Early twenties: ten names and the corner each has claimed
TAKEN FROM DOCUMENTS EXAMINED ACROSS A TABLE. Ten women aged 22 to 24 sit in this band. It tells you almost nothing about how anybody looks and a fair amount about tempo: these are the names most likely to know what opened on Thursday, who has moved bars, and which room is worth the walk this month.
In a parish where the tenants change every few seasons, that is worth something. Each of the ten has a corner she has claimed and can tell you what stood there before. The board is the one every card shares: £250 an hour, £500 for two, £900 for four.
Early twenties, tonight
Everyone listed under early twenties, taken from her file rather than a guess. Open a card for rates and a message with her name.
Angelika
Bianka
Jasmin
Lea
Lucy
Luna
Molly
Roxi
Stacy
Tiffany
Gerrard Street and Kingly Court
Jasmin, 160 cm, has the unmarked entrance on Gerrard Street in Chinatown as her opening move, and since she lives in the parish she can afford to start after nine. Molly, 164 cm with dark waves, has the courtyard bar off Carnaby dressed up as a wartime station, swing records and all, where ten o'clock counts as the start of the evening rather than the end of it.
Dean Street and Ham Yard
Stacy, 176 cm, has the basement comedy room halfway up Dean Street and sits near enough to be addressed from the stage, which she enjoys more than most would. Same night requests suit her. Tiffany, 169 cm and the second resident on this card, has the tree lined courtyard near Piccadilly Circus, two glasses of grower champagne and the patience to wait for the light to be worth a photograph.
Frith Street and Greek Street
Angelika, 172 cm, has the jazz room and its later set, and expects the solos to be listened to. Lucy, 163 cm, has the pavement stools under the neon and a standing curiosity about whatever is overhead. Luna, 171 cm, has the wine led room on Greek Street, where the first bottle is chosen before you get there and the second is handed to you as a small test.
Rupert Street, Archer Street and Richmond Mews
Roxi, 168 cm, has the zinc counter facing the open kitchen and sings along when the chefs choose the music. Bianka, 165 cm, has the marble counter on Archer Street and a wine list she reads properly rather than performatively. Lea, 161 cm, has the boldly decorated lounge off Richmond Mews, a firm opinion on its wallpaper and a half seven curtain to get to.
How a late evening usually runs
Ten o'clock: a message carrying an address, an hour and a name or two. A quarter of an hour later: the host replies with who the diary can actually give you. Eleven: a drink downstairs, or straight upstairs if that suits better. Some hours after that, either a goodnight or an extension agreed between the pair of you and priced off the same board.
Where the night is meant to run through bars and shows before it reaches a room, night out and after hours explains how that is arranged and how it ends. Nothing on this card costs more for happening after midnight.
What this stage is like across a table
The conversation runs on the present tense: a show that opened last week, a bartender who has moved three streets, a room that has just changed hands and is either better or ruined. Plans get rearranged easily and usually improve for it. If you would rather an evening felt settled from the first minute, look instead at late twenties, or at thirties and beyond for company that refuses to be hurried at all.
Also on
This band spreads across every colour the house keeps, with six on the brunettes card, two on raven haired and two on auburn and red. By figure it splits almost evenly between curvaceous and petite, with two more on the statuesque card. Every booking here is for time and companionship, held with a quarter of the fee by bank transfer.
Early twenties on the list
Choose a name above or ask the host who is free tonight.