deercountry | the grand opening of the raccoon room

Entry tags:

the grand opening of the raccoon room

Who: YOU AND YOUR BEST BUDS
What: The Grand Opening of the Raccoon Room
When: October 31st
Where: The Raccoon Room in Cellar Door

Content Warnings: N/A for now

Welcome to the Raccoon Room! Code

You find a green door on a townhouse nestled in the middle of a long, cute cobblestoned street. There's a raccoon logo emblazoned on the door. When you enter, you're greeted by sumptuous green velvet drapery, a marble statue of a familiar looking guy with devil horns on his head, and surly ticket taker (Mako, rather unhappily wearing a Victorian style vampire outfit, including vampire fangs) who will make sure that you're paying your fair share for your ticket. That's either a nice rock, a nice shell, or a beautiful feather. If you don't have anything that's worth the right amount, he'll ask for more, or give you drink tickets if you over paid. Does Mako know what makes a feather beautiful? Who knows. It's all subjective here.

You enter the venue through heavy velvet curtains. The light is dim, there are tables scattered everywhere with plush chairs and flickering candles. It's a large room, but it feels intimate. You find a seat, get a drink, or take a look around.

At 8:00pm sharp, the show begins, with Wu, dressed in his grown, flowering top hat, made by Fern, and an impeccable green tuxedo with tails, a gold cape and fake vampire teeth, takes the mic.

"Welcome, welcome to the Raccoon Room! I'm so, so, so glad that you're all here. Things are dreary and dangerous outside, but in here, sit back, relax, and enjoy yourselves."

And with that, he waves the first performer on.

Throughout the night, you'll see Scorpia and Zari Tarazi sing, Fritter (Wu's raccoon omen) and Pabu the fire ferret perform tricks, and the headliner, Ryan Akagi of Chicken Choice Judy, rock out. Wu comes up between the sets and vamps, makes jokes, and applauds the performers, adding plugs to come talk to him if you want to perform.

Over at the bar, Mako's moved on from taking tickets to making drinks. You can order any old beer, wine, or cocktail, or the Jade Dragon, a speciality absinthe cocktail Mako created for the Raccoon Room.

Feel free to top level, make your own night of it! Your esteemed host will be a bit preoccupied, but this space is for Sleepers to come, enjoy themselves, and mingle.

If your character wants to perform, let Wu know.

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

[ Mako should probably focus on other people but the bar is quiet and Wu is flushed and happy, so he lets himself linger, basking in the pride practically radiating off him. ]

Yeah? I found this liqueur when I was grabbing some stuff for Lysithea, pandan? Figured I'd try it out.

[ Laughter erupts from a small group behind them, and Mako glances briefly at them before grinning at Wu. ]

How do you feel?

Oh, I love pandan!

[ He smiles down at the drink, reveling in the laughter around them. ]

I feel great. Really, really great. I'm so glad we did this, and that everyone liked it, and I really think it can be a thing, a real thing that we made and that people will come to that has nothing to do with politics and was built by us, from the ground up.

[ He sighs happily, tired and pleased and more than a little glad that him and Mako are talking, just talking, like normal people. ]

[ Mako is entirely too soft for this boy, because as soon as Wu leans on the bar again with that little smile he's kind of lost, leaning close, letting his fingers graze Wu's wrist. ]

I was looking at all the pictures I took on the first day in here. This place has really shaped up. Forgot how much of a wreck the stage was. You think you ever want to get up there?

On the stage? I was just up there!

[ Wu teases, catching his hand, but he knows what Mako means, and he bites his lip, thinking about it ]

I don't know. Maybe? I love to sing, of course I do! But I just don't know if I should.

[ Mako raises a brow at him, pressing his thumb into the soft skin at Wu's wrist for a moment. ]

A lot of people would say that you should be at home doing king stuff instead of opening a theater. You think that's worth listening to?

[ Wu shivers, watching him, wondering at this faith that Mako has in him, now. He didn't before, for good reason. Did Wu really earn this? This faith in him, that he can really do this? ]

I... don't know. Maybe? You always said my lyrics were... not good.

I said they were weird and niche.

[ It's different!

Anyway, Mako doesn't really think he's the best singer in the world but he's realizing it kind of doesn't matter: no one here is a professional except maybe Ryan, and Wu looks so alive on that stage. ]

Anyway, lyrics are just a skill, right? And you were on your own before. Now you can bounce them off Ryan. He's an actual musician. His opinion probably matters more.

