Logfile from Brass&Steel. The current time in Kansas City is 6:28 PM, Thu Sep 12, 2002. Club Bluebird. The club is starting to prepare for the evening. The music is still canned, and the trickle of patrons isn't very big. Still, a band's coming on later in the evening and the place will probably be packed as usual. Might as well get a decent place to sit. A tall dude is sitting alone at a table, nursing a bottle of beer. He looks quite relaxed and has his legs stretched out in front of him. His fingers tap the bottle in rythm with the music from the speakers. Mel is a 5'7", twenty-something female. Her shiny black hair is pulled back elegantly from a smooth, oval face. Her make-up is subtle --- earthy shades enhance her sharp sun-kissed features, and thick black lashes frame honey-brown eyes. Her mouth is wide, with tight thin lips and her eyes seem to sparkle in any kind of light. It's really difficult not to notice that she is... rather endowed. She is otherwise svelte and is, in general, very attractive in a raw, sexual kind of way. Mel is conservatively dressed in charcoal-grey pants and a dark grey ribbed sweater. She is wearing a pair of stylish tortoise-shell glasses, giving her a scholarly appearance. Her shoes are black, thick-soled and sensibly high-heeled. In the clothes department Zach sports black jeans, a black armless t-shirt and a black leather jacket. The jacket is a typicel biker's jacket and has obviously seen a lot of wear. It is however well cared for with no visible tearings or holes. The boots are black Doc Martens. Mel steps gracefully through the door and enters the club. With a casual flick of her wrist, she pushes her dark glasses up and over her hair. Sophistication is the word, perhaps, as she walks casually to the bar. She takes a seat and signals the bartender with a slight movement of her hand. The bartender bustles over and awaits the lady's commands. Zach looks around the club and notices the stylish newcomer. His eyes trail over her entire form and he smiles in good humour. Mel orders something. The bartender returns not long after with the ubiquitous wine glass and inevitable red liquid. She sips, and casually looks around the club. And, what is this? She glances at Zach, catching his eyes. She arcs an eyebrow ever so gently. Zach lifts his bottle in a salut to the lady. His eyes twinkle. One of the chairs move gently out from the table, pushed by one of the leatherjacketed man's feet. He gestures an invitation to share the table with a friendly smile. Mel stares at the fellow, eyebrow arced precisely. She seems to be considering his 'offer'. She looks him over, in fact, blatently assessing his assets. She lifts her head slightly, and inclines it gently backwards. The ever so subtle and sophisticated way of saying, 'I have a better idea. Why don't _you_ come _here_?'. Zach's smile widens to a warm, approving grin that breaks out an abound of smile lines by out from the corners of his eyes. He rises with ease and comes ambling over to the classy woman. "Evenin' miss. I'm Zach, nice to meet you." He offers a handshake. Mel watches Zach approach with cat-like attention. Her expression changes only subtly. Her eyebrow relaxes, as an understated smile quirks up the side of her mouth. Her eyes flicker to the offered hand, then back to Zach. She extends her own hand, meeting Zach halfway. Her grip is smooth, yet quite firm. Mel says, "Good evening." She smiles. "Please. Call me Mel." Zach squeezes her hand with a strong, warm grip, looking her in the eyes. "Much obliged, ma'am - Mel," he smiles. "You new to this joint? I haven't seen you here before..?" He releases her hand and leans casually on the bar, without being sleazy. Mel says, "Heh. Not sleazy. Ok, thanks for clarifying! :)" Zach grins. I felt it necessary:) Mel sets her glass down on the bar. She watches Zach carefully for a moment before replying. "This is my first time at this club, yes." She glances around, taking in the canned music, the small crowd, and the dusty, near twilight, lighting. "I must admit. I'd been expecting more." Zach arches an eyebrow. "Oh?" He twinkles a smile again. "What had you been expecting, then?" He lets his eyes slide around the room. Mel hrms softly, continuing to examine the room. "More berets." She concludes with a saucy quirk of her lips. "And, for that matter, less neon." She glances back at Zach, standing so unsleazily at the bar. "Hrm. How about you? Do _you_ come here often?" Her tone is faintly amused. Zach takes a swig of his bottle and nods. "Yeah, I come here fairly often. It's a great place for live music, and for meeting people. I've been frequenting the place since I came to town." He grins teasingly and taps a finger on the bottle. "And this ain't a beret place. It caters to the more old-fashioned swing jazz. It'll become more lively later in the evening." [Public] Lucian says, "Hiya, folks." [Public] Zach waves! :) [Public] Roger waves [Public] Zach says, ""Woah! Roger too! :)" [Public] Lucian says, "We're comin' outta the woodwork!" [Public] Roger says, "yep :)" [Public] Zach eyes the woodwork suspiciously... Mel says, "Ah. That's quite a relief. I suppose I may lay to rest my fears of an impromptu poetry reading, then." She lowers her eyelids very slightly, an almost imperceptible batting of her eyelashes. She is still smiling softly. "I'm actually not much of a Jazz person. My