((Played in IM Saturday, March 29, 2008))

They arrive at the Silver Mark shortly after closing time - Alain even recognizes a couple of his usual patrons on his way over there, doing the drunken shuffle home. When he opens the door, the only light is the fire near the "game corner," so he cuts on a few lights. Dim, appropriate for the late hour. "I can't remember - is this your first time here?"

"It is." She spoke, stepping in and looking around the place. Izira made no move to remove her coat. Her heels clicked on the floor as she stepped in a slight circle as she took the place in.

He tosses his coat carelessly onto the nearest table and twists his way out of his shoulder holster. "Business is pretty slow here, but I think people like that kind of atmosphere - and we still turn a tidy profit."

"Sometimes it's more about the feeling you create and not the money you make." Her smiling revealing how true she felt that statement was. Her feet shifting and carrying her towards the bar with a glance back to Alain. "I guess it would be cruel of me to make you fix your own drinks at a time like this. Shall I play tender?"

"I won't say no to it, but I don't want to be a completely awful host either, so can I get your coat?" He smiles a little, depositing the .38 on top of his own coat.

Izira slipped behind the bar, already deciding to tend no matter what Alain said. She thought it better to be the hand controlling the drinks. It was once she was behind the bar that she removed her coat, her eyes off of him and towards the drinks as she undid the tie and revealed the dress she was wearing tonight. Black and sparkling, "So much to choose from." The perfect dress for a nightclub singer. Off the shoulders with a low back, the bar hid the slits on the sides of her legs that would just barely show that the nylons were only thigh highs. "What's your poison?" She asked, placing her coat over the bar top for him.

He takes her coat and drapes it over a chair carefully. "I'll just take a glass of the wine while I can still enjoy it," he grins, offering the bottle over the bar to her. "And I've got two questions for you - do you like jazz, and do you like pool?"

A nod, she pulled doown a couple of glasses and poured an equal share into each. She wasn't sure what his tolerance was for liquor, so she would have to keep an eye on him if he started drinking more. "I was actively enjoying both earlier tonight." Sliding one of the glasses towards him. "I'll admit having a stronger talent for the jazz than I do pool."

"You sing jazz?" He takes the glass, looking at her as he moves to the record player and puts one on. It's jazz, of course. He's dressed as he usually is, in a white button-up, slacks, and a loosened black tie.

Giving him a nod, she sipped her red. Then glanced around for a seat behind the bar. If there was on, she would pull it opposite Alain. If not, she would be forced to come around and find some other place to rest her feet. An ear to the song that was playing.

There's a stool back there, and the record is the California Ramblers, which includes both the Dorseys. "Ever do it in clubs?" He looks at her dress, and smiles. "That's a crooner's dress, you know..."

Seat taken across from Alain at the bar. "There is a slight chance someone fitting my description was seen singing at Blue Note earlier this evening. I will not confirm or deny this information." A smile, then taking another drink of her wine.

"Blue Note. Some flatfoot may or may not swing by there later." He takes a drink of his wine, too. "And what did this mystery woman sing tonight, if you heard about it?" His expression says he's flirting. Gently, but still.

Izira took note of his expression. Though, was careful. Without touching him she didn't have a clear read and touching him, well. No. Her glass returned to the bar top, a soft shake of her head. "Having only heard about it I cannot give you any details, but the vague impression is that they were the usual songs of betrayal and lost love." Her smile almost apologetic at the mention of ?lost love? being the mirror of his emotions.

"The noir lifestyle," he replies, and takes another sip. "I don't think the Ramblers are quite so beautifully dark... but it's good noise." Indicating the music coming from the record player. "You said you play pool?" His eyes drift again, this time to the pool tables.

"I also said I didn't do it well." Her expression reading that even as she said the she was recalling her own words to be sure. "Perhaps you are in need of a laugh?" A smile as she slipped off of the stool easily.

"I'll give you some pointers, but I won't let you teach me to sing." He grins, finishing his glass of wine, and moves towards the pool tables. He hasn't had nearly enough to drink to do much of anything - just take a bit of the edge off. His fingers drift over the cues, and then he circles the table to collect the balls from the pockets and rack them.

Izira made her way over, glass in hand. Drinking as she watched Alain set up the table. When he was done, the glass found a home on a flat surface out of the way and she moved over to select a cue for herself. "You want to break?"

