Seattle, the invitation for Dinah

[basic_powers]

He is a man of his word, and one more than capable of figuring out how to get people in and out of his world with little issue. That's why he and Dinah emerge from the third stall of the Unisex bathroom of the Seattle Public Library. It's clean, quiet, and most importantly of all, devoid of security cameras.

"Be this portal ever so humble."

Comments

[basic_powers]

"Put up with my poor attempts at humor as a coping mechanism?" He's smiling a little on that one, so it's not all serious, jogging in the snow to reach the bus stop, and digging into a coat pocket for some asprin and gulping them down dry. "Though if I get drunk, you may have to put up with me on a tetchy rant or two later."

[raptorcanaria]

"Done and done," Dinah says cheerfully. "Poor attempts at humour as a coping mechanism is pretty much standard for my friends, anyway."

[basic_powers]

"Excellent!"

They just make the bus to get back to the transfer station, and then another to get within a few blocks of the club districts, with Beauford taking the window seat on the left side of the bus each time.

[raptorcanaria]

Dinah, in the meantime, proves pretty good at small talk, although most of it is asking for a visual tour of the city and occasionally being distracted by the prospect of food.

[basic_powers]

There's at least 5 restaurants that they pass before they get to the stop they need, and we're not talking Speedy Bippy Burger kind of food either.

"I promise, next time we come here in warm weather, I'll take you down to this great pizza place, their cajun pizza with alligator meat is delicious."

[raptorcanaria]

"But only in warm weather?" Dinah asks. "Or is it an outdoor restaurant?"

[basic_powers]

"Warm weather because it's a 14 block walk from the bus-stop to the area it's in. During the spring, summer and fall, we'd be able to catch a trolley." Beauford answers. "And because it's nicer to dine there when it's warmer. Took my cousin Nico there this past August, he loved it."

[raptorcanaria]

"...wow. Maybe we'll save that for spring, then."

There is nowhere in Gotham (at least, central Gotham) that's a fourteen block walk from a subway stop, let alone a bus stop. This is why Dinah's eyes widen.

[basic_powers]

He ain't getting no darn taxi for there, and right now the Subway has far too many security cameras for his comfort level.

"Definitely for spring." He's not so made of money that he can get a cab here after all. After a while she'll start to notice more cars though, and people walking around them now. Then the sounds and smells as Beauford turns the corner towards the club. There's a small huddled line of people near the front and a big man who is actually standing head and shoulders over the rest.

And the fact that he's got lavender skin probably has nothing to do with anything.

"Brazil!"

"Beauford!"

[raptorcanaria]

Dinah, who is very good friends with a green Martian, brightens and gives a wide grin, through which she's still blowing steam into the icy air.

"Hi."

[basic_powers]

"And who's the fine young thing you've got with you tonight?" Brazil, grins, doing an eyebrow waggle in good fun.

"Stoppit, Brazil," Beauford smirks up at the man. "This is Dinah, she's a daughter of one of Uncle Ray's friends."

"You know, I'm still waiting to see your Julie come and visit here."

[raptorcanaria]

"You're not the only person waiting to meet Julie," Dinah interjects, with the faintest of smirks sideways at Beauford.

"Nice to meet you, Brazil."

[basic_powers]

"Ah, our boy here is just shy about his closet. You two head on in." Brazil nods to the door. "Oh and Beauford, your favorite pack of drag-queens is in tonight."

Well.

Alright. There's a coat check on the left, a unisex bathroom on the right and by now Dinah can probably smell food, sweat, perfume and several other things as the music thuds through the doors.

[raptorcanaria]

Dinah's hat is ripped off her head almost immediately, balled up around her mittens. "Nice place!"

The advantage of being with her is that she can always raise her voice above the noise. The disadvantage is she has absolutely no shame in visibly checking out the talent.

[basic_powers]

With Beauford, you can be assured he'll find the best place to sit and take it all in.

And there is plenty to take in, it looks like there's a couple of very bendy cage dancers up tonight in their best Vegas Showgirl outfits. And on the floor itself are many other couples, singles or packs of people moving about to the music.

It's skirting around the edge that has Beauford asking Dinah what kind of drink she wants, before handing her a slim appetizer menu.

[raptorcanaria]

For this place? "Something with an olive," she says, squinting at the menu. "And a ridiculous name. And a lot of alcohol."

But the appetizer menu is her main source of focus. It has to be hours since she last ate.

[basic_powers]

Menu

Sweet Potato Fries With Lime Juice and Mint yogurt dipping sauce - $4

Sweet Shrimp Tempura with Dark Fish dipping sauce - $6

Vegetable dip: Roasted Eggplant, Butternut Squash and Spinach spiced with curry and coconut milk, served with pita chips -$6

Mojito Yakitori: Chicken Thighs marinated in lime juice, rum, sugar, mint and mild scallions, grilled on a skewer, 2 skewers a plate - $7

By Special Request: Scotch Egg - $7

Felafel: A warm pita stuffed with chickpea patties, tahini sauce, cucumbers lettuce and tomato

Vegan finger sandwiches: Avocado, tomato, and cucumber on toasted slices of sourdough - $7

Dessert menu on the back

"Alright... Melita! A Dirty Stranger Days Martini with those blue-cheese stuffed olives if you've got any left, and my usual for me!" Beauford calls to the pink and green haired girl with the tattoos tending bar.

[raptorcanaria]

(Pink and Green haired girl with the tattoos is kind of hot, for the record. Also Dinah? Totally straight, no really.)

(Really.)

"I just want all of this," she complains. "But I'm going to have to start with the shrimp, or my mouth will never forgive me."

[basic_powers]

"Alright, we'll wait until Melita gets back with our drinks." It doesn't take too long, Melita (pink, green, hot with tattoos) hands Dinah a very large martini glass with two of those blue-cheese stuffed olives with a wink. Beauford however gets something that looks rather like a rootbeer float without the ice cream. "We're going to order some shrimp tempura, 2 orders of sweet potato fries, a mojito yakitori and a scotch egg."

...what? He's hungry too!

"And could I get an icepack? Had a little incident walking here..."

"...doesn't look like she punched you." Melita comments as Beauford blushes.

[raptorcanaria]

Oh, to be able to brag about how, if she punched him, he wouldn't be be here sitting and ordering food. Stupid secret identity. Stupid anti-violent ethics.

Dinah just gives Melta a smile over her drink.

"Wow, you really weren't kidding about the drinks being great here."

[basic_powers]

"Well not to say 'I told you so'... oh wait, I just did." Beauford chuckles, nodding up to a higher area to sit, out of the dancing zone, as Melita hands him a ziplock baggie of ice for his side.

"Food'll be out in a few, I'll send Jasil up with your order when it's done."

"Thanks Mel."

[raptorcanaria]

Dinah raises her glass in an echo of those thanks and follows Beauford up to the seats. "How is it, by the way?"

[basic_powers]

"Asprin's kicked in, the ice is just to make sure it doesn't make for a nasty bruise later on..." Beauford sighes, taking a long sip from his drink before sitting down, his back to the balcony edge. "He just picked exactly the worst spot to hit."

[raptorcanaria]

"Old wound?"

Dinah's frowning a little bit, because she's used to old wounds playing up, but to incapacitate someone that badly sounds like it hasn't healed right at all.
...not that she has any medical knowledge at all.

[basic_powers]

"...yeah."

With that Beauford rolls up the bottom of his shirt, even in the flickering lights, Dinah can probably see the three big circular scars and the lines connecting between them, one just under the ribcage, the other two further down along his side.