Eeper Weeper, chimney sweeper,

[emotioneater]

A) Marquess of Hackney. The title feels strange to the vampire. He's risen high in such a short period of time. It certainly helps to inflate his ego. There's vampires older and who have been in the nest for longer than haven't gone as high. But then they don't have the ambitions that Cooper has. He's going all the way to the top, so long as he doesn't have to be the face of the nest. That would just be horrible.

To celebrate, Cooper is making the rounds of every supernatural bar in the city, regardless of what territory they are in. The Three Cripples, Rhapsody in Red, The Jolly Roger, and Guilty Pleasures will all be visited in turn. Or at least, he'll do his best to visit them all until he passes out. The only one he avoids is the Angelo. He's still pretty pissed off at Cesare. But that's hardly on his mind right now. Tonight is a night for celebrating.

Anyone he sees, unless he's currently mad at them for some reason, will be invited to join in the revelry. "C'mon! Drinks are on me tonight!" He promises. Never grow old and party hard. That's the perks of being a teenage vampire.
 

B) Let sweet death claim him. That is the thought going through Cooper's head. Why did he drink so much? Why did he ever think this was a good idea? He'd spent the first twenty four hours securely in bed with Nancy by his side and Juliet on his feet. When he woke up the next day, he was still hungover. Life was just not fair. He spent the morning drinking what felt like gallons of water until he could stand up without feeling like he was going throw up.

He had new duties as the Marquess. He's not about to give Harris an excuse to knock him back down after he just rose up. So he's got to get up and see to the human allies of the nest. So he stumbles out the door and down the street, sunglasses firmly in place. Today, he'll be less than friendly, but that's only because of the pounding going on in his head.


C) It seems to be the custom these days for someone to be knocking on Cooper's door at random hours of both the day and night. Besides Nancy coming over after the destruction of Midnight, he's become quite popular with the younger crowd of vampires. Despite being hundreds of years old and still having the form of a teenager, or perhaps because of it, they seem him as someone to turn to for advice in an ever-shifting, chaotic nest. He's more than happy to dispense advice and keep them on the right path, but he does wish they'd learn to use the phone and call in advance.

That's who he assumes is knocking on his door in the middle of the night. He heads for it, dressed in his usual getup of a T-shirt and leather jacket, with no shoes on. He opens it and the expression on his face immediately turns cold. Cesare is about the last vampire in the world he wants to see. When Cooper gets mad, he holds grudges just about forever. Before the older vampire can get out a word, Cooper slams the door shut in his face. It feels good and he plans to let Cesare sit out there and rot all night. This is his home, and this time, Cesare doesn't have his ego and territory to fall back on.

Cooper stands there for about a minute before he calms down and realizes that he should probably see why Cesare has sought him out. Cooper opens the door back up, still looking none too happy. "What do you want?"

Comments

A

[stauncherhearted]

Nancy was in her element. She lost track of how much she'd had to drink, and was well on her way to forgetting the rest of the night. She needed a chance to get out, to say fuck it, and with Cooper and the other assorted members of the supernatural community around, she had a feeling she was in pretty good hands. Besides, she wanted to drink so much she forgot who she was for a minute.

"Cooper!" She called brightly, dancing over to him at the booth in the Three Cripples. She knew there was a chance Fagin would be there, but if he showed up, well she was having a grand old time without him. Hands filled with two whiskeys, she wraps her arms around him before settling them down in front of him.

"Congratulations!" She's said it maybe twenty times, but it doesn't stop her from saying it again, kissing his cheek and leaving an imprint of bright pink lipstick. "I'm so proud of you! Now drink enough whiskey so we can dance!"

[emotioneater]

It's early enough in the night that Cooper's only got a pleasant buzz going instead of being so drop-dead drunk that he can barely remember his own name. He's got a drink in his hand that he doesn't know the name of that he's nearly done with. He had the bartender come up with special to celebrate the occasion.

