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Late night in New York city and the city truly does live up to its name. Deep in the upper West side and down a set of steps there's a club that's happening with music that shakes the streetlights when the door is opened and within is strong enough to make conversation difficult at times. There are bright lights and colors flashing across the walls, people moving with the ebb and flow of the crowd, and drinks are being served steadily while a good chunk of the population is indulging in other ways to get a decent high.
This time of the night it's an eclectic group. There are artists, and hippies, and musicians, people who take part in the culture and people who just want to observe. Around the club there are a myriad of tables and booths and bean bags thrown on the floor. At various places people are curled up together, making out, and more. While in others deep philosophy is discussed and mind-altering experiences enjoyed. It's amongst a crowd of other people from the school that Louis King finds himself, gesturing as he speaks to those around him, seemingly holding court as he dispenses what passes for wisdom.
"It simply speaks of a lack of conviction. Peaceful assembly is perfectly well and good in certain times. But during such a time of injustice one does not have the luxury to indulge in such." He clucks his tongue as he speaks to another professor, even as a few students are there too, his words being absorbed as if they were dropping from the Buddha's mouth. "You'll see in perhaps a few years time there will be such a tumult."
A young woman steps past him and kisses his cheek, to which he returns the kiss as if saying goodbye as she gets up. "I'll get us some more drinks." She steps away.
*
Jubilee is starting to step out into the world, after being cooped up in school for years. Not that it wasn't a welcome experience, but a change of pace is nice. She finds this club, and steps on in. The exotic foreigner most everywhere she goes, even in New York City, she probably gets a little attention as she stesps into the cub proper, and gets her bearings.
*
Indeed, those in the club respond. It's a good atmosphere, there's a thick smell of smoke in the air, regular and otherwise. When she wanders into the large room with the many alcoves and conversation nooks, those she passes by give her a glance over and a smile. It's not long before someone offers her a drink in passing, something akin to punch or sangria. Still the music plays, still the noise of the music and crowd is there. Though the group of college people over in the corner seem a little out of place. Particularly the tall man in the grey suit.
*
Jubilee swivels a hip a few times as she walks by one group or another gawking at her. She's used to it, snickers as she's stared at. Especially her eyes, well, and everything else, but her eyes get an inordinate amount of staring. Not looking at her, but clearly wondering about her eyes. But again, she's used to it, sos he just takes the offered drink, swirls it in her hand, then takes a slow sip. She wanders past the private groups, and to where the college kids seem to be, checking them out.
*
There are a handful of older people, they look like they're in their thirties. Two of them are curled up together, a young couple who apparently have had a good amount to drink and are nibbling on each other. There's another woman, perhaps a professor herself as she listens attentively to everything the tall man in the grey suit seems to be saying. And there's a small gaggle of younger people listen, probably students from Columbia that are following along with what Louis is saying.
"Of course the question you should ask yourself, is where you will be when matters become most dire." As he says this the others nod along with him, perhaps seemingly entranced by the man's words. But then when Jubilee steps near he glances towards her and offers her an easily given smile, "Is there anymore of that brandy from the bar, love?" His accent is clean, very British of him.
*
Jubilee puts a hand on the wall here in the corner, using her free hand to cradle her drink. Relaxing already, in this enhanced air, and with this drink, she flashes a grin and laughs. "I just got here, sorry. I don't know what they have, and i'm just drinking what I was given." Looking over everyone listening, she notices that the younger ones are listening, so she begins looking over the older ones, eventually settling upon the solo man who's clearly doing the talking.
*
Jubilee says "This isn't a class lecture is it?"
*
The other professor seems to jump at the chance, "I'll get it for you, Louis. One moment." And she's up and off, moving through the throng of people heading towards the bar. As the conversation ends that particular phase, the students turn towards each other and start discussing their own ideas on what was said. With the other couple making out, that leaves Louis' attention given to Jubilee alone for the moment.
"I don't believe so," He spares a glance one way, then the other, an eyebrow quirking curiously. "Though I do suppose I bring something of my work home with me day to day." Those green eyes meet hers, "And you are?"
*
Jubilee takes another drink, slow and careful, not wanting to spill of course. She then takes a half step closer, taking a breath through her nose, and laughs "Call me Jube. I don't think I'm going to go to college. I uh, I have a job." She looks around at how everyone's off uh, doing their things, and snickers before checking out the professor again. "You?"
