Tina couldn't believe they were in New Orleans, they'd taken a private plane and flown, the girls wanted to give Tina the whole girls weekend package starting with being pampered on the plane, meals and drinks. "But I don't get it, if you can travel without a plane why have one?" Tina asked sipping the wine she was given.
"Sometime the mortals I deal with want to meet me at the airport, so" Santana gestured around her "plus it employs some gods and demi gods who have grown bored with the god lifestyle."
"The parties have to be insane." Tina sipped her drink again.
"They were but it gets old after a while, especially if it's not your thing." Quinn shook her head.
"Our thing is food." Santana admitted nodding to the plate on the table in front of her, it was from Pierce's.
"We spent most parties hanging out at the food tables." Quinn agreed "We have traveled most of the world, in search of the ultimate food."
"Most?" Tina asked.
"I am not welcomed in certain areas." Santana murmured.
"All areas have their ancient gods and some are more open to other gods traveling to their lands, a few have specific bans like war gods because they can cause fighting," Quinn said explaining more "some ancient gods have died out due to ancient rivalries so their areas are now considered neutral. But then there's places like New Orleans where they started under one set of gods but now all gods are welcomed because so many humans from different cultures live there but it's still under control of the original gods." taking a sip Quinn added. "Because she's a music god and they don't see her as a threat Mercedes is free to roam, she chose New Orleans as her base and I know what you're thinking but no she can't do anything about the hurricanes that's petty gods fighting for followers but she helps them rebuild the best she can."
"She sounds nice." Tina commented.
"She is." Quinn promised "She's not Greek but that doesn't matter to us and she accepts us for who we are too, her company hires mortals, gods and demi gods too, her rule, like ours is leave it at the door."
"Even knowing about Brittany it's hard to believe that all the gods exists, and they live among us." Tina admitted.
"Some haven't evolved past their childish ancient ways, they are the cause of so much of the pain and misery in this world." Quinn shook her head disgusted by the behavior of the other gods. "We actually just visited Olympus, you could say it's under new management, Hera's now in complete control." seeing the worry on Tina's face Quinn added "She's not as vengeful as she once was."
"Seriously?" Tina asked.
"She's changed, works with demi gods and actually has a day job at a high school coaching cheerleaders." Quinn chuckled "She has encouraged me to continue finding soul mates to as she said, 'fix his infantile actions', so I not only have an old god's blessing but their protection as well."
"You always were her favorite." Santana reminded randomly drawing patterns on Brittany's thigh with her index finger.
"Probably because I could control you and your temper." Quinn sipped her drink.
"Whatever." Santana stuck her tongue out dropping her head to Brittany's shoulder, Brittany rested her head against Santana's closing her eyes. Standing up Quinn walked to where they kept the blankets bringing one back for Brittany and Santana "Thank you." Santana murmured when Quinn covered them with it.
"I thought you said restaurant?" confused Tina squinted at the line in front of the building, they were going in the back.
"By day." Tina jumped surprised by the woman in the open door. "Mercedes Jones."
"T..Tina Cohen-Chang, I...I'm Brittany's friend."
"Welcome," stepping back she let them into the courtyard teasing Quinn and Santana "this is what you wore?"
"We're changing." Quinn promised seeing the sleek and stunning red dress on their hostess.
"DJ?" Santana questioned hearing the muffled music.
Mercedes scoffed "You know we have live entertainment."
"Marley?" Santana asked looking at the building.
"Change and come see, those girls own the stage." Mercedes smiled gesturing across the courtyard to a set of stairs. "You know the way to the rooms, I want your butts down here in under thirty minutes." turning her attention to Tina and Brittany she smiled giving a slight head bow as she said "Ladies welcome to New Orleans."
Holding Brittany's hand Santana lead the way through the courtyard and into Mercedes private entrance, Tina trailed behind the trio, Quinn was surprised by the shy girl's club clothes she didn't think Tina owned a little black dress. Quinn and Santana were in nearly matching little red spaghetti strapped dresses, much like Mercedes's, but Brittany wore pants and a blue sequined flowing tank top, not that Santana minded. "Hello my hotties." Mercedes grinned at the small group linking her arm with Quinn. Brittany reached back grabbing Tina's hand as they followed the goddess through the hall and office before entering the club.
It was busy but not uncomfortably packed, she couldn't help it Santana scanned for the security features even though she installed them "He's not mine." Santana pointed at what she could only describe as 'a wall of a man' standing slightly to the side of the stage as Marley and another girl sang.
