Bartending!

[antishinra]

Tifa's spent most of the afternoon working out by the lake. The change in seasons marked without her nearest and dearest makes her a little more melancholy than she hopes to let on, but even though she knows the lake and its surroundings are magic -- an illusion -- today the brightness gleaming off the water seemed... really nice. Or maybe she

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[chime_ra_tilt]

Zelgadiss tends to avoid Happy Hours. Bar's service came with a refreshing lack of staring, which isn't garuanteed when there's an actual person doing the drinks.

Some days, however, he has horrible timing.

"What's in a Tokyo Rose?" he asks eventually, keeping his hood up.

(ooc: Mun is at work, so replies may be slow, but wanted to tag anyway! ^_^)

[antishinra]

It seems kind of odd that he doesn't so much as pull his hood down since he's inside, but... there are a couple of things she's sure of: it's not a black cloak and he's not talking about the reunion, and if she can deal with the way Vincent tends to duck his face into his cloak, she can easily serve a drink to a stranger in a hood.

"It's equal parts vodka, sake, and melon liqueur." She aims a friendly enough smile at him. "Does it sound like something you'd be interested in?"

[ooc: No problem at all! Take your time.]

[chime_ra_tilt]

"I'll try it," he decides, after a moment. His nod causes the pebbles set into his stone-grey skin to catch the light, along with his wire-like hair.

[antishinra]

She can't help it: when he nods, she does a little bit of a double take.

But she doesn't say anything about how strange his skin looks. Or the glimpse of hair. It's not her job to make people uncomfortable, after all, and her job is something she's always taken pride in.

Besides, she can't imagine the guy liking being stared at.

"All right." Still smiling, she sets to making his drink. It all gets mixed and then poured into a cocktail glass with a cherry for garnish and place right in front of him. "Let me know what you think."

[chime_ra_tilt]

He does give the impression of one not wanting to be looked at, shoulders rather hunched and eyes shadowed.

He takes the drink, holding it very carefully in a hand wearing gloves with the fingers cut out. Where skin shows, it is blue-grey stone. His whole outfit seems designed to cover as much skin as possible.

Taking a sip, he nods. "It's all right. Different, but not bad. The melon flavor is interesting with the sake."

[antishinra]

This guy, she thinks, is hiding more than Vincent. But with good reason if the color of his fingers and the glint of his skin are anything to go by.

She's never seen anything quite like it, but she does keep making a point of trying not to look closely enough to make him uncomfortable.

"I thought so, too." She's never had much sake before, though. "I wasn't sure I liked it much the first time I gave it a try, but it's grown on me."

[chime_ra_tilt]

"It's... that kind of drink," he admits. "An acquired taste, perhaps."

He founders for a moment, not used to small talk with people he doesn't know very well. He doesn't even know her name yet.

"Have you been tending bar long?" He's not seen her aruond before. But he could say that of half the people in the bar.

[antishinra]

"Oh, just a couple of months, and I only do it a few times each month."

It's not exactly a full-time thing, but it's enough for now.

"Are you one of those people who's been here a really long time?" She smiles, and remembering her manners, she shakes her head slightly. "I haven't even introduced myself. I'm Tifa, by the way."

It's nice to know what to call your bartender if you need to get her attention.

[chime_ra_tilt]

"Hardly a long time," he says, shaking his head. "Though, I'll admit it feels like it has been. Only a few months, but enough that I don't think I could be more ready to leave."

He's not used to staying in one place so long.

"Zelgadiss," he replies, meaning himself. Then he remembers. "Pleased to meet you, Tifa."

[antishinra]

At first she's not sure if he means that's his name or not, but then he goes on, she assumes it is. "You too, Zelgadiss."

It's definitely a name she's never heard before.

"Guess that means you're trapped here, too." Now her smile's a little wry.

[chime_ra_tilt]

Call him Zel. It's so much easier to say.

But he'll never be the one to suggest it.

"For some months now, yes." He says, flat. "Through no fault of my own."

"Or perhaps it's karma, which just happened to miss Lina and hit me instead. It wouldn't be the first time."