(1937-09-18) Lions Night Out
Details for Lions Night Out
Summary: Keenan, Edwarlinda and Sloan meet Niamh out at the Natrix for a pleasant evening out. For some, at least! (Magnus shows up a bit later..)
Date: 18 September 1937
Location: Natrix Dance Hall
Related: None
Characters
NiamhEdwarlindaKeenanSloanMagnus

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The Natrix Dance Hall London
Tue Sep 18, 1937 ((Tue Sep 18 22:27:11 2012)) (D,2 NW)


It is a summer night. The weather is warm and overcast.


Formerly a restaurant and bar alone since 1850, this building has been remodeled and updated to also include a large dance floor and bandstand and stage. The restaurant still lives in that the white linen draped round tables positioned around the dance floor are catered to the best Saltimbocca dishes in England. The other regular Italian food fare is also deliciously found on the menus in the center of the table that are crystal plaques engraved and frosted so the lettering sparkles in the dim light making the script easier to read. Silver is used liberal in the decoration, the table legs, the chair legs and backs besides the green tapestry cushions are all silver. The styling beyond that is all very modern art deco. Greens and silvers prevailing. The live orchestra always always has a finger on the pulse of the crowd, they pick up tempo or slow things down with amazing empathy.

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The night is in full swing. The orchestra's tuned up and they're playing some 'big band numbers', and the dancing on the floor is crowded. There are tables now that line the dance floor, candles are lit in the centers of each. The ambiance is such that the gaslights are set low, and it's all rather cosy and intimate.

Nia's not really dressed for the outing, truth be told. It's a classy place, and she's not quite dressed to the 't's, though she's got her make-up and hair done up alright.. alright enough. She's sitting at a table, the plates from a meal-for-two being taken away by a waitress. A smile is given for the waitress, and a quiet, "I think that'll be enough.." as her wineglass does look rather on the full side (still? again?).

After a rather… Interesting night out on the town with Sloan last evening, Eddie demanded that he let her show HIM around tonight. And when Eddie demands something, well, it's fairly hard to say no. She changed after the office but has, so far, hidden the dress beneath a long, dark cloak of midnight elegance. Only her black heels have been clear. She smiles as they step into the place, "I told Keenan to come too. It'll be all of us, the young lions, together again. It's been too bloody long. So, see? This won't be completely miserable!" She insists to Sloan. Then, now inside, she carefully slips off her cloak and hands it to him, "Take this." The gown beneath is barely legal — blood crimson satin that just perches on her shoulders before dipping into a low neckline and an even lower backline — the top of the fabric just barely skimming the small of her back. It moves as she walks but is still made to cling rather close to her frame all the way to her ankles. The only thing that really permits her to dance in the dress is the fact that it's got a slit all the way to her mid-thigh, bearing a long leg clad in sheer black silk stockings.

Taking the coat, Sloan raises an eyebrow as he sees the gown. "Ye look Good Eddie. And I weren't a bloody Lion of any age, Aye? Was jes' th' only man jack in the school that could stand to be 'round ye lot." Despite his words, the usual vehemence wasn't there, so it was likely Sloan's way of saying 'Yeah that would be good.' He himself was dressed in his usual beat up Workboots, Grey slacks held up with a thick leather belt and suspenders, and a Simple white T-shirt, the sleeves stopping mid bicep. Shifting Eddie's coat to one hand, he reaches up to slip the bowler hat from his head

Of half a mind to say 'no', Keenan decided that if Sloan was going, it would be worth shaving up properly just to watch Sloan in a dance parlor. He arrives with his hair smoothly slicked back for once, but has left off such annoying things as ties pinching shoes. His dress shirt is open at the throat, the jacket likewise unbuttoned, and the shoes aren't scuffed, but they are from the patent leather shine most of the 'upper crust' men sport. It doesn't take his eyes long to find that splash of red, and he waves his way over. "Lindy-lass, easy t'find ye as usual. Here mate," he adds, pulling a wrinkled ascot from his pocket and tossing it over. "Ye need ta take it up a notch in a swanky place like this, specially when ye've got such a looker on yer arm."

