Never Drink Alone

[Rob Snow]

Rob's hand connected with the guitar a few times between beats. He was mostly just playing now, almost reflexively: his hands wanting to move at all times. They plucked as they tapped, pulling familiar tunes out of the instrument and releasing them into the air. He didn't let any linger, pulling one noise after another. It was tempting to use his voice, and as he always did, he looked around, wondering if there was someone there who could use it.

Seemed to be what he did any more: wander the streets, playing, looking for people hurt that he could help with a little tune. Suited him more or less: never tied down, just wandering about. Sure, he technically had a dorm room, but it wasn't like he spent a lot of time there. It was a place to sleep and store a few possessions, namely guitar paraphernalia and a handful of clothes and such.

Finally his gaze settled on someone. He kept playing, but he watched, curious, finally leaning over, across the bar. "Buy a pint for that one, would ya?" he asked, tilting his head slightly. "Looks like they could use one. You know I'm good for it," he winked and smiled before leaning back, letting his fingers and hands move again.

[Roxana Strix]

Roxana really didn't come to this kind of place unless she was collecting information or someone had dragged her out here. Since the latter didn’t really happen while she attended BA, she was here for collecting information. The exchange was a relatively quick one, the kind where the informant just sat behind, had a drink, and left what she needed behind under the glass. It was easy enough to get what he had dropped off, and normally she would have left after that. Yet, she remained behind, looking at the empty glass in front of her.

She was actually a little tired, getting use to the whole jet lag on top of not having slept much since she returned back to BA. There had been several matters that she needed to handle and her brother had come back with her. Vlad had brought a whole new level of worry and stress to the college student and she knew she would have to talk to him as soon as she got back to the dorms. However; to avoid that right away, she stayed behind in the bar. Planning on just taking in the moment to herself, but then a drink was being placed in front of her.

The world around her set back in and allowed her to recall hearing that someone had said to buy a drink for her, specifically a pint. Rox was not used to drinks being bought for her and she rarely drank what she or anyone ordered for her while she was in the company of others. She looked for the one who had bought her a drink. “Thank you, but that was not necessary.” Roxana informed him. She didn’t get why anyone would buy her a drink, especially if he did not come with it flirting. That was usual the standard when you bought a girl a drink, right?

[Rob Snow]

The girl did look a little haggard. She had the whole "carrying the world on her shoulders" look that happened with mutants from time to time. Rob recognized it fairly easily at this point, having been around and seen it a few times. She also didn't quite look like someone who would have come in here willingly.

"Not necessary but damn polite," Rob replied airily enough. He rose, walked a few steps closer, and took a seat nearer. He looked the girl over again: she did seem vaguely familiar, but, well, again: mutant thing. Though he supposed that normals could probably wander in here from off the street and have a pint themselves, the place was a fairly well known hangout for mutants.

"So," he said, gesturing, "should I open with the 'what's a gal like you doing in a joint like this'? Seems like it would be just cliche enough to be enjoyable without going overboard." He raised his brows and tapped his guitar a few more times. He supposed he could offer to perform for her too, though he wasn't sure she needed that any more than she'd needed the drink.

[Roxana Strix]

Roxana did have a lot on her mind and weighing on her shoulders, but being the literally person that she was she would not have said that it was the weight of the whole world. No, she would say maybe the weight of the entire school of BA was on her shoulders. Not that she was one to discuss such a thing, she didn’t really discuss anything like that with anyone, save for maybe Elsa or Ellen depending on how the conversation went with them. “Or suspicious.” Roxana responded when he said that it was ‘damn polite’ in terms of a thing to do.

People didn’t do things just to be nice; there was something that they wanted. At least that was what was taught and what many assumed. Rox was thinking that way about this young man as well, already running his face the tons of faces that were stored in her memory. She had to know all of the students and their powers; it made things easier when it came to entertain and knowing who she had to be careful around. However; this person was not clicking right away, perhaps she was a bit more tired than she had originally thought.

She watched him carefully as he got up and moved a little closer. She didn’t make any moves to move away or to stop him, but she was clearly watching him. His next question was pretty cliché, but more surprising was that he had decided to still talk to her. Of course she could not answer honestly why she was here, that was out of the question. “I just wanted to be in a location where the smell of alcohol occupied my sense of smell and the sound of drunks and people having a good time occupied my hearing.” Roxana said, in a very…unusual manner.

“What about you? Do you have a performance you plan on putting on?” Roxana asked as she looked at the guitar. She could appreciate music; it was another form of art after all. Sure she enjoyed a different style of art, but creativity was all the same.

[Rob Snow]

Rob's eyes widened as he talked about suspicious. "Such a suspicious mind you have!" he said, closing his eyes and shaking his head. "It's such a pity that we have to think like that in this day and age. Though I can't say I really blame you: seen too many girls get the wrong thing in their drink."

