Happy Hour.

[notaphony.livejournal.com]

Since her last time behind the bar didn't wind up in disaster, Joan isn't surprised in the slightest when the note from Bar herself pops up again.

She doesn't glance twice at it, instead using it to blot a recent application of deep red lipstick, and then slips back behind the bar again, leaving the big red kiss on the crumpled napkin.

Five minutes later, the board reads the specials:

Old-Fashioned
White Russian
Gimlet

Joan fishes around in her purse for a cigarette; as such, she'll be a little distracted until she finds a light.

[ tiny tag: joan holloway ]

[ ooc: a little earlier tonight. tag in, tag often, tag each other. ]

Comments

[ps_you_look_hot]

"May I?" Nikola asks, sliding onto a barstool. He doesn't have a lighter, but his fingers do spark as he holds up his hand. It's not much as far as displays of electricity go, but it's more than enough to light her cigarette.

[notaphony.livejournal.com]

Only after she's inhaled does she realize what he used, exactly, to do so.

"My," she breathes, smoke slipping out of her lips. "That's new and different."

[ps_you_look_hot]

"Different, perhaps," Nikola says with a smile. "I wouldn't say it's new."

[notaphony.livejournal.com]

"Well, maybe not new for you," Joan points out.

People who can generate electricity, in her world, are somewhat limited to the static kind.

[ps_you_look_hot]

People who can generate electricity, in his world, are somewhat limited to...Nikola.

"Fair enough," he says, sitting back a little to survey the specials board. "You know, I haven't even heard someone mention a gimlet in decades."

[notaphony.livejournal.com]

"And when was it, exactly, that you heard?"

She taps the end of the cigarette in a nearby ashtray.

[ps_you_look_hot]

He thinks about that for a moment. "Sixty-two? Sixty-three?" he offers. "Sometime in the early sixties."

[notaphony.livejournal.com]

Judging by her expression, that's around the magic number.

"That might give you an indication as to where I come in from, sweetie."

[ps_you_look_hot]

"I'd guessed as much," Nikola says, taking in her attire in a not-entirely-innocent manner. "Secretary?"

[notaphony.livejournal.com]

"Office manager," Joan murmurs, in a way that plainly says: close, but no cigar.

"You drinking anything?"

[ps_you_look_hot]

"Forgive me," Nikola says, leaning on the counter. "I didn't mean to offend."

Glancing at the specials again, he adds, "I'll have a glass of red wine, whatever you like yourself."

[notaphony.livejournal.com]

"You didn't," she says breezily. It's certainly nothing bothersome, at any rate.

A wineglass gets placed in front of him; she rummages in the shelves behind her for a decent Malbec, which promptly gets poured.

[ps_you_look_hot]

Nikola makes no secret of the fact that he was enjoying the view as she rummaged. He lifts the glass and takes a sip, considering the taste before setting his glass down.

"Not bad."

[awaroutthere.livejournal.com]

Unfortunately, Cosmo can't help with the light. He doesn't mind other people smoking, but he's never really seen the appeal himself.
"I'll go for a White Russian, I think."
He's legal in his own time, after all. And the thought of actually going back to school and facing that midterm is... well.
It merits a drink.

[notaphony.livejournal.com]

Joan smiles, briefly.

"Coming up."

If she starts humming while making it, it's only because she's in a relatively good mood.

[awaroutthere.livejournal.com]

"You do this often, or did you get... pulled in?"
He doesn't want to say 'drafted,' as that's among the many possible complications of post-college life he's been trying not to think about lately.

[notaphony.livejournal.com]

"This is my second time," Joan tells him. "And they do say that's often the charm."

She sticks a small straw into the tumbler and then places it on a napkin in front of him.

[awaroutthere.livejournal.com]

He thought it was the third time, but... well, different worlds and all that.
"Thanks." And then he has a drink, and smiles. "That's pretty good."

[notaphony.livejournal.com]

It may be second, it may be third. Either way, she's decided upon the former.

"It's not my favorite, but it's worth knowing how to make."

[awaroutthere.livejournal.com]

"I can see that. Um. I'm Cosmo."
The social interaction bit still isn't his strongest point, but he can try to make do.

[notaphony.livejournal.com]

"Joan Holloway. Cosmo - I don't believe I've heard a name like that before."

She nods thoughtfully, her cigarette trailing smoke in the air.

[awaroutthere.livejournal.com]

He shrugs. "Not sure where my parents dug it up. I think it's a family name of some kind."

[notaphony.livejournal.com]

"Seems like it might run along those lines."

She lifts the cigarette to her lips.

[awaroutthere.livejournal.com]

"Where're you from?"
It's kind of an awkward segue, but around here, there are so many possibilities that it's always worth asking.

[notaphony.livejournal.com]

"New York," she answers, without missing a beat. "Manhattan, specifically. I live and work in the city."