The inside of the pub was already alive, and it wasn't even six yet. The place drew all types... factory workers, businessmen, housewives, criminals. The drinks were decent, the food was better, and the music was the best live sound you'd find within a several block radius. 

It was Friday, and people were getting drunk. Paychecks had been cashed, clothes had been changed, and it was time to shed off the week. Chelsea squeezed between two people at the bar and signalled for a beer. There wasn't a lot of choice, here- you were getting whatever happened to come out of the tap, a tap that could be quickly unscrewed and tossed away in the rare instance of a bust. There were cops in here, too, but once you got into Freya's, your occupation was left at the door.

The beer was cold, and Chelsea had downed half of it before reaching out to grab a pretzel from a nearby dish of them on the bar. The next time the bartender was in earshot, she could order the burger basket. She wasn't really paying much attention, her mind on the fun little encounter back at @Keats ' bookstore, and that assistant of his that had sparked an odd interest in her. Just as her hand touched the bowl, it touched another hand. 

She looked up, and found herself face to face with @Aurora_Mastrosimone , whom she didn't know personally, but had immense respect for. The woman was a legend in mafia circles, and the stories surrounding her were boundless, incredible, and awe-inspiring. Chelsea believed half of them, but even half meant you nodded your respect, which she did.

"Excuse me," she said, pulling her hand back. The last rumor was that Aurora had been pregnant, but a quick glance at her figure told Chelsea that the pregnancy was another rumor, or that the baby was already here. What she'd just said seemed lame, and an opportunity was sitting there, waiting.

"Can I buy you a drink? You've probably got a half-dozen complimentaries lined up, paid and waiting," she laughed. "Chelsea Uccello. You're Mrs. Mastrosimone, right?"

Aurora smiled brightly letting her smile touch upon the corners of her amber eyes.

"Gin."  She said to the other woman in the way of naming her drink.

"You overestimate how many friends I have, Ms. Uccello and please, Aurora is just fine."  She popped a pretzel into her mouth, chewing and swallowing before speaking up.

"I don't think we've run into each other before, you a friend of some of my friends?"  she asked the generically vague 'are you a gangster' question.  Aurora often found these things to be silly but there really was no polite way to ask if someone was a career criminal or if maybe they knew you from somewhere else.

"Or maybe you do business with my husband, Billy?"

"I'm... not sure which mutual friends we might have, but I suspect we have several," she hedged with a knowing smile. She could see the bartender approaching out of the corner of her eye, and motioned at him. He either didn't see, or was too busy to care, so Chelsea leaned into the bar a bit more and snatched him by the wrist. He looked down at it, annoyed, then back up again, him mouth opening to utter a curse when he saw something in her eyes that drained the color from his face. 

"Y- yeah?"

"The lady here would like a gin. I'd like another beer, and a burger basket." She turned to ask Aurora if she wanted the same, but the band had fired back up, and the sound of her voice was swallowed. Turning back to the bartender, she yelled "TWO", then let go of him. He backpedaled away, fast. 

The drinks arrived first, and Chelsea raised hers to clink a 'cheers' with Aurora's, waiting out the song so she wouldn't have to yell a conversation.

Unfortunately, this meant she was drinking more, and faster, on a still-empty stomach. A warm feeling spread through her gut as a pleasant tingle rose up her spine. Finally, the song died away and she could speak again. 

"Mom's night out?" She asked, then regretted it. If the pregnancy was a rumor, or worse, had ended poorly, she would look like a complete ass. She tried to add more to her statement, halfway burying what'd she'd just said, just in case. 

"I'm new to the area, myself. Been trying to familiarize myself with the city. Somehow, I keep ending up in bars!"

Aurora chuckled.  Chelsea wasn't the first person to know more about her life than she knew about theirs.  It was the hazard of being Aurora.  She didn't lament it, she just accepted it. 

"Yes."  she admitted taking the gin from the bartender, "I love my kids, really I do, but it's absolutely necessary to get out from time to time or I might turn into the world's worst human being."

She raised her glass to the other woman, "To touring the city's underground bar circuit and mom's night out!"  Aurora drank from her gin glass.  

"So, where the hell are you from?  You said you're new to town.  I mean... if you're exploring alone maybe I could help you see the sights tonight.  I... um... don't exactly have company unless you count Neil over there."  She nodded towards a lone mook of nearing fifty years old.  A Midwesterner who looked built like a house of bricks - but maybe a little on the slow side?

