Be My Guide

[Threnody Mohr]

December 15th

• With the hint of a pout about her lips, Threnody dusted her dress as she stepped from the fireplace. Apparation was perhaps the only skill that made her wish she could do magic, however her looks and charm in social settings more than made up for it.
  
  With Rasmus and Adasia soon to return home, the veela had made up her mind to get them something they would not have had access to via Hosmeade visits; as such, she had set out for Irvingly. What the mixed-magic village might have to offer, though, eluded her completely, and now that she was here, Threnody was not sure what to do with herself.
  
  The veela stepped out into the casino proper, looking about. While she did not expect the casino itself to give inspiration, the woman hoped that it’s patrons might.

  

[Dempsey Dante]

It wasn't odd to find Dem where he currently was: lurking about the card tables. He didn't have a skill at cards, or chips, or however those types of games were played, but he did like money, and there was plenty being exchanged at the casino. Of course, there was only so much entertainment one could find watching other, older, and, sadly, wealthier men roll a dice and win amounts of money he would never lay eyes on in his life. So, he ordered up some drink with a strange name and a tinier-than-most price and downed it, knowing that Ulysses wasn't around to tease him for drinking anything but the hard liquor his brother favored.

Even though it was cold in Irvingly this night, people flocked to this place like moths to a flame. Sure, the building was kept nice and toasty for its patrons, but the people crammed together in the larger areas, smoking so much even he had to wrinkle his nose, made it hotter than it should. Being slightly buzzed didn't help with the heat, either - he knew firsthand.

Dem figured he'd had enough for the night and began to head towards the exit despite the early hour. He would've been kicked out soon enough since he wasn't playing anything, and he'd only had one drink. People who weren't business weren't supposed to be inside, Ulysses had told him. It made sense. Plus, it wasn't like people of his stock were even good for business, or anything at all, really. He did look a little nicer than usual, having bought a new suit as an early Christmas present for himself with the money the family made from distilling alcohol, but that didn't change the boisterous behaviour he had with other casino patrons.

Eh, he'd been kicked out before. It really wasn't that big of a deal.

He hardly made it to the exit - which also served as the entrance unless one was trying to escape casino authorities - when he laid eyes on the prettiest woman he'd ever laid eyes on. (And he liked to think he'd laid eyes on many, many women.) She walked knowing just how fit she was, and brave Dempsey Dante walked, in her direction, as if he had no clue how little of a chance he would realistically have with such a fine woman.

"'Scuze me, miss, but y'look a little lost. Are you lookin' for anything in particular?" he asked, a cocky grin on his face. Oh, no, and he didn't stop there! "It's just odd that no gentleman has already offered to show ya around the place, seeing as you're the loveliest lady anyone here has ever looked at." Flattery got men everywhere. No one could ever tell him any differently, at least.

  

[Threnody Mohr]

• It was not long before inspiration found her, in the form of a man who seemed to be on his way out. How fortunate it was that he had spotted her before leaving! While Threnody did not think she would have had to wait long for someone to approach, hers was not a patient nature, and so this was a welcome development in the veela’s mind.
  
  She looked him over with great scrutiny. He did not appear unnecessarily drunk, nor particularly emotional—so he had had little to drink, and not spent much time actually gambling. His attire was not tattered rags, but nor was it a fine suit: lower class, then, but a handsome lower class, she decided.
  
  And then, of course, there was the flattery. That was a happy perk.
  
  “I am not looking for anything in particular, nor anyone in particular,” the veela responded carefully. “Rather, I am not entirely sure what I am looking for, and any aid that a gentleman—” she used the term quite loosely “—such as yourself could possibly do to aid me would be ever so appreciated, Mr. …?”