Lydia walks into the bar and looks around.

The door opens and the silhouette of a man appears. He glances about the bar, his expression almost a bit wild eyed. He makes a bee-line to the bar. "Pint of bitter," he orders. There's a pause and he states, "Make it two."

Lydia watches the man walk past, curiously.

Neal nabs the first pint and downs half in what must be an unhealthy gulp. But it's gone all the same. He looks around again and takes in the patronage much more carefully.

Rain looks up from her solitary table, the mirrored aviators she wears reflecting the room beyond them. Her lips purse slightly, one gloved hand making a slow drumming against the wood before she leans back in her chair and looks away from the door.

Lydia shakes her head and moves to the bar, ordering a beer herself. She waits until it's poured into a chilled glass and then takes it to a table.

Somewhere in her mid-twenties, this young woman stands no more than 5'3" in height. Long, golden blonde hair shimmers to her hips, and flows about her body with every movement. Her face is heart-shaped and delicate, her nose small and slightly upturned at the tip. Full lips convey a wealth of expression, but little else of her appearance can be told from beneath the silver mirrored aviators that she wears. As befitting her coloring, her complexion is extremely fair, pale and nearly translucent.

Her clothing is somewhat ragged and dirty, consisting of a black skirt that falls to the floor in heavy folds and a long sleeved tunic that might once have been white but is now a dingy grey. There are several rents in both pieces and the seams are tattered and frayed. A pair of black gloves grace her hands and on her feet are a pair of black, low heeled, boots which peek out from under the skirt while perched on her golden hair is a slouchy black fedora.

Lydia sits down at Booth by the bathroom door..

Lydia has the clear, pale skin and pure black hair found among those of the British Isles. Her hair is silky and long, hanging nearly to her waist, though it is braided and rolled into a bun right now. Her eyes are hazel with dark flecks in them. Her body is thin, too thin, but looks quite healthy and muscled. Her posture is 'perfect' while her toes point out to the side. When she walks and she steps ball of foot first then heel. She dresses in flowing skirts and leotards, or dresses with flared skirts. The material is always soft and light. Today she wears a long-sleeved, turtleneck dress of black knit, the bodice hugs her closely, while the skirt bells out as she moves. On her feet are the shoes called 'character shoes' by those in the theatre. These have been covered with red sequins and look like they were meant to be the ruby slippers from OZ. She wears a pendant of a ruby slipper carved out of some red stone.

Two guys look at a couple of ladies by the piano and give them approving nods before heading over with their drinks.

Neal glances around again as he slowly works on that last half. He pauses in between sips, as if steeling himself up for something. His gaze weighs each person. You can almost se the gears turning in his head.

Rain continues drumming her fingers against her table, head turning now to watch the pair by the piano. Her golden brows furrow slightly, as if in indecision.

Neal finishes off the first. Then his eyes lock on Rain. In fact they are quite focused on Rain at the moment.

Rain's attention is quite focused on the piano. After a moment she rises from her chair and begins moving towards it, her steps light and graceful despite her ragged unkempt appearance.

Neal nurses his second pint, his eyes very focused at the moment as well. Seems a good night for focus.

Two young women squeal delight and then look around embarrassed at their outburst.

Pausing beside the piano, Rain runs her gloved fingertips over it's cover, a someone thoughtful expression upon her features. What can be seen of them. She looks up at the sound of laughter, then back again.

Lydia sips her beer, sitting quietly at her table.

Rain lifts the cover to reveal the ivory keys beneath it, her fingers floating just above them.

Lydia turns to watch Rain at the piano.

Losing herself in her own thoughts, Rain settles down upon the benchseat. She adjusts herself slightly, as if having sat on something uncomfortable, then lifts both gloved hands to the keys.

Neal swirls the beer in his pint glass. Every so often his gaze shifts from the woman at the piano to his drink then back again.

As if hesitant to actually touch the keys, Rain takes a several long moments before she drops her hands down to tickle them softly, calling forth a soft tinkling of music.

Neal's expression is locked in a heated debate the seems to be coming to a conclusion soon. Hopefully.

Lydia chuckles softly and looks at the schedule of music for the evening.

Neal watches a little longer. A fingertip circles the rim of his pint glass thoughtfully. No, the pint isn't crystal of course.

Rain isn't on the schedule... at least, there is no one on it that one might assume is this bedraggled woman. Still, she continues to play, hands moving expertly over the keys.

Lydia drinks down her beer and moves the glass aside.

A waitress walks over and takes an order from a couple seated in the back booth.

Rain plays continuously for several long minutes before her fingers finally fall still upon the keys. She sits there, quiet, then slowly rises from the bench.

Lydia talks to the waitress who comes to her table and then looks back at Rain.

Mirrored gaze drifting around the bar, Rain begins weaving back through the tables and chairs to the seat she had previously vacated.

A waitress walks over to Rain's table and speaks softly to her then nods and walks away.

Neal watches still. He's still considering.

Rain murmured something softly back to the waitress, then leans back in her chair, gloved hands folded lightly upon the table.

Two men in suits with briefcases leave their tips on the table where they sat and head for the door as they talk to each other about stock prices.

A beer arrives at Lydia's table and she leans back in the booth, watching those present.