He loosens his tie and takes up his favorite cue. "Sure." He sets the cue ball down, leans over, lines it up, and shoots. He's good at it - he won't be winning competitions, but he's good enough to be confident. A stripe goes in, but the next attempt, the stripe he hits doesn't quite reach the pocket. He steps back, smiling over at her.

"Solids it is." She moved around the table, managing to sink a couple easy shots he left up and then failing the third which might have been even easier were it not for the way she was trying to twist her body to make it. After that it was a poor fight. But Izira smiled easily as Alain kicked her arse, watching him make an excellent shot to finally sink the eight on her shame. "Well played."

He holds back a little, just to keep the game going longer. "I'm lucky," he says with a smile, putting the pool stick back up. His glass is finished, and he moves back towards the bar. "I get shot at and the bullets fly right by - makes sense I'd have the same luck in pool."

"Lady Luck must hold you in high regard." Her drink finished while playing, her cue put away before she made back for the bar as well. Sliding again behind it. "Did you want another?" Indicating her glass before refilling it.

"I'll finish it off," he says, as there's not much left. "And if I could find her address, I'd send her flowers - make sure she doesn't forget me." He grins.

"I think you'd have more a chance sending your ?thank you?s into the wind." Tipping the bottle and giving him the rest.

"Then I'll just stick to the occasional prayer." He takes a sip of his drink, and is reminded of something. "Which reminds me, I've got to drop by the church tomorrow, see if they'll help build a chapel in Esperance."

"All the more reason to keep your head about you tonight. Though, I would think most churched involved in a fair share of community outreach have experience with those following a bad night - I don't think it would sway them in that scenario." Taking a drink of the red, she settled on the stool again. Her dress glimmering in the low light.

"I've already hit my bottle for the night," he says with a grin, nodding to the empty wine bottle. "I have to tell you, the priests in RhyDin let a lot slide - but I don't think I'd get too much support showing up to meet a bishop hung over." He ponders. "They'd probably hide the communion wine from me."

Her laughter bubbling up with ease. Smiling at Alain, thinking perhaps his spirits were in a better place for the time being. She took the empty bottle and looked for a place to deposit it, then changed her mind. Rinsing it out instead.

His smile widens at her laughter. He takes another sip of his wine, and considers. "Can you dance?"

She set the bottle aside at the sink, looking over her shoulder at him. "Been a while. Long while. Probably forgot." Stepping back to the bar, picking up her glass and sipping again. Her thoughts carrying to the last time she might have had a chance to test her theory... the ball. "Did you get any dances in at the Masquerade Ball?"

"No, I was a little crippled then," he replies. "But I think you were dancing there." He pauses, pondering whether or not she's sidestepping the possibility of a dance. And whether or not he should try anyway.

"Was I? I don't remember doing so." She seemed a little bothered at the idea, not the dancing but the not remembering it. That night had been one of limited lucidity for her. And her mind had quickly wandered away from her. Closing her eyes a moment she composed herself. That wasn't anything she had to worry about now. A slow exhale and she opened her eyes again. Another apologetic smile as she held her glass in hand. "If so, I will believe that it must have been fun."

"You're musical - I'm sure you wouldn't be bad at it." He puts on his best convincing, Come on and give it a go, grin. "You won't know until you try."

Was this a dangerous thing she was agreeing to? Still, refusing a friend an innocent enough offer when he wasn't in the best of places wouldn't help him any further. There was a hesitation before Izira relented. "Fine, but you cannot blame me for any sore toes you may receive." Joking with a smile, even she knew she wasn't that bad.

He moves to the record player and puts on something a little more suitable, a little slower. He looks over at her and holds out his hand. His expression is... difficult to read. It isn't the charming grin of moments ago, nor is it a look of adoration. Whether or not he realizes it yet, Alain needs this dance.

Izira moved from behind the bar. Perhaps sensing Alain's need but also sensing her own desire to not engage the bond when they touched. She tried her best focusing on not sensing Alain's emotions when she placed her hand within his own, but since it was not a talent of her actual gift it was not easily done. She would have had more luck suffocating a bonfire than forcing her reads to a dull low buzz. At the center of these thoughts was her concern for Alain and her desire to not take advantage of the kindness he had given to her. Hand in his she stepped towards him and set her other hand against his shoulder.

He sets his hand on her waist, and begins to move to the music with her. His eyes watch hers, and while Alain has practice controlling how he shows his emotions, he is not the master of what runs through his head. It's a nostalgic sadness, a longing for a love and passion he is now sure have died. It's memory. He dances close to her, head bowed, eyes flickering away, and she can feel whatever's inside of him slowly welling up.

