Kain returned the band back to their orignal state as furniture and retook his seat at the bar. "That certainly an interesting fight," he commented, "Almost got me a couple of times good thing I have a good poker face." A sudden flash of inspiration crossed his face as he once again searched through his coat. Pulling out a regular deck of cards he asked, "Anyone one up for a game or two?"

He rises, walks towards the two at the table and seats himself between them. His eyes have the look of a man who has spent many long hours reading the faces adn bodies of others. Although the others can't see it, he smiles. He hasn't played a good game of cards in a long long time. Not since that fight in Ardentalon. He places upon the table a single gold coin, a large anty for a three man game.

Kain looked around the bar a bit and said, "Lets give this a few more minutes to let more people join in if they wish. Until then we can decide what game we want to play. Any suggestions that we all might know the rules too?"

Shadow sat down at a Alysa's table, and signaled the bartender for a drink.

"Since you're the only other thing here I recognize, we should get used to each other. Besides, the others seem ill-at-ease with our bickering." She explains, "Or maybe it's just me." Shadow adds, with a little stressed chuckle.

"Yeah, evil bitches serving Oblivion tend to do that."

Alysa grinned.

"This is a pretty motley crew we have here. A Solar, an Abyssal, some Alchemical-type who can transmute matter, a whole bunch of other whom I'm not even going to try to classify... considering the places I've been, this isn't too bad. Heck, you've lived with ghosts, haven't you? They probably make this bunch look like commoners on the streets."

She cheerfully accepted Gan's offer of drinks, then, to his question, she smiled and replied, "No."

Essence gave that simple word a power far beyond what its simple two letters implied, because the message that actually entered Gan's mind was, "I am in no way interested in sharing my private thoughts with you. This is because I do not know you, I do not trust you, I would never share these things with anyone not from my Circle, and maybe not even then, and besides, your attempt at trying to gain my trust is weak at best, and certainly does not compare to most Dynastic courtiers, whom I routinely wrap around my little finger. But don't take it so badly, the drinks were appreciated. ^^"

"Indeed." Shadow says, looking around the bar herself.

"I have... Lived isn't the word... Existed among ghosts, indeed. I'd classify myself as living now, however. I am of course, not at all concerned with the others here, if that is what you mean."

She took a drink, and began to sip it. It wasn't fresh blood, but it was better than most drinks. Shadow then reminded herself not to think about the things she was trying to abstain from, and sighed inwardly, "Pity".

As Alysa seemed to subjugate Gan, Shadow almost thought she'd show off and do better, but decided not to. "Gan, look at it this way. If you heard me repeat the whispers I must suffer in nightmares, you'd go mad, and commit suicide."

"I used to believe them..." she adds, in a whisper, thinking.

"How could I be so blind!" she curses to herself, taking and gulping the rest of her drink down.

"In either case. Alysa, It's been too long since I've met a solar who didn't swing his daiklave at me like a madman. Tell me, do you enjoy poetry?"

"Depends on what kind of poetry you're talking about. If poetry is the best possible words in the best possible way, then a skilfully woven basket can be a form of physical poetry. So yes, I do appreciate it. "

She sipped lightly at her drink.

"It's funny you should mention that, because I am reminded of something I read a long time ago...

Death poems
are mere delusion-
death is death."

She smiled sheepishly.

"Please forgive the horrible attempt at irony. It just came to mind."

"It's the fact that it's true that makes it ironic." Shadow says, "Superior state of life. Pah. An amputee could count the advantages on his fingers."

Shadow set down her empty glass.

"One of my favorities is an adapted version of the poem, "To One in Paradise" simply because it fits me so well." She sheepishly smiled, "I won't sing it here though." and changed the subject, looking outside, "Our little immaculate friend seems to be having trouble, hmm?"

Kaze walked into the bar tired and a littled battered from the fight. He looked around the bar only to have Jaryd look at him. "Did anyone feel that massive quake outside? I sure hope you did", Kaze said as he sat at the table with Kain and the rest of them.

Jaryd gave a look at Kaze, "What the heck was that? More people holding battles outside? Geez with that we'll barely get any customers, they'll be blasted away by all the attacks", Jaryd said while serving a few bar patrons,"They'll be fine", Kaze said looking around the table.

"Anyone up for a game of cards? I know I am", Kaze said looking at a deck of cards that was recently pulled out.