Rain tilts the chair back on its hind legs, fingers drumming thoughtfully on the table again.

Lydia nibbles on her lower lip and starts nodding, as if she's going over some conversation in her head.

Neal wanders near Rain's spot. He hovers a moment then asks, "May I sit?"

Rain glances toward the door now and then, then arches a brow and looks up, somewhat surprised at the request. She drops her chair fully to the floor, then inclines her head. "If you like."

Neal sits down quickly. He says one word. "Thanks." This conversation is off and running...

Rain tilts her head, her mirrored gaze apparently studying Neal for a few moments before she says something softly to him.

At your table, Rain asks, "Can I help you with something?"

At your table, Neal takes a sip of bitter. "I'm not sure. I'm not sure who can help, let alone here." He looks around furtively. His voice is conversationally low.

Two guys and one young lady enter walking over to an empty booth.

At your table, Rain arches pale brows above her sunglasses, then she shrugs somewhat. "Well... I suppose it depends on what troubles you..." she murmurs softly.

At your table, Neal takes another drink and he grins a bit, "But this sorta thing. Well you gotta tell someone."

Rain speaks quietly with Neal, her attention fully focused upon him. She seems half withdrawn, and somewhat curious, all at the same time.

At your table, Rain nods a little. "True..."

At your table, Neal says "What if I were to tell you there's a whole world out there in shadows. Something they don't want you to know about but is there nonetheless. Would you think I'm insane?"

At your table, Rain purses her lips thoughtfully at the question. "You mean the Government?" Her head tilts to one side.

At your table, Neal shakes her head. "They are -among- us. The government doesn't even know them. They're just a tool."

At your table, Rain lifts her brows again. "I'm not sure I follow..."

At your table, Neal says "They're out there. They walk among us. They look normal, but they aren't."

At your table, Rain chuckles softly, then shrugs a bit. "I see... well, I suppose every town has it's share of bag people and the homeless...but it's not nice to refer to them as abnormal..."

At your table, Neal shakes his head. "We -know- about them. These ... things ... no one knows, except maybe me. Maybe. I can't tell everyone or they'd just wipe my mind. Or discredit me.

Rain leans forward in her chair now and places her elbows on the table, chin in hands. She seems a bit more curious now.

At your table, Rain purses her lips again. "Just what are you talking about?"

At your table, Neal says "They live among us, walk among us. Worse... they live off of human blood."

At your table, Rain wrinkles her nose a bit, then shakes her head. "Sounds like you're talking about stuff from movies..."

At your table, Neal says "Movies are just a plot. A plot to make us laugh at the idea of their existence. The most clever thing the devil has done was to let us believe he doesn't exist."

Two young women squeal delight and then look around embarrassed at their outburst.

Rain tilts her head back, glancing towards the squealers again before returning her attention to Neal.

At your table, Rain mms, then gives you a tiny smile, the extent of her expression hidden behind her dark glasses. "Why are you telling me this?"

Neal is hunched over, his eyes wild as he speaks too low for anyone else but Rain to hear.

At your table, Neal says "I have to! I have to tell people. You have a trustworthy face. I have to warn you.

We're just a herd of animals to them. Food. Food that blithely doesn't even know their hunters are right here."

At your table, Rain smiles a little at you, then shakes her head. "You know... people aren't going to believe you..."

At your table, Neal says "That's the tough part. That's why I have to gauge people. You have that look."

At your table, Rain seems almost surprised. "Look? What do I look like?" Her soft voice is full of curiosity.

At your table, Neal says "You've seen things. Enough to believe. I haven't even got to the incredible part yet."

At your table, Rain seems to be considering your words. "This isn't about those stories they post in the papers, is it?"

At your table, Neal says "Those are only half-truths. People who can't see what's there."

At your table, Rain lifts a hand to draw one pale finger across her forehead. "And what is the whole truth?"

At your table, Neal says "They suck our blood. The cats. Alien cats. Oh they look normal, but they are vicious."

Three people leave the back tables and wander past the bar to talk to some people they know.

Rain's jaw opens slightly, then she smiles at Neal and shakes her head.

Lydia moves to the bar to pay her tab and then heads out of the tavern.

At your table, Rain chuckles softly. "I think you've had too many nightmares about your job..." she gestures towards the animal control badge.

At your table, Neal says "Don't write it off. You've heard the stories. The cats that suck the breath of newborns. It's all a ruse! They are taking the child's -very life essence-!"

At your table, Rain shakes her head slightly. "No...they are breathing in the smell of sweet milk."

At your table, Neal says "Dammit, they've gotten to you too. I had you pegged wrong. They're all over and they are -controlling our lives-. They -want- you to believe that, don't you see??"

At your table, Rain favors you a small smile, then shakes her head. "No, not really.."

Neal's voice rises, "Can't you believe?!" Suddenly he realizes -everyone- can hear him. He quickly rises and begins to make a hasty retreat from the pub.

Rain lifts her brows over the rims of her glasses again, then just shrugs, watching the man thoughtfully as she tilts her chair back. Neal stares at Rain. He turns back and mutters in her ear. "They are coming. They and their god-prince Vantroo. Soon their elders awaken and all hell breaks loose!" He quickly leaves now, not wasting another moment."

[Taken from a log the evening of January 14, 2000.]