Nia's gone out earlier with a 'friend' named Sally, and for the last little while, Sally's not been back to the table. As a result, while Nia's not got a lot of room at the table, there is room enough to squeeze in a couple more chairs. The room is crowded enough now that it's hard to discern individuals. That red, however.. and Nia cranes her neck in order to get that positive identification. Once she does, however, she rises from her seat, going on her tippy-toes to see if they can't catch her.

Once Niamh is on her tippy toes, especially with Eddie trying not to look a hint crest fallen at Sloan's reaction to her gown, the blonde bombshell all too easily sees the woman she thought would be meeting them. She first bows her head to Sloan, doing her best to take the less than perfect compliment. "I…I do try. It's worth a night for us to go all out, on occasion…" Then Keenan is there, offering the ascot, and she cannot HELP but laugh a little bit, winking back to Sloan. "I'll not sock Keenan one for callin' me Lindy again, if you put that on. Besides, you'll look quite dapper for Niamh!" And with that, Eddie leans over to quickly kiss Keenan's cheek hullo before sweeping her way across the room to the younger woman. Niamh is closer to being a sister than any of Eddie's blood family and she gobbles the woman up into her arms for a tight, close hug. "Nia! You look wonderful…I do hope we are not too late? The men, you know. Impossible to get them moving!" Of course, Sloan probably waited a good 20 minutes for Eddie to be ready.

Looking at the Ascot as he catches it, Sloan raises an eyebrow as he examines the thing. "Th' name o Jesus the blacksmith is this?" Looking the Ascot over, he shrugs and wraps it around his head like a Pirate Walking next to Keenan he growls just loud enough for the man to hear. "Should make time with Eddie Boyo. Beautiful lass. you aren't a total poofter. be a good match aye?" as they get closer, he nods to Niamh. "Lass."

Keenan smirks at Sloan as he wraps it around his head. "Ye didn't specify where he was ta wear it, an' he's wearin' it. So ye have ta forgive me, lass." He hooks an arm around her waist before she goes to greet his sister and gives her a kiss right next to her ear. "Ye always forgive me anyways," he purrs her in ear before she's off to Niamh. Then he shrugs to Sloan. "Ah, I'm entertainment for her. Someday I'll find me a nice Irish lass an' make my parents an' sisters happy."

As Eddie leads the pack, Nia's smile grows in intensity, and the hug is easily and genuinely returned. "Oh thank goodness," she breathes. "I've been dodging dance requests all night," and she looks to the boys, her expression leaving some doubt, perhaps as to whether or not she's lying! She's not got the 'Eddie style', however.. and there's no question that now, the red-dressed siren will garner all of the stares. "You are looking beautiful.. an absolute picture of perfection." Not wanting to let the other woman go too soon, Nia stands beside her and looks to Sloan first, then Keenan, "'S bells, you lot are a mess. Worse than I am." Nia shakes her head and steps forward to fix Sloan's ascot, ready to fuss with it into place. "You're looking like a right indian brave. Where's the feathers?"

A momentary blue eyed look is tossed back over her shoulder to see if Sloan actually put the thing on and Eddie just coughs out a short laugh, shaking her head. "Bloody hell, Niamh. I don't know why we've put up with these boys for years. Maybe they will grow up some day. When their hair is gray!" But the statement is said with clear amusement and love in her husky voice. Niamh's words only confirm her statement, even as Eddie turns out and remains leaning against Niamh's side, so they are half hugging and painting quite the picture of womanly grace. While Eddie loves the spotlight, she actually enjoys sharing it with the few people in this world she loves. Niamh being one of them. She scoffs and rolls her eyes, "What? This old thing? I bought it last year, I think, it's out of season but… " Her eyes cannot help but slip to Sloan for just a heartbeat and away, "It looks good, I guess. You look lovely. And you should be dancing not dodging their requests!" Then she lets Niamh go so the girl can fix up Sloan. "Sloan, you should take her dancing, you know. She won't get out there otherwise." No. Eddie's not jealous. Not at all. Really trying not to be, at least.

Letting Niamh fuss with the ascot for the space of 5 seconds he finally growls. "Jesus joseph and Mary! is it a scarf or a bloody noose woman!?" Looking back to Eddie, he grunts. "What, in all our long years of association Edwarlinda…makes ye think I know how tae dance? I knows th' Barman's reel an' Th' Devil's waltz. neither of which are like ta be accepted in a posh place as this, aye?"

