A Rose By Any Name

Sol would pick something out of a bowl on the counter- which a quick glance would reveal to be woodchips of a sort. He'd flick it up and "swallow" it, the woodchip almost instantly incinerating in the depths of his flames. Sol waited a moment while the others looked out the menu, turning to Facade as he asked if they'd been in Jump for long. How long was it now? Not too long. He simply shook his head for a moment. Sol briefly considered for a moment whether or not he should call in some of his employees... not that he expected to be too busy with the weather. He really had gotten spoiled with employees but wasn't new to running the place himself.

"...ha ouh... oo?" Sol clearly asked something, bits of his native tongue filling in the blanks for Nameless to know he was asking what about you? You being both of them.

Facade watched with awe as Sol consumed the wood chips, pleasantly fascinated by the odd display. It appeared that the fire man did not speak English either, but he understood well enough about the inquiry. “Been here for a handful of months,” he replied, placing the menu flat on the counter and taking a seat. “And already, so much has happened! If my colleague is correct, crazy things seem to happen all the time here in Jump. Lovely to be in a relaxing spot for once.”

He looked to the nameless girl, curious as to what she might do next. Whether she could speak or not was still up for debate, but it appeared that words weren’t necessary for a conversation. Facade looked forward to getting to know his new friends better.

Sol nodded to Facade. A lot of things HAD happened. They moved here, opened up- he discovered that atleast one of the half-demons he thought of earlier already lived here. Than the others found out where he lived, then there was a giant skeleton attack- then a grumpy man lost to modern time had been here. Oh, and then there was the occupation. Then there was all of this snow, and just recently news about the occupation being over more or less. This was quite the busy city. He glanced at the girl whose name he still didn't know, not sure what to make of her response. Two? What did that mean? Or was she making that human peace sign? There were too many questions so his eyes' shape contoured slightly as one would when they smiled.

Then Daniella seemed to just... appear out of thin air by Sol. "So who's having what? Have you guys looked at the menu even?" Daniella said making a face. "I helped by the way!" She added as Sol's head twisted at an inhuman angle. Sol made rasping flame sounds which amounted to, "you know I don't like when you use your magic around strangers."

"Only he's strange. But pretty lady looks like-" Daniella started to respond before Sol hastily waved a hand around to signify she shouldn't finish her sentence. Regardless of their shared species, Sol would respect their privacy. He also didn't want one of them to become cross with him, she could be quite spiteful. "Oh- right... so whatt'ya buyin'?" Daniella asked in as gruff a voice as she could muster. Barely being able to see over the counter didn't help.

Looking through the menu, Facade decided to go with his gut and placed an order. “I’ll have your half-rack of ribs and a beer to go with it,” he began, "whatever kind you suggest will do, thank you.” It had been ages since he had eaten anywhere but home, let alone something as… casual as bar food. In fact, the last time he ate at a bar was in the ’90's… the 1890’s to be exact, back when he was a teenager in Germany. Bars had only began to serve food, so it wasn’t very good. Liev imagined this would be different.

Placing the menu back on the counter and leaning his parasol against the stool, Facade craned his neck to look around and gasped in delight as his golden eyes caught sight of an old jukebox. “Wunderbar!” he exclaimed, pressing his fingers together in excitement. “Meine liebe, musik!” Rushing over to the device and giggling to himself, Liev fished through his pockets for a quarter, found one, and placed it in the machine.

The first lines of Journey’s ’Don’t Stop Believing’ crooned from the device, filling the room with Steve Perry’s distinctive voice. “Just a small town girl, livin’ in a lonely world…” Liev sang along unabashedly, and extraordinarily well at that. His rich baritone matched with the lead singer’s unique tenor range. Today was a good day to be trained in music.

