milliways_bar | (no subject)

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Nina's in the bar. Nondescript clothing, subdued look, no drink. Just a dark, distant stare off into space.

When lo, along comes...

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Speak of the devil! (Well, think of the devil is probably more accurate...)

"Asmodean?" Nina turns to face him, a pleased light dawning over her face. "What--what brings you here today?"

She hopes and prays he doesn't notice the slight quiver in her voice. He probably will, she thinks dryly, but she hopes and prays furiously all the same.

If Asmodean noticed (and doubtlessly he did), then he made no reaction to it. His harp is being held gracefully in his right hand.

"I often visit those for whom I have played before."

Any intentions or implications will have to be created in Nina's mind because they do not exist in his face and voice.

Nina looks carefully, hiding her own feelings with a desperate effort, but Asmodean's face is unreadable. You're being an idiot, she curses herself roundly, wrestling with dark shadowy thoughts at the back of her mind. "I'm flattered," she says, more or less evenly--even lightly. "It's always an honour to hear from you."

Asmodean gave a graceful (always deadly) bow, a touch of a smile on his face.

"The honour may be yours, but the pleasure is mine."

Again with the unreadable.

She's resisting the impulse to draw implications from that, very hard, and succeeding. Sort of. It's such a difficult game to play with him, sometimes--and that's why she's drawn to him, absolutely fascinated by him.

"The honour and pleasure are both mine, in this case." She smiles. "How many other people have been lucky enough to hear you?"

Asmodean considered for a moment.

"Well, slightly more than a handful do I visit on numerous occasions."

He paused.

"Though those who enjoy my music or my company are always visited regularly."

"You've never thought of giving a concert or anything?" Nina is genuinely curious. "It's not like you wouldn't be well-received..."

Asmodean considered and shook his head.

"No, I suppose the acoustics of this place are not given to that."

He paused and smiled slightly.

"Besides, concerts are very impersonal, and interacting with my patrons holds a certain joy."

"How do you make it so personal?" Nina furrows her brows, her eyes serious and searching, almost as if trying to read the hidden secret in his dark gaze. "It's like--it's as if you have the power to read souls, hearts and mind, and respond to that. How?"

Asmodean leveled a dark-eyed gaze against her. A touch of smug amusement on his face, an almost predatory smirk. Nina might be inclined to think he could read her like an open book, while his dark eyes are disinclined to give up their secrets.

"While I do have the power to read the thoughts and peruse memories, it is not something that I do without need. It is impolite."

He paused.

"Besides, when you have been around as long as I have you learn to read into people's movements and actions. Combine that with music that speaks to the heart's of men, and that is your answer."

Nina is so inclined. Once again she feels vulnerable, exposed and wounded raw, and swallows her hurt as best as she can. "It sounds like you use that skill with more than music..."

Asmodean shrugged slightly, but did not take his dark eyes from Nina.

"I have before."

His voice is still as calm as ever.

"How?" Nina feels, not for the first time, a slight twinge of fear.

Suddenly, Asmodean's eyes fill with fire. Not a metaphorical one, but a literal fire as a way to describe the emanations of power from his eyes. The very air around him begins to burn, and lightning flickers around his body.

"I have ways, Lady Nina."

Just as quickly, the power is gone, and those dark eyes still remain.

Nina is frozen to her seat, trying very, very hard not to run away. "Impressive," she says softly, her voice a little faint. "Can that be... can that be learned?"

Asmodean considered. His dark eyes still watching, a gleam of something fell in his eyes.

"You have to have the ability inborn, and I rather doubt that you have such abilities."

He paused

"There are entities which have given powers more dangerous and mighty to their followers."

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