Riley Sorsa
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Presence (3) Captivating | SL(1) Stylish Mantle (2)Spring | Status(1) Entertainment
Posts: 913
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Post by Riley Sorsa on Nov 24, 2020 12:55:37 GMT -8
JOIN US! 90’S DANCE PARTY
@ THE SALT BAR.
Riley should have been working this evening they were on the schedule over at The Crazy Horse. But when the notification from Salt Bar hit their phone, plans swiftly changed. The draw of good drinks, one of their favorite queer bars, beautiful people, and dancing to nostalgic 90’s music was too good to pass up, much to Marco in bookings frustration. Sure there was a cancelation fee, but you don't get a 90's every night...just monthly.
The Darkling had not come prepared for a 90’s night but made do with the options they had in their work bags. Dawning a black blazer jacket, with a sequined crop top underneath, simple black choker, and straight-legged baggy blue jeans. Their hair was pulled back by their golden hairnettle which this evening mask took the shape of a sequined scrunchy. Riley's eyes were decorated with an emerald Smokey eye and added some black stars along their cheeks using lipstick (it's all they had). It wasn't perfect for the 90’s but enough to pass for the evenings event.
Emerging from the single-occupancy bathroom, the moth fluttered their way through the crowd towards the bar. The darkness of the bar was split by the rotating dance floor lights and the several large screens that displayed the current song's classic music video. The air smelt of sweat and alcohol, and there was that undeniable sensation of glamour. Riley glanced across the gathering of people, over half of which never lived in the ’90s. Not that Riley could judge, they hardly had memories of those years.
Stopping by the bar, Riley ordered a cold beer and leaned to look back at the party. Currently on the screens was a strange music video, were those maids licking a coffin, is that guy with the pointy ear wearing a fur coat supposed to be a werewolf? They smirked in amusement.
Music, Glamour, dancing and drinks. Skipping work was the right idea.
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Linden
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Presence (3) Steady
Posts: 325
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Post by Linden on Nov 27, 2020 18:37:29 GMT -8
For a lot of people, the idea of going to the place they work on their own time was unthinkable. Linden had had their fair share of jobs like that in the past, but one of the things that had drawn them to Salt Bar in the first place was the feeling of community. It just felt so good to step into the building and have their own cues recognized, to have a place where they were not only understood, but attractive. They didn't necessarily want the attraction to be acted on, or even explicitly expressed, but just feeling the eyes as they stepped out of spaces for cis/heterosexual beauty standards and into somewhere queer was a bit of a buzz.
The sensation didn't come when they were working, that had to be all business to satisfy the Ogre's sense of dignity. But on nights like these, the middle of their weekend, it came pouring in. Linden's interpretation of 90's night stayed casual but classic: white t-shirt with the shoulders rolled, jeans, and an old plaid tied around their hips. The pants had seen better days but the t-shirt was immaculate, straight from a generic pack they'd picked up the last time they needed clothes.
It wasn't hard to spot Riley lounging at the bar, the moth was distinctive even on a night like this. Sharing waves and shouted greetings with a few familiar faces, Linden made their way through the bar to plop down on a stool beside the Darkling and do a slow turn, placing their elbow on the bar. "Fancy meeting you here." Their grin, goofier than flirtatious, was interrupted by the bartender, Reese. By the end of a quick catch-up chat, Riley's beer and Linden's whiskey stood before them as Reese blew them a kiss and turned to serve someone else.
"You been here long?"
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Riley Sorsa
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Presence (3) Captivating | SL(1) Stylish Mantle (2)Spring | Status(1) Entertainment
Posts: 913
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Post by Riley Sorsa on Nov 27, 2020 20:17:55 GMT -8
"Thaaanks Reese" Riley said with a grin before miming catching the blown kiss. Raising their beer they smiled at Linden.
"Half expected you on duty tonight given the crowd"
They took a sip gazing out towards the crowd on the dance floor of varying ages. Riley glanced back to the metal laced ogre and waved them to follow towards a table with high stools off to the side of the dancing.
