Board Thread:Roleplaying/@comment-25828117-20180527004826/@comment-5583506-20180530201245

The Rouge Drape Club was a place of semi-luxury. Not too far above the average pay grade of the common working class, everybody could gain access to visit, even in these times of economic turmoil. However, as of late, there seemed to be fewer people of the working class than ever visiting, and more American soldiers.

The scene was entirely draped with crimson-colored curtains, and for each wooden-carved pillar lined up against the rose-tapestried walls there were purple neon lights, giving the whole set a suggestive and surrealistic vibe.

Ever since the Edmonton killings, this was Katherine's sanctuary, where she could escape the harsh reality America had forced upon her. To think that she would have to face representatives of that reality this very day made her stomach turn. Who was to say that the soldiers she was going to sing for tonight hadn't been the ones to pull the trigger on her parents? Or any of the other protesters for that matter? Who was to say that none of them potentially could have been the one to have fired the hail of bullets that stole what little family she had left away from her?

Jaques the bartender tapped lightly with his fingers on the disk. "Pardon, Kath, but are you feeling alright?"

Katherine tensed up in her evening gown of red satin. "Not really, Jaques, but thanks for asking."

"Listen", he said. "I know that tonight will be tough for you concerning..." He stroke his moustache and grimaced. "Well... we have all lost something during this enslavement. But let them think that we wish them good fortune, oui? Let them think that we are their willing slaves. That's how we keep a clean nose about it."

She just nodded and signaled for him to pour her a drink to which he happily obliged. "For how long though? How long do we have to... wear these masks of ours? How long before we finally snap?"

"I guess only time will tell, mademouiselle", Jaques said as he made her a dry martini. "And something tells me that when that time comes things will certainly turn out for the better, for the likes of you and me, and anyone who would call themselves a citizen of Canada."

It wasn't that much of a secret between them that Jaques had loyalties with the Canadian Resistance. Even though he had never admitted it openly to her, she could tell. He didn't need to say anything. And that was completely fine. There were no words that needed to be said about their stance on the annexation. Nevertheless, he played his role well as the courteous bartender who happily served everyone and anyone. And she as the heart-broken singer who who lament about the love she had lost.

As soon as she had finished her drink, Jaques gazed out into the lobby, expecting guests to show up at any moment. "Better prepare yourself, Kath. This festivity will be an American festivity only."