Sol would nod to Facade, and after a brief exchange of checking his ID, Sol would get some tongs and bring out a bottle of beer from a popular brand. He'd then set about starting to cook, leaving Daniella with "she who was mute." "What about you?... uh, we never got your name," Daniella said after realization, not at all picking up what the nameless girl was hoping for. After what was probably a moment of- not silence due to the Jukebox now playing, Daniella looked more confused. "What's wrong? Cat got your tongue?" Daniella stuck her tongue out teasingly.

Sol rasped something which amounted to just saying Daniella's name, followed by asking for her to pass him something. Daniella went over to a cupboard behind the counter and came out with what looked like some spices. Then she returned to having a staring contest with the nameless demoness... when suddenly...

A Steve somewhere sneezed.

After a short time later, Sol would be done with Facade's meal and set it down for him. Looking at The Nameless One expectantly. He was clearly seeing if she wanted something. "I recommend the grilled sandwich," Daniella offered, to which Sol blinked with confusion for a moment before understanding. He'd start to work on it anyway...

Thrilled to have found on of his favorite songs on the Jukebox, Facade returned to his seat with a smile on his face. It wasn’t long before his meal was ready, and suddenly found himself hungry. Reaching behind his neck, he unfastened a clasp and collapsed his ruffled collar like an accordion, placing the fanciful array of fabric well away from the food and away from harm. Next, he tucked a napkin in the top of his shirt and proceeded to separate a rib from the rack.

‘Don’t stop believin, hold on to that feelin’ rang the chorus as he ate politely as possible with finger food, reaching for the beer and listening to Daniella’s conversation with the as-of-yet-named girl. Would she give them a name, or continue in her silence? Either way, Facade was content. Sol certainly had a knack for grilling, leading the shapeshifter to make a mental note of coming back to the bar when in need of good food and good company.

"Water? You sure? We also have soda- if Sol's okay with that I mean," Daniella offered, looking over her shoulder back at Sol busy making The Nameless One a grilled sandwich. He gave her a thumbs up and so Daniella checked what they had, and filled a glass of some kind of soda for The Nameless One. "On the house. That goes for you too Funny Man- err but yours is more expensive..." Daniella continued when math caught up with her. The grilled sandwiches were cheaper than a rack of ribs is all she knew, same with the beer. Again Sol offered a thumbs up. They were a popular place and weren't quite hurtinhg for money, though if this weather continued that'd have to change. "And you need a name..." Daniella said to The Nameless One, who she had caught on that she couldn't speak.

Sol flipped over the sandwich he was working on. Such epic action!

"How about Rose?" Daniella suggested, referring to her eyes. Sol would be finished again and set down a plate of a tasty looking grilled sandwhich, composed of two sliced pieces of meat and cheese tucked between two lightly toasted pieces of bread. He'd glance over to Facade as if seeing how he liked the food.

Facade listened intently as Daniella proposed the name “Rose” to the speechless one. He liked that name, and it fit the color of her eyes as well. He had known many ‘Roses’ in his time, but not one with horns. It only hit him then at how odd an individual the girl truly was. Someone without a name, without an identity… such a fascinating concept. Between bites, he mused, imagining what it would like to have a clean slate like that. Be whoever you wanted to be, start off new. At the same time, one could feel lost in such a big world. Such an enormous responsibility, with few friends. Being a shapeshifter had its perks when it came to assuming new identities, but it was as Facade would often say, “you can fool everyone that you are someone you’re not, except yourself.” A lesson he learned well again and again.

He noticed the girl’s trepidation when it came to ordering food and could not help but frown when she pointed to the water. Thankfully, Sol seemed to be ahead of him by making a grilled sandwich for her. But when Daniella mentioned that the food was on the house, Facade had to protest. “Oh no, I couldn’t,” he noted. “Please allow me to pay. Wouldn’t be alright to accept such great cuisine for free.” After moving in to Jump City, the German may have very well dethroned Elisabeth Delacroix as the richest resident, although you would never guess by his simple way of life. Well… as simple as he made it appear.

"You sure? We don't mind- since your the first ones here and all. Should that be a promotional thing? I mean once the snow lets up," Daniel said looking up at Sol for a moment.