"I promise he won't get underfoot though.  He's damn good at his job.  Just here to make sure that I can have a good time without constantly looking over my shoulder."

"Have you had the burgers here yet?  They're fucking heavenly.  Granted they're not the best.  There's this little place in South Philly that..."  She stopped herself and took a drink of gin.  "You know what, fuck Philly.  Detroit is a real great town.  You're gonna love it here!"

Kates had returned to the bookstore to find Mister Keats snoring in his bed. The chestnut haired young woman had tossed a sheet over him and, with a sigh, returned to her work cleaning the business that would become the bookstore she'd been hired to work at. When she'd reached the counter, however, she found a note from the woman she'd seen with Mister Keats, although "seen" seemed like a bit of an understatement. Chelsea. 

Initially, Kates had tossed the note aside, but as she continued sweeping and sort the store, she found herself glancing that way more frequently. She doubted that a woman like Chelsea would want a kid tagging a long- but then she immediately chastised herself. She was an adult, even if she didn't precisely feel like one here in Detroit. Back at home-

And just like that, all the memories of her father came rushing back. Kates' lip quivered just for a moment before she distracting herself by sorting some books. She had to be strong. 

But it was hard to be strong when you were alone. 

She glanced at the note again. Chelsea had invited her, hadn't she? Kates suspected that the woman was just being polite or perhaps had only expected her to come along with Mister Keats. In a moment of impulse, Kates dropped the broom, snatched up the note, and headed toward the door.

_______

Ninety percent of Kates' wardrobe was what she spitefully called "working clothes": pants and shirts made of tough fabrics that could handle the cleaning and organizing work that she did for Mister Keats without ripping or tearing. They were the clothes that she didn't care about getting dirty. When it came to "non-working clothes", the young woman had only a single outfit, one she'd purchased for her interviews at the libraries where she'd tried to get a job. She also hoped to wear it for any social occasions but, in retrospect, that had hurt her in her interviews; she couldn't resist something that leaned much more social than professional. And she'd thought about returning it, but she couldn't bring herself to do it. What could she say? She loved the dress. 

The dress was a dark grey, with black lines on the collar, the wrists, and the hem. There was also a white pattern crisscrossing each shoulder. Kates had an hourglass figure, and she enjoyed the way that the dress clung to her curves, although when she unexpectedly put it on that night she said a small prayer of thanks that she'd had to skip lunch. Her favorite part of the outfit, however, was the boots. She'd emptied her savings account for them, and she hadn't regretted it for a second: they were black leather, heeled, and reached her knees. With the dress falling to her mid-thigh, it made for a striking combination.

Taking a deep breath, she appraised herself in the mirror. She'd left her chestnut hair down, where it fell just past her shoulder, more wavy than straight- just the way she liked it. Studying herself, Kates felt her confidence surge for the first time in a couple days. She knew she looked good, and she definitely didn't look like a kid. Slipping a switchblade into her purse, just in case, she left her tiny bedroom above the bookstore; Keats' and Tibbs' doors were both closed, so it didn't seem like anyone would be joining her and Chelsea for dinner. With a grin, she crept out of the bookstore down the fire escape, just in case those thugs were loitering outside again. 

_______

The pub was lively- not just busy, but pulsing with life. It was intoxicating, especially for a young woman who'd gotten too used to being surrounded by dusty books. It was easy to locate Chelsea; just follow the eyes of the men, and it was inevitable, thought Kates, not noticing that she'd attracted more than a few glances her way as well. Forcing her most confident smile, Kates walked toward the bar... and no one noticed her. Well, the brunette that Chelsea was talking to noticed her, although that seemed more "threat assessment" than friendly. And a couple guys at the bar noticed her. But Chelsea didn't, so she tapped the blonde lightly on the shoulder, readying her smile.

"Hi. Chelsea. It's Kates, from earlier..."

Oh God. She forced her way through her verbal shuffling and grinned.

"I saw your note and I thought it might be fun to get out. If you'd just intended that for Mister Keats, of course, then obviously not a problem!"

I'll just slink off to that corner and die. 