Rob's own arrived and he reached for it. The bartender paused. Rob sighed, dug into his pocket, and handed over the necessary bills: all wrinkled and ready to go. Then he pulled his drink a little closer. While the girl spoke, Rob drank. Just wanted to be where the sounds of a bar filled the senses? There was something of a song there, and Rob could already feel his lyrics going through.

He set the drink down, smacking his lips and nodding. "Less putting on, more just done," he said, jerking his head slightly toward the outside. "Was playing on the streets till just a few moments ago. Came in here to wet the whistle," he paused and watched as Roxana's drink appeared. Rob pointed at it. "need me to drink that first? Swear I don't have any natural immunities to roofies." He was tempted to joke a little, but drugging girls at bars seemed like something that you really shouldn't be joking that much about.

[Roxana Strix]

Roxana made no comment when he said that she had a suspicious mind. It was practically second nature for her to be on her guard and suspicious of everything someone did. She could never fully let her guard down or trust someone, if she did, she die. That was the extreme way of looking at it, but that was how she was raised and trained to think. It was all about the safety of the secretes she carried and for her own safety of course. While she might have been scolded and threatened in different manners, she did know that she was still a valuable asset o her organization on some levels.

“Have you seen it happen in this bar?” Roxana asked. She was not certain if he meant that he had seen it personally with his own eyes or if he had heard tales of it. Then in either case, had they been about this bar or just in general at other bars. Roxana watched as his drink arrived, watching how it seemed like he had to pay first. Was he known to not always pay for his drink, even after getting one for her? Rox had money on hand just in case and would pay him for the drink he got her. He could reject the money all he wanted, but it was going to end up with him in the end.

Roxana listened as he explained that he had already put on a show, specifically out on the streets not to long ago, and was basically taking a break now. Roxana never fully understood street performers. Doing a job that didn’t always guarantee money and dealing with people just walking by didn’t really seem like something a person could be happy with for long. She supposed if you were in it just to share the music and not money, then it was fine. Rox could relate in terms of how she just gave her art out as gifts, but even then that was to certain people and not just strangers on the streets.

She looked at her drink when he offered to drink it for her. She shook her head no and tossed it back without a problem. “It’s fine. I can handle myself and you don’t seem the type to try such a thing.” Roxana pointed out as she motioned to have another glass. It really was not something to joke about, but Roxana didn’t mind at the moment.

[Rob Snow]

"Haven't been around long enough," Rob replied truthfully, adding a shrug. "Locals have been saying this place is mutant owned and is something of a watering hole for that kind. I wouldn't lay bets on pulling something like that. Plus, the owner's supposed to be the kind that wouldn't cotton to that sort of behavior."

Rob had to smile at the American slang. It always felt odd, but he'd heard bits and pieces about the owner as it was. Some sort of cowboy or down home type: had that sort of accent and manner about him. Rob could respect those kinds: they were usually gentlemen deep down... or rednecks, but that was splitting hairs.

Strange though, but he could swear he heard a non-American accent from the girl. Something in the way she spoke: that accent felt like it came from somewhere else. "You do look like the sort who can," he offered, nodding. He saluted her with the drink. "Someone as far from home as you must have at least some sort of strength. So for that, I salute you," he then took a drink, finishing by smacking his lips. "Something about the drinks in a seedy bar just makes them taste better, don't it?"

[Roxana Strix]

He admitted to not having been around here that long, which might have been why Roxana was not yet familiar with his name or power yet. There were new people that she still had to gather information on and bush up on her knowledge. She would do that later, perhaps tonight, or in the morning after she tried to get some rest. Roxana gave an affirmative nod as the guy talked about the place being owned by a mutant. She was well aware of who owned the establishment, his power, among several other key points about the owner. Not that she was going to discuss any of that with this young man, but she was well aware.

The language this guy was using was taking a moment for Roxana to adjust and get used to. It had not been that long ago when she was back home speaking either Romanian or Russian and now she was settling back into English. Never fun to deal with that on top of having to deal with slang that she didn't always get. Roxana of course had an accent, one that she tended to cover up for the most part, but was only making the effort to make it not sound so heavy. The only real way she could ever fully get rid of it was if she started to speak in the accent of another language.

She didn't say anything to the fact that he did agree with her on the fact that she could take care of herself. He didn't need to know the details of how well she could take care of herself to the point where she was considered a weapon, and that was without the use of her power. She did raise a brow for a moment when he brought up about her bring far from home, but did toss back the drink, tapping for just one more. Not that she was worried about ending up drunk or anything, American drinks were mostly weak compared to what she was used to.