...that's a great idea, Mako!

[ Wu punches the air excitedly, then takes another big sip of the drink, sighing happily. He can let it go. Mako wants to support him, and that feels good. It feels really good. ]

I bet he'd love to help me! I guess badgermole lullabies are even more niche here, since there aren't even any badgermoles, and I have a lot more inspiration now! If only I'd heard Beyoncé back home.

[ Mako smiles softly at his excitement, nodding vaguely at someone else who requests a drink. He can make a drink and talk to Wu at the same time. ]

I gotta admit, you were right about the art thing.

[ Wu's smile softens a little, and he leans up higher on the bar. ]

Yeah? Good. Good! I'm glad you think so. I know it seems frivolous, but I think it's really important. Art is so important, but it's the first thing that gets forgotten when things are bad.

This doesn't seem as frivolous as a fountain, though.

[ ...better make sure that wasn't accidentally an insult, oops. ]

I mean, this is... like, a fountain is just... there. I never really got the point of them, even back in the city. It's a waste of resources and water when you could have a perfectly nice pond and the bay was right there. But this is different.

[ It's really too bad Mako doesn't know how to express what he means. He grimaces at his own words, trying to figure it out while he dumps a shot into the shaker. ]

It's an escape, you know?

[ Wu lets out a breath. He doesn't really want to argue with Mako about the pros and cons of fountain. That's a conversation for another day. He waves it off, taking a sip of the drink, that goes straight to his head because all he's eaten all night is cake ]

It is! It's an escape. That's exactly what I want to create. I'm really, really thankful that you helped me, Mako. I know that this sort of thing isn't really your thing, but it means so, so much to me that you believe in the Raccoon Room and that you want to help me.

[ Honestly, that's pretty good to hear. Mako knows that he's been the voice of reason and kind of a dream-crusher at times over the last two months, has had to pull a few of Wu and Ryan's more out-there ideas down to earth. It's Wu's dream, but Mako wants to make sure it works.

Even if the public praise kind of has his cheeks going blue-ish. He shifts, aiming a quiet smile at the bartop. ]

Yeah, well. Gave me something to do.

[ And he's proud, and he's glad Wu's following his dream, and there's a part of him happy to be swept along in Wu's wake, propping up the weight of his ideas.

He can't say that part, though. ]

You should be proud of yourself. I've already talked to so many people who wanted to tell me to tell you how much they like it here.

[ Wu's cheek flush hotter, and he leans across the bar, reaching out a hand for Mako to pull him close to steal a kiss. If Mako lets him, Wu will kiss him hard and deep and press as close as he can with the bar between them. ]

Thank you-- and thank them! I, I'm so happy.

[ He laughs, nosing against Mako's cheek. ]

[ The problem is that even though Mako has things like a sense of decorum, and, a lot of awkwardness, and also, an intense awareness of the people around him literally all of the time—even with those things, Mako is also weak for his small boyfriend and also kind of a huge PDA nerd when he's in love, so he doesn't... even really think twice about it, or about the bar pressing into his hips as he leans over.

At least until he tries to kiss Wu again after he finishes talking and almost knocks a bottle over, which makes him pull back with a flushed frown. ]

Get over here.

[ Wu laughs giddily, and he could walk around the bar but, well, this is his venue, so he hefts himself up onto the bar, twisting around so he's sitting facing Mako with a teasing grin on his face ]

Weren't you making someone a drink?

They can wait.

[ Mako is being slightly irresponsible, sure, but who's going to stop him? Wu?

Not, Mako is pretty sure, when he's leaning forward like this, his feet dangling and his face bright. Mako settles his arms around Wu's hips, tugging him forward. ]

Butt off my bar.

I think you mean our bar.

[ Wu doesn't hop off the bar, grinning at him, and hooking a leg around Mako's ]

You need to pay the price, first.

Pretty sure I already made you a couple drinks.

[ Mako knows good and well that's not the price Wu's demanding, but it's fun to tease him anyway, especially as he pulls Wu closer. ]

[ Wu hums, his eyes dropping to Mako's lips, fingers playing with the cravat of Mako's vampire costume. They both lost their fanged teeth at some point in the night, but Wu doesn't care ]

I want something more than a drink.

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

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