17978/Another Saturday Night (Friday actually) And I Don't Got Nobody

Another Saturday Night (Friday actually) And I Don't Got Nobody
Date of Scene:	17 May 2024
Location:	No5 Orange
Synopsis:	Remy drops by No5 Orange while Vanessa is working, and gets into a poker game in the back room.
Cast of Characters:	Vanessa Carlysle, Remy LeBeau

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Vanessa Carlysle has posed:
Friday night and Vanessa got called into a shift at No5 Orange. She really wanted to tell them no. She makes more money in her other line of work usually, but it can be much more hit and miss. Thus the waitressing gig at No5 Orange, a 'gentleman's club' that has rarely seen a gentleman. More the sorts of types that would hang with the biker gang that it's a well-known secret actually holds the deed to the place.

She's dressed in a leather skirt and thigh high stockings, with a black spaghetti strap top that reveals a fair amount of skin. Anything to help with the tips. Going to the bar, Vanessa rests her tray there while she puts in an order for some drinks for a trio of men at one of her tables. Then turns to look over the bar, eyes running from one of her tables to another, seeing where else she needs to stop at.

Remy LeBeau has posed:
     Dive bars, roadhouses, and questionable rough and tumble joints like No5 Orange aren't strangers to Remy. He's been in enough of them in his life to almost be a connoisseur of them. What bring him into the Bronx to this place is a mystery, but the Cajun makes his way through the front doors of the place, hands in the pockets of his long, brown, coat.

     Dressed in what would be relatively normal clothing. He's in a pair of blue jeans, a black button up shirt with the top couple buttons left open, and a pair of boots on his feet. Even with the boots, his footsteps are silent against the floor, but that is probably because of the ongoing beat of the music.

     He casts a glance towards the sage, taking in the view as he strolls over to the bar to take a seat, whipping the side of the coat back like an old gunfighter to make it easier to sit and not accidentally sit on the fabric. He raps on the bar, looking to get attention as his eyes focus from the stage to the people closer to him, "How 'bout a shot, mon ami? Don' really matter what it is, long as it's strong."

Vanessa Carlysle has posed:
The patrons are involved in a mix of activities, from watching the girls on stage or talking to the ones roaming the room soliciting private dances, to watching the NBA and NHL playoffs on TVs at various spots in the bar. To playing pool at a couple of the pool tables. There are rumors of a backroom poker game that springs up from time to time as well, though whether it is in session is anyone's idea right now.

Vanessa glances down the bar as another customer walks up and takes a seat. Her eyes glance Remy over as the bartender gives Remy a nod, going to the shelves on the back of the bar to hold up a bottle of strong whiskey. If that gets a nod he starts pouring the shot.

"Cajun? Or French? Or Quebecois?" the waitress asks as she leans back against the bar, looking over at Remy. "Or, well there's probably a lot of other places too, but I'm playing the odds, plus while I haven't ever been there, sounds like Cajun would be the first guess," she explains to the man using the French and with that accent.

Remy LeBeau has posed:
     Giving the bartender a nod of agreement, Remy turns his head over to the side to focus those black and red eyes over onto Vanessa. He nods once, "Oui, got it on de first try, chere. Cajun born and raised on de bayous outside of N'awlins."

     He gives Vanessa a smile, then glances back towards the stage for a moment as a new dancer takes up residence. He watches for a moment before continuing to look around to the pool tables and other patrons. "Little birdie told me dat sometimes dere be a card game goin' on here, non? Or was I misinformed and will have to just entertain myself in o'er ways this evenin'?

Vanessa Carlysle has posed:
The bartender sets Remy's drink down, checks if he wants to pay cash or leave a card to build a tab, and assuming that is taken care of, moves off to finish the three drinks he's making for Vanessa's table.

The news that she hit the bullseye with her first guess brings a smile to Vanessa's face. "I thought so. Have a bit of a sixth sense with people, and even without the accent, something about you seemed New Orleans," she tells him.

She glances to check on the bartender's progress, then looks back to Remy to say, "There is. Sometimes one of the owners sits in. Most of the time it's friends of theirs. Or friends of friends. It can be a little bit of a rough crowd. Not saying you're not fine with that, just warning," she tells him. "I could see if they have an open spot if you want?"

Remy LeBeau has posed:
     The Cajun shifts his eyes back to Vanessa as she speaks, giving her a nod and offering over another one of those charming smiles. "Appreciate de warnin', chere, but I'm no stranger to a rough crowd. A lot of people don' like to loose." He winks to the waitress before looking to the bartender and offering over cash for the drink. He lifts the glass to his lips and takes a sip of the amber liquid from the glass before setting it back down onto the counter. "I wouldn't object to a spot if it's open, but don' go out of your way for it, petite." He looks around the bar to see if anyone is smoking, whatever the particular laws are in this place...or if anyone follows them even if there are.

Vanessa Carlysle has posed:
The room is smokey enough it probably is ok to light something up. Something not outright illegal at least. "Alright, let me deliver these drinks and will see what they say," Vanessa says as the drinks she's waiting for are placed on her try.

