He didn't catch on nearly fast enough.

Galina's demeanor changed as his mind fogged over, shattering the facade he had fallen for so completely. Her words lilted with confident fluency into his hears as she maneuvered him down upon the nearby loveseat, far more easily than she should have. She was taunting him, really, positioning him as if a lover seeking brief respite, offering to lull him away with sweet words sung through her voice. This room had been her goal all along, it was clear now, the only obstacle left now lying pillowed on her lap.

And he couldn't do a thing about it.

Takahiro fought the drug as much as he could, but time only proved the futility of that action. It acted quickly, even in such a small dose, empty stomach only accelerating the process and making it easier for Galina to manipulate him further. His body felt sluggish, weak, off-balance, while Galina only seemed more sure and graceful with each passing moment.

He couldn't make a move now, not anymore.

Even if he tried, even if he forced the drug away with every ounce of willpower he could muster, he'd fail in the end. She was aiming for the same treasure he had been, that was painfully apparent now. Woman or not, fighter or not, he couldn't take on someone who had been prepared to do what she must to succeed, not when he was like this.

So Takahiro surrendered to Galina's ministrations, allowed her to position him just so, consciousness slowly fading as she began to read. He had lost, tonight, defeated by the kindness he had shown her before, by his reluctance to drag her into what he planned to do. She would take the contents of the safe, almost certainly, and he would wake to find her gone, with enough time to reappear amongst the crowd and continue the performance he had begun not so long ago. It wasn't all bad, actually. She made no sign of knowing he had held the same goal, his own mask retained while hers was cast aside.

The thought almost brought a smile to his lips, last wisps of will managing to hold it back at the very end. She had won this time, but he hadn't quite lost. The advantage was no his, only needing the opportunity to take it, later down the line.

One thing was certain, as Takahiro faded into sleep, he would [i]not[/i] be forgetting anything that had happened this night.