Apr 04 03:56:07 106 PA
From Chronicles
The club is a liberal mix of modern and classic styles with a dark, warm lean to the hardwood and metal decor, dressed up with velvet and leather. Set up about the stage with attached DJ station and dance floor at the center, the entrance is set to one end of this, the bar to the other. The entrance itself is tightly controlled. There are always two well dressed people at the front, a bouncer to check each person coming in and another watching the drum and closet lockers that hold all patron weapons.
A broad , semi circular stage extends from the center of the widest wall, rising two feet, with lights rimming the edge and hidden in scaffolds high above. A rich red velvet curtain lies ready to sweep about and veil the stage itself from view. The DJ booth is set up right next to the stage, set into the same wall. With a thick window and biometric locks on the two side doors, one to the stage and the other to a set of stairs down, the equipment within is secure. Within a C shaped desk and racks hold the sound equipment, all linked into a central computer. All done up in sleek, dark cases, mixing well with the warm, wood paneling of the booth's exterior.
A dance floor is central to the club, laid out in a broad circle before the stage. Laid out in a semi circle opposite the stage side of the dance floor are a series of round tables, with smaller two person sized ones at the edge, with larger four person tables in the next row and a few grand six to eight person tables on the outer edge. All staggered to make for the best view for all to the dance floor and stage. To one side of this central focus is the bar, a broad affair taking up much of the shorter wall in width. The bar itself is a mix of modern and classic, with the simple, elegant hardwood design of the bar itself mixing with the display of alcohol behind it, opaque plastic shelves lit from within to highlight the wide selection of common and uncommon liquors for sale. The barstools themselves, lined up in a neat row, mix dark metallic stems with comfy red leather seats.
It finally happened. Somewhere along the line, the late-night DJ got sick of hearing loss, bass that shook her equipment out of the booth, and an ectacy-fueled hop-fest on the dance floor that resembled nothing more than confetti run through a snow blower. Dozens of halfway confused-looking dancers stare across the floor as salsa gives way to tango, a few mixed-up country pop songs thrown in for good measure. A few lines get started for the last, while Sebastien stands off the floor laughing at the spectacle in the middle, wondering how long it can last.
Edging in through the crowd, the time ticking over towards the end of shift, is Maya. A change in outfit warn of a time when she has no work tomorrow, the grin on her face bright red with lipstick and warning of a dangerous mood. The little black dress tonight conceals little, the sheer fabric hiding nothing of the tiny satin underdress, matching the hair, tied up tonight in two little buns either side of her head. Her eyes are lined in black, and her throat encircled in silver circle chains. She pauses at the side of the dance floor, her gaze moving across the crowd, before the strange choice in music draws a laugh from her.
"It is hard music to bounce along to, non?" comes a voice from beside the dance floor. The young knight stands in his usual club gear all silver and black with gaping holes in interesting places, looking very out of place as another piece comes on. Swing music. The line dancers stutter, glaring at the booth. They'd just grown accustomed to it. Complacent! Sebastien pushes off of a nearby table against which he was leaning, strutting along on the balls of his feet to cross the chasm separating the young man from the sadly solo dark-wrapped delight. His eyes twinkle, fastened on Maya's though he ought be drinking in her curves with every spare moment. Perhaps he's been ogling from afar, eyes sated of their natural curious lust? All sugar and substanceless from a distance; icing without cake. He's drawn near for a meal as he asks the unthinkable. "Care to dance?" A spare glance is paid at the nearly-empty floor as he adds, "You will be the center of attention."
"It isn't the easiest!" She calls back, turning her head to trace the voice, the grin widening as the music changes. Despite the flimsy dress, her shoes are not precisely delicate wear, chunky boots laced with purple, and they make a good noise as she jumps down onto the dance floor, tossing Sebastien a teasing look over her shoulder as she finds a good bouncing around rhythm, lifting her arms over her head. "Sure!" She calls to him, turning in a circle, as she jumps, total lack of regard for the traditional moves to this type of music.
Leonard enters the fine establishment, only to be promptly assaulted by the unexpected music. At least it is not as raucous and organ-vibrating as some of that in the past. Much easier listening by which to watch others dance, which is the impression given as he walks towards an unoccupied booth.