She picks it up, one hand beneath it balancing it as she passes behind Remy. A hand brushing across his back from one shoulder to the other on the way past before she goes off to deliver the drinks.

While she's gone, it isn't too long before one of the dancers comes over. She's wearing leather boots that come up above her knee, some go-go shorts and a bikini top. "Hey there sexy," she says, giving him a smile. "I'm Bambi. Looking for some company?" She looks like she'd probably had something to smoke that -isn't- legal, her eyes kind of dull and partially lidded.

Remy LeBeau has posed:
     Reaching into his coat, Remy pulls out a pack of cigarettes, going through the motion of getting one out and lighting it up with a practiced fluidity. The inhale illuminating his face in a dull orange glow from the burning cherry. He nods to Vanessa with another smile, "Merci."

     As he waits, he turns to look at the stage, at least until he feels the fingers across his back which causes him to turn and look towards the now departing Vanessa once more.

     Bambi's approach is carefully watched, the Cajun's eyes following her as she makes her way over to him. He nods with a smile, "Bonjour, Bambi. I'm Remy, and I suppose it all depends on what news I hear from the other femme dat jus' left. Still, feel free to join me while I wait." He looks to the bartender and nods his agreement to buy her a drink, as such happens in these kind of places.

Vanessa Carlysle has posed:
Bambi takes a seat beside Remy. And it doesn't take him long to realize that while she is prone to use commas when she talks, periods are few and far between. The sentences don't really end so much as just keep going into the next topic. Without much pause unless he makes an effort to inject something. Her being high doesn't help.

It isn't all that long though before Vanessa returns, holding her empty tray in one hand. "Hey Bambi," Vanessa says, and an astute observer might notice a bit of sad sympathy for the dancer. Bambi giggles and waves. "Hey Van," she says back.

Vanessa looks to Remy and says, "You're in luck, there is an empty chair. None of the bosses playing today either, which is probably good. They said I can bring you on back if you'd like?" She moves out of the way so he has room to rise if so.

Remy LeBeau has posed:
     Remy attempts to interject once or twice, but by the third time he just smiles and nods as he lets Bambi ramble on and on, sipping slowly at his drink until Vanessa arrives.

     He gives her an almost pleading look to save him from the neverending stream of words that fall from Bambi's lips, and she says that there is a seat the Cajun visibly relaxes at the news. Jumping at the invitation, he nods. "Oui, I'd like that very much."

     He turns to Bambi and gives her a apologetic smile, "Alas, I'm 'fraid it's time for me to do, chere. Merci for de company," he says as he pulls a roll of cash from his pocket and peels off a couple bills to offer over to Bambi in lieu of anything else and gives her a nod, "Do enjoy de rest of your eve."

     He looks again to Vanessa, "After you, petite."

Vanessa Carlysle has posed:
Vanessa waves to Bambi, who doesn't seem upset as she gets up and wanders off looking for someone else to try to convince to hire her for a private dance. Though if she doesn't tight up her verbal game, she might struggle there.

Meanwhile, Vanessa sets her tray on the bar and slips her arms through the bend of Remy's elbow, walking with him towards a door that says "Staff Only" which she leads him through. "It's not a bad group. There's a few bad apples I might steer you away if they were there," she comments.

There is a hallway in back that goes past an office that says "Manager". There's a dressing room for the dancers, with no door so the managers and bouncers can peer in at the girls getting dressed. Pigs. Even the shower stall in there is just cornered with tile at the corner but doesn't have a curtain.

And then a room marked 'storage' which Vanessa opens the door to. It is a storage room, with shelves of boxes and the regular supplies you'd expect in such a place. And also a green poker table with 5 men sitting at it. "Gentleman, this is," she says, turning to look at Remy, not sure of his name.

Remy LeBeau has posed:
     Remy chuckles and nods to Vanessa. "I'm sure. Don' you worry none, I'm am able to take care of myself. Plenty o' experience."

     He winks to the brunette before focusing on where they are going. As they pass the various rooms, Remy looks about, almost as if taking a record of what is where in case he needs to make a hasty exit. He does manage to only glace a quick glance into the dressing room once he realizes what it is.

     As they walk inside the storage room, Remy looks to the others sitting around the table and offers a nod. "Remy LeBeau." He pauses a moment while he watches to see if his name registers with anyone before he continues, "What's the buy in?" he states as he starts to move over towards the open chair, "We playin' stud or hold 'em?"

Vanessa Carlysle has posed:
One of the men at the table is gathering up the cards from the last hand, while another is pulling in and stacking the chips. There is a box nearby that appears to hold the money that people bought chips with. "Hold 'em, and $500 buy in," he says. "Though you're welcome to buy more between hands."

Vanessa smiles and says, "Good luck, Remy." The man seated besides Remy gives Vanessa's ass a squeeze. "Vanessa, get me another beer, would you?" he asks. Vanessa's face stays pleasant, not showing a reaction to the grope. "Sure thing Bill. Anyone else need anything? Remy?" she asks, taking drinking orders. Two other men ask for refills of their drinks too.