*
"Oh I have a job, too." He tells her, deliberately misinterpreting her question as he tilts his head to the side, his expression vaguely amused and somehow seemingly above it all as he adds, "And what is it you consider your job, Jube?" He asks this even as he settles back in the beanbag chair that he's using as a seat, spreading his arms along the back of it and looking positively decadent as he considers her.
*
Jubilee snickers, and then looks around for a seat she can use as well, even if leaning is comfortable enough in this conversation. But she then sips again, and grins "I guess, uh, a social worker. I helpe people in trouble. But not tonight. Tonight I kind of am trouble."
*
"Why is that?" He asks her, feigning ignorance as he crosses one leg over the other, his arms folding over his chest as he cants his head to the side curiously. Some of the students look over at her and one looks at her curiously, another sort of snickers but it's not out of malice, perhaps more at her comment. As for Louis he looks up just in time as the older woman returns, extending him a small cocktail glass filled with a caramel coloured liquor.
He thanks her for it, and smiles, "Ms. Wayne. It seems this young lady is trouble tonight."
"Oh dear," Ms. Wayne responds.
*
Jubilee gives Ms. Wayne a wave with her liquor-holding hand, then takes another drink. Glancing at the woman, then looking at the man again with a great amount of interest. "Well not bad trouble, more like um, you know, I'm just cutting lose tonight."
*
"Ah, is that so?" Louis seems to consider this thought deeply, then gives a solemn nod. "Arthur?"
At the sound of his name one of the young students sits up, "Yes, sir?"
"Arthur, this young lady feels like cutting loose tonight," The man with the green eyes looks back towards her and gets a wry half-smile, "Would you feel comfortable in helping her do so? You do find her attractive, do you not?"
Arthur, a tan sandy blonde young man of perhaps twenty looks like he's straight off of the ad for a beach blanket bingoish movie. He gives Jubilee a once-over and smiles back towards the professor. "Sure thing, professor. She seems pretty groovy."
"Excellent."
*
Jubilee snickers at that, assuming it's some sort of big joke. The girl then downs the rest of her drink, and looks around for someplace to put the killed glass before, well, she sees Arthur looking at her, and coming her way. She then snorts in disbelief, a smile on her face, and looks to the older man again. "I don't know what school this is but it's not one I've ever heard of."
*
"Pity you won't be going to University then, isn't it Jubilee?" As he says this he lifts a hand to wave towards the newly created couple, even as Arthur steps up to her and extends his hand, offering her a smile as he says, "C'mon. I've got this great stuff you can try. It's craaazy."
As easily as that, Louis turns away, letting her have her time with Arthur as he shifts his attention back to his little intellectual crowd and casually begins the conversation again, but this time embarking on a different approach. But luckily it'll leave Jubilee enough time to get acquainted with terribly pretty Arthur.
*
Jubilee isn't sure what to make of this, so much so that she's distracted from the fact that he used her code name like that. She does take a few moments to uh, well, to spend some quality time with Arthur. His hands all over her, a special smoke put into her mouth for a few puffs. But eventually she makes her way back toward Louis. Standing with him again, Arthur holding her to his chest, she laughs "So what's your name anyway, professor?"
*
When she returns some of the other people have already departed. Louis is gaining his feet and patting the pockets of his jacket as if looking for something… it's only when he finds his lighter that it becomes apparent what for. He smiles and ruffles a young woman's hair before he turns away and starts to head out, but he's stopped in time by Jubilee. "Hm?"
For a moment the way he looks at her it's almost as if he'd forgotten her, but then he glances at Arthur and seems to remmeber. "Oh. I'm King. Louis King." At that he smiles easily enough. "But I'm afraid I'm much too old to be out so late." His lip quirks, "Good night." As he starts to step past her.
*
Jubilee bites her lip and lets out a surprised gasp, looking back to Arthur with a smirk. Then to the professor, she laughs "Well, Louis King… talk again sometime? You seem to be as much trouble as I want to be."
*
"If you like," He steps backwards for a few moments as he reaches the edge of the crowd. Those eyes drift from each of the people he'd been speaking with before, offering a small wave as a token of his departure. "I'm around… and people know how to find me." His lip curves again and then he turns. A few moments later and he's gone into the crowd.
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