For all that Alain was able to contain himself. Izira was not. The tug of his emotions inside her own mind brought forth her own sad memories. The reasons she hadn't returned to Rhy'Din for so long. It was this empathy with Alain that brought water to line her eyes as she moved with grace to the music with his guidance. It was good Alain was looking away, still Izira hid her head against his shoulder. Courage, she thought to Alain. These feelings can only pass, the thought following. Perhaps more encouragement for herself.

He bows his head, the side of his head touching hers, the dance almost so close as to be a hug - intimate, but not sensual. The upwelling continues, and then, with her "words," releases in a slow sigh he didn't know he'd been holding in. Catharsis. There's as much the lingering sadness as there is the warm empathy with her. Thank you.

Her eyes drifted closed, not moving her head from his shoulders. She listened to the music and felt the waves of his emotions. A gentle squeeze to the hand he held. She allowed her voice and thoughts to be silent, though part of her mind longed to delve into her own past memories... that part was ignored as she kept herself solidly in the here and now.

The song stops, and he stops dancing. A few moments later, a more upbeat song crackles out of the record player, and he turns his head to kiss her cheek as he steps back. He gives her hand one more squeeze before letting go.

A soft smile as he stepped away. She turned her head from him to dab at the wetness in her eyes. Even so she stood without a slouch, as though she had decided that nothing would get the better of her in full. When her eyes were taken care of, she looked back to him. Eyes a little brighter as she found her voice. "Didn't ruin my make up did I?"

He shakes his head slowly. "You know how to dance," he says after a quiet moment. He wants to kiss her, and he's telling himself to move away from her, but he stays there, just a step away.

"I do." She confessed, it was a safe confession. Made as she turned her face again from him to look towards the mirror or any reflective service she could see clearly behind the bar. Not moving towards it, but checking from a distance that the shadow about her eyes was still in place. A double check, even though Alain had shaken his head to say there was no damage done. A break to look away from his eyes and what she thought lingered there. No conclusive thought in her mind when she turned to face him again. "As do you."

He's silent a few moments longer... and then he takes a half-step towards her. Close enough to easily kiss, or almost, anyway. His hand touches her face... hesitates, and then drifts down to her shoulder instead. He looks away. "...Sorry."

The touch upon her cheek confirmed the thought and for a moment her heart stopped after a sudden thud. It had been a while since she had been really kissed. True, Jeli had given her that welcoming many night ago - but even as an intimate looking kiss, it had felt very casual much like the nature of the woman who had given it to her. The moment for Alain had passed and Izira fought with reason in her own mind. It might be nice, but what of everything that followed? She didn't know if whatever pleasure they gained would be worth the pain it might cause later. Her heart thudded in her chest. Again the duel thoughts, while one part longed to be the damsel bending to the whims of fate - the other, and larger, wanted to keep her wits about her. A hand lifted, patting his, lifting it and holding it between her hands. A thumb brushed over his knuckles, and she set her lips against them gently. Another soft squeeze to his hand. "Will you be alright?" Thinking it likely the time has come for her to head home. Her hands kept about his. If he was not truly going to be aright she might end up sleeping in a chair by the fire.

"Yeah... no, I'll be fine." He stays close, and his heart twists - that warm feeling again - at her tenderness. His hand rests loosely against her shoulder and his fingers toy with her hair a couple moments, thoughtfully, before they stop again. "I'm just going to get some reading done, then go to bed..." Another moment and he gives her a soft, warm smile. "Thank you."

"You are welcome, Alain." A warm smile in return. Several seconds passing on the clock then she was slowly pulling away from him letting his hand rest at his own side. "If you have trouble resting, come to the inn before having a drink. I know the drink might be easier and more appealing with less of a crowd, but the inn would be a better choice in the long run. Promise me that?"

"I promise," he says, nodding his head, letting his hands fall from her. He runs his fingers back through his hair. "Are you alright getting home? That's not a pass at you, I promise that, too," he adds with a lopsided grin.

Warmth in her widened smile. "I'll be fine." She moved from him to gather her coat, covering the dress that she wore and doing up the tie again. Going by him on the way towards the door, she kissed his cheek - between the end of his lips and his ear. "Take care of yourself, Alain."

His heart speeds up just a moment, and he gives her hand a little squeeze as she passes him by. "You too, Izira."

One last glance over her shoulder as she was at the door, before slipping through it and into the night.

As soon as she gone, he releases a deep breath. "Christ..." He shakes his head, and starts to clean up.