Sebastien grins back at the pale-skinned woman, taking several experimental steps after her to choke on a laugh as she begins to hop. His head drops, a finger touching between his eyes as he grins at the worn floor, and when he comes back up to grab at her shoulder's it's merely with a smirk. "Non, non mademoiselle, arret!" Strong hands lock on her arms, trying to ground the woman as he stares at her eyes. "Look down," he instructs. "Watch my feet." His weight shifts to the right, then back to the left. And to the right again, and back to the left, before bobbing back on the third iteration. "Something like the hokey pokey, non? You know this dance?" He repeats that stagger step a few times, hands on Maya's shoulders, watching her.
Maya laughs, tilting her head back to look up at him, the grin widening. "Oui?" The language switch is seamless, thoughtlessly done. A gurgle of laughter as she jumps once more, her boots thumping on the dance floor, as if to prove to Sebastien that she is only stopping because she wishes to. "Your feet." She repeats, lowering her gaze to look at them. "They are very nice feet." She informs him with mock solemnity, before she mimics the movement, only crunching his foot the once. "I do not. The hokey pokey?"
Sebastien's eyes narrow at that last jump, and he swallows a cry as those heavy boots mash a pair of toes during a basic step. This night could be painful. His chin ducks, hands descending to grab Maya's as he continues. "This is the base of swing music," he speaks simply. "You do this when nothing else is happening. But, I think, I will make you do things. Comme ca!" He releases her left hand, swinging the right up and jerking it in a small circle. Spinning her in place, if she doesn't fight.
Maya lets him take her hands, listening to the instructions, her grin widening. "You will, huh?" She replies, the dancing hazel eyes giving him warning, but she does move with the spin, the sheer skirt twirling around her thighs, flashing the satin underskirt. The boots make the twirl very inelegant, and a misstep punishes Sebastien's efforts with a kick to the shin. "Comme ca!" She replies, laughing breathlessly.
Leonard is not a member of the Dancing Fools Club, and prefers his nice, stable booth to sit upon. It will only improve, he hopes, as he requests a glass of wine for consumption. His focus then shifts to those members jostling themselves about in a variety of painful maneuvers.
The young knight's step stops a moment as she twirls too fast, and with that stutter he receives a sharp kick. "Basic step!" he snaps with a smirk, kicking Maya right back as she stops after her spin, and he leads her in a few easy basics before noting softly, "Variations on a theme," to release her hand once again, giving the darkling a half-spin. As she's lost in the maneuver his strong free arm snakes about her waist, yanking her roughly against his hips with loose links of his mesh shirt scratching against her back. Turning her, Sebastien slowly to slowly dips the woman, stepping behind her to spill the pale beauty over his arm. Arm quivering as he checks to see just how low she can go without dropping her. Maybe, just maybe, checking her flexibility.
Maya moves with his physical demands, her grin fading a little as she begins to concentrate rather than continue to beat the man with her boots. "Variations on a theme, perhaps like genetic structures." She mumbles, obviously to herself as the breath leaves her, yanked back against him. In the turn, a pair of startled hazel eyes fly to his face, eyebrows raised. The dip is not perhaps wise, and although flexible, she is not entirely well balanced, and her hands fly to clutch at his impractical mesh shirt, her mouth curving into the broad grin once more.
Something pops, and as the fabric begins to creak Sebastien gets a little grin. His breath puffs faintly over her exposed skin, chin hovering over her chest as he peers down at the dangling woman between the curves of her bodice. "Bien mademoiselle scientifique, reflechissez vite!" Pulling one of those clasping hands from his shirt, Sebastien steps away from the dark woman to launch her from the cradle of his arm like a catapult, right hand locked with her left to keep her from straying too far from his iron grip.
The girl in his arms doesn't seem to be noticing the attention given as she is dangled back over his arm, laughing, her breath leaving her in a startled gasp as he launches her across the dance floor, keeping her only by that grip on her left. "And so, links between dances, like chains in a chemical reaction, bringing another ..." She flings out her other arm, more to balance than for grace, but the effect is nice, and the skirt twirls around her thighs as momentum keeps it going. A faint flush has risen in her cheeks, effort or pleasure, either is possible.