"Ah, takes the same coordination, Lad," Keenan assures Sloan, after rolling his eyes at Niamh's assessment of his appearance. "Ye bob an' weave. Just in this case, ya take Niamh with ye. Come, Lindy, shall we demonstrate?" he asks, holding out an arm to the red-clad beauty. "I know ye didn't wear that dress tae stand on tha sidelines for the night." He gives an irrepressible wink to his Hogwarts friend, accompanied by a cheeky, dimple bearing grin.

"I know I should be dancing, but it didn't seem right. Now that you're here, though.." to act as moral support? Nia may find her way to the dance floor. As for the men? They're a rag-tag pair, in comparison to their drop-dead gorgeous lady in red! Though now, Nia's got to admit that Keenan does actually clean up well, and she'll offer it grudgingly. Later. "Stand still, Sloan.." and her fingers work their ascot magic such that it settles in place.. and she takes a half-step back to survey her work, and the finished product. "N'bad, and I know for a fact you do. Two words. Gracie. Witherspoon. That dance your fourth year." Nia chuckles and looks to her friend, one that she considers, well, one of the family. One of the Irish family. "He's wearing his workboots. I don't want to be trod upon," comes almost as a pout in answer to her brother. Stepping aside for her brother and virtual sister, she wiggles her fingers. "Now you have fun. I've been introduced to the band leader, and he's a good one. He'll even take requests."

Well, it's sorta how Eddie planned? Except for the fact that Sloan and Niamh aren't dancing. The blonde can't be the perfect social engineer! She looks between the brute and the younger girl, "I think the dances sound fun, Sloan. You could really shake up this place. If you don't take her out there you know I'm going to drag you out there, so that's YOUR decision. But now…I have a perfectly handsome healer people a proper gentleman, for once." She flashes Keenan a smile, slipping her arm into his and letting him spin her out onto the dance floor with smooth, practiced motions. Growing up a Malfoy, she knows practically every dance there should be. She takes being lead, at least on the floor, quite well. Her eyes find Niamh's over Keenan's shoulder, though, and mouths 'Dance with him!' before her blue gaze focuses upon Keenan again and she truly starts the dance. "…Keenan… it's been too long since we've done this." She murmurs softly to him.

Looking at Niamh for a moment Sloan looks around before Grabbing a man in a Tuxedo by the scruff of the neck. Lifting him bodily from his seat, he grunts. "This be Niamh. pretty lass. Great Dancer. keep yer hands kosher, introduce yerself and dance with the lass an I won' be puttin' a kickin to ye, aye?" Taking Niamh's hand, he places it in the strangers, nods once more and heads for the bar.

For a brogue talking Irish man, Keenan knows his dances, and he knows Edwarlinda. "Aye, Lass," he agrees. "Next time I take it into me head ta tread the Amazon for new cures, I give ye leave to club me on the head and chain me to a chair until I've regained my senses. Or… somewhere much more comfortable," he suggests, lowering his voice with a mishievous twinkle to his eyes. At the center of the floor he gives her a spin out the length of his arm, displaying her grace and /that/ dress for the rest of the dancers to see.

As he pulls her back in and turns so he can see how Niamh and Sloan are getting on, he coughs in a most ungentleman like manner. "Niamh bocht!" he sputters. "Lindy, ye don't have a spare room I can stay in tonight, do ye? I won't be hearing the end of this…"

Nia's about to relent, truly.. and she steps forward to reach to take a hold of Sloan's hand when.. she's rejected and another random person in a tuxedo is heaved to his feet and plopped down before her to dance with.. and her hand is placed on the others. Her eyes widen, and her jaw drops in alarm.. and her back straightens. There's a reason why, apparently, Keenan's looking for a place to lay low? "Nil me maith go leor chun tu?" Am I not good enough for ye? She takes her hand from the other gent's, and takes a step back. A look is cast over her shoulder at her brother and Eddie before she stalks off towards the bar, and Sloan. "Well?"