Remy LeBeau has posed:
     "Oui, I'll take another drink, Vanessa." Remy says, his eyes flicking from her to the ass grabber and back. If she isn't going to raise a stink, it isn't his place to. At least not yet.

     Remy pulls out the roll of cash and counts out his buy in, sliding the money onto the table towards the center. "Sounds good, gentlemen. Whose deal is it?" As he waits for his chips, he takes another glance over in Vanessa's way, "Chere? May as well keep em comin'"

Vanessa Carlysle has posed:
Remy gets a nod and a smile from Vanessa, and then she departs. One of the guys makes a rather coarse comment, if complimentary, about the waitress. And garners a few laughs and nods of agreement. Though they quickly settle down to cards.

Vanessa returns before long. The sound of the club is mostly muted back here. It very briefly surges a little when she opens the door before swinging it closed behind her. She walks around, setting down the drinks. Two of the men toss a poker chip onto her tray to tip her. Remy's drink is set down before him, and then she pauses to watch a moment and see how the game is going.

Remy LeBeau has posed:
     The night is long, and Remy toys with the other players letting them win a hand here and there, but by the end of the night the Cajun has a nice pile of chips in front of him. He glances up to Vanessa and gives her a bit of a wink as he slides the stack of chips into the center of the table, "I believe I am going to go all in, makin' dis the last hand o' the night. Anyone want to test dere luck?"

     remi leans back, folding his arms over his chest, letting his face go blank as he sips at his drink. He tosses a few chips onto Vanessa's tray, "What do you think, Vanessa? Should I be more cautious wit dis bunch? Too late."

Vanessa Carlysle has posed:
Vanessa Carlysle comes back in, no drinks this time, but instead settling out the tab as she was asked to do on her previous trip to check on them. She takes the credit card slips about for people to sign. "A little extra for you," one of the guys tells her of the tip he wrote onto it, and gives her butt a slap.

She doesn't comment, just turns her eyes to the card table. "I think they've feasted on enough people who sat in that they probably deserve a bit of their own medicine," she says. Which draws some good-natured protestations from the men. For the most part they are an ok bunch as she'd said. Crude about women, but otherwise not bad guys.

One of the men looks at his pile of chips left. "Delores is already gonna make me sleep downstairs," he says, tossing in his cards and folding. He does a quick count to see how mad the wife will be.

Meanwhile one of the other men eyes Remy across the table. "Nope, I don't think you got it," he says, pushing the rest of his pile, which is smaller than Remy's bet, into the middle. "What do you have?"

Remy LeBeau has posed:
     Shaking his head, Remy lets out a small sigh and looks from the pile on the table to the cards in his hand. The jack, queen, and king of spades sits on the table along with a ace of hearts and a king of diamonds. "Looks to me like you might have gotten the best of ol' Remy here. All I have is a pair of aces." Remy lays down the ace of spades, "and this 10." He lays down the 10 of spades, giving him a royal flush. He just looks over at his opponent straight faced, waiting for that to register. "Opps."

Vanessa Carlysle has posed:
The other man throws down his cards in disgust and pushes back from the table a little angrily. One of the other men claps him on the back. "Don't be a sore loser. I mean you -are- a loser, just don't be sore," he says, drawing a laugh from the rest which at least gets an annoyed smirk from the man who has to watch Remy reel in all of the remaining chips.

Vanessa goes over and cashes out the only ones with chips left, which isn't much, then starts counting out all the other bills into stacks for Remy's chips.

"Night," one of the guys says, giving Remy an approving nod, both for his skill at cards, and for his having been fun to have at the table. The rest of the men all follow.

"Here you go," Vanessa says, setting down the stacks of bills, mostly $20s. "To the victor belongs the spoils."

Remy LeBeau has posed:
     Standing with a smile, Remy good naturedly tries to at least be gracious in his winning as he gives a light chuckle. "You get me next time, non, mon ami?" He winks as he gathers things up and sips at his drink as he waits, keeping an eye on everyone as they gather their things to go.

     When it's just him and Vanessa left, he leans against the table and watches as she counts out the pot. He looks down to the stacks of bills, gathering them up and placing the bricks into various pockets.

     "Daat so, chere?" Remy looks over to Vanessa and grins, moving closer to slip an arm around her waist, "Well den, don' mind if I do..." He leans in, slowly, his red and black eyes focused on her as he closes the distance..giving her enough time to protest if she wants, before he closes the gap to press his lips against hers for a moment. Nothing serious and deep, but with the subtle promise there could be more. He lets her go, leaving one of the stacks on the table for her tip. "Merci for the game, petite."

Vanessa Carlysle has posed:
The boldness isn't expected, but Vanessa's response is to slide her arms up around the Cajun's shoulders and return the kiss. "Mmm," she murmurs as he lets her go, stepping away with a bit of red on her cheeks. The unexpectedness of it tickling her apparently.

"Thank you," she says, picking up the money he's left her and slipping it away into a well-crafted pocket in her skirt. "It was nice meeting you, Remy. I hope you stop in again some night," she says, giving him a smile before she heads for the door, holding it for him before they head back to the club proper.