One or more dancers look to be enjoying themselves, and the bold dipping to load the trebuchet and subsequent firing catches Leonard's attention. Silvery shirts and snug black dresses certainly don't hurt either, much more so the latter. Leonard watches the show with mild interest which is piqued further by Maya's footwear. Other than their potential for toe annihilation, they do appear vaguely familiar, and moreso than the rest of her attire.
Leonard is not nearly as entertaining as the music, dancing, nor the view of Maya which Sebastien indulges. The arrival of his drink now pulls his focus from the dance floor to receive it and compensate the server. Once business is completed, there is wine to tend to, even if it is not exactly celebratory.
Maya returns the look with one of her own, challenging, daring, her mouth curving into a broad grin. Confidence before a fall perhaps. She turns, less speed, a little more grace, curling herself back into his arms, a deliberately teasing movement that brings her into his body. "Like so?" The hazel eyes are dancing with mischief, giving him a moments warning, before she does press herself into him, a deliberate action with her eyes on his, for a long minute. Then, she uses his body to press off, the music changing a millisecond before she leaps away, returning to jumping. "That was fun, we should do it again sometime!" She calls to him.
That slow curl brings a delighted smile from Sebastien, a delighted teacher for a pupil who's finally surprised him. His head tilts to the right, chin dipping as his baby blues are lost in her hazel gaze. "Just like that," he breathes, his free arm catching Maya as she wriggles against him. Time stops, the world fading away in that endless moment, a faint flush touching Sebastien's cheeks before she begins to peel away. Swallowing hard, he takes a step forward and drops a hand to smack Maya's rear end hard as she dances away, yelling after her as she goes to bounce, "Practice! I will be less forgiving, next time!" Grinning back at the dance floor, he begins to stagger away. Somewhat less graceful than when he came in.
Leonard winces slightly as the loud, energetic and... bouncy music returns to vibrating the air in the room. His only consolation may be that dance floor is no less reinvigorated and his gaze returns to the bounding bodies. Those who cannot do, watch... or something like that.
Maya's laughter rings out, nearly louder than the music, turning to grin at Sebastien as he smacks her rear. "Practice? I am practicing! See!" She bounces deliberately more, turning away from the man, spending a few moments enjoying herself as she loses herself in the music. Loud music with a reverberating bass. After a little while, she turns her feet towards the bar, almost falling off the dance floor, her cheeks pinkened.
As the ruddy Maya departs the floor, a wine glass is lifted in mild salute. "You look to be enjoying yourself. Is this a new angle to the hugging therapy?" At some point amidst the jumping and bouncing, Leonard has finally recognized her.
The wine glass distracts her from the mission to the bar, and she turns her footsteps towards Leonard, her grin widening at the sight of her friend. "Hello!" The greeting is given with an offered hug, enthusiastic as ever. "Did you see us? He is a very good dancer, but I do like my way too..." The words are spoken breathlessly, her mouth curving into a grin.
Leonard is hugged, and expected as much. It is even returned, although much more excessively platonic than enthusiastic. "I did, in fact. You were rather..." He motions to her choice of dress and footwear as he hunts for an appropriate adjective. "conspicuous."
Amber enters the Alibi looking like she has had a rough day. She is still dressed in her work clothes, and although it appears she made an attempt to clean her self up, she still bares the smudges of a long day's work. She makes her way to the bar with laser like focus, and leans heavily against it as she awaits a bartender. After a brief exchange, the bartender returns with a Pint glass and a shot glass, the later taken almost immediately and placed back on the counter top. She pays, takes her glass in hand and turns around, her elbows resting on the bar she still leans against as her eyes survey the crowd.
The glance down at her outfit widens her grin, as she releases the hug, stepping back. "Really? People wear much more ..." She waves a hand, expressively dismissing her outfit. "Wine? Do you want another?" She turns to the bar, waving a hand, her grin reappearing when she gets served. A purple drink gets put in front of her, with plenty of crushed ice and a straw. The newcomer nearby gets an interested look, with narrowed hazel eyes.
