[Open] Drink to Get Drunk

[Joana Vega]

TGIF. Fridays were Jo's favorite day of the week since it meant more people trawling the nightclubs and bars in the city. It also meant that she got called into her regular bar for bartending work on that day and on most weekends, assuring her a nice chance at cash to tie her over until the next time she was called in somewhere. Her usual haunts were stable enough but one could never be sure when she wasn't on regular payroll anywhere. If she worked it, Jo could rake in some nice tips. If she was lucky the night would be problem-free as well.

Most people that visited the Sun Beach bar were nice enough and Jo fed off of the energy of her patrons, a willing ear to listen to their problems or to mingle and mix with them. She could put on a show as well, known for the little extra she gave when showing off and filling drinks. It sure fed the tip jar when the regulars got to nursing their second or third round. For the moment, however, she had to listen to the godawful drivel coming from some white-collared suit drowning his sorrows.

Ugh. Jo was able to give rather mechanical responses to the man as he whined about some woman in his life that broke his heart-- jeez. She guessed it was better than the last weekend when she'd been consistently hit upon by a drunk guy that just wouldn't screw off. Bar scuffles happened rarely but he had to be escorted out after he had tried throwing his glass at her when she rejected him (and, subsequently, made fun of him) and the woman had nearly jumped over the bar in retaliation to teach him a lesson. Jo had to quell her temper with these types as it was prime to set off her shifting... and really, it wasn't exactly helpful when she was suddenly a bug. That was sure intimidating, waving little scythe-like arms around in fisticuffs as a mantis.

With a snort and an eyeroll Jo tossed one of the liquor bottles behind her back and caught it as she drained a few shots into the glass she was preparing, finishing it off and sliding it to the woman two seats down to her left. God if she didn't need something to pique her interest because she was beginning to get bored with this lot. Just a bunch of office grunts and college frat boys so far. What a night.

[Melisande Fitzroy]

Fridays. Not her favorite day to work. But not too bad. She was slowly growing used to the weekend rushes. Melisande was just having more trouble on the person side of the job. She was great with drinks, or at least, she was adequate. Her flair was a bit rocky, but she had been practicing at home, so at least she wasn't as likely to spill as before. But people? Not her forte. Usually she just made sympathetic sounds as people poured out their hearts. Honestly, she couldn't relate with most of it. But all they seemed to need was a bit of sympathy, fake or not.

Checking her hair one last time in her car mirror, she exited quickly. She was going to be late if she didn't hurry. Meli could not deal with an infraction. Work was always a bit rocky, she had not really expected it all when she chose bartending. Cest La Vie. She had a few places that she could be called into, so next month's rent might actually be on time! Melisande was getting better at this whole adult thing, she swore.

Smiling to Joe, she kicked her bag into a corner of the bar, out of the way.
“Evening.” She had maybe worked with Joana once. Perhaps twice, sometimes it go busy enough that she forgot. Still, Melisande did not have a good rapport with her. In fact, Melisande didn't have much of a rapport with anyone, making working beside them a bit awkward. She didn't get to say more before she was grabbing and passing two long necks to a pair of young men.

College kids she assumed. The usual. If anything, they were like the backbone of the bars and clubs. She had never actually seen anyone drink so much. Smiling a bit to Jo, she took a quick tally of those around. It wasn't crazy, yet.

[Joana Vega]

The more the gentleman that was whining to her right was blathering onto her, the more Jo wanted to rip her eardrums out. She sincerely hoped there would be something to keep her interest throughout the night else she go crazy only an hour into her shift.

At least things were picking up rather steadily. The more time went by the more patrons came in, and the more drink orders were placed. The woman idly indulged a few of the patrons with some discussion, trying hard to force interest out of herself and keep annoyance quelled. Blah blah blah jeez the drunks are lame tonight, she mused internally, glancing over when she realized she had company behind the bar. Raising a brow she fumbled for a name to go with the young woman's face, knowing she'd seen her there before. She'd worked with her a few times if she remember right, finally grasping at it. Melisande, that's right. Fancy name and all that.

"Hey yourself," Jo smirked at her. "Thank god. I was about to die, you know," she hummed, lowering her voice. "From sheer boredom. This lot is the worst, I really hope it picks up," she muttered, moving to scoop up a few of the used glasses to clean up. "It's around graduation from all the schools now, isn't it? Might get busy tonight, and I'm not sure anyone else is coming in. Think we can handle it... Meli, was it?" Light teasing, but at least she had better company now. She was at least looking forward to the tips, if they could work the bar well enough.

Popping her knuckles and flexing her fingers some her attention was turned soon after to pouring vodka into a Bloody Mary and listening to the drone of the bar and the noise of one of the regular bands setting up to play across the room.