Feeling like she was up against the wall, Kates flashed her best smile: the one where the gleam in her eyes outshone the whiteness of her teeth. It'd been her go to whenever she needed a favor from anyone, and God knew that if anyone deserved a lucky break right now it was her. Well, at least she hoped He knew that.

Fawn had gotten the message from Aurora. An invitation to come out and drink. To feel alive. Something the poor girl didn't, the shock from the whole Las Vegas ordeal hadn't left her. She was new to the game. A scrape that close to death left her skittish, scared. In fact, she'd considered not even coming out tonight, to cut ties with everything related to the family, to crime, to everything. But she had gotten her feet wet, and that wasn't an option anymore. So Fawn got dressed up in a pretty little green dress, tamed her hair enough to let it hang in fancy curls, and put on a light face of makeup. 

--

The place wasn't hard to find, despite being an underground bar hidden in back alleys and storefronts. Freya's was popular amongst every crowd. All you had to do was ask anyone and they'd know where to find it. Fawn clutched a thin wad of cash, enough for drinks and a cheap meal. She looked around the bar desperately searching for a familiar face. There! At the bar, Aurora with two other ladies. Pretty, both of them. They sparked Fawn's interest. 

Quickly she made her way across the crowded bar, settling into a stool near the group. "Hello Aurora, and companions. I'm Fawn, an associate of Miss Mastrosimone." Ever formal. She had immense respect for the wife of Billy. It was hard not to stare in awe still. She had it made, Aurora. Fawn waved over the bartender, batting her eyelashes as she ordered a whiskey if they had it. The rat of a man nodded and scurried off to go retrieve the drink. Meanwhile, the girl reached over to grab a snack from one of the baskets, not bothering to look what it was. "Am I too late for the party?"

"Philly! Haven't had the pleasure yet, but I've lived nearly everywhere else. Vegas, Chicago, here in Detroit very briefly, Seattle. Back here again now after a brutal divorce, and wow, has it changed! I'm a tourist all over again," she said. 

"And the burgers here, you are absolutely correct, they are divine!" And need to get here faster, because I think I'm drunk, she thought to herself. The last thing she needed to do was make an ass of herself in front of someone as influential as the amber-eyed woman in front of her. The burgers arrived, and hers had barely hit the bar before Chelsea greedily snatched up some fries and shoved them in her mouth.

"I'm sorry," she said, waving her greasy fingers around and grabbing a napkin. Once she had it up in front of her mouth, she continued. "I haven't eaten since I don't know when and I'm absolutely starv-"

Over Aurora's shoulder, a woman approached. Chelsea did a double-take. Was that...

"Kates?!" She swallowed, hard. Gone was the meek little shop clerk she'd met just an hour ago. Kates strode to the bar on heeled boots any woman would kill for, wrapped in a mid-thigh dress that accentuated every asset that had been so well hidden before. 

"Holy crap. You look beautiful," she breathed. "Oh, um. Aurora Mastrosimone, this is Kates. I don't recall if I know Kates' last name, we only just...met...very recently. Actually I'm assuming, here, you may already know each other?" She asked, then grabbed her beer and drank. Was that even the same girl? The sensation on her spine intensified. 

Just as she began to collect her senses, another woman approached, this one a striking vision in green, accentuated with curling red hair that made you want to reach out and touch it, spun fire that didn't burn you. Chelsea glanced around the bar; it had quieted a good bit, and it seemed to be their group that had caused it. An exceptionally large number of male eyes were staring at them now, and a good share of female ones, as well. The newcomer addressed herself as Fawn, an associate of Aurora's, then ordered a drink. 

"Never too late," she managed to say. Her IQ points were lowering, fast. Out of the corner of her eye, she could see a couple of the men edging closer. "Chelsea. Nice to meet you, Fawn," she said, her eyes dancing between Aurora, Kate, and Fawn.

Good Lord, was something in the water, here? 

"Fawn!"  Aurora exclaimed brightly, thankful for a friendly face.  Music erupted throughout the room just then as someone produced and turned on a radio.  A ruckus cheer erupted from the crowd as men grabbed the hands of their best girls to dance.

Aurora hugged her friend and kissed both her cheeks.  "Fawn, as my new friend says... this is Chelsea and this is her friend Kates."  She turned then to Kates and smiled brightly, "Good to know ya, Kates!"

She chuckled to Chelsea's question, "Afraid I don't know Kates just yet but hopefully by the end of the night I will.  Whatcha drinking Kates?  You too, Fawn, whatcha having?  My treat!"