Leonard chuckles as he takes her shortened comment and makes a brief jog with it. "Well, yes, but 'less' can catch the eye as well." His glass is still half-full, but he nods nonetheless. "Why not? I'd have asked for a second, anyhow..." Leonard turns to request another upon the arrival of Maya's, then looks back to her. Her odd glancing away deflects his gaze towards the bar and Amber, to whom he offers a wave.
Amber notices eyes on her from one of the other patrons of the bar, and she returns the look, instantly seeming to regret it. She looks down at herself, and seems to try to tidy herself up, but gives up quickly. Her gaze lifts, and the flicker of movement above the heads of the crowd draws her eyes to Leonard. She smiles as she returns the wave, but doesn't move to approach yet, instead taking a minute to drain about half the pint in her hand. She turns a bit, and wipes her mouth with her free hand, hopefully out of view on the man she recognizes.
Maya's grin in reply to the look seems not to mind the untidyness, before she turns to order Leonard's wine. Both glasses arrived, and paid for, she turns, offering the glass to Leonard. "Someone you know?" She asks, glancing between the vanishing girl and the man. Hot still from the dancing, she takes a large slurp of drink, through the straw, purple drink vanishing between red lips.
Leonard turns back as Amber does, nodding to Maya as he takes the offered glass. "Yes, and thank you. So how are your social experiments progressing? You're not working too hard, I hope?" His own grin belies the mirth in his mild jest.
Amber watches as Maya approaches Leonard, an eyebrow arching ever so slightly. She chews on her lower lip a moment before taking another long drink from glass. She turns, flags down a bartender and orders another, her original glass finished by the time it arrives. She turns back towards the crowd, a small smile on her face as she looks around for somewhere to sit, and finds one. She looks over at the two once more before heading over to a table, having apparently decided not to interrupt.
Maya returns the grin, laughing as she lowers her drink to speak. "Working just about enough I think. You?" Her forehead wrinkles, "I don't think the hugging thing will work but I'm going to keep trying." A laugh, "People here are very tense at the moment." Those are spoken almost sadly, her grin fading a little around the edges. Curiousity is a distracting thing and she moves her head to look for the woman he greeted.
"I can't claim to be working nearly as hard." Leonard chuckles before working to empty his first glass. "Or at all, for the moment. The hugging may not make everyone whole and happy, but I imagine that you'll make a great number of new friends from it." The last draws a less mirthful nod from him. "The arrival of so many displaced people has darkened the mood again, not to mention the Coalition's cause of it." The curiosity is perhaps contagious as he, too, then turns his attention back towards the bar, only to find Amber has left it.
From her new vantage point, Amber watches the crowd, her eyes dancing over the faces of the many patrons as she takes in the scene. She leans back in her chair, her hands both clasping the glass in front of her on the table. She nurses this one, taking her time, and she seems content to sit and watch, though she does seem more than a little interested in watching Leo and his friend.
Maya's attention flickers between her drink and the man with her, the other girl out of sight and out of mind. "You aren't busy?" She finds herself a seat, settling with her drink resting against her leg. "I have met some really nice people, actually. The place seems very friendly..." She takes another slurp, glancing around the club.
Leonard shakes his head. "Other than my current drink and company, no, at least for now. I've recently offered to assist with the refugees, however, so I'm certain that I'll find the means to keep myself occupied in the near future." Her other comment provokes a nod and grin. "Most that I know are reasonably friendly. Some moreso than others, but not everyone is... huggy."
Amber drinks slowly from her glass, her eyes wandering away from the two less and less as watches, amused interest showing in her expression. Her large grey eyes, while not our-right staring, linger a bit to long from time to time, and she appears to recognize this as she tries to make her attention less obvious. She reaches into her bag and pulls out a pad of graph paper, and a pen appears in her hand after a brief search of her pockets. She sets the pad in front of her, and touches the tip of the pen to its surface, but doesn't seem to make any marks.