"I suppose. Does it remind you of home? You don't seem like the sort that is from around here." Roxana pointed out. There was perhaps a better way to say that, but she was sleepy and figured he would get it at any rate.

[Rob Snow]

Another drink? Rob smiled slightly at that, tempted to point out that his tab only extended so far. He could see the girl taking advantage, but for the moment, she was too interesting for him to send her packing. Much better to go through this, see how it all shook out.

"Not especially," Rob replied airily, adding a slight shrug. "Technically 'home' would probably be the British Isles," Rob raised his drink: "God save the queen," and kicked it back, taking a deep swig. Soon enough he was smacking his lips and setting the drink back on the counter, adjusting it with his fingers.

"It does remind me of traveling," he replied, turning back to face her. "You've got an Eastern European accent, if I'm not off," he tapped the top of his drink. "Sort of odd to hear that this far West, though I guess we aren't that far coming from the other direction," Rob's eyes shifted as he tried to remember his geography, nodding slowly as he figured it out. He pointed at her. "So, what's the story there, luv? Tell me it's not as dull as 'transferred schools' or I'll have to drown my sorrows." He paused and looked around. "Though I do seem to be in the right place if I'm going to do so."

[Roxana Strix]

Roxana would have informed the young man that she was going to be paying for her own drinks, or at the very least give him the money equivalent of how much her drinks had caused with a little extra. The little extra being because he was nice enough to buy her a drink in the first place and Rox wanted to encourage that kind of good behavior so long as he was not sneaking something into said drink. She had no intentions of taking advantage of him, there was no need to, and she had not been ordered to. So it was not going to happen, simple as that.

She listened as he explained and cleared a few things up for her. As she expected he was not really from around here as given away by his accent. “Do you miss it?” Roxana asked. Honestly she was not sure why she had asked such a question; it was one of those rare moments where something just slipped out. Which normally never happened, but she understood why she was slipping up a little and that just meant she needed to be to herself for a while after this. He then pointed out about her accent and she gave a small nod to show that he was correct.

“Unfortunately it is as dull as a transfer student. I will pay for the price of you to drown your sorrows since my story is not an eventful one.” Roxana said. Yes, to others she was just a simple transfer student, moved over to BA for well unclear reasons. She really had no reason to go to a school that her school considered on the lesser side. They were too free with their students and no one was pushed to focus on their future careers. “Do you have a special story as to why you’re transferred over here, then?” Roxana asked, figuring he was just another transfer student as well.

Few had reasons other than, families moving, wanting to go to a school that was a bit more relaxed about rule enforcement, and escaping from their past back home. She wondered what area he fell into and it also dawned on her that they never gave names. How was something so basic forgotten? Then again, maybe he had not said as much for a reason, or that he did and she forgot. “I forgot to introduce myself, but I’m Roxana.” Rox said, keeping it simple.

[Rob Snow]

"Miss the traveling?" Rob repeated, tilting his head to the side, lips pursed as he considered. "More or less. Though I did it for a while: now I'm trying the whole education thing," he had to grin at that, grin and salute Roxana with his drink before taking a gulp. Because obviously he looked every inch the scholar right now, having slunk into a bar and ordered drinks and showed almost no interest in anything involving scholarship at all.

It didn't surprise him to hear that it was dull as a transfer student, though he wasn't sure he could entirely agree with the assessment. He was tempted to point out that dullness was only what you made of it, and that he intended to enjoy himself. that would infringe on her story though, and right now, Rob was far more interested in listening to that instead of his own.

"Well, as I said," he gestured, "was rambling around the world and figured it was time to actually get some college learning. Rumor had it that Bellefonte was the more interesting one, and American birds are always loving the British accent," Rob threw a bit more Brit into those words before adding another wink and a sip.

"Rob," he offered at the introduction, nodding. "Since I figured that was implied, and tis only fair." He winked at her before finishing off his drink and pushing it away with his fingers. He knew that it would take a bit for that to hit him: he wasn't that small of a man and he did have a fair amount of experience with alcohol. Still, he found himself surprised as the bartender poured another. "That one on your tab or mine?" he asked, flicking his fingers at it, "because I'm already starting to lose track and we're just started."

[Roxana Strix]

"I meant more so your home, but I suppose the traveling works as well." Roxana said. She wanted to hear how it felt to be away from home but from what he was saying it seemed like he was use to traveling around. So he was probably one of those types who decided to have fun for a bit and try things after he graduated from high school and now was settling down to try and get his degree. He didn't really seem like the type who would actually want to do schooling but maybe that was why he was trying it out. Giving it a go to see if he liked it and wanted to do it before he decided fully what he was going to end up doing.