Aurora was all too aware of the fact that she was shit for making friends, the one standby she always had was using her money to at least open doors to friendly conversations.  People tended to forgive a lot of stupid shit that came out of your mouth if you were the one buying the drinks.

Lifting her hand she waved over the bartender and when he came over she slipped him a respectably large bill, "A down payment for good service tonight!  See that my friends don't get thirsty.  I've got the tab."  She gave a wink to the ladies.  

"I LOVE THIS SONG!"  She said as a new song started.  Aurora's foot tapped madly.  She wanted to dance so damn badly - how fucking long had it been since she cut a proper rug?

Kates smiled politely as Fawn-Romano and Cleo joined Aurora_Mastrosimone and ChelseaUccello. On the one hand, having more people around was more intimidating; it was harder to really get to know someone in a group. But she'd come out hoping to make a damn friend, and so she was ultimately happy to have as many people join as possible. 

She'd moved closest to Chelsea when she'd approached the bar; after all, Chelsea was the only woman that she knew. Kates could feel Chelsea's eyes on her, and she beamed at the compliments. 

"MacLeod. Kates MacLeod."

Kates had said it instinctively, but only chastised herself slightly after doing so. Her father had been dead for weeks, and surely no one wanting to extend their revenge would be here in Detroit with her.

She smiled at the friendly greeting from Aurora, who she'd just been introduced to. The woman certainly seemed lively. And, well, Kates had been introduced as "Chelsea's friend Kates"... so that meant mission accomplished, right? At least one friend. She grinned, though her expression faltered somewhat as Aurora mentioned drinks. There was nothing stopping her from drinking, but she still felt a little strange. After all, these people were still strangers... even Chelsea, really.

Kates smiled nervously at the bartender, "Uh, a water is just fine for me."

“It’s great to meet you Kates!  Are you a local? Just passing through or new to town?” Aurora waive the bartender over, “My new friend is having a water.”

”McLeod that’s a Scottish name is yes?  I haven’t had the occasion to know many Scotsmen, but from what I’m told they are incredibly forthright and steadfasr friends to have, so it’s very good to know you.”

Kates accepted her water with a polite smile, but seemed to inwardly promise herself that she'd try at least one drink before the evening ended. Turning to Aurora_Mastrosimone, Kates answered the questions clearly and directly. The longer she was in the bar, the more comfortable she felt.

"I'm a local now, yes. Just moved into the city recently, trying to find my way. But I've got a good job, so that's a start, right?"

She grinned.

"MacLeod is Scottish, yes, but it's been generations since my family was there. I don't even know how long, really. But my father is- was a forthright and steadfast man, so that part seems true at least! It's good to know you as well. Good to know all of you. It's tough making friends in a new city."

"You got a job already?  Damn good for you.  These days it's not easy to find work out there.  Whatcha do?"  Aurora asked Kates.  She then noticed Cleo having joined the group and gave her a wave.

"I work at a bookstore- well, one that should be opening in a week or two. That's how I met ChelseaUccello. She..."

Kates paused, taking a sip of water and smirking at the blonde.

"... is friendly with the owner."

Chelsea didn't waste time or effort blushing, she just grinned over the lip of her pint glass like the cat who'd eaten the canary. Standing was a risk; if they left their seats, they'd likely lose them, but she needed to move. 

Standing, she grabbed the two closest hands and pulled them towards the floor, simply assuming the rest would follow suit. Without missing a beat, she turned around once there to find she'd dragged a surprised Cleo and a terrified Kates into the pack of moving bodies. Over the sea of heads, she could just spot Aurora-Mastrosimone and Fawn-Romano pressing into the crowd behind them.

"Just move, no one cares, no one's looking!" She yelled over the band at a now-mortified Kates. Not exactly true, because a flock of women dancing together always pulled a lot of attention, but the girl looked like she needed to let go, just a little. Chelsea threw her hands over her head and started moving her hips, a huge smile plastered to her face.

Kates had just put down her water when Chelsea took her hand. The wide-eyed Kates was dragged onto the dance floor, looking around for an escape route by finding none. Suddenly surrounded by a crush of people and music, she sincerely regretted not trying a more adventurous drink. 

"Just move, no one cares, no one's looking!" 