Oh god. Eddie only slightly witnesses the disaster that is about to happen, but she's all the way across the dance floor and quite enjoying Keenan's presence. However, the other couple isn't nearly so happy. She is spun out just in time to catch sight of Niamh stakling off back to the bar with Sloan, and then she's back into Keenan's grasp and cursing softly, "She's going to be right pissed at both of us. And you can always stay, you know that. God, it's just me in that big house. But… Dammit, Sloan… I don't know what to do about that man." And her frustration is down right clear, thoughts still straying to the brute even as she's being so elegantly paraded around the floor with Keenan. Eddie might have a problem, in truth. "We… when this song is over, we have to make it up to her. Make this night for her. The poor girl…"

Raising an eyebrow, Sloan grunts. "The 'ell?" Tapping 2 fingers on the bar, he grunts. "Whiskey. th' good stuff." before he looks back to Niamh. "Ye're fine Lass. 'tis th other way around. ye're here is yer finery and fripperie, an here's me dressed like he's headed to th'mill. I dinna know how tae dance. haven't done such since 4th year and I'd break yer toes."

As Niamh's Irish sputters out angrily, Keenan cracks a grin again, and continues to lead Eddie on. Dancing, that is. "Second thought, at this point, I feel sorry for Sloan. Just let her work it out, yeah? She has a way with words." Another grin, and his arm gives a little squeeze around her waist, encouraging her to enjoy the rest of the song with him.

"An' it was ye I was gonna dance with. Like I care you'll tread on my toes? Keen'll heal 'em fine." Nia's trying hard not to make it a scene, and she shakes her head, keeping her voice lower, but no less intense. There's no smile there, and her eyes are wide still, trying to work out the rejection still. 'It's not you, it's me' is still such a bad excuse. "Nl me ag dul chun impigh t le haghaidh rince." I'm not going to beg you for a dance. Nia shakes her head and begins to walk back to the table, her jaw set. "Biodh nach damhsa tu riamh i cosa lom?" Haven't you ever danced in bare feet? "An' I certainly won't take a dance after you're two sheets."

For the moment, Eddie does her best to focus on her dance partner and not his poor, heart aching sister. Never really good at the courting thing with keenan, the pair are truly good friends. She's happy to dance with him, comfortable and relaxed. No need to pretend or put on heirs as she sinks into pressing a bit closer, the dance slowing a touch. She fits against him, it all looks perfectly natural and dashing, really. Elegant lady, suited gentleman, bodies perfectly timed. She murmurs against his cheek as they move, "Yes, she's a grown woman now…Still doesn't mean we don't care for her. I know you worry. I do too, Keenan…" But she's with him. She takes a breath of his scent and shuts her eyes a moment. "I'm glad you came… None of us do this enough."

Cursing softly under his breath in gaelic, and even a bit of Troll, but he points at the bartender as the man arrives with ths whiskey, his finger shaking with barely repressed frustration. "You….keep tha' handy." Turning back to Niamh, bows low, offering his hand as he growls in Gaelic ~Do me the honor of a dance?~ he even managed to keep it expletive free.

Keenan's grin turns to a downright smirk as he notes Sloan being bludgeoned by Niamh's sense of wounded honor into dancing. "I don't think we have to worry too much about her," he says. "She's tried ta break ma pate enough times when I 'worry' about her, and she'll remind she's a grown woman." He gives a shrug as he dodges a couple being led by a rather clumsy young man. "She won't get it through that thick, curly pated head o'hers that she'll always be me little sister. However…" and he pulls Eddie a little closer. "Play yer cards right tanight, an' I might even be moved t'escort ye home, Lindy-lass." Then he winks and gives a small flourish of a twist to let go of her and bow at the conclusion of the music.

Nia puts her hands on her hips as she turns to face him as he bows. She can tell that this is decidedly under duress.. and she looks around for a young, small girl to grab and put in Sloan's way. It'd serve him right! "Leavin' yer whiskey? When did I rate that?" A hand is drawn from her hip to run through her curled hair that falls down her back. She relents enough, however, in that she steps forward and takes his hand, "At least y'didn't take the Good Lord's name in vain," again "…this time." Which constitutes 'nicely'.

A husky laugh catches Eddie's lips at Keenan's promise about later tonight. She shakes her head, "Knowing you, I'll have to carry your drunken behind home and then get myself back all alone! Keep off the fire whiskey and maybe. Maybe." The blonde affirms with him before giving him an elegant, dipping curtsey as their dance is finished. Just as Sloan and Niamh are going for their first. She slips her arm back through Keenan's grasp and lets him escort her back towards the bar, "However… I would like a firewhiskey. Or two. I'm still tasting the damned gin from last night. Sloan took me to this wonderful place. It smelled like fish and was so deliciously dirty!"

