The Grand Opening of Merlotte's Bar & Grill

[shifting]

WHO: Sam Merlotte and hopefully a whole mess of imPorts!
WHERE: Merlotte's Bar & Grill, De Chima
WHEN: Mid-December
WHAT: After much anticipation, some contracting woes, a failed election bid and one super sweet cash infusion, Merlotte's is ready to have its opening night. Let's mingle, y'all.
WARNINGS: n/a

[the only upside to losing an election was more time to focus on getting his bar ready and opened. Time it turned out he needed, as contractor setbacks and a wrong food order pushed the opening day back a few precious weeks. But tonight's the night - the bar is stocked, wood polished, lights lit, and Sam himself is cleaned-up in a nice shirt and jeans, ready to greet what he hopes is a good and hungry crowd. He's impressed himself with how good the place looks, a testament to what one can do with the backing of a generous investor.

The menu is Southern comfort pub food, with a smattering of Louisiana-particular dishes intended to excite: boudin and rice for one, shrimp gumbo for another, and beignets just for this month. Who doesn't love pastries around the holidays? The bar, the restaurant's obvious main feature, is wide and well-stocked, with De Chima Vineyards the house wine of choice, five local drafts on tap, and a wall of shining liquor bottles. A large chalk board proudly proclaims the shot special of the evening:

A Chill Ton
– 1/2 oz. Goldschlager
– 1/2 oz. Baileys
– 1 splash of Bacardi 151
– a cinnamon rim, ignited with a match

"Sure to fire up its drinkers and leave them with a headache, this blow-hard shot goes down like a bitch."
Everyone walking through the doors will get to enjoy special discounted prices this evening, and imPorts in particular get one free drink. The pool table and dart board in the corner are sure to see some use, a DJ rented for the evening has set up karaoke for the more adventurous, and those looking to enjoy a quieter night can enjoy the fire pits crackling away on the patio. Sam himself will be found chatting up everyone he can, at times helping to serve drinks and run food, but otherwise eager to mingle and get feedback from his guests. This has been a long-time coming, and he finally both looks and feels like he's in his element.]

Comments

[purple_reign]

Not even as a special? It could be nice for New Year's. Oh—or Valentine's.

[jacksonian]

Yeah.

[ He eyes Inanna. ]

You, uh...like glitter, then?

[purple_reign]

[Inanna smiles disarmingly back at him, calm and unfazed.]

Is there anything wrong with that?

[jacksonian]

Nothing wrong with it, no. It's just - Unusual.

[purple_reign]

Well, I'm not a usual sort of person.

[jacksonian]

Uh - sure.

[ You're a weirdo, his face says. ]

Anyway. I'll...pass along the suggestion.

[purple_reign]

Alright, but...I'm curious. What's your connection to this bar? You're not the owner, right?

[jacksonian]

[ His expression immediately goes a little warier. ]

Primary investor.

[purple_reign]

[Inanna tilts his head, a little confused.]

Sorry, was that a strange question?

[jacksonian]

What? No. Why would it be strange?

[purple_reign]

I don't know, but you looked a little unsettled.

[jacksonian]

[ A defensive shrug. ]

I'm not. There's just no reason to be asking about me.

[purple_reign]

Not even idle curiosity?

[jacksonian]

Not really. No. We weren't talking about idle curiosity.

[purple_reign]

You weren't. I'm just a curious customer, but if it makes you feel better you can ask about me too.

[jacksonian]

[ Mark's eyes narrow, and he says with blunt rudeness - ]

Uh, yeah. Pass.

[purple_reign]

[Inanna actually looks taken aback, more than a little confused.]

Did I really bother you that much?

[jacksonian]

Uh - no. [ He fidgets a little, uncomfortable. ] But I don't have any reason to ask about you. Why would I?

[purple_reign]

Because it can be nice getting to know about people. We could start smaller... Favorite foods and movies—little things like that.