visit here tonight is... sort of an experiment." She takes her glass back into her hand and sips." Roger enters from the street. Lucian enters from the street. Zach is leaning on the bar, seemingly chatting up a classy lady. Mel is sitting elegantly on a stool by the bar, sipping from a wineglass. Zach chuckles. "Well here's to experimenting then," he lifts his bottle in a toast. "May it prove a happy one." He winks charmingly to her. Roger pushes the door open and walks inside humming softly to himself. He glances around, noting absently that Duke is still absent before heading towards the bar. He spots Zach and flashes him a grin before bellying up the bar and attemtping to get the bartenders attention. Zach nods happily to Roger, obviously pleased to see him. Lucian enters, a few minutes behind Roger. He first glances towards Duke's alcove, as well, before looking the bar over. Eyebrow raised and a faint smirk crossing his features, he makes a beeline for Zach and Mel. Zach says, "Uh-oh... :)" Mel returns the wink with a wry smile and pauses, before elevating her own glass very slightly to join into the toast. "Indeed. Though all experiments are successful, as long as you don't make mistakes." She smiles more widely, showing a hint of shiny white teeth. "And I don't make mistakes." Roger finaly manages to get himself a beer and slides onto a barstool, spinning it to face the music. He opens his bottle and takes a long drink as he leans on the bar, one foot swinging intime to the music. Zach inclines his head. "You don't? Ever? Wow... I make 'em all the time." A crooked smile play over his features. "Annoying, but at least it keeps life interesting." Roger looks over and calls over to Zach "So Zach, tell us some of your mistakes." Clearly he's teasing." Lucian strolls up to the seat on the opposite side of Mel from Zach. The Demon of Dramatic Necessity intervenes, and the seat is left empty. Lucian hops up onto it nimbly, and looks over the pair. With a small chuckle, he says (to whom isn't entirely clear), "What an entertaining coincidence, meeting you here..." Mel follows the movement of Zach's head with her eyes. She purses her lips thoughtfully. "The trick, Zach, is to never get into a situation that you can't handle." She tilts her head gently to the side, regarding Roger, then looks over to Lucian. Her eyebrows go up slightly. "Professor Szabo." She smiles widely. "What a pleasant surprise." Roger looks over at the new voice and raises an eyebrow as he sees Lucian. Zach grins to Roger and then back to Mel. "The uppity dude over there," he points a thumb over his shoulder Rogerways, "is Roger." He rises his voice slightly aiming at Roger: "And I'll save those stories for later... Oh..." He sees a familiar mop of white hair over Mel's shoulder. "Professor Lucian Szabo. Good evenin'..." The smile is...measured, almost challenging. Maybe. Roger looks disapointed "Aww. I'll have to get you drunk and then you can tell then. Zach snorts a laugh. "Roge, pal... I hate to tell you this but... You're a /cop/. You're not supposed to run around and get innocent people drunk!" Mel greets Roger with an elegant tilt of her head and subdued smile. Mel sips her wine for now, content to listen. Zach looks sheepish all of a sudden. "Jeez, my manners are rusty.. Mel, this is Roger - Roger, say hello to Mel." Mel regards Zach with an amused little smile. Her attention flickers back to Roger. "Mel Schumacher." She politely offers her hand. Lucian inclines his head to Zach. "You have named me, Mister Ellis," he says, spreading his hands as if conceding some great defeat. Turning his head towards Mel, he smiles. "Miss Schumacher. It is a pleasure to see you out of class," he says to her. Roger smiles and holds out his hand to Mel "Nice to meet you, I'm Roger Freeman." Mel shakes Rogers hand, then acknowledges Lucian with a wide smile and friendly, glittering eyes. "Likewise professor." She gently swirls the contents of her wine glass. She takes a sip. "Do you come here regularly?" Zach has to go real soon. :) Mel :) Lucian :( Darn. Zach eyes Lucian casually, then leans over to Roger to say something. "From time to time," Lucian says with a shrug. "It is a location steeped in history. I find that... comforting." He gestures, waving with one hand. He glances towards Zach with a bit of a frown. You whisper "Roge, I'm outta town for a week, but I'd like to see you next weekend if you have the time.." to Roger. Mel says, "I should probably go soon too." Lucian says, "Ack. Everyone's leaving... :(" Roger isn;t :) Zach says, "Be nice to Mel! She's new! :)" Lucian is ALWAYS nice. Lucian says, "OOCly, at least." Roger nods and leans into mutter something back to Zach. Roger whispers "what about?" Zach grins. Zach mutters to Roger. You whisper "Work." to Roger. Zach glances at his watch. "Oh man.. I'm gonna have to leave y'all. It was nice meeting you, Mel. I hope I'll see you again sometime. Enjoy your evening." He smiles warmly to her and unleans from the bar. "Professor, Roger... Have a /delightful/ evening." Roger nods "Sure, I'll around." He waves at Zach "See you around Mel tilts her head at Zach. "It was a pleasure." Lucian smiles, broadly, at Zach. "Of course, Mister Ellis," he replies. "I would wish you the same." Mel looks at her watch. She frowns slightly. Zach smiles slightly and takes his leave. "Later, all.." You step outside.