Hades' Lot; Back Alley

It seemed as if the weather seemed to mimic Trent's mood as he smoked the final stub of his cigerette under the small awning over the backdoor. The rain was coming down in sheets and made hearing anything, including his own thoughts impossible.

He felt rather then heard the backdoor behind him on his right open and watched as one of the bar hands brought out a bag full of rubbish. The poor guy was half of Trent's size and gave him a wide berth as he put his deposit in the dumpster. Despite the fact that it was pissing down, the air was muggy. Trent shifted his old english gentleman's hat and flicked the butt of his cig to the ground, stomping it out with his sneaker before following the bar boy back inside.

The band members were still setting up their gear inside. Despite the weather, they were still required to play the gig. "I bet no more then 6 drunkards show up..." He said in a grumbly tone to the band's front man Lenard. Lenard only laughed as he continued to plug wiring into the soundboard.

Hades' Lot: Behind the Bar

Wind howled thinly outside and Mena Firestone arranged yet another stack of shot glasses. The preparation for yet another night of drinking and live performances was complete and she cast dark blue-green eyes over the scuffed floor and old tables of the 'Lot. The door to the back opened, letting in a swirl of rain and one of the other skeleton crew Bruce. She gave him a nod and leaned on the bar as the doors opened, letting the first of the crowd trickle in.

The next half-hour was spent slinging out drinks and chatting with some of the more regular patrons, cleaning up a shattered mug and waving off the advances of a fellow that looked like this bar had been about the fifth he had visited. The crowd was small, 10 people all told, including those that worked there. It was going to be a slow night it seemed to far, unfortunately.

Once everyone was served and the band equipment was being set up, Mena relaxed a moment as the bouncer leaned out into the alleys, letting the band know that they were ready when they were to get things started.

Hades' Lot

When the gruff bouncer came out to let them know that the crowd was getting anxious, the four band members filed in behind him as they went in through the door. Usually, the whole notion of getting out in front of an audience made Trent's fingers tingle with anticipation, but the weather made his mood foul and no amount of cigerettes could change that. He followed Lenard up the stairs and took his position on the right hand of the stage. Slinging the strap of his onyx bass over his shoulder, he strummed a few cords just to make sure that it sounded okay. Satisfied, he gave a curt nod to his friend as Lenard leaned forward and put his lips to the mic.

"Hello you sorry lot! We're Raw Hazard and we're here to add a bit of good vibe to your otherwise miserable existance!"

Lenard had one of those faces that meant no one could take him seriously no matter how much he tried to offend him. He got a few claps from two ladies in the back booth as they started to play a rather cruisy number laid back number. One of the drunkards who'd been shooed away by the girl behind the bar came out and danced at the foot of the stage, his hands up in the air and his steps shifty at best. Trent could only roll his eyes as his fingers worked meticulously at his instrument.

Mena quirked a brow at the odd introduction and folded her arms with a small smile, listening to the mellow notes and watched the crowd relax slightly. Her head tilted as she watched the patron shuffle to the music and felt a mix of amusement and pity. She moved along behind the bar, slinging drinks and commenting on the music and listening to a few stories, doling out bits of advice and encouragement.

"No' bad, are they?" she commented, voice quiet as she nodded at another bouncer leaning on a wall nearby. He shrugged "Might be able to get more people in, if they come back." he mused and she looked around at the patchwork crowd, biting her lip. "I sure hope so." she stated, not wanting to lose out on a job that was needed because business was bad.

Raw Hazard's first stint of the night lasted a series of 9 songs. Most of them were casual and quite catchy songs but there were a few that were quite fast paced and easy to dance to. The two tipsy girls in the back came up to dance along with the drunkard, blowing kisses and doing suggestive things to Lenard and Trent both. Despite the advancements, Trent's face remained rather blase as he seemed to focus on nothing in particular. Even at one point, the more bosomy of the two leaned across the edge of the stage and ran a suggestive finger along the inside length of his calf. Mildly annoyed, he merely stepped away, leaving her pouting and frustrated as she finally dragged her friend back to the booth.

Ending the first bout of songs on a more somber note, Lenard thanked the 10ish people in the bar and reassured them they'd play an encore later. Trent was the first to put his instrument down, jumping down the two feet from the stage and making his way to the bar. The rest of his friends muddled around on stage, laughing and joking like the normally did but all Trent could think about was a stiff drink.

He absently sat at a stool as far away from anyone as possible and snapped his fingers to catch the bar girl's attention. Trent had to do his best not to become too impatient as he noticed her conversing with one of her fellow employees.