"I care!" protested Kates, "and I have no idea what I'm doing!"

Kates looked at Chelsea moving her hips and, for a moment, she tried to copy the blonde before she stopped. Chelsea could tell that the girl was psyching herself out. The blonde disappeared into the crowd and returned with a glass of clear liquid. Feeling warm, Kates downed it and spent the next thirty seconds coughing.

"That," she said when she finally regained her voice, "was not water!"

"I didn't say it was!" chimed in Chelsea with a grin. "Now loosen up and I'll show you a couple things?"

Kates blinked, but... that must have been vodka... she felt a pleasant warmth within her. Trying to focus on Chelsea and the rest of the small group, Kates did her best to copy them.

Her heart beat fast as Garth pulled up to the designated bar where Kat had happily agreed to meet her sister for the very first time.  Firmly wiping her damp palms upon the seat she sat upon, she heard a soft chuckle from beside her.  "Katherine Pryde...  You will walk into fire fight if called to do so without so much as flinching.  You're going to meet your sister not your maker."

Kat straightened up a tad and shot her bodyguard a glare, but sighed, smiling gently to him. "I know Garth...  I should have known her since we were small Garth.  I didn't even know I had a sister...  But now..."​ She sighed gently but Garth reached over to grip her shoulder.  She smiled as she reached up to lay a hand over his. ​​​​​​​"Thanks...  I'll try not to be forever.  Go get yourself something to eat and take your time.  I'll be safe in there...  Promise."  Her eyes glittered softly and at first it looked as if Garth would object, but he would finally nod. 

He honestly wasn't sure why he continued to let her do these things unaccompanied.  She had almost gotten killed a number of times and every time it was when she managed to get out of his sight.  He sighed gently but nodded.  "As you wish Boss."

"Don't call me that."  She stated softly but she knew it was a lost cause, just as making him stop worrying about her tended to be.  But she sighed and reached for the handle of the door.  "Wish me luck man."  She smiled cheekily at him before stepping out.  She carefully smoothed out her lovely royal blue dress. She closed her eyes quietly for a moment before as she sought to gather herself.  She had this.  This...  Social thing.

Finally before she could change her mind, she stepped through the door and her heart stopped.  Eyes wide, she gazed around her.  The area was a mass of people.  Music wafted through the area and the people moved as if they were one organism.  So many people packed into one place and she near lost her nerve.  How in the world could she find her sister when she wasn't even entirely sure what she looked like.  So many people...  Her heart began to race faster as she continued to look around.  Finally she drew a deep breath.  "You got this Kat.  You fearlessly run into firefights.  No one is even fighting here."  She mumbled softly before carefully weaving her way through the crowds.  She found it to be a mixed blessing that she decided to wear her tall slender heels.  They made her at least close to average height and not feel like a child among all these people.  Her heels clicked merrily upon the ground, but the sound was lost amidst the ambient sound of the bar.  

The bar.  That's where she should head.  Perhaps she would find them there...  She saw a growing group of ladies and she drew a deep breath before quietly requesting a glass of rum and coke.  That had been quite the amazing drink that she had discovered not long ago.  Getting up her gumption, she walked up to the group smiling sweetly to whoever might meet her eye.  "Hello there! It seems the party is over here, may I join you?"

Another woman Chelsea didn't recognize came through the doors and approached the bar. Chelsea wouldn't have paid that much attention to anyone entering, but the closer the woman got to Aurora_Mastrosimone , the more obvious the resemblance between the two women became. Related, she was sure of it, but before she could think on it more, Kates bumped up against her on the packed floor. Without thinking, Chelsea wrapped a hand around her waist and matched the sway of her hips, the two of them synchronized to the beat, now. The girl still looked halfway passed mortified, but Chelsea just grinned at her. 

"Okay, NOW a few may be watching," she leaned over and said. There were a handful of men along the edge of the floor that were paying some attention, and when Kates turned to look over her shoulder, Chelsea quickly patted her on the butt. Before Kate's could think to react, Chelsea leaned in again. 

"They won't bother you now. I just claimed you," she said, still grinning.

Kates smiled at Chelsea, surprised but feeling more comfortable than she had before. No, a night to just dance and have fun... that was exactly what the doctor ordered. She smiled at the newcomers, welcoming them into the circle as she strongly considered another drink- this time, an intentional one.