"Oh? We've been seeing those poor people at the hospital..." Maya's grin is gone, and she shakes her head, the corners of her mouth turning down. "They are keeping us busy." She shakes her head, twisting her lips for a moment before she takes a slurp of the drink. "Not many people seem to reject the hugging." The grin returns slowly, as an idea appears in her mind. "Watch." She puts the drink down carefully on the bar, her gaze skittering over the crowd, before she slides from the seat, heading towards one of the nearby folks.
Leonard nods. "I can imagine there are many injured, and..." His words trail off as she stands, brow lifting as he turns to follow Maya with his gaze. He was told to observe, afterall, and, well, he doesn't recall having seen her dress from this angle before, either. Then there is also the presumption that hugging shall be involved, and his eyes lift slightly in search of Maya's potential targets.
Amber watches with interest, her eyes trying to follow those of Leo and Maya as she tries to figure out exactly what is happening. She takes a long drink and places the glass back on the table and her hand begins to move quickly as she scribbles on her page. She looks up, eager to see how things continue to unfold.
Maya's chosen victim is a large man, standing beside some friends with a pint in his hand. He doesn't look the hugging type, perhaps more the brawling and fighting type. She walks over with a bounce to her step, making the last step into a jump, her feet landing together as she taps him on the shoulder. Her grin in place, she speaks a couple of words and widens her arms to offer him a hug. A moment of sheer startlement, during which his eyes flicker around, checking perhaps for hidden cameras, and then he accepts, returning the hug cautiously, wary of crushing the petite woman. For a moment she hugs him tightly, enthusiastically, before it ends, and she departs from him, giving him a broad grin, turning back towards Leonard. The man is left, looking confused but faintly pink in her wake.
Leonard chuckles, now to himself, head shaking in obvious amusement. His glass is lifted to Maya, as well, in salute to her grand work. As his attention wanders from the blushing man, Amber is recognized again and receives a smile, nod, and another salute for herself.
Amber is confused, and it shows on her face. What ever she thought was going on was apparently way off, and her face is slightly scrunched. She Finishes her drink quickly before turning her attention back to her pad, and she writes for a while before her head lifts once more.
Maya's grin on the way back is obvious, as she winds her way through the growing crowd, returning to Leonard's side. She grabs up her drink, taking a slurp in the same movement as she offers Leonard a hug. "I think I need to dance again." She mumbles, around the straw, the hug as enthused as ever. "I'll catch you later, be good!" The last slurp as he is released, and the drink is left on the bar, as she launches herself into the crowd on the dance floor, more enthusiasm than style or skill.
Leonard catches the incoming hug and chuckles. "Don't hurt yourself, and I'll try." And then she has launched herself away. His untouched wineglass is now retrieved, and Leonard departs the table in favor of the confused, note-taking Amber. As he nears, he inquires, "Are you hard at work, also?"
"Yeah, just a long day, " she cocks her head to the side, "you know?" she begins to roll her neck slowly back and the forward again, "And tomorrow is going to be another, and having a few drinks tends to help me get to sleep a bit easier." She looks around, seeming to avoid eye contact with you as she surveys the crowd. Its late, yet the crowd seems to be enjoying the music, and the dance floor is crowded. She watches for a moment, as if looking for Maya among the bodies but fails. She turns back to you after a moment, "You sure do seem to have a way with the ladies?" she says with a smirk, her eyes showing no hint of inquisition, "Who was that you were just with?"
Leonard takes a sip of his wine and nods. "I do understand a draining day. Maybe you shouldn't work yourself so hard? At the risk of speaking hypocritically, all work and no play can make life rather dull and stressed." He then swirls his glass and chuckles. "I'd suggest some wine, but I'm biased and don't know how your particular tastes..." Leonard's words halt as he blinks and looses a brief, self-deprecating laugh before his head shakes. "Me? Hardly. Maya is a friend, I suppose, and she feels everyone needs an additional hug or three in their lives."
From the back office emerges Desmond. He's dressed casual again today, though it doesn't detract from the way he sizes up the status of the club once the door has shut and locked behind him. He spends a minute like that before he decides to move away from the office door, making his circuit of the room's perimeter. It is amid this circling that his eyes happen upon Leo and Amber. His step slows and two more paces past, he turns and moves towards their table.