A few more people came in, upping the total to about seventeen and Mena served the rest, keeping up a steady stream of alcohol and cutting off a few people that seemed to have too much. It was a blessedly quiet night and a few more people trickled out as the songs ended and the band milled together. Rubbing her head a moment and speaking to the bouncer a snapping of fingers got her attention and she ambled over, nodding at the bassist.

Brushing a few dark auburn locks away from her face, she flashed her bartender's smile, a lopsided, comradely gesture that relaxed most people. "What can I get ye? Good set by the way." she commented, watching him a moment and taking in his expression "Something stiff I can see, after that tarty tart was pawing at ye." she mused, voice soft with a thick Scottish accent.

Trent merely fished around in his pants pocket for his pack of cigs as she talked to him. Her accent was pleasent and in most cases he would've had her charmed and bedded by now but the last silly wench he'd taken home had taken more then just his pride. He looked up at her from under the bill of his hat as he tapped his pack against his palm.

"You mind if I smoke in here or will you get Bubba over there to throw me out on my arse?" He nodded his head towards the bouncer who she had been conversing with earlier, completely ignoring her question at first. Not even waiting on her answer, he put the pack to his lips and pulled out one between his teeth. He refrained from lighting it however.

"I'll have a bourbon...make it a double...It'll make it a bit more bearable that way when I get jumped in the back alleyway by blondie..."

"I mind, there's a law about that, it's outside, or not at all. Ye're drink's comin' up" she replied, ducking under the bar a moment and reemerged with a glass and a bottle of bourbon. His drink was made and slid neatly in front of him. "The bouncer's name is Carl, by the way." she stated, her hand snaking out and snatching the cigarette from his lips, laying it on the bar.

"I can run interference, if ye want to get out here quietly." she offered, casting an eye to the woman that had been bothering him earlier, who was trying to snuggle up to another band member. "That's a fate I wouldnae wish on my worst enemy." she mused, taking some empties and placing them in a bin behind her.

Trent looked quite appalled when Mina reached across and plucked his sin stick from his lips. He huffed and scowled before snatching it off the bar. Giving it a bit of a flick, as if it would get the germs off by doing so, he replaced it in the box.

"There happy? You come from Scotland. You should be as upset as I am about not being able to go to the pub and have a good smoke and a pint without having someone telling you otherwise."

He looked down at Carl, put his hands up to show that he wasn't going to do anything drastic and flashed him a fully false smile. It didn't take him long to take a long swig of his drink and hissed through his teeth as it burned down his throat. Thankfully, his liver and gut was conditioned for such a diet as the warmth spread through his form.

"So I know Carl's name down there...and I know my name and we both look like we should be in a place like this...but you..." He hadn't released his glass as he pointed with his index finger at her chest. "You whom I have no idea what your name is, don't look like you're in the right spot. Why are you here hanging out with a bunch of drunk idiots and listening to sub-par rockband in this neighborhood..."

A smile curved along her lips, a more amused gesture at his reaction to her snatching the cigarette. Tilting her head her brow rose "Even being from Scotland I have an idea av what's healthy." she replied, as Carl glared at Trent, before moving off to quell what looked to be a starting brawl. Listening to the hiss, Mena looked back at him, brow still raised "Mena Firestone, the 'tender here, obviously. I'm here because it's my night job and I need the money." she replied easily.

She broke off a moment to hand out more drink, responding to a few muttered grievances with a reassurance, and a few biting retorts that made the friends of the person in question snicker. Ambling back to Trent she watched the crowd a moment "Also makes for good entertainment." she added, watching the blonde tart get escorted out by Carl, after spouting a vein of profanities and trying to start a scuffle. "See?" she asked, grinning now, looking much too satisfied.

The corner of trent's lip turned up in a smirk as he looked over his shoulder momentarily as his admirerer was swiftly evicted from the premise. He turned back to his drink and pointed at it for her to refill it. "You really should make a point to keeping it strictly Mena..." He looked around at the two guys just slightly down the bar. "This isn't the best part of town and its best not to give your fully name out so freely. Might even pay to have an alias...You look like you could be a Roxy or something sassy like that."

"I usually do." she agreed, then made a face "Roxy? Gods no, that won't suit at all." she replied, shaking her head. "I like a block or so away, last year I was mugged, now I either get a ride home, and if I have to walk I have a few nice little things in my back te discourage nightly asshats." she added, filling his drink again as she spoke. Roaming the length of bar to serve a few other she returned to his seat watching the crowd again.