[FIN] Charmed, to be Sure [Essence]

[Lucca]

It was with a warm rush of relief that he finally saw Aima enter the establishment, just a little bit before he'd been about to start playing anyway. A wide smile split his beak, and he stood up off the bench, looking out over the patrons. He noticed, then, that the Pine Martin's eyes held a question...about...? Ah. Perhaps she was wanting to speak with him? Well, she'd need to wait until he got a break. Which would be after this song, luckily. He moved a wing to her in the universal gesture of 'Wait.'

Then, clearing his throat, he spoke out over the crowd. "All right, for my next piece, I'm going to be playing a new song. One of my own composition, in fact." Some interested 'oohs' came from the crowd, though others were either ignoring him, and a few of the more drunk ones cat called, but Colin ignored this. "It's called Night of Fire."

Smiling, he turned back to the piano, and began to play. It was the same song he'd played for Aima the night before, though he had made a few minor changes, which she may or may not be able to notice. Hopefully she would see that they only added more to the music she seemed to enjoy so much. When he was done, Colin took ma bow to a scattering of applause, and then moved away from the piano and towards the table Aima was sitting at. "May I?" he asked, smiling at her. "I'm on break for a half hour for dinner, and then I have another few songs to play before I get off for the night," he explained further, sitting if she invited him to do so.

[Esfiel]

Aima could wait. She had lots of practice in the art of waiting, but not for any thanks of patience. It was developed forcefully through slow tests, experiments, and learning. Well, if science was quick then the world probably wouldn't have much left to discover by now.

All these thoughts faded away as Colin spoke to the crowd, introducing Night of Fire. She might have laughed at the cat calls, or more directly at the drunk people making the calls, but chose to ignore them instead, as was polite. When the piece started she paid close attention to the song, but she was not able to point out any of the changes. The little Corvie just didn't have an ear for music.. other than listening to it, of course.

When it ended Aima was at the edge of her seat, clapping. It was a good thing she'd stopped clapping before Colin reached her table, otherwise in her enthusiasm she might have ended up clapping harder. That would have just made her look silly, being the only remaining person clapping like mad.

"Of course!" she exclaimed, happy to let him sit with her. Her chance was almost upon her. She would wait a little longer, maybe for him to get off, and then ask. Until then... well, she could continue to compliment him and also let him know how much she liked the establishment he played at.

"Just a few? Ah, how I wish I could have been here when you first got here!" When he said he was going to play at sunset, she had actually thought that was when his shift started, but apparently he met when he would play that particular song.. which made a lot more since when she thought back to their conversation the day before. "This is a wonderful place. I like the dim lighting. It just adds so much to the place." She smiled at him, "I hope the food is as good as the music and setting."

[Lucca]

He beamed at her, happy, but a bit tired. Playing piano always made him tired, in that sort of satisfied way...possibly because of how much energy and effort was expended by his odd methods. He really needed bipedal form, that would all this so much easier! Someday...

"Ah! Well, I apologize if I gave you the wrong impression," he said, chuckling a bit and looking sheepish. He couldn't exactly remember what he'd told her the night before about when he would play, but he wanted to cover his bases anyway. "I can't always tell exactly when they'll want me to start playing, since it varies a bit based on the day, unfortunately. As for how good the food is, well, I'll let you decide about that." He grinned and winked at her, and it was at that moment that a waitress approached the table.

"Mr. Colin, your usual and I presume? Oh and...who's this? She wouldn't be the mysterious lady-friend I've heard so much about, would she?" the waitress, an Avington Deer, asked.

Colin blushed slightly and shook his head. "Er, no...this is Aima, and she's a friend. And an, um, admirer of my work. You can put her meal on my tab though, since she's here as a guest."

The waitress laughed, a clear sound. "Oh, I see! Well then, what would you like Miss Aima?" When the Pine Martin ordered, she'd fairly skip back to the kitchen with the promise to return soon with drinks.

[Esfiel]

Aima ordered chicken noodle soup because devouring pure meat in front of him hardly seemed classy. She was capable of savoring it and eating slowly, but she wanted to direct her brain power elsewhere, like with listening to the conversation between Colin and the waitress. It couldn't help but make her curious. Mysterious lady-friend? And she didn't have to pay for the meal! That was certainly a pleasant surprise, and she made sure that it showed on her face.

"Oh, thank you," she said with a bashful smile, leaving it on for a moment before letting it turn mischievous. "So who's this lady friend?" She attempted to raise an eyebrow, but she wasn't sure how well she managed it. It was a trick she wanted to learn and randomly practiced, but never looked in a mirror to confirm she could do it. So either she raised one eyebrow with the desired effect, or both went up and she looked surprised.

[Lucca]

Colin beamed at her and waved a wing flippantly. "Oh, don't mention it," he practically sang out, crest raised happily. He faltered a bit at her next question and the...rather strange expression that passed over her face. Not that he hadn't been half-way expecting it after the waitress's nosiness...the question that is, not the expression. "Her name is Suha." His smile took on a dreamy cast. "She's a Morganberry, feathers of a fiery hue and eyes that seem alight with inner flame. A Heart, but quite all right for all that. Gorgeous and fun to spend time with, nice sense of humor, really wonderful in all ways. We've been dating for er...about a month, I should think it's been by now." He seemed quite infatuated with the girl, judging by all his rambling. Which probably prompted the next question, not one he'd normally ask, by any means.