" I just got in actually...sort of a last-minute change of plans"
The moth sat down crossing their legs and leaning on the tall round table.
"Hey, Do you remember the 90's much," The darkling asked glancing towards the screens.
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Firebringer
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Elemental Ifrit, Presence 3 (Intimidating)
Posts: 634
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Post by Firebringer on Nov 28, 2020 19:55:47 GMT -8
Oh shit. A 90s night? Fuck yeah. Not that Danica really remembers much of the 90s, after all, the girl was born just before the turn of the millennium. She arrives in a black, off the shoulder crop top sweater with a black leotard underneath. Over top of the leotard is a black mini-skirt and black tights.
Her makeup is standard black eyeshadow, clearly applied with a finger and possibly some black lipstick to make it slightly more slick looking on the eyelid. She wore black arm bands and bracelets, multiple earrings along her ear, most fake, but not noticeably, and a black velvet choker. Her wiry flame hair has been parted down the middle and done as sleek as she could get it.
All together, she looked like the stereotypical 90s and honestly, early 00's goth.
She strolls up to the bar to get herself a shot of whiskey. She was going to need it for all this socializing. It was amazing she even had tonight off. Then again, she'd worked the last week every night, so... That is what it is.
From across the bar she sees Riley and that Ogre dude she'd seen before. At first, she isn't ready to go over and say high just yet. She needed at least a shot. She orders one from the bar and immediately downs it before waving over at Riley and the other dude. "Hey there. How's it hangin'?"
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Linden
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Presence (3) Steady
Posts: 325
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Post by Linden on Nov 29, 2020 20:36:16 GMT -8
At the table, Linden pursed their lips and sank onto a stool. "Mostly I remember being obsessed with grunge. I lost my mind when our town finally got a place that sold CDs, we'd been recording songs from the radio onto tapes before that. You can imagine the sound quality." A nostalgic look touched the Ogre's face. Whiskey glass held tenderly between their palms, they looked past Riley and tried to think of something worth mentioning. "At this point most of my memories are pretty vague, I just get the impression that it was bright- like, colorful plastic, sour candy, neon clothes... bright in an overwhelming way." They chuckled, looking back to the moth. "Guess I don't really remember the 90's, huh?"
They couldn't really be sure, but the Ogre thought that they didn't remember much of the 90's because there wasn't much good about them to remember, in their case. It had a weird, tough time and they'd rather think about grunge and snap bracelets.
The smell of Firebringer's mantle caught Linden's attention before her words. Their nostrils flared briefly, eyes doing a customary scan of the room before they realized the smokiness came from their fellow Summer. For a split second the Ogre's full attention was on her, and then they smacked a spot near them on the tabletop. "Hey, pull up a stool. I'm Linden, they/them." If there was anyone in the building who couldn't handle a pronoun introduction, they might be in the wrong bar. And if they were, the sooner they realized the better. Gesturing to Riley, they added, "We were just swapping memories about the 90's. Any good ones?" Linden looked between the Elemental and Riley, giving their eyebrows a jaunty wiggle.
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Riley Sorsa
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Presence (3) Captivating | SL(1) Stylish Mantle (2)Spring | Status(1) Entertainment
Posts: 913
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Post by Riley Sorsa on Nov 29, 2020 21:30:34 GMT -8
Riley chuckled at Linden's story. Grunge, yeah that seemed right for Linden. The Wisp lifted their beer glass taking a sip before noticing Fire, a smile crossed their Lips at the approach of the elemental.
"Hey Danica, pull up a seat. Like the look by the way."
Pivoting the conversation to the Ogre.
"That tracks, something about you and the grunge scene seems right. What bands by the way?"
Riley lingered on the thoughts of the '90s painfully trying to pull any semblance of memory from the time.
"Honestly, most of the time in the 90's I recall was church. Though I do remember the seats on buses with weird blue and purple squiggly patterns " Riley makes a zigzag with their hand trying to paint a picture of it.
