Oooh, alright Holly bounced duties, rebounding from hugging Dylan, bringing V over, and then scooting to your side to aid in cake duties

Cutting, plating, distributing along one of those long folding tables with wide feet for standing stable on sand.

"You got it? Okay careful! I mean it's a cake knife but I'm sure it's sharp enough you wanna be cautious with it regardless…"

And hopefully to soothe peoples' acheing ears, Tyler set the music back on, balming the soundscape with some Taylor.

"You having fun? I uh…" she glanced, breathlessly and lip-nibbling, between you and Talia Amin. "I hope it's not too exhausting…"

You're welcome.

I'm sure that you'd be concerned if I were in the hospital..

House Of White Wolf
-my soft hazel eyes scanned the scroll quickly-

gasping. "She just up and left, only sending a messenger on the way out? Why I never!"

That shimmer of gold on her finger when she raised her hand caused him to smile slowly. Another obstacle. Something else he was not dissuaded by. In fact, it made it all the more fun to know that there was someone at home, waiting for her return. The married ones were always a sweeter prize, somehow.

By now, her friends were completely focused away from her, facing one another. It was then that the probe in her mind dug a bit further. He found that desire for another drink and he nurtured it. Teased it out. From and idle thought to almost a need.

He reached out some of his power to the bartender, suggesting that he start to make a new one for her before she even approached the bar. And when she did get it, he would keep her so focused on quenching her thirst that she wouldn't notice how he gently guided her steps...not back to her table with her friends, but towards his own, where an empty seat sat across from him.

You get a warm handhake.

"Thank you so much, Dylan. It was really cool meeting you."

Rattling off his number for you.

"I'd like that. Seriously, thank you. I can't tell you how much I needed this tonight.

"Have a good rest of your night."

Don't think she didn't catch you making an absolute HAM of the song. Wouldn't expect any less from the legend himself, of course!
Naturally, she beamed a demure little smile when you observed Leo's pronouns, too!
Of course Leo was comfortable with both He and Them, but the welcoming attitude was a shot of goodwill she knew was priceless.

"Oh my god I really appreciate you swinging by, Dylan. I'll definitely get that in your inbox before the night is through! Oh shoot, where's my phone…"

Holly bounded in for a hug, squeezing you in spite of the titanic height difference.

"You get home safely, alright?"

Okay she couldn't help that caught-in-the-act blush and curling bunny grin as V. Vander pretended to admonish her.

"Nothing! Just saw you, it's Leo Sterling's birthday, they're the—I mean you see the one Tyler's lighting up. Stageplay actor, Polycule — they're also seeing, uh…"

She also gestured to Talia Amin, the hottie with the bag of cherries.

"Talia, didn't get her last name."

But either way she wanted to lead V. Vander over to the group to get introduced.

"Hey guys, yeah this is V. Vander — bartender extraordinaire, local badass and dispensary of wisdom!"

Blushing thank You Goddess

They can disagree on it, that's okay too. But they do appreciate you not starting a fight tonight.

"I can live with that."

Okay, the fact you're this excited about watching him perform? That is super sweet, can they agree on that? It has his smile turning basful and delighted.

"Cool. Be gently brutally honest, maybe?" Don't get him wrong, he's good, but... he's a little sensitive.

That whisper, and those words - you can almost see the ideas forming.

"I think we're going to find out?"

It IS pretty cool.

Holly Blanc -

It's the spirit that counts, especially with singing happy birthday.

They're still eyeing you like maybe they should offer you a hand? There's plenty of good-faith embarrassment to be found here, and he really does think it's sweet.

"Oh, sure? I can cut the cake."

They will accept the ginormous knife and move to start cutting it.

House Of White Wolf
He lowered his head respectfully at the tip and withdrew. He had other deliveries this night. Turning with a crisp spin nodding to the guards he took to the night once more.

Smiles warmly, recovery just takes time, don't rush it..

I was worried about you in the hospital for so long.

I'm glad you're close to 100 percent..

While she really didn't know who you were before tonight, you seem like a genuinely nice guy.

You too, Dylan. Have a good night.

Please have a seat. Let’s talk for a minute
Haven’t talk to You in ages

swaying back and forth a little to the music and smiling at the singing of my friends. i run my left
hand through my hair, the gold wedding band glinting in the lights of the bar.

finishing my drink and wondering if i should have another. seeing my friends are totally into their own
little world with their singing.

She was standing there drinking her water, finishing it off as you finished your performance with the mic. She walked to a nearby recycle can and tossed the empty bottle in. Watching and slowly walking back toward the outskirts of the party. Recognizing a few people she'd give a slight nod.

You approached and she lifted her arms, crossing them over her chest as intense blues looked at you and then over your shoulder to your crew.

"Phone works too. " She uncurled her fingers from her bicep and tapped them against the phone tucked into the strapped pocket on her arm.

"Won't make everyone's ears bleed either. What's up?"

House Of White Wolf
" That is indeed me." -I slipped my dainty hand into my pocket and withdrew a small pouch for a tip and exchanged that for the scroll-
"Do go to the kitchen and feed yourself before you are on your way."
-I dismissed him with a half-smile as I was aready unrolling the scroll.-

Lil bit but sooooo much better. Your outlook becomes sharper

With the singing done, he gives you a grin and offers his hand.

"Leo, hope you have a great birthday celebration. Expect a gift soon and uh..."

He pulls out his phone

"Let me get your number, so I can send you the address to the label and my house. Just in case you ever need to talk."

He smiles to Talia Amin

"Nice meeting you."

He then heads over to Holly Blanc

"Thanks again for dropping the invite in my mailbox. Send me Leo's address so I can send them a gift."

He'd noticed your use of pronouns and had figured you knew better than him.

"I'm...going to get going. I'm kind of running low on the good vibes. I was going to say you should stop by if you're out in my area, but Jesus no one comes out there without a reason. So um...remember you got the open invite and use of my pool and shit."

He goes in for a hug, not sure if that was cool or not. It was a friend hugging a friend sort of thing.

Thank you darling, I'm good.

I just stopped by to wish you well

and see how you're doing..

Are you still recovering a bit?

He is letting his perception drift over the others here. Almost idly at this point.

It's the movement of those curls that catches his eyes, the way your dark hair bounces under the dim light of the bar. A lovely sight.

You are with friends. A slight obstacle, but not one he hasn't dealt with before. A target chosen, he gets to work.

Some of his attention he devotes to your friends. Slipping into their minds. He worked delicately - redirecting their attention. Focusing on the song. The drinks. Urging them to not pay attention to their dark-haired friend.

But the bulk of his attention goes to you. One of those gentle tendrils slipping in to wash over your mind. Teasing over the surface thoughts, picking up what he can to learn a bit more about you.