"How about you? Is there a man in your life?" His eyes widened a bit as he realized what he'd just asked, and scolded himself for the personal question. "Just curious, you know. You don't have to answer if you'd rather not." Oh, how he hoped he wasn't going to make a total fool of himself in front of someone who seemed to be such a fan of his work!

[Esfiel]

Suha, eh? Interesting. His description of her amused her. She could tell how much he liked her just by his words. She almost wanted to laugh at the Heart remark, but that may have embarassed him so she didn't. Instead she smiled, almost knowingly. Life seemed so good for him. It could be even if she didn't run on blood! she thought distantly. No, bad thoughts, not now!

It was fine, though, because Colin's next question shocked it clear out of her head. Did she have a man in her life? The only man she could think of who had been of any importance had been her.. her father. She didn't like to think about him, though, and she knew that's not what he meant. "...erm." She paused, knowing she should say something more. She'd never really felt the need to find someone to be with, though. "Well no. I'm too busy for that." Nevermind her randomly going up to Colin and taking time out to listen to him play, but that was part of what made her busy. Job hunting, subject hunting, experiments. Really, she had no time for someone who would want.. what would he want? Affection? Hahaha...

[Lucca]

At the hesitant not-answer, Colin felt his stomach go a little queasy. Great, just great, he'd managed to go and unsettle her with the question, and now things were going to be uncomfortable...it was only extensive social ettiquette training that kept his expression level as he waited to see if she would add anything, his wings fidgeting a little in the only sign of his nervousness he had trouble controlling. Why did he have to go and say something stupid like that? Ugh.

"Ah, I see," he replied with a forced smile, and then his mind went blank. He had no idea what to say to that, because she didn't make it clear whether she was happy being single or not, and he didn't want to make her more uncomfortable by assuming. Come on...need a change of subject...I hate awkward silences and this is both very silent and very awkward...the food hasn't shown yet...what now?...come on... "So, tell me about yourself." It was...a start? "I mean to say, you've seen where my work and interests lie, what about yours? What's your...specialty?" He relaxed into a more natural smile. There we go, good job Colin. A subject she should be more than happy to talk about. And perhaps a chance to learn about her odd...additions.

[Esfiel]

Well, Collin had done it. He'd gone and asked a Corviestownian about her work. More specifically, about her specialty. Oh the poor soul. This wasn't what Aima was thinking, however. The little pine martin was thrilled, all thoughts of the awkwardness poofing from her mind.

"Actually I'm a doctor," she said with a proud smile. She wouldn't mention how most people never let her get near them to do any doctoring. Oh people and their silly mistrust of Corvies... "More specifically, though, I'm currently working on a way to drain a person fully of blood and still have them live happily!" She spoke about it like it was the most normal thing in the world, as though she was talking about a pet dog or owning a flower shop. She tapped the metal plate sticking out of her head. "This is part of it. I've tubes in me that carry what blood remains in me to the organs and limbs that need it. This helps me get additional nutrients and keeps me healthy!"

[Lucca]

Colin had been around enough Corvies to know precisely what he was getting into by inviting Aima to speak about her interests. However, to him, one too many minutes of awkward silence would have been far, far worse than having to listen to any amount of technobabble from a million over-excited scientists. He was well trained in the art of listening, even when the subject being talked about was of no interest to himself. So all he felt when Aima jumped on the chance to wax eloquent about her life's work was relief...until he heard what it was.

Okay, she was a doctor, great! And...wait...what was that about blood? He blinked a bit, obviously surprised. "That's...very..." The Cardinal paused, fishing quickly for a word or phrase to describe that interest that wasn't 'weird' or 'gross'. Luckily, he was well-trained in this sort of social situation, too. "Different. I bet you're one of only a few Corvies with an interest like that, or to have done such extensive experimentation with your own bloodstream. Really, I have more respect for those that experiment on themselves than those that force others to be test subjects." He was picking up steam as he went along. If Aima was the type who wouldn't use an Ace as a test subject against its permission...well then, that was very noble of her! If another Card volunteered or was paid to be a Guinea pig, well then that was different and Colin had no problem with it. "That's really clever of you to know how to run on less blood." He did rather wonder why it was such an advantage if she had to get extra nutrients just to keep her energy up...but he refrained from bringing it up.

[Esfiel]

One of a few? Ha! She was the only one! ..at least that she knew of. She could allow that there could be others that haven't made their work public. Usually that was the way of a Corvie's research. "Oh yes, I wouldn't force someone to be my test subject.. although if they volunteered.." She coughed lightly. Moving on.. he thought that was clever? Oh no, it got much better, although she was touched he thought it so.

"Well it's not just that," she began. "Running on less blood means lots of things. No more bruising, internal bleeding, and a whole score of other injuries that can be avoided. As I come up with other ways to get oxygen transmitted to all the cells in my body and other ways to get nutrients that are natural I may not even have to eat anymore. I still would, of course, food is good, but I wouldn't have to."

That made her pause. Speaking of food, where was theirs? Well they hadn't been waiting that long, had they? She couldn't remember how much time must have passed.