He takes one of the two whiskeys from Nancy and downs part of it. He's feeling young and alive tonight. It's a good feeling after the seriousness that has come with the past few months. "This is a great night. I'm so happy, sweet-pea." He slips a hand around her waist and pulls her in close, laying a sloppy kiss on the shell of her ear. "Gimme one more whiskey 'n I'll be ready for the dance floor!"

[stauncherhearted]

Nancy's all giggles as she finds a place on his lap, wrapping her arms around his neck. They can be gross and young and in love tonight, she doesn't care. The proprietor of The Three Cripples certainly doesn't care either- he's watched Nancy grow up and is close enough with Fagin that he lets her do what she wants. If other people have a problem with it... Well, sure, she works here sometimes, but this is a private party. Aaaaand she's drunk enough that she really doesn't care about Cesare's advice or warning or anything about Cesare Borgia because he was a raging piece of shit.

In case anyone was wondering, she still had the bruise on her arm from where he had grabbed her.

"Good," she promises him. "You should be. Here!" She pushes her glass of whiskey towards him. "Drink mine! I'll get another!" There wasn't really a dance floor, but there was music, and someone was drunk enough that she didn't care. Just let her be nineteen for a night, please.

[emotioneater]

He's so glad that he has a night for Nancy to just be young and celebrate with him. After the tough time she's had lately, it feels like the least he could do to cheer her up. He takes Nancy's glass and downs the drink in three gulps, slamming it down on the table. The group of humans and vampires he's invited out, all already a little inebriated, roar with approval.

He takes Nancy by the hand and leads her to the dance floor. They soon fall into the rhythm that all those tipsy and having a good time seem to possess. "This reminds of the first time we danced." Just a little over a year and four months ago now.

[stauncherhearted]

They roar, Nancy giggles and gives him a proud kiss on the cheek, because he's her boyfriend, and he's a Marquess now and he's a big deal and she loves him.

She follows him out to the makeshift dance floor, following his lead. "You remember!" She's all smiles. That was when she'd first told him, too, what she did. He hadn't judged. He'd accepted, and paid, and here they were now. It was amazing how much had changed in a year and four months. She didn't want to think about it.

"And again at that festival by the sea!" That had been fun, dancing around the bonfire as some witches pulled out instruments, drunk and giggling. At least, that had been Nancy.

A

[vampire_barbie_girl]

Caroline was on stage when she noticed Cooper come into the club. It was nice to see a somewhat familiar face, even if they had only met that one time. She tried to keep a straight face while watching him, even though it was obvious he was drunk. Lucky for him, they didn't cut you off at Rhapsody in Red until you were pretty much on the ground.

As soon as the set was done, she walked over to say hi. "Hey," she said with a smile, "having fun?"

[emotioneater]

"Well, look who it is!" Cooper's got a group of rather drunk vampires and humans hanging about him. As for himself, Cooper has reached the part of the night where stumbling and slurred words are par for the course. He gives Caroline the once-over as she approaches the group. He saw her up there on the stage and had been an enthusiastic listener. A little too enthusiastic, judging by the glares he'd been getting from the other patrons.

"We are out celebratin' a wondrous occasion." He puffs himself up for the next part, standing up straight despite his small stature. "I've been made Marquess of Hackney!" He'll be bragging about that all night. He's done good for himself, young a vampire as he is.

[vampire_barbie_girl]

Caroline had been focused on singing and hadn't quite realized Cooper was part of the whole rowdy group. Not just part of it, leading it, apparently. She glanced around and could see a lot of annoyed faces, including those of some of her co-workers.

"Okay, well ... congratulation," she said after he told her the title. It did sound impressive. "You're not going to cause any trouble here, are you?"

[emotioneater]

"Nah. There's no one here I hate enough t'punch in the face." He was only half-joking. The tiny Marquess was a force to be reckoned with when his temper got the better of him, which happened to be more often than not. But unless someone did him an ill turn tonight, like deliberately tossing their drink on him, he was going to be dead set in party mode.

"Care t'join in for a drink or two?" He offered. "I'm buying tonight."

C for Cesare and also for Cooper. Their ship name can be CC, Coopare or Cesper. U choose.

