Reservations

[Rowan Finnegan]

Maman Marie Mayfaire
Front Counter Attendant

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Marius sighed. "She did it because I had almost gained the courage to do what I had to do! To place them both and myself in the sun and finish forever what the Egyptian Elder had sought to do - rid the world of the King and Queen and all the fanged men and women who glut themselves on death! Oh, she is too clever!"

Marie giggled with delight as she read through Anne Rice's novel, Pandora. What words this woman wove - oh! - they were divine! And that Marius? A sexy beast to be sure, but if Marie were Pandora, she woulda kicked him out on his pale behind faster than you could say 'what for.'

Marie had been working her way through The Vampire Chronicles for the sixteenth time, thank you very much, and they got better and better with each read. She'd have to pick up the Mayfair Witch books soon, if only because they shared the same last name! How Marie wished Anne's words were true. If they had been, then Marie herself would probably be a powerful sorceress, just like her mistress, Rowan. That would be something. If Marie could control the five elements with a thought, she wouldn't have to work here. She could start her own bar and it would be so much more tasteful than this place. Rowan was a nice child, to be sure, but she had such a loud taste when it came to decorations and furniture. Were this place Marie's she would start by getting rid of that awful Carousel room, that was just too much. If this were Marie's place, why she would -

"Like the number," Esteban said jokingly to one of the new customers. Marie shook her head and rolled her eyes. She put Anne away beneath the counter and stood up from her stool, grabbing her walking cane in the process. The gnarled old woman walked up to the man called Seven and gave him the up and down.

"Well, well, well, ain't you a looker, now?" Maman Marie said to Seven, squinting up into his face, "Rowan woulda just gobbled you up if she hadn't run off with that Armande fellow. Looked like trouble, if you ask me, but you didn't and I'm tellin' ya anyway. You can do that when you get to be my age, child."

She shooed Esteban off and turned back to Seven, "Reservations you said? Well, I better get to work and earn my Ruble..."

Marie called Esteban, who was now looking harassed, back over, and got the reservation information from his dingy little clipboard.

"Yes, yes, right this way, cutie. You got guests joinin' ya?" Marie chattered away amicably without waiting for his responses - she was just happy to have a listening ear - as she hobbled into the Seance Room, assuming that Seven followed, "I'll be your date tonight if you ain't got one!"

Marie howled with laughter as she found the table reserved for the handsome man, calling for some servers to pull his chair out for him. She laid the menu out for him and awaited his pleasure.