Post-Gig Open Log For folkmore

[doesntsing]

Midge is a regular performer at The Whalefall in Tides, usually on Wednesday nights. Her set starts late and goes for about 30 minutes. Most of her jokes are observational, and she tailors them to whatever's going on in Folkmore at the time. In her time, she would be an R-rated comedian; with all the people in Folkmore from the 21st century, she's more like a PG-13. Most nights her set goes well. People seem to enjoy her and she has a few regulars.

This post is for anyone who wants to interact with her after her show. Most often she can be found at the bar having a drink or two, sometimes with a cigarette if she feels like she needs one and the bartender looks the other way. That's the best place to find her, but I'm open to other scenarios in and around The Whalefall. Feel free to send me a PM or ping me at sparks_fly if you want to plot running into her anywhere other than at the bar.

Comments

[rosae]

Rose can't remember the last time she'd done something that constituted as "going out." Not since back home — and that life feels so very far away now. Trench certainly hadn't had much to offer in terms of indulgences and luxuries; every day was about survival.

But here... She hears people talking of the various places one can go to, and though it takes her some months before she's able to leave Sharon for even a single night, finally she accepts that it's safe to. Mayerling is there with her, and though it's still strange for her not to be glued to her daughter's hip, she dresses herself up a little and allows herself an evening out at Tides, the urban area she's heard so much about.

After the watery journey to get to the sprawling city, Rose ends up drawn towards The Whalefall. God, how long has it been since she went out to a bar? She's reminded of being in upscale places like this with her group of girl friends, sipping pretty drinks and laughing more and more as the night went on. Now she's alone as she explores the space, spending some time watching people dancing. Eventually she settles in to watch some of the shows — and when she recognises the woman standing on stage for a comedy routine, she's delighted that she can pick out a familiar face; she still knows so very little people here. She laughs happily at the jokes, enjoying herself.

After, she heads over to the bar, like several others do. That's when she spots Midge and she immediately heads over, not shy in the least to approach the other woman and slip down into the seat next to her.

"Good evening. I enjoyed the show." She smiles, polite but friendly. "I haven't been to something like that in ages."

[doesntsing]

“Yeah?” Midge asks with a smile. “Thanks. You’re Rose, right?” It’s hard for Midge to forget the name when the other woman shares it with her mother.

It’s a typical Wednesday after her set and Midge is about to enjoy a drink before she heads home. The giant octopus bartender puts a martini down in front of her with a slither of one of its arms. “Thanks Harry,” she says to him.

[rosae]

"That's me. Sharon's mom," her smile brightens a little, up to her eyes. There's a certain pride in saying it that way, and the fact that Sharon knows so many people in this place at all. She remembers a time when her daughter struggled so much, interacting with others.

She looks up to the very unique bartender, lifting her brows. It's still taking some getting used to, seeing things like that, but at least these days she's more curious than anything.

"How're the drinks here? Pretty good?" She lifts her brows with faint amusement.

[doesntsing]

It’s sweet that she introduces herself as Sharon’s mom, like Sharon’s a little girl and she’s on a playdate with Midge’s kids. “I don’t think I’ve met your daughter yet,” Midge replies. She’s seen her around, as well as read some messages on the relic, but they haven’t spoken yet.

“This is a great bar, actually. Harry’s somewhat of an artist when it comes to booze.” Midge takes a sip of her martini. “Don’t let the tentacles fool you.”

[rosae]

"Oh — She's been here for so long and seems to know so many people, that I keep thinking she seems to know everyone." Rose gives a soft smile, fond and a little nostalgic. It's still strange; for her, Sharon was nine years old not that long ago. And now... she's in her twenties.

"It's so different from how she was when she was little. She was so shy."

Rose glances back to the octopus, pauses just a moment, and then offers a little smile and lift of her fingers to him to catch his attention. "Yes, Harry? I'll take one of what she's got, thank you."

The drink quickly gets slid into her hands, and Rose takes an experimental sip, before giving an approving hum. "It is good. I haven't had a drink like this in ages."

