I felt a sense of pity for Naddia as she stood there alone now, in the most painfully shy manner; still in a deadlock of the mind, eyes flittering between thoughts. "And you ma'am?" I asked softly as I rested my arms on the bar top to try to ease her nerves. Instead this action seemed to only make her more uneasy as her blush grew ever brighter. "I'm, uh...I'll have the same thing my cousin is having." She uttered before briskly walking off.

These women were very strange. I watched as the two settled into a table and then looked to be having a rather heated discussion. Although, most of the heat seemed to be emanating from Naddia. I sighed quietly to myself as I sent their order through to the cooks terminal and then prepared the drinks.

"Well, this certainly is an interesting turn of events. Both of those women seem quite suspicious and made it obvious they know of me...I do believe I will have to see about making an overture in the interest of satisfying my curiosity."

When the drinks were mixed I walked over to deliver them. With the addition of my presence, their prater abruptly stopped. "Here we are." I smiled politely as I served them, "My name is Alaric. Your food will be along shortly, if there's anything else you need you may press the button on the table or," I gestured amicably, "you know where to find me. I hope you enjoy your stay." After my obligatory hospitality, I personally offered Naddia a wink that resumed her blush in full force as I made my leave. I rolled my eyes as I walked back to the bar; as a mark Naddia appeared far too easy.

I curbed curiosity and her wandering friends back into their cages to return my mind to work. I attended to the other patrons and focused on remembering what I could for my nightly report. After a time, Naddia abruptly stood and my focus narrowed in on her. There was an air of hesitation straddling the line of commitment which hastily unlocked curiosity's door. Her eyes clicked with mine. I could see her stretch and bend, a persona rising up and fogging her truth. She rounded the table, letting her fingers drag against its surface. Hers was now an air of grace and decidedly flirtatious charm, all funneled in my direction. This interested me. I had already been witness to what was behind the curtain. I returned her smile in good humor as she sat down in front of me.

"Why hello darling. A pleasant surprise to have you visit me. Do you need a refill or something new?" I could see a small crack in her armor at the word 'darling', it was fun to tease her in this way.

"Ah, hi there." She spoke carefully looking me over.

There was turbulence beneath her surface that betrayed itself in subtle forms. Frustration had weaved itself into her brow, and distrust was inlaid in the skin between her eyes. Those eyes, they were spectacularly green and as bottomless as the sea. Yet within that depth there was a radiance of warmth that kept them from seeming cold. This was the face of a soul that lived from the place of its wounds. Her smile though, was genuinely pure. Satisfied with her examination, she drew up the sleeve of her left arm, showed me her hand, and then slapped it down on the counter. Upon lifting it a gold coin had materialized in her fingers. She twirled it about her knuckles.

"Neat trick." I offered in honesty.

"Do you ever think about fantastical things Alaric?"

I raised an eyebrow, "Well, I do enjoy fantasy books, movies, games, if this is what you are implying." I let my eyes waver to Shade who had turned in her seat and was watching us.

"No, that's not quite what I'm asking." her eyes twinkled, "I mean do you ever let yourself dream about such worlds, what you would do if you were free to walk them?"

"That is...an unusual thing to ask."

"Ah, Does this mean she is a fanatic? A fanatic with a crush? This would explain her companions clothing if they both are enamored by the same subject."

"I admit I will sometimes let my imagination entertain the idea of possessing the abilities they dream up in stories. And often it leads me to thinking the whole affair would be more trouble than it's worth."

"Oh?"

I shrugged, "Guilds, mass media, Resolute Laws...to someone who had power to reach beyond such inhibitions, I would expect that freedom would become suffocating and isolating, the world such as it is."

To my surprise she let out a rather lighthearted laugh, "Oh, right, right. I see. Yes." she beamed at me, her shyness nowhere to be found for the moment, "You're working tomorrow yes?"

I nodded.

"Listen. I'm going to be back here tomorrow, same time. And..." With an impish look she leaned over the counter slightly, causing me to lean back, "I'm going to bring something special with me, just for you."

"Ah, I see." I looked at her warily, and at my response her light dimmed a little, "A gift." she offered, "Something I know you'll like."

"You know that do you?" My brow raised in mock skepticism as a light smirk played on my lips; concurrent with a hidden chill that ran up my spine. "You do not know me."

"Yes."

She spoke with such resolution and a sudden determination established itself within her eyes. I became taken aback at how personal this seemed to be for her, and had become so focused on Naddia that I failed to notice Shade approaching us.

"Right, you two done yet? I'm tired. Let's go find some place accommodating."

"Uh, sure. We're done." Naddia hopped off her seat as Shade began walking out the door.

"Bye Alaric." she smiled in exuberance and then bit her lip, "See you tomorrow." She added in an accompanying wave.

"Ah...yes." Sufficiently stunned by her actions I could only offer a weak attempt at a smile and hand gesture in return. Mable, the waitress, who had been watching in silence throughout this whole affair shot me a teasing look.

"Not a word." I glared.

"Oh no, no, of course not."

She continued smiling as she picked up their plates and walked back to me once more, pausing on bringing the items to the kitchen. "It is merely refreshing to see your insufferable charm backfire on occasion."

I let a small smile escape, "Being polite and professional gets one quite far."

"Quite. Keep on saying that Alaric." she shrugged in passing, "I know how things are. We say and act as we have to, it's all part of the job. It still is a small pleasure to get glimpses of your real reactions sometimes. And that girl, she very much did catch you off guard."