Bartending live

[noteablekiller]

Who: You
Where: The lobby
When: Day 87

[Codex is on camera, speaking to everyone from the lobby, it's obvious he's arranged chairs and set out glasses to facilitate some bar tending]

Did anyone receive fanmail they'd like to respond to? If so, come down to the lobby and use BARiTONES live, we'll be providing free drinks for anyone responding publicly to their mail.

Think of this as a way to encourage the sort of audience engagement you're interested in. I realize fanmail is often... invasive, but I'm sure most of you have fans you wouldn't mind hearing from again.


[You are free to assume you already got a drink from Codex and are sitting down to address mail, or to top level a comment to Codex and he'll respond!]

Comments

[theyregooddogs]

Didn't say that. Got nothing to worry about, Yvette.

[tradesecret]

That's a relief, it would be absolutely terrible if I had a bad reputation I didn't have the pleasure of earning.

[theyregooddogs]

Are you hoping to acquire one? Because I could oblige.

[tradesecret]

No, not at the moment. But thank you for the offer.

[theyregooddogs]

Mm. Did you want something?

[tradesecret]

Just to say hello, mostly. I only know of you in passing from another customer, and the last time Manhattan spoke of you was when his opinion was... [ mmm, looking for the right word ] less than favorable, I guess. I admit, I'm curious if you're doing okay.

[theyregooddogs]

Another customer? Someone from one of your lives, you mean?

[tradesecret]

Yes. I was making custom cocktails inspired by people. I didn't have much to go on, but I did my best.

[theyregooddogs]

Ah, Silver. Sounds like my reputation might have preceded me rather than you.

[tradesecret]

You guessed right! He was... unwilling to give me much. He simply said you were "smart," and left it at that. So I used my own discretion to interpret that.

[theyregooddogs]

Not many people are going to pay to have me included in a cocktail.

[tradesecret]

He mentioned his birthday. And, by my own admission, my first attempt was a complete failure. He didn't have to pay for anything.

But the sentiment of wanting something that was about his unit was always first and foremost.

[theyregooddogs]

Is that your delicate way of feeling around why I switched units?

[tradesecret]

[ firmly, but not offended ]

That's personal, isn't it? You have no obligation to share something like that with a stranger. It's your choice. You need not justify it to anyone.

[theyregooddogs]

Wasn't really planning on it. No one's asked, and I prefer it that way.

[tradesecret]

Then it works out, doesn't it?

[theyregooddogs]

Mmhm.

[tradesecret]

[ ooookay. ]

Would you like another bourbon?

[theyregooddogs]

[there's enough behavioral signs, like avoiding eye contact and irregular speech patterns, to indicate something's amiss; he's not covering it up]

Sure. I don't have class tomorrow.

[tradesecret]

[ serves it with a splash, because someone has to be the responsible adult ]

[theyregooddogs]

[giving her a long hard look, what's with that extra bit]

[tradesecret]

[ it's water, because she's a little too concerned to give him just the alcohol ]

Would you prefer it neat?

[theyregooddogs]

Why are you serving it with water?

[tradesecret]

[ she doesn't explain herself, and taps the glass to convert the last of the water into bourbon. ]

Sorry about that. Better?

[theyregooddogs]

[carefully pushing it back to her]

No. Why?