[doesntsing]

“I’ll introduce myself the next time I see her,” Midge says.

It’s clear that Rose is a little out of her depth here, but Midge has to give her credit. She came out for the night by herself when she’s clearly not used to doing so. That takes chutzpah.

“Enjoy.” Midge holds her drink up and clinks the glass against Rose’s. “L’chaim.” After taking a sip, she continues. “Where do you come from?”

[rosae]

Rose's smile brightens again as she tips her drink against the other woman's. For a moment, it feels as though she's back home with one of her girlfriends. It's a strange thought that she'll likely never go home again.

Speaking of—

"Ohio. Earth. I'm never sure how much I need to clarify, around here." She laughs brightly, and takes another sip. "Before this place, I was brought to another one, and it wasn't anywhere near Earth. What about you?"

[doesntsing]

“New York,” Midge replies. “It was 1960 for me, if that means anything to you.”

She’s learned that even though two people might come from Earth, their versions of Earth might be very different. Time and place seem to matter too. There really are an infinite number of realities, which is something that she definitely didn’t think about before coming to Folkmore.

“You were in another place before coming here?” Midge asks.

[rosae]

"Oh, 1960! That's very cool." Rose has to smile again, continuing to nurse her drink conversationally. "It was 2006 in my time. But after that— yes, I was brought to another world, something... far into the future, I think. It wasn't anything like Earth. It was like a nightmare."

Much of it was like Silent Hill, only... worse, deeper, longer, and somehow even more dangerous.

"Sharon was there with me, too. But she arrived here before I did, so she's been here longer than I have." Rose waves a hand; all the time fuckery is confusing, but her point to saying all of this is:

"She's a lot older now than she was back in our original world. It's been very different, having an adult daughter." A soft laugh.

[doesntsing]

The time fuckery is confusing, but that’s just par for the course here. Midge gets the basic gist of what Rose is saying. She’s not the first person to tell her that they were in someplace horrible before coming here. Midge supposes that she ought to consider herself lucky.

“I’ve heard that being the parent to an adult child is harder than being the parent of a young child,” Midge says.

[rosae]

"It definitely has its challenges," Rose admits with another little smile. "When she was young.... she was going through a very tough time, and I didn't know how to help her. I was so worried about her, all the time."

She nurses her drink quietly for a few moments, brow knit in thought.

"She can take care of herself a lot more now. She's so strong. But I can't help worrying about her as though she were still nine years old. ...I don't want it to burden her. I don't really know what's my place and what isn't."

[doesntsing]

“Parents are always going to worry about their kids, I guess, no matter how old they are,” Midge replies. “My kids are still little, so I’ve got no advice. I guess you could ask her what she needs?”

That’s probably what she would want her mother to do. That’s harder than it sounds though. Most mothers think that they know what their children need and don’t always listen to what their children have to say.

[rosae]

"Oh, you have children?" Rose brightens right up again at that, interest piqued. "How old?"

Taking another sip of her drink and feeling the slight, pleasant swirl of dizziness that's starting to affect her system — it's been a while since she had alcohol, her tolerance isn't so great these days — Rose gives a soft nod and a hum of thought.

"That would seem like the obvious choice, wouldn't it... asking her." She smiles again. "I'm always worried I'll burden her with things like that. She's had so much stress on her. But... maybe I should. She is an adult now. I suppose I need to treat her more like one."

[doesntsing]

“Five and two,” Midge says with a sad smile. “I miss them a lot.” Even though she’s been told that if she ever returns home it will be like no time has passed at all, Midge still feels like she’s missing her children grow up.

“It can’t hurt to ask her, can it?” Midge asks.

[rosae]

"Oh, they are little," Rose smiles, soft and fond. "What are their names?"

It was hardly any time at all for her that Sharon was so young, not even a decade old yet, small and shy.

"No, you're right," she agrees with a soft clink of nail against her glass. "Maybe I'll invite her out for a cocktail here. Talking's easier in the right kind of environment."