Taking Niamh's hand and leading her towards the dance floor, Sloan does in deed kick off his boots on the way. revealing he's wearing a pair of wool socks. or rather .5 of a pair of wool socks as his foot sticks through the end of ons to the arch of his foot. at least his feet were clean. Facing Niamh on the dancefloor, he grunts. "Ye were warned. aye?"

There's a chuckle from Keenan as he tips his head towards the bar, inquiring if she wants a drink. "If I remember correctly, it was ye who ordered the double firewhiskeys an' keep 'em coming last time we were out. An' then ye decided ye'd rather snuggle up to a Quidditch player than your poor, old, friend Keenan." If she indicates drinks are in order, he'll offer his arm to escort her properly, and he will have firewhiskey.

"Well now, if you trod on my toes, it won't hurt so much," Nia mumbles, but the sting of rejection is fading, though it will be a sore point for some time. She faces her partner on the floor at the end of the song, and now as Eddie and Keen depart, her mouth drops open again. Maybe she should consider sitting at the bar and having a few whiskeys? "Aye, I was warned." Placing her hands in his, she waits for the band to strike up, and once they do, she makes the attempt to settle in and follow. However, following a man who hasn't quite gotten the whole 'dancing thing' down can be tricky, if not problematic!

"I did no such thing… or, well, no snuggling up to the Quidditch player that night! He went home perfectly alone, as did I! You're the one who left me at the damned bar that night! I should still be pissed at you for that, you know?" Eddie asks with a huff as she smoothly pays for both their drinks, two double firewhiskies because really, that's generally how their nights begin. No wonder the pair can never end them properly. She scoops up both drinks and heads back with him to the table, still walking as gracefully and elegant as ever. But then, she hasn't had booze yet. Her eyes momentarily trail towards Niamh and Sloan, a wry grin crossing her lips. "This should be worth the show… I hope you don't have to do too much repair on Niamh's poor toes."

It turns out Sloan isn't a terrible dancer. He'll never win any prizes but he generally keeps his feet to himself and Niamh's feet turn out to be perfectly safe. unfortunately, a man dancing next to them does get ~his~ toes trod on, and another gets a heel to the shin at some point. but Niamh comes out physically unscathed. "S'been awhile lass. how ye been keeping?"

Keenan chuckles, a hand to the bare small of her back 'guiding' her back to their table. "Any other bloke, an' ye would still be mad at them," he tells her, quite sure of himself. "But this is me, an' ye just can't stay mad at me." He settles into a seat next to her, once he has her settled at their table and turns his eyes to the dance floor. "Ah, it's not Niamh I'm worrying about, certain sure," he mentions, a nod of his head indicating the man hopping about for a couple of steps when Sloan's heel comes in contact with his shin.

It's been a long while, for many things. Nia's known all along that Sloan's not that bad of a dancer (how did she know about Grace if Sloan didn't tell her? Why, Gracie did!), and to let him make excuses on that? Nope. Not going to accept that. Nia resists the urge to lean against her partner; both for the preservation of her toes (which are coming out unscathed) and for the fit of pique that she still finds herself in. "It has, Sloan. An' I've been keepin'. Shop's well.. an' I've got a good order of potions in t'fill. Mum and da are well, and they do ask after ye. 'Specially da. Mum knows yer well fed. Da wants to be sure you're outta trouble."

The tumbler of firewhisky, silly slightly smoking, is slid in Keenan's direction and Eddie takes up her glass between her fingertips. She's not knocking it back like a shot tonight, though. Apparently, some part of her wants to stay sober. Or perhaps her stomach is still slightly off from the bath tub gin of the night before. She takes a small sip of the glass and considers Keenan for a few heartbeats, trying to keep her eyes off the dancefloor and the not-too-clumsy couple. "Mm…No. You put me together rather too precisely when I manage to fall apart. So. You get forgiveness." She watches his eyes quietly, as he focuses on the dancefloor and she on him. A quiet sigh escapes her lips, something unsettled in Eddie tonight.

Edwarlinda says, "You know… Sloan would be good for her. And she for him. She'd clean him up a bit without being… entirely insane. He'd be able to protect her."

snorting softly, Sloan shakes his head as he continues to dance, accidentally hooking the foot of another man behind him and sending the man sprawling. "I keep. and it be me job tae find trouble Niamh. s'what I do, Aye? Knocker an' me are a bit useless unless something is going on."

Keenan turns to meet Eddie's gaze when she discusses Sloan and Niamh, but he quirks an eyebrow instead of commenting. He, too, has been treating his firewhiskey with a little more respect, although it is due more to the fact that they are not at his favorite pub seeing who can toss back more. "Course I put ye back together, lass. Ye always get ma best… an' Sloan. Although he likes to challenge me a little more."

"There's a big difference between 'trouble' and the kind da's worried for." Nia shakes her head, and exhales in a soft breath as she rolls her head forward. She does lift it once again, and this time, there's something of a soft smile. "An' you know that." The band is beginning to wind down the song, and perhaps luckily for those that are around the pair on the floor, too. She looks towards the bar again, her voice low, "I've kept y'from your whiskey long enough." Finally, she turns her head to search briefly for her brother and best friend, and continues, "An' they're probably up to no good."

Looking towards Keenan and Eddie, Sloan nods, hesitating for only a moment before replying. "Aye. riffraff the pairin o' them. Tell yer Da that I'm in no more trouble than when I was here for me summers away from school, an when he's done having a coniption about that, tell him that maybe I'm not in quite so much." He actually offers his arm to her as he leads her back to teh edge of the dancefloor, and chiefly, back towards his boots.

Edwarlinda cocks a single brow in Keenan's direction, head tilting to the side, an amused grin dancing over her lips which are as red as her dress. "…Is that a challenge? I'm certain I can come back from my next dark wizard capture in more than one piece. See truly what kind of work you can do!" Eddie offers that with a warm laugh, clearly joking. While she's taken wounds in the past, it's never been anything truly serious. Her hang overs are more dangerous than her job! Except on the nights they aren't. She's just been lucky. She takes another sip of her whiskey and sinks back in the chair, legs crossing, that slit doing lovely things to show her stockings now.

Keenan hears the band wind down, and turns back to the floor to watch Sloan and Niamh wind down as well. "Well, she seems ta'ave forgiven him somewhat," he muses. "It might actually be safe ta go back ta the flat. But, then again," he winks across to Eddie. "I may want to play it safe. If ye can keep from gettin' too drunk and passing out before we walk up those infernal grand entrance steps o'yers." He finishes his drink, and gives a grimace. "Ye've always been a contrary lass, an' never could pass up a challenge…" he teases in reply. "Eh, Niamh, none o' the others are goin' to be demanding that I repair them for free after yer dance with Boitille, are they?"

"He'll love t'hear that," comes out a touch on the sarcastic side. It's not biting, however.. everyone knows how much da looooooves London. Not. "But now that you're puttin' me in harm's way for the passing on the message, I'll call it one you owe me." and Nia has a mind like a steel trap when it comes to such things. Taking his arm at the offer, it's not so much 'forgiveness' as 'overlooking for the moment'. The sting'll be there for a bit.. and god help anyone that tweaks that injury! They stop by the side to retrieve the boots, not that anyone would touch them, and it's back to the bar, Nia assumes, for that whiskey. She's been drinking wine all evening, and she's just about done. "Keen.. Lindy.. No.. not a soul would dare complain he was trod on by our Boitille. But, I may actually need t'head home. I've got a couple of pieces that need lookin' in on before I turn in. An' as much as I'd like to test my hangover solutions on the morrow, I probably shouldn't."

A tall, thin, elegantly dressed man enters the dance hall. Magnus looks around in a cursory manner just to see if there's anyone he recognizes immediately in his view; there isn't, so he doesn't waste any time heading to the bar, his long legs crossing the space between in a rapid advance that almost matches the beat of the dying music. He leans over the bar and raps his knuckles on it to gain the tender's attention, then offers a polite smile once he's acknowledged. "Cognac, please. No rocks." The man waits patiently in place, although a pair of dancers returning from the floor catch his eye. His grey eyes widen slightly when he recognizes Niamh from the apothecary shop, and he curses under his breath, then steps into the most shadowy part of the bar and remains there to avoid drawing attention to himself.

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