Amber's face scrunches a bit, "Well thats different.. I guess. She certainly seemed ..." About to speak again, but notices the large form Desmond approaching out of the corner of her eye, and she turns to watch him near. She offers a wave in his direction before turning her attention back to Leo.
Leonard rolls his shoulders at the comment. "She does seem so, but I don't really know her all that well... other than to be wary of a sudden hug. Energetic, as well, I guess, considering she's still out there dancing around." Her wave draws his gaze away form the table to the approaching Desmond, who receives a nod in greeting. "Evening."
"Good evening," Desmond rumbles deeply as he arrives at the table, his head dipped slightly. He looks towards Amber then and states, "I beg pardon for my swift departure when last we spoke. There are times when one must look to the greater needs. But should you wish, we can speak of your desire to learn." He looks to Leo then as he adds, "Assuming I am not interrupting a matter of importance."
"Amber looks up at the big d-bee and smirks, "Well ain't that something..." she shakes her a head a bit, shooting a quick look Leo's way, "I go from having no teachers to having two potential ones just like that." She gets just a tiny bit out of her seat and gestures torwards a free chair, "Join us, please."
Leonard shakes his head in response to Desmond's question. "Not at all. Please..." He grins as Amber invites Desmond to join them. "It is the lady's table, afterall." His focus returns to said lady as he takes a swallow from his glass, followed with a widening of his grin. "It looks like you are the one who has the way with others."
Desmond nods his head once as he's directed to sit, moving to one of the nearby chairs to do so. Once he's carefully settled his large frame onto the chair, he leans forward, his arms crossing over the table's top loosely. If he seems bothered by the talk, he doesn't show it. Then again, that steady expression of his rarely gives anything away. "I suppose it might be best to start by asking just what questions you might have for my method of centering," he tells Amber.
Amber smirks over at Leo, "Now that'd be something." she turns to face Desmond, "Right to the point, huh." she purses her lips a moment, "Well, I guess I just really need a starting point, you know? I can't stop the hypotheticals from popping into my head. I'd just really like to quiet those down."
Leonard gives Amber a less vague, smiling shrug this time, but refrains from comment as she provides answers to Desmond's pointed question. Instead he takes advantage of the situation to further enjoy his wine and observe how the questions and answers fall on this particular topic. Even he might learn something, given that the feline fellow does seem unnaturally calm at all times.
"The straight path is often the best in my experience," Desmond rumbles in response to Amber's comment. Her question prompting a thoughtfulness that lingers on for a few quiet moments. "This is where one mostly finds a path of their own." Another pause for consideration before he offers, "You must find something that quiets your mind. Be it a thought.. an activity, a place. A familiar sense.. something to hear, smell, touch, taste or see. Something that will quiet your mind, then be flushed itself when there is no more left than it. It is a deeply personal thing, you see. For myself, I can do so in a quiet, restful place. I imagine that my mind is a cup and my thoughts are as water. And I slowly let the water seep away to leave a quiet, still mind. A slow process, but one that works for me."
Amber considers Desmond's words, and she remains silent for almost a minute, "Yeah, well I haven't really been able to find my own yet, I guess. And the only time my mind is ever really clear is when i'm working, and sorta the whole point of this is to try to have more to my life than work." a famiiliar quickness to he words. She looks exasperated as she shrugs.
"Well, what is it about your work that clears your mind?" Leonard now interjects in offering. "If you can seperate the focus from the actual deed, it could help you without all the exhaustion." He nods towards Desmond. "As he stated, it is an individual and personal endeavor. Either of us could help you, but you have to find what fits best for you."
"Then perhaps, for the moment, you might approach it thus," begins Desmond. "While you are working, if you feel a moment come when you are relaxed. When you feel your thoughts quiet and your mind become still, pause your work and settle yourself to seek your center. Try to grasp that stillness and let it fill you." He leans back slightly, his head nodding slightly. "If you do not grasp it, you lose little time. If you do, there will be other times to catch up on those projects which are not of immediate need." One hand lifts, the finger jabbing down onto the table as he states, "The point is to grow used to the feeling. To blaze your path to it that you can return there easier than before." He then nods to Leo as he offers some words.
