voyagers | ♬ karaoke party ♪

“Welcome to Caritas!”

That’s what you’ll hear when you make your way down the stairs into the Karaoke Club. Dark and atmospheric, with glowing tables and a stage that faces the bar, if the sights don’t make it obvious this is a karaoke bar, the crooner up on the stage will.

He’s dressed to the nines in a cream suit, deep purple shirt shining under it as he belts away, welcoming you in. He apologizes for the intrusion, but it seems the ship wanted more than just his beautiful, sultry voice.

“My name’s Lorne, and I’ll be your host for tonight! So hit the bar and drink in your courage, Sailors. Because you might not be able to leave until you give us a show!” That's all he gives you before slipping into what he thinks is a pretty appropriate tune for the occasion.

If you didn’t come here by choice, hopefully Lorne’s words will give you a hint? The ship is hungry for bad belting. For some, the door will reappear after they chirp a few bars. For others, a few songs are required.

Some people have even gone up, struck with the strong feeling that they must do so, even if they’d been railing against singing at all just a minute ago. The ship just really wants everyone to sing and enjoy themselves, OK?

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Lorne's always hanging around, whether it's at the bar or on the side of the stage. Other permanents include the general air of near-judginess on his face masked by a half-grin and a drink that's always at least half full in his hand.

Sometimes, his hips sway from side to side and others, he's just trying to block it all out and just get through the next stanza without his ears bleeding. But this is his element, and he's happy to mingle, chat, and be of general service. Whether that's being on the opposite end of a good rant about not being able to leave, or something a little deeper.

Being an empath demon gives him a little insight to the world when it's not singing. And when it does sing, it's like inviting Lorne into your home (if you had one) to rummage through all your things, if your things were materialized memories, feelings, and destiny. And for some people that's a handy skill. Especially for people who are lost and looking for answers.

Something fun and magical is going down on the boat again, and Helen is all over it. Because lounging about all day getting burned in the sun gets pretty boring after a while, and she needs to find something to fill her time before the door lets her return back home again.

So, there is a tiny teenage Angel of Death skulking around, half-transfixed by the singing, half-cringing when the performer hits a bum note. She sidles up to the bar and gives a curious look to the green-skinned man in a pretty fabulous get up. She's missed his intro, but she suspects he might have something to do with this place - she's never seen him around before.

"Ummm... this place doesn't have a, like... 'no minors' rule, right?"

Please say no. Please say no. Please say no.

"Minors?" Lorne whirls around enough to nearly slosh his drink out of its glass. His eyes are relatively bugged, mouth agape, the standard fare of someone caught completely unawares. Which is something this demon is unused to.

Then he just blinks some more. Because while he requires a song to fully read someone, his abilities of empathy still retain some power without one. And there's something decidedly different about this little danish.

"Well, how old are you, Cupcake?"

Helen is definitely different. She's not human for one, probably something Lorne's never ever come across before. Universes can be interesting like that. "How old? I'm sixteen." she says with a small smile. "And a bit."

Yeaaaaah, she knows bars are no-no's for people her age. But this boat is special. Normal rules don't really apply here, right?

"I pinky promise to only drink lemonade all night if I can stay." she assures him with a winning smile. "I don't even like booze, I've never even had it before but I'm pretty sure I won't even like it.. so..."

And now there is puppy eyes. All the puppy eyes.

"Cheater." Puppy eyes. His only weakness!

Considering how often he calls people angel, he's going to get a big ol' super sized shock if Helen finally gets up there and lets loose. For now, though, he can't help but slip into the usual mother hen role and tut-tut at her.

And then follow it up with a wink. Lorne pours her a lemonade himself, adding a slice of lemon garnished with a festive little umbrella before sliding it over.

"I'll make you a deal. I'll keep your lemonade filled, but only if you promise to get up there at least once, hmm?"

Helen grins. She is very good at puppy eyes, okay? No one can fight them, not even her Grandpa Fletch.

"Thank you!" she looks down at her drink appreciatively and twirls the little umbrella with her pinky. It's too cute!

Her mouth twists to the side slightly as she considers. "I've never sung in front of people before." she tells him. "Like, I only really sing in the shower, or by myself." She doesn't think she's bad at it, but she's not really that awesome at it, either.

She twirls the umbrella with her pinkie a little more before she nods and smiles over to him. "Okay, I'll do it. But I need to think of a really go song first, okay?"

Cordelia didn't mean to be here. She had been pushing Connor on a stroll to get some sunlight when the ship drew her here. She can't really complain though because there's a Lorne here and she's missed her friends. She'll have to let Angel know he's here too.

As it is she'll be making her way over to the empath demon. She's since taken Connor out of his stroller and is currently holding him. The baby gurgles and smiles at the sight of his favorite babysitter.

"You know, I was thinking that this place was in need of some serious talent."

"Cordelia!" Lorne doesn't hesitate to invade his favorite queen's space, reaching around her careful so as not to spill his drink on either her or Connor. "And the little sugar cookie, ohh it's so good to see you!"

When he pulls back, Lorne takes a good gander at them both as he resists the urge to reach forward and try to get a gurgle out of the little nipper.

She is totally willing and happy for that hug. As is the little nipper who coos and makes grabby hands for Lorne. Which is why Cordelia is more than happy and willing to hand him over for the time being.

"Angel will be happy to hear you're here."

Lorne nearly squees with joy as he takes Connor in his arms, pressing a warm kiss to his forehead.

"Oh, I'm sure of it. It'll be all scowls and near-smiles, hmm?" Once he's settled, hefting Connor a few times to get him comfy, he grins up at Cordelia. "The cruise sun's been doing you some favors, hmm? You're practically glowing!"

"You might even get a full smile if you're really lucky." At the compliment she grins broadly in return.

"It's amazing what some actual sunshine will do for you."

Angel keeps lecturing her on not tanning too much but she remembers sunscreen, okay?

Buffy's never been to Caritas before. She hasn't exactly spent much time in LA, aside from her brief "vacation" there at the beginning of senior year, but you would think that with all of the things attached to Caritas, she would have been there at least once. She hasn't. Which is why she doesn't recognize it when she walks in, more curious than anything else.

She glances around curiously as she goes, trying to get a feel for the place. She doesn't flinch at Lorne - she's been around demons before, obviously - but her history with demons and singing combined hasn't exactly led to the merriest of combinations. So she's just going to slide to the bar for a drink for now and consider more about singing later.

"Any particular house specials?" Just out of curiosity.

He's been in Angel's headspace more times than he can count now, and so Buffy's is a face and aura that's immediately recognizable. Now separated from the lens of Angel's emotion and history, though, she's much different than how Lorne knows her.

"Music or drinks, vanilla bean?" Lorne smiles, and maybe it's the red eyes and horns, but he can't help how mischievous he looks. This is a real treat, meeting Buffy independently.

He's an empath demon. So cheating's pretty much in his resume.

"Is both an option? Because I think I'm in the mood for both." She's not that terrible a singer, and while her encounter with Sweets may have put new meaning on the words "dance til you drop" she's been known to indulge in a little karaoke every now and then. "But I think drink first. Something fruity."

♬ karaoke party ♪

“Welcome to Caritas!”

lorne ( ota )

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