nicholas says, holding his next bite close at hand. The question remains unanswered as the former owner of Gary's Sports Bar slowly rises to his feet. "Look, you won alright," is all the man can muster before leaving. Lyman remains behind with a satisfied smile. He finishes his meal, drops a sizable tip, and goes to the bar to settle the bill. The register just happens a few seats past Sapphira.
Sapphira's eyes are partially closed as she holds up her wine glass to idly inspect its contents. "Lovely colour and bouquet as well. I'll have to purchase some of this vintage," she says to herself to pass the time. Her meal arrives shortly afterward and the bartender, Kurgan, is awarded a sunny smile of thanks.
After paying his tab, Nicholas lingers at the bar momentarily, basking in the triumph of another takeover. The possibilities he has with this new acquisition swirl through his mind, just as his gaze drifts to the woman at the bar. The gaze of those blue eyes narrows something, in recognition. Lyman doesn't know Sapphira, but he may have heard a thing or two. Deciding he will have to meet her acquaintance some other time, Lyman slides his wallet into his pants and departs.
Previous: Logs or 2005 Archive