(Untitled)

[iwasalevel6]

Tony was utterly useless for the rest of the day. His mind wandered relentlessly to ranges he could not reach; after Jack insinuated he had something to do with Teri's death, after Jack pinned him to the wall and kissed him like he was some prison bitch, how could he focus? Just how awful could this world be? Did it get any worse than this? Tony

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[blue_ajah]

"Can I get you anything?"

The soft, friendly voice comes from the young woman behind the counter, and is clearly directed at him.

"Coffee, maybe?"

[iwasalevel6]

"No, no, I'm fine..." He looks up from the menu and pauses. Stares, even. "Moiraine?"

[blue_ajah]

"That's right," she says, smiling. "And although It's always lovely to hear someone pronounce my name correctly, you can call me Raine, you know. I'm used to it."

She seems amused, but it fades into concern quickly as she looks at him.

"Are you sure I can't get you something? You look-- tired, maybe." A beat. "Rough day?"

[iwasalevel6]

She's not the Moiraine I know. The right edge of his mouth goes up in a grimace. He flicks the edges of the menu. "Yeah. Yeah. Coffee's good."

[blue_ajah]

She pulls a mug from a shelf behind the counter and snags the coffeepot from its burner in passing, pouring it full and setting it in front of him without spilling a drop. Raine adds a wrapped silverware bundle, as well; each motion is deft and practiced to the point where she evidently doesn't have to think about it.

Creamer and sugar are evenly spaced along the bar's surface, grouped with various condiments and napkin dispensers, but the counter's clean and well cared for.

"There you go, Mr. Almeida." It's calmly said, even matter-of-fact. "On the house today, I think."

[iwasalevel6]

He reaches for sugar and cream, pouring each in one at a time. Stirs until the color and flavor is just right--to the point where it's more cream and sugar than it is coffee. "How did you know my name?"

[blue_ajah]

"It's not like you're unknown in this town, Mr. Almeida," she tells him, very practically-- but with a hint of teasing. "And it's not like this place is all that far from your studio."

Raine might think he's joking, until she looks more closely at him. "You sure you're all right?"

[iwasalevel6]

He shakes his head. "Just had a bad day at work."

[blue_ajah]

"Sorry to hear it." She sounds it, or at least sounds sincerely sympathetic. "That never makes for a pleasant evening."

She glances around, checking for other customers-- there are a few, although it's getting late. Everyone seems all right at the moment, though, and Lizzy's on top of things. The other waitress nods to Raine -- it's all right, I've got it handled -- and turns back to her work.

Raine looks at the man in front of her and asks gently, "Would you rather I left you alone, or is there anything else I can do for you?"

[iwasalevel6]

"I wouldn't mind taking a load off," he says. "But I don't thinky ou'llr eally understand what's bothering me."

[blue_ajah]

She shrugs.

"Maybe not." It's Hollywood, and Anthony Almeida's a known name, she thinks -- probably business troubles and conflict at high levels.

"But I'll listen anyway."

[iwasalevel6]

He takes a sip of his coffee. "Let's just say I'm feeling a little out of my range right now."

[blue_ajah]

"Oh?"

Raine picks up a towel and begins to absently wipe down the countertop in front of her while she listens. Dark eyes are fixed on his face, and gentle interest is clear.

"How do you mean?"

[iwasalevel6]

"I just..." Don't know how to explain this without sounding insane.

He took another sip as a means to avoid adding another pack of sugar to the coffee.

"You know what it's like when you aren't sure you're doing the right thing? Like...your life isn't right, and you know you should be somewhere else."

[blue_ajah]

"Shadows on a wall," she answers, with a little smile. "Sure-- I think everyone feels like that from time to time."

[iwasalevel6]

Shadows on a wall... That sounded vague and Moiraine-ish.

"You ever feel that way?"