She looks first to Desmond, her lips tight before she speaks, "I like work because its easy to get lost in it. I can ask a machine what's wrong with it, and it'll tell me how its supposed to work. And I listen, and then do what needs to be done. From there, its just me and the work, most things have to be very precise, and so i concentrate on one little bit at a time." She shrugs, "I don't know if that makes sense." She turns her head to look at Desmond, "I guess its that first step thats the hardest, but I guess i could start at work, and try to go from there."
Leonard nods with Desmond's suggestion. "An excellent idea. It is getting accustomed to that initial point that can be frustrating." He considers Amber's explanation of her focus for a moment before making a suggestion of his own. "Tedium might help, as well, if it's the repair of the problem itself, and not hunting for the solution. Take a task you know by heart..." A hand waves somewhat absently as he has absolutely no experience or terminology to offer a specific example. "... and repeat the necessary steps in your mind as if you were performing them. That might be enough to concentrate your thoughts without straining anything, and you could do so at your leisure, without bringing work home with you."
Desmond nods his head once to Amber. "Try that. Try listening to music you favor. Try being in a place quiet and still. Try whatever you might think will aid. It is as much a part of the self exploration as centering yourself is," he rumbles. "All part of a journey to learn more of who you are. Whenever you feel your thoughts quiet, try to take hold of that moment.. that quiet that comes to you." He spreads his hands as he adds, "I will give what aid I can besides that, but I don't know you enough to give deep help in making that first step."
Amber leans back and lets out a small chuckle. She stretches her arms over her head and she takes a minute to take a look at her surroundings. Its pretty late at this point, and the dance floor is still packed, the heat from the bodies in motion can be felt even at the table she shares with Leo and Desmond. She smiles and looks back at the two men, "Asking myself who I am is when the thoughts flood in, so I think i'll try to stay away from that just yet. Maybe if I ever figure this out." she closes her eyes a minute as she exhales, "We'll see, I'll try anything if I can.." she searches for the words, "find some sort of calm."
Having been lost in the shuffle, Sage re-emerges into the club from the direction of the restrooms. As she walks back out, she glances towards the dance floor to see the packed nature of the floor but keeps well clear of the floor itself. As she wanders around, her gaze ends up picking out the large feline form at one of the tables. She pauses only briefly to order herself a drink before heading over to the table in question. "I'm sure you'll find your calm. Success is just a matter of trying." Amber receives a smile in reply, and for reassurance. Leo's hand lifts to move towards her arm, perhaps in a somewhat reflexive gesture of the same, before it pauses mid-table and lowers. A mildly awkward substitute then follows. "I wouldn't worry yourself too much. If nothing else, it's counter-productive."
Desmond nods his head once to Amber. "I am sorry I could not be of more help, but I must speak truth to you. Life is ever full of an exploration of the self. To find one's purpose and path to walk." His eyes shift towards Leo for a moment before he bobs his head once and rises slowly to his feet. "You can find me here or at my home at Raleigh's Retreat should you need further discussion on this. For now, I have some tasks I must see to. Be well and good luck," he offers to her before he dips his head to Leo. "Farewell." He will turn then to continue on his way.
Amber waves half heartedly as she stares blankly at the d-bee as he walks away, a small smile curling her lips after a few seconds. She shes shakes her head before looking back up Leo, "Do you know him well? Desmond? Is he always like that? So....direct?"
Arriving soon enough to catch a little of the conversation, Sage simply gives Desmond a small wave in passing at the feline moves onto other matters. Anything she has to discuss with him can wait until another time. She notices Leonard at the table and this gives her enough reason to step up to the table. "Yes, that seems to be part of the way he views the world." She comments, "Sorry to interrupt." She adds quickly, before pausing to let the others get accustom to her arrival. "Hey Leonard." She comments, before her gaze drifts to the woman. "Hey..." She offers simply, unsure of whether her presence will be invited or not.
Leonard's semi-aborted discomfort seems lost to the suddeness of Desmond's rise. The dip of head is returned to the feline. "Try not to work too hard." After he steps away, Leo returns his attention to Amber with another nod. "From what I have seen, yes. He... Evening, Sage." Her presence is an interruption, but his smile declares it not an unpleasant one.