[longterm]

Cesare has been worried about Nancy. Ever since he heard that her faction was crumbling, he wondered how it would affect her. How is she coping? Does she have somewhere to stay? What is she doing next? Unfortunately the two of them aren't exactly talking right now. Cesare needs a way to check up on her without her finding out and there's one person he can pretty much guarantee won't tell her if he asks about her: Cooper. After all, why would you tell your girlfriend that her john came to visit? It wouldn't exactly be beneficial. Besides, if anyone knows where she is, Cesare's pretty sure it would be Cooper.

So he finds himself at Cooper's house, dressed in his standard black suit getup, looking very much the London businessman, a London businessman with an absurdly expensive watch and nice shoes. He looks down to Cooper's bare feet and says nothing, though the judgement is clearly there.

"Nancy," he answers frankly, quietly amused by the double entendre in his answer, though resisting the urge to smirk. Now is not the time. And so he continues.

"I want to know that she's safe."

I vote for Cesper! Sounds like an expensive brand of socks.

[emotioneater]

Cooper has never been more thankful that his girlfriend works odd hours. She's been gone only an hour and might be gone the rest of the night. That's good for his temper. He's less likely to be looking to aggressively protect what he thinks is his when she's not around. He's also got the advantage of home turf.

"Wasn't aware you cared when she wasn't on the clock." He's still pissed off at Cesare, so he's allowed to get one or two jabs in. At least this time he isn't hitting below the belt with any snarky comments. "She's fine." Those two words couldn't have been harder to come out than if if he was having his teeth pulled.

Juliet, curious as to what the new person arrived is doing there, crosses the doorstep and heads straight for Cesare. Cooper picks the cat up and pulls her back inside the flat. If her cat gets hurt, Nancy will never forgive him. He holds the cat in his arms, scratching her behind the ears. "Don't go near him, Juliet. You'll get fleas."

It must be pronounced "Chess-purr" so nobody ever really knows how to say it. Like Charles Tyrwhitt.

[longterm]

Well, that was a cheap shot. Cesare rolls his eyes and reminds himself that he's talking to child. What Nancy sees in him, Cesare has no idea.

"I'm surprised you barely know when she is on the clock," he responds. Ok, if Cooper is going to take shots then Cesare can do it too. He's very aware that Cooper likely doesn't know that Nancy has been coming to The Angelo. Or at least was. Nancy's face when Cesare suggested they call Cooper had been confirmation enough that her visits were very much kept quiet. Cesare almost feels bad that she has to lie so regularly. It's definitely not a relationship built on honesty.

"Where is she?"

[emotioneater]

Well, he's attentive, loving, and good in bed. He has his qualities, even if nobody else ever notices them. That's why she stays with him.

"I dunno. She went out t'work about an hour ago. Can't stop business just because Sylvia 'n her cronies are rounding up every Midnight witch they can get their hands on." The frown on Cooper's face has nothing to do with Cesare right now. He's worried about Nancy being seen. Still, it might be better if she just acts as if business is the same as usual. That way she has nothing to hide. He's got enough influence that he's not so secretly put a vampire tail on her to report back if anything goes wrong.

A - For Nancy

[vampire_barbie_girl]

After spotting Cooper, Caroline wasn't too surprised to see Nancy in the group as well. Which was a little awkward, since Caroline hadn't texted or called Nancy since there first meeting, though she had thought about it. Really.

"Hey," she called out. "How are you?"

[stauncherhearted]

"Caroline!" Nancy was really drunk at this point, nearly tripping over her shoes as she made her way towards the girl. She didn't expect the other woman to text her, after their conversation, but at least she had the good graces to acknowledge her. She was forgiven, because Nancy was a drunk girl and drunk girls in good moods? Are the best.

Which is why Nancy greets her with a hug and a kiss on the cheek.

"Caroline- hiii." She's been drinking for a while at this point, and even with her tolerance, she's far more drunk than Cooper. Probably because she's human. Whoops. "Are you singing tonight? You have such a pretty voiiice"

[vampire_barbie_girl]

Caroline grinned and hugged Nancy back. Alcohol was the perfect way to getting rid of awkwardness.

