There seem to be an awful lot of people milling about outside this place.
“If I didn’t know better, I’d say we were waiting to score scalped tickets for some...stadium event,” I mutter. Max stands politely close, lighter at the ready while I lean into the little flame, bleached bone held between my teeth. Ah, a true gentleman and a professional, what would I do without him?
“What a motley fucking...” puff “...they let anyone into these things now don’t they?”
I always did prefer the taste of tar in my lungs to stranger’s heartbeats. Far less distracting, far more discreet. And there are so many of them here tonight...
Max has a strong and very warm gloved hand for these three marble steps. One, two three--click, click, click--barely out of the Rolls, fur barely adjusted over a shoulder, cigarette barely half sucked back and already I’ve dodged the unsolicited eye-contact of one ignorant stranger, one nauseating peer, and one catty bitch. So many pots to stir, oh which one to pick!
“Oh be still my heart,” I groan around carved bone. I blow smoke away from Max, don’t want to give the poor thing anything I’m not willing to immediately fix--that’s not in the contract--and roll my eyes up to meet his politely neutral expression. I knew this was a public event but if I had known how public...
At least the doorman has some license to scrutinize. Some gangly mortal thing in a suit that was made for someone else stands vying to be let in, and does not look successful.
I cannot remember the last time I’ve had to queue for anything.
“Excuse me,” I tip ash and breathe rather than endure this mortal. Max has never been at my side to speak for me, and using my own voice I look between the gawky thing and the venue staff member who, though boring, is much better dressed. “What is the matter here? Are we to just wait outside all night? Is this the main event?”