It was his choice in the end, at least that was what Roxana assumed. She didn't have a choice but it was interesting on some levels to hear about the choices that others made when they were free to make one themselves. Her actual transfer reason she figured he would have found much more exciting, but she could not tell him that. Not a person she just met and didn't even know the basics about like she did for pretty much everyone around her back on campus. Even those that knew a little but about why she was here still didn't know enough for it to be that big of a deal yet.

"Well you are right about BA being an interesting place. Not one for always peaceful times but hopefully that will change. As for the accent..." Roxana looked over him and gave him a nod. "You should have no problem charming the ladies and men around the school." Roxana said. He was winking at her a lot so she figured he was just into girl but she said guys because with some of the boys that went to the school it would have been easy for him to score with them as well. She personally was not affected by his winking, charm, or accent but she rarely was affected by that sort of thing.

Of course if he wanted to do something, all he had to do was make a move and Rox would comply if she felt he needed or really wanted it. Sex was still not that big of a deal to her, nor was being all 'loving' on someone. Except for maybe with Ellen or Elsa...but that was still something she was confused about and not dare thinking about too long. "Nice to meet you." Rox said with a small nod, not ordering any more drinks for herself. "Mine. I plan on paying all of it. I don't let a tab sit unpaid." Roxana said. So she had one, but basically didn't because she paid it off that same night that she would use it.

[Rob Snow]

"Ah, wasn't that attached to home to miss it," Rob said with a shrug. He'd been away from his family for so long that they were all just sort of used to not seeing each other save for around the holidays. When it came to the actual Motherland... yes, Rob missed it sometimes, but there was something in the new experiences that kept driving him to wander around.

It seemed as though he was right about the interesting bit. Not that the information surprised him: he'd made certain to listen around, figure out where things were going, what was happening, before he' finally settled on a school. the accent bit apparently was going to work for him too, though he had to chuckle at the last. "Just the birds, luv," he replied, adding a wink, "such as yourself."

And soon he was letting out an "ah" and reaching to give Rox a pat on the shoulder, ending with a squeeze. "Got to love a bird who has her own tab," he said, smiling. "Makes you look all the lovelier it does. Though let's face it," he leaned in, "I'd say that about anyone who bought me a pint."

[Roxana Strix]

Roxana didn't say anything when Rob revealed that he had never been one that was attached to his home. She supposed she could understand that, not personally but enough to get what he meant by it. Rox was always thinking of home and how she wished she could return back there and go back to doing her old job. It would have been so much easier than her current job and she would not of had to worry about developing feelings for people.

It all still didn't make a lot of sense but she kept that in the back of her mind to think about later as she focused on Rob. He confirmed that he was only into guys which Roxana tossed in the bit of her brain which held not really important information. Just for the sake of not suggesting some guy to him in the future if they ever talked to one another. He gave her another wink, which Roxana assumed was more flirting with her. "If you want to have sex with me, it is best to just state that. There is no need to...flirt with me." Roxana pointed out, being as blunt as ever.

It was true that she didn't see sex as a big deal, it was just something that she did for a job or to fill someone’s need. Granted, thinking about it now she was not certain that she actually wanted to do that for anyone besides Elsa or Ellen. That just brought back her current problem of being confused and not really understanding what was wrong with herself. If she had been on edge, she would have likely twisted his arm behind his back when he touched her, but instead her blue eyes looked to the hand that squeezed her shoulder before looking to him.

"At least you are honest, but now I wonder if you already had enough tonight." Roxana said. He didn't looked like he had a lot to drink, but it was just odd someone being so...flirty and friendly with her. Then again by the way he spoke it seemed he would be like that with anyone who was female.

[Rob Snow]

Roxana's bluntness had Rob letting out a semi-hearty laugh. "Where's the fun in that?" he asked, grinning wide enough to set his eyes dancing. "That's like saying that you win the game without actually playing: the fun's in the middle," Rob replied, giving Roxana a nod and taking another sip of his drink. He'd barely set it down when he had to add: "Though in this case, I'm supposing it would be a bit mroe like attending a celebration, eh?"

He gave her another few eyebrow raises befoer leanign back slightly. the comment regarding his amount of alcohol had Rob grinning wider, stretching his arms slightly to the side, nearly hitting a passerby. A quick apology settled that, though Rob kept his arm wide nonetheless.

"I'm afraid this is pretty well how i am all the time," he said before lowering the arms. "Besides, I've the blood of the Angles in me," he let his brows bounce, took another sip, and leaned forward. "So: why is a handsome man flirting with you in a dark bar something that makes you nervous?" He nodded. "Seems to me like there's something interesting there. You're striking enough, though a bit made of hard edges."

Rob had to half smile at that, sitting there silently and looking up at her, his expression expectant.