"I am singing tonight, though I'm on break right now. Of course, I was singing when you guys got here but I guess you were a little uh, preoccupied?"

She glanced over at Cooper. He looked a little young for Nancy, though she knew that wasn't actually the case. Oh, to be an eternal teenager ... she expected it might annoy her one day.

"So, look at you two, out together. I thought you said that didn't happen much?"

[stauncherhearted]

A little young? Oh don't say that, don't even think it, she's going to have a panic attack about it when she turns 20 and she really tries to avoid thinking that whenever possible. Just don't talk about it. Ever.

"Oh! I didn't notice!" She lets go of the girl she is now bffs with for the night. "It doesn't! Special occasion- he got a promotion! A big one. A real big important one! So we're celebrating!" Celebrate with her, Caroline!

b)

[iustitiae]

"Gatorade?" Connor asks as the obviously hungover vampire stumbles on by. He shakes a bottle in his hand, holding it out for him. It's a nice change - Connor dressed to the nines, ready for work, briefcase in hand like he's a Real Person With His Shit Together, while Cooper is the one disheveled and hating life.

"Tastes better than pickle juice and about a hundred times more effective."

[emotioneater]

Cooper would say something sarcastic, but considering he still feels like he's five seconds away from puking, he'll settle for grabbing the drink away from Connor. He takes a tentative sip. When his stomach doesn't immediately rebel, he takes a longer one.

"Thank you, Fuzzy," he says, peering at the werewolf over the edges of his sunglasses. Now that he has something in his stomach, he feels more like himself. "I'd give you a doggie biscuit, but I'm fresh out."

[iustitiae]

"It's fine," he'd be more offended by what Cooper says but he's oddly starting to get used to it now he knows he can't expect any better. Instead he quips back, "Hot date last night?"

[emotioneater]

"Nah." Nancy had passed out well before anything like that could happen. "Celebration. You are lookin' at the brand-new Marquess of Hackney." Despite the hangover, he still finds it in himself to puff up proudly. Not bad for a poor Irish revolutionary who should have died a couple of centuries ago.

A

[loveconquersdinosaurs]

Thomas had been out at a bar himself, doing his usual rounds of drinking and flirting with strangers in search of potential meals, when Cooper made his announcement.

"Well," Thomas said, approaching Cooper with a smile on his face, "You're in an incredibly good mood tonight."

And he couldn't say he saw that too often. Of course, that was because he usually saw Cooper during territory disputes, and most of their other encounters were when Thomas was in the process of doing something stupid.

[emotioneater]

"'ey there, pretty boy! How goes the regrowin' of the hair?" Cooper slurs, his Irish accent a little thicker than usual thanks to the alcohol. He thumps Thomas on the shoulder. He means it to be friendly, but it's hard enough to make the other's knees buckle, forgetting his strength for a moment.

"Pick yer poison 'n join in the fun. We're celebratin'!" He's got an empty glass in his hand, but it won't stay that way for long. He's already heading back to the bar for another round.

[loveconquersdinosaurs]

Thomas stumbles a bit with the slap, catching himself on one of the tables. Well, between that and the comment, he could tell Cooper was certainly drunk, which was quite a feat for a vampire. Not that it bothered him that much, as he figured the older vampire had simply forgotten his own strength, and Thomas regained his composure.

"It's...growing back. Not that I'm willing to going without the wig yet, of course. Long flowing locks are far nicer to look at than a mere three inches of hair, though at least it's more likely to be a consideration than when the incident initially happened."

He wouldn't even consider trying to find a meal without a wig when he was bald. Thomas headed back to the bar with Cooper, ordering a beer.

"So what's the occasion?"

[emotioneater]

It was best not to ask how much Cooper has already had to drink. The amount could have drowned a small country. "Psh, if I looked the way you do, I could get anyone I wanted, hair be damned." Is it strange that it's probably the nicest thing he's ever said to Thomas?

Cooper orders a boilermaker, dropping the whiskey in straight off. Oh, he is going to have such a headache tomorrow. But right now, he doesn't care. "You're lookin' at the new Marquess of Hackney. I am now offically a grand poobah."