© cami o'connell | the originals

[bravebartender]

	✔ Cʀᴏssᴏᴠᴇʀs/AU ✔ Aᴄᴛɪᴏɴsᴘᴀᴍ ✔ Pʀᴏsᴇ	✔ Pɪᴄᴛᴜʀᴇ ᴘʀᴏᴍᴘᴛs ✔ Oᴛʜᴇʀᴡᴏʀᴅʟʏ ✔ Sᴛᴀʀᴛᴇʀs	♥ F/M, F/F ⏰ Uᴘ ᴛᴏ ᴅᴀᴛᴇ

Comments

[aworldonfire]

Huh. [a beat] You know, I don't think that was ever covered on the Travel Channel. [not that he watches much TV or reads many travel guides, but -- still. he's aware of Mardi Gras; he wasn't aware of that particular festival]

[bravebartender]

[She laughs.]

Well, the Travel channel does try to stay out of the macabre. They only really vouch for happy tourism.

[aworldonfire]

Must be hard to do a piece on New Orleans, then.

[if, like she said, New Orleans really is gothic personified]

[bravebartender]

Well, that's why we have Mardi Gras.

[aworldonfire]

[and now it's his turn to laugh]

Because naked women are good for ratings.

[look, all he knows about Mardi Gras is that it's the last big blow out before Lent -- and that, from what he understands, women take their tops off for beads]

[bravebartender]

Hey, Mardi Gras is more than just beads and boobs. There's a lot of ritual involved and a lot of religious festivals.

[aworldonfire]

Tell me about it?

[he's interested in the religious aspect, naturally]

[bravebartender]

Well, it's not just one night, for one. It runs from right after the feast of the Epiphany to Ash Wednesday. And true, there's a lot of parades and debauchery, but there's actually a lot of devoutly religious people down there, and there are a lot of old French traditions that go along with it.

[aworldonfire]

[he arches his eyebrows, genuinely surprised]

That's -- a long time. [potentially more than a month, depending on when Easter falls and when Lent starts] Wow.

[bravebartender]

[She nods in agreement.]

Yeah. Most people just think of that one Tuesday, but there's a lot of tradition there.

[aworldonfire]

I was assuming just Fat Tuesday, too. [a beat] I probably should have known better, all things considered, but. [considering, you know, Catholic]

[bravebartender]

[She shrugs.]

I think if the church actually publicized that it took that long, it'd be like they were encouraging that kind of behavior. That's not usually their deal.

[aworldonfire]

There is that. [he lets out a breath of a laugh] And somewhere, a few blocks from here, my priest is having a conniption and doesn't know why. [okay, probably not. Father Lantom isn't that kind of man]

[bravebartender]

[She laughs at that.]

I'm sure my uncle would have a better explanation with a much more detailed history, but for right now, you've got me.

[aworldonfire]

[while he's still smiling, he arches his eyebrows at that]

Priest or historian?

[bravebartender]

Priest.

[She laughs.]

He had his own parish in New Orleans.

[aworldonfire]

[he takes a moment to consider that]

That's gotta be great or terrible. I'm not sure which.

[on one hand, he can imagine it being nice, being able to take confession with someone you're related to and, presumably, knows you. on the other, that could also get awkward fast, depending]

[bravebartender]

[She laughs.]

It was good. He was a good man. I was way closer to him than I was to my parents.

[Especially after Sean's death.]

[aworldonfire]

... Was?

[Matt noticed that qualifier before, the past-tense, but]

[bravebartender]

[Her face falls after a moment, but she gives a thin smile.]

He died about a year ago.

[aworldonfire]

[he nods, bowing his head, briefly. he thought that might be the case]

I'm sorry.

[bravebartender]

[She gives a small shrug.]

It was his time. I made peace with it a while ago.

[That and there was some kind of justice done, since the witches responsible for the curse are no longer around, and Klaus stopped him from being the kind of horrific vampire he never wanted to be.]

[aworldonfire]

[he nods]

Still. [a beat, a wry smile] By the time this conversation is over, you're going to need a drink. [and he really doesn't mean to do that to her]

[bravebartender]

[She laughs before glancing back with a smirk.]

Why do you think I work in a bar? Free booze is an excellent signing bonus.

[She gives a small shrug.]

Though Josie does prefer if I don't drink on the job.

[aworldonfire]

Fair point. [a beat] On both counts, actually. [it's probably better if the staff isn't drunk while they're trying to mix cocktails]

Though, uh -- is it too forward if I ask when you get off?

[he figures it's last call, but better to be safe than sorry. he also figures that he can buy her a drink, then, and that Josie might not mind so much]