Sol rasped something which to 'Rose' would come off as, "You've been talking with Diana again; haven't you?"

"No, was just some advice about always looking for opportunities," Daniella admitted, smiling as Rose enjoyed her sandwhich.

And then some customers came in. Some small, strange and familiar ones. It be Steves! They all looked like little arctic explorers, dressed in different colors. There was a red one, a yellow one, and a green one. In addition to the travel packs each wore, the red one had a little flag that it waved around. "Oh! It's those little guys from karaoke!" Daniella said, her smile widening with glee. Sol had a slightly different reaction and looked displeased. He remembered that night when a horde of them took over his bar.

The Red clad Steve turned to his fellow Steves and started making incomprehensible Steve Sounds- which Rose would understand perfectly as, "Here, we have arrived at Lord Hotman's bar- the name of which was clearly above the door for those of you not paying attention." The Green clad Steve looked back at the door, then turned back around. He made Steve Sounds. "Did we lose Blue?" Little ? marks briefly appearing over his head. Rose would also be able to understand all of the following Steve Sounds.

"I'm hungry," yellow Steve cut in rubbing his belly.

"Eating is not permitted on the tour, still much to see and do," Red Steve Steved.

"Like eating?"

"Wait- wasn't there also Purple and Orange?" Yellow and Green Steve continued. Red Steve bapped them both on the head with his flag.

"Probably captured by The Snow Troupers. Now bask in the scenery and- oh, hello pretty miss," Red Steved, turning around and noticing Rose for the first time. He had been quite distracted trying to show the other Steves around. Why was he doing this at all? Very good question, and one that probably had an answer to it.

"You little dudes buying something?" Daniella interupted the Steve banter.

"Hello pretty lady with horns! Do you want some chips with your sandwhich?" Yellow Steved as he pulled out a bag of Cheeze-Its from his backpack. Green hid behind Yellow and waved at Rose.

"I said eating is not permitted on the tour!" Red Steved loudly and bapped Yellow on the head again.

"I wasn't! I was offering!" Yellow argued irrately.

"Uh guys," Green meekly Steved.

"I'm confiscating this until designated snacking time," Red said grabbing the bag of snackfood. Yellow made a higher pitch Steve sound which was... basically just yelling before he dove into Red. Squeaks and honks ensued as the pair Steve Slapboxed. Sol casually walked out from behind the bar, picking up the two Steves from the ground, and calmly took them outside. Green didn't want to be left alone with a bunch of strangers and hastily followed after them as Sol made his way back inside, the muffled sounds of Steve honks and squeaks lost in the music that was probably still playing.

"Aww... they weren't going to do any harm. I think the yellow one wanted to share his snacks," Daniella remarked with a pout.

Sol rasped something akin to, "Red was too 'hotheaded' for my liking." Daniella blinked and then snorted with laughter. "Do you know what those things are Funny Man?" Daniella asked Facade curiously, as he said he had been here a handful of months. That was longer than them, who had probably been here a fingerful of a month- not that this was an accurate system of time keeping.

‘Did I just have a stroke?’ Facade blinked, not sure what just happened unless Sol had slipped something into his food or drink. A handful of the very… things at the cent abruptly went as soon as they came. Steves. Yes, he knew of them, but only by proxy; Rapture had warned him about them and apparently did not like them one bit. They had been a cute oddity at first, just a passing quirk and yet somehow had solidified themselves as mainstays for some odd reason. The spiky-headed girl had noted that they might be involved with the snow somehow, but an attempt to get to the bottom of the matter had been thwarted when one of the inquisitors had suddenly bowed out without explanation, effectively giving his colleagues the cold shoulder in more than one way. Facade did not have a personal take on the creatures and aimed to give them a fair pass, but there was something about the lifeless eyes from beneath white masks that put him off.

“They’re called ‘Steves,’” Facade answered Daniella. “I know of them, but not much about them. However, I do know someone who is hoping that they’re not here to stay.”