"He's mine." Mercedes chuckled giving the large black man a smile and wave, he smiled back before returning to business "Pro football player, he came here when he was recovering and this is where you will find him off season."
"Crushing on the boss?" Santana teased.
"No," Mercedes smirked admitting "dating the boss, now go, have fun." Mercedes released Quinn turning to the bar, tapping it she caught one of her bartenders attention "Roderick, these ladies are on my personal tab and have one of the girls bring my special bottle to the table."
"Yes Ma'am." nodding he looked at each woman so he could remember them when they came back without Mercedes.
"So what is the walking wall's name?" Santana asked following Mercedes after getting a bottled water from Roderick for her and Brittany.
"Shane." Mercedes did a little dance walk through the crowd to a roped off table with a lap top on it. "My table, I like to keep an eye on my children." unclipping the velvet rope the big man smiled down down at Mercedes, smiling back she gave his chest a pat as she lead the girls to the table. "We have tables," she gestured to the tall tables separated from the dance floor by half walls "but this is New Orleans so no one really stays in one spot long."
"Food?" Santana asked having Brittany slip into the booth first.
"Just a few finger foods that anyone can prepare." Mercedes admitted, "Mama Rose kept the nightclub food menu simple just some sliders and home fries, boneless wings for the ladies and a few other things."
"I'll have that." Santana said to the waitress as she put the simple glass bottle on the table with tumblers.
"Which one?"
"All of them and a round of beers." Santana gestured around the table.
"Um..." the woman glanced at Mercedes who gave a nod. "Okay I'll let them know."
The girls watched as the tall thin brunette and chunky black woman did indeed own the stage, the people danced, bounced, cheered and sang along with the energetic duo. After three songs the sweat covered girls "Thank you ladies and hot gentlemen, I am afraid it is time for us to have a quick break but we will be back in fifteen." the chunky black woman on the stage promised taking the slender brunette's hand, "Mama is thirsty." the brunette chuckled letting herself be pulled to the stairs on the side of the stage, smiling she took the hand Shane offered listening when he said.
"Miss Jones has company." normally the girls would sit with her on their break.
"Well then let's go to..."
"It's Santana." Marley grinned seeing the Latina. "Come on, you have to meet her and her sister." it was Marley's turn to tug Unique along, standing up because they had taken the outside seats Santana and Quinn rounded the table to hug Marley. "It's so good to see you, you haven't changed a bit."
"You have," Quinn smiled hugging her, it had been three years since they'd last visited "and of course you sound as awesome as ever."
"I don't think they say that anymore Q." Santana teased. "Sounding good." Santana promised Marley.
"Thank you." Marley blushed before introducing her singing partner. "This is my best friend and duet partner Unique Adams, Unique these are sort of my god mothers Quinn and Santana they introduced Mom to Mercedes and the rest is history."
"The Quinn and Santana?" Unique whispered.
"Yep." Marley grinned seeing her usually vocal friend speechless.
"Come sit, Santana ordered the kitchen." Mercedes chuckled, Santana flipped her off before grabbing Marley's hand, Quinn took Unique's tugging her over to her side of the table.
"This is my girlfriend Brittany, Brittany this is Marley Rose best singer in New Orleans."
"Oh, wow." Marley smiled at Brittany "Nice to meet you."
"You too." Brittany smiled "And you guys were great, this is my friend Tina." Tina gave both Marley and Unique a small quick wave. "We run a club back home, we haven't booked any bands but we do have a DJ."
"I thought you had a dance studio?" Mercedes asked.
"Both." Tina answered. "We haven't had the club long but Santana helped us with our security and is training our manager what to look for in that area."
"He can run the place he just needs to be able to spot a problem before it starts." Santana explained.
"I get that, holidays are hell, people come for the 'New Orleans experience'," Mercedes muttered pulling finger quotes, "which they think means getting wasted and those damn beads, they break them and they get everywhere." Mercedes rolled her eyes. She liked the celebrations but the people who treated them as nothing more than a giant frat party, they drove her crazy.
"Wow." Marley watched as three different waitresses carried trays of food and drink to the table.
"See, kitchen." Mercedes chuckled putting away her laptop to make room for the food, tucking it between the vases that were behind their heads.
"Oh." Unique couldn't believe the sight before her.
"Dig in." Santana said grabbing two sliders handing one to Brittany and the other to Marley, nodding Unique grabbed a couple of the boneless wings putting them on a small plate. Quinn and Mercedes smirked at one another as Santana not only made Brittany and Marley a plate but one for Quinn as well before making one for herself.