"Oh, and those weird digital pet watches...what were those called?"
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Firebringer
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Elemental Ifrit, Presence 3 (Intimidating)
Posts: 634
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Post by Firebringer on Dec 2, 2020 21:22:54 GMT -8
The Elemental gets her surprise concoction from the bar and makes her way over, maybe a little nervous, but she wears a smile. The moment she feels the summer mantle, she immediately feels better.
"Hey, Linden. I'm Danica, she/her. Nice to meet'cha!" She sits down at their table with a big grin. "Dang, Riley you look great." She smiles, tucking her fiery, wiry hair behind her ear.
"Tamagotchis!" She exclaims excitedly, "Man. I loved those things. Played with them in the desk at school constantly." She laughs. "They always died on me and it was the absolute worst."
"Hmm, other good things from the 90s. Well, the best goth attire in existence and The Nightmare Before Christmas."
She wasn't going to reveal that she was born in 1996. She doesn't remember jack about the 90s.
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Linden
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Presence (3) Steady
Posts: 325
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Post by Linden on Dec 6, 2020 21:26:55 GMT -8
"Oh, who wasn't in love with Kurt Cobain? Even the way he dressed... it meant so much to me." They shrugged, a little sheepish. "But yeah, Nirvana, The Gits, Dickless, Babes in Toyland... well but maybe they're punk, I'm not totally solid on where genres break down. If it was sad and loud about it, I was there."
Linden's eyebrows knit, trying to remember Tamogotchis, and when it just wouldn't come to them, let the topic drop without revealing their ignorance.
"Some of the goth hair in the 90's was incredible... the clothes were good too, but I just remember seeing these girls at the Greyhound station with like... big, feral hair." 'Feral' was intoned with something like reverence, clearly a memory that still impressed the Ogre. "Never understood how to have that much hair, let alone make it look like anything."
Scratching their bicep absently, Linden's face was thoughtful. "Church, huh? You miss that?"
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Riley Sorsa
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Presence (3) Captivating | SL(1) Stylish Mantle (2)Spring | Status(1) Entertainment
Posts: 913
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Post by Riley Sorsa on Dec 6, 2020 22:04:49 GMT -8
"Thanks, sweetie, it was a last-minute look but...I think it worked." They said resting their chin on their back of their hand like a table. Riley turned their nose to the air playfully, before letting out a chuckle.
"Wish I had a goth phase. and yeah Cobain! I didn't get to hear him till high school. Late the game. Imagine my surprise after I learned he had...Klck Kick" They gave the motion of pumping a shotgun with the clicking sound. A joke in a bit of poor taste.
" I was devastated. Over 10 years late, but still devastated." Riley took a sip of their poor beer and chuckled at Linden's reflection on feral hair.
"It takes a lot of effort having that long of hair. I use to have hair on my mid-back. More work than it's worth and also told the wrong story."
They laugh running their free hand through their hair at the thought.
"Don't miss the whole church thing. It was more my folk's thing, and honestly wasn't good for our relationship. "
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Firebringer
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Elemental Ifrit, Presence 3 (Intimidating)
Posts: 634
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Post by Firebringer on Dec 9, 2020 9:48:36 GMT -8
Danica nods, "That was a damn shame about Kurt. His music inspired the freaking masses," Taking a lot sip of her drink, she shivers a little bit from the bit of burn. It was a good burn, though not the kind she usually likes.
"Hair teased up to the max, making my hair look tame and proper. Urgh, beautiful." They really were though. She can't help but fluff up her hair a little bit. Given it's hard to tame nature, when she fluffs it, it just stays in the wild position.
"I could see how that would make you feel that way, Riley," Given their relationship with gender, that more than makes sense.
"Church was terrifying. Or maybe my family's was. Holy crap." And of course, those who often go to the more repentance inclined churches, there tends to be more guilt involved. "Was beyond glad when I got away from that."
"TV shows back then weren't half bad either. Though, in terms of movies, the 90s ain't got nothin' on the 80s." She's from Baltimore and thus she doesn't have that much of an obvious accent, but she sure does use a lot of southern contractions. "I mean, they had Gremlins. You can't beat Gremlins."
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Linden
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Presence (3) Steady
Posts: 325
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Post by Linden on Dec 17, 2020 19:51:04 GMT -8
An odd expression flickered over Linden's face at Riley's joke about the singer's suicide, as if they couldn't quite figure out what to do with their face. Their jaw clenched, and relaxed as they let whatever it was go. The moth's gesture has been tasteless, but it would take longer than this moment for the Ogre to identify just what about it had needled them.
Letting the conversation slide on around them, Linden took another sip of their drink and dove back in. "Gremlins?! That's your- hold on. How many gremlins do you think you could fight?" Hand still wrapped around their glass, they pointed at Riley with their pinky. "You too! How many."
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Riley Sorsa
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Presence (3) Captivating | SL(1) Stylish Mantle (2)Spring | Status(1) Entertainment
Posts: 913
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Post by Riley Sorsa on Dec 19, 2020 19:15:55 GMT -8
"For Family and Church I found being queer helped solve those problems real fast" That wasnt exactly true but Riley liked to think it was.
"Gremlins? Isent that a Christmas movie?"" Riley paused at that trying to recall them before letting out a chuckle.
"Like the little furry guy Gerbo? I dunno like...10 I guess? " They laugh before stopping and remember the other side of gremlins.
"Okay...well maybe 5? I think once they get sharp objects I am out. What about you Linden?"
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Firebringer
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Elemental Ifrit, Presence 3 (Intimidating)
Posts: 634
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Post by Firebringer on Dec 19, 2020 19:49:02 GMT -8
Danica laughs as Linden points at the both of them, asking about how many Gremlins they could fight.
"Welp, I do reeeally well with fire related things. You know... being a bartender. Gremlins hate fire, after all. Could probably take on a small hoard. Yeah, how many you think you could get?"
She looks at Riley, "It is the best Christmas movie. And his name was Gizmo - the cutest little mogwai in existence."
She nods at that, because of course everyone had to know that the Gremlins and Mogwai were technically different.
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Linden
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Presence (3) Steady
Posts: 325
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Post by Linden on Dec 20, 2020 22:47:50 GMT -8
"Oh, I mean... they're not super competent, Riley, you could definitely fight more than five; you just punt 'em." Linden's lips pursed thoughtfully as Firebringer brought up the gremlin's aversion to fire and they nodded. "Solid point. I want to say small hoard too, though I know they'd get their weird little teeth into me one way or another. They're just so imminently squishable."
"I'd honestly forgotten it was a Christmas movie. Wild." Ruminating on the thought, the Ogre stared down at their hands. "Weirdly, never something I watched with my family around the holidays."
Chin tucked into the palm of their hand, the Ogre peered at Riley with a growing smirk. "Soooo who you seeing now? Last time we talked I think it was... Eli? Elliott? Elle?"
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Riley Sorsa
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Presence (3) Captivating | SL(1) Stylish Mantle (2)Spring | Status(1) Entertainment
Posts: 913
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Post by Riley Sorsa on Dec 21, 2020 16:58:30 GMT -8
The Darkling let out a laugh and scratched the back of their head as they took a drink of their cheap beer.
"Elliott was the last one. Elle was part of the couple before him. But god was Elliot gorgeous, just beautiful" They looked to Firebringer to emphasize the point.
"Like stupid gorgeous, but-" there was always a but.
"He wasn't a great communicator and our schedules just did not work well with each other. "
Riley really couldn't be one to judge on communication or transparency it wasn't their strong point. In truth that was only a part of the story.
"That and his awful taste in music."
The moth smiled at Linden after answering the question. Linden probably had met most anyone that Riley had gone on more than one date with. The Salt Bar was one of their go-to date spots, so Linden got a view of the shifting carousel of romantic partners.
"How about you Fi-